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

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…’

“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?”

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.’