//------------------------------// // Chapter Ten - Infinitum // Story: Sibling Rivalry // by BlackWidower //------------------------------// Spike sat on the library's front stoop, his chin was in his claws as he stared at the streets before him. Ponies of all colours passed him by, none paying him much attention. His gaze moved to the sky above as several pegasi flew by, some moving clouds around, others doing backflips and tricks, while others were simply passing through. He turned his gaze to the ground, and felt his head get heavier. He bent forward, burying his face in his arms. His mind wandered. He thought about Sweetie Belle, Rarity, and the pain he will eventually put them through. It tore the dragon's soul apart. "Spike?" A small, accented voice came from behind him. He turned around, and saw young Apple Bloom, very confused and concerned. "Apple Bloom," he said. She sat down next to the dragon, and just looked at the crowds before them. "Sooooo...whatchya thinkin'?" He turned to look at her. "What do you think?" he said, before burying his face again. "You really have no idea who you want?" "No," came his muffled reply. He turned his neck to face her, still resting his head. "One of them is going to get hurt, and they're both gonna hate me for lying." "No they won't!" "Yes they will!" he yelled, throwing his claws up in the air. Several heads turned his way, as he dropped his arms and lowered his voice. "I lied to them Apple Bloom. Why wouldn't they hate me?" "Because they love you." He stared at her for several seconds. "Maybe...I hope." "They do." He returned to hiding. "And I love them, so why am I doing this?" "Because you're stupid." He looked up and said, "Thanks." Apple Bloom giggled a bit, and paused for thought. "You really don't want to date both of 'em?" she asked. He sat up straight and said, "Of course not! Even if they're okay with it I...I just don't want to." "Why not?" "The thought had crossed my mind, but...there have been times, when I was with Sweetie Belle, and my thoughts drifted to Rarity, and there have been times when I'm with Rarity, and I thought about Sweetie Belle, and every time I...I felt a bit sick. It just doesn't feel right." "Twilight said she thinks dragons are naturally monogamous." He looked her dead in the eyes and said, "Really?" He buried his head in his claws and with a groan said, "She only knows one dragon, why would she say that?" Apple Bloom shrugged. "I don't know, maybe she's right, but...I don't know." "Well, you don't act like other dragons anyway. So probably not." He laughed. "What am I going to do?" he asked, his voice somber. Apple Bloom put a hoof on his shoulder, and Spike turned to look at the young filly. "You'll figure this out, and I'll help ya," she said with a smile. The dragon smiled back. "Alright, who do you have more fun with?" "I don't know." She paused. "Okay, who do you enjoy spending time with more?" "I don't know." Apple Bloom was growing frustrated. "Okay, when you think about them, which one makes you happy more!?" "I don't know." "How could you not know!?" she screamed, again, attracting unnecessary attention. She continued quietly. "You're the only one who knows." "I don't know, I...it's about even," he said, holding out his claws to demonstrate. Apple Bloom sighed. "I thought this would be easier." The workroom at Carousel Boutique sparkled with magic. Ribbons and gemstones flew around in a blue haze. Rolls of fabric crisscrossed the room, and in the middle of all of it, a shining unicorn was spinning around, humming a joyous tune. Next to the mare, sat a bare dress form. Rarity danced around the figure as it was wrapped in red fabric. Scissors flew by and snipped the cloth off it's roll. As a needle and thread flew in to stitch it all together, a pink earth pony hopped in with spirit and enthusiasm. "Hey Rarity!" She beamed. "Oh Pinkie, darling," she replied. "How can I be of service?" The young mare didn't answer. Her eyes spinning around, trying to keep track of the flying objects. "Pinkie?" The movement ceased as Rarity tried again. "Pinkie!" "OH! Hi Rarity!" She screamed. "You're in a good mood." "Oh, yes," the unicorn said, allowing the items to settle in designated areas. "I had an excellent day." "OOO! Do tell!" "Well, last night, I was so worried about me and Spike. Things have not been going well, he seemed...distant, for a few days. Last night we had dinner, talked a lot, and it felt right, like it always does. So after he walked me home, I asked him if he wanted to...spend the night." "OOO!" Pinkie responded joyously as if she didn't know. "But he said 'no.'" "Oooo..." Pinkie responded sadly as if she didn't know. "I thought it meant he didn't want to be with me, that it would represent the beginning of the end for us. But Apple Bloom came over, and said something that made me realize it was actually just the opposite." "What did she say?" "She said he didn't want us to move too quickly and sabotage the greatest thing in our lives." Pinkie's eyes went wide. "Apple Bloom said that!?" "Yes." She put a hoof to her chin. "I did not know she would be so knowledgeable on the subject of romance. You two have become close, has she had many lovers?" "Uh...no, but she is a very pocopus little filly." "Precocious." "THAT!" the pink mare said with a mile-wide grin. "Well, anyway, I just know now that things are going to go very well for me and Spike. Nothing can ruin it now." Pinkie's smile faltered a tiny bit, as her best friend spun around in joy. Sweet Apple Acres was a very large orchard. It was so big, hiding in it was not a problem. Much of the farm never saw any activity anymore, and other areas were used for very specific purposes that were not agricultural. One of these locations was near the edge closest to town. It contained a large treehouse, within which a young unicorn filly was lying on the floor, her mind wandering with presumptions and theories. She was so deep in, the hoofsteps climbing up the ramp did nothing to knock the filly out of her reverie. "Hey, Sweetie Belle," came the voice of her best friend. "You okay?" she asked, after coming to a halt in the middle of the room, slightly concerned. "Fine..." she lied. Apple Bloom trotted up to the unicorn and looked down on her. "Uh huh!" she exclaimed, skeptically. "What's going on?" Sweetie Belle sat up and looked at the earth pony. "Come on! I'm your best friend, you can tell me." Her voice was almost desperate. "It's Spike...I think he's hiding something from me." Apple Bloom's eyes went wide. "What?" she asked. "I was at the library, and me and Spike were...kissing." She smiled as her face turned beet red. "And Pinkie showed up to give Spike some kind of recipe." As the unicorn continued to talk, Apple Bloom got more and more nervous. "They were in the kitchen and I sorta snuck up behind them. I didn't mean to listen, but...they said something about a decision, and me getting suspicious and..." her lower lip started trembling. The unicorn was genuinely worried. "Wha...what were they talking about?" An internal struggle was battling itself in Apple Bloom's brain. There was a clear difference between hiding something from her friend, and outright lying. She couldn't tell Sweetie Belle the truth, but she didn't want to lie to her best friend either. "I don't know," she said. The unicorn sighed as tears rolled down his face. "Why would he want to hide anything from me? I thought he...he loved me. What would he hide...?" As Sweetie Belle started to shake, worry taking over, she slowly collapsed on the floor. The earth pony ran up to her friend, and embraced her. "It's okay, Sweetie Belle, I'm sure it's okay." "How do you know?" she sniffed. "Because...I just know. Spike's a good guy...he would never do anythin' to hurt you. I'm sure if he's hiding somethin' he'd tell you when he's ready." "But why can't he tell me now!?" "Be...because...he...maybe he loves ya so much, he doesn't want to scare you off." She looked up at her friend. "What?" "Yeah, maybe it's something like...he...um..." Apple Bloom's head started racing. "Maybe he has to leave town or something, and he wants to decide whether to stay, but doesn't want to scare ya." "What?" Sweetie Belle's fear was palpable. "I-I don't know, I'm just guessin', it could be anythin'!" "O...okay..." Sweetie Belle got up on her hooves, as the earth pony released her. "You okay?" "I...I don't know. Are you sure everything will be alright?" "I know he loves ya. Nothin' will change that!" Sweetie Belle smiled and hugged her best friend. As Apple Bloom's face grew determined, only one thought entered her head: 'This needs to be fixed...now.'