Ch.12: Saving Spike's Heart

A short while later, Garble and the rescue team spotted Winsome Falls and the cave at its outskirts. They then looked down to see the other dragons there as well.

"There they are," Garble said before turning to Rarity who's riding on his back. "You sure you wanna do this?"

"You said that the one he loves can save him, didn't you?" she answered. "Well, he's in love with me, and I didn't really break his heart in the first place. Besides…I love him too…despite our age difference."

"Well, that age difference part won't be a problem," he explained. "I forgot to mention: Even if you do heal his broken heart before adult Spike, he won't return to his original age. He'll stay at the age he's at now and start his usual aging rate from there."

"Will it affect who he is on the inside?" she asked with a bit of concern.

"No, no matter what age he is now," he answered, "he'll still be him on the inside." She then nodded with relief and determination.

"Then let's do it!" Garble then flew down to the ground with the others behind him.

At the party at ground level, Dai and Rad looked up to see their leader flying towards them. With a nod to each other, they started to tap their tails in rhythm. The rest but Spike noticed the rhythm; it was a sign that Garble's back and to get ready. Bulldoze then turned to Spike, who's now only half an inch taller than Rarity if one is to count the horn.

"Hey, Spike!" he said. "Garble's back. The guys and I need to get something, so why doncha go greet 'im?"

"Sure thing, Bull," he replied, and he walked off to welcome their leader back. With his back turned to them, the other five dragons quickly made their way to behind the large pile of gems.

"Hey, Garble," Spike said to the other teenage dragon as he landed before him, Rarity hiding behind his back. "Where were ya?"

"Just had to pick up someone for ya," he answered.

"Really? Who?" To answer his question, Rarity stepped out from behind Garble, a straight but hurtful look on her face. Spike's eyes flashed with shock before anger filled them at the sight of his former crush.

"YOU!" he roared, spreading his wings and preparing to attack. Before he could charge out at her, ropes lassoed around him: two around each wrist; one around his neck; and one around his wings.

"What is this?!" he roared before seeing that the lassos came from the other dragons. "What are you guys doing?" Garble then lashed his tail under their Rookie Dragon's feet to knock him onto the ground.

"Sorry, Spike," he said as the dragons held him down onto his back with the ropes. "But this is for your own good." Spike just glared up at him with raging fury.

"YOU TRICKED ME! I THOUGHT YOU WERE MY REAL FRIENDS! I TOLD YOU I DON'T WANT TO GO BACK TO THEM!" Rarity simply went up to him, fighting back the tears in her at the gray dragon before her.

"Spike…"

"Just go away, Rarity," he spatted, gritting his teeth. "You deserve a way better guy than me, someone the same age as you."

"You think I care if you're younger than me or not?" she replied. "Discord tricked you, Spike. You don't need to be older or a Pony to win me over. You're the sweetest, most generous, and most caring dragon I know. And they're all I need to…to love you back!" Before Spike could reply, Rarity pressed her lips into his, tears freely flowing down her face.

As they kissed, Spike saw his memories of him and Rarity flash through his mind: the day they met; him helping her with her fashion designs; her giving him a gem for helping her gather some gems; him hugging her in the Diamond Dogs' underground lair; her thank-you kiss to him for giving her his Fire Ruby; her smile to him when she stopped him from completing his love confession to her…

As he recalled his memories, Spike's color began to return to normal. Surprised, the dragons let go of the ropes, allowing Spike to place his hand on Rarity's cheek and return the kiss. When he's full color again, Rarity pulled away from him slowly, allowing him to open his eyes at him.

"Rarity," he said to her sadly, "I'm so sorry, I…"

"No, I should be sorry, Spike," she stated with a smile. "I should have told you how I felt sooner." Spike smiled at her as he stood up and before looking himself over.

"Whoa!" he said, flapping his wings. "I got wings now!"

"No thanks to the Dragonheart Broken, bro," Haze said as he and Smokes helped him remove the ropes.

"Dragonheart Broken?" the confused Spike asked.

"We'll explain later," Twilight answered, "but right now, we have to go help the Princess." With a nod, the rescue team made their way into the cave, its dragon allies right behind it.