Too Soon, But Just Enough
Spike heard her. But...he didn't want to accept it. He hated her for it. He loved her for it. He then accepted it, and mentally shrugged, then the sheer sadness overtook him like a tsunami. So many emotions at once, he thought he'd simply pass out from mentally over exerting himself.
Spike sniffed. "A-alright...", eh turned slowly, taking his leave.
"Aw, poor spike.", Rarity made to comfort him. Yet Spike pushed her away.
"I need soem time alone.", he then continued on his way away from the boutique.
Rarity slowly closed the door behind him with a long sigh as she turned back to her new stallion friend. "It only upsets me more that he took it so hard."
"Do you think you could ahve been any nicer about it?"
"That's the thing, lvoe, I jsut do not know. It's complicated enough having to explain to a dragon so young why he and I cannot be."
"Well, this will take some time then.", the stallion said. "If it upsets you so, we can reschedule our date tonight."
"No no, best not to go through the trouble, I'd hate to be a burden. But if that is what you desire, you may very well do so. I am not against it."
Sweetiebelle, whom had seen the whole scene play out, galloped past the two, through the door, swiftly turned to close the boutique, then began on her way to find Spike. It's the perfect moment, the perfect chance. She just had to say the right thing. Tell him what comes to mind, do not plan ahead. That's when you mean it the most. Straight from the heart, unchanged. That's what Rarity told her. How ironic, considering how she broke Spike's heart.
Spike were moping about in the Ponyville Picnic Fields, far around the edge of the field itself when Sweetiebelle found him. As she approached, she slowed down, thinking of what to say first. He sniffled, rubbed his snout, then cleared his eyes. Sweetiebelle took her opportunity by the reigns.
"Spike...?", she called softly.
The young dragon turned to see who had called him, and he swallowed, rubbing his eyes again. "Sweetiebelle?"
"Spike I...", she sighed. "It'll be fine.", she hurried to his side.
"How? The one mare I love just...took my heart, stomped on it, and threw the pieces into lava!", he retaliated.
"Ugh...", Sweetiebelle shook her head. "No, she told you the truth. I can't...defend her, or defend you, but what she did wasn't to hurt you or shove you away. She needed to tell you the truth, and given the suddenness of...well, you're appearance, I guess it caught her off guard."
Spike huffed. "It doesn't change anything."
"Spike. You're right, it doesn't. But you can definitely make that change happen."
"How?"
Sweetiebelle paused, looking away. "I-I-I've...always...uhm..." She sighed. "Spike I-I...", she gulped nervously. Come on Sweetie, he's right there, and you have his full undivided attention. "I love you Spike.", she said.
A long pause broke between the two before Spike looked down with a sigh. "Wrong time, Sweetiebelle." He turned, and continued on his way.
Sweetiebelle's heart dropped as fear gripped her in the deepest recesses of her chest. Did he just reject her? Maybe he was right, maybe it was too soon. If that's true, then Sweetiebelle took the one chance she had, and ruined it. Her heart sunk even lower. Sweetiebelle sat down and watched as he walked away. What could she do?
"Ah reckon ya should go after 'im."
Sweetiebelle hurried to her hooves, spinning around to face both Applebloom and Scootaloo. And Applejack and Rainbow Dash. She swallowed, not sure what to do.
"Sugarcube, ah've seen not but maybe one time o' real romance in mah life, and ah gotta say, Applebloom's right. Ya can't just leave it at that."
"Go after him, girl, whatchu waitin' for?", Rainbow Dash asked.
"But I don't know what to say! I ruined it, it was too soon...", Sweetiebelle hung her head.
"Nuh-uh!", Rainbow hurried to Sweetiebelle's side, putting one foreleg over her shoulder. "Listen. I have had...well, a few stallions that caught my eye, so I asked Cadence for help. She's told me few things about love, and that right there? That's heart break. You have to be persistent with him, else wise, it isn't going to work...You can't just confess your love and hope that flies. Don't give up. That's it. Go get 'em, girl."
Sweetiebelle looked over her shoulder at Spike. He were already a good distance away. "Girls, I don't know how to thank you for being in the right place at the right time, and saying thank you just doesn't seem enough."
"Nah, s'alright. Now go! Don't just leave 'im hangin'!", Applebloom nudged Sweetiebelle.
Whom took off at a gallop, catching up with Spike in but moments. She slowed to an antsy pace, pacing behind him before taking a long, deep breath. "Spike.", she called out. It stopped him again. "Spike, I've loved you for a long time now."
"Sweetiebelle-"
"Spike, Please. Just let me say this."
The breath he held, he let go. "Fine..."
"I've...wanted to say something, to just talk to you, for a long time now. I'd see how generous you are to her, the gifts you bring, the things you do for her. I see how kind you are to her, and it only makes my heart flutter every time you show up at the boutique. It's my mind screaming, Spikes here! Every time. Rarity doesn't want you, and I'm sorry to say that...but I do. And I don't want to just let it go. I messed up, it really was too early for me to just...come out and say that I love you. But you can't hate me for trying."
Spike closed his mouth. Then swallowed. He let his hands rest at his side before taking a breath.
"Can you at least give me a chance?"
A hundred things ran through Spike's mind at that moment, but in the end, he nodded. "Yes."
Sweetiebelle smiled happily, and she let out a breathy gasp. "Thank you, Spike." She hugged him. "Thank you."
"But...at least give me some time alone. It's rather heart breaking to have just been...told such things by Rarity. And it's a lot to take in what with you saying what you've said."
"I'll give you all the time you need."
"And...I guess we could meet at Twilight's castle later, if you'd like."
'I'd love that."
Spike looked down, scanning the ground, then looked back up, giving Sweetiebelle a small smile. "I'd like that, too."
"I'll...leave you to yourself now. Thank you, Spike. I love you."
Sweetiebelle took her leave silently. It was still a little awkward. She was still happy.