My Little Hunchback Of Notre Dame

Chapter 11

Later that day, all of Equestria was burning because Discord and the guards were still searching for Applejack. A unicorn guard approached Discord, and said "Sir! We've looked everywhere, and still no sign of the earth pony!" "I had the entire cathedral surrounded, guards at every door." Discord muttered. "There was no way she could have escaped." Then, an idea hit him as he heard the bells ringing, and muttered "Unless." Back at the Canterlot Bell Tower and Church, Rarity and Twilight Sparkle were looking down at the burning scenery below them. "Oh, it doesn't look good, girls." Twilight Sparkle said. "It's hopeless." Rarity said. "Absolutely hopeless!" "You're telling me! I'm losing to a bird!" Pinkie Pie said as she played a game of poker with a pigeon, and lost. "Oh, that poor earth pony!" Rarity said. "I'm beginning to fear the worst." "I know, but, now, don't you say anything to upset Spike." Twilight Sparkle said. "He's worried enough already." "Yeah, you're right." Pinkie Pie said. "We'd better lighten up." As Spike made his way down the stairs, Rarity said "Shh, shh, shh! Here he comes." "Now, just stay calm." Twilight Sparkle said. "Not a word." Rarity said. "Easy does it." Pinkie Pie said. "Stone faced." Rarity said. Spike looked down at the scenery, and said "Any sign of her?"

Suddenly, Rarity finally cracked from the pressure, and wailed as she said "Oh, it's a lost cause! She could be anywhere! In the stocks, in the dungeon, on the rack!" She cried as Spike tried his best to comfort her, and Twilight Sparkle sarcastically said "Nice work, Rarity." "No, she's right." Spike said. "What are we going to do?" "What are you guys talking about?" Pinkie Pie asked while playing with a deck of cards. "If I know Applejack, she's three steps ahead of Discord, and well out of harm's way." "Do you really think so?" Spike said. "Hey, when things cool off, she'll be back." Pinkie Pie said. "You'll see." "What makes you so sure?" Spike asked. "Because she likes you." Twilight Sparkle said as she patted Spike's head. "We always said you were the cute one." I thought I was the cute one!" Pinkie Pie said. "No, you're the fat, stupid one with the big mouth!" Twilight Sparkle said. Pinkie Pie tilted her head in confusion, and said "What are you saying, exactly?" Twilight Sparkle looked at Spike as she said "Take it from us, Spike. You've got nothing to worry about." "Yeah, you're irresistible." Pinkie Pie said. Rarity chuckled, and said "Knights in shining armor certainly aren't her type." "And those guys are a dime a dozen." Pinkie Pie said. "But you? You're one of a kind. After all, who wouldn't love a guy like you?"

Suddenly, the door down the stairs opened, and Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Twilight Sparkle quickly turned to stone as Applejack entered, and said "Spike? Spike?" Spike looked down as he said "Applejack?!?" He ran down the stairs, and hugged her as he said "Applejack! You're all right! I knew you'd come back!" "You've done so much for me already, mah friend, but Ah must ask your help one more time." Applejack said. "Yes, anything." Spike said. Applejack and another earth pony named Silver Shill then brought in the unconscious AJ, much to the surprise of Spike. "This is AJ." Applejack said. "He's wounded, and a fugitive like me. He can't go on much longer. Ah knew he'd be safe here. Please, can ya'll hide him?" "This way." Spike said as he went up the stairs, and Applejack and Silver Shill followed him. He pointed at his bed, and they placed the wounded pony on it. AJ then moaned gently in pain as he woke up, and looked up at Applejack. "Applejack?" AJ asked. Applejack shushed him, and said "You'll hide here until you're strong enough to move." She then took out a flask of apple cider as AJ said "Great Ah could use a drink." Applejack poured the apple cider onto AJ's wound as he cried out in pain, and said "Ah, yes! Hmm! Feels like a 1470 cider. Not a good year."

"That family owes you their lives." Applejack said as she began stitching his wound, and sealing it up. "You're either the single bravest soldier Ah've ever seen, or the craziest." "Ex-soldier, remember?" AJ asked. "Why is it, whenever we meet, Ah end up bleeding?" Applejack then finished stitching the wound, and said "You're lucky. That arrow almost pierced you're heart." AJ gently placed her hoof on his heart, and said "Ah'm not so sure it didn't." Applejack looked at AJ with a look of sympathy in her eyes, and they moved closer to each other. They then kissed each other, much to Spike's heartbreak and dismay. He turned away in sadness as he thought "I guess I wasn't meant for heaven's light after all." He then took out an ace of heart card Pinkie Pie gave him earlier, tore it in half, and let it fall onto the floor. AJ and Applejack finished kissing each other, and Spike began silently crying his eyes out as he leaned against a wooden pillar.