Chapter 9 - ...of their eyes

Having received permission from Twilight to stash his loot from the day before inside Golden Oaks Library, Spike found himself making his way through the town telling Twilight the story of Celestia’s visit to him. Of course he left out the details of accidentally hurting her, and the playful actions of the filly Princess, not wanting to embarrass the ruler or indeed the protégé.

Now he was smaller than the day before, he could actually walk through town carefully minding his way, especially having to be careful of his tail a good ten pony lengths behind him. But the simple action of waking next to the pony most like family to him made him feel a little more normal.

A few of the ponies they met along the way said a fairly cheerful hello, and the place felt a little more like home. He may have still be as tall as the average house, but now he had could talk again, things were starting to look up Today is the first day of the rest of my life The dragon thought to himself.

They reached the hospital, and Spike just sat down outside.

“Spike, you don’t have to wait here all day. Isn’t there anything else you would rather be doing?”

“Well, You’re going to be here. Rarity…and everypony else, is going to be here. Sweet Apple Acres is quiet, the weather teams have the clouds under control, nothing strange is happening in the Everfree Forest. What should I do?”

“I don’t know…read?”

Spike just looked at his librarian mother and just laughed “With these claws” he said flashing his razor sharp talons “Can you imagine what will happen to your precious books?”

Twilight giggled back, knowing Spike could hide his talons when he wanted, having carried Rarity with great delicacy “Okay Spike, you don’t have to read, no need to lie over it. See you later?”

“Sure, you can’t miss me, right?” he replied with a bit of a grin

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Twilight reached the ICU, to find that Rarity had already been unhooked from all the machines. Sweetie Belle had stayed the night and was asleep up on a nearby spare bed, with Fluttershy curled up slumbering round the filly having stayed to look after the foal. The yellow pegasus had left Applejack and Rainbow dash to feed and care for her animals…how bad could that be?

Twilight and Rarity started having a whispered conversation, before being joined by some of their other friends. Eventually Sweetie Belle stirred, waking up Fluttershy who jumped out of bed with a gentle eek having being surprised by the filly in her hooves. After a while the nurse came over, explaining it was time for Rarity to be moved to the first floor to spend some time in a private room, as there was no need to be in the ICU or any ward.

“Could we take her to a room on the second floor?” Twilight asked

“Why?” the nurse looked surprised

“I think there is an old friend that would like to say hello”

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Rarity lay in the private room on the top floor of the building, a room with a view away from town on the other side of the hospital to where Spike currently was laying. The curtains and the window were open and Rarity saw the beautiful sky for the first time in three days. Just having a bit of sun shining in her room cheered her up no end, despite still feeling completely drained.

“Why did you want me up here?” Rarity eventually broke the silence that had descended since they arrived in the room “If it was for the view, I must say well chosen. But you said something about a visitor?”

“Well, I think it’s time to know the truth” Twilight approached Rarity’s bedside

“It’s something to do with Spike isn’t it?” Rarity answered with concern “I know something wrong as he’s not been in to see me. What awful thing befell my poor little spikey wikey”

Spike grew a little grin when he overheard the white unicorn refer to him as “my”

“It’s not bad like you think!” Rainbow responded “in fact, it’s not awful, it’s pretty awesome”

“Awesome indeed!” Pinkie was bouncing with excitement. Or perhaps fear. Or even boredom. For this was Pinkie Pie, and she bounced all the time.

“Yes, Spike is just fine. In fact, he’s doing better than ever” Twilight responded with a fair amount of pride at her charge “You remember that a dragon saved you?” Rarity was about to respond but Twilight held up a hoof to silence her “Well, that was in fact Spike”

“Wait, that was little baby Spike?”

“Yes. It wouldn't be the first time he grew” and Twilight went on to explain how she had caused him to grow when she first hatched him. “Well, obviously seeing you…and all of us…” she quickly added “…in trouble seemed to spur him on. He broke out of the cage, beat back all the dogs and rescued us”

“So, then what happened?”

“Well, once he got outside and started flying…”

“Flying? He grew his wings?”

“Awesome wings!” Rainbow interrupted “He could fly faster than me despite carrying you!”

“Carrying me?” the unicorn asked with a little confusion, struggling to take everything in

Twilight rubbed Rarity’s hoof to calm her down as Sweetie, already cuddling her sister, gave her an extra squeeze. “He continued to grow until he was at least twice as big as this hospital.”

“Oh my!” Rarity gasped

“But the fella's  started shrinking back down already, he’s half the size he was…but is still the size of the biggest barns!” Applejack added

“Can…Can I see him?” the unicorn asked gingerly.

“He had changed quite a bit, are you sure you’re ready?” Fluttershy cooed

“Yes, I need to see him!” The unicorn said without a certain level of fear in her voice.

“Okay, Spike why don’t you come round?” Twilight called out. Spike heard this and slowly walked round the edge of the hospital before gently sticking his head towards the window.

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Spike looked into the window, and Rarity looked out from her bed, and the pair saw each other for the first time.

“Help me up” Rarity called out

“Rarity, you should overdo it!” Fluttershy called out. However, the unicorn was determined and she gingerly got out of bed, and almost fell over. Pinkie Pie was already by her side to keep her upright - she had felt her tail twitch so knew something or somepony was about to fall, and it didn't take an egghead that it was going to be Rarity.

Assisted by Pinkie and Applejack, Rarity made her way over to the window. Spike just rested half a claw on the window frame, and Rarity placed her hoof across the top.

“Spike…I…I…” the unicorn tried to speak.

“Rarity…thank you”

“Thank me?” the unicorn gasped “No no no it is I…”

“Hush now, Quiet now!” Spike ordered “If you hadn't bargained with the Dogs…I wouldn't be here now. I owe you my life” His face still couldn't express emotion like before, but his eyes were expressing deep gratitude. Rarity looked back at the dragon in a way he had never seen before, but he just put it down as mutual gratitude.

Feeling weak from having stood for the first time in a few days, Rarity slowly slumped to the floor. Twilight picked the white unicorn up in her aura and levitated her back to the bed. “I told you not to overdo it” Fluttershy scolded softly as she placed a damp towel across the patients head and Sweetie was comforted by Applejack.

Spike looked on helplessly as all this happened, too big to do anything to help. However, laying back down Rarity soon had a smile back on her face. It was only then, once the dragon realised she was fine that he noticed Rarity’s body for the first time. The welts and bruises on her body had started to fade, and only a few bandages remained. However, her head was completely shaven and not a single purple hair remained. Her tail was cut right back as well.

The dragon was obviously staring a little too obviously as Rarity noticed, and gave a big sigh. “Yes Spike, they had to shave off my mane to clean and repair the cuts and damage. And my tail was cut back to let it all grow back properly” Rarity said with a rather large pout.

“You still look beautiful…as you all do” Spike responded with a stammer

Rarity giggled a little “Of course it will grow back…but it does mean I’ll have to wear hats all summer to prevent sunburn on my scalp. And what a year for large hats to be out of fashion!” the fashionista finished with a playful dramatic sweep of her hoof.

“I know” Spike called out as he moved away from the window and a moment later returned, pushing a dragon-breath cloud through the window. Twilight picked it up in her aura, and brought it over. Spike had blown a cloud wig the size and shape of Rarity’s mane, even with a hollow top to go over the scape and a hole for Rarity’s horn to stick through

The white uniform looked at it “Grey? That would make me look so old” Rarity playfully complained, pawing carefully at the wig.

Spike rolled his eyes exaggeratedly “Rainbow, would you do the honours?” and with that Rainbow took the cloud and kicked it, breaking it up into thin air. Spike moved away from the window again and in a moment pushed another cloud through the window. This was the same shape as the previous cloud, but this time was coloured in green, his magical smoke colour.

“Green? Oh my, green manes are worse than grey” the unicorn spoke in the whiniest voice she could muster.

Spike rolled his eyes with even more exaggeration “Okay, pass me that back”. Fluttershy carefully pushed the cloud back and Spike disappeared again for a few moments. He then returned, pushing the cloud back in, but this time he had clumsily arranged some flowers in it.

Rarity faked gasped “Oh, that is so much better! Oh course the nature theme would suit Fluttershy delicate skin tones more than mine, but it’s exquisite!”

Everypony stood there for a moment and then they all, along with Spike, just started laughing uncontrollably. It wasn't really that funny, but it was just a mutual release of all the stress that they had all been through, both worrying about Rarity and then how things would develop with Spike. But it seemed things were starting to return to normal, or at least a possible new normal.

As they all started to regain composure, Spike and Rarity looked at each other and their eyes transfixed on the window to the others soul. Both wanted to turn away in either embarrassment or bashfulness, but just found they couldn’t. If eyes could have a conversation, Rarity’s would have been saying “Thank you” whilst Spikes would be saying “Anything for you”

Before it became too awkward, Rarity blinked and they both managed to break the unspoken connection, their minds reeling from the simple look they had shared. Spike has often stared at Rarity for long periods before, but never had Rarity quiet looked at him this way. The dragon was confused, but luckily for him his dark scales covered the flush of blood to his skin

Rarity of course was not so lucky. Her white fur showed up her blushes beautiful, and everypony just looked at her. “Rarity, are you getting a little hot?” Twilight asked

“Why yes, could somepony be a darling and get me some water?”

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The rest of the day had been spent with Rarity's friends and family in her room, playing games, chatting or just spending time with the Unicorn. Spike spent some time talking to the ponies, grateful for being able to speak again.

That evening, as Spike made his way back to the library with Twilight, his mind cast back to a few words celestia had said Dragons making "amorous advance’s” towards her? So, I wouldn’t be the first dragon to feel this way about a pony? I will need to find out more…somehow