After Spike’s revelation of why he was leaving they both went away from the fire and went to bed for the night. However, Apple Bloom could not fall asleep at all. Her mind was in turmoil because of a conflict with itself, a conflict that was gaining Apple Bloom no peace for that night. Her practical side and her emotional side started a war with each other and the battle was raging on.
Apple Bloom figured she had no chance of convincing Spike to stay in Equestria. So her original idea of getting Spike to go back with her to Los Pegasus was now thrown out the window. And her logical, practical side was telling her to just go back there and leave Spike since she will gain nothing from continuing on with him. Maybe a job in Phoenix, but she wasn’t sure about that.
But her emotional side didn’t want to abandon Spike, especially since Spike felt betrayed by Twilight. She also knew she would feel bad abandoning Spike, since she would have to admit she was lying to him this entire time. But besides the fact that she gets to spend time with Spike, she couldn’t think of any good reason to do that.
The battle kept her up all night, tossing and turning in her bed. She could only sleep for brief periods of time and each time she had some sort of nightmare that involved Spike disappearing forever or sometimes even him dying, only to wake up screaming a few hours later. Luckily Spike didn’t seem to be affected by Apple Bloom’s cries; otherwise he would have had just as bad of a night as Apple Bloom was having.
Eventually Apple Bloom gave up on sleeping. The moon told her it was sometime past midnight when she just gave up and went to her hooves. Apple Bloom knew she shouldn’t, Spike already gave her a general idea of the creatures that prowl the desert and while they both made sure their camp was safe from such creatures, outside of there they would be out and about, but Apple Bloom needed to walk and think.
Apple Bloom followed the direction of the moon in front of her so that she would be able to get back at any time she needed to. But while she was walking she really didn’t pay much attention to anything but the ground below her. What she was more focused on were her thoughts.
Urrggg….why couldn’t Spike just have waited for Twilight, Apple Bloom thought out of hopelessness. He could have tried explaining himself better! Ah’m sure Twilight could’ve helped him! But nooo, Spike had to be stubborn.
Apple Bloom shook her head. No Ah can’t blame Spike. Ah can understand why he’s so angry. Twi completely ignored him when he even wrote to her telling her it was important. Ah can understand why Spike was feelin so angry. But Ah just wish they communicated better between each other.
Apple Bloom stopped her forward march. Ah guess Ah shouldn’t be the one sayin that. What about me? Could Ah have communicated better? Ah told Applejack and Big Mac mah problem but Ah don’t think Ah made myself clear. Ah could have tried ta explain myself better, Ah know Ah could’ve. We both could’ve.
Apple Bloom started walking forward again. And maybe Ah could have explained myself better ta Spike. Ah lied ta him, Ah lied while he told me the truth. And Ah still haven’t told him how Ah feel about him. Ah haven’t been clear with him either.
Apple Bloom continued walking until she noticed something strange. For the past day she had been walking over sand and had gotten used to the feel of the grains against her hooves. But now her hooves were on something familiar yet strange to her, something silky and wet. When Apple Bloom actually focused on what was directly in front of her she realized she was standing on grass.
Apple Bloom’s head immediately shot up with worry about how she was suddenly in grass and with the small light available she looked at her surroundings. What she noticed was she was in a large grassy area surrounded by the desert, with trees actually growing and even a large pond in front of her. It took her a few seconds, mostly because of how tired she was, but eventually she realized she must have walked into an oasis.
“Not a bad find Apple Bloom,” said Spike’s voice from behind her.
Apple Bloom quickly turned around to face the purple drake. “Spike?” Apple Bloom asked. “What are you doin up?”
“You haven’t exactly helped me get to sleep,” Spike pointed out. “Not with you constantly crying into the night.”
Apple Bloom’s head lowered. “Sorry,” she said. “But Ah didn’t know you noticed. Ya looked ta be asleep whenever Ah looked at you.”
“Yeah I was trying to fall asleep but I didn’t really get a lot,” Spike admitted. “I kept my eyes closed and tried to ignore you, since I thought you were just having a bad nightmare or even a night terror, but when you started walking off I knew something was wrong. So I followed you here.”
“Alright, thanks Spike,” Apple Bloom said.
Apple Bloom watched Spike walk over to the large pond and place his cupped claws into the waters. He lifted his claws back up and splashed the water all over his face to help wake him up. Spike repeated the process only this time when he grabbed the water he kept it cupped in his hands as he walked back to where Apple Bloom was. After a few seconds of walking he got close enough to Apple Bloom to be able to throw the cold water right on her face.
Apple Bloom shrieked as the water hit her face and her tiredness was suddenly replaced with anger. “What was that for?!” She yelled at Spike.
“To wake you up so you can tell me what’s wrong,” Spike said while he attempted not to smile.
Apple Bloom rolled her eyes and sighed, deciding to ignore what Spike just did. She had more important things to worry about. “Yeah Ah…Ah need ta tell you,” Apple Bloom said.
Spike sat down where he was standing and Apple Bloom lied down to become more comfortable while she explained. Apple Bloom closed her eyes for a second before looking into the starry sky and starting.
“Spike…you were honest with me so Ah’m gonna be honest with you,” Apple Bloom said. “Ah’ve…been lyin ta you for a while now.”
“About what?” Spike asked.
“Spike Ah…never planned ta go to Phoenix,” Apple Bloom admitted. “Ah never planned ta go even close ta that far. If Ah did Ah would have had more than enough food for the desert and even have remembered ta bring plenty of salt for when Ah got there.”
“So you lied to me?” Spike asked, obvious hurt and a small bit of anger in his voice. “Let me guess, you weren’t even planning on running away in the first place? You just noticed me running away and decided to try and bring me back didn’t you?”
“Well…kinda,” Apple Bloom said. She felt Spike’s eyes on her but she couldn’t return a look. “Ah was runnin away when Ah found you. Ah was gonna head to Los Pegasus, where Ah knew Ah could work at Applewood. But yeah when Ah found ya…the reason Ah lied was ‘cause Ah wanted ta bring you back. Or if not that at least keep you there with me in Los Pegasus. Ah will admit that.”
Apple Bloom raised her head to look at Spike. “But Spike Ah didn’t know why you were runnin away when Ah saw you. All Ah knew was you were hurt by somethin and Ah wanted ta help you. Ah lied because Ah wanted ta spend more time with you and figure out what’s wrong. Ah thought Ah’d be able ta help you and keep you here.”
“Well…I guess I can’t blame you,” Spike said. “You didn’t know why I was running away and were just worried about me. But now you do know.”
“Yeah,” Apple Bloom said. “And now Ah’m trying to decide whether Ah should continue going with you or go back to Los Pegasus. That’s why Ah’m havin a hard time sleepin.”
“Don’t worry Apple Bloom, you can go back to Los Pegasus,” Spike told her as he turned his gaze away. “I won’t think any less of you. Well…I might feel a little disappointed that you left me as soon as you figured out I won’t be staying in Equestria but I also know that you wanted to be sure I was alright.”
“Ah don’t care,” Apple Bloom said. “Ah’d still be questioning it whether you’d think any less of me or not.”
“Why would you do that?” Spike asked. “If you want to go back then just go. By the sounds of things you’d have it much easier there than in Pheonix.”
“…‘Cause of the second thing Ah’ve been hidin from you,” Apple Bloom said. She looked at Spike, worried about how he was going to react, and was extremely nervous at what she was about to say, but she told herself to tell him everything and she was going to tell him everything.
Apple Bloom stood up and slowly closed the gap between her and Spike, which was completely unnoticed by the drake because he was looking in the other direction. It took him until she was right in front of his face before he noticed she was close. Before Spike was able to ask anything Apple Bloom cupped her lips around his and kissed him. Spike’s eyes widened open in surprise while Apple Bloom’s closed.
To Apple Bloom, this was something she had been waiting for the longest time for. The chance to finally kiss Spike. And it didn’t disappoint her one bit. Sure Spike’s lips were harder than a normal pony’s but she didn’t care one bit. Her heart sped up at the contact and a wave of happiness passed through her.
After a few seconds Apple Bloom broke the contact by taking a few steps back and took a look at Spike’s face. Spike was still just as bewildered as Apple Bloom saw before she closed her eyes. But luckily for her, she didn’t see anger at her forwardness, or anything besides shock. The earth pony filly took that as a good sign.
“Spike, Ah’ve had a crush on you for the longest of times,” Apple Bloom told the drake. “You’ve always been such a hard worker for everypony you love, you’re so sweet and nice, and Ah love hangin around you. You always do so much and never stop tryin, even when ya really should like, when you did stuff for Applejack after she saved your life. Ya don’t know how long Ah’ve been waiting, how long Ah’ve been hopin, ta make you mine.”
“How long?” Spike asked quietly. Apple Bloom couldn’t gauge any emotions because of how quiet he said it.
“Since just a bit after Ah got mah Cutie Mark,” Apple Bloom told him. “And long before you lost your crush on Rarity. Ah still had mah crush on you, even when Ah thought Ah wouldn’t get you. Ah kept on hopin even then. Even then Ah spend mah time learnin as much as Ah could about gemstones and rocks and stuff, hopin maybe Ah could impress you sometime. Ah didn’t think Ah hade a hope, but Ah still did it.”
Spike looked away from Apple Bloom, his face forming a more ponderous expression. Apple Bloom waited patiently for him, worried but at the same time excited for Spike’s reaction. She had finally told him, now it was his turn to speak.
“…I guess you should travel with me then for a little while longer,” Spike finally said. “And while we’re going I guess we can try to think of something that would keep me from leaving Equestria.” Spike looked back up at Apple Bloom. “I still don’t think anything we’re going to find something but I’m open for any suggestions. At least more open than I was before.”
For the first time what felt like a while to her, Apple Bloom smiled. “And…what about…you know?” Apple Bloom asked.
“Your crush?” Spike said. “Well…I don’t know what to tell you. You kinda surprised me with that. Just…ask me later when I’ve had time to think about it.”
Apple Bloom’s head lowered. “Alright fine,” she said.
“Don’t take it the wrong way,” Spike quickly told her. “I’m not rejecting you. I just seriously don’t know what to think. I just need some time to actually think. And anyways…we should head back to the campsite.”
“Yeah, you’re right,” Apple Bloom said. “We should.”
Spike quickly got up with a hop and started walking in the direction of the campsite. But as he passed Apple Bloom’s left side he stopped for a few seconds. Spike put a claw directly on Apple Bloom’s shoulder.
“Hey Apple Bloom, good luck thinking about a way to work this out for the both of us,” Spike said. “I actually kinda want to hear it.”
After saying that Spike went back towards the campsite. Apple Bloom stood there a few seconds in shock before she turned around. She saw Spike was already well on his way back to the campsite, and Apple Bloom followed suit, now with a new hope.