Chapter 3 = Friendshipping and Delivery

Applejack was collecting apples as usual when Spike arrived at Sweet Apple Acres. She just bucked her hind legs against a tree, bring down a batch of those juicy fruits into a basket.

“Hey, Applejack!” he called out to her.

“Howdy, Spike! Happy Hearts n’ Hooves Day!” she put down the basket. “What brings ya here?”

“I wanted to give you something.” He handed to Applejack his card for her. It was covered in apple stickers, with a couple of hearts.

She read the sentiment:

You’re the apple of my eye.

– Happy Hearts and Hooves Day, Spike.

“Well golly, Spike.” Applejack smiled warmly. “That’s mighty thoughtful of you.”

“Thanks.” replied Spike, smiling back. “You’re such a great friend, and I meant all that honestly.” He winked at her, letting her know that she inspired him to say that.

“Why thank you,” Applejack hugged him. “Yer also a good friend, and that’s the truth, too.”

“See you later!” Spike waved goodbye to Applejack as he made his way out of the orchard.

He then reached the one place closest to Sweet Apple Acres: Fluttershy’s cottage. He saw the little Pegasus with to two bunnies nuzzling each other on the nose.

“Happy Hearts and Hooves Day, Fluttershy!” Spike called out to Fluttershy. She, however, jumped in surprise. She didn’t like being startled.

Fluttershy turned to see who called to her. “Oh, hello, Spike,” she replied in her gentle, whispery voice. “Happy Hearts and Hooves Day to you, too.”

She then turned back to the bunnies, who now started snuggling against each other.

“Isn’t love so sweet?” she sighed heartwarmingly. “Even the animals are celebrating it.”

“Yeah.” Although Spike nodded in agreement with Fluttershy, he was actually getting envious at the love the animals were having for each other. He would like to have Rarity huggling him.

“Anyway, I got you something.” he handed to Fluttershy his card to her. It, too had stickers, but they were butterflies and bunnies. Its sentiment was just as charming:

Nopony is sweeter than you.

—Happy Hearts and Hooves Day, Spike.

Fluttershy smiled, touched by this kind gesture. “Oh, thank you, Spike. You’re so sweet.”

Spike blushed at the complement. “You’re welcome. You’re sweet, too. I’m lucky to have such a kind friend like you.”

“And I’m thankful that we’re friends, too.” She hugged him gently. Spike could feel the warmth from her, as well as from her heart. She was perhaps the kindest friend ever.

He felt a tug at his tail. Angel, Fluttershy’s white rabbit, was thumping his left foot impatiently.

“Alright, alright,” Spike responded by yanking his tail back. He moved on. “See you later, Fluttershy!”

“Ok. Good-bye, Spike!” Fluttershy waved to him.

Spike returned back to Ponyville. His next destination was Sugarcube Corner. He was just about to reach the shop when he noticed the Golden Oaks Library.

“Might as well drop off Twilight’s card.” he said to himself. He quickly dashed over to the library.

By the time reached for the door, he was unsure of whether to give Twilight her card to her personally or just leave it. He was too embarrassed to even consider the former. She gave him a card, and he forgot to give her one.

He opened the door a slight to see if she was home. So far, nopony. He opened it a little more—

“Hey, whatchya doing!” a bubbly voiced chimed in.

Spike jumped in shock, and flopped straight to the ground.

He looked up to see silly Pinkie Pie grinning from ear to ear.

Spike got back up on his feet. “Sheesh, Pinkie. You scared me. Anyway, I was just—”

“You’re trying to see if Twilight’s home so you can give her a Hearts and Hooves Day card for her, but you forgot and got it at the last minute, and you want to be sure she’s not home so you don’t get embarrassed. And you also got us cards at the last minute, too, and you were about to give me one.” She answered at break neck speed.

Spike just stood there jaw-dropped. “How did you know that?”

Pinkie bounced around him. “Cause I saw you coming with all those cards a couple seconds ago.” 

The dragon rolled his eyes. ‘That’s Pinkie Pie for you,’ he thought to himself.

And since she was here. “In that case, here’s your card.” Spike grabbed out an especially hot pink envelope.

“Aww, how did you know pink was my favorite color?!” Pinkie snatched the card out of his claws. She then torn off the top, and whipped out the card. It had balloon and cupcake stickers.

You bring me smiles when I’m with you.

– Happy Hearts and Hooves Day, Spike.

Pinkie smiled widely again, and then, much to Spike’s surprise, she gave him a big hug. “Thank you! You’re the sweetest dragon ever!”

“No problem. Can you let me go, please?” Pinkie was hugging Spike so tight she was cutting off circulation.

“Okey-dokey-lokey!” Pinkie broke away. “Happy Hearts and Hooves Day to you, too!” She bounded off, still hopping.

Spike was still catching his breath. When he finished, he went back into the library, and noticed Twilight was nowhere in sight.

‘I’ll just set this down here,’ he thought to himself as he placed Twilight’s card down on her desk.

“Spike?” he heard her voice. Spike dashed out the door, and closed it on the way out.

Twilight Sparkle came down the stairs to see if he was there. But she saw nopony. Then, she noticed the red envelope on the desk. She cantered over to it, and saw her name written on the envelope. She recognized the penmanship.

“Oh, Spike,” she giggled to herself. Better late than never.

Next stop, Cloudsdale. Spike reached the hot-air balloon that would escort him them.

Just then, a rainbow streak zoomed straight towards him. Only one pony could make that.

“Hey, Rainbow Dash!” Spike called out. But he was also waving at her wildly, signaling her to slow down.

The high-flying Pegasus stopped right in her tracks. “Hey, Spike! What’s up?” she asked.

“Cloudsdale?” he replied dumbfounded.

Rainbow Dash burst laughing, thinking that reply was a joke. “That was a good one!” she said, trying to catch her breath.

“Really?” He asked, though he was still confused. “Anyway, just wanted to give you something for being a good friend.” He handed her his card to her. It had rainbows and lightning bolt stickers on it.

Even today, you’re awesome!

– Happy Hearts and Hooves Day, Spike.

“Hey, thanks. This is great! You’re awesome, too.” Rainbow smiled. She gave him a light punch on the shoulder. Although Spike didn’t find it that light.

“Thanks, Dash!” He rubbed at his shoulder where Rainbow punched him. The two hugged. Rainbow then noticed the last card.

“That isn’t for Rarity, is it?” She asked with a smirk.

“Yep!” Spike replied with pride.

Rainbow Dash chuckled a little bit. “O-kay, Happy Hearts and Hooves Day! Good luck, Romeo!”

She then zoomed up back into the clouds, leaving Spike to himself. Now the only pony left was Rarity herself.

* * * * *

Spike ran as fast as he could to the Carousel Boutique, hoping that his Rarity would be there waiting for him. He had been so distracted with his friends that he almost forgot about her. It was already noon when he was making his way over.

Finally, he made it! There it was. The Carousel Boutique. As overwhelmingly beautiful as the pony who lived there.

“Finally.” He sighed with a relief. But when he reached for the door, much to his surprise and disappointment, it was locked.

Spike looked up to see a note on the door:

Nopony here! Gone out attending other matters.
Will return shortly, darling.

“Nopony home?!” Spike face-palmed himself, and then sighed in defeat. He looked back at the only card he had left—Rarity’s letter. He couldn’t believe that he arrived too late. Where could she have gone off to. “Great.”

He waited for what felt like hours when it was really fifteen minutes. He just sat there, waiting, waiting, and waiting. It seemed like he was going to wait another fifteen minutes or even hours until…

“Spike, darling,” a sweet yet very familiar voice said.

The little dragon’s despair melted away into hope and love. He looked up, and there she stood before him, carrying bags of red and pink fabric, thread, and other items for her shop.

“Rarity!” He jumped to his feet with elation. She returned. Spike opened up his arms, waiting for a hug from his very special somepony.

“I’m terribly sorry, but could you please move aside. I’ve been so busy of late, and I really must get this done.”

Spike’s eyes flashed wide open. Not what he was expecting, but…

“Oh yeah,” he replied, blushing, though it was more with embarrassment. He stepped aside, granting Rarity access to her boutique.

He followed her inside. Finally, this was it. The moment he had been waiting for. Sweat began trickling down his lavender scales.

Rarity, however, took no notice. She was laying out her fabrics.

“So,” she asked as she laid grabbed one of the new spools of thread she purchased. “What brings you here?”

Spike began to blush again. “I… uh… I,” he stammered. He was used to talking to Rarity normally, but for some reason, he was too nervous to even get word out. “Uh… Happy Hearts and Hoops Day! No, wait! I mean, Farts and Hooves Da–, no! Hearts and Hooves Day! Yes!”

Rarity turned her head towards Spike when he was just about to give her her letter. He expected to see a wide smile on her lovely face, and an ‘aww, thank you, Spike! You are the sweetest!’ But instead he just saw a painful grimace, like he hurt her feelings.

“Oh, Spike, why did you just say that!” moaned Rarity irritably.

“What are you talking about?” he asked, confused but worried.

“Today’s supposed to the most romantic holiday of the year, and I can’t find a very special somepony to celebrate it with!” Her eyes began to fill with tears.

“Really?” asked Spike joyfully. His eyes lit up with hope. Then he remembered he asked that out loud and in the wrong tone. “I mean, oh really?” he asked again sympathetically. “Sorry about that. Why wouldn’t anypony want to be with you. You’re so beautiful, and sincere, and generous. You’re the best pony ever!”

Rarity heard everything. Her frown creased into a smile. She was touched by those kind, genuine words about her. Rarity trotted up to Spike, and hugged him close. “Oh, thank you, darling. That is so sweet. You are such a dear friend to me.”

Spike blushed deeply. Just then, his eyes widened again, but with shock. He was hoping that complement he gave Rarity would make her swoon. Instead, she called him her friend.

“Friend, really?” Spike asked. He tried not to sound worried, but there was a slight hint of it.

“Why of course,” Rarity replied. “You are a true friend, and you always treat me right. Why can’t all colts be like you.”

That last sentence almost got Spike’s hopes up. He reached out for his letter to her. “I got you this…”

“Oh my,” gasped Rarity. She let go from her embrace. “I got to finish this new dress I’m making for the occasion. I’m sorry, Spike, darling, but I’ll have to talk with you later. I need to finish this before the day is out.”

Spike was shocked again. “But–but what about that special somepony you’re searching for. Cause I was wondering if…”

“Oh don’t worry about it,” Rarity responded re-assuredly. “I’ll find him. Happy Hearts and Hooves Day!” She went back to grab her fabric and spools, and ascended upstairs to her workplace.

The little dragon felt his whole world come crashing down. It was like Rarity took his heart and stomped it into the dirt. He looked back at his letter to her. He was about to follow her upstairs, but stopped when he reached the first step. ‘Never mind, I guess’.

Heartbroken, he made his exit out the door, too disappointed to stay any longer. A big disappointment indeed.