The Horrors That Lay Inside The Carousel Boutique

Sweetie Belle and Big Mac arrived back at Sweet Apple Acres first, a few minutes before Applejack and Apple Bloom. Big Mac was sweating like a pig and panting like a dog; while Sweetie Belle seemed just fine. When they got there, Big Mac sat down under an apple tree. He wiped sweat off his forehead and neck, wiping it on his dirt covered shirt.

Sweetie Belle sighed and rolled her eyes. She leaned on another apple tree, and crossed her arms. She was obviously still upset about Button Mash. After a few minutes of waiting in silence, Applejack and Apple Bloom finally arrived at Sweet Apple Acres, laughing.

“Are you guys still going on about me and Button Mash?!” Sweetie Belle squeaked angrily.

Apple Bloom and Applejack looked at each other. “No, sugarcube, we’re talking about how the other day, while we were apple bucking, Apple Bloom fell into a crate and was buried in apples until we found her again. You remember that, right Big Mac?” She asked.

Big Mac snickered. “Eeyup.”

Applejack let out a few chuckles, “It was pretty funny.” Apple Bloom laughed as well. And finally Sweetie Belle stopped being so upset and joined in the laughter.

When the laughter died down, Sweetie Belle asked, “Why are we all laughing so much like this is just another normal day?”

The Apples all looked at each other and shrugged their shoulders.

“I mean… We are kind of being hunted down by an inanimate object.”

“With a heart.” Applejack added.

“What do you mean? It can’t have a heart, its not really alive, is it?”

“Ah mean that Doll has a real, live beating heart inside it. Ah saw it when me and Big Mac found it.” She explained.

“Do you think… Do you think Rarity put the heart in it? Or do you think The Doll put it in itself?” Sweetie Belle asked, visibly shaken.

“Where would The Doll have gotten a heart? And Ah remember seeing Rarity’s heart lying on the stairs. Ah think she put someone’s heart in it herself.” Applejack said.

Sweetie Belle suddenly began shaking all over. She hugged herself as if to warm herself up. “Th-that means my sister killed someone…” Sweetie said. Big Mac got up, walked over to Sweetie Belle and hugged her.

Sweetie Belle didn’t react, she just kept shaking and hugging herself, enveloped in Big Mac’s huge arms. Slowly, her shaking died down and she wrapped her tiny arms around Big Mac as far as they would go, hugging him back. He let go and went to sit back down under the tree.

“Guys.” Sweetie Belle said once she had calmed down. They all looked at her as she spoke. “I think The Doll is after me. It only tried to hurt you guys when you tried to interfere with it hurting me, right?”

“Eeyup.” Big Mac said, nodding.

“Like, when I first got here, and me, The Doll and Apple Bloom were all in a room alone together, it didn’t come to life and try to hurt her. It waited until she was gone and it attacked me when I was alone.” She explained, recalling the events in her head. Without realizing it, she had started pacing about halfway through the explanation.

“Yeah, that’s right.” Apple Bloom agreed.

“So… Do you guys think that maybe, Rarity had created The Doll to kill me? But instead it turned on her and killed her as well. And now it’s trying to kill me to finish its mission?” She stopped pacing and looked up at the Apples. “How the hay did I get all the way over here?” She asked, walking back over to them.

“It’s possible, and you were pacing.” Applejack said.

“I was?” Sweetie Belle asked.

“Eeyup.” Big Mac said.

“Oh…” Sweetie said. “So anyway, what do you guys think of my theory?”

“It’s possible, and possibly true. But Ah hate to think that your older sister wanted to kill you.” Applejack said. “Ah certainly don’t feel that way about my little sister. And Ah’m sure that Big Mac don’t feel that way about neither me or Apple Bloom.”

“Eeyup.” Big Mac said.

Apple Bloom let out a subtle, yet noticeable sigh of relief. Applejack chuckled softly. “So how exactly are we going to kill it?”

“I’m not sure. I’m still thinking of something.” Sweetie Belle said, and unknowingly, she began pacing again.

“You know, Sweetie, you’re a lot smarter than anyone at school gives you credit for.” Apple Bloom said.

“What?” Sweetie Belle asked, stopping and looking up. “Was I pacing again?”

“Yeah, but Ah also just said that you’re a whole lot smarter than anyone else gives you credit for.” Apple Bloom said again.

“Oh, really?” Sweetie Belle asked.

“Yeah.”

Sweetie Belle smiled, “Thanks, Apple Bloom.”

Sweetie put her head down in thought and started pacing again, trying to think of a solution to killing The Doll. Or at least stopping it from killing anyone innocent.

After a few minutes, Sweetie’s legs had gotten tired and she sat down. She tried to think, but it was just harder for her to think when she wasn’t pacing. She stood up again, and her stomach growled loudly. She blushed and put her hands over her stomach.

Applejack laughed. “Anyone for dinner?”

“Yes, please.” Sweetie Belle said.

“Me too.” Apple Bloom said, getting up and jogging into the house.

“Eeyup.” Big Mac said, pushing himself up. He and Applejack and Sweetie Belle followed Apple Bloom into the house. Apple Bloom was sitting at the table and Sweetie Belle sat down next to her while Applejack and Big Mac started cooking dinner.

After they had all finished eating, the sun had finally gone down. Sweetie Belle had started pacing again. The others had pretty much forgotten why she was pacing and what she was trying to think about.

“I’ve got it!” Sweetie Belle shouted suddenly, startling the Apples.

“Huh? Got what?” Applejack asked.

“I know how we’re going to stop The Doll from killing everyone.” She said.

“Yeah? And how are you planning on us killing it?”

“We’re not going to kill it.” She said. The Apples stared at her, confused.

“Well then what in tarnation are we going to do?” Applejack asked.

“We’re going to let it kill me.”