Applejack and Spike were setting out bushels in the early morning, preparing to finish the previous day's harvest. Applejack couldn't help but smile seeing Spike working so hard and fast setting out as many bushels as he could.
"Y'all are gonna run yourself ragged if you keep up this pace, Spike."
Spike stopped for a moment and leaned against a tree to catch his breath.
"I wish I could have helped with actually bucking. You ended up doing most of the work."
Applejack hugged him warmly.
"Don't y'all worry about that. You were still a big help."
Spike smiled and absentmindedly scratched the tree. He and Applejack both froze in terror when they heard a giggle come from the leaves as they rustled. Spike slowly turned his gaze to Applejack, his eyes wide and his pupils as small as dots.
"Did you hear that?"
Applejack fearfully nodded. Spike carefully tickled the tree again, making it laugh and rustle once more. He backed into Applejack as they both shook in terror.
"What the heck kind of tree is that?!"
Pinkie Pie popped out of the leaves and laughed at Spike.
"It's an apple tree silly!"
Spike and Applejack both looked annoyed as she lept to the ground.
"What in tarnation were you doin' up there Pinkie?"
"I saw a little birdie!"
Spike and Applejack looked flabbergasted. Spike shook his head.
"Well.....why were you laughing?"
"Cause leaves are tickly."
Applejack and Spike looked at each other in annoyance.
"I'm assuming y'all are here for the Cake's order of apples, Pinkie?"
"Uh-huh."
"Alright, this way."
Applejack led her to the barn as she hopped along happily.
"So what are you doing here Spike? Did Twilight send you here? Are you trying to find a job of your own?"
"No Pinkie. See, yesterday, I was in the ever free forest and I was nearly eaten by a timberwolf. But-"
Spike stopped as Pinkie pounced on him and squeezed him in a tight hug, giving him endless kisses.
"Ohmygosh, ohmygosh! It didn't hurt you did you?! Did it bite you?! Did-"
Spike stopped her hoping to make her calm down.
"I'm fine Pinkie. Winona found me and led me back to Applejack. She kicked it right in the face. Now I work for her."
Pinkie nearly slumped in relief and hopped for joy singing praises to Applejack. Applejack blushed and tipped her hat hoping to hide it. Once she reached the barn, Applejack proceeded to fetch the apples for Pinkie, Pinkie continued to question Spike.
"Does Twilight know? Is she okay with this?"
Spike slumped in sadness and nearly felt tears fill his eyes again. Pinkie looked on him with concern.
"I told her yesterday. She didn't really seem to care."
Pinkie looked shocked like she didn't want to believe it. Applejack presented a wagon full of apples to her.
"It's true Pinkie. I was there too and I heard the whole thing."
Pinkie thought hard for a moment sitting on her back legs while she held her chin.
"I'm gonna talk to Twilight about this."
"Pinkie, you don't-"
Pinkie dashed off in a pink blur with her wagon of apples before Spike could continue. Spike sighed and Applejack shook her head.
"C'mon Spike. Got a delivery to make."
Spike followed her to the house where she took the pie they made yesterday.
"I promised Rarity I would bring her a pie for her fixing up some work duds for me."
Spike's eyes lit up at the thought of seeing Rarity. Applejack smirked and set off with him.
~
Pinkie trotted through Ponyville set on reaching Twilight's library. She reached it and knocked on the door, receiving no response. She tried again and called out.
"Twilight?! Where for art thou Twilight?!"
Pinkie tried again, but still nothing. She pulled up the mat and found a key which she used to enter. She returned it and headed for Twilight's work room. Pinkie approached her, though Twilight payed no heed, being completely engulfed in the most important part of her experiment. Pinkie hopped around her and waved her forelegs.
"Twilight! Twilight! Twilight!"
Still no response. Pinkie blew into a whistle, banged on a drum, played an accordion and blew into a trombone. Amazingly, Twilight made no response. Pinkie slumped in defeat and fell onto the floor, making some papers fall off a counter. That finally made Twilight respond. She turned and was surprised to see Pinkie.
"Oh, hi Pinkie. When did you get here?"
Pinkie rolled her eyes in annoyance.
"How come Spike didn't let you in? Spike! Spike!....Spike?"
"He's not here Twilight."
"What do you mean? I told him to be home before dark yesterday."
"He talked to you yesterday, remember?"
Twilight looked baffled for a minute but suddenly jumped like she had an epiphany.
"Oh ,he must have...."
Twilight put a hoof to her face in shame, and blushed.
"Do....do you know what he said?"
"Well, Applejack saved him when he was attacked by the Timberwolf-"
Pinkie was stopped by Twilight grabbing onto her in desperation.
"HE WHAT?!"
"A timberwolf nearly got him in the forest."
Twilight shook her frantically and shouted as horrified tears flowed from her eyes.
"Is he hurt?! Did he get away?! Tell me he's alright! PLEASE TELL ME HE'S ALRIGHT!!!"
Twilight finally stopped her scared rant. Pinkie cautiously nodded, making Twilight slump in relief.
"Where is he now?"
"With Applejack. He said he's going to work for her forever."
"WHAT?! WHY WOULD-"
Twilight suddenly realized and held her head in desperation.
"His dragon honor code!"
"You knew about that?"
"Yes, but.....I didn't know he'd go this far!"
Twilight started to shake and cry in sorrow and dread. Pinkie tried to hug her to comfort her, but Twilight pushed her back.
"I need to find him! Do you know where he is?!"
Before Pinkie could answer Pinkie started to shake and rumble like she was about to erupt.
"I-I-I feeeeeeel a dooozy comiiiiiiiiiiiing!"
Twilight looked horrified and teleported outside and ran for all she was worth, shouting out Spike's name. Pinkie followed her, barely able to keep up between her spasms.
~
Applejack and Spike arrived at Rarity's boutique later in the morning. As she knocked they both noticed a conversation going on inside. Applejack knocked once and Rarity opened the door a second later.
"Applejack, Spike! So good to see you! Please come in."
They both entered and saw Fluttershy in the shop.
"Hi Fluttershy."
"Hello Spike. Where's Twilight?"
Spike rolled in eyes in annoyance.
"Ehm....Spike's stayin with me for a while."
Both Rarity and Fluttershy looked surprised. Rarity questioned Applejack.
"Why in the world would Twilight allow you to take Spike?"
Applejack bit her lip, not wanting to speak for Spike. He looked down and answered in a bitter mumble.
"I don't wanna talk about it."
Fluttershy and Rarity both looked concerned and wanted to question him, but Applejack presented the pie.
"How about some pie?"
Spike immediately perked up and took two slices for Rarity and Fluttershy. They were both surprised to see a small amount of steam rising from it. Not enough to hurt when eaten, but enough to enhance it's flavor.
"Applejack, how precisely did you manage to preserve it's warmth for so long?"
"Y'all can thank Spike for that."
Applejack patted his head and smiled proudly at him. He rocked on his heels and held his hands behind his back in bashfulness.
"Ah, I only helped a little."
"A little? Y'all practically made the whole thing by yourself. Even baked it so we didn't have to worry about the oven."
Spike smiled thankfully. Fluttershy and Rarity both took a forkful of pie and tasted it. Both their eyes widened in delight and they made a loud yummy sound. Rarity finished first so she could gush over it.
"Darling, this is absolutely amazing! How on earth did you do it?!"
Spike smiled in delight at her happy face. Fluttershy also replied in joy.
"Oh yes. I've never had a pie so tasty before."
They both continued to eat while Spike explained what exactly happened.
"So, because of that, I have to work for Applejack from now on."
Fluttershy finished her pie and questioned him.
"Well, when will it end?"
"I...I don't know. Until I know for certain, I have to work for her forever."
Rarity spit out her mouthful of pie in surprise. She quickly recoiled in embarrassment realizing she had spit all over Spike.
"Oh....excuse me."
Spike stuck out his tongue and licked it all off and swallowed it in one bite and smiled.
"Hmm. Not bad."
Rarity looked a little sickened but Applejack just shook her head at her.
"Would you like some more?"
"Oh no thank you dear. A lady must maintain her figure."
"Fluttershy?"
"No thank you."
"Spike why don't you take the dishes and wash em up?"
"As you wish."
Spike bowed respectfully and took the dishes. Rarity nearly bounced in giddiness when he was out of earshot.
"You are so lucky, Applejack. To have someone wait on you without question. Oh, I would have him give me hooficures, brush my hair-"
"Well, that's just it. I appreciate what he's doing, but....I don't want his help like this."
"Um....you mean like.....a debt?"
"Exactly. If he wanted to lend a hand every once in a while, that's fine. Why if he wanted a job, I'd gladly pay him. But I don't wanna take advantage of him."
Fluttershy and Rarity both thought for a moment.
"Well, you could tell him you don't have anything you need him to do."
"I don't know if he'd accept that."
Rarity then had a sly look on her face.
"Well, perhaps......he could be convinced to pass on his pledge to someone else."
Applejack looked at her in suspicion.
"What are you getting at?"
"Just watch."
Spike returned a moment later with the dishes which practically sparkled. He placed them on the table for Applejack.
"All done."
"Spike, sweetie, I have a little proposition for you."
Spike looked a little confused for a moment but stiffened when he saw the flirty look she threw at him.
" I was thinking maybe you could take your pledge to Applejack and...give it to me?"
Applejack slapped a hoof over her eyes and shook her head. Spike grabbed his tail and fiddled with it as he tried to stay cool under her gaze.
"I...I uh......I don't think that's how.....honor codes are supposed to work Rarity."
"Please Spikey-wikey. You can spend forever and ever with me."
Spike looked delighted at the idea. Rarity gently rubbed his cheek with her hoof.
"Also, if you do a good job, every night I'll give you a big kiss."
Spike's eyes widened to the size of dinner plates.
"A kiss? Every night?"
"A big kiss for my little dragon helper."
Spike looked conflicted as he thought on this. His eyes darted back and forth between Rarity and Applejack. He gritted his teeth and sighed in defeat. Finally, he mumbled to himself without looking Rarity in the eye.
"I just know I'm gonna regret this...."
He looked at Rarity with the most sturdy gaze he could.
"I.....I'm sorry Rarity. I can't accept your offer."
Rarity's eyes shot wide open and her jaw hung low in absolute shock. Spike stepped to Applejack's side who also looked very surprised.
"I owe Applejack my life. I don't know any other way to repay her for it, so I'm going to spend my life in service to her.
Applejack and Fluttershy looked very impressed with him while Rarity tried to wrap her head around the idea that Spike just turned her down.
"No way!"
They all recoiled as they saw Rainbow Dash in the window also looking completely dumbfounded.
"I think Tartauros just froze over. Spike just turned down Rarity! What the heck happened?!"
Spike sighed a little in sadness.
"Applejack saved my life and I need to work for her forever to repay her."
"Jeez, and you turned down Rarity because of it? Next thing you'll tell me you'd marry her if she told you."
They all laughed at her joke, but Spike looked embarrassed.
"Wait, would you?"
"Well......if she told me to.......yes."
Applejack looked at him with a cracked eyebrow and smirk. Spike twisted his tail and fidgeted in embarrassment.
"I mean.....I.....I um........"
Spike looked down with his face bright red. Applejack pulled him into a hug and nuzzled him.
"You are sweeter than sugarcane, little buddy."
Spike smiled warmly at her.
"SPIKE! SPIKE!"
Spike jumped as he heard someone calling for him. He ran outside and saw Twilight running around town and screaming hysterically.
"Twilight?!"
Twilight turned and her eyes widened in delight seeing Spike. She teleported to him and pulled him into a tight hug and covered his head in kisses.
"Thank Celestia you're okay Spike. I was so scared you were hurt!"
Pinkie approached behind her, still shaking and jittering anticipating a doozie. Twilight looked into his face, her eyes still full of tears. Spike felt bitterness fill him as he answered her.
"That's not what you said when I told you."
Twilight recoiled like she'd been slapped but she looked earnestly into his eyes.
"I'm so sorry Spike. I never should have sent you into the forest."
She kissed him lovingly more. Applejack was partly hoping this would put an end to Spike's oath and he would go home where he belonged.
"I promise I won't do this again. Please, let's just go home."
She smiled at him. Spike squinted his eyes as he felt sorrowful tears overcome him.
"No...."
Twilight recoiled in horror. Spike panted lightly trying not to cry.
"I....I can't go home Twilight....."
Spike walked to Applejack's side who looked very concerned for both him and Twilight. Spike continued.
"Applejack saved my life. I need to repay her for that. Until I do I........I have to work for her forever."
Twilight's hind legs slumped and she sat with a thud and her pupils widened as big as her eyes as tears of sorrows flowed endlessly.
"Forever?"
Spike held back a sob as he answered.
"Forever...."
Pinkie's mane and tail suddenly deflated and flattened and she nearly started crying herself. Applejack tried not break down herself as she spoke to Spike.
"Um....Spike. Why don't you head back to the farm. See if Big Mac needs a hand. I'll be along later, okay?"
Spike nodded and wiped his eyes.
"Goodbye Twilight."
Spike slowly walked away sadly. Twilight fell to the ground and buried her face into her hooves and sobbed. Rainbow looked completely at a loss for what to do.
"Tell me that didn't just happen."
Twilight tried to compose herself and lifted her face from the small puddle of mud her tears made. Applejack helped her to her feet.
"I hope you see now how important this is to him."
"I....I knew we was going to go through with making a code but.....I didn't think it was this serious...."
Twilight sniffed and wiped her eyes. Fluttershy fidgeted and was trying her best to stay calm, but she couldn't hold back empathetic tears. She placed an arm around Twilight, trying to comfort her.
"Um....at least we see he has a lot of integrity."
Twilight shook as she cried harder. Fluttershy recoiled thinking she said something wrong. Twilight composed herself and spoke to Applejack.
"Applejack, I need your help. I need Spike home. Please, help me bring him home."
Twilight looked at her in desperation. Applejack sighed and gave her a stern look.
"Ya gotta promise me one thing, Twilight."
Twilight felt a little concerned at her hard tone but nodded.
"You need to change how you spend time with him. And stop just brushing him off!"
Twilight recoiled in shame.
"I....I didn't-"
She stopped when Applejack poked her hard in the chest.
"I'm not talking about just what work you have him do, I mean REALLY take care of him. You're the closest thing he has to a mother! Yeah, he looks up to all of us, but you are his real family! You need to act like it! You are responsible for him, he should be priority number one for you! You understand me?!"
Twilight had pulled back in hurt and shame at Applejack's shouting, but she knew she was right. She nodded as more tears flowed from her eyes.
"You're right. I promise you, I won't let this happen again."
Applejack took a breath, nearly out of air from her angry shouting. She honestly had to wonder how they were going to do this.
~
Spike was following behind Big Mac with a bag of seeds, planting them in the soil as Big Mac pulled a plow through it. He was still sad after what happened with Twilight, but fortunately Big Mac had been able to talk to him and cheer him up. Working the field had also helped; it kept his mind preoccupied. As they neared the end of their work, Applejack approached Spike and gave him a hug.
"How ya doin' little buddy?"
"I'm....I'm okay, Applejack. The work helps."
Applejack patted his shoulder while Big Mac looked back with a concerned look.
"Well, this evening, think you can lend me a hand?"
"Of course."
"Good. I'll see you then."
She patted his head and headed toward the barn. Before she entered, she looked around, making sure no one was near. She opened the door and entered where the others were waiting. She made certain to lock the door.
"Alright, y'all. We're all aware of how important Spike's code is to him. So the only way he will quit his work for me is if he saves my life."
Pinkie jumped up in excitement.
"YES! And I have the perfect plan!"
Pinkie pulled out what looked like a crayon drawing of a storyboard.
"I, disguised as Baron von Meanie Pants, will tie Applejack to a railroad track! Spike will come in and untie you as the girls run a train on the tracks. He'll pull you away just before it hits you."
Pinkie pulled out a stereotypical villain outfit and put it on, complete with a twirly mustache. The others looked at her with an annoyed glance. She slumped in disappointing. Applejack rubbed her eyes.
"Twilight? If you would?"
Twilight nodded.
"We're going to make it look like Applejack is going to be attacked by a timberwolf."
Pinkie looked at her mustache.
"Can I at least keep the mustache?"
Applejack rolled her eyes in exasperation.
~
It was dark out, with a full moon providing a mild amount of light as the ponies set up their plan. Applejack spoke to Pinkie and Rarity.
"Everything ready?"
"Indeed. But are you ready for your part?"
Applejack raised an eyebrow at her.
"Let us see your best damsel in distress."
Applejack thought for a moment and feigned desperation, and doing a poor job of it. Rarity shook her head.
"Darling, really? You think that will convince him? Observe."
Rarity went into a dramatic and detailed presentation of how to act in desperation. Applejack shook her head.
"Rarity, this ain't a theater in Manehattan!"
"Spike won't believe it unless you give a good performance."
"Applejack!"
They all gasped as they heard Spike approaching. Pinkie and Rarity hid under a bush. Pinkie put on her mustache, making Rarity roll her eyes. Applejack smiled nervously as Spike ran up to her, eager to serve.
"Spike, um.....I need you to help me rake up some leaves for compost. Right over there."
"Will do!"
Spike took a rake she offered and raked up the leaves and plants into a neat pile. Nearby, Twilight made an illusion spell around a pile of branches and logs, turning it into a timberwolf with a purple aura. Twilight nodded to Rainbow and Fluttershy nearby. Rainbow took a deep breath and released a loud and thunderous roar. Spike recoiled in fear.
"What was that?"
Applejack approached the forest, trying to look concerned. Twilight watched her every move, readying the dummy wolf to pounce. Applejack looked into the treeline, trying to act like she was looking for the source of the sound, Spike watching nervously. Applejack pretended to scratch her head, but actually tipped her hat to signal Twilight. Twilight sent the wolf pouncing out of the trees and it landed on top of Applejack, making snarling noises.
"APPLEJACK!!!"
Spike ran to help her, but stopped as he noticed something seemed off about the wolf. Applejack pretended to panic.
"Spike! Spike, help! Help, please!"
Spike approached slowly, realizing more and more the wolf wasn't real. Applejack became desperate and stuck her head in it's mouth.
"Spike, hurry!"
Spike crossed his arms and looked insulted. Applejack sighed in defeat.
"That's enough, Twilight! He figured it out."
The wolf fell apart into chunks of wood. Twilight and the others exited their hiding places feeling disappointed. Applejack tried to reach out to Spike to explain.
"Spike, let me-"
He held up his hands as he started to cry.
"You don't have to tell me anything, Applejack! I get it!.......You don't want me around anymore."
Applejack gasped and tried to explain to him.
"No, Spike that's not it!-"
"So why try to trick me like this?!"
"I.....I just didn't-"
She stopped and everyone froze as a loud howl rose from the forest. Spike started shaking in terror.
"Please tell me that was part of your plan."
Applejack shook her head. Twilight ran to Spike and stood over him hoping to protect him. The others huddled near her, fear filling them as powerful thunderous footsteps approached. From the treeline approached a creature as tall as a dragon. It stepped out of the forest and looked down on the ponies. The beast appeared somewhat similar to a timberwolf, but where they would normally be made of logs, broken branches and leaves, this creature looked like a fully grown great elm tainted by dark magic and turned into a werewolf. It stood on it's hind legs, showing it's powerful muscle build. All over it were pitch black pine needles acting as fur, in some places becoming jagged like spines. Each paw ended in a set of massive razor sharp thorns. It's mouth was full of large fangs looking like hardened tree sap. Twilight grabbed Spike and pushed for everyone to run.
"TIMBERWEREWOLF!!!"
They ran for all they were worth, but the werewolf plunged his claw into the ground. A snake like object burrowed under the grass until it reached them and formed a cage of black hardened wood. Twilight fired on it with her magic, but it had little to no effect. The wolf approached them, reaching them in a single step. The wood parted for it to pluck one of them, taking Applejack in it's thumb and index claw. It sniffed her once before licking it's jowls with a vile tongue made of dark red wood, blowing hot breath stinking like rotted wood and dead plants. Applejack fought for all she could, but the grip would not loosen. Spike tried to run to her, but Twilight held onto him tightly.
"Spike, no! Forget the code! I'm not losing you!"
"I DON'T CARE ABOUT THE CODE!"
He kicked Twilight, making her lose her grip and managed to squeeze through the openings in the cage. Everyone screamed at him to run, but he headed straight for the Werewolf, determined to save Applejack. The wolf lifted it's foot and tried to stomp on Spike, just barely missing him. Spike jumped onto it's foot and started clawing and biting at it. Despite his sharp claws and teeth, Spike could not cut through the tough bark protecting the werewolf. The werewolf grabbed Spike between his fingers, the others still trying desperately to break open the cage to help. The wolf started to crush Spike, wanting to make short work of him. Spike worked up his inner fire as much as he could. He felt like he was going to be sick, but he let loose the largest plume of fire he could, igniting the werewolf's wrist. It immediately thew Spike and Applejack to the ground, trying to put out the fire. Twilight finally broke though the wood cage and used her magic to make the fire stronger, spreading it up the werewolf's arm. It barked and whined in desperation until finally leaping into as nearby lake.
"EVERYPONY RUN!!!"
They all set off at top speed, the werewolf forgetting about them.
~
They reached Fluttershy's cottage and ran inside, trying to catch their breath, but Fluttershy rushed to her den and retrieved a first aid kit and tended to Spike as Twilight hugged him tightly, refusing to let go. Applejack placed a grateful hoof on his shoulder.
"Spike.....you.....you saved us all back there!"
The ponies all hugged him tightly but he pushed them back.
"Hold it, hold it!.....will someone please tell me what this was all about?"
They all looked guilty but Applejack answered first.
"Look Spike. I do respect you for what you're trying to do. And I understand how important this is to you. But I don't want you to work for me like this."
Spike looked confused but Applejack continued.
"If you wanna lend a hand every once in while or want a job, that's fine. But I don't want you to think you owe me something."
"But you-"
Applejack placed a hoof over his mouth.
"I don't need you to repay me for that Spike. There's no debts between friends. Especially not when it makes it so unhappy."
Twilight cuddled him and kissed his forehead. Spike looked thoughtful and sighed.
"I promise you, I'll never think of you as anything less than the best kind of friend. Especially after tonight."
Spike smiled gratefully.
"One condition."
Applejack looked a little concerned.
"All of us stay as far away as possible from Timberwolves!"
They all shared a laugh.
"It's a deal little buddy."
Spike gave Applejack a fist bump.
~
Twilight was by Spike's bed, gently petting him as he slept peacefully, only moving slightly with his snoring. Twilight heard a light knocking at the door and trotted downstairs to answer. It was Applejack.
"Hi Applejack. What are you doing here?"
"Is Spike still up?"
"No, he pretty much passed out half way home."
"How is he?"
Twilight motioned for her to follow. They headed upstairs and Twilight let Applejack see for herself. She couldn't help but smile warmly at the sight.
"Could y'all give him this for me?"
Applejack reached into her saddlebag and pulled out a small orange gem. Twilight looked surprise.
"Where'd you get that?"
"Well, I couldn't sleep and.....I just wanted to thank him for all the work he did for me. So I went out and dug up a gem for him."
Applejack set it on a counter. She leaned down to Spike and gave him a little kiss, making him smile and stir slightly.
"Y'all take good care of him Twilight. I don't think either of us realize how much of a blessing he is."
Twilight nodded as Applejack left. She was about to climb into bed, but she couldn't take her eyes off Spike. She layed down and gently set her head on his form to cuddle him, making them both smile and helping Spike sleep more peacefully.
"I love you Spike."
She stayed there throughout the night, falling into a relieved and thankful sleep.
The End