Apple Bloom regained consciousness sometime later with no idea of where she was. She quickly looked around when she realized she was no longer in the yellow deserts only to find she was in a white hospital room lying down on a bed. On her left forehoof she had an IV and she was also attached to a monitor showing her heart rate and giving off beeps. In the room with her there were also a few doctors and Spike.
“Spike, where are we?” Apple Bloom asked, shocked that her voice came out softly. She also noticed that the beeps on the heart monitor seemed to be slower than it should be. Or Apple Bloom thought, she felt really groggy and couldn’t focus for some reason. “What happened to the desert?”
Spike looked to his right at one of the doctors, a unicorn who was using his magic to look at a clipboard, until the unicorn noticed the drake’s glare. He moved the clipboard to the table to Apple Bloom’s left before talking.
“The trauma from the poison might have caused some slight amnesia,” the doctor said. “It should clear as the poison starts clearing from her system. As you can tell she is still in a very fragile state.”
“Poison?” Apple Bloom asked and it was as soon as she asked that her memories came back to her. Getting worried about Spike leaving. Walking to try and find him. Seeing the scorpion in her path and trying to maneuver around it. Getting stung. Spike coming to rescue her. It all came back.
“So…where are we?” Apple Bloom asked.
“…Canterlot main hospital,” Spike told her. “You were teleported here when Twilight finally got my message and teleported to the desert to see us. Of course you wouldn’t remember since you fainted just a bit after I sent the letter.”
“You were in critical condition when you were finally brought in,” the doctor interrupted. “Another hour later and you wouldn’t be here right now. But luckily we managed to get anxiolytics in you as fast as possible and you should make a full recovery. And don’t worry, your folks have already been told. I’ll tell them you’re awake now.”
The doctor nodded to his assistant, a pegasus mare, and they both left the room leaving Spike and Apple Bloom alone.
“So…have you and Twilight…talked yet?” Apple Bloom asked.
“No we haven’t,” Spike told her. “We’ve been more worried about you. So Twilight left me here to keep an eye on you after I…sent a letter to Applejack telling her you were here.”
“Has something happened ta you?” Apple Bloom asked.
“No, not yet,” Spike said. “I just…feel weird being back. I never thought I’d be back here.”
“Spike…Ah’m sorry Ah took that choice from you,” Apple Bloom said. “Ya probably hate me now, don’t ya?”
“No I don’t,” Spike said quickly to take away Apple Bloom’s doubt. “If I hated you, you wouldn’t be here right now. I still had a choice. I could have left you there and kept on going on my way. I chose to tell Twilight and I chose to save you.”
“Well thanks Spike, but Ah…”
Spike walked across the right side of the room towards the right side of Apple Bloom’s bed. When he got close enough to Apple Bloom, Spike grabbed her right forehoof with his claws. Apple Bloom naturally blushed from the sudden contact and Spike himself felt heat rise to his cheeks.
“Listen, I’m not going to blame you,” Spike told her. “You already nearly convinced me to come back before you got stung. All getting stung did was push my decision. So don’t blame yourself.”
“Well…Ah just still…”
Apple Bloom closed her eyes for a few seconds to try and think of what she wants to say but before she could think of what to say she felt hard, scaly lips pressing against her own. Apple Bloom snapped open her eyes out of surprise only to see purple scales fill her vision. For a moment all of her thoughts disconnected and she could only fell the beat of her heart quickening. But after a few seconds her thoughts once again fired up. Of course the only thought she could muster was that Spike was kissing her.
Spike’s lips parted from her’s allowing her to ask “Wait does this mean…?”
“With how far you were willing to go for me and how long you waited, sure I’ll give it a chance,” Spike told her. “I wasn’t sure before; mostly because I didn’t want start a relationship with you only to end it when I leave. But now that that’s not happening, I’m going to give it a chance. But I need you to do one more thing for me. Can you help me explain myself to Twilight?”
“Y-yeah,” Apple Bloom said. “So long as you help me with Applejack.”
“You bet,” Spike said.
It was at that moment that the room door opened up and Applejack and Twilight walked into the room. They both walked in with weary, worn expressions, Twilight’s was more somber but Applejack had more of an angry one. And Applejack aimed her furious expression between both of them, though the one she looked at Apple Bloom with was more of disappointment whereas the expression she gave Spike was one of outright malice.
“Apple Bloom, ya don’t know how disappointed Ah am with you!” Applejack said, focusing on Apple Bloom first. “If it weren’t for the fact that you’re recoverin right now Ah’d tan your hide! Ah nearly had a heart attack when Ah learned ya ran off like that!”
“Applejack Ah…” Apple Bloom started but Applejack wouldn’t give her ground.
“No Ah’s fur you!” Applejack interrupted. “Ah’ve been so worried about you! Whether you were safe, unharmed, whether you were still alive! Do you know how Ah’ve felt?!”
“And as for you,” Twilight said, speaking to Spike now her voice almost as angry as Applejack’s. “I can’t believe you just left. I was so worried when I heard you left, I couldn’t do anything. I had to have Celestia cut her trip to the Gryphon Kingdom because I couldn’t focus. I have to help run the kingdom, so I can’t be spending my time worrying about you!”
“Well then maybe you should have listened to him,” Apple Bloom said with as much strength her weak voice could muster. Twilight and Applejack both looked at Apple Bloom.
“That doesn’t concern you!” Applejack said. “You’re in enough trouble as it is without butting into their conversation!”
“It does concern her,” Spike told Apple Bloom. “Because you didn’t listen to her either. It’s both of your fault that we left!”
“Didn’t listen to you?” Twilight asked.
“Applejack, didn’t Apple Bloom tell you that she wanted to go off and find some construction work?” Spike asked, ignoring Twilight.
“Well yeah, but land sakes girl, you’re only fifteen!” Applejack said. “You have plenty of time to worry about that stuff.”
“But Ah want ta worry about it now!” Apple Bloom said desperately. “And it doesn’t help that Ah don’t have nothin ta do at the farm. Ya want ta ask me if Ah know how you feel like? Well do you know what it feels like seein your family all hard at work all day, while you have nothin to do? That’s why Ah wanted ta go and find some work. Because Ah don’t have none here.”
“And speaking of work,” Apple Bloom said, directing her eyes towards Twilight, “did ya know Spike wanted help findin another job? Did ya know he was gettin tired of workin at the library? Do ya even know why he was gettin tired of workin at the library? That’s why he sent the letter to you. Ya know, the one he said was important.”
“Spike…was trying to tell me something?” Twilight asked, guilt written on her face.
“Yeah I was,” Spike said. “But you were too busy with your duties. I know you’re a princess and I know you’re busy, but that doesn’t mean you can just blow of your friends. Or your family.”
“And ya should know something,” Apple Bloom said. “Spike like’s workin when he’s doin something for those he loves. It’s somethin Ah’ve noticed from him over the years. It doesn’t matter what it is, just so long as there’s a reason to it. The reason he stopped likin workin at the library was because it wasn’t for you anymore.”
Twilight and even Spike looked at Apple Bloom with their eyes wide with surprise. Applejack didn’t have much to say but she stopped her tirade against Apple Bloom for just a second to also look at Apple Bloom. Twilight began feeling guilty and she knew she was wrong.
“Applejack…I think I get it now,” Twilight said turning to face Applejack. “We thought we knew right, but we didn’t let them explain themselves. Those two left because they wanted to find their own way without us helping them.”
“Alright Ah get that, but that didn’t mean y’all should’ve ran off,” Applejack said. “Ya should have just waited ta explain to me better Apple Bloom. But Ah…get what you’re gettin at. Since we brought Fluttershy, Caramel, and Braeburn on the farm ya haven’t really had much to do have you?”
“Spike I…I’m sorry,” Twilight said as she walked up closer to Spike. “I’ve just…been so busy lately, with the princess giving me more and more responsibilities now that I’ve been a princess for a while, that I forgot about you in Ponyville. Spike, I’m really really sorry.”
Twilight went up to give Spike a hug, which Spike limply took, before taking a step back to continue talking to him. “Listen Spike, let me try and make it up to you. If you really need my help to find I job, I’ll do all I can to help you. So what do you want me to do?”
“Well…” Spike said. “Since we’ve got here I’ve been thinking and…” Spike looked at Apple Bloom. “I’ve got a few ideas.”
~
Apple Bloom was stuck in the hospital for a few days recovering from the poison. While she was there word was sent out to her family (by Spike’s fire) and most of her family visited her. Some gave her the same rant Applejack previously gave her and some were just glad Apple Bloom was safe.
Spike also sent a letter to Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo and those two came as soon as they were able to. Scootaloo was the first to reach there and she had words for Apple Bloom once she got there.
“Apple Bloom!” the orange pegasus said once she busted into Apple Bloom’s room and proceeded towards Apple Bloom’s bed. “What’s wrong with you? Just running off without telling anybody!”
“Scootaloo Ah…” Apple Bloom said but Scootaloo wasn’t having any of this.
“And not even a letter for us,” Scootaloo said. “What, did you think we’d be fine with the letter you sent to Applejack? You know, I’d smack you if it weren’t for the fact that you’re still weak enough to be here!”
“Don’t listen to her,” Sweetie Belle said. She came through the door slowly just a few seconds after saying that. “Scootaloo’s just trying to hide the fact that she was worried about you by sounding angry.”
“Do you have to be right?” Scootaloo asked Sweetie Belle.
“Hey Sweetie Belle,” Apple Bloom said as the white unicorn walked up closer to where the orange pegasus was.
“Hey Apple Bloom,” Sweetie Belle said. “How are you feeling?”
“Much better than when Ah woke up in this hospital,” Apple Bloom told her. “Ah should be ready ta leave tomorrow according ta the doctors. Not that you’re gonna see me for long.”
“What do you mean?” Scootaloo asked.
“Ah’m gonna be leavin a week after Ah get home,” Apple Bloom told her. “Ah made a deal with Applejack: any year that there isn’t enough farmwork for me, Ah’m gonna head over to mah cousin Apple Crisp’s place in Applewood ta help out there.”
“Well at least that gives us a chance to catch up,” Sweetie Belle said.
“So how long are you guys going to ignore the fact that I’m here?” Spike asked. He had been standing with one leg against the back wall for a while now, waiting to be noticed.
“Sorry Spike, but Apple Bloom’s the one we came here to visit,” Sweetie Belle said. “But it’s nice to see you back too.”
Spike put his foot back down and stood up straight. “Well I didn’t think I’d say it, but it’s nice to be back. And unlike Apple Bloom, I’m going to be gone for about a week but after that I’m going back to Ponyville to start up my new job.”
“You got a job?” Scootaloo asked. “What happened to the library? Got bored of all that egghead work?”
“Nah, just wasn’t the right thing for me,” Spike said. “Now I’ve got a new job. And I’ve already sort of been doing it. I’m now working the post office’s letter sorter and out of town deliverer. I look at where all the letters are going and any letter that’s heading to a different city than Ponyville is going to get my letter transporting fire. That’s why I’m going to be doing some traveling for a week. I’m going to be meeting everybody from the different post offices so I can picture them when using my magic.”
Apple Bloom had a large smile on her face as she listened to Spike talk about it. She enjoyed listening to Spike talk with the same pep in his voice that he used to have, with the same cheer. It told her things were pretty much back to normal for him.
“That sounds pretty cool,” Sweetie Belle said. “That’s actually a great idea for using your magic.”
“Well that and…there’s another reason,” Spike said as he and Apple Bloom exchanged knowing glances.
“What…?” Scootaloo asked.
“Ah’m gonna be doin just a bit of construction work for now but…when Ah get old enough Ah’ve got bigger ideas,” Apple Bloom told them. “When Ah get old enough Ah’m gonna make my own carpentry company, just like most Apples have their own farms. And Spike’s gonna help me with that.”
Spike nodded. “I took this job to make connections,” Spike said. “I’m going to spread Apple Bloom’s name out and I’m going to find some contracts. So as soon as she’s ready Apple Bloom’s going to have plenty of work, and some workers.”
“So does that mean…you two are…?” Sweetie Belle asked.
“Yes we are,” Apple Bloom said with joy all over her face.
Sweetie Belle lowered her head and let out a sigh, surprising Apple Bloom. The earth pony filly thought Sweetie Belle would be happy for her. She gave a questioning glance at Sweetie Belle wondering what was wrong.
“Well that’s good for you I guess,” Sweetie Belle said as she quickly left the room.
“What…happened to her?” both Apple Bloom and Spike asked Scootaloo.
“It’s a long story,” Scootaloo said with a smile. “But let’s just say, since you guys left, a certain group of colts in Ponyville managed to get themselves on some short leashes.”
“What happened while Ah was gone?” Apple Bloom asked.
“Well…you see,” Scootaloo said.