//------------------------------// // My Success and Her Despair // Story: The Apple of My Heart // by TheExhaustedBrony //------------------------------// Applejack left the bakery, the door swung shut behind her. She frantically looked to find Spike walking away slowly with his head lowered. "Spike! Spike, wait!" Applejack called out only to see Spike turn his head back towards her with a disgusted glare. Applejack could see the hatred in Spike's eyes and it hurt her deeply. She put her hoof over her heart and began breathing heavily. She feared that she had just let the love of her life slip through her hooves. "Applejack, will you please leave me alone?" Spike sighed. "I can't do that sugarcube." She put her hoof on Spike's shoulder and turned him so that their eyes met. "Applejack, what're you..." Spike couldn't finish his sentence. The next thing he knew was that something warm was pressed against his lips. Spike's world felt like it had slowed down. He felt very light and felt blood rushing to his face. In his confusion, Spike just closed his eyes. When it was over, Spike was ready to blow his fuse, he looked up only to have his anger quickly dissapated when he saw the tears in Applejack's eyes. "Spike... I told you once, and I'll say it again. I love you. I'd make you the happiest dragon in the entire world. If only you'd say yes to me." Applejack's face was bright red and had tears running down her face. She was dead serious about her feelings and Spike realized that this is what love is. He realized that his relationship with Rarity wasn't love. It was a one sided relationship and Applejack was right, he was being used. Spike was speechless, what does one say in a situation like this? "I... I... uh..." Spike stuttered, failing to form a coherent sentence. Applejack put her hoof on Spike's head and said, "You only have to say yes or no. If you say no, I will leave you alone and I wont think of you anything more than just a friend, but if you say yes, I will try my best to make you happy." Spike stared at the ground, thinking what he should say. It felt like they were the only two in town, and the summer breeze gently rushing past their ears was the only thing they could hear. "Applejack, I... I... y-y-ye-yes..." Spike couldn't comprehend how hard it was to form such a simple word. There was so much weight to it. Applejack wrapped her arms around the little dragon and more tears began to well in her eyes. However, they were not tears of sadness, but tears of joy. Applejack's whole world was just made brighter and it gave her a warm feeling inside. "My gosh. All I can say is thank you! I promise that you wont regret your decision!" Applejack tried her best to keep her excitement contained. "So what do we do now?" Spike asked. "Well, lets go for a walk and try to get to know each other better." Applejack suggested, unsure of how practical that would be, considering that they have known each other for some time now already. "Uh, sure, that sounds like a good idea." Spike nodded, "Where should we go first?" "I'm not sure, lets just start walking and see where it takes us." The two continued down the road and talked about their favorite things and other hobbies. This was what Applejack wanted all her life. She finally had the time to be with Spike. They were just in the middle of discussing what kinds of foods smell the worst when they crossed paths with Rarity, Spike's former love interest. "Oh, what a pleasant surprise running into you two here." Rarity greeted with her usual elegant demeanor. "Likewise, Spike and I were just discussing what kind of foods smell the worst." Applejack said. "Yea, so far we've agreed that potatoes, radishes, cucumbers, onions, asparagus, and pickles smell the worst." Spike listed. "But cucumbers and pickles are... uh... n-never mind. Anyway, speaking of food, I was just on my way to Sugarcube Corner, Pinkie, said she had some emeralds that I could use in my next big project." Rarity's eyes lit up with excitement. "Oh, me and were just at Sugarcube Corner and well, um... Spike..." Applejack bit her lower lip. "Let me guess. Spike ate them didn't he?" "Yea, sorry about that, we didn't know that they were for you." Spike apologized. "It's fine," Rarity sighed, "I'm not too worried about finding some mere emeralds. So, you mind if I join you to... well, where are you heading?" "Not sure, we're more focused on talking than walking." "Oh? Why's that?" "Well, we just wanna get to know each other better with random conversation." "Get to know each other? You lost me there." Rarity said with a puzzled expression. "Well, you see, I saved Spike from a pack of hungry timber wolves today and the way he's paying me back for saving his life is by well... dating me." Applejack blushed. "Oh, I see... Wait, WHAT?!" Rarity exclaimed after realizing what she just heard, "this is quite a surprise. I didn't know you were like that. Either way, I'm happy for both of you." Rarity smiled. "Thanks, Rarity, it means a lot to hear that from a good friend." Applejack tipped her hat. "Now, shall we continue talking some more? I bet with a third person, we could come up with more things to talk about." "I'm terribly sorry, but I am afraid that I'm going to have to decline your invitation, as fun as it may be, I just remembered that I have to meet up with Twilight. There's something important I have to discuss with her." Rarity quickly sped off towards the library, hoping that Twilight was there.