Hearts of Class III: "You, Me… Forever..?"

by ImAPonyXY

Rating: teen
Tags: Romance, Original Character, Spike, Tragedy, Twilight Sparkle, Diamond Tiara, Slice of Life, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Alternate Universe, Sweetie Belle, Anthro
Length: 22994

This story is an anthro love story based around Sweetiebelle and Spike set during their teenage years. There will be explicit and fault content involving drug usage and foul language.

A year after being hit by a car, Spike wakes up from his coma. Once he receives a warm greeting from Twilight, Sweetiebelle and friends and a new enrolment into Canterlot School for Equestria's Gifted the common belief is that everything is going to get back to normal… or will it, after all, a lot can change in a year...

Spike, Sweetie Belle, Lyvia Sounds, Lil' Dew, Cinder, Scootaloo, Diamond Tiara, Headmistress Twilight, Leo, Black Apple Gang, Captain Silver Blaze, Guard Sheela, Guard Buzz

Other stories in this series include:
> Hearts of Class
> Hearts of Class II: Lights of Love
> Hearts of Class III: "You, Me... Forever?"
> Hearts of Class IV: The Looming Night
> Hearts of Class V: ? ? ? (Coming out in 2016)

Published 2014-08-27 02:10:02 UTC
Last updated 2014-12-03 13:05:04 UTC

Prologue

Passed Time

Within room 207 at Ponyville Urgent Care nearly a whole year after Sweetiebelle's fifteenth birthday did a teenage, purple dragon lay silently and still upon a white, soft, hospital bed. This dragon was named Spike, he had purple scales and green spikes. His eyes were the colour of emeralds his underbelly was a very light lime, almost bage. He had bandages wrapped around his forehead, chest and arms. He also had bandages around his legs but since he was under the sheets you couldn't see them. He had been like this for a while, he hadn't woken ever since the incident and his still and silent body seemed lifeless. He was in a coma. He had been in a coma ever since he had been hit by a car on his girlfriend's birthday which had been nearly a year now.

Next to him was a beeping machine with a wire that connected into Spike's arm and beside that, was a blood drip bag. These machines were gently illuminated by the soff rays of sunlight that peeked through the open window and the pleasent breeze whispered into the room and filled to area with the feeling of Spring.

"Spike... please, wake up," weeped a teenage unicorn with glamorous green eyes, perfect white fur and adorable curls in her pink and purple mane & tail. She was wearing red, strapless sandles, a short, sleeveless, pink shirt and multicoloured bangles.

She lowered her head onto his chest, and even though the incident happened nearly a year ago, she still remembered it every day and dreamt of it every night. She felt as though it was her fault and even though it wasn't, the guilt could sometimes be overwhelming. A tear or two dripped from her eyes and the cloth of the bloodied bandages dried her cheeks.

"Please, please, please wake up..." she had come in everyday after school just to see if he alright, and of course, all they would ever say was, 'He's in a stable condition but has yet to awake.'

There was a click at the door and Sweetiebelle lifted her head off of Spike and turned her head quickly.

In walked in a purple, Alicorn, mare known only as Twilighg Sparkle. Her eyes gave a soft gaze that was stuck to a crying Sweetiebelle.

"Are you alright?" She asked.

"He's still not awake," the white girl replied.

Twilight slowly approached Sweetiebelle and put her hand on the young girl's shoulder. "I know, but he will be alright. The doctors say that he's recovering fast, so if all goes well, he should wake up soon."

"How do you know that, all they tell me is that he hasn't woken up," she explained sadly.

"I doubt they would explain this to you, only because you're still so young. But he is getting better and his brain activity is getting more prominent," the purple unicorn explained.

Sweetiebelle couldn't help but smile a little, this was the first good news she had heard about Spike in a long time.

"That's good I guess..."

The princess placed her hand upon Sweetie's shoulder and gave her a small smile of reasurrance and confidence, "remember, this won't be forever." ... "Now how about you go get some sunlight and enjoy the day, I think Leo's outside waiting for you."

"Okay, Twilight," she dried her eyes and gave one last glance towards Spike before she left the room.

She walked down the long hallway of the clean hospital and eventually left through the glass double doors to venture to the outside world. She was immediately greeted by not only the warm rays of the sun and the soft breeze of the wind, but also the person who went by the name of Leo.

"Hey Sweetiebelle," called out the young Griffin and he waved at the passing girl.

"Hi Leo. What are you doing here?"

"Can't a guy say hello to his girlfriend?"

Sweetiebelle sighed.

"Your right, I'm sorry, I'm just still upset about Spike," she admitted doubtfully.

"It's been nearly a year now Sweetie. You need to get over it,"

"Oh yeah, that's real supportive!" Sweetiebelle said sarcastically.

The Griffin sighed, "you know that's not what I meant. I meant that he will be fine and will wake eventually. There's no use in getting upset about it everyday."

Sweetiebelle sat down on a bench and looked down at her feet nervously, "I know, I know... but I feel guitly for leaving him, I'm not his girlfriend anymore and I feel as though I need to stay by him, even if I'm with someone else..."

"Hey, you dumped him because yoh were feeling lonely, its not my fault or anyone else's fault that you dumped him while he was in a coma,"

"I know! And you're not helping me get over this!" Sweetie yelled.

The Griffin paused and gulped.

"I'm sorry," he sat down next to her, "I'm still as immature as I was a year ago when I first met you, and I still have a grudge with your ex," he wrapped his arm around her shoulder.

"I still feel guilty you know... He's going to wake up thinking that we're still together... then I have to break the news to him..."

"Spike's a good guy, he'll understand your reasons."

"Are you sure?" she looked up at him, he was talling then her and towered in height.

"Yes, and if he doesn't understand, then I'll explain it," he kissed her forehead, "now, do you want to come to my house?"

Sweetiebelle nodded and kissed him back, "yes."

Author's Note

Hey guys, I'm sorry for such a short prologue, but I will hurry up with the next chapter.

And in case the message wasn't too clear (I wasn't sure if it was) Sweetiebelle has a new boyfriend and it is the Griffon that featured in the previous story.

Chapter One

Realisatiom

-- A Few Months Earlier --

"You're looking beautiful today," said Leo as he walked with Sweetiebelle down the park path.

The bright rays of the sunlight were shining brightly through the leaves of the thick trees and illuminated the paved path of which they travelled along. The sun was warm and comforting, it was nice to feelsuch pleasure after weeks of rainfall, yet the constant passing of the cloud blocked out the sun on occasion.

"Th-thank you...." Sweetiebelle blushed amd held her hands.

He touched her shoulder and rubbed her fur, "you really soft too, you know that right?" he smiled.

She nodded, "I try."

"Well you try to perfection," the griffon complimented.

Sweetie blushed deeper and hid her face, although she appreciated the compliments she didn't feel comfortable accepting them, after all, they weren't together and she had only recently let go of Spike.

She turned to look at the griffon in curiosity, "what's with all the compliments today?" She asked, "like, you've been getting nicer and nicer towards me of lately and I appreciate your support, but I don't understand why?"

Leo grinned and wrapped his arm around her, "Because Sweetie, I've fancied you ever since we met a few months ago, and although I didn't do a good first impression, I'm trying to make it up.... because I love you."

Sweetiebelle stopped in her tracks and stared at the lovestruck Griffon in shock. She blished deeply and looked down, remembering how Spike admitted his love to her.

"You.... love me?" She stuttered

Leo gulped. "Yes."

There was a pause between the two of them as Sweetiebelle tried to comprehend what she had just heard. Leo loved her, and she loved him.... but she also loved Spike. She always had loved Spike, but he was no longer available, and so she had to go with what her heart said and choose the Griffon over the Dragon.

Sweetiebelle looked at Leo cautiously and carefully, but also sweetly and camly. She didn't know how to react or what to say at the moment, she just stared at him as though she had just discovered something astronomical... and you know what, she had.

"So.... do you love me back? he asked her nervously, sweat breaking from his palms.

Sweetie paused, the white unicorn was stunned. Everytime he said the word love, she would start to think of Spike, but then she would think of him. It was as though she was trapped in a forever love-triangle that she could not escape.... but did not exist. It was near torture, but it felt so, so good. She was loved. She was loved by so many and she loved them too, the only problem was, that she couldn't love them both. As in, she was dealing with the feeling of two testosterone filled teenage boys who hated each other before everything went to shit. She had to choose between Spike and Leo, one of them would mesn love and the other would be boring... and with Spike in a coma it meant thag Leo was her love.

It was about time she gave Leo an answer. She took a deep breath, sighed, and nodded.

"Yes," she said simply and smiled brightly, "I do love you."

Present Day

Clouds began to build up to form a light barrier under the sun and block the warm rays from reaching the now cold, paved ground as Sweetiebelle and Leo walked home from Ponyville Urgent Care. The young unicorn was being awefully quiet and slightly awkward. The occasional conversation that they would have ended quickly and a one word answer beinv constantly provived by Sweetiebelle. She wasn't in a talking mood, she felt uncomfortable and nervous. The though of Spike waking up and realising thay she had dumped him for the guy he hated could send the recovering dragon into denial or depression. In any case it surely wouldn't be good for him.

"Sweetiebelle," the griffon spoke and snapped her out of her thoughts.

"Hmm?" she replied.

Leo rolled his eyes, "what do you mean 'hmm?', you didn't answer my question."

"What was it again,"

He sighed heavily, "Why are you being so damn quiet? You haven't been like this for months, not since we got together." He sounded worried, he was clearly concerned for her as it was obvious that she was bugged by something.

"Nothing, I'm fine," she simply replied, trying to avoid explaining herself.

"Sweetiebelle!" The griffon grabbed her and gripped his wrist tightly, "you are not fine, don't say thst this is nothing because I know you're lying," he scolded but didn't let go of her, "now please, just tell me. Don't be a bitch!"

Sweetiebelle winced, but she knew that she would have to tell him the truth, whether it was now, or later. She gulped ajd took a deep breath as she looked him in the eyes, sternly. "Because Leo, I don't love you anymore!" She yanked her wrist out of his firm grip, "You're actling like you did when we first met... you're full of testosterone and you're just a plain jackass!"

Leo stood there, stunned, "what...?"

"You heard me, you're a jackass!" She yelled angrily.

"Woah, woah, woah... where is this coming from?!"

"I though I loved you all those months ago, when you told me everyday how beautiful I was and how talented is could be. You made me feel something that Spike never did and I can never explain the feeling, but you've changed... and not for the better. I don't want to date someone like you anymore, especially if you call me a bitch for having my own feelings!"

"Is this because of Spike!"

"It's about many things and I may not feel comfortable dating you because I'm betraying Spike, but the way you've been acting is laughable... no wait... it's annoying and I feel like I want to break your nose everytime you talk to me like you just did!"

"So this is a break up?"

"If you're too stupid to figure that out for yourself, then you don't deserve to be with me...!" She pouted and stormed away.

A wave of relief washed over Sweetiebelle as she came to the realisation that she was now free of his strict rules and hurtful words.... but now she was alone. However, she couldn't deny that the only reason she dated him was that because she was alone and that Spike was in a coma, she had no one. It was like a new beginning, and after spending so much time with someone else it was hard to imagine a life without anyone else. But she wouldn't be alone forever, surely as soon as Spike woke up, she could go back to him as though nothing had changed. However long that would take was way out of her comprehending, and she may be along for a while to come.

On that note, ne mind immediately flooded with Spike and she felt compelled to head to the hospital again, even though she had onlh just left. And not wanteing to fight this feeling of compelling, she decided to go along with it and head to the hospital.

"Wait!" Leo called out, but Sweetiebelle did not turn around, "Where are ya going?"

"To someone more interesting then you!" she called back without turning to look at him and finally walked out of his view.

Chapter Two

The Dragon Wakes

Sweetiebelle walked along the path, kicking along a rock that stubbornly stayed in the way of her foot until she eventually knocked it off the cobblestone walkway.

"Stupid! Ignorant! Selfish Griffon! Why the hell did I let you into my life!" she cursed to herself under her breath as she continued along her way. She was heading to the hospital, to Spike again.

She knew that this was the second time today that she had gone to visit him, but this time she wanted to go to him to seek out comfort. And even though he was in a coma, his soft breathing kept her hopeful. Yet, she was not by him yet and she was not calm nor was she hopeful. She just continued to power along the path, constantly looking behind her to see if she was being followed and thank Celestia that she wasn't. Sweetiebelle just continued to storm ahead until the towering sight of the local hospital appeared from over the horrizon to greet her white fur with the reflected rays of the setting sun to give her and orange tint.

She smiled, "finally, " she sighed in relief and took no time in entering the building. Glad that Leo didn't give chase to her, she was in no mood to be pushed around by him.

"Good evening, Miss Belle, here to see Spike again?" Asked the receptionist.

Sweetiebelle nodded, "yeah, is he still in his room or have the doctors moved him?"

"No, he's still in his room, go right on in," the receptionist replied and waved goodbye as she followed the unicorn with her eyes.

Sweetiebelle walked her way up the stsirs, through the corridors and into the room of her ex-beloved. She let off a small smile as she saw him, but he was still in the same position as before and still unconscious. However, there was something different than before, there was another person in the room but Sweetiebelle couldn't quite put her finger on who it was.

"Hello?" she spoke to person in an uneasy way, she didn't know who it was and she didn't feel too comfortable having a stranger near Spike.

The person looked up upon hearing Sweetiebelle and smiled with glee. It was a girl and she had a cream coloured coat of fur, blue eyes and a short, blonde mane. She wore black jeans and a light blue and white, buttoned-up shirt. On her wrist was a silver watch and on her middle finger was a gold and emerald ring.

"Oh. Hello Sweetiebelle," the girl replied.

"Who are you?" Sweetie asked.

"You don't remember me?" her ears flopped down, "we're friends, I'm Lyvia."

Something in Sweetie's mind ticked and it all suddenly came back to her. She hadn't seen Lyvia for the entirety of Spike being in a coma, she felt so bad that she had been so out of contact with her own friend that she had forgetten who they were. Yet, she was so happy now that she was standing in her presence again after all that time. It was good to see her mysterious friend again.

"Lyvia!" She remarked, "what are you doing here?"

"Well, I heard that Spike had been hospitalised and I thought I should come and visit. It seemed like the right thing to do. I only arrived in town a few hours ago, sorry that I didn't tell you about my arrival," Lyvia explained.

Sweetiebelle smiled, "That's really sweet of you Lyvia. How long are you going to be staying in Ponyville?"

"Well, I'm thinking of staying until Spike wakes up, but I have no idea how long that'll be,"

"So I'm guessing you'll be here for a while," said Sweetiebelle.

"What does that mean?"

"I don't think he'll be waking up for a long time. They say he's getting better but that doesn't mean something will happen anytime soon."

"Oh..." Lyvia looked down at Spike with sorrow, "That a downer..."

"Yeah... I know,"

"Are you doing alright?" the cream coloured mare asked.

"Well, sort of. I, umm... going through a confusing time," Sweetiebelle replied.

Lyvia looked at her suspiciously, "What do you mean?" she asked.

Sweetiebelle gulped, "Well... I, just had to break-up with someone who I thought I loved..."

"But don't you love Spike?"

"I do, but he's been in a coma for a long time and this guy was there for me. He was really sweet and he treated me like a queen, until a few weeks ago."

"Who is this guy?"

"I think you've met him, but I can't remember. He's a griffon who tried hitting on me for a while..." Sweetiebelle was immediately interrupted by Lyvia's intrusion.

"Is it that same griffon that I beat up on the day you fought with Spike?" she asked.

Sweetiebelle nodded.

"You went out with him!?!" Lyvia yelled, "I though you hated him?"

"I did, until he started acted like a boy should... but then he turned into how a boy usually acts... an ass!" she explained.

Lyvia rolled her eyes and placed a hand on Sweetie's shoulder, smiling at her. "Well, none the less, it's good to see you again." she hugged her tightly.

"It's good to see you too," Sweetiebelle said also.

The two of them embraced each other for a few more moments before they slowly came to the realisation that they were, once again, together. It was hard to imagine, but they had lost so much contact with each other of the past year that they weren't able to communicate at all. They were forced into exile from one another ever since Lyvia had to leave. But now, she was back, and they could resume their friendship.

Both girls broke the hug and sat quietly back down in chairs on the opposing sides of the room. Sweetiebelle placed her hand upon Spike's arm and glared out the window to notice the beautiful, orange glow that they setting sun flooded across the sky.

"It's so beautiful," she said out of nowhere.

"What is?" Lyvia asked.

"The sky."

Lyvia looked out the window too, "so it is," she then looked back to Sweetiebelle and smiled, "You're looking very pretty today."

"Really?" Sweetie asked curiously, sweeping her hair out of her face.

"Yeah,"

Sweetiebelle gleamed, "thank you. I try."

They made small talk for a little while going on and off the subject of Spike, the griffon and other random things of which they missed when away from each other. This went on for the next few hours until night had fallen and suddenly, the door began to creak open. Both Lyvia and Sweetiebelle shot their glares towards the doorway, startled to have hear it creak like it did, and ever so abruptly.

Standing at the entrance to the room was a mare of the age of Sweetiebelle and Lyvia, she had light yellow fur, a golden mane and amber eyes. Through the gaps of her mouth one could see her bracers and two missing teeth. She wore a hot-pink shirt, a light green jacket and blue jeans.

"Cinder...?" Sweetiebelle asked cautiously.

"Hi... Hi Sweetiebelle," she replied quietly, "sorry for sneaking up like that."

"It's alright. But, where have you been?"

"I told you, I went to Canterlot to see my grandparents for a few months, sorry for not keeping in contact with you... nana and pop were sceptical about you so they didn't let me send any letters." she explained.'

"Oh... that's unfortunate... but you're back now!"

"Who is this Sweetiebelle?" Lyvia asked curiously, sounding almost hostile.

"Oh right!" Sweetiebelle stood up, "Lyvia, this is Cinder. Cinder, this is Lyvia."

"Hi!" Cinder greeted cheerfully.

"Who are you?" Lyvia asked.

"Sweetiebelle just told you..."

"No, as in who are you. Tell me about yourself."

"Oh... well... I'm not very skilled, or very smart. I can sing and I suppose my hobbies include of fashion and dancing. Buts that's pretty much everything important about me," Cinder looked down, "sorry, I'm not too interesting."

Lyvia yawned and looked to Sweetiebelle, "I don't like her," she said instantly.

"Why not?"

"She's boring,"

"No offence, but you can be boring sometimes too."

"Whatever... she, just doesn't seem right."

Cinder leant against the white wall and looked at Spike, trying to ignore Lyvia and avoid her glare, "how is he?"

"They say he's getting better, but I don't believe it. He hasn't shown any physical signs of improvement yet and it's really concerning," explained Sweetie.

"Well that's a lot better than when I left and they said that he might not wake up." Cinder said hopefully, "maybe he will wake up soon,"

"Maybe... I hope so..." said Sweetie gloomily.

"Anyway, how are you and Leo going?" Cinder asked.

"Not good, we broke up earlier today and he's kinda pissed off. I'm going to avoid him for a while so I don't get hurt,"

"He's abusive?"

"Not usually, but I think he is now."

"Well if he comes anywhere near you then I'll plant a good smack on his face..." Cinder said.

"And I'll give him a good kick in the balls!" added Lyvia.

The three of them giggled and began to gossip about boys, bitches and anything else they could think of. As the night went by and the moon rose higher in the sky the laughs began to cease as the three sixteen year old girls grew tired.

Sweetiebelle yawned and stretched her arms out, "I am so tired right now," she commented.

"Should we head home?" Lyvia added, "or do you want us to stay here with you for a while longer?"

"Do you want you wish, I suppose that you would want to leave since you're not too fond of Cinder," Sweetie replied cynically.

"Oh hah hah! I don't mind staying here, I can put up with her and I don't mind her being here," Lyvia explained.

"So you don't find me annoying and boring?" Cinder asked Lyvia.

"Not so much, but I still don't entirely like or trust you, so don't be surprised if I ain't warmed up to you." Lyvia explained with a harsh, hostile tone.

Cinder rolled her eyes, "Well, I only just met you so I don't really care, just don't be a bitch and we'll be nothing more than acquaintances. Deal?"

"Sounds fine to me," Lyvia shrugged.

From there, all went quiet and the three of them sat and stared awkwardly at each other for the next few moments until the omniscient sounds of the door clicking grabbed their attention. The girls turned to look at who was now entering and to Sweetiebelle's shock. It was Leo.

"Hey, bitch... ya didn't say goodbye!" he groaned, sounding drunk and disorderly.

"Get out of here you drunk piece of shit!" Sweetiebelle cursed and motioned for him to leave.

"Nah... I'mma good," he moved in closer to here, next to the bed and next to her, "Now, why don't ya come over to my house for tonigh'," he smirked and wrapped an arm around her, "we can have a bit of fun. If ya know what I mean?" he winked and kissed her cheek.

"Fuck off, Leo!" Sweetie growled.

"Mmmhhh..." he licked his lips, "fuck? okay." he grinned and gripped her wrist, going to pull her out of the room forcefully.

Sweetiebelle let out a scream and both Lyvia and Cinder leaped to their feet, to charge at Leo. However, they were not the only ones who reacted to her scream... because Spike's eyes shot open.

Author's Note

Sorry for the long wait guys.

I know, there's a lot going on in this chapter and there's also a lot of dialogue too. I hope you enjoyed because Spike had woken up from his year-long coma to face to problems of now.

Chapter Three

Turned-Off

Spike's eyes shot wide open has the screams of his former girlfriend snapped him from his induced slumber and without hesitation he leapt to his feet, wearing hospital scrubs. He was huffing in anger, his chest moving up and down at a fearful pace and his glare pierced hatred through the feather's of Leo. The griffon stopped in his tracks and so did everyone else in the room, he let go of Sweetiebelle and let the helpless unicorn squirm away.

Leo just stared at the woken dragon who stared angrily back at him. "You're awake?" he inquired, "How?"

Spike grit his teeth and bared his fangs as he clenched his claws into a fist as he let out an aggressive growl. He did not reply to the likes of the disgusting sight that disgraced his presence before him.

Leo shrugged, "Alright, keep quiet then. See if I care, I'll just knock you right back into another coma!" he smashed his fists together and raised his hands to his face to take on a defensive stance, knowing that Spike was going to charge him.

And he did, Spike took the first steps he did in just under a year, charging full speed and the equally aggressive Griffon with a clawed fist aiming for his face first. Much to Leo's surprise, Spike was running on pure adrenaline and so his punches were much more power than he could have imagined, letting Spike break through Leo's simple defence and plant a solid hit upon the beak of the now-in-pain griffon.

"AAAARRRHHH!!!" screamed the bleeding griffon as he held his beak tightly with his hands. "You ass!"

Spike took no notice of Leo's words and threw a second punch, landing it square on his already broken beak causing a few droplets of blood to fly across the room and land on the wall. The griffon let out another scream of pain and he fell to his knees in pain, clutching his mouth and beak even fighting, hoping that Spike wouldn't throw another punch. Leo was weak and helps at the moment, Spike had brought him to his knees in only two punches.

Sweetiebelle stood their shocked, she was in awe of how strong Spike was after he had just been in a near-year long coma. He had taken down Leo who was much taller and stronger than Spike, he had proven how strong a dragon can be when protecting something precious to him.

Spike still didn't say anything, but instead he just spat on the bleeding griffon and walked away from him, going over to Sweetie who stood their, still in awe. Without hesitation he brought her into a tight, warm hug, rubbing her back. The feeling of her soft fur between his claws felt lovely. Yet, something was wrong, Spike didn't feel right, Sweetiebelle had changed, it was almost as though she was older than before. And another thing, he had woken up in the hospital. Spike had no idea what had happened and how he got here, for all he knew he was crossing the road, blinked, then woke up here.

"Where am I, Sweetie?" he asked quietly.

"The hospital, Spike,'" she replied, holding the hug and a tear fell down her cheek in relief that he was finally awake.

Spike took a second to comprehend these words. Why was he here? All he knew at the moment was that he opened his eyes to the sound his beloved screaming and beating the shit out of an unpleasant sight.

"Why am I here?" he asked curiously.

Sweetiebelle broke away the hug and held Spike by the shoulders, a few more dripping from her large, green eyes. "Spike..." she began, "you've..." she gulped, "...been in a coma for nearly a year...." she blurted out.

Spike eyes widened and his body froze up in complete shock, "what...?" was all he managed to say, but a million questions were swimming through his head right now.

Sweetiebelle gulped and sighed, looking down as she began to explain to him what had happened. "You see, Spike. After my birthday party finished you got hit by a car and ended up here. You nearly died twice from blood loss but the doctors managed to save you. You've been in and out of the operating room for nearly a year and you obviously only just woke up." she explained.

Spike still needed to process all of the information, he could barely comprehend it all. He had been in a coma for about a year, yet it felt like he had just merely blinked. No time had passed for him, but it had passed for everyone else. It was overwhelming to try and think of all this, but the main thing bugging him was what had actually changed over the year and why the griffon was here.

"Sweetiebelle?" he grabbed her attention, "What happened?" he asked.

"I just told you what happened, Spike. You got hit by a car." she replied.

"No, what I mean is. What has happened while I was in here?"

Sweetiebelle looked down in shame. "A lot has happened..." she answered simply.

"Like what, what has happened," he held her shoulders, "I know something is bugging you, so tell me... please."

She looked up at him with teary eyes, "I broke up with you... and dated Leo!" she blurted out. She had been dreading telling him this ever since it happened, and now that she did it didn't make her feel any better. In fact, it made her feel worse.

Anger filled through Spike yet again as he heard this, "YOU WHAT!?" he yelled.

Sweetiebelle winced, "I'm sorry, Spike. I was lonely and he was there for me. I had no idea how long you would be in here for. So I took my chances... and it was a bad choice. I'm really sorry Spike, but I'm not dating him anymore..." she admitted, looking him in the eyes hopefully with drenched eyes. She sniffed and more tears fell down her cheeks.

Spike began to huff and his chest moved up and down again, this was the last thing he wanted to here right now. He turned to face Leo who was still on his knees, whimpering in pain.

"How dare you take my girlfriend away from me like that!" he yelled and raised a fist at him.

"Hey! She left you and came to me. It's not my fault that you fell into a coma!" ... "Just leave me alone!" he pleaded.

Spike growled and kicked him in the gut causing Leo to sputter and cough up blood as he groaned and rolled around on the floor. Spike let out a small frown and left the room abruptly, leaving Sweetiebelle, Cinder and Lyvia in the room by themselves as he slammed the door in rage behind him.

Sweetiebelle felt bad, she had caused this by going out with someone else. Now that she looked back on it, it seemed as though she was cheating on him since it wash't an official break-up. She understood why he was so angry and she just wanted to calm him down, she had the perfect song to sing for him too. If he would just let her speak to him, but she wouldn't be able to do anything if she didn't try. With that, Sweetiebelle took a deep breath and, she too, ran out of the room. Running down the hallway after Spike.

She had something amazing planned for him.

Author's Note

Guys, I know it's been two weeks and so I apologise for such a long wait and such a short chapter. I realise that the length of this doesn't compensate for the wait but I hope it satisfies your urge for a continuation of the story. I will be posting up a long, sweet, heart-warming chapter next for you guys, but I have no idea how long that will take.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter well enough and stay eager for a new chapter. As always if you find any mistakes or want to suggest anything then just leave it in the comments below and don't forget to leave a like.

Chapter Four

"I Don't Want to Hear It"

Sweetiebelle rushed down the white hallway that was filled with trolleys, doctors and other machinery. Where she was going, she didn't entirely know, she was just running, chasing Spike who she had no idea where he was. Never the less, she rushed along, turning corners at random hoping to catch a glimpse of that lovely purple dragon.

Finally, after turning a corner that led to the mess-hall she saw him and with that distraction she tumbled over too. She fell straight on her face, looking up she saw that she had tripped over a pot plant. She slowly picked herself up and looked around, however, she noticed that Spike was nowhere to be seen. Sweetie frowned, she had a feeling that Spike was avoiding her and although she understood that Spike's reactions were understandable it didn't change the fact that she didn't like them one bit.

All she wanted to do was talk to him... and sing a nice song.

"Spike!" she called out and gave chase to him again, "Spike I'm sorry... please, let me make it up to you!" she yelled out after him as she raced down another hallway.

Spike didn't reply to her but then again he wasn't actually running away from her, he was simply walking, he wanted to be alone. He didn't want to have to put up with the feeble excuses that Sweetiebelle would surely tell.

"Spike! Please, just let me make it up to you. I promise that I can," she begged.

Spike stopped just outside the automatic door that led to the outside and turned around to face the pleading unicorn.

"How?" he asked "How can you make it up to me?" ... "and what makes you think that your promise is actually worth anything to me right now, hmm?"

Sweetiebelle looked down in shame and she meekly spoke, "Spike... I... I can explain. You.. you see, I..." Spike stopped her simple and spoke carelessly.

"Sweetiebelle, I don't want to hear it... I couldn't care less if you were confused, or if you lonely or scared. I don't care if you're single now, but the fact remains that you betrayed and took advantage of my trust and my vulnerability and cheated on me while I was in a fucking coma!" he broke his calm attitude and yelled, "I couldn't care less if you're sorry or if you regret what you did. And you know what? I think it's a fucking improvement that you're single, and just as well, because you're staying that way. No. Matter. What!"

"Spike...?" Sweetie winced...

"You wanna know something Sweetie?" he continued, "When I woke up to your scream, I woke up in order to help someone who was beloved to me, someone I cherished dearly. And I beat up Leo for you with that in mind. But now, now that I know the full story, I'm regretting what I did. Waking up did no one any good, especially me. I think I prefer to be in that coma, because that way I won't have to put up with this disloyal and foolish behaviour being dislayed by someone I thought loved me!"

"But... I do love you Spike..."

"Oh, you love me, huh?" ... "You love me!? Is that why you betrayed me and cheated on me with a guy I thought you were repulsed by! Is that why you lied to my very face a year ago when you said you'd never leave me!" he was huffing in anger now, "You're not fooling anyone with you little lies. The words 'I love you' mean nothing to me now. Especially when coming from you!"

"But... Spike..." she winced again and a dew tears dripped from her eyes and rolled down the white fur covering her cheeks.

"Don't 'Spike' me! I don't care, okay? I. Don't. Care!" he sighed, "and cut the waterworks, Sweetiebelle. Your fucking fifteen years old, act your damn age for crying-out-loud! Also, as I said, no one is going to believe your little lies anyway so don't even bother pretending!" And with finishing on that, Spike stormed out of the hopsital leaving his darling ex-girlfriend in tears as she fell to her knees in the middle of hospital lobby.

"Spike...." was all the little mare could say before choking upon her own tears as she sat helplessly and lonely on the cold, hard, tiled floor.

She felt like she had screwed up, probably because she had. Spike didn't love her anymore and it was all her fault. Spike didn't love her anymore because she was stupid enough to think dating someone else was a good idea. Spike didn't love her anymore because she fucked up... she fucked up and ruined the greatest thing she ever had. And now, she was afraid she would never get it back... she was afraid that Spike would never hold her again, that she couldn't taste his lips and that Spike would never protect her her again.... yeah... she had fucked up.

Big time...

And now, she was alone... for good...

Author's Note

Now, before I receive the inevitable hate from some of my readers that will no doubt curse me for making Spike a douche again, firstly, please read the following:

The reactions given may be harsh and cruel but are entirely natural and foreseen. In my opinion, Sweetiebelle deserved everyting that she was told even if Spike did go a little too far.

Never the less, I would also like to preach how sorry I am for another short chapter. This one didn't even make the 1000 word mark, which is very sad for me. I have just been very busy of late and so I haven't been able to pour a significant amount of time into this enjoyable project.

Anyway, as always, I hope you enjoyed this short chapter to the fullest extent and please leave a like or comment below (they help tremendously).

Chapter Five

Delicate

Sweetie stood shocked within the empty lobby halls as she watched Spike storm off the grounds of the hospital. Tears swelled in her eyes as his harsh words took a second impact onto her already wounded heart. She knew that she had fucked up, but all she wanted to do was make things right again. The only problem was that Spike wasn't letting her.

"Sweetiebelle!" Yelled out a fairly strong and caring kind of voice that belonged to none other than Lyvia Sounds from across the room. "Sweetiebelle look out behind you!"

Sweetiebelle turned around in a haste to see Leo stumbling over to her, "you little bitch!" he growled, "you won't get away from me that easily!" even though he was weak he managed to grab a hold of her and keep a tight grip on her furry arm.

"Get off of me, I don't want you, I want Spike!" she scowled and tried to pull her arm away.

"C'mon cutie. You're coming home with me." he pulled he along, heading for the outside.

However, before he could drag Sweetiebelle away from the safety of the hospital Leo was stopped by a seriously pissed off Lyvia. "Get your filthy hands of away from her beautiful hands!" she landed a punch into his kidney and used her other hand to hold him by the scruff of his neck. "Her fur is too pure for you to even lay eyes on, creep!"

She began to pull on his neck, tugging on his fur and slowly yanking him away from Sweetiebelle.

"OW OW OW OWWWW!!!" the griffon whimpered and tried desperately to stop the Earth Pony from ripping out his nape hair. "Lemme go, bitch!"

"Not a chance!" Lyvia replied with a sense of enjoyment in her voice. "I'm gonna put you in your place!"

"Wh...What are you going to... OWWW!... do?" he asked nervously as he was being helplessly dragged along the hospital floor.

"It's a good thing we're in a hospital, because when I'm done with you you're gonna need more than a few stitches!" she growled and with one violent pull of her arm she threw the griffon against the wall.

A few nurses around the area rushed to the two but Lyvia shot them a glare that told them that she was not to be trifled with. They slowly back off and let Lyvia do her thing in fear that they would get hurt in the process.

Lyvia smirked and spat in Leo's face, eyeing his already broken beak. "It would be a shame if you lost your beak now wouldn't it?"

The griffon gulped, "What are you gonna do to me, dammit!?"

"I'm going you make you whimper. Then I'm going to make you scream. Then I'm going to make to beg!" she replied and landed her foot into his crotch making him wince and fall to his knees and hold his groin. "I'm not done yet." she then lazily kicked his side, possibly breaking a rib or two and he fell to the floor. Yet, Lyvia had one more kick to do, she did believe in beating them when they were down, and so she slammed her foot into his abdomen, causing him to cough up even more blood than Spike mad him. The droplets landed on both her boots and the floor. Lyvia frowned.

"These boots are new dammit, do you know how hard it is to clean blood off of these?" she growled and picked the griffon up by the scruff of his shirt. He had blood dripping from his mouth and his crooked beak was laughable. "Aren't you gonna fight back, or are you too afraid to hit a girl!"

The griffon snarled at her in reply and with one of his eagle-like talons he went to slice her belly. However, he was too slow as Lyvia caught his wrist and began to twist. "Now that I made you whimper, I'm going to make you scream!"

"No! Stop!" he begged, "I... I'll leave okay. I'll leave and I won't come back... just please! Stop!" he pleaded.

Lyvia grinned and yanked his wrist, listening to a satisfying pop and a gratifying scream. "I guess I've had my fun for now," she sighed, "shame though, I was just starting to enjoy myself... but I guess you're not even worth it..." she took a step back and spat on him once more before turning around and heading back to Sweetiebelle, helping her to her feet. "You okay?" she asked and watched the nurses rush over to the whimpering griffon.

Sweetiebelle nodded, "Yeah. Thank you." she looked down, still sad about Spike but she relished in the opportunity to see Leo put in his place again.

"Where's Spike?" Lyvia wondered and she looked around curiously.

"He's gone... I fucked up." she admitted and looked away, ashamed.

Lyvia gulped and placed her hand upon her shoulder, "hey, people make mistakes. Nobody's perfect." she said, "you may have done something bad and I definitely don't think it was a goo idea to date someone else, but c'mon, you're only fifteen. Don't beat yourself up over this. It's not the end of the world and I'm sure you and Spike'll get together again, you guys are an irresistible couple that, in my opinion, are perfect for each other." she finished in hopes that her speech would cheer her friend up. "Now c'mon, Twilight wants to speak to us." She grabbed Sweetie's hand and lead her back up to Spike's old hospital room.

When in the small room again, Sweetiebelle saw Twilight, Lil' Dew and Cinder. She also noticed that the blood droplets that had littered the whiteness of the walls had been cleaned up and that the window blinds had been opened to allow the soft rays of the sun to illuminate the area.

"I've got her, Twilight." Lyvia announced as the two of them entered.

"Thank you, Lyvia. I've got some good news for each of you," the princess exclaimed. "The Headmaster at Canterlot School for Equestria's Gifted has retired and I have taken his place, as a result of that, Lyvia and Sweetiebelle, you two have been re-enrolled and Cinder..." she turned to face the light yellow girl, "you are given the chance to attend if you want."

"Is Spike re-enrolled too?" Sweetie asked.

"Yes he is... actually, where is Spike? I had heard he had woken up."

"He's a little pissed off with me at the moment.... I think he went back home but I don't know..." she looked down again.

"It's okay, Sweetie, I'll have a talk with him later. For now. I think you three should enjoy the fact that you can go back to Canterlot again. The term starts of next week."

"Thank you!" Sweetie, Lyvia and Cinder all said in unison.

It felt good. Sweetiebelle enjoyed the fact that the group wouldn't be split up, as long as Cinder decided to come along. They could go back to Canterlot and learn at a higher level again, they could become the best of the best and hopefully Twilight would bend the rules a little to allow relationships so that Sweetie would have a chance at getting Spike back again and they could live out the rest of their courtship without mistakes like this. Although, she would have a lot of work ahead of her.

At least some things were going good...

For now anyway...

Chapter Six

A Dragon's Grudge Lasts Forever

Spike stormed through the street of Ponyville, still wearing the hospital scrubs, grumbling to himself. He was annoyed at Sweetiebelle, how dare she ditch him when he needed her most and then think that everything would just be okay if she said sorry. He knew that she wanted to make it up to him, that she did want to be with him again but that wasn't good enough for him. He needed to know if she would actually stay with him and not just ditch him when things got tough for the next guy that paid her a compliment... and he just didn't know if he could place enough faith into her.

A thousand questions ran through his mind though, he couldn't help but feel curious about why Sweetie did what she did. He knew that she felt confused, but he wanted to know why she felt so confused or compelled to date such an asshole. Never the less, he knew that he had a right to how he was feeling and Sweetiebelle's waterwork show was far from just. Although, he did still care for her, after all he had once loved her and he had loved her all the way until about half an hour ago. This was taking it's toll on him, he didn't know which emotion he should revel in; whether to be sad, angry, confused or just curious. He was feeling all of them at once and there was only so much that a young dragon such as himself could handle.

"Good dammit Sweetiebelle!" he grumbled to himself as he clenched his claws into a fist. He was infuriated by the very thought of her but for some reason her cute smile made it's way into his mind. He just didn't want to have to bare with the thought of her, he couldn't manage everything he was feeling and his past emotions for her were still somewhat present. A year may have passed but for him no time had gone by. To him, yesterday was her birthday and today they were supposed to be in school. In fact, he didn't even know what day it was to begin with.

"SPIKE!" someone called out from afar. This caught his attention and he turned around, hearing the voice coming from behind him. He saw Twilight flying her way over to him with a sense of urgency detectable in her flight... or maybe it was just that she wasn't too good at it.

She landed in front of and placed a hand on his shoulder, "Spike," she started, "What happened between your and Sweetiebelle?" she asked.

"Not much to say, but I think he deserved a lot more that a yelling to, that's for sure!" he answered spitefully.

"Spike, don't be so hard on her, she's still just a kid, you both are. You don't know how many nights she spent crying over you after we found out that you may not wake up. Everyone was in shock and suffering from grief and she couldn't go to anyone for support because everyone felt the same way as her. With Lyvia in another town and Lil' Dew in Canterlot, she only had Cinder and Scootaloo who weren't much help. The only person in her life that wasn't crying or depressed was Leo. She felt safe around him and she never expected for them to go any further than friends." she took a deep breath, "Yes, she made a bad choice and you don't have to get back together with her, you don't even have to be friends. But the last thing she needs after destroying an entire year of her life is to have the only person she can truly trust yell at her and make her feel that she's worse than Nightmare Moon."

Spike rolled his eyes and sighed, "But she ditched me when I was most vulnerable and left me for a guy that we both hated because he offered her a few compliments. She deserves whatever she gets I think."

"Spike, this isn't like you, you've never been one to spitefully make a person regret all the choices they've made because of something that was out of their control." ... "I think you just need to take your anger out on something else so you can calm down, then talk about how your feeling with someone. Because you can't blame everything on Sweetiebelle, she did was she could."

"Whatever, I don't like her and I want nothing to do with her..." he crossed his arms and pouted.

Twilight sighed and she decided it was time for some good news.

"Well Spike, I have something to say that should cheer you up a little," she hinted.

"What is it?" he asked.

"The headmaster of Canterlot School for Equestria's Gifted has retired and so I am to take his place, meaning that I am able to enrol or re-enrol whoever I want." ... "So, I'm allowing you and everyone else to come back to the school. Sound good?"

"Is Sweetiebelle going to be there?"

"Depends, she seemed enthusiatic when I allowed her to come back, but it comes down to what Rarity thinks is best." she answered.

"If Sweetiebelle's going then I don't want to go..."

"Spike." ... "Don't be like that, your education is more important and a hate-filled fued. Don't give up this chance, because with this new job, I won't be around much to help you study advance magic so you'll have to do it on your own if you don't accept this opportunity. And honestly Spike, I expected more from you."

Twilight's guilt trip worked and Spike sighed in defeat, she was right, his education was more important, it always had been but he just didn't feel comfortable being stuck with Sweetiebelle for such a long time. Never the less, it was a Twilight said, their were high expectations for him, especially since he was the foster child to a princess.

"Alright," he said, "I'll go. but don't expect me to get along with Sweetiebelle!" he stated.

"I don't expect you too, for now at least," ... "Now c'mon Spike, I'm going to take you home so you can get ready, I'm taking you out for dinner tonight."

A few days later, standing on the platform at Ponyville station was Sweetiebelle, Lyvia, Cinder and Lil' Dew on the far side of Sweetie, standing next to Lyvia, was Spike who was trying to avoid eye contact with his ex. He couldn't imagine a more awkward situation.

The trained rolled up to the station and they boarded, hauling their suitcases behind them and saying goodbye to their family. It felt strange boarding this train again, Spike was sure that he wouldn't be able to step foot in it again, but as of lately, fate had a habbit of proving him wrong. Once they managed to find some available seats, the four of them sat down and the most awkward train ride was just about to start.

Chapter Seven

Testing Times

The train ride went just as well as you would expect with a group of five and two of those who could break into a violent argument if just either one breathed wrong. The few hours that it took to arrive to Canterlot were the most stressful that most of them had ever experienced and tensions had risen even higher now. It may have been a week since Spike had awoken, but the two were no closer friends than when the ugly truth came out.

Many unfortunate events happened in the few long hours that plagued the group of five. Fights broke out and Lyvia was forced to intervene to stop Spike from losing control and actually hurting his ex-darling. Words were good and fine, but physical abuse was something that Lyvia would not let happen.

Eventually the train arrived at it's stop and the students poured out of the train like milk from a carton which flooded the platform and pathways to the castle-like school that sat on the border of Canterlot Mountain. Lyvia, Cinder, Lil' Dew, Spike and Sweetiebelle were all part of this crowd but this time Lyvia didn't go running off. When getting into the all-to-familiar school they headed to the main hall and took their seats and waiting for the principal to make her speech. Spike was excited to see that Twilight was head of the school, he was hoping that she would be leanient with the rules.

When everyone was seated, comfortable and their murmered chatter died down, Headmistress Twilight stepped forward and began to adress the school.

"Good afternoon everyone, my name is Twilight Sparkle. I'm here to replace Headmaster Tinder Box as the principal of this esteemed school. I beleive many of you already know what to do, but for the new comers I say welcome." ... "Firstly I have few changes to announce. Foremost, the rules of the school will be less strict and romance is now allowed. I want to be leanient in order to get to know everyone better and so we get of on the right foot. Secondly, everyone who was expelled last year due to the policies implimented by the old headmaster have been readministered into the school and will be joining the following year-group that they were expelled from. That means all expelled first years of last year have been moved up to the second year." she let her words sink in and the murmed chatter of excitment slowly die down before she eventually spoke again. "Now, there will be a sheet of paper coming around to each of you that will indicate where your dorms will be and it will also have your timetable on the back. Are there any questions?" Nobody put their hand up, they were too busy waiting or reading the slip of paper. "No? Excellent." ... "Enjoy your night. Dismissed." she stepped away from the podium and slipped away into the back room that lead into the her office.

Spike glared down at his piece of paper. It read:

Name: Spike
Year Group: Second
Dorm Number: 67
Room Members:
> Sweetiebelle
> Tyra Tomb
> Cinder
> Sky

Signed: Headmistress Princess Twilight Sparkle

He frowned upon seeing Sweetiebelle's name on the sheet.He would have to be stuck with her for the whole year. This would surely not end well, for either of them.

His eyes moved down the page to see that it had been signed by none other than Twilight. She approved this? She was setting them up for disaster. If this was her idea of making them friendly again, it was definetely going to backfire. She just didn't understand what was going on. After all, Twilight never had anyone cheat on her before.

He dismissed these thoughts nearly immediately. "Maybe it was a mistake?" he murmered to himself. Just to make sure he was going to visit her tomorrow to straighten things out and hopefully they could remain seperate. But that would be tomorrow and so are his classes. He turned to paper over to see his timetable. He smiled. It was pretty much the same as last time, same classes, same times and same teachers. The only difference was that there was more classes on a weak than last time and classes were shorter.

Never the less, he was happy with what he got, with exception of being stuck with Sweetie. But, he had the rest of the day to roam and wonder, it was only midday and the School could have change remarkably. He grabbed his bag and wheeled it over to his dorm. it was close to where he was last year which was remarkably fresh in his mind. He pushed the door open and found that no one else was in there. "Phew" he sighed in relief and dropped his bag onto his bed and started to unpack before heading out to wander the grounds.

he had spent less than a week at the school last time and didn't get a good chance to take a look at everything.

Once he was done unpacking he left the room and walked along the crowded, sun-light, illuminated hallways. He remember one corridor explicitly, it was the one leading to the Celestial Courtyard, where Spike and Sweetiebelle would meet up for their dates. He decided that maybe it would be a good idea to visit that place again, not because of the memories associated with the place, but because if was one of the only places that he knew well from last time. He sped up and menouvered around the wander or rushing students eager to find their dorm or meet up with their friends. He did this until he reached the beautiful courtyard. It's magnificence flooding his eyes, but one this was out of place. It was Sweetiebelle.

"Why are you here?" he asked with a tone of hostility.

"Aren't I allowed to walk around?" Sweetiebelle replied, her voice was shaky,

Spike sighed and rolled his eyes, "Of course you are," he irritatingly replied, "so just keep on walking. Away. From here." he added. "You know? Somewhere else. Away from me." he finished.

Sweetiebelle stood her ground and stayed where she was. The two of them standing at opposite ends of the stonework courtyard.

"No." she said defiently. "I'm allowed to go and stay where I want without you bossing me around because you're pissed off!"

"Just piss off, Sweetiebelle. I don't want to see you!"

"I don't care, Spike!" ... "I don't care if you don't want to see me. I know, you're infruriated with me and I deserve everything I get from you. I made a bad descision and I get that. Okay? I understand what I did wrong and I won't defend myself on that. But you can't just boss me around like this Spike. I'm still a person!"

Spike growled. He just wanted to her to go away, her sight was ruining the beauty of the place. But she did have a point. He couldn't just boss her around, he was allowed to yell and be mad at her, but he couldn't just treat her like a piece of meat. He supposed that he might as well just go somewhere else.

He sighed, "fine. You can stay here! I'll go somewhere else!" ... "Don't, follow me!" he warned and walked to the other end of the courtyard and past Sweetiebelle until her reached the large, oval-like grassy plains. He didn't bother to look back to check if she was following him. He trusted that she knew her place around him, and that was nowhere near him at all.

Chapter Eight

Dark Indulgences

Sweetiebelle eyed Spike as her went on his way. She was filled with anger. She understood that he every right to be mad at her but he didn't have the right to boss her around and treat her anything less than a person. She stormed around the couryard statue in anger before sitting herself down pouting. She knew that she had brought all of this on herself by dating a guy while Spike needed her most. She knew exactly what she had done wrong, she just wished that she hadn't done it at all because the very thought of it was tearing her apart. She had to do something about it, she had to explain to Spike just how sorry she was so he wouldn't act so rude to her.

She wasn't expecting everything to go smoothly though, she knew that there would be a lot of yelling and that this apology probably wouldn't solve anything. But what she did expect to happen was that she would feel a little better because she would have finally told Spike how sorry she was and to finally have that off her chest.

She stood up and looked around, Spike had gone off but he was still seeable in the distance. He was heading into the forest.

Sweetiebelle then commenced to something that could possibly be the stupidest thing of her life. She ran after him.

Spike wandered through the tall grass that managed to tickled his shins. He was heading to the forest, it was a secluded place that he could by himself and relax. Wll, hopefull he could. He had never actually been fully in there before and so he knew just about nother about it. Which is why it seemed perfect to check it out while he could. Plus, it would give him a chance to get away from Sweetiebelle and if she was following him then no doubt she would lose sight of him in here.

In no time he found himself becoming surrounded by the trees as he seemlessly wandered his own, mind-made path that weaved in and out of the trees. He smiled, the tranquility of the peaceful chirping of the birds, swishing of the wind and the nearly inaudable sounds of the insects that made their home in the trees surround him. It was like a completely different from the environment of the school. The forest was quiet, peaceful and beautiful, much like most forests he had been to, but this one felt different. It felt magical.

He wondered in further, still following is own little mind-made path which took him to wherever. He past trees, lakes and even a waterfall until he eventually found himself standing on the edge of a rather rocked cliff that overlocked miles and miles of untouched forest. He was extremely scenic and he found himself getting lost just by seeing the vast woodlands. He capsulated with the beauty that was infront in, that was until he heard the voice of Sweetiebelle who was standing only a few metrs behind him.

"Spike...?" she asked softly.

Spike huffed and turned around slowly, staring her in the eyes with hatred, "What are you doing here?!" he growled.

Sweetiebelle gulped, "Look, I know you hate me, and you have every right too, but please, just let me tell you how sorry I am?!" she begged.

Spike rolled his eyes and crossed his arms, giving her a hostile glare, "Fine... but be quick!" ... "I'm only allowing this so you won't do it again!"

Sweetiebelle nodded and took a deep breath, brushing her hair out of her face and fiddling with her fingers. "Okay. Here I go..." she gulped, "You probably know what I'm going to say, sorry, but I need to get this off my chest. Everything that has happened I brought on myself, I know that and I regret every action I did. I should have stayed by your side all those weeks ago. I should never have left you," she looked down, "I'm sorry Spike... I fucked up... I ruined everything," she began to cry, "this is all my fault and I'm not proud of a single thing I did... I don't expect you to befriend me again, or to even want to look at me... But please, I beg you, just forgive me..." she begged again.

Spike raised an eyebrow before letting out a small chuckle, "no," he replied simply.

"..." Sweetiebelle didn't reply, she just stared blankly at the ground. She expect this. But she had hoped that a miracle would bless her with the luck to convince him to at least forgive her. However, it seemed that that was just too much too ask.

Nothing had changed. She had chased down Spike in this vast and dangerous forest to admit her apology just to be shot down again by a simple, two letter word. 'No'. She sighed and lifted her head to stare out at the vast view that bared before her. "Then I'm sorry for wasting your time..." she began to walk away, back down the hill with tears still rolling down her cheeks. "I guess I was asking too much..." she muttered to herself before disapearing from sight through the thick trunks of the trees.

Spike rolled his eyes as he watched her leave before staring back out off the cliff of which he now sat on the edge. He could see the mountains off in the distance, they were tipped with snow and stood miles up from the ground. he smiled again, quickly forgeting about Sweetie and her meaningless apology as he once more got lost within the beauty of the view.

That's when he heard a scream. He knew exactly who it came from. It was Sweetie's scream. His eyes shot wide open as he heard, and although he didn't care about her emotions, he wouldn't be able to live with himself if he let her get hurt while he was near. He got up and chased after the scream.

Down the hall, past the trees, over the lake and again, past some more trees before he finally reached Sweetiebelle. However, it was not only Sweetiebell there, no, it was two cloaked figures. One of them, Spike could recognise the face of. They were an old enemy of Spike, it was Diamond Tiara. Spike growled, he knew exactly who stood before him. It was the Black Apple Gang again. What was worse though, is that they held Sweetiebelle in a tight grip with a black, curved knife to her throat and a hand over her mouth.

Diamond took her hood off so that both Spike and Sweetiebelle could see her entire face. "Hello you two." she smirked, "pleasant seeing you here." she turned to face Spike, "but I must say, I'm surprised to see you."

"Let her go, Tiara!" he spoke firmly.

"Why? I though you hated her?" she replied, with a sadistic grin.

Spike stood there shocked, he was speechless. She was right, he did hate her, but how did she know that? Had she been spying on them?

"That's none of your business! Whether I hate her or not doesn't mean that I'll just let another person get harmed by the likes of you!" he growled, "Now let her go or I'll take her from you!"

"Such strong words for someone who's about to die!" Tiarar threatened, she then turned to face the other hooded figure, "end her!"

Spike quickly picked up and nearby rock and throw it within out hesitation. It hit the figure square in the face and knocked him off balance, his grip was released from Sweetiebelle but not before she suffered a large gash across the stomach. Spike then rushed over to the figure and puched him to the ground, stomping on his face until his feet were covered in blood.

Tiara stared at him in awe, "you actually managed to save her life? Well done," she applauded, "but that doesn't mean that this is over."

Spike agreed, "Oh yeah, this is far from over, especially while you're allowed to breath!" he growled and charged her.

Tiara smiked and with a click of her fingers she vanished in a ball of black smoke. When it cleared, she was nowhere to be found. Spike sighed and growled in anger before going over to a bleeding Sweetiebelle who had leant herself against a tree.

"Are you okay?" he asked half-assed.

She nodded.

"Don't lie to me, I can tell that you're not." he eyes the gash on her stomach, it was bleeding heavily. "C'mon, I need you to take off your dress so I can take a better look at it and hopefully stop any infection."

Sweetie's eyes widened, "No! I'm not taking off my dress!" she growled at him and crossed her arms.

Spike rolled his eyes, "fine then, bleed to death will you. See if I care." he did care, but he knew that Sweetie wouldn't let anything happen to herself.

She sighed, "Fine," she said reluctantly and slowly, as well as hesitantly, slipped off her dress. Leavig herself in only her underwear as her ex stood before her. She was embarrased and couldn't hide her blush. "I-If you do anything, I will make you regret it!" she warned him.

"The only thing I'm going to do is stop the bleeding, then you can put your dress back on." he replied and ripped the sleeve off of his long-sleeved shirt, he planned to use it as a bandage. He grabbed it and began to wrap it tightly around the gash until he could wrap it no further. He tied it off and sighed. He knew that it was only a temporary solution as she would have to be taken to the school's hospital immediately for help. "Alright, I'm done, you can put your dress back on now."

Without hesitation she did so. She didn't feel comfortable with Spike seeing her like that, especially since they had broken up and hated each other dearly. Although, she did feel better about the fact that Spike had the heart to help her and also with the fact that no more blood was seeping out of the non-lethal gash.

"Now c'mon, I'm going to take you to the infirmary." he placed her arm over her shoulder, "I don't want you walking alone."

Chapter Nine

Gorgeous Courtesy

"What happened Spike?" asked a very concerned nurse pony as she tucked a now unconscious Sweetiebelle into bed with a freshly bandaged wound.

"I told you already, we got attacked by some hooded figures and I chased them off." he rolled his eyes and paused before taking a glare at Sweetie, "Now, before you interupt me again, I'd like to report it to the principal."

The nurse sighed, "Alright then, I won't keep you. But hurry up will you, this is important information that you've provided me with and the headmistress needs to know about it immediately," she glared back to Sweetiebelle to quickly check on her, "thank you for bringing her in to me, she'll be fine with for now," ... "Now go."

Spike nodded and headed towards the large, wooden doors that lead out of the school infirmory, but before he could open them himself they swung open and in walked a familiar face wearing golden, royal armour along with a spolt red cape.

"No need for that ma'am." he looked at the nurse then to Spike, then back to the nurse, "leave us please, I need to chat with Spike. In private."

"But, I need to attend to this girl's wound, I can't leave her side now," she rebutted and stood her ground.

"Ma'am, unfortunetely this matter is far more important that a little girl's sleeping patterns. I'm sure you can spare to part with her for a few minutes." he raised an eyebrow. "Now I wont ask again. By order of the Royal Guard, you are to leave us be until further notice."

Without further debate, the nurse left the vacinity and went to her office, adjacent to the infirmory.

"Now, Spike. Do you remember who I am?" the guard asked.

Spike nodded, "Of course I do, you're the drunk guard captain who managed to save Sweetiebelle from the Black Apple Gang last year. You're Silver Blaze."

"Great, then I'm sure you remember how the Black Apple Gang murdered my entire team that same day right?"

Spike gulped and nodded again, "yes," he replied simple.

"Then I'm also sure that you understand the severity of their return?" Captain Blaze added, "I'm not drunk right now, boy. I know that they're the ones who attacked you and Sweetie. If it was anyone else then I would have noticed them sneaking into the school grounds."

"How would you know that for sure, I haven't said anything about them yet?"

"You forget that I've been looking for revenge on them for nearly a year now and I've discovered some fairly useful information about them. One being that they usually don't walk from place to place instead they prefer to travel by teleportation through clouds of smoke. And not to mention that their smoke has a specific smell that I've leant to detect. Believe me, kid, I know it was them." he took a deep breath and took out a small notebook, "now tell me exactly what happened."

Spike also took a deep breath and told Silver Blaze exactly what had happened. He told him that he reacted to Sweetiebelle's screams, that he just about killed one of the hood figure, that Diamond Tiara escaped in a cloud of smoke, and finally that Sweetie had suffered a non-lethal gash to her upper-belly. Then he told the captain that he then rushed Sweetie here, to the school care centre to get Sweetiebelle help.

"I see," Silver responded simple and wrote down everything. "Well, this is very little to go on, but I can work with it." ... "I have requested to the Headmistress that I can garrison my new squad to guard the halls of this school in case they make their return and she has given me the OK. So if you have any more leads or any questions then feel free to visit me anytime. I'll just be wondering the grounds."

"Okay," Spike replied simply. He didn't have anything else to say so he didn't know what Silver was expecting him to uncover; after all, he wasn't a detective.

"Now," Silver said and placed a hand on the dragon's shoulder, "scram. I'll report this to the headmistress, you just go find your friends and enjoy the rest of your day."

Spike again nodded and he calmly walked out of the infirmory and headed down the every-going halls of the school. He was heading back to his dorm, hoping to find his friends there. However, on the way he was stopped by Lyvia who had quite a concerned look upon her.

"What's up?" Spike asked.

"Okay, so I have good new and bad news." she said, "The good news is that I've decided to side with you with this fued between you and Sweetie, I don't think it's right that she cheated on you and she needs to know that." she took a deep breath, "the bad new though is that I saw Leo wandering around the school. I think he reluctantly managed to become a student here!"

Spike took a moment to take all that in. What did she mean that she was on his side? He didn't need support, although he wasn't going to deny it. But what was Leo doing here? Surely he was too stupid to even manage to answer a single question on the Application Form.

"So, you're on my side?" ... "I didn't realise that there were even sides?"

"Well there is, you and Sweetie can't possible believe that your actions aren't going to affect your friends. That's a stupendous belief."

"... And Leo somehow managed to get into the School?"

She nodded.

"Well shit!" was all that Spike said. It was just one bad thing after another. Although, at least he had the support of Lyvia, their friendship in the past hadn't exactly been stable and so he was glad to this bond and trust with her.

However, this just meant that things were going to have to get worse before they got better, and he didn't just think that in terms of Sweetie and his' hatred for one another, he meant that in an overall, overarching description of events to come. He could just tell. There were guards wandering the ground and a dangerous, myctical gang was endangering the peaceful school. Not only that, but he was afraid that if Lil' Dew or Cinder chose Sweetiebelle's side that he would ruin his friendship with them. It was now that things were starting to get really tough and he wasn't at all prepared.

Chapter Ten

Such is The Way

The next few days were eventful for both Spike and Sweetiebelle. For one, Sweetie was admitted out of the infirmary and had regretfully discovered that Lyvia no longer supported her. She never imagined that she would lose anyone apart from Spike due to this quarrel but it wasn't just Lyvia. Lil' Dew abandoned her too and joined the side of Spike. This made most classes extremely awkward and that meant she only had Cinder left to grieve to.

Sweetiebelle wanted to confront her old friends and ask them why they left her, but she was afraid that Lyvia would act more hostile towards her due their collapsed relationship.

However, the loss of friendship was not all that had changed. Over the past week and a bit the five of them had settled into their classes and Twilight had been informed about attack on Sweetiebelle and the presence of the Black Apple Gang. As a result of this, Twilight had given Captain Blaze the authority to station his squad all around the school as a precaution in order to protect the students.

This however, did not satisfy some people, one of these people was Lyvia who thought that the new headmistress wasn't doing enough. She had past experiences with the Black Apple Gang and she knew exactly what they were capable of. But Twilight wasn't heading her warning and believed that Blaze and his team were an elite force with the skill and ability to handle situations such as these.

"Spike?" Lyvia said as she walked down one of the hallways once meeting up with Spike after her last class for the day.

"Hmm?" he responded simply.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Of course." he replied with a smile.

"Do you think that we're safe?" she asked sternly.

"What do you mean, Lyvia?"

"Well, I just don't think that a small handful of elite guards will be enough to protect us against the strength of the Black Apples. I know Twilight has trust in them, but I just want to know what you think."

Spike sighed and placed a hand on the small mare's shoulder. "Lyvia, you already know what I think; I trust in what Twilight's decision, I trust that what she's doing is right. You should too. She is a Princess after all."

"You're right, Spike," she sighed too, "It's just... these people are powerful and dangerous and if they're back then their threat can't be taken lightly." she warned.

"Look, it's alright, they haven't been sighted for nearly two weeks, there's a high chance that they've run off back to their cave,"

"What, so they can brood upon their failure to kill a girl?" she clenched he fists, "Spike, I was with them for nearly a whole year, I know what they're like and they tend to take things slowly, so when they act they do it in such a way that its devastating to the largest possible span of people!" ... "It's horrible but that's just how they are, a few guards won't stand a chance against them."

Both went silent as Spike took in what Lyvia had said. To be honest, he thought she was overreacting but he couldn't help but agree that being cautious is a better approach. Never the less, he trusted in Twilight's judgement and whether or not Lyvia did too was not the biggest concern.

"Lyvia, we'll talk about this later, but if you're so sure that we're all going to die then you should go take it up with Twilight." he said sounding slightly annoyed. he didn't feel like debating this at the moment, he had enough on his plate with Sweetiebelle.

"Fine..." Lyvia announced in defeat as they reached their dorm. "Alright Spike, I'll see you tomorrow morning I guess," she smiled and waved goodbye as Spike entered the dorm and she walked off to hers.

As soon as Spike closed the door he was immediately greeted by an fox who went by the name of Sky who had been his roommate for the past few weeks who was laying on his bed reading over a book of what was presumed to be notes. Behind his bed was a tall window which stood from the ground to the ceiling, this was the same for the other three beds. Under each bed and in the centre of the circular room was a white and brown checkered rug which covered the hard and cold wooden flooring that occupied the entire floor of the dorm, including the bathroom which was just off to the side.

"Hello Sky," Spike greeted and waved to the fox.

"Hmm?" the fox looked up, "Oh, hi Spike."

"Is anyone else back yet?" he asked.

Sky nodded, "Cinder is in the shower at the moment but Tyra is out with some friends, I don't imagine her to be getting back here any time soon."

'Oh no' Spike thought, he had dreaded the thought of Cinder since she was the only one at the moment who sided with Sweetiebelle. She tried hard to make Spike annoyed and angry, she went out of her way to piss him off. But not only that, she also made things sound extremely awkward as the hatred between the two was mortifying.

"How long has Cinder been in there for?" he asked.

Sky shrugged, "hell if I know, I only just got back a few minutes ago."

Spike sighed, "okay then. Thanks anyway." he went over to his bed and sat down as he too pulled out a book of notes and began to read from them. he was lucky that he didn't have any homework to do tonight so he could spend his time doing some much needed revision.

After an unknown amount of time his revision was rudely interupted by the annoyance of Cinder who stood over him with her arms crossed and stern expression of anger planted on her light-yellow face, her golden mane was still wet as it drooped all over her head in a straight, but messy pattern. Spike peeked over the peak of his book to face her.

"What?" he asked half-assed.

"You yelled at Sweetiebelle again today didn't you?" she growled.

Spike raised an eyebrow, "I did what?" he replied bored.

She held up her phone to him and showed him a text from Sweetiebelle saying that Spike had yelled at her again. "You did this!"

Spike yawned, "oh yeah, I remember now, she tried to take my books away from me in order to get my attention."

Cinder growled again, "You shouldn't yell at a girl who's injured like she is!!"

"Her injury has nothing to do with her actions, Cinder, you know this. So quit blindly following her and open your cursed eyes, will you!"

Cinder rolled her eyes, "I'm not blindly following her, I'm protecting and supporting a friend you jackass!" she was getting defensive.

Spike too rolled his eyes and face palmed, "You right," he replied sarcastically, "its all my fault that she cheated on like she did, and I'm not allowed to be angry at her at all...!"

"Look, you may have Lil' Dew and Lyvia believing you but you can't treat everyone else bad just because they're supporting someone you don't like." she rebutted.

I'm treating you like this because you're being a bitch to me! Now piss off before I do something I'll regret!" he growled and bared his claws.

Cinder winced and ran off leaving Spike to go back to his study.

The next day Spike met Lyvia outside his dorm and they travelled to down to the Main Hall for breakfast. They sat at a different table to Sweetiebelle and Cinder so they didn't cause an uproar between the ex-group of friends. There was no mistake that this break-up between Spike and Sweetiebelle had caused this collapse of friendship but that was to be expected.

It wasn't long before Lil' Dew joined the two and they sat peacefully eating their breakfast of oats and gems. Then their eating turned to peaceful chatter as Spike told them about his confrontation with Cinder the previous night.

"Why does she even bother?" Lyvia complained. "Doesn't she know that she's just being annoying?"

"Of course she does, I've told her so many times. She just wants to get under my scales and drive me insane. She thinks I'm the bad guy for abandoning her!" ... "She obviously doesn't understand the full story."

"Maybe she just feels sorry for Sweetiebelle since she's lost all her other friends?" Lil' Dew suggested. "I'm not standing up for her or saying what she's doing is right..." she added quickly, "but Cinder has always shown exceptional kindness towards her... well, that's what I've seen so far."

"She's also shown kindness to me!" Spike protested.

"Well maybe she prefers to stand up for a girl, then a guy. It happens, and some girls feel like they need to stick together." Dew added.

Spike sighed, "I don't care what her reasons are, if she wants to support the wrong side then she'll get whats coming to her!" Spike stated and crossed his arms. Their once peaceful conversation had quickly turned aggressive.

Lyvia sighed, "well, I suggest you don't do anything bad to her unless she makes the first move, you don't want to be seen as the bad guy even of you're not." she suggested, "but remember, I have your back if you ever need any help." she smiled and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Thank Lyvia," Spike smiled too and they went back to their peaceful conversation. They had another half an hour before class started and so they had plenty of time to do whatever they wanted. So they decided to enjoy themselves without the thought of whining ex-friends. Well, that was until Lyvia sighed someone that made her blood boil.

"What the hell is he doing here?!" she stood up with haste and her hands were clenched into a fist.

"Who?" Spike and Lil' Dew turned around to see where she was looked to see the griffon they knew as Leo.

Lyvia growled as Leo came closer to their table and by the time he got to them her face had turned red with anger.

"Woah, woah, woah. Calm down their cutie. I'm just here to ask Spike something." Leo said defensively.

"What is it?" Spike asked in a hostile tone.

Leo went to open his mouth to answer him but as he did Lyvia leaped over the table and pounced on him, pinning his to the ground with a knife to his throat.

He gulped and eyed the knife, "Hey! easy there sweetie. No need to get violent!"

"I'm not your 'sweetie'" she growled and pressed down on the knife as a crowd started to form around the two.

"Fine then, cutie." ... "You need to chill out!" he dared not move just in case Lyvia gave him a fatal blow.

"Shut up! Shut up! I swear I will end you if you don't shut up!!" she yelled and kneed him in the balls.

The griffon yelped and whimpered as he tried not to flinch in case her slit his neck. It was then that Lyvia was pulled off of him and the knife was yanked from her hands as the surrounding teachers seized the girl.

"Get off me!" she protested, "he deserves to be slaughtered!" That was the last thing that Spike heard from her for the rest of the day because the teachers carried her out of the room and presumably to the headmistress's office.

Spike and Lil' Dew were in awe, they knew that Lyvia hated him but they didn't expect her to try and kill him, although, he had no complaints if she did.

Spike sighed and looked around the room, he spotted Sweetiebelle and Cinder who were laughing their heads off. At least there was one thing that him and her could agree on, and that was that Leo deserved all the pain he got.

Sweetiebelle giggled and went over to Spike, "did you tell Lyvia to do this?" she asked curiously. She had smug expression planted on her face.

"No. But I wish I did, and I wish she went through with it." Spike replied.

Sweetiebelle eyed Leo with a smirk as he was helped up by a teacher, this was the first time the her and Spike had been able to talk without breaking into a yelling contest for the past few weeks. It was nice.

Sweetiebelle giggled and replied, "Yeah me too," she agreed, "but I don't even know why Leo would be at this school... he's to stupid even consider education."

"Well I'm sure he's regretting coming here." Spike added, "but now Lyvia's gonna get into big trouble no doubt," ... "Pulling a knife on another student could land her in jail."

Sweetie sighed, "it's Lyvia. She'll be fine." Sweetie finished and began to walk away. "Now if you don't mind, I'm going back to Cinder."

Chapter Eleven

Primal Instinct

"So what happened?" Spike asked eagerly as he stood outside the headmistress's office with Lyvia who had just came out.

"Well," she replied, "It wasn't too bad actually." she said with a shrug.

"C'mon, tell me the specifics. I'm curious." he said, "I want details."

Lyvia sighed, "well, she asked what I did and why. When I told her I pulled a knife on Leo she was... shocked, to say the least. But she let me off with a warning after giving me a long and boring lecture."

"Did she tell you why Leo got accepted into the school?"

"Yes actually, she did. Well, after I asked her. She said that Leo got in just like every other student, he was gifted in something." ... "I can't even contemplate Leo being skilled or gifted in anything other than harassing women." she huffed, "But apparently he's good at something in the curriculum, either that or his parents have a hell of a lot of money."

"Yeah, well, I wouldn't be surprised if he's spoiled, other wise I can't imagine Sweetiebelle ever going out with him."

Lyvia sighed again, "You're still pissed off about that?"

"Of course I am," he replied.

"It's nearly a month since then and Sweetie's birthday is coming up again, I'm sure she wants to enjoy it. So try to forget about it and just let her be for now," ... "You never know, you two might get along."

"Are you supporting her now?"

"No."

"Then why are you telling me to get along with her."

"I'm just suggesting things, I'll follow whatever you think is right, Spike."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Thank you." he smiled. "Should we head off to dinner, now?" he asked.

"Yeah, Lil' Dew will be waiting for us." she agreed and she let Spike lead the way as she followed close to his side.

She smirked, she had just seen someone out of the corner of her eye. Someone that she wanted Spike to talk too. That someone was Sweetiebelle. She eyed the white unicorn as she came around the corner and tapped on Spike's shoulder.

"Who's there."

"Me." replied Sweetie.

Spike groaned and turned around, "What do you want?"

"I want to talk." she said cheerfully and carefree as he arms swung at her side and a smile formed on her face.

"Talk about what?"

"About earlier, when we actually had a decent discussion... you know... about Lyvia and Leo." she said.

Spike raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, what about it?"

"Well" ... "It was enjoyable."

Spike stood their for a while, he didn't know what to say. He agreed with her, it was rather enjoyable to have a discussion that didn't involve yelling, but he didn't want that to mean he forgave her for what she's done. She did ruin everything after all.

But Spike wasn't one to hold a grudge, even though he was a dragon and is primal instincts ran on emotion. He prefered to forgive people and befriend them unless they've done something unspeakably bad... with the exception of Leo, nobody would like that griffon.

He sighed and nodded to Sweetiebelle, "You're right."

"I know I am.." she marveled...

But then she was cut off by Spike who said, "But that doesn't mean I've forgotten everything that you've done..."

"I know. I Know." she gulped, "But ever since you saved me, I felt like I need to be more than just grateful."

"What do you mean?" he asked, puzzled.

"I mean that I really need to make it up to you."

"And how do you plan to do that?" he asked snarkily.

Sweetiebelle smirked and leaned in, kissing him on the cheek, "Like that." she said before skipping off joyfully.

Spike stood there in awe as he watched his ex skip away gleefully. She had just kissed his cheek, what was going through her head? She knew that he hated her, she knew that he didn't want anything to do with her... and yet, she kissed him.

He was confused, he didn't know what to think. His hormones told him to enjoy it, but his rational thinking told him to hate it. And then there was his emotions which was the thing that was making him so confused. Part of him said yes, and the other half said no. He felt as though there should be an angel and a devil on his shoulders telling him what to do.

Then there was Lyvia, who offered no help as she was in just as much shock as him. She didn't expect that to happen and to be honest, she never expected it to happen ever again since Spike woke up.

Spike turned to Lyvia with a sigh and all she did was shrug and giggle.

"Well. That was a thing." she said unhelpfully.

"What was she thinking?!" he yelled confused.

"I don't know," she shrugged again.

Later that night when Spike was laying in bed with the moonlight softly illuminated the candle lit room he found that he couldn't sleep. His mind was flooded with thought of Sweetiebelle. He was still confused as well, he still didn't know how to feel, but at least Cinder hadn't bothered to give him hell tonight and he had spoken to Lil' Dew about what had happened. She said that he should just play it as it goes and not put too much thought into it. But he couldn't. He couldn't just ignore everything he was feeling.

He didn't entirely want to feel good about this in case he fell for Sweetiebelle's charm again, but he didn't want to deny the pleasure of feeling her lips again. It did feel nice, and it was only a quick kiss. Yet, he felt as though he wanted more.

Through all the hatred he had felt for her, she was trying to make it up to him and he had ignored every one of her attempts to say sorry to him. It was about time that he recognised something that she's tried to do... whether or not it was a good thing was still debatable.

But he hadn't forgotten what she did to him, how alone and betrayed he had felt when he found out she dated Leo. He would never let go of that feeling of emptiness he experienced when his beloved stabbed him in the back.

But he couldn't hold a grudge forever, that's just childish. And as he contemplated before, he couldn't deny her efforts.

He sighed and gave in, leaning onto his side to face Sweetiebelle's bed, which was beside him. "psst!" he tried to get her attention, "Sweetiebelle, are you awake?" he asked quietly.

Sweetiebelle groaned, "I am now," she yawned, "what is it?"

"Look, I've been thinking... and... well, I think we should have truce for a while. You know, just be friends." he suggested, trying not to wake anyone else.

"Really?" she asked.

"Yes," he replied. "You know, because your birthday is coming up soon."

"Okay..." she yawned again, "I guess that sounds alright," she smiled, but Spike couldn't see it very well due to the lack of light. "So no more yelling, no more hostilities, and no more hate. Right?"

Spike nodded, "That's what I'm aiming for," ... "It'll be nice."

"Okay," Sweetiebelle said again, she was too tired to talk right now, but she was happy that Spike and herself were actually starting to get along.

"Alright, goodnight then, Sweetie." he smiled and bid her goodnight.

It wasn't too long after there talk that he was finally able to get to sleep and relish in the fact that their might be hope for them both after all. But he wouldn't go light-hearted this time, if it worked out between the two of them again, he would be sure to make sure it lasted.

Chapter Twelve

Painting the Roses Red

All was well.

Well, not really. All was quiet is a better way to say it.

Spike and Sweetiebelle had been living side to side with each other without breaking into a yelling contest. But on the other hand, they weren't becoming any better friends. They only time something unusual happened was about a month ago when Sweetiebelle had kissed Spike's cheek in front of Lyvia. The reason why Sweetiebelle did this was still uncertain but Spike did guess that what she was telling him wasn't the whole truth. He suspected her main motive was lust and that she couldn't help feeding the greed of her inherit beauty... but that was just a guess, nothing more.

It just so happened to be one day, in Sweetiebelle's Singing class that something peculiar arose.

The time was 12:36 pm, exactly nine minutes before the end of class and the start of their half an hour lunch break. Sweetiebelle had just finished writing the second verse to her song called 'Painting the Roses Red' that she had to complete for an in-class assignment and he teacher, Miss. Melody was charmingly reading over her work.

As always, she was impressed with Sweetiebelle's lyrical talent but concerned by Sweetiebelle's inability to write anything that wasn't revolved around love or lust. It was openly clear to her that Sweetiebelle's mind was filled with romance and she was worried for the fact that she wouldn't get far in life if that's where her focus was. Never the less, she couldn't deny that Sweetie's work was profoundly impressive and Miss. Melody acknowledged this with a sticker or two.

The time was now 12:40 pm and the small class had started to pack away their work and prepare for the stampede towards the cafeteria. That's when another teacher came in, one that Sweetiebelle hadn't seen before. It was possible that he was new, but he looked too old.

"Sweetiebelle." he called out and surveyed across the class room, glaring at every student.

Sweetie stood up, "Yes?" she asked curiously and swung her bag-strap over her shoulder.

"Come with me please, there's a man with the headmaster requesting your presence," he said with a demanding voice.

"Okay?" Sweetie tilted her head and walked over to the teacher saying, "What is his name?"

"He won't say, only that he wants to speak with you." he sighed, "now come with me, I want to know what he wants so he can leave."

Sweetiebelle didn't reply, she didn't like the attitude of this teacher but she went with him anyway. She was curious to know who wanted to see her and why. She was also curious why what he had to say was so important that he could only say it to her, and her alone. She had to admit, it made her nervous.

In a matter of minutes they reached the headmistress' office and the teacher opened the door. Sweetiebelle saw the knew office for the first time. It was much like the old headmaster's office, but this one was less gloomy and more educational looking as bookcases surrounded the walls and letters of parchment littered Twilight's desk. The window was open to let the cool, Summer's breeze in and warm sunshine that illuminated the room with a warm, yellow glow.

"Hello, miss Sweetiebelle," Twilight greeted and looked up from her desk, "I hope your class wasn't interrupted?"

Sweetiebelle shook her head, "No, it wasn't. We were just packing up."

"Good to hear. Then would you be able to see what this man wants, he won't say a word to us." Twilight announced, pointed to a hooded man in the corner of the. His cloak was black and his face covered, he didn't even look up when Sweetie entered, he just kept his head down in order to keep in anonymity. He was familiar, well, not him exactly, but his outfit was. He was a member of the Black Apple Gang.

What were they doing here? Sweetiebelle asked herself. She gulped and looked at Twilight again, "Twilight... I don't want to talk to him." she admitted as she didn't feel safe.

"Why not?" Twilight asked.

"Because he's part of the Black Apple Gang. He's evil!" she yelled.

Twilight raised an eyebrow and stood up, "is that right?" she speculated and glared over to the cloaked man. "Are you?"

The man didn't respond, he just stood in the position he had been standing in for the past few minutes. He didn't even offer them any facial expression.

Headmistress Twilight sighed, "That settles it then." she motioned to the other teacher in the room, "escort him from the building and get Captain Blaze to handle the rest."

The teacher nodded and did as he was told, he grabbed the arm of the motionless hooded figure and started to walk him out of the room, and presumably out of the building too. He didn't return before Twilight dismissed Sweetiebelle and thanked her for informing herself that he was a Black Apple Member. She made a point to tighten the security in order to make sure it didn't happen again.

The time was now 3.30 pm and Sweetiebelle had finished her final class for the day; she was now heading back to her dorm room so she could go over a few sheets of homework with Cinder. When she eventually reached her dorm she found that Sky, who was chatting with Tyra, she also saw Cinder who was peacefully sitting cross-legged on her bed reading over her work. She was wearing her navy blue skirt and white buttoned-up shirt which was then standard female uniform.

Cinder looked up upon hearing Sweetiebelle enter the room. Curiosity shot through her eyes as she asked, "What did the man want?"

Sweetiebelle sighed, "he was part of the Black Apple Gang," she answered and sat not the bed next to her friend.

"What did he want though?"

"I don't know, he didn't speak, but I never asked, he was escorted out of the building and Captain Blaze has him now."

"Shit..." ... "So they've infiltrated the school?"

"I guess you could say that," ... "but why would they be here?"

Cinder paused and thought about before coming up with an answer.

"Maybe they're surveying the school, you know, mapping the area out for the ghastly plan?" she suggested.

"Maybe..." Sweetie pondered.

...

"Who are you guys talking about?" intruded the fox.

Sweetiebelle turnbed to face him, "the Black Apple Gang," she answer, "a group of heartless and motivated cultists."

"And they were allowed in the school?" he asked.

Sweetie shook her head. "No, they kicked him off the school grounds as soon as they found him out," she paused, "But it's been months since they've been sighted before... so why would they come back now?"

Sky and Cinder shrugged, but Tyra stayed out of it, she honestly had better things to care about. Sweetie sighed and looked down.

Pain shot through her abdomen as the thought of them raced through her mind. This pain wasn't an unusual occurrence but it felt like she was being sliced again. She felt along her gash line that still hadn't healed properly and was glad to find that it wasn't bleeding again.

Occasionally her gash would start bleeding as it was so close to a major blood vessel and she would have to go back to the infirmary to get it treated. Because of that her wound was taking nam abnormally long time to heal, but at least it was healing.

Another burst of pain shot throughout her abdomen and left her clutching onto her belly, wincing in agony. She looked up with a few tears dripping down her eyes and rolling along her cheeks, her face was red and she let out another whimper.

"Are you alright, Sweetiebelle!?" exclaimed Cinder in panic as she shot to her feet, not knowing what to do.

Sweetiebelle shook her head, "no..." she groaned and felt her vision getting weaker. Before she knew it, she had everyone crowding around her as she gently fell to soft pillows and blankets of the cushioned bed.

"Someone get the nurse!" she head someone yell out, although her senses blurred and she couldn't recognise who it was.

The last thing she head was the door slamming open before she fell into an unconscious like state. Feeling a warm liquid ooze out of her gash and form a puddle under her.

Chapter Thirteen

Flowers in the Forest

Sweetiebelle woke with four people standing over her. Three were friends and one was Spike. Her eyes flickered open and she found herself laying in the white bed of the infirmary and the sharp pain in her abdomen had ceased.

She let out a groan and she looked around as she regained focus, "ugh.... what happened?" she asked weakly.

"You passed out after your gash started to bleed again." Lyvia answered.

"I what..?"

"You passed out, don't you remember. Cinder said that you started feeling a large amount of pain before you gash started to bleed heavily again. But this time you passed out."

"When did this happen?" Sweetie questioned, she didn't remember anything that had happened.

"Just yesterday afternoon. You've been out for a day at least." answered Lil' Dew.

This was all new to Sweetie, she sat up and rested her back against the pillow as she rubbed her head, "Why don't I remember any of this..?" she said with a tint of fear in her voice.

They shrugged, but the nurse intruded in and gave her opinion, "Miss Belle, I believe that you don't remember any of this due to the fact that your body is repressing the memory as it was such a traumatic experience. Whether you agree with it or not you could have died from blood loss and thus your body prioritised on healing and not saving the memory. So you have it, but you can't access it." ... "If that makes sense."

Sweetiebelle shook her head, it made no sense to her.

"Basically your brain blocked it because at the time it wasn't important and it hasn't unlocked it as of yet." the nurse explained further.

"So I will remember it?"

"Yes, in time." ... "When it becomes important enough to reveal itself."

"When will that be?"

"Hours, days, weeks, months... years." ... "It's impossible to tell, but as of now, your memory of the event is not important. We need to focus on getting you healed and fixed up."

"Okay..." she gulped and fiddled with her fingers, "How bad is it?"

"Hmm?"

"How bad is my wound, has it got worse?"

"No, it was just bleeding, but you've lost a lot of blood, I've stitched it up and applied antigen-soaked bandages to the wound so hopefully we can prevent infection and in the best case we can stop the bleeding." ... "However, to ensure its success I need to supply you a pill that should stop the blood from escaping your body if it does reopen. However..."

"However what?" Sweetiebelle asked.

"It will disrupt your menstrual cycle." the nurse admitted.

"My what?"

"When your period comes."

"Oh..."

Everyone went quiet, "So it stops my period?"

"You could say that. It more or less delays it. As I said, it this pill stops blood from escaping your body. From every point."

"I don't see a bad side here. I don't have to put up with my period." she paused, "wait, is this like 'The Pill?"

The nurse shook her head, "no, it not The Pill, its different as it doesn't attack your hormones, it lowers your blood pressure and immune response time. It's actually quite dangerous if you overdose and its not recommended unless you have a serious injury or you commonly lose too much blood from an injury." ... "This pill has to be medically subscripted to you and I can only supply you a bottle a month." ... "But in the end you do get the choice to take this."

"I want it."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"You're not even going tot think about it?"

"I have." ... "I want it."

The nurse sighed, "alright, I'll go fill out some paperwork and I'll make sure you have a bottle before your admitted out of my care." she finished and left to go to her office. Leaving Sweetie with Spike, Lil'Dew, Lyvia and Cinder as they crowded around her.

Cinder looked pale and she was making an uneasy smile, Sweetie could tell that she felt bad for what had happened, even though it wasn't her fault and she had no way of knowing.

"I wish I could get rid of my period." she let off an uneasy smile.

"It doesn't get rid of it, it delays it," Sweetie corrected, "I have no idea what that means but it's a god send."

"Can I take a few pill from your bottle when you get it?" Cinder asked.

Spike eyed her, "Cinder, thats a bad idea. Didn't you hear the nurse when she said that these pills can be dangerous?"

"I did, but I don't care."

"Is fucking up your menstrual cycle really more important to you then your health?" Spike question as he raised an eyebrow, "Like, I know that periods can be bad, I've heard Sweetiebelle go on about them when she's in a bad mood, but it isn't worth it."

"Piss off Spike, you're not a girl, you don't know what we go through." Cinder threatened.

He sighed, "fine." he stood up and made his way out of the infirmary and closed the door behind him and the moment he heard the click of the door he felt a hand on his shoulder.

"I need to speak with you boy." Spike recognised the voice, it belonged to the drunk, but highly skilled captain of his squad, Silver Blaze.

Spike turned around to face him, "talk about what?" he asked.

"About the Black Apple Gang," Silver answered simply, "now come with me to my office." He began to lead Spike down the corridors. Turning left and right, up some stairs and through some more corridors until they reached a large office with a view over the courtyard. He sat down in his chair behind his desk that was covered in piles of letters with a small knife stuck in the wood. "sit," he said and motioned for Spike to sit just across from him, which he did.

"Now Spike," he paused, "that is your name right?"

Spike nodded.

"Good." ... "Now, I'm sure you're aware of the Sweetiebelle's encounter with a member of the Black Apple Gang yesterday. Am I right?" he asked, pulling out a piece of parchment lined with notes.

"Yes, Cinder told me about it after Sweetiebelle passed out," he answered.

"Then I'm sure you're aware of their presence surrounding the school."

"What?"

"Oh, you don't know." ... "I would assume that my men have been doing their job too well because the Black Apples have been trying to infiltrate the school grounds for the past month. They're growing bolder and more dangerous, they're attacking my men left and right and I fear that they're after you and Sweetiebelle."

"What are you going to do then?"

"Well, I want to evacuate you two from the school grounds and see if they're attention is diverted from the school to you guys. I need to know if its you they're after or something else."

"Where would we be going?"

"To a holiday house in the mountains. You will be accompanied by two of my best soldiers who have had experience in escorting and guarding civilians during situations such as this. They will be keeping you under a low profile but they can't do everything. You two will need to help them out by making sure that your friends don't know where you're going or why you're going. By all means let them know that you have to 'disappear' for a while, but by no means are you to tell them for how long, where you're going or why you're going." ... 'Discretion is a must."

"Okay..." was all that Spike could say, he was shocked and confused. He didn't really understand what was happening other than that they had to run away for a little while. But he didn't fully understand why, all Silver told him was that they had to go so that he could see if the Black Apple Gang was after them or not. But Spike new who they were after, they were after Sweetiebelle, they had been for a while. They had encounter her twice so far, there's no doubt that they wouldn't keep trying to catch her.

He sighed. He was going to have to go along with it, whether or not he liked it, and if he actually understood the reasoning or not.

"Alright," Spike said, "when are we leaving?" he asked.

"Tonight." he answered.

"Tonight?!"

Captain nodded, "Tonight."

"And you didn't think to give us a little warning?"

"There was no need," he answered, "as I said, discretion is a must."

Spike raised an eyebrow, "You do know that Sweetiebelle's in the hospital don't you?"

"She's what?!"

"The gash on her stomach reopened and she passed out. Now they're subscribing her a packet of pills that should help control the bleeding in her body,"

"Do you know if she'll be fit to travel by midnight tonight?" ... "If not, then we'll have to carry her to the cart and bring along, Sheela, our medical expert. She'll know what to do," he looked at the dragon, "Don't worry, boy. We'll keep you two safe until we know it's safe."

"Alright," Spike accepted and sighed, "But keeping me in the same house with my ex-girlfriend is a bad idea." Spike exclaimed as he left the room, leaving Captain Silver Blaze to his work.

Tonight, everything would have to change, and it killed him inside to keep all this from his friends. Never the less, he had to go along with it, and so did Sweetiebelle. So he rushed back to the infirmary to tell Sweetie the news and that she would have to be good by tonight. To which the nurse replied on her behalf, yes.

That night when the clock struck twelve, as the moonlight fed through the windows to softly light to corridors of the now all-quiet castle-like school, did Spike and Sweetiebelle stand in the not-so-grand courtyard that tainted the entrance of the school.

"Alright kids, are you ready to go?" asked a female guard who looked a lot like the captain, only smaller, younger, longer hair and obviously a different gender. She was wearing the customary golden armour and her sword at her waist. She did not have a shield, but instead wielded a second blade, a dagger which sat on the other side of her belt. Over her shoulders and along her back hung a deep-red cape that marked that she was an elite soldier, the cape was marked with the symbol of her squad, which was the head of a wolf that howled at the moon. This mark was also located on her luggage, which she held on her shoulder like a dead body.

"Yes," the two of them said in unison.

"Alright then, lets go. We shouldn't waste any time." the guard led them just outside of the school ground to the main street of the Canterlot City, which was also dead quiet. There was a horse and cart, already on it was another guard, wearing the same uniform as his squad member. "Spike, Sweetiebelle, this is Buzz, he'll be our guide through the mountains." ... "Now," she climbed into the back of the cart, "climb in, we have a lot of ground to cover."

The cart stood still until Spike and Sweetiebelle had seated themselves in amongst all their supplies which included food, blankets and spare clothes. They had been told to pack anything they would need for the next few weeks and that they shouldn't expect to be going back to school before then.

"Why are we using a cart?" Spike asked, "wouldn't a car be faster and safer?"

"They guard has always preferred using carts opposed to cars, plus, its much easier to hide this then a shine hunk of metal that roars like a lion. Carts are quieter and easier to handle, plus, this way I can shoot anything that may try to harm us along the way without having to lean out of a window. This is much more efficient then a clumsy car." she stated and readied a bow with an arrow. "Because trust me, we will be followed."

"How do you know," Sweetie asked.

"Because I've been tracking these people for months now and I know what they do. They like to chase their targets in packs and hunt them down like prey." ... "Its brutal but for them its effective."

"So what are we going to do?"

"You mean what am I going to do? Buzz will control the cart while I shoot down any pursuers... this was never going to be easy, you should have known that."

The cart sped along the cobblestone road that lead out of Canterlot and down the mountain. Luckily it was night and no one was using the path allowing Buzz to race along. The guard was standing up with her blades at her side and a bow in her hands, on her back she had equipped a large quiver which housed plenty of arrows.

"Buzz!" she called out.

"What?" he replied.

"We have company!"

"Where?"

"In the trees," she pointed out to a few faint, fast moving and vanishing shadows that sprinting through the landscape like ninjas.

"Aye, I'll slow down for you to get a good shot." he did as he said and slowed the cart ever so slightly to steady it's movements and let her get a precise aim.

She drew her bow and held her position as she stood still, the wind blowing past her and causing her cape the flail in the wind. She smirked and fired the arrow. It flew. And it hit. Dead on point. Right between the eyes.

The body flew back and hit the tree as the shadowy figure burst in smoke that flew off into the wind. She readied another bow as the other shadowy figures launched out of their hiding spots, flashing around as they vanished into balls of smoke and gas, only to reappear a few metres away. They were fast, and camouflaged. It was hard for her to get a good shot, so... she ditched the bow and drew her sword and dagger, dual wielding with both hands as she traced the movements of her enemies with her eyes.

"Get the girl!" she heard one of the yell as she immediately knew that they we indeed after Sweetiebelle.

POOF! And one of the shadowy figures appeared in a puff of smoke, coming right towards her, bearing teeth as sharp as a tiger's and claws of a bear. The guard spun around and used her momentum to slash her blades across the face of the figures as he dashed by, causing blood to litter the cart and her armour.

She immediately readied herself again by raising her blades and positioning herself in a defensive stance as she dashed her eyes around her field of view, chasing down then vanished and appearing figures.

Again, she heard another POOF! and as she turned around she saw another figure charging towards her with the same features as the last. She ducked this time and aimed her blades upwards, letting them slice the belly open her attacker, causing even more blood to spray across the cart and her armour, drenching her sword in a crimson red. Before she even got a chance to stand up she was attacked by a third figure and decided to land on the cart next to her, with first engulfed in flame.

"Haha!" he laughed, "think you can take me?!"

The guard yawned and shrugged, "meh. you'll be no challenge." she raised her arm and pointed her blood-soaked sword towards him.

The figure charger her, pummelling a flaming fist in her direction. But he was not quick enough and she spun to the side, slashing her sword into his wrist, immobilising the movement in his hand as she launched towards him with dagger in hand. She plunged the tip of her blade deep into his neck as she ripped open his Jugular and sliced away the throat.

"Three down, a hell of a lot more!" she said to herself, kicking the body off the cart and watching it roll and bounce along the road as it burst into smoke. "Buzz!" she called out again.

"What?"

"Take us off road into the forest if you can, we'll get to the cabin faster!" she ordered. "We can't afford any delays, I can only do this for so long."

Buzz pulled the cart off of the road and into a small, unstable path into the forest as he dashed the cart around the trees in a hazed rush. She looked behind her and saw that the shadowy figures had not given up and were still chasing the cart down. This time, there kept their distance and didn't charge mindlessly into the tip of her sword.

"They're learning," she commented to herself and got herself into her defensive stance, keeping her blades close to her as blood dripped from the metal of both her sword as well as her once-golden armour.

"Need help?" Buzz asked.

"Nah. I'm good for now." she smirked, "I'm just warming up."

It was as soon as those words escaped her mouth that four shadowy figures consecutively appeared out of nowhere and charged her with all their might from different directions. She swung her blades, spinning and thrusting as she stepped to the side and ducked continuously... but she only managed to kill two of them before she was knocked off the cart and pinned to the dirt covered ground.

"Get off me!" she yelled as she desperately tried pushing them off. She went for her sword and dagger but they had been knocked out of her hands when the tackled her off the cart that had stopped in its tracks.

POOF! A shadowy figure landed on the cart in front of Spike and Sweetiebelle. He grinned, bearing his wolf-like teeth and grabbed Spike by the scruff of his shirt, "goodbye!" he scowled and threw him off the cart with a loud thud. He then yawned and grabbed Sweetiebelle. "Hello cutie," he grinned again.

"Please," Sweetie begged, "Let me go... don't hurt me... I'll do anything... I'll say anything you want me to!" she panicked and tried to kick off him.

The figure chuckled and unsheathed a knife all to similar to the one that injured her months ago. "I don't want to hear you talk, Miss Belle, I want to hear you squeak!" he raised the knife and lunged it down.

But before it could make contact with her the man was pulled off of her and onto the cart floor. Spike stood over him and growled loudly as he cracked his knuckles. "Don't you dare hurt, Sweetiebelle!" he snarled and pinned the man down, grabbing a hold of his hand and tugging violently until he heard a loud snap. He broke his neck and the bone protruded the skin and cloth of the cloak, causing the cart to become even more covered in blood.

Spike stood up quickly and glared back at the driver.

"Good job kid," he was aiming a crossbow at the dead figure who had also burst into smoke. He smirked and divided his attention towards the two who had trapped his teammate. "One, Two." he counted as he fired the arrows, each one piercing the skulls of his victims. Buzz looked around, there was no one left, they had survived, for now at least.

The female guard climbed to her foot and limped into the cart, resting herself down against the blood-stained supplies and placing her weapons at her side. She let out deep sigh and smiled, facing the two teens as she spoke. "We survived."

Spike and Sweetiebelle were both breathing heavily and in shock, they both had blood staining their clothes as the wind chilled them to the bone. But the didn't care, they did survive it, and it was all thanks to the brave guards that worked before them. They nodded and Sweetiebelle went to cuddle up against Spike for comfort, she was just about in tears.

"You alright, Sweetiebelle?" Spike asked.

She shook her head.

"What's wrong?" he asked calmly and sweetly.

"I could have died..." she replied weakly.

"Wouldn't have been the first time, Sweetie." he stroked her long, soft hair, "you're a tough girl, even if he did stab you, you would've survived it. I know it. No one can get rid of you, Sweetiebelle, not that easily." ... "Believe me, I know that first hand." he chuckled.

Sweetiebelle smiled and rested her head against his shoulder, "thank you, Spike." she looked up to gaze at his emerald eyes

"You're welcome," he said and planted a long, loving, passionate kiss on her lips.

Author's Note

Warning everyone. The next chapter will be the last for this story.

Chapter Fourteen

The Cabin in the Woods

"AAARRRRHH!!!" screamed Sweetiebelle as she awoke with a start from a nightmare that taunted her mind throughout the night. She was in a dark room with only a candle to light the dark. She lay in a soft bed, with a wooden frame and pink sheet coverings; it was a queen sized bed which gave her plenty of room to toss her turn as she imagined the scene of death that had played out earlier.

She shivered as a cold breeze howled through the window and flapped the purple, elongated curtains.

The door burst open and in rushed Spike and Sheela, getting to her side immediately. Spike help her hand and rubbed her back as Sheela sheathed her blades and sat down.

"What's wrong, Sweetie?" asked Spike.

It took a while for Sweetiebelle to bring herself to respond and when she did it was simple, "I... I had a nightmare." she managed to say.

"Do you want to talk about it?" he offered. But she shook her head and kept shivering in both fear and cold. Spike sighed, "alright then. Do you want me to stay here with you?"

Sweetiebelle nodded this time, she wanted him to stay.

"Alright then." he smiled and climbed into the bed next to you, laying above the sheets and caressing her cheek as he placed an arm around her and pulled her close. He kept her warm and close, he was there for her.

She smiled and looked up at him with joyful, yet tired, eyes. She was glad that he was with her, and now that she felt safe, she gently closed her eyes again and tried to get back to sleep. Resting her head on Spike chest and falling asleep to the sound of his heart beat. A small smile appeared on her face as she drifted off into dreamland as she knew no harm would come to her wile he was near.

It was 8:47 am and the dark room that the two teens slept in was no longer dark as the warm rays of sunlight flooded the room and the surrounding forest was clearly visible. Spike woke up first and Sweetie was still fast asleep on his chest, she slept soundly and peacefully; her chest slowly rising up and down as the her hair drooped down over her face as she wore her short, light pink and purple laced night-dress.

A small smile formed on the purple dragon's face, "so cute," he said proudly as he slowly got up, trying his best not to disturb the sleeping beauty. Once he was up he left the room, quietly closing the wooden door and walking into the kitchen.

The holiday home that they stayed in was more or less just a small cabin in the middle of the woods which was perched in a mountainous valley. It was small and consisted of only two bedrooms, a living room, a bathroom and a kitchen. Since there was only two bedrooms, Sheela and Buzz had to sleep in the living room, but they took it in turns to stand watch, so they didn't get much time to sleep.

As Spike entered the kitchen he was immediately greeted by Sheela who was polishing her blades and drinking a cup of what he assumed to be coffee.

"Morning Sheela, how did you sleep?" he asked with a yawn.

"I didn't sleep, I stayed up the entire night." she answered.

"Oh... why?" he asked.

"Because its my job to protect you two."

"So you stayed up the entire night?"

"Of course, its my duty." ... "Now, I'll make you breakfast but I need you to gather wood for the fire. We don't want to freeze and believe me, it can get cold here."

"Okay." she replied and did as he was told, he ventured out of the cabin into the cold, and foggy woods to collect sticks and wood. He kept his eyes glued to the ground as he traversed past trees, bushes and a large, omniscient lake. Along the way he picked up at least a dozen or so descent sized sticks and he could certainly carry a lot more. However, his quest was blocked by an intruder who Spike wondered why he hadn't seen her earlier. It had been so long since he had seen his childhood rival and he was hoping to keep it that way.

"Good morning, Spike." Tiara greeted, donning her black, hooded cloak to make her face barely visible.

"What's so good about this morning?"

"Aww, what's wrong, Spiky."

"You're here, that's what!"

Diamond pouted, "Well that's not very nice of you!"

"Nor is sending an entire party of your little cult out to kill us!" Spike argued.

"So you know why I'm here then, don't you?" she asked, becoming all serious all of a sudden.

Spike nodded, "yes, and you better clear off before I bury a stick in your pretty little eyes!" he threatened and grabbed a rather sharp looking piece of wood.

"Yeah, yeah whatever," she yawned, "I'd like to see you try to touch me"

Spike didn't reply, he just tightened his grip on the weapon he held.

"Now, are we done with the greetings. Because I need to handle a few things. Things that I won't allow you to trifle with!" she began to walk, right past Spike, ignoring the fact that he wasn't done with her.

Spike clutched his stick tightly and charged at her, waving the stick like a maniac with the intent of murder. However, even his rapid rampage wasn't enough for the cloaked girl as she merely turned around and caught the stick with her bare hand, stopping it in it's tracks as a puff of smoke flashed in her hand. She smirked and pushed slightly, forcing him back as her eyes flickered yellow.

"Time for some fun I guess!" she said with a hint of insanity breaking her speech.

Spike stumbled and regained his balance, he then mindlessly charged her again, "I won't let you touch Sweetiebelle!"

"You don't get a say in the matter!" Diamond stepped lazily to the left and held her foot out, tripping Spike as he fell to the floor. "Now," she said, "say goodbye!" she grinned and with a heavy foot, she stomped on his head.

Luckily, his scales protected him from any serious damage like skull fracture or brain damage, but he was still knocked unconscious from the impact and his body lay softly in a pile of leaves and sticks.

When he awoke he groaned, he didn't know how much time had passed nor what had happened at all. He looked up to see that the sun had barely moved positions. This was good, very good, it meant that just about no time had passed and no doubt Tiara was still nearby. He stumbled to his feet and regained focus, he looked around cautiously in hopes to catch a glimpse of a small, cloaked, figure lurking in the distance.

There was a sharp pain in the back of his head and he was sure that it was bleeding, but that wasn't going to stop him. He journeyed around the general area, trying to locate his attacker, but there was no sight of her. He had circled the house and back again with not even a clue to where she could be.

That was, until her saw that the cabin door was open. Spike was sure that he had closed it when he left to collect firewood, and he assumed that the guards would leave it closed to keep the wildlife out. Out of curiosity Spike took a few steps towards the building to see if anything peculiar was at hand.

Nothing.

There was nothing wrong. He guessed that he was just feeling paranoid. Diamond Tiara had probably run off to her friends to tell them where Sweetiebelle was. In any case, he figured that it would be best for him to get back to Sheela and the others to report what had happened.

He took a few more steps before her froze still to the sound a loud, high pitch, blood-curdling scream that resonated from the cabin. The shriek of pain belonged to a young girl who's voice hadn't fully matured as of yet. It belonged to none other then his cute little flower.

"Sweetiebelle!"

Author's Note

That's it. The end. Hearts of Class: "You, Me... Forever?" is over. But does that not mean, by any circumstances, that the series is at an end. I will be making a fourth story but as of yet that is all I will be revealing. Expect a wait to find out what happens because I have other stories I must attend too.