//------------------------------// // My kind of Apples // Story: Friendzone ain't magic // by Marshall_Evergreen //------------------------------// Neither of them spoke for what seemed, the longest time. The silence was ironically deafening; it ate at Spike's conscious, kicking and beating him, yelling at him to say something to her. ANYTHING! Spike was sitting on a stool at one end of the bar while Applejack was polishing the decanter on the other end of the bar. They both stole glances at each other every so often, just to maybe see what the other was thinking. Applejack sighed softly and turned her head away in remorse. What was she supposed to say? Tell him she liked him? No, that would just mess Spike up even more. Plus, Applejack didn't want to be some kind of rebound. Maybe a buffer? At least until things get less awkward between Spike and Rarity... Applejack and Discord had been discussing this earlier while Spike was with Soarin. Discord had been confident that Spike would get over Rarity eventually and for that, Applejack was happy; at least old Spike would be back. But that didn't fix Applejack's real problem. She was lonely. Sure she had friends and family, but it wasn't the same. All her friends had something she didn't and she needed it bad. But she couldn't allow herself to get in the way of Spike's happiness. When she'd told that to Discord he'd merely sighed and nodded solemnly in what looked like defeat. There was nothing he could do for her; he knew that and so did she. But it had still been nice to talk it out, to know that Discord had caring side. In all honesty she was starting to warm up to him. Unbeknownst to the farm mare, Spike had been starring at her, lost in thought. She was so quiet...silently suffering? How like Applejack to never complain. He looked over her again as the candle light highlighted her mane and tail. She was beautiful. How had he never noticed? She had the cutest freckles on her cheeks. AND HER EYES! They were so much like his, but they held such depth, so captivating and... Aww, cuss. Applejack had turned and had found Spike looking at her face. Not just at her, but into her. His eyes were sharp and piercing, cutting straight through her. She shivered under his gaze and felt the heat creep up into her cheeks as she locked eyes with him. They continued to stare. Spike could feel the sweat forming on his brow and the heat radiating from his cheeks. AJ was blushing too, redder than apples, but it just added to her cuteness and deepened the shinning emerald of her eyes. Spike was the one to break the moment, looking down into his drink. Applejack cocked her head to one side in curiosity. "What's wrong sad eyes?" Spike looked up and smiled. "I'm not sad. It's called brooding. More manly see?" He joked. Applejack giggled and once again Spike was flung into a trance. Rarity, Discord, depression, everything just went out the window and was replaced by that glorious laugh. Had he been so caught up with Rarity to have never noticed it before? once again looking down, he mumbled, "I'm sorry." "What was that Sugarcube?" Applejack inquired. Spike lifted his head to look sternly at her. "I'm sorry" He said again, rather stoically. Applejack was taken aback by this but soon recovered. "Sorry fer what Spike?" "Everything." He paused before continuing allowing himself to think out carefully what he'd say next. "These past four days I've been a jerk, to you and all my friends, but especially you. I thought...because I'd lost Rarity there was nothing left and that I didn't have to give two curses for anyone...I, I don't know what I was thinking." He said, allowing his voice to fade by the end. Applejack put down the decanter, jumped the bar and walked over to Spike. "Hey," she said, lifting up his chin to speak directly into him, "I took it because I knew you needed to vent. I knew that you'd come around Sugarcube." "Don't you get it?" Spike cried, tears starting to form in the corners of his eyes, "This isn't about me, this is about you! Applejack you're so caring that you don't care about yourself! I'm a worthless piece of crap, but you are so beautiful and let yourself be treated like dirt. Don't say anything yet, just let me finish...You...you make me want to become better. A better person, a better friend and a better man. But, these past four days, I wasn't able to see it. I didn't realize the damage that I've caused and I wish I could just change it but I can't! I wish sorry was enough but it just isn't! Applejack I..." He was suddenly cut off as he felt something gently caress his lips. He looked to see it was Applejack. She was standing on her hind legs, holding his face to hers with her front hooves. Spike was lost and allowed himself to sink into the kiss as he wrapped his arms around her, holding her close to him. It was paradise. ...And it tasted unsurprisingly of apples. Applejack broke the kiss but still held his face, pressing her forehead against his, gazing into his eyes. Applejack too was now crying, both from the pain of Spike's words but also the boundless joy she felt well up within her. "Spike, Sugercube, never before has anyone said something like that to me. You are the most noble and humble creature I have ever met...and loved." Spike was at a complete loss for words but what Applejack had just said left him paralyzed to the spot. Loved? LOVED! "AJ..." She hushed him, pressing her hoof against his lips as she smiled lovingly at him. "You ain't the only one to have suffered from unrequited love Spike. I couldn't get in the way of your happiness. I lied to myself, telling myself I'd be as happy as a pig in mud so long as you were happy...but like I said...That was me lyin'. And it hurt Spike, Celestia it hurt so bad! But it's okay. I forgive you" All this time, she'd kept silent...for him. Spike couldn't take it anymore, he needed to know. "How long?" Applejack giggled. "'Bout a year or two now. We've all seen how hard you work fer Rarity Spike. Have ta say, yer one tenacious little fella aren't ya?" Spike smiled. "I'm not so little anymore AJ. I was always going to just be Spikey-wikey, that's all I was to Rarity. I'm...I'm glad I'm not anymore." It was strange really. Within a matter of moments all his affections for Rarity had been flipped. He wasn't blind anymore. He wasn't yet sure what he felt for Applejack, it wouldn't be a lie to say he had coveted some feelings for her in the past, but this was different. He felt so much love and bliss; nothing he'd ever felt with Rarity. It was one thing to love someone, but it was something far greater to have those same feelings returned. Spike never before knew he could feel so much. All this time they embraced one another, letting tears of guilt be replaced by tears of abounding happiness. After a while they pulled apart. "Well it's gettin' late. I best be gettin' home." Applejack sighed contently. "Yeah," Spike agreed in the same airy tone. Applejack started to walk out and Spike whirled around, forcing himself back into focus. "Applejack!" He called. She turned back to him and smiled. "Yes?" 'Oh crap, oh shoot...say something idiot! No stop gawking and just ask her...I know she's hot... Celestia, I said STOP!' "Erm...are you..." "I'm off tomorrow, Sugarcube. You can come 'round the farm an' pick me up around six." "Oh, right. Thanks...erm, night AJ." "G'night Spike." She then left. Spike was left standing there for a moment. Then the toothiest, smuggest and most giddy smile crossed his face. He leaped in the air and cheered, fist pumping. He landed and sighed out in content. Things were certainly looking up. He walked out the door and turned out the light, laughing to himself. "RIP Friendzone." The End