Sunlight poured into the room from behind partially drawn shades, casting the room in muffled ambience. A sliver of golden morning light broke through the curtains and cast itself across the face of a small, purple dragon, who had fallen asleep sitting next to the only bed in the room.
Spike stirred slightly as the light fell across his face, but did not wake. The last few sleepless nights had caught up with him finally, and not even the sun could rouse him from his slumber. He sat, hunched over on his chair with his head in his arms, dozing soundly even as the light played across his scaly muzzle.
Softly, the latch to the door of the room clicked, and the door opened slightly, just enough to let somepony peer inside. Rarity smiled at the dragon and slowly pushed the door open enough to allow her entry.
Her pristine off-white coat practically glimmered in the light as she quietly walked up behind the sleeping dragon. She softly draped a blanket across his sleeping form and leaned in to give him a small kiss on his scaly cheek. “Thank you for staying with her Spike,” she whispered.
Even in his sleep, he smiled as she complimented him, murmuring happily. She nodded at him, and turned her attention to the bed they were next to. She approached it slowly and her smile slipped from her face. She sat down on the rug that had been laid out next to the bed and put her hoof on the edge of the covers.
The dawn light filtering into the room bathed the room in a golden hue that held the occupants in its soft glow. It danced off of the gems dotting the lampshades next to the bed, speckling the room with rainbow colored motes that shone like stars. The pictures on the far wall reflected them up onto the ceiling, creating a view that would have made Luna envious. But, for all of the beauty and comfort the sun was casting into the room, Rarity could not appreciate any of it.
Her eyes were fixed solely upon the face of the young mare that occupied the bed. After a few seconds, she lowered her head and closed her eyes, sighing softly as she did so. “Oh, sweetie Belle…”
Again, Spike stirred slightly, and moved a bit in his sleep, but still did not wake. Rarity squeezed her eyes shut tighter, unsure if the burning she felt was from her own sleeplessness or the tears that were threatening to fall from her diamond-blue eyes. She took a deep breath to calm herself and steady her emotions before she looked back up to the stoic face of her sleeping sister.
She wanted to comfort her, to let her know that everything was going to be alright, but she knew that Sweetie Belle wouldn’t be able to hear her. She moved her hoof over and let it rest upon her sisters, but Sweetie Belle just stayed still, breathing slowly. Rarity took in a ragged breath and a single tear rolled down her cheek. She was losing the fight to stay strong. But who was there to see her resolve? Who was she trying to seem brave in front of?
“Rarity?” asked a raspy voice, thick with sleep. Rarity gasped and quickly moved her hoof to her face to remove any evidence of her tear, but she knew Spike would still notice.
“Oh, good morning Spike,” she replied. Her voice was as thick as his, but for different reasons. “Did you sleep well?”
“Did you sleep at all?” came his reply. She had to fight to repress a sigh, but managed a silent lowering of her head instead. She heard him rise from his chair and realized that she hadn’t answered him.
“Of course I have, Spike,” she said. She still didn’t trust herself to turn and face him, instead raising her head to gaze upon her sleeping sister once more.
She felt a blanket being draped over her form and glanced at her shoulder to see Spike’s claw wrapping her in the warm cover. He moved to her side and looked sideways at her. “Liar,” he said with a small smile on his face.
Rarity even managed a small smile herself and shook her head at him. “Not the best at that, am I?” she said quietly. She returned her gaze to her sister and steeled herself once more.
“You don’t have to be strong all the time,” Spike whispered to her. She raised her head as she felt his claw on her shoulder.
“Oh, but I do,” she said, fighting her emotions as she watched her sister sleep.
“Why?” he asked quietly.
For a moment, she couldn’t even think. Her mind slipped as she tried to come up with an answer and she turned to face him. Upon his face was only concern, and she was slightly surprised to be met with such worry for herself. Why was she trying so hard to stay strong?
And with that thought, she wrapped Spike in a hug and finally cried. Spike held her tightly as she let out her emotions, sobbing quietly into his shoulder. A week of fear, worry, and frustration bottled up inside of her was finally coming out, and Spike just held her, comforting her as best as he could. He rubbed his claws gently up and down her back, trying to soothe the distressed mare.
They stayed like that for a long while, until finally Rarity’s quiet sobs died down into quiet sniffles, eventually fading completely. Her easy breathing replaced her tears as she finally managed to drift off to sleep.
Spike smiled as he felt her nod off, and held her for a few minutes longer before deciding to set her to bed. He skillfully managed to lift her into his arms, blanket and all, and carried her out of the room and down the hall.
Once he had laid her in her own bed, he covered her in her own soft comforter and planted a small kiss upon her head, just above her horn.
“Sleep well, Rarity,” he whispered. She stirred slightly, but didn't wake. He smiled to himself and quietly exited the room, leaving the sleeping mare in peace.
He had barely taken two steps back to Sweetie Belle's room before there was a knocking at the front door of the boutique. He rushed down the staircase as quietly as he could to answer the door before another round of knocking could ring through the building.
He opened the door, ready to go off on the one knocking, but deflated when he saw Apple Bloom standing on the threshold of the doorway. “Spike, good, you have to come with me,” she said, hooking his claw with her foreleg.
“Whoa, wait a minute, why?” he asked, being drug out of the boutique.
“Zecora thinks she’s found somethin’!” replied Apple Bloom. Spike’s motion instantly switched as he rushed forward and past Apple Bloom. “H-hey, wait for me!” she shouted, trying to catch up to the sprinting dragon.
Together they ran through Ponyville, past the early morning ponies who were setting up shop, towards the Everfree Forest. The now well-traveled path through the thicket was easy to follow, and they made it to Zecora’s hut in only a few minutes. Spike barely slowed down as he threw the door open and let himself inside.
“Hello Spike, my dragon friend. I guess Apple Bloom found you then?” asked the zebra. She was standing at her table over an open book.
“She said you found something to help Sweetie Belle?” panted Spike. He bent forward and rested on his knees to try and catch his breath.
“I believe I have, but don’t be grateful yet. The cure I have found will be quite hard to get.”
“That doesn’t matter!” Spike practically shouted. “What do I have to do?”
.::.
To be continued...