Spike knew that the Gilded Truffle was one of the most exclusive restaurants in Canterlot, neigh the whole of Equestria, and was a little stunned when the carriage stopped outside. The guards pulling the carriage helped the pair out, and Spike being the gentledrake went to get the restaurant door, but was foiled as the valet got their first.

Upon entering, Spike and Rarity were slightly stunned by the decorations of the restaurant. It was more lavish than Canterlot Castle, a place both of them knew like the back of their claw or hoof. In fact, it was probably the most impressive piece of architecture in the whole kingdom, second only to the Crystal Empire Palace. But then, how do you compete with a palace made out of crystal designed by a megalomaniac dictator?

The maitre d approached the pair as they stood in the doorway. “Do you have a reservation?” he asked in a slight French accent that Rarity recognised immediately as being fake.

“Yes, table for two in the name of Spike Sparkle and Rarity Belle”

A flash of recognition sparkled across his face, before he recomposed himself. “Of course, your elementness” he bowed, and led the way through the restaurant, Spike waving Rarity to go first. Whilst most of the ponies gathered were probably on a date, the majority paused their flirtings for a moment as the pair walked passed. Afterall, how often do the ponies outside of Ponyville get to see either a dragon or a national hero, let alone both together?

Having reached one of the more private tables in the corner, the pair were seated and lavish menus were placed in front of them. As soon as the waiter left them, the dragon turned to his companion and asked “Spike Sparkle?”

Rarity smiled back “Well, I don’t know what your surname is and ‘the dragon’ seems a little redundant. I didn't know you went simply by Mr Spike. Hope you don’t mind?”

“Not at all…I like it! Just don’t tell Twilight or it’ll go right to her head.” Both of them smiled at that “And Elementness?”

“I think he just made that up…although I like it and may get everypony to call me that now” Rarity giggled. The pair of them picked up the menus, which catered for all tastes. The waiter came over to take the drinks order and Rarity ordered a bottle of white wine, a soda, and two glasses.

“Wait, wine for me?” Spike asked once the waiter had left.

“You’ve had alcohol before, haven't you?”

“Yeah, but Twilight doesn’t like me having it too often…and aren’t I too young?”

“Not to have a spritzer with dinner, and besides you're growing up now. Either way, I’m not sure if this place sells ice cream floats!” The pair giggled a little, and returned to making their meal choices.

The waiter came back over with a bottle of wine (A 54, good year) and served the pair, instinctively leaving enough space for Rarity to spritzer both glasses. The pair then ordered their meals, and as the waiter left the pair clinked their glasses “To a successful days tailoring!”

After a rather big first sip, Rarity leant over the table a little, but the change in her demeanour caught the dragons attention “Now, I have something I want to discuss with you, and I’m not sure how you will take it!” Rarity paused to take another sip of drink, and noticed how wide Spike’s eyes were I’m going to break his heart aren’t I? “This is why I wanted to get you away from Ponyville. I know it’s a little cruel to take you well away from your comfort zone, but I have good reason. If it goes well, then this will be a nice memory to keep hold of.”

Rarity started fidgeting a little with her hooves “Equally, if it doesn’t go so well, you won’t be reminded of it that regularly like if we were to have this conversation at the boutique or somewhere you’ll see everyday.”

Spike just sort nodded that he understood, but remained silent.

“For a long time now I’ve known that you’ve had, let’s call them special feelings, for me. I know now you’ve had them since the very first moment you saw me!” Rarity blushed a bit here, but Spike was unmoving “I love –“ Ekk, wrong word?”- our friendship and don’t want anything to risk that. But things can't continue this way forever.”

Rarity took another sip of wine, Spike still unmoving and looking at her with sadness in his eyes Don’t stretch this out anymore than you have to! Rarity thought to herself. She extended one hoof across the table and took one of Spikes claws in hers “As much as I care about you Spike, and I really do, we can never be together…in the way that you want!”

Rarity had wondered if saying it so brutally may have been too much, and had already planned a quick exit for them should things escalate – there was no need for a crying dragon to upset everypony else’s Hearts and Hooves day. But she had hoped that between of all her friends they had judged that the dragon was mature enough to handle this.

Spike sat there for a moment, and then let out a sigh and dropped his eyes to the table “I guess I sort of always knew that!”

A quietness fell between the pair as the elder unicorn waited for the dragon to continue, and after a gulp of wine he did “Ever since I saw you I thought you were the most beautiful pony I had ever seen. Having seen many ponies since I can still say that is still the fact” Rarity tried to contain her blush, but one still appeared.

“And of course having got to know you closer than any other pony except Twilight, I can see the beauty on the outside is nothing compare to that of the inside…you are one of the most amazing ponies there is!”

“Spike…” Rarity tried to interrupt.

The dragon just carried on “We have spent a lot of time together, usually when working but not always. And you have been kind and affectionate towards me since day one, like you are with everypony. A part of me always knew that you never felt the same way towards me as I did you, but I dragon can dream.”

“Oh Spike…”

“Of course, what was it two years ago I did try to find if you felt the same by declaring my feelings…and you stopped me!”

“I know Spike, but I couldn't let you say it. Once it was out there, like now, everything changes. Perhaps it was selfish of me to do that, just so I could spent time with the young and innocent dragon we all love!”

“I’m still young and innocent!” Spike protested.

Rarity made the decision to start challenging the dragon to realise the truth “Spike, I want you to answer this honestly. Have you started to think about me…differently then when you first moved to Ponyville?”

“What do you mean?”

“I think you know what I mean…you know...?” the unicorn trailed off, but the meaning was clear.

The dragon blushed in response “I’m so sorry Rarity. I feel so ashamed when I do think of you like that!” the dragon half wailed, but at a hushed volume.

Rarity kept herself composed “Now now Spike, it’s perfectly natural thoughts as you grow up. I have noticed that some days you have kept yourself more distant from me than others, and I suspected as much. But it’s nothing to be ashamed of!”

“You…you don’t mind?”

Rarity paused for a second “Well, to be truthful, it’s difficult to know exactly what to think. It’s not exactly the most charming of compliments you can give…but as I say it’s natural and I can’t blame you.”

Their starters arrived and taking the interruption as an opportunity to think they ate them in silence. Rarity was glad that so far the conversation had gone well, but knew that there was a lot more to discuss.

“Is there anything you want to ask?” Rarity smiled warmly at the sad looking whelp.

Spike had one question form in his mind “Why now?”

Rarity gulped a little “Well, you are growing up Spike. Whilst as a baby dragon there probably was no harm, and in fact is healthy to have such a crush…”

“Can we not call it a crush…it is more than that!” the dragon interrupted a little hurt.

“Of course Spike, my apologises. Whilst having these feelings for anypony may have been healthy, now that you are maturing it’s important that your, erm, energies are focused in the right direction…”

Spike just sort of cringed in response, but didn’t try to argue the point so Rarity carried on “And I’m growing up too. I’m not planning to rush anything, but someday I will probably have a special somepony of my own…”

“Pony” Spike repeated in the most rejected tone Rarity had heard for a long time.

Rarity grimaced, and took Spike’s claw in her hoof again “Spike, I want to make one thing clear. I know you might think this is only because you are a dragon. I’ll admit that whilst it is part of any logical thoughts when thinking about relationships, feelings are not logical. I’m sure if I felt about you the way you clearly feel about me, then the situation would be different…very different! But the harsh truth is I just don’t love you…anymore than a friend”

Tears started to form around the edges of the young dragon’s eyes, and Rarity had to look away It’s like a bandage…the worst is now surely over and the pain will subside

“Rarity, please don’t feel bad, it’s not right that I’m making you feel this way!”

The unicorns heart almost broke I’ve just crushed his dreams and he’s worried about my feelings…oh dear sweet thing! “Oh Spike, far from it. I should feel a little bad, as I never want to hurt somepony, and no matter what you say - ”Rarity waved of the dragon trying to interrupt “ - I know this is hurting you. If I didn’t feel bad for making you feel sad…well that would make me some sort of monster!” Spike sort of smiled back at Rarity, an unspoken understanding shared between them.

“Spike, we may have a lot to deal with, but it doesn’t all have to be done tonight. If you need space, either temporary or permanently, I completely understand. Celestia and Luna have both offered their time this evening if you want to talk, and Twilight can be here within an hour.”

“No, I want to be alone right now…and there’s no need to bother the Princesses. As you said, we need to be mature over this. Besides, we haven’t eaten yet”

As if on cue, the main course arrived and the pair tucked into the food, Spike needing to think and Rarity needing time to plan what she planned to say yet. Knowing that there was still more to discuss, Rarity decided to push on “As I was saying earlier, soon I will probably start to think about finding a special somepony of my own. I haven’t not looked because of you, but sometimes it has made it awkward.”

“I understand Rarity” Spike munched on his salad a bit “I saw you looking at those stallions earlier at the cafe…and they were looking back. I could see that you wanted to go over and talk to them.”

“Yes Spike, if I am honest I did and that’s a good example. Today I decided against it because we had not yet had this chat. And I would never leave a friend sitting alone and wander off after some colt! But, if we're going to continue being friends, that does mean you will see me flirt, and date, other ponies…and of course someday hopefully settle down and have foals!”

Spike sighed dejectedly “I might not really like it, but I suppose I always knew the day would come...I didn’t want it to but it was bound to happen.”

“That’s very mature for you…and exactly what I mean. I would not want to deliberately hurt you, but I can’t never date just to spare your feelings!

“I only want you to be happy…and I would rather that you dated somepony that be sad and alone, like a crazy cat lady”

“I only have one cat!”

“Give it time” Spike half teased back “Besides, I have seen you go on about Prince Blueblood, and that Trenderhoof fella!”

Rarity grimaced “Don’t remind me about thouse…although I am thankful I didn't end up dating either of those jerks…thanks to you!

“Me?”

“Yes, you were the first pony…being…that ever treated me like a proper lady, rather then just a piece of arm-candy. I’m not sure but I would have probably put up with Prince Blueblood, at least for a while, for the social exposure. No male had ever treated me with respect...except for you. You treated me like a lady, always cared about how I felt and even fought dogs for me. I doubt that Prince would have done anything else except run away!

Rarity cast her usual winning smile to the dragon “If it wasn't for you…I wouldn't be half the pony I am today. This is why I don't want to lose you as a friend!”

Spike sat for a while thinking before looking up at Rarity who could see the conflict in his eyes “What if I can’t ever see you in the same light as the rest of you girls? I don’t think I can just stop feeling…something towards you!”

Rarity looked at the whelp, her own heart aching as she saw her friend looking at her so hurt and confused “And nor should you, Spike. Nopony should ever tell you what you can and cannot feel, not even me. There’s a big difference between having feelings and acting on them.”

“What...what do you mean?”

“Well, if you still have feelings for me, then you will still have feelings…and that’s no problem. But, if you act or do anything to try to force your feelings onto me, or try to manipulate my feelings or actions towards you…”

“I would never do that!” Spike interrupted

“And I hope that remains the case, I really do!”

“So what does all this mean for us?” Spike looked up hopefully to Rarity.

“Depends what you mean by us really. The reason I wanted to have this conversation was that I want to ensure we continue to be friends. If you ever need to talk, I will always listen and be there for you, but if we are going to be friends, you just need to respect me, and I need to respect you.”

“Respect me…" Spike repeated "Does that mean you won’t let me help you anymore?”

“Far from it Spike. Whilst perhaps I will need to be careful not to give you the wrong impression, especially for the next few months, I think this may open up for us to spend more time together.”

“It does?”

“Yes Spike. Now this is in the open, I don’t have to worry about how I act around you. As long as neither of us hold anything back or be sneaky and instead we play our cards straight, we can develop a much deeper friendship. “

Rarity put down her fork again and learned forwards, a slight determined look in her eyes “But Spike, should you ever lie to me or do anything to try to make us be together, be more than just friends, then any friendship we have would be over. I would hate to do that, and goodness knows what that would mean for the whole group and the elements of harmony, but I need to know I can trust you…if you ever break that trust then…” her sentence trailed off as tears started “Just...don’t…”

Spike eyes changed from sadness into something that could be described as committed “I understand Rarity. I promise that I will never lie to you, and will never keep anything from you. Your friendship is too valuable to me to risk it on something as stupid as my heart!”

“Oh Spike, don’t say that. Your heart, your love, will someday make you and somepony else very happy!”

“Yeah, like who?”

“Well, I know that a few of the younger mares and fillies have a bit of a crush on you!”

“They do? Who?” Spike replied enthusiastically, his heartbreak momentarily forgotten in a flush of positivity.

“Oh, I have been Pinkie Promised not to reveal who they are” Rarity slightly teased back, enjoying the smile on her companions face for once.

“If other ponies like me then…why not you?” Spike replied a little hurt, before putting his claws over his mouth adding, “Sorry, I shouldn’t have said that!”

“No, its fair enough to ask!” Rarity coughed a little “Openness is key here. I just don’t feel that towards you Spike. I care about you possibly more than you realise right now. As I said, it’s not because you’re a dragon, or younger then me, but I simply don’t have romantic feelings for you?”

“Couldn’t that change? Doesn’t love come and go?” he pleaded.

Rarity smiled at the youngster “Spike…why do you just not date somepony else. How about Lyra? Shes cute, and funny, and you both like music and dancing? I’m just a simple pony, so wouldn't dating anypony else be the same?

“Of course not, your special and whilst Lyra’s great, I just don’t feel that way about her like I do you!”

“Exactly Spike” Rarity replied a little matter of factly, her face warm but sincere.

It took a few seconds for it to sink in “Oh…I see what you mean. Love is not something you can make happen, it’s either there…”

Rarity leant forwards over the table and took Spikes claw again “…or it’s not. There are a lot of different types of love Spike and just because you do not love somepony romantically, doesn't mean you don’t love them. I have many friends I like, I have the five girls I love as friends, I have my sister I love…even when she is annoying, and of course my parents. And then there is you. It’s not more than any of the others, it’s just different. I don't know how to say it..." Rarity trailed off.

Spike looked at Rarity and simply smiled, knowing what she was trying to say "Say no more!"

Rarity smiled back at her companion and began eating again. Spike needed time to think it all over and the conversation onto some of the events of the day. Once the meal was finished and taken away, the pair sat chatting like many of the other couples in the restaurant, when Rarity noticed another activity some of them were up to. "Spike, would you like to dance?"

"Really?" the dragon replied a little curiously.

"I see no harm...as friends of course!"

Spike stood up from his chair and extended his claw "I would be honoured, ma Lady!" The pair walked over to the dancefloor, and everypony's eyes fell on them. Spike looked at the other couples dancing, and noticed a problem. When ponies danced they were obviously on all four hooves, rather than bipedally like himself or a minotaur like Iron Will. Therefore, if two ponies want to dance together, they would simply cradle there heads in the others neck and move in synchronisation...and this was a rather intimate way of dancing.

"Erm, how are we going to go about this...we have a slight alignment issue!" Spike half blushed as he looked at Rarity, waved his arms a little causing the mare to giggle slightly in response.

The unicorn stepped forwards and rested her head on the dragons shoulder "Put you arms around my neck" she whispered to the whelp, who shyly obliged and gently held the pony, making sure not to tangle his claws in her mane. "And remember, you have to lead" the unicorn whispered. Taking the hint, Spike started to move them...

The pair whirled around the dancefloor, two legs and fours hooves moving in perfect synchronicity. The two may have never danced together before, and Spike never done any form of formal dancing, but somehow they were perfect for each other. It was just like when they were working on an urgent dress order, the pair seemed to know where the other was and what the other needed without any words, simply reflecting the amount of time they spent together. Some of the ponies stopped and watched the ballet performed by the VIP guests, but the pair didn't notice - they were lost in the rhythm and the moment.

After a number of dances, where time and tune dissolved seamlessly into one another, Spike led Rarity away from the dancefloor for a rest. As they walked back to the table he simply whispered "Thank you Rarity...that was...thank you!"

"It's my pleasure Spike" she cooed back, knowing what it had really meant to him.

"And I see what you mean about us being closer friends...I wouldn't want to trade this for anything"

The restaurant was dying down and it was time for the pair to leave. Rarity was surprised to find that the bill had been comped, and despite both unicorn and dragon trying to insist on payment, the owner was adamant that as national heroes he couldn't accept their bits or gems. Of course the pair made sure to tip the waiters and other staff accordingly, but even they took the attention of the pair as the most valuable thing in the world.

Stepping outside, the guard were waiting and helped them into the carriage. Spike sat down next to Rarity, and as the carriage set off with a jolt something clicked in the young dragons head.

"Wait, does Lyra have a crush on me?"

"Why do you say that?" Rarity giggled back

"You used her as an example...and she was really impressed with how I could use my claws to play her instrument, like it was meant to be paid with these things!" he replied, flexing his claws. Rarity and Spike looked at each other, and then started laughing, the tension and the upset from earlier in the evening having been consigned to the past.

Author's Note

In case you are thinking Rarity has been a bit unkind or a tease here, all I'll say is it's not been deliberate by Rarity and the others, it's a little bit of inexperience and naivety rather than anything else.

And I've pretty much written this out of personal experience (unfortunately on the side of Spike) but thats all I'm saying on that sad chapter of my life!