A fair amount time passed with Rarity hiding under the bush weeping. In a reflection of the pony’s mood it had started raining which made her even less likely to leave the cover she had found, especially as she could sense a major storm on the horizon. Luckily the bush was keeping her dry for the time being, as with her injury and the temperature dropping, Rarity knew that getting cold and wet could have been fatal.

However, truth be told she was less worried about hypothermia than the threat of the timberwolves finding her. The noise of the attack on Spike had been brutal, but it had fallen silent a while ago leaving a eerie calm hanging over the mountainside. With her injury there was no way for her to make a run for the safety of Ponyville so knew she would have to wait until a rescue party came by...but that wouldn't be until the next day at the earliest.

She heard a creature walking nearby and she instinctively slowed her breathing is it didn't sound like the movements of a pony. Whatever it was seemed to be looking for something, and Rarity shivered as she suspected it was her. Even if she wouldn't be able to stop it, she knew she had to try to do whatever she could to protect herself but through the pain and cold she couldn't focus her magic properly leaving her defenceless.

The bush in front of her parted and she partially recognised what came through. It was Spike, but at the same time it wasn’t Spike. He had grown - nowhere near the size of a normal dragon, or even a teenage dragon, but was about the same size as a large pony. He also no longer looked like the young baby dragon she knew, his face was much more fierce and his scales were much darker.

As the dragon approached her, the sharp talons of his claws glistening in the fading light, and smoke still puffing from his nostrils, Rarity instinctively flinched away.

“Rarity, I’m not going to harm you!” Spike spoke, not realising that his voice came out deep and powerful in his agitated state, causing Rarity to wince in fear slightly. Rarity closed her eyes and turned her head away, waiting for the beast to finish her off. Instead, a claw gently cupped her muzzle, gently turned and lifted her head. She opened her eyes and looked into the familiar eyes of a dragon that cared for her.

“Rarity, it’s me, Spike...you're safe now!”

“Oh Spike!” the unicorn gasped, before fainting unconscious.

Despite the seriousness of the situation, the dragon couldn't help but slightly roll his eyes at Rarity’s reaction. The fashionista was always ready to faint, and often pretended to when being melodramatic, but this was the first time she actually had. At least it was for a good reason.

Spike gently shook Rarity and used some of the rain outside to splash on her face, until she came around. Rarity awoke and almost fainted again at the site of the small dragon leaning over her. Spike backed up a few paces “I grabbed your bags before I left” Spike explained as rummaged through the bag. Finding a cup, he left it outside for a few moments before bringing it back in half filled with rainwater “Here, have a drink, you need it”.

“Thanks” Rarity replied cautiously reached forwards and took the cup out of the dragons clasp before eagerly drinking the water.

“Wait, you're using your hooves?” Spike noticed.

“Yes, the pain is making it impossible for me to focus my magic. I’m not skilled in such things as Twilight!”

“Okay. We need to get to safety. I fought off the timberwolves but others may come...plus there are other beasts out here. I can’t fight them and protect you at the same time, especially if you have no magic.”

“I hurt my front leg...I can’t walk on it, I think it’s broken!” Rarity replied meekly.

“Well, we can’t stay here in the open, we need to move.”

“But I can’t Spike, alright?” Rarity moped.

Spike thought about it for a second and a slight smile formed on his face. He had always wanted this to happen, albeit the other way round, so the irony of what he was about to do was not lost on him. He reached in and as gently as possible picked up Rarity, placing her on his back. “Offf!” Spike exhaled as Rarity rested on his back “You’re a little heavier than I thought you would be!”

Rarity was too in shock at being carried like a foal to actually respond, even if the dragon was implying she was fat. Spike had a look around at the sky “I saw a cave near here which we can go to for the night. The storms going to be here in a few minutes and I don't fancy trying to navigate down the mountain in the rain and wind whilst carrying you”.

Spike set off on all fours and Rarity just held on with her three good legs to make sure not to fall off. The pain of movement on her leg kept her from really thinking properly, but she knew she was being carried to safety. As the rain started to soak into her fur, she shivered and tried to absorb as much of the heat coming off her friend as she could.

It only took a few minutes to reach the cave which was quite small, about the size of the ground floor of Carousel Boutique. Fortunately, it had a fairly small entrance which kept out the wind and rain. Spike gently knelt down at the rear of the cave and Rarity crawled off his back. Spike stood up onto her rear legs, and stretched out his back, causing large pops.

“Heh, not used to moving on all four legs” Spike said sheepishly. Rarity internally shuddered as Spike’s louder voice echoed round the cave, espically as with him standing and her lying down he towered above her. However, being injured and practically helpless, she knew that there was nothing to do but trust her former friend. Spike then started walking towards the entrance.

“Where are you going?” Rarity asked with some alarm.

Spike turned his head back “Huh? I'm just going to go grab some fruit and berries from some nearby trees for you to eat, and see if I can find some firewood.”

Spike started walking again. “Please, don't leave me” Rarity whinnied rather pathetically.

The dragon froze in the cave entrance. For years he would have loved to have been asked to stay anywhere by Rarity. But in the current circumstances he was torn between the request to stay, a desire to leave, but overwhelming all he could think about was providing Rarity with what she needed to survive.

“You’ll need to eat to keep your strength up, and a fire to stay warm” and with that Spike almost ran out the cave. Rarity reached out forlornly with a hoof but the dragon was gone, leaving her alone. The unicorn looked around the dingy cave, the exactly opposite of the decadence and warmth of her personal boutique. She shivered as the cold seeped in, and it dawned on her - she was completely dependant on Spike right now. Even if by now her friends may be starting to get worried about her and Spike’s late return, with the storm and the size of the area they would have to search, it would take time to find her...longer if she was in a cave.

It didn't seem to take too long for Spike to return, cradling a bunch of fruits in his arms. He placed them down next to Rarity who picked up a pear. “Thank you Spike” she smiled before she bit into the fruit most despised by her orange coated friend.

“No problem, there's plenty of fruit around and a fresh stream for water nearby.”

“What about wood for a fire?”

“It’s all too wet...but don’t worry, I have a backup plan.”

Spike rolled some large rocks into the centre of the cave, and roared his flame breath onto them. Rarity was astonished by the intensity of the flame, the warmth of that alone seemingly helping to heat up the cave. Spike then rolled the stone nearer to where Rarity lay.

“Don’t touch them- “ Spike warned in his deep voice “- they would seriously burn you if you were to touch them.

“How come you can then?” Rarity asked.

“Dragons are basically impervious to heat, I can even swim in lava”

“Of yes…” Rarity half giggled “I remember that from the dragon migration.”

“Yep these scales aren’t affected by heat...or dress pins…” Spike replied.

And there it was. Rarity instantly picked up the change in Spike's tone, the dragon making a point to throw up a conversational barrier between them. Spike placed some other stones around the heated ones. “These will act as a railing in case you accidently touch them, and to help the heat dissipate more slowly.”

Rarity could sense that Spike’s defences over his emotions were lowering compared to earlier in the day, but in her current state wasn't going to risk bringing anything up that may cause an argument. She quickly thought of something else to say. “When did you learn all of this?”

Spike sat down “Basic Survival? From a book...and I read lots of books growing up!”

“Indeed. Your flame certainly seems to have grown up in the past few hours...it seems to be much hotter than before!” Rarity replied before taking some berries from the pile.

Spike grabbed a few himself “Yes, but it also means I can't currently send messages using magic.”

“We don’t have any paper or ink at the moment anyway” Rarity tried to reassure the dragon.

“That wouldn't matter. If I started sending Celestia a bunch of random twigs etc, she would soon realise something was up and probably be able to trace my magic or something! So, sorry about that!”

Rarity practically choked on her berry “Sorry? Spike, you saved my life! You certainly have nothing to be sorry about!”

Spike looked over to Rarity, and another awkward silence started to develop. Rarity found herself unable to prevent herself from yawning, the heat and the food helping her relax after hours of hiding scared under the bush.

“I guess it’s best we rest, the sooner we do, the sooner morning will come and hopefully the storm would have passed” Rarity lay her head down. Spike agreed and lay down nearby but noticed that the unicorn was shivering.

“You okay?” Spike asked with concern.

“This cave is so cold!” Rarity half whined.

“The heat from the stones not enough?”

“They are wonderful and I'm very grateful. But being a pampered indoor pony my coat is thinner than say Applejack or Rainbow Dash would be, so I feel the cold more.”

Spike knew what he had to do...the last thing he really wanted to do right now but another thing that before yesterday would have been right up at the top of his wish list. He crawled over and Rarity slightly gasped as the dragon cuddled in behind her.

No words were said between the pair. Rarity knew Spike was doing this solely to protect her, to keep her warm...possibly to keep her alive. And she owed him everything for saving her today. Spike knew that Rarity was only accepting the touch because she needed it, but regardless his heart was warmed that he was able to do something for somepony he cared deeply for.

As sleep overcame the pair, neither of them noticed that there tails instinctively twisted round each other.

Author's Note

This chapter was going to be longer, but decided to keep each chapter between 1,800~2000 words ish.