Author's Note
Shamelessly ripping off Plato and corrupting the meaning of his work.
I'm a huge supporter of the Sparity ship. This is not meant to kill it, it's just an exposition about "uneven love", and the knowledge of joy.
Enjoy all.
The Freed Prisoner
Spike leaned on the railing of the Café’s patio and stared dreamily across Ponyville’s market square at Rarity. The angel was currently making sure her mane was coiffed in the midst of a discussion with a produce vendor about their wares. Spike sighed happily, enraptured.
It seems she had finally come around to him, as well. Over the past several weeks she’d been much more inclined to talk to him about non-work related subjects and ask him to accompany her on errands. She’d even given him a few parting muzzles that were far longer than they needed to be. “One day soon,” Spike whispered across the square, “I’ll ask you on a proper date.”
He continued to watch her for a few seconds, but was startled out of his tunnel vision when he heard a voice from his right. “Don’t do it, kid.”
Spike turned toward the voice and cocked his head, staring right at today’s newspaper floating behind the table next to him. “What?”
The newspaper was lowered slightly, exposing the face of a purple unicorn stallion with an unkempt, short mane. “I said, don’t do it. Don’t go running after Rarity.” He put the newspaper up again, as if that was the end of the discussion.
It obviously was not, if Spike had anything to say about it. What was this guy’s deal? He looked to be maybe only a year or so older than Rarity, so perhaps he was going to ask Rarity out! The very thought made Spike’s blood boil.
But, the way he said it didn’t seem like classic male posturing, it sounded more like a friendly warning. Spike’s anger deflated, but at least now he knew what this was about. He snorted. “Yeah, great. Another pony telling me I have no shot with her. Well guess what? She’s only a couple of years older than me, and we’re both fairly young to begin with. And I’ve known her for a long time; ever since I came to Ponyville! I don’t need people telling me that I’m going to fail.”
“You won’t.” The stallion from behind the newspaper said. “In fact, I’m almost certain that she’ll be thrilled if you ask her out.”
Now Spike was really confused. “Well…what? Then, uh, why…?”
The stallion let out a light groan and lowered the newspaper down fully. Spike got a better look at him this time. He was certainly disheveled-looking, with the fur on his muzzle untrimmed and his coat standing up in odd places. He also had a few small areas of black highlighting his mane. “Why don’t you sit down and have breakfast with me here? It’s no good to be shouting at each other from across the café.”
Spike’s table was only perhaps four feet from the stallion’s, but Spike didn’t bother to question him, walking over and sitting down across from him. “So…who are you?”
“You can call me Wave,” the stranger said. “No need for full names. Besides, I’ve run into Princess Sparkle enough doing day-to-day things that she can probably give you my life story if you ask her.”
“Well, I’m Spike. The Dragon.” Spike said, extending his claw.
Wave chuckled and shook Spike’s claw with his hoof. “The Brave and Glorious, Twice Hero of the Crystal Empire, Twilight Sparkle’s right hand. Yeah, I’ve seen you around, and everypony in town knows about the Elements and you, although I’m surprised we’ve never spoken.”
“Wow,” Spike said. “You know your stuff.”
Wave tapped his head with a hoof. “Never challenge what’s in here.” He then took a deep drink from the table and looked intently at Spike. “So, here’s how it is. Everypony in town knows that you have a serious thing for Rarity. Many stallions don’t blame you. Everypony sees how much you adore her, cherish her, yada yada, no matter what the circumstances are and without expectation of reciprocation.”
Spike almost spoke up but decided to remain silent. Challenging what was said wasn’t going to get him anywhere, especially since it was true.
“There are still ponies that see this as some petty childhood crush that will never happen. But, most ponies, myself included, have seen how she’s changed. I see how she looks at you when you two pass by the market, and how she smiles when you hold open a door for her… And any mare would love to date a hero of an entire Empire. She’s real into you now.”
Spike’s heart soared at hearing this; he wasn’t living in deluded fantasy, Rarity actually had been affectionate toward him! “Well, great!” Spike chirped. “What’s the problem, besides the fact that you’ve apparently been watching me?”
“Spike, pal,” Wave starts, the tone of his voice deepening significantly, “what do you think it will be like to date Rarity?”
Spike immediately began daydreaming and saying everything on his mind, buoyed by his newfound confidence. “Beautiful. I’ll be happier than I’ve ever been before. She and I will laugh and kiss and dance… It will be the crown joy of my whole life.”
Wave smiled a deep, sad smile. “Well, I thought so. Let me be the first to tell you that it will be far better than anything you can imagine. It will blow your expectations out of the water.”
Spike’s heart leaped again but began to settle as confusion set in. This pony really was an enigma… Spike cocked his head and narrowed his eyes in bewilderment.
Wave seemed to notice Spike was confounded, and decided to clarify. “And that’s exactly the problem. Do you know how Rarity looks at you Spike? She’s attracted to you. She wants to be near you, to be treated right by a gentlecolt like you. You are a curiosity and a love interest. In fact, you’re an interest in more ways than one.”
Spike took a drink out of his orange juice and tried to decide if this stallion was actually a crazy homeless pony posing as an eccentric for some sort of personal gain. “So…why can’t I ask her out if she’s got it bad for me, I’m crazy about her, and our relationship will be perfect?”
“I wouldn’t say perfect. Maybe, ‘felicity beyond description’ would fit better. We’re all just ponies.”
Spike slammed his fist on the table. “Can you just answer the question!?”
Wave seemed insulted. “Do not do that to me, kid, I’m trying to save you a whole world of hurt here! You want an explanation? Well I’m going to give you one in a parable because clearly straight talking doesn’t sit well with you!”
Spike put his forehead on the table and groaned. This guy was weird; first just dropping advice and pretending like he didn’t want to talk, and now launching into symbolic oratory?
“Alright, you’re a dragon, so I tailored it especially for you. Imagine that you were born in a cave and grew up there. It’s a nice cave; it’s got all the gems you need, and furniture and running water and, heck, maybe even electricity. It doesn’t even ruin the allegory if you have a working video game console.”
Spike wondered if he could sneak out of the restaurant right now and get back to the castle before Wave knew what had happened. Oh, man, I already ordered my food, though, Spike thought.
“So you grow up in this cave, and a tutor comes to teach you what you need to know, and you have a few other young dragon friends that you make mischief with, and you generally live a happy life. But one day, you sneak into the main cave system at night and find a huge dragon, older than time itself, resting in a huge chamber far away from the cave you live in. He sees you come in and tells you all about the beauty of something called the outdoors, where dragons are no longer allowed to go. He tells you that there is no roof outside, only the sky. He tells you about the sun and the moon, and that there are more stars in the sky than gems in the whole earth. And he tells you about the rushing wind, cool rivers, and the variety of animals and plants outside before you get caught by older dragons and dragged back into the cave you live in. From that day forward though, you dream about the outdoors every night… about flying through the sky, swimming in the river, gazing at the stars. It becomes your dream to live outside away from the caves. And some time passes and you have no luck finding any sort of way outside. Then one morning you wake up early to a bright light in your face; there’s a big hole in your cave, letting in sunlight. And you choose to go outside.”
Spike was now interested in the story, just to see how it panned out. He fumbled for his straw with his mouth, never breaking eye contact with Wave.
“And when you head outside, it is more than you could have ever hoped for. The sky is overwhelming, because you’ve never seen blue before. And the cool wind is incredible, because you’ve never breathed anything but stagnant cave air before. You spend all day flying over the pine trees, swimming in rivers, singing with joy.”
Spike nodded. He understood this; if he had never been outdoors before, he would have been overwhelmed too.
“And then you watch the sunset, and see the moon come up in the sky. And you forget to breathe, because the old dragon’s words didn’t do justice to the number of stars in the night sky. And you fall asleep, so happy and ready to explore again the next day… When you wake up though, you are back in your cave. Some older dragons dragged you back in your sleep, and when you look over, the whole in the cave wall has been filled in with rock.”
Spike was on the edge of his seat. Was this the climax? How was he going to escape and head outdoors again? “…And?” Spike nearly cries, filled with anticipation.
“So, are you ever going to be happy again?”
Silence overtook Spike. His heart dropped, but he didn’t know why. So it was a sad story; it didn’t have anything to do with him and Rarity, especially now that she liked him. So why did it feel to him as if he had just descended into a place of shame? He felt worse than he had after he ruined the Equestria Games… twice.
Spike’s mouth spoke without the consent of his mind, but with the consent of his spirit. “I…guess not.”
“Right,” Wave said. “You won’t be. You love Rarity, Spike, and Rarity probably loves you too. If she doesn’t now, she will. But you and she have different types of love. You absolutely adore her because of her, you love her because she is she and you are you and that is the nature of things. She loves you because you are the object of her desire. If you date her the joy you feel will be far beyond anything else…in this life, at least. You will be happy, and she will be content. If things go well and for long enough, you might even start toying with the idea of popping the question when you’re ready. And then, as suddenly as it began, it will be over, and you will drive yourself mad because you have tasted utopia and had it ripped out of your claws. It would have been better to never have gone outside in the first place, because at least then you’d still be able to dream about it.”
Spike sat, still and completely silent. He felt just as he had when Wave had finished the story, but now his mind was able to catch up with his heart. He stared at the ice in his glass for a period of time before looking up, and seeing Wave staring with watery eyes at a red Pegasus mare on the far side of the market square, beyond where even Rarity had been bargaining. She was skipping along, and appeared to be singing.
“What happened?” Spike asked softly, having a moment of clairvoyance.
Wave turned back to Spike. “She found someone better.”
“She…cheated?” Spike asked.
“No,” Wave said. “She wouldn’t do that. She came to me once and simply told me that she was going to be dating someone else and couldn’t date me any longer. I asked her if it was because he was better and she vehemently denied it. Then I asked her why, and she couldn’t produce an answer.” Wave finished his water in a big gulp, and his voice was reduced to a whisper. “She still loves me, I think, but…it was a different kind of love.”
Spike could do nothing but sit in silence. He wanted to console Wave, to pat him on the shoulder or something, but wasn’t sure how he’d react. In a million years, Spike from this morning could not have seen himself in this situation.
Wave seemed to rally a little. “It’s best to be in the other position. Find a mare who adores you beyond comprehension and who piques your interest. Settle down with her. Worst case scenario, you aren’t the one who leaves the relationship as a walking shell…. Hey, do you think they serve breakfast cocktails here? I could use a drink. Or, several drinks.”
Spike managed to grin at the touch of dark humor behind the question. “Unfortunately, I don’t think so.”
“Drat. A little alcohol makes the pain go away, for a while.”
A pastel green waitress came out and delivered the orders to the table. She smiled at Wave. “It’s so good to see you again, where have you been?”
“Ah,” Wave waves his hoof dismissively, “just busy”.
“Well I’m happy my favorite customer is back,” the mare smiled, putting a tender hoof on his shoulder before walking away. Spike raised an eyebrow.
“Dude, what was that?”
“What was what?”
“That mare was totally into you!”
“Spring Grass? Phh, I don’t know. She’s a very sweet mare, known her as long as I’ve been eating here.”
“So, get her number or something,” Spike pressed, a cheeky grin plastered on his face.
“What’s the point?” Wave asked nonchalantly.
“Isn’t that what you were just saying? Date a mare who adores you instead of the other way around?”
Wave shrugged and began eating his food. His response unnerved Spike, and ultimately reminded him that he had a decision to make. Spike though while he ate.
“I’m seeing her tomorrow,” Wave began.
Spike looked up. “The waitress?”
“No…her.”
“Oh. Why?”
“We’re the closest of friends. I see her all the time. This meeting is because I’m telling her that I’m moving.”
“You’re moving?” Spike asked. “Why?”
“There’s nothing left for me here… Plenty of job openings elsewhere for physician-scientists-in-training, anyway.”
“You don’t sound good,” Spike said, worried. “Do you need help?”
“No, no, I’m not suicidal or anything.” Wave dismissed flatly. “There are a few things which make life worth living,” Wave said. He turned his face to the sky and closed his eyes. “Especially one thing.”
“So…why are you meeting with…her?”
“I need to tell her. She’ll be devastated and demand that I visit and that she visit, and that we have Hearthswarming together, and all other such sentiments.”
“If she hurt you why do you spend time with her?” Spike asked. “Doesn’t that make it worse?”
Wave appeared to chew this though over for a second. “Sometimes. Sometimes seeing her makes it better, too. Doesn’t matter. You and I are alike, Spike. Remember what I told you? I do this because I love her and such is the nature of things.”
With that, Wave stood up, unceremoniously pounded down a bag of bits onto the table, and began to walk off. “Well, good talk, Spike. You make your own decision now that you have perspective. Remember, ignorance is bliss, tis not better to have loved and lost.”
Wave walked off. “I wash my hooves of this,” he whispered to himself.
Just as Spike was a block from the castle, he heard the very voice he so wished not to hear.
“Yoohoo, Spike!” Rarity called.
Spike froze in his tracks. He could do absolutely nothing but stand there as she approached.
“Spike darling, I’m so very glad I found you. I was invited to a fashion producer’s banquet in Canterlot tomorrow and I do so need a polished gentleman to accompany me. Would you do me the honor?”
Spike didn’t move, or make a noise. Rarity smiled.
“Wonderful, be at the Boutique by 6, the attire is formal, and I do remind you that flowers are-“
“Gee Rarity, I’m sorry, but I can’t come.” Spike delivered with a surprising degree of calm.
“Oh…well…then perhaps we could make plans to go to the summer festival together in a few weeks?”
“That sounds great, Rarity. I can’t wait to go with you and Twilight, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, and maybe Fluttershy if the crowds don’t spook her.”
Rarity emitted a series of unintelligible syllables as Spike walked back to the castle. She could feel her heart break a bit inside.
After a moment to compose herself, however, she was off and trotting to find a date for tomorrow evening. After all, Spike was nothing special; there were plenty just like him.
