Stories of True Love
The Pony and the Dragon
Part Two
Once their shock had faded, Apple Shield spoke up, rubbing his head from the mental connections he was making in his head. "Why didn't anypony tell us?" He asked.
"Tell y'all what?" A voice asked. The Apple Dragon siblings turned to the kitchen door and saw their Uncle Big Macintosh come in.
Sugar Belle went over to her husband. "Honey, they wanted to know what happened with Applejack and Spike before they were born." She explained.
Big Mac looked over at his nieces and nephews. "Is that so?" He asked.
"Please, don't be mad at us." Pear Gem begged her uncle. "We just wanted to know."
Big Mac went over to her and ruffled her mane. "Well, I was hoping y'all would one day ask." He said, surprising them. "It's nice to talk about they got together."
"Really?" Apple Pear asked, raising a confused eyebrow.
Big Mac nodded. "We just never known when to bring it up. But, you seemed to have your ma's desire to know the truth."
The Apple Dragon siblings smiled shyly. Then, they settled back into their seats.
"Where did ya stop, honey?" Big Mac asked his wife.
"After Spike told Applejack about his insecurities about Ember." Sugar Belle said. Her husband then began chuckling.
"Then after that, they started to become big slip-ups, along with Spike visiting the farm more often." He laughed, turning to his nieces and nephews. "In fact, one time, he and I were trying to see who could kick or throw boulders the farthest into the pond, and he and I were neck and neck. We might've seen who'd win if your dad wasn't so..." He chuckled again. "Distracted."
All four of the Apple Dragon siblings slightly giggled at the notion.
Spike had just threw a boulder about his size into the air, watched it land near the pond's edge, and then gave Big Mac a confident smirk. The red stallion returned the smirk and then kicked his own boulder with his hind legs, the large stone going a little bit further than Spike's first attempt.
When Spike grabbed another boulder and got ready to toss it, he stopped when he saw Applejack near the pond down the hill, kicking the boulders away from the shore with all her strength with her hind legs. A goofy smile unknowingly came onto his face, knowing that most likely, she will beat both him and her brother in competitions like this.
Suddenly, he lost his balance and he came tumbling down the hill with the boulder following him, having escaped his grip.
Applejack heard his screaming and saw him tumbling down towards her, but she was too slow to move out of the way, and both of them went crashing into the pond with a big splash. AJ swam up and spit out some water, Spike following suit. Both of them then got out of the pond, and Big Mac came down to see if they were both okay.
"What in tarnation happened?" Applejack asked, shaking the water off her mane and coat, and then wringing out her Stetson hat.
Spike shook the water of his scales to distract himself from looking too intensely at how the remaining water droplets made her coat sparkle. "Sorry about that, AJ. We were just having a little competition." He explained.
"Without me?" Applejack asked with a challenging smile. Spike returned it, and the two locked gazes.
"Applejack!" A voice called out from the hill. The three of them turned to the direction of the voice and saw Apple Bloom. "Granny needs ya! Guess who's back?"
Applejack rolled her eyes with annoyance. "If it's those conniving con-ponies, Flim and Flam, I'll send them back to Las Pegasus with a single and mighty good kick." She angrily muttered to herself. "I'll be right there, Apple Bloom." She called back to her sister. Before she ran up the hill, she turned back down to the guys, Spike specifically. "Let me on in the next one, all right?" She asked with a bright and challenging smile.
Spike could only give a dopey little grin back at her. As AJ left, turning back to Spike one last time with a small smile, hearts began materializing all around him. He would've even began floating on air if Big Mac kept a hoof on his shoulder and used his other one to wave in front of his face to snap him out of his lovestruck daze. When that failed, he sighed with a roll of his eyes and then gave him a firm and friendly slap on his back, making the dragon almost tumble forward and the hearts vanished.
"Hey!" He exclaimed at his friend, who was giving him a knowing smile.
"You best find some time to hang out with my sister real soon." Big Mac teased as they both headed back up the hill. "Or else, you might find yourself in the same situation that happened with me and Sugar Belle."
Spike only blushed bright red and rubbed his neck, embarrassed. Well, if that were to happen, at least he has his permission.
Big Mac laughed again at the memory. "And that was one of the first of many times I caught him stealing glances at your mom." He said.
The Apple Dragon siblings laughed as well. "Well, Dad can be a bit of a goofball sometimes." Apple Jewel pointed out.
Sugar Belle magically placed a plate of warm apple fritters onto the table as her husband continued. "But, I'm glad that the two of them started to hang out more often after that. Especially with what your mom was facing."
"What was Mom facing?" Apple Pear asked.
"I think I know the answer to that." A voice piped in. Every pony turned to the kitchen entrance and saw Apple Bloom and Pipsqueak come into the kitchen.
"Aunt Apple Bloom, you know about what happened with our parents and Ember?" Pear Gem asked her aunt.
She nodded as Pip helped his wife into a seat. AB turned over to her husband. "Pip, I can sit down by myself." She said.
Pip shook his head. "Not when you are so far along, love." He said as he sat down beside, gently touching her stomach.
Apple Bloom rolled her eyes with a smile, then turned to her nieces and nephews. "I remember that day that your uncle was telling you about. I called her over there because that Trenderhoof guy was back in town."
"Trenderhoof?" Apple Shield asked, slightly recognizing the name. "Was he the stallion who came to Ponyville a long time ago, and who Aunt Rarity had a thing for at the time, but he fell head over hooves for Mom, even though she turned him down?"
AB nodded again with a grimace. "Eeyup. And apparently, he came back then to "properly" pursue your mom. I remember the look on Applejack's face when he said that. She looked like she would rather handle another vampire fruit bat infestation, along with a cockatrice, than date him."
The Apple Dragon siblings shared her disdain with a shudder. Though they didn't know much about that, they knew that their mother made the right choice with their father. "So, what happened?" Apple Jewel asked.
"Well, he started trailing your mom around like a grade-A nincompoop, and annoying her to no end. She would persuade me to keep him occupied so that she could sneak away. But as time went on, I saw that when she would come home later in the day, she would be like she's on the clouds. It didn't seem suspicious at first, but then one day, I decided to find out where she goes."
A teenage and non-pregnant Apple Bloom had finally evaded Trenderhoof by leaving him lost in the local market. She then saw a familiar blonde tail quickly head off to the edge of Sweet Apple Acres. She followed her sister until she reached a hill overlooking the orchard. Apple Bloom looked around, wondering where AJ went. But then, she suddenly heard voices coming and dove behind a nearby bush. When she carefully peeked over the shrubbery, she was surprised to see Applejack walking alongside Spike.
"I really don't like this, Spike." AJ said to the dragon beside her. "I don't like havin' to sneak off just so that I can see ya."
Spike nodded. "Me, too." He said. "Ember just has been keeping me so busy that I can't have any time to myself, or to see you. I hate having to lie to her, but it seems like the only way that I can have some quality time with you."
Applejack slightly blushed. "Aw, that's kinda sweet of ya to say." She said, rubbing her foreleg with her hoof.
"Because it's the truth." Spike said, taking her hoof, making her look up into his eyes. "And you know it."
The two looked into each other's eyes, gazing in deep. They didn't know that they both were starting to lean their faces closer to the other's, their eyes slowly closing.
Apple Bloom noticed, though. She blushed a little at what was happening, and decided to give them some privacy. However, as she was stepping back, she accidentally stepped on a twig, making it snap loudly. AJ and Spike backed away from each other immediately, ending their moment. They turned to see who made that sound. Apple Bloom nervously came out from behind the bush.
Applejack breathed out a sigh of relief, but then glowered at her sister. "Apple Bloom? What are you doing here?" She asked.
"Sorry, Applejack." AB apologized. "I just wanted to know where you go after ya got away from that weirdo." AJ's face fell into an annoyed scowl. "But, now I see that there is a reason why ya come here." Her little sister gave her a teasing look.
Applejack glanced over at Spike, then they both realized what Apple Bloom was implying, and they both blushed bright pink, with AJ tugging her hat slightly lower down to her face while Spike was looking away while rubbing his arm. Applejack then turned back to Apple Bloom.
"You promise ya won't say anything for now?" She asked.
Apple Bloom blinked in confusion, even though she nodded. "Not that I won't tell no one, but why keep this a secret?" She asked.
"Things have been really crazy right now." AJ explained. "We can't have any pony doing anything different, including the two of us."
AB saw why, then nodded again in understanding. Suddenly, a voice had called out.
"Oh, Applejack!" The mare in question froze, then groaned in annoyance, recognizing that voice.
"You've got to be kidding me." She muttered. Quickly, she then pushed Spike and Apple Bloom into the bushes. "Stay low." She told them.
No sooner did AJ move away from the bush, Trenderhoof came up to her.
"There you are." He said, having a lovestruck smile on his face. Applejack resisted the urge to kick him in the face. Violet magic lit up his horn and he held up a bouquet of flowers. "For your dinner table."
From in the bush, Apple Bloom cast a quick glance over at Spike, and the dragon was silently snarling with his eyes glaring fire at the stallion.
"Will I be joining you this evening?" Trenderhoof asked.
"Sorry." AJ said, pushing the flowers away. "Not tonight."
"Are you busy?" He asked.
"No..." Applejack said, before rolling her eyes and quickly heading down the hill.
Trenderhoof watched her gallop down the hill with a lustful look. "Playing hard to get, are we?" He asked. "Okay, I'll play along, Applejack." He then went after her.
After he disappeared down the hill, Spike jumped out, looking ready to attack. "He'd better keep his hooves off her, or else I'd break his horn." He hissed.
Apple Bloom held him back slightly. "Easy there, lover boy." She said. "Come on."
The two headed down, and soon found Applejack behind one of the trees, once again having evaded Trenderhoof. She locked gazes with Spike again, but before either one could come any closer to the other, another voice called out.
"Spike! Where are you?" The dragon in question flinched when he recognized that voice.
"That's Ember." He said. "I gotta go." He turned to leave, but then stopped and turned back to AJ. "I'll see you tomorrow." He added with a wink, making the country mare smile shyly. Spike finally then ran out of the orchard, keeping his eyes on Applejack. Though that did make him bump into some of the trees a couple of times, making her giggle a bit while waving to him.
When the dragon left, Apple Bloom noticed that her sister was having that same look she had noticed when she would come home for the past couple of weeks. She waved her hoof in her face to snap her out of it.
"You and Spike, sis?" She asked, raising a surprised brow. Applejack blushed red, knowing what she was implying. "Now, that was something I didn't see coming. But, he's a dragon. You're a pony."
"I guess, things like this, they can't be helped." AJ said, remembering a certain story that is getting eerily close to her and Spike's situation. "They just happen."
And that was how it went for the next few weeks. Both Spike and Applejack would hide, then meet up at whatever hiding spot they could to spend time together; having a private picnic or just to talk. During those few weeks, their feelings for each other grew stronger and stronger.
One particular afternoon, Spike had decided to tell AJ how he felt about her. He just hoped that she felt the same way. Once he had everything ready, he then hurried to where he was to meet her.
After a pleasant picnic that Applejack had brought for them, Spike slowly got the much-needed courage he needed for this.
"Um, AJ?" He began to ask. She turned to look out at him, her emerald green eyes meeting his. Those eyes could bore deep into his soul, even from the beginning when they first met. He could feel his confidence slowly start to waver.
"Yes, Spike?" She asked, her small yet dazzling smile beaming as bright as the setting glow of Celestia's sun.
"I, uh..." He quickly thought of what he wanted to say. He looked over to where he had his surprise, and he regained his confidence. He took a deep breath. "I have something to show you."
"What is it, Spike?" Applejack asked. Suddenly feeling mischievous, Spike slid her hat over her face. "Hey!" She exclaimed.
"It's a surprise." He said. He then took her hoof and began leading her down the hill.
"Where are we going?" AJ questioned, her Stetson hat still over her face.
"You'll see." Spike teased.
Soon, they had arrived. "We're here." Spike said to her, stopping in his steps. Applejack readjusted her Stetson hat back on her head, and then quietly gasped.
Spike had led her to the spot where her parents exchanged their secret vows to each other. Just like the many times she would visit, the magnificent sight of the tall and beautiful apple tree entwined with an equally amazing pear tree into the shape of a heart stood wondrously in the afternoon sun.
"How, how did you find this place?" AJ asked. She knew that one day, she would want to show Spike this place soon, but, it seems he beat her to it.
"I remember the story you told me of your parents," Spike explained, "and then not too long ago, I found this spot when I was heading off to meet you."
Applejack turned to the dragon next to her and smiled softly at him. "But, why did ya bring me here?" She asked.
"Follow me." Spike took her hoof again and led her behind the intertwined trees. "And, surprise!" He gestured.
There, a little further away from a boulder having her parents' cutie marks engraved inside of a heart at its center, AJ saw that there was a similar boulder, but this one had her own cutie mark and Spike's symbol of his dragon head inside a heart.
Applejack walked over to that stone and touched it with her hoof, feeling overwhelmed with an emotion that she had been feeling for a long time, ever since she and Spike started spending more time together. Right now, she knew exactly what it was.
"So, what are you trying to say, Spike?" She questioned, turning to the dragon with a glimmer of hope in her eyes.
Spike took another deep breath and went over to her, touching the stone as well. "Well, I thought that if this was one of the symbols of the truest love I've ever heard, then, maybe... it can maybe work for us as well." The moment was here, as he took her hoof one more time. "I... I love you, AJ. I've never felt this strongly for any pony, not even back when I had a thing for Rarity, and I hope that you feel the same about me, because there is no pony else that will ever change how I feel about you."
Applejack felt her spirits soar higher than she could ever imagine when she took in this declaration. Tears of joy sprung into her eyes and she threw her hooves around his neck, holding him close to her.
"I love ya, too, Spike." She said, wiping away a tear. "I never really thought too much about love before, but then I started to get sweet on ya. But then, I got worried that you would always be hung up on Rarity, so I kept them to myself. Now, I'll tell ya this: there will be no other pony or other creature that will keep me away from you."
Spike felt a huge weight lift off his shoulders when he heard those words, and he then felt his spirits rising rapidly with such strong passion as he held the true and real love of his life closer to him, feeling the shape of her form against him. Strong, yet gentle. Tough, yet sweet. Fiery, yet honest. Simple, yet beautiful. That was all Applejack.
AJ then let go of their embrace, yet still stood close to Spike. She felt the indentations of the heart, her cutie mark, and his symbol with her hoof. Finally, after a few more seconds of comfortable silence, she began to sing.
Applejack: Gazing out my window,
There you are.
You're so very close,
And yet so far.
When I see your face dear,
Then I know this much is true.
There's no other one for me but you.
As she sung, Spike listened intently to the melody. He could hear the love and passion she has for him in her voice.
No other love for me.
No other one for me.
No other love for me, I know, deep in my heart.
No other one for me.
No other love for me, it's true.
There's no other one for me but you.
Applejack then felt Spike's claw take her hoof and place it over his chest, so that she could feel his heartbeat. His voice that was beginning to sing along drew her attention to him and gazed up at him.
Spike: Kept pretty far away,
I dream of you.
Thoughts of all the scrapes
That we've been through.
Giving me the courage
For the fight that's sure to be.
There's no other hope for me, you see.
She then joined in again, her gaze never leaving his eyes.
Applejack: No other love for me.
Spike: No other one for me.
Applejack: No other love for me, I know, deep in my heart.
Spike: Deep in my heart.
Both: No other one for me.
No other love for me, it's true.
Nothing's ever keeping us apart.
AJ placed her other hoof on Spike's shoulder as their song ended. Both lost in the other's green eyes, they both started to lean closer with their eyes slowly closing. Finally, their lips had touched in their first kiss. It was gentle, sweet, and passionate. Applejack slid her hoof up Spike's chest to join her other one to wrap around his neck, while Spike followed her curves down with his claws until they were at her hips and he pulled her even closer to him.
(The adults left out that particular part in the since there were 10-year-old ponies listening.)
Soon, they broke apart. Neither of them said a word as they once again made eye contact. Eventually, AJ rested her head against his chest, listening to his heartbeat, while Spike still held her close. They both knew that they were smiling blissfully. This moment was absolutely perfect.
The next day, Spike still was on air as he went to meet with Ember again for another lesson. Usually, he would feel exhausted or annoyed, but after his perfect night with Applejack, nothing could spoil his happy mood.
Ember noticed that he was a little more happier than usual, but didn't ask. Instead, she said, "Spike, I really appreciate all that you have been helping me with."
"I'm glad that's working out." Spike answered, still on cloud nine with how his relationship with Applejack has grown wonderfully.
"But, I think it will be more efficient to teach dragons about friendship if you can come with me to the Dragon Lands." Ember added.
That statement finally got Spike to snap out of his lovestruck trance that was almost letting him fly without wings, as he almost tripped on air.
"WHAT?!" He shouted.