Finding Your Family

Snap moved deliberately through the streets until he came to Spike's place. All the lights were off, but he pounded on the door with his hoof, anyway. When no answer came, he pounded even harder.

"You know they have a doorbell, right?"

Snap turned around to see a young hippogriff sneering lightly at him. "Do you have a key?"

"No," she scoffed. "Why would I have a key? It's not my house..."

Snap grabbed the door handle and tried to twist it, but it was locked. He pounded again, rang twice, then pounded again.

"They're not home right now," the hippogriff said, returning to her gardening. "Scootaloo and the kids haven't been here in days. It's just Spike there, now, and he's not in."

"Where is he?"

"Probably still at the castle. He usually shows up ten minutes from now. I suggest you wait for him."

Snap sighed and approached her. "Do you spend a lot of time with them?"

"Not really. I just live next door. I used to spend some time with Spike, back when he was living alone, but I haven't really spoken to him outside of some passing platitudes since his family came back. Well, and the block party, but that's another story for another time."

"Are they good together?"

"Sure. I don't know how long they've been married, but they seem fine."

"They're not married."

The hippogriff looked up. "Seriously? I thought they were. They certainly act like they are."

"Do they?"

"Yeah. They behave like they've been happily married for years. Are they seriously not married yet?"

"Not yet," sighed Snap. "But they're going to be."

"Oh. I'm guessing you're helping to plan the wedding, then?"

"You could say that..."

Suddenly, the kitchen light clicked on. Spike had entered through the back door. He walked in, as could be seen through the archway, and grabbed a half-eaten plate of nachos from the fridge, placing it on the counter as he clicked on the oven with his tail.

"Excuse me," bowed Snap. "I have a wedding to plan."

As he pounded on the door again, Spike came to answer it. "We have a do-- oh."

"I need a word with you," growled Snap, pushing past Spike into the hallway.

"Sure, come in, I guess," shrugged Spike, closing the door. "I was just wondering if tonight was going to be quiet..."

Snap turned around and glared at Spike. "I have some questions for you, and you're going to answer them honestly. Do you understand?"

"Clearly."

Snap scowled. "Are you mocking me?"

Spike sighed. "Not at all. I'd like to change my answer to something more succinct, though: I understand your request unobsequiously."

Snap pouted. "My doctorate is not in literature or language arts. Speak Celestia's plain Ponish!"

"I understand exactly what it is you mean when you say you want me to answer honestly," groaned Spike, rolling his eyes.

"Good. What are your intentions for my daughter?"

"I had intended to marry her," answered Spike. "Now, I intend to find some way of making her and the kids happy without me being around."

"You don't intend to marry her anymore?"

"She values very highly the opinion of her parents. She's been seeking your approval since she was three years old. And you told her I was a terrible dragon, and that she shouldn't marry me. You told me the same."

"Do you still want to?"

"Of course. It's you that doesn't want that."

Snap was silent for a moment. Upon hearing the oven sound off, Spike retreated to reheat his nachos, then returned to the hallway.

"Was there something else you wanted to ask?"

"Show me the ring."

Spike pursed his lips. "That's not a question."

"Just do it."

"I can't."

"Why not?"

"I don't have it."

Snap scowled deeply. "You didn't even buy a ring?! Not even a simple one?!"

"I had one made," answered Spike calmly. "It was a custom job."

"Then show me!"

"I can't!"

"Why not?!"

"Because Scootaloo took it with her when she left!"

They were both silent for a moment, just staring at each other.

"She probably still has it," shrugged Spike. "I had it made to represent the family we wanted. If she still has it, and she probably does, the only think I can see being changed about it is a missing amethyst. The big one in the half-round. The rest would be too precious."

"Amethyst?" Snap turned up his nose. "What kind of engagement ring has amethysts?"

"The one I designed," answered Spike.

"Yeah, but it's supposed to be a diamond. It's supposed to make her feel beautiful."

"That's nonsense," waved Spike. "All the ring does is cover up the natural beauty that is her claw. It's meant to represent more than that, but what it means and what it does are two different things."

With a snort, Snap grabbed Spike by the wrist. "Come with me."

"One moment..." Spike pulled away and returned to the kitchen, pulling his nachos out of the oven, placing them on a stand under a cloche and turning the oven off. "Okay, lead the way."

Snap grabbed Spike's arm, holding him tightly as he dragged him through Ponyville to Holiday and Lofty's home. It was there that he pulled Spike down to the ground, kicking the back of his knee to force him to kneel. "You're going to ask her again. Properly this time." He rang the doorbell.

Lofty was the one who answered. "What in Tartauros?!"

"Bring Scootaloo down," said Snap. "Your favourite dragon wants a word with her."

Scootaloo appeared from the dining room, having not been upstairs. "What's going on?" she asked, confused.

"You're both going to make a decision," said Snap. "Now..."

With the strike of Snap's hoof against the back of his shoulder, Spike looked up at Scootaloo. He offered his claws, and she took them. His thumb ran over the ring twice, firmly wound around her claw. With little effort, he retrieved it, then held it up for her to see.

"Scootaloo, ever since the day we met, we've been on good terms. Occasionally, we have had our spats, but given time and effort, we have always come to forgive each other. Much like any relationship, we've grown together, each with the help of the other. You've always seen the good in me, and I in you. That is what love is, and I love you.

"But there's more to it than that. I feel that way about almost everypony in Ponyville. But with you, it's different. It's stronger. It's the kind of love that is uncompromising; unshakeable. With everypony else, any blow at the right place could topple the mountains and burn the bridges on the way down. But with you, an army of bloodthirsty Timberwolves couldn't shatter what we've made together.

"That's why I want you to have this ring. It represents my dream for our family, and it is my hope that you share this dream with me. While I would prefer not to make a spectacle of the event and force you to say "yes" just to keep onlookers from booing you, it is, in this circumstance, unavoidable. Regardless of what your aunts' neighbors think, regardless of what your dad thinks, I want to know what you think.

"When I asked you this before, you answered right away. With how long it has been since I last asked, I trust that you've thought it over and asked yourself if this is really the right choice.

"Scootaloo. Will you marry me?"

Scootaloo took the ring and fit it back onto her claw. "I would love to, Spike." She grabbed him by the jaw and pulled him up into a deep, passionate kiss.

"I told you it'd work," whispered Lofty to Holiday.