Later that night....

“Wow Pinkie...this is great!” Spike praised.

“Thanks Spike! It’s been awhile since I got to do a party!”

“Well, it is you’re special talent after all,” Twilight said with a gentle smile, trying hard to hide the inner turmoil within.

For the majority of the day Twilight, Spike, and Pinkie Pie had been rearranging and decorating the apartment for Sweetie Belle’s return. Granted, it didn’t have everything that a full blown surprise party would have but it was acceptable to Twilight’s standards, and more importantly, Pinkie’s standards. So now here they were, all standing and waiting in the kitchen for the last piece of the party to finish.

Twilight Sparkle had tried her best to hide that inside she was a mix of worry, anger, and frustration. Worried for their safety and what Luna was doing, anger because she had no way to stop it, and frustration that she still couldn’t figure out Rebris. That dark trinket was the key to Luna’s demise and to end everything that Luna had wrought, but until then, Twilight figured she might as well do her best to act normal today...for everybody’s sake. Besides, this was a day she should be enjoying. It signified another year that Sweetie Belle had endured and grown.

“Sweetie Belle is going to love this guys!” Spike praised even more.

Twilight couldn’t help but laugh a bit inside. Spike wasn’t usually this enthusiastic when it came to setting up for parties, especially since it meant some type of labor, but today he was more than willing to. Why wouldn’t he though? Sweetie Belle and Spike were marefriend and dragon...a combination that was unusual but Twilight saw nothing wrong with it. After taking Sweetie Belle in, they both had spent much time together during the many years she was tracking Pinkie. It was no surprise to her to learn that they both fancied each other. They both had lost one that was important to them, though in different context.

Rarity.

One loved her as a sister and one loved her as an interest. Either way, they both lost her but in turn gained each other.

It was somewhat poetic justice for the two. They at least had some relief in each others embrace from the pain and hell that surrounded them.

“Now all we have to do is wait for this cake to finish and get the frosting on. I hope she likes strawberry,” Pinkie stated with a wide grin.

“I’m sure she will appreciate the effort Pinkie,” Twilight replied.

“Sweetie Belle loves strawberry stuff. She has a thing for those,” Spike said, encouraging the pink mare.

Twilight let a small laugh escape her, gaining the attention of her purple dragon.

“What’s so funny?” Spike asked, raising his brow.

Twilight simply shook her head with a smile.

“It’s just funny to me that you know so much about her.”

“Ohhh yeah,” Pinkie chimed with a sly grin, “Spike really knows a lot about her.”

Spike got what Pinkie was getting at and began to blush violently. It was no secret to anypony that lived under this roof that Spike and Sweetie Belle were adolescents and with it came raging hormones. Twilight couldn’t even count how many times that she had passed by their room and heard the soft moans of a mare and grunts of a dragon but she never brought it up to them. She saw no need to. She felt that they genuinely loved each other and if sex was their way of escaping the outside world, she couldn’t blame them.

The same couldn’t be said for her and Pinkie though. Twilight had been too engrossed with her studies of Rebris to really concentrate on their relationship but Pinkie never voiced any concern about it...at least that she knew of.

“Haha, funny Pinkie.” Spike deadpanned.

“I’m just having fun with you Spike,” Pinkie said with her signature wide smile.

Spike chuckled but it was still obvious that he was embarrassed. Twilight put her hoof to her mouth to keep herself from laughing a bit more and making the dragon blush even further. It was cute to see him this way and it felt good. To see him blushing, Pinkie cracking jokes; it was enough to keep her from concentrating on Luna.

Twilight...

At least until now.

What?

Do you notice anything about Pinkie today?

Twilight raised her brow slightly. She looked over to Pinkie who was now intently watching the timer as her cake was nearly finished and Spike who was now doing the same. She looked over the pink mare and tried to see if there was anything different about her. She still had her bouncy tail, bouncy pink mane, and her bubbly attitude.

What are you talking about?

Her demeanor today...its been really....cheery.

Twilight didn’t understand what her mental companion was getting at. Pinkie was always this way. Was Pinkie as bubbly and bouncy back many years ago? Of course not but anypony that didn’t know Pinkie wouldn’t have a clue. Twilight sometimes still didn’t know how Pinkie was able to keep such a positive attitude at times, especially because of the many years she was gone and what they faced only but a month ago.

Uhhh...she’s always like that in case you haven’t noticed. It’s her personality. It’s when she’s not is when I’m concerned.

There was silence for a few seconds but the voice replied.

Yes, I know but...she’s more happy than usual today. I had never seen her bounce off the walls so much in the time I been with you. Why do you think that would be?

Twilight had a simple answer that she thought would quell her inner voice’s concern about her marefriend.

Well we do have a birthday today. She gets real excited when she gets to throw a party and such.

Yes...I supposed that could be it but yet I feel it’s something different...as if...

As if what?

I don’t know. I guess since you were analyzing Spike’s and Sweetie’s relationship, I started to analyze yours with Pinkie. Guess I’m just overthinking things-

Ding!

Twilight turned her attention to the stove, ripping her mind from her the other Twilight’s concern and to a very excited Pinkie Pie.

“It’s done!” Pinkie proclaimed through a half-yell and half-gasp voice.

The party pony wasted no time as she pulled out some stove gloves and put them on her hooves and with swiftness and technique, pulled out the still hot cake out of the oven and onto the table. Spike’s eyes grew wide as he admired the chocolate good. Twilight couldn’t help but admire Pinkie’s work also. It was almost a perfect shaped cake; almost identical right out of a cookbook.

She’s still got it.

“Now we just got to let this baby cool off and then it’s frosting time!” the pink mare said as she pulled out a bowl filled with strawberry frosting, ready to be used.

“Oh! Can I help?” Spike asked with a very sheepish smile.

“Of course you can! She’s your mare friend after all,” Pinkie replied with another sly grin.

“Well while we’re waiting for that, is there anything else that we need to put up before Sweetie Belle gets back?” Twilight said.

She looked over to Spike and he knew exactly what she was looking for. He immediately breathed in and blew out a small green flame and within it was a scroll. Twilight’s horn lit up and took hold of the parchment and opened it to reveal her checklist that was titled Preparation for Sweetie.

Lets see here...decorations.

Twilight didn’t have to look to see if that was done. They had been decorating the place with balloons and streamers for the entire day after all.

Check...birthday cake?

That was obvious.

Check. Presents...

Twilight felt her stomach churn inside as she knew this wasn’t something that she or anyone would be able to fulfill. As much as she wanted to get something for the white mare, she couldn’t risk going out and getting one. It was risky enough whenever they went out for groceries and such, especially her and Pinkie. Twilight knew that Luna was looking for her and Pinkie and the last thing they needed was to be noticed. Thus, this was why Pinkie and her barely went out anywhere unless they had to.

Twilight sighed under her breath.

It’s okay Twilight. She knows the situation and will understand. You don’t have to have presents for a birthday party.

Yeah, I know...but still. I wish I could get her something. She’s been through a whole lot too. and I want her to know that I care for her. I know I don’t show it much with trying to get my friends back and everything.

“Hey Twilight.”

The unicorn turned her attention to Spike while Pinkie examined her baked creation.

“Yeah Spike?” she answered.

“Could you come upstairs with me? There’s something that I want to talk about with you,” the adolescent dragon asked sheepishly.

“Sure Spike but why not just tell me here?” Twilight asked, wondering why they had to be in private.

Spike’s eyes went over too Pinkie who was now engrossed with her cake and licking her lips. What a temptation it must be for Pinkie to keep herself from eating the baked sweet.

“Well...it’s just I rather talk to you upstairs so....,” Spike shifted his eyes to Pinkie.

Twilight understood at what he was getting at. It must have been something about Sweetie Belle and the dragon didn’t want Pinkie to embarrass him anymore concerning his personal life.

“Okay Spike,” Twilight answered with a small smile and turned to Pinkie Pie who was preparing to put the frosting on the cake, “Hey Pinkie?”

“Yeees?” Pinkie sang as she started to spread the frosting.

“I’m going upstairs with Spike for a minute. Do you need help with anything before we go real quick?”

Pinkie shook her head as she diligently did her work.

“Nope. I got it from here Twilight.” She looked up and grinned wide enough to show off her pearly whites.

“Alright. If you need us, we will be upstairs,” Twilight answered with a smile of her own...and a thought that Pinkie did seem a bit more happy than usual.

“Okie dokie lokie,” Pinkie chimed.

So with that, Twilight and Spike left the kitchen and left the pink mare to her deed. The student and assistant made their way up to the steps and the mare followed Spike into his room.

“Can you close the door behind you please?” Spike asked.

Twilight nodded and closed the door but now was wondering why Spike wanted it closed. Was it something bad or something going on with Sweetie Belle that she didn’t know about? OR was it Spike? Was something going on with him?

Maybe it’s about Luna...

Twilight grimaced inside. She hoped that her mental companion was wrong about that. The last thing that she wanted to talk about was Luna and what she was up to, but what if Spike wanted to know? What if it was about why her brother had them all leave the table this morning so they could talk about Luna?

I hope not.

There was only one way to find out.

“So what’s going on Spike? Is everything okay?” she asked, fearing his answer.

“Yeah,” he said, fidgeting with his claws,”It’s just I needed your opinion on something.”

Okay...maybe it’s not about Luna but Sweetie Belle.

It was a moment of relief but she now switched her thought to Rarity’s sister.

“Okay. What do you need an opinion on?” Twilight asked as her mind ran with the millions of questions that Spike could ask her.

“Well...I have something for Sweetie Belle.”

Twilight raised her brow in hidden shock. Spike actually had a present for his mare? But how? They never went out to get anything and she knew that Spike would’ve never just left the apartment without telling anyone...not that he would go out in the first place. He knew the risk and danger if he did and that the eyes of a dark goddess was watching for them.

“What did you get?” Twilight asked, more intrigued about what Spike had.

Spike went over to his bed that he shared with Sweetie Belle and kneeled down and began looking for something underneath it. After a few moments the dragon got up and held out a small red box out to Twilight.

Twilight took control of it with her magic and brought it to her to see what this small box held. She lifted the lid slowly, careful not to damage this red box or what was in it.

“S...Spike,” Twilight stuttered for a moment, not believing what her eyes were now gazing upon.

Right before her was a red ruby gem that was shaped like a heart and had an incredible luster to it; the fire ruby that Spike had given Rarity when he was much younger.

“T..this...I didn’t know you still had this,” Twilight said in utter bafflement, “How did you get this?”

Spike looked down to the floor shamefully as if he had done something wrong.

“I took it from Rarity’s place after...” he trailed off, not wanting to mention the tragedy that had befallen his young crush.

Twilight looked over the fire ruby again. The ruby he gave to Rarity so long ago was still intact and even looked new as if it had never been touched until now. It even still had its golden border around it when Rarity had made it into a necklace after Spike had given it to her.

“When?” she simply asked, now wondering why Spike would go back to the very place that could only bring pain to him.

“After we took in Sweetie Belle. I had to get it so I snuck out one night...it was all I had that made me feel that she was still with us...” Spike said in a saddened but sincere tone.

“Spike...I wouldn’t have gotten it for you if you would’ve asked. You didn’t need to go there.”

“I know,” the dragon answered, now looking back up to Twilight, “But I felt like I had to, you know? You were looking for Pinkie and all and Sweetie Belle was still trying to cope...I didn’t want to burden anypony with something that I needed.”

Twilight understood where her assistant was coming from. She couldn’t count how many times she would go to places that her and her friends would hang out so long ago. For example, she had found herself many times during those long ten years standing outside the fence of Sweet Apple Acres and look over the orchard, always expecting to see Applejack bucking trees...but she knew that would not be so.

“I plan to give it to Sweetie Belle.”

“What?” Twilight said with wide eyes.

Spike began to blush a little.

“Well I figured that I was ready to. You know me and her been a couple for a bit now and I really like her right? When I gave that to Rarity, it was more than just because she liked it and I wanted to make her happy. It was my way of showing that I had a thing for her...but now....”

“It means more,” Twilight finished for him.

“Yeah...a lot more. I want to show Sweetie Belle that I’m serious about her and I’m willing to give up anything...even this...for her.”

Twilight couldn’t help but feel her heart beam a bit for Spike. Here he was willing to let go of his prized possession, the only thing that made him feel like Rarity was still with him, and give it to the mare that Twilight believed he truly loved. This dragon she used to know as naive and rash was now mature and sincere.

Wish I could do the same...

Seeing Spike and hearing his words now made Twilight think of her relationship with Pinkie...before they lost their friends. The times they went out and had fun, the nights they would stay together and look at stars, and sometimes the sinful fun they would engage in under the veil of darkness.

So what about now? What did they do now?

They ran. They hid. They feared. This was their life now. Her time taken by Rebris and her lust for revenge instead it being taken by spending time with her pink marefriend. Would she be willing to give up anything for Pinkie?

She didn’t know...and she hated it.

“So what do you think?” Spike now asked, making Twilight bring her focus back onto him.

“About what Spike?”

“That.” He pointed to the red box that she still held with her magic, “Do you think it would be right to give that to her?”

Would it be right? This was Rarity’s and though the fashionista saw it only as a gift from a smitten dragon, it meant a lot to Spike. So what would Sweetie Bell think about it? Would she take offense to this or worse, bring back the terrible memories of when she had to learn that her sister had been brutally murdered? Or maybe the opposite; a Sweetie Belle who would see that this gift from the purest of emotions?

“I don’t know Spike. Maybe it’s best not to. It might bring up too many things about,” she paused for a moment and looked into the dragon’s green eyes, “About Rarity.”

Spike frowned a bit but he didn’t let it go.

“I know and I thought about that but something in my gut is telling me that now is the right time to give it to her. I know Rarity’s gone but I feel like I have to show her how much...how much I love her.”

Twilight’s ears perked hearing what her assistant had just said.

He loves her?

This was a first for Twilight hearing the dragon say such a sacred word but not only that, he said with deep sincerity. He had always just say that he liked her a lot or he was really into her but not love.

“If you really think that I shouldn’t give it to her then I won’t...I can understand why,” Spike said a bit glumly.

I can’t deny him this...who am I to? It took him a bit but he accepted the fact that Pinkie and I are now together again despite what we all believed about her...he didn’t deny me her. Why should I deny him this?

Twilight had seen many things; things she wished she had never seen but one that she had no regret about seeing was one; love.She had learned slowly during the time her and Pinkie had been together that love can withstand and that was proven with Pinkie Pie. For so long she had thought Pinkie to be a merciless killer and hated her for it but then when she learned of the truth, that hate was replaced again by sudden unexplainable love for the pink mare. Who was she now to deny Spike’s wanting to show that he loved Sweetie Belle?

Twilight smiled and levitated the box back into his claws.

“Then give it to her Spike.” Twilight replied.

A cheesy grin spread across Spike’s face as he took in her approval.

“You mean it?”

Twilight nodded.

“Yes. If it means that much to you to give her it, then who am I to stop you?”

Spike smiled even wider and went over and hugged the unicorn.

“Thanks Twilight. I’m glad you see that...but don’t think this makes me completely mushy and stuff though.”

Twilight rolled her eyes playfully and hugged the dragon back.

“Of course not Spike.”

The two lifelong friends hugged for a few moments longer before Twilight broke it as her mind was now thinking about her marefriend and what she was up to with that cake...alone.

“Well we better get back downstairs and see what Pinkie’s up to,” Twilight suggested, “Don’t want her to eat that cake before the party even starts.”

“Yeah, probably,” Spike laughed a bit. He went back to his bed and put the red box back under his bed, making sure that it was not in plain sight.

“Alright, let’s go.”

The dragon and lavender mare made their way out the door and headed downstairs, ready to put in place the final preparations with smiles on their faces.

She seems very happy Twilight. You guys had done a good job setting up this party.

The truth couldn’t be any further. Twilight Sparkle watched as Sweetie Belle laughed and joked as they her brother and wife, Spike, Pinkie Pie, and herself sat around the table enjoying the magnificent cake that Pinkie had created.

It was only but several minutes ago that they had surprised Rarity’s sister when they returned from Daisy’s checkup. To see the shocked look on her face was priceless but the smile that followed after was invaluable to Twilight.

Thanks. It’s been awhile since I seen her like this.

It certainly has. Never before had she heard Sweetie Belle laugh so hard that her little trademark squeak could be heard and seeing such a scene of enjoyment in front of her. Everypony had a smile on their faces and there was a sense of peace.

It seems even among all the darkness, there is still happiness to be found. You should be proud that you could give that to her.

Twilight didn’t feel proud...she felt satisfied. Sweetie Belle was still young and growing into a fine mare along with a dragon and they lived in a world that was bleak, and with this small party, it seemed to show that there could still be happiness within it.

When she had first thought about planning this party with Pinkie, she was very hesitant. She was afraid Sweetie Belle would be upset because of the memories it was bound to recall about Rarity but in the end she resolved to do it, along with the persuasion of her pink marefriend.

And now it seemed she made the right choice.

“This cake is great Pinkie Pie,” Sweetie Belle said as she munched happily on it,” I love strawberry and chocolate combinations.”

“I love all combinations!” Pinkie proclaimed, her face covered in frosting, “I like vanilla and chocolate and strawberry and chocolate and chocolate and haynut butter and-”

“You like everything Pinkie,” Spike laughed.

“I do! As long as it’s sweet and stuff.”

“Well you certainly outdone yourself Pinkie. You even got Daisy here wanting more of it and she usually doesn't eat a lot of cake,” Cadence said as she held the small foal in her forelegs and fed her a piece.”

Everyone nodded their heads in agreement. Pinkie Pie had really came through for this party. She still had the unmatched skill of making parties great, despite all the years she hadn’t gotten to throw them. It seemed the art was almost second nature to her.

“Thanks everypony, but if it wasn’t for Twilight planning it and getting some of the stuff I needed, I wouldn’t have even been able to make the cake.” Pinkie turned to Twilight with a wide grin.

“It was no big deal,” Twilight said with humility.

But in the bigger picture of things, it was. She had went out under the veil of darkness many times to just gather simple party supplies and it was a blessing that she knew transformation spells to hide her identity. She couldn’t risk ponies seeing her and having it somehow got back to Luna. She didn’t want to see Luna until she had her friends back and they would come to end her plans, reign, and most importantly, her life.
“Thanks Twilight,” Sweetie Belle said with a sincere smile, “I appreciate all of this.”

“It’s no problem,” Twilight answered, “I think Rar--”

She stopped as she suddenly realized what she was about to say.

Nothing about Rarity....

It’s no secret that Rarity is gone Twilight. Why do you feel that you can’t mention Rarity around her?

It wasn’t that she was trying to hide anything. It was the fact that she didn’t really know how Sweetie Belle still coped with it. She had heard Sweetie Belle in the past talk and reminisce about her sister and the things they used to do together but Twilight still could sense that is still brought sadness to the mare, regardless of her not showing in it.

This day is about her...not Rarity. I don’t need to go bringing her up and take the chance of ruining her day.

“Err...Spike! I think Spike has something for you.” Twilight said as she turned to the dragon with a coy smile.

“Uhh, yeah,” Spike said as he began to blush a bit.

“Ohhhh really? The dragon has a little gift for his marefriend huh?” Shining Armor teased with a sly grin.

“Oh stop it Armor,” Cadence began, coming to Spike’s aid, but it was only making him blush even more, “I think it’s sweet. Besides, you used to give me gifts all the time when we met...you even went broke because of it even when I told you you didn’t have to.”

Twilight chuckled as she recalled that memory when she was but a young filly. Her brother was head over hoof for her foalsitter, to say the least, when they met. She had taken the liberty of even eavesdropping on Shining when he would be in his room and actually trying to write poems for the alicorn. She never told him that she did and didn’t plan on it now. It was more for her own humour than anything.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah, okay. Well, let’s see what the guy has got then.”

“Uhhh yeah,” Spike said as he got up from the table and looked over to Sweetie Belle, “I just have to go get it from upstairs real quick.”

“Okay Spike,” Sweetie Belle answered with a small giggle and a slight blush of her own, “I’ll be right here.”

With that, the dragon left the kitchen and headed upstairs.

“Well while he’s doing that, I’ll get these dishes to the kitchen,” Twilight insisted as her horn lit up and took control of all the plates and silverware.

“Let me help you with that.” Shining Armor got up and quickly followed Twilight.

Wonder what he wants...

Twilight could only imagine it had something to do with earlier this morning. Or maybe it was new info on Luna. Regardless, it was probably going to be news she would not enjoy hearing.

She entered the kitchen with her brother following closely behind her and she set the dishes down into the sink gently, careful not to break any of them.

“So I’m guessing everything went smooth setting up for today?” he asked.

Twilight turned to him, still wondering why he really wanted to come to the kitchen with her. It certainly wasn’t because he wanted to do dishes. She knew her brother well enough to know that.

“Yeah, it was pretty easy. The cake was what probably took the longest. How did everything go with Daisy?”

“Daisy did fine. She took her shots and the doc had us waiting there for hours...you know how it goes.”

“Yeah...I do,” Twilight said flatly, trying to suppress the image of Luna impaling her and the scar on her underbelly that served as her eternal reminder of her failure.

Shining Armor took notice and quickly apologized.

“Oh crap...I didn’t mean-”

“I know,” Twilight interrupted as she lifted her hoof to silence him before he went into apologies, “I know what you meant Shining. Don’t worry about it.”

“Yeah...sure. Look, there’s something I been wanting to tell you Twilight...I’m sorry for earlier.”

Earlier?

“What do you mean? Are you referring about telling me about those families?”

That had to be it. She couldn’t recall anything else that he would be sorry for but then why was he sorry for informing her about what Luna was doing?

“Yeah. I should’ve have just kept that to myself. You already have so much to deal with and I’m not exactly helping by telling you stuff that I guess isn’t preventable.”

Twilight saw that he felt genuinely bad about telling her such information but she didn’t see it as anything to be sorry for. She needed to know what Luna was doing but was it for the right reason? Was it so she could protect her loved ones in case Luna caught them or was it just more justification for when she brought her death upon her?

Only time would tell for now.

“It’s okay. Besides, I’d rather know what Luna’s up to then be left in the dark. Last thing I need is any surprises from Luna.”

“Yeah, but still,” Shining Armor continued, “Never in a million years that I thought I would have to fight against one of my own former rulers....and that they would want my own sister dead.”

Twilight noticed the way he said the last few words. It sounded as if there was a hidden fear in them.

Hmmm...seems he’s not just sorry for that. He’s scared for you...

Was it that? Was her own brother actually scared for her and her safety and somehow trying to apologize for this...hell? Twilight had never really thought about the concept of her brother dealing with the reality that he could possibly lose her; he was already close to losing her once before. A brother with a constant fear of something much more powerful than him and questioning if he could protect her;was this this fear that was now letting itself show through Shining’s words?

“That won’t happen Shining,” Twilight said firmly, “We’re going to beat her. Alright?”

“Yeah...” Shining Armor replied, still with what sounded like doubt in his voice.

Before Twilight could dispel this doubt within him though there was an angry scream.

“H..how could you Spike! What is this?!”

“Spike?!” Twilight and Shining both said in unison and immediately ran to the other part of the kitchen to see what had cause such anger. The two entered the other half of the kitchen and beheld a sight not of happiness and enjoyment that they had left but now a Sweetie Belle who was shaking with held back tears in her eyes and gripping onto a red gem with a golden border around it.

Cadence had stood up with Daisy who was now crying and Pinkie sat with only wide eyes in bafflement.

Twilight looked over to Spike, trying to figure out what had happened.

“What the hay happened?!” Twilight asked.

“All I did-” Spike began but was interrupted by Sweetie Belle.

“He gave me this!” Sweetie held up the fire ruby for all to see. “This was Rarity’s! He tried giving me this w..when,” the mare paused as she took a deep breath and tears began to pour down her cheeks, “W..When this is hers!”

“But Sweetie Belle I’m giving you it because-”

“Shut up!” she yelled as she turned to Spike and threw the necklace at him, hitting him in the chest but he didn’t flinch nor move.

“I don’t deserve this! You gave it to Rarity because it meant something to you! She doesn't matter anymore?! Is that what it is?!!” Sweetie Bell sobbed.

“Sweetie Belle! It has nothing to do with that!” Spike answered desperately with a look of extreme confusion, “She does matter-”

“No! She’s dead! She’s fucking dead and you dare give me that!”

“Sweetie Belle!” Twilight interrupted, “You’re making no sense right now. Please just calm down-”

“Did you know he planned on giving me this?!” Sweetie Belle now demanded as she looked towards Twilight.

“Yes but-”

“Why?!! You know this is Rarity’s and you thought it was okay??”

Sweetie Belle’s tears ran down her face and she began to tremble violently. Twilight’s heart dropped into her stomach and the sense of acute happiness and peace was now gone. Where had she gone wrong? Everything was going so well and now...this.

“Sweetie Belle. Just calm down and explain why you’re so upset,” Twilight said, trying to get her to calm down.

Sweetie Belle simply bit her bottom lip as she let her tears fall and simply shook her head.

“I can’t do this! I...I’m sorry!” she cried and immediately left the kitchen and upstairs, followed by the slam of a door.

Twilight and the others simply stood and sat in silence and looked over to Spike who was now simply staring at the ground and at the fire ruby.

“What the hell just happened?” Shining Armor asked.

Spike didn’t answer and simply stared at the ground and at the gem.

“Spike gave her that gem and she just...went off,” Cadence answered as she tried to calm Daisy down from its own crying.

It’s my fault...I screwed up...I should’ve known that it would bring too many memories for her...I should have said no.

How would you have known though Twilight? Spike was giving her that gift from his heart...could you really deny him from doing that? Did you not hear his explanation for giving it to her?

Twilight knew that Spike was genuine and he did not intend this but she should have never let him do it. She had let her heart speak for her instead the rationale of her mind. This would have been prevented if she had just said no to Spike; she now ruined the very birthday that she had hoped to make special for Sweetie Belle.

“Someone needs to go talk to her,” Cadence said as she was still trying to calm the cries of Daisy, “Make sure she’s okay.”

“I’ll go,” Twilight said as she began to walk to make her way upstairs, “It’s my fault that she-”

“No.”

Twilight turned to Spike who was now holding the fire ruby in his claw.

“What?”

“Let me talk to her. It will mean more if I do” Spike said as he now made his way out of the kitchen.

He had a point. If anything, Sweetie Belle was probably more furious with her because she knew about it and approved of the gift.

“Okay,” Twilight simply said and watched Spike make his way up the stairs with the heart-shaped gem gripped tightly in his claw.

This was supposed to be a normal day...a happy day. A celebration of another year a mare had grown and matured. A day that was supposed to end in smiles but instead was now replaced by tears, anger, and pain.

And it was because of her.

Twilight hung her head in shame and felt awful for what she had caused. Was this the life that was all that would be known now to her? Tears and pain? Because of Luna, everything was only just a reminder of pain and loss for her and everypony else that stood by her...and now she was only making it worse for the very mare she tried to raise in her sister’s absence.

“Um guys,” Pinkie now said as she sat in her chair, “Did she not like the party we threw for her?”

Twilight looked over to Pinkie and back down at the tile floor into her reflection and shook her head.

“No Pinkie...it wasn’t the party.”

It was me.

Spike slowly opened the door to the room and closed it behind him with a soft click. He looked over to the bed and saw Sweetie Belle curled up into a ball, holding a pillow and sobbing into it.

Damnit...I really screwed up this time.

He went over to his mare as his heart wrenched inside his chest. Seeing her this way because of him was the last thing he wanted and he had no clue to make it better. He had thought by giving her this gem it would show her how much she care for her but instead it only showed pain to his beloved mare.

“Sweetie Belle?” Spike said as he slowly made his way to her.

“What do you want?” she said through half sobs and gasps.

Spike came closer to the bed and gently sat on the side as he looked over Sweetie Belle who hid her face in the pillow.

“I just wanted to say I’m sorry for this. I didn’t mean to make you upset. I just...”

Just what? What could he possibly say that could justify all this? To show his love for her? Was that really something to put above the very pain that he should have known he would cause by giving her such an item? Such good and innocent intentions have now seemed to turn on him and make his action appear as ill.

“I’m sorry Sweetie Belle.”

There was a silence for a few moments and Sweetie Belle had gradually quelled her sobs to quiet sniffs. She pulled her face out of the pillow and turned to Spike sitting at her side with red eyes and cheeks that shined from her tears in the light.

“I’m the one who should be sorry. I shouldn’t have went off like that at you and Twilight,” she said as she sniffed more, “I know better than to think that Rarity meant nothing to you guys...it was just seeing that necklace...it meant so much to her and to be having it given to me...it just made me go off.”

Spike laid his claw on her shoulder. He could easily crack a little clever saying or joke to help cheer her up and reassure her he meant no such thing but he figured that this was not the time nor the place for it.

“I don’t know how much it meant to her but I know how much it meant to me when I gave it to her.”

“Yeah I know...” Sweetie Belle said as new tears began to well up in her eyes.

Spike couldn’t stand looking into Sweetie Belle’s eyes and seeing the pain that he had wrought. What pony, or dragon in this case, induces pain onto the one that he loved?

“Then I want you to know that I wanted to give you it because..” he trailed off a bit as he felt his chest turn into a knot and his stomach turn into butterflies.

Oh c’mon Spike! Tell her! She needs to hear it more than ever now...don’t chicken out!

He took a small breath and continued with red cheeks, “Because you mean alot to me.”

“I know that Spike, you told me that-”

“I’m not done yet...this is my reason for giving you this.” He held out the gem in his claw.

“When I gave this Rarity, I gave it to her to make her happy. But when I look back at it, I also realize I did it in hopes that she would somehow return my feelings for her.”

Sweetie Belle listened intently as she wiped her eyes but spoke up as she saw where he was heading with this.

“Spike...you don’t have to get into that. I remember you telling me how much it bothered you that she only saw you as a friend.”

“I bet you do,” Spike laughed weakly as he recalled that discussion and the ‘activity’ that followed after.

Sweetie Belle even chuckled a bit as she also recalled that discussion, making her own white cheeks turn a tinge of red.

“Anyways, after that night, I was crushed once Twilight told me what happened. I didn’t know what to do and all I could do was sit in my bed quietly and listen to Twilight cry herself to sleep. I would wait for her to fall asleep before I started crying...you know...the whole I’m a guy dragon thing. I had even snuck out to get this just so I could feel that she was still with me.”

He looked over at the gem in his claw and back at Sweetie.

“And then Twilight had you live with us. You know how we started just talking and helping each other out with dealing with all of that back then? During all those times and the years that passed by before we got together, I had that same feeling about Rarity but it was nothing like it at the same time. It was more...intense.

“But why give this to me? You gave this to Rarity because you had a crush on her and wanted to make her happy. I don’t deserve this Spike.”

Spike took her hoof and turned his claw and placed the gem in it.

“Because as cheesy as this sounds, I...” he paused as his entire body turned into ice as he tried to say the word.

Say it Spike! Say it man! Say it!

“...love you Sweetie Belle,”he said with a loud gasp and breath following after.

Sweetie Belle stared into his eyes and smiled but then placed the gem back into his claw.

“I know you do Spike and I love you too but I still can’t take this. This was Rarity’s and I want it to stay hers.”

Spike was perplexed. This was not what he had expected, especially after being so deep with his emotions that he had never done before. It almost felt like a type of rejection.

“But why?”

Sweetie Belle’s small smile left.

“Because I don’t deserve it...not after what I did...Rarity would’ve never...”

“What you did?” Spike said with perplexity, “What are you talking about?”

Sweetie Belle looked over to the floor.

“Do you remember when I told you about how Diamond Tiara was making fun of me in Middle Pony School?”

Spike recalled it.

“Yeah because you still didn’t have your cutie mark but she did that to everypony because she was just mean like that. Why?”

“And you know how I came back that night from Applebloom’s house and I had my cutie mark?”

Spike looked over to Sweetie Belle’s flank and looked at her cutie mark. It had three diamonds that were identical to her sisters but there was what looked like blood covering them. He nor Twilight could figure out what it signified and Sweetie Belle had simply said it just appeared on her way home.

“Yeah. I still don’t even know what it means though.”

“I think I do...”

“What? You know you’re special talent??”

Sweetie Belle looked over back to Spike and her lips began to tremble.

“It’s not a talent...it’s what I did...what I did to her...to Diamond Tiara.”

Spike’s eyes grew wide and suddenly realized something. Something that happened many years ago that was never explained...a filly who had disappeared without a trace just as Scootaloo did.

“Sweetie Belle....Diamond Tiara was never found... Did you...??” he stuttered.

Tears began drop from her eyes and she quietly revealed her secret. The secret of her how her cutie mark came to be.

“I killed her...”

(Next Part: Of Blood and Diamond)