A Bond Breaks
Spike brought the group into his castle and Applejack's birthday had started, Spike made a treat table along with a cake he made.
Applejack was talking to her friends sharing laughs, Pinkie of course was already eating the treat table.
"Ah Pinkie always going for the treats" Spike smirked.
"best part of a party" Pinkie replied with a smirk.
"You never changed which is a good thing" Spike chuckled.
"You've changed a ton" Pinkie noted.
"Lets just say I saw the light before it was too late" Spike smirked as she glanced at Applejack who was talking with Rarity and Rainbow "Well enjoy" he patted her shoulder gently.
"he has gone soft" Fluttershy said seeing the whole thing, she was so engrossed in her thoughts she tripped over her own hooves on her face when she looked she saw Spike standing there.
"You okay?" Spike said holding out a clawedhand she slowly put her hoof in his clawedhand and he pulled her to her hooves and continued on his way. Discord was watching "Hmm? Applejack was right all along" he smirked.
Applejack was by herself until Spike came up to her "Enjoying your party so far?" Spike smiled.
"ah am thank yew" Applejack as she hugged him didn't really care her friends were watching "I still feel like dancing like we did when my family was here" she smirked letting him go.
"Of course, I could make this a hoedown party for you if would like" Spike said.
"Not necessary" Applejack replied. Spike then made a cowboy hat and placed it on his head and conjured up a boombox that played hoedown music.
Then the two started stamping their hooves and feet, then joined their hooves and claws and started swinging and spinning, then let the other's limbs go and clapped and started busting some impressive hoedown steps and moves, then joined limbs again after clapping a hoof and clawhand, then leaned back and spun around in a circle while holding hooves and clawedhands, then Spike spun her around under his arm.
the Applejack's friends were surprised at this the two hoedowning in perfect grace and sync, then the other Apple's started to clap and join in, well Applebloom and Big mac did Granny Smith just clapped with rhythm.
Then the music stopped and the ones dancing said "Yeeeeeehaaaaaw!" they called as Spike and Applejack threw their hats in the air.
"just as fun as the first time maybe even more" Applejack smiled.
"I'll say" Spike smiled as he made his hat disappear "and the necklace does look beautiful it matches your eyes" he said.
"Thanks but this isn't the same you had before" Applejack noted.
"Because I made this one naturally by some lava that turned into many crystals even emeralds and made this beaut" Spike said "Then replaced the old one with a blast of my magic"
"Well it has better shine than the old one" Applejack smiled
"So all this time you left it on you were saying" Spike said quietly.
"Yes I'll marry yew" Applejack said back quietly "Just pick the day" she said.
"Well I already asked your family for their blessing and they gave it to me" Spike told her "I'll let you pick the day" he said
"since it's Wednesday how about Saturday night heard there was shooting stars" Applejack smirked.
"It's perfect" Spike agreed.
Rainbow and Rarity were talking to Applejack again
"So whats it like here, is he mean when his back our backs are turned?" Rainbow asked.
"Rainbow, if you hadn't noticed Spike has changed" Fluttershy said walking up with Discord.
"Indeed he helped Fluttershy when she tripped" Discord said.
"my word, 6 carat it matches your eyes and I must say he ain't cheap" Rarity said looking at the gemstone.
"He made this one without his powers" Applejack smirked.
Rainbow then frowned "I don't see why you would want to were it" she said.
"Well for one thing he put alot of feeling and meaning into it" Applejack replied "I can't take it off, Spike put a spell on it but I ain't complaining" she said.
"what a jerk" Rainbow frowned.
"Actually he Ain't that at all, he's actually kind sweet and gentle and my bestfriend" Applejack smiled.
"Guys some space" Spike told them "I know you've missed her but don't smother her" he said a bit sternly.
"Ah it's okay Spike" Applejack said.
Later the others were talking with Applejack about her time here.
"So how is it here?, Spike seems good and happy" Twilight said.
"Did he get amnesia and you blocked his Apocalyptic self?" Starlight asked.
"Not at all he changed on his own, took some time but then he changed and warmed up" Applejack said "turns out all he needed was friendship to warm his heart"
Then she saw Spike and Discord talking catching up, they were laughing like old times but alot of ponies aside from the Apple family, fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie still glared at Spike.
some time later Applejack was laughing about the time when she was sleeping one night when she heard a loud thud and it turns out it was Spike who was sleep walking a crashed into a wall. Applejack then saw Spike was by himself bored sitting in a chair made of obsidian with purple cushions with spikes on the top and throwing darts at a target he made, he still avoided the others.
"So anyway" Twilight said to Applejack.
"Just a minute" Applejack said walking over to Spike as the others aside from a select bunch glared.
"Why are yew here all by yerself Sugarcube?" Applejack asked.
"Just thinking" Spike fibbed.
"Don't be lying now" Applejack reprimanded "yer avoiding the others" she said.
"Well giving you some space and letting you see your friends" Spike told her.
"you can be a little closer yew know" Applejack said.
"I don't think they will want that" Spike said pointing with his thumbclaw at the group glaring.
"Hey Spike you want to see who can get the highest score with your game there?" Pinkie asked.
"If you think you can take me" Spike smirked.
"Bring it" Pinkie challenged, the two went at it throwing darts at the target staying on each others tails and neck and neck.
Applejack and Fluttershy were talking
"You seem to be having the time of your life here" Fluttershy said.
"Yeah Spike is a great guy when you get to know him" Applejack smirked "he was almost at the edge of destroying himself with all the hatred he held inside" she said.
"He was hurting himself?" Fluttershy said worriedly.
"Yeah he told me if you hold on your fear it would change you" Applejack said "Fear leads to anger anger leads to hate hate leads to suffering and then it destroys you from the inside" she said.
"Yeah we also told what happens when you seek revenge" Fluttershy said.
"He knows that one to" Applejack said "Revenge is like a poison that can take you over and before yew know it it can turn you into something ugly" she spoke "And I pulled him from the suffering and saved him" she said.
"So do you miss your old life" Fluttershy asked.
"I won't lie I do miss it" Applejack sighed "I know freedom is a long reach but someday Spike will give me it" she said, Spike was across the room using his superhearing while throwing darts and sighed at this.
"So ah was wondering if you would be my bridemade" Applejack said "Yew were the only one who supported me" she said
"Sure" Fluttershy smirked "But why you want it so soon" she asked.
"because the weddings on Saturday" Applejack blurted out for all to hear.
"WHAT!" everypony but the Apple's and Discord yelled.
Pinkie was surprised she missed one dart making Spike the winner "Yes I win, good game Pinks but you can have a second chance" Spike cheered.
"Can I be your groomsmen" Discord asked.
"Of course" Spike smiled.
"Welcome to the Family Spike" Granny Smith smiled.
"You want that thing in your house?" Rainbow dash spat making Spike loose his smile.
"That thing is my granddaughters husband" Granny Smith frowned.
"And my brother in law" Applebloom and Big Mac glared.
"I think you should reconsider that, I wouldn't want that demonic dragon in my house" Starlight glared at Spike as the others agreed.
"I think we should leave I don't think they can handle the fact we've accept Spike" Granny hissed.
"Yeahp" Big Mac glared as they walked out.
"I'll drop you four at the farm" Spike sighed and with a glowing claw they were transported to their home.
"hey Spike and Discord can you leave us ah want to talk to the gals" Applejack said.
"of course talk away" Spike gestured as he sat in his chair away from the group.
Applejack cleared her throat "alone please?" she said.
"Oh alright" Spike said getting up "I know by now when I'm not wanted" then he teleported away with a flash of green fire.
Spike appeared in one of his towers but used his superhearing to eavesdrop.
Discord teleported to another room, it was the kitchen using his ears to.
Applejack was looking where Spike had left with worry if his going to be okay, after hearing those names since he can feel again even, hurt. the mare turned with a glare.
"That was extremely rude of Ya'll " Applejack stated in a stern voice and grim face.
"RUDE!?" the others exclaimed.
"Your getting married to the beast" Rainbow glared.
"How do you think we would react?" Rarity demanded.
"Ya'll knew this would happen" Applejack frowned.
"Not now" they all said except Fluttershy
"And you want us to be near that thing" Rainbow hissed.
"I would think yew would be happy for me" Applejack said disappointingly.
"Not if involves you getting married to a monster" Starlight spoke with a heated look.
"He ain't a monster" Applejack snapped.
"your right he's a demon" Rainbow spat then got knocked on the ground with a hook to the face from Applejack.
"Don't ever call him that or a monster!" Applejack said with a angry voice "He's been nothing but nice since ah arrived here" "you showed be greatful he forgave for the wrongs you'v done and let yew come to my birthday" she said.
"Whats gotten into you A.J, why are you so defensive for him?" Rainbow demanded rubbing her cheek.
"He's my friend" Applejack glared back "he may have done things in the past that are rotten to the core but that don't make him evil" she said "he is just a lonely dragon who wants somepony to love him" "in fact me he once asked me if ah-" she said before cutting off with a blush, a blush Cadance knew all too well.
"I've seen that blush hundreds of time" Cadance said then frowned "Applejack are you in love with him?" she asked. Applejack didn't answered but blushed.
"no offense princess Cadance but I think your losing your touch" Starlight said.
"How can Applejack, ever love such a monstrous demonic beast" Rarity said.
"Why would she love one that keeps her here trapped" Rainbow scoffed.
"How can ya'll say that?" Applejack said with disbelief "are you too daft to realize he has changed from bad to good?" she said
"He took over Equestria two times" Starlight said.
"he almost killed dozens just so we would talk" Twilight screamed.
"He hurt Flash Sentry and Soarin with no remorse" Rarity glared.
"He almost killed Cadance, I saw the choke mark on her neck and stomach" Shining glared.
"He beat me at darts!" Pinkie yelled making them face hoof and give 'Really' looks.
"Above all He Destroyed Equestria!" everypony but Fluttershy shouted.
"I think Spike made a Mistake to forgive ya'll" Applejack frowned shaking her head
"it's not like you really love him" Rainbow snickered but Applejack just kept her head down "Do you" she asked.
"you got to be kidding" Twilight shook her head.
"You've forgave Discord for what he did and same with Starlight" Applejack said "can't you forgive who has been there longer?" she said.
"Because what Discord and Starlight has done, pales in comparison to things he did" Twilight said.
"While Discord maybe hideous but Spike is like something that came from the darkest and deepest pit of Tartarus" Rarity said.
"So one more time:" Cadance frowned "Do you love him" she asked.
"You don't have to answer Applejack" Fluttershy said to her.
"That was actually a demand and she is going to tell us" Cadance frowned.
"just ignore it" Fluttershy said to Applejack who had her bangs and hat covering he eyes but her emotions were about get the best of her.
"She is going to answer us here and now" Twilight barked "So so do you love that beast?" she said.
"ENOUGH!" Applejack yelled at the top of her lungs snapping her head up so fast her hat fell off "What does it matter if I love him or not the wedding will happen, we are right he has done those things but with or without yew the wedding will happen and I will be stuck with him" she said "But what choice do ah have?" she asked as tears were beginning to form.
"So" Cadance started.
"NO I DON'T LOVE HIM! Applejack screamed loud as she can and tears fell, then she turned and started to sniffle "happy now?" her voiced cracked.
"Applejack were sorry" Starlight spoke, then Applejack ran out crying openingly.
"A.J wait" Rainbow was about to go But Discord teleported with a glare and held her by the tail and flung her back.
"You ponies have done and said quite enough" Discord spat.
Spike was in the tower listening as he gripped the obsidian railing with an angry and hurt gaze and gripped the rail so hard with his hands it crumbled into pieces where he grabbed.
"I was a naive fool" Spike frowned "foolish enough to think she would love me" he said.