The trio concentrated on Spike. Scootaloo and Sweetie belle were clearly still expecting the honest truth. He was agitated and distressed, being clueless on the best way to act here.
“Err...” He muttered. The earth pony stood beside her friends, smiling in a friendly manner which Spike looked to for advice on what to do. Her comment was simple, she was persuading Spike to just confess.
“What is it Spike?” Sweetie Belle asked. There wasn’t much choice for him, but he was grateful that Apple Bloom gave him something at least. So this was a great opportunity, it could all go horrifically wrong... Or it could succeed nicely. He had an offer on the table which the young earth filly gave him the freedom to take or walk away from.
Either way had risks... And he really wanted to confess... But the question was: Could he pull it off?
“Well I, err...” He began. The right words were hard to find, and his moment wouldn’t wait forever. “Sweetie Belle.” That was a start...
“Y- Yeah?” She stuttered, dipping into a world of wonder. Scootaloo, on the other hoof, was beginning to understand.
There was time to spare. The trio allowed him time to think, even if two of them were yet to figure out what he was trying to say. “So you know, err...” Spike simply couldn’t find the words, he thought back to the old, private stories he’d written, some of which were in the book he held. There were stories of romance, where he found the perfect lines to confess... And he never realised how difficult it was to actually use them.
“Wha- What?” Scootaloo caught the drift... Or at least she thought she got it... “So you want to...”
“Ahem.” Apple Bloom cleared her throat, indicating for Scootaloo to politely stop before breaking the whole bonding scene.
“Right...” The pegasus had now lost interest. She looked away and ignored whatever was about to happen next. Her face changed, saying one thing. Boredom. But that act was much better than shouting everything out by accident.
“Sweetie Belle... I’ve kinda had this..” The purple dragon couldn’t say it. It was becoming too much for his poor mind to comprehend. But now wasn’t the time to give up!... Even though he had no idea what to say next.
“You’ve had what?” Sweetie Belle spoke much more calmly, trying to soothe the dragon, trying to make him feel safe to spill the details... Which she couldn’t figure out... Everypony around her understood exactly what Spike was trying to say, so why not her?
“I... I can’t say it!” There was more panic. Spike was losing all hope. With each second came more nervousness.
“Come on Spike! You’re doing well.” The earth pony saw the lacking of success so she felt a little encouragement was in need, even if it meant disrupting the... ‘Flow’ of the confession.
The dragon was frozen in place, holding a long and deep stare at the white unicorn. He couldn’t find the strength to emit the words from his mouth. “I’ve sort of...”
“Err... Spike. There’s no need to be afraid, you can just tell me.” She squeaked happily.
“Umm...” It was too hard, why couldn’t he just...
The small dragon suddenly felt a voice emanating from his own head... A voice he recognised...
“Spike, trust in the stories you wrote... They can guide you better than anything else.”
That female voice... Who was it? It echoed around, yet failing to penetrate any of the Cutie Mark Crusaders oral senses.
“Ah! I’ve always really liked you! Since when I first properly spoke with you I just saw a beautiful filly. But I’ve never even thought about saying anything since I’d made everything else in my life so clear...” He slowed down a little, allowing the filly to understand fully what he was saying. “And... That’s what was in my diary... It was just my way of...” It was over. He’d lost the courage... But it was done. He had succeeded... Sort of...
“Spike...” She stared down at the dragon. The poor creature had already curled up on the ground, hugging his book tightly to salve his own collapsing mind. There was no response form her, only a reaction which emitted within herself, escalating the beat from her chest, dashing her cheeks with a glowing tint of red.
Spike could only wonder whether he’d done the right thing... He felt a powerful sense of relief, but he also braced himself for a battering blow of regret.
“Spike.” She repeated in her harmless soft voice. Spike looked up, being greeted by a soft smile of complete acceptance. “I err...” She stuttered. “I really like you too...” She happily wrapped her hooves around Spike, trapping in a warm hug.
And immediately, Spike’s face lit up. In all his life he may have never been so brave... Other than a few various occasions... But this was possibly the most special of them all. He peacefully returned the hug.
“Woo!” Apple Bloom cheered, feeling like she actually contributed towards this result.
“Yay...” Scootaloo muttered sarcastically. The orange pegasus felt like she had been in complete boredom for the past ten minutes or so...
The two fillies observed the pair, sitting together in a complete world of their own while feeling their hearts close to each other’s. They had never been happier to tell a secret.
The rest of the day went perfectly. From noon until sunset the pair shared their feelings with each other, enjoying every part of each other’s company, and celebrating the love they had for each other. Spike had never wished for anything better, and it was such a surprise to him what he was capable of...
The diary... Spike kept it. But with a new star, shining through the dark misty night which was his life, he didn’t need to write such painful curses upon other ponies, or wishes upon the demise of various others... Though unseen horrors slept in the darkest pages of that book still... Never to be found...
When arriving home that night he was hastily greeted by Twilight.
“Where have you been?!” She screamed. “I’ve been worried!”
“S- Sorry Twi, I was just out with the Cutie Mark Crusaders.” He explained, not intending to reveal too much just yet.
Twilight’s mood calmed. She was still angry but she didn’t mind a great deal. Her horn began a sparkling glow, and suddenly a scroll lifted from a table at the side of the room. “This came for you.”
Spike took the scroll and opened it.
‘Dear Spike,
You’re welcome.
Princess Celestia’