Rarity ran into her room on the verge of tears. As sad as she was though, there was no anger within her; to her it was just a matter of time before the truth revealed itself.
The door slammed shut from her magic as she jumped back first onto her bed. Water was built up over her eyes, but it didn't flow; she still had that much strength left, "S-Spikey Wikey..." The sunlight poured in through her window, revealing the crowd of ponies gathered on the streets; they were still there, enjoying the celebration.
Rarity opened up a nearby drawer and out of it grabbed a photo album; the album had a white cover but no title or any word written on it; all that it had was a red heart that stretched from edge to edge and corner to corner. It had been years since she had opened it, and years more since she had talked about it. Today however, she needed it again, regardless of how much it would hurt.
Inside the book were a collection of photos of herself ranging from when she was a filly to just a few years prior. In all these photos a stallion stood beside her, either hugging her, holding her in his arms, him in her arms or staring into her eyes with a romantic bliss as she did into his. The stallions were earth pony, pegasus and unicorn, of all different sizes and colors, and all stood beside Rarity like the two were the happiest couple anypony could meet. Memories came flooding back, as did the first trickle over her cheeks, but the one memory that couldn't escape her mind was of the incident that caused her to be here, alone in her room with her past, while the rest of Ponyville cheered outside.
........................................................................
It happened just a few minutes prior, when the streets were still empty. Cheers began to erupt as Apple Bloom walked on the road; she had just earned her cutie mark, and not just one, but two. Naturally such a rare incident was cause for celebration, and as Apple Bloom continued her show the celebration reached Rarity, who stood with her sister and Twilight on a road.
Not wanting to waste a chance to show off her new skills, Apple Bloom tossed a plate at Twilight, causing the unicorn's mane to transform into a shape Rarity knew all too well. Rarity filled with glee from the sight of her friend now with her own mane, but as quickly as her joy began, it too ended as such. Spike popped out with a look of euphoria unlike Rarity had ever seen. Literal hearts were on his eyes, but they were not for her. She had always been the source of his desire, but today she was just another pony on the road, another nameless face in the background. Twilight was all he could stare at, or more specifically, her mane, Rarity's mane.
Twilight of course just laughed at the situation, as did Sweetie. Rarity joined in, though her forced smile began to cramp her cheeks. All she could look at were Spike's heart laden eyes, and the mane they couldn't stop gazing at. Seconds became days, and before she knew it she was running to her house holding back her tears.
........................................................................
Now back to the present, Rarity continued staring into her photos, only to hear the sound of approaching hoofsteps. The door creaked open. She quickly turned around, finding Twilight, now with her normal mane, standing in the entrance. "Hi...Rarity..." Twilight said, looking worried, "Sorry for not knocking."
Rarity jerked her head back to her photo book and slammed it shut, after which she threw it to the ground. "No worries, darling! Come in, come in! What brings you here by the way?!"
Twilight stepped forward, "I... uh came to ask you if you were feeling alright... You kinda just ran away from the celebration without saying anything. You had us worried."
Rarity forced up a smile. "Why of course I'm alright! I just wanted to get a head start on my next batch of dresses, that's all. There was no need to worry, dear."
"I already saw the photos, Rarity," Twilight said, "And you weren't exactly that inconspicuous when you tried hiding them..."
Rarity laughed, "What, I can't reminisce? I just wanted to take a look at all the stallions I was once acquainted with, for memory's sake... What happened back there has nothing to do with it."
Twilight gave her no nonsense face, "Rarity... what's going on?"
A moment of silence followed as the two ponies faced each other. Rarity took a deep breath, "Fine then... if you are going to be persistent... yes, what happened with you and Spike troubled me. I apologize for running away without at least excusing myself."
"No... I'm sorry," Twilight said, frowning.
"You?!" Rarity's head shot back, "What in Equestria are you sorry for?"
"I know you and Spike have a... weird relationship. He likes you; you think of him as more than just a friend; I can see how you would become jealous."
Rarity stood up, "Twilight..." and walked to her friend, "What kind of pony do you take me for? Is that what you think this is about?"
"Well... yeah! What else could it be about?"
Rarity turned around, "Perhaps it is best if we leave our conversation at this..."
Twilight paused," Fine then... If you're not ready to talk then it's not right of me to push you. I hope you feel better," and began walking out. Rarity heard the hoofsteps of her friend grow farther with each passing moment, but as relieved as she was that the conversation was over, a feeling overtook her, like a scream that just had to be shouted.
"Twilight!" she screamed, stopping her friend. Rarity took one last deep breath, "What I'm about to tell you may surprise you... but I feel that it has to be said, particularly after today... The reason I ran away was not some petty jealousy, but because I realized that Spike... doesn't love me."
Twilight's ears fell, "Uh... Rarity, I hate to break this to you, but from living with him I can safely say that he's obssessed with you... Yes, he got all googly eyed when I had your mane, but that's because it was your mane! Of course he loves you!"
Rarity scoffed, "Then I don't think you understand the true meaning of love!" She used her magic to pick up and open her photo book, "These are all my past boyfriends and potential boyfriends; all of them were amazing; all were funny, handsome and stallions any mare would dream of being with."
"So why aren't you still with them?"
"Because... they didn't love me... or at least the real me." Rarity faced down, "All they loved was my appearance. It wasn't my personality or who I was that interested them, it was just the chance to date somepony beautiful, or a 'ten' as they would joke... Why, I could see right through them!" Rarity stomped the floor, "That isn't love! That isn't love at all! That's just a lie, a fraud!" Her breathing heavied.
"Rarity... I never knew you felt like this... Wait..." Twilight tapped her chin, "No offense, but you do use your appearance a lot when it comes to getting boys to do things for you."
"I know I'm guilty of that," Rarity said, "I also know I'm guilty of being no better than they are; I've chased my fair share of stallions over nothing but their looks or status, but that does not make it right!"
Twilight caressed her friend, "I understand how you feel... I've never had to deal with something like this personally, never dated, but I agree with you. I'd take a pony who interested in me than how I looked anyday, no matter how he looked himself."
Rarity gave off an angry look, "So you can see why Spike acting the way he did upset me. He doesn't love me for who I am, all he cares for is my mane! Put that on anypony and he'll fall for them no differently; who I am doesn't mean a thing to him, and from how it seems, it never was!"
"Calm down, Rarity... Spike just got a little too excited over seeing your mane style on me; I can guarantee if I kept it he'd still be into you... It was just a goofy incident, a gag."
"It may... but I fear that it exposes much more. At first, sure, Spike just found my looks attractive, but as I've gotten to know him... he's the only man who has ever made the attempt to understand me. I know he spends time to me only to stare at me like he always does, and I do just make him do the grunt work, but no other man has ever made me feel as comfortable around them as Spike has!" Rarity teared up, "Yes, I love him... there, I said it! But not for his adorable eyes, or his calming laugh, but because of how he makes me feel around him, how I feel totally free even if we aren't doing anything. I don't care if he's a dragon, griffin or whatever! As long as he's Spike! I just thought he'd one day feel the same way... that he'd be the one man I was more than just a pretty face to."
Twilight put her hoof around Rarity, "Spike does love you... for you... I promise."
Rarity choked back a tear, "I know... I'm overreacting like I always do... T-This has never affected me before like this... It's ju...ust that.... I want to know... why does he love me?"
Twilight paused with her friend still in her hooves, "I do have an idea to find out... if you're willing to do it..."
........................................................................
"This better not be for nothing," Rarity said, "I'd rather not be like this any longer than I have to... and it's already been too long as it is."
"You said you wanted an answer..." Twilight said, "And you're going to get one!"
Twilight stood in front of the closed door to Rarity's room with her friend on the other side. She slowly opened the door, revealing the monstrosity Rarity had become. Rarity's mane was now one giant bush with a circular shape in the bottom that spread out into frizzles at the top, and her teeth were colored yellow with black spots. Her face and eyes had all make up and eyelash extensions removed and were covered with lipstick smears that gave off the look of red mud. Even more, her clothes were ripped and stained farm gear that belonged to Applejack, and to top it all off she had a hairy mole the size of a pebble placed near her lips. "Twilight, I'm never looking at a mirror again," she said.
Twilight laughed, "Don't worry, you look perfect," and ran off away from the room. "I'll get Spike! Just stay here!"
As Rarity waited for the moment of truth all that she could think about was Spike's answer and what she feared it would be. A book's worth of stallions had come and gone, and for all she knew a dragon was soon about to join them. All she could do now was wait and think, and think, and think.
Two pair of hoofsteps approached the room. Rarity took a deep breath with her eyes closed, "Please, Spike..."
Twilight walked towards the room with Spike right behind her. At first he didn't notice Rarity, but the second he did his whole body froze with a disgusted face followed by his claws shaking like they were being shocked. "R-R...Rarity?"
Rarity stepped forward, smiling, "The one and only, Spikey Wikey... I thought a change in style was needed and wanted you to be one of the first to see. Any thoughts?" Her teeth jittered.
"I-It's... lovely!" Spike smiled, nervously.
"Is that really what you think?" Twilight said, one eyebrow raised.
"Of course... I say go for it!" Spike said.
Rarity paused, "Spike... I know you're lying; you never have been that convincing, dear... I do need you to be honest with me right now... As hideous as I look... am I still beautiful to you?"
Spike stepped closer. His smile was genuine. "Rarity, you're always beautiful to me."
"D... Do you truly mean that?"
"Of course..." Spike said, "Now don't get me wrong, some styles work better for you than others, but as long as you're Rarity I don't care what you look like... You should consider a new style though." Spike quickly put his hands over his mouth, "I didn't mean that! Really! Honest! It just-!"
"Oh Spike!" Rarity wrapped her hooves around the panicking dragon and smiled with a romantic bliss unlike any she had ever felt before. She pulled him in, "I'm so sorry I ever doubted you! I'll never make that mistake again!"
"Dou-what?" Even though he was in the embrace of the mare of his dreams, Spike kept his head away from her mole driven face and gagged with pre-vomit. She didn't notice and continued squeezing him with her eyes shut. Spike could only struggle for so long though, and too grew a blissful smile. He brought his face against Rarity's, mole and smears and all, and embraced her like she was the most beautiful pony on earth.
Even as she was, she was still the most beautiful pony on earth.
Author's Note
Hope you all liked the story 
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