Spike and Sweetie Belle walked out of the town hall, the cooler evening air hitting them as soon as they did so. Only outside did they realise how warm the party inside had been.

It was a gloriously clear and warm night, with Luna’s stars twinkling overhead. As it was such a nice evening, barious schoolponies and their parents were milling about, chatting to each other and many were in no rush to leave. Some of the children were pretty tired and wanted to go home to sleep, whilst others were too excited to go home. Ms Cheerilee oversaw the scene to ensure that the relevant parents were picking up some of the younger ponies.

Diamond Tiara was making a big deal of standing by the private carriage, even though some of the fillies noted that her date was long gone. “Well, time for me to leave in this fabulous carriage my rich father paid for!” the pink earth pony gloated to anypony unfortunately in earshot.

Spike saw something approaching and whispered something to Sweetie Belle, causing the filly to giggle as the timing couldn’t have been more perfect. As everypony present turned their heads away from Diamonds carriage, the filly looked around the side of her vehicle to see what was distracting the ponies from her father's display of wealth.

Diamond Tiara’s mouth practically hit the floor as the much fancier royal carriage came to a rest, the light dancing off it’s gold gilding and the crystal armour of the guards. Sweetie Belle wanted to gloat, but that was beneath a lady such as herself and wouldn’t be the right thing to do in front of Spike. Besides she would see Diamond around town soon enough and could rub it in then.

Spike didn’t want to rush the end of the night so as the pair walked towards the carriage he turned to Sweetie Belle “It’s not late, fancy walking home?”

“Sure!” Sweetie Belle squeaked a little too enthusiastically

Spike was about to dismiss the carriage when another idea popped into his head Let's really try to show up Diamond Tiara now . The dragon walked back to the hall and found a familiar pair “Applebloom, how are you and Applejack getting home”

“Walking, why?”

Spike gestured to the carriage “You can take this, me and Sweetie are going to walk”

“Thats mighty generous of you sugarcube - “ Applejack replied “- but we don’t need it.”

“Applebloom’s been dancing all night, and the farm is quiet some way away.”

“I am a little tuckered sis” the yellow filly replied with a hint of a yawn.

“But I can’t ride in a royal carriage!” Applejack slightly blushed.

“Didn’t you say we’re all family?”

Applejack scowled a little at the dragon “Yes but…”

“Then what's Twilight’s and mine is yours” Spike finished with a slight wink.

Applejack conceded defeat, and the two earth mares got into the carriage. Spike explained to the guards what was happening and the carriage set of for Sweet Apple Acres, Applebloom poking her tongue out at Diamond as the carriages passed each other. With the final revenge on Diamond Tiara complete, Spike and Sweetie Belle started walking through the town.

With it being a clear and cloud free evening, Spike started discussing the stars with Sweetie. He had learnt a lot about it from Twilight’s studies, and then from discussions with Princess Luna. When they came across a bench, they sat down and Spike started pointing out all the constellations. The pairs heads grew closer as Spike lent in to point out various stars.

The pair then turned towards each other at the same time and they realised how close they were, both backing away a little with a faint blush. With a pause in the star talk, Sweetie Belle turned the conversation onto something she had been meaning to say.

“I had a really nice night tonight Spike. Thank you for taking me to the ball.”

Spike smiled at the pony “It was a nice evening. I enjoyed spending time with you.”

“I know you only did it because my sister asked you but…”

“Rarity didn’t ask me.” Spike interrupted.

Sweetie Belle was taken aback “She didn’t?”. When Spike nodded no, she added “Then why did you ask me?”

Spike struggled to hide a blush “Well, because you had nopony to go with, were sad and because, you know, I...well...like you!” he mumbled at the end.

“Really?” Sweetie squeaked

Spike was surprised to see the filly surprised “Yeah. Didn’t you know?”

“No! I mean, apart from a few occasions like trips with our sisters, we barely see each other.”

“That doesn’t mean I don’t like you...and that I wouldn’t mind spending more time with you and your friends.”

Sweetie Belle was still in shock “But you never come crusading or anything?”

Spike sniggered “I have a lot of chores to do...if you think the library was bad, imagine running the whole castle!”

“Running?”

“Well, basically, Twilight’s always too busy reading, being a princess or saving the world to think about things such as cooking.”

Sweetie Belle laughed “Lucky that your allowed to cook, I’m banned by my sister!”

As the both of them laughed, Spike noticed something. Hushing the pony next to him, Spike nodded first to the bushes where a part of Rarity’s mane was sticking out, then up to a cloud with a slight purple wing showing.

“Well, where do you want to go?” Spike winked at Sweetie as he spoke a little louder.

“What do you mean?” Sweetie replied, a little unsure what was happening.

“Well, it is your prom night and there are traditions that go with that…” Spike trailed off, hoping the filly would pick up on the prank he was pulling. Luckily, she did.

“Oh, well I know Applebloom is planning on meeting Snips in the barn so thats out?”

“What about the clubhouse?”

“Nah, Scootaloo has set that up for her and Snails.”

“Drat, there must be somewhere we can go” Spike

“Yeah, I really want you to kiss…” Sweetie Belle started until a silence of the night was rudely interrupted.

“WHAT!” Rarity shrieked and came bursting out of the bushes at full gallop towards the pair. Spike jumped out of the bench and took a few steps back as Rarity jumped between the two and was about to launch a verbal tired until she heard giggling from above.

“Relax Rarity” Twilight laughed as she glided down “I think they spotted us a minute ago.”

Rarity looked between them all “Oh!”

“You were spying on me, how could you…” Sweetie Belle squealed at her sister, but before she could really get going she felt a comforting hoof on her shoulder.

“She was just looking out for you - “ Spike interjected calmly “- thats nothing to be angry about.”

Rarity was looking a bit bashful and pawing the ground slightly “Sorry Sweetie Belle.”

The younger sister took a deep cleansing breath “Okay Rarity, I know you have my interests at heart, but you shouldn’t be spying on me.”

Twilight walked forwards and placed a hoof on Rarity’s shoulder “Lets leave the two of them alone, shall we? Afterall, I think both Spike and Sweetie can look after themselves.” As the two older ponies walk away, Twilight added “Just don’t be too late.”

Spike came at sat back down on the bench, but the interuption had caused a painful pause in their conversation.

“So, you like me?” Sweetie Belle broke the ice, adding “You’ve never shown it?”

Spike could sense that the filly didn’t quite believe him “Well, who did I hang out with and dance all night with at Cadences Wedding?”

“True, but you...well...love my sister!”

Spike winced slightly “I have, had, no, have - “ Spike battled to find the right words “ - a crush on Rarity. Yes. But, thats just a silly crush really.”

“It’s not just a silly crush is it?”

“Don’t you have a crush on anypony famous or something?”

“Yeah, but that’s different!”

Spike sighed and his head “Yeah, I know. I do have a crush on Rarity, but we’re just friends. and it was, is, just a crush. A foalish crush that I had the first time I saw her. And it blinded me from lots of things, like my silly actions and other ponies around town.”

Spike paused to make sure Sweetie was looking at him “But I really like you! Your fun, the sensible one in the crusaders group, pretty, kind and just, well, sorta perfect.”

“Well, I really like you too!” Sweetie Belle replied.

The tension between the two started to grow, but Spike knew it was getting late and Sweetie Belle was still a young pony “Come on, we better get you home before Rarity gets all mad again.”

They reached a few steps away from the front door of Carousel Boutique, and after all the good times they had, the evening was nearly at an end.

Spike looked one last time over to his date as they paused outside the shop. After exchanging a few last pleasantries, Spike felt that he just had to hold the filly one last time. He gently reached down and lifted one of her front hooves in his claws.

“I had a wonderful time tonight Sweetie” he smiled widely at the filly.

“I had a wonderful time too Spike” the filly replied a little coyly.

Spike was still holding onto the hoof, and the filly released the ball was clearly in her court - the gentledrake was leaving it to her to break the contact...or not.

The animals of Equestria each had their own way of showing affection, and ponies had a wider range than most.

Hugs were for everybody, by the friend, family or even strangers if Pinkie Pie was involved. Nuzzling was a very different activity despite a similar level of touch and there had to be a level of closeness unrelated to love to do a much more primitive act. And a kiss - well, a kiss is something truly special, something only shared by ponies whose love was never in doubt.

But for young love there was an alternative to this - so much more than a hug, so much less than a kiss.

Sweetie Belle slowly leaned forward and placed her nose against Spike’s, rubbing in a quick small circle before pulling away. Instantly, both of the young creatures blushed and looked away from each other. Spike realised he was still holding the hoof, but neither of them seemed to want to let go.

Slowly, they both turned back and their eyes met. There was a new spark between them, something that they had felt all evening. In each touch, in each smell, in each giggle, and in each look. After a comfortable pause, Spike finally let go of the filly’s leg.

“Thank you for everything tonight Spike” Sweetie turned and started walking towards the door. Just before she entered, with one final smile over her shoulder, the filly added “and perhaps should you decide you like the younger sister in this house, she’ll be waiting for you “ before quickly shutting the door behind her.

Spike started the journey home, his mind reeling with what was happening whilst inside the two sisters settled down with hot chocolate to gossip about the dance...

Author's Note

The bit with the hug/kiss/noses etc is inspried (and slightly stolen) from The Descendant, and especially the awesome story
A Sweet Taste of Cake