The Greater Good

The Canterlot Charity Gala was only a week away, and Spike couldn't wait for the days to tick by. Everything was going to plan and he ticked off another box on the check-list Twilight had helped him design. It was going to be the first visit to this event for him, and it was going to be a memorable one.

The Charity Gala raised funds for charity via donations and a silent auction held during the evening. It wasn't the show-stopping centrepiece of the gala season like the Grand Galloping Gala, but was an important Equestrian event.

Like most silent auctions, business and ponies from across the kingdom put up items or services to be bid on. The top two auctions were the privilege to spend time with the Princesses - An afternoon tea with Princess Celestia and A Breakfast with Princess Luna. It would be an expensive privilege, but it guaranteed an audience with the Princesses. No doubt 'noble' who won would have their name in the newspapers as being the most generous ponies in the land. That won the bragging rights for a few months.

The Princesses themselves could put up with one annoying meal with said noble, given the cause was in itself noble. It also was a way Princess Celestia had started to try break down the barriers between the Princesses and their subjects. Given even Twilight, a princess herself, still bowed to her it was time to move her society on.

Other ponies did something similar, with Fleur Dis Lee and Fancy Pants usually putting themselves up as a “evening with” prize, taking the winner to the most exclusive events. DJ:Pon3 usually put herself up for a private hire, the only way of getting her to do an event except of her choosing. There was a new edition this year, as the council of friendship had each put themselves up as a prize to win an evening with them, to escort the pony to the event or meal of their choice.

Spikes plan was simple - he was going to go and win that date with Rarity no matter what the cost.

Rarity knew. Spike knew Rarity knew. Everypony in Ponyville knew that everypony knew, but that didn't matter. The town's resident baby dragon was on a mission to get a date with his one true love, and everypony was going to help him, if only because it was for a good cause.

But he had to gather a lot bits as he knew it wouldn't be cheap. Some pony as special and famous as Rarity of Ponyville will fetch a pretty penny. But Spike was committed to the cause and left no stone unturned.

Spike had eaten the minimum amount of gems required to feed his magic, trading any spares for bits. Twilight helped him by making sure he ate enough and didn't admonish him for cheating slightly. As long he was healthy and not starving himself, she was happy.

That only got him so far so for the past few months, all his spare time was spent doing odd jobs around the town - helping in the Hay Burger, Sweet Apple Acres, the post office...any chance to earn a few bits. Rarity had even been a bit extra generous with payments to Spike for the work he did for her. Afterall, it was all going to a good cause and being the embodiment of generosity, it was another way she could help apart from giving up one evening of her life.

Twilight watched Spike double count the bits. Normally she would have been worried about Spike’s dragon greed kicking in, but there was no sign of it. Afterall, Spike knew these bits were all going to charity and although it was to get something in return, it wasn't a physical thing. It was simply going to be the right to the best night of his young life.