It was a calm night in Ponyville and Rarity was staying up late to finish one of her dress orders. She was about to turn in when she heard something knocking at her door.
Frowning, she trotted down the stairs and approached the door. She opened the door while saying, "I am very sorry but I am closed for the....Spike?", surprised, she looked down and saw Twilight's helper standing there, with a determined look on his face.
"Rarity", Spike said, his voice carrying a maturity that was alien to her, "I have something I need to say. May I come in?"
Rarity beckoned Spike inside. "Well of course Spike, it must be quite serious if you are coming here at this late hour." A few steps inside the house, Spike spins around and faces Rarity. "Like I said, Rarity, I have something to say and it may take a little while to say it but please don't stop me until the end."
Rarity opened her mouth to say something but the look in Spike's eyes told her to wait.
Spike takes a deep breath.
"Rarity, I love you."
Rarity stood there shocked. She knew about Spike's longing for her, it was obvious even to Rainbow Dash, and thought it only some passing phase. While she knew Spike was a true noble gentledrake unlike some the other ponies she had met, she realized that he was a baby dragon. She thought he would grow out of his infatuation and pursue somepony closer to his own age. But looking in Spike's eyes, she saw no evidence that this was some childish infatuation. This was love in the purest sense of the word.
Rarity tried to respond but Spike holds up his claw. "I'm not done."
Spike takes a deep breath.
"Rarity, I fell in love with you when I first came to Ponyville with Twilight. I saw a beautiful creature whose mere presence lights up a room. I saw shimmering blue eyes that shined more than any sapphire could. I saw an alabaster coat that no soot or dirt could ever stain. And I saw a purple mane that flowed like water and looked as soft as silk."
Spike takes a deep breath.
"And after that, once I got to know you, I realized you were a true gem, worth more than any diamond, ruby, or emerald that I can think of. You have your rough edges here and there but they just make everything else about you that much more spectacular. With your spirit of generosity, you inspire everypony around you to be better than themselves. The dresses and suits you make are, of course, the height of fashion. But more importantly, the ponies who wear them can feel the love and care you put in every stitch. That tender love and care brings out the best in themselves every time they wear your garbs."
"You are a spectacular shining mare and any guy or girl would be lucky to have you. "
"Which brings us to me."
Spike takes a deep breath.
"I know you have been aware of my infatuation of you for quite some time. Looking back, it was quite obvious. I was always fawning over you, always following you around, and I was always so eager to assist in your endeavours. But I have never made a true move for you because I was afraid of being rejected by you. Rejected for being too young...or being a dragon."
"Rarity, I don't know how much time I have. Twilight has come up with theories but nothing concrete. There is still very little information about dragons. I don't know if I'm gonna have a normal life span or live for hundreds or thousands of years. I don't know if being with dragon could drag down your career. I know that there will be ponies who would disapprove of our relationship between us. And they would use that to try to bring you down. I'm sure Twilight, Pinkie and all the rest will welcome us, but I am not so sure about everypony else. We would have to deal with the glares and the things ponies are going to say behind our backs. "
"I honestly don't know what the future will bring."
"All I know for sure is that I'm tired of being afraid."
Spike takes a deep breath.
"So here's the deal."
"Rarity, I love you. Will you be my special somepony?"
Spike takes a deep breath.
"If you say no, that is fine. The matter will be settled and we will go back to being friends. I'll admit that I will feel an ache in my heart for awhile. But I will still be there to share laughs with you, to cry with you, and to be whatever you need me to be as a friend. And should you every find a lucky mare or stallion that you want to spend the rest of your life with, I'll be there to shake their hoof."
"But if you say yes....I'll be the happiest dragon in the world. Even if you want me to wait a year or two for me to grow a bit, I'll still be happy. I want to spend our lives together. If I should outlive you, that would be fine because I know the memories we will have made will keep me warm on the coldest of days for the rest of my life."
"So want do you say?"
Rarity had a passive look on her face, conveying no emotion the young dragon could recognize.
"Spike", Rarity finally said, "I have something to say. It's not as long as your speech but no less important."
Rarity takes a deep breath.
And pulls Spike into an embrace and plants a loving kiss on the surprised drake's lips.
"Yes."
Author's Note
Just something I wanted to put out there