Rarity moans in satisfaction, the warmth of the spa's pool soothing her aching body and mind "This... I needed this..."

Fluttershy nodded "It looks like it, what happened in Canterlot... if you don't mind sharing that is?"

Rarity groaned "I had nearly every part of my physique worked over by an instructor who, for lack of a better phrase, cracked wise for the entirety of my time there. I had no idea that I could bend in such a way..."

Fluttershy blushed red "Wh-what?"

Rarity rolled her eyes "I am grateful for how much my stamina increased, but at the cost of using up all my conditioner and shampoos to get the sweat and sticky grime off my coat wasn't worth it. But I did have a very understanding companion who kept my spirits up whenever I got tired."

Fluttershy submerged herself into the water "O-oh?"

She nods "The parkour was quite destructive to my hooficure though..."

Fluttershy paused, her blush subsiding "Parkour?"

"Mmhmm... like how Pinkie Pie can run up walls, except I had to climb up walls... and sometimes, I wanted to do it just to get away from my employer..."

Fluttershy sighs "Oh, good, I thought you'd gotten involved in something dangerous..."

Rarity grins wickedly "I would elucidate on it but... rules #1 & #2."

Fluttershy stares at her "What?! You're part of a... a... a... fight club?!"

Rarity giggles "No, nothing of the sort, It's more like a... professional secret, like how to iron taffeta. Speaking of professions... how did Spike do at the boutique? I came right here after getting off the train."

Fluttershy grins "He did wonderfully. He even had a few ideas for a new line of minimalist clothing."

Rarity blinks "Oh? Would you happen to have any pictures?"

Fluttershy nods and steps out of the bath and walks towards her saddlebags. After looking through them, she pulls out a small pad of waterproof paper "He said he knew that you'd probably go to the spa when you got back and did them on this."

Rarity stares at the pad "He really must know me well... may I?"

Fluttershy nods and Rarity levitates the pad over, careful to avoid getting steam and water on it "Hmm... oh my..." she gasps "This- this is..."

Fluttershy looks at it "Oh! Spike said he found it underneath a pile of clothing and said it looked incomplete... he drew a copy and completed it, he didn't want to ruin the original..."

Rarity nods obliviously, on the paper was the completed version of her ill-fated attempt at functioning apparel. In fact, it looked just like what Rarity could imagine herself wearing as Luna's mercenary "You... you're telling me that Spike did this? It's... perfect..."

Fluttershy grins "He told me that it was a bit odd for what you usually do, but he spent most of of day working on it... I think it looks too much like a thing from Angel's comics but..."

Rarity grins and flips the page, grinning "It's perfect... just like him..."

Fluttershy squeaks "Wh-what?!"

Rarity blinks and blushes herself "Did... did I just say that?"

Fluttershy nods silently, a hoof covering her mouth.

Rarity shakes her head "I must be more exhausted than I thought..."

Feeling refreshed, Rarity walks towards the boutique and pushes open the door "Hello?"

Spike, wearing a suit and small glasses looked up from the sewing machine "Rarity! I hope you don't mind that I helped with the shop."

Rarity looks around the room's interior and gasps "I... oh my... what happened to all of the rolls of fabric?"

Spike points to the back room "Clients kept on tripping on them, I moved the shelves and ponyquins into the back storage room after cleaning it out. I replaced them with a series of bookshelves and plush, chaise lounges, plush couches, and a bookshelf full of fashion books and magazines and romance novels that Twilight would've given to you anyways. I also filed some subscriptions to the magazines and put the sketches that were everywhere in a series of folders and binders in order of date completed and season. So! How do I look?"

Rarity blushed as he posed "P-perfect..."

Spike pauses "Really?! I mean, I was sure I should've made some dress slacks but the ratio of my tail to the length of my legs seemed too close so I just decided to forgo them entirely... but you don't want to listen to me babble about something trivial like that. How was Canterlot?"

Rarity snaps to attention "Ah! It was tiring to say the least. I had no idea how different Princess Luna was from Princess Celestia..."

Spike quirks an eyebrow and grins "Oh? Do tell..."

Rarity grins and regales Spike with facts and Spike laughed when appropriate and at the end, he was dabbing his cheeks with a pocket tissue "Oh wow, who would've thought that Princess Celestia was homophobic?"

Rarity laughs as well "Yes, considering most of Equestria is female, you'd think it'd be unavoidable."

Spike nods "Yes, and if Twilight were here, she'd probably quote an obscure report or study..."

"Ugh, I care for her, but even Pinkie Pie knows when to stop babbling." Rarity sighs, rolling her eyes.

Spike nods and yawns behind his hand "I would love to keep gossiping with you, but it's time for me to go make Twilight and myself dinner. I hope that you don't mind."

Rarity shakes her head "Not at all. You've done so much in my absence that I don't think I'll ever repay you..."

"Oh I might think of something..." Spike says, winking at her before leaving.

Rarity blushes and flutters her eyelashes out of habit He'd be a perfect stallion if he wasn't so obviously gay.

Spike opens the door to Golden Oaks library and saunters inside "I have returned from my work."

Twilight looks up from her book "Welcome back." she blinks "Did you become a dignitary or something?"

Spike shakes his head, pulling out his intricate fob watch "Well, I'll make dinner now and then I must get to bed. I have an early day if I am to implement my ingenious plan to win Rarity's heart. I shall make Smurfberry pancakes tomorrow provided you do not lecture me in the art of anything preceding my mission."

Twilight grins, images of golden brown pancakes with addictively tart berries within fill her head "Twily shut up, get Smurfberries. Got it."

Spike politely chuckles at the mare's behavior and walks into the kitchen.

Spike carries a large platter up the stairs to Rarity, having stocked her kitchen beforehand. He knocks on the door, rousing Rarity from a dreamless sleep "Mwuh? Who's there?"

"Spike, I thought that since you're back and you looked positively haggard when you came to the store, I thought I'd make you a breakfast to replenish you." Spike says, walking through the door.

Rarity sniffs the air and smiles "Oh my... breakfast in bed sounds divine. Thank you Spike, you truly are a gem."

Spike sets the tray on the bed, grabbing a brush and to run through her mane "No, you are the true gem. And I am awed by your brilliance constantly."

Rarity blushes "M-my! When did you become so suave?"

Spike shrugs "I've read a number of books on manners and how to act around a lady such as yourself. One of poise and elegance, yet unafraid to show her weaknesses to those you trust. You could be critiquing a dress one minute, digging a hole to help a friend the next. That kind of duality would raise many an eyebrow, but not mine."

Rarity nods, levitating a forkful of pancakes to her lips, and hums in satisfaction "Spike! Where did you learn to cook?! This is simply divine!"

Spike blushes, working through a knot "I was taught by Chef Ram Seas. He's the best sous chef in Equestria, neigh, the world. He has more culinary awards than anypony else. Although... he is one of the most short tempered and perfectionist ponies I've ever met. He swears in five or more languages at whomever screwed something up. Or any alarms or the Princesses. Trust me, even Celestia is scared stiff by him. I honestly expected half the castle to be decimated when he and Luna met but... according to him, she's as good as I am."

Rarity pauses "Wait, is he a short, cream-colored earth pony with a red trident and a blue steak knife as a cutie mark?"

Spike nods "That's the one. But once you earn his respect, a near impossible feat I might add, he will expect nothing less than the best of what you can do. He's a real softy when he's drunk off his hooves. Of course, his Scoltish accent makes it hard to understand him even when he's sober... the other chefs are writing a book of quotes of the things he's said to them and inanimate objects."

Rarity chuckles "Inanimate objects?"

"Yes, anything that gets on his nerves, he'll let it and everypony else in the kitchen know it. But besides him, I was also tutored by Pinkie Pie last month so I know my way around a bakery."

Rarity smiles, enjoying the feeling of Spike's claws running through her hair along with the brush "Spike?"

"Hm?"

"Why did you watch the boutique while I was gone?"

Spike smiles "I knew that you must have been in a terrible rush not only to forget to lock up, but also forgot about the orders from Hoity Toity. So I stepped in, and completed it to the best of my abilities. He was taken aback at first but I acted professional and he left saying something about how it was such an oddity, a dragon working amongst ponies."

Rarity shakes her head, levitating the glass of orange juice to her lips "That's a Reason, not Why."

Spike sighs, steeling his resolve "Truthfully?"

Rarity nods "I wish to know."

"I..." Spike inhales "I love you. I have loved you since we first met when Twilight came to town. At first, it was because you were so gorgeous, then I got to know you. You are beautiful and brilliant. You give of what you are without forethought or thanks; and I'm a dragon, who probably gets stronger from taking and stealing. Yet I fell in love with you for you, not what you could do. I'm not a selfish drake, I just want a chance to show you that I'm worth possibly trying to love. But if that disgusts you, I'll understand. We'll go back to being friends and I won't bring it again."

Rarity's mind screeches to a halt Wh-what?! Sp-Spike loves me?! Me, a mare who has seen him only as a friend and whom is training to be a mercenary? I... I suppose that is a nice sentiment- no! He's too young! He could be an adult by dragon standards. I... but can I love the younger brother- er... son? Whatever, a relative of one of my best friends? I don't think that'll go too well. Oh he's still waiting for an answer!

Spike sighs "I'm going to take your silence as a negative affirmation. Ah well, Nothing ventured, nothing... gained?" Rarity turns to him, eyes welling with tears "I-I'd be honored. To give you a chance I mean."

Spike's jaw opens, but no sound comes out.

"Rarity nods, trying to hide her blush by drinking the offered glass of milk "If you are half the gentledrake as you are a chef, I might need to work harder to maintain my figure... to be perfectly honest, I thought you were gay."

Spike groans "Why does EVERYPONY think that?! Just because I've been around mares all my life doesn't mean I'm gay! Gosh!"

Rarity laughs "I'm sure it doesn't help that you've been assisting me for the better part of a year... and read fashion magazines... and know your way around make up... and can make an entire outfit out of stained burlap that could go to the clothing fair... okay, I see why they think that. I'm sorry Spike, I'm rambling."

Spike huffs then grins wide "I'm just happy to be given a chance. So... how about the night after tomorrow? I have to make reservations and the like."

Rarity nods and Spike bows, taking the empty platter of food down the stairs "Anything else you need ?"

Rarity nods "Yes, let me do some work, I don't feel right with you doing so much."

Rarity expected Spike to disagree but he nods and leaves, "Okay, I'll be around if you need me."

She steps out of bed and towards the shower "Spike... what a gentledrake... I wonder how Twilight will feel about it?"

"I don't believe you." Twilight says, shutting her book.

Spike grins "That's cool, because whether you believe me or not doesn't matter. Now I need to alter my casual suit a bit, I do believe that I've grown a bit thinner as of late."

Twilight rolls her eyes "No you haven't. You're still as pudgy as you were when we got-"

"2.3 kilos." Spike says, stepping on the kitchen scale "I've lost 2.3 kilograms since we got here."

Twilight stares at him "The scale must be wrong. You look the same to me."

Spike rolls his eyes "The longer I waste time arguing is time I could spend preparing for my date."

Twilight gasps "You... you've got a date?! Seriously? You? You're younger than I am! You're my little brother, and you have a date with the most sought after mare in town? What type of potion did you use?"

Spike grins "Something called 'Being a good friend and natural charm'. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to tailor my suit."

Twilight watches Spike walk away, her mind reeling "... I need to talk to Rarity."

Rarity hums, affixing a bow tie to a stallion's neck "How do you like that color?"

The stallion grins "It's cool. Now, I was wondering if you sold a vest or preferably a jacket to hold my fob watch in, I can't stand the thought of being without it or having it dangle from my neck and on the ground."

Rarity grins "Perhaps a blazer? Or a cardigan? Possibly a cuffed shirt to highlight the bowtie and cardigan?"

The door to the Boutique slams open, and Twilight charges in "Rarity!"

The stallion shrugs at the intrusion "I can wait. This looks more important."

Rarity nods to him and turns to Twilight "Twilight! I thought you had more sense than to charge into the boutique! What if I had been doing something delicate?!"

Twilight mutters out a quick apology and looks Rarity in the eyes "Are you really going on a date with Spike?"

Rarity blinks and nods "He's more than deserved the chance. I had absolutely no idea he felt that way about me. I need to be less focused on myself if I missed such obvious clues."

Twilight's jaw drops "You had no idea?"

Rarity shakes her head "Not a one."

Twilight groans "Wonderful. I was hoping that you'd reject him."

Rarity gasps "Why would you want that?!"

"Because think about it. What if you decide that you love him as much as he loves you? What then? Everypony would call you a pedophile, a freak, or worse. Dragons and ponies may be able to work together, but not love. Trust me Rarity, entire villages have been eradicated for that type of thinking. Both you and Spike are very dear to my heart, so let him down easy, okay?"

Rarity grits her teeth "Get out."

Twilight blinks, furrowing her brow "What?"

"Get. Out. Get out of my Boutique. Get out of my sight. Get. The buck. Out."

Twilight stares at Rarity incredulously "What? Why? I'm trying to protect you! You and Spike! Why are you acting like I'm insulting you?"

Rarity fights back the urge to throttle her friend, but just barely "Twilight. I will say this only once more. Get out. NOW."

Twilight backs away then turns "I think you need time to process this infor- eek!" Rarity's horn flares to life, picking up Twilight and throwing her out of the door.

The stallion returns looking nonplussed "I suppose I'll wait then. Have a nice day."

Rarity tries to smile at him "Why thank you darling... please do come again."

Rarity locks the door after him and flips her sign to "Closed" with a sigh "I lost my temper... what gives her the right to dictate how I feel about Spike? No right..." Opal walks over and meows.

"What? I know that she's known him all his life, but that doesn't justify her actions."

"Mreow."

"I... I'm not saying she's a bad pony, but what she did was inexcusable!"

Opal frowns "Meow?"

Rarity sighs "Yes, I do value her friendship. However, I don't think she should control Spike's life like he's some foal."

"Merow..."

"Okay, technically he's a few years my junior, but that doesn't matter! I enjoy his company and he always has a solution and doesn't hold me to any standards and accepts my many faults! I-"

Opal grins "Mrooow..."

Rarity pauses "I... do I like him? Of course, he's my dearest friend!"

"Merr?"

"Y'yes, dearest. He's so... youthful and mature and yet... he still has that spark of innocence that... that I once had... oh Opalescence! I... I think I'm in love!"

Opal shrugs and walks away "Mrow."

Rarity nods "Yes... Tuna sounds like a decent 'Thank you'." Rarity pauses "Did... did I just have a deep conversation with a cat?"

Spike holds a gem up to the light "Imperfect."

He pulls another from a bag "... Too many impurities."

Twilight slowly trots up behind Spike "... Hey Spike?"

Spike turns, worried "What's the matter Twilight?"

She sighs and drops her butt onto the floor "I... spoke to Rarity."

Spike pushes aside his indignation "What happened?"

"I... I said some things that made me look like a complete heel."

Twilight explained the entire conversation and the indignation Spike felt came back with reinforcements of rage and disgust.

Spike glared at Twilight "How could you... how could you say those things?! And to one of your best friends at that?! Yeah, I know I'm young, but I love her. I have spent entire nights speaking to Princess Luna about it, I have correspondence with Cadence, the freaking Alicorn of love! I have done what you would do in my position, research, consultation, and deep thinking. And you still believe it's just infatuation?! What kind of friend- no... what type of SISTER does that? You're... you're the one who would eradicate the town because you." he pokes Twilight's chest "Don't." poke "Understand." Shove.

Twilight recoils from the pushing and the words "Spike... I was only trying to protect you..."

Spike snorts "No, you were looking out for yourself. Because you can't distill love in your lab, because you're married to your studies and your need to be in control... your mind has become subjective to the truth."

Twilight shakes her head "No! I regret saying those things... I'm just..."

"Clueless."

Twilight gasps, taken aback "What?"

Spike glares down his nose at her "You are clueless. Unless you can quantify it, you don't believe in it. When did you become so... cynical? So... close-minded? I think it happened after you graduated from the school for gifted unicorns, when Shining joined the guard, when Cadence had to become a diplomat... whenever it was, you've been changing Twilight. I thought that it was because of moving to Ponyville... but the problem is that even your friendships can't change who you are inside."

Twilight stares, jaw agape.

Spike chuckles "Maybe we should use the elements on you to get back the good Twilight. You've obviously lost your way."

Spike picks a gem from his bag and passes it to Twilight "Look at that and tell me what's wrong with it."

Twilight levitates it in front of the light and cocks her head "I... nothing as far as I can tell. Why?"

Spike shakes his head "No, It's nothing more than an aggregate. A mix, a hodgepodge of bits of pieces that looks fine to most, but to the trained eye..." he pokes it and it shatters, turning into dust "Isn't even worth half a bit. It looks fine, and maybe it is, but none the less, it's still worthless."

He nods "That aggregate was you, Twilight. Full of impurities, deformed, but looks fine to those who can't tell. I can tell Twilight, but I thought I was wrong."

Twilight opens her mouth to say something but Spike stops her "You need to take a long look in the mirror Twilight. And tell me that the pony in the mirror is you. I'm going to Sweet Apple Acres, maybe when you're better, I'll come back. Maybe."

Twilight sits still, her mind empty of thought, even hours after Spike left.

She shakes her head and levitates a full body mirror in front of herself.

Staring back at her is a slightly-disheveled and exhausted looking violet unicorn with dull, shallow pools for eyes.

Where... did I go so wrong? What... happened to me? Twilight thinks to herself, her horn sparking as she casts a spell.

Celestia yawns in front of her fireplace AKA: Philomena eating some charcoal. Clean-burning pyro-avian heating has been denied several times by the Equestrian patents office every time she sent it.

That was fine, she figured that she had the cleanest fireplace without a flue or a chimney.

As she pours some tea into her cup when her ears twitch "Oh? We seem to have a familiar guest coming Philomena."

Philomena, still a roaring fire, said nothing.

A flash of violet light explodes onto the pillow levitating in a golden glow "Hello Twilight, what's the matter?"

Twilight, as still as she was back in the tree house, stares blankly into space "Where did I go wrong?"

Celestia's eyes widen and she sighs "Spike told you his... 'Observations', didn't he?"

Twilight doesn't act as if she registered Celestia's words and mouths her question again.

Celestia shakes her head in empathy "I had hoped that Spike was wrong... but then I thought about it... and found he was correct."

Twilight's eyes regain a spark of comprehension, her ears twitching subtly.

The solar alicorn sighs and levitates Twilight and the pillow off the floor and onto her back "I know you can barely hear me, and I hoped that Spike would hold his tongue, but I suppose I was wrong. I had a student before you, you know; Sunset Shimmer. I failed her just I have you.

"She was a brilliant unicorn who had a knack for magic, but she refused to accept unconditional friendship and took to using manipulation to her own ends. I was disappointed and chose to banish her to a new world, one without magic, and hoped that she would discover friendship instead of becoming arrogant due to her superiority.

"I failed you, because I thought that if I tried again, and kept a closer eye on you, you might fare better... but only slightly. You rejected friendship but learned how strong it is. I thought to myself 'I've succeeded, I didn't destroy another life.' I was wrong, I was blinded by my own arrogance. I thought myself brilliant, but that brilliance blinded me to the turmoil underneath your skin and behind your smile. I should have realized that after the parasprite incident, and the incident with the 'Want it, need it' spell..." Celestia swallows "Twilight... I asked you to send me reports so that I could learn the magic of friendship as well. I... closed my heart to the thing I believed in most after I banished Luna to the moon. But her jealousy is from the very audacity and pride I held in my heart."

Twilight's eyes regain their lustre and she looks at her mentor "But..."

Celestia shakes her head "No, I wasn't perfect, I thought I was, and that is what led me to become my own most reviled enemy. I banished my sister, I ignored her, thinking that she didn't understand what it was like to rule a kingdom alone."

"Alone?"

Celestia nods "I was a foolish filly who fancied herself a perfect being. I rejected her and her ideas on the principal that she was inferior. I regret that still to this day. It was when Spike told me what he observed I knew... that it was all my fault. I made you think that I was perfect, somepony to never disappoint, to be revered. I decided that night to try and tell you the truth but like the cowardly child I still am, I was afraid to. Luna knows this and though she's forgiven me, I feel as if I still owe her a millennia of apologies. And banishing Luna and Sunset weren't the only atrocities my audacity led me to commit."

Twilight blinks and stares up at the smiling statue made of an amalgam of animal parts "Discord, the spirit of chaos and disharmony. My sister and I used the elements of harmony to seal him in stone a year before I banished her. He ruled over the world, changing it at his unpredictable whim. We thought he was a monster, to spread chaos and disharmony... but then I realized that he was an integral part of nature. You see Twilight..." she inhales "Harmony is unnatural."

Twilight gasps and shakes her head "What? That's not possible, harmony is what holds everything together. A perfect system."

Celestia sighs "I knew you'd say that. Discord may seem to be a monster, but the fact is... I am the monster. He never banished anypony, he never purposely hurt anyone, he never killed anyone... I have, and on numerous occasions. He was a good and mad king who saw the world as it should be, one of balance between order and chaos. He renewed this world every time he acted, leaving it stranger, yet stronger than it was before.

"He inspired or rather made ponies put aside their differences in order to combat a common enemy. Whether that be the creatures he made, or other ponies who did injustice to the weak. He made ponies, griffons, and even lesser monsters work together to adapt and overcome his tricks and actions. He made us strong, wise, intuitive, courageous, brave, and blind to how different we were. I... I think that he needs to be freed. To repair the damage I've done... like I should have so long ago."

Twilight shakes her head "No! I refuse to believe that chaos is the answer!"

Celestia chuckles weakly "Twilight, I am afraid. I am very afraid...

"I've been afraid my whole life. I have been afraid but Luna was brave. She spurred me to act when I wanted to just roll over and give in. She led charges into battle, she taught magic, she sparred and ate and lived with the soldiers, the villagers, the warriors. She didn't think she was superior... even though Starswirl had made us alicorns. I did... and that's because I was afraid. Luna led us to the elements of harmony, to the safety of what would become Canterlot. She even tried to descend, return to being a Pegasus. But the spell was hard to break. Discord... she tried to befriend him several times, and believed that he was a misunderstood god of nature, and that he was afraid too."

Twilight starts to shiver in fear "Princess... stop..."

"I'm sorry Twilight, but I have to tell you this. Luna... we would've perished several times if Luna hadn't been so... brave, though I thought her clueless to the world, but she knew how it truly was. Twilight..." she lowers her head "I should be the one in stone. The one banished to a magicless world, to a barren satelite. I deserved the punishments I meted out in fear. I know this is hard for you to accept, but it's true."

Twilight shakes her head "No! I refuse to accept that! You are the monarch of the day, the rising sun, Princess Celestia! You're the perfect pony, and nothing you say will change that."

Celestia sighs "I am none of those things, I am a monster, and the fact I am not punished or hunted is a sign I must pay my penance. Tomorrow, I will have your friends use the elements to shatter the spell that keeps Discord stone..."

"Why?"

"Because for the first time in my life, I want to do the right thing."

Author's Note

Deep stuff right here... deep.

I may not like Celestia, but I don't hate her (That'd be wrong)

So hope you enjoyed a look into the mind of the sycophant and confused pony that is Twilight Sparkle.