It was an impressive sight really.  Despite its age the golden exterior didn't appear tarnished or even damaged in the slightest.  That was special in itself, because if what he'd just been told was correct he was certain this crown would have experienced many battles.  Perhaps there was a sort of magic to it that kept its pristine condition intact?  It wasn't just the gold of the crown that sparkled, the ruby gems set in the crown also appeared to be in perfect condition.  It was the kind of thing he imagined Rarity would have gone nuts over.  

Spike ran one finger over the crown as it sat on the table between himself and Twilight.  Something about it seemed entrancing, almost dangerous.  It was an artifact of immense importance and the idea of it being solely his was almost overwhelming.  That wasn't the only problem with it though.  Twilight was watching him as he was thinking, calmly sipping her tea every so often.  "Is it weird owning something that comes from your homeland?"  She asked curiously but Spike didn't take his eyes off the crown.

"Kinda.  I mean... it's not really my homeland right?  This is my home."  He'd lived in the human kingdom his entire life after all.  Spike had never once traveled far enough south to see the borders between the kingdom and the Dragon-Blooded Clans' provinces.  "I just don't know if I should be the one to have this."  

"He was rather insistent I give it to you.  Devour had a face that you didn't say no to when he offered you a gift."  Twilight said with a small laugh.  

"It's not even that I don't think I deserve it.  It's just... Twilight, he hurt you."  Spike was having trouble pushing past that.  After she'd left yesterday morning things had been strained between them with their unpleasant conversation about the changelings.  But now when he saw those bruises on her neck the sight nearly broke his heart every time.  "How can I accept anything from someone that would do that to you?"  He motioned to the bandages the librarian wore and Twilight ran a hand over them.  Thankfully she didn't seem too bothered by the pain despite how roughly she'd described the abuse Devour had delivered upon her.  "Not just you but Pinkie and Applejack and then threatening to kill Celestia?  It makes me angry just thinking about it."  A soft hand reached out over the crown and rested on Spike's, Twilight smiling gently at him.

"I appreciate it Spike."  She said sounding like her old, confident self.  "Really I do, I'm glad you care so much about us."  

"Of course I care about you guys."  Spike said as he calmed himself down too.  Twilight gave his hand a little squeeze and pulled her own back across the table.
 
"You don't have to worry about us though.  We're made of tougher stuff than you might think."  Spike never really doubted their individual ability and strength.  Twilight and her friends had accomplished more feats of bravery than he'd ever have the chance to do himself.  "Besides you shouldn't hate Devour.  I don't anyway.  When I think about him the first feeling that comes to mind is... well, pity."  

"How can you feel pity for someone that tried to hurt you and your friends?"  Spike was having trouble comprehending it.  Twilight had grown up more isolated from her fellow man but he knew despite that she wasn't anyone Spike would call short on compassion for others.  Regardless though of feeling compassion and empathy for others, that man tried to kill her and that made his fire burn hot inside his stomach.

"You have to think about what exactly his life is like now.  Everyone he ever knew, everyone he ever cared about is long gone from this world."  Spike took a moment to try and comprehend that.  Such a feeling of loss that might come down upon you in a single moment.  "The entire world is different now from when he was alive.  The only people on the planet who are as old as him are Celestia, Luna and Discord of all beings."  

"I guess I didn't think about it like that."  Spike responded as he looked at the crown again.  It seemed to somehow sparkle less when he understood the history behind its original owner.

"It must have been terrifying to go out into the world alone like he did.  He has a shocking amount of bravery despite how much of a disadvantage he's at in this time period.  So don't feel like you have to hold a grudge Spike, everyone is okay and we're all still here with you."  Comparing himself to Devour's situation Spike suddenly realized just how precious the lives of his friends were.  It was the sort of thing he took for granted every day.  "I'm actually curious what he was like during his reign as king.  I didn't have an opportunity to ask Luna or Celestia about it and I've never read about him in my books."  

That wasn't completely surprising.  Dragon-Blooded scholars were known to keep their texts on stone or metal tablets.  Things that would resist fire and avoid the risk of losing their documents to an easy accidental sneeze or even a scornful reader.  It made sense but it was also difficult to get them to transcribe their information to books and left a wealth of knowledge lost to the human kingdom.  Twilight had complained about it a few times and Spike always found it amusing how the idea of books existing that she couldn't read bothered her so much.

"Well he lead a war against us, right?  Something like that isn't recorded anywhere?"  Spike asked.

"I've read about the Dragon-Blooded War before but I don't recall a lot of details about their leader or even their armies.  Oh well, I'll just ask Celestia the next time I see her.  Or maybe Devour himself if we ever meet him again."  

"If I ever meet him I'm going to sock him right in his dumb face."  Maybe Twilight had told him to forgive and forget but Spike still felt like he wanted to make that jerk pay for what he did.

"My knight in shining armor."  Twilight said amused at Spike.  He couldn't tell if she was teasing him or praising him but it was nice to be considered that, even if just in jest.  "As well as my faithful assistant, thank you for the delicious tea Spike.  As a reward for your diligence in service how about a day off from work?"  

"What?  But if I'm not here who's going to run the library?"  Twilight just gave him a glance as if to ask if he was being serious with that question.  "But Twilight, you're hurt!"  Twilight smiled a little at his concern.

"I have a bruised neck, Spike.  It's sore but as long as I don't continue to stress it then I'll recover in no time.  I'm more worried about Pinkie Pie to be honest.  Even after getting manhandled like that she didn't let up with her normal crazy energy in the slightest.  The only time she took it easy is when her injuries made her stop.  Applejack wasn't much different.  Those girls just can't help but push themselves to give it their all."  Twilight sighed with a bit of worry thinking of her friends well being.  "But," she continued, "I do have the benefit of a rather low risk job if aside from the occasional book falling on one's head.  Which doesn't happen all that often around here."  

"Well... only if you're sure."  Spike continued and Twilight suddenly got up out of her chair and motioned for Spike to do the same along with her.  Once he was to his feet she waved with her hands for him to leave.

"Go on, get.  Get out of here."  Twilight said as she playfully tried to shoo him out of the library.  "Out I say, there are no chores here for you."  

"Are you actually trying to force me out the door?"  Spike said unmoving with a deadpan gaze, Twilight smirking as she shoved his shoulder a lot harder than he thought she'd be able to do.

"Not so weak after all, am I?"  Even though she was smile Spike noticed a wince in her expression from moving her shoulders with the push, sending a small wave of worry through him.  "Go bug Rarity for a while and enjoy your day.  I got things handled here just fine."  Twilight held up her hand to put away the tea cups with her magic, only to find them enveloped in a pink glow that did all of nothing aside from rattling the dishes a little.  Realizing she was still without her normal magic power Twilight smiled and picked the cups up, carrying them to the kitchen daintily to put in the sink.  "Tah dah.  See, everything is under control here.  Now go on, I have some reading to catch up on."  

"Yeah right, if anything you have a head start on all the books in the world."  Spike said feeling a little better.  "Okay, I'll be back later Twilight.  See you soon."  

"See you soon Spike."  Twilight waved as the green haired boy exited the library.  He didn't really have any place he needed to be today to be honest.  He was mostly getting out of the house because it seemed to make Twilight happy to give him a day off.  He was pretty sure everything from that disaster of a party last night had been cleaned up, so hopefully there wasn't any evidence of his wild evening.  

Just thinking about that was like a rock in his gut.  He was keeping a secret from Twilight and that alone felt bad but also everything that had happened with Sweetie Belle and that fist fight that broke out and everything else, it was just too much.  "I'm a real jerk."  Spike said to himself as he walked with his head down.  He didn't even want to face anyone today.  While he'd been throwing a party and causing all sort of havoc his friends were fighting for their lives to protect the kingdom.  "I'm a selfish jerk."  That felt more on target.  

He supposed he could check up on Snips to see how he was doing after taking the fall for that party but he was probably at school by now.  Same with everyone else who had attended unless they were skipping class.  Which reminded him, he needed to return that little gift that was left for him back in his bed to Snails.  Might be a little awkward to hand it over to Ruby Pinch directly.  Second reminder; that jerk Rain Catcher that punched him in the face also owed him for those pizzas.  Third reminder; his medicine magically disappeared yesterday when Twilight took it to help in that fight against that other jerk Devour.  "Maybe I should stop by Zecora's and get some more?  Less tomato flavored this time if I can."  He had been walking towards Rarity's like Twilight had suggested but now that he had it in his mind he thought visiting Zecora first might be the better choice.  "Wonder if she could make something else for me too?"  

**********

Rarity's boutique generally had quite a bit of room for anyone to shop around and view her products.  She needed it too with all the dress dummies set up to show case her various creations.  Her spacious home was being tested today though with her shopping ability as most of the house was filled with boxes, packages and dress bags full of various clothing and fabric.  It was lucky her things were set to arrive shortly after herself when she got back from the capital as trying to move all these deliveries into the house by herself would have been tiresome.  Now that they were here though she was left with the task of unpacking.  The purple haired seamstress sighed.  "Maybe I got a bit carried away last night?"  

She didn't need half of these things really.  Rarity had just purchased them to take advantage of Blueblood while she was able to and get back at him for all his past rude behavior.  But even that she was feeling guilty about now, having spent so much of his money against his will.  At least all that spending was good for the economy in his city?  So she shouldn't let any of it go to waste.  Perfect rationalization to alleviate her guilt and make it easier to accept these items.  "Maybe some of the girls wouldn't mind taking these off of my hands?"  With a few adjustments plenty of these outfits would fit her friends stunningly.

Best to cross that bridge when she arrived at it, for now she was left with sorting.  So her morning consisted of opening a box, finding a hanger or dress dummy to give the clothing she'd purchased a home and then depositing said box in the corner of the store to be disposed of later.  Open box, store item away, dispose of box, repeat.  The only break from this would be when she'd locate a box that she hadn't purchased herself and realized it belonged to Fluttershy from their fellow shopping spree.  She didn't know how much of these Fluttershy actually wanted or if she had just bought them because Rarity had suggested her to make the purchase.  Regardless they were put into their own special pile to be sent off later.  

It was closing in on lunch time before she'd made a significant dent in the mountain of packages and she was hoping she'd be able to get some lunch and open up the boutique before much longer.  At the very least hopefully get these all sorted and the trash taken out to make the place presentable.  As she was getting her second wind at the idea of having this task completed Rarity stumbled across an odd little box amongst the rest.  "Hello.  Where did you come from?"  Using her magic Rarity floated the box to herself and looked it over.  "I don't recall buying any jewelry last night.  Did Fluttershy pick this out?"  Maybe it was for Rainbow Dash?  A little gift was a nice way to have an excuse to see someone you admired and try to win them over.  That theory was debunked quickly however when Rarity inspected the tag on the box and saw it had her name on it.  As if it were a gift.  

"Oh no, tell me he didn't."  Pulling at the ribbon to untie the bow over the jewelry box Rarity gulped as she prepared herself for what was inside.  "Remember Rarity, even if he was nice to you the man is a pompous, selfish, spoiled-"  She opened the box and a light literally shined out onto her face as the sun from the windows hit the diamond bracelet within. "Stunning gem."  

Rarity snapped the box shut and blushed, feeling stupid having said something like that out loud.  Was she really such a cliched damsel that a little jewelry would win her over?  She was indeed not!  The seamstress was a business woman, an artist, a proud and self-reliant individual.  Something like a sparkling diamond bracelet that literally glittered in the light wouldn't sway her from her stance.

But there wasn't any harm in trying it on.

Rarity put the bracelet onto her wrist and admired it.  It really was quite amazing looking, the diamonds had little rainbow like colors reflected within them when the light hit the jewelery just right.  She sighed and got herself back together again after that little rush of excitement.  "It's just a gift to make sure I didn't say anything about that night in the garden.  There's nothing more to it than that, he's just trying to buy my silence to stay out of trouble."  Rarity picked the box up again, planning to put what she was sure was a bribe away and not look at it again.  That was when she saw the piece of paper resting at the bottom of the box.  "Oh dammit."  Reluctantly she unfolded the note.

Dear Rarity,

I felt a need to apologize for what happened that night.  Perhaps I read something more into our conversation than was there and intimidated you into the actions that took place.  If so understand I meant no harm to you and will of course keep such a thing between us to protect your honor.  Consider this item a gift for giving me a night with someone who wasn't spending time with me for my influence and wealth.  

I look forward to coming in for a fitting for that suit you offered, if I am welcome in your fine establishment.

Prince Blueblood

"Of all the times he had to start acting charming, why now?"  Rarity folded up the paper and put it back in the box, closing the lid.  After she had done so Rarity opened the lid again as she didn't have any intention of wearing a gift from some rude, pompous man.  But he wasn't so rude that night, was he?  The lid closed again.  But he was probably trying to win her over just to keep out of trouble.  The lid opened again.  However it said right in the note it was a gift and she shouldn't feel any more guilty accepting it than anything else.  The lid closed again.  HOWEVER he was probably lying to her just to save his own skin and she shouldn't accept gifts from someone who would do such a thing!  Rarity's hand landed on the lid but it didn't open.  "How is accepting this any different than the other gifts he purchased for me?"  

She knew why.  Because those gifts she had made him buy as a punishment for his rude behavior before.  This was something she never asked for and didn't know he'd bought her.  What's more it was dangerous because it felt like there might actually be sentiment behind this gift and just wearing it made her feel guilty.  Rarity slipped the beautiful diamond bracelet off and put it back in the box, closing the lid and staring at it like it might suddenly leap out and bite her.  She rubbed her wrist where it had been thoughtfully.  

Her mind started going over the very complicated and difficult position she'd put herself in when it came to her love life.  Was she feeling doubt?  She didn't want to think that.  How could something so small cause so much turmoil?  In fact why should she wear it with guilt... or feel guilt to begin with.  She'd done nothing wrong, right?  Maybe if she put it back on it would help her sort things out a little more clearly.  Rarity opened the jewelry case and the sparkling jewels in the sunlight dazzled her eyes.  So much so she almost didn't hear the bell of her front door ring.

"Wow, that's a lot of boxes."  A familiar male voice spoke up and Rarity snapped the jewelry box closed in a panic.  Using her magic the box flew across the boutique and into her sewing room, hopefully out of sight.  

"Spike!"  Rarity said as she turned around to face him.  "Why darling, I wasn't expecting you at this hour!"  Spike approached Rarity with a quizzical look as she was forcing her face to appear calm and normal, an act that just made it look more strange and staged.

"Rarity, are you alright?"  Spike asked with a little concern.

"Just fine darling, never better."  

"Good."  Spike suddenly ran up and hugged her tightly.  The hug snapped Rarity out of her act as it caught her off guard, but she soon returned it to him.  Stroking his hair with her soft hands as he kept a firm but gentle embrace around her.  

"Spike?  Darling?  What's the matter?"  Spike's arms tightened just a little more as he nuzzled his head against her, letting out a held breath and finally releasing his grip on the seamstress.

"Sorry about that, I was just worried.  Twilight told me everything that happened and well... after seeing her hurt I was afraid something happened to you too and I just... Sorry."  Rarity smiled at how unbelievably sweet her Spiky-Wikey was and gave him a kiss on his cheek.  Spike smiled and held her hands in his.  "It was silly to be worried, Twilight told me you were okay but still it's just good to see you again."  

"It's good to see you too Spike.  I missed you, a lot."  Rarity leaned down and the two shared another kiss.  It was comforting to touch their lips together after she'd been so close to danger just a day past.  Something was... off, though.  She couldn't place it but there was something in this kiss that was different than the other times they'd been together.  When Rarity pulled her lips away from his she could have sworn she'd seen regret there and she worried that maybe she'd done something wrong.  "Spike?  Are you okay?"

"Yeah... yeah I'm fine.  Are you Rarity?"  His hands squeezed hers a little tighter and Rarity's squeezed back.  There was tension in their fingers and Rarity felt fear.  Did he know?  Did Twilight tell him about her and Blueblood?  Maybe Blueblood had confessed to Celestia who had then confessed to Twilight who had confessed to Spike who was now staring at herself and waiting for her to confess what she'd done and if she did that it would mean- "Rarity?"

"Oh.  Sorry about that, yes I'm fine darling.  Just lost in thought."  She pushed it down and ignored her insecurities.  Spike smiled and released her hands, seeming to say that he was fine as well.  It wasn't like Rarity to ignore something that could be a problem but she just couldn't face this right now.  "Even though nothing traumatic happened to me that morning it was still an exhausting day.  Then I came home to all of this."  

"Yeah I was going to ask about that, what is all this?"  Spike said looking over all the different piles of packages.  "Did you hit the Crown Lottery or something while you were gone?"  

"It's just a small thank you from the royal family.  Nothing more than that."  She didn't need to say which part of the royal family, no sense in causing needless worry.  "Fluttershy and I went out for a little shopping last night and we came home with a lot of thank yous.  Now I have the task of sorting through all of them and disposing of the trash.  As well as taking Fluttershy's packages to her home."  It wasn't a job she was looking forward to but she'd never be satisfied till the store looked like it should.  

"I could take them if you want."  Spike offered casually.  

"Would you?  It would be a benefit to me, then I wouldn't have to worry about it when the store opens after lunch."  Rarity smiled at his generosity.  Spike was always there to lend her a helping hand.  So dependable.

"Of course, I need to go back that way anyway to see Zecora today.  Oh yeah, that reminds me, Rarity I know it's a pretty big favor but could I have some of your emerald dust?"  Rarity gave Spike a questioning glance with her eyes almost immediately.  "I don't want to eat it."  He answered before the words could even be said.

"Well I suppose so, emeralds aren't any harder to find than most gemstones.  If you promise to help me grind some more later to replace it."  

"Of course, I'll even pay you back if you want."  Spike said and Rarity shook her head as she walked towards the sewing room.  

"Don't even think of it.  I wouldn't have any debts between us darling.  Helping me here at the boutique is payment enough."  Rarity strolled into the sewing room and Spike followed shortly behind her.  Walking up to one of her work desks Rarity sorted through the various bags of different stones, beads and spools of thread until she found what she was after.  "There we are, one bag of emerald dust."  Rarity said as she turned around to face him.  

"Thank you so much, I promise I'll help you make some more."  As Rarity gave him the bag and Spike peeked inside she noticed the discarded jewelry box next to his feet.  Her work room had different things strewn about it but even with her "organized chaos" the box stood out.  Seeing it and him together hit her with another wave of guilt and she used her magic to slide it out of sight under a roll of fabric.  She had to do something about this.  She owed it to him.  

"Spike, maybe you can pay me back."  Rarity said in a sultry voice as she raised her hand, the door to the sewing room closing behind him with her magic.  When the door closed Spike's head sprung up from admiring the tasty looking emerald dust at the very tasty looking woman before him.  "I can think of one job that needs to be done."  Rarity approached Spike and held him close to her, arching her back so that her chest pushed out towards him.  "One job that only you can do."  She leaned in to kiss his lips, parting her mouth open and letting her tongue meet his.  There wasn't any hesitation between them this time.  

Rarity's hands went around Spikes back and her fingers gripped him, squeezing the cloth of his shirt and holding him close.  Their kiss was passionate but her heart was still shook up from the sight of that jewelry box.  Was she imposing herself upon him simply because she felt bad about last night or was it because she really wanted him?  His arms went around her as well and she moaned a little into the kiss, not caring why she was doing it now but just in need of the comfort he was giving her at accepting her invitation.  

Their lips broke with heavy panting and Rarity stroked his hair again, looking down at him with lusty eyes.  "Can you take care of this job, Spiky-Wikey?"  

"I... I..."  Spike tried to answer and suddenly put his face against her breasts, panting hard as he tried to find the words.  "I can't believe I'm saying this."  Spike groaned as he looked up.  "Rarity, I can't do this right now."  

"O-oh.  You can't?"  The woman was literally stunned.  She didn't think she'd ever been rejected like that before.  "I see."  If he hadn't been holding her she might have fallen off her feet.  

"I want to.  I really... really want to."  Spike said as he swallowed a lump in his throat.  "But I can't right now.  I'm on a schedule and I need to get back before time runs out for a lot of other people besides me."  He laid his head against her chest and hugged her tightly.  "I'm sorry Rarity.  I'm an idiot."  

"No.  No you're not."  Rarity said and lifted his chin to look at her.  "I won't hear that kind of talk about you, understand?"  Spike nodded but still looked sad he disappointed her.  "I was surprised, admittedly, but it would be selfish of me to keep you hear for myself if other people need you.  So don't think a thing of it."  Spike nodded to her and they kissed and they hugged and they kissed again as if Spike leaving right now would somehow take away their chance to share these feelings again later.  Before long though they finally separated and Spike let out a breath.

"Tomorrow?  Can I come over to see you then?"  

"Darling... I have so many things I bought that I want to show you.  I hope you'll be willing to come by and see them."  Spike's response was very positive that he most certainly would not let those garments she bought for the bedroom go to waste.  When they felt more confident again the two left the sewing room, Spike using one of Rarity's wagons to load up Fluttershy's packages.  Once the trash was all taken outside into the dumpster Spike promised to get her friend's dresses to her quickly and that he'd be back tomorrow with her wagon.  It was as good excuse as any for the lovers to meet another day.  With that Spike was gone down the road through town and Rarity watched him leave through her window.  Rarity let out a hot breath as she'd gotten herself very worked up only to not find a release for that delicious tension she'd been experiencing..  "How rude of you, darling.  You shouldn't raise a lady's expectations only to leaving her wanting for so much more."  She'd have him dutifully tend to those needs for her later.

The seamstress returned to her work in the hopes it would take her mind off other, more frustrating matters. 

**********

The trio of girls walked together quietly after their school day had ended, retreating to their club house where they could spend their free time however they pleased.  Though one didn't walk so much as she skipped, flying a few feet into the air with each touch of her foot to the ground.  Her orange colored magic wings sprouting from her back and looking very thin but just sturdy enough to give her a boost with each skip.  Her friends watched on silently as the purple haired girl seemed to be in a world all her own with each step.  They were all the way out of town and through the orchard of apple trees before Applebloom had had enough.  

"Did ya want tah stay on the ground with us or ya gonna take off and skip on the clouds too?"  Her comment didn't seem to deter Scootaloo in the slightest but it raised some alarm with the third member of their trio.

"Applebloom, be nice. Scootaloo's just happy."  Despite her protest it was clear on Sweetie's face as well that she was a bit annoyed with Scootaloo's private celebration just like her friend.  "Besides you shouldn't talk about... you know..."

"It's fine!"  Scootaloo said as she made one last skip and came back to the ground, her small magic wings disappearing as she did.  "It's not like I'm going to get all bent outta shape over you guys talking about my wings.  Not like any of us can use magic that great yet anyway."  She didn't speak falsely to be sure.  Sweetie Belle was only just learning the basics of casting spells and moving objects with her magic, though she felt she had a firm grasp of it if she said so herself.  Applebloom still didn't quite have the magic touch on the farm like her big sister did either.  But usually it was Scootaloo that was the most sensitive about it as she felt it was another barrier to being like her long time hero, Rainbow Dash.  But not today, things were just going to good for her.  Sadly her friend's didn't echo the sentiment.  

"Ah'm just glad we're outta school finally.  Ah was gettin' tired of everyone askin' questions about that crazy party last night.  Like we know somethin' they don't."  As they cleared the trees the girls began to ascend the stair case leading up to their club house.  It was nice that their own private personal space had been large enough to accommodate them all these years.  Applebloom sometimes wondered just what they'd do once they were too old for it anymore.  "Not tah mention that essay Cheerilee is makin' us all write."  

"'Write down, in your own words, what you believe it means to be an honest and moral member of society.'"  Sweetie Belle mimicked their teacher from the speech they had received this morning when they got into class.  All in all the students had gotten off lucky, after being caught in the act Cheerilee could have done far worse by going to each and every one of their parents.  Still having that kind of ammunition to hold over their heads came with its own benefits for the teacher.  "She's obviously just punishing us for what everyone did last night.  We were learning about countries and borders and all of a sudden we get a morality essay?"

"Coulda been worse ah guess."  Applebloom sighed as she dropped her book bag on the floor and stretched out her shoulders.  The other girls did the same, Scootaloo still bouncing around with some pep in each step.  "Like maybe we coulda been harassed by a ton ah guys all day taday who were lookin' fer a date."  

"It was only five, jeez."  Scootaloo answered to Applebloom's obvious statement that was directed at her.  "Two of them we both knew already anyway."  

"That doesn't seem weird to you though, Scootaloo?"  Sweetie Belle asked concerned.  "Last night you got two guys into a fight and now a bunch of them want to go on a date with you?"  

"First off I didn't get anyone into a fight.  Just cause two guys decided to punch each other doesn't mean it was my fault."  Scootaloo said in her defense, not really liking the spin on that story where she was somehow the trouble maker.

"But two guys did punch each other cause of ya."  Applebloom corrected.  "Now apparently every guy in school's ready tah git inna fight over ya."  

"Maybe they all just realized how good looking and athletic I am."  Sweetie Belle and Applebloom exchanged a glance to each other at that suggestion.  "Hey, don't doubt that idea.  I saw those looks."  

"Ah didn't say nuttin."  Applebloom blurted out.  

"No doubting here."  Sweetie Belle confirmed, though neither one of them made eye contact with the purple haired girl.  Scootaloo didn't really like that tone they were taking either.  

"Hey, what, I'm not pretty?"  She asked standing before them with a challenging posture.  "What's here that a boy wouldn't like?"  Her friends still didn't make eye contact with her and that was starting to get on her nerves.  "What, do I stink or something!?"

"Kinda."  Sweetie Belle admitted.  "I mean you do a lot of sports stuff so you sort of have a... funk about you sometimes."  Scootaloo rolled her eyes as if she couldn't believe such a thing, but took a minute to sniff herself to see if she indeed emitted a "funk".  

"And ya never really comb yer hair or wear a dress or nuttin like that."  Applebloom offered as well and Scootaloo started looking herself over carefully.  

"Maybe guys just... like a girl that's comfortable with herself?"  She said looking herself over now.  Okay so she didn't ever wear dresses when she could avoid it, What's the big deal with that?  They were too breezy and she couldn't really do a lot in them.  Frankly she didn't know how Sweetie Belle could stand to wear them all the time.  "I'm not all caught up in all that girly stuff so they find that comfortable?  I'm cool.  Like Rainbow Dash!"  That sounded right.  Actually that sounded great.  She was cool like Rainbow Dash, no wonder all the guys wanted her.  

"I don't remember Rainbow Dash starting a fight before though and then getting a lot of boyfriends."  Sweetie Belle said, which annoyed Scootaloo a little.  It wasn't just that they were doubting the obvious coolness of Rainbow Dash but they seemed to be trying to find flaws in everything she was offering.  Why did it matter so much to them to knock Scootaloo down a peg when she was feeling this great?  "I still can't believe they both tried to talk to you after that."  

"Tried is the right word."  Scootaloo said giving Applebloom a glare.  "I can take care of myself you know, I don't need a body guard."  

"Ah wasn't havin' them trouble makers comin' round me after everything that happened last night.  Last thing ah need is another fight breakin' out in fronna me on account a these boys can't resist yer funk."  Sweetie Belle giggled and Scootaloo blushed, did she really smell that bad?

"Scootaloo can't help it if she's funky fresh."  Sweetie Belle said amused with herself.  "I don't really care if you have a lot of boyfriends myself, Scootaloo."  

"I don't... jeez guys, I don't have a lot of boyfriends.  I don't have one boyfriend!  Five guys asked me out on a date and I told them all I'd think about it.  You act like I have a line of boys waiting outside the clubhouse for me."

"Not a line."  Applebloom said glancing out the window of their club house.  "Just one."  The girls crowded around the window to see a tall boy with brown hair approach their club house.  It was easy to see even from a distance that one of Scootaloo's more well known admirers had pursued her all the way out to Applebloom's farm.  "Ah haybales, we really gotta deal with this?"  

"Wow, I didn't think Rain Catcher would actually come all the way out here." Scootaloo said with a bit of admiration in her voice.  A fact not lost on the other two girls as she watched the boy approach their club house. "I mean I told him we were coming here after school but I figured he wouldn't actually try to see me."

"Ya'll told him where tah find ya?  Fer cryin' out loud Scootaloo, why not just invite him up fer cake and tea?"  Applebloom was clearly annoyed by the presence of an outsider walking on their territory and Scootaloo didn't really want to fight her on the subject.  It was Applebloom's club house first and foremost after all.  She looked to Sweetie Belle for support but there wasn't any to be found there.

"I don't like him."  Sweetie said firmly.  "He punched Spike."  

"That was an accident."  Scootaloo tried to offer but her confidence was fading.  It was true Rain Catcher ha'd hit Spike on accident but it was because he was trying to punch another boy on purpose.  "Besides when did Spike start to matter that much to you?  You guys dating or something?"  Sweetie Belle's cheeks flushed red like an apple and she turned away quickly.

"N-no!  No we're not I just... I don't like people that hit my friends, that's all."  Scootaloo and Applebloom exchanged confused glances but their attention on Sweetie was over quickly as Rain Catcher was upon their club house and getting ready to climb the stairs to the entrance.  

"Ah don't think so."  Applebloom said with a hint of deviousness as she reached out the window and pulled on a rope, causing the spring in the stairs to make it fold upward and lock in place.  The boy stopped, really surprised by the engineering feat the young girl had constructed.  She stuck her head out of the window with a smug smile at the boy.  "Halt there!  No one gets up her without the password."  Rain Catcher smiled confidently at the red head and didn't seem the least bit unmotivated by her obstacle.  

"Oh yeah?  Can I have the password then?  I come in peace."  The boy offered and waved to her.  

"No can do, ya'll been vetoed out of here in a two tah one vote.  Now git."  

"Applebloom, don't be so mean!"  Scootaloo said as she put her head out of the other window.  

"Well ah don't want 'em up here and ah know Sweetie don't, so pretty sure ah counted up the votes correctly."  Applebloom was smiling smugly and it was getting a rise out of Scootaloo that she was acting this childish in front of the older boy.  "Should we tally 'em up again?"  

"Rain Catcher I'm sorry!  I just... didn't think you'd actually come out here."  Scootaloo was trying to play peace maker now to avoid offending her friend and scaring the boy off.  "Did you need something?"  

"Yeah, I was just in the area..."  Applebloom audibly scoffed at that notion, "... and I thought y'know, why not stop by and say hello.  Say, if they didn't want me up there did you want to talk a while down here?"  Scootaloo felt a lump in her throat at the question.  The attractive boy was offering her a chance to go off with him to talk.  She liked talking to him, when he did it always made her feel good about herself.  Like she wasn't just some scruffy tomboy but a real girl that someone would want to be around.  Still she could feel the looks she was getting from her friends as they watched her decide between him and them.  

"I um... I..."  Scootaloo tried to not look like a total idiot in front of the boy and was praying for some kind of help to get her out of this situation.  Funny enough it appeared, but it wasn't what she was expecting.  

"Are ya kiddin' me with this horsepile right here?"  Applebloom asked aloud as she saw yet another boy approaching, this one was pretty familiar to her as well.  The dark haired boy named Rumble walked up cautiously to the club house, looking between the girls and the other boy on the ground level with him.  Even Rain Catcher was taken aback that Rumble would be willing to show his face after what happened just last night but the boy was here with only a bit of caution in his step.  Scootaloo figured he must have seen Rain Catcher here before he got to the club house but apparently he kept going anyway.  Was it really just to see her?  

"Hey Scootaloo!"  Rumble called out to her, completely ignoring Rain Catcher staring at him like he wanted to deck the boy across the face as well as the death glare Applebloom was giving him out of the window.  "Did you have a minute, I wanted to talk to you if you didn't mind."  Scootaloo had to admit it, the boy had kind of impressed her.  Sure he was a lot more awkward than Rain Catcher, not quite as good looking and he didn't sound as confident when he talked.  But he did look danger in the face and walk towards it regardless.  Seemed like "danger" didn't appreciate that though.

"Are you serious, man?"  Rain Catcher asked Rumble as he approached him and immediately Scootaloo was becoming terrified of a replay of last night happening but with no one here strong enough to stop them.  "Is this like your thing?  I come in and try to have a conversation with someone and you have to interrupt me every time?  Am I gonna start having you stick your head into class every time I try to answer a question the teacher asks me?"  

"I don't even care about you, Rain."  Rumble said as he turned to face the larger boy again and Scootaloo felt her chest tighten as it looked like they were seconds away from another fight.  "I'm just here to see if I could talk to Scootaloo for a second.  I don't care why you're here or what you want.  I don't even like you."

"Ah don't like either of ya!"  Applebloom shouted at the from the window, wishing they'd just leave already.  The boys didn't pay attention to her, completely focused on posturing themselves to try and intimidate the other one into leaving.  Rain Catcher seemed to be the most fed up out of the two with the showdown they were having.

"Is this cause of your older brother?"  Rain Catcher asked as he got closer, looming over Rumble now.  "Your bro's a big shot with the weather patrol and suddenly you think since he's actually popular and likable that maybe you can be too and now you got the stones to just walk where you want and do what you want?"  Rain leaned down to look Rumble in the eye.  "Leave and don't look back, man."  Rumble stared him back in the eye for a while as the two teenage boys were facing off.  

"Make me.  Man."  Rain Catcher made a fist and Rumble did the same.  Scootaloo's hands clasped together but she couldn't pull her eyes away, oddly excited by the fight about to happen before her and terrified of it actually coming to pass.  They needed help, some kind of intervention.  An adult to talk sense into them like Applejack or Big Macintosh or even Granny Smith to scold them.  So she prayed for help again, asking the forces that be to deliver some kind of option to keep anyone from getting hurt.  And once again those prayers were answered, but not the way she was expecting.

"Hey!"  Another male voice spoke up and the teenagers all looked over to see the newcomer that had arrived.  "What is all this?"  The Dragon-Blooded teenager approached the other two boys standing at the foot of the tree that held the girls' club house.  Applebloom pulled her head back in through the window to talk across the way to Scootaloo.  

"Well that's sure lucky.  Ah hope Spike bein' here at least git's 'em tah calm down."  The farm girl said with a little relief.

"Is it lucky though?"  Scootaloo asked fearfully.  She remembered last night when Rain Catcher had punched Spike.  The Dragon-Blooded boy looked like he was going to tear Rain's head right off and might have had Applebloom not intervened at the time.  Having him here might actually make it worse.  Scootaloo went to look back out the window at the scene before them but she was suddenly joined by a neighbor as Sweetie Belle forced herself next to Scootaloo to see the new arrival.  "Uh, excuse me?"  

"Hey."  Sweetie said without looking her way, just fixating her gaze on the trio of boys now that Spike had appeared.  He looked normal enough but he had some sort of shoulder bag with him that hung at his side.  Scootaloo couldn't tell what might have been within.  Spike had now approached the two and they decided to break off their fight for the moment.  

"S'up Spike."  Rain Catcher said a little nervous.  Scootaloo wasn't sure if he was actually afraid of Spike or if maybe he just felt bad for what had happened at the party.  "Hey man, listen, I'm really sorry about what happened last night.  I just... I didn't mean for that to happen.  We cool?"  Spike stared at Rain Catcher for a moment, then looked at Rumble with just about as much disdain.  Then he walked past both of them and waved at the girls, calling out to them.  

"Hey guys."  

"Hey."  Scootaloo said neverously.

"Howdy."  Applebloom let out with a small tone of annoyance to her voice she couldn't get rid of.

"Hiiii!"  Sweetie Belle practically sang her answer back at Spike and that made him smile entertainingly enough.

"I was just dropping something off to your sister."  Spike explained to Applebloom.  "So thought I'd come by and see how you guys were doing.  Are they bothering you?"  Spike asked motioning to the other two boys.  

"No."  Scootaloo said quickly.

"Yes!"  Applebloom insisted.

"Hiiii!"  Sweetie still sang out and both girls looked at her like she might be a few lettuce leaves short of a salad.  Rain Catcher just sighed and shook his head.

"C'mon man, that's just cold.  I said I was sorry.  What, do I gotta let you punch me for us to be cool?"  Rumble seemed really intrigued by that idea.

"I'll punch you."  The dark haired boy offered and Rain Catcher popped his knuckles into a fist.

"Try it, mud puddle.  See how far it gets you."  The two boys were getting into position for a fight again but Spike interrupted them before things could get that far.

"Twenty bits."  Spike said simply to Rain Catcher and he released his fist in surprise after hearing that.

"Wha-what?  Twenty bits?  Are you asking me for..."  It seemed for a second like Spike might actually be mugging Rain Catcher but he spoke up again.  

"You bought pizzas at the party, I had to pay for them.  You owe me twenty bits."  Spike said and crossed his arms.  "That was everything I had.  Which I spent before you punched me in the face."  Even with as cocky as Rain Catcher was he couldn't keep eye contact after hearing all that.  "Twenty bits, where is it?"  Sheepishly Rain Catcher dug through his pockets and pulled out all the money he had.  He counted it out and offered it up.

"All I got is ten, man.  I'll have to owe you the rest."  Spike gave the teenager a glare who sighed and shuffled in place.  "I'm not holding out on you, really this is all I got.  You can have it, I'm fine with that but I have to get the rest to you later.  Cool?"  Spike didn't seem pleased still and it was obvious Rain Catcher was getting frustrated with him even if he had been in the wrong in the beginning.  Suddenly Rumble approached and put something in Rain Catcher's outstretch hand.

"Here."  The boy said, dropping more bits in.  "There's the other ten.  Just... I'm sorry too, Spike."  There was an uncomfortable pause between them all as Rumble had done the unthinkable and helped his enemy.  Spike didn't think anything of it though, taking the bits for himself and pocketing them.  With that Rumble nodded and started to walk away, waving back at the girls in the club house as he did.  Only Scootaloo waved back to him as he went on his way.  Rain Catcher could read the writing on the wall and decided a respectful exit would be a good idea himself.

"I guess I'll see you at school, okay Scootaloo?"  Rain Catcher said as he turned to leave, waving up to her as well.  

"Yeah, guess I'll see you then."  Scootaloo waved back, but she wasn't the only one with a kind farewell as he went.

"Git offa my property!"  Applebloom shouted, channeling her most grizzled old lady voice that she could muster.  Granny would have been proud.  Once Rain Catcher was actually out of sight it just left the girls and Spike now.  Applebloom released the rope that had held up the stairs to their club house in the first place, giving Spike access if he wanted.  "Sorry ya got caught up in alla that, Spike."  

"I'm not."  Spike said happily.  "I got my money back, this turned out great."  The all laughed together, happy that the tension that had been setting in on all of them had finally passed.  

"Did ya wanna come up for a while?"  Applebloom offered.  

"Yeah, we wanted to see how you were doing after everything last night.  Did you get in trouble?"  Scootaloo called out but Spike just shook his head, seeming very relaxed.  

"Somehow despite all the stuff that happened I'm okay... I guess."  Spike said with a hint of uncertainty.  The girls were going to press him for more but the Dragon-Blooded boy beat them to it.  "I'd hang out but I have some more deliveries I need to do before I have to head home to make dinner.  Oh Applebloom, Zecora said you guys need to be careful around Everfree for a while."  

"What?  Why?"  The farm girl inquired, sounding surprised.  Sure the Everfree Forest could be dangerous but she'd been through it enough times now to know where not to go.

"I'm not really sure myself but she said we all need to be extra careful.  Anyway I better get going, I'll see you guys later."  Spike waved as well and turned to head off but he wasn't getting away that easily.  

"Spike, hold up!"  Sweetie Belle said suddenly as she walked out the door.  The girl had moved so fast Scootaloo didn't even notice her leave the window the two had been sharing just a moment ago.  "I just remembered I need to do a favor for Rarity today, can I walk with you?"  Spike stopped and looked like he really wasn't sure if he should accept but did concede to the girl's request.  Applebloom wasn't about to just let that go though.

"Sweetie, ya just got here!  Yer leavin' already?"  

"Yeah, it's nothing big but I should get on that favor so Rarity doesn't get mad.  I'll see you guys later."  Sweetie said happily as she walked off with Spike into the orchard on their way back to town.  The two remaining girls watched them walk off as their trio was now reduced to a duo.   With the show outside over they returned to the inside of the club house and sat next to each other at the table.  

"Well, that stinks."  Scootaloo said.  "I was hoping we could work on that essay all together at least."

"Yeah, ah know what ya mean."  Applebloom said in agreement, the two girls just sitting there now at a loss for what to do despite actually having homework they were supposed to complete.  Neither of them felt like getting around to that right away though.  "Ah wonder why Sweetie decided tah leave as soon as Spike showed up."  Scootaloo leaned against the table on her hands to support her head, getting relaxed.  

"Maybe they are really dating?"  

"Pfft!  Are ya joshin' me?  Ah don't think Sweetie would do somethin' like that without tellin' us.  Right?"  Applebloom asked but Scootaloo didn't respond right away.  "Right?  Right Scootaloo?  Ah'm lookin' fer assurance here."

"I dunno."  She answered finally, not really satisfying the farm girl any.  "If they were then why would they want to keep it a secret?  It doesn't seem like something they'd have to hide."

"Ah dunno either, ah thought he liked Rarity anyway.  Always thought Spike figured he was too old fer us anyhoo."  

"I don't think so, Spike's been nice to us even if he doesn't hang out with us that much."  Scootaloo lifted her head from her hands and started playing with a discarded pencil that was left from one of their other homework sessions on the table.  "Sides... Sweetie Belle is pretty."  Scootaloo almost sounded sad the way she said it.  

"Do ya mean pretty?"  Applebloom asked as she pointed at her face.  "Or do ya mean 'pretty'?"  Applebloom made a hefting motion with her hands in front of her chest as if she were handling considerably larger breasts than what she had herself.

"I dunno, both?  She's got both."  They weren't exactly bombshells at their age but Sweetie Belle did have a head start on her two friends when it came to "pretty", they both had to admit.  "Some girls have it all."  Scootaloo flicked the pencil away from herself and watched it roll off the table.

"Now just a minute, all the way over here ya'll were dancing on clouds over all them boys that wanted a date with ya.  So what's with the mopey mumps alla sudden?"  Scootaloo laid her head on her arms on the table, looking the direct opposite of how she'd felt all day earlier.  

"I was just thinking that... what if Diamond Tiara was right?"  Applebloom's ears perked at hearing that of all things come from Scootaloo.  "What if these boys don't like me or don't actually think I'm pretty or nice.  What if they just think that they can have fun with me and leave.  That I'm just another Ruby Pinch."  

"That ain't nice tah say, Scoots."  Applebloom scolded.

"So you don't believe any of the rumors?"  Applebloom knew what she was referring to.  There was more than a few tales that Ruby Pinch was the girl to go to if you wanted something to drink and a roll in the hay.  It didn't help Ruby wouldn't deny the claims when asked but she wasn't kind to anyone that accused her of it to her face.  "Cause there's a lot of them going around about her."

"Ah ain't ever seen proof one way or the other.  But ah know it's awfully mean tah start believing those kinda things on a rumor."  Very diplomatic answer Applebloom had prepared.  She knew who was going to be able to phrase their words the best out of the two of them for this morality essay they were currently putting off.

"Fine, so everyone at school just think's I'm a slut then."  Scootaloo gripped her arms she was currently using to pillow herself with, feeling like a complete idiot.  It made sense right?  Why else would boys suddenly start paying attention to her?  Rain Catcher liked her and that meant she was an easy lay.  Might as well move in for your sloppy seconds while you have the chance.  Her brow furrowed further with worry until she felt an arm go around her shoulder and give her a hug.

"None a that."  Applebloom said comfortingly.  "Ya'll were convinced they liked ya cause yer hot stuff, so don't stop thinkin' like that.  Cause far as ah can tell yer real hot stuff, Scoots."  Scootaloo leaned into Applebloom's light hug and smiled, sitting up straight now to face her friend.  

"I guess I am hot stuff."  Scootaloo said trying to rekindle her confidence.  "But I'm not pretty... or 'pretty'."  

"Well if you ain't pretty than ah ain't either.  So ah don't believe ya cause, ah'm sure ah'm a looker."  Scootaloo didn't really get how that logic worked but there wasn't any point in arguing.  Still there was one obvious difference.  

"You're more 'pretty' than I am for sure though."  Scootaloo said nodding at Applebloom's chest.  Sure Applebloom was farther along to a womanly shape that Scootaloo was but to be honest the difference wasn't anything to write home about.  Applebloom seemed to agree as she rolled her eyes.  

"Oooh big deal, mah saddle bags are a bit more filled.  Whatever, boobs are dumb."  Scootaloo burst out laughing at that statement and before long both girls were giggling together.  The gloom and doubt was dispelled, Applebloom proving she was more magical than Scootaloo first thought with how she was able to turn her mood around.  "Wanna sandwich?"  

"Like those big ones you made before?  Heck yeah, why are we in here when we can have some of those?"  The girls popped up onto their feet and were down the stairs in a jiffy, heading towards the house in an even stride.  "Hey Applebloom, remember the last time we had one of those sandwiches, when Tiara got shoved into that barrel full of juice?"  Scootaloo laughed and even Applebloom snickered a bit.

"Yeah.  Don't mention that to Tiara though, it still makes her upset thinking about that night."  As they were walking Applebloom looked out towards the forest.  "Ya'll think Spike's still okay?  Ah mean cause he went kinda nutty that night and we just let Sweetie run off with 'em by herself."  

"Yeah it's fine, he ate that weird rock remember?  Not like it was his fault.  It's not even the first time something like that's happened.  Remember the love poison incident?"  By the stars and moon that was the last thing Applebloom wanted to remember.  Her brother was never going to let go of that and any time the anniversary of that day came around he always acted suspicious around her.  

"Ah'd like tah ferget that day completely if ah can."  So Sweetie Belle was fine but that still left one subject bothering her.  "Say Scoots, old buddy old pal a mine, think maybe ya could... sorta apologize tah Tiara?"  Scootaloo shot Applebloom a glare.  "Just fer the argument ya'll had at the party!  Ya said she might be right an ah believe she really was lookin' out fer ya."  Scootaloo sighed to herself as she considered Applebloom's words.

"She talked to you today at school about it, huh?"  

"Yeppers.  So if ya don't mind ah really think she was just worried about ya an' didn't know how tah express it, what with Rain Catcher an alla that."  Scootaloo grumble, pondered it, closed her eyes and winced as she thought harder until she let out a growl.

"Fine."

"Thank ya kindly!"  Applebloom said happily and threw an arm around Scootaloo.  The girl couldn't help but smile.  

"She sure is lucky I like you so much."  

"Ah sure am lucky ah'm so likable!"

**********

"Wow, so Twilight actually fought a king?"  Sweetie said in amazement, walking in step with Spike as the duo weaved through the trees of the apple orchard back to town.  Shortly after Sweetie joined Spike on his stroll she had asked how he was doing after the whole party situation.  Spike said he was fine but seemed set on not talking about it too much.  She wasn't sure if it was because he really didn't want to speak of the night or if it was because of the two of them.  Them and the things they had done.  But she really hoped that wasn't the case.

"Yeah, as best she could anyway.  They really couldn't stop him by force from what she told me.  Celestia basically had to talk him down after she showed up and convince him we weren't at war anymore."  Spike didn't seem very impressed by all of this either but Sweetie Belle thought it was amazing.

"That's pretty incredible.  I mean he was the king of your people and he'd been frozen in stone all of that time."  Spike was the only Dragon-Blooded person she'd ever met so she didn't know anything about their race at all.  They never even studied their culture or customs in school.  "I wonder what he was like, maybe he's even an ancestor of yours?"  

"I really hope not."  An obvious sound of disgust in his voice.  "After what he did to everyone all I could think about was how I wanted to punch his face in."  He punched his fist into his own palm as if to drive the point home.  Spike wasn't the biggest or strongest boy Sweetie Belle had ever seen but she knew he could do things other people couldn't.  When he punched his hand it made her think about how he nearly got in a fight last night and how just a few minutes ago it seemed like one would break out then too.  It made her uncomfortable seeing him act aggressive.  The Dragon-Blooded boy seemed to notice this and dropped his hands.  "Sorry... I just get upset when I think about how he hurt Twilight."

"No, it's okay.  I understand.  I mean if he hurt Rarity I'd be pretty angry with him too."  She didn't even realize while she was out going to school and having a party that her older sister was risking her life.  It was true Rarity had put herself in harms way more than once due to her being an Element of Harmony, but Sweetie Belle didn't like to think about that too much.  She loved Rarity and didn't want anything bad to ever happen to her.  "I'm happy everyone came home safely."  

"Hey Sweetie, I just thought of something.  You said you were coming with me because you had to do something for Rarity today, right?"

"Uh... yeah.  Is that okay?  Did you need to see her too?"  

"Well it's not that, I actually saw her earlier today.  But her and Twilight didn't get back into town until around lunch.  Which means you'd have been at school right?  So when did she-"

"Guess you found me out."  Sweetie said as she looked away from Spike, sighing and losing some of her happy tone.  "Rarity didn't ask me to do anything for her today.  I haven't even seen Sis' since before she left yesterday."  Sweetie turned back to look at Spike's eyes, seeing the confusion in them as he tried to piece it together.

"So why did you lie about it then?  I mean what was the point of saying that?"  Did he have to ask it out loud like that?  It was embarrassing enough being caught in her fib but now he wanted her to confess her intentions?  Wasn't it as obvious to him as it was to her?  

"I didn't think you'd let me walk with you if I didn't make something up."  Sweetie confessed in a soft voice, wishing it didn't come out so squeaky at the end.  Her voice was so annoying, all high pitched and girly.  Why couldn't she sound as dignified as her sister or strong like Applebloom and Scootaloo?  Instead she had this high pitched, squeaky voice that no one could take seriously.  "Because... you know.  I didn't think you wanted to spend time with me."

"Sweetie, that's not true at all.  Why wouldn't I... I mean I know things got out of hand, but you're not to blame.  If anything it's me that's the problem."  He was taking it all on himself again, just like last night.  Why was Spike so convinced he was the bad guy?  Was it just because he was a boy and she was a girl?  Yeah he was older and he did kind of push them in that direction but Sweetie hadn't really tried to stop it.  She had just failed miserably when it matter as far as she was concerned.  "I'm surprised you even feel safe being alone with me."  

"Stop saying things like that."  Sweetie said and grasped onto Spike's hand, holding it tightly in her own.  The act surprised the boy but he didn't pull away from her grip.  "You're not a bad person so stop trying to convince me that you are one."  Spike looked back at her but his gaze was weak and even a little sad.  Was he that distraught over what the two of them had done?  "I'm sorry I cried like a little kid, so please don't beat yourself up over it anymore."  Spike looked as if he was going to argue with her and just let out an exasperated sigh, seeming to concede to her.  

"Okay, I won't say things like that about myself anymore if it makes you that unhappy."  

"Good."  Sweetie said finally smiling again.  "But not just because it makes me unhappy, but because it's untrue."  Sweetie kept her grip on his hand as they walked, Spike glancing at it every so often between them.  

"Um... Sweetie, should we be walking like this?  What if someone sees us and gets the wrong idea?"  

"We're in the middle of the Apple Family Orchard.  Who's going to see us out here?"  It felt like a legitimate question and Spike didn't have a reply.  "Besides I've held hands with my friends while walking before.  There's nothing wrong with it."  Spike didn't look like he agreed but he kept walking along with her anyway, not trying to fight her logic.  They continued in silence like that for a while and Sweetie was starting to feel comfortable walking hand in hand with him as if it were the most natural thing.  The silence was weighing on her though so she thought to strike up another conversation before they ended up breaking from the trees and reaching the road.  "So you mentioned something about a crown?"  

"Oh yeah, that thing.  It belonged to that guy Devour."  Maybe she shouldn't have brought that subject up, it seemed to put Spike in a bad mood again.  "I guess he's the only king the Dragon-Blooded clans have ever had.  So when he found out the war was over he just gave it up right away."  

"That's surprising.  You'd think if he was a bad guy he'd want to hold onto all his power for as long as he could."  Spike thought on this a bit, as if it was a serious subject for him.

"Maybe... I don't know.  From what Twilight said he wasn't short on power.  I mean he used to fight Celestia and Princess Luna together."  Sweetie thought about the significance of that.  They were the two rulers of the entire kingdom and they were magic and everything but it's not like she'd ever heard anything about them being super strong.

"Is that special?"  Sweetie asked sincerely.  

"Celestia has a lot of power and she knows a lot of spells.  Some are even used for war."  Spike said as he now seemed lost in thought.  "Princess Luna from what I heard was a really good swordsman before she had her Nightmare Moon incident.  Possibly the best in the kingdom.  It would take some kind of monster to be able to fight both of them."  Sweetie watched Spike's eyes as he talked.  She liked them most of the time, they were different looking from everyone else and they even glowed a pretty green color sometimes.  But most of all they were also very expressive.  The girl didn't know if Spike was aware of how much of himself he gave away with his eyes sometimes.

"Does it bug you that he's a Dragon-Blood person like you and he tried to hurt the Princesses?"  Sweetie asked and watched his eyes soften with thought.  Maybe that was the case but it seemed like there was more to it with him.  

"I just wonder sometimes about what I'll be."  Spike said and looked at his right hand while his left still held onto Sweetie's.  "I just don't want to do bad things to the people I care about."  He rubbed his thumb nail against his forefinger, noting the claw like tip on the end of it.  "I don't want to be a monster."  Sweetie couldn't take it anymore, watching him feeling so bad about himself just for being what he was tore her up inside too.  She threw her arms around his left arm, hugging it tightly against her chest and leaning her head against his shoulder.  Spike looked down in surprise.  "S-Sweetie Be-"  When he tried to say her name a little small spark of green fire spewed from his lips.  Spike covered his mouth and looked away embarrassed.  She'd seen him do that a few times now when she tried to flirt with him on purpose and guessed it must have meant he liked it when she did.  The sight encouraged her further.

"You're not a monster, okay?"  Sweetie said as she nuzzled her head against his shoulder.  "You're not bad and you're not going to hurt anyone.  I know you wouldn't hurt anyone because I know you're a good person."  Spike didn't reply to her right away so she squeezed his hand with her own.  "Are you going to tell me I'm wrong again?"  Spike's chest rose as he took in a breath about to speak, then lowered as he said nothing.  They'd stopped walking since Sweetie had grabbed hold of him, frozen in that one spot where she held him in place.  She had to admit she enjoyed the moment.  "Good.  The only bad thing about you Spike is that you worry too darn much."  

"Hey, you start saying things like that and it sounds like you're calling me an old man."  Spike said with a little jest in his voice.  Sweetie was happy to hear that kind of reply.  

"Well you're still young enough but you're going to give yourself wrinkles if you keep worrying all the time."  She just held his arm against herself as they talked, breathing softly and enjoying the close contact.  This was the kind of thing she wanted, where she felt wanted and useful to someone.  Where she was the person that was desired.  It was unfortunate then that Spike had to shatter the moment.

"Um Sweetie, what if... what if someone sees us like this?"  Spike asked nervously but he wasn't on the look out for people spying on them.  He was just fixated on her.  

"Who's gonna see us?"  Sweetie said dismissively.  

"But it's just... I thought you weren't ready to be a girlfriend?"  Darn it, he would remember she had said that.  She had even meant it at the time, not sure if she could live up to the expectations that another boy would have for her.  Still it hurt to have him separate them when it felt like they were sharing a moment, at least to her.  Slowly Sweetie Belle let go of Spike's arm, she didn't attempt to hold his hand again.  Instead just standing a few steps away from him as if to put the invisible fence up that was now required.  "I didn't mean that you-"

"It's okay, I'm not ready for standing so close to a boy is all.  I'm just a kid still."  Sweetie said and started to walk forward without Spike.  He watched her go for a bit before walking behind her, the tone between them changing rapidly with that one statement he'd made.  "So, you're not ready to be a boyfriend yet either?"  Sweetie asked with some bite to her words.  She was hurt by Spike's rejection and didn't feel much of a need to hide it.  

"I wouldn't be a good one is all."  Spike said with what almost sounded like shame, which frustrated Sweetie Belle.  He didn't think that he wasn't ready to be a boyfriend, just that he wasn't good enough.  Good enough for what exactly, for her?  She didn't think so, so why did he have to argue against it so hard?  Or was she the problem this whole time?  Maybe he just wouldn't be a good boyfriend for her because he was older and she was just a little girl.

So who was acceptable then?  Scootaloo?  Was she the reason he came by the club house to talk to them?  He did get involved with that fight last night when those same two boys almost threw fists at each other.  The same thing happened today when those boys got ready to fight over her and Spike broke it up again.  So was he after her like all the other boys in school?  Was it Applebloom, she was more mature than Sweetie what with all her responsibilities on the farm and the fact she was always helping her friends and even Zecora.  Or maybe Spike wanted a girl that could do the kind of things Sweetie couldn't, the adult kind of things.  Maybe someone like Ruby Pinch was the kind of girl Spike wanted who could make him feel good without crying all over him like a baby.  Perhaps it was someone older and even more mature than that.  Someone Sweetie Belle knew very well and who was in every way her superior.  

Deep down she really hated herself for it, but she just couldn't lose to Rarity again at something in life.  Even if the only one that thought the two of them were competing was her.  

"Spike, kiss me."  Sweetie said suddenly as she turned to face the boy.  Spike leaping up and jumping backwards at her words.

"Wha-what!?  I mean... what?"  He actually looked as if the words didn't make any sense in his head.  So maybe words weren't enough.  Sweetie began to approach Spike.  

"Kiss me.  Kiss me right here, right now."  As she approached Spike he began to back away from her as if she was threatening him with a knife.  

"Sweetie Belle I don't... I don't think we should oof!"  Spike let out a grunt as his back hit a tree, Sweetie taking that opportunity to pin him down by putting her hands on his chest and keeping him there.  

"I want you to.  Won't you?"  She was pleading now and maybe it was a little pathetic but she was desperate and didn't care if it got her the results she wanted.  Spike was still looking around as if there was some kind of special exit this tree would provide him to get out of this.  

"Sweetie Belle."  His cheeks were blushing and that made her happy because she could feel the heat of the blush on her own face as well.  "It wouldn't be... respectful to you.  It wouldn't be proper."  Her fingers curled and gripped his shirt.  Those were Rarity's words and even though she loved her sister as much as the world itself she couldn't stand Rarity being a wall between them now even when she wasn't actually present.  Leaning up on her feet Sweetie pressed her lips against Spike's and kissed him herself.  "Mmmf!"  

He resisted a little at first, trying to squirm away or push her off but she kept a tight hold on him.  If he had really wanted he could have tossed her off easily but she knew he wouldn't.  There was no way he'd risk hurting her by doing that and she took advantage of this fact to kiss him further.  It took a little while but slowly he stopped fighting back so much and relaxed into the kiss as well.  Once his hands were no longer pushing at her shoulders she broke the kiss away and gasped in deep breaths.  Her hands were shaking but she was determined not to crumple up and fail this time.  Spike was breathing hard too from the kiss they shared and she stared into his eyes, thinking she saw that pretty green glow just every so lightly behind them.  It just encouraged their lips to meet again.  

His arms went around her and her grip on his shirt slacked off, her hands resting now against his chest as they kissed.  When his mouth opened Sweetie panicked just a little as she didn't know what to do herself but she parted her lips as well, mimicking him.  When her lips gave him entry she felt his tongue slip into her mouth and her small fingers were gripping at his shirt again with anticipation.  

His tongue was sliding against her own in her mouth.  She'd never done anything like this before but she was determined to not fail this time, having made it her personal goal to satisfy Spike and prove she was just as good as (Rarity) any of the other girls.  Her own tongue slid back against his and she prayed it didn't feel too awkward or apparent that she didn't know what she was doing.  Soon his arms came around her back though and rubbed her gently.  She began moaning lightly into the kiss, unable to help herself from the comforting but exciting emotions that were assaulting her.

When their kiss broke again they were both panting hard as Sweetie Belle was leaning against Spike now.  It reminded her of last night when they were together in the bedroom and he was doing these things with her.  But now he was stopping every so often as if to ask if she could go on.  Regardless of if it felt like too much or not she just didn't want to disappoint him so badly and be rejected again.  Her arms went from his chest to hooking underneath his own for a more supportive grip.  She rubbed her body against his own and exposed her neck, bracing herself for what would come next.  

Spike's head dipped down near hers and she felt his lips kiss along her jaw, her earlobe and against her neck.  She'd never let a boy do this before Spike and it felt so amazingly good that she couldn't believe those little areas had that kind of power.  She was moaning out now softly against her will but she didn't care, it was too hard to hold it back and felt too good to stop.  Her fingers held to his shoulders tightly as he kissed and licked along her neck and drove her wild.  She felt so very hot against him, her dress felt constricting.

This was the moment she'd been both dreading and craving at the same time.  Sweetie lifted her right leg up against Spike's own, rubbing her knee along the outside of Spike's thigh and lifting her dress in the process.  It was a big invitation and she wasn't sure if doing this was the right thing or not but she knew from experience it made him happy.  One of the hands along her back slid down and hooked beneath her dress, gripping her ass and making her that much more excited and scared.  He was going to do it again, they were going to do it outside and in the open.  She was panting so hard she was worried she might faint.  

He pressed against her butt with his hand, his hips pushing back against her own and greeting her with his erection through his pants.  The pressure wasn't like anything she'd felt before last night and it was almost electric with how much it exited her.  Sweetie's hands gripped onto Spike's shoulders hard, digging her nails into his skin through his shirt.  They were getting a little faster now with each push and even if having her leg up like this in the middle of an orchard felt a little demeaning to her she was also excited from how much he wanted her.  Her body wanting to release the pressure she'd been building insider herself in desire for him.  In desire for this and this moment together.  

Then it stopped frustratingly sudden.  "Wait!  Wait Sweetie... wait."  Spike was suddenly saying, forcing his body to be still.  

"It's okay."  Sweetie whispered back, trying to control her voice.  "It's okay, you can do it."  She rubbed her leg against him some more, trying to encourage his hips to continue their task but he was holding his breath as she did to keep from giving into the temptation.  

"Sweetie Belle wait... we can't.  We can't do this."  

"Please!"  Her insistence was even a little surprising to her but she was just so frustrated with how difficult everything had been up to this point.  "I promise I won't cry.  I won't cry so please Spike..."  

"Sweetie Belle."  Spike said as his breathing began to become less ragged, his hand raising from under her dress onto her hip.  She looked at his eyes and Spike raised a hand to her face, stroking some tears away from her cheeks.  "Please, wait."  When she saw him brush the tears away from her face she felt as if she might really start sobbing now, lowering her leg back to the ground and burying her face in his chest.  She had failed and felt so stupid and like some cheap harlot in the process.  Still just a foolish little girl.

"I'm sorry."  She said managing not to cry, mercifully.  "I messed it all up again."  

"No.  No you never messed anything up.  I'm... I'm not good.  I'm not good."  Spike said as he leaned his head down on hers, the two hugging tightly now.  "You deserve so much better than me.  Better than this; outside in some field with me forcing myself on you."  

"I forced myself on you."  Sweetie corrected him with her face still hidden away.  "And I thought the orchard was kind of romantic."  She swallowed a lump in her throat as she got to the hard question now.  "You don't want me for your girlfriend, do you Spike?"  He didn't respond right away, instead still holding onto her in his arms in their tight hug.  It was kind of scary in a way, as if when they made eye contact that something was going to change.  Something even more important than from how things changed last night between them.  Sweetie had said she wasn't ready to be a girlfriend (as if she even really understood what that meant in the first place) but the reality was she was just scared, not that she didn't want it.  Now she was scared that he didn't want her and she wasn't ever capable of it to begin with.  

Spike eventually separated them, the pair holding their hands together to keep some kind of bond between them.  Sweetie looked up at Spike and he back into her eyes, his expression suddenly changing when they made contact.  "Spike?"  

"Oh, sorry you just looked like... nothing, never mind."  She didn't know what that meant but it was going to bother her for the rest of the day.  "Sweetie Belle, I'm-"

"Don't say you're a monster."  She stopped him abruptly.  "Don't say you're bad, don't say mean things about yourself.  Don't put yourself down.  Because I know you Spike because I can just see it.  I can see it when I look at you; you're not a bad person.  And I don't care if you're not human or whatever you think you are because no one ever thinks that about you either.  They just see Spike."  The boy looked like her speech had knocked all of the wind out of his sails.  Whatever he was going to say Sweetie Belle had destroyed it with her confident words.  Spike thought about what he had planned to say again, smiled to himself and then took to his knee before her as if he were going to propose.  Which got an even bigger blush out of Sweetie Belle than she'd previously had today.  "Spike!?"  

"I vow that I will be respectful to you."  Spike said, holding her right hand with both of his now.  "I will do everything in my power not to harm you or shame you.  I will treat you as the honorable maiden that you are."  Spike kissed the top of her hand and if Sweetie Belle hadn't been embarrassed before she certainly was now.  That was a very "classic" way to give a speech to a girl, maybe even a tad bit outdated.  Still it was sweet in a way.  Spike rose to his feet and rubbed the back of his head, clearly embarrassed by what he just did too.  "I've seen guys in the capital make promises to women that way before and it felt like the kind of thing I should say to you."  

"O-okay."  Sweetie said a little dreamily.  

"I better go, I really do have to make these deliveries before I get home tonight.  Will you be okay on your own?"  Sweetie Belle nodded slowly to Spike as he nodded to her in reassurance.  Just like that he'd said his good byes and was now running through the trees, headed back to town.  Sweetie watched him run off as she absorbed everything that had happened.  The vow he'd just made, their turbulent conversations, their "activities" beneath the tree.  All of it had been quite the rush and even though she'd never say such a thing out loud her body was yearning for more physical attention in her loins.  Despite the whole exchange being stressful for her Spike made her body feel good in a way that no one else ever had.  It was like she could hear him still calling to her from far off longingly.  Saying her name over and over.  Sweetie Belle... Sweetie Belle... Sweetie Belle...

"SWEETIE Belle!  Hello!  Wake up!"  The girl jumped with a shout as the voice next to her actually called her name very loudly.  

"Jeez Applebloom, why'd you sneak up on me like that!?"  The red headed farm girl looked at Sweetie with a confused expression.

"Snuck up?  Ah've been calling yer name fer a while.  Ya'll were just standing there staring off inna space."  Oh?  She was?  Just how long had she been day dreaming in that spot?  "The heck ya doin' out here by yerself?"  

"Oh um I just... kinda got distracted."  Sweetie said, trying to cover up for her embarrassing behavior.  Applebloom didn't look very convinced though.

"Uh huh.  Where'd Spike get off tah then?  He just left ya here?"

"He had to run off, I was slowing him down so I said go on ahead of me."  That was half the truth at least.  Better than admitting that they were dry humping on her farmland not that long ago.  Good think Applebloom had shown up when she did instead of earlier for a peep show.  "Why are you out here?"  

"It's mah farm, ah live here."  Well yeah that part was obvious Sweetie thought dissatisfied.  "Ah was lookin' fer Big Macintosh.  We're makin' sandwiches back home and ah was gonna invite 'em to have one."  

"Wait, you mean he's out here somewhere!?"  Sweetie asked suddenly, looking around herself for some kind of hint as to if her and Spike had been spied on while they were intimate with each other.  

"Yeah, sure is.  Once again, we both live here.  Did ya wanna help me look fer 'em or ya gotta get over tah Rarity's?"  

"Rarity's?  Why would I be going to OH, yeah that!  Um... well it wasn't really that important anyway.  So I guess I'll help you look around for your brother."  Applebloom was still watching her with the most confused of expressions but Sweetie Belle felt pretty confident that even if she did suspect something there was no way she'd guess what had actually happened out here with her and the Dragon-Blooded boy.  

"So is somethin' up with ya'll and Spike?"  Well never mind then!

"What?  No, of course not.  Why would you think that?"  Sweetie put on her best fake smile and Applebloom still didn't seemed convinced but at least she dropped the subject finally.  

"Never mind, dunno what got inna me askin' that.  Let's start huntin' down my brother.  He's out here somewhere ah'm sure."  Unfortunately for Sweetie Belle that news wasn't reassuring. 