After many hours passed at the Apple Farm, they finally conclude practice,which that would help Spike sweep the mare of his dreams off her hooves.
“Now remember, Spike. Always remember to keep yourself clean,” Applejack instructed. “Y’all know Rarity doesn’t like a stallion being messy.”
“Right, but I’m a dragon, not a stallion though.” Spike pointed out.
Applejack laughed slightly. “Ya got a point there. Still, even a dragon needs to look their best for a date,” she said with a smile.
“I’ll remember that AJ.” Spike then began to take notes on his scroll of advice Applejack gave him. “Any other tips for me I need to know?”
“Well...” Applejack paused for a moment to think of what she hadn’t taught him, but nothing came to mind to her. “What else do you need to know about?”
Spike paused for a moment. He tried to think of anything that he might need to know for his pending date with Rarity. The little drake slowly twiddled his claw as he thought of what else he might need to impress the mare of his dreams, ’til it finally it hit him.
“Well, how about kissing?” Spike asked.
“Kissing?”Applejack responded with a slight blush. “Oh...Ah don’t know about that.”
Applejack then felt her forehooves be squeezed by Spike. She then looked down to see him giving her a pleading look.
“Please Applejack, I know it’s gonna happen sometime in the future and want to be...prepared, y’know?”
“Um...well…” Applejack stuttered.
Applejack felt conflicted. On one hoof, she'd be helping out a friend with an important part of a relationship. But on the other hoof, she knew that he loved Rarity and couldn't bring herself to betray Rarity practice or not, She knew she couldn't kiss him. So she opted to give him just basic advice.
“Um...well...maybe making sure you have a clean breath,” Applejack said nervously.
“Uh-huh What else?” Spike replied, as he wrote on his scroll.
“Well...uh...just relax and do what feels right.”
“What feels right?” Spike scratch his head of confusion.
“Well...you know...the right moment. Y’know when you feel the sparks fly.”
“Sparks? What do you mean by ‘sparks’?”
Applejack rubbed the back of her neck as she tried to think of the words to describe the feeling of love. “Well, y’know the feeling you get when you see her and you think of her as a treasure you wouldn’t let go off and would protect her with all your might.”
“Oh!” He said, as he continued writing down her lesson into his little scroll.
She then ran out of things to say and decided to wrap it up.
“I think that’s it for today Spike.”
“Oh, okay AJ.” He gets up from his seat while rolling up his scroll. “Thanks again for the lesson, AJ. I hope this will make things magical.”
“Ah’m sure y’all will have a wonderful time together as a couple,” Applejack spoke with a smile. Though she wore a smile, she was a bit saddened that it couldn't have been with her. She could’ve easily sabotaged the lesson, but her element wouldn't allow her to. As conflicted as she was, she knew it wouldn’t be right to do anything, but help Spike. She wouldn’t wanna risk ruining their friendship over something like that. She knew she had to be strong. “Good luck on your date.”
“Thanks AJ,” he smiled, as he quickly gave her a surprise hug. “I’ll see you later. Wish me luck.”
The young little drake then released his embrace and headed down the road. Once he’s gone, Applejack let out a small sigh and closed the front door.
“Apples for sale! Get some sweet and delicious apples here!” Applejack shouted. She was advertising her family’s world famous apples, but it was a slow day in the Ponyville marketplace.
Applejack then spotted Rarity walking. She noticed that the fashionista had a little spring step.
“Howdy Rarity,” Applejack greeted, with a wave of her hoof.
Rarity turned around toward and made her way over to her. “Oh,why, hello Applejack,” Rarity spoke with a soft tone. “Isn’t it a marvelous day?”
Applejack quietly laughed to herself.
“Well you look happy today. Something happened, Rarity?” Applejack asked with a knowing smile.
“Oh, I had the most wonderful time last night. I still feel I’m on cloud nine,” she answered squeeing to herself.
“I guess you had a wonderful time date with Spike, huh?” Applejack said with a slight nudge to Rarity’s shoulder.
The excited mare’s expression changed to one of confusion. “Spike? Darling, why would I go on a date with Spike? We’re just friends,” chuckled Rarity.
“Huh? You didn’t...” Applejack said with a confused look that matched her friend's (confuse look). “Then why are ya so happy?”
Rarity couldn’t help but giggle bouncing back to her to previous mood. “I’m happy because I was invited to one of Fancypants’ parties. It was a magical evening,” she explained.
‘That can’t be right,’ Applejack thought to herself, as she tapped her chin.
“Why would I go on a date with Spike?” asked Rarity with an arched eyebrow.
“Well, He told me the other day that you agreed to go out with him.”
“A date? Oh no no no no no,” Rarity responded, as she shook her head. “It wasn't going to be a date. It was just a friendly picnic, but the strange thing is he cancelled at the last second.”
“Wait, what do ya mean ‘he cancelled at the last second’?” The southern girl inquired raising an eyebrow as she leaned in closer to her.
The fashionista pushed Applejack back with her hoof to give her a little space. “Well, it started when I was getting ready for our picnic. I heard a knock on my door. When I went to check to see, I saw it was Spike. He told me that something came up and he’d have to get a rain check on the picnic,” she answered.
“Why though?”
“He said he had a few chores he neglected to do before Twilight gets back from her visit at the Crystal Empire today. I offered to help, but he said a lady shouldn’t subject herself to such menial labor. And he’s quite right you know,” she said with small laugh. “He’s such a gentledragon if I say so myself. Anyways, he apologized if I was disappointed. And to be honest I was looking forward to it. He makes the most divine daisy and lilly sandwiches, but there’s always next time. I gave him a kiss on a cheek and then he ran off. Later that night, I got a message saying I was invited to a party (being) hosted by Fancypants . I was so excited to go and when I did it was magnificent!”
Rarity then leaned against Applejack to keep from fainting from her happiness.
“That can’t be right, he said he’d asked her on a date. Somethin’ ain’t right,” Applejack muttered to herself.
“Well, I better get going AJ. Tata~” Rarity waved, as she trotted away.
‘Ah gotta find out what happened…’ Applejack thought.
She then closed shop early and made a beeline for the Golden Oaks Library.
At the library, Spike was in the middle of cleaning up. He then heard a knock at the door.
‘Who could that be?’ Spike thought to himself. He walked to the door and opened to see Applejack.
“Applejack!” he shouted in surprise. “W-What are you doing here?”
“I just came to see if everything was okay. Rarity told me you’d cancelled your ‘date’ with her at the last second,” Applejack said.
Spike gulped and rubbed on his scale head. “Oh you heard about that? Well...I...I just lost my nerves is all,” he lied.
He then motioned her inside and continued to sweep. He tried to stay calm as Applejack looked at him with her knowing big sister stare.
“Y’all sure that was all or is it somethin’ else?” Applejack pried.
“What? Don’t be silly,” Spike said, as he kept sweeping. “What else could it be?”
“Really? Then look me in the eye and tell me there's nothing wrong.”
“I-I can’t AJ, I’m way too busy with cleaning-”
Applejack then grabbed him by the shoulder and turned him to face her. “I know you’re hiding something, please tell me.”
Hard as he tried, Spike couldn’t look away from her. As he gazed into her emerald eyes he knew it was a losing battle to try and keep it from her. Before he could spill the beans, he tried to run away from her. He was immediately stopped by her infamous rope and he was drug back to her. “Applejack, Stop…” he begged, struggling to break free.
“You’re acting jumpier than a grasshopper on a trampoline. What’s wrong with you?”
“I can’t.” He then managed to cut the rope with his claw and ran quickly upstairs. Once he reached the top of the stairs, he dove onto Twilight's bed and hid under the covers. He soon heard her approaching hoofsteps coming up the stairs. He then heard her reach the bed. “AJ, please go away. I don't want to talk about it,” he pleaded, as he gripped the sheet tighter around himself.
“Were...were you still..afraid of Rarity laughing at you?” she asked as she sat on the bed.
“No.”
“Is it about...the kissing?”
“No.”
“Then what?”
“I-I…” Spike gulped and then took a deep breath. “Because I...I think I’m in love with you.”
As she heard his words, her eyes went wide with of surprise. She was completely rendered speechless. He loves me? Why would he like me? When she snapped out of her shocked state she looked to the ball of covers.
“Why me? What about Rarity?”Applejack questioned.
“Well, that’s the thing,” he began before he took another deep breath. “I’ve been chasing after her so long, that I never took the time to look at any other mares. Last night, when I was walking home, I thought about all the times you helped me out. How you did it because you’re a good and loyal friend to me. More importantly, I started thinking of how beautiful you are. It got my heart racing. I know you probably see me as just Twilight's kid brother, but I still wanted you to know. Even now, I’m a nervous wreck being here with you alone in the library.”
After hearing his confession, Applejack felt her heart began to race a bit faster. Though it was sweet that he love her too, she couldn’t believe how fast it was happening. Her mind began wonder as to where their relationship could lead. But as she sat there next to him, there was only one thing that she wanted to do.
“Spike, mind if ya come out from under there. There’s somethin’ I want to give you,” Applejack sweetly spoke.
Spike sat up slowly uncovering his head, his body still hidden under the blanket cover. Applejack leaned toward him and kissed him. This shocked the young drake and caused him to release his blanket shelter. He then stood up and returned the kiss. The two melted into their kiss as Spike put his claws on either side of her cheeks. It was then he felt a tingle throughout his body. He guessed this is what shehad meant by ‘sparks’ during the kiss. After a few moments, they broke the kiss and gazed into each other's eyes with a faint blush.
“So AJ, you wanna go on a real date me?” Spike said with a nervous laugh.
“Maybe~” she teased. “But are you sure you're over Rarity?”
“That's water under the bridge, besides I think she's not really interested in me. I'm done chasing the wrong mare. I've finally found somepony that’s worth my attention,” he spoke, a bit lovestruck.”I love you, Applejack.”
She then gave him a loving smile. “I love you too, Spike.”
Spike wrapped her in a tight embrace and nuzzled her chest. Applejack couldn’t help but lightly chuckle as she patted his head.Though it had started as a practice date, it blossomed into a real love between two good friends. And they wouldn't have had it any other way.