Honesty and Dragons
Chapter 5
Starting on the Journey
That evening, Applejack was in her room, packing some of her stuff in a bundle. Apple Bloom soon came in with a small pout on her face.
"Do ya have to go?" She asked her sister for the twelfth time that day since AJ came home and told her family the situation.
Applejack sighed. "Listen, sugarcube." She said. "A threat has been against Ember. Whoever it is wants her outta the way, or worse." She let that sink in for a couple of seconds before continuing. "Spike, Twilight and I have to help her figure out who is it and bring him to justice."
Apple Bloom thought about the seriousness of the situation, and then sighed. "Well, at least you ain't missin' the Sisterhooves Social again." She then gave her big sister a hug. "Promise me you'll be back soon."
Applejack returned the hug. "I promise, lil' sis." She said.
Then, the youngest Apple sibling left her sister's bedroom, closing the door behind her. Applejack tied the knapsack on a stick and propped it against the wall. She turned towards her window and looked up to the starry sky.
"Ma, Pa." She whispered. "If y'all can hear me, I hope ya can help me with this. Maybe Spike is right. I do need something like this, to get my mind off of all that drama that happened to me during these past few months. So I hope y'all can help me make the right choice, whichever one that might be."
Suddenly, two shooting stars appeared in the sky, catching Applejack's attention and making her gasp quietly. But as soon as they appeared, they vanished. AJ quietly trotted downstairs and outside to get a better look at the night sky. Feeling the cool early spring breeze hit her body and blowing her mane gently, she headed out further and began to sing.
Applejack: What is my true life's purpose?
Who will stay by my side?
Why do I always feel I wanna hide?
Will I still have their support,
Regardless of my choice?
Will all ponies listen to my voice?
Tell me why I ain't sleeping
And my heart is leaping inside me.
Could this be one of those times
When your feelings decide?
The following morning, Applejack was outside, hugging her family goodbye with Twilight and Spike watching her. Then, with her bundle tied across her back, she joined them and they started towards the Dragon Lands. A couple of hours later, after walking a good distance, AJ asked them why they don't just fly since they have wings.
"We wouldn't want to leave you in the dust, now would we?" Spike answered with a silly grin. That comment, along with the grin, not made Applejack return it with a snarky smile of her own, but she also got a warm bubbling sensation in her chest. Quickly, she mentally smothered it away. What the hay is going on with me? She screamed in her mind. I've never felt this weird heat in my chest or face when I'm around Spike before! Why now?
Discreetly, AJ lingered behind a little to collect her thoughts. For some reason, her eyes drifted ahead towards Spike, not wanting to let him leave their sight. In her mind, she started singing.
Has he always looked that tall?
Was he always that darn sweet?
Why now do I feel shy when we meet?
Spike then decided to stretch his wings. Twilight just rolled her eyes as he did flips in the air. Ever since he got those wings, he loved using them. Applejack just smiled fondly as he spun in circles in the air.
When did he get good at flying?
What can he see from there?
Could there be new horizons to share?
All these questions keep churning
And burning inside me.
What are these feelings I feel
When he's here by my side?
"Come on, Spike!" Twilight called up to him. "Let's make camp." Applejack averted her eyes away from the dragon above her and looked over at the horizon. It was already sunset. It only felt like a couple of hours since they had started.
Spike landed back on the ground. "Okay, Twilight." He said once his feet was back on land.
Feeling that tingling warmth building up in her chest again by how close he was to her, Applejack shyly moved away. "I'll get some firewood." She offered and then quickly headed into the woods to find suitable sticks. Once she was sure that she was out of earshot, she began singing aloud.
I need to know these answers.
I need to find my way.
Seize my tomorrow.
Learn from yesterday.
I need to take these chances.
Let all of my worst fears go.
Can't tell what's waiting.
Still, I need to go.
I need to know.
Soon, the fire had started, thanks to Spike. Twilight magically handed him a stick with marshmallows. He took it with a smile and began hovering the end over the fire. Twilight then offered Applejack a stick of marshmallows. The orange earth pony mare took in her hooves and held it over the fire.
For some reason, Spike felt like he couldn't tear his eyes away from AJ. The firelight was giving a warm glow on her face, making her already piercing green eyes more beautiful than they already were. Even the tiny white freckles on her cheeks were standing out, contrasting the bold orange color of her coat. When Applejack glanced over at him, Spike averted his eyes back to the fire to watch the flames toast his marshmallows. In his mind, he began singing.
Spike: I've always known that she's amazing.
Daring and bold and sure,
With a heart that's too good to be pure.
Why do I now feel so tingly?
How do I look tonight?
I just want things for her to be right.
A few minutes later, the fire was out and the marshmallows were eaten. The three travelers were lying in sleeping bags, looking up at the stars. Twilight was writing something in a journal with the light emitting from her horn. Spike stole another glance over at AJ, who kept her eyes glued up to the moon shining above.
All these questions keep churning
And burning inside me.
What are these feelings I feel
When she's here by my side?
Suddenly, Applejack got up and wiggled out of her sleeping bag. Twilight tore away from her journal to look up at her. "Where are you going, Applejack?" She asked her.
"Just out for a little stroll." AJ answered. "I would like some fresh air." Twilight and Spike shared a worried glance. "I won't be too far away." Applejack promised.
"If you say so." Twilight eventually complied. AJ smiled at her friends, and then headed out into the dark woods.
"I need some air too." Spike said, getting out of his own sleeping bag and leaving the campsite in the sky and in the opposite direction from Applejack's. Twilight was a little confused as to why Spike would want a midnight stroll, but she decided to ignore it. For now, at least.
Eventually, Applejack reached the end of the woods and out towards a clearing. She was grateful that they had little ways to go until they got out of the forest. The cool breeze nipped at her skin, relieving her. She had been wrestling with her heart all day, trying to force it back into a regular pace everytime Spike was in her line of vision. She had never felt this way towards Spike! Why now, though? Was it because of what happened in the Map Room of the castle a couple of days before? That was the thing that started this whole mess. She was glad she didn't have to make much of an excuse to leave the campsite. She felt like the world was forcing a whole lot of problems on her.
Spike was flying above, seeing that the Dragon Lands were only a few more miles away. They would get there in the morning. He could see now why Rainbow Dash preferred flying almost all the time. It does clear up the mind. He really needed this. The sudden spiking heat he would get in his stomach whenever he was around Applejack was causing his head to spin. He had never acted this way before around her. Usually, it was around Rarity. But now, as an image of the dazzling white unicorn came into his mind, that familiar heart-thumping sensation he would get around her greatly faded. When a picture of the pretty orange earth pony came back, the feeling came back too, but it felt stronger. What was going on with him? He only hoped that whatever was happening to him won't cause him to lose focus on the mission.
Unbeknownst to the both of them, Spike and Applejack started to sing together as the wind gently whipped around them.
Both: I need to know these answers.
I need to find my way.
Seize my tomorrow.
Learn from yesterday.
I need to take these chances.
Let all of my worst fears go.
Can't tell what's waiting.
Still, I need to go.
I need to know.
Feeling a little better now, both the dragon and the earth mare headed back to the campsite. When they arrived at the same time, they saw that Twilight had already fallen asleep in her sleeping bag, snuggling with her journal. The sight made both AJ and Spike chuckle.
"Had the same idea, huh Spike?" Applejack asked him, looking over at him once she stopped laughing.
"Yeah." He answered. "Are you feeling a little better?" He asked.
"Eeyup." AJ confirmed with a small smile. Spike returned it before stretching up his arms and letting out a large yawn.
"Well, we best get some sleep." He said as he walked over to his sleeping bag. "We'll arrive at the Dragon Lands tomorrow."
"All right." Applejack said as she went over to her own sleeping bag and crawled inside it. "Good night, Spike." She said, closing her eyes.
"Night, AJ." Spike returned it. Soon, the both of them fell asleep.