A Princess's Mission Chapter 3.5

Spike's Day Off

Spike brushed his teeth, getting his breakfast off his breath, and replacing it with the minty coolness of toothpaste. He could simply breathe fire to get rid of it, but he decided this was better than the smell of incinerated bacon and eggs. He rinsed his mouth, and walked back to his bedroom. There was one more thing he needed to retrieve before leaving. He walked to his bedside table, opened the drawer, and delicately picked up the shiny silver object. Just then, the doorbell rang.

He quickly pocketed it and glanced out his door. Luna was standing there, talking to Applebloom. He marveled for a moment how pretty she was in that yellow sundress and bow, which matched her dazzling orange eyes perfectly. He was glad he took extra care into making his usually crazed pillow head of green hair presentable. Though, her quickly surprised face snapped him out of it.

"Um… I was just wondering… if Spike was ready-"

'Uh oh, shes going to blow it!' He quickly rushed forward, stepping beside her in an instant. His mind quickly buzzed for an excuse. "We're… er… going to go hang out with the rest of the C-M-C of course!" He put on a forced smile, and seeing Applebloom's completely confused face, he nudged her a little with his elbow.

"Oh… yeah… right…" She said, with a less-than-gleeful tone.

After making a quick getaway, Spike called back to Luna as he and Applebloom ran off. "Tell Twilight I'll be back soon!" He turned to face Applebloom, the girl giving him a questioning look as they passed around a corner and out of sight of the Library. "Heh… I guess I have some explaining to do…"

Applebloom crossed her arms. "Yah darned right you do. Why is one of the Princess's at your house? And why does she look like she just woke up?"

Spike shrugged innocently. "She… er… is kind of staying with us for the time being."

Her eyes widened. "She's -what-?! The Princess is living with you and Twilight?"

Spike sighed, and nodded. "It's a really long story Bloom… come on… I'll start from the beginning." He took her hand, walking through Ponyville square. "Okay… you remember how Twilight and I were sent here for the whole 'Discover the Magic of Friendship' thing to solve Twilight's loneliness?" Applebloom nodded, so he continued. "Well, Luna has the same problem. Celestia sent her here on the same mission… and since she doesn't really know anyone else… she assigned her to come live with us."

"Oh…" She said, looking down. "So she's going to be staying in the Library?"

Spike nodded. "It's quite a fit, really. From what I hear she's a bookworm just like Twilight." He chuckled. "Though it seems to me Luna is actually here for something more than just 'Friendship.'"

He felt Applebloom squeeze his hand gently. "She is…? L-Like what?"

He grinned. "Love, after a little letter detailing all her feelings was sent to me. You'd be surprised how detailed she can get." He said with another chuckle.

Applebloom looked over at him. "And… you don't mind this?"

He shook his head. "Not at all, though I hope she figures out she has her own bed to sleep in soon." He said, remembering walking past Twilight's room on the way to make breakfast, and seeing the little surprise.

He could feel her tense up through the contact with her hand. "She's... not sleeping by herself?"

She shook his head. "Nope. Her having company was very obvious, even though I don't think it was quite intentional."

"Oh…" He looked over, noticing the crestfallen look on her face. She pulled her hand away, though Spike felt it was like a smack on the back of the head.

"Applebloom… what's wrong?" He reached out to her, but she turned away.

"Nothing… I just… didn't think you'd end up being taken by some… Princess…" He could practically -feel- the pain in her voice. 'What was she thinking!?'

"Bloom, what are you talking about? Luna has done no such thing." He walked around to face her. She looked up at him with a sort of mix between anger and sorrow.

"Then what's all this about a letter with her feelings for you? And sleeping in the same bed!? And her coming all this way on some excuse to move into your library?" She said coldly, tears brimming in her eyes.

"What?! Bloom, you got it all wrong…" He said, though she started to stomp away. He quickly followed after her, reaching out and grabbing her hand to stop her. "Applebloom, wait! Let me explain, please!"

"I already get it, Spike… that's why you made up that excuse to tell her at your door… you just don't want her to know you're with someone…"

"Applebloom, that's not it at all!" She tried to pull out of his grip, though he quickly stepped forward and pulled her back to him, putting his other hand on her shoulder to stop her. "Shes not after me, shes after Twilight!"

She looked dumbfounded, blinking several times before saying anything. "But… the letter…"

Spike shook his head. "Luna made it for Twilight, but didn't want to send it to her. Celestia sent it to me to sort of explain everything. Also as a prank for Luna."

She looked down, starting to understand. "And… the bed?"

"She was in Twilight's… she probably was too tired last night and went to hers. She never even walked -near- mine." He explained.

"But… what about the excuse?" Applebloom said, looking up at him with an accusing look.

He shook his head. "I just didn't want Twilight to drag me back to the library. Today is cleaning day, and I wanted to spend it with you instead." He smiled, gently squeezing her hand.

"So… you don't like her after all…?" She asked, trying to blink back the tears from earlier, though only making one roll down her cheek.

He smiled, wiping it away. "Of course I don't. Do you really think that I'd stop liking you for some Princess that I barely know?"

She sniffled. "Well… you liked Rarity… and you didn't even know her…"

He smirked. "That was just some silly little crush, Bloom. You and I both know it would never work. And plus, shes not you anyways." He said, pulling her in for a hug. He was relieved when he felt her hugging back.

"I'm sorry Spike… I jumped to conclusions… I bet you think I'm pretty stupid for believing that…"

He shook his head. "Actually, I think it's quite cute that you care so much about me." She flustered, which only made him snicker.

"Spike! That's not funny! I really thought you didn't like me anymore…" She frowned, looking away.

"Heh, sorry Bloom." He leaned down and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek, which made her blush intensely. "Come on; let's go before the fair gets too packed." He said as he gave her hand a little tug towards the large collection of multicolored tents near the edge of town. She smiled, nodding and running towards it with him.

Everyone in Ponyville seemed to be gathering at the attraction that just recently arrived. Performers wandered amongst the crowd to entertain them as they went from tent to tent, or to the many rides that were set up. A mini-roller coaster was just finished being constructed, and a large Ferris-wheel rose high above. A haunted house was also put up on the side closest to the Everfree forest, at the edge of the trees.

After handing over the bits to buy tickets, Spike walked through the maze of stands to decide what to do first. They played a bunch of different carnival games, winning prizes that varied from free cotton candy to key chains.

The pair walked up to one stand that had a man switching around three paper cups, mixing their order around on a table while the player had to choose which cup a pebble was under.

"How about you little girl? Want to try your luck? I'll tell you what, get three in a row and you get a top shelf prize." The man, which was dressed up in a suit and top hat, waved his gem-lined cane at the top shelf of prizes, which had an arrangement of large stuffed animals.

"Sure!" She stepped up, and he put the pebble underneath the cup on the left. He began sliding the cups around and mixing up their arrangement. Her eyes followed, and she picked the correct one. Again, he mixed them up, this time a little faster. It was still easy to tell which one, and she got the right answer. Then, the man switched the cups around too quickly for Applebloom to follow, and she missed out. "Aww… I could have sworn I had it right…" She pouted, turning around to Spike.

"How about you, boy? Care to win your little girlfriend here a prize?" The man grinned, flipping the pebble up in the air several times.

Spike had been watching, and begun to catch on. "Sure." He sat down at the table, and watched. He picked the correct cup for the first two times, and watched carefully the third.

After switching the cups around too quickly for any normal person to follow, the man sat back and folded his arms. "So, which cup, kid?"

Spike looked at all three of the striped cups, then up at the man. "None of them."

The man made a forced chuckle. "Heh, what do you mean, kid?"

"I mean, that you've been cheating these people." Spike let out a burst of flame, incinerating the paper cups, revealing no pebble on the table at all.

The man growled, though lowered his tone. "How did you know?"

Spike didn't bother to explain, just flexing his eyes so the pupils became slits.

The stand manager grumbled. "Bah, dragon blooded… should have known…"

Spike snickered. "Now, how about that top shelf prize?"

The man sighed. "Whatever… just pick one. Just don't go around spreading the word."

Spike stood up, chuckling. "So, which one do you want, Bloom?"

She looked up at the shelf. "Hmm…. Ooh! That one!" She pointed near the end. The man retrieved it, holding out the plush stuffed dragon out to her. She took it, holding it close and smiling at Spike. He blushed lightly as the stand owner rolled his eyes.

Applebloom looked over at the dark house as playful screams echoed from it. "Ooh, let's go to that one Spike!" She pointed, taking his hand and pulling him over towards it.

Spike raised an eyebrow. "You sure, Bloom? I've seen some pretty brave looking people run out shrieking." He snickered, but Applebloom had already positioned them in the line.

"It can't be that bad. It's just a carnival attraction. I bet I won't even be scared!" She stood up straight, holding her chin high in a brave pose.

Spike laughed. "Alright, Cutie Mark Crusader Haunted House Adventurer." The line quickly diminished, and they stood before an attendant in front of a large wooden door. A light lit up on the attendant's control board, and he opened the door. "Go on in kiddies, enjoy your stay." He made an obviously practiced evil laugh, and they walked inside.

After being suspended in nearly total darkness, Spike could tell Applebloom wasn't quite as brave as she made herself out to be. Even he was a bit creeped out by the torn up picture frames, dim candles, and the spooky ambient music that was coming from seemingly everywhere. She was clutching the stuffed dragon close and looking around in all directions, and stuck close to Spike.
The slowly made their way down the long hall-like foyer, a door creaking as it slowly opened, though nothing came out. Lights flashed from another doorway, and zapping electric sounds came from inside, along with a man's yelling.

Spike nearly fell over as he felt Applebloom suddenly cling to his arm. "W-Watch it, Bloom… I can barely see where I'm going…" Though he didn't quite mind her being so close, because the haunted house was indeed, quite scary. After passing through a few more rooms, which consisted of creepy scenery or fake figures that didn't move, or animatronics that would pop out and yell, they reached the end of another hall. A large butler, which Spike nearly mistook as a mountain in a suit, stepped out of nowhere with a grin. "Right this way… you two…" He wave his hand towards two double doors, which opened by themselves with an eerie creak. They entered, mostly keeping their eyes on the man that was now behind them. By the time they bothered to look forward, the doors shut closed, and they were buried in complete utter darkness.

"S-Spike! I can't see!" Applebloom said franticly.

"I know… I can't either." He glanced around, hoping to see some sort of exit. A crimson red colored light shone in from above, though only illuminating the floor, and not giving any signs of what was around them.  "Come on… I guess we gotta go this way…" He said, stepping forward. Applebloom positioned herself behind him, gripping his shirt, and keeping close to his back.

As they reached the center of the red light, another appeared, just ahead. They walked forward again, then another came on. Though after the reaching the third, another light came on, and they wished it hadn't.

A woman appeared, dressed in what looked to be black rags and robes. Her hair was like a long black shroud, and she just stood there in the center of the next light. They both screamed out, nearly jumping out of their own skin. Though, the woman who looked like the Grudge from a certain movie that Spike had watched before.

They both slowly crept around her, sticking to the edge of the red light. Spike could feel Applebloom shaking, and they both kept their eyes on the figure. It seemed to follow them around the room, turning in place. As they reached the other side of the circle, the red disappeared, and several strobe lights started going off. The rapidly brightening and darkening light put the dark figure in a sort of freeze-frame state. Before suddenly, after the lights cut off and back on, she appeared half-way through a lung at them, the veil of hair moving away to show a nightmarish face with razor sharp teeth as it let loose a blood curdling  wail.

The two both screamed, and sprinted out the room through a doorway that opened. The figure followed them, until the doors shut on it, keeping it in the flashing room. They both breathed heavily, tightly enclosed in each other's arms. "That… was… close…" Spike breathed, both feeling like they were experiencing mini heart attacks.

"Its not over yet!" A man's voice sounded as he kicked down a fall-away wall near the two, cranking up a chainsaw and holding it high. They both ran from the room as the man laughed mockingly, another door opening for the two as they sprinted from the establishment.

As they both walked back through the fair, they decided to calm their nerves and just go for a calming ride on the Ferris wheel.  As they rose up, they looked around as lights started turning on. Multicolored spectrums showed up all around as the sun set, giving them quite a sight to look at. By some act of fate, they ride stopped with them out in front, and near the top. It was just then Applebloom remembered something.

"Oh no… Spike! I think I dropped that dragon back in the haunted house… I'm sorry I lost your prize…" She said, frowning.

Spike frowned as well, but then remembered something. Slipping his hand from his pocket, he held the necklace behind his back. "Don't worry Bloom… I have something better." He smiled, holding out his hand to her. Dangling from the shiny silver chain loops, was a sapphire that was carved into the shape of an apple. The border around it was a serpent-like dragon, who was curling around the edge of the apple, interweaving with long branch-like vines, which were covered in several white flower blossoms, which were made of delicately shaped crystals. The dragon was made of emerald, matching the same color as the single leaf that was on the stem of the apple.

Applebloom marveled at it, taking it in her hands. "Wow Spike… its beautiful…" She said, smiling at him.

"Heh… I know we haven't really told anyone about us starting to date… so I thought this was a good way to make it official." He smiled. "I hope you don't mind."

"Of course not Spike, I love it!" She gently undid the small lock on the chain, hooking it back together on the back of her neck. It was a perfect fit, the charm lying at the base of her neck where her collarbone met.

She curled up next to him on the bench of the Ferris wheel, Spike putting his arm around her as they watched the moon slowly ascend from behind Canterlot Castle in the distance, the stars forming beautiful patterns as they gazed up at them.