Desparity

“Thanks for working so hard today, Spike” Rarity called out in her sweet voice as she finished up the last detail on the final dress in the order “I know it’s been a busy day but you have made it so much easier as always, my faithful little assistant.”

Had Spike not been so busy he would have had is usual dreamy look on his face at the compliment from his not-so-secret crush. “No problem Rarity!” the young dragon called out with his from the other side of the room as he put away and organised rolls of fabric. Truth be told it had been a problem and the young dragon was exhausted from the days hard work. But, as always, he would do anything for the most beautiful pony in Equestria.

“I just have one last adjustment to make before I can get ready for tonight!” Rarity practically sang in delight.

“Oh, where are you off to tonight? Out with Twilight and the girls?”

“No, not tonight. I have a date.”

“A date?”

Rarity was a pony whose business thrived on details and paying close attention to the requirements of her clients - the slight nuances that she picked up on could make a wonderful dress into a one of kind piece. If Rarity had not been focusing on the date later and had been paying closer attention to the present, she would have picked up the sudden change in tone in Spike’s voice.

“Yes, with Crescent Moon. He asked me out last week and naturally I jumped at the chance!” Rarity began to wax lyrical “I mean he’s only taking me to the market cafe but thats all he can afford bless him...”

“So, I’ve worked flat out today so you have enough time to get ready for a date tonight?”

The tones of anger in Spike’s voice snapped Rarity to attention, but unfortunately for the unicorn it was a little too late. Rarity turned to see Spike standing there with his arms crossed and a very unamused look on his face.

“Spike, I didn't mean anything by it!” Rarity began to verbally backtrack as she started to realise the faux pas she had made. “I know you like helping me and didn’t think you would mind...” she trailed off as the dragons stare burned into her.

“Didn’t think I would mind? Typical!” Spike retorted, before taking a deep breath. A silence held in the air for a moment, the unicorn not sure what to say and the dragon trying to compose himself. Spike let out a deep breath “I mean, this isn’t the first time is it? With Prince Blueblood you probably may not have known how I really felt about you, even if I was probably being a bit obvious. And after making myself clear when we were plummeting to the ground, we had that thing with Trenderhoof."

Rarity winced slightly at the memory of that incident but Spike continued "I just thought you were just wallowing in pity rather than trying to hurt me, and I thought you would have learnt from that.” The dragons rant reached it’s conclusion “But to actually work my claws to the bone so you can have time to go on a date?”

Rarity looked a bit startled as Spikes vexation was clear “Oh Spikey Wikey…”

“Don’t call me that!” Spike snapped back to interupt the mare “That’s all you ever do is it? Say nice things but then never really think about your actions. Never think about...me.”

Rarity wanted to respond, but the words just wouldn't coalesce in her mind, whilst they were coming all too easily for the dragon.

“I mean, I have no right to expect you to...have feelings for me just because I lov...have feelings for you. And I don’t expect for you to date me because I have some sort of Celestia given entitlement!” Spike’s tone softened slightly as he spoke, but that quickly turned again “For tartarus sake, I don’t even have a right to be your friend. But the least you could do is treat me...my feelings with a little respect.”

Rarity had never seen Spike this angry before, even when he had grown to a full size rampaging dragon. She saw a passion in his eyes, a glint of something primal in the windows to his soul that the unicorn had previously only ever seen look at her with affection. “But I guess that’s too much to ask from the element of generosity...and somepony I thought was my friend!” he finished with snarl.

Spike started to walk out of the room and Rarity called out for him to stop. But unlike anytime before when Rarity had called for him, he ignored her and continued out of the room, closing the door behind him leaving the unicorn all by herself, alone except for the tears flowing from her eyes.

Spike managed to keep himself composed until he stepped out of Carousel Boutique. However, once he had crossed the threshold to the outside world, the thought of never being allowed back inside after shouting at it’s owner filled his mind. He began the journey towards his home, the castle he shared with Twilight, and within moments found himself running through the streets.

As a dragon he mostly walked around standing up, something his unique biology allowed him to do. However, like most of the creatures in Equestria he was fastest on all four legs. And he made great use of being quadruped as he tore through the town as the position also hid his face, and the tears now pouring from it, from everypony elses view. Spike soon found himself charging up the steps into the Friendship Castle, dashing down the halls paying no attention to any of the ponies visiting. He flashed through the protection shield that prevents anypony by him, Owlowiscious and Twilight access to the personal areas of the castle. Spike was on autopilot and headed up towards his bedroom and the comfort of his basket.

Twilight heard her brother-son crying as he pounded past the door of her study, the sobs of pain echoing out around the solid crystal walls. She dropped the book she was reading out of her aura and galloped after Spike. Regardless of the research she had planned and the deadline for the next scientific journal, her maternal instincts told her something was wrong with her charge.

Despite calling out for him, Spike did not slow down and soon Twilight found them both running into the shared bedroom. Spike dove under the blankets whilst Twilight came to a sliding stop before hitting the wall on the other side of the room. She was thankful she was in bare hooves rather than golden shoes Celestia wore as she would have skidded across the whole room.

Shaking that slightly amusing thought from her head, the sobs coming from Spike hidden underneath an old blanket brought Twilight’s mind back to the serious matter at hoof. Slowly approaching the tattered old basket that had survived the Library’s destruction, she knelt down.

“Spike, are you okay?” she asked tenderly, trying to pull back the blanket that covered Spike with her magic.

“Go away!” Spike sobbed back as he held on fast to the material surrounding him.

Twilight was too concerned to pay heed to his words and edged forwards “Are you hurt? Do you need help?”

“I said go away!” he wailed.

“Spike, I’m not going to abandon you, I never have and I never will.” Twilight cooed “Are you hurt? Shall I get the doctor?”

“What, that useless doctor that sent me to the vet?” Spike snapped back, but the response made Twilight smile a little He can’t be physically hurt if he’s being so cheeky!

“No need to be sarcastic Spike, I’m only trying to help.” Twilight put a slight hint of hurt in her voice. “But whenever you’re ready I’ll be sitting right here waiting for you.”

Knowing that her companion was physically fine, Twilight sat down and waited. A few moments passed in silence between the two, just the sounds of sobs coming from the baby dragon. However, curiosity got the better of him and Spike lifted up the blanket from his face to look over to Twilight who was just looking down at him with love and concern.

“Now we see the Draco Piger in his natural habit, lying in bed when there’s chores to be done.” Twilight giggled slightly, trying to open up the dragons hard shell.

“You can be really annoying sometimes you know that?” Spike scowled a little, trying to suppress a smile but failing

“Don’t you mean…” Twilight cleared her throat ready to mimic Spike “...You can be really annoying sometimes, Princess?”

Spike couldn’t help but giggle slightly as Twilight gave him a fake disapproving smile. “Now there’s the sound I like to hear from my son. But what's wrong?”

Spike demeanour soon disappeared and curled back under the blanket “I don’t want to talk about it!”

Twilight knew Spike too well to give up without a fight “How about some milk and cookies then?”

As if on cue, Spikes stomach rumbled which gave away his hunger. He slowly got out of his basket and wiped his tear stained eyes “I am hungry, I haven’t had dinner yet, have you?”

“No, I was waiting for you to get home."

“Well, I best get dinner started.” Spike replied.

Twilights heart literally broke in two hearing that as she knew despite whatever trauma Spike was suffering, he was putting her needs first. Just as he was started to walk, Twilight grabbed Spike into massive hug with her front hooves and wings.

“Don’t be silly, you don't have to cook tonight. Why don’t we order in from the Burger Hut?” Twilight released her hold and smiled at Spike “I know you really like their triple cooked hay fries!”

“Do they do delivery?”

“Not normally, but I’m sure they’ll make an exception for Ponyville’s royalty in residence.”

“You'd do that, abuse your position as Princess, for me?” Spike gasped slightly.

Twilight lifted Spike onto her back like in the past and trotted out of the room “For you Spike, I'd do anything!”