What do you see?

Rarity woke up with a pounding headache. Six cosmopolitans does tend to have that effect on a mare, hence she usually choose ice-cream as her go-to binging item. Memories of the night before came flooding back, and she felt her stomach drop. Due to a mixture of drink and emotions, she had practically thrown herself at Spike.

Jumping out of bed as much as her hangover would allow, she galloped out the room and towards Spike’s. But reaching the door she noted the room was empty, and quickly looking at the position of the sun, it must have been breakfast time already. Rushing back to her room, she made herself as presentable as possible for breakfast with three Princesses.

Entering the breakfast chamber, everypony else was already halfway through. Rarity apologised for her tardiness, something waved off by both of the older Princesses as ‘something that happens when you’re hungover’. Blushing a little, Rarity just took some toast and juice, and joined the royal breakfast cum supper.

Conversation was flowing freely, but Rarity still felt worried. Spike seemed to be treating her normally, but goodness knows what had happened to their friendship. Her mood must have been obvious.

“Bad night?” Twilight asked

You have no idea, although it could have been a lot worse “Yes, I’ll fill you in on the date on the train ride home”

As breakfast drew to an end, with Luna heading off to bed, the ponies retired to their rooms to pack. Spike had nothing to pack as he always travelled light so was reading a comic when there was a knock on the door. “Come in”

Rarity pushed open the door a little and stuck her head in “Spike, we need to talk.”

“Yeah” Spike waved Rarity in, the unicorn closing the door.

Rarity paused halfway between the door and the chair Spike was sat in “Thank you. For last night I mean. I...thank you for not...well...you know” Rarity mumbled and pawed the ground “Sorry to put you in that position. It was very immature of me to get myself drunk such that, I well, propositioned you.”

“Yeah” Spike blushed “Of course, I would never take advantage of you.”

A very awkward silence followed, broken by a sigh from the unicorn “So where do we go from here?”

“Back to where we've always been, my crush on you being the elephant in the room.”

Rarity was taken back “And you’re okay with that?”

Spike walked over “Rarity, you could not stop being beautiful if you tried. I could not stop lov...being attracted to you if I tried. But we are just friends, and I wouldn't swap that for the world.” and he proceeded to give a friendly hug.

Rarity smiled and hugged the drake back, for it wasn't just a line he gave but it was the truth. Maybe she didn't deserve a friend like him, but she was glad to have him in her life.

“Spike...what are you doing Saturday? I need to go gem-hunting and could do with a good friend to help me out...”