All was quiet in the Ponyville library, except for the scuffle of Twilight Sparkle's hooves. She bustled around from shelf to shelf, replacing the recently returned books. She worked with meticulous detail, placing each volume in its designated spot, aligning the spines of the adjacent books, double-checking that the book was indeed in the right place, and finally recording the return in the library's circulation log.

As she did this, her thoughts turned to Spike. Normally, this kind of menial task was something she would delegate to him, but she just didn't have the heart to give him chores in his present state. For the past few days, he had filled the air of the library with sighs and muffled sobs, mourning the loss of his romance with Rarity.

Twilight honestly couldn't say she was surprised. Her assistant's crush on Rarity, while certainly strong, had been a simple boyhood desire, nothing more.

The sound of the door opening got Twilight's attention. She whipped her head around to see Spike entering, but what she saw was a very different dragon from the one that had left that morning. He had a small smile on his face, and a little spring in his step.

"Wow, Spike," she said, "what's got you so happy?"

"I got a date."

"Well, you certainly bounce back fast," Twilight remarked. "Who are you taking out this time?"

"Rainbow Dash."

Twilight bit her lip. "Uhh... Spike, are you sure that's such a good idea?"

"Yeah, why not?"

Several answers to that question presented themselves in Twilight's mind. For one, this was the first real break-up Spike had ever gone through. He didn't realize it, but she knew he was especially emotionally vulnerable right now, desperately flailing for any scrap of affection. Secondly, when this relationship reached its inevitable end, it would just mean more awkward conversations with her friends. Already, she could barely look Rarity in the eye; she didn't need the same to happen with Rainbow Dash.

Of course, Twilight could never say these reasons to Spike directly. "Well..." she faltered, "don't you think you should wait a while first?"

"No," Spike said, "I really like Rainbow, and she likes me from what I can tell. We even kissed today."

"What? How did this happen?" Twilight questioned, flabbergasted.

Spike shrugged. "I just kissed her."

"What did she do? Did she kiss you back?"

"Not exactly. She kinda shoved me away."

Twilight frowned. "Then how can you say she likes you?"

Spike shrugged again. "I dunno. She already agreed to go on a date with me, so I guess that counts for something."

"Uh-huh."

"Well, I'm gonna go make a snack," Spike said. "You want anything?"

"No, thank you."

As Spike disappeared into the kitchen, Twilight began to worry more and more. Spike had already proven that he wasn't emotionally mature enough to handle dating somepony her and her friends' age. She didn't see any possible way that this venture could turn out well.

The next morning, Spike woke up early. He wanted to get an early start to work on preparations for his upcoming date. After making sure all of Twilight's foreseeable needs were taken care of, he slipped out of the library to get started.

It was another sunny day, and this time Spike was actually in a suitable mood to enjoy it. He basked in the warmth and relished the birdsong carried on the air as he made his way into town.

Spike was so happy, in fact, that he wasn't looking where he was going. It came as a nasty surprise when he felt himself knock into somepony and both of them went tumbling to the ground.

Spike waited for his head to stop reeling and looked to see whom he had crashed into. Near him, there was a little yellow filly with a scarlet mane and a big, pink bow.

"Oh, geez, Apple Bloom, I'm sorry," Spike said frantically, getting to his feet to help her up.

"Aw, that's okay, Spike. It was just an accident," she responded. "But ya really oughtta watch where yer goin'."

"I know, I know," he said. "I just wasn't paying attention because I'm so excited."

"About what?"

"I have a date with Rainbow Dash," Spike announced.

Apple Bloom grinned. "A date?"

Spike nodded.

"Ah know, you should let me help ya get it ready!" she said excitedly.

Spike grimaced. "I don't know, Apple Bloom. I don't want me and Rainbow Dash to end up like Big Mac and Cheerilee," he said hesitantly.

"Ya won't, Ah promise. We already got rid o' all that love potion, anyway."

Spike sighed resignedly. "I guess you can help."

Apple Bloom clapped her hooves excitedly. "Yay! Now come with me to the clubhouse. We got lots to do."

She and Spike set off toward Sweetapple Acres. As they walked, the dragon found himself wondering where the filly's usual companions were. "Hey, Apple Bloom, where are Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle?"

"Oh, yeah," she said, "Scootaloo's at her house doin' homework, and Ah don't think Sweetie Belle's really allowed to talk to you."

"Oh, right." Spike had forgotten that this break-up was going to cost him two friends.

At last the pair found themselves walking through the gate to Sweetapple Acres. Spike saw Granny Smith asleep in her rocking chair, Big Macintosh hard at work plowing the fields, and Applejack making some repairs to the family barn.

"Hiya, sis," said Apple Bloom.

"Hey, Apple Bloom. You an' Spike havin' a playdate or somethin'?" Applejack asked.

"Uhh, yeah," the filly said, "somethin' like that."

Applejack chuckled. "Well, y'all two have fun."

Apple Bloom gave a wide, false smile. "We will."

She and Spike then dashed off to the Cutie Mark Crusaders' clubhouse. Once inside, she started pacing back and forth across the floor, thinking.

"Now, let's see..." she said. "We need to make this date real romantic if Rainbow Dash is gonna be yer special somepony..."

Spike gulped. The results of his rendezvous with Rainbow were beginning to look like a crap shoot.