Spike’s Search For Smootches

Saturday, a day of leisure and laziness for all ponykind, the one day where all the worries go down the drain. For some, it was just THEIR day. For others, it was yet another 24 hours. For two residents in Ponyville, however, their Saturday was going to hopefully be eventful.

Spike and Applejack used the first half of the day to freshen up, making sure that everything was clean and classy. Spike polished his scales, making them shine like fireworks on Equestria Day. Applejack brushes her usually straight mane, trying to give it a regal, yet simple look. They were both ready, that was surely true.

The time was 5:20, ten minutes away from their outing on the town. They chose to call it an outing because the word date sounded awkward. Plus, it’s not like they wanted it to be a date, right? Well, maybe that’s reason.

Truth be told, Spike thought Applejack was actually quite attractive, though he always thought that it was a friendly type of attractiveness. On the other side, Applejack thought that the once baby dragon had grown into his scales. Whether these thoughts would be brought up tonight, however, was an entirely different question. Right now, the focus was on the experience.

Anyway, they pair began to make their way to their mutually decided meeting point, which was Sugarcube Corner. They both said goodbye to their respective families and made their way to the sweet establishment. When they arrived, the clock had just struck 5:30. Pretty good timing, wouldn’t you say?

“Hey.”, Spike greeted.

“Howdy, Spike. Are ya having a good night?”, Applejack replied.

“Yep, how about you?”, Spike asked back.

“Well, A’d say that Ah am. You ready to go?”, Applejack once again asked.

“You bet, let’s go.”, Spike said.

Applejack nodded and the two began to walk. They began to make their way through the quiet town, taking in many sights. Applejack was the one who broke the silence, and Spike was all ears.

“So..Spike?”, Applejack asked.

“What’s up, AJ?”, Spike replied.

“What was it like growing up with the princess?”, Applejack asked.

Applejack didn’t know why she chose such a random topic, but decided to go along with it. She didn’t really know much about Spike’s early life, so she was quite curious of what it was like.

“Well, I guess it was normal, I mean about normal as living with a princess could be”, Spike said.

Applejack laughed at the snide comment, she liked when Spike showed his sense of humor.

——————————————————————
Spike and Applejack were eating their dinner for the evening at the local oriental restaurant, Shinobis. They both had been having an amazing time that evening, with many funny stories and moments being passed around. Eventually, though, the talk began to die down. The two sat in silence as they awaited their bill. Upon looking, Applejack noticed that there was something up with Spike.

Gone was the bright smile, and in its place was a thought filled frown. His mood seemed to be dampened and sad, almost as if he was thinking about something ending. Applejack, hating the sight, tried to get some words out of Spike.

“Something wrong, Spike?”, Applejack asked.

Spike looked up and met her gaze. It was clear that he was thinking about something heavy.

“No, there’s nothing wrong, AJ. I’m fine.”, Spike said.

Applejack smelt the lie and pounced on it. She then asked a question that would turn the conversation around.

“Are you sure? Y’all know you can tell me what’s wrong, right? You can trust me.”, Applejack said.

Spike’s gaze, while not brightening, showed a bit more comfort when her words reached him.

“Well, I guess I’m afraid of the future.”, Spike replied.

“What do you mean?”, Applejack asked with a confused look.

“Applejack, tonight has been one of the best nights I’ve had in a long time. I don’t feel left out, or forgotten, or even empty. I just feel, well, right. I’m just afraid because it’s almost over.”, Spike said.

“You really feel that way, Spike?”, Applejack asked.

“Yep.”, Spike said simply.

Applejack was genuinely touched by his words, but she didn’t know what he meant by “afraid”.

“Why are you afraid then?”, Applejack asked.

Spike hesitated, but eventually responded.

“I’m afraid that I’ll go back to being alone. I’m afraid I’ll go back to being by myself in that castle, wasting away. You took that away, AJ. Those feeling are gone, and I thank you for that”, Spike said.

Applejack didn’t know what to say, but what could she say? He was right, tonight had been amazing, and she didn’t want it to end either. It was then that Applejack saw her freind Spike differently. He wasn’t just Twilight’s assistant, he wasn’t just her friend, he was a good, humble soul who just wanted to be appreciated.

“Spike, Ah feel the same. Tonight has honestly been one of the best nights ever, and I truly don’t want it to end. Ah also feel afraid, a’hm afraid that it’s just gonna be the same again. But, it doesn’t have to be.”, AJ said.

Spike wondered what she meant by that, so he chose to ask.

“What do you mean, AJ?”, Spike asked.

“Spike, your a good guy,and a great assistant, but your best quality is that your a good friend. Ah’d Be lyin’ if Ah said Ah didn’t want to do this again. In fact, let’s just hang out, just you and Ah. I need this too, Spike, and your the perfect one to share it with.”, Applejack finished with a smile.

Spike’s face lit up with a grin. Her words meant so much to him. It was then that he saw Applejack in a different way. She no longer seemed like a friend, but now she felt more like a trusted companion.

“AJ, would you like to go on a date sometime?”, Spike asked, not fully realizing what he said.

“Spike, Ah would like nothin’ more”, Applejack said.

They both smiled, it truly felt like the hard times had faded, and that good times were on the horizon.