Twilight and the Spartan Stallion
Part 18: Kissing

Daring Do sat across from True Facts, a great big smile plastered across her face. They stood in the museum in Canterlot, in the Greek and Roman era exhibit. Ponies were busily working to set up displays under glass, make sure plaques were straight, and hanging spotlights to be sure that the lighting was excellent. Meanwhile, the two archeologists kicked back and watched them all work. They’d long since paid all the diggers (rather handsomely, mind you, there was plenty of love to give after a discovery like this), and the crews had gone home. The meeting with the curators had been all of half an hour long. After they’d seen the Spartan Stallion statue, all the weapons and armor bits, they were falling all over themselves to write the big checks. The number of zeroes had made True Facts feel faint. Now? They could just sit and watch it all come together.

A mare wandered by with a sign on her back which read ‘Lead Diggers: Daring Do and True Facts; Chief Archeologists.’ Daring smiled and gestured. True Facts leaned, “Allow me.” He said flirtatiously, reaching across the table to pour the wine. One glass, then the other was filled with the dark red stuff. Daring almost didn’t hear the clink of something metal hit her glass before the wine did.

“What’s that?” she squinted at the object, lifting her glass as the bubbles settled.

“I dunno.” True’s eyes were cast upward and to one side. That was his lying face. He was so terrible at it, so hopelessly Celestia-awful at it Daring Do was immediately suspicious of him. Taking a pencil off the table they sat at, she fished around in her wine until she hooked whatever it was and drew it out.

An engagement ring.

It sparkled, dripping scarlet wine. Daring dropped the pencil in shock, and the little ring spun like a coin until it settled. She looked past her wine glass, slowly sitting upright. The stallion across from her smiled sheepishly, his cheeks twinging a lovely pink. “True Facts…” she said softly, her eyes getting big and soft.

“Daring Do.” He nickered, smiling wider and leaning across the table at her. They looked into each other’s eyes as she leaned forward as well. As their lips touched, he slipped the ring onto her, oh-so-gently. She purred quietly, then nuzzled him with the beginnings of happy tears in her eyes. He slipped his hat off and played with it between his hooves when the kiss broke. He looked at her sideways, smiling still shyly. “Will you?” he said, cheeks reddening.

“Only if we can have our honeymoon in darkest Africa, and visit the Zembroozi temple ruins.” She grinned, leaning on her elbow and smiling suggestively. The stallion giggled. Both of them knew that temple was meant for a fertility god in a long-extinct tribe of wild zebra. He chuckled, hesitating a bit. “What do you think, Spartan?” she turned her head to ask the statue across the room, rather loudly. “Think he has the stones to have his way with me in a five thousand year old temple?”

“DARING!” True Facts squawked when more than a head or two turned their way with interest. Now he was red-faced, neigh, crimson. “Don’t say stuff like that so loud.”

“Ohhh uh-uh, you’re mine now buster.” Daring Do chuckled, shaking her head. “I get to embarrass you allll I want.” She gestured to the ring around her hoof and ankle. He snickered just a little. It wasn’t like they couldn’t afford to travel the world or have a big fancy wedding. They’d both just become filthy, unbecomingly rich. They could go anywhere, do anything they wanted for a long time to come and money would be of no consequence. Just think of all the adventures they could have! She caught him staring at the Spartan Stallion statue, staring off into space, and she cupped his cheek romantically. “I love you.” She said in a lower voice. He smiled, eyes lidding a bit. They kissed again while the plaque bearing their names was being installed at the front of the exhibit.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
12 Years Later…
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

It took six ponies to lift the lame Big Macintosh from the ring and onto a stretcher. They held his head firmly so his neck would suffer no more damage as they got him into a cart. He was fading in and out of consciousness and was as limp as a noodle. It was all Pinkie Pie could do to keep the crowd from tearing the place apart in horror and rage. Spartan Shield had fled, probably to hide himself from the angry mob. Applejack and Applebloom followed and leapt onto the cart with their brother.

“I knew this would happen. I knew something bad would happen.” Twilight bitterly chanted, looking over at Spike. The baby dragon shrugged wordlessly, taking off his bicycle shorts and whistle. So much for being a good coach. He didn’t think he’d hafta tell Spartan to NOT cripple his opponent! “C’mon Spike, let’s get outta here.” She scooped him up onto her back, making quickly for the exit. She made to snatch the donation jar, but found it was already gone. Had Spartan taken it already?

Twilight rushed home, where she knew she would find him. Sure enough, the door was standing open and the light was on upstairs. “Spartan!” Spike called, hopping off of Twilight. There was a lot of movement upstairs, heavy hooves said that it was definitely him.

“Spartan!” Twilight said angrily, stomping up the stairs to confront him. “Come out of there!” she banged on her own bedroom door when she found it locked. Leaning down with frustration, she lit her horn to force the lock open. When she threw the door open she wasn’t prepared for what she saw. Spartan, fully dressed again, his face streaked with tears. Wracking sobs erupted from his throat as he leaned forward over the bed, on all four knees. “Spartan?” Twilight said, leaning forward and lifting a hoof. Her anger evaporated, seeing him in his sorry state.

“What hath I done, Twilight Sparkle!?” Spartan yowled. “I have maimed that beautiful creature, for life!” he buried his face in his arms, wetting the sheets with his tears. “Faust curses me! Curses Big Macintosh! M-my heart, it hurts!” Twilight stared at Spike, and he back at her. Beautiful creature? Big Macintosh was many things, but 'beautiful creature' was not among the words Twilight or Spike would have chosen to describe him. The purple mare stepped into the room, leaving Spike at the doorway. So this was it. This was the chink in the deadly war pony’s armor and powerful personality. A stallion as strong as himself. She swallowed aloud, trying not to jump to conclusions. The day he’d first seen Big Mac, he’d rambled on about how impressive he was. He’d made friends with him sitting in a jail cell. He often visited him in the market, and they’d gone to the spa together once or twice. Was Spartan Shield… gay? What about her? Did she mean nothing to him? Was he trying to have both?

Twilight felt a sudden flood of harsh, powerful guilt. She shouldn’t be thinking about that right now. There was a pony in the hospital, paralyzed maybe for life! She glanced over, and saw the donation jar on its side next to him. It was tumped over on its side, the lid off and a hoof full of bits scattered on the floor. It looked like he’d opened it, then pitched it over in disgust. Igniting her horn, she righted it and put all the bits back in by magic.

She sat on her haunches next to him. Twilight Sparkle had known Spartan Shield for over a month, and she’d never seen him so emotional. The mild feeling of jealousy ate at her, though. She couldn’t help it. Though Big Macintosh lay in a hospital bed unable to move, she found herself angry at him. Spartan had kissed her, nuzzled her, put socks on her and shared her home. Was she not good enough for him? He needed something so similar to himself to be happy? She looked to one side, flushed and upset. “So… you and Big Macintosh, huh?” she found herself croaking softly.

Apparently when a Spartan cried he REALLY cried, for when the name left her lips he let out another great and wracking sob. He clutched at the sheets, pulling them about himself and just trying to hide his face in them while he wept bitterly. Spike stood awkwardly in the doorway, unsure of what to do. He’d never seen a stallion cry at all, much less one like Spartan Shield. “I doth be the misery of this era! Hurting everypony in my path!” he shouted woefully into the stitches. “Misery unto me! ME! Not Big Macintosh! UUUUAhhhh-HAH-HAH-HAH-HAHHHHHH!” A stallion that was used to shouting anyway could bring the house down with such sobs. “I should throw myself upon mine spear!”

“Oh hey now, hey, none of that.” Twilight sidled up next to him, quickly putting an arm around him. Spartan’s spear was in the closet, if he tried for it she wasn’t sure she could stop him. Spike either. “If you’d snapped his neck he’d be dead. Dead is worse than paralyzed.” She winced when she said it, for it wasn’t MUCH better. She’d not examined Big Macintosh personally, but she’d seen his upset face and moving lips when he’d been laying in the ring. Her meager knowledge of all things medical told her that the draft pony would be simply dead of the spinal cord had snapped entirely. That didn’t mean he wouldn’t be paralyzed for life, though. What was Applejack going to do, or any of the Apples, without the one stallion of the household? Twilight sighed softly, keeping her arm around his broad and muscled shoulder while he wracked himself with sobbing.

“An invalid for all his days! I am a plague upon him and upon thee, Twilight Sparkle!” he turned and looked at her miserably. She eyed the tears and dribbling snot, getting a tissue and dabbing at him a little. He refused it with a blustering sound. Getting up and shouldering past her, he fled miserably from the room and down the stairs. Spike barely had time to leap out of the way and not get trampled. By the time Twilight had jittered to her hooves and gone downstairs to the great room, the front door had slammed and Spartan Shield was gone.

“Spartan!” she threw the door open and rushed outside, looking back and forth. The sound of thundering hooves seemed to come from several directions, and the night concealed his exit. “Spartan!” Twilight shouted again, turning in a quick circle. Which way had he gone? She teleported up onto her balcony for a higher view, but it was no luck. She simply couldn’t see far enough to tell if anypony was out there. With clouds hiding the moon, it was a truly dark night. Her ears turned down miserably.

“Wow, he can really move when he wants to…” marveled Spike. Twilight glared at him bitterly, then rushed away into the night. Spike heard her shouting the Spartan Stallion’s name, a twang in her voice that threatened crying.

=-----=-----=-----=-----=

Applejack leaned over the gently slumbering Applebloom. The hospital room was white, sterile and miserably clean. T’wasn’t like Sweet Apple Acres at all. She nuzzled the little filly, just once. The poor thing had fallen asleep and curled up in a chair in all the excitement.

Big Macintosh had been rushed to the emergency room as soon as he’d arrived at the hospital, then rushed to surgery for testing. He wasn’t dead, and his spinal cord hadn’t been snapped. However, the impact of Spartan Shield’s kick had struck him so hard that his nervous system had recoiled and shut down for the moment. It wasn’t dead or broken, but the Doctors knew that it would take time for his body to ‘restart’. The hairline fractures in his neck would need a neck-bracer as well, probably for a few months. He was going to be okay.

Applejack sighed, eyeing the clock. It was past midnight. Turning, she leaned over her brother. The big lug was sleeping, though stiffly with the neck-bracer on. The rest of him was patched and wrapped up here and there. He and Spartan Shield had really done a number on each other. Well, that big stupid muscle-head deserved every bruise he got, dang-near killin’ her brother like that. She fumed silently, not wanting to wake either of her siblings. Why, the moment she could get her hooves on that Spartan Shield she was gunna ring his neck so hard he’d hear bells in his fool head! Vowing angry vengeance on the stallion for harming her brother so much at a mere wrastlin’ match, she paced back and forth until Applebloom suddenly stirred. The farm pony stopped when the innocent little one lifted her head and looked blearily around. “Applejack…?” she asked in a tiny, darling voice. “S’Big Mac okay?”

“W-well…” Applejack tried to word it right. “He’s gonna be okay. That’s what’s important.” She leaned down and nuzzled her little sister, who whined and flailed weakly. “Now, y’all go back to sleep,” she pushed her nose under Applebloom’s side and hefted her gently onto her back.

“But m’not t’ahrd.” Her accent was thicker than anything by then, and her little eyelids got heavier and heavier. Applejack took her hat off and put it on the fillies head. It served like a lampshade, making it even harder to stay awake. Finally, the exhausted little filly went limp and her breathing got deeper again.

“Are so.” said Applejack softly. She turned to look at the unconscious Big Macintosh, “Ah gotta take Applebloom home, Big Mac. Ah’ll be back in the mornin’, don’t worry.” She smiled tiredly, then turned and left.

Big Mac didn’t stir, but when she was gone he slitted an eye open. The room was quiet. Too quiet. His farmer’s instincts told him that a lack of any noise meant tension was in the air. Or a predator was nearby. Usually both. “Yup?” he asked the seemingly empty room with a quiet croak.

Spartan Shield leaned out from behind a curtain, looking uncharacteristically sheepish. He’d come to visit the paralyzed stallion in the dead of night, only to almost run smack into his sister. With no way out, he’d hidden himself in the room—stood perfectly still—for over three hours. Exhausted, he came to the bedside and came reverently to his knees with a sigh of relief. “Big Macintosh,” he whispered, ears turning down.

“...Yup?” the red stallion said cautiously, moving his eyes but not able to turn his head.

“I bring thee the funds I promised and more.” He gingerly pushed the charity jar up onto the bedside table. “I know it is not even a fraction to make up for what’s happened.” He said miserably, biting his lip and not daring to look Big Macintosh in the face. “I hath maimed you, beautiful Macintosh.” He whispered, putting his chin on the big stallion’s lower chest. Big Mac winced when he saw the two black hoof prints peeking out from under Spartan’s breast plate. Apparently they’d both done a serious number on each other.

“Eeyup.” said Big Mac, looking down at the sighing pony’s miserable face. There was a certain warmth in the stallion’s face. Spartan Shield sure did like to compliment him a lot. Sure, he was an uprigh’ kind’a stallion. And he could wrestle real good, too. But dang if they hadn’t overdone it this time. AJ was gonna kill the poor pony if she got to him before he was better. He was--! Big Mac’s train of thought came to a halt when Spartan nosed his way under the blanket and pushed it back to apologetically kiss the red stallion’s bruised chest.

“I am a plague upon thee.” Spartan whispered softly, resting his chin on the velvety red fur for a moment. “Twilight Sparkle and the oracle-druid were right. Violence only begets more violence. What doth Equestria need with a warrior when there is no more call for one? I am a useless, violent relic and what I’ve done to thou is unforgivable.” He sighed depressedly. Big Mac studied him carefully, blink-blinking. “I shalt disappear and plague you no more, Big Mac.” Disappear? He wasn’t dyin’, for Celestia’s sake! He was such a dramatic thing when something actually managed to upset him, pfft. Big Mac would’ve shifted uncomfortably if he could control any of his limbs. But no, he just had to lay there. The armored war pony leaned over him, stroking his mane real friendly-like. Suddenly Big Mac made the connection and the rather slow gears in his head caught up with the entire situation. The constant touching, compliments, baths and affectionate words… he was--! Big Mac looked up as the Spartan Stallion began to lean down with a tender expression, stroking his mane a few times and parting his lips.

Big Macintosh’s eyebrows LAUNCHED into his bangs.

“Nope! Nooooooooo-ooope! NOPE NOPE NOPE NOPE NOPE!!!!” he couldn’t move or stop him, though. The rather homophobic farming pony got his first tender kiss from another stallion. Sweat worked down his forehead both ways and a deep scarlet filled his face. “Mrrrgh! Mrrr-hrrrrgh!” he said miserably to Spartan’s lips. By the time the Spartan Stallion, flushed in the cheeks, pulled from him Big Mac’s eyes were in comical swirls and his tongue was lolling out to one side in tasteless misery. One of his ears twitched a few times as Spartan Shield pulled the blanket back up to his chin.

“Goodbye, Big Mac.” He said with affection. Spartan turned slowly and, after checking the hall, slipped away into the night. Big Mac could only lay there, utterly stunned and cursing Faust for his horrendous luck. Bleh! Stallion germs! Blehhh! His gaze flicked over at the jar of bits on the bedside table. Well, at least he’d have something to pay the hospital bill with. He sighed, working his tongue back and forth to try and get the electric, musky taste off of his lips. Flick-a-flick, went his tongue, flick-a-flick.

Just then a nurse wandered in and saw him doing this, looking startled. What had all the shouting been about? His face lit up. He was so glad to see her he could just spit! She looked offended at all his tongue antics, however, and turned with a, “Perverted thing! Hmph!”

His face fell. “Nope! NOPE!” he called after her apologetically, but she didn’t return. He groaned, squeezing his eyes shut. “Nope…” he stared miserably at the ceiling. This was the worst. Night. Ever.

=-----=-----=-----=-----=

Twilight Sparkle had long since given up searching for Spartan Shield. It had been four hours and she was exhausted. She’d roused Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy from bed to look for him—but no luck. Even a massive armored stallion like him could make himself scarce when he wanted to.

The very, very few ponies in Ponyville that were awake at that hour were either guards or riff-raff. Pinkie Pie, who had a picture that had been snapped during the fight from the crowd, showed everypony Spartan’s face. Most of them recognized him, but hadn’t seen him all night. Twilight doubted he’d gone to a doctor or anything, he didn’t seem the sort to be seen to properly. Speaking of, Big Macintosh was in Pony Medical as well. They all hoped he was doing okay.
“Spartan picked a heck of a time to disappear!” Rainbow Dash complained, yawning and landing with a clop of her hooves. “Why can’t he run off during the… *yawn*… the daytime, like a regular pony?” she shook her head quickly.

“We’ve looked everywhere.” Twilight said miserably. “I guess he doesn’t wanna be found.” She hung her head with a sigh. “I… I think I’m done looking for now.”

“What?!” said the other four mares in surprise.

“We’re all exhausted.” She took the picture from Pinkie Pie and pushed it into her saddlebags for safe-keeping. “We can look more tomorrow after everypony’s had a rest.” She smiled weakly. The other four looked dubiously at her, but knew she was right. It was pushing three in the morning, and there was no sign of the Spartan Stallion anywhere in Ponyville. They doubted he would run off into Ever Free, or take off down the road, but… a town was a big place when you were looking for just one pony. They sighed collectively, and Twilight turned to go.

“Night, Twilight!” Pinkie called helpfully, sproinging into the air with what little energy she still had in her. Twilight nodded mutely, walking slowly towards the park and leaving her friends behind. Pinkie’s smile fell, and she watched the purple mare go. “She seems so sad.” She mumbled.

“I thought Twilight would be angry at Spartan, uhm, for hurting Big Mac.” Fluttershy said, scuffing her hoof on the ground. “I mean, h’uhm…” she trailed off for a moment.

“She’s been trying to teach him not to be so fierce, and what does he do? Breaks somepony’s neck!” Rarity said a little angrily. “Now look at the poor dear, worried sick despite herself!” The pale unicorn wasn’t sure if her face should be angry at Spartan Shield, or worried for Twilight Sparkle. The result was a duck-ish pouty face.

“We should make sure she gets home okay.” Rainbow Dash sighed, serious for once. “If she’s gonna go through the park, that’s the long way around.” She started forward, and there was silent agreement. They would follow Twilight Sparkle form a distance. Just to make sure that she was okay, and made it home safely. The last thing they needed was for their leader and friend to get jumped by some robber pony or other shadow. Falling into a clustered herd, the mares followed quietly.

Meanwhile…

Twilight Sparkle wandered along the cobblestone path in the park. She passed a few statues, a fountain, a lake, some nice shrubberies and so on. She looked skyward at the rolling clouds. It sure was dark. Oh well. Not like she needed to see much anyways. The rolling of the tiny waves of the lake drew her attention. She fought an oncoming headache, and sat on a bench at the shore. Sighing, she rested her chin on its cold hard surface and stared unseeing at the lake.
What sort of horrible luck did she have, that the universe scorned her like this? A interesting, smart, handsome, ancient-era stallion had literally dropped into her hooves—and he had fallen in love with another stallion. It was cruel! Had their kisses meant nothing to him? Were Spartan Stallions closer to their male counterparts, and only used mares for breeding purposes? Why hadn't her books said so? Were her cute socks not cute enough to draw his eye? She’d been trying her very best to tame him, to show him the wonderful world that Equestria had become in his thousand-year slumber. But no, he was all violence and muscle and military thinking. She felt like she’d failed Princess Celestia too. She’d been charged to help him adjust, and not only had she failed but she apparently didn’t know him that well either. If his preferences had been a complete mystery to her the whole time, what else didn’t she know? She was an international hero, the element of magic, Princess Celestia’s protégé, and a damn-smart scholar—didn’t she deserve a nice handsome stallion like everymare else? Was it too much to ask that the studliest thing she'd ever seen was straight? She sighed, her heart heavy with selfish desires, guilt and worry. Who knew where he was now, she thought miserably. Prolly fawning over Big Macintosh (new wave of guilt for thinking badly of him), reciting some ancient Greek love poem under his hospital window. She was such a fool.

Twilight Sparkle sat on her haunches, pulling the picture from the wrestling bout out of her saddlebag. She studied it with a slowly growing frown, sighing and hanging her head. She threw it distastefully over her shoulder and into the bushes behind her.

“If there’s a prize for rotten judgement,
I guess I’ve already won that.
No stallion’s worth the aggravation!
He’s from ancient history! Been there! Done that!”

Pinkie Pie and the others POPPED out of the bushes, parting them with encouraging smiles. The photo was clutched in the pink mare’s hoof and she showed the others with a broad grin. They exchanged quick smiles. Twilight startled, but it was too late. She’d already burst into song and her friends were there to play back-ups!

“Who’d’ya think you’re kiddin’?
He’s the earth and heaven to ya!
Try to keep it hidden,
Honey we can see right through you!”

Twilight turned her head, brow furrowing with a hurt ego to match. How dare they ensinuate! Didn’t they see what was happening? That Spartan obviously wasn’t that into her, and was spending all his spare time with Big Mac? “Oh Noo-h’ohhh!” she turned her nose up, setting the note for the four of them to sing atop of. She skipped off the end of the bench and along the path.

“Mare you can’t conceal it,
We know how ya feel and,
Who you’re thi-i-i-inkin’ of!”

“Oh no-‘h’ohh!” Twilight turned away from them all, crossing a bowed bridge as they followed, a giggling girly gaggle of friends. They just wanted to cheer her up but she was having none of it. She did NOT like Spartan Stallion anymore, and if she had to prove it in song she would!

“No chance! No way! I won’t say it, no no!”
“You’ve swooned, you’ve sighed, why deny it—uh oh!”
“It’s too cliché! I won’t say I’m in love!”

The formation of four mares followed the upset purple one along the park path and under a tree. She scampered behind it while they clouds slowly parted. The silver beams of moonlight illuminated the night, casting an ever-expanding spotlight on Twilight Sparkle. She thrust herself from behind the tree, thrusting out her chest to belt out higher notes.

“I thought my heart could teach him lessons!
It felt so good when we started out!
My heart is screamin’ get a grip, mare,
Unless you’re dying to cry your heart out!”

Twilight leapt upon the lip of a new fountain as her friends followed, their la-la-la’s chorusing after her as she danced across it. She gave her mane an energetic toss, haughty in her confidence that she SO didn’t need a stallion to validate herself. She was just fine the way she was, thank you very much. She didn’t need him or anypony else to cuddle with. Or kiss. Or tell her she was his only ally. Or press her against her own front door and kiss her like that. She stutter-stepped, and the group noticed with loud, girlish giggles.

“You keep on denyin’!
Who you are and how you’re feelin’!
Baby we’re not buyin’!
We-eeee all saw you hit the ceiling!
Face it like a grown-up,
When you gonna own up--
That you got, got ,got it bad!”

The group fanned out around Twilight, leaning up and onto her. She was pinned to the fountain by all of her loving friends, pressed into a big group hug as they tried to make her see reason. You couldn’t have a coltfriend without hating his big stupid face now and then, everypony knew that! Males were not gonna please 100% of the time, they were bound to screw up and needed to be forgiven for the things they did wrong. Twilight disagreed, refusing their accusations but the slowly growing smile on her muzzle was giving her away.

“No chance! No way! I won’t say it no, no!”
“Give up! Give in, check the grin you’re in love!”
“This scene won’t play! I won’t say I’m in love!”
“You’re doin’ flips, read our lips, you’re in love!”
“You’re way off base, I won’t say it!
Get off my case I won’t say it!”
“Mare don’t be proud, it’s okay you’re in love!”

They released her from the group hug and let her trot away and leap up upon a new bench that overlooked the lake. They followed her, hopping daintily in circles to keep her penned in. They almost had her, her droopy mood was turning up and they could see it on her face. Pinkie Pie slipped the picture onto the stone bench next to Twilight when she wasn’t looking, face up.

“Oh’hh… at least out loud,” Twilight Sparkle hummed melodically. She flopped onto her butt, looking over and seeing the picture. “I won’t say I’m in--” she picked it up and held it close, looking at the handsome stallion in it. “Love…” Her friends vanished into the night when the musical number was over, knowing the purple mare would be okay.

...Alright.

So he swung both ways.

Twilight could work with that. She just needed to be more appealing.

Whenever she found him, that is.

End of Part 18