Through Sickness and in Health

"Spike, I-I had no idea. Why didn't you come to me sooner we could've worked this out." Applejack said in a quiet voice.

"I had to do it my own way Applejack. Th-this was my Manehatten trip." Spike walked up to Applejack, ring in claw, slowly he held out his hand to Applejack gesturing that she hold out her hoof.

Applejack did so a little confused by the gesture.

"Close your eyes." Spike commanded softly.

Applejack was a little reluctant but eventually did so.

She felt his claw rap around her hoof, but it quickly drew away and was a replaced with a small object.

She prayed to Celestia and Luna that it wasn't what she thought it was.

"You can open them now."

And she did the first thing she saw was Spike on his knees with his claws held out, his eyes were closed but tears still streamed out across his face. His breathing seemed erratic, but as looked to her still outstretched hoof her heart stopped. In her hoof was a ring, not just a ring, but a simple golden ring with a small inscription carved inside.

Forever yours, Applejack

She whimpered quietly as heart started to break new tears forming in her eyes. "Wh...What are y-yah doing?" Applejack chocked out.

"Shh, it will make things easier. I've been gone too long, the Spike you knew isn't here right now." Spike said his voice calm but his eyes showed it all. Life itself seemed to be sucked out of them as his mind was made up, as if he knew this would happen.

"B-but Spike..." Applejack had tried to say but was silenced with a kiss to the lips, quick but gone too fast. Spike pulled away with a small smile on his face. A smile that crushed what little of her heart was left.

"Do your job Applejack, it's okay I trust you."

Reluctantly Applejack pulled out a pair of cuffs from under her trench coat and slowly and shakily cuffed Spikes outstretched hands. "Spike Apple, you are under arrest by suspicion of murder, theft, plagiarism, and more."

Spike smiled softly ready to accept his face but he wasn't ready for was a large collection of voices screaming out behind the still locked door.

"NOOO!" A bunch of voices screamed from behind the locked door causing the two to snap their heads to the source. The door flung of its hinges catching both Spike and Applejack by surprise.

2 Hours Ago...

The door clicked softly shut as the sickly green magic dispersed no longer surrounding the handle. Trixie sighed as she turned around away from the door to see all but Flim had gone to the actual establishment.

"You comin' Trixie?" Flim asked in a slightly concerned voice.

"Yeah...I-I need to step outside." With that Trixie quickly brushed past Flim before he could protest and out the door,

Outside Trixie shakily grasped a cigarette packet and lighter in her magic as she intended to calm down with a smoke. As she opened the packet the little bell above the door to the bar quietly chimed alerting her that somepony was coming and by then Trixie had already lighted the cigarette taking a long drag before exhaling a grey cloud of smoke.

"Willing to share?" A gruff voice asked

Trixie sighed outwardly as she turned to meet Old Joe, the previous owner of the bar only now a bit weathered with age, the stallion had soft green eyes with a tan coat and mane, he was wearing a white undershirt with a black tie tied loosely around his neck. The last thing on the stallion was carrying with was a .38 sub-nose pistol strapped around his waist.

"Why not." She replied halfheartedly.

She promptly lit another cigarette and passed into Joe who took one short puff before spitting it out.

"Why'd you do that!" Trixie asked a little angry that he wasted a good smoke.

"Cause I don't smoke." Joe replied calmly. Trixie just let out a frustrated sigh and turned away to face the wide streets of Canterlot.

After a few seconds of silence Joe started the conversation up again. "Now, tell Ole' Joe what seems to be the problem."

Trixie hmmphed and turned away knowing the old fool didn't know what he was talking about.

"Ah, boy troubles I get it, thinkin' an old stallion like me won't do you no good." Trixie turned to him wide eyed and mouth agape. Joe took this as a sign to continue, with a few chuckles of course. " Well assuming your not a filly fooler," Joe asked with a raised eyebrow getting a nod in conformance he continued. "and that me nor Flim is the object of your affection, then that'd leave little old Spike, but you do know he's married right?" Joe asked.

Trixie sighed hanging her head low knowing Joe was right.

"But that doesn't mean you'll give up right?" Joe asked, surprising Trixie a little, lifting her head with a hope twinkling. "I'll bet my right hoof that things won't end smoothly tonight, one way or another things are gonna turn ugly."

"Why'd you say that." Trixie asks with a hint of confusion.

Look at this form a third person perspective which, I'm sure your great at." Joe said with more emphasis on the end causing Trixie to blush in embarrassment. "Applejack is a prime example of justice, she works hard, is so stubborn that it takes more than just a couple of bullets to keep her down, she's honest to a default, and is downright one of the best ponies I've seen when it comes to the art of law." Joe took a deep breath "Spike on the other hoof is or can be the exact opposite. We lie and cheat through the system, we enforce our laws instead of that ones everypony s'pose to be followin'. Spike can be calm, skillful, cold, and when he's mad enough, he can be demented. But what I'm saying is that crime and law don't mix, band when they do your just asking for trouble.

Trixie took in all what Joe had said started to think deeply on it.

"Though one more thing?" Joe said, "Don't give up hope." With Joe trotted back inside the bar the little bell on to signaling his exit. It took a few minutes for Trixie to decide on what to do, but her heart made up her mind for her and she smiled as she turned back to go inside.

"Really that's how you met Spike!" Vinyl exclaimed gasping for breath she doubled over trying to regain her breath from the story Octavia told the group.

The four friends were sitting at the only table with its chairs still on the floor, the others were turned upside down and place on their designated tables for the night.

After the groups chuckles subsided Octavia spoke, "Well it was a wee bit akward I agree but it's not that funny!" Octavia complained.

"Oh yes it is." Vinyl said giggling like an ad mare.

"If mines so funny then why don't you tell yours." Octavia pointed out.

Vinyl scoffed in mock offense "If you insist." Vinyl replied.

CHIME

All heads turned to Trixie who now stood staring awkwardly back at her four friends before Flim decided to break the tension.

"Trixie your back! I was starting to get worried." Flim said as the others nodded.

"Thanks for your concern guys," Trixie said. "I just needed to step outside for minute, let everything sink in you know?"