Finale: The celebration
Spike and Apple Bloom were running towards Twilight's castle, their hearts at peace at last, the confessions in the previous five minutes really helped, who knows what would've happened if Apple Bloom didn't say anything, maybe each one would probably still be distressed about the other one's feelings and stay like that forever, not being able to even look at each other due to the embarassment and fear they would feel.
But this wasn't the case, now, they had admitted their feelings for each other and were heading towards a celebration, not any celebration, the feast for the return of Spike, and the only guests missing were a yellow furred, red maned earth filly and a purple baby dragon, who were looking towards this feast.
They ran for what seemed like an hour or so, frankly, they didn't care about the hour when they were in the other's company, but then, they landed on Equestria when they saw the giant doors of the castle a few meters away from them. They stopped, Spike was about to enter the castle, but Apple Bloom stopped him with a hoof in his left shoulder.
"Spike, wait, what if they don't agree?" Said Apple Bloom with a bit of worry and distress in her voice.
"What do you mean if they agree?" Questioned Spike with an eyebrow raised.
"Yes, I mean, do you think everypony will be okay with us being a couple?" Apple Bllom's voice was quieter now, sounding a little bit like Fluttershy.
Spike thought about it for a moment, and then, he grabbed Apple Bloom's hoof and said while looking at her eyes:
"Well, I know they'll feel a little awkward at first, I mean, not everyday you see a pony-dragon couple, but I know they'll get used to see us together in the future, besides, Twilight wants me to be happy, even if it's not with Rarity, you should know about Applejack and the rest of the CMC, Rarity is not interested in me, she was never interested in me anyways, Fluttershy won't mind us hanging out together, Rainbow dash will make fun of us for a while, but I don't think she will be against us being a couple, I think Starlight will be indifferent about it, and Pinkie Pie will support us all the way, she wants everypony to be happy after all, and I can't think of somepony who doesn't want us to be together, do you?"
Apple Bloom processed the information for a moment, and she thought about her sister, Applejack helped her with her confidence in herself, right? she wouldn't have done it if she didn't think they would work out, besides, Applejack told her she could be whatever she wants, and the Apple family wouldn't think any less of her, she remembered the time when her own fears trapped her in an endless nightmare, and the lullaby her sister sang to bring her peace, she knew her older sister would support her in whatever she wanted, and she considered Applejack the best sister anypony could ever have.
In the other side, she thought about her friends, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo and her cousin, Babs Seed, she also knew all of them very well, and knew they also would support her in anything, they really were the best friends she could ever have, Apple Bloom loved them as sisters, and Babs Seed probably would not understand it, but in the end, she would give in, she is her cousin, and family supports itself, the Apple family knew that very well.
"Yeah, I know what you mean, sorry for doubting all of our friends, are you ready to enter and see your party?" Said Apple Bloom, her expression changing into a smile of confidence.
"Yes, let's go" And with that, Spike pulled Apple Bloom inside the castle to be greeted with an explosion of colors, confetti and streamers, Pinkie Pie was here without a doubt, the confetti was everywhere and the musicians started playing the music for the party, everypony jumped off their seats and yelled: "SURPRISE!!!!" with Pinkie's voice standing out.
During the next hour, Spike was lost in hugs and hand (hoof, claw...no, whatever) shakes from everypony gathered in the castle, the dance floor was full of ponies, the food table was empty before the party was over, and during the party, Spike never let go of Apple Bloom's hoof.
Everypony was confused except Applejack, why were Spike and Apple Bloom so close? Why did Apple Bloom arrive at the same time Spike did? Something was going on between those two, but their doubts were about to disappear in a short time, because Apple Bloom and Spike got on the small stage Twilight built in five minutes with her magic.
"Everypony! Please! Your attention please!" Yelled Spike. Everypony turned their heads towards them, and when the room was in complete silence, Spike said: "Apple Bloom and I have an announcement!, you see, I think all of you know about my feelings for Rarity by now" Everypony giggled at that except Rarity, who was puzzled by all of this.
"What? Spike has feelings for me?" Said Rarity with a confused look on her face.
"Yes Rarity, I had feelings for you." Said Spike with an unamused look on his face. "But I have been reflecting on my feelings, and now it's clear that I didn't truly love Rarity". Everypony spit out their drinks and the ones that weren't drinking anything gasped. "Yes, I know, even I didn't believe it when I thought about it, but I have been thinking about somepony who always has been there for me when I needed it, and she is my age too, and that pony is ... Apple Bloom!!"
Spike said that last part with enthusiasm, and when the filly's name left his mouth, the room went completely quiet, everypony was just staring wide-eyed at them, like if everypony saw a ghost or something like that, but when Apple Bloom and Spike were about to leave the stage with broken hopes, everypony started clapping ( or rather stomping) their hooves, the young couple was in awe, but deep inside them, they knew everything was going to work out.
After that, the party carried on without a flaw, Rarity didn't have resentements against Spike and/or Apple Bloon, in fact, she was glad that her little assistant had found somepony to love; and the rest of their friends acted exactly as Spike predicted, soon, everypony started leaving, except for Spike and Apple Bloom, who were at the balcony of the castle, Applejack let Apple Bloom stay in for the night because this was their first night as an official couple, and they decided to go to the balcony because Spike said that the view from up there was incredible and kinda romantic, they could see everything from up there, they stared at Ponyville for a while, until Apple Bloom spoke:
"Did you enjoy your party Spike?" Apple Bloom turned her head to see the dragon she loved, who also turned his head towards her, they both blushed when they made eye contact.
"Yes, I had a great time today, thanks to you, Apple Bloom." Spike leaned towards Apple Bloom, who also moved towards Spike.
"I love you, Spike."
"I love you too, Apple Bloom."
And they kissed once more, this kiss wasn't as exciting as the first time, but it was enough, because they knew this was the start of a relationship that wouldn't end easily, because they loved each other for so long without even knowing it, and now they were finally together, their young romance was soon accepted by the ponies of Ponyville, and now Spike was part of the CMC as their remote mesenger, everything was telling that this new relationship would never end, why? Well because...
They cared about each other.