The Cutie Mark Crusaders - Operation : May the Best Win!

Chapters

Chapter 2 : An Unforgettable Night
Chapter 3 : Always By My Side
Chapter 4: A Crazy Day
Chapter 5 : Revelations
Chapter 6 : A Glimmer of Hope
Chapter 1 : The New Life in Ponyville

Chapter 2 : An Unforgettable Night

Chapter 2 :

An Unforgettable Night.

After his encounter with Scootaloo, Spike quickly went to give Applebloom her card. He was sleepy, and wished to flop down on his bed, and not wake up until a millennia later.

‘That Scootaloo,’ Spike thought. ‘Making me remember stuff I wish I wouldn't want to remember.’ He blushes a little. ‘Although, there are some other stuff I want to only remember…’ Spike shakes his head. ‘What am I thinking? At this moment, they are my friends, and I shouldn't think of them like that.’

Meanwhile, at dinner in Sweet Apple Acres…

Granny Smith enters the kitchen with her apple pie, and notices Big Mac on his chair. “Where in tarnation are those two fillies at?” the old mare asks.

“They are arguing in the living room,” the red farm pony replies, looking at the pie very hungrily. “Applebloom arrived in a little late, and ya know how mah sis goes overprotective on 'er,” he tries to get a small portion of the pie.

Granny Smith smacks his hoof away. “Be patient, little 'un. Ya know the rules : No one gets ta eat 'till everyone is at the table,” the old mare sighs. “Ah know that the loss of yer parents were tough fer ya'll three. Taking care of ya'll three is now mah duty, and that's why Applejack gets worried with Applebloom. She must understand that she is not a filly anymore,” Granny Smith says, earning a nod from Big Mac.

In the living room…

“What have Ah told ya 'bout arrivin' late?” Applejack said to her little sister. “Don't ya know it is dangerous out there to return at night?”

“Applejack, Ah'm NOT a foal, or a filly anymore!” Applebloom retorted back very annoyed. “Ah am old enough where ya don't have ta follow me everywhere!”

Applejack gets more angry. “Listen to me, Applebloom! As long as you live in this barn, ya have ta follow the orders of your older sister, even if you don't like it, or else…” she sighs. “Listen, Ah know you are a fully grown mare, but that doesn't change the fact that Ah still have to worry about ya. I love ya a lot, and that's why I worry about ha so much. Big Mac is our big brother, and believe it, or not, under his serious expression, he truly cares about you as well.”

“At least he doesn't get mad like you do,” Applebloom mumbles under her breath.

“That's because he is less worried about you, but ya gotta understand that Ah do it fer yer own good. One day, you'll appreciate it,” Applejack said.

“Then, Ah must assume that ya won't let me go out tomorrow with Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle in the forest alone,” Applebloom concluded in a sad tone.

“And ya assumed right, unless a grown up goes with ya, Ah ain't lettin' ya go nowhere,” Applejack stated.

“I can't believe ya would talk ta Rarity, or Rainbow Dash ta make us avoid goin' ta the forest alone, and find our Cutie Marks!” Applebloom angrily said.

“Listen to me, Applebloom!” Applejack gets as angry as her little sister. “In the first place, ya don't have the right ta talk to yer older sis like that, unless ya really want ta get a spankin' on yer flank so that they become real blank. In the second place, Ah'll only let ya camp out tonight if only, Ah repeat, only if somepony knocks on that door in the next five seconds!” she concluded by pointing her hoof at the wooden door.

Not even a second passed before somepony knocked on the door which made Applebloom grin for her good luck.

‘Who in tarnation is that knockin' at the door? I hope is it just the wind, or Ah'll have ta keep mah promise,” she asked in her thoughts.

Applejack opens the door, and for her bad luck, it was Spike who knocked on her door.

“Howdy, Spike!” the orange farm pony forces a smile. “What brings ya 'round these hours?”

“Hi, Applejack,” Spike greeted. “I just came by to give this card from Sweetie Belle,” he showed the rolled up card that he had on his claws.

Without warning, Applebloom places herself in front of Applejack, takes the card from Spike with her mouth, and rushes back inside the barn to read it.

“Damn that pony,” Applejack mumbles under her breath, and looks at her sister for lacking good manners at that moment. “Ah'm sorry, Spike for her behavior. Ya came by at the wrong moment.”

“Quite the contrary, Spike, you arrived at an excellent moment,” Applebloom scoffs, and gets closer to the two. “Thanks to ya, now Ah can go tomorrow with Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle to camp!” she grins in a sign of victory in front of Applejack.

“Oh, yeah? What makes ya think that?” Applejack asks, completely confused.

“Well, if Ah remember correctly, ya said that only, and Ah repeat, only if somepony knocked on that door on the next five seconds, Ah could go with my friends. Thanks to Celestia, Spike came by just in time ta save me. Now, ya gotta keep yer promise,” she smirks. “Ya don't want ta make a bad example of yer Element of Honesty.”

Applebloom was right, she couldn't break her promise that she made that moment, but she had a Plan B…

Applejack sighs. “Alright, Ah admit that ya won, and that Ah never break mah promises, but that doesn't mean your other two friends can't go without supervision. If ya don't have the permission of Rarity, or Rainbow Dash, ya won't be able ta go.”

Applejack's confidence was so great that she was convinced that she had won the battle, but she didn't take in consideration one thing, and unknowingly, Applebloom already knew what she was about to say.

Applebloom smirks. “Oh, sis, Ah knew ya would say somethin' like that, and once again, luck is by my side,” the red maned mare gives the card to Spike. “Spike, could you read the letter for me?”

“Sure, Applebloom. No problem,” Spike says as he clears his throat.

*From Sweetie Belle :

Dear Applebloom, I sent Spike with this card to let you know that we will be meeting at four in the evening at the clubhouse to go to the forest, and arrive at night to camp to get our Cutie Marks.

At first, Rarity would oppose to go because she thought it was to dangerous, and you know how she is. But for my luck, Rainbow Dash was at the Boutique, and talked with her. She soon gave me permission to go with you two.*

Without anything else to say, we await you tomorrow at the clubhouse. Don't forget to bring everything you need to camp.

Applejack couldn't believe that she was defeated twice in a row by her little sister. She didn't have anything else to defeat her with, and was about to resign to let her go because if she lost again, she would have won three out of three, and that would be bad for Applejack since that would mean that her little sister would have the upper hoof.

Applejack sighed in defeat. “Ah, shucks! Well, ya win. Ya get ta go tomorrow with 'em,” she turns her head to look at Spike. An idea forms in her head, and her defeated expression turns into one of victory. “But… Spike goes with ya.”

“WHAT!?” Applebloom, and Spike both shout.

“That's right, young 'un. Spike'll have ta go whether ya like, or not,” Applejack grins confidently. ‘Let's see how ya get off this 'un,’ the farm pony thought.

For Applebloom, this was as far as Applejack would get in trying to convince her to not go, and she wasn't about to give up. If she were to think this properly, she could win once, and for all. If she declined, she would have to stay, and that was a big no for her. If she accepted, she would have to support the care of Spike's health for Applejack, also taking in mind that the dragon was about the same age as them. Then, the red maned mare had an idea in which Applejack couldn't decline, and would lead her to victory.

“Alright, Applejack,” Applebloom accepted. “Spike will go with us.”

“Well, it's settled. Then - ” Applejack was interrupted.

“Wait a minute, Ah ain't done yet. Like Ah said, Spike can go with us, but only until the point where we will camp. Until then, he'll have to go, and on the next day, he can go, or ya can go to pick us up at five in the evenin'. What do ya say, sis?” Applebloom gives Applejack a devious grin.

Applejack sighed, and embraced her sister, ruffling her mane up a bit. “It looks like Ah taught ya well ya little mischievous rascal,” she releases her. “Alright, it's a deal,” she spits on her right hoof, and extends it to her sister.

Applebloom chuckles a little. “Hehe, well, I learned from the best,” she then spits on her left hoof, and shakes her hoof with her sister, sealing the deal.

Spike - who had an “I'm still here” expression - doesn't get say anything to what just happened. “Well, after I have just been involved in something I didn't have to opportunity to decline, or accept, I think I'll see you at four at the clubhouse.”

Both ponies grin at him sheepishly, and apologize, which he in turn waved it off. Spike says his goodbyes, and takes off flight to his home while both mares are being scolded by Granny Smith for not coming inside the kitchen to eat. Big Mac couldn't contain himself, and ate all of the pie. That night, the Cutie Mark Crusaders slept like little foals for tomorrow awaited them a great day, and terrific night, for it was their first time camping alone.

The next day at the clubhouse of the Crusaders…

Sweetie Belle had a list, and a quill that were both levitated by her magic.

“Mosquito repellent?” Sweetie Belle asked.

“Check,” Scootaloo replied.

“Water containers?”

“Check.”

“Food for two days?”

“I don't know why that much, but check.”

“That's because you have a huge appetite. Continuing with the list, sleeping bags?”

“Check.”

“Life sized Rainbow Dash doll?”

“Check,” Scootaloo then blushed, and became annoyed. “Hey, wait a minute, don't make me say stuff I don't want to.”

Sweetie Belle chuckles. “You don't trick us covering it with all the stuff that you carry in your backpack,” she points her hoof that was overstuffed, and formed the figure of Rainbow Dash, and everything else that covered it.

Scootaloo became very embarrassed. “Dang, I should have brought my inflatable doll…” she said in a low voice, unaware that Sweetie Belle heard her.

The white unicorn smirks. “Mmm, so, you also have an inflatable doll, huh?” she laughs. “So my suspicions were right, you don't like stallions, you like mares!”

Scootaloo was very annoyed. “Don't be stupid! I like stallions, it's just that all of this that I have for Rainbow Dash is because I admire her a lot like a big sister, a hero, an adventurer that I admire with all my soul.”

“Yeah, yeah, like you say, if you would have liked a stallion, wouldn't you have told us already?” Sweetie Belles teased.

Scootaloo doesn't look at her. “It's because I can't ask no one out. I'm sorry,” she gets sad.

Sweetie Belle sees what she has caused, and places her hoof on Scootaloo's shoulder. “I'm sorry, I think I crossed the line. I apologize, sometimes, I exaggerate on my teasing.”

Scootaloo takes her hoof, and looks at her. “Don't worry. The truth is, it's my fault for not being sincere with my feelings, and it is for that I can't say them because I'm still fighting with my emotions.

“Don't worry, the day you feel ready, you can say it to us before you say it to the stallion you like,” Sweetie Belle assured.

Scootaloo laughed nervously. “Haha, yeah… stallion.”

Sweetie Belle didn't took a lot of importance to what Scootaloo said, and looked at the clock. It was four in the evening, and Applebloom still didn't arrive.

Sweetie Belle was desperate. “It is becoming late, and Applebloom still doesn't arrive yet.”

Just as she said that, Applebloom opened the door, and exclaimed, “Hold your horses! I'm here! Gosh, you sound like your sister, Sweetie Belle.”

“Don't mention it,” a baritone voice said as Spike came in behind Applebloom.

“SPIKE!” Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle exclaimed as they saw the dragon.

“Hehe, uh, hi, girls,” he sheepishly greeted the duo.

Applebloom looks at them, and asks, “Long story, I'll tell ya on the way we get there. Have ya found out where we will be campin'?”

Scootaloo takes out a map. “Well, I marked two points on where we could pass the night,” she extends the map, and with an “X” she marked the zones they could pass the night. “One could be close to the waterfall. There is a cave behind it, and other zone we could pass the night would be aside a river.

Applebloom, and Sweetie Belle both exclaimed, “Behind the waterfall!”

“Well, it is settled then. We might as well get marching while there is still light,” Scootaloo suggested.

The three Cutie Mark Crusaders, and one purple dragon left the clubhouse to march towards the forest. In the way, Applebloom explained them why Spike was with them, and why he was accompanying them.

“I only have to accompany you all to the waterfall, and then you guys are on your own,” Spike explained.

“You see, Spike, if you were a pony, you could always be with us, and it would be even better to help you find your Cutie Mark if you were a blank flank!” Scootaloo said. ‘Maybe, I shouldn't keep my feelings to myself…’ she thought.

“Even if he had a Cutie Mark, it would still be fun,” Sweetie Belle replied.

Spike chuckled. “Hehe, don't worry. I won't feel bad for not being able to stay with you guys,” he assured.

“Hey, Spike, Ah'm sorry if my sis had to involve ya into all this, but if it weren't fer ya, and the card, Ah wouldn't be here with the girls,” Applebloom expressed her sincerity.

“No problem, AB! After all, even if I weren't obligated, if I may say, I would have still accepted the favor of my cute friend,” he said truthfully.

Applebloom's face turned red at the mention of “cute”. “Th…Th…Th-Thanks, S-Spike. You are very friendly,” she complimented.

“Yep, that's me! Spike the friendly dragon, hehe.”

That's how they spent their time after an hour, and a half of walking. They soon arrived to their destination, and the waterfall that Scootaloo mentioned of was very beautiful with the sunset. After seeing such a landscape, they entered behind the waterfall. The cave was very spacious, and they couldn't see the end of it, but when it was necessary, they could stay close to the waterfall, and where it wasn't so wet. Spike brought them firewood for a campfire while they unloaded, and placed their belongings in their correct order. Spike, upon arriving, saw that everything was ready, and left the firewood at a place, and took a few twigs to light them up with his green, draconic fire to start the campfire. Once he set fire to the campfire, he said his goodbyes to each Crusader, and left, heading towards Ponyville.

Meanwhile, he Crusaders were now alone, and their only main objective now was to discuss on how they could obtain their Cutie Marks.

“I say, we go explore this cave, and try to find something that will give us our Cutie Marks, like a hidden treasure, or an ancient civilization that many thought was lost, or a mythical creature!” she fluttered her wings in excitement.

“That sounds very risky, for we could probably find ourselves with stuff in which could put us in danger, and I don't think no one can hear us from far away,” Sweetie Belle said.

“Well, we could try exploring the forest at night for a bit, and see who is more brave to obtain their Cutie Marks in the darkness,” Applebloom suggested.

“No, thanks. I prefer to stay here, and tell stories of terror. It's much safer, and completely without running into no danger,” she voiced out her thoughts.

“Well, I'm bored. Boooooorrrrreeeeeddd. We need true action, not stupid terror stories,” Scootaloo said.

“You say that because you are afraid that this will be like last time,” Applebloom said.

“Hey, that was happened only once! I'm now much more braver than before,” Scootaloo said very annoyed.

Suddenly, they heard a distant voice from the inside of the cave.

“Whhheeerrreee iiiiissss mmyyyy rrruussttyyy hhorrsseeessshhhhooeee?”

Scootaloo, who was a little nervous, said, “Ha, ha, ha, quit it, girls. It's not funny. I know it's you two, so stop playing around,” she said unsurely.

Applebloom became nervous. “Uhh, Scootaloo, it's not us.”

Sweetie Belle was trembling with fear. “We were sitting here all the time.”

The terrifying voice is heard again, but this time, much closer than before.

“Whhheeerrreee iiiiissss mmyyyy rrruussttyyy hhorrsseeessshhhhooeee?”

Scootaloo was visibly shaking from fear. “Hey, it's not funny. Sweetie Belle, turn off your magic.”

Applebloom points to Sweetie Belle's horn. “Scootaloo, it's not her. Look, her horn is not glowing!”

Scootaloo was very terrified by now. Her face was starting to become pale. She looks at the depths of the cave, and notices something moving towards them.

“RUUUUUN!” the orange pegasus screams out. While she runs, she grabs at both Applebloom, and Sweetie Belle. They were headed towards Scootaloo's tent until, suddenly, Applebloom slipped from Scootaloo's grip. The other two enclose themselves inside the tent while the farm pony was paralyzed with fear as she saw a silhouette of a pony moving towards her. As the silhouette moved closer to her, she took more steps back. As she was taking more steps backward, she didn't notice the slippery edge of the end of the rocks, and falls. Upon reacting, she sees a nearby twig, and clamps her mouth around it, clinging to dear life.

‘Oh, Celestia, if Ah had only listened to my sister, Ah wouldn't be in a situation like this. Please, somepony help me!’ she thought as she cried.

Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle were inside the tent, and they didn't notice Applebloom falling off. They didn't even know if she was with them, but they only had two thoughts going through their minds.

‘I don't want to die today! I want to make my dreams a reality!’ Scootaloo thinks as she grabs her Rainbow Dash doll. ‘Rainbow Dash, where are you?’

‘Oh, Celestia, Rarity was right. I am still a little filly for these kinds of stuff. For the love of Celestia, somepony help us!’ she pleaded in her mind.

The hoofsteps were becoming louder, and closer. The silhouette came closer, and closer to their camping tent. Then the zipper begins to lower ever so slightly, and Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle begin to cry, and screaming. Upon opening, they see that it was a simple, ancient miner.

“Hi, girls,” he greeted. “Pardon my intrusion, but have you seen my rusty horseshoe? I've been looking for it all day, and I haven't found it.”

Both terrified ponies shake their head no. Then, they heard a familiar deep, baritone voice.

“Do you mean this one, sir?” Spike holds up his claw with a very rusty horseshoe.

The miner squints his eyes to see it better. “Yes, it's that one. Where did you find it, son?”

“I was close by the river. I found it in a hole in the ground, which seems to be the entrance of the mine,” he explained.

“Oh, that's right. I left it there. I wonder how I forgot. Thanks a bunch, dragon!” he places the horseshoe underneath his left hoof, and then presses against it, clicking once the horseshoe is stuck with his left hoof. “Now, if you'll excuse me, I would like to rest, goodbye,” and the miner left from where he came from.

“Goodbye, sir,” he said. He goes to the edge of the cave, and finds Applebloom hanging from a twig that was embedded into the ground.

Spike flew right next to Applebloom, and embedded his hind feet on the rocky wall. He stretched out his forelimbs to the mare, and cradled her. He then let go of the wall, and flew up the cliff.

After helping Applebloom, he tried to calm down the trembling pegasus, and unicorn. As time went on, Scootaloo hugged her action doll, and Sweetie Belle hugged a photo of her sister, who was the admiration of her. All three of them were hugging Spike, and soon, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle were asleep.

“You don't think of sleeping, or what?” Spike looks at Applebloom, who is really sleepy.

“After all of what happened,” she yawns. “I don't have the urge to sleep. I wish i had something to hug like them to feel myself secure.”

Spike blushes at his idea. “Well, uh, if you want, you can hug me if you want until you go to sleep,” he suggested.

Applebloom didn't think twice, and wrapped her forelimbs at Spike's waist. “Thanks, Spike, you always know how to make a friend feel better.”

Spike encloses Applebloom with his wings, and with a claw, he gently caressed her red, silky mane. “You don't have to give me the thanks. They only raised me up like this, that's all.”

“Spike, I doubt it,” Applebloom said.

“What's wrong?” he asked, concerned that he did something wrong.

“How did you know that we were in trouble?” Applebloom asked.

Spike chuckled. “He, he, I never left, to be honest. After you guys picked this place, I went to other one, which wasn't very far away. If something were to happen to you guys, I would never forgive myself, and when I heard your screams from the cave, I saw the entrance of the mine. There, I saw the horseshoe, and took it. Your screams, and the miner's voice came from the cave, and I was going to intervene,” he sighed. “But it was too late. You guys were already frightened, and it seemed that those two were very traumatized. I don't think that you guys will go camping again without your guardians by your side.”

Applebloom looks in the direction of the camping tents, and spoke up. “In that, you have a point.”

“Besides,” Spike continued. “I was very worried about you. You were lucky that I saw your reflection in the waterfall, or else, something bad would have happened, and I probably wouldn't have forgiven myself.”

Applebloom turned red from her draconic friend's sincerity. “Are…Are y-you s-serious? You were worried about me?”

“Why shouldn't I?” Spike confessed, and then caressed her mane again. “After all, you are one of my great friends.”

After hearing those words, Applebloom didn't know if she should feel happy, or if she should feel sad, for she wanted another answer, but her weariness, and the heat of Spike's body made her drift off to sleep.

Spike observed Applebloom sleep peacefully, and he smiled. “He, he, sweet dreams, little adventurer.”

Chapter 3 : Always By My Side

Chapter 3 :

Always By My Side.

After the encounter of the miner, which the CMC took as the rusty horseshoe incident, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle and Applebloom slept like logs ever since their fear dissipated.

The sun shone its rays at the cave where Spike and the CMC were peacefully sleeping inside the cave that was behind the waterfall.

Scootaloo was talking in her sleep. Unknowingly, Sweetie Belle was listening to her.

“Oh, yes, Rainbow Dash! Go faster! Don't stop. You know how to make me happy,” she sleepily hugged her life-sized Rainbow Dash doll. “Do you want me to do it now? I don't know what to say, it's my first time,” she continued to murmur in her sleep.

Sweetie Belle tried to not laugh but she failed and burst out laughing. “Hehe, I have to get a camera, this is pure gold!” She calms down a little. “Alright,” she breathes in and out. “It's time to wake her up,” she shakes her a little. “Scootaloo, time to wake up!”

Scootaloo stirs in her sleep. “Five more minutes, mom.”

Sweetie Belle smirks. “Alright, then we'll go with Rainbow Dash to swim a bit.”

After hearing this, Scootaloo wakes up.

“What?" How is it possible that you haven't woken me up before?” she looks in her bag. “Damn, I didn't bring a camera to record Rainbow Dash swimming and now with the - ” she was interrupted by her white unicorn friend.

“Shh, I didn't come here to wake you up for that. I woke you up to see something,” Sweetie Belle. Scootaloo nods. Both ponies get out of their tent and Sweetie Belle signals where Spike and Applebloom were sleeping. She was sleeping close to him with her head on the dragon's chest while Spike envelops her with his right wing.

“When I woke up, I saw them like this and I didn't want to wake them up,” Sweetie Belle stomps the ground. “Too bad I didn't bring a camera. It is the second best thing that is worth gold.”

“So, Applebloom took advantage of the situation and slept with Spike,” Scootaloo said in an irritated tone and then reacted to what Sweetie Belle said earlier. “Hey, what did you mean by saying that last part?”

Sweetie Belle chuckles nervously. “Hehe, nothing! Just forget it but what's your opinion? Do you think Applebloom has feelings for Spike?”

After hearing these words, Scootaloo becomes furious. She didn't want anypony to take away her beloved Spike.

“I don't think so. She was probably scared to sleep and perhaps slept beside him.”

“Like you slept close to your Rainbow Dash doll?”

“And you with a photo of your sister,” Scootaloo replied dryly.

Sweetie Belle becomes embarrassed. “Hey, don't judge me!”

“You know, you are not the one to say that but changing the topic, don't you think it is time to wake up those two?” Scootaloo asks.

“You are right,” Sweetie Belle agrees and begin to trot over to them. Scootaloo pulls on her tail. “Wait, I have a better plan to wake them up,” she whispers her idea to her.

“Don't you think that they will be angry?” Sweetie Belle asks unsurely.

“Don't worry, it will just be a simple joke,” Scootaloo said confidently.

“If you say so…” Sweetie Belle responds with doubt.

Sweetie Belle begins to levitate a bucket with her magic and levitates it to the waterfall, where it is filled with water. Scootaloo then takes the bucket and then throws the water at the sleeping dragon and pony but before it could touch them, Spike throws a green fireball at the water and it evaporates.

“Girls, please, is that the best that you could come up with? There are lots of ways to wake us up and that was the only one that occurred to you?”

“SPIKE!” Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo say in unison.

“You should have spoken in a much more lower tone if you wanted to surprise us. The echo of the cave made your voice much louder and woke us up,” the drake explained.

5 minutes before…

Spike begins to stir in his sleep and a bit irritated as well. ‘Damn it, how is it that those two could be in high spirits after yesterday? I thought they would sleep a bit more…’

Applebloom rubs her eyes and looks at Spike. “What happened, Spike?”

Spike looks at her. “Sorry for waking you up, Applebloom but those two make a lot of noise.”

“Don't worry, Spike,” Applebloom assured.

They heard Sweetie Belle's voice. “Shh, I didn't come here to wake you up for that. I woke you up to see something.”

“It is best that we get up as well…” she begins to get up when she notices Spike's reaction. “Is something wrong, Spike?”

“Shh,” he whispers. “Follow my lead,” he taps her with his right wing.

Applebloom whispers back, “As you say,” she says as she begins to place herself where she was while Spike wrapped his right wing over her. She closes her eyes and thinks to herself, ‘What is Spike planning?’

They again hear Sweetie Belle's voice. “When I woke up, I saw them like this and I didn't want to wake them up,” They hear Sweetie Belle stomp on the ground. “Too bad I didn't bring a camera. It is the second best thing that is worth gold.”

‘Girl, how is it that it is gold? There's nothing wrong in sleeping together with a friend,’ she opens one eye and looks at Spike. ‘Although, she could have a point…’

Applebloom blushed a little while thinking, ‘I didn't take advantage of anything, it was only because I couldn't sleep… alone… and Spike is strong, brave, cute,’ she then blushes more. ‘But, what am I thinking?’

Sweetie Belle chuckles nervously. “Hehe, nothing! Just forget it but what's your opinion? Do you think Applebloom has feelings for Spike?”

Applebloom blushes intensely. ‘I… I… I don't feel anything for him only that I'm grateful for saving me… that is nothing more than gratitude.’

Applebloom hears fire being put out by water.

“Girls, please, is that the best that you could come up with? There are lots of ways to wake us up and that was the only one that occurred to you?”

“SPIKE!” Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo say in unison.

“You should have spoken in a much more lower tone if you wanted to surprise us. The echo of the cave made your voice much louder and woke us up,” the drake explained. “Isn't that right, Applebloom?”

Applebloom gets up. “Correct, Spike and I think they should receive a punishment for trying to get us wet.”

Spike agreed. He looked at them with a smirk. “Hmm, what would be a good punishment? Do you have an idea, Applebloom?”

Applebloom chuckles and rubs her hooves together sinisterly. “Of course I do. I have something in mind.”

Sweetie Belle and Scootloo gulp in fear, for they had a bad feeling about their punishment that Applebloom had. They knew Applebloom had a good mind in making punishments.

“For Sweetie Belle,” the farm pony began. “Her punishment will be to prepare breakfast, clean the covers we use and to pick everything up.”

Sweetie Belle was astonished for her punishment. “That's it?” she asked. “No problem! It'll be easy!”

“Wait a minute,” Applebloom said to her unicorn friend. “I'm not done yet. You have to do everything without magic.”

Sweetie Belle was irritated. “You can't obligate me to do that! You know very well that I'm bad at doing things without magic.”

“Why do you think it is called a punishment?” the farm pony asked. “You didn't think I'd let you go off that easy, right?”

Sweetie Belle quits her tantrum. “Argh, fine! I'll do it,” she walks to the camping tent very irritatedly to prepare food.

“I think I saved myself from this one, haha!” Scootaloo triumphs as she puts her right hoof on her head in relief.

“Nope!” Applebloom responds to the pegasus' disappointment. “You get a better punishment because you were the one that came up with the idea.”

“Ah, damn it,” the orange pegasus kicks a nearby rock. “Alright, throw me your best punishment. There's nothing that I can't do. Remember that I'm a disciple of Rainbow Dash and if I want to be like her, I got to face all my challenges that come towards me,” she says as she puts on a confident smile.

“Do you REALLY think that you can do this?” she Applebloom says with a smirk.

“Absolutely.”

“Then your punishment will be to leave your Rainbow Dash doll at the end of the cave and to not go get it until it is the night.”

Spike was astounded by the challenge that she put on Scootaloo. He then figured that Applebloom had her good side and bad side that came out every once in a while.

“What? I'm not going to do that! What if somepony steals my real life sized Rainbow Dash doll? I wouldn't even do that if I were crazy!” Scootaloo replied in an irritated tone.

“Then you are a chicken!” Applebloom said as she made quacks.

“FINE!” Scootaloo outburst furiously and with little tears. “I'll show you that I'm not a chicken!” she enters in her camping tent and takes out her action figure. She then begins to walk to the other side of the cave.

Spike gets up and says to Applebloom, “I think you went too far,” he runs after Scootaloo. “Wait, Scoots! I'll accompany you!”

“Spike…” the farm pony said in a melancholy voice. “I'm sorry. I didn't mean to…”

“Uhh, a bit of help here?” Sweetie Belle asks as a cup burns up in flames.

Applebloom takes a bucket, fills it with water and throws it at the cup, some landing on the white unicorn. “You okay, Sweetie Belle?”

She dries herself off. “I think so and I told you that I was terrible at cooking without magic!”

“I know,” Applebloom says in a sad tone. “Sorry. I think I wasn't supposed to act like that. I let myself get carried away at the moment.”

“Don't worry,” Sweetie smiles.

“But I have a huge doubt,” she looks at the burnt cup.

“What's wrong?” she asks.

“What did you do for the cup to end up in flames?” she asked.

“I only served the milk in the cup,” the white unicorn explained. “Then, it randomly burned.”

“Wow, you really are bad at cooking without magic.”

“Yeah, tell me about it…”

“The both of us will cook and forget what I said. You can use your magic,” she gives her unicorn friend a friendly punch in the arm.

Meanwhile…

Spike and Scootaloo were walking down the depths of the cave.

“Scoots, you know you don't have to do this, right?” Spike reassured her.

“I don't care!” she replies very irritatedly. “I'll show that farm pony that I am as brave as Rainbow Dash.”

“You do know Rainbow Dash is scared of certain things, right? She may be tough, but she is still scared as any other pony.”

“Oh, yeah?” she turns around very angry and gives him a furious scowl. “And tell me what could cause Rainbow Dash to be feared of anything if you keep saying that we all have fears?”

Spike stops in front of her with an irritated growl and lets a green flame escape through his nostrils, causing the orange pegasus to take a step back, fearing that she had infuriated the dragon. “She would have been scared if something bad befell on you while you go for a doll that looks like Rainbow Dash at midnight in the Everfree Forest where there could be a Hydra, a Timberwolf, or whatever else could cause you harm. Not only would she be scared, I would also be if I were to know that I couldn't save one of my dearest friends, knowing that you were in danger and that I couldn't do anything to protect you.”

The pegasus lowers her head in shame. “I… I'm sorry, Spike. I'm only doing this because I don't like being called a chicken,” she extends her wings. “You know very well that I couldn't fly when I was a filly and that made many to laugh at me.”

Spike strokes the pegasus' head. “I know and so does Rainbow Dash, the girls and me that were there for you to cheer you when everyone else made you feel bad,” he wipes a tear off Scootaloo's face with his left wing.

Scootaloo reddens from the touch. “Spike… do… you…?”

Spike smiles. “Yes, Scootaloo?”

Scootaloo thinks to say something, but she feels a lump in her throat and the more she tried, she couldn't say anything.

“… Do you want to practice new acrobatics?” Scootaloo finally replies.

“Of course!” Spike agrees. “Remember that you are a better trainer than Rainbow Dash. If it wasn't for you, my wings would probably be scorched from the extensive flying speed she likes.”

Scootaloo blushes a little. “Uhh… th-thanks, Spike. You'll soon see that you can overpass Rainbow Dash with a bit more of training.”

Spike chuckles. “Heh, I don't want to overpass Dash's skills, I just want to fly more just like you and her. Besides, I enjoy the time I spend practicing acrobatics, or flying nowhere to see who we want to annoy.”

Scootaloo's blushes profoundly. “Y-You… like to… b-be… w-with… m-me?”

“Of course! It makes me feel content, knowing that I could be flying by your side,” the dragon smiles.

Scootaloo's blush is at a maximum level. “I… I… I got to go,” she takes her Rainbow Dash doll and runs back with the other Cutie Mark Crusaders.

Spike observes how she runs and scratches his head. “And now, what I did I do wrong?” He sniffs himself. “Maybe, I need a bath…” he treks back to catch up with the other Cutie Mark Crusaders.

After a few apologies from Applebloom and a tasty breakfast prepared by the earth pony and unicorn, the four began to pack everything up and trek back home.

It was two in the evening and they were about to exit the forest. The CMC were talking about everything that they had done to get their Cutie Marks. A bit far from the group, a silhouette was observing how the three ponies and dragon left.

The silhouette walks very slowly, hidden from view. “Could it be true?” She sniffs the air a bit. “There's no doubt about it…” she takes another step and accidentally crushed a twig.

Spike hears the sound and quickly turns around in a defensive position. “Who's there?” He looks at his surroundings, but doesn't see anything.

Sweetie Belle looks at him with curiosity. “Is something wrong, Spike?”

Spike snaps out of his concentration. “No, nothing. It must have been my imagination…” he turns around and continues walking.

The female silhouette exhales in relief. “That was close,” she looks to see him from a far distance away from the tree that she was hiding in. “There's no doubt,” she smiles with happiness and glee. “There's another dragon.”

Once they were out of the forest, Scootaloo flies to her house and visits Rainbow Dash's house on the way to explain what had happened last night. Meanwhile, Spike and Sweetie Belle accompanied Applebloom to her barn because it was closer to the forest. Once they were close, Applebloom says her goodbyes and leaves, leaving Sweetie Belle with Spike. ‘And then, I can get some rest,’ thought Spike.

In front of Carousel Boutique…

“Thanks a lot, Spike for accompanying me. It was nice of you,” the white unicorn commented to the young drake.

“Don't worry. For me, it was an honor to make sure you were back home safely.”

“How sweet of you, Spike. Maybe, there should be more ponies who have your qualities.”

Sweetie Belle opens the door and they are both shocked to find that the whole Boutique was a mess. Meanwhile, Rarity was rushing from one side to another, using her magic to assist her on fetching pins, thread and other materials that she needed.

“Oh, no, no, no, no, no!” the fashionista runs towards a threading machine. “Where did I leave that thread?” she runs off somewhere. “And where did I put it?” she searches.

Sweetie Belle looks in awe at her elder sister. “Umm, Spike? Would you come with me for a while to go for a walk? I think this zone is uninhabitable…”

“Uh, no problem!” he takes the doorknob and closes the door of the Boutique.

Rarity hears the closing of a door and becomes scared. “What was that?” she looks at all places. “It must have been my imagination…” she looks at the ceiling. “By Celestia, I need a miracle to happen to me to deliver this order!”

Meanwhile…

Spike and Sweetie Belle were out for a walk in Ponyville's lonely streets.

“I think your sister needs a hoof. Do you think we should leave your sister alone?” Spike asked worriedly.

“Believe me, the less we help her, the faster she progresses on finishing. She's like that and you know how she gets when she needs to get an order done,” she sighs. “But that happens to her for taking orders at the last minute, that's why we don't live together a lot.”

Spike chuckled a little. “True. She always was like that. Sometimes it's difficult for us to see you two as sisters!”

“Huh?” Sweetie Belle became curious. “Why do you say that?”

“Well, you are more calmer than your sister when you are in low pressure, while Rarity gets hysterical and grouchy. The two of you have something in common that no one in Ponyville has and that is the beauty of you and your sister.”

She gets a bit red. “Uh, thanks, Spike. No one has told me something very nice before.”

Spike smiles. “There's no need to give me thanks only because I say what I see. What I see right now, is Sugarcube Corner. Do you want to drink a few milk shakes with a slice of cake?”

“Sure!” she notices that she did not bring her bag of bits. “Ah, shoot! I forgot to bring my bits!” she turns around. “I'll be back. I'll dash quickly to get my bits,” she begins to trot quickly only for Spike to intervene and place his right claw in front of her.

“Wait a minute,” Spike says. “I invited and you don't have to worry. I'll pay.”

Sweetie Belle becomes a bit shameful. “Umm, I don't know. I don't feel comfortable knowing that you have to pay for me being forgetful.”

Spike strokes her head. “Relax! There's no problem with me paying for you.”

“I promise to pay you back when I return back home,” she butted in.

Spike chuckles. “With me seeing you smile while we enjoy a nice evening eating cake with chocolate milk shakes, I could say that I was well payed and that there was change over left.”

“How friendly,” she blushes.

At Sugarcube Corner

They entered the shop and in the counter was Pinkie Pie, taking care of the clients in her own way.

“Very well,” Pinkie Pie said. “Let's see, it'll be a half dozen of cupcakes, a pack of balloons, streamers, gifts, two cakes, a clown, a bag of confetti, size extra large, a plate of chimichangas… you know, I never knew why ponies say that if they don't know what chimichangas are. Then why do ponies call it ‘chimichangas’ if it tastes like chicken? Perhaps, they should have named it ‘chickenchanga’ or ‘chimichicken’. I don't think ‘chimichicken’ would sound right. I mean, what is a ‘chimichicken’? ‘Chikenchanga’ sounds even more hilarious than the last one and it could be that it sounds much more delectable!”

“Uh, Pinkie Pie?” Bon Bon asked. “I only asked if you had change for a bill of twenty bits…”

“Umm, I'm sorry. We don't have any change.”

“And I was standing here for ten minutes for nothing!” Bon Bon leaves very irritatedly.

Pinkie Pie gives her a wrapped up gift. “Aww, don't leave with an angry face, have a gift from your friend and always trustable neighbor Pinkie Pie.”

Bon Bon opens the gift and sees that there were four bills inside. “Four bills of five bits? But you said - ”

“Don't worry,” Pinkie Pie waved a dismissive hoof at her. “I already have your twenty bill here. Thank you for visiting, please, come again!”

Bon Bon exits the store while saying to herself, “She may be a bit odd, but she is very fun!”

Sweetie Belle and Spike enter the shop after overhearing Bon Bon said earlier.

“Hi, Spike! What brings you around here?” the pink earth pony greets him.

“Hi, Pinkie. I came with Sweetie Belle to eat a cake and a chocolate milk shake. For Sweetie Belle, give her a vanilla milk shake, it's her favorite.”

Sweetie Belle became a bit suspicious. “How did you know it was my favorite?”

“A magician never reveals his secrets,” he winked at the white unicorn mare.

“But you are not a magician,” Sweetie Belle pointed out.

Spike chuckled. “Alright, you caught me. I knew because I remember many years ago when we came here with Scootaloo and Applebloom. You ordered that flavor and said that was your favorite.”

“Wow, Spike! You have are very attentive to those details. No even the other Cutie Mark Crusaders remember the flavor I like!”

“Well, of course he would know!” Pinkie Pie said. “He is Twilight's number one assistant. He had to remember everything without forgetting anything because if he forgot something, Twilight would become crazy and if she got crazy, she would cause havoc and if she caused havoc, she would get into problems and if she got into problems, Princess Celestia would have to use her powers to fix everything and if - ” she was silenced by Spike shoving cupcake into her mouth.

“And to conclude everything, since I helped Twilight for years, I developed a good memory,” Spike finished for Pinkie Pie.

Sweetie Belle giggled. “Hehe, I see.”

Pinkie swallows her cupcake. “Well, while we make your order, you guys can take any seat you'd like.”

“Thanks,” Sweetie Belle thanked Pinkie Pie.

The moment they chose a seat, Pinkie came with their order all done. It didn't even take her ten seconds to make them! She was great for breaking the laws of physics…

“Von apetit!” Pinkie exclaimed.

“Pinkie, it's ‘Bon Appétit,’” the drake corrected.

“Ohh, very attentive to detail,” she chuckled. “If I were you Sweetie Belle, I would take him before another pony does,” she then disappeared out of sight.

The both of them were blushing and avoided eye contact. They began to eat in silence. The fun and quiet moment was over and became a bit uncomfortable. After about three minutes, a young stallion came by their table and broke the ice.

“Hi, Sweetie Belle!” the young stallion greeted.

“Hi, Richard. What brings you here?” she asked.

“Well, I only came over here to see if you already had an answer to the question that I asked you at Magic School.”

Suddenly, Sweetie Belle's expression became serious and steely cold. “Yeah, I already have the answer and it's an absolute ‘NO!’”

“How dare you say no to me!” he said a bit mad. “No one rejects Richard Vongard!”

“Good, now you can add me to the ‘Reject List’ because I'm the first one to reject you.”

“How dare you reject me! You should be ashamed of yourself to not go out with me!” he hums for awhile. “I'll ask you again and I expect that you have a better answer than that.”

“Listen, you little spoiled colt, you heard the unicorn, she said no. Why don't you go away and let us enjoy our good day that we had?”

“Well, I'm sorry, filthy commoner. I wasn't talking to you, so why don't you leave us alone? We have a private conversation here and I would like it if you would get out,” he held his nose up.

“Sure, I'll go if you only answer me this riddle…”

“I don't have time to waste with you filthy commoners, but I have to affirm that I like mental games. Give me your riddle so that I can solve it quickly and continue courting this unicorn.”

“Alright,” he smiled devilishly. “What is black, blue and green at the same time?”

“Hmm, it sounds hard but judging by the colors, it is a black briefcase with blue interior and lots of green folders inside.”

Spike laughs at him. “And you say you are clever, but let me tell you something, you are nothing, but a simple idiot that show offs ‘His Greatness’ for being the shadow of what truly is what they need. Also, the answer to my riddle is…” he spits a green fireball from his maw to his mane. “You running with green fire on the head.”

Richard begins to run at all directions, trying to put out the fire on his head. By this, everyone at the shop had their attention at him. At that moment, Pinkie Pie comes with a mini firetruck and takes out a water hose that throws a powerful stream of water, making the young stallion crash onto the wall.

“The fire has been put out, I repeat, the fire has been put out,” she drives off to another room while the mini firetruck blares out the siren.

“You piece of idiotic shit! Who do you think you are to do something like that to me? When my family learns about this, they'll kill you!” Richard screams at Spike.

Spike gets up, standing at six feet, four inches, taller than the stallion. “First of all, ask for forgiveness to Sweetie Belle for talking to her like that. She is not an object that you can easily obtain. If she said no, it's a NO! Secondly, say anything you want to your family, but if they want to harm me, they'll have to pass through Princess Twilight Sparkle just so you can touch a scale on me, not to mention Princess Celestia and Luna will disapprove of you as well. If you want a fight,” he bares his claws and fangs at him. “I'll gladly give you one. Well, what is your answer?”

Richard was scared and clears his throat. “Lady Sweetie Belle, I ask for forgiveness. I regret everything I did and accept your reject. Other than that, have a nice day!” he left out sprinting.

Spike exhales and lets fire escape through his nostrils. “Finally. Who does he think he is to treat others like that?” he looks at the white unicorn. “You okay, Sweets?”

The white unicorn mare throws herself at him and hugs him. “Thanks a lot, Spike! No one has ever stood up for me like that! That idiot had me to the brink of insanity. Thanks to you, he won't pester me any longer,” she kisses his cheek. “Thanks, you really are a true dragon.”

Spike blushes. “Uh, it was nothing, really, but don't do that here in public. I get embarrassed.

Sweetie Belle reacts and sees that the remaining clients in the shop had smirks on their faces. “Uh, I think it's time we go, don't you think?” she blushes.

“I think so too,” he snaps his fingers and the bits appear on the counter. They then leave quickly as all of the clients still looked at them from afar.

Once they were alone in Ponyville's park, they sat down under a tree and took a breath.

“What a day,” he looks at the sky. “And it still doesn't end.”

“Tell me about it. I just hope Rarity has finished her work.”

“And going to back to what happened earlier, why the spoiled brat want to have you as his marefriend at force?” Spike asked curiously.

Sweetie Belle sighed. “Well, where to begin… he's not the only one to ask me that. There are other stallions that want me to be theirs, but in reality, none of them really love me, they just like my outward appearance and want to rub it into their friend's faces.”

Spike was astonished by the explanation. “Wow, and where did you get this conclusion?”

“The mares at school are pestering me for that reason. They say that I'm stealing their stallions and I say that I don't even pay attention to them. I just want to find somepony that will be sincere with me and not one who will love me just for my beauty.”

“I know that somepony must be out there waiting for you. All you have to do is find him,” Spike reassured.

“I hope so and it better not be one of those who likes to act to win a marefriend either.”

“Meh, relax,” Spike casually said.

“Well,” Sweetie Belle said. “I think it's time to go back home.”

Spike gets up and extends his claw at her. “Come, I'll take you by flight. You must be tired,” Spike suggested.

Sweetie Belle had a hint of red in her cheeks that was barely noticeable under the shine of the moon.

Spike carried her like a princess. He opened his wings and asked her, “Are you ready?”

“Let's go!” she replied and they took off into the night sky.

Spike flies to Rarity's Carousel Boutique, which wasn't very far from their location. When they arrived, they still found Rarity in the mess with her mane messed up, a sign that this had no end. Spike flew to the top floor and opened the window to her room, helping her get inside. Once she was in her room, they said their goodbyes and Spike left for his home in the library.

‘How nice is Spike when he helped me and defended me…’ she looks out the closed window as Spike flies away. ‘He truly is a very special dragon.’ she throws herself at the bed and gets a pillow. ‘He is attentive, caring, kind, sincere, fun… cute… passionate… and… and… I think I love him.’

Chapter 4: A Crazy Day

Chapter 4 :

A Crazy Day.

After seeing another dragon, the black silhouette prepares to return home to a cave that is hidden deep in the Everfree Forest. Night fell and the silhouette reached the cave, wanting to lie on a pile of diamonds she had.

The silhouette jumped in joy and told to herself, “I cannot believe I finally see a dragon! Hmm, if only it was a distance away because mommy told me to not leave the woods no matter what.” She then went inside the cave towards the other end.

‘I hope mom did not come today,’ she said walking on tiptoes. ‘I just have to get to my bed and she will not punish me for not leaving.”

She keeps walking through the darkness to meet her bed. She gets a few gems and leans on the back of her comfortable bed, thinking everything would be fine. Suddenly, a light turns on, illuminating the entire room.

A mare is glaring at her while the silhouette is still sitting on another mound of gems with a lamp beside her. “Night has fallen and you showed your presence, but now, here you are and your punishment is in essence.”

The large silhouette leaps towards the voice, frightened, “Mommy, no, no, no! Please do not punish me! I just disengaged from my previous punishment and you're now punishing me again.” she whined.

The mare sighs. “You have to know that the forest has many dangers out there and you could be troubled. It would be best to avoid these problems, rather than to have a punishment that is doubled.”

“I know mom and as the more years pass, I can fully understand what you're saying. ”

“First, I believe I told you to not to refer to me as ‘mom’ because I am not really your mother. Secondly,” the pony embraces her. “I'd do not know what I'd do if I lost you. I'm telling you this because I care for you, not to be a bother.”

The zebra's ‘daughter’ returns the hug and says, “Zecora, I'm sorry, but your odor that you have I can smell not far from here and I had to go investigate myself to know about its essence. It has been very interesting to me since the day we went to that night festival that has been engaged in Ponyville.

“I assume you mean the festival Nightmare Night. It is also the same day I found you with a fright!” Zecora said.

Zecora's adopted daughter let loose a few tears. “I would like to forget that day and wish it never happened.”

Zecora wipes the tears of her daughter. “Do not cry,” she said soothingly. “Remember that every tear that is spilt, is a piece of your life that strips off of you. Remember that every moment of it is a unique moment and although it may be bad, or good, do not forget that to life, we must thank. There are still many events that happen and you are to deal with them no matter how hard they are.

Zecora's daughter replies, “Thanks, mom,” she hugs her again.

Zecora separates from the hug. “Well, now that I know about what you were doing, I will prepare to leave tomorrow. I have to get more materials for my potions. Get some rest and do not forget, the forest you must not leave, even if you grieve.”

Zecora's daughter leans back on her gem hoard. “If you must know,” she closes her cobalt eyes. “I only hope to meet him one day and to talk to him.”

Zecora turns the lamp off. “Someday.” The zebra then walks out of her daughter's cave. “Someday,” Zecora repeated.

The night was beginning to spread in the sky and everyone was sleeping in the dream realm that was guarded by Princess Luna. All ponies were quiet when they slept in their beds, but Zecora's daughter was still awake, thinking about the purple and green drake that she saw. She hoped that one day she would be able to speak with him at least once.

Morning came and Princess Celestia set up the sun while the moon hid to let the sun show its glory to the world. Many ponies were starting to wake up and some were already opening their stalls. Meanwhile, in Sweet Apple Acres a family had woken up way before the sun rose to the sky and set to work for the harvest.

At Sweet Apple Acres…

Applejack went upstairs to her litte sister's room to wake her up. “Appleboom, time to get up! I do not want to have to repeat it again!”

Appleboom wakes up and begins fixing her mane. “Ah heard ya the first time,” she grumbled.

“Applejack, Ah need ya to help me with breakfast,” Granny Smith told her granddaughter.

“Okay. Just let me look for my hat,” she said as she started to look around.

Big Mac's voice rang out throughout the barn. “Found it,” he announced.

Applejack looks at his brother, hoping he had found her hat. “Mah hat?”

Big Mac gave her a confused look. “Nope.”

Applejack becomes annoyed. “Then what the hell was it if it was not my hat?”

Big Mac holds a rubber band that was used for tying back manes. Appleboom suddenly runs by Big Mac and snatches it from his mouth. “Ah did not know mah band was here. Thanks!” she takes the band and returns to her room at a speed that would make Rainbow Dash jealous.

Applejack sighs. “Aww, shucks. Where could I have left that hat? I'm pretty sure it didn't grow legs and walk away…”

Meanwhile at Scootaloo's house…

Scootaloo flies everywhere. “Where have I left my googles? Oh, no! I might not find my googles in time and it had to be just today to miss cleaning! I knew I had them SOMEWHERE in my house.” She looks at all the mess there is around the house. “I think it's about time for me to organize some more, but right now I have to find those damn googles.”

Rainbow Dash looks out her window while chuckling. “I wonder how long it will take to realize that you lent me googles for my stunts for the Wonderbolts Practice.” She looks at her watch. “Sweet Celestia! I'm late for practice!” The rainbow colored mare puts on the googles she had borrowed from Scootaloo. “I hope you realize that you lent them to me,” she said as she stretched her wings and took flight as fast as she could to arrive in time into practice. Scootaloo then thought that she may have left them at Carousel Boutique. The orange pegasus quickly fled there to find her goggles.

At Carousel Boutique…

Sweetie Belle yawned as she rubbed her eyes. “Well, I slept well. I hope Rarity also got enough sleep,” she gets up from the bed, arranges it and leaves the room. “I think I should prepare breakfast,” she mumbled to herself as she trotted lower down the stairs. She soon sees a big mess and begins moving around the house.

“ACHUUU!” Scootaloo sneezes and cleans her nose. She then hears the hoofsteps of a pony coming down the stairs.

“Oh, hi, Scootaloo,” the unicorn mare greeted sleepily while she was weaving through the mess. Sweetie Belle then stops in her tracks. “Scootaloo? What are you doing here?”

Scootaloo chuckles nervously. “I was trying to find my goggles.” “Nevermind that,” she waved a hoof at her. “This should be something Rarity must have learned this year. If she never moves her things out of the way, we will be in trouble…” she trails off as she sees a purple tail in between a large pink fabric that covered a big lump. “But… what the hell is this!?” Sweetie Belle levitates the cloth and sees her sleeping sister. “RARITY!?” her little sister shrieked.

Rarity moves a little.

Sweetie Belle covers her mouth and moves things around for her elder sibling. “I cannot believe you have not gone to bed. I wonder what could have been as important as falling asleep here.” She takes Rarity to her room.

“Thanks,” the abalaster unicorn replies half asleep.

Sweetie Belle sighs and smiles. “This time, sister, you seriously messed up. I do not know what would have happened if I did not spend the night here,” puts on the bed covers in the way she liked it. “I think breakfast is not necessary…”

Meanwhile, a certain purple dragon was getting ready to start the day.

At the Golden Oaks Library…

Peewee pecked Spike's head in an attempt to wake him up.

Spike attempts to cover himself up again. “Aww, don't bother me Peewee. I don't want to get up today.”

“Who, who, who,” Owlowicious pulls at the sheet. “Who.”

Spike pulls at the other end. “Owlowicious, why are you and Peewee bothering me so early?”

“Who, who, who, who,” the owl stands on the clock that is broken on the ground. “Who.”

Spike begins to rub his eyes. “Is that…?” His eyes widened. “The alarm clock! Oh, crap, I'm gonna be late!” He rushes out his room. “I believe I have one hour left for me to practice with Scootaloo's acrobatics.” He quickly runs to the kitchen, takes a gemstone and runs to the library's door.

Sweetie Belle walks towards the library. “I wonder if Spike is awake, although,” she blushes and chuckles. “It would be nice if I woke him up.”

Spike runs outside and collides with Sweetie Belle with a tremendous whack. Spike looks at Sweetie Belle. “Sorry, Sweetie Belle! Are you all… right?” Spike blushes intensely as he gazes at a particular exposed place that most mares would hide from prying eyes.

Sweetie Belle lies on the floor on her back with her rear legs open. She then gets up and asks if he was alright.

Spike nods while blushing intensely.

“Spike?” Sweetie Belle asks, confused.

Spike's nose then begins to bleed.

“SPIKE!” the unicorn shrieks as she gets up quickly and runs to him. “I think the shock hurt your nose.”

Spike reacts and cleans his nose. “No, don't worry… all good,” he then rises to his feet. “Excuse me for bumping into you and sending you tumbling to the ground, but it's just that I am in a hurry and I do not want to be late.”

“Do not worry, Spike, but if you don't mind me asking, what can be so important that you had not noticed my presence?” she asked.

“Well, Scootaloo asked me to go practice some acrobatic flight and I am an hour late because I slept in by accident,” he says while poking his nose a little.

Sweetie Belle becomes a little upset. “Then you're going to be busy today,” she says with a frown.

“I'm so sorry Sweetie Belle,” he spreads his wings. “I promise to reward you by then,” he then takes flight. “Goodbye!” he shouted as he left in a hurry.

Sweetie Belle sighs loudly. “Damn it and I wanted to spend time with him,” she whined.

Spike flies at full speed while he scolds at himself. “Damn it, damn it, damn it, DAMN IT! I'm SO late, but I hope I can spend more time today. First the damn clock and now…” he trails off as he remembers what happened earlier and blushes a lot. “And now I see Sweetie Belle's private parts… BY ACCIDENT! I just hope she did not notice.”

Apparently, the dragon expected many things today. As he took flight towards Scootaloo's home, he could not remove the sensual memory from his mind. What he saw was not an every day opportunity that one can see something like that. He was again distracted and did not notice that he almost crashed into Scootaloo's home.

At Scootaloo's house…

Spike stops in front of Scootaloo's house, wondering what happened due to part of the house having a gaping hole. ‘Hmm, what happened? I would not leave a gaping hole like that if it were on my house,’ he comes closer to the hole and peeks his head in. “Scoots, are ya in here?” He observes the whole mess. “Oh, Celestia, I know I like having everything thrown in the floor, but this is ridiculous!”

Scootaloo hears Spike's voice and leaves a few cereal boxes on the floor. “Spike is that you?” she asks as she tries to make her way through the mess in the floor.

“Yes, it's me. Scootaloo, but what the hell is this? Do you REALLY like to live in these conditions? Just look around here! This is like a dump and looks as if a bum lived here.”

As soon as he said that, a vagrant pony came out of the bathroom. “Hey, your bath plug got clogged again and I would not recommend going in there today,” the grey earth pony then gets under the table. “Goodnight.”

Spike had a poker face. “Okay, that answers one of my questions, but opens up many more…”

“Yes, yes, I know this is a pigsty promise, but first, help me clean up and then help me find my googles. I've been looking for them all day and I could not find them.”

“And all this garbage would be impossible to find it in, but for your luck,” he goes to a window before continuing. “I am amazed how you have not seen them yet,” he points to a certain cyan mare.

Scootaloo goes to the window. “What?” she observes the googles worn by a pegasus with multicolored mane. “How did I forget? I totally forgot that I lent them to Rainbow Dash,” she facehoofs.

“Scootaloo, remember that Rainbow Dash still comes to visit you, although, it is lived short due to an almost all day career with the Wonderbolts.”

“Well, you well know that this was always her dream to become a Wonderbolt and that mine is apart from hers,” she gives Spike a wistful look. “Those googles were given to me on my thirteenth birthday and are like a treasure to me. If she were to lose them, I could never look directly at Rainbow Dash's eyes ever again,” she said solemly.

Spike caressed her head with his claw. “Well then, take care of them a lot and also manage all of this house. I do not think you want to lose them in the midst of all this garbage.”

Scootaloo's face flushes. “That I'll do, but first, how about if we make a few runs to see how much you have improved in your flight?” she opens her wings.

“That's the attitude!” he opens his own draconic wings. “I hope you're ready to watch my back 'cause I'mma leave ya behind!” he challenged.

“Let's see who eats their own dust first!” Scootaloo ran two steps before tripping over a pile of magazines and falling on Spike.

Spike catches Scootaloo but both soon fall to the ground with Spike being on the bottom and Scootaloo being on top of him.

“S… Spike… I want t-to a-ask you… something,” she blushes furiously while mentally fist pumping in the air in success as her dreams seem to come true. She looks into his emerald green eyes with excitement.

“Ask me,” he said as he too became flushed from the close contact of each other.

Scootaloo slowly nears towards his face. “I… wanted t-to k-know if…”

Spike nears even closer towards Scootaloo's face, their lips just centimeters away from touching. “If?” Spike whispers.

Scootaloo holds her breath a little and gently places her front hooves on his chest. “I wanted t-to k-know i…if…”

Spike gets closer as she closes her eyes slowly. “If?”

“If you would l-like t-to…?” Scootaloo mumbles as she gradually closes her eyes. “B-be m-my, AHH!” she shrieks as the grey vagrant pony throws an empty cereal box at them. “HEY! The food is gone and there's nothing in the fridge to eat! I will need to purchase some today.”

After the brief interruption, they both separated and reacted quickly with very red faces and looking away from each other.

Spike scratches his neck. “And… what was that you were going to ask Scoots?”

The orange pegasus looks down in defeat while blushing. “No, it is… do not worry about anything. Forget about it.”

The vagrant pony grumbles in irritation. “Listen to me! I am VERY hungry! I want food!” he whined.

Spike looked to the table with a murderous glare. “I would say that makes a bum living in the house for free, but I know when I have the answer, it appears not in a result any more well for you to understand better.”

Scootaloo also looks at the table with a glare of her own. “Alright! I had enough! Tomorrow this house will be clean and you will go straight to a home refugee center!”

“If things gets tough, let me know and I'll take care of the situation,” Spike offered.

“Sure thing, Spike!”

After certain events, the two set out to train flight maneuvers and competed a course to see who is faster. The time was 2 PM and the both of them were exhausted.

“Well, until the next time, Spike,” Scootaloo said to him.

“Until next time and please, kick out that bum out of your house! He's the one who worries me most.”

“Of course, Spike. Goodbye.”

“I think I'd better be back walking back home. This training left me very tired out,” Spike says as his stomach begins to growl. “And without breakfast, it makes my hunger worse,” he starts walking until he remembers something. “Oh, wait! Sweet Apple Acres is close and I can probably get some food. I do not think that Applejack would mind if I took a few apples…”

He ran as fast as he could in ten minutes and got to his destination in a whole field full of apples that was ready to be devoured by Spike… or so he thought.

Near Sweet Apple Acres…

Spike licks his mouth, wanting to eat. “I cannot wait to give myself a feast of apples,” he gets close to a tree and something strange is noticeable to the drake's eyes. “Aww, damn it! These apples are green!” He wanders off somewhere. “Meh, this one also carries green apples,” he walks to another tree. “By Celestia! All apples are green! What am I supposed to eat now?”

After surveying about sixty trees, he yields and sits under a tree.

Spike's stomach growls. “Calm down,” he told himself. “I know you're hungry but there is nothing but green apples in the orchard and it does not taste good.”

Meanwhile…

“Big Mac! Ah told ya to not pick many apples! Now, we have a lot of 'em for dinner tonight!” Applejack scolds at the male farm pony.

“Do not blame me. Ah've been all day plowing. You should ask Appleboom, Ah haven't seen her since this morning,” Big Mac replied.

“You're quite right,” Applejack says in thought. “Now that I think about it, Ah not seen since this morning. Ah said to her to not become lazy this week, the last thing I need is to waste more time.”

Spike peeks out from a bush. “Hmm… so more apples, eh? I think they'd get mad at me if I lightened their load. Better be careful.” He begins walk on his tiptoes to the barn. “Let's see what we have here,” he moves and opens some barrels until he ran into the red apples. “Jackpot!”

Spike began to start eating one after another very quickly, for the famine he had controlled him. After ten minutes of eating apples, he notes that the barrel is empty.

Spike touches his swollen belly. “Well, I think that's the sign to leave,” he yawns. “Argh but I ate as many apples as the entire cart! I need to take a nap.” He flies to the top of the barn where he stacks hay. “And I hope they won't find me up here,” he lays down on it.

Unaware to Spike, he was suffocating Applebooom by accident. “Hey! Can… you… move? I… need… air! Can't… breathe!”

Spike suddenly rises. “What the hell?” He then notices that Appleboom was under the hay. “Applebloom? How did you get here?” he asked as the earth pony began to shake herself off.

Appleboom coughs for a bit. “The question is, what are you doing here?”

“Heh, heh, sorry,” Spike twiddled his thumbs in embarrassment. “I'm here because after I practiced with Scootaloo, I ended with hunger here and I heard your sister say they had more apples in the barn so I started to ‘lighten the load a little’,”

“Ah see… Well, Ah was preparing to take a nap in mah secret place… or not so secret now that you're here,” she looked upset.

“Hey, don't worry about it. My mouth is sealed and no one will know your secret place, but with your permission, I will sleep a little,” Spike began to lay down again.

Appleboom blushes a little as thought crossed her mind. “Hey, Spike?” she manages to catch his attention. “Do ya mind if Ah sleep with ya for a while?”

Spike shifted for a bit before he replied, “Do as you'd like.”

Appleboom snowly snuggles next to spike and the two sleep peacefully for the next twenty minutes until a loud voice awakens them.

“APPLEBOOM! AH KNOW YOU'RE UP THERE! GET DOWN HERE THIS INSTANT BECAUSE YOU'RE IN CHARGE IN ASSEMBLING THE SALES TODAY! KNOW THAT YOU'RE AT WORK! IF AH CATCH YA SLACKIN' OFF AGAIN, I'LL BE MUCH WORSE FOR YA!”

Appleboom awoke up with a startle. ‘Damn! Ah have to hurry or it could be worse for me,’ she thought to herself as she observed Spike asleep. ‘Man, he's a heavy sleeper against the screams of my sister… Ah wonder if…’ she blushes as she realizes what she was thinking of. ‘No, no, no… Ah'm thinking of bad stuff here,’ she shakes head. ‘Ah couldn't take advantage of this situation,’ she looks back to his lips. ‘But Ah do know that it won't bother you if Ah steal just one kiss.’ She leans closer and closer to the purple drake and blushes more intensely as she gets more closer to him. ‘Ah wonder if Ah'll be his first kiss. Ah wonder if someone else has already kissed him…’ she thought to herself.

Right as Applebloom was about to press her soft lips against Spike's, the drake begins to stir in his sleep and begin to awaken. He yawns and begins to open his eyes. “Appleboom! Good to see you awake,” he replied groggily.

Appleboom backs down nervously. “Likewise, Spike but Ah think ya'll should better go with me before Applejack worsens my punishment.”

“Good luck with that! I'd better go and it's also time to feed and Pee Wee and Owlowicious. By Celestia, they make a mess in the kitchen when they forage for food,” Spike sighed.

“Spike, Ah understand. You do well, okay?” she gets a little sad. “Ah hope ya come back soon,” she says to him.

Spike smiles. “Of course! I will come to your hideout to sometimes sleep. I think it is very welcoming. I could get used to sleeping here, of course, if you agree to use it.”

Appleboom smiles a lot. “Of course! It's no problem to come here and to sleep. My hideout is your hideout!”

“It's settled then!” he sees no signs of Applejack and then takes flight.

Appleboom crouches low and observes Spike wings flap in the wind, propelling him away from the barn. “Someday, I will give you my first kiss… you'll see, Spike,” she mumbled to herself.

Meanwhile, in the Apple Orchards…

Applejack looks everywhere for her younger sibling and soon sees a huge shadow envelop her that was projected by the sky. The farm pony looks up and sees Spike. “SPIKE, COME HERE FOR A MOMENT!”

“Oh, crap! The last thing I wanted to do was to run into her right now.” He glides down to where Applejack is.

“Hey, Spike, have you by any chance seen Applebloom? She escaped from work an' Ah cannot find her anywhere. Ah'm already startin' ta become pissed off,” Applejack interrogated.

‘I have to think of something fast before I get in trouble… uh,’ Spike thought as he looked at the barn. He points toward the farm and says, “She was probably helping move some heavy objects because Big Mac was busy and did not want to disturb him at the moment,” he replied nonchalantly. “Big Mac saw me flying a while ago and asked for my help,” he lied.

Applejack looks at Spike suspiciously. “Hmm… heavy objects, ya say? It sounds like it's a lie,” the farm pony bluntly stated.

Spike become nervous. “Heh, heh. I'm sure Applebloom is helping out Big Mac. I just came from Scootaloo's house,” Spike tried to lie again.

Applejack walks behind him, observing and toying around with his wings. “And how was your practice flight with her? Is Scootaloo helpin' you fly a little better? Ah know Rainbow Dash is more extreme and strict about it.”

“Oh, I'm getting much better at it,” Spike shrugged it off. “But it's still difficult for me to maintain rapid flight but I've managed to stay in the air longer.”

Applejack seemed to accept the lie this time. “Ah see… well, that's good, Spike. Ah'd better get ta work and you'd better go home.”

“Okay, AJ. Until next time,” he prepares to take flight. “Goodbye!”

Spike begins to fly towards Ponyville. While he was flying towards the library, he heard a familiar exotic voice call out to him from the distance.

“Spike, please come down here,” Zecora called out to him.

Spike dives down and lands on the ground. “Hey, Zecora! Long time, no see! How've ya been?” he asked as he hugged the zebra mare.

“Well, it's been a long time that I spend some time again at the library and to see dear Princess Twilight have books to carry,” Zecora replies.

Spike places a hand on his head. “Oh, heh, heh. I recently lengthened my sleeping hours so Owlowicious and Pee Wee are in charge of the library.”

Zecora laughs a little. “You may be a grown drake on the outside but on the inside, you are still the same as ever and now with no Twilight to disrupt your naps, you have no downside.”

“Yeah, well, if she were to wake up early to get everything done and accidentally screwed up really badly, she would lose her head if nothing went as she had planned.”

Zecora smiles. “It was nice to receive a greeting when I returned to Ponyville! It was a pleasure to be able to talk to you for a while but I'm afraid we'll have to leave it for another day, now I have to look for other materials for potions,” she said without rhyming.

“Zecora,” Spike said. “Do you have certainly that tea you gave to Twilight long ago? The tea was very good and exquisite,” the dragon commented.

“Unfortunately, I do not have any at the moment for I do not have any stock but give me three days to find the right herbs and I'll have your tea by then in stock. You also don't have to pay a penny,” Zecora promised.

“Thanks, Zecora. Bye!” Spike opens its wings and prepares to fly off before he thinks of something and speaks up.

“Oh, and before you leave, I really recommend Chocolate Stars. You should try 'em one day,” he then flies off before faceclawing himself for screwing up. “I meant: ‘Chocolates Stars AND shakes,’ was what I have meant. Damn it,” he then reaches Bon Bon's candy store. ‘Hmm… lets see if they have what I want…’

At Bon Bon's Candy Store…

“Welcome to the Candy Shop! How may I help you?” Bon Bon said.

“Hello, Bon Bon,” Spike greeted. “I came to buy some chocolates that have flavors and those Chocolate Stars as well.”

“Chocolates?” she asked. “We only have chocolates with a vanilla aftertaste and the other flavors are for what soon will be the day of hearts and hooves day chocolates.”

“Ah, crap. Do you have any that are nonspecific? Any good flavor would he okay, so it doesn't matter. Could you put them in a bag, please?”

Bon Bon gives a small bag of chocolates to the purple dragon. “Here's to your enjoyment!”

Spike chuckled a little. “Heh, they are not for me but thanks.”

Bon Bon gave Spike a mischievous look. “Hmm, so they are not for you. I wonder who will be the lucky one who will receive them…”

Spike's face became flushed. “It's not for anyone in particular! It's just for a friend!” he promised.

Bon Bon laughed mischievously. “Yeah, yeah, whatever you say Spike, thank you for your purchase, come again soon.”

Spike goes somewhat irritated out of the store and walks toward the library. After a while, he finally arrives home and opens the door. Just as he is inside, he is then pushed hard from behind his back and all he can hear is the door being locked behind him.

Spike lies on the ground. “Who's there?” he asked as his eyes tried to adjust to the darkness.

The lights are turned on and Sweetie Belle stands above him with a glare. “How dare you defile the purity of a lady like me!” she points her horn at him, lighting it up with a magical spell. “Give me a reason not to leave you paralyzed for a year,” she demanded.

Spike began to show the bag of chocolates. “Because I have vanilla chocolates.”

“How did you know that this is my only weakness?” she gives him an annoyed look.

“I could say that I had a feeling that you liked that,” he then stands up while thinking out his words carefully. “And because if it were not for Zecora, I would be paralyzed right now but I wonder why you didn't do that.”

Sweetie Belle then does something Spike didn't know she would do to him. She then slaps him on the cheek, sending him to the floor again. Spike is shocked at what she did to him. “You still have the nerve to ask the reason for my discomfort.”

Spike rubs his sore cheek. “I know the truth…”

FLASHBACK…

Sweetie Belle lies on the floor on her back with her rear legs open. She then gets up and asks if he was alright.

Spike nods while blushing intensely.

“Spike?” Sweetie Belle asks, confused.

Spike's nose then begins to bleed.

“SPIKE!” the unicorn shrieks as she gets up quickly and runs to him. “I think the shock hurt your nose.”

“Do not worry, Spike, but if you don't mind me asking, what can be so important that you had not noticed my presence?” she asked.

“Well, Scootaloo asked me to go practice some acrobatic flight and I am an hour late because I slept in by accident,” he says while poking his nose a little.

Sweetie Belle becomes a little upset. “Then you're going to be busy today,” she says with a frown.

“I'm so sorry Sweetie Belle,” he spreads his wings. “I promise to reward you by then,” he then takes flight. “Goodbye!” he shouted as he left in a hurry.

Sweetie Belle sighs loudly. “Damn it and I wanted to spend time with him,” she whined.

“Hmm, you seem to have a perverted boyfriend,” Lyra said to alabaster unicorn.

Sweetie Belle looking around and spots Lyra smirking at her. “What? Who?”

“You heard me.”

“Uh… I don't quite understand.”

Lyra rolls her eyes in irritation. “The point is that your coltfriend seems to be very attracted to you.”

Sweetie Belle becomes very flushed. “W-wait, S-spike is not my coltfriend!” ‘But it would be nice if it were,’ she mused to herself. She shakes her head and asks, “But where do you get the fact that we are dating?”

“Well, when you two hit, he could not look away from a certain area that is supposed to remain private.”

Sweetie Belle blushes like a tomato upon hearing the fact that Spike saw her sex. “What… did… you… say?”

“He never took his eyes away from your privates,” Lyra said more directly this time.

Sweetie Belle became very upset. “I'll be back, Lyra. I have to finish something I left incomplete,” she then storms off.

Lyra chuckles under her breath. “One down, two to go. Oh, Spike, how I wish for you to open your eyes and never date those fillies. You are mine Spike and I'll make sure that you will.”

Spike sighs in defeat. “Look Sweetie Belle, it was an accident. After we collided with each other, I couldn't help it because it isn't every day something like this happens.”

Sweetie Belle becomes even more infuriated and slaps him with more force than ever with her right forehoof. “You're an idiot! And you know what?” He mood then changes and looks over and whispered while blushing as well. “If you'd asked me all this time, I would not have minded to show you alone.”

Spike rubs his sore cheek. “I'm sorry, okay? Is there anything I can do to make up for it?”

Sweetie Belle ponders about this. “You have to promise me two things.”

“Let me guess the first,” the drake said dryly. “Not tell anyone what happened.”

“Well, that too and the second is…” she gets nervous. “Close your eyes and do not open them for any reason.”

“You won't paralyze me, right?” Spike asked with fear.

“Just close your eyes or you get paralyzed for two years!” she demanded.

That seemed to make the dragon obey. “O-okay, c-calm down. I'm doing it,” he closes his eyes. “You see? Alright. I-I'm r-ready,” he swallowed a lump in his throat.

‘This is my opportunity to show my love for him!’ the unicorn thought to herself. She leaned closer to his scaled lips. ‘If I kiss him, we will be hoof on claw and we can declare our love to each other.’

Suddenly, a camera falls to the floor.

Lyra descends from her hiding place on the roof. “Whoops! Sorry guys, the camera slipped from my hooves. Can you repeat that? I couldn't record that.”

Spike opens his eyes and blushes intensely. “Sweetie Belle!?”

Sweetie Belle becomes very furious for disobeying her instructions. “SPIKE, I'LL…” she shouted in frustration and delivered a very strong kick to a bookshelf, knocking another one before hitting Spike and making the dragon becomes unconscious. “Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no, NO! Now what will I do?” she whined.

Lyra hangs from the roof beside the white unicorn. “Hmm, I suggest you use a spell to clear recent memory that will purge them forever,” the mint pony suggested.

“You're right. It is a good idea, but first,” she gives Spike another hit to him. “That is for watching my privates,” she then steps on the camera until it completely shatters and becomes debris. “And this is for recording everything, Lyra.”

“Let's erase the memory of the previous two minutes,” Lyra levitates the unconscious dragon to bed.

“Sorry, Spike,” she said with regret and covers him with a blanket. “I do not want this to happen, but that ruined the moment,” she kisses his forehead. “Someday, I will have the courage to tell you how I feel about you,” she whispered as she left his room and closed the door behind him.

Down in the living room, Lyra accommodates the books that were on the floor up to the bookshelves and deposited the remains of the camera in the trash bin. She left the room as it was before as to not alert Spike that they left evidence in the library.

Sweetie Belle came down the stairs and spoke up. “I think we should go before he wakes up.”

“I do too,” Lyra agreed. “Let's go.” Both ponies left the library as if nothing happened.

Meanwhile, in the Everfree Forest…

Zecora sighs. “Stop jumping like a rabbit, my daughter. It is no surprise what I brought you, or so I thought.”

“How will it be no surprise, Mother? You know that when you bring that smell to me, I like it,” Zecora's un-biologial daughter replied.

”Smell is simply no reason for such happiness, someday you will have the chance to meet him. Do not dwell on that too much my daughter,” Zecora said, thus exciting her daughter even more.

“Yeah! And we can discuss the issues between the dragons and ponies! Oh, this will be so much fun!” she squealed in excitement.

‘I hope I get to see that dragon and meet with him. He seems nice, unlike the others I've met. Hopefully, I'll see him… hopefully.’

Back at the Golden Oaks Library…

Spike opens his eyes and feels the throbbing sensation of pain. “Argh! What the hell happened?” he touches his head. He then recoils away his claw from pain. “Since when did I ever make this bump appear on my head?” he sighs. “Today, I had one hell of a day I will never forget throughout my entire life,” he told himself as he went back to bed. “The incident with Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo's house without forgetting to tell the lazy bum, then Applejack getting angry at Appleboom angry for not helping at the harvest, then Bon Bon with her comments and to top it all off, I got to witness Sweetie Belle's privacy while also being threatened to be paralyzed for two years!” his face is beet red by now. “I'll admit that she was not all that bad,” he chuckles and then sighs.

‘Well, I'd better sleep and hope tomorrow will be a less crazy day,’ thought Spike as he drifted off to sleep.

Chapter 5 : Revelations

Chapter 5 :

Revelations.

The sun rose and the waste transporters went from house to house collecting trash cans. After collecting about 10 buckets of trash from the houses, they came towards the home of Bon Bon and Lyra. Today, they found something unusual in the dumpster.

“Hey, Kevin! Look what I found today!” his friend told him. Kevin looks at the trash can before replying, “I cannot believe it is in perfect condition,” he runs his tongue over his lips. “I think today we'll eat like kings,” Kevin declared.

“You betcha!” Tom said before lighting up his horn and putting it in a nearby cart. “Well that's all for today. How about if we take this to the dump as soon as possible?”

Kevin opens his wings. “Alright, you cover it and get in the wagon. We will not want our fast food to be stolen.”

Tom thought it out before he got up and covered the wagon with a blue tarp using his telekinesis. “Okay, time to go.”

Meanwhile, things were not going so well elsewhere.

At Scootaloo's House…

Scootaloo wore an apron and a broom in her hooves. “Well, after many hours, I can say that this house is completely clean or should I say, almost clean.” She looks at the house made of cereal boxes that the vagrant pony resided in. “Hey, Loukas, time to go!”

“How about your mom goes away? I'm very comfortable. Do you know how much work it took me to make this house? And that's not to mention the effort and time I took to make the hot tub.”

Scootaloo hits the front of Loukas' cereal house. “For the last time, you are not welcomed here! Go away before I call the police to come get you!”

“I don't care,” Loukas said. “It is very relaxing here. Remember that we have a deal: I keep your secret if you'd let me live here.”

Scootaloo sighs. “I know very well of our deal and I hate it as hell.”

3 weeks ago…

Scootaloo lays on her bed with a picture of Spike. “Spike, why do you have to be far from me?” she kisses the photo. “If only I could have the courage to tell you how much I love you…” she begins to rub at her nethers. “Spike,” she starts to rub more and begins to pant faster. “Oh, Spike… please, give it to me…” she closes her eyes. “Ah! Spike, I'm so close!” she begins to let out lusty moans of pleasure.

Meanwhile, Loukas was leaning out the window. “Wow. You seem to like him, huh? And he's from another species, no less!”

Scootaloo stops rubbing and turns quickly to the window. “WHAT THE HELL!? WHO ARE YOU AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING SPYING ON ME!?”

Loukas hiccups before continuing. “I was flying alone and looking where to stay tonight and found this…” he slumps over, clearly and obviously drunk. He hiccups again before continuing. “… home. So, with your permission…” he comes through the window. “I'll stay here.”

-Scootaloo rises from her bed faster than him and stands in front of Loukas. “Listen to me you useless drunk bastard! Open those wings and fly so far away until you can't see Ponyville!”

The drunk, vagrant pony laughs evilly. “Well, then. If that's what you want, then I'll tell a certain dragon that she has feelings for him!” he begins to walk towards the window. “I just hope he won't reject you after I tell him that you masturbated to him.”

Scootaloo bites her lower lip in an attempt to think of anything else to solve this. Unfortunately, the only solution she had was not a good one. “Wait a minute,” she pulls on Loukas' black tail. “I think we can reach an agreement.”

The grey pony smiles. “I hear you.”

“I'll let you live here as long as you do not say anything of what you just saw today,” the orange pegasus promised.

Loukas rubs his forehoof with his chin in thought. “Hmm… okay. Deal!”

End of flashback…

Hey, how about you think for something to eat? I'm starving.”

“How about NO? All you think about is food. I'm going to start calling you ‘POS’,” Scootaloo irritably responded.

“You don't have the right to call me that. Plus, what the hell does POS even stand for?”

Scootaloo grinned widely. “Piece Of Shit.”

Loukas realized his mistake and folded his ears. “It doesn't matter. When I eat cereal, these boxes are used for the construction of my home.”

Scootaloo sighs. “Ya know what? Do whatever you want. I'll be back later,” the orange pegasus then proceeds to leave her home and takes flight.

Meanwhile, there were some disturbing moments currently occurring at the Golden Oaks Library…

Meanwhile, at the Golden Oaks Library…

“Wow, with every visit you make, you take more books than you are allowed to take. Believe me, you're not the only pony in all of Ponyville who wants to read a good book,” Spike said to a cerulean coated mare with streaks of silver and grey in their mane.

“The Great and Powerful Trixie denies. Trixie also wants to be provided on these books, is this not a library?”

“It IS a library but let me make clear three things: one, you are not at all powerful. Twilight beat you in a magic duel and was by far the most powerful unicorn, according to Celestia. Now that she is an alicorn, I can pretty much tell you that she could defeat you without effort. Secondly, the fact that it is a library, does not give you the right to take almost all the books you want. Sure, it is for the public for everyone but there is a difference between borrowing a few books for research and hoarding books. Lastly, but less important, could you seriously stop levitating me?” he said as he was lifted off the ground.

Trixie apologizes and slowly begins to put the dragon down on his feet. “Let's make it clear that I, Trixie, I could always take the books I want.”

“If that's the case, I will keep you away for at least one month from me and I'll just take them away from you,” - he then continues in a burly tone. - “I do not think that would satisfy a certain unicorn.”

Trixie become very upset. “Why you unfortunate piece of - ”

“Look, you are wasting my time. Have a look around and you should know the procedure by now. If not, give your library card to Peewee and he'll take care of things. I have to go through some things at the market,” he grabs the doorknob and then says, “ And do not forget to return them in a month. Oh and don't forget to return back the book you borrowed on Unicorn Magic,” the drake then exits out the door, leaving the showmare alone with her thoughts.

“Argh!” the cerulean unicorn showmare grunted in annoyance and frustration. “One of these days, I swear that The Great and Powerful Trixie will take revenge for this and then lecture him to respect me as it should be,” she huffed before resuming her search for more magic related books.

Meanwhile…

Spike begins to walk to the market thinking about what he is going to buy. Without realizing where he is walking, he trips over something and falls to the ground.

After a few moments of letting his brain comprehend on what was happening, he saw Scootaloo close to him on the floor as well. “I'm sorry, Spike,” she says to him with a sad look on her face.

Spike rubs his head. “Ouch, that hurt. Hey, don't worry, Scoots,” - he rises from the ground and dusts himself off, offering his extended claw to her. - “But I have to ask, what were you doing there lying on the grass?”

Scootaloo adverts her gaze from her draconic friend to the dirt, clearly stating that she had a problem. “No, it's nothing. Don't worry, it was just that I was a little tired,” she lied.

“And so you had to be in the middle of the way of the library's entrance? Couldn't you have gone to your house to rest?”

“I don't want to go home right now,” she said in a sad tone before she became slightly annoyed. “And are you the one to tell me where I can and can't sleep?”

Spike raised his claws up in defense. “Hey, I just mentioned a few places. There's no need to get so upset with me.”

“Well, it would be better for you to shut up. First, you should notice where you're going!” Her wings extend to indicate that she was beginning to become infuriated.

Spike scratches his head. “Well, I won't deny that you have a point but that's no excuse to be furious with me.”

Scootaloo exhales for a long time. “You're right. I'm sorry. I'm just having a bad day. See ya around, Spike,” she then left the drake with his thoughts as she began flying higher up into the sky.

Scootaloo lands on a small cloud that was surrounded by other clouds that were very high above Ponyville and she begins to feel bad. “I'm a stupid, stupid, stupid bitch,” she sighs. “If only I could tell you the way I feel for you, Spike,” she looks along the edge of the cloud at him from the high altitude she was in. “But I cannot ask for help. If that lazy bastard says something to you, it will be my end and I can never be with who I love,” she then cries softly as the soft cloud carried her along the breezy atmosphere.

Spike strolled down the streets of the crowded marketplace, wondering on what to buy. “Let's see… what will I purchase for the week?” the drake muttered in a low tone that was audible to only himself. “Maybe a few apples or perhaps oranges,” he looks at all the fruit stands but does not buy anything. “Damn it, I can't decide on buying anything!” he sits on a nearby bench. “If only it were the season for gems. Hopefully, I could go get some and make my cake out of rubies, diamonds and sapphires but this still three months away and I can't survive with fruit being my diet,” he begins to sadden. “Twilight will be back in a few days. She would know what to buy in cases like these.”

“Then, why not buy some cakes? They are the best remedy for a sad face!” a familiar cherry voice suggested.

“It isn't. Plus, I don't have much,” he then jumps in surprise as he realizes that Pinkie is right next to him on the bench. “Pinkie!? How long have you been here?”

“Silly, dragon! I've been here all the time, like yesterday or when the day the homeless pony from the corner was here all sad because - ” Spike stopped her by giving her a glare.

Spike sits back with a sad sigh. “I'm sorry. It's just that today my head is full of thoughts and by what happened just now… I feel a little strange.”

Pinkie Pie squeezes the drake's cheeks in an attempt to make him smile. “Aww, don't be sad. Tell your Aunt Pinkie Pie what's wrong and I will do everything possible to help,” she then smiles.

“Alright, but first,” he raises his index finger to emphasize his statement. “Could you could let go of my cheeks? It's starting to hurt.”

“Oops, sorry,” the energetic earth pony mare replied with a warm smile.

“Okay, so after I woke up this morning…” Spike then began to relate his day to Pinkie Pie.

After, a short conversation, Spike began nearing towards the conclusion of his side of the story.

“And that's what happened. The only thing I want to do right now is to eat and sleep for a long time,” Spike said vaguely.

“No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, NO! Spike, when a mare says that nothing happened, it really means that something is going on, especially when some pony is sad and the best way to make him feel better is eating a cupcake!” she randomly holds a muffin in front of him and gives it to him.

“Pinkie, I have no craving for cupcakes, lately,” he returns the pastry. “But…” he sighs. “I think you're right about Scootaloo. Something must have happened and as her friend, it is my duty to help.”

“Now, go help your dear damsel in distress to solve her problems, you may even have an evil sorcerer under her control and she can not escape the curse but only a knight in armor can be the one to save her.”

“You know, Pinkie, I think you should stop eating too many sweets sometimes because you say crazy things sometimes,” she pats her head. “But you also say things that although they do not seem to have much sense, they help,” he spreads out his wings. “I'll be visiting Scoots. Thank you very much, Pinkie,” with that, he takes flight.

“Then just promise me you'll go eat a cupcake!” Pinkie yelled at him.

“No promises, but I will think about,” he yelled back before resuming his flight.

After saying goodbye to Pinkie Pie, Spike went to Scootaloo's home while thinking about what the party pony said and how to help on Scootaloo's problems. After fifteen minutes of flight, Spike reaches his destination, but when he looks at the window to see something that truly infuriated him to no end. He listened intently to the conversation.

“Hey! Do you have the food? I'm starving!” Loukas whined.

Scootaloo was completely fed up with Loukas' behavior. “It's almost ready,” she gripped the wooden spoon tightly in her hooves. “Can't you wait a little longer? If really, it is you who is hogging all the food and leave hardly anything to me.”

“Well, you're lucky I leave you something. If not, I wouldn't care if you starved to death or not.”

Scootaloo cries softly to herself and drops a tear at the plate. “Shut up you fucking fat bastard,” she muttered to herself.

Spike, who witnessed everything, became very enraged. He walks over to the door and knocks very loud on it, creating dents on the thick door.

“Hey, bitch! Some pony's at the door! Go open it!”

“Ugh! I'm going you lazy bastard! Next time you should get off your lazy fat ass to actually open the door!” she shouts at him before she gets to the door and reveals a purple and green scaled dragon. “SPI - ” her sentence was cut off by Spike placing a claw on her maw, silencing her. He then makes a sign to be silent.

Scootaloo nods in affirmation and whispers in a low tone. “What are you doing here, Spike?”

“I came to help you, Scootaloo,” the drake whispers as he enters the house and goes to the kitchen door, spotting Loukas on the table eating with his eyes looking towards the table and food.

“Hey, did you find out who it was?” Loukas looks up and then pushes the table at the drake. “Who the hell are you?” he asked, shocked.

“Your worst nightmare,” he takes him by the neck and lifts him five feet of the ground. “Listen very carefully, my dear friend,” he said in a calm, yet terrifying and dangerous voice. “I will not allow an idiot like you treating my friend like a maid and a lot less like a slave. This is her home and you are invading. If you are arrogant enough, I will ask for Princess Celestia's guards to give you an imprisonment. Another option would be to take you to a trip in the Everfree Forest and leave you there until the timber wolves appear and eat you alive,” he snapped his maw and fangs together, in which Loukas whimpered.

The vagrant pony trembled in absolute terror. “You… wou-wouldn't d-do something li-like t-that, r-right?” Spike in return growled at him, which further terrified him.

Spike smiled demonically, baring his fangs in the process. “Try me,” he challenged.

Loukas swallows a knot in his throat. “Okay, I'll get out and put away this mare in peace but first, I have to tell you something about - ” he was cut off as Spike threw him with little force at the wall, creating a crack on it.

Spike, with more fury, picks up Loukas again and begins to tighten his neck, slowly taking away his ability to breathe. “I do not care what you have to tell me. If in the next ten seconds you are not out of here, I will BURN YOU!”

“Okay… le… let me… go!” Loukas barely manages to choke out before Spike releases him and retches on the floor, trying to get as much oxygen as he can.

“Get out and never return, if you know you'll be my next meal,” he growled at him.

“Uh, goodbye!” he then leaves the house, flying fast away from Ponyville.

Spike sighs loudly. “I'm sorry you had to see that side of me, Scootaloo.” Spike then feels the orange pegasus mare give him a hug.

Scootaloo embraces Spike in the back. Thank you, thank you, thank you very much, Spike! You're my hero!”

Spike smiles, remembering the words he said to Pinkie. “Heh, heh. I'm just a gentledrake who came to rescue you from an evil wizard,” he playfully said.

“Huh? What do you mean by that?” Scootaloo asked.

Spike turns around and strokes her head. “Nothing. It's just something I read in a book,” he smiles.

Scootaloo kisses his cheek. “I think it was a good book because I was seriously rescued from an evil being,” she hugs him again, snuggling into his chest. “Thank you.”

Spike blushes from the affection Scootaloo had for him. “Heh, do not keep thanking me. It was normal for me to worry about you.”

“You were worried about me,” the pegasus blushes.

“Of course,” he smiles.

Scootaloo blushes more and smiles a little. “Thanks again,” she retracts from the hug. “But what will I do with all that junk?” she said as she pointed at all the cereal boxes. “Please help me clean up,” she pleaded.

“Not to worry. I'm not Princess Twilight's number one assistant for nothing,” he throws a small green flame that was thrown from his finger, destroying every single cereal box in the process. “Done.”

“True. Sure, you could do that but don't you think you'd be scolded at by Princess Celestia for sending all that junk?” Scootaloo asked.

“Don't worry. I eventually learned how to send things to other places.”

Meanwhile, outside of Ponyville…

In the Ponyville landfills, Lyra was wedged between two mountains of trash, accidentally thrown away into the trash can… somehow. The mint unicorn got free and stumbled upon two landfill workers. “Ugh! Get away from me!” she raised her nose high in the air.

“Oh, Miss. You do not have to be scared, we just want to try, uh, a little project with you,” said Tom in a tone of faux gentleness.

At the mention of this, Kevin gets confused. “That's weird, I thought we were going to have sex with her.”

Tom realizes their intentions were given out by his stupid friend Kevin. He crashes his hoof against his head as hard as he can to punish him. “Idiot! You won't say that. You have to be gentle with the ladies. Once you have them in bed, forget the manners and rut her!”

‘Gee, these colts are really stupid…’ Lyra gasps as she realizes they were trying to seduce her into having them bend her over and then press their rods against her. “VIOLATORS!” she screamed.

“Don't be shy,” Tom assured her. “Aww, fuck it, you can't go anywhere. You're cornered and only a miracle could save you,” he pressed her into a pile of trash.

“I want her rear,” Kevin said with hungry and lusty eyes at her.

Lyra prayed with all her might to Princess Celestia if she could save her. Her prayer was answered as she heard a ton of cereal boxes fall on top of the stallions. Lyra took the opportunity to escape while they took off all the trash heap off them.

Lyra scurries to the exit. ‘Thank you Princess Celestia for hearing my prayers. I owe you one,’ she thought to herself as she still fled.

Tom wipes his face. “Argh! Where did all this shit come from?”

Kevin wipes his tongue. “I do not know but,” he begins to spit. “I got some of it in my mouth! Yuck!”

Tom watches the Lyra flee. “Well, it's just you and me, Kevin.”

Kevin sighs. “Umm… uhh… who gets to receive?” he asked softly.

“Me, so today it's your turn to be fucked,” Tom announced.

Kevin blushed a bright red in embarrassment. “Okay, but, please, be gentle,” he pleaded as he bent over forward.

At Scootaloo's house…

Scootaloo smiles at Spike. “Thank you very much for your help, Spike. Really, wouldn't know what I'd do without you.”

“You don't have to thank me. You should know that you can always count on me and your friends.”

“Yep, always,” she stares at Spike.

“Always,” Spike nods his head.

‘Every time I look at you, my heart cannot stop beating very fast and sometimes, I would like to tell you how much I love you but my fear of rejection holds me back. Today, I made a decision and it's time to stop being a cowardly mare!’ she thought. “Spike, I'd like to ask you something,” Scootaloo got his attention.

“Sure, what's up?”

“Your flame also works for delivering letters from and to a another pony in particular, right?”

“As long as I know who they are, then yes. I can send multiple items and letters with my fire to another recipient.”

“Alright, give me a moment because I have a request or you.”

Ten minutes later...

Scootaloo returns with two cards and gives it to Spike. “Could you send these letters to Applebloom and Sweetie Belle? I have something important to talk to them and I would like it for them to receive it before nightfall.

“Sure, don't worry,” he holds the letters in front of him and releases a small emerald ball of flames that engulfs the parchments and then deliver themselves to their destination.

“I really appreciate your help, Spike. You're a real gentledrake,” she compliments him with a blushing face.

Spike chuckles and then blushes as well. “I'm just a good gentledrake. Nothing more. Besides, as a friend, it is my duty to help those in need no matter what.”

Meanwhile, the two letters were being delivered…

At Sweet Apple Acres…

Applebloom bucks a tree, sending the apples tumbling down into a neat pile on the awaiting baskets below. ‘Jus' five more and Ah can have tha afternoon off to visit Spike. Maybe, Ah could take some apples to eat 'em together in tha balcony of the library,’ the letter lands on her head and surprises her. She takes it and reads it to herself.

At the house of Sweetie Belle's parents…

The beautiful alabaster pony was cooking and mumbling to herself. “Now, I'll just add a pinch of salt and a little oil. I just hope Spike loves the food I've cooked for him,” she is shocked to see a letter in the pan. “Oh, no, no, no! How did this piece of parchment get in here?” she begins to unfold the parchments and reads out its contents. “Let's see here…”

From Scootaloo,

Appleboom and Sweetie Belle, I am sending this letter with Spike's help to let you guys know that we need to meet in the clubhouse. It is ultra important that you two ONLY go, so beware for any pony trying to follow you. I have something important to discuss and it has to be today.

Scootaloo smiles. “Well, I think I'll go to sleep for a while, since that bum was here and I couldn't sleep well.”

“Oh, crap! It's 7PM and they closed the market stands!” Spike groaned.

“I'm sorry, Spike,” Scootaloo said. “Is there something I can help you?”

“No, don't worry. I'll ask Fluttershy if she has pet food,” he began to exit the door until Scootaloo tugged on his tail. “Uh, Spike? Before you go,” she adverts her gaze away from him, blushing. “I wanted to know if I can see you tomorrow?”

“Of course, you know where to find me if you ever need me,” Spike smiled.

The orange pegasus feels her heart flutter at the drake's statement. “Okay, thanks. Oh, and if it is possible, I'd like to talk to you in private someday without anyone disturbing us,” she says.

“You know you're always welcome anytime,” he gently caresses her cheek with his claw.

“Thanks, Spike,” Scootaloo manages to say before she felt her breath being taken away by his display of affection to her.

“Oh, well, I gotta go. I'll soon want to sleep. See ya, Scoots,” Spike casually left Scootaloo's house and flew towards the direction of Fluttershy's cottage.

Scootaloo was left alone in the doorway until she remembered that she had to be in the clubhouse. “Well, I think it will be time well go to meet the girls.”

After losing a lot of time helping Scootaloo, Spike went to Fluttershy's cottage to borrow pet food for his pets: Peewee and Owlowicious. The night fell upon Ponyville and all Spike wanted to do right now was to go to sleep in his soft, warm bed.

“I hope it isn't too late…” he then sees the lights still on at the cottage. “Great! She's still awake!” he knocks on the door.

Meanwhile, Fluttershy was trying to convince her bunny pet to obey her by letting her wash his teeth. “Angel, if you do not clean your teeth, they will rot!” Angel scampers everywhere. “This is for your own good! Okay, you naughty rabbit, I have no alternative but to use The Stare,” she approaches slowly to the rabbit when she hears knocks on the door. “Who could that be at this hour?” she walks and opens the door. “Oh, hi, Spike! What brings you around here at this time of the night?”

“Fluttershy, I'm sorry to bother you but I forgot to buy food for Peewee and Owlowicious. I was wondering if you could lend me a small bag of food for both of them?”

“Sure, Spike! Please, come in!” she steps aside. “Make yourself comfortable while I get the food.”

The young adult dragon entered the cottage. “Thanks! I hope to not be a nuisance.”

“Not at all! You are not a nuisance. Now, sit back while I'm looking for the food.”

“Okay and thanks,” he sits in the nearby couch, enjoying the comforting softness.

“Would you like you some tea?” Fluttershy offered.

“No, thanks. I'll just wait for you to bring me the food.”

“Oh, okay. I'll be back in a moment to bring it to you,” she then flies to another room to fetch the bag of pet food.

Time passed and Fluttershy did not return. Spike began to think that it wasn't normal for her to be gone for a long time and decided to go search for her in the other room, but at the time, he manages to catch an unknown, yet, familiar shadow run to the door and it then flew around the house as if looking for some pony. The shadow in the distance began to run again but this time, towards the Everfree Forest. The strange silhouette begins to go further into the Everfree and the silhouette's smell became much more difficult to track down. Spike continues his pursuit on the silhouette and did not lose sight of it. He was sure at one point that he was close to the silhouette to actually pounce on it. However, the silhouette seemed to know where he was for when Spike passed by another tree, the silhouette was gone.

Spike gets agitated and curses to himself for being an idiot. He looks around only to be met with the sight of more trees. ‘I just hope the silhouette hasn't done anything to Fluttershy or else, it is in for a painful experience,” he begins walking, trying to get the smell again. ‘This is what I hate most about this forest. It is full of mysteries and surprises. You never know what might happen.’

After a while of walking, he see a light. ‘If I'm not mistaken, that would be Zecora's hut. I wonder if she has seen anything unusual around here,’

He heads towards the house of Zecora but before knocking on the wooden door, he overhears the voice of some pony else and Zecora's.

Spike places his right ear frill on the door, listening to what Zecora and her guest were discussing about. “What the hell?” he mumbled.

“How many times do I have to repeat myself? No matter how many times you capture his aroma, you're not allowed to get away from the edge of the forest by yourself!” Zecora says.

“I'm… I'm sorry, mom,” the other voice said.

Spike was shocked and surprised to find out that Zecora had a daughter. “MOM?” he shouts out loud. He then covers his mouth after he realizes that Zecora most likely had heard him.

Spike then hears the zebra sigh. “Spike, I know you are outside. Please, come inside.”

Spike slowly opens the door. He sees the zebra sitting down but as he opens the door further, his eyes could not believe what he saw. “Zecora, what the hell!?”

Meanwhile, in the Cutie Mark Crusaders Clubhouse…

An alabaster coated unicorn mare gazed out the window, looking for an orange pegasus. “We should wait a bit more. I'm sure she'll be here any minute. Besides, Rainbow Dash will punish her if she finds out Scootaloo is missing.”

“Oh, shut up! Ah'm tha one who will suff'r tha most if Applejack waits fer me in tha room with tha whip,” she scowls at Sweetie Belle. “Ah wonder why she even does that even afta Ah became a mare that can take care of 'erself.”

The door of the clubhouse suddenly opens.

The orange pegasus mare enters the clubhouse and shuts the door, looking at her unicorn and earth pony friends. “Girls, I regret the delay but what I will say that this is very difficult for me and I was afraid to come at certain times here but I'm present and it's time to face the things.”

Appleboom becomes angry for getting the wrong idea of Scootaloo not telling them anything and collides head with the orange mare. “Ya know what'll happen ta me when Ah git 'ome?” she asked in a dangerously, low tone. “Ah came here jus' ta hear ya be 'fraid to tell us something?” the earth pony mare feels a pull of her tail.

Sweetie Belle pulls Appleboom's silky red tail. “Calm down, Appleboom. I think I know where this is going and believe me who's been suffering the most out of all of us.”

Applebloom gets confused. “Huh? How come ya know 'bout this already if she sent a letter to tell us both something?”

“I've been noticing Scootaloo's feelings towards some pony. I don't know who it is but I will say that she has LOTS of explaining to do.”

“Gee, thanks,” Scootaloo sarcastically said. “Well,” she began saying as she hoofed the wooden floor beneath her. “As you may already know…” she said before telling her two friends the whole story of how she felt.

Fifteen minutes later, Applebloom hugs her as a sign of sympathy. “Sorry. Ah knew nothin' 'bout this and iffa ya ever need us again, we'll be there fer ya,” Applebloom said with a smile.

The orange pegasus mare chuckled. “Hehe, don't worry. It's my fault for keeping it a secret but if you say that if I had kept my emotions bottled up for much longer, it could be troublesome and I do not want that to happen to me.”

“I don't see why it would be so problematic if you like someone,” Sweetie Belle said.

“Believe me, it is difficult. Just telling you how I felt made feel to kill myself,” she exhaled out of nervousness.

“Well, tell us who that special pony is who you are crazy about,” Sweetie Belle teased as the alabaster unicorn and the light tan earth pony closed in on the orange pegasus, pushing her to a corner of the clubhouse.

Scootaloo becomes very nervous. “W-well…” she diverts her eyes to the floor. “I don't know where to begin. The truth is,” she then lowers her voice to a mere whisper. “He is not a pony.”

“What? I didn't hear what you said,” Sweetie Belle said with a smirk.

“He is not a pony,” Scootaloo said in a louder tone but still quiet to the other two friends.

“Argh! Tell us, ya chicken! At least make mah punishment worthwhile,” Applebloom said with mild irritation.

Scootaloo had enough and angrily yelled at her friends so loud, their ears rang.

“HE IS NOT A COLT! HAPPY!? WHO I LIKE AND LOVE WITH ALL MY HEART IS SPIKE!” Scootaloo shouted with passion. She scowled at her friends.

Upon hearing the confession of Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle's and Appleboom's smirks immediately changed to a frown. Apparently, the news did not fare to their liking, making the atmosphere tense with shock and embarrassment.

Chapter 6 : A Glimmer of Hope

Chapter 6 :

A Glimmer of Hope.

Spike opens the door and sees something that leaves him very bewildered. “Zecora, what the hell?”

“Spike, I know you have many questions but all in good time all will be answered. Take a seat and listen to this story because this happened many moons ago. Only you will know the secret that you just saw. You must know its past and in the end, you can decide whether or not you shall keep it to yourself or reveal it to others.”

“Mom, that will not be necessary,” Zecora's daughter called out from the darkness of the room, her glowing azure eyes visible in the darkness.

“Stay silent because your curiosity brought us an unwanted guest and he's seen what we've been keeping secret. You've caused enough trouble and never took my words of consideration about being discreet,” Zecora said to her.

“I'm… I-I'm sorry,” Zecora's daughter said.

“Now, where do I begin?” she tapped her hoof to her chin. “Close your eyes for a moment and let your imagination picture everything within…”

Seven years ago…

In the small Ponyville festival of Nightmare Night, all the sporting of trick-or-treat was going great for many young colts and fillies. After several hours, the local townsfolk began to begin the party in Ponyville's central plaza but during this celebration, far away, deep in the Everfree Forest two dragons, one being an adult and the other being a young hatchling who slept soundly, celebrated Nightmare Night inside a cave. However, everything was about to change quickly for they did not expect the visit of certain diamond dogs.

Rover, the alpha hound of the pack sniffed the air. “We're here. I'm sure of it,” his ancient, gruff voice rang throughout the still air.

“I hope you're right because we've been walking for several hours and have not found them yet,” a beta hound with the name of Spot said.

“And tell us if it is better than what we were previously seeking,” protested Fido, another beta hound of the pack and the smallest, yet, quickest.

Rover grabs both beta hounds' maws and clamps his claws down on them, keeping both of them quiet. “Silence! The reason we are here is for a gem,” he whispers.

“Gem? You came here just a stupid gem?” Fido asked once his maw wasn't clenched shut.

“It isn't like all the other gems. This gem comes from the very dragon itself!”

“Wow! Wait a minute, are you saying that we will fight a dragon?” Fido asked with fear.

“So?” Rover snapped. “Today will be the day you prove to every hound that you are better than any other hound in the den. Your gems will be regained.

After that ambush, that pony and that stupid dragon came to steal the gems that we had collected for so long! I felt like a failure, having lost against those stupid ponies and one night, while being in the Everfree Forest, I came across a cave. It was not just any cave because in it, were two dragons. At first, all I could do was run away from fear but before I ran out of sight, I noticed that the youngest dragon, a dark blue one, had a glowing gem on her chest. The elder dragon must have one that is HUGE! If I remember correctly, I've seen it in the books of our ancestors. It mentioned of a dragon that possessed the most valuable gem: a glowing gem! It also mentioned that whoever managed to get it, would be a recognized leader of all the diamond dogs.”

“Uh, I don't like being a party pooper but you are not our leader,” Fido pointed out.

Rover slaps him. “Shut up,” he growls. “When I have that gem, I will prove to be a better leader and I will not be laughed at by many, especially those stupid ponies!”

“And how the hell do you think we will be defeating a dragon five times bigger than us?” Spot asked.

“We might die trying or be devoured,” Fido said sadly.

Rover laughs evilly. “To start off, we have claws,” he extends his palm and let bares out his claws. “Fangs,” he opens his mouth and shows his canine teeth. “And of course,” he pulls out a bottle from his vest. “Manticore venom. A little of this and the little hatchling will be in our grasp. We will make a small wound on the dragon, we pour the venom, which will travel into his bloodstream and he will begin to die. In a matter of time, the gem will be ours. The little hatchling will be easy prey and I may make her into my dragon pet.”

The three laugh evilly, continuing its path guided by the smell of their new leader.

At Ponyville's Town Square…

Twilight Sparkle was trembling under the stern glare of the ruler of the night. “We demand to know what kind of humiliation is this that thou is pretending to dost to us!” Luna demanded an answer from the purple alicorn.

“This isn't humiliation, Princess Luna. It's just that the little colts and fillies want to take a picture with you,” the lavender alicorn replied.

"Exactly!" Pinkie Pie said. "And there is still many houses left me to go pick up free candy!"

"Pinkie, don't you think you're too old to go trick or treating?" Princess Twilight asked. Not to mention that you live in a separate house that just happens to be a bakery."

Pinkie Pie gasps, amazed that her friend did not get her point of view. "Twilight, sweets are not given free every day. Ponies only give it out for free during this celebration and I will not waste any more minutes to lose an entire amount of free sweets that can easily be mine! Aside from that, how can you compare sweets from Sugar Cube Corner with free candy? You should know that sweets are rich and delicious, while the candy is free candy that is rich, delicious and more than anything in the world!" the pink earth pony mare jumps around excitedly. "Free candy! So, who's next to take the picture? I have no time and I have many sweets to pick up."

Once again, Twilight Sparkle did not understand the logic of her friend Pinkie. Meanwhile, a certain zebra continued telling stories to children passing on their attraction.

"Let me tell you the story of the headless horse," Zecora said behind a cauldron that contained a green substance that emanated green and red fog. "A being who haunts the Everfree Forest during the full moon in search of ponies who takes away their head while seeking on his course. Legend has it that his head was buried under a tree and so far, his head is still out there but others say that he was beheaded for stealing. Nobody knows what is the real reason, but be careful because he can suddenly appear and when you least expect it, he will be behind you, hearing," the zebra then hides behind her cloak, covering her head and making a figure of the headless horse. "Beware of the headless horse!"

All ponies who were listening to Zecora's story, applauded. Others, such as the little colts and fillies, were frightened and some hid themselves behind others. The night was quite good but a strong breeze from the forest caught the attention of Zecora.

Zecora feels the breeze and mumbles to herself, "A night full of happiness and joy seems to be clouded with tears and pain. I'd better see what happens because I have a bad feeling of sadness," she then rushes out into the forest.

Meanwhile, three diamond dogs were heading out of an empty cave.

"Hey, boss, are you sure this is the place? This is now the third cave we've found and no gem! Plus, one of them had poison ivy," Fido complained while scratching his body.

Rover also had poison ivy and was furiously scratching at himself. "Shut up and go check if there is someone inside," he points at another cave.

"Oh, no. I wouldn't even enter there. Spot can do the job," Fido pushes his fellow comrade forward.

"What?" he outbursts with fear. "If I go in there and the dragons are there, I will be swallowed easily."

"Oh for crying out loud," Rover groaned. "You can dig because you're a diamond dog! You should have no problems with something like that."

"But I thought you were the one who wants to prove that you are the best leader of all diamond dogs," Spot pointed out.

Rover takes him by the ears. "Listen, you little mutt, you are one of my faithful helpers and as your leader, I command you to go and see whether they are in the cave. I'll give you two options: I'll take a look and if I see them, I will slowly torture you until you ask for death. Or, you could be a nice dog and follow my orders. Your choice," he let's go of the beta hound.

Spot lies on the ground, trembling with fear. "I'll go... don't you worry."

Upon seeing the reaction of their "leader," both beta hounds rushed to go as fast as they could to the cave but when they stood in front of it, they were immediately thrown out by the tail of the elder dragon, who apparently was more than ready to confront them.

Fido trembles with fear. "W-what sh-should we d-do?"

"You go with Spot and I want you to get that gem and to bring the little dragon. I'll keep it as my pet. We'll soon be known as great leaders," Rover said.

"Uh, n-no. Bye," Fido runs towards Spot and they both hide.

Rover growls in irritation. "I guess this means I'm working solo," he muses to himself. He steels himself and enters the dragon's cave, feeling the beast's presence. "I guess it will be me and you, dragon."

Rover hears a deep and ancient voice laugh at him. "Please, scum like you are no match for me, which is why I will give you the opportunity to go with your other friends before I regret my decision and have you as my next meal."

"I won't go anywhere without that gem," Rover points to the gem on the dragon's chest. "And I will have it," he then jumps in the air, performs a frontflip before impacting the ground and digging quickly with ease.

"What a bad decision," he commented while he threw a fireball in the hole Rover created. "How does it feel like to be roasted alive?"

Rover dug to the back of the fifteen foot tall dragon. "Well first you will have to do better if you want to burn me with your flames!" he irritates him by leaving little scratches along his scales. He then digs another hole again.

The dragon hisses from the scratch. "Argh!" he grunts as his tail whips on the ground. "Come out of your hole so you can see what a real scratch looks like," he sees around and sees another hole in the distance. "And I saw you," he launches a big fireball.

Rover quickly dives under the dragon, where his claws slowly sink through the soft, thin scales of his stomach. "You may be too big but a big size pays a big disadvantage. While you move slowly, I can move faster," he then digs another hole.

The massive beast lets out a roar in an attempt to scare him and from rage. "We'll see who is slow," the drake snarled as he places his maw over a hole and blows a big flame in the depths of the underground passages.

In every hole, fire came out of them and then, a diamond dog runs off with some burns and a burning tail.

"I got you!" he then roughly grabbed him and slowly started squeezing him to death. "What's the purpose for you trying to kill me?" he glares at him.

Rover begins to try to loosen himself from his grasp and attempts to regain valuable oxygen. "If you think... that I will die... in your claws... you are wrong! It is... YOU who... will be killed!" the alpha diamond dog begins to choke.

"Such meaningless words used by a meaningless hound. How pathetic before dying," the cobalt dragon said.

Rover manages to let out a small chuckle. "Then you die with me," he said in a dark tone before gathering as much air as he could before whistling a really high pitched note.

Suddenly, Spot and Fido reveal themselves behind a few trees and dig their claws into the azure dragon. The hounds began doing multiple wounds that began to leak out Bleoozk, the golden draconic blood.

The pain was so bad that the dragon began to try to claw off the diamond dogs and started shake as he threw several fireballs around without any direction. The dogs tried to get to the back of the dragon to make more wounds.

Unbeknownst to the fighting dragon and diamond dogs, a small female hatchling looked around, crying of fright as she observed the scene. With her father being hurt before her very eyes and witnessing the blood being poured into the ground, she couldn't help but to be paralyzed where she was.

The dark azure hatchling cried out to her father. "Dad? DAAAAD!"

Her father looks at his little daughter. "RUN INSIDE THE CAVE AND DON'T COME OUT!" He receives another scratch to his hind leg. 'Damn! I have to do something or these mutts will hurt my daughter!' He opens his wings and takes flight. 'If they want my gem, they will have to catch me.'

Rover sees the dragon's attempt and fears that he will get away. "He's getting away!" he shouts to Spot and Fido. "GET HIM!" he yells.

"At your service," Fido and Spot reply as they sprint towards the dragon and latch onto him, sinking their claws as far as they could in him while Fido creates a huge gash on the dragon's back and pours the manticore venom into his wound, causing for the toxic venom to travel through his bloodstream.

The father of the azure hatchling suffered more and more as he soon began to feel a burning sensation everywhere in his body. A few seconds later, the venom managed to disable his ability to fly and soon, his wings did not respond to him, thus, making him fall.

Rover laughs evilly. "It was about time that the poison began to take effect," he muses to himself. "You two hang on very strong because the landing won't be smooth!" he yells to the other two hounds.

The venom then began to seep away the dragon's strength to continue with his plan to save her daughter. In a matter of seconds, he forcefully falls to the ground, making the whole forest tremble. The trembling did not go unnoticed by a nearby zebra.

Zecora scurries towards the cave. 'That sound is not to my liking and the movement of the earth is a sign that my hunch is increasingly accurate,' she thinks

The dragon stayed on the ground, unable to move but still breathing. The three dogs saw this and decided to end his life and then take their soon-to-be gem.

"If for a moment you had accomplished what you had planned, maybe your daughter would have been saved, but unfortunately, you were once again very slow," he stands over his snout and walks towards his right eye. "Now watch as I take your little daughter and then take my reward."

Agitated and suffering from the poison in the wounds, he growls at them. "I'm warning you... if you touch a scale on my daughter... I-I'll kill y-you."

Spot walks to where the little hatchling was hidden and tried to coax her into coming out. "Come here, little hatchling. Let Uncle Spot take care of you."

The frightened dark azure hatchling keeps crying and starts to walk away from Spot. "Don't touch me! Get away from me!" she tried to not look intimidated but failed as Spot realized that she didn't cause harm. The hound suddenly takes her by her curved horn on her head. "I told you to come here, stupid dragon!" he shouts at her. He then roughly drags her over to Rover. "The boss does not like to be kept waiting."

"Exactly. If I want something, I get it and speaking about getting stuff, I do believe it is time to take my reward," he walks to the massive drake's chest and gazes at the gem. "Look how beautiful the gem is!" he then smirks evilly. "After all, it is MINE." Without warning, Rover pulls on the dragon's gem, unknowingly taking the dragon's main source of energy.

The drake roars of agony as he feels his energy source pulled away from him, blood trickling down between his chest and gem. "GRAAAHH!" he roars as he sees his gem beginning to shine less brightly.

Suddenly, a silhouette came out from the bushes and draws the attention of the three dogs. The silhouette throws three darts that directly hit the dogs. As soon as it pierces their skin, it causes them to fall asleep. The little hatchling observed the approaching silhouette and runs to her father while he wrapped his child in his talons.

"Be calm," Zecora said in a calm voice. "I did not come here for misconduct. The Winds called out to me and told me to come to this area. I thought it was just my instinct who played with me but my sense of hearing, touch and sight helped me see that it was not a joke."

"If you... come to... kill me... those dogs b-beat... you to it," the dragon struggled to say as his golden blood was still pouring out from his wounds, making him vulnerable and weak every passing second.

Zecora pulls out a herb from her black cape that she wore. She then places it near his mouth. "Chew on this while I help you recuperate from your wounds," she then walks to the dragon's chest and sees that the gem was not shining very much but enough to tell that there was still light.

The cobalt drake begins to eat the plants and in a few moments, he begins to feel some strength return to him. "Why are you helping me?" the drake asked. "You know I could kill you right now, right?"

Zecora does not look at the dragon but still cleans his wounds. "I know the possibility of you slaying me on the spot. However, a slaying a beast without a reason only delays yours. Besides, the plant that I gave you only helps in making you feel better and to soothe the pain."

"Are you coming to kill us too?" she asks in a sad tone while being on the verge of crying.

The zebra observes the little hatchling. "No danger shall befall you. I will do my best to help your father get cured."

The massive dragon sighs. "I do not have any salvation for those dogs infected me with a poison of some animal," he observes the dogs. "They seem to have put poison in their claws and that is why I was filled with many wounds all over my body. I cannot be saved anyways, I have lost too much Bleoozk."

The hatchling begins to mourn for her father and hugs him. "No... you won't die, dad," she looks at Zecora wistfully. "You can save my dad, right?" the hatchling asked with hope.

Zecora looks away, knowing that the older dragon was dying. "I'm sorry," Zecora laments as she walks towards the wounds in the drake's stomach. "If I would have known of this before, I would have brought all of my herbs and medicines." She puts her hoof in a wound. "But even I did try, I wouldn't have saved your father anyways. His wounds are too deep, the blood loss is very severe and the poison spread throughout his body," Zecora then lowers her head. "I'm afraid to say that your father does not have long to live," a lone teardrop falls to the floor. "I'm sorry."

The little hatchling loses all hope and begins to mourn for her father. "Please, n-no. D-Don't leave m-me," she begged as her voice cracked.

The hatchling's father lifts the head of his daughter with a claw and comfortingly dries her tears with his fingers. "Listen, you should not mourn my duty as a parent. It is my job to protect my offspring regardless of the price paid and if it weren't for her," he points at Zecora. "I would not have been here to say my final goodbye," he cracks a sad smile.

"B-But, dad... I don't want you t-to die," his daughter pleaded.

"And I wouldn't leave you alone," he starts to tear up. "Wh-When you w-were born, your mother knew that you would grow up to be a beautiful dragoness," he caresses her. "Now I see why your mother made you such a beautiful name. Your scales are of the color of the night sky and are much more beautiful than the moonlight. Whenever I see your gem, I can see the past memories that make me feel peaceful and have happy time," he begins to slowly close his eyes as his gem dims a bit more.

The little hatchling begins to tear up again while watching his father slowly close his eyes. "Dad... p-please, d-don't leave m-me!"

"You, zebra," he referred to Zecora. "I need to ask you a favor: no matter how much I want you to watch my daughter, she is all that I have left and I do not wish for any beast to hurt her. Do you understand?"

"To ask me something with that attitude, I would have presumably declined with such degree. However, out of my good heart, I do not want you to suffer anymore, and so, I agree," Zecora said.

"I cannot thank you enough. By the way, my name is Galaxius. I will not leave her alone with the dangers there and therefore, I ask you to help her."

Zecora lightly chuckles. "Do not worry about your daughter. I will care for her regardless of never letting any pony hurt her," the zebra promised.

"You better hope nothing will happen to her," he grumbles as the cobalt drake closes his eyes. "And forgive me for not having protected you properly, my daughter."

The little dragoness hugs his father, placing her head on his snout. "No, dad. You protected me of what you could do. You do not have to die, thinking that you did not achieve your goal," she cries over his snout while looking up at his father. "You protected me far beyond of what you could."

Galaxius caresses her face with a claw. "My... dear... Shining Star," she saw that her father's end was very near."A-Always r-remember that... I love you," he exhaled his last breath. Then, the gem on his chest stopped glowing, signaling that Galaxius was dead.

Star cried out into the heavens, mourning for his father who she will never see alive ever again.

That night, Star rested in peace and under the care of Zecora. However, Star remained crying incessantly in her sleep. Zecora knew that the death of her father devastated her and that she would be emotionally unstable. While Star slept crying, Zecora simply came to her and hugged the dragoness, ensuring that she had company and knowing that her suffering and pain would soon eroded away throughout time.

End of Flashback...

"...And that's the story," Zecora concluded as she sipped some tea.

Star was quietly crying, remembering the sad memories.

Spike looks down at the floor, lamenting Star's suffering. "I see that she has suffered a lot and having to live with that memory for so many years must be torture!"

The dark azure colored dragoness wipes her tears away. "You have no idea what I've had to endure every year when that tragic event leads to a nightmare."

"Now, you've heard the story," Zecora said to Spike. "You'll tell me if you will keep it a secret or tell every pony the existence of a dragon in my care."

The six foot, four inch drake gets up and walks in front of Star, putting his hands on her's, unintentionally making her blush. "You do not have to worry, I shall keep your secret and I'll make sure no one sees you. You can count on me, Star," he smiles.

Star smiles and hugs him tightly by surprise. "Oh, Spike! Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

Spike blushes. "No problem but could you please let me go? I'm losing air!"

Star lets go of him and blushes. "I... I'm sorry! Sometimes I do not know what I am doing," Star looks down at the floor.

"Don't worry, I've also had one of those moments," Spike reassured her.

"Well, if nothing more will be said," Zecora opens the door and signals for Spike to get out. "Spike, I'm not trying to be mean or to be rude but the night is cold and dark. These paths are dangerous and besides, did you not have something to do?"

Spike thinks for a moment, trying to remember what he was originally going to do. "Oh, yeah!" Spike remembered. "I need some pet food to feed Owlowicious and Peewee. Oh, and before I forget," he looks at the dragoness. "What did you do to Fluttershy? Why were you near her fence?"

Star's face becomes beet red as she blushes a lot. "W-well, y-you see, my mom always visits this place called Ponyville. Sometimes, when she returns home, I sense your smell on her and when you went to visit the pegasus, I wanted to get your scent," she took a deep breath before continuing. Not only t-that, I... I-I wanted to get close to see you but w-when I looked in the window, the pegasus saw me and fainted, falling into the basement."

"That would explain why it took so long," he sighs. "After so many years being around with me, she still is not used to other dragons. Typical Fluttershy," he walks out the door and faces Zecora and Star before heading back towards Ponyville. "Well, I'd better go see if she's okay."

"Of course and Spike, return back carefully. Feel free to return anytime," Zecora said.

Spike flashed a toothy grin. "Don't worry about me, I'll be fine. Anyways, it's been a pleasure being here. We should hang out one day, Star. Well, goodbye Zecora. Bye, Star." He then takes off into the sky.

Star's face became flushed. "Uh... okay. Be safe," she squeaks out.

Spike is then seen flying away from Zecora's house in a hurry.

Zecora gazes out the starry, night sky. "He'll arrive to his home safely, so stop worrying about him. He is able to protect himself," Zecora said to the worried dragoness.

"I know mommy, I know but..." she sighs. "My heart tells me I had to accompany him through the forest, yet, I don't know why.

"He can fly through this forest unharmed. Besides, he's been through this forest many times. Cease your worries, my dear Star. Though, something tells me you are not worried about him," she smirks at Star. "Do you have feelings for Spike?"

Star blushes, yet, acts as if she was confused and neglects her feelings. "I-I do not really like Spike," she lies. "I just want him to be safe. Besides, he's the only dragon I've met," she crosses her arms.

Zecora lightly chuckles. "Well, fine. Perhaps I was wrong," Zecora smirked to herself as she turned around from the dragoness and began to head to her room. "Love and affection will be for another day. The most important thing is for you to head back to your cave," Zecora said.

"Okay, mom," she hugs her and runs very happily outside Zecora's hut, heading towards her cave. 'Until tomorrow... I'll see him," she sighs. 'He's *MUCH** more attractive than I thought. B-but... do I love Spike?*'

Zecora peeks through the window of her room as she walks away happily. "I don't think I have seen her any more happy than she is right now," she muses to herself as she prepares to go to bed.

Meanwhile at the clubhouse of the Cutie Mark Crusaders...

Sweetie Belle and Applebloom are in shock as they learned Scootaloo's feelings. "WHAT!?" both Crusaders outburst towards their pegasus friend.

"You heard me. I love Spike and I do not care if you resent me for it or hate me. I love that dragon with all my heart," Scootaloo defended boldly.

"No... no, that's not possible!" she paced around before facing her. "Ya must be jokin'."

"True," Sweetie Belle agreed. "It must be a joke because I am the one who is in love with Spike and to prove it, before coming here, I was preparing a rich soup of gems just for him."

This news further shocked the other two Crusaders.

"You... you... what!?" was Scootaloo's only response.

'Ya both must be kiddin'," Applebloom stated. "Ah assumed that Ah was the one who was feeling something for him and now, Ah find that my two best friends, and Cutie Mark Crusaders, are also in love with the same dragon as me!"

"By Celestia! This is awkward. All three of us having a crush on Spike," Scootaloo said. "Well, I know he has feelings for me too. Besides, we are perfect for each other! Just look at us! We are both athletic, strong, and not to mention, we both have wings," she flares out her own wings in demonstration.

"That does not mean that he's all yours. He is perfect for ME," Sweetie Belle stated. "He has good manners like that of a gentlecolt. Not only that, he is the most kindest, honest, brave and most handsome gentledrake I've met. We would be perfect together!" she squealed with joy.

"You two are wrong," Applebloom countered against her friends. "You two wouldn't stand a chance with him! Spike is MY coltfriend... err, dragonfriend! He is a loyal drake who would help any pony. Not only that, he is a strong, hardworkin' dragon. He'd be a good addition to work at Sweet Apple Acres. So, back off! Spike is MINE! We'd be a perfect match."

"You two should back off!" Scootaloo points at Applebloom and Sweetie Belle "You two are crazy and besides, me and Spike have shared a secret in which neither of you will!"

"Well, guess what?" Sweetie Belle said to Scootaloo. "Me too."

"And so have Ah," Applebloom confessed.

The three Crusaders collide heads with each other, knowing that only one of them would be able to obtain Spike's heart and making him theirs.

Apple Bloom realizes what she is doing and removes her head from the other two. "Wait a minute, what are we doing?"

"Well I was watching you and this prissy bitch in the eye," Scootaloo scoffed.

Sweetie Belle grinds her teeth together in anger. "And who are you calling a dog, you filly-fooler!"

Scootaloo gasps and pounces on her. "I'm NOT a filly-fooler!" she tries to hit Sweetie Belle.

"STOP NOW AND LISTEN TO ME!" she screamed at the top of her lungs. She takes a deep breath. "Don't you see that we are breaking our friendship without knowing first whether Spike feels the same for us?"

Scootaloo releases Sweetie Belle. "What are you talking about?"

Sweetie Belle wipes the dust off her alabaster coat and mane. "Yeah, what's your point?"

"What Ah am tryin' to say is that every pony knows that Spike is caring, friendly and always cares about everyone and that leads me to think that Spike will see us in the same way that we see him," Applebloom said.

A moment of awkward silence filled the room. Applebloom was right, Spike has always been kind and helpful to all ponies. So, it was hard to tell if he had feelings for someone but that did not stop the Cutie Mark Crusaders to each plan something to have Spike as theirs.

You're right. I had not thought of that," Sweetie Belle said.

"I think we should go to Spike and ask him to know if he loves any of us," Scootaloo suggested.

"Well, Ah propose that we each make our own move to try to win the heart of Spike, but without interfering with the intentions of the other Crusader," Applebloom looks the other two.

"Sounds like an excellent idea! I just hope the filly-fooler doesn't cheat," Sweetie Belle looked at Scootaloo accusingly.

Scootaloo becomes annoyed. "Says the delicate and fragile pony who leaves all colts drooling in school, and crushes their hearts just like her sister!"

"Why you..." Sweetie Belle growled.

"Girls! Please, stop insulting each other. We are friends and we have to be mature about this," Applebloom tried to stop the fighting.

Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo cease their fighting but still held light resentment towards each other.

"Alright, so look where Ah am standing," she points to the floor where the light bulb insignia is marked. "Remember that being in this area means that the pony standing on it has an idea, and Ah thought of makin' this into our next Cutie Mark Crusader Operation!" Applebloom exclaimed, joyous that after many years, they thought of a new Operation.

"Just so you know, that's the most childish idea I've heard, but it also sounds like a game. Not only that, it is a challenge, which makes this more interesting," Scootaloo voiced her thoughts.

Well, it seems to me like the right thing to do, so if all three of us agree, then there's no going back," Sweetie Belle spoke up.

‘If necessary, I’ll cheat to get Spike,’ Scootaloo thought. “I’d like to see them try…’

‘If I’ve learned something from my sister all these years, is that I know how to move and play dirty to get to the heart of a male,’ Sweetie Belle thought.

‘I pity them. They are mentally slow, and do not have anything planned, and it’ll be just be a matter of playing dirty, and trickery to win Spike’s heart,’ Applebloom thought.

Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo nod their heads in agreement and clash their hooves together. "CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS : MAY THE BEST WIN!"

'Spike will be all mine and I will not let any of them put a hoof over him,' Applebloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo thought.

All three mares look at each other, instantly giving each other a slight smile. Soon, they leave the clubhouse, each going to their prospective homes.

Chapter 1 : The New Life in Ponyville

Chapter 1 :

The New Life in Ponyville.

After the events that happened in Equestria with the return of Nightmare Moon, Discord bringing chaos, the attack of Queen Chrysalis in Canterlot, and the resurrection of King Sombra, that tried to take over the Crystal Empire, all of that was avoided by the help of the Mane Six (with the exception of the attack of Queen Chrysalis, which was Prince Shining Armor, and Princess Cadence that helped to stop the Queen). Everything was now at peace, and with the transformation of Twilight becoming an alicorn, the Mane Six now passed more time in peace, or that's how it was during the first two years. Little by little, Twilight began to distance herself from her friends, and now had the responsibility of a princess, but that story isn't about the alicorn, and her friends, it was about three cute fillies that were now fully grown mares, and a dragon that was now more toned, muscular, and taller than Princess Celestia. Seven years have passed, and lots of events occurred with the exception of one problem : The CMC have not gotten their Cutie Marks.

In the clubhouse of the Cutie Mark Crusaders...

In the clubhouse, there were three ponies laying around on the wooden floor with nothing to do.

A pegasus that had an orange coat, and purple mane was found asleep while in a little table was a unicorn with a white coat, and a mane with shades of purple, and pink that was reading a magazine. On the other side of the table was an earth pony with a light tan coat, and a red mane that was blowing away a little ball that came back, and forth. This is how it was for awhile until the silence was interrupted by a shout.

“Applebloom, dinner's ready!” Applejack shouted. Applebloom gets up, and opens the window, peeking out her head to reply to her sister, “I'm goin' in ah moment. Don't start without me again!” she warned. “Okay,” Applejack said. “But don't be late, there's apple pie today!”

Applebloom sighs, and turns to her friends. “Well, girls, Ah think today we couldn't find our Cutie Marks. Ah've ran out of ideas of how ta find them, and at this rate, we'll grow 'till we are as old as Granny Smith, and still won't find our Cutie Marks!”

“Don't say that,” Scootaloo said while rubbing her eyes after she was awaken from the shouts that she heard awhile ago. “We will find our Cutie Marks before we become old.”

“Exactly,” Sweetie Belle said. “There's no need to give up. That's why we formed our club to find our Cutie Marks,” she gave a smile to Applebloom.

Looking down sadly at the floor, Applebloom states, “We have to be realistic. Girls, it's been seven years since the day we have formed our club, and the only one who actually got their Cutie Mark is mah cousin Babs Seed (The Cutie Mark of her cousin was two seeds buried in the ground with a small sapling in them...), and now, we ain't fillies. We are fifteen years old, with the exception of Sweetie Belle. She's a year older than us.”

“Don't even let me think about it,” Sweetie Belle rolls her eyes.

The silence overpowered the place for a moment until Scootaloo started to speak, and break the silence.

“Don't be like that, girls,” the orange pegasus said. “Maybe tomorrow we can camp in the forest like we did years ago. Only this time, all three of us.”

“That sounds like a great idea!” the white unicorn agreed. “But,” she looks at Scootaloo with a smirk. “Only this time, Rainbow Dash won't be by your side to take care of you from the headless horse.”

Appleblooms tried to contain her laughter, but she failed, and throws herself at the floor, laughing wildly. “Haha! It's true that the time when you invented a lot of excuses to avoid Rainbow Dash from telling her stories, and the fact that ya also put Sweetie Belle to sing for your fear of the rusty horseshoe pony was funny.”

“Hahaha,” Scootaloo fakes a laugh. “You girls are SO funny,” she looks at them with a glare. “This is the last time I tell you a secret.”

Applebloom wipes the tears of her eyes that had formed. “Ah'm… sorry,” she apologized between small laughter. “Ah didn't… mean ta… make ya remember, but that DID make me laugh a lot. Being sincere, Ah think it is a good idea to go camping, just the three of us,” she smiles.

At this, Sweetie Belle exclaims, “It's settled then!”

The trio then exclaim, “CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS : NIGHT CAMPERS, YAY!” then they clap their hooves with one another.

The three then look at themselves for a moment for what they have done, but they laugh it off as they realize that they weren't fillies anymore. It was years for the last time they had done it. The memories gave them a name of their missions to find their Cutie Marks, and it gave them happy, and sad feelings. Every mission was a failure because they had never gotten their Cutie Marks, but that did not stop them. Over time, they stopped giving names to their missions, and only focused on obtaining their Cutie Marks. Little by little the CMC went their own missions by themselves, or with a partner. The reason why they only met in the clubhouse was to pass time away from those who laughed at them for being blank flanks. (I believe it's not necessary to mention who did most of the bullying…) However, this did not stop them from separating from each, and stopping from being friends even when many years have passed without successfully getting their Cutie Marks.

Applejack's irritated voice shouted once again, “Applebloom! If you don't come over here in the next two minutes, Ah'll whoop ya 'till ya can't sit for two months! Ya hear me!?”

Upon hearing her sister shout in an angry tone, Applebloom left the clubhouse at full speed without even saying goodbye to her friends, not wanting a bad mark on her blank flank.

“I hope Applebloom can come camping with us tomorrow,” Sweetie Belle said in worry.

“Don't worry, Applejack is a mare of more words than action when it is about Applebloom,” Scootaloo confidently stated.

“Well, if you say so…” Sweetie Belle took her friend's statement unsurely. “So, at what time will we see each other, and in which place will we meet?”

“We'll meet up here in the clubhouse at four in the evening, so that we can survive all of the night. Maybe, we might even find our Cutie Marks!” she excitedly said with a flutter of her wings.

“Okay, sounds good,” Sweetie Belle says as she heads directly for the door. She opens it with her magic, and exits, but before closing the door, she says to Scootaloo in a mocking tone, “Don't forget to take your Rainbow Dash doll so that you will feel secure during the night!” she closes the door in a hurry, and takes off running.

Scootaloo, furious, and angry, yells at Sweetie Belle from the window, “FOR THE LAST TIME, IT'S A COLLECTABLE LIFE SIZE FIGURE! Argh! Those girls make a mental note to use my secrets against me. The next time I talk about them about my fears, my likes, or whatever else that they can use against me, I'll make sure to get them back,” she said a dark tone.

Scootaloo notes that it is late, and she closes the window, take the key of the clubhouse, and upon exiting, locks the door to avoid unwanted intrusions. She begins to take flight, but not before she places the key hidden under a nearby flower pot, and begins to fly away. She returns to her house that is right beside her idol : Rainbow Dash. When she was thirteen, she decided to live by herself, but her parents didn't allow to send her money until she was the age necessary to take care of herself. Under the supervision of Rainbow Dash, Scootaloo's parents felt relieved once they learned that the rainbow maned pegasus was the Element of Loyalty, and one of the Elements of Harmony. In her flight back home, she notices a huge silhouette that went in the opposite direction she was flying.

Curious, she squints her eyes, and thinks to herself, Who could that be at these hours? She started to identify some parts of the silhouette, and find wings without feathers? Long snake-like neck? Great size, and purple? She then came to the conclusion to the only creature having those features.

She landed in front of the silhouette. “Scootaloo? Is that you?” a deep, baritone voice asked. “What are you doing at these late hours? If Rainbow finds you, she'll give you a lecture like always.

Scootaloo chuckles. “Hehe, hi, Spike! The meeting of the Crusaders lasted a bit more than expected, and Applebloom, like me, will find ourselves in trouble if we arrive late.”

“Don't mention it. I just came from Rarity's Boutique, and before I left, Sweetie Belle arrived home, and Rarity exploded like a volcano, asking madly at her little sister where she had been. I hope she doesn't get grounded, or else she won't be going camping.

Scootaloo was astonished by what Spike knew of their plans tomorrow. “Poor, Sweetie Belle, she must be having the drama of her life. Her sister is very dramatic when she worries about something,” she chuckles. “But now, that you mention it, how do you know of what we are going to do tomorrow?” she looks at him suspiciously.

“Well, that is simple. Before leaving, Sweetie Belle asked me if I could give this card to Applebloom,” the dragon shows the card he had on his right claw to the orange pegasus.

“Oh, I see. I thought you were spying on us from the clubhouse again,” she said.

“Hey, that only happened one time! You guys had the blame for having a book that you shouldn't have taken from adult section of the library.

Flashback...

One year ago, the CMC tried to obtain their Cutie Marks by practicing from certain books that they have obtained from the library, which in Spike was the owner. Since Twilight was now a princess, she spent much more time in Canterlot than in Ponyville. Spike didn't mind, and enjoyed the fact that he could sleep in more taking into the fact that he didn't have a lot to do than before in a boring library. For him, it was a paradise, he received his payment every two weeks, he could eat whatever he wanted without someone stopping him, and sleep in very late, and wake up very late. There was only one problem ; he had to take care of all the books in the library, and it wasn't easy since it was usually Twilight that was in charge of it. He also had to take care of Owlicious, and Peewee (Spike's pet phoenix for whoever didn't know…), which it was hard work for him to place all the books in their proper place. It was a task he would like to avoid, but he had to do it every two weeks since he would rather not like Twilight screaming at him for not doing anything whenever she visited Ponyville every two weeks. If Twilight saw one book out of its correct place, she would make Spike do re-shelve everything again in its correct place, but if one book was missing the lavender alicorn would enter a state of insanity, and he REALLY wanted to avoid that.

Spike was putting every book in its desired order until he noticed one book was missing from a section that only adult ponies could read. After reviewing the list of all the books that have been checked out, he noticed that he made a grave error, and forgot to notice that a trio of little filles checked out an adult book. After realizing what he did, he left the library, and ran to the clubhouse since he didn't have his wings back then.

He was running as fast as he could until he reached the clubhouse. He was about to knock until he heard certain sounds that he would have preferred to avoid.

“Uh… Applebloom… are you sure… that says… in the… book?” Scootaloo said in an erotic voice.

“Well, it says here,” she said while blushing. “You have to put yourself in Position Four, and put your flank a little high off the ground so that the other pony can mount you,” Applebloom gulped a lump in her throat unsure if they should proceed.

Sweetie Belle was blushing really red. “Bu-Bu-But why me? This is very embarrassing!” she looked at the other side as she mounted Scootaloo.

“Hey, at least you aren't… the one… in… position…,” she made soft whimpers, and blushed.

“Scootaloo, you lost on Rock, Paper, Scissors, so ya gotta not stop. This might give us our Cutie Marks,” she bluntly stated.

“I don't know how this is going to give us our Cutie Marks,” Sweetie Belle said unsurely, blushing as red as a tomato.

Spike couldn't believe what he was hearing, and he couldn't believe much less the fact of what he had done. He accidentally let his three friends borrow a book about sex, and to make things much worse, they were doing everything it said in the book! While Spike was thinking on his misfortune, he didn't notice Rainbow Dash land right behind him without a single sound. Rainbow Dash scared him, which resulted in Spike to jump, and break down the door. Upon completing her prank, Rainbow Dash left flying while she was bursting with laughter, and going toward's Applejack's barn.

Spike, being hurt, tried to calm the pain in his head.‘Damn you, Rainbow Dash! One of these days, you'll pay for what you did. Just wait until I have my wings,’he thought.

Scootaloo quickly covered her privates with her tail, and closing her hind legs, Sweetie Belle covered her face of the super embarrassment that she was in, and ran to a corner to think about her embarrassment. Applebloom, however, didn't hide. She started to throw the book, and other objects at Spike.

‘How embarrassing! I can believe he was spying in on us! That means that he heard all of the sounds that I made! Oh, sweet Celestia, I want to disappear!’ Scootaloo thought.

‘Oh, no! NO! I can't believe that my friend would look at me doing an embarrassing act. I knew I shouldn't have taken the scissors, but that was the closest I had of a choice,’ Sweetie Belle thought.

Applebloom was embarrassed as well, but also very furious. “PERVERTED DRAGON! WHAT ARE YOU DOING SPYING ON US!? GO AWAY, DIE! HOPEFULLY, CELESTIA WILL IMPRISON YOU FOR A THOUSAND YEARS IN THE DARKNESS OF THE MOON FOR SPYING ON THREE, CUTE FILLIES!” she shouted as she still threw objects that seemed to have no end.

Spike tried to speak, but it was either speak, or get hit by an object that Applebloom still launched at him. After a few moments, she didn't launch anything his way, but when he looked at her, he saw her with a bookshelf over her, ready to be thrown at Spike.

Spike was scared, but also astonished. “In the name of Celestia herself, I might as well admit, all those years working in the bucking apples day, and night really did give you a nice - ” Spike was then knocked unconscious.

Spike rubbed his head. “Don't even remind me. It took me four months to convince you all of what truly happened. Then, you three then asked me to explain what I was doing. All of it was left in peace, but even then, it is hard for me to look at you three directly in the eyes, especially you, Scootaloo.”

Scootaloo's face became red. “Shut up, and instead, give that card to Applebloom before she sleeps, or else she won't know of our plans of tomorrow.”

“You're right,” he continues walking down the path, and turns around to say goodbye. “Until then, Scoots! We'll see each other!”

Scootaloo waves her left hoof to Spike without saying a word. She watches Spike go farther, and farther from her until she couldn't see him anymore. She then returns her flight back home, but with a sad face.

“Why does this have to happen every time I am with him?” she asks to herself sadly, and softly. She spots her house, and stops in front of it. She then looks into the moon, and places her right wing on her chest, where he heart is. “I hope Spike feels the same way I do for him,” she says sadly before entering her house, and going to sleep.