Chapters Through Sickness and in Health
"I believe in you!"
CLAP, CLAP, CLAP
"Thank you Octavia, for another beautiful song!" A white coated unicorn mare with an electric two tone blue mane yelled. She was wearing a deep purple undershirt with a black vest over top and a pair of opaque violet shades her name was Vinyl Scratch. She was the standing bartender while Pony Joe a gruff beige colored stallion with a white undershirt hooted at Octavia with the other stallions and mares who were drunk while the few other patrons were passed out.
The establishment itself was Pony Joe's old diner until a new owner took over, but was nice enough to let old Joe keep his job. After all jobs in Canterlot where hard to come by. It wasn't in disrepair it looked like a high end bar you see for nobels but in actuality the prices were fairly cheap, the food great quality, as well as the drinks. The small bar was one of many since the new owner whom wanted to expand the small business. The bar was lively with drunken banter and hoots at Octavia "the live" cellist/singer.
CHIME
Everypony looked to the entrance, but quickly turned their heads back down as soon as they saw her. Vinyl scrunched her nose in confusion at her appearance but put on a quick comforting smile as she approached.
"What's your poison detective?" Vinyl questioned, eyeing the mare. She was an orange colored mare with a blonde mane, she wore a grey trench coat and a battered brown stenson, with her P.P.D. badge and 38 sub-nose pistol barely visible on her belt. Applejack one of the best detectives for the P.P.D. known because she could always get the truth out of anypony. (I wonder Why?) She joined the department due too the rise of crime in PonyVille and she couldn't just stand by and watch it all happen.
Applejack sighed as if saying not wanting to be there. "I want to see Spike."
Vinyl turned to Pony Joe whom shook his head no, then turned back to the Applejack saying "Don't know who that is."
Applejack sighed again and put her badge upon the bar "Look, You either let me in now, or I can get the police involved next time."
Vinyl opened her mouth to rebut but her eyes were drawn over to Octavia and Old Joe who were both shaking their heads no this time. "This way..." Vinyl says, with hesitation she leads the detective to the back room.
Applejack is led through a dimly light hallway, the smell of smoke and alcoholic drinks linger through the air making her teary eyed ever so slightly for she is not one for smoking. Though that wasn't the only reason she felt like she had to cry, she was so close to the truth, just one more door and all would be revealed to her. Though if Applejack was honest with herself she was deathly afraid of what lie beyond that door.
Applejack was snapped from her thoughts when she almost bumped into Vinyl without thinking as they had stopped abruptly.
KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK
The door opened just a crack and a light blue maned unicorn with a sky blue coat stepped out halfway wearing a white undershirt with a black fedora, a sub-machine gun levitating in a magenta aura next to her.
"What is She doing here." The unicorn sneered accusingly towards Applejack's direction.
"It's okay Trixie it's either her or the guard with a warrant." Vinyl explained casting a sidelong glance at Applejack.
The mare named Trixie squinted her eyes at Applejack for a few seconds before she looked to Vinyl. "The boss ain't here Vinyl, you of all ponies should know that." Trixie started to close the door while Vinyl hung her head in defeat.
Applejack rushed up to the door and blocked it from closing all the way with a forehoof, "Spike! I know your in there! Now bulk up and invite me in before I force mah way in!"
Trixie scowled and levitated her sub-machine gun up to point at the mare when a loud thump drew her attention back to the room. Promptly moving her head behind the door to muffle her voice.
Applejack heard Trixie's and another arguing in a hushed voices to each other, when she noticed Vinyl was staring at her the top of her sunglasses tipped as if showing the seriousness of the situation.
A loud sigh was heard along with a "let her in..."
"But Spike! As your wise and powerful advisor yo..."
"Trixie! I knew this day would come so don't criticize me on my decision!"
An uncomfortable silence passed over them.
"J-just, please let her in."
The door opened wide enough for her to see all the way inside. The room was well furnished with an antique desk in the center of the room, a stack of parchment, some ink pots, a small pile of gemstones, and the most noticeable, a clean polished .45 pistol with a silencer attachment. Behind the desk sat a tall burgundy leather swivel chair. To the left of the room stood a dark oak bookshelf filled with heavy tomes.
Some tapping drew Applejack's attention to the right side of the room where a pale yellow unicorn stallion with a red and white mane, and a white undershirt with a blue vest over it sat typing furiously on a typewriter. The ching going off every once in a while signaling the next line until he slowly stopped and looked at her.
Having heard everything while she was in the hallway pulled out a chair with his sickly green magic and put it in front of the antique desk. The door closed behind her and she was met with silence, Vinyl stood in front of the door, while Trixie and the unknown stallion trotted to the sides of the desk and stood in silence. Trixie's sub-machine gun levitating to the side of her, while the stallion pulled a .38 sub nose revolver in his own magic.
Applejack's attention was drawn to the chair as it slowly swiveled to face her. Her fears confirmed once she saw his face.
"Good Evening, Applejack," the voice belonged to a small purple dragon with green spikes atop his head, eyes the same color only in a brighter hue much like hers. He was wearing a three piece suit. A white undershirt, a black overcoat, and to top it off with a bright red tie. A nostalgic smile on his face.
Applejack gulped as she said her next words. "Hello.....Spike."
Through Sickness and in Health
"Hello......Spike."
"I'm going to guess you have a lot questions?" Spike asked in a calm but somewhat strained voice. His expression unreadable for the time being.
Applejack simply shook her head no and replied with a simple answer. "No, just one."
Spike raised an eyebrow at this. "Applejack my dear, surely you jest, I've given you a golden opportunity that not many have ever had." Spike said making the room grow quieter as she contemplated her next answer and question.
"Spike I only have one question and then I'll be out of your hai-er-spines. Now quit your foolishness and tell me Why You hid this from me!" Applejack was at the breaking point tears struggling to flow free, but her stubbornness wouldn't let her show this kind of emotion in front of other ponies.
Spike's smile wavered for a few seconds before he stood up and pulled his tie off placing it neatly on the desk, before calling out. "Trixie..."
"Yah Boss?" Trixie answered with concern showing on her face.
"I need you, Vinyl, and Flim to give us a few." Spike said his voice cracking ever so slightly.
"But Spike! She's one..." Trixie's sentence was cut off when she saw Spike's melancholy gaze.
"O-of course... come on guys."
"Don't worry Trixie," Flim whispered. "Spike can handle himself." With that the three unicorns were out of the room the door clicking shut with the green arua surrounding the handle for a second before fading away.
Spike's smile had vanished completely, in its place was a worried frown, his eyes no longer shined with malicious intent, now they had dulled considerably nervousness taken place instead.
Spike slowly walked behind her and locked the door as to not be disturbed from their impromptu meeting. "Applejack..." Spike was cut off as Applejack socked him in the face with her right forehoof knocking him down with a groan of pain. Spike coughed a few times before a bit of blood was hacked up on the hardwood floor. "A-alright I guess I deserved that." Spike answered his voice hoarse.
"You deserve more than that you two timing lizard!" Applejack screamed.
Spike chose this time to look at her in the face...and quickly wish he hadn't. Her eyes were starting to turn red and puffy from all the crying she had done. Spike didn't even know when she started crying, mabey she didn't either.
Spike moved to get up and put a comforting claw on her shoulder, but was quickly pushed back down.
"Ah don't want you touchin me with those claws of yours ever again!" Applejack huffed, "You still haven't answered mah question either! Why did you do it!" All the previous noise seemed to cancel out as they looked at each other. Applejack's withering glare, and Spikes sorrowful gaze.
Spike was the first to break their stare down, as he looked down finding his claws more interesting.
"The same reason you joined the police force." Spike said calmly.
"Huh?" Was all Applejack could get out as she continued to look upon the still young drake. Her tears stopping for a moment.
"You joined the police force as response to protect your home, your family, your friends... and me." Spike took a deep breath before continuing, "But you were gone for so long I-I grew scared that the next mission would be your last. But I was tired of being scared! I wanted to do something instead of waiting around, like you I chose to act to ensure My friends and Families safety, Yours above all else!" Spike was breathing heavily now, tears already flowing freely. "So I came up with my own plan. If I could control what happened out there, then I could assure what would've happened to you out there!" Spike sighed as he said his next words. "Applejack every dragon has his or her own hoard, something they treasure most in the world, that they will guard with their very lives! Your my hoard, my hope, and my wife!" Spike raced around to behind his desk and quickly opened a drawer. He pulled out a simple golden ring with an inscription on it that she knew by heart, Forever mine, Applejack .
Applejack looked on in sadness as her heart ached to now comfort him, but let him be for the time being as he continued his emotional rant.
"I started out small, selling almost everything I own, gems, food, favors, anything that could grant me some sort of foothold on what was happening out their. Then I struck a deal with the Diamond Dogs,"
Applejack gasped recalling their first encounter with them. When Spike almost kissed me. Applejack thought.
"I worked for them for months working my class to the bone. In return they kept me updated on what was happening, Taught me about sound leadership surprisingly, and And at times protected you from the shadows. One day they found out a planned 'hit' on you, and informed me. I told them that if they protected you without interacting with you then I'd find them the biggest diamond they could ever hope to see. Of course they agreed and...succeeded."
Applejack gasped once again as she had no idea that she could've lost her life on one of her cases if it wasn't for Spike.
"It took me more than half a year to find something acceptable for them. You remember about...five hearts and hooves days ago I said Celestia had called upon me for 'Royal Business' Well that was the day i found the perfect diamond for them, though the worst part was that it was someone else's. one day I had stumbled across a quaint jewelry shop in PonyVille and in it was the biggest diamond I had ever seen. So late that night I broke in and stole it and immediately gave to the dogs, but I'd rather not prolong the inevitable. For I know you already hate, the true me, a villain..."
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?"
Through Sickness and in Health
This Is Just An Authors note
I know this story has gained a lot attention but I'm suffering from what they call writers block now this is probably a one time thing but I am open to suggestions, it cannot be random and has to stick to the plot of the story so instead of putting it on hiatus or canceling it I'm asking you the readers for help. Leave suggestions in the comment section or private message me when you can.
