Hearts & Hooves - A day in Canterlot

The pair got out of the carriage that had returned them to Canterlot Castle and made their way through the castle to the tower suite Spike had been brought up in from birth. The young dragon reflected on how much simpler life was back then, when all he was worried about was finding the right book for Twilight. Friends, and love, were the last thing on the young dragons mind...

But now everything had changed and he wasn't sure if he was going to be okay or not. Sure, Rarity said that they could be close friends, but the young dragon had wanted more than that for so long. However, he was not stupid and for a while now he had started to accept that it was a dream that would never be fulfilled...started to accept, but never really wanted it to happen.

Every time he saw the alabaster unicorn, even right now as they walked together, he still felt the same as he did that very first time. Her perfect fur, the beautiful mane and those eyes that he could be lost forever in. But more than that was her electrifying personality, her unwavering generosity and that spark that everypony loved about her.

Tonight’s conversation was a long time coming, and despite having thought about it before he was emotionally drained. The fantasy was already perishing and his first crush was coming to an end, to be replaced be something else. Would the hurt of being around a pony he adored, but could never have, be worth it?

The dragon looked over to Rarity as they walked Yes he thought to himself Having Rarity as a friend is worth going to tartus and back for. She was something special like a rare gem… Spike practically facehooved at his own mental pun There are too many things I cannot give her as a lover, and perhaps if I truly loved her I would have known that from the start. Is that why I never actually asked her out, except when I thought I was going to die?

Rarity turned and smiled at Spike as he held one of the castle doors open for her I love her...but she doesn't love me. I can't make her love me...and I wouldn't want to make somepony love me. I guess a friendship is better than nothing...

Upon entering the suite, the pair noticed that the temperature inside was just as cold as the late winter air outside. “Brrr, it’s a bit cold up here” Rarity noted as she lit a fire that was in the corner of the room with her magic “I should have made sure a fire was ready for when we returned”

“It’s my fault Rarity…I should have remembered how cold –“ And lonely he thought to himself “- this place gets!”

The pony smiled warmly at the dragon “Well, I don’t know about you, but after the early start today I could do with a long sleep!”

Spike agreed as him no doubt the pony was emotionally drained as well and the pair started getting ready for bed. Rarity went in the bathroom to do her evening ablutions whilst Spike simply took of his suit and went over to his basket One advantage of not having fur or mane…takes no time to get ready for anything!

After a suitable time to remove her makeup and let down her mane, Rarity came out of the bathroom. Spike was already curled up in his basket but had a quick glance at the pony Wow, I’ve never seen her look so natural before…it really suits her! However, as much he wanted to tell Rarity this, he knew it was on the wrong side of the imaginary line he know had to tread. He settled for “Thank you for a wonderful day…goodnight Rarity”

“Goodnight Spike” Rarity replied as she got gently into bed and settled down for the night. However, she could hear a strange clinking noise and her curiosity got the better of her. She scooted over, mucking up the sheets I can fix them in a minute and peered over the side of the bed towards Spike.

She looked down at the small whelp, huddled up in a blanket but obviously feeling the cold as his teeth were chattering Poor Spike, always too brave around me, but that needs to change. She gently lay down over the edge of the bed “Spike, I know that whilst dragons generate their own heat during the day, that you're too young to do so during the night. You must be freezing.”

“Its fine, I’ll be fine” the dragon replied.

“Spike,that sounds like a lie…you're lying to me...” Rarity trailed off with a hint of disappointment in her voice.

Spike sat up from his basket and turned to the pony facing him “Sorry, you’re right, but I didn’t want to cause a fuss!”

Rarity looked at him with a friendly smile rather than a scowl “That doesn’t matter between friends. I don’t care what you ever want to say or ask me, as long as you are honest and truthful that’s all I can ask” Rarity lifted up the sheet next to her “Come here, we can share each others warmth.”

“Are you sure?” Spike replied hesitantly.

“Spike, I have slept in the same bed as Sweetie Belle on numerous occasions as well as friends, even Applejack and Pinkie Pie!”

“Pinkie? When did that happen?” the dragon sniggered, knowing that out of his friends none were more different than the fashionista and the party pony.

“Oh, on the way back from Dodge Junction – Pinkie pulled out an emergency tent from, well you know Pinkie, but we still had to curl up together for warmth during the night”

“But that’s different…they are mares or family afterall and I’m a… male …dragon”

Rarity paused for a moment “True, but a friend is a friend. Whilst it may be a bit, unusual, for a mare to share her bed with a stal…male, its not unheard of.” Rarity noticed that Spike still seemed a little unsure, so decided to up the ante “Are you going to try anything?” she asked a little bashfully.

Spike visibly gasped “Of course not! I would never do that to anypony…especially you!”

“And I believe you…so where is the problem. You've never shown my any reason not to trust you!”

“What if, you know, stuff happens?” Spike replied a little shyly.

Rarity lay back down and patted the empty side of the bed. Spike slowly climbed in and lay there and quickly found himself pulled backwards into a hug. Any other time he would have been on cloud nine, being cradled by his idea of perfection, but it just left him even more confused.

Rarity must have picked up on this “Everything is your choice Spike. I don’t want to lose you as a friend and understand that it’ll take time to settle into a new rhythm. Take right now…” she paused to give the whelp a small squeeze

“You’re one of my best friends, and you need my warmth tonight. I am more than happy to give it to you, but before I would have had to put up boundaries. I hope that we can be this close should it be ever required, and that you know what it means...”

“Friendship, and nothing more” Spike replied a little autonomously. The pair lay there for a few minutes, before the dragon broke the silence “Rarity, can I ask you something?”

“Of course Spike, this is a two way process!”

“I’ve noticed you’ve stopped calling me ‘Spikey Wikey’ since the start of the day…why?”

“Well, I thought that name may be treating you too much like a baby and now you’re growing up it’s not very appropriate. Or…” Rarity took a deep breath “…perhaps it was giving you a bit of a false impression, like it’s a pet name given to somepony…er somebody…a little more intimate than other friends”

“I understand, but perhaps it’s the ideal way. Someday, I may be Spike, the special somepony or somedragon and I’m sure I’ll be Twilight’s baby dragon no matter how big I grow. And I hope to be your ‘Spikey Wikey’ from the day we met until the day we depart”

Rarity considered this for a second “Are you sure about that?”

“There’s nothing between us…and there never will be. I’ve known this deep down for a long time and it was only because I thought we were going to die that I, well, started to tell you how I felt”. Both of them blushed a bit at this.

“But the opportunity to be a friends to somepony as amazing as you, and the others, is more than enough for me. Its going to be hard reducing, controlling, whatever the right word is...my feelings towards you, but the prize at the end of doing so seems well worth the effort. You’ve always called me Spikey Wikey, and I don’t want anything to change!”

Rarity gave Spike a bit of an extra squeeze, an unspoken way of expressing she understood.

“But you have to promise me one thing” the whelp spoke softly with almost an air of caution

“What it is, Spikey Wikey?” Rarity replied with a hint concern.

“That…whoever eventually claims your heart and becomes your special somepony, make sure that they are deserving of the finest treasure in the whole of Equestria!”

Rarity started sniffing and brought the whelp into a much deeper hug before finding a few tears escaping the side of her eyes “Spike, you have such a beautiful soul, don't ever change.” She gave the dragon a gentle kiss on one of his head-spines “I will Spike, as Celestia as my witness, they will have to live up to both of our high standards.”

Rarity sniffed back a few tears “And I’m sure if anypony ever broke my heart they would have a fearsome dragon ready to make them pay”

“I would never interfere in your relationships…” Spike started seriously “…but give me the word and they’re toast!” the dragon giggled at the end.

The pair shed a mixture of tears of laughter and sadness as they lay there together. They both hoped things would be alright between them, and Rarity knew that ultimately it was down to the dragon she currently held in her hooves. How she hoped that the young whelp would find his path through this mess, but knew that some tough times may be ahead.

Spike lay there for a while, his mind churning the evening over. he knew that his light of love that shone for Rarity would need to be extinguished, or at least he would have to turn down the wick. For me to be her friend and nothing more. And all she wants from me is for me to be honest with her, thats not too much to ask really is it? Whilst that made his heart ache a little, he knew the reward for doing so would be to ensure that their fire of friendship would burn between them even brighter….