//------------------------------//
// The Stasis... 
// Story: Is Love Worth It? 
// by Aura Zero 
//------------------------------//

"Hey Guys! Ah'm back!"

Spike and the mares at the packed up picnic turn and see Apple Bloom as she walks over. She has a bag tied around her neck and everyone assumes that is what she must have left so abruptly for.

"Where did ya go? And what's in that bag?" Applejack says as she walks up to her.

Apple Bloom frowns before dodging and walking past her. "Geez sis, I'm not a kid anymore." She says before walking up to Sweetie Belle. "Hey Sweets, I got ya something."

Sweetie Belle perks up at that. "Really? What is it?"

Apple Bloom smiles before taking the bag off and giving it to her. "It's a little something since we're...ya know, together and all."

"Aww, ain't that cute." Applejack says with a large grin or her face. Twilight elbows her in the side for that remark. "Ow, what was that for?"

"Ruining the mood." Twilight says simply. She notices that Spike is staring intently at them as Sweetie Belle is opening her gift. However, her attention is pulled when she gasps loudly.

Sweetie Belle looks in surprise as she pulls out the gift. Its a small silver hoof ring with a musical note surrounded by two bells engraved on it. The others stare at it in slight awe.

"Is that a promise ring?" Applejack says staring intently at it.

Apple Bloom nods. "Sure is. And it's my promise that I'll always care for Sweetie Belle no matter what."

Sweetie Belle smiles wide and turns to nuzzle her special somepony. "Wow, Thank you! And I promise to care for you no matter what too."

The others smile warmly at them as they watch the tender moment. Apple Bloom moves away and smiles before she speaks up.

"So, ya liked Spike, huh?"

As soon as those words leave her lips, it feels as if time stops. Everypony and dragon freeze in shock. Spike's eyes grow wide before he looks toward a red faced Sweetie Belle utterly shocked at her question. 

"Y-you h-heard?"

Apple Bloom merely rolls her eyes. "Ah'm sure mah big bro heard it in the fields fer how loud ya yelled it."

"It was preetty loud." Twilight chimes in earning her a small glare from the unicorn before she sighs.

"Yeah, I-Its true. Please don't be mad at me." 

Apple Bloom merely looks at her before chuckling. "It's fine. To be honest, Ah had a crush on em too."

And just like earlier, everyone is in shock at her words. However, Spike speaks up. "W-What?!"

Apple Bloom waves at him. "Oh, calm down Spike. Ah was over that childish crush a long time ago." With that, Applejack and Twilight instantly calm down. Spike does as well, but frowns slightly at her words. 

She didn't have to call it childish.. he thinks inwardly as he looks away. He notices Sweetie Belle is still surprised however and she speaks up about it.

"You did? When?"

Apple Bloom blushes. "Well, it was just a small one after he destroyed that crystal that was gonna flatten us at the Equestria games. Ah thought he looked cool." Spike slightly blushes at that. "But Ah got over that silly crush fast. Just like you, right?" She said to Sweetie Belle with a smile. 

Sweetie Belle for a brief second looked to Spike, before replying, "o-of course! Yeah, I got over that crush ages ago."

Apple Bloom nods. "Yeah, besides Granny Smith would prolly have me hanging with the sheets if Ah brung a dragon home. No offense, Spike."

"Apple Bloom!" Applejack snaps, surprising her.

"What?"

"N-No it's fine." Spike says looking down. Twilight starts to worry at his demeanor.

Apple Bloom smiles. "See? Spike is cool. Plus he already knew us two wouldn't work anyways, us being different and all."

"APPLE BLOOM!" Applejack yells.

"What?!" Apple Bloom says in annoyance, wondering why she is being yelled at.

"Spike?"

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle hear Twilight and look to Spike and see his head down. What surprises them though, is that there are tears falling down.

Apple Bloom frowns in worry. "Spike? A-Are you alright? Ya know Ah was just kiddin, right?"

"But you meant it..." Spike says shaking. The tears won't stop flowing from his eyes and he feels like he is in pain. Her words hurt more than he realizes and what's worse is that it's not the first time..

I'm sorry Spike...It's just that you're...well, a dragon and I'm a pony.

Something snaps.

Spike turns around and runs. This surprises them and Twilight gets up quickly. "Spike!"

Before anypony could move, Twilight is up and running after him. Applejack watches as they slowly disappear before glaring angrily at her little sister.

"See what ya did! You done made the little guy run off!" She shouts at her stunned sister.

"But...I didn't do anything!" Apple Bloom defends.

"You did Apple Bloom. You hurt his feelings with what you said." Sweetie Belle says, slightly annoyed as well.

"All I said is that it's weird for me to date a dragon. Doesn't everypony think that?" Apple Bloom says in confusion.

"It doesn't mean ya have to say it like ya did! Now ya better apologize first thing next time ya see him." Applejack says staring down her younger sister.

"Ugh, fine." Apple Bloom groans. She looks to see Sweetie Belle frowning at her. "What?"

"Nothing." She says as she sighs. She looks towards the direction of town. "I hope Twilight can cheer him up."

"Ah think she might be the only one who can right now." Applejack says, worried about him as well.