Another date went south. Another gray and dreary day looms over to match the mood.
A distraught Rarity works at her desk, in her room, above the boutique, trying to cope with the bitter loneliness she had been harboring for a long time. Usually, this is one of those moments when Spike was around to lend an ear, and offer his service to please his "lady." Unfortunately, it was one of those days when Spike took a rain check from Rarity, in favor of another girl he had made time for. Gabby Griffin.
While many ponies and creatures, who've known the chemistry between both dragon and griffin, were happy for the two, Rarity was a noticeable exception.
Suffice it to say, and as hard as it was to believe, Rarity truly does value her times with Spike than she actually lets on. But now, it's too late. The dragon is gone, probably out of her life, with another.
While sewing the stitching into a fabric for her latest design, Rarity recalled the last time she's talked to Spike, before her big date.
Flashback
A few weeks ago, Rarity was humming a happy tune, while she was hard at work on her latest inspiration of a new design. It was at that moment, the doorbell rang, signaling the arrival of a new customer, or a friend paying a visit.
Composing herself, Rarity walked into the lobby of her boutique to greet the visitor, "Welcome to the Carousel–Spike!" Rarity greeted happily.
"Hey Rarity!" Spike smiled, waving a claw. "How are–"
Before Spike could finish, however, Rarity had cut him off, saying, "Just the dragon I wanted to see."
"Really?" Spike asked, sounding hopeful...maybe too hopeful for his own good.
"I need your help with cleaning the place up," Rarity stated. "It must be ready in time for my big date coming up with this handsome new stallion I've just met!"
"Oh," Spike muttered under his breath. "Sure...why not?"
"Oh, Spike! I knew I could always count on you, my favorite dragon," Rarity smiled, giving Spike's crests the same gentle pats she would often give whenever she doted over him.
Before Spike could even began getting the bucket and broom, however, he decided to break the ice and ask some questions, "So...this new guy. What's he like? Someone I know?"
"Oh, I wouldn't say that," Rarity sighed lovingly. "You haven't even met him. None of the other girls have. He's simply wonderful! Absolutely wonderful, darling! Aside from being roguishly handsome, he's a charmer, and a gentleman. He's the stallion of my dream."
"Yeah...happy that you're happy," Spike said in sarcasm, which Rarity failed to notice.
The marshmallow unicorn approached a nearby rack of dresses and held out a few of her beautiful gowns, holding them up, proudly and smiled, "What do you think, Spike? Sapphire? Or emeralds?"
"I don't care," Spike shrugged. "You look good in every dresses."
"Oh, Spike, you're such a flatterer," Rarity chuckled. "But this is a serious matter of romance. A good first impression is everything."
"...Good first impression, huh?"
"Oh, Spike. If only you know what romance is like, then you'd understand."
Looking back, Rarity hadn't noticed the look of hurt on Spike's face when she said that statement. Not longer those words escaped from Rarity's mouth, Spike snapped his fingers and waggled one of his claws.
"You know what? I just remembered!" He said, making a hasty retreat to the door. "I promised Gabby I'll meet her at the ice cream store, right about now, so...I should be going!"
"Oh...okay," Rarity replied, in a sadden tone, at the mention of Gabby Griffin.
She was still trying to get used to sharing Spike with the griffin.
"Well, alright, you m-m-may r-r-run along, S-Spike," Rarity stammered on her words. "Tell Gabby I said..." But before she could finish, Spike was already gone. "Hi..."
The next day, it was time for Rarity's big date with the new stallion she was head over hooves for. As planned, the stallion arrived at the Carousel Boutique, in time to take Rarity to a fancy restaurant, where they had reserved a table, just for the two of them.
At first, the date was going along rather swimmingly for the marshmallow unicorn. The stallion was attentive to listening to her passion and prowess in the fashion business, while seemingly understanding her stress on a personal level about running a successful business chain. The stallion, after all, happened to be a business tycoon, who runs a company on gem mining. The stallion was using some smooth talks to make it sound as if both he and Rarity can profit off one another, and run a successful business together as husband and wife.
Rarity was elated at the notion. However, it immediately went downhill from there, when the stallion immediately proposed to Rarity on the spot. Rarity was rather taken aback, since both she and the stallion barely knew one another. But the stallion could hardly care less. He just wanted Rarity's hoof in marriage right then and there.
Completely put off by his demands and for dropping the charming facade he had put on earlier to beguile Rarity, the fashionista called the date off and left the restaurant in a huff.
After another date had proven to be another romantic failure, a disheartened Rarity left for home, fuming how she could have fallen for another uncouth stallion, who's as big as pain than Prince Blueblood is.
On the way, Rarity happened to run into Spike, who was sitting on a bench, licking on a cone of strawberry ice cream, without a care in the world.
"Hello there, Spikey-Wikey,” Rarity replied, sadly.
“Oh hi, Rarity,” Spike greeted in a casual tone, missing the stammer he was known for.
Her sadden tone didn't go unnoticed, as Spike looked at her with concern, "What's wrong, Rarity? Everything okay?"
Not wanting to hold it in any longer, Rarity proceeded to vent with Spike, "Oh, Spike...it was awful! Simply awful!" Rarity exclaimed. "That stallion! He's...he wasn't as loving or as charming as I thought he'd be. All he cared about was business! He doesn't even care how I felt about it at all! He tried to force us into a marriage that I didn't agree to."
"Yikes," Spike cringed. "I mean...I'm sorry to hear that."
"Oh, what's the use..." Rarity shook her head. "These past few years, I seemed to be having the most rotten of lucks when it comes to finding the gentleman for me. Every stallions I've ever met, they're either a royal pain as Blueblood, or interested in some other mares, or..."
"...What about Capper Dapperpaw? He's quite the catch."
"Oh, Spike, don't get me wrong. Capper is wonderful and all, but...I'm afraid he's rather occupied with other affairs of his own. I can't intervene."
"Well, don't give up, Rarity. Someday, you'll find the right guy for you. You just gotta keep looking."
Rarity simply giggled in agreement at the young dragon's advise. After all these years, the dragon was easy and a delight for Rarity to talk to. There's something she couldn't quite put her hoof on, but there was something about the dragon that brightens up some of the gloomiest days for Rarity, whenever she's around him.
With the day still young, and seeing as how she's still dressed in one of her loveliest dresses, Rarity began, "Oh Spike. Would you be interested in a..."
"Hey Spike!" A familiar chirpy voice called out, to the dragon.
"GABBY!" Spike exclaimed, excitedly finishing up his ice cream with a chomp, before he happily runs up to hug the griffin. "You made it!"
"Sorry I was late," Gabby apologized. "I run into some rough weathers on my way, delivering mails in Cloudsdale."
"That's okay," Spike brushed it off. "You're here now. So you ready to get on with our date?"
"Am I ready?" Gabby asked, sounding outraged of being asked such question. "Am I ready? I've been excited for this date, I could hardly sleep! Of course I'm ready!"
"What?" Rarity gasped, feeling every amount of joy drained out of her. "Uh, pardon me darlings, but...a date?"
"Yeah! Gabby and I have made plans for a date of our own," Spike replied.
"Me and Spike are going to Uncle Gustave's," Gabby Griffin chirped excitedly. "He's more than happy to host a dinner for me and Spike!"
"With candlelights," Spike smiled.
"And gems," Gabby replied.
"Yup. And I hate to jinx it, but...I've got a good feeling about this date," Spike said as both he and Gabby broke out laughing, with a sadden and surprised Rarity looking on.
"Oh...how lovely," Rarity began, trying to sound happy for the two. "I hope you have fun on your date then," Turning to Spike, Rarity walked over and asked, "Any chance you might come and stop by the shop sometime, tomorrow?" Rarity wondered. "Perhaps for another trip to the gem cave and–"
"Sorry Rarity, maybe some other time," Spike interrupted, much to Rarity's distraught. "Me and Gabby are already booked for an entire month."
"It's the holiday for all of us mail delivery griffins," Gabby revealed. "And I want to spend it with my favorite dragon."
"I'm the only dragon you know, Gabby," Spike rolled his eyes.
"The only dragon who is the coolest and special to me," The griffin replied, before giving Spike a peck on the cheek, which made Rarity even more sickened to the core. "Now let's get going!"
"Right behind you, Gabbriella!” With a flap of his wings, Spike happily flew after Gabby, while waving Rarity goodbye. “See ya around, Rarity!"
"...Have fun on your date then," Rarity said uneasily, watching as Spike and Gabby flew away, leaving Rarity with a broken heart. "Maybe some other time..."
Present
But since that fateful day, Rarity has never once gotten a single day with just herself and Spike, and it was torturing for her.
Granted, she has at times taken Spike's seemingly hopeless romantic interests in her and used it to her advantage; swooning him, and beguiling him to doing services for her, such as carrying heavy loads of shopping bags, picking out the fabric rolls when they go fabric shoppings, tasting gems to determine their unique values, and mining for gems.
At first, Rarity never thought of those moments as anymore than just Spike being a good friend. But looking back on them now, she realized she hadn't been fair to Spike. She had plenty of chances back then to confirm whether she reciprocated Spike's feelings, or not. Instead, she chose to prolong the possible closure with more labors, leading him on a seemingly a hopeless romance that will never be.
"Maybe that was it," Rarity pondered. "Maybe that's why Spike had started spending more time with Gabby than he usually does with me," Walking up to the window, Rarity slumped as she looks out to see dark clouds had hovered over the town. "Maybe if I had been more...attentive and opened towards his feelings, he wouldn't have felt the need to move on."
"Oh, Spike. If only you know what romance is like, then you'd understand."
Rarity looked up, startled at the sound of her own voice, echoing from the past.
Each time the echo rang in her ears, the more she felt a heartfelt pang of guilt. It tugged at her chest, deeper than a knife cutting through her skin, jabbing through her heart.
How could she have said such cruel mocking words to Spike, so absent minded like that? She has known Spike for so long. She’s known about his love for her, in spite of his attempts to keep it subtle.
And for her to question his knowledge on romance, was more than heartbreaking.
In truth, she truly does value Spike’s very presence in her life. Of all the friends she has had over the years, Spike has been their to wait on her every whims. He was more than ready to help with all her shoppings, almost ready to anticipating her needs. It was all a show of the depth of his devotion.
He truly does hold her in high regards than she possibly does with him. Perhaps he knows a lot about romance more than she thought.
But now, he’s gone. He’s living the best of his life, with another girl. Someone whom he can see eye-to-eye with, from the looks of it.
And without Spike, Rarity’s life has become rather…half-empty.
Sure, she’s got her fashionista business to keep her busy, her little sister, Sweetie Belle, and all of her friends, including Twilight. But without Spike…her life was just incomplete.
Almost as if the dragon’s absent had left a hole in her heart, where he used to be.
Rarity felt more conflicted on what she should do. A part of her wanted to run after Spike and take him back to her boutique. But then, another part of her thought it’s for the best that she left him alone, with Gabby.
“Maybe it’s for the best,” Rarity sniffled, as she resumed working on her latest design. “Spike is in better care now. Gabby will take care of him. I know she will…”
But all the same, the tearful sting in her heart and eyes were overwhelming her throat, that she could barely speak clearly.
"If only I had told him…how much he meant to me...and actually showed him I cared... I wish he’d knew, how much he…he really meant to me over…the…years…”
After she was done with her latest design, Rarity resigned herself to her bedroom, where she plopped herself, into her pillows.
She draped the blanket over herself, feeling more and more alone. Without Spike, she feels more lonelier than usual. Alone again…naturally.
"Tomorrow is another day..." Rarity wept tearfully.
In her sleep, Rarity dreamt about the days when she and Spike were both happy. Almost as if they were the only two living souls in the universe.
The days when Rarity wasn’t busy looking for love, because she already has love. Or had…
…Or still.
Rarity was awoken by a sudden burst of green fire in her room, to reveal a written letter, addressing to her.
Hi Rarity,
Me and Gabby are going out for dinner.
You wanna come?
Love,
Spike.
Author's Note
Yeah, so…I’ve seen Lauren Faust’s tweet regarding Spike and Rarity and well…
Rarity is still fond of Spike. She never wanted or meant to hurt his feelings, and she thought his affections for her are endearing…
