My Little Hunchback Of Notre Dame

Chapter 8

As Spike began to introduce the bells to Applejack and Apple Bloom, he said "Follow me, I'll introduce you." As they went up the stairs, Applejack said "Ah never knew there was so many." "That's Little Sophia." Spike said pointed at an orange bell. Then he pointed at the red bell, blue bell, and purple bell as he said "And, Jean Marie, Ann Marie, and Louise Marie. Triplets, you know." "And who's this?" Applejack asked looking at the big golden bell. "Big Marie." Spike said. Applejack went under Big Marie as she said "Hello!" The sound of her voice echoed under the bell, and Spike said "She likes you. Would you like to see more?" "How about it, Apple Bloom?" Applejack asked as she looked at her sister who went under the bell. "Sure!" Apple Bloom said as her voice echoed under the bell, startling her in the process. "We'd love to." Applejack said as she looked at Spike who said "Good. I've saved the best for last!" He then led them outside to see a beautiful view of Canterlot and Ponyville as the sun started to set. "Ah bet the king himself doesn't have a view like this." Applejack said admiring the view. "Ah could stay up here forever." "You could, you know." Spike said. Applejack shook her head, and said "No, Ah couldn't." "Oh, yes, you have sanctuary." Spike said. "But not freedom." Applejack said remembering what Discord had said. "Earth ponies don't do well inside stone walls."

"But, you're not like other earth ponies." Spike said. "They're...evil." "Who told ya'll that?" Applejack asked. "My master, Discord." Spike said as he sat on the roof. "He raised me." Applejack and Apple Bloom sat down next to Spike as Applejack said "How could such a cruel creature have raised a dragon like you?" "Cruel?!" Spike asked in shock. "Oh, no. He saved my life! He took me in when nopony else would. I am a monster you know." "He told you that?" Applejack asked. "Look at me." Spike said. Applejack frowned at what Spike had said, and she said "Give me your claw." "Why?" Spike asked. "Just let me see." Applejack said as Spike gave her his claw. Applejack traced the lines on the claw as she said "Hmm, a long life line...on, and this one means you're shy. Hmmm. Hmmm, hmmm, hmmm...well, that's funny." "What?" Spike asked. "Ah don't see any." Applejack said. "Any what?" Spike asked. "Monster lines." Applejack said. "Not a single one." She held her hoof out in front of Spike, and said "Now you look at me. Do you think I'm evil?" Spike held onto Applejack's hoof as he said "No, no, no! You are kind, and good, and-." "And an earth pony." Applejack said finishing Spike's sentence. "And maybe Discord was wrong about the both of us." Below them, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Twilight Sparkle were trying to listen to the conversation. "What did she say? What did she say?" Pinkie Pie asked. "Discord's nose is long, and he wears a dress." Twilight Sparkle said. Pinkie Pie looked at Rarity, and said "Ha! Told ya! Pay up!" "Oh, dear." Rarity said as she gave Pinkie Pie a bit. The gargoyle earth pony took it as she said "Chump."

Spike thought for a minute, and said "You helped me. Now I will help you." "But there's no way out." Applejack said. "There's pony soldiers at every door." "We won't use a door." Spike said. "You mean climb down?" Applejack asked. "Sure. You carry Apple Bloom, I carry you." Spike said. "Okay." Applejack said. She looked at her sister, and said "Come on, Apple Bloom." "Ok, sis." Apple Bloom said getting on her sister's back. Applejack placed a red blindfold on Apple Bloom's eyes as Spike said "Ready?" Applejack nodded, and said "Yes." Spike picked Applejack up with all of his dragon strength despite his small size, and said "Don't be afraid." "Ah'm not afraid." Applejack said. Spike then leaped over the edge, and held onto a gargoyle head. Applejack's face paled in fear as she said "Now Ah'm afraid." "The trick is not to look down." Spike said. Apple Bloom's blindfold fell off, and she screamed as she looked down. "You've done this before?" Applejack asked as Spike began swinging down the exterior of the cathedral. "No." He said as he hopped on the edges, and reached the slanted roof. "Wow. You're quite an acrobat." Applejack said. "Thank you-." Spike tried to say, but his words got cut off when the tile they were on broke free as they began to slide down the roof as if they were on a sled, and screamed.

They were able to jump off their sled just before it went sailing off into the air. It landed a few blocks away, making a lot of noise, and the pony guards heard it as they went off to investigate, and one of the unicorn pony guards said "Check the alley!" "This way!" Another unicorn pony guard said as they ran off. Spike, Applejack, and Apple Bloom hid as part of a statue when a pegasai pony guard passed by with a lantern in his hoof. Once the coast was clear, Spike looked at Applejack, and said "I hope I didn't scare you." "Not for an instant." Applejack said. Apple Bloom groaned from the screaming she did. "I'll never forget you, Applejack." Spike said. "Come with me." Applejack said. "What?" Spike asked. "To the Court of Miracles!" Applejack said. "Leave this place." "Oh, no. I'm never going back out there again." Spike said. "You saw what happened to me today. No. This is where I belong." "All right, then, Ah'll come to see you." Applejack said. "What? Here?" Spike asked. "But the pony soldiers, and Discord, and-!" "Ah'll come after sunset." Applejack said interrupting Spike. "But, at sunset, I ring the evening mass." Spike said. "And after that, I clean the kooisters, and then I ring the vespers, and-!" He stopped talking when Applejack gave him a kiss on the cheek, and he said "Whatever's good for you." Applejack then gave Spike a talisman as she said "If you ever need sanctuary, this will show you the way." "But how?" Spike asked. "Just remember. When you wear this woven band, you hold the city in your claw." "The pony guards are coming!" Apple Bloom said. "Hurry! You must go." Spike said. Applejack and Apple Bloom swung down to the ground with a rope, and they ran off into the dark while Spike watched them with a smile on his face.