It is now 1:30 at night. Spike wakes up and feels a slight headache. He looks around to see his friends sleeping in the infirmary.
"They didn't want to leave my side," Spike smiles. "What should I do?" Spike sits up and notices Wendy resting her head on her arms on the bed. His slight adjustment on the bed wakes Wendy up.
"Sp-Spike?" Wendy turns to see Spike awaken. "Guys," Wendy starts waking everyone in the room up. "Wake up. He's awake."
Natsu yawns. He still feels sleepy but glad to see Spike feeling better. Gray, Erza, Lucy, Gajeel, Carla, Happy, Panther Lily, Mirajane, Elfman, and Lisanna wake up after their snooze.
"Hey, Fairy Dragon. How are you feeling?" Gajeel asks.
"I'm better. I don't remember what happened."
"You were fighting Gildarts by the beach. You were winning until Gildarts snapped and pummeled you to near death," Erza answers.
"I have to say, the way you moved out there, mighty impressive, Fairy Dragon," Elfman said.
"No joke, we didn't think you'll last that long against him," Said Gray.
"Where's Gildarts?" Spike asks.
"Home. He felt dreadful after what he did to you. I know what happened. When you roared, it triggered his PTSD when he fought the Black Dragon. He wasn't seeing you and lost his senses," Natsu explains.
"You want to go home, Spike?" Lucy asks.
"After I check on Gildarts," Spike gets off the bed. "After I check on him, I'll head home, Lucy."
"Should we come along?" Wendy asks.
"I think I should have a private discussion with him. I'll see you all later since it's," Spike looks at the clock. "1:37 in the morning."
"Alright, we'll see you later, Spike," Said Wendy.
Spike walks down the stairs and notices other Fairy Tail Wizards asleep in the guildhall. Spike figures that they must have stayed to know about his health conditions. Lucy and the other go on their way back home.
Spike looks up at the night sky for the first time this late. "Wow, the stars sure are beautiful. I bet Princess Luna would love to hear that. Too bad I have no way of contacting her," Spike sighs as he starts remembering Princess Luna and Celestia. "Do they miss me? Are they searching for me? Will Discord ever tell them the truth?" Spike starts remembering the Fairy Tail Send-Off. "No, I.., don't want that image in my mind if they try to bring me back to Equestria. I am happy here. Truly happy for the first time in years! I have magic, I have friends, I have a home, I have someone that loves me," Spike blushes, thinking about Wendy. "Wendy. Oh Lord, I love Wendy. Why can't I utter those three words to her every time I see her?!" Spike stops walking and looks at the night sky. "Would Wendy marry me someday? Does she want me that close, or will I be friend-zoned?"
Spike continues his walk to Gildarts' home while thinking of the many possibilities of Wendy in his life and Princess Twilight Sparkle trying to find a way to bring him back to Equestria. Spike arrives at Gildarts' home and knocks. A few moments later, the door opens.
"Spike?" Gildarts looks down at Spike.
"Hey, got a few minutes?"
"Yea, come on in, Fairy Dragon," Gildarts closes the door after Spike steps inside. "Look, I'm sorry for what I did to you earlier at the beach. I didn't mean to go overboard."
"It's fine. I'm here to say that I forgive you. That you don't have to feel guilty about what happened."
"For real?" Gildarts asks. "Master told me what you went through in this other world, and I-" Spike cuts him off.
"For real. Natsu told me your PTSD kicked in, and you lost your senses. I wanted to let you know that I'm fine and I forgive you. No need to hold grudges over an accident."
"Thank you, Fairy Dragon. I wasn't sure how you would react after the attack."
"We're friends. Friends understand what's intentional and what's unintentional. In your case, it was a freak accident."
Gildarts smiles. "Thank you for being patient and understanding."
"You're welcome," Spike smiles. "I'll see you later in the morning."
"Wait, Fairy Dragon. I know a way that we can settle the score at the guildhall."
Spike chuckles. "I'm listening."
"Arm wrestling."
It's now 9:30 in Magnolia. Lucy wakes up to see Spike, not in the apartment. She hurries and rushes out the door. Lucy runs to the guildhall to recruit her friends to go on a search party for Spike. When she arrives, Lucy sees her friends huddle around a table.
"Hey! What's happening?!" Lucy shouts, trying to get everyone's attention.
"Nice of you to join us, Lucy," Said Natsu.
"Yea, what took you so long?" Gray asks.
"What?! What do you mean?" Lucy is confused. "I don't know what the fuss is about."
Erza walks up to Lucy. "Spike and Gildarts are settling the score from yesterday with an arm-wrestling match."
"The bets have been cast for today's battle instead of yesterday. So far, you are the only one that says Spike will win or tie. Everyone else still says Gildarts as the winner," Max Alors explains.
"You ready, Fairy Dragon?" Gildarts places his right arm on the table.
"Spike wants," Spike increases his size like he did yesterday. "Ready," Spike places his right arm on the table.
"Ready, set, wrestle!" Master Makarov shouts.
Spike and Gildarts engage with their strengths on the table, trying to get leverage to force the arm into going either direction. Gildarts grips the table tight and uses his strength to move Spike's arm to his right. Spike's arm moves slightly to the right. Spike grips the table to give Gildarts a taste of his own medicine. He uses his strength to move Gildarts' arm to his right.
"For arm wrestling, this is not that bad to watch!" Elfman said. "Those two are manly!"
Wendy is watching and wonders if Spike would love to be in a relationship. Wendy can't help herself to stare at Spike and picture all sorts of things to do together. She hopes to go on a date with him and utter the three words she struggles saying; I love you.
"You're stronger. I give you that. But are you the strongest?" Gildarts powers up and forces Spike's arm to move more to his right.
"I don't know," Spike smirks as his right claw starts Sparkling Green. "You tell me!" Spike uses Gildarts strength to boost his and forces Gildarts' right arm to move right, nearing the end of the table on his right.
Everyone gasps, thinking Gildarts is going to lose. "Hey! That's cheating!" Gildarts claims.
"I didn't hear the official ruling of Arm Wrestling," Spike keeps the pressures.
"So, that's how you want to play it," Gildarts powers up, using his Crash Magic to shatter bits of the table to startle Spike's concentration.
"Gah!" Spike gets startled a bit.
"Gotcha!" Gildarts forces Spike's arm more to his right more.
Spike recomposes himself and his concentration, focusing more on using Gildarts' strength against him. The two are generating a lot of magic energy that the table starts glowing. Everyone around is getting excited. Oohing and awing on who's going to win.
"All this magic power for an arm-wrestling match, how profound," Said Carla.
"Well, we did see what they can do in battle," Wendy said.
"Yes, but Spike was using Gildarts' strength as a booster, not his own. He should get stronger on his own terms, Wendy."
"I guess you're right in that department, Carla."
It's been ten minutes of intense arm-wrestling; Gildarts and Spike roar loudly as the table shatters. Everyone is in awe after seeing the table breaking. Gildarts and Spike look at the remains of the table and laugh.
"Truce?" Spike offers his claw.
"Truce," Gildarts shakes Spike's claw. "Can't afford to break all the tables to settle the score."
Everyone is in shock except for Lucy as she leaps for joy. She's the only one that won the bet. Lucy wins 35,000 Jewels.
"I can't believe they decide to call it a tie..," Natsu said in shock.
"They're men, alright..," Elfman said in shock.
"Just how powerful Spike can be in a couple of years?" Bickslow said.
"More powerful than Gildarts if that is the case," Freed said.
"More powerful than any of us," Evergreen said in shock.
"I would hate to fight Fairy Dragon one on one," Said Nab Lasaro.
"Since when you fight," Some of his guildmates questions since the man doesn't take a job.
Spike reverts to his size and looks up at Gildarts. "It was an honor sparring with you."
"Likewise, Fairy Dragon. Though I will say that you should build some muscle on your own."
"I will. Thanks for the advice," Spike walks up to his friends. "Enjoyed the final conclusion?"
"No, you tied, and we lost our winnings," Gray and Natsu said in unison while Lucy receives her winnings.
"I will say, you continue to impress me, Spike," Said Erza.
"Thanks, Sis."
"I will say, seeing you increase your size reminds me of Master," Lisanna said.
"Actually, he's been teaching me other methods of increasing my size. I'm learning a lot from Master Makarov."
"Oh wow, Spike," Lisanna chuckles.
"This dragon, going to be a real man!" Elfman states proudly.
"I'll take that as a compliment."
"So, what you want to do, Spike?" Wendy asks.
"Go home and relax. I didn't sleep last night since I went to Gildarts' house. I'll catch you all later," Spike yawns and walks back to the apartment.
"Lucy, wanna come on a job with us?" Natsu asks.
"That's okay. I'm gonna head home as well. See you all later," Lucy leaves and catches up to Spike.
"Hey, Lucy," Spike yawns.
"You good, Spike?"
"Yea, just tired. I'm going to take a nap."
"Sounds good. I'm going to be writing my novel. I don't want to leave you in the apartment alone."
"Thank you, Lucy. That means a lot," Spike smiles.
"You're welcome. Why would I leave a friend behind?"
Spike feels more at peace with the friends he has. He saw them in the infirmary late last night, showing care and love to a friend and brother. A tear of happiness falls on Spike's cheek while he and Lucy walk home together.