One day in Eden, Spike was in the world of Rocky inside the very boxing arena where he was watching Applejack inside the ring going up against several opponents that she kept literally knocking out.

(Mama Said Knock You Out)

Spike sat on the bench watching her and applauding her victories, “Yeah, that's good. A.J!” he cheered, “Float like a butterfly and sting like a bee!”

Applejack smirked, as she was dodging her current opponents punches, before delivering a jab to their stomach too fast for him to dodge, and delivered a swift uppercut knocking him off his feet and onto the the floor before vanishing.

“Yeah!” Applejack cheered, as the ref held her right arm up declaring her the victor.

Spike climbed into the ring and spoke to the girl, “Applejack, you were awesome!”

“Thanks, Spike. I'm strong both outside and inside Eden.” Applejack answered.

“Considering what you do for your family I can believe it.” Spike nudged A.J.

Applejack smiled, “Come on, let's get going.” they exited the world and wandered Game Central Station.

They walked around the terminal, as Spike spoke, “I'm glad we had a chance to come here together, Applejack.”

“Same here,” A.J agreed, “This might be the first time you and I had some alone time. Which gives us a chance to get to know each other more.”

“Maybe we should go someplace else to do that?” Spike suggested.

“Good thinking, sugarcube.”

“Fortunately, I know just the place.” Spike took Applejack's hand and tugged her along. As Applejack tried to keep up with Spike, she looked down at his hand clasping with hers and blushed.

---

Later on Spike and Applejack were at the Angel Grove Youth Center. At said place, avatars were training in various fields from working out, gymnastics, and karate. Around the dining area, other avatars were mingling, gossiping, or enjoying health inducing drinks.

“Good choice, Spike.” Applejack admitted.

“Thanks. I come here to practice my martial arts and other things.” Spike admitted.

“Do ya now?” Applejack asked, resting her chin on her hand intrigued.

“Oh, yeah. I even have a great instructor. Oh, there he is over there.” he motioned out on the training floor.

Applejack looked and saw Po the Panda teaching some avatars kung fu moves, but looking a bit clumsy in some techniques.

“That's your instructor?” Applejack asked in disbelief.

“Hey, he's a lot better than ya know.” Spike replied.

“Fine by me,” Applejack said, as she looked around, “But ya know, I have history with this place too.”

“Ya do?”

“Oh, yeah. One time I decided to fill in for the smoothie worker, and let me tell ya I made some of the best smoothie health boosters the avatars here ever tried.” she started flashing back.

---

One time in the Youth Center, Applejack was behind the counter mixing up some smoothies with various fruit slices and pieces. She shook the mixers up before pouring the smoothies into cups before sliding them down to the avatar who ordered a drink. As she worked her magic, she began to sing.

Applejack: Same old, same old

Same old story, same situation

Same old, same old

Goin' out of my mind

I know, I know

Life's too short, gotta stand for somethin'

I know, I know

How to turn things around

Drop the beat now

Shake things up now

Spice it up, stir it up

Everybody mix it up

[tempo building]

Drop the beat now

Shake things up now

Spice it up, stir it up

Everybody giddy up

(Snap! Pop!

Clap! Drop!

Dance! Move!

Mix! Bop!

Snap! Pop!

Clap! Drop!

Dance! Move!

Mix! Bop!

Dance! Move! Mix! Bop!

Dance! Move! Mix! Bop!

Pop-pop-pop-pop-pop-pop-pop-pop

Pop-pop-pop-pop-pop-pop-pop-pop)

DROP!

Drop the beat now

Shake things up now

Spice it up, stir it up

Everybody mix it up

Drop the beat now

Shake things up now

Spice it up, stir it up

Everybody giddy up

Rock... Roll...

Mix... Move...

Snap...

Spin...

Yeeeeee...

HOOOOOOOO!

(Dance, move, mix, bop, have another)

(Dance, move, mix, bop, have another)

(Dance, move, mix, bop, have another)

(Have another, have another)

Drop the beat now

Shake things up now

Spice it up, stir it up

Everybody mix it up

(Dance, move, mix, bop, have another)

(Dance, move, mix, bop, have another)

(Dance, move, mix, bop, have another)

(Hey! Hey! Hey!)

Drop the beat now

Shake things up now

Spice it up, stir it up

Everybody giddy up

(Dance, move, mix, bop, have another)

(Dance, move, mix, bop, have another)

(Dance, move, mix, bop, have another)

(Hey! Hey! Hey!)

Drop the beat now

Shake things up now

Spice it up, stir it up

Everybody mix it up

(Dance, move, mix, bop, have another)

(Dance, move, mix, bop, have another)

(Dance, move, mix, bop, have another)

(Hey! Hey! Hey!)

Drop the beat now

Shake things up now

Spice it up, stir it up

Everybody giddy up!

(Dance, move, mix, bop, have another)

(Dance, move, mix, bop, have another)

(Dance, move, mix, bop, have another)

Needless to say all the avatars were satisfied with their health restoration smoothies and bombarded Applejack with thanks and compliments which put a smile to her face.

---

The flashback ended, as Applejack smiled, “Ah, good times.”

“Yeah. So think we can talk shop?” Spike asked.

“Sure thing.” Applejack said.

“You told me your family owns an apple farm?”

“Oh, yeah. Been the family business for decades. We've been selling some of the best apple products to this very day.”

“Like zap apple jam and sweet apple cider.” Spike salivated, before closing his mouth in embarrassment.

“Uh-huh. And let me tell ya, Rainbow is addicted to the stuff.”

“Seriously?”

“As a heart attack,” Applejack chuckled, “We gotta keep the whole stash hidden away so she doesn't drink it all.”

“Good call.” Spike laughed.

“So before you moved in with the other girls you were with your family?”

“Uh-huh. My Granny Smith, my big brother Big Macintosh, and my little sister Apple Bloom. She's about your age.”

“Good to know. But what're they like?” Spike inquired.

“Granny Smith may be old and sometimes senile, but she's as tough as they come,” Applejack began, “My bro may sometimes come off as a guy a few words, but he knows when to speak his mind. You and he would get along just fine.”

“How do you figure?”

“Well, for one thing you both love that table top game Ogres and Oubliettes.”

“Really?” Spike asked intrigued.

“Uh-huh. He said he'd be attending the next con, maybe you two can meet there.”

“Nice. So what about your sister?”

“Apple Bloom, she can be quite a mischief maker. But she's a determined gal always lookin' to prove she's responsible. She's especially good when it comes to helping others in what they should be doin' with their lives.”

“Sounds like she's got a bright future ahead of herself.”

“I know. Makes me feel so proud.” Applejack smiled, “So what about your family?”

“Well, I lived with my Uncle Torch and two cousins Ember and Smolder.”

“So what're they like?”

“My cousins Ember and Smolder are feisty girls always getting into the most meaningless squabbles. Sometimes they need me to settle a dispute between them, and that, Applejack, is its own mine field.”

Applejack chuckled, “So what your uncle?”

“My uncle owns the Dragon's Den pub back home. It's a popular place and always busy. Because of that he comes home late a lot. So me and my cousins have dinner without him and he has mostly leftovers.”

“I see. Sorry he's not there enough.” Applejack said feeling sympathetic.

“It's not so bad. I mean my uncle is still able to provide for us. We're lucky to have him. Especially me,” Spike looked down a little sadly, which Applejack took notice of, “He's been the closest thing I had to a father since my parents passed away.”

Applejack gasped in surprise, “Your parents passed away?”

“Yeah. I was five at the time, and it was in a car crash,” he explained, “He immediately took me in and he and my cousins welcomed me with open arms. If not for them who knows where I would've ended up.” he sighed.

“Ya miss them, huh?” Applejack asked.

“All the time.”

Applejack laid a hand on Spike's shoulder comfortingly, “Listen, tonight how about you come by my room and we can continue this talk? There's something more I need to tell you about my family.” Spike was curious before answering.

“Ok.” And with that the two decided to continue to relax and hang out at the virtual youth center before exiting Eden.

---

That night in Applejack's room, said girl was already in her pajamas and sitting on her bed waiting. Suddenly there was a knock at her door.

“A.J, it's me.” came Spike's voice.

“It's open.” she answered.

Spike opened the door and stepped inside before closing it behind him, while locking it just to be safe.

“Come on over here.” Applejack pat the spot next to her on the bed.

Spike walked to A.J's bed and sat down beside her, “So what did you wanna tell me, Applejack?”

Applejack sighed, “That I know exactly how ya feel about missing your folks.”

“How?”

“Because I lost my parents too.” she confessed.

“What?” Spike asked in surprise.

Applejack sighed, “Yeah, that's right. This was many years back when I was just a kid. One day a tornado was reported coming close to our farm, and we were all scrambling to get the animals inside for safety. As the twister was closing in, I could barely see through the clouds and dust as I tried to find my way to the storm cellar. Then I heard my ma and pa calling out to me. When they found me, pa scooped me up as we made our way to the cellar. But the twister was right on top of us. Ma and pa handed me off to Big Mac, but rather than get in themselves, they closed the cellar doors.”

“Whoa.” Spike gasped.

“When the storm died down, we got out there to look for them,” Applejack continued, “Through all the debris we found them both with a broken wagon crushing their legs. We tried lifting it off them, but it was too late. They were already done for.” she shed some tears.

“Applejack.” Spike gasped upon hearing her story.

“Before they passed, they told me to be strong for my family. And I swore on their spirits I would.” she assured him.

“Wow.”

“So ya see, I understand what it means to lose your folks. It wasn't easy or quick to get over it. Especially for Apple Bloom who barely even knew them since she was still a tyke. So many times she's asked me, Big Mac, and Granny about them. And although she's glad we tell them, we always could tell how sad she really is knowing she didn't know them as well as we did.”

“Hearing that makes me feel lucky,” Spike replied, as Applejack looked at her, “I got to know my parents before they died, but your sister did not.”

Applejack continued wanting to lift the mood, “But you know, family ain't always defined by blood. When I met Twilight, Rainbow, Rarity, and the others I felt a whole new family was given to me.”

Spike thought on that and smiled, “Yeah. Same with me.”

“Remember, Spike. Even if you're away from your family you have one here with me and everyone else.” Applejack gave him a comforting smile.

Spike smiled back, “And you have family in me too.”

Applejack and Spike smiled at each other, while gazing into each others eyes. They started moving closer and closer until their lips met in a passionate kiss. Their hands wrapped around each other as they wanted to keep the other close to them.

They parted and looked at each other with a blush covering their cheeks, “Thanks, A.J.” Spike smiled.

“Any time, Sugarcube.” Applejack replied, as an idea came to her, “Hey, why don't ya stay in my room tonight?”

“What?” Spike asked taken aback.

“I mean with all we've been talkin' about I kinda don't feel like sleeping alone tonight.” she explained.

“But what if someone comes in here?” Spike asked in worry.

“Relax, no one's gonna be comin' in this late. Come on, Spike. For me.” Applejack pleaded.

Spike unable to resist Applejack's plea while also feeling too tired to walk back to him room answered, “Well, ok.”

“Great.” Applejack said, as she turned out the light and opened the covers of her bed. She got in and rubbed the spot next to her for Spike.

Spike slipped into Applejack's bed, as the girl covered them both with the covers, “Ya nice and cozy, Spike?”

“I sure am.”

“Good,” Applejack snuggled up with Spike and yawned, “Goodnight, Spike.”

Spike looked down at Applejack resting her head in his chest while holding onto him. He smiled and whispered, “Goodnight, A.J” he fell asleep holding Applejack in his arms knowing tomorrow was going to be yet another day.

Next Chapter: Friendly Fluttershy Estimated time remaining: 4 Hours, 59 Minutes