Chapters Chapter 1: Spike the Dragon's Day Off
Celestia's big bright magical sun rose over Ponyville at the start of a new morning. In the town library, a purple baby dragon, Spike, was waking up from his night sleep. He yawned, causing a green flame to burst out of his mouth and make his pillow catch fire. Spike sprang up, ran off, returned with water, and doused it all over the bedroom.
"Phew, now that was a close one, Twilight! Umm, Twilight?"
He got no answer. The dragon glanced around and saw no purple alicorn. He then felt something in his throat, and started to gag a little. The dragon then burped out a letter. It read:
Dear Spike, It's me, Twilight. I'm having just a wonderful time in Canterlot! The princesses and Shining Armor are really enjoying my company, but they miss you more than ever. Too bad you didn't want to join me, but I can understand since I'll only be there for royal reasons rather than leisure. Don't get too excited, but the library is your's for the day. Unless you want to help anypony else out, you have a day off. I promise I'll be back tomorrow! Please oh please don't destroy the library or do any shenanigans while I'm gone. I hope I can count on you, number one assistant! Sincerely, Twilight Sparkle
"Humph, maybe I'd be happier if I knew when exactly these letters would arrive."
Spike stayed put angrily. Then he realized the kind of opportunity he had that day.
"Oh boy! I get to finally be home alone with absolutely no chores to do! Now how could I of all dragons forget such a day?"
The overjoyed reptile stood there thinking.
"Hmmm, I never often have free days. How should I take up this next 24 hours?"
Spike looked at Twilight's clock and saw that it was 9:26 A.M.
"9:26? I'm already nine hours and twenty-six minutes and, let's see, one two three four… 12 seconds into my free day! Now 15 seconds! Oh, the humanity, make it stop! Think, Spike, think! How can I take up this precious time?"
Spike backed up and knocked into a shelf, causing papers on it to fall on him. One of the papers got stuck on his sharp tail, causing him to sigh and yank it off. He looked at the other papers that fell, which included his bad crayon illustrations of him and Twilight smiling, blank parchment to write to the princess, and a checklist that Spike himself made a while beforehand. Picking up the checklist, Spike realized that it was a to-do list of things to do and gather for a very special occasion. It was a special occasion to Spike, at least.
"Well would you look at this? Ha ha, this is exactly what I'll do today! I better keep this list handy. With no Twilight around, this is the perfect idea!"
Spike gathered some bits, put them in a bag, and ran out of the library with it. The to-do list he had was one that told him what to do to ask Rarity to be his special some-pony.
~
A white unicorn named Rarity arose from her nightly slumber in her boutique.
"Uhhhhhhn, (yawn)."
Rarity then shook her head rapidly.
"Humph, a lady never yawns loudly, with or without company. Opal, rise and shine! I have yet another busy, hard-working, innovative, and elaborate day ahead of me. However it must commence with a simple, silent-"
There was then a loud knock on the door, causing a tired Rarity to cringe.
"Well so much for being silent!"
She forced a smile and a welcoming face as she opened the door to see her younger sister, Sweetie Belle, and her two best friends, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo, standing in the doorway smiling.
"Hi sis!", Sweetie Belle happily said.
"Mornin' Rarity!", Apple Bloom said.
"What's up with your mane?", Scootaloo said.
Rarity looked up at her mane. Her sleep made it look like Pinkie Pie's. She quickly did her best to somewhat fix it up.
"Uhhh, sis? Are you going to say hi to you're sis, sis?"
Rarity quickly stopped with her mane.
"Ah yes, good morning, Sweetie Belle."
"Annndddd don't forget your sis's friends, sis!"
"Of course, good morning sis, err I mean Scootaloo and Apple Bloom."
"Mornin'! Um, I reckon you should work on yer mane a lil' more.", Apple Bloom said.
Rarity looked up and saw that her mane after her work now looked like Fluttershy's. She quickly got back to work.
"Sooooo, while you're having a bad mane day, Sweetie Belle had a question for you! Isn't that right, Sweets?", Scootaloo said.
"Yep! Umm, sis, I was wondering if I could (gulp) um…
After a little more work, Rarity's mane then looked like Princess Celestia's. She used her unicorn magic to make it wave like hers.
"Okay! I just wanted to know if umm,", Sweetie Belle said as her smile disappeared.
"Go on." Rarity said.
"Can I, err we, err, I mean um…"
"Please Sweetie Belle!"
"Can we, uhh…"
"Spit it out, child!"
"Can we, um, help yo-"
"NO, please NO HELP!!! For the love of Celestia!"
Her anger and movement caused her mane to get messy again. The three fillies stared at Rarity, bewildered at what she said and how she reacted.
"Oh, um, ahem, no Sweetie Belle. I don't wish to be helped today, but thank you for the gesture.", Rarity added.
"Awww, but you said that Spike was coming later to help!", Sweetie Belle said. The other crusaders started laughing upon her mentioning "Spike".
"Oh yeah, I'm sure he'd love to 'help' you!", Scootaloo snickered.
"Please, oh please, girls, I know that Spike has a liking for me but I'm positive that he's helping me today because, um, he's just being a good friend. That's all.", Rarity spoke.
"Well, are ya lookin' forward ta seein' yer gooood friend later today?", joked Apple Bloom.
"Girls! Spike never brings up his love towards me. It's on a need-to-know basis, and nopony needs to know."
Rarity quickly tried changing the subject.
"Now Sweetie Belle, you got up this early just to ask if I needed help?"
"Yep! Me and the other crusaders had a sleepover at my house and we thought we'd get a cutie mark in being good assistants, sis! Besides, Mom and Dad sent me here cause you have to watch me while they'll be in Las Pegasus over the weekend!"
"Ah yes, that . You can go to the guest room Sweetie Belle, and you're friends can stay here if you want. Just, I ask of you, NO crusading in the shop! I can, and definitely will, work on my own today! Now Sweetie, you may take your friends to your guest room.
"Thanks Rarity!"
"Oh, right now? Sorry Sweetie Belle, but Applejack and Mac need ma help soon gettin' an apple that got stuck in the roof drain of the barn and is cloggin' up all the water.", Apple Bloom said.
"Yeah, definitely later. My scooter popped a wheel on a maneuver I pulled off yesterday and I need to fix it ASAP as possible.", Scootaloo added, not realizing what "ASAP" stood for.
"Oh, well, bye girls!", Sweetie Belle spoke. They joyfully hopped away like Pinkie Pie on a sunny morning as Sweetie Belle went into the next room. Rarity smiled.
"Oh, Sweetie Belle, I hope you never grow up.", she thought. She then said aloud, "Now let me see here, dresses, dresses, dresses, mail, dresses… oooh, the mail's here!"
There was a fashion magazine and an envelope in her mail pile that came through the slot in the door. The envelope had "To Rarity" written on it in crayon and had hearts drawn all over it.
"Let me take a wild guess, hmmm, Spike.", Rarity sarcastically said. She chuckled as she opened the envelope up with her unicorn magic and saw a folded up letter written in crayon.
"Here we go again, Rarity", she sighed to herself as she read it.
Dearest Rarity, I am happy to invite you to join me in a picnic that I will have later tonight on muzzle hill just outside Ponyville. I'm sorry I can't help you today but I'm busy with things and stuff. I really hope you can make it because if you can't I'll be sad. Don't worry about getting there. I'll take you! Also don't worry about what we eat because I'll finish everything you won't. I'll pick you up around 6:30. Can you come? Cool! I knew you'd say yes. So yeah please please come! Love, Spike P.S. I wrote this one all by myself this time!
Rarity felt a weird sensation. Spike has given her numerous gifts and compliments but has never actually asked her out. She sighed.
"Oh, no, this is not good, this is not good at all. I don't want to break Spikey Wikey's wittle dwagon heart! I must go to his picnic."
Meanwhile, Sweetie Belle was awfully silent, and had her mind on things outside of finding her special talent. She was thinking about someone. A dragon. She sat at the door, sighed, and curled up into a ball. She didn't like how the crusaders were joking about Spike. She doesn't usually like it when other ponies, or dragons in this case, are made fun of. Their humility towards Spike wouldn't get him out of her mind. As Rarity was snipping fabrics for one of her client's dresses, she looked at Sweetie Belle at the door. Seeing her sister in this condition always saddened her, so she walked over to see what was wrong.
"Sweetie Belle, you just seemed so happy earlier and now you seem troubled and deeply saddened over something. What is it?"
"You wouldn't understand."
"Something is simply wrong, darling!"
"No Rarity, everything's okay."
"Tellme!"
"No bu-"
"Tellme!"
"Rarity I don't want to."
Rarity thought a little bit, trying to come up with things that typically bother her sister.
"Is it that you don't have your cutie mark?"
"No."
"Are Diamond Tiara and Silver Spool-"
"Spoon."
"Silver Spoon , my mistake, are they bullying you again?"
"Not since school but that's not the problem."
"(Gasp) Is it because I overreacted and did not allow you to partake in helping me? Oh Sweetie, I'M SO SORRY!!! Oh, my, I'll do anything, to make it up, ANYTHING!!"
"Rari-"
"Yes Sweetie?!?!"
"That's not the problem."
"Oh. Phew, that was a relief."
Something was urging Rarity to ask her if it has anything to do with a boy.
"Is it a boy?"
Sweetie Belle hesitated to respond but eventually let out a quiet "Maybe". She said it quieter than Fluttershy, but Rarity still acted as if it were a yes.
"Oh my, my very own sister has a potential special some-pony! I knew this day would come! Who is it? Is it that brown pony with that out-of-style propeller beanie who took you to get milkshakes?"
"No, not him. He was just a friend."
Rarity was now jumping up and down.
"Tellme tellme tellme tellme TELLME!!!!"
Sweetie Belle was hiding in a corner in fear. Rarity took note of this and calmed down.
"Oh, um, so sorry, where are my manners, what I meant to say was that it would be a pleasure to know who you like." Sweetie Belle was still shaking.
"You can always ask me for help, sis ." Rarity winked at Sweetie Belle.
"Well, to be honest, Rarity, it's not about love."
Rarity lowered her head and ears.
"Oh, well, still please do carry on! I don't want you to be so sad."
"Okay, well, I was wondering, about Spike."
"Yes?"
"Why exactly do you not like him if like he likes you so much?"
Rarity stared blankly at her sister and then chuckled.
"Oh, Sweetie, haha, listen to yourself! Oh you should really have a cutie mark in comedy, dear!"
"But I was really asking why!"
"Oh, well isn't it obvious? Spike is very young, around your age as a matter of fact! Let's visualize! Now, let's see, who's a colt in your class, um, Featherweight! Yes, how about Featherweight, and let's see, who's my age, umm, Rainbow Dash! Now you logically wouldn't even think of them being in love together, would you?"
Sweetie Belle pretended to vomit.
"Now that's what I though, Sweetie. I hope you understand what I'm trying to insinuate."
Sweeite Belle nodded.
"Good. Also, um, he is a dragon, and as far as I am concerned I have never head of a pony-dragon relationship in my life."
"Why does that matter, sis?"
"It just, well, simply, doesn't seem correct. Now if other ponies were doing so and if Spike was around my age range, I would possibly say yes. However, Spike is far too young, and ponies shouldn't be falling for dragons."
"Thanks Rarity."
"I hope I helped you, Sweetie."
"You did, Rarity."
"Great, glad to aid you! Now your friends may need your help! Are you going to join them?"
"Okay, I will, thanks."
Sweetie Belle left the boutique, still upset. She still couldn't get Spike out of her mind and what would happen if he were to ask Rarity out and get "no" for an answer.
~
Meanwhile in the marketplace, a baby dragon with a big smile from ear to ear was out buying everything on his checklist. He seemed to be in a much better mood than usual. He first got lots of flowers.
"Morning, Laurel Petals! What's the best flower ya got?"
"Top of the morning, Spike! Well, lucky for you I have this wonderful assortment of lilacs right here!"
"Thanks, Laurel!"
Spike also got a basket.
"Hey, Forrest!"
"Spikester, good to see ya! Lemme guess, twenty baskets?"
"Ha ha ha, wait what?"
"Just teasin'! Whew I got ya good! One basket?"
"Yessiree!"
"This here is a top of the line picnic basket! It can withstand 100 pounds of weight inside and has a stylish finish, if I do say so myself! Have a great day, Spike!"
"It's already off to a great start!"
He needed food and decorations.
"HEY Spikey Winkerdoodle!"
"HEY Pinkie Winkadoodle!"
"Well some dragon is in a fantabulous mood today!"
"Oh, you betcha Pinkie! Now I came to Sugarcube Corner for a specific reason."
"You wanted to say aloha to your great friend, Pinkie Pie? That's me, by the way!"
"Yes, I know! But that's not all. I need the best dessert you have!"
"Well we have cake and brownies and jello and tart and cookies and wedding cake and oh is there a difference between normal cake and wedding cake except that wedding cakes are so fantastically BIG and cakes are so teeny-weeny little and oh cupcakes are like little babies and oh yeah we have ice cream treats and pies and pazookis and OOOOHHHHHHHHHHH they're all just so good I can't decide!"
"They all seem wonderful!"
"What should we choose?!?!"
"I'll enee meanie minee mo to decide which one!"
"That's my favoritest game ever!"
"Mine too! Let's see, enee meanie, minee… it's the cookies! The cookies!"
"My second favorite!"
"I'll take a dozen sapphire sugar cookies, please, Pinkie!"
"Here I'll give you two dozen, on me!"
"Gosh, Pinkie, you didn't have to!"
"But you're my friend and I wanna make you smile! A dozen free cookies always makes me smile!"
"Thanks, Pinkie Pie!"
"Now you said you needed decorations too, now, didn't you!"
"Only the best! This is extreeemely important and I can't mess up!"
"Can you tell me what it is?"
"That's for me to know and you to likely find out."
"Okay, well if it's that important and all then, hmmm… Spike, take the party cannon."
"(gasp) But Pinkie, it's your pride and joy!"
"Return it by tomorrow, you need it more that I do!"
"Thank you so much!"
"Anything to make my friend smile!"
Spike needed a stylish carriage to pick Rarity up in, so he went to a carriage rental facility near Ponyville. He was offered several carriages, including a boxy, muscle-like Equestrian carriage pulled by a mustang, a long, curvy foreign sports carriage pulled by a jaguar, a sporty, sharp-edged Istallion sports carriage pulled by a raging bull, and a stylish, boxy Equestrian carriage with a stylish paint finish pulled by an impala. Spike finally decided on a red Istallion sports carriage called a "Ferrony" that was pulled by a prancing horse named Enzo. He had the Ferrony parked behind the library as he was on his way to buy a picnic blanket. As he was reading the list, he did not see where he was going as he accidentally bumped into a white unicorn filly that looked a lot like Rarity.
"Sweetie Belle?"
"Spike?!?!"
"I'm really sorry about that, haha, I guess I got a little too excited."
Sweetie Belle remembered what Rarity said about him and was happy to see him so glad. However, since she couldn't get him out of her mind for a long time, she felt awkward around him and found herself blushing a lot.
"It's okay, Spike! So um, why are you so excited?"
"Well since I have a day off I figured I better take care of something that's muy importante!"
"Really? Cool! So, wait, you aren't helping Rarity today?"
"Oh, I'll be 'helping' her soon enough! Haha, I'm gonna have a romantic picnic with her tonight!"
Sweeite Belle's eyes went wide open as her fake smile turned into a rapid frown.
"Oh, um, tonight?"
"Yep! I know for sure that she'll be my-"
Spike leaned into Sweetie Belle's ear and whispered.
"-special some-pony."
Sweetie Belle's ears dropped as did her tail and all her spirits.
"Hey, Sweeite Belle, something bugging you?"
Sweetie didn't want to be the one to reveal Rarity's true feelings towards him, so she held it back.
"No, I'm happy as an oak!"
"That's not even an expression."
"Oh, yeah, hehe, it's not, is it now? Is it me or is it cold out or something, hehe!"
Sweetie's heart was pounding because she knew Spike would be crushed by what Rarity will tell him. It also pounded because this was causing her to start having a feeling towards him that she's never felt about him before. She started shaking, her legs trembling. Ponies walking by started staring. One even thought she was a street performer and gave her a bit.
"Umm, Sweetie Belle?", Spike asked again.
"I, uhhh, gotta go fish the mane duck!", she blurted as she ran off to the boutique. Spike stood there staring into space wondering as to what just happened. He then shrugged and carried on with his shopping, confident as ever. Sweetie Belle went to her guest room and put her face down into her pillow. She came to terms and realized that what she started to feel towards Spike was love.
"I can't like like Spike, I just can't! He's a dragon, and Rarity's warned me about how that kind of love would turn out!"
Apple Bloom and Scootaloo then entered the boutique and were as excited as Spike.
"Sweetie Belle, we've got some serious crusadin' to do!", Apple Bloom said.
"Let's hop to it!", Scootaloo added. They then saw that their friend had tears in her eyes.
"Sweetie Belle? Is everything sailing smooth?", Scootaloo asked.
"Oh, of course! I just had sand in my eyes!", said the unicorn.
"What sand, I don't see none!", Apple Bloom asked.
"Oh, well, I tried to get a, um, an acting cutie mark by acting as if there was sand in my eye!", Sweetie Belle lied. Seeing that her friends weren't convinced, she acted as if she had been acting. "Oh, et tú, Brute? What light beyond yer mane breaks…"
"Cool! Now, Sweets, you up for a tree climbing cutie mark?", the pegasus asked.
"Tree climbing? Where?", asked the unicorn.
"Just Alpine Pine, the tallest tree in Ponyville!", added Apple Bloom.
"Ummmm, okay!" Sweetie Belle joyfully said with her signature cracked voice.
"Let's do it! Oh, Sweetie Belle, a little advice; next time you try acting, do a musical. You're a great singer!", Scootaloo said.
"I can't sing!", Sweetie Belle insinuated. The other crusaders rolled their eyes but then left as a trio.
~
It was 6:30, and Rarity was combing her mane waiting for Spike's arrival.
"I can only wonder what Spike has planned. I don't believe he has ever interacted with a lady, or any female for that matter, like this before. Just do your best to try to make him feel good and you'll be happy, Rarity! Yes, it'll be over before you know it!"
Squealing tires outside caused Rarity to look out, only to discover it was Spike drifting the Ferrony in front of Carousel Boutique.
"Oh Celestia."
The window went down and Spike was inside with a top hat and fake mustache. He stared at Rarity and smiled. Rarity gave a fake smile back and a wave behind her window. She came out of the boutique and got in the passenger seat of the carriage.
"Evening, Rarity!"
"Oh, um, good evening Spike! I'm, um, glad you've invited me to a friendly little picnic with you."
"I'm just as happy as you! Yaaa, onward, Enzo!", Spike Called toward the prancing pony pulling the sports carriage. Enzo pranced and then ran off. It was silent in the carriage until Rarity finally broke the ice.
"So, um, Spike, I didn't know you knew how to drive."
"You didn't? Well you see, life expectancy for us dragons is very unpredictable and it varies among us. Some live to see two years, others live to see two-thousand. That's why I learned to drive while back in Canterlot! They teach all the younger ones."
"Ah, I see."
It was an awfully quiet ride up to Muzzle Hill outside Ponyville. When they finally got there, Spike pulled the picnic blanket and basket out of the front-mounted trunk. He set them up as Rarity sat down. After giving Enzo a tip, Spike joined Rarity. He gave her the basket.
"Well? Gonna open it?"
"Oh, why of course! Very well then." Rarity opened the basket. "Ooh, lilacs? My, um, favorite. And these cookies look simply delectable."
"Oh-ho, thank you! Just for you, Rarity!"
They then engaged in small talk until the sky finally turned dark.
"And then I taught Twilight what 'cool' meant in slang last week!"
"Oh ha ha, silly Twilight. Say, Spike, it's getting awfully dark out and nopony else has shown up yet."
"And let's keep it that way."
"I beg your pardon?"
"Rarity, I've been meaning to ask you this since I first laid eyes on you."
Several thoughts were rushing through Rarity's head. "Oh no, " she thought, "he's going to actually ask me! He'll be heartbroken! But he's been so happy all day. "
Spike pulled out the party cannon and shot its confetti ammo everywhere. He then grabbed the lilacs and held them out to her. It was clear that hard work was put into Spike's little performance. Tears were starting to form in Rarity's eyes as was a feel of guilt. Spike took off the hat and mustache.
"Rarity."
"Y-yes, Spike?"
"Will you be my special some-pony?"
Several thoughts were also going through Spike's head. They were "Yes yes yes yes yes… ". Rarity was getting an opposite reaction.
"Well, Spike, I see that you took up your entire free day to do this. For me! A beautiful assortment of lilacs, my favorite flower, lots of cookies, an expensive sports carriage, and even Pinkie's party cannon."
Spike's smile kept growing and growing, not aware of what was to come next.
"But, (sigh) as much as I hate to inform you, my answer is, well, no."
Spike's smile disappeared immediately.
"N-n-no?!?! But Rarity why? I help you all day and do all this for you and-"
"I really appreciate your efforts Spike and I see that you'd die for me."
Spike's eyes started to water up and tears came down his face. Rarity felt as if she was shooting Ol' Yeller.
"But, but my birthday! When I told you I like you! W-why don't you like me?", Spike barley muttered out.
"Well, um, how do I put this…"
"WHY NOT?!?!"
"Because you're very young and you're a dragon!"
Rarity couldn't believe she actually told him that. Spike couldn't believe it either. That was another thing against being a dragon. He burnt half his pillow to a crisp this morning, unexpectedly pukes letters, gets things stuck on his sharp tail, and thought of as a freak if falling in love with a pony. He shifted from a cry to a sob. He rolled up into a ball and let his tears pour out.
"Spike I didn't mean to inform you in that demeanor! You're wonderful at being a dragon!"
"Who am I kidding, I'm not good for anything!"
"Spikey Wikey, you've accepted being a dragon for years now-"
"Don't call me Spikey Wikey!", Spike yelled. "Of course you don't like me, I'm a monster!"
"Spike you have an adorable and highly unique personality that nopony else can ever obtain!"
"But I'm a dragon! Rarity, if I were a pony, would you like me?"
Rarity hesitated to answer but finally did. She even shed some tears.
"Spike I've already said that you're very young for me."
Spike then came to terms. The fact of being too young for Rarity was something he's been trying to avoid for awhile now. Avoiding it has finally caught up to him, as he re-realized that Rarity was Twilight's age.
"Oh, you're right, Rarity! How could I be so dumb?!?! (sniff) All this time I've spent trying to get you to like like me all goes down the drain!"
The angry dragon stomped on the remaining flowers in anger. He kicked one of the Ferrony's rims, causing him to hurt his foot. He started crying even more. Rarity put her foreleg around Spike, but Spike slapped her hoof away. He stood up and stared at Rarity, his eyes red from crying so hard. He calmed down and handed her the keys of the Ferrony.
"Drive the carriage back home, I'll return it in the morning. Give Pinkie her cannon back. I'll just walk to the library."
Spike turned around and started to walk into the forest behind them.
"Spike, don't feel so hard on yourself! We can still be the great friends we've been for a long time!"
Spike angrily looked back, but then ran off into the forest.
Rarity's crying ceased, and she laid on the blanket.
"That was more emotionally painful than New Fluttershy's insults! (Sniff) Well, Rarity, it had to eventually be done, and you've abruptly done it. Oh how will I ever tell Twilight?"
She took a deep breath, and eventually got in the carriage to drive home.
~
"Al-most- there!", Scootaloo joyfully said as the crusaders neared the top of the tallest tree in Ponyville.
"Ah see the top branch, ah see it!", Apple Bloom excitingly said. Sweetie Belle was still silent as ever. As Scootaloo was reaching for the top branch, they heard someone down below.
"Hey, who's up there? What are you doing?"
They looked down and saw a tan stallion with a hat, a badge, and a flashlight in his mouth. His cutie mark was a police-style badge.
"Oh, no, forest rangers! We gotta bail, girls! Maybe I should've told you it was illegal to climb Alpine Pine before we agreed, but it's better to be safe with a blank flank rather than be arrested with a cutie mark!"
"Y'all heard Scootaloo, abort abort!"
"Just one 'little' problem," Sweetie Belle said, "how in Equestria will we ever get down and survive?"
"Sweets, you go down that way! Scoots, you climb down that way, and we'll separate at the bottom, deal?", Apple Bloom asked.
"Get the hay down from there!", the forest ranger barked.
"Deal!", said Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle in unison.
"One, two, three, GO!", Apple Bloom ordered as they all climbed separate ways down as fast as they could. The ranger started running towards the tree, but his pace and galloping made him drop his flashlight and caused it to turn off. As he searched for it,
"Spike! Oh no, Rarity must have said no! I'm coming, Spike!"
The dragon couldn't hear the filly and slowly started to tilt over the cliff. Sweetie Belle, now tearing up, used all of her inexperienced unicorn magic to grab Spike, as he was about to purposely fall over the cliff, and reel him to the land. As she set him down next to her, she fell down unconscious due to her using all the magic she had. Spike sat there, shocked.
"Sweetie Belle?", he asked. "Sweetie Belle, wow I can't believe somepony actually tried to save me! Sweetie Belle? Oh Sweetie Belle, please wake up! … Please!"
Spike lied down next to her and waited for her to awaken. About two minutes later, Sweetie Belle slowly arose.
"Sweetie Belle! Oh thank Celestia, you're alive!"
"Huh?", she asked. Her memory then came back to her as she realized she saved Spike from taking his own life. "Why, Spike, thank Celestia you're alive!" Sweetie Belle realized that she saved her crush's own life. They stared at each other and smiled. Then the young unicorn shook her head rapidly and spoke up.
"Spike! What were you doing having yourself fall over the cliff?!?!"
Spike's smile disappeared. He looked down at the ground as memories from earlier played in his mind like a sad movie.
"Rarity said no, didn't she?", Sweetie softly asked.
Spike's heart sank as the words slipped out of Sweetie's mouth.
"Yes," Spike murmured, "she said no."
"Well, umm, that's no reason to try to have yourself killed!"
"It's not only that! You're sister had to do with it, don't get me wrong, but I'm done being a dragon! I'm no good to anypony."
"But Spike, your Twilight's favorite assistant!"
"I'm also her only assistant next to Owlicious, and I still manage to mess something up every day! You don't know what it's like to be a dragon in a pony-filled society!"
Sweetie Belle remembered what Rarity said about dragons. "Is it hard because you can't find a true love?"
Spike stared at her with a blank expression. He didn't want to get all mushy about love, but still couldn't help it. "Yes! That's one of the main reasons! Rarity told me that dragons shouldn't love ponies."
"She told me that too."
"What do you think, Sweetie Belle?"
"About what?"
"What Rarity told both of us, what do you think? I mean, do you believe dragons and ponies are made to be together in love?"
"Well, ummm, well Rarity is the only one to bring this ever up to me and I doubt that Miss Cheerilee will ever teach me about it, so I guess I'm for it."
"You mean like, you think dragons and ponies coul-"
"Yes. I do. So, um, only if you want to answer, what else did Rarity tell you?"
Spike slouched down and told her all. He found it very comfortable to tell her everything.
"And she also said, well, after the part about appreciating my effort, that dragons like me can't love ponies. I know we already brought that up, but it's just one out of many flaws about being a dragon."
"What else is there?"
Spike then gagged a little and started coughing.
"Spike? SPIKE? Are you alright?"
Spike then burped a letter out.
"You see this, Sweetie Belle? How would you like it if you just always unexpectedly had letters burping out of you?", Spike angrily asked as he ripped the letter to shreds. "On top of that, my own breathing is a fire hazard and I have harmful spikes all over me."
"Hence your name."
"What?"
"Nothing!"
"Okay."
"So, um, go on."
"With what?"
"Telling me about the picnic."
"Oh yeah. Rarity told me that I was too young for her, but in all due respect, I must agree with her on that one. But finding a filly just like Rarity that actually like likes me back is going to be harder than impressing Twilight with my knowledge of the history of magic."
Spike then realized that the answer to all his problems was sitting right next to him. He comprehended that he really liked Sweetie Belle. He hadn't thought about it much, but it just sounded so right to him. A pony who looks and acts similar to Rarity who believes that ponies can woo dragons and would make all of Spike's dreams come true was right to his left. Many thoughts were processing through Sweetie Belle's mind as well. There was a long and quiet pause. Sweetie Belle finally broke the silence by saying what she had been waiting to tell Spike as long as her love for him lasted.
"Well, Spike. Ummm, if it makes you feel any better, umm, I love you."
The filly then kissed Spike's cheek. Spike's head darted up as did a smile and a glow in his eyes. The girl of his wildest dreams
"Um, Sweetie Belle?"
"I'm so sorry just pretend nothing ever happened!", the poor unicorn blurted out.
"Yeah, I just wanted to say that I, uhh, (gulp) love you too.", Spike said as he kissed Sweetie Belle on the lips. It was a long one. When they separated, they stared at each other and smiled. They were their own dream partners. They then hugged so tightly that it would have suffocated Angel bunny if he was between them. Tears of joy dripped down their faces.
"I did it, ", Spike thought to himself, "why would I even try on Rarity when I had this perfection here the whole time? "
"I did it, ", Sweetie Belle thought to herself, "I have the greatest boy anypony could ask for and he's all mine! His awesome personality will keep me charmed all day! "
Spike was the first to speak.
"Sweetie Belle?", he nervously asked.
"Yes, Spike?", Sweetie Belle excitingly responded.
"Will you be my special some-pony?"
The white unicorn hopped up and down and chased her tail in excitement. "Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes! I'd love that!", she said with her lovely cracked voice. Now that's the kind of response Spike wanted from a girl. Sweetie Belle then stared at Spike in the eyes with glee. As she kept looking, she realized something huge and her smile disappeared.
"Sweets, what's the matter? You look worried, all of a sudden."
Sweetie Belle was saddened again.
"Spike, we can't tell anypony about our love, or tonight even!"
"Well I wasn't really planning on telling anypony that I tried to kill myself, but why not about our love?"
"Well, we're still not sure if dragons and ponies should be loving each other yet. We might get ridiculed or even get in big trouble."
"Oh, yeah. You're right."
Another moment of silence and sadness commenced. They then engaged in a long, tear-filled hug. The dreams they thought had just become a reality all crashed down and ended. Suddenly, Spike's head raised as he got an idea.
"Oh boy, Sweetie Belle, this relationship can work!"
"But how?"
"We can be really secretive about it! We just won't tell anypony, secretly go on dates and stuff, and act like friends when around other ponies!"
"I, umm, great idea! We could be like spies!"
Spike had a confused look on his face.
"You know, because they have secrets?"
"Oh, yeah, of course!"
They chuckled for a while and eventually decided to walk back to Ponyville together.
"Here, Sweets, I'll take, err, ahem, escort you to the boutique!"
"Gee, thanks Spike! Rarity was expecting me back late anyways. Ahem, You truly are a wonderfully wonderful gentleman!", Sweetie Belle said in a stereotype uptight accent. Spike then laughed like a stereotype Prench stallion and said in an uptight accent, "I'd say, positively perfect for a beautiful mare like yourself, mademoiselle!" This made Sweetie Belle chuckle, and they laughed their way to Carousel Boutique.
"Thanks, Spike! I really hope I see you again soon!"
"Well Twilight's returning from her stay in Canterlot tomorrow morning so I promise I'll try to find time!"
"Spike?"
"Yes?"
"If you were a Pony, I'd definitely let this be an open relationship!" She then kissed him on the cheek again. "Goodnight, 'Spikey Wikey'! That was the greatest night of my life!"
Spike laughed. "Goodnight, Sweetie Belle! I also had a wonderful time tonight!" Spike hopped back to the library and was even happier and more confident than during the day. He didn't need any flowers or Ferrony to win a girl over like he tried for Rarity, but only needed himself. He knew that this was true love. When he got back to the library, he saw the clock read "12:27 A.M." Spike smiled to himself. "Oh, Spike, you've spent this twenty-four hours well! It's gonna be hard to hide my love for Sweetie Belle from everypony else, but at least I have her secretly!" He was more exhausted than he thought, and fell asleep after just two minutes of laying in his bed. Meanwhile at the boutique, Rarity heard the door open and recognized Sweetie Belle's hoofsteps, but was too busy thinking about Spike to check on her. She eventually went up to the guest room to find her fast asleep in her bed with a big smile. Rarity's heart melted as she saw this. She whispered "Good night, little sis" and turned off her lights.
Author's Note
This is my first mlp fanfic, and it focusses on my favorite shipping, Spike x Sweetie Belle. Feast your eyes, as feedback will be appreciated!
Chapter 2: The First Get-Together
The next morning, a purple alicorn named Twilight Sparkle drowsily entered her Ponyville library. She sat down at the front door with her bags and took a deep breath.
"Wow, what a long and busy trip! It's always great to be back in good old Ponyville."
Walking upstairs, she could see that her dragon, Spike, was fast asleep.
"Spike sure looks like he had a good night's sleep! It'll be better if I don't wake him. Now, time to study the spells of Princess Celestia's new book that she gave me an-"
"Welcome back, Twilight!!!!", a pink pony said as she hopped inside. She was followed by four other ponies. Twilight immediately recognized them as her five best friends.
"Girls, wow, how are all of you?"
"Doin' great, Twili! Sure wasn't the same 'round here without ya!", Applejack said.
"I'm sure your stay there was awesome, especially now that you're a princess and can boss everypony around!", Rainbow Dash added.
"How was your stay in Canterlot, Twilight? You seem tired.", Fluttershy quietly said.
"Well, duhhh, Fluttershy! She's not a small-town librarian anymore, she's royalty! Twilight's such an underdog! She started waaaay back in the start of the starts at the way bottom, but now she's at the top of all of the wild land of Equestria!", Pinkie Pie said jumping around moving in accordance to everything she was saying.
"I had a very busy stay there and had absolutely no time for relaxation.", Twilight answered.
"So, basically a business trip?", Rainbow Dash said as her smile disappeared.
"Yes it was.", said the alicorn.
"Bor-ing.", said a bored Rainbow Dash.
"What did you ever do to take up all that time?", asked Fluttershy.
"Did Princess Celestia teach ya all the cranks and nobs of bein' a princess?", asked Applejack.
"Exactly. It's no walk through the park.", Twilight replied.
"It's a FLY through the park, because of your wings!", said Pinkie Pie. "Oh oh oh, ahem, dearest Princess Twilight Sparkle, yer majesty, yer honor, yer, um psssst, Rarity? What's another fancy synonym for a princess?"
"Oh, let's see here, how about 'royal'?"
"Yer royal," Pinkie Pie said as she knelt down to Twilight, "will you join me and your fellow subjects and peasants in a trip to the corner of sugarcubes for cups of frozen shaken milk juice?"
"What are you talking about?", asked Rainbow Dash.
"I figured that now that Twilight's a fancy princess, we should talk like fancy fancies around her to raise ourselves to her level so she won't feel left out! Or she could talk like a dumb pony with no intentions of being royal to lower herself to our peasant level!"
Twilight smiled and chuckled. "Pinkie, you don't need to talk like that around me! I'm still the same Twilight Sparkle that you know and love. One stay in Canterlot as a princess isn't going to change my entire personality! Besides, you girls are anything but peasants!"
"Well, phew! Dealing with royalty has never been one of my strong suits anyhow! Okay, so is everypony ready to go?, Pinkie Pie excitingly asked.
"Well I, for one, am starved! Let's blow this joint!", said Rainbow Dash.
"Well said, Dash!", said Applejack.
Rarity looked around the library in search of Spike. "Umm, say, Twilight? Would Spike happen to be home today?"
"Oh, he's up in the bedroom fast asleep! It looked like he must've had a busy night, so I wouldn't disturb him."
"Alright," Rarity sighed, "well I suppose we can go now."
"Onward! Sugarcube Corner awaits our arrival!", Pinkie Pie said as they left the library. The slamming of the door woke Spike up.
"Huh, wha? Twilight? Are that yous?", Spike said half asleep. He then accidentally rolled out of his bed and was fully awake. "Woah there, good morning? Twilight? Humph. Wait a minute, does this mean Twilight's still in Canterlot and I still have another free day ahead of me? Hmm, well I sure know what that means!"
Spike looked out a window he had next to his little bed and was able to see the roof of Carousel Boutique.
"Sweetie Belle! Looks like it's date time for Spikey Wikey!", said Spike as he ran off towards the stairs to make a quick breakfast. On his way to the stairs he passed a mirror, stopped, and went back to the mirror to look at the dragon reflected onto it. Spike quickly darted his head left and then right in search of anypony else, confirmed he was alone, and then flexed his arms in front of the mirror. His confidence was boosted. "Oh, lookin' good, Spike!", he jokingly said with a rough voice. After that, he ran downstairs and looked around for food. Desperate for breakfast, he took a box of cereal and put his dragon tongue in it. The tongue gathered all the flakes and pulled them all into his mouth at once, satisfying the dragon. He burped louder than Rarity's usual screams of distress. However, the dragon then shook his head rapidly. "What am I doing to myself? I'm gonna see, well try to see, Sweetie Belle today and I'm preparing like this? After helping Rari-err, I mean, she-who-shall-not-be-ever-spoken-of-in-this-household-or-all-of-Equestira-for-that-matter so many times at her boutique, I should know how to elegantly prepare myself like a fancy elite! Sorry, Spike, but breakfast time is over!", he said to himself. He ran upstairs to prepare. After admiring himself in the mirror again, he started to ready himself for seeing his special-some-pony.
~
At Sugarcube Corner, Twilight and her friends were sitting at a table together. Twilight was answering all their questions about her stay and just about the royal life in general.
"Woah woah woah, hold the show, the Wonderbolts performed? That's what I'm talking about!", said Rainbow Dash.
"Oh, and I'm sure that you were glad to see your brother and Cadence again.", quietly added Fluttershy.
"Now how come I ain't never heard of the princess' apple orchard? That must make the acres back home look like a crumb!", Applejack excitingly said.
"Oh oh oh did you see Hoity Toity? And Photo Finish? And Hayseed Turnip Truck cleaning windows?" Pinkie Pie asked. She laughed while Rarity looked at her with disgust of what she had asked.
"I DID see Hayseed! Oh boy, he told me personally to tell you, Rarity, that he misses you with all his 'darn tooting' heart!", Twilight said as she saw Rarity was not one bit amused. She quickly tried to change the subject to make her friend feel better. "Oh yeah, I did see Hoity Toity and get this; he was wearing a stallion version of the outfit you made for Pinkie Pie, Rarity! The one with the candy! He said it was 'too wondrous for it to be exclusive for mares!'" The other ponies started to laugh. Twilight could still tell that Rarity was not amused. "Okay, Rarity, what's the matter? Normally when I come back from even a second-long Canterlot trip, you ask me more questions than a schoolbook! You haven't asked me one for this trip!"
"Oh, really? Oh, um, then, so sorry, didn't even notice! Um, was the comfort of the bed to your appeal?", nervously asked Rarity.
"Something's gotten into this unicorn's head! Snap out of it, Rare!", said Rainbow Dash rolling her eyes.
"Feel free to tell us anythin' you wanna!", Applejack said welcomely.
"You can tell us ANYTHING! We're your friends! Or at least I hope so.", Pinkie Pie said with a smile disappearing.
"What's been bugging you? Any of you girls know of something that happened while I was gone?", asked Twilight. They all shook their heads in disagreement.
"Well, to be honest with you, Twilight, something has gone terribly wrong! You see, it had to so with Spike.", said Rarity. Twilight's worried look changed to a frustrated look.
"Note to self, Twi," the alicorn said aloud, "NEVER leave Spike home alone AGAIN. I knew he'd try to do something to get you, Rarity. What happened?"
Rarity told them everything that happened the previous night.
"And then he ran off into the forest after giving me a dirty look. I'm more than pleased to hear that he's safe in his bed. Seeing how upset he was after my rejection, you'd think he'd take his own life!" Rarity felt depressed after telling the story. It made the other five ponies sad too, even driving Fluttershy and Twilight to subtle tears. "So, in case you come across a morose baby dragon when you arrive back at home, just know that I was the cause of his anguish. I was completely responsible for crushing his heart and hopes. I would not be surprised if he didn't want to lay his eyes on me ever again!"
"I'm so sorry to hear that, Rarity. It did have to eventually be down though, so at least that's off your chest.", Fluttershy softly said.
"I'm with Flutters on that one! Look at the bright side! You won't have to deal with his fanboy antics anymore!", said Rainbow Dash.
"But then Sweetie Belle would have to do her chores! Oh, wait a minute, Dash said to look at the bright side!", said Pinkie Pie, "At least Spike with try to find another pony to fall in love with and do all her chores for whoever she'll be!"
"Ya got nothing to worry about, sugar cube! As long as Twilight has a keen eye on Spike, he'll be fine!", added Applejack.
"Thanks for the efforts, girls, but I think I will be fine for now. It's Spike that needs the attention! Twilight Sparkle, if Spike is slacking off with his work, moping around, or tries to harm himself in any way, please, I ask of you, do not get mad at him! He's going through very rough times and I'd hate to see him more melancholy then he his now! It's my fault for any change in behavior, and I am very very very sorry! It's my fault.", Rarity said.
Just then, Twilight looked out the window and saw Spike with a huge smile, skipping through Ponyville while throwing flower petals around with a happy glow in his eyes.
"Oh ho, life is great, Spikey Wikey!", Spike said to himself, "Nothing beats two beautiful days in a row! Hey Golden Harvest! Hi Twinkleshine! Life sure is maaag-nificent!"
Twilight had quite a perplexed look on her face. Her eyes grew as her pupils shrank. Not only has she never seen Spike so cheerful but this also contradicted all that Rarity just told. The other ponies toke note on what Spike just did. They all turned to Rarity with very confused looks. Rarity was just as confused as the other ponies.
"Um, what was up with that story, now Rarity?", confusingly asked Twilight.
"Wow, way to depress us for absolutely no reason, Rare! Uncool!", added Rainbow Dash.
"Spike looks just exactly like he did here in the shop yesterday to get the party cannon!", said Pinkie Pie.
"Rarity, please explain.", said Twilight.
"Um, girls, I'm just as shocked as you all are! I have no idea why Spike is so enthusiastic. He does look like he did before my refusal when he was all excited."
"I just don't get it, Spike is never like this when helping me in the library. He hasn't been this excited since I took him to see 'The Gems vs. Ponies Combat Apocalypse On Ice' last month!", said Twilight. "Who here thinks they know why Spike is so happy? Pinkie Pie!"
"Present and accounted for, sir ma'm sir boss!", responded Pinkie Pie.
"You're always happy and very enthusiastic!"
"I am?"
"Of course, Pinkie! Now, think! What is something that would make you as happy as Spike just was?"
It didn't take long for her to come up with an answer.
"A party!"
"Okay, great! Now what do you think would make Spike as happy as we just saw? Especially because of yesterday's 'episode'."
"Hmmm, well when he came into Sugarcube Corner yesterday, he was just as happy as when we just saw him! Why was he happy, you may ask? Well, he wouldn't tell me, but now I know it's because of Rarity! Well, hmm, even though Rarity rejected him last night, he's still happier than Princess Luna in a dream about brownies! Since he was just as happy yesterday, I'd say he's happy for veeeerry similar reasons today! Lemme take a closer look at him; tall posture, elegant strides, hmmm, a 36.5 degree upward incline of the corner of his mouths, umm, yep! It's a girl."
"The goddess of happiness has spoken!!!", Rainbow Dash sarcastically said while laughing.
"So you're saying that Spike is happy because he met another girl?", asked Fluttershy.
"Yupey wupey!", said Pinkie.
"Dang, she's good.", said Applejack.
"Well we don't know if it involves a girl for sure, but we'll hopefully find out soon enough.", said Rarity. "It's miraculous to see that I am now a thing of the past for him. Let's just pray he's in good hooves with whoever this one is!"
"Oh my! I was supposed to leave awhile ago to work on new spells Princess Celestia wanted me to learn! I'm sorry girls, it was great seeing you, but I have to get back to the library to study! I'll be secretive with Spike.", said the alicorn. Twilight's friends bid their farewells as she rushed back to Golden Oaks Library.
~
Sweetie Belle was in her sister's boutique, sitting at a table while pondering about life and Equestria's greatest mysteries and theories. She was very eager to see Spike. Soon enough, there was a knock on the door and she found herself racing to see who it was. A big smile appeared on her face as she opened the door to see the dragon she's been waiting for, except now with an obviously fake mustache and a top hat.
"Umm, hello sir, may I help you?", Sweetie Belle joked.
"C'mon, it's me, Spike!", said Spike.
"Hmm, you're not Spike. You have a mustache!", she joked.
"(Sigh) If you don't like the stach just tell me. I've got a sack of others!", Spike said as he individually tried each of them on for Sweetie. Sweetie chuckled at each of them.
"I knew it was you all along, Spike! Now, hehe, I don't mean to be rude, but cut the mustaches. No offense or anything, but they don't make you look any better."
"Well, alright. I'll do anything to make you happy, Sweetie Belle."
Sweetie blushed. "Thank you, Spike."
They stared in each other's eyes for a good period of time. Their faces started getting closer and they were about to engage in another kiss. But then they simultaneously halted as their pupils shrank. They jumped back from each other.
"We can't kiss here!", said Sweetie Belle.
"We can't kiss there!", said Spike pointing outside.
"Oh, we can't kiss anywhere!", said Sweetie as she lowered her head. Spike put his hand on her shoulder. Sweetie looked up at him.
"Remember; in public, we're only friends. We're spies, like you said Agent Sweetie.", Spike said as Sweetie laughed in response.
"Only in public, Commander Spike!", said the unicorn.
"Oooh, Commander Spike? Quite the title you've got there!", Spike said as he confidently stared off into the distance like a commander. Sweetie wouldn't stop laughing at Spike's antics.
"C'mon, let's go see what's going on in Ponyville!", Sweetie proposed. Spike rapidly nodded in agreement. They linked arms, but quickly separated and blushed.
"Um, last pony to the marketplace has to bathe Opal!", Spike said as he ran off. Sweetie chuckled and ran after him. They wrapped up their brief race at the entrance to the marketplace. Breathing heavily after their run, Spike turned and saw Sweetie Belle jumping for joy.
"I win! I win! Oh oh, a little advice for you, Spike; Opal may be a struggle to get into the tub.", said the unicorn.
"Haha, listen closely! I said that the last pony to get here looses! I'm not a pony! Therefore, you were the last pony to arrive even though you came before me! Which means that you're putting Oppey Woppey in the tubbey wubbey! Haha!", said Spike.
"Oh, ah, you got me!", said Sweetie. They started chuckling, but then quickly remembered their species difference due to the young dragon's trick. This made Sweetie Belle and Spike sigh in brief sadness. "Well, friend ," Sweetie said as she winked at Spike, "what do you wanna do?"
"We can check out the café, buddy .", replied Spike.
They went all over the town trying to find anything they could do together. The two were prevented from doing any romantic things or actions that will blow their relationship's cover, so their activity choices were limited. From cloud-watching to floor sweeping, their attempts to have fun as an undercover couple were more fruitless than the crusaders' attempts to get their cutie marks. Spike kept a smile throughout, mostly because he got to spend his once-in-a-lifetime day off with his favorite girl. Although Spike was having an exceptionally fun time, Sweetie couldn't help but not enjoy it. She tried, but ultimately failed. The unicorn filly wanted Spike and wanted to have "lover-style" talk, as she puts it in her mind, with him. It was now around three o'clock, and the two were sitting on a bench in a secluded area in Ponyville park.
"Today was great-tastic! I, oh boy, I had an amazing time with you, Sweetie Belle!"
"That's good to hear, Spike."
"Oh man oh man, well, I don't really consider watching ponies walk by or helping mow ponies' grass fun, but I got to do it with you! That made my day, if not my life!"
"Great."
Spike sat up and turned to Sweetie Belle. He had a surprised and confusing look at how she was acting.
"Um, Sweetie?"
"Yes, Spike?"
"You, um, how do I put this… you look, upset."
"Oh?"
"Um, did you have as much fun as I did today? It sure doesn't really look like it."
"Well, normally, um, ponies don't do things like that for date-things. I'm not even sure what to call this. I'll tell you now that I didn't like today but not because of what we did for fun but because, (sigh) it's too hard to not make it look like we love each other."
Spike felt the same inside, but kept ignoring it in his mind up until this point. "I'm no expert on what ponies do for dates but, I mean, it's hard when you're a pony and I'm a dragon and all that guacamole. We can't do much in font of all these ponies!"
"(Sigh) I really wish we could talk to somepony about this situation without sounding like freaks for loving each other."
A duration of depressing silence fell over them.
"Um, Sweetie," asked Spike, "you're not gonna ask anypony, are you?"
"I'm so sorry Spike, but (sigh) no. I can't ask anypony! And k-keeping a secret relationship was much harder than I thought."
Spike was struggling to avoid tears. "So (sniff) d-does this mean we're calling it quits?" He did not want this to happen. Last night and this day were amongst the happiest memories of his life. He wanted to avoid all of it crumbling down at all costs. That would make two rejections from both his dream girls two days in a row, as well as making last night with Sweetie a bad memory in his mind.
After a while of coming up with things to say, Sweetie sadly let out, "I'm so sorry Spike, but (sniff) I'm afraid we have to b-break up."
After trying to come up with ways to persuade Sweetie Belle one last time, Spike abruptly gave up all attempts and hung his head in depression.
Sweetie was barely able to speak as she cried. "I'm just so so so sorry! I mean, Rarity yesterday and me today. I love you!"
"I love you too, and (sniff) I just, um, man, I love you way more than you can imagine. It just can't be a secret. I'd hate to see you being made fun of or shunned by Ponyville for loving me though. We're perfect! It's just that I'm a stupid dragon. I just want you to be happy yet still have a good reputation."
"You're not a stupid dragon, Spike. You are a dragon, but the greatest one in all of Equestria."
Another silence started and felt like 200 moons, but was only about one minute. Spike and Sweetie let out their last tears and looked into their wet, red eyes.
"One, um, one last kiss, Spike?", asked a nervous Sweetie. Spike didn't say yes out loud, but said yes physically . He moved his head closer. Sweetie did the same. Their lips met. It was just like their kiss the night before, just minus the joy and happiness. Their lips separated, and they looked into each other.
"It looks like we have to abort the mission, Agent Sweetie.", said Spike.
"(Sniff) That was my favorite mission of all, Commander.", replied Sweetie. The pair looked at each other, this time with sad smiles. They then engaged in a tight hug. Spike all of a sudden darted his head up and looked down the trail that their bench was next to.
"I hear somepony. I… I gotta go! They can't see us crying together, too suspicious looking!", answered Spike. The dragon quickly hugged the unicorn and got off the bench. Wiping his dragon eyes, he waved goodbye and ran off. "See ya, buddy !", Spike sadly yelled out to the filly. She waved back and let out a forced smile. Sweetie stared at Spike as he ran off towards Ponyville, appearing smaller the further he went. Sweetie Belle didn't care if anypony was coming down the trail. The world was spinning around her. Love was too complicated for her. Life was too complicated for her. At that moment, at least, everything was complicated for her. The poor filly couldn't take this, and curled up into a ball and started crying again.
"I wish I knew.", she mumbled as she cried. "I wish I knew…". She was desperate to know for sure if ponies and dragons could fall in love, but simply could not ask. Coming down the trail was one of the town's happiest couples; Cranky Doodle Donkey and Matilda. They were laughing at old stories that they were conversing. Their laughter ceased as they saw Sweetie Belle crying her eyes out on the bench.
"Oh my, are you okay, young mare?", worryingly asked Matilda.
"Is there anything that we can do for you?", asked Cranky.
Sweetie Belle looked up. "No thank you. I think I need some alone time."
"You're Rarity's sister, aren't you?", asked Matilda, trying to break the ice.
"Yes", replied the filly. "My name, it's Sweetie Belle."
"Are you sure you need no help, dear Sweetie Belle?", asked Matilda.
"No! I'm not sure. I'm not sure of anything anymore. Just let me stay here until the bench breaks from me staying here for the rest of my life." Matilda and Cranky looked at each other with worried looks and then turned back to Sweetie. "You wouldn't understand."
"Well I for one have been to nearly every city in Equestria and have dealt with ponies, donkeys, mules, griffons and whatnot of all kinds. I think I can help ya, kid.", offered Cranky.
"Well, um…". Sweetie Belle knew that Cranky had a vast knowledge of everything Equestrian. She was dying to ask about pony-dragon love, but felt safer to avoid it. "Um, let's say that, well, um. You see, my friend, yeah, my friend likes somepony."
A smirk appeared on Cranky's face. It was obvious to him that she was referring to herself when she said that it was her "friend" with a problem. "Are you sure that it's you're 'friend'.", he asked in a tone that made Sweetie Belle realize that Cranky knew it was her.
"No! Wait, no, it's not technically my friend, um, it's my enemy, yes! My enemy, and um, she's my cousin's, umm, cousin. And, uh, my cousin's cousin that I hate had a dog and that dog's last owner had the problem that I'm talking about! She was a, um, a pegasus and, uh, her cutie mark is a, umm, what could uh, a park bench! And, um, her name is Canterlot, err, um, -zel. Her name is Canterlotzel! So yeah, um, my cousin's cousin that hates me, no wait, I hate her, had a dog who's last owner was a pegasaurus, err, no, I mean pegasus, and is named Canterlotzel! And her cutie mark is a park bench!", Sweetie Belle quickly made up.
Cranky chuckled. "Some story you got there kiddo. Now tell me, what exactly is 'Canterlotzel's' issue?", he asked.
Sweetie hesitated to answer, but finally forced herself. "Canterlotzel, well, um, she divorced with her husband named, uhh, Rarity. I mean McRarity! Lightning McRarity! So, you see, uhh, Canterlotzel really misses Lightning McRarity, and Lightning McRarity misses Canterlotzel just as much. They divorced for the good of things though. They never fought or anything. They were the perfect husband and wife. It's just that, uhh, they just weren't welcome as a couple where they lived."
"Where did they live-", Matilda attempted to ask until Cranky put his hoof over her mouth.
"Carry on, Sweetie.", said Cranky.
"Well so, they were really sad when they left each other and, so, yeah. That's Canterlotzel's problem.", Sweetie finished.
"Well I am terribly sorry for 'Canterlotzel' and 'Lightning McRarity'.", Cranky said to make it seem that he was on board with the filly's story. "Do you need help making Canterlotzel feel better?" Sweetie Belle nodded. "Well let me tell you something. When I first stepped hoof in Ponyville, one pony I met never frowned once. She always walked around with a grand smile and never turned the corners of her mouth upside down. Now everypony goes through hardships, nopony has a perfect life. But this pony grinned through all her problems, big or small. I learned so much from her. I learned much more than I wanted, but it was just as much as I needed. I've drastically changed ever since. Are we on the same page?"
"Yes.", replied Sweetie.
"Good. Well this pony I mentioned always looked to the bright side of everything and reassured to many, including myself, that there will always be a bright side to something no matter what the situation. Though it may be necessary to look to the dark side sometimes, one must always look to the brighter. It could result in many positive things, perhaps friendship, even! And if ponies are considering saying something negative, they should immediately stop and say something happier. It will not only make everypony around you glad, but also yourself.", said Cranky.
"Okay", said Sweetie.
"I hope I helped you, Sweetie. Errr, I mean, I hope my advice will help Canterlotzel cheer up.", said Cranky.
"Thank you, Mr. Doodle", thanked Sweetie Belle. Although Cranky's little speech made her happier, she still felt empty for not getting the answer for the question she wanted to ask.
Author's Note
Here is chapter 2 of "Spike's Pony Chronicles". There will definitely be more where this came from! Thanks for the views.
Chapter 4: It's Not Easy Being a Pony
"Well so much for trying to get a mariachi band cutie mark yesterday! I mean, they needed three members to perform and only us two showed up!", Scootaloo stammered to her fellow crusader Apple Bloom in their desks at the schoolhouse. They were waiting for Miss Cheerilee to arrive for the school day to start.
"Take it easy, Scootaloo! Something could've happened to Sweetie Belle that made her have to miss out! Maybe she got in a doozy in the woods after our lil' tree climbing incident, I mean, she could need some serious help right now fer all we know!", Apple Bloom worryingly replied.
"Now who's idea was it again to split off in the forest once we were off the tree? Oh, yeah, that one filly with the big bow!", said Scootaloo assertively. Apple Bloom lowered her head and ears in remorse.
"Okay, ah guess, it's kinda my fault Sweetie Belle's missing, but we gotta get somepony to help her!"
"Are you two talking about Thweetie Belle?", asked Twist who was leaning far in her desk to talk with Scootaloo and Apple Bloom.
"Yeah, we are.", Scootaloo frustratingly replied.
"Have ya seen her?", worryingly asked Apple Bloom.
"Have I theen her? Thee wath all over town doing choreth with Thpike yethterday! I didn't expect to thee that! I, uh, gueth you didn't expect to hear that either."
She was right. The two crusaders stared blankly at each other. They were used to their friend being kind and considerate towards everypony in town, but she never missed out on a crusade to do their chores. She also never was with Spike.
"Man, Twilight and Rarity must've been mad at them or something, I mean, they must've made them do everypony's chores yesterday as some kind of punishment!", said Scootaloo.
"But what could Sweetie Belle have done to get her in trouble? She wouldn't hurt a flea!", replied Apple Bloom.
"Maybe she used Rarity's fabrics or hairbrush or something dopey like that. You know how angry Rarity gets at that stuff. Maybe that's why Sweetie Belle's not even here yet.", suggested Scootaloo.
"(Gasp) You're probably right! Sweetie Belle's never usually this late ta school! Who knows what Rarity's doin' ta punish her right now!", said the yellow filly.
"Man now I really feel bad for her, I mean, Rarity could be using her as a slave for punishment!"
"Oh, poor Sweetie Belle! She's too young!"
Just then, the unicorn they were just theorizing about graciously walked through the door.
"Sweetie Belle!", Apple Bloom and Scootaloo happily shouted in unison once they saw Sweetie enter the schoolhouse. They were relieved to see her with a grin.
"Hey, girls! I'm really sorry I had to miss the crusaders meeting yesterday, I was kinda busy.", said Sweetie Belle.
"With chores, from what I heard!", said Scootaloo. "What did you do to Rarity to make you have to do all of those?"
"Huh? Oh, um, no, Spike and I just, um, wanted to, you know, just help around the town! I never got in any trouble."
The girls were relieved to hear that out of her.
"Well you can't have been doin' chores all day! Didja do anything else?", asked Apple Bloom.
"Oh yeah, that reminds me! Girls, let me introduce you to my special some-pony!", excitingly said Sweetie Belle.
The two other crusaders were shocked. Their jaws dropped as they stared at each other in surprise. They then smiled and became excited for their unicorn friend.
"Ya have a special some-pony?", eagerly asked Apple Bloom. "Congratulations! Oh man, you must feel so lucky!"
"Yeah, way to go, Sweets! Now hmmm, who is it? Is he in this class?", asked Scootaloo.
"Well, he's not technically in our class, but he's in the classroom right now!", replied Sweetie. Her two friends darted their heads around the room in search of anypony they did not recognize from their class. They seemed to catch their eyes on Spike at the exact same time. Their smiles grew wider as they turned back towards Sweetie. They were clueless to the fact that the colt was Twilight Sparkle's dragon assistant.
"It's the purple guy, ain't it?", asked the yellow filly.
"Yep!", replied the white unicorn.
"Do we, um, know him? Like, what's his name?", asked Scootaloo.
"Oh, of course you know him!" The two other crusaders stared at each other in confusion. They had never seen the colt in their life. "Spike! Come over here! My friends think they've never met you before!"
"Did you juss call him, uh, 'Spike'?", asked Apple Bloom.
"She sure did!" Apple Bloom and Scootaloo froze once they heard the colt's voice. It sounded identical to the only other Spike that they knew. The colt and the dragon also shared a striking resemblance. "Hey, girls! It's me, Spike!"
"Um, Spike? As in Spike the dragon? As in, like, Spikey Wikey?", asked Scootaloo.
"Yep, it's just me! Spike the drag-err, no, I mean Spike the pony!"
"Huh?", loudly said Apple Bloom as she stared at Sweetie Belle in disbelief.
"Oh, you know Twilight and all her magic mess-ups. She made me a pony by mistake, but boy I couldn't me happier! Especially now that I can be in love with Sweetie Belle as her-", Spike turned to Sweetie, "-special some-pony."
Apple Bloom and Scootaloo didn't have enough time to question their friend any further as their teacher, Miss Cheerilee walked into the schoolhouse. The two fillies were used to having Twilight experimenting and messing around with her magic, so they decided to shrug it off until recess. The purple pony teacher had her usual grin on her face. Her students rushed back to their seats to make it appear as if they patiently waited for her in their desks the entire time. An extra seat for Spike proved hard to find, however, and he found himself awkwardly standing in the middle of the room.
"Sweetie Belle, what do I do?", he frantically asked his crush.
"Oh, uhh,", she quickly looked around to find a place Spike could go. "Howww, um, how about you go behind my poster in my cubbyhole?"
"You kidding me? I can't even fit into that thing! Besides I wouldn't be able to breathe right. Wait a minute,", Spike saw that everypony else was in their seats but there was one empty one in the back, "um, who's the absent kid?"
"Oh, that's Cotton Cloudy's seat. She must be absent or something. Now, hurry! Takeit takeit takeit!", she quickly said as Spike rushed to the absent filly's desk. Being homeschooled by Twilight Sparkle for his whole life, Spike had no experience in an actual school before.
"Oh no, this is gonna be bad. I'm not sitting anywhere near Sweetie Belle! And I barely know any of these ponies! I've never been to a real school before, what if they don't think I'm cool? What if they bully me? What if they steal my non-existent lunch money? But worst of all, (gasp).", Spike thought as he stared at his flank. "I have no cutie mark! Well, just play it cool, yeah, you can do this Spikey Wikey! You've come far enough as a pony, no backing down now! It's time to go through what real ponies go through! But what if Cheerilee kicks me out since I'm not really in her class? Do I pass off as a good Clotted Candy or whatever her name was that sits here? "
"Good morning, pupils!", Cheerilee happily said to her students while behind her desk.
"Good morning Miss Cheerilee.", the students all slowly groaned in unison.
"Thank, you everypony! I hope that you're all as excited as I am for class today!", she spoke. The fillies all stared at her with unamused and tired faces. All except for Sweetie Belle who was still jubilant from her surprise from her new special some-pony, and for Spike who looked very worried and fearful. Cheerilee noticed that a different pony was in Cotton Cloudy's seat, but she dismissed it since she had so many kids to keep track of with all her classes. "Well I see that you're all eager and ready to put pencils-to-paper, so let's hop to it!"
As Cheerilee was lecturing to her class about simple arithmetic, Spike found himself on his first school day to be very bored during her lessons. Looking around him at the other students, he could see that he wasn't alone on that one. He started to fiddle with his pencil in tedium as the pony to his right turned his head towards him.
"Hi.", the colt whispered. He could tell that Spike was a new student. "My name's Snails."
"Tsss c'mon, I know you! You're that one guy that worked for 'The Great and Pitiful Trixie'!", Spike whispered in response.
"I like snails.", the colt told him. Spike stared at him in annoyance.
"You don't say.", Spike lyrically replied as he turned to face the front chalkboard. He was trying to get a grasp of the fractions the mare was going over.
"Do you like snails?", Snails asked in a whisper.
"Wha?"
"I like snails."
Spike had it. He frustratingly turned back towards the front of the room.
"And that's how you divide fractions! Now don't forget to write your math homework down in your notebooks, kids, because it's time to move on to history!"
"Oh thank Celestia that was over. History sounds way better than math! I hope we learn about the Great Magic War, oh ho, now THAT is what I call a fight! ", Spike thought to himself.
"Today we'll continue presenting our projects!" The class moaned as Cheerilee said this. "Let's see here, who's up today, um, Snips and Snails! You're project on the Summer Sun Celebration needs to be presented right now.", she said as the project's respective workers looked up in surprise.
"T-today? Miss Cheerilee, I thought you said tomorrow!", Snips worryingly made up.
"Oh, really? I'm sorry Snips, you can present tomorrow in that case."
"I can't present tomorrow either! I'm gonna, um, be sick tomorrow!"
"Likely story." At that, Cheerilee could now tell that this was clearly an excuse. "Well, I know that Snails was you're partner, so maybe he can present what he's done for your Summer Sun Celebration project."
"The Summer Sun Celebration? I thought it was about snails.", said Snails as Snips gave him a stern dirty look.
"Well since neither of you are prepared, I'm afraid you and your grade will have to suffer the consequences. Now, let's see here, who else was scheduled to present today, hmm, Sweetie Belle! You're up.", Cheerilee spoke.
"Okay, Miss Cheerilee!", she enthusiastically replied as she turned and winked at Spike. Sweetie walked over to her cubbyhole and pulled out her poster. Bringing it up to the front, she stood side by side with Spike. Cheerilee then confirmed that she had never seen that colt in her life.
"Excuse me, young stallion, um, I don't believe that you're in my class. What is your name, dear?", asked the teacher.
"Oh, oh, sorry Miss Cheerilee! This here is Spike, and he's here to help me present my project! Sorry it was on such short notice, but I really need his help!", spoke Sweetie Belle.
"Oh, well, in that case, hello, Spike! Welcome to my classroom! Where are you from?"
"Hey, Cheerilee! Howdya do?", said Spike as he waved. Cheerilee was getting a reaction similar to Apple Bloom and Scootaloo's when they first saw him as a pony. The rest of the class caught on too, as the sound of whispers started to become audible. Spike noticed this and sighed. "Yes, I'm Spike, as in Spike the dragon." The class stared at him. The students were not entirely sure if they should laugh if it was a joke or to accept because it seemed logical since he lived with the magical Twilight Sparkle. "Okay, Twilight accidentally turned me into a pony! I wonder how many times I'll have to say that today.", said Spike as Sweetie laughed in response. Scanning the audience sitting before them, they could see Apple Bloom and Scootaloo giggling in excitement, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon whispering probably nasty things to each other and laughing, and the other students just generally acting concussed and surprised. The couple in the front of the room turned to each other with smiles and nodded. Spike went behind Sweetie's poster and stood still with it leaning on his side. Sweetie giggled at the sight and cleared her throat to gain the kids' attention.
"Attention, everypony! Umm, I'm Sweetie Belle, -"
"We know!", interrupted Snips. The class was too excited from Spike's change to remain still and obedient.
"-annnd here is 'Pegasus Aviation', by Sweetie Belle.", the unicorn filly continued.
"Class, calm down! I know it's significant that Spike has turned into a colt, but let's turn our attention towards Sweetie Belle and her assignment now!", said Cheerilee. She was genuinely looking forward to Sweetie Belle's project since she usually put more effort and care into her schoolwork than her peers did. Sweetie decently presented and Spike did a good job keeping her poster propped up. She was done presenting in no time.
"Wonderful job, Sweetie Belle! There were so many wonderful facts and artistic touches! Class, don't leave me praising Sweetie Belle all by myself!", Cheerilee said as her class started to applaud. "And kudos to, well, Spike, for holding up the marvelous poster!". The students gave Spike a round of applause with their hooves on the ground in response. Spike went up to the front and bowed and waved in response as if he were a king.
"Thank you all, thank you very much! Thanks to all you out there", he dramatically said. Spike then turned to Sweetie Belle who was waving her forehooves in front of her and rapidly shaking her head, signaling that he was not supposed to do that when the class was cheering for him. Turning back towards the pupils, Spike nervously gulped and became afraid as to how the class would react to his inexperienced school behavior. However, he was met with the students laughing with him rather than at him. Sweetie Belle even started to laugh. Spike wiped the sweat off his forehead. And just at that moment, the school bell started to ring.
"Oh, would you just look at the time! Students, it's time for recess! Ahem, Spike, if you want, you have my permission to stay for the rest of class today. How does that sound?"
Spike turned towards Sweetie who was joyfully nodding to him.
"Why, Miss, that sounds fantastic! Thank you so much!" And with that, Spike was galloping out the door with Sweetie Belle.
~
Spike's first recess was going a whole lot better than he had called for. He had never expected that his first day of school would find him with a crowd of students all around him excitingly asking him questions. Sweetie Belle and the other Cutie Mark Crusaders were sitting next to him. The class was amazed that the boy they had once known as a dragon was now one of them. The ponies had a handful of questions for Spike.
"Was the potion painful?"
"Can you still breath fire?"
"Are you upset that you weren't turned into anything else?"
"No, nope, and nu-uh!", Spike replied.
"Why would Spike even want to be anything else? Being a pony is all he's wanted!", his crush added. The two turned to each other and rubbed their nuzzles together. Comotion rose from the crowd as they did this. Even Apple Bloom and Scootaloo were left with their jaws hitting the ground.
"Why'd you even want to be a pony, though?", asked Rumble. "Dragons are awesome!"
"Simply because of this unicorn in front of me!", Spike replied.
"But, wait,", Apple Bloom started. Then a sly grin appeared on her face as she leaned towards Spike. "I thought you liked Raaari-"
"No!", Spike and Sweetie both said in unison. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo were, yet again, left shocked. They knew Spike would lose his love for Rarity eventually, but not so soon or quickly as it seemed.
"Um, why not?", Scootaloo asked.
"Because I found somepony waaaay better.", Spike added. Commotion started to rise again.
"Ooooh, how cuuute! Two blank flanks in loooove! Never thought I'd see the day!", sarcastically said the rich but snobby Diamond Tiara as she shoved her way thought the crowd with her partner-in-crime, Silver Spoon, next to her.
Spike tried his best to defend him and Sweetie. "Stay out of this Diamond Tiara and Silver Shoot!"
"Spoon.", Sweetie Belle corrected.
"Silver Spoon , my bad!"
"We couldn't help ourselves! Just the sight of two blank flanks in love is something I've never ever thought of!", said Silver Spoon. Spike and Sweetie stared at their flanks and sighed in despair. "Oh, I also never thought that Sweetie Belle of all fillies would get a coltfriend! I thought she'd be single, oh, and blank, forever!"
"She was probably so desperate for a special some-pony that she had to resort to a reptile to woo. Who knows? Maybe she forced the potion on him!", said Diamond Tiara, depressing the couple furthermore.
"Hey, get outta here, you two!", yelled Scootaloo in Spike and Sweetie's defense.
"Hmm, you know what's reeaally threatening about this pegasus in front of me? Those cutesy-wootsey wittle wings and that flank with nothing on it!", sarcastically said Diamond as she and her partner kept laughing.
"Diamond Tiara, ah ain't never seen these two happier in mah whole life! Even after you're bullyin' they still seem a lil' glad! So couldja just butt outta this any make fun of yourselves instead?", Apple Bloom asserted.
"Well-", Silver Spoon started but was cut off by the ringing of the school bell. "Hmph, better get along back to class. We don't wanna lose our precious window seats, now do we, Diamond Tiara?"
"Now, why would we ever want to lose those? Scandalous! Well, ahem, I guess we'll meet again, blank flanks. Ah, nothing beats having more than only three blanks to make fun of!", said Diamond Tiara as she and her partner galloped towards the building. The other students started to gather their items and return to class. Spike and the crusaders stayed put.
"Well she and her little compadre can go burry their heads in- err, um, sorry about those two, Spike and Sweetie.", spoke Scootaloo.
"Yeah! Oh boy, when I get mah hooves on her neck she'll be really sorry!", Apple Bloom started.
"Thanks for trying to help us, girls!", thanked Spike. "It's okay, Sweetie Belle, Spikey's here. What's the matter? Still upset?"
"No, I was just thinking, um, hey I have an idea!", Sweetie suddenly said. The other three looked up in anticipation. "As long as Spike is a 'blank flank', why don't we make him the newest Cutie Mark Crusader? I know he'd love to, right Spikey Wikey?" Scootaloo and Apple Bloom smiled wide and eagerly turned towards Spike.
"A new crusader?", asked the pegasus.
"That's a great idea! Whatya think, Spike?", excitingly asked Apple Bloom.
"Hmm, I've never really thought of that before. Me, Spike, a Cutie Mark Crusader?" Spike turned towards the fillies and saw that they all were giving him pleading and gleeful looks. "Well, I don't know, especially after all you did when I pet-sat for Twilight and her friends and all."
"We're sorry we tickled you!", Apple Bloom blabbered out.
"And took your gem!", Scootaloo briskly added.
"And took bad care of the pets and wasted the gem and left the train an-", Sweetie Belle quickly added with lots of remorse in her voice.
"Okay! Okay, I'll join your little club.", Spike finally said. The fillies' reaction was like nothing he had ever seen before. The three fillies ensued in jumping in place and chasing their tails while cheering.
"A new crusader! Awwww yeah! He's our newest member since cousin Babs from way back when! Who'da thought our next member would wind up bein' Spike of all ponies?", Apple Bloom enthusiastically said.
"Don't forget that he's also the first boy Cutie Mark Crusader! That's more groundbreaking than Twilight becoming a princess!", said Scootaloo.
Sweetie Belle jumped towards and wrapped her forehooves around Spike and squealed. "My special some-pony is also a Crusader! This is the best day ever!"
Spike couldn't have asked for anything better. As long as Sweetie Belle was happy, he was happy. The rest of the school day flew by and the final bell rang before Spike knew it. As the class was dismissed, the crusaders thrillingly rushed Spike towards their clubhouse. The fresh smell of apples filled Spike's pony nostrils as they approached Sweet Apple Acres. After going through a seemingly endless maze of apple trees, the four ponies approached a masterfully built treehouse in a small tree clearing. After practically being shoved inside, the filly trio stood in front of the colt and cleared their throats.
"Allow us to give ya a tour of our Cutie Mark Crusaders clubhouse!", said Apple Bloom.
"Umm, alright. You can go ahead.", Spike replied. The crusaders hadn't given a tour since Babs Seed, but they didn't want to risk not impressing their newest member.
"Well, um, here is the, uh, Cutie Mark Crusaders table!", said Sweetie Belle.
"Yeeaah, and here's the Cutie Mark Crusaders window!", Scootaloo continued.
"Here's the Cutie Mark Crusaders paper!", said Apple Bloom.
"And is this the Cutie Mark Crusaders daisy sandwich?", asked Spike as he picked up a daisy sandwich while licking his lips in hunger.
"No, that's my lunch!", Scootaloo snapped as she grabbed the sandwich from his hoof. "This is the Cutie Mark Crusaders daisy sandwich!", she said as she pointed at a daisy sandwich in a glass display case with a plaque that read "Cutie Mark Crusaders Daisy Sandwich". Spike was confused by it, but still decided to stay and see what else they had in store.
"We come up with all our ideas for what to do to get our cutie marks here!", added Sweetie Belle.
"We, um, haven't really been that successful, but, hey, at least we try! A for effort, am ah right?", said Apple Bloom. "So what's the verdict, Spike? Ya joinin' us or leavin'?"
The three ponies leaned towards the colt in excitement and anticipation.
"Okay, I'm in! Now do your little baptism or whatever you do to welcome new members."
In response, the Cutie Mark Crusaders all rapidly and hectically started to organize a ceremony to swear Spike in as a member.
"Ready positions?", Sweetie Belle asked as she stood behind a tall podium. Apple Bloom nodded and Scootaloo turned towards her drums. "And I'm gonna read all the titles we have here for new members just because our newest member is my Spikey Wikey!" The two other fillies groaned in response.
"Wow, thanks, um, Sweetie Beetie?" Spike got a confused stare from his special some-pony. "Um, how about Selle Belle? Okay, I'll stop with the nicknames. Thanks Sweetie Belle!" Spike had no idea how long this was going to take him, but he was completely up to it.
~
"I just don't get it. How in Equestria was I supposed to know Spike wanted to be a pony? I really need to try to at least attempt to take better care of him.", Twilight said to her friend, Rarity, as they were walking to Rarity's parents' home. They were expected to have returned from their weekend trip by then.
"You think you need to become a better caretaker? Well I believe that I need to improve on being a good sister! Do you know how much I have to go through to satisfy Sweetie Belle? And on top of that I found her upset from when she returned from doing chores with Spike yesterday.", Rarity spoke.
"Wait, what? That's what Spike was doing for all of yesterday? Wha- why in the world would he do that? That's really the last thing I would've expected him to do on his day off."
"I haven't the slightest clue! And Sweetie Belle deliberately refuses to tell me what's on her mind, can you believe that? How can I ever help her like the wonderful big sister that I am if she keeps her issues all to herself?"
"Hmm, Spike did chores with Sweetie Belle yesterday, wow, I didn't even know that they were friends! And, now, Rarity, I've been meaning to ask you. Is that story about the picnic with Spike true?"
"Twilight Sparkle, would I ever lie to one of my best friends? Would I ever lie to royalty, for that matter? It is completely true!"
"Well then why was he skipping for joy when we were at Sugarcube Corner yesterday, yet very upset when he came home, but was happy when he became a pony because he wanted to an- oh boy, my brain hurts again."
"Well at least Spike is finally glad! It may take awhile for Sweetie Belle to get over her little problem, if I remember correctly from my experiences at that age."
"Well, in that case, why were you upset as a filly like she is? Maybe that will help you figure out why Sweetie Belle is upset."
"Hmm, oh, ah yes, it was because my first special some-pony in middle school left me for another filly. Humph, darn Caramel, but anyways, he broke my heart and it seemed as if I'd never, ever, get over it. Could it be that-" Rarity paused for a moment as her eyes widened. "Oh my." A sly yet excited smile then came across her face as she squealed and started briskly tapping her hooves on the ground.
"Um, Rarity?"
"Twilight, don't you know what this means?"
"That, um, uhh, Caramel is a cold-hearted star spider?"
"No! Well, yes that's very true, but it's not that!"
"Is it that, um, oh, I know, haha, you must've just figured out Pinkie Pie's riddle from last week about brownies and quicksand! Even I still haven-"
"Twilight I think it's that Sweetie Belle just went through her first breakup with a colt!"
"Huh? Now, Rarity, let's not jump to conclusions or-"
"Well she's acting just like I did when I broke up with Careless -mel at her age! I believe jumping to conclusions here is a capital idea. Oooh, my very own sister had a special-somepony! And she was in denial with me! Oh ho, just like her big sister! She's sure on her way up there! Oh, Sweetie Belle just had her first breakup!" Rarity was jumping around in excitement as Twilight simply chose to stay put and stare. Although Rarity seemed as if she could burst, she suddenly stopped in her tracks and a rather sorrowful look came across her face. "Sweetie Belle just went through her first breakup.", she said in a more upset tone. "Oh, that poor filly! It's okay, I know what it feels like, I've been there and done that quite a couple of times! I could be her mentor or coach, here. Oh, she must be simply heartbroken!" The two ponies stopped in their tracks as they finally approached the home of Rarity's parents. Rarity sighed. "Well it looks like I'll have to break it to Mother and Father."
"Don't tell them about the breakup. Remember we still aren't even sure if it's happened yet.", Twilight replied.
"Okay Twilight. I will only tell them about Sweetie's sadness."
"I sure hope they won't take it too hard!"
"Oh, trust me when I say that you'll never know with my parents.", Rarity knocked on the door as she spoke with Twilight. Though Rarity never particularly looked forward to a visit to her parents' home, she felt that it was her duty to inform them about their youngest daughter's issue. As the front door swung open in response to the knock, the atmosphere of everything Rarity grew up with and everything that her family had that contradicted Rarity's interests filled her senses. Rarity's mother, a middle aged pink unicorn with a questionable fashion sense that frustrated Rarity, opened the door.
"Rarity, girl, my, what a delight!"
"Um, hello, mother."
"Oh, and who is, wait. Oh my, Princess Twilight Sparkle! It's quite an honor to have you on my doorstep!", she said as she bowed to the princess.
"Why, um, thank you, miss! I'm Rarity's friend an-", the alicorn replied.
"Oh of course, how could I forget? Rarity's friends with the princess! Ooh boy, I can't believe all those quests you've all been on!"
"Oh, please do come on in, Angel-face, I'll make ya some tea! We can catch up and bond like a mom and girl should! Oh, and Princess Twilight, be sure to make yourself feel at home! Yeah, we know it's no Canterlot royal suite here, but it's the best we can offer!"
Rarity groaned at her mother's nickname for her: "Angel-face". It has angered her since she was a child. The two trotted inside and their eyes met with the sights of the interior of Rarity's parents' house. Though not as sophisticated or spotless as Rarity's shop, it was still organized and decently clean. As her mother walked into the kitchen, Rarity and Twilight laid eyes on the father of the family, a white stallion with a mustache and an even more queer fashion sense than his wife. He was eating out of a bag filled with burnt and crispy, well, nopony knows exactly what he was eating. The bag had "To Daddy, Love Sweetie Belle" written on it in marker. That explained the quality of the food he was eating. He let the ornate and uptight eating patterns of his eldest daughter slip for this meal as he stuffed his face with Sweetie's monstrosity of a snack.
"Rarity, how ya doin', hun?", he excitingly asked when he saw his daughter. "(Gasp) Princess Twili-"
"Yes, it's a honor to meet you, I'm Rarity's friend."
"Oh please, of course I know you're chums! I love hearin' about your little adventures. Now, Rarity, hun, what brings ya here? You haven't us visited in weeks!"
"Oh I, um, have not?", Rarity guilty asked. "Well, um, you see, business is, well, picking up a lot at the shop! It's, you see, um, hat season! Yes, how about that?", Rarity quickly made up. Rarity was as different from her parents as apples are from oranges, and visiting them only rubbed it in.
"Oh ho, don't you worry yourself, Angel-face! As long as you're happy to see us, we're happy to see you!", Rarity's mother said as she was preparing tea.
"Want some?", Rarity's father generously asked as he held the bag of Sweetie's food towards his daughter.
"No thank you.", the fashionista quickly replied. "So, how was your weekend vacation to Las Pegasus?"
"My oh my, what a vacay it was! We had loads of fun, wouldn't you agree sugar?", the mother happily replied.
"Boy, I was on fire in the casinos! Hey hey, in fact, we might have enough money now to buy that Equestiran sports carriage I've always been dreamin' of!"
"Please, hun, we are not wasting our money on a Corlett!"
"Hun, you know I've waited to get my hooves behind the harness of a Chevroneigh Corlett since I was a colt!"
"We could at least put the money towards somethin' reasonable, like a purse or two!"
"Hun, you have enough purses in your closet to supply everypony in Equestria with one! Not to mention, you haven't even worn any of them in public! Are even more necessary?"
"Well, I don't mean to brag, but I like to brag about my collection of designer purses to my friends! A large amount of purses like I have is a marehood dream, and I wouldn't stop expanding for the world."
"You go, mother!", Rarity cheered.
"Well there's no point in collecting if nopony else'll ever see them! On the other hoof, with a Corlett in our driveway, we won't have to take a cab anywhere anymore. We'll arrive everywhere in speedy, Equestrian style!"
"Talk about a mid-life crisis! I am not letting my husband become a racecarriage driver!"
"Mmm, these are pretty good.", Rarity's father said with some of Sweetie's burnt food in his mouth.
"Pardon me, Mr. and Mrs., well, um, friends , but your daughter has something to tell you.", Twilight started speaking.
"Oh? Go on, Rare!", Rarity's mother said.
"Thank you, Twilight! Um, you see, it's about Sweetie Belle.", Rarity spoke.
"Oh yeah, how'd the foalsittin' treat ya?", her father asked.
"Nay, hun, don't say 'foal'sitting! Our daughter's no foal and she's growin' up rapidly before our eyes!", the mother quickly replied.mare sitting go?", the father corrected.
"Well, I believe I did quite an adequate job of watching her, on my part. But I've come to realize that she's going through some rough times."
Rarity's parents' persona changed as they heard this and they became curious as to what could have possibly happened to their beloved daughter.
"So yesterday roughly around four, she came home all depressed. I tried to make her feel better, but I guess whatever was bothering Sweetie was too overwhelming for her. She ran up to her guest room and I heard her sobbing from behind the door. Oh, you don't know how emotion-tickling it was to hear her crying like that."
"That's odd, she was nothing like that when we left her.", Rarity's father spoke.
"I, too, thought it to be rather peculiar! But she started screaming 'Why, why, why, why' and then said some other things that were, however, inaudible from outside her room. And I have no knowledge as to why she'd feel like this! She's being rather quiet towards it."
"Sounds a lot like my case with Spike right now! He's also having all sorts of ups and downs and he just won't tell me anything!", the alicorn princess said.
"Hmm, well I suppose it's the new trend for young ones that age.", Rarity said lightly to try to raise the mood. She then seriously turned back towards her parents to speak. "So, Mother and Father, if you confront an upset Sweetie Belle, please be easy on her! She looked like she needed lots of love and attention when I watched her yesterday. So, I ask of you, please do not get angry or at all frustrated with her! The poor filly needs attention and I can't stand seeing her so upset. The sight's simply depressing.", Rarity finished. They were saddened by the time Rarity ended her spiel. They grew worried and baffled as to what would drive their daughter to feel this way. At that moment, Twilight looked out of the house's window and was, once more, shocked. She saw Sweetie Belle skipping for joy as she neared the front door. She was all by herself, and Twilight could tell that her smile was completely natural and authentic. Rarity and her parents also seemed to catch the gleeful filly jumping for joy as she neared the door. Although the mother and father looked at Rarity with confused looks, Twilight frustratingly looked at the white unicorn. Rarity just had another story proven wrong. However Rarity herself was, once more, even more surprised than everypony else around her. Only yesterday and that morning, the unicorn filly seemed more upset than she had ever been. She now seemed to be happier than Fluttershy meeting butterflies for the first time. The front door swung open as Sweetie Belle entered the house.
"Mom and Dad, you're home! I've missed you sooo much!", the filly excitingly said with a cracked voice as she ran up and hugged and kissed both of her parents.
"We've missed ya too, youngin'!", confusingly said her father.
"Hello, Sweetie dear! Oh boy, has Mommy missed her little bunny!", her mother said.
"How was the trip? Anything exciting? Oh oh oh, anything you bring home?"
"Oh, yeah, I got you and your sister souvenirs! The bag's up in me and your father's room if you wanna get a peek."
"No way, thank you guys soooo much! I love both of you! Hey Rarity!", she said as she hugged her older sister tightly.
"Oh, well, hello, Sweetie Belle! How was school? You seem rather jubilant today."
"School was wonderful! Thanks for watching me over the weekend, sis! Hey, Princess Twilight!"
"Hi there, Sweetie Belle!", said the princess. Sweetie Belle made her way to the stairs and started for her parent's room for her souvenirs. The ponies in the kitchen could hear her happily saying things to herself as she went off.
"Well, I don't ever recall seeing the girl this excited to see us return from a trip!", the mother started speaking.
"Something's telling me that it's not about your return.", Twilight said. She then turned to Rarity who looked as if she was confused, shocked, and guilty at the same time. "Rarity, you either have a bad case of jinxing others into being happy or you're just making all your stories up. First: Spike and the picnic. Now: Sweetie Belle and her sadness. Why are you doing this, Rarity?"
"Princess Twilight Sparkle! I swear to Celestia and Luna that I'm telling the truth, the truth, and nothing but the truth! I wouldn't dare fib! Especially with my parents right in front of me!"
"Well then, why's she so happy? Here, I'll let you guys talk about it. I'm going to try and find Spike just to make sure he didn't become depressed all of a sudden or anything like he has.", Twilight said.
"Oh, do whatcha gotta do, sugar! Don't you worry, we'll put your cup away!", the mother said.
"It's an honor to have such, such a prestigious pony in our establishment of residence!", the father said as he bowed down to Twilight.
"Okay okay, you don't have to go overboard on the whole 'Twilight Sparkle is royalty' thing. I'd honestly prefer if you just treat me like everypony else did before my promotion.", Twilight replied.
"Well, then, sorry about that, um, Twily, but do have a good day!", Rarity's father said.
"Yes, thank you so much for stoppin' by! We love havin' visitors. Feel free to drop in anytime ya want to, Princes- err, Twilight Sparkle!"
"Thank you.", Twilight replied as she hugged both parents.
"Farewell, Twilight! Best regards with Spike!", Rarity spoke as Twilight turned to her and chuckled.
"Okay, Rarity. I'll need all the luck I can get! Just don't make stories up anymore."
"Oh I am not, I told you that already!"
"Alrighty then, Rare, I'm off!", Twilight gladly said as she left the building.
"Either a miracle happened or Rarity's just lying, here.", the father said. Rarity at this point was baffled and frustrated beyond belief, but she was a natural at not showing it. She knew she wasn't going insane, but two stories she's told within the last two days were just disproven in front of her and her friends 'very own eyes. Not long after Twilight left, Sweetie Belle came down the stairs with a saddle-back and rushed towards her parents.
"Mom, Dad, thank you sooo much for the ribbon and the little stuffed bear from Las Pegasus! I love them!", she excitingly said.
"Don't mention it, sugar!", the mother replied. "I mean, seriously, don't mention it! You're too adorable for me to handle right now!", she joked.
"Oh, Mom and Dad, can I please ask you something?", Sweetie asked in a more serious and quiet tone. The couple and Rarity figured that she was ready to talk about her sadness and they leaned towards the filly in anticipation, eager to find out what her issue was.
"Yes!", the father said.
"Please do!", the mother said right after.
"Carry on!", Rarity said immediately after.
However, Sweetie's tone then changed to the happier one from earlier as she asked, "The crusaders wanna meet up with me in town! Can I please please go? We won't be out late, I promise!"
Her family sighed and all said "Oh." The parents rarely see their daughter so happy, so they decided to just let her have fun if it makes her happy.
"Okay, Sweetie!", the mother said. Sweetie hugged her parents and her sister and then ran out of the house with her saddle-bag. She and her fellow Cutie Mark Crusaders agreed to try to get a surfing cutie mark at the lake. On her way to there, she passed by the library.
"Hmmm, I might as well see if Spikey Wikey's there so we can walk out to the lake together!", she said to herself as she walked towards the door.
~
The unbelievable and miraculous events of the day continuously played through Spike's pony head as he was prepping himself in the library to go surfing. He constantly sighed with happiness. Sometimes, he even had to pause all he was doing just to catch his excited breath so he could carry on. He had arrived at the library not too long beforehand, and was with his special some-pony and the two other club members for the duration beforehand. At the Cutie Mark Crusaders initiation ceremony, Spike sat through every single name on the list Sweetie Belle had read for him. As tedious as it may have seemed, Spike was glad to have participated. Spike would never want to miss hearing Sweetie Belle's lovely voice reading a list of titles for two and a half hours straight. As Sweetie finally rounded up the list, grasping for breath in between every last syllable, Spike had officially become the newest member of Ponyville's own Cutie Mark Crusaders. He was amongst the few, the proud, and the blank. Spike recalled many times seeing the three girls around town trying different activities ranging from simple tasks to death-defying stunts to try to discover their special talent and therefore receive a cutie mark doing so. Throughout his time seeing them experiencing these activities together, Spike always had somewhat of a desire to join them in their "crusades". He definitely would have taken hanging out with them over working for Twilight Sparkle and fulfilling her every command. His crush was just as happy, if not happier than he was for joining. The other two fillies were overjoyed as well. Spike was rather surprised that Apple Bloom and Scootaloo took his relationship easily, but he did not want to concentrate on that at the moment. All he needed to focus on now was getting ready to meet up with them again at the lake. The other students thought he was a cool kid at school, and he wanted to keep that reputation up with the crusaders. He trotted up to the mirror he always passed and saw the same colt looking back at him as earlier, only this time around with sunglasses, a visor, and a Hoofwaiian shirt on. He was self-assured that surfing would come easy to him and that he would look good on the board when Sweetie watched him.
"Alright, duuuuude!", Spike jokingly said to himself. "I'm ready to hang four on those gnarrrly ripples! Ahahahaha!"
Just as he finished testing his surfer talk, Twilight Sparkle walked into her library. She had earlier used the potion she had found to change Owlicious into a music CD and had gone over to disk jokey Vinyl Scratch to try out the CD with her wubs. All that played were continuous "Who's", and Twilight wanted to change her pet back as soon as she could.
"Spike! Are you home?", she asked.
"Look up here, dudette!", he replied as he ran up to the railing overlooking the main room.
"Please don't call me that. And why in Equestria are you dressed like a kooky grandpa from Ponyville Retirement Village?"
Spike stared at Twilight, unamused. "Touché, Princess. Touché. But no, I've got this getup on cause I'm goin' surrrrfin', wahine! You know, three-sixtying with my gnarrrly new tribe!"
"Please, just do not talk like that. At all. Now, why are you even surfing, and, I mean, when? Who are you even going with?"
"Okay, okay, I'll cut the surfer slang. I'm just going with the Cutie Mark Crusaders."
Twilight's eyes widened. "Wait, no, you are not a-"
"I'm they're newest member! I'm so excited cause of that!"
"Wait, hold your hooves, you never had my approval of this!"
"Okay, honestly? I need your permission to join a little club?"
"Spike, I'm not letting you do this!"
"Well exuuuuuse me, Princess! Can you give me one reason as to why I can't be a crusader?"
"Yes! Because you are not going to be a pony for the rest of your life! You are going to be a dragon forever as soon as I change you back!"
Spike's voice rose as his pony ears lowered. "Well, what's wrong with me being a pony? You know you don't need me to send letters to Celestia anymore cause you know the spell to do it on your own now!"
"Because I'm your owner, and what I want from you, I get."
"Owner? We're more like siblings! C'mon, Twilight, I have just as much authority over you as you do over me."
"Really, is that the case now? Last time I checked, I was the one who's a ruler of Equestria, and has the ability to turn dragons into ponies, and has the ability to fly an-"
"To fly? Pffff, in your dreams.", Spike slyly said.
"Hush! You have until the end of the day as a pony. I'm turning you back into a dragon when you come home. Oh, and if you avoid coming home, trust me. I will find you."
"But Twilight, why are you-"
"No buts! You're lucky I'm still letting you even go surfing! You're going to have to break it to your crusader friends that you'll no longer be in their club."
"You know what Twilight, I- I don't wanna talk about this. Besides, if you turn me back into a hideous dragon, I'll just find that little book of spells and make the potion myself to become a pony!"
"We'll just see about that!", Twilight angrily said.
"But Twilight, I'm happy as a colt! Happier than I've ever been in my life! Do you just, not want me to be happy, is that what you're saying?"
"Spike, I don't care if your happy or not. You have always been a dragon, and you always will be!"
"Well maybe I don't want that! I'm leaving.", Spike frustratingly spoke as he marched down the stairs towards the door. As he was about to leave, he turned and bowed to Twilight. "Farewell, Princess, m'lady.", he frustratingly said as he turned and left towards the lake, slamming the door in the process. Twilight angrily stood in the center of the room. She grunted as made the angriest face she could while thinking of Spike refusing to be changed. However, immediately after, she started to regret her actions. She sighed and stared at the wooden floor of her home.
"Oh, Spike. I wish you understood."
Just then, rapid knocks were heard front the front door. Twilight looked up and walked over. Opening the door, she saw the last pony she expected; Sweetie Belle.
"Hi again, Twilight!", she happily said.
"Why, hello Sweetie Belle! Long time no see, huh?", she replied.
"Oh yeah! It hasn't really been long, has it? Well, I was wondering, is Spike home?"
"Spike? Oh, you just missed him, he just left to the lake."
"Oh, man, I'm too late to walk there with him."
"Yeah, (sigh), Spike Spike Spike.", Twilight said sadly.
"What's the matter, Princess Twilight?"
"Oh, nothing, it's just, oh, Sweetie Belle, I wish Spike was a dragon again!", the alicorn whined. Sweetie was surprised at this.
"Why? I like him as a pony much better than dragon!"
"Well, I, really, um, don't." Twilight walked over to a shelf with old picture frames on it. She motioned her hoof so that Sweetie would walk over towards her and the shelf. The young unicorn saw that these pictures on the shelf were ones of Twilight and Spike throughout the years. Sweetie showed no hesitation in viewing them. The first one showed Twilight as a filly with a newly hatched Spike at her entrance exam for Celestia's magic school. Filly Twilight had a smile from ear to ear, as she was just personally accepted by Princess Celestia herself to be in her magic class, she had just earned her cutie mark, and because she had just gained a new young sibling. Baby Spike was sucking on his tail. The next picture showed filly Twilight giving baby Spike a bath in the bathtub. Spike was splashing the bath bubbles as filly Twilight was laughing in response and covering her face with her hoof. The next picture was a family portrait in a Canterlot garden. Twilight's parents were standing in the back, filly Twilight and colt Shining Armor were in front of them, and baby Spike was sitting in between them smiling and waving both hands towards the photographer. The next one was a long frame with three pictures in it. The first one showed a somewhat older Twilight reading a big book to a somewhat older Spike on a couch. Older Spike was very amused by the book that they were reading. The book made older Twilight happy as well. The next picture in the frame was on the same couch from the previous picture as an older Spike was not as amused by the book they were reading. An older Twilight had the same smile she had from the last picture. The third picture in the frame showed the two not long before they had moved to Ponyville. Though unicorn Twilight in the picture was still glad as she was in the last two, Spike was shown resting his frustrated head on the couch's armrest in complete boredom from the book. The next picture on the shelf showed the two sitting next to each other at a table in Sugarcube Corner drinking milkshakes and laughing together. The next was a picture of a blushing emotional Spike returning the infant phoenix they briefly owned, Peewee, to his parents in his nest. The last picture showed Twilight and Spike smiling together, laughing and enjoying themselves at a Ponyville fair that Sweetie remembered happening at least a month beforehand. The two had paused for a picture. The Twilight in the picture was making a silly face as the Spike had his arm around her looking like he was having the time of his life. Sweetie Belle got a warm and fuzzy feeling when looking at these pictures Twilight Sparkle had on display. She chuckled at them and enjoyed viewing these heartfelt images, some even sending goosebumps throughout her body. The two were just like a brother and sister should be. She could tell by these pictures that these two truly loved each other like siblings. Beside the last frame was a folded piece of paper. Sweetie picked it up and saw a crayon illustration of Spike and Twilight smiling on the cover. She opened it up and read the message inside.
Dear Twily, Happy birthday, Princess! Boy I can't believe how old you're getting. Don't get too old now, hold your hooves, girl! I just want to thank you now for being a great owner, nay, not owner, being a great big sister! You've always been there for me, and I believe that I'm always there for you (that's for you to decide on, not me!). Egghead or not, you're an amazing sister. Don't let anypony tell you different. Here's to hoping that I'll get many more years of your love and support! Love, Little Bro Spike
Sweetie Belle had bittersweet tears by the time she finished reading. This was the most adorable sibling relationship she had ever seen, next to her and Rarity, in her mind. She looked up to Twilight, expecting a similar reaction. However, Twilight seemed more upset than touched.
"This is adorable, Twilight!", Sweetie said. Twilight chuckled a little in response to the filly.
"Thanks, Sweetie." The princess sighed in morose. "You see, I've been raising Spike like a brother for many years now. These last thirteen years or so contain some of the happiest and most nostalgic memories of my life thanks to Spike. He's been that little dragon we all know for years now, and, and,", she said as she started to shed some tears, "I don't want him to change. I just want him to be the same dragon he's always been! I can't handle a change like this! It's too much for me. I've been really hard on him for being so reluctant. I've also been kinda hard on him in general recently. (Sigh), I don't know what brought this kind of change in me, I mean, I jus-, I, I guess I've been overlooking him. I can't just take a little sibling for granted like that. I guess I really needed a little awakening like this to help me see."
Sweetie Belle was surprised by the time Twilight had finished. She had never thought of Spike's transformation that way before. Sure it looked like a dream come true in her eyes, but in other ponies' eyes it was an entirely different story.
"Twilight, I-", she started.
"Oh, Sweetie, you're on your way to surf with him, right?"
"Yes bu-"
"Can you please convince him to hear me out and to not get a cutie mark?"
The unicorn filly became quite confused "Not get a cutie mark? But why?"
"Because according to my book from Princess Celestia, he will remain a pony forever if he gets a cutie mark. If he remains blank, he'll be changeable."
"R-remain a pony forever if he gets a c-cutie mark?!?!", Sweetie nervously asked.
"Yes. Please convince to stay blank. For his older sister. I can't handle this kind of change anymore." Twilight said.
"I'll um, okay Twilight.", Sweetie sadly replied. Twilight then tightly hugged the filly.
"Thank you, Sweetie! I thought you'd understand."
Sweetie was once more nervous and upset as she left the library. Dragging her hooves as she walked, she was wondering whether or not it was right to do such a thing to her one and only love.
Author's Note
After a little hiatus, Chapter 4 of SPC has finally arrived! Thanks to all of you out there for your feedback and favorites, they've been highly appreciated and taken to heart. I hope you'll enjoy this next installment (and yes, the "Corlett" Rarity's father mentions is a reference to the Chevy Corvette as well as Sweetie Belle's voice actress from the show, the talented Claire Corlett). Enjoy, everypony!
Chapter 5: To Golden Oaks Library!
It was around sunset by the time Spike the pony arrived at the lake to attempt surfing. However catching a wave seemed to prove rather difficult, as the lake was calm as ice. Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Spike were waiting on the shore for Sweetie Belle to come and join them. Spike knew that this would be his first night as well as his last night as a pony, but he refused to bring that up so that the crusaders' spirits would remain high. Most of all, he did not want to disappoint his love, Sweetie Belle. That would be too big of a burden for her to handle.
"Um, ah don't know much 'bout surfin', but I'm pretty sure there's supposed to be waves involved.", Apple Bloom brought up.
"(Sigh), I knew that using the lake was a bad idea. It would take us days to get to any oceans to try surfing, though!", said Scootaloo.
"Well, that can't stop us! I'm sure if, like, somepony else threw a really big rock into the center of the lake, then there would be waves!", spoke Spike.
"How about Rainbow Dash?!?!", excitingly said the pegasus.
"But we're already here, an' it'll be dark out by the time we get Rainbow over here, anyhow!", said Apple Bloom.
"Well, I mean, who needs waves?", Spike asked as he picked up two large sticks off of the forest ground. "We can try to get paddle boarding cutie marks instead!" The two fillies' ears perked up as their smiles grew. "Well, I don't actually have a board with me, I was kinda hoping you girls would share yours."
"Well, I don't know. It turned out that I don't have any surfboards, but I brought this snowboard!", said Scootaloo.
"An' ah brought Granny Smith's ironing board!", added Apple Bloom. Spike stared blankly at the two fillies.
"Hate to break it to ya, but I don't really think those were gonna work for surfing.", said the colt.
"We know.", the fillies sadly replied in unison. Hearing the sound of bushes shaking behind them, the three young ponies turned around in curiosity. Out of the bushes came Sweetie Belle. Though she looked a little shaken up from what Twilight Sparkle requested her to do, her friends gave the filly a warm welcome.
"There you are, Sweets!", said Scootaloo.
"Hey, Sweetie Belle!", welcomed Apple Bloom.
"Sweetie!", Spike warmly said as he ran up to his crush and wrapped his forehooves around her. However, the colt could not hide how nervous he was about having to inform Sweetie about what Twilight wanted. Sweetie was equally afraid as she hugged her coltfriend back.
"Hey Spike.", she said in a less enthusiastic tone than usual. Spike shrugged off Sweetie's different tone as the number one thing on his mind was how to break it to her that he would be a dragon by tomorrow. Sweetie, on the other hoof, was afraid to explain to Spike that he had to return to being a dragon. Both unaware of what they were hiding from each other, they separated themselves out of their hug and turned towards their fellow club members. The other two noticed the pair's awkwardness with themselves, but decided it to be better to not mention it.
"Soooo, since there aren't any waves here, we decided to paddle board instead of surf. How's that, Sweets? Don't worry this time, I checked, this is actually legal!", Scootaloo said to her unicorn friend.
"Oh, I guess it's fine. Heh, I've, um, never surfed, anyways.", Sweetie responded.
"Me neither.", added Spike. "Paddle boarding doesn't sound that hard to get a hang of."
"Well what are y'all waitin' for? The sky's not gettin' any brighter! Let's get us some cutie marks!", exclaimed Apple Bloom.
At that moment, Spike believed he had finally worked up the courage to break to the crusaders his issue. "Yeah, about that." However once the other fillies curiously glanced at him, all the courage he seemed to have have gotten just melted away. "Um, okay Apple Bloom. Let's hop to it!"
"We only have two boards, so we'll fit two ponies per board! You two lovebirds can use Apple Bloom's whatever board, I'll use my snowboard with A.B.!", Scootaloo purposed. The couple simply nodded in response. Once the necessary amount of sticks to be used for makeshift oars was gathered, Spike and Sweetie Belle sat atop their board and faced each other. The two stuck their oars out and simultaneously began to stroke towards the center of the glistening lake. By the time the two were about 25 feet into the lake, Scootaloo and Apple Bloom were still at the shallow shore constantly capsizing. They found their snowboard to not be the most stable mode of water transport, and none of their efforts to stay on top were working out. Their attempts all resulted in the fillies comically falling into the water. It did not look like they were going to get a paddle boarding cutie mark anytime soon. Meanwhile, Spike and Sweetie Belle were having an awfully silent voyage. They could not stand the thought of telling each other what was on their minds, so they had small-talk instead. There was undeniable worry and sadness in their voices.
"So, Spike, um, why'd you leave your Hoofwaiian shirt and stuff on the shore?"
"Oh, um, it wasn't comfortable, I guess."
"Ah, I see."
"(Sigh), yeah. Well, heh, looks like Scoots and A.B. could use some help."
"Heh, oh yeah, those two. We're, um, pretty good at this, I guess."
"Yeah, uh, you could put it that way."
They had finally reached the center of the lake. The sky above them had turned into a magical late sunset with orange and purple painted all over the clouds. The couple was on their own, now. They knew that they had to break their problems to each other, and this seemed to be the right moment to do so.
"Spike."
"Sweetie Belle."
The two stared at the pony sitting across them on the board with remorse and sorrow filling their emotions.
"We have to break up for good.", they said at the same time. Their eyes widened. They expected that to come out of their own mouths only, not both of theirs'.
"W-what's your reason?", nervously asked Sweetie Belle. She did not hesitate to stop tears from starting up.
"(Sigh), Twilight's turning me back into a dragon when I get back home.", sadly said Spike. "Your reason?"
"B-because of Twilight. I s-stopped at your library on my way here, but, but Twilight told me to make you want to, to be a d-dragon again!" Spike growled at this in response.
"Darn it, Twilight!", he said as he punched the water with his forehoof. "Why, just why? What could possibly be her reason as to why she insists that I stay a dragon? She's been so strict about it recently! She even said she was my (sniff) owner! Like, like I'm her slave, of something! Do you even know how much that hurt me? She's raised me like a sibling ever since I hatched, what would make her think all of a sudden that I'm just an object and she owns me?!?! Why would she want me to stay a dragon?"
Sweetie Belle heard this and spoke up. "Spike, that's exactly why T-Twilight wants you to stay as a dragon."
"Why?"
"Because, I mean, you said that she's raised you like a sibling ever since you hatched. She kind of had an emotional breakdown when I stopped by the library earlier. She said that you've been a dragon for as long as she's known you. Her dragon. You were one of her only friends from when she lived back in Canterlot, and you stuck by her side when she first moved here. You've played a part in all her fondest memories. Having you in her life changed her for good. You were the little dragon that stuck by her through all those good, hard, bad, and wonderful times. But you're not that dragon that played a big part in her life anymore, in her eyes at least. You're a pony. I don't think Twilight was ready for that kind of big change. All of those memories with the dragon she knows and loves will never be the same anymore for her. Yeah, your change into a pony was wonderful for me, but not as much for your lifelong sister. I love you, Spike, and I know that only changing you back into a dragon will not completely make Twilight happy. If she sees why exactly you're so happy as a pony, then she might have a change of heart. Just saying!"
Sweetie Belle's soft words really spoke to Spike, planting a blank stare onto his face.
"Wow.", he sorrowfully said. "I guess I never really thought of it that way. Gosh, Twilight's always been there for me. I've always been that dragon she can turn to. But, but, I'm still just the exact same Spike as before! Well, this time around with hooves and a muzzle and stuff, but it's the personality that counts! It's only a simple change of appearance! Sweetie, you said that if she sees why I'm happy as a colt, there would be a chance that she would have a change of heart?"
"Yeah. But you know Twilight Sparkle better than I ever have, so I'm not really sure if she will hav-" Sweetie stopped speaking as Spike, now with a confident smiling face, put his hoof on her shoulder.
"We can always hope.", he said. Sweetie Belle replied to Spike's sentence with a bittersweet smile with joyful tears in her eyes. "Now c'mon! We have a relationship to save! Stroke, stroke, stroke…", Spike exclaimed as the two started to propel their board to shore. Once on land, they hopped off. "Laaaand ho! To Golden Oaks Library!", Spike yelled out. The two other fillies popped their heads out of the water, halting their struggle to get onto their snowboard.
"Why are you guys leaving?", Scootaloo asked.
"Get a cutie mark?", asked Apple Bloom.
"Nope girls Spike and I are hurrying to the library to tell Twilight that we love each other and convince her that Spike can stay a pony and so that we can clarify some things with her and so that there's no end to the love between us as we know it is that okay? Bye then!", Sweetie blurted out as the couple ran beyond the bushes towards town. The two fillies in the water confusingly stared at the other ponies until Apple Bloom playfully splashed Scootaloo and the two ensued in a splash-war instead of trying to paddle board.
~
"Owner?!?! Twilight Sparkle, how could you say such a cruel thing to Spikey Wikey?", Rarity exclaimed to the alicorn princess. She was sitting in the library trying to comfort Twilight, who was still in guilt for what she did to Spike.
"Oh, Rarity, what have I done? Spike will never see why I want him to be a dragon. You see, your sister stopped by to see if Spike had left yet, and so I told her to talk some sense into Spike. Oh, he probably hates her now!"
"In the name of sapphires, now you're having my little sister do your dirty work? Having Spike be mad at her, too, for no absolute reason?"
"I didn't want to get her involved! It's just that it didn't feel right for me to be the only one who felt that way about Spike's change. Oh no, Sweetie Belle probably told Spike that I had sent her! He's going to have a fit with me!"
"Tsk tsk tsk, you're just digging yourself deeper and deeper into Spike's hatred for you, darling."
"Well, it's too late to do anything else now! I'm making him a dragon whether he likes it or-" Twilight angrily started until the front door of the library opened up. The two mares turned to see who was there.
"Sweetie Belle? What are you doing here, darling?", asked Rarity.
"Spike? You actually returned?", asked Twilight.
"So that's what Spike looks like as a pony? Wow, how adorable! I bet I could hook him up with some of my extravagant colt outfits!", said Rarity.
"Oh, I sure did return, Twilight!", Spike confidently said.
"And you're not turning anypony into a dragon!", Sweetie continued, leaving the two mares shocked.
"And why in the world would you want Spike to stay as a pony so much?", asked Rarity. The couple turned to each other, and Spike nodded.
"Because I love him!", she exclaimed.
"And I love her!", Spike also asserted. Twilight and Rarity's jaws darted towards the ground as their eyes widened.
"Let me get this straight, you two love each other?", asked Twilight.
"Yep! Spike is my special some-pony!", Sweetie said as she wrapped her forehooves around Spike's pony neck. Though Twilight was still in a state of shock, Rarity squealed and started to lightly tap her hooves on the library floor.
"I knew it I knew to I knew it I knew!", she proclaimed. "Sweetie Belle, my one-and-only little sister has found a colt! She has a special some-pony! I, oh Celestia, I don't believe this! I need to catch my breath!", she excitingly said as she levitated a couch in her path with her magic to fall on dramatically. "Just like her sister.", she said. Her head then darted up. "Wait a minute, her special some-pony is, (gulp), Spike! Spikey Wikey, I'm so happy that you've finally found somepony, and lemme tell you, you sure wound up with a good one!", Rarity winked to the colt. Though Spike was still a tad angry with her for her refusal, he couldn't help but chuckle at what she had said about Sweetie Belle.
"Why, thanks Rarity! Oh, and thanks for returning the Ferrony I rented for the picnic!", he said. Twilight perked up once she heard clarity from Spike that Rarity's story from Suagrcube Corner was true.
"I'm so sorry I doubted you about the picnic, Rarity.", she said.
"It's all fine, darling! I'm still finding it hard to grasp that Sweetie Belle has fallen in love with Sp- wait a minute, Sweetie Belle, what have I told you about dragons?", Rarity asked her sister.
"Relax, sis! He's a pony now! It's fine.", Sweetie said.
"Everypony, hold on for a second!", Twilight yelled out. She then turned to the colt and started to speak softly. "Spike, is Sweetie Belle why you were so happy to be a pony?"
"Yes, Twilight, she's exactly why I want to stay a pony!", he replied.
"Is she also why you've been acting so, well, odd lately?"
"Yeah, we've been through a lot these last couple of days. We even nearly broke up twice."
"I knew it!", Rarity squealed.
"So, Twilight, I wanted to ask you if we could sort things out so I could stay as a pony an-"
"Oh, no you don't! I have the potion to make you a dragon again right here!", Twilight said as she levitated a bowl full of a mysterious liquid up.
"Twilight, waaaaaiit!", he yelled out. Twilight stopped levitating the bowl. Sweetie Belle and Rarity looked up.
"What, Spike? I said that this is your last night as a pony an-"
"I know why you want me to return to begin a dragon so badly!"
Twilight became surprised at this. "Oh? And why would that be?"
"Because I've been the little dragon that you've raised since my hatching and you want me to stay that way! I hold too many of your memories as a dragon. You've known me you're whole life as a dragon, and I can accept that kind of feeling you're going through! I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't be really uncomfortable if something so close to me just, you know, changed. But change is nature, Twilight, and sometimes it's for the good of things." At this point, Twilight started to take what Spike was saying to heart, and she set the bowl down on a table. "Besides, I'm still the same Spike that you've raised and known for your whole life! Though different looking out here, I'm still the same Spike right in here!", Spike said as he pointed towards his heart. "What difference does it make, Twily?"
"Oh, Spike, I, I just don't know w-what got into me! You're right! (Sigh) Change is nature. I guess I just let my memories get the best of me. Wait, no, my love for you got the best of me!", the princess said as she hugged the pony. Spike's anger towards Twilight faded as he returned the hug. "I am so, so sorry about everything, little brother .", she said with apologetic tears in her eyes. "Can you ever forgive me?" She looked down at the colt and saw that he had glad tears in his own eyes.
"Yes I can, big sister !", he said. Twilight looked towards the two unicorns who were both smiling at the sight.
"If you really want to, you can stay as a pony. You'll always be a baby dragon in my heart.", she happily said. Spike and Sweetie Belle's heads both perked up and their smiles expanded.
"You mean it?", excitingly asked Spike.
"Of course I mean it, silly! I don't really think Sweetie Belle would like to fall in love with a dragon.", she replied. This caused the two young ponies in the room to run towards their crush and wrap their forehooves around each other in pure happiness. Their eyes watered with tears of joy as they each excitingly said things to each other.
"I don't believe it, it worked! You can stay as a pony! I love you I love you I love you!", Sweetie happily blurted out.
"I'm the happiest colt in Equestria! I love you soooo much, Sweetie!", Spike said. All of a sudden, a sly grin came across his face as he turned to Twilight. "I only ask one little thing."
"What is it, Spike?", she asked.
"Can you make me a pegasus?!?! Please?"
Twilight chuckled at this. "Alright, Spike, I'll get started on that potion!"
Spike gave Twilight another hug and then turned towards his crush. "C'mon, Sweetie, we've got paddle boarding to get to! Thank you so much, Twilight!", he said as the two turned and ran out the door.
"You're welcome!", Twilight said to her metaphorical brother. Rarity, too, was having tears form in her eyes. She has never been so proud of her sister in her entire life.
"Sweetie Belle truly is rapidly growing up before my eyes.", she proudly said to Twilight. "You made the right choice, Twilight. Change is nature, and I am proud of you."
"I know I did, Rarity. And I think that now I'm happier with Spike as a pony instead of a dragon! As long as he's finally happy, I'm happy."
Twilight wasn't the only one relieved. Spike and Sweetie Belle were engulfed in relief. They now knew for sure that all of their deepest problems have finally been solved. Spike was no longer the beast he once thought himself to be, and he knew he would never have to face that life ever again. He now knew that he could be a pony, and soon enough a pony that could fly! That, of course, was not the main purpose for his relief. All of his issues with Twilight have been resolved. Twilight finally understood what Spike was going through, and Spike finally understood what Twilight was going through. They finally comprehended each other's odd behaviors, and now accepted them and everything turned out fine for the two. But that, as well, was not Spike's main reason for his joy. He could at last be in love with Sweetie Belle. No more worry or depression, just mutual affections from the filly of his dreams. Sweetie Belle herself was just as happy, if not even happier. The colt of her wildest dreams could finally show his love for her. She could show her love for him as well. No more problems in their way, just their love. They were on top of the world. Running to the lake, they paused on a bridge that went over a stream to catch their happy breaths.
"This is the greatest day in my entire life!", Sweetie Belle gladly yelled.
"Well the night's still young! Let's make it even better!", said Spike. They held their forehooves, turned towards each other, and kissed on the lips. Here's to hoping they'll have many more days like this. Spike loved her. Sweetie Belle loved him. They had each other, and that's all that mattered.
Author's Note
The final chapter of SPC has arrived! I'm glad that my first MLP story turned out better than I had thought. Thank you all for the praise, constructive criticism, favorites, and all of that good stuff. I recommend readers who disliked the tale because of the brief format errors in the first chapter to gives the story a second chance. Take care, everypony.
Chapter 3: A Miracle For Two
"Why have I never even heard of this spell book?", Twilight Sparkle asked herself. She was trying out spells in the book that Princess Celestia wanted her to study. "What do we have here, um, spells to change age, color, mane style, umm, spells to turn a mountain into cinnamon? Spells to fix cross-eyed ponies' eyes? Well I guess you'll never know.", she said as she scrolled through the book. She couldn't get Spike out of her mind, however, and was thinking about her young dragon assistant and Rarity's account of the previous night's events as well. She also pondered about Spike's personality when she saw him earlier. "Okay, somepony's lying here. Rarity, why would she? I'm one of her closest friends! Or maybe Spike is just trying to be happy and ignore the depression that came with Rarity's possibly made-up account. But Pinkie even proved Spike was happy! Because of a girl, she said? AUGH I'm so confused!", she said as she banged her head on her book. Just then, the library door opened and Twilight witnessed Spike enter. Although she had a series of questions to ask, she prevented asking once she saw him. Spike looked as if all of the world's gems were gone. Twilight had never seen the dragon so upset. With a hunched back, the dragon looked up at the princess.
"Huh? You're back? Oh, hi Twilight.", softly said Spike as he hung his head and fell onto a couch, his face buried into the cushion.
Twilight's eyes twitched and her jaw dropped. She was more confused than ever before. Earlier that day Spike appeared to be happier than Granny Smith during Zap Apple Season, but now he was more melancholy than ever before.
"Will somepony please tell me what the hay is going on!!!!", a confused Twilight yelled.
"Oh, you know, the usual.", replied Spike.
Twilight tried her best to make her assistant feel better, even though she really just wanted to know what was happening with him.
"Spike, what's bugging you?"
"(Sigh) Nothing, Twilight."
"Something's on your mind, it's clear as a bell!"
"Bell? Who said anything about Sweetie Belle?"
A confused look came across Twilight. "Um, Sweetie Belle? No, I said 'clear as a bell'. Not Sweetie Belle."
"Oh. Right, (sigh) yeah."
"So, um, Spike. H-how was your day off?"
"It, um, it was fine."
"Are you sure about that? You sure don't seem as if."
"Why?"
"You entered the library all upset!"
"Well, I mean, you wouldn't understand why."
"You can always tell me."
"No, I, (sigh) I just can't. Too personal."
Twilight at this point was now desperate to get as much information out of Spike as possible. "Alright then, um, what did you do while I was gone in Canterlot?"
"I really don't feel like talking about it, Twilight."
"Errg, Spike, I don't have the patience for this! Either you tell me what's wrong or you'll suffer the consequences of whatever it is before you know it!"
Spike was surprised at his owner's change of tone. After jumping in shock, he turned and ran into the bedroom that he shared with the princess.
Twilight put both fore hooves on her face and crept them up towards her mane in frustration. "O-kayy, Spike. Just be that way. Keep things from your owner, hide things from her, keep your problems all to yourself, I mean really? After all I've done for you! You won't let me help you with a little situation!", she said sternly to Spike.
Upstairs, he looked down at his owner. Not in the mood to argue, he turned around towards the piece of furniture he called his bed. Crawling inside this time around felt like the most inviting sensation Spike had ever experienced. There were no strict owners or pony girls he had to deal with under the covers. Besides the company of an old stuffed animal or two, Spike could just stay there all alone as the monster he thought himself to be. Being the only dragon in a bed all by himself sounded much better to him than being the only dragon in a pony-run town. There were no restrictions for being a dragon whilst resting his head on a pillow. He wished he could just lay on it's comforting cushion and fluffy pillow for eternity and never have to get up to face his lonely reality ever again. As Spike's head moved down his pillow, it started to feel crunchy, and Spike realized that his head was now on the burnt part from the other morning. He angrily sighed and shifted his thoughts back to his case.
"Stupid Twilight.", Spike said to himself, "Stupid Ponyville, stupid dragons. Of all ponies, why did I have to be a dragon? Why couldn't anypony who wanted to be a ferocious beast for his whole life take my place! And then on top of this, I have nopony to turn to for help. Twilight will just be angry as usual and will only try to convince me that I'm not depressed and won't care. She rarely ever cares for me! (Sigh) I don't even have a real mother or father to look up to for this. (Sniff) And some substitute Twilight is for one! And now, jeez, within two days both of my dream girls have become lost causes. Oh, Sweetie Belle."
Spike started to play with one of the stuffed animal's ruffled hair as if it were Sweetie Belle's beautiful mane. His tired condition then caused him drift off to sleep.
"I wish I was a pony."
~
Rarity was in her shop taking a brief dinner break from her work. Although she was ravenous from not eating a crumb during her strict work résumé, she chose to eat a small and sophisticated entrée like she usually did. The shop door then opened and Rarity moaned. "Another customer?", she quietly said to herself in frustration. Looking towards the door, however, Rarity realized that it was none other than her filly sister entering the boutique. "Sweetie Belle, there you are! Good timing, too, because it was starting to darken outside an- Sweetie Belle?" Rarity saw that sister was downcast. "Sweetie Belle?". Rarity did her best to give her kin a warm welcome home. "How was your day, sister of mine?"
"It was… um, busy.", she softly replied.
"Busy? Well what could ever have taken up that precious time?"
"Well, I swept the floors of the blanket shop and mowed Junebug's lawn and-"
Rarity became quite perplexed. The feeling then shifted to amazement. "You mean to tell me that you did chores? And all of Ponyville is still intact? B-but, how?"
Sweetie Belle rolled her eyes at her sister's sentences. Sweetie knew she typically messed chores up, but Rarity did not have to rub it in. "It's alright, no worries, I wasn't alone." Sweetie rejected in her mind mentioning that she was not alone. Rarity, however, picked up on it.
Rarity raised an eyebrow. "Who were you with? Your crusader friends?"
Sweetie Belle did not want to risk saying that Apple Bloom or Scootaloo accompanied her because there was a chance that Rarity could find out that they were elsewhere. "Oh, um, nopony."
"You just said that you had a partner!"
"Spike is not my 'partner'!", Sweetie Belle stammered. After a couple seconds, Sweetie's and Rarity's eyes both popped open. Sweetie's instincts told her to deny any idea of her spending the day with Spike, but there were too many other ponies who saw them that had evidence to prove otherwise.
Thoughts of the other night came back to Rarity once Spike's name was brought up. Several assumptions processed through her head. "Was Spike so happy because he got to spend the day with Sweetie Belle, or otherwise? Why's Sweetie so upset? Ugh, confusion strikes again! ", she thought. She then asked aloud, "You spent the day with… Spike?"
Sweetie hesitated to respond at first, but eventually did. She tried to stick with the thought that they were only friends. "Yeah, I did."
After thinking the whole time, Rarity jumped to a conclusion. "Oh, I see now! Spike was morose over my response to his proposal and Sweetie in some way or another cheered him up, uh, sometime between my 'no' and when I laid eyes on him this morning! That's why Spike was happy! Wow. I can't actually believe that Sweetie was powerful enough to change Spike's thoughts. Well, I don't know for sure anyways. But why's Sweetie so upset? " Rarity prided herself inside for her conclusion. She then turned to her sister. Rarity just could not leave Sweetie Belle how she was. As the good sister she believed she was, Rarity decided to attempt at comforting her sister. "Sweetums, did Spike do anything to you?"
"No! No, um, really, um, no. My friend , Spike, did nothing to me!"
"Sweetie." Rarity did not plan on nor want to bring this up to her sister, who she thought was still upset over Rarity not liking Spike back. "Can I tell you something?"
"What?"
"I wanted to refrain from telling you this but, (sigh), Spike did ask me to be his special-some-pony."
"I know."
Rarity became surprised. "You do? Huh? Did Spike tell you, dear?"
"Yes. Spike told me everything."
Rarity walked up to Sweetie and wrapped her forelegs around her in a hug. "I know that it is exactly what you didn't want for Spike. I'm so sorry it had to be done so soon."
Although her sorrow for Spike not getting any love back from Rarity was long gone, Sweetie was still upset about what she just went through with him on the park bench. Eyes watering up, she returned the hug. The filly never thought that she'd someday be hugging her sister because of Twilight Sparkle's dragon assistant. When Rarity released her sister, Sweetie felt uneasy. The last two days were making life complicated for her. Bereft of things to say, Sweetie just turned to go up to her room.
"Sweetie Belle."
Rarity's words stopped the unicorn filly's walking. "Y-yes, Rarity?"
"Is that, um, why you're so down tonight?"
Sweetie wanted to avoid letting the real reason slip at all costs, but she felt dazed and the walls of the boutique spun around in her head and the room seemed to be shrinking. "I-", she started, "I don't wanna talk about it!". She then ran up the stairs, leaving Rarity almost as befuddled as Twilight.
"I can't leave my sister in the condition that she is in now, but if she refrains from telling me anything she won't get the necessary help! (Sigh), Just give it time, Rarity, and it will work!", she said to herself.
Meanwhile upstairs in the guest bedroom, Sweetie was crying into a pillow all by herself. She felt so lonely and distant from the present as she was going through something that she never had been through. Yesterday was her first experience with love with a boy, but the next was her first break up experience. It was too intense for her to handle. She's been through different kinds of love before, of course. She's loved her past pets, she loves her family, and she somewhat loves her cooking, but this was a different kind of love. It was for a boy. Sweetie always needed help when it came to love, everypony needed help. If she needed help with when to feed her goldfish, she'd simply ask her parents or a pet store owner. If she needed help with her cooking, she'd turn to her mother or another pony that cooks. There was always somepony that she could resort to for assistance and guidance. This case was different. If the boy that she loved was a pony, she could turn to a mare that had been through a boy or two for help. However, nopony Sweetie knew or ever met had ever fallen in love with a dragon before. And that, respectively, is who Sweetie Belle loved. She had nopony for help. This left her feeling more alone than she had ever felt before. She wasn't sure of what to do besides treat Spike as a mere friend. She wanted Spike. Just looking into his reptile eyes would make Sweetie Belle happier than if she were to get a cutie mark on her flank. "Why, why, why, why, why? Why does Spike have to be a dragon? He deserves more rights to be a pony than, than- oh who cares who? And now Rarity could find out about this! He is not a monster! (Sniff)", she was barely able to make out between sobs. "He's a forever-lost dream."
~
"Okay, steady now, Twilight, steeaady…"
The alicorn was attempting a new spell from the book. This one was turning a leaf into a raccoon. With a colorful orb of magic surrounding her horn and lots of confidence, she slowly pointed her horn towards the brown leaf that she had set in front of her. With all the power surging through her horn, sparks bristled out and immediately shot towards the leaf. As the magical glow surrounded the leaf, only it's silhouette could be made out. Twilight saw the silhouette shift from a leaf shape and slowly evolve into that of a raccoon. The spell had finished by the time her unicorn horn lost it's mystical glow. Feeling a tad dizzy from the spell, she shook her head and cleared her vision. What she saw before her was her regular library but with a raccoon running around. The leaf clearly was not used to its new body and was having difficulty getting accustomed to it. He looked almost drunk trying to walk.
"Poor thing! As much as I hate to waste my magic, I just can't let a leaf be a raccoon for the rest of his life! Hmm, I never thought I'd ever say that.", said Twilight as she had her magic spoil up again to reverse what she did. After putting the leaf out of its misery, Twilight turned to the potion section of the book. Although she did not often make or work with potions, Twilight was still eager to try some out.
"Let's take a look, now. Um, let's see here, potion number 63 will transform a mare into a stallion? And vice versa? I-I don't really wanna try that one out! Well let's see what else Mr. Book here has in store for me!", she said to herself. "Potions to turn corn into carrots, dirt into water, pegasi into trees, hmm, potions to turn dragons into armadillos? Wow, this dragon section is a lot larger than I expected! I guess I could try one or more on Spike when he wakes up and possibly lightens up. Let's see, I could turn Spike into a dog, a mule, hmm, a pony?"
Twilight thought for a moment and then broke into a little laughter.
"Why in Equestria would Spike ever want to be a pony? I bet he's happier than Pinkie Pie since he's a dragon! Let's see what I need, uhh… wow! All the ingredients for the dragon potions are accessible here in the library! I barely even have to lift a hoof for this one! Well, as long as I have all the necessary materials here, I'll make the pony one to try on him. I don't know if it will help him at all with his little 'case' but royal duties are always more important than Spike's childish, um, whatever."
Twilight went around her home to get everything she needed.
"Okay, I think that rounds off the list! Dandelions, sourdough bread crumbs, rainbow precipitation I have from Rainbow Dash, a pint of Diet Cola, sparkle dust, herbs and magical whatnot I got from Zecora, and one sprinkle! Mixing time!"
Twilight put all these materials in a bowl and worked her magic to start mixing. After a while of mixing everything up, Twilight had a legitimate potion that possessed the ability to transform a dragon into a pony.
"Let's see, how do I save this potion for the morning… um, the book says to leave it outside for it to stay active. No problem, I'll just put it on my windowsill up in the room."
Twilight used her unicorn magic to lift the bowl up to her and Spike's room up the stairs. When she got there, she couldn't see Spike since he was cozily wrapped up in his blanket. Twilight also really had no interest in looking for him at the moment. She was cautiously walking across the room with the bowl. However as Twilight was halfway across the room, Spike let out a loud snore and sleepily pulled his blanket off, causing Twilight to rapidly turn around in surprise.
"Hello, who's there?", she quickly asked.
She was so worried that she was unaware that half of her potion flew out of the bowl towards Spike. There was nothing Twilight could do to stop it.
"NOOOO!", she yelled.
It was too late. The potion doused Spike. If the author of the spell book wasn't lying, Spike would be a pony by morning.
"Yaaaawn." It looked as if Spike was about to wake up. Twilight cringed in terror as to how he'd react to becoming a pony. Spike fell right back asleep, causing Twilight to sigh in relief. But then what she had done to him just dawned on her.
"Oh no, this is bad, this is very very bad! Spike just can't be a pony, he'll be more heartbroken than he already is! (Sigh) I wish I knew what was making him so down. Gosh, I really need to improve on being a good owner, I don't know about anything going on with him! And I know he probably hates me for it. (Sigh) Well, Twi, prepare for more hatred. Spike won't want to ever talk to me again!", she guiltily said to herself. Twilight fell onto her bed as her self-frustration put her to sleep.
~
Shapes started forming in Spike's eyes as they opened for the first time since he fell asleep. Blinking a couple of times, the shapes Spike saw became the familiar sights of the bedroom that he shared with Twilight Sparkle.
"Eesh, oh, man, I think I slept funny, I don't really feel like-"
Spike stopped speaking as he moved his muscles for the first time since he woke up. He realized that something was very odd and different.
"Ouch, what in the, wa-, why do my arms feel so, um, misplaced an- AAAAHHHH WHERE IN EQUESTRIA ARE MY FINGERS!?!? My (sniff) precious, beautiful fingers! I-I never even got to name them! We've been through so much! I have (gasp), hooves! I gotta get Twilight!"
Spike found it struggling to get out of bed like how he usually got up every morning. His body oddly felt very foreign to him. He spent a good two minutes just trying to get on his back. When he slid off, he couldn't even stand on his legs. He fell right on his face and rapidly tried to get up. When finally on four hooves, Spike found it much more comfortable and almost more natural standing on four than on his usual two legs. He attempted walking on all fours, but found it much harder than crawling when he imitated ponies as a dragon. He realized that he no longer had his short stubby dragon legs but had much longer ones in their place with hooves. He felt a tail alright, but it was very different that his scaly dragon tail. Spike used his right foreleg to feel his body, but felt soft fur rather than the sharp scales he was used to. His eyes started to water up.
"What's happened to me!"
He looked up and saw Twilight sitting at the desk in their room in sorrow. She looked over and saw her dragon assistant, but he looked very different than how long she had owned him.
"Oh, good, you're okay! The potion actually worked.", she said.
"What worked? Why am I so… different? Why would you do this to me? Especially with no warning!"
"Oh, Spike, I'm so sorry, but I accidentally spilled a potion that I had brewed last night on you while you slept. If it made contact with a dragon, it would (gulp), turn them into…"
"Into what? What am I?"
"(Sigh) … a pony."
Spike's eyes shot open. He limped over to the mirror that he usually passed every morning and looked into it. The alicorn wasn't kidding. The dragon that Spike always saw staring back at him in the mirror was not there. A pony was standing in its place. Spike saw a small colt that looked like it belonged in Cheerilee's class in the dragon's place. It had purple fur that matched his old scales and a lime green mane that matched his old spikes. His eyes no longer looked like those of a reptile but those of a pony. He had no cutie mark and was an earth pony. Spike blinked a couple of times, and slapped himself with his hoof to make sure he wasn't dreaming. Having an unstable balance from holding one of his hooves up to slap himself, Spike realized that he actually was transformed into a pony. Twilight put her fore hooves to her face and sighed in remorse.
"I am so sorry, Spike, and I just can't imagine what you're going through. Just, (sigh), go ahead and hate me. I understand completely."
"Um, Spike? You-you mean you aren't mad?"
"No, no no of course not! Thank you thank you thank you sooo much, Twilight! Woo-hoo, I'm happy as an oak!"
"That's not even an expression!"
"I don't care, oh boy, I gotta go!"
Spike attempted walking towards the stairs, fell, but was too excited to give up. He started to limp down the stairs, hardly able to catch his breath. However, Twilight looked away as Spike slipped. She heard a thud from every step he slipped on as he fell down the stairs. He quickly hopped back up and walked towards the door.
"I thought you'd be angry with me, or at least still angry at whatever you were at earlier."
"Nope! Not today! Definitely not! Yes! No more letters, no more flames, no more sharpness, haha, no more barriers! I'm free! Freedom!"
As Twilight heard the door close shut as Spike yelled "FREEEEEDOM", she stayed put sitting at her desk, amazed at what she had saw. With what Twilight thought would ruin Spike's life for good just made him the happiest dragon alive. She barely even had to try for that one. Twilight Sparkle was very nervous-cited, as Pinkie Pie would put it. She was glad and relieved to finally see him so happy. It was almost unnatural to see him like that. Spike was never that excited. She was also quite perplexed that he had so many flaws with being the dragon that he was. He never complained about his species.
"Wait a minute, Spike never liked being a dragon? Gosh, Twi, if you want to improve on being a good owner, you HAVE to know about what Spike wants and whatnot. I didn't know he wanted to be a pony. Errrg, Twilight! Still, I mean, it's nice to see him so happy. Quite a significant change in behavior if you ask me! Owlicious, did you know that Spike wanted to be a pony?"
"Who."
"Spike! (Sigh) Oh, yeah. I guess I should return to my studies now, and- wow! A potion to turn an owl into a music disc? I guess I could try that one. How does that sound, Owlicious? Um, Owlicious?"
Twilight looked to where her pet owl once stood and saw nothing but brown feathers swaying through the air, slowly falling towards the ground. Twilight chuckled.
"Oh boy, this will be harder than it looks."
~
Running through the streets of Ponyville, Spike the pony had the biggest smile he's had in all these last three days. He had an exciting glow in his eyes as he ran along. Ponies passing by looked at him run about with a grin, and they smiled at the sight. Spike said "hi" to every pony he saw.
"Hey, Lemon Hearts! Hey Merry May! Wonderful day, isn't it?"
"Yeah, it sure is!", replied Merry May. When Spike was out of reach, she turned to Lemon Hearts. "Who was that colt?"
"I have no idea, but it's wonderful to see that he's so glad!", replied Lemon Hearts.
Spike continued by walking through the market. "Hey Applejack! Hey Big Mac! Those apples look great!"
"Well, thank you very much, young stallion!", the element of honesty replied. "Plucked fast and fresh from Sweet Apple Acres!"
"I'd love some, but I have something I need to attend to! Catch you later, A.J.!"
"See ya real soon, youngin!". When Spike was away, Applejack turned towards Big Macintosh. "Did, um, that colt sound just like Spike?"
"Eeyup.", he replied to his sister.
"Eerie, if ya ask me.", Applejack added.
Spike was now skipping with glee through Ponyville. Skipping with glee next to him was Pinkie Pie, who was, as usual, just as happy as Spike.
"Hey, there! You're new here aren't you?", she asked.
"Hey Pinkie Pie! I-"
"You know my name?!?! I guess I'm somehow known all over Equestira! Is it because of Twilight and her princessyhood or because of my puffy mane that I've never seen anypony else with?"
"Oh quit messing around, Pinkie, it's me!"
"Oh, okay, hi me! How is me doing on this fantabuloso day? Hmm, it sounds an awful lot like I'm talking to myself."
Pinkie paused to ponder about this as Spike hopped further through the town. Spike wanted badly to try some of the pony activities he couldn't do as a dragon, but he could not do them just yet. There was somepony Spike had to get to. Somepony that he simply could not get his mind off of for the past two days. It was also somepony that he just bumped into as soon as he hopped away from Pinkie, causing both of them to fall. Spike looked up and saw the unicorn he was searching for. Sweetie Belle was standing before him.
"Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry about that! Here, I'll help you up." Sweetie just couldn't leave the colt fallen there. She hated seeing others upset like that. She was the sister of the element of generosity, after all. There was also something about this pony that reminded her of a special dragon that she couldn't avoid thinking of.
"Sorry, Sweetie Belle!"
Sweetie Belle froze still. Goosebumps rushed down her spine as her eyes widened. This pony sounded just like Spike. Was it Spike?
"Sp-Spike?"
"Sweetie, don't worry! Twilight accidentally turned me into a pony last night, and, and I just can't believe it! Heh, you know her and her magic mishaps. You know what this means, right?"
Sweetie looked down to the ground, astonished. Finding it hard to make eye contact with the colt that stood before her, she just could not believe what was happening. The boy of her dreams seemed to finally be a pony. No more hiding, no more secrets, no chance of having a freaky reputation amongst her fellow ponies, and no more stress. Sweetie felt as if all the weight in the world was lifted off of her chest. Her most desired dreams have come true. Slapping herself to confirm she wasn't dreaming, she shook her head rapidly and finally grasped that everything happening was reality. She looked up to Spike, tears of joy in her eyes, and smiled. She had the biggest smile Spike had ever seen on her. She then squealed and started hopping up and down and Spike joined her. "I don't believe it, I don't believe it! You're a pony! I don't believe it!"
"I can't believe it, either! This is the best thing that's ever happened to me!"
"To you? This is the best thing that's ever happened to me !"
"So, what's the big word? Are we back together?"
Sweetie leapt towards Spike and wrapped her fore hooves around him. Spike found Sweetie simply adorable when she was so overjoyed like this.
"Of course of course yes yes yes yes! I love you so much! Oh my gosh, we can say that in public now! I love you I love you I love you!"
"I love you I love you I love you more!"
The two ran all around town square together, laughing the entire time. Everything was perfect for them. She was finally happy and he was finally happy, and that's all that mattered to them. Seeing the two fillies running around and having a good time made the citizens of Ponyville twice as glad as they already were. When the young couple ceased their running, they found themselves next to town hall. Staring into each other's eyes, the two smiling ponies moved their heads closer and kissed for the first time in public. They had no fear this time around. They were both on top of the world at that moment. It was the happiest moment in all their lives. They then shared a tight hug. Shortly after, Sweetie darted her head up towards a nearby clock.
"Oh my, the time! I have to get to school!"
"Aww, well, I guess I'll see you afterwards."
"Well, what are you planning on doing while I'm at school?"
"Um, (sigh), I have no clue. If I go back to the library, though, I'll have to deal with Twilight. She'll probably just try to reverse the spell!"
"Well then, umm, hey! How about you come to school with me!"
"Well, I don't know. I'm not even in Cheerilee's class."
"Um, how about you help me present my project! I'll just tell Miss Cheerilee that you are only there to help me!"
Sweetie Belle pulled a poster she had made about the history of pegasus aviation that she was assigned to present in front of her class out of her saddle bag. Spike was impressed with Sweetie's efforts on her project.
"Wow, unbelievable, Sweetie Belle! I'd be glad to help you present it!"
"Sounds like a plan! I've been working on it all last week!"
The two started hopping towards the schoolhouse together.
"Say, Sweetie, what do you need help with exactly to present that?"
"Oh, yeah, I need somepony to hold the poster up for me as I read it!"
"Oh boy, well, anything for you, Sweetie."
The two were still in shock as to how their wildest dream just became a reality. They were eager to see what their relationship had in store for them and how other ponies would interpret their love for each other. They were finally both the same species. They were finally both properly showing love for each other. They were finally both relieved and excited. The were finally both happy. And that's all that they ever wanted.
Author's Note
The third chapter is finally here! Thanks to all of you for the feedback thus far. To be continued.
