//------------------------------// // 2: Welcome Home // Story: Love On The Air // by BurnyWrites //------------------------------// “Who could be knocking at this hour?” Sweetie paused the video game she had been playing as she heard someone knocking on her door. The boutique had been closed all week as Parity prepared for the release of her next fashion line, and it was pushing eleven o’clock, later than most ponies who didn’t work night jobs stayed up. She pulled herself up off the ground and trotted over to the door. Peering through the peephole, the sight waiting for her on the other side a big blue eye looking back at her with pink fur on the borders of the image. The surprise eyeball staring back at her made her jump, but quickly putting it together, she realized it must be Pinkie waiting on the other side. Quietly, as to not wake her sister, she slowly lifted the bell with her magic to stop it from ringing, and cracked open the door. “Sweetie Belle. It’s so good to see you again. It’s been too long.” Pinkie Pie excitedly shouted as she bounced in place, leading the four other elements of harmony as well as Scootaloo and Apple Bloom behind her. “Pinkie, I saw you like, a few hours ago when I picked up a dessert. What are you all up to so late?” “Hi Sweetie. We got a last minute alert from Celestia and Luna that Spike was on his way home.” Twilight took a few steps forward, saddlebags full of various party supplies. It seemed like everyone was carrying something to help set up the party. Well, everyone but Pinkie, but her hair seemed to be able to carry a seemingly infinite amount of random things. “He got the express train so we’re expecting him back home tomorrow morning or afternoon.” “Really? He’s gonna be back that soon?” Sweetie tried to act surprised, but she knew it was only a matter of time. When he called in to the station, he mentioned seeing her again soon. The only things that could mean were that he would be in Manehattan for Rarity’s fashion show in a few weeks, or he would be home soon. And given what he said to Lady Luxury, she doubted the former. But how soon he would be here really surprised her, it hadn’t even been a week since they talked pseudonymously, not a single more broadcast since. “Yeah, I thought he would be home on his birthday, but apparently he’s cutting his trip early. We didn’t want to bug Rarity with her deadline coming up, but when we picked up Applejack, Apple Bloom wanted to come along.” Scootaloo had a sly grin on her face, the memory of Spike’s call lingering in her mind. However, Apple Bloom showed genuine excitement as she looked forward to seeing a close friend again. “Ah suggested we gather up the crusaders to help out too. Ah mean, he practically was one of us for years. We gotta help out with his welcome home party.” “Yeah, I’m sure you’ve got lots of advice on how to welcome him back.” Scootaloo said with a giggle. Rainbow looked at her number one fan a bit awkwardly, but the only one who really understood the laughter was Sweetie, and she was far from impressed with the joke. Sweetie rolled her eyes and magically pulled over some loose purple fabric which her sister had left out. “I’m no Rarity, but I’ll see what I can do. I want to help out however I can.” She closed the door behind her and formed her trio with the younger crowd. “Cutie Mark Crusader Party Decorators on three?” Apple bloom suggested a cheer as the pack of ponies walked back down the street to the sugarcube corner to get everything ready. *** It took a few more hours before the party was set. Fluttershy helped out where she could, but not wanting to wake up her animal friends in the night, she went home early so she could gather a bird choir in the morning. Rainbow was the next to go. No one really saw where she went, she just vanished after midnight. Applejack left later, wanting to check on how the cider stock was and how much she could bring to the party tomorrow. Banners had been hung, party signs had been made, and purple and green streamers hung from any part of the ceiling they could reach. Twilight and Pinkie, the only elements of harmony left at the cafe, had shifted into the back to double check if the Cake’s still had stuff to prepare Spike’s favourite emerald and ruby dust cake. Their search through the pantry left the Crusaders alone. “Allright spill it Luxury. Something happened on your show you’re not telling me.” Apple Bloom accused Sweetie in a whispered tone as soon as she was sure no one could hear. One of the few others outside the station that knew her alter ego, she quickly picked up on Scootaloo’s countless jokes throughout the night. “Nothing happened. Just, a little stressed about having Spike come home is all.” Sweetie lied as she cut up the fabric, trying to make little fabric cutouts of gemstones for the party.  Scootaloo couldn’t let Sweetie’s lie stand though. Quickly, she added, “Yeah, nothing. Only Spike calling in and casually admitting that he loved you to Lady Luxury.” “Oh mah god. What happened on the show? How could ya not tell me about that? That’s huge, that’s amazing, that’s…” She paused as she let it sink in what that all meant. “That means he’s given up on yer big sis and moved on ta you.” “It’s not as simple as that.” Sweetie let out a sigh as she maneuvered the scissors around the edges of the hexagonal Amethyst she was making. “You see, ‘Spike’ didn’t call in, someone named Smith did. They sounded like they were using a fake voice, and they talked about how they loved a mare at first sight, but after years of being ignored, his affection shifted. I know it sounds like our spike, but it couldn’t be. I’m sure there’s all sorts of people in that situation.” “Or maybe she’s just nervous since she recommended he make the first move at a gathering with friends. What was it you said? Catch up with them and invite them back to your bed after the first date?” “That wasn’t at all what I said.” Sweetie protested, only getting another laugh out of her Pegasus friend and a chuckle out of the earth pony. “Okay, it’s some of what I said, but I told them to invite their crush to do something a bit more private.” “Yeah, the station would cancel us if we gave out fun advice.” “Like a date?” Apple Bloom asked, ignoring her friend’s joke. “Not a date. Maybe a date? I- I got caught up in the moment.” sweetie released the scissors with a half completed cut out and pressed her snout to the table. “That’s even if that was Spike. It could have been Smith from the other side of Equestria, Holed up in an apartment in Vanhoover.” “So, you think tomorrow that spike is gonna ask you out because of some advice you gave on your show?” Apple bloom looked at her friend inquisitively, waiting for the silent response of her friend. When Sweetie nodded, she continued. “Is that so much of a bad thing?” Sweetie looked across the table at her friend, wide eyed and curious. “What do you mean?” “Well, a couple things. First, Ya got it better than most girls got it. You know when it’s coming, if it’s coming, and you have a direct way on tellin’ him exactly what you want. Then the fact that it’s Spike. Ah mean, we’ve all known him for years. He’s fun and always up for a little adventure, just like the rest of the Crusaders. Not only that, but he can do pretty much anything.” “He was always really cute.” Sweetie admits, blushing as she had to look away from Apple Bloom while she hyped up their friend for her. “There ya go. Why wouldn’t ya want yerself a cute man who you already know so much about. That’s not even mentioning the fact that he’s a gosh darn prince since Twilight became princess. You could do anything ya wanted to.” Sweetie couldn’t help but laugh as she was reminded that it would be a prince courting her. If she were to accept spike, she could be princess, living out her days in a castle with a cute, handsome prince by her side forever.  She smiled as Apple Bloom reached over the table and held her hoof. “And whatever happens, the crusaders are here ta help you out.” Scootaloo leaned over and wrapped her arm around Sweetie as well, the three for a few moments were bonded just like they were when they were younger, all united around one goal. No longer were the crusaders hunting for their cutie marks, now their main goal was to bring Spike and Sweetie together, if that was indeed Spike’s intent. As the silence grew between the three, Scoots was the one to finally break it with another of her raunchy jokes. “And if you can, invite him to a crusader sleepover. Dragons are supposed to have the biggest co-” Twilight and Pinkie strolled out of the Pantry cutting off the orange mare. “Okay, everything is set for the night. Sorry for the last minute wake up call. Do you girls need me to walk you home still?” Twilight asked as Pinkie zipped between tables, setting out her standard party equipment. “We were actually just gonna stay at Sweetie’s for the night.” Scootaloo said as she slid out of the booth and on to her hooves. “As long as that’s fine with you Sweets.” “Yeah, my bed’s big enough to share. We just can’t wake Rarity.” “I make no promises.” Scootaloo jokes, earning her a light kick to her front leg by Apple Bloom. “We’ll be good. See ya in the mornin’, Twilight.” *** It felt to Spike like he had to fight his way out of the castle to get on the train home. He only intended his stay in Canterlot to be Brief, a day or two to talk to the princesses again. But at Luna’s insistence, Spike stayed a few extra days just to spend more time with his aunts.  Between the days spent wandering the streets while Celestia was busy in meetings, the Evenings spent playing dozens of board games with Luna, and the nights where he denied Celestia’s more scandalous advances on her nephew (Spike could never admit it, but knew Celestia’s scandal was both true, and not completely exposed), the days began to feel repetitive. He loved to talk to his Aunts, Luna especially seeing as she wasn’t trying to get in his bed, but a dragon could only do so much. When he told Luna this, she was understanding, still requesting he stay, but okay with letting him get back home. Celestia on the other hand made one final gambit the night Spike planned to leave, ending up with Spike sneaking out through the guardhouse. Finally, He got to rest on another train car bed. He held the note he had scribbled while talking to Lady Luxury in his claws as he read it over and over, wondering what to do. At an event with friends. Maybe the crusaders would want to hang out in the clubhouse and catch up, but in the club house, there was no way he could manage to talk with just Sweetie to invite her on another date. He really didn’t want this to happen at Carousel Boutique, since that meant the friends in question would involve Rarity. Maybe he could wait for a Wonderbolts performance or maybe when Trixie came to town for another magic show, but who knows when those would happen. His birthday was more definitive, happening about a month from now, but that’s a month with this heavy feeling in his chest wondering what would happen. He sighed as he played with the paper. This was step one, and he couldn’t even figure that out. If the time even did occur, what would he even say to her? Spike knew that pretty much everyone knew about his crush on Rarity. It’s not like he hid it well when he was a kid, and even up until last year it was obvious if others were paying attention. Now he was gonna sit down with her little sister and invite her to go do something private with him. The humiliation and ridicule could be devastating. The entire town turned against him as he jumps from one sister to another. Even his own sister, the princess of friendship, may scowl as she sees him do something only some twisted pervert would do. The thoughts alone were almost enough to make him tear up the paper and burn whatever was left. But Lady Luxury’s words rang in his head. There was something about the way she said it that sounded authoritative, like she knew exactly the situation and knew it would work. Even if he got rejected, he could still call in again with a story to tell. He smiled as he read over the page over and over again, letting his mind drift to the best case scenario with Sweetie Belle. A future where the two of them live alone, waking up in each other's embrace every single day. Even the soft way Sweetie would say ‘I love you.’ As those bright thoughts filled his mind, he drifted off to sleep, thanking the stars that Luna was the princess of dreams and not her sister. *** The lurch of the train cars pulling into the station woke up Spike from his sleep. Even though he went to sleep no different than normal, he slept longer and was more refreshed. Maybe a parting gift from Luna since he couldn’t spend another night in the heavenly comfort of royal sleeping accouterments. As Spike stretched out on the bed, waking himself up from his extended rest, he could feel the train coming to a complete stop. Out the windows of the car, the plains and grasslands Spike saw before sleeping were replaced with the bustling city of Ponyville. The former country town’s population surged with the rise of Twilight, fans came first, desperate to be able to live in the same town as their hero, then came the people looking for safety, which a city with a princess was sure to have, especially after the formation of the Friendship Brigade. It still held a lot of those charming country views and locations, the farms pushing into the distance and the forest pressing right up to the city, the farmers market where the people could buy local farm grown food and the night market where artists, craftsmen, and escorts would hawk their wares. However, modernity encroached on that rural memory every day, as Twilight’s Magi-technological Research Department, run by Starlight Glimmer, made advancements every day. The core of the town, the farming village didn’t change, but larger and larger buildings kept being built, including the large tower that dominated the skyline, a wireframe skyscraper that served as a beacon for new technologies. The EPR headquarters and main broadcast facility. Somewhere in that building, Lady Luxury performed every weekend. Which meant that Lady Luxury must be in this town. Maybe he even knew Lady Luxury. Maybe they put the pieces together. A pit formed in his stomach, but he had no time to consider what may come of that as the conductor started up the intercom and informed the passengers of their arrival. “Ponyville. We have arrived in Ponyville. Please gather your belongings and make your way to the nearest exit.” Spike pushed his luck, waiting in the cabin as he rummaged through his souvenirs from across the country, trying his best not to have to leave. Unfortunately he was not to be a stowaway today, as one of the attendants knocked on his door, informing him he would need to leave soon. With a nervous sigh, Spike grabbed on to his bags and with a bittersweet smile, hopped off the train. “Spike! Over here!” A unicorn with a pale pink coat and multicoloured purple and blue mane called out to him as he stepped off the train, galloping to his side. “It’s so good to see you! It’s hard to imagine it’s been almost a year. How are you? Spike smiled at his former rival as Twilight’s assistant came to greet him. “Hey Starlight. I’ve been good. You wouldn’t believe some of the stories I have now. Twilight too busy with princess stuff?” Starlight levitated the bags out of his claw and passed them to two waiting friendship guards. With his claws now free, Starlight reared up on her hind legs and gave her friend a hug. Though friend is used loosely as after years and years under the same roof, she began to feel like another sister to him. He softly hugged her back, though he couldn’t help but remember the way Sweetie had hugged him the day he set off. “Princess stuff, bureaucracy stuff, pretty much anything that isn’t fun.” Starlight fell back to her hooves as she began leading the way off the train platform. “Things just haven’t been the same since the elements retired. Sure, nothing bad has happened, but so much of that excitement is gone with it.” “Do I need to remind you that your village was one of those sources of excitement a decade ago?” “Geez, you try to forcibly create a society without talent one time and suddenly it follows you around for your whole life. That was the old me, when I was angry.” “I saw you after trixie bailed on you in the middle of the night. You still can get pretty angry.” “No, that’s frustration. Very important difference. You’ll learn about it when you’re older.” Spike rolled his eyes, despite knowing exactly how those nights went down while living in the room beside her. The two talked for a while as they walked away from the market and towards the castle, talking with Starlight about her job and his journey. It was one breakthrough after another on Starlight’s job, figuring out how to bypass crystal power altogether with a chemical reaction. Spike had other breakthroughs, emotional breakthroughs which he didn’t want to admit to his long-time friend, so he would just talk about the interesting things he tried while away. When they made it back to the crystal palace, the guards took Spike’s bags back to the same room he lived in a year ago, and left the two on their own. Their chat continued until they walked in to a very empty throne room. “Strange, Twi was here when I left, and there were more people too.” Starlight lied, barely able to contain her smile as she knew she now had to play her role. Luckily for her, Spike was too consumed in his thoughts to notice her odd manner of speech. “Oh, looks like she left a letter on her throne.” Spike moved up and grabbed the letter, lifting it up to reveal a few bits below. Spike read the letter out loud while scooping up the bits. “Dear Spike. Sorry I couldn’t be there to greet you personally but I had to run to Sweet Apple Acres. I’ll be back soon. P.S. I left some bits for you to get a nice welcome home meal.” He folded up the letter and placed it back on the chair. “Weird, shouldn’t the kitchen make something.” “Oh, you know how the kitchen staff get when we raid them between meals. Say, is there enough bits in there to cover me as well?” “Ehh, maybe? Depends on where we go.” “Sweet. Want to make a run to Sugarcube Corner?” *** Sweetie sat in a booth at Sugarcube Corner, both dreading and idolizing the coming event. When Spike and Starlight arrived, Sweetie wanted to be the first in line to talk to spike, to hopefully try and get a feel for what may happen today. But then she saw Twilight, princess of friendship and sister to spike and backed down, satisfied with being second. Then came Fluttershy, who many times had acted as comfort and caregiver to the dragon when he was younger. She was also like his extended family, so he couldn’t deny her some time with Spike. Then Applejack, then Rainbow Dash, Then Discord and Big Mac. Even the other crusaders got their time with spike while sweetie sat there waiting. Pinkie had come by multiple times dropping off cupcake after cupcake in an effort to make the mare happy, but with so many other party details to work on, there was only so much time she could devote to one person. So Sweetie ate her mountain of cupcakes while watching the party pass her by. *** Spike had seen Sweetie sitting by herself, looking off into the distance. He caught himself stealing glances at her any time he had the pleasure of turning that direction. He even lost track of a chat with Mr. Cake as he found himself admiring her from afar. But try as he might, want it as much as he did, he just couldn’t bring himself to trust in himself. He feared that the advice Lady Luxury had given him would fail. He didn’t even know what Sweetie would say when he visited her. Maybe she was just paying a visit because Rarity was too busy, a fact she learned while talking to the other crusaders. Maybe he was just doomed, a life eternally spent watching the ones he loved so deeply pass him by and leave him on his own *** “Oh buck this.” Scootaloo muttered to Apple Bloom as she watched both Spike steal glances of her friend and Sweetie do her best not to meet the gaze of the guest of honor. “Come on Scoots, Justa bit more time. Ah don’t think we should interfere in this. Remember all the other times we tried to set people up?” “This is totally different.” Scootaloo protests, wrapping a wing around Apple Bloom as she began walking them both over to Spike. “We’ve always used magic or those raunchy seduction techniques from Twi’s dirty novels. This time is gonna be different.” “Ah’m not so sure about this one.” Apple Bloom looked to the ground before looking at both of the people silently pining after each other. With a sigh, she relented, “Would be more interesting than what’s currently going on, but we shouldn’t.” Scootaloo leaned in close while pulling her along, “Well our little Lady Luxury is already orchestrating this whole thing. All we’re gonna do is give him a little push.” She pulls away as they get closer and closer to the prince, interrupting a chat he was having with one of the guards. “Yo, Spike. You got a bit more time for the crusaders.” Spike looked back and forth, hoping Sweetie would be with them, but she unfortunately was not. “Hey guys. Yeah, I’m down.” He turns to the guard, dismissing him back to the party. “What’s the plan now?” “We’re gonna go cheer up Sweetie. She’s been in a weird mood all day.” “Really, is she? I hadn’t noticed.” “Sure you hadn’t, big guy.” Scootaloo laughs as she nods to the booth. “Come on. Only got so much time in the day.” “Wait. Uhhh, if she’s been like this all day, maybe it’s me. Maybe she just doesn’t want to be here.” “If she didn’t wanna be here, she woulda stayed home with Rarity.” Apple Bloom says as she scoops a cupcake off of pinkie pie, still passing out her seemingly endless supply. Spike winced at the name, maybe something to do with Rarity, probably wasn’t the best tactic to remind him. Scootaloo kicked Apple bloom’s back leg when Spike wasn’t looking to try to signal not to bring it up, being responded to in turn with a soft oof from the farm pony.  “Come on. AB’s right. Maybe she’s just sad because you haven’t gone and talked to her yet. You’ve basically been with everyone but her by now.” Scootaloo nudged him forward. “Go on, we’ll be with you.” With enough encouragement, Spike nodded and finally made his way to the booth where Sweetie was waiting for him. Sensing that either might bail immediately, the two crusaders squished them in, blocking them in and forcing them to talk. “Hey Sweetie.” “Oh, h-hey Spike.” Sweetie jolted out of her wistful distant stare hearing the voice of the man she had been thinking of, praying he would finally stop by. Spike shifted nervously in the seat, trying to find the perfect way to start but finding nothing. Apple Bloom took charge of the situation and started up a conversation. “So, Spike. Ah heard from Applejack that ya spent some time with Braeburn down south. Run in to any other apple family on your trip.” “Not too many. Appaloosa was really welcoming. A bit too welcoming…” His mind drifted to just how ‘open’ that group became with the blending of buffalo and pony culture, Little Strongheart winking to him in more ways than one. He shook himself back, “There were a few on the far side of the Equestria as well. I saw some before dipping in to Saddle Arabia.” “Wait, you went to Saddle Arabia?” Sweetie Belle perks up. “That place is so interesting. They have such interesting fashion there, and I’ve heard the food is amazing too.” “The fashion was different, a lot of thin fabrics, veils and headdresses, but everyone wears them all the time. As for the food, eh, not so much. Nothing is quite as good as Pinkie’s special gem cakes.” “Well she’s been dropping a bunch off over here, there’s gotta be at least one of them somewhere in the pile.” Sweetie begins to magically sift through the cupcakes delivered to her, finally finding one gem one and offering it to spike. “But that’s so cool, you need to tell me about more of the places you visited. Especially if you found any interesting music.” The conversation just took off from there. After their initial push, the two finally got to talking and nothing could stop them. Back and forth about city after city, country after country. From the mountains of yak territory to the islands of Horsolulu. Sweetie prodded for any little detail she could extract from him, especially about the music he heard while he was there. Spike was sure to fill her in whenever he could, but didn’t want to say he spent most weekends in his room listening to Sweet Jazz rather than at local bars or clubs. Watching them go back and forth like that, Scootaloo and Apple Bloom nodded to eachother. As the night started to wind down, Apple Bloom was the first to slip off. She mentioned talking to her sister and then just didn’t come back. Scootaloo looked around for an excuse and, noticing a distinct lack of Rainbow Dash, used her as an excuse. “All right, see you all later, Rainbow wanted me to join her private after party. See you at work Sweetie.” “Work?” Spike asked as Scootaloo walked off. “Aren’t you a carpenter Scootaloo? When did you and Sweetie start working together?” Realizing that she’s put everything in danger, Scootaloo did the first thing she could think of and took off, flying as fast as she could out of the bakery, shouting back, “Ask Sweetie.” Sweetie’s body tightened as she realized she’d need to play this pretty cool, or come up with something. She forced a bit of laughter as she looked away. “Oh, it’s more like a side project than actual work. Nothing really special, just a weekend thing.” “Hmm, so where exactly are you working then?” Sweetie couldn’t answer that truthfully. There was no way to answer that without pushing him away or giving herself up. She scrambled to think of something, but no matter what, nothing came to her. Spike waited and watched Sweetie grow more frantic, eating a bite of one of the many cupcakes in front of her just to not have to say something. Maybe it was embarrassing, or she didn’t have a job or something. Maybe he screwed up. He nervously looked at Sweetie and, no longer blocked in, tried to bail. “I’m sorry. I’m sure I’m just bothering you.” “No, stay.” Sweetie reaches out across the table, pressing her hoof to Spike’s claw. “It’s just, it’s been so long since we hung out. And you know, after the stuff with Rarity and the day you left, I didn't really know what to do when we met again.” Sweetie kept bluffing, telling half truths to hide why she was nervous. “Well, I’m always up to talk to you more. You’ve been such a close friend for ages, and I’ve missed you… As well as everyone else in Ponyville that is.” “I’ve missed you too Spike. It’s been a shame not having my favourite dragon around for a whole year.” “Not quite a whole year.” “Well it felt like two to me.” The two look into each other's eyes, both getting transfixed in the colour. Sweetie got to see those beautiful emeralds she was so fond of, while Spike after a year away finally got to see her bright peridots. Slowly, Spike came back in to the booth and just sat there, looking at her as she looked back. It wasn’t until Pinkie came back around offering more cupcakes did the pair finally realize what they were doing and how long they had been like that. They both retracted, laughing it off as Pinkie hopped away, adding more cupcakes to the pile. “Well, we shouldn’t let these go to waste.” “I’m already on it, Sweetie Belle.” *** No one else came to talk to Spike when they saw how engrossed he was with Sweetie Belle. The two got on each other's wavelength pretty quickly after that little embarrassment. As the cupcakes slowly got eaten, more and more people packed up and headed home. Even the guards had shifted, replacing the last batch with a duo to escort Spike back home. All that was left was the pair and the last few stragglers enjoying the company of others. Spike just finished his story about meeting his little fan club in the crystal Empire. He was still recognized as a hero to the people for saving the crystal heart when he was younger and apparently with a surge in Dragon immigration to the region, his popularity had flared up again. Sweetie was still just as attentive, asking questions frequently to get Spike to just keep talking. But the conversation had to end somewhere, and Spike knew there was one more thing he needed to do before the day ended. It was the hardest part, asking a simple question that felt like it would change the world around him. His chest pounded and his mind was both racing and blank at the same time. He felt like he couldn’t do it, but then he got caught in Sweetie’s eyes once again. “Hey, Sweetie?” “Yes Spike?” Sweetie knew it was coming too. Something she had recommended he do. She wanted to say yes before he even asked, knowing exactly what was coming, but had to bite her tongue as she tried to play it cool. “This was fun.” “Pinkie does throw some pretty good parties.” “No, no. I mean, the party was fun, yeah, but I meant getting the chance to catch up, just to spend time with you.” Here it comes. Sweetie braced herself, trying not to jump the gun while Spike fought against himself just to finally say, “Do you want to do something like this again?” “Yes, absolutely. This was so much fun Spike, thank you.” Sweetie let out her breath as she finally got to hear it. He didn’t call it a date, but it was practically one in everything but name only. “Alright. Yeah. I’ll have to think of something, but some time next week?” “I’ll be around. Thanks, I hope it will be amazing.” The two sit together for a few more minutes, silently eating the last two cupcakes, simply smiling at each other.