The Apple of Spike's Eye
Hmm...
In the library of Ponyville, where Twilight Sparkle and Spike live in, the young dragon is in a mulling state. It was only a few days he rescued Applejack from the Timberwolf and fulfilled his life debt. However, as he began reflecting on the events, Spike had to admit something.
He did not do a good job on fulfilling his life duty before saving Applejack.
Each time he tried to help, he found himself slipping up and he didn’t know why.
Now, everyone is entitled to bad days and slip-ups, but for Spike, this is news for him. Well, since his younger days anyway, this has not occurred.
Was it because of Applejack?
Wait?
Me, liking Applejack? That’s silly! She’s nice and all, but I like Rarity…
…Right?
Spike recalled two events that came to mind regarding this. The first was when they were going to save Rarity from the Diamond Dogs. When he was fantasized about saving Rarity, he nearly ended up kissing Applejack. She jokingly told him: “Woah there, lover boy!” while he was embarrassed.
The other event that came to mind was when he let his greed corrupt him during his birthday. While Rarity has hinted at knowing about his crush on her, she had made no further advancements on it. In fact, he himself did not find himself thinking about her as often.
That didn’t mean he stopped caring about her, oh no…
However…
He now found himself thinking about Applejack more frequently.
Was it because he almost kissed her?
Was it because she saved his life?
Was it because she did not want or need any favors from him for it?
“Spike… you okay?” a sisterly voice said that broke his musings. Twilight stood over him. Spike was lying down with a rather confused and pensive look on his face. Her cheerful assistant being unusually quiet, she decided to see what was bothering him.
Spike raised his head and smiled at Twilight. “Just been thinking about what happened a few days ago,” Spike answered.
“You mean with Applejack?” Twilight asked. With Spike nodding, she too was thinking about it. She wasn’t surprised by Applejack’s hesitance. She knew how stubborn Applejack could be regarding accepting help. However, the situation was different than in this case.
“It isn’t surprising. Both of you learned a lesson in friendship and it was something dangerous that both of you faced,” Twilight stated to him.
“Yeah, I guess. It’s not like I like Applejack, right?” Spike said to himself chuckling before pausing. Did he like her? More than a friend?
Now, Spike admitted to himself that his friends were all attractive mares, though Rarity was the one that caught his heart. However, he also thought of Applejack. She is plenty pretty without the use of makeup and has a rustic charm about her, including her accent.
He already thanked her plenty for saving his life and he already saved her life, so everything should be all right.
Right?
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Applejack let out a breath as she had a smile on her face. She finished work early today. She felt relieved because it was a particularly hot and buggy day. Speaking of…
Applejack looked to her back with a grimace. There was a spot that was rather red and filled with bumps. Working so hard, she did not notice that she developed some sort of rash on her. It itched sometimes and she figured leaving it alone would not be any good.
She wished Spike was here…
Hold up, where’d that thought crop up from?
Applejack admitted to herself that she was thinking more about the little dragon since he saved her from the massive Timberwolf. Now, she knew he meant to help out, but he seemed to have been rather clumsy around her. While not as smart as her friend, Twilight, even she knew that was mighty strange.
“Spike’s a good assistant and is always doing a good job when helping everypony he can so why he’d mess up here?” Applejack thought out loud. While she first thought it was because he was excitable, she dismissed that though.
He looked after Twilight and helped her since they were both young. He also had pride in his work so he was trying his hardest.
“What’s wrong, Applejack?” Applebloom asked as she trotted over to Applejack.
“Been thinking out loud, Applebloom,” Applejack told her while she smiled. “Ooh, Ooh. Maybe I can help yall out,” Applebloom offered up with glee. Applejack decided to tell her. While she wasn’t sure if her baby sister could help her out, maybe sharing it with at least some pony would help her out.
“Been thinking about Spike since he had to be my assistant or servant. I mean, we both know he’s really good at helping out, but he kept slipping up with me and I’m trying to figure out why,” Applejack confessed. Applebloom hmmed for a bit before giving a sly smile.
“Maybe Spike like-likes you. Sweetie Belle told me how Rarity says some stallions act all goofy or slip up when they’re near the mare they like,” Applebloom says before she bursts out in a giggle fit.
Applejack raised her eyebrow at the notion. That kinda makes sense. But Spike like-like me? I mean, he likes Rarity and it’s kinda obvious on that. Besides, I don’t remember any time Spike showing he likes me like that… Applejack thought before she recalled an interesting memory.
When they were going to save Rarity from the Diamond Dogs, she remembered Spike leaning in with his eyes closed and looking like he was gonna kiss her. While she didn’t show anything, she was somewhat surprised and… a bit flattered.
She figured he was daydreaming about Rarity and when he opened his eyes, she told him ‘Woah there, loverboy,’ in a joking manner. However, nevertheless, the memory combined with Applebloom’s suggestion brought a faint blush on her face.
A blush that the little filly caught.
Applebloom giggled some more as she saw her big sister blush and wondered if she also liked Spike.
“Spike and Applejack, sittin’ in a tree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G!” Applebloom sang as she did a little dance around her sister.
Applejack snapped out of her though by Applebloom’s teasing. “Now stop that, Applebloom. Spike’s a good friend and just that,” Applejack told her though her blush grew.
Applebloom simply giggled some more and Applejack simply rolled her eyes before shrugging off her little sister’s teasing. Applejack then cringed as she felt another bad inch on the rash. She wished she could scratch it.
Well… she could visit Spike. Also, maybe Twilight will have a book for some sort of remedy for it.
“Hey Applebloom, tell Big Mac and Granny Smith I’m headin’ over to Twilight’s. I’mma try lookin’ for a book that may say how to get rid of this itchy blotch on my back,” Applejack said before she heading out.
“And to see Spike also?” Applebloom said after nodding and going off in giggles. Applejack rolled her eyes though at the mention of the dragon, she recalled how he scratched her back and how much she enjoyed it. Applejack simply blushed again though also gained some goosebumps.
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Spike had stopped mulling and been helping Twilight reshelf the returned books. He picked up one though and looked through it. “The Filly’s Guide to Idioms,” Spike read before looking through the pages and found a saying called ‘the apple of one’s eye.’ It was marked as a compliment so perhaps he could use it on Applejack.
Speaking of, he saw Applejack come through the door, having looking she ran a lot.
“Hey Applejack, what’s with the rush?” Twilight asked her as she turned to face her friend.
“Hey Twilight, uh… I need a book. I got this nasty rash on me and I was wondering if there’s a book to help fix it,” Applejack said with an uncomfortable face.
Sensing her friend’s discomfort, Twilight began searching for the book. “All right Applejack. Here it is, ‘Basic Pony First Aid Remedies,” Twilight said before looking at Applejack. “You know what? I’ll read the book and see what I can you make you,” Twilight offered.
“Gee, thanks a bunch, Twi,” Applejack said before seeing Twilight head upstairs.
“Hey Applejack… woah,” Spike said before noticing her rash. It spread from just her back to around her flank.
Applejack then blushed a bit. She remember telling Spike how she didn’t need help, but then he scratched her back and how much she enjoyed it.
“Spike, sugarcube, could you do be a favor? It itches a lot and I’m not sure if I should scratch it, but consarn it, it’s too much. So, could ya…” Applejack asked before Spike nodded, understanding what she was trying to ask. He remembered how he felt when he used his claws to scratch himself when he got a rash.
“Yeah, all right. Friends help out one another!” Spike said before proceeding to use his claws to scratch at Applejack’s rash. Applejack shivered and shuddered before giving a big goofy smile. “Thanks Spike. That feels a lot better,” Applejack said with a slightly shaky voice.
“You’re a lifesaver, sugar cube,” Applejack said before she felt Spike scratch a particularly itchy spot near her flank. She let out a relieved and content, but also uncharacteristically cute mewl.
Spike blushed. At that moment, Applejack sounded rather… cute. He also realized right around the area he was scratching though she seemed to be very happy.
“Thanks a bunch, Spikey-Wikey,” Applejack said before she faced Spike and noticed that he was red in the face. Applejack’s became red also as she realized what term of endearment she used on the little dragon as well as recalling the cute sound she made when he scratches a real itchy spot.
Spike could not help but stare at Applejack’s eyes. Now that he was noticing it, they were a really shade of green that kinda reminded him of his eyes and his scales. Unbeknownst to him, Applejack was thinking of the same thing.
“Uh… um… Applejack,” Spike began but found his throat became dry. His face was red and his mind was practically numb. The notion that he liked Applejack became reinforced by this moment.
D-Do I really like Applejack this way? I-I mean… there was that almost-kiss… there’s this… and how I was acting like a klutz when helping her… is Applejack the one I really like? Spike wondered.
“Hey Applejack!”
Twilight’s voice broke the awkward moment between the two, causing them to actually tumble over a bit, with Spike on top of Applejack. Their faces dangerously close to one another, they were frozen in one private moment.
The dragon boy and the apple mare both had only one thought on their mind.
Do I… do they… are we meant to be special someponies?
However, Twilight coming in caused to break the moment and get back up, looking as if nothing had happened, the only telling sign was their gradually fading blushes.
When Twilight reentered the room, she saw Applejack and Spike waiting for her, blushes on their faces. Now, Twilight may not be the best pony when it comes to relationships or noticing things, but having a married older brother helped you learn to pick up signs.
Currently, she was trying to fathom the possibility of Applejack and Spike. She simply smiled and presented the bowl filled with a salve. “I’m no Zecora, but I think this could help. If it does get worse, we can just go to her hut,” Twilight told her.
Twilight then got a smile. “Hey Spike, since Applejack’s rash is going to keep her from carrying the bowl properly, why don’t you accompany her to Sweet Apple Acres?” Twilight offered her. Spike’s eyes widened slightly.
Does she suspect something?
Spike just nodded before he followed Applejack out the door.
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Silence.
Silence dominated the atmosphere between Spike and Applejack. As they headed to Sweet Apple Acres, both of them thought of the other. The possibilities raced among their minds. The silence eventually broke when Applejack felt the itchiness return.
“Hey Spike, could you use the salve? The itchin’ is starting to come back,” Applejack told him. Spike snapped from his own musings and nodded. He took a clawful and began rubbing on the red blotchy areas.
“Ooooh, that feels nice,” Applejack said with a relived look and a contented sigh. Spike smiled seeing that she was feeling better.
A sudden gust of wind came and knocked the hat off of Applejack. Spike then looked at Applejack.
Her flowing hair, like golden wheat…
Her strong stature and bright orange hue… it went well with his violet scales…
Her green eyes that were much like this…
Spike felt the rest of his affections for Rarity be overcome by this stronger feeling toward Applejack…
“My hat!” Applejack shouted, which snapped Spike from his epiphany. He ran after it and managed to catch it after jumping in the air. As he got up, he saw Applejack trot over to him with a worried look.
Spike smiled wordlessly before placing the hat on her.
“Spike… you okay?” Applejack asked her as he saw the enamored grin on his face. He was looking at her… like he looked at Rarity.
Spike… does he… Applejack thought as her own budding feelings began to blossom.
Spike gathered all of his courage. It was now or never…
“Applejack… I don’t know how to say this… but you’re… you’re the apple of my eye.”
Applejack stood there frozen as she felt his words wash over her. She knew very well what that expression meant. In fact, it is a sacred phrase, especially in the Apple family, reserved for the highest form of… love.
Applejack was not sure if Spike fully grasped of the impact of his words or if she even cared. For a brief moment, she felt euphoric. This led to her leaning down and giving the baby dragon a kiss.
Spike froze as he felt the warm sensation of their lips touch one another. It was a simple kiss, one tasting of apple. To him however… it was beyond any gem he ever ate… he felt a feeling of complete and blissful transcendence…
Applejack pulled back and her face a bright red… She wasn’t sure what Spike would do…
“Spike… I…” She began saying before Spike grabbed her head with both hands and pulled her in for another and longer kiss.
Both with eyes closed and grins on their faces, they immersed in the joy they found in one another.
For what seemed like an eternity and an instant, they were connected in heart. Spike eventually let go of her head and stared at one another.
“…Didn’t know you had it in you, lover boy,” Applejack said as she settled on the pet name for her new coltfriend.
Spike laughed before she did also, all the way back to Sweet Apple Acres.
“You know everypony will be surprised?” Spike reminded her as they stood at the barn.
“Yeah, but our friends will be with us, I’m sure. Pinkie will be wanting to throw a party and Rarity will probably be jealous,” Applejack said before laughing at how their generous friend will react.
“No matter what challenges come ahead, we’ll face them together, won’t we?” Spike asked her while caressing her face.
Applejack answered by leaning over and giving him one last kiss before they parted.
“Good bye… the apple of my eye…” Spike told her as he headed off.
“See you tomorrow, lover boy,” Applejack replied with a smile before entering the home for dinner, wanting to see the reactions of everypony about her and Spike.