Spike shifted uneasily as he watched Applejack talk to Big Mac and Apple Bloom in a huddle. Come on, just let me help!
The purple dragon had been coming to Sweet Apple Acres increasingly over the last month. Applejack was concerned that her friend was going to work himself to death; his work wasn't always helpful anyways. Apple Bloom walked over too him. He smiled.
"Apple Bloom! So what did your sister say?"
Apple Bloom rubbed the back of her neck. "Well Spike, Applejack said she's really grateful for all the help, but you're already Twilight's assistant, you don't need the extra work."
"It's no trouble Apple Bloom! I already finished all my chores, and Rarity wanted me to ask Applejack what fabric she preferred anyways."
Apple Bloom raised her eyebrow. "Yeah, and she said Rarity could choose."
Spike scratched his forehead. "I need to go talk to Rarity! I'll be right back!"
"Spike! Wait," Apple Bloom called after the purple dragon as he ran away. Apple Bloom smiled. Ah, what a sweet heart.
I hope he doesn't work to hard.
Spike was out of breath by the time he reached Carousel Boutique. "Rarity!" he panted running into the store. Rarity looked up from the dress she was working on, Spike collapsed on the couch.
"Oh Spikey Wikey! What ever is the matter dear?"
Spike panted. "Applejack, a huh, said, huh, choose," he took in a deep.breath, "whatever fabric you like best."
Rarity furrowed her brow. "Hmmm. Well I was hoping for a more honest answer, but I suppose she couldn't choose. Oh well, I'll just go with the satin then."
"Right."
Rarity brought Spike a pillow and a glass of water. He fell asleep on her couch. Twilight came to pick him up a few hours later.
"Don't make any noise, Twilight," Rarity said as she closed the door behind Twilight. "He's so cute!"
Twilight smiled looking at her friend. "Well, he is just a baby dragon. Thank you, Rarity."
Twilight lifted Spike onto her back and carried him home. We need to talk about the work you've been doing latley.
Twilight kissed his forehead as she laid him in his bed.
Spike yawned as he got out of bed. He briefly looked at the Rarity plushie he had up on a shelf, he'd long since outgrown it. Twilight was making pancakes, and tossing in jewels.
"Jewel pancakes!" Spike shouted as he sat down at the table. Twilight placed a stack of pancakes in front of him. His mouth was full as he spoke. "Thanks Twilight!"
"You're welcome, Spike." Twilight giggled.
Spike belched. He began to wipe the crumbs from his face. Twilight stared at him intently. "Wait a second. You only make me jewel pancakes on my birthday, or when you want something! Twilight, please don't make me change the library layout again! We've done that a dozen times in the last five months!"
Twilight giggled. "No Spike, I don't want to move the books again." Though I have been wanting to move the fantasy section over near the science fiction section....
"Oh good! Hey Twilight if it's okay with you I'm gonna head over to Sweet Apple Acres now!"
"Spike, hold on. That's what I wanted to talk to you about."
"Oh," he said, rubbing his arm. Twilight placed her hoof on his shoulder.
"Spike, you've been going to Sweet Apple Acres a lot over the last month. And while I know you love to help your friends, it's just to much work for you. You hardly have any free time left. And, well, you haven't always been the most helpful..."
"Yeah, I know," Spike said, rubbing his spikes. "But I want to help..."
"But, Spike, Applejack doesn't need the help. I know you felt like you owed her a debt a few years ago, but you've long since repaid it."
Spike looked at the floor. "That's not why I go..."
A light clicked in Twilight's head. "Spike, you don't have a crush on Applejack do you?"
His cheeks turned red. "No!"
"Hmmm. Right, you have a crush on Rarity."
"Well, not anymore," he said, rubbing the back of his neck.
Twilight raised her eyebrows. "Really? Since when, Spike. You used to talk about her all the time."
"Well," he said, exhaling, "really after Rarity started dating Applejack. I kind of lost my chance there. But a few years before, when I went to help Applejack, I saw Apple Bloom working. I think I might have started to have a crush on her then."
Twilight smiled. "Spike, you have a crush on Apple Bloom?"
"Yeah. It didn't really sink in until about a month ago. Seeing all the work she did with the CMC was really cool. She's really hard working."
"So that's why you've been going over to Sweet Apple Acres so much?"
"Yeah, I've been going to see Apple Bloom. She's only two years younger than me; she's really cute Twilight. But I don't know if she'd like a dragon."
Twilight wrapped her hooves around Spike. "Spike, you're kind, brave, loyal, and a good friend. I'm sure she'd love you. You just have to ask her."
Spike rubbed the back of his neck. "I don't know Twilight, I don't know what to say."
Twilight giggled. "Spike, leave it to me."
Applejack laughed as Twilight relayed the story. "Little old Spike had a crush on Apple Bloom?"
"Applejack, I thought you'd be happy!"
"Sorry, Twilight, it's just so dang funny to me that Spike has been comin over here for the last month because he has a crush on my little sister. To be honest, Twilight, I can't think of a better partner for Apple Bloom than Spike."
Twilight smiled. "Will you help me then?"
"Twilight I'd be delighted to."
Spike gulped as Rarity pulled the bow tie around his neck. "You look fabulous darling!"
"Do you really think so, Rarity? I'm not sure, what if Apple Bloom says no?"
Rarity dismissed this with her hoof. "Nonsense darling, you look fabulous. And how could Apple Bloom ever say no to such a handsome dragon?" She scratched under his chin.
"Stop it that tickles!" Rarity continued to tease her small purple friend.
"Darling, I promise you, Apple Bloom will be swept off her hooves when she says you."
Spike hugged the white mare. "Thank you, Rarity."
"Applejack! I don't want to wear a dress!" Apple Bloom cried as Applejack continued to style her mane.
"Hush now. We aren't having any of that. Apple Bloom, you have to look presentable for your date."
"Applejack I don't even know who this fella is!"
"Hush! Just trust in your big sister, okay?"
"Alright, fine."
Twilight ran down the checklist. Spike in a suit and tie? Check. Apple Bloom in a dress? Check. Romantic candle lit dinner? Check. Now were is Pinkie Pie...
"Hey Twilight!" Pinkie yelled as she approached from behind.
"Pinkie!" Twilight quickly covered the page were she was drawing their names encased in a heart. "I assume you completed your task?"
"Yep," Pinkie said, holding up a light green mare with white hair. She looked around startled. "It's a lyre."
Twilight facehoofed. "No, Pinkie. I asked for a lyre, that's Lyra."
Pinkie looked at the green mare's cutie mark. "No, look, her cutie mark is a lyre!"
"Pinkie, that doesn't mean she's a lyre. It just means she can play a lyre. Oh no everything's ruined! Spike won't have a perfect first date!"
Pinkie put down Lyra, she walked away confused. "Hmmm. I do know one pony who could play music tonight. But I don't think she could play anything slow. Though her girlfriend might-"
"Perfect! Just get both of them her ASAP! Apple Bloom and Spike are supposed to arrive shortly!"
"Okie dokie lokie!"
Spike gulped as he approached a small table lit by a candle. It was off in a small alley not far from the castle. He saw Apple Bloom and approach from the other side.
"Spike, you're the fella I'm supposed to have dinner with?"
Spike gulped. "Yes."
Spike pulled out Apple Bloom's chair, they both sat down. Starlight brought out some spagheti.
Spike bit his finger nails. "You look pretty in that dress." It was light red and flowing.
Apple Bloom blushed. "And you look very handsome Spike."
"Thank you."
"You're welcome."
Pinkie said she was getting music! Were is it?! Twilight thought, hiding in a bush. Vinyl Scratch and Octavia set up not far from were Spike and Apple Bloom were sitting. Twilight breathed a sigh of relief. Her jaw dropped when they started playing a mix of obnoxious classical and dubstep music.
"What's that?" Apple Bloom asked, covering her ears.
"I don't know! Let's leave!" Spike said. He grabbed Apple Bloom's hoof and escorted her away. Twilight dealt with the musical ponies.
Spike led Apple Bloom to a quiet spot under a large tree. The moon was out, the ground was aglow with its light. Leaves crunched as they walked. Spike blushed as he stared into Apple Bloom's eyes. "Apple Bloom, I, kind of sort of have-"
Apple Bloom pressed her lips onto Spike's. He wrapped his arms around the filly. "Spike, would you like to be my boyfriend?"
Spike blushed. "Of course." They kissed again.
"Ooh so sweet!" Pinkie giggled from the bushes.
"Quiet Pinkie! We don't want them to hear us," Applejack said. My little sister, all grown up. She was crying on the inside.
"What do you mean I have to pay you!" Twilight shouted as she spoke with Vinyl. The white mare shrugged. Octavia tapped her hoof impatient with, Twilight.
"Madam, I kindly ask that you give my girlfriend the payment she so ever deserves."
Starlight giggled, and placed her hoof around her mentor. "Hey, at least Spike had a nice date."
Twilight smiled. "Yes, I suppose he did."
THE END.
