A Lonely Heart and Pampered Hooves

I found myself skipping down the path from the Castle towards Ponyville town centre. Okay, I’m not actually skipping per say, but there certainly is a spring in my step. Today was going to be a good day, I can just feel it.

The fact I’ve just received my monthly allowance was part of the reason - ever since we moved into the new castle, Twilight had to hire extra staff to help out. And because I was doing just as much work as any of them, Twilight declared I needed to be paid about the same as the other ponies, less board and lodging of course. I wasn't going to moan about that as it left me enough bits left over to buy things I want, without too many that I would get greedy and hoard.

As I entered the outskirts of town, it quickly became evident to what day it was, as if I didn't know already. Today was Hearts and Hooves day, and the town was all decked out in pink decorations everywhere you looked. The Pegasi had made sure it was a lovely day and there were couples already trotting around town together.

I don’t care about such things of course. Today was also new comic book day and no doubt there would be plenty of colts and fillies in the store to argue over the latest developments in the Marevel universe. Romance can wait until we find out exactly how the power ponies got out of the cliffhanger at the end of last month's comic - hopefully humdrum would be the hero!

Out of the corner of my eye I spotted Cheerilee and Big Mac heading off somewhere together, no doubt only as ‘good-friends’. I wish they would just admit the feelings for each other as they made a cute couple, and were so similar in many ways - both hard working earth ponies that cared more about others than themselves. Still, one day perhaps.

My route always took me close to a familiar shop, one that it was best to avoid today. However, to actually change my route to avoid it would be foalish and you have to be grown up about these things. Unfortunately I found myself pausing not too far from it, wishing I had changed my route. I hated my enhanced dragon hearing right now as my ears filled with a sound that was familiar, but not welcome - the sound of somepony crying.

In fact, the sound of a white unicorn with purple mane crying.

Whilst the draw of the comic book store was strong, Rarity was my friend so it was my duty to go and see what was up. I walked up to the front of the store and noted the sign said it was closed. I knocked on the door and waited for a response, but none was forthcoming. I could tell the crying was coming from upstairs, and so she probably couldn't hear me.

Rarity had always told me that I was welcome anytime, as long as I didn’t go upstairs to her home part of the building without permission. I tried opening the door and found it unlocked. That was one of the things I loved about Ponyville, it was a quiet trusting place with no crime, unlike in Canterlot. I entered the store and looked around. The place was a mess.

Okay, for anypony else except Twilight and Rarity it would be considered spotless, and Rainbow Dash had probably never had her place this clean. But for Rarity’s showroom this was most unusual.

A dress was discarded on the floor in a crumpled mess

A dress that that she had spent days creating for herself.

The dress she was going to wear on her date.

The date she was supposed to be having today.

Right Now.

It dawned on me what had happened - Rarity was not going on the date she had been looking forward to for weeks. Noteworthy, an earth pony farmer who did a bit of singing on the side, had a few weeks ago finally asked Rarity out. Rarity had been delighted to have her first proper date so obviously something had gone tremendously wrong this morning. I walked up to the edge of the steps, knowing that unless it was an emergency I had no right to go any further. “Rarity?”

The sobbing paused for just a second “Spike?” a meager voice called out “Is that you?”

“Yeah” I replied nervously “I heard you crying as I walked past, are you okay?”

The sobbing started up again and I found myself unsure what to do. I couldn’t just leave her like this, she was my friend. Perhaps I should go get Twilight or Fluttershy to come over and console her. But then she might not want everypony knowing.

“Do you want me to get somepony?” I called out.

“No.” a meek reply came back between the sobs.

“Do you want me to leave you alone?”

After a brief pause a even more pathetic reply of “No”

“Can I come upstairs, it saves me from shouting!”

“O...okay” I clearly heard from between the sobs. It seemed a big deal, taking the first step, but I soon found myself upstairs and listening to where the cries were coming from. It was Rarity’s bedroom, a place that I had only occasionally been given permission to enter, and even then only to fetch something for her.

I walked up to the partially shut door and knocked “Can I come in?”

I heard a whimper of a yes and slowly pushed open the door. In the middle of the bed, lying on her side, was the most beautiful unicorn in all of Equestria. And she was crying like a newborn foal. I slowly walked up to her, leaned on the edge of the bed and placed my head on the same level as her “What's wrong?”

“He cancelled on me...this morning...by letter!” Rarity wailed at me.

I suspected this was coming, and knew this was dangerous territory for us. After the incident with Trenderhoof, where she completely disregarded my feelings when talking, we had to be careful when discussing anything to do with romance. Of course, as good friends, it came up in conversation, and I knew all about her date. I was glad for her, as she deserved to be happy even if it was with somepony else.

I didn't know what to say in response that wouldn’t make things worse, or make me sound like a jealous so and so. Instead, I gently placed a comforting claw onto her side and gave a gentle circling motion.

Rarity opened her eyes briefly and the hurt within was clearly on display. Except for the disasterous ‘date’ with Prince Blueblood, Rarity had never actually been on a proper date, something a little unusual for a mare her age. So when a pony she found rather attractive had been the first to ask, it meant the world to her. And now that world was shattered.

I looked over to the pony of my not-so-secret crush and was disgusted by what I saw. Not disgusted by her of course, but how this stallion had reduced a precious gem into a crying mess. Her makeup, which she always took pride in, had run and her mane was everywhere. She was about as un-rarity as she could be right now.

“I’ll be right back” I said, and left her side. I went into her ensuite bathroom and filled a bowl with clean water and a fresh flannel. I put a towel over my shoulder and returned to the bed. Rarity saw me approach and rolled slightly to lie on her stomach. She went to levitate the flannel to wash her face, but I didn’t let go.

Seeing the confusion on her face, I simply smiled “Just relax, I’ve got this”

With her still sniffling slightly, I gently wiped the makeup off her face - it did mean cupping her muzzle with a claw, but we both knew there was nothing meant by this. I quickly wiped off the smeared mascara and eyeliner, and then used the towel to pat the moisture off her face. As I removed the towel I saw a slight change in the eyes looking back at me. There was still sadness within, but the display of kindness had given her the tiniest amount of sparkle back.

Not wanting to get lost in those eyes, I had to make an excuse “Let me get you a drink” I stammered, and quickly rushed downstairs I put the kettle on and made Rarity’s favorite tea in no time. Returning upstairs, I found her still lying on the bed, this time looking at the letter she received, although she had removed the bowl from the bedroom.

I placed the cup of tea near her and it quickly was enveloped in Rarity’s aura, the mare taking a large sip of drink “Thank you Spike.”

I saw that her mane was also in a real mess, and spotted a manebrush on her nightstand. I went over and picked it up, and returned to the bed. Much like with the cleaning, it felt right to treat her by helping with the mane, much like Rarity often did with others. But there was a problem with that. The only way I could get into a position to brush her mane with her lying down was to sit on her back. Of course, I often travelled, and still do, on Twilight’s back, and have been carried the same way by pretty much all of my friends at some point. But never Rarity.

And I was in her bedroom, and she was lying on a bed. It occurred to me that it might be a bit inappropriate for me to do so. But I’m sure she would know that I didn’t mean anything by it. Besides, I’m just a baby dragon.

I gently climbed up onto Rarity’s back and could sense her body tense slightly in confusion. However, she didn't say anything and once I started brushing her mane she soon melted back to relaxation. She lay her head back down on the bed and using my fingers as well as the brush, I was able to quickly start to work out the knots.

For a little while the room was filled with nothing but the sounds of a brush working through hair, and the ocassional moan of contentment from the pony receiving a careful and gentle brushing. However, all too quickly, the task was complete. It felt nice to be this close to her, but I knew that staying longer than I had to would be wrong thing for a friend to do.

So I gently lifted myself off her back and got down from the bed. She looked up at me and it was weird to see her with her hair naturally down. I presented the brush towards her “Er, I think it’s best you do your own tail.”

Hiding a little blush on her face, which still showed the signs of the earlier crying, she smiled at me as she ran the brush through her tail. She simply brushed out any styling much like I did with the mane “Thank you Spike, you are a true friend you know that?”

“It’s nothing you wouldn't do for somepony.”

Having finished, she stood up and moved over to a couch. Lying down on it, she patted the space next to her so I sat down in it “Why were you walking past?” she asked.

I could tell by the tone she was slightly suspicious that I had been simply walking past her house on Hearts and Hooves day, a fair assumption based on previous years “I was on the way to the comic book store...it’s new comic day.”

“Oh yes, I remember you explaining the latest arc to us last week. Well, I’m sorry to hold you up!”

“Don’t be silly, friends always come first, you know that more than anypony.”

“True, but I dont want to delay you any longer.”

I looked over to her and the fake smile she had “Are you sure you’re okay?”

“Yes, of course, he was just a silly stallion. I’ll be fine”

“Rarity, I know when you're lying to me”

A slight look of guilt flashed across her face and there was a pause “Sorry, but I will be okay. I might not have anything planned, but I’ll find something to do. Don;t worry about me.”

“You still look kinda rough, why do you go to the spa and treat yourself?”

I think Rarity was surprised to hear me give a slight criticism of her looks, but looking in the mirror she could see what I meant “Ah yes, the spa would be nice about now. But I have nopony to go with and it’s a little boring by oneself, especially right now.”

A thought crossed my mind. It might have been a dangerous thought, but I couldn’t go off and read comics knowing Rarity may mope around all day “Well...why don’t I come with you?”