//------------------------------// // Chapter 4 - Confrontations and Realisations // Story: The Gift of a Dragons Heart // by The MLP Hyena 111 //------------------------------// The next morning Sweetie Belle yawned softly and half-opened her eyes. As she glanced out of the hollow, she noticed where she was and remembered the day before. 'OH NO! Rarity is going to be so mad at me for staying away from home all night! We need to get this gem and get home quickly'. Sweetie Belle quickly glanced to the side. Upon seeing Spike so close to her, still fast asleep with his arm around her Sweetie Belle began blushing ferociously and settled down a bit. 'Maybe a lay in could do me good' Sweetie Belle smiled, snuggling up a little closer to Spike and closing her eyes again. "AAUGGH" Spike yawned, causing Sweetie to open her eyes again. "Ah! Good morning Sweetie Belle! Have a nice sleep?" "Yeah..." Sweetie replied, a little down cast. "Hmmm? Is everything alright?" asked Spike looking a little worried "Oh yes! Everything is fine, I'm just a little tired..." "Ok then..." he said, crawling out of the hollow and standing up. "Shall we get going?" "Sure, lets go!" --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Half an hour later Sweetie Belle and Spike were still trudging through the woods happily chatting to each other. "So, you saved Rarity from diomand dogs?" Sweetie asked excitedly. "Yeah! well, to be honest all our friends were there, and she didn't exactly need saving..." "Oh? Well, she can get pretty feisty some times it's almost scary..." Sweetie said shuddering a little. Spike chuckled "Yeah, your right about that" Sweetie Belle smiled warmly at him and giggled. Spike smiled back, but deep inside his mind was working like clockwork. 'Come on Spike think! You have plenty of reasons for your crush on Rarity, lets see... She is generous, beautiful, a good friend... AGH! THERE MUST BE MORE TO IT!' "Spike?" Sweetie looked confused "Are you ok?" "Huh? Oh! of course!" Spike said with an obvious fake smile. "Okay, but if there is something wrong you can tell me" Sweetie said with a caring look in her eyes. "Thanks Sweetie" Spike said gratefully, he could swear he saw something in Sweeties eyes, yet he couldn't think of what it was. All he knew was that it pulled at his heart in a way that seemed familiar yet very different. As the pair continued on, neither noticed the faint scent of rotting wood or a pair of glowing green eyes peering through the dense brush behind them. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Further up the path Sweetie Belle and Spike were still strolling ever closer to their destination, their chatter still holding strong as they continued. "How much further is it Spike?" Sweetie asked "Not far now" Spike repled looking dead ahead "Good! so what exactly does it look like again?" "Well its actually all sorts of colours, mostly black though... hey, do you smell that?" Sweetie took a deep inhail and immediatley spluttered at the scent, "Eww! it smells all rotten! what is it?". "I-I think I know, we need to move NOW!" "Why? What is it?" Sweetie questioned, her concern growing by the second. "I think its a..." Almost out of nowhere the rustling from a nearby bush turned into a burst of branches and leaves as a timberwolf sprung out from behind it. "TIMBERWOLF!" Spike yelled as the beast landed with a thud directly infrount of them, two more following close behind. "What are we going to do!?" Asked Sweetie Belle, her voice shaking as the timberwolves advanced on the pair. "You run, I'll distract them!" Spike said. "No! They'll eat you Spike!" Sweetie yelled with a horrified expression on her face. "It'll be ok, just go!" "NO! I wont leave you!" with that Sweetie jumped in front of Spike, facing the lead timberwolf head on. "LISTEN YOU BIG MEANIES! AS LONG AS IM ALIVE, YOU WILL NOT HURT HIM!" Sweetie Belle shouted with all the ferocity she could muster which admittedly wasn't much, yet coming from such a young filly it was enough to stop the wolves in their tracks. Spike was so surprised he just stood there, mouth hanging open in disbelief. "Please! We're just here to get a gem and then we'll leave, I promise!" She said in a gentler tone. For the longest time, the timberwolves just stood there staring at the filly. They almost looked curious, but then... "A gem? that's it? you come to our territory seeking a gem?" Sweetie Belle and Spike were so surprised the both jumped back, toppling over. "Who said that?" Spike asked in shock. "Me you foolish young drake!" The echoing voice sounded like it was coming from all around them, yet as the pair looked over at the timberwolves the alpha gave a little gesture resembling a wave. "Now tell me, why do you travel out here in search of a gem?" "Ummm ok, Well basically there's this beautiful mare named Rarity, I really like her yet she never sees me as anything more than a friend. So me and Sweetie Belle here are going to get this gem as a gift for her so she will want to be with me" Spike explained, not noticing Sweeties ears flatten and head droop a little. The alpha wolf looked at the pair of friends for a few minutes before speaking, " Young drake, are you sure you have your sight on the one you truly desire?" "What do you mean?" Spike asked in confusion. "Look into your heart young drake and question your intent, if indeed you truly desire this mare then you may need more than a gem to win her heart. However, if you find your heart is set on the wrong pony you may not need a gem at all, for that special somepony may be closer than you think." "I-I don't understand..." Spike said, more confused now than he had been before. "You shall find out soon enough young drake. You may pass and retrieve your gift, but ensure your feelings are true for this mare" "Thank you" Sweetie gratefully beamed at the timberwolves as they stepped aside for the pair to pass. As the two moved on past the timberwolves Spike looked over at Sweetie Belle, "Thanks for what you did back there" he said "I mean, that was the bravest thing I've ever seen!" Sweetie blushed intensely " Thank you, but I'm sure you've done many more brave things than that, I mean you've saved equestria so many times and you were going to distract them" "Yeah, but I have never seen anyone stroll right up to a timberwolf and yell right in its face, and... you did that for me?" "I... well, yes you are my f-friend right?" Sweetie said blushing even more. "Of course, but what you did back there is like something Twilight would do, and she hatched me! I cant imagine anypony else standing up for me in the face of certain doom like that. Even when my friends have done things similar to that, we all ended up either running away or beating whatever it what attacking us. All I can say is... Thank you so much!" Spike leaned in and gave her a hug. Sweetie Belle didn't know how much redder her face could possibly get, her stomach was filled with butterflies and when Spike hugged her She felt so warm and dizzy, she almost stumbled to the ground. "I-I ... I-Its ok Spike, really ... umm could you just give me a minute" With that Sweetie flopped to the ground, overwhelmed with emotions and good feelings. Spike watched this with a raised eyebrow. 'That's funny... come to think of it, she has been acting strange lately with all this blushing an nervousness... towards me?' "I'm ok now!" Sweetie called, getting up of the ground "lets continue" "Sure" Spike said still deep in thought. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 'Why has Sweetie Belle been acting so strange lately?' Spike thought 'Ok Spike! enough of that, think about Rarity'. Spike began pulling together a mental image of carousel boutique. He was helping Rarity once again and was fetching some materials for her. He had thought of this scene a lot, yet something seemed different this time. in his previous thoughts she was always commending him oh how helpful, smart, and hansom he was but now, though she was clearly grateful for his support, she was dismissive and clearly not to interested in him. Out of the corner of his eye, Spike saw a young white filly happily smiling at him. 'Agh there she is again! Why do I keep thinking about Sweetie Belle? Ever since last night, that dream started with me helping Rarity but then I was with Sweetie Belle and we were having fun together and we were so happy. What does this mean?' Spike began to think of how he and Sweetie Belle started hanging out together in the boutique and how he and Sweetie Belle had so much fun together and could tell each other jokes and laugh together, but with Rarity he was always the work assistant. They didn't really joke or have fun. 'Was I really helping Rarity out so much just because of her beauty?' He continued to think of the time he spent with Rarity and comparing it to the time he had spent with Sweetie Belle. 'But... But it cant be, I have a crush on Rarity... don't I? Before he could ponder any longer Sweetie Belle shook his shoulder, snapping him out of his trance. "Spike, look up ahead!" she said with excitement. Spike could see she was pointing to a clearing up ahead. Looking at the map confirmed that the gem was there. Together Spike and Sweetie Belle rushed to the clearing and upon reaching it they noticed a large mound crowned by three large pointed boulders. "Well, what are we waiting for?" Sweetie said, beaming at Spike For some reason he couldn't quite explain, that look made Spike blush slightly. "Ok then, lets go!" The two hurried up the side of the mound, stopping at the top they saw markings adorn the three boulders. "What do these patterns mean?" Sweetie asked "Well, when I read the book it said the only way to get the gem was to use dragon fire on the stones" Spike explained "Oh, ok then" Sweetie Belle stepped back as Spike opened his mouth and blew a small green flame so that it touched one of the huge jagged rocks. At once the spiral pattern covering it lit up the same colour as Spikes flame. "Woa" Sweetie and Spike both exclaimed in unison as the light spread from bolder to bolder until all three were covered in green glowing patterns. A beam of light emitted from the very tip of each bolder shining down on a spot of earth directly in the centre on the mound. To the pairs astonishment an object began to rise from the soil, it rose until it was about a pony's body height of the ground, then it just sat there suspended in mid air. Spike reached out and grasped the object in his claws. It was just a rock. Confused, Spike opened his pack and pulled out the book, opening it to the page describing the gem. "This doesn't look right..." He said. Spike tapped the rock with his claw and was surprised when a glowing crack appeared and spread over the rock until it broke apart to reveal the black opal. It glistened in the sunlight like a thousand galaxies. "Wooaaah!" Sweetie exclaimed "That's just beautiful" Spike was lost in the gem and in his thoughts. 'Well this is it... this is what is going to get me Rarity...' The timberwolves words echoed in the back of his mind 'are you sure you have your sight on the one you truly desire?' Spikes mind was a sea of confusion, he thought of Rarity yet the more he thought of her, the more he realised that she was not interested in him, and the more he realised he was becoming less and less interested in her. 'But if I don't love Rarity and she doesn't love me, then who do I love? And... who loves me?' Spike looked up from the gem to see Sweeties face. He could see a sadness in her eyes looking at the gem. As he looked from her and back to the gem he began to think once again of the time he had spent with her. All the laughter and fun they had, how she had agreed to come with him on this journey and how she had saved him from those timberwolves. 'AS LONG AS IM ALIVE, YOU WILL NOT HURT HIM!' No pony had shown so much bravery to help him before besides Twilight. 'If you find your heart is set on the wrong pony, you may not need a gem at all. For that special somepony may be closer than you think'. 'You know' thought Spike 'I think I just got what that timberwolf meant, and I think he was right... So I know who I love, but will she love me back?' 'So we found the gem, now Spike can go back and be with Rarity and they will be happy'. A tear ran down Sweeties cheek as she thought of Spike and Rarity together, 'Its not fair! Why wont Spike notice me? I love him, I'm sure of that now! this isn't just some school filly crush, even if I am a school filly! I just wish that...' "Sweetie Belle? What's wrong?" Sweetie was shaken from her thoughts and looked up to see a concerned dragon staring back at her. "Huh? Oh nothing... I'm fine, Really" She said, wiping the tears from her eyes and trying her best to smile. "Your crying, what's wrong? you can tell me!" Spike said in a comforting tone, placing a hand on her shoulder. "You wouldn't understand..." "Of course I would, what could have possibly be wrong? I..." Spike thought for a moment, 'could it be something to do with us finding the gem? But that's good isn't it? she was helping me find the gem for Rarity so I could be with her... unless... WAIT! could she...?' Spike thought of Sweeties behaviour lately, when they started hanging out she was just having fun, but as time went on Spike recalled Sweetie becoming more awkward in conversation, and all the blushing too. 'Could she... like me back? But if that's the case, for how long? Has she been hiding it all this time? Oh man and there's me, blindly obsessing over my crush on Rarity' all at once Spike felt a surge of guilt pass through him. "Umm... Spike?" Sweetie questioned nudging him with her hoof, her eyes still red with tears. "Are you..." But the filly was stopped by Spike clinging to her in a tight hug. Sweetie was stunned for a moment not knowing what to do, but then hugged him back. after a few moments they broke apart. Upon looking at Sweetie Belles teary-eyed face, Spike knew what he had to do. "Sweetie Belle" Sweetie looked at him and he took a breath before continuing. "I-I just realised something I should have seen a long time ago" Sweeties ears twitched at this and she looked at him with a confused, almost hopeful expression. "But first I need to know something... Do you like me?" Sweeties eyes lit up in disbelief of what she had just heard "I-I w-what do y-you mean?" "Do you, you know... Like me like me?" "I-I umm w-well I..." words were getting harder and harder for Sweetie Belle to say. "I ask because, well yesterday you asked me what I liked about Rarity, I tried and tried but I just couldn't think of anything other than her looks and basic friend qualities... I-I don't love Rarity, it took me a while but I have realised that I just don't, that was nothing more than a... a foolish crush..." Spike sighed "But the more that I think about it, you have been kind to me, you've helped me when I needed it, you've laughed with me and not just that, you are also so kind and sweet to others, and the more I look at you, the more beautiful you become in my eyes, so... do you like me?" Sweetie stood there stunned at what she had just heard, a swarm of butterflies fluttering about her whole body, her face even redder than it had been the previous evening. and then... "Oh YES Spike, yes, yes, yes I do like you, no... I love you! I love you so much!" Sweetie tackled Spike to the ground in a hug so tight a raging mantacore couldn't break them apart. Spike was surprised at the suddenness of Sweeties advancement but soon he was hugging her back happily. The two looked into each others eyes, happiness radiating from both of their faces as they then leaned in to share their first kiss. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A while later Sweetie Belle and Spike were laying on the side of the mound hoof in hand, gazing up at the sky in happy silence. "What do you think our friends will think of us?" Spike asked "Well, the crusaders are my best friends so I think they will be supportive. Actually, Apple Bloom already knew about my crush..." Sweetie smiled remembering her friends supportive words. "Ok, you don't think the others will mind do you?" "You know them better than I do" Sweetie said "Yeah... they'll probably be fine with it... Wait! Rarity and Twilight are going to be so worried about us!" "Oh, you're right! Well, I suppose we should get going then..." Sweetie said a little hesitantly. "Aww don't worry! we aren't leaving each other or anything" Spike said giving his new mare friend a comforting hug. Sweetie smiled "Yeah, you're right" she said returning the embrace. "But its going to take forever to get back home" "Not necessarily" an echoing voice replied from all around them. "Huh?" they both turned to see a now familliar figure standing a few feet behind them. "Oh, its you! were you spying on us?" Sweetie asked raising a suspicious eyebrow. "Spying? Why no! I was merely observing" the timberwolf's tail waged as he looked at the pair "I see you found your mate, at such a young age to" he tried to smile but soon gave up "curse these wooden jaws, anyway you two need to return home, correct?" "Um yes, but its going to take at least a day to reach home on foot or hoof" Spike replied "Not on wooden paw, climb on and I shall safely return you to your territory" "That's generous of you" Sweetie squeaked happily. She was about to mount the beast when Spike grabbed get hoof. "Wait Sweetie, I know he let us past but he is still a timberwolf... can we really trust him?" Sweetie Belle looked from Spike to the timberwolf and then back to Spike. "I trust him... you know? I think There's just a big misunderstanding between ponies and timberwolves. I mean, has anyone ever tried talking to them before I did?" "Well... you make a good point, most either run away or throw rocks at them... ok then, I mean... it isn't like I can say no to you" He smiled warmly at her and received a smile in return. The two mounted the timberwolf and set of for ponyville. "There's still one thing I don't get... why doesn't your breath smell anymore?" Spike asked, clinging to one of the many branches sprouting from the wolf's back. "The scent you speak of is a warning for ponies to stay away, we defend the Everfree for it is the last truly wild place in all equestria, if it is lost, us timberwolves will be gone forever" "Oh, well that explains why you attack ponies who enter the forest" Spike realised "Indeed, we used to be spread out across the whole of equestria but nowadays the everfree is our last sanctuary" Sweetie thought she saw a small drop of tree sap form in the creatures glowing eye and run down its face. "Aww its ok, we'll tell everypony how nice and kind you are" Sweetie comforted, gently rubbing one of the beasts many logs affectionately. he replied in the form of a tail wag, much like a dog. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A few hours later they were nearing the edge of the forest, the sun was still up and as they got closer and closer to the forest edge, the light began to flood in, illuminating the leaf litter, giving it a golden appearance. "There's the edge of the forest" Sweetie yelled excitedly. Spike smiled at his marefriends excitement. Once they had reached the very edge of the forest, the timberwolf stopped and allowed the pair to hop off. He then turned to face them. "This is where I must leave you, I dare not leave the forest and I to have a family to return to, just remember that every creature no matter how threatening has a heart" "Thank you so much, Mr timberwolf! We will never forget you" Sweetie ran over to the timberwolf and he wrapped one of his wooden legs in a tight hug. "Yeah... I think we can call you a friend, wouldn't you say Sweetie?" Spike proposed "Of course! I hope we see you again some day" "The world is a strange place young one, who knows? Nether the less I to hope to one day see you two again, fare well my friends!" the timberwolf gave a final wag of his tail before turning to leave. "WAIT! Mr timberwolf, what's your name?" Sweetie called to the figure bounding into the distance. "Ardolf" The ecoing voice sounded much fainter now as the pair stood watching the last glimpse of a wooden tail disappear into the bush. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- As the two lovers ambled nervously into town they both had the same thing on their mind. 'What's going to happen to us?' They figured Rarity and Twilight would be in the library as they had already checked the boutique and discovered Rarity wasn't home. As the two neared the library door they held each other close for comfort, what ever punishment they received at least they had each other. "What do you think will happen Spike?" Sweetie asked quietly "I don't know... Nothing too bad, I hope" They glanced at each other one last time before opening the door to the library, revealing Twilight, Rarity and Fluttershy. "Spike!" Twilight cried in delight. "Sweetie Belle!" Rarity cried in relief and anger. "Where have you two been? you had us worried sick!" "Umm s-sorry... y-you see..." Sweetie began but was interrupted by Spike. "It was all my fault. I've kinda had a crush on you for a while and.." "Wait, all this was about your crush on me?!" Rarity began but then realised her mistake and put a hoof to her mouth. "You knew about it? Since when? Why didn't you tell me?" Spike asked in an annoyed voice. "I... Oh what's the use, yes Spike I knew about your crush. I just couldn't bring myself to tell you that... well, oh Spike I'm sorry but I like you as a friend, not in that way" she then stood there, dreading his response 'Oh Rarity you've probably gone and broken the poor boys heart, I just hope that...' "Oh its ok, I kinda figured that already" Spike smiled "Besides I've found somepony who loves me just as much as I love them" Spike pulled Sweetie Belle close to his side and the two looked up at the surprised adults, wondering what they would say next. Rarity stood speechless for a moment, but then a smile crept onto her face "Sweetie Belle?" she questioned, looking at her little sister. "I-I umm, y-yes I do love Spike" She smiled sheepishly. "Spike?" Twilight stared at them in disbelief "You love somepony who isn't Rarity?" "Well yes, I mean that was just a crush after all" he smiled at her. Twilight just stared at him for a minute, but then broke into a smile "Oh Spike, your growing up so fast" and with that Twilight and Rarity both wrapped the two young lovers in a warm hug. "Awww" Fluttershy said as she watched the affection before her. "Now then you two, were have you been these last few days?" Rarity asked in a firm tone. "Ummm... well that's a funny story" Spike began. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- After the pair had finished their story they sat, awaiting their punishment. The three adults who had been listening to the story intently looked at each other, obviously concerned at what the two had done. "Did the timberwolf really speak to you?" Fluttershy asked excitedly receiving glares from Twilight and Rarity, she shrugged innocently. "Yeah, he was so nice and helped us get beck hear so soon" Sweetie Belle replied. "Oh, that's wonderful! I never thought of speaking to timberwolves, I'll have to try it sometime" Fluttershy smiled. "Anyway" Rarity quickly interjected "You two do realise you went without permission or supervision into the everfree forest? Not to mention you stayed away from home overnight!" "We're really sorry Rarity" Sweetie looked up at her sister with the cutest expression she could muster. "I know. Never the less you still did it, now me and Twilight have decided that both of you are grounded for a week" Sweetie Belle and Spike looked at each other sadly "We wont be able to see each other for a whole week?" Sweetie said in disbelief. "You didn't let me finish. You will be allowed to see each other in the evenings, you just cannot go out and play in the day time" Rarity said flatly, but the broke into a smile "I'm not cruel enough to get in the way of my little sisters first relationship" Sweetie Belle beamed at her sister "Your the best sister ever!" she exclaimed happily hugging Rarity's leg. "Think nothing of it Sweetums! It's still light out, you and Spike could spend the rest of the evening together" "REALLY? you mean it?" Sweetie said excitedly. "Why not? just be back before nine, ok?" Rarity said happily. "Thanks Rarity! Did you hear that Spike?" "I sure did, lets go! Oh and thanks Twilight" "Its fine Spike really, Just be yourself ok?" Twilight said with a smile. "I will! See you later" With that the two lovers turned and walked out the door, holding each other tightly. Suddenly a black figure fell out of the leaves in front of the pair. The figure jumped up and proceeded to pull of her goggles revealing the pink face beneath. "A-ha! I found you! Twilight and Rarity are going to be so pleased. Oh, Hi Twilight and Rarity! I found them" Pinkie beamed at the ponies and dragon before her. "Oh, and what's this? Well, it looks Like good old Spiky and Sweetums decided to get together after all!" Pinkie beamed at them again "I knew it!" "Yes Pinkie, that's very nice and we appreciate you looking for these two, be we already found them... Well, they came to us. they are just heading out to spend some time together" Rarity explained "Ooooh ok! well, have fun you two!" With that pinkie jumped clean out of her spy costume and bounced of down the street, humming a happy tune. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sweetie Belle and Spike decided to spend the evening together on the edge of town. They soon reached a grassy hill, overlooking a part of the town. it was quiet and peaceful. as the pair sat down together to watch the sunset, a slight breeze brushing by them. "You know... its funny" Spike said calmly. "What?" "My crush on Rarity is what made me realise my feelings for you" he smiled and pulled Sweetie into anther hug, one she was more than happy to return. "Me too, I mean if it weren't for your crush you wouldn't have come round so often to help Rarity, and I wouldn't have gotten to know how nice, helpful and caring you are" Sweetie smiled and closed her eyes as she rested her head on Spikes shoulder. "Sweetie Belle" he said softly. "Hmmm" she replied opening one eye. "Look at that" Spike said, pointing at the setting sun on the horizon. "Wooh, that's beautiful" she commented, staring into the distance. "Not as beautiful as you are" Sweetie blushed and turned to face Spike, who was gazing back at her. "I love you Spike" "I love you Sweetie Belle" They both leaned in, their lips meeting in what was a brief kiss. Yet to the two lovers, it seemed like an eternity. "You know... I think you look even more beautiful in this light" Spike smile once their lips parted. "Did I ever tell you how good you are at complimenting ponies?" Sweetie remarked with a warm smile. They both laughed happily for a minute but stopped upon hearing a familliar sound off in the distance. A howl, the howl of a timberwolf. "Ardolf!" Sweetie yelled happily, jumping to her hooves and rushing to the top of the hill. once there she let out a squeaky howl. She then listened intently until, sure enough another howl sounded from the dark everfree forest. As Spike watched the exited filly giggling and howling he began thinking to himself, 'man I sure am lucky to have somepony like her' his smile grew as he watched her. "Come on Spike! come up here and try howling, its really fun!" She happily called. "I'm coming!" he called back, getting up and running up to join her. She was the perfect match for this dragons heart. The End. "I told you didn't I? Spike and Sweetie Belle loved each other all along, they thought they could hide it from me but they were wrong, weren't they But you believed me didn't you? You bronies are clever and you listen to your good old Pinkie don't you... DONT YOU? That's what I thought! Anyway, see you later every pony!"