The Greater Good

Much to Princess Celestia’s relief, the Gala was going swimmingly (although with no Smooze related incidents yet no actual swimming had been involved). The silent auction was well under way, everypony was having a good time, and ponies were dropping donations into the collection buckets spread around the room.

Her sister also seemed to be enjoying one of her first official parties, and after a few years of isolation the average pony was now ready to accept Luna as Celestia’s equal. The shock to society of the new alicorn had worn off - two additionally ones in the past few years has that effect.

Spike had developed a nice routine for the evening. He would spend some time chatting to somepony or dancing, before heading to the buffet for a snack or a drink. He just happen to head back to the dance floor via the silent auction tables, upping his bid as required. He had saved up just over a thousand bits for the evening, and he planned to spend every one if required.

Rarity was busy being a socialite and was one of the belles of the ball. Having recently opened her fourth store in Trottingham, Rarity’s social stock was at an all time high and as a single mare of good fortune, she must be in want of a stallion. However, she was mostly trying to spend time with friends, catching up with them rather then the repetitive complements from the fashion hanger-ons.

She also subconsciously was keeping an eye on Spike. The amount of effort that had gone to before the evening was almost being surpassed by the whelps routine checking and bidding on her auction. She would have to make sure their little evening together was special, without leading him on too much. The dragon may have grown-up a bit, but for the time being he was still just a friend.

On his next visit past the tables Spike out of curiosity had a look at the bids on the rest of the pony auctions. The bids for Celestia and Luna made his eyes water a little, and he was glad he could spend time with his 'grandmother' and 'cool kooky aunt' whenever he wanted.

Twilight had the highest bid out of their friends, not quiet the levels of the other two princesses but a respectable amount. Spike inwardly smiled at the thought and how happy Twilight would be. She had been very nervous about being involved in this, and that even being a Princess she would let the side down. Little did she know that she was just as well respected, and also considered a very attractive mare.

Rarity of course the highest of the non princesses, Spike’s own bids helping to quickly push up the price. Unsurprisingly, being a Wonderbolt and a national figure outside of the elements, Rainbow Dash had the next highest. Pinkie Pie and Applejack were earning a fair amount of attention as well.

But the last one made his heart sink - the amount bid on Fluttershy was just a pittance in comparison to everypony else. That was going to be an abject disaster when she found out at the end of the day. Fluttershy had to be gently persuaded to take part, her natural shyness overwhelming her desire to help, but had eventually agreed. If she was to be humiliated like this, it could really hurt her.

Spike just couldn't understand why. Apart from being a natural hero, Fluttershy was an ex model and if Spike was to rate his five friends in attractiveness (thinking about Twilight, his mother-cum-sister, that way would be weird) she was second behind the white goddess. How come she was last, and by some distance?

Spike stood at the edge of the hall and pricked up his ears, trying to make out all the conversations. The recent improvement in his dragon hearing allowed him to focus on each individual conversation, and over the course of a few minutes he heard the same thing mentioned by a number of ponies - she was too shy. The various stallions and such felt sorry that the bids on Fluttershy were so low, but didn't want to have a date with her fearing how awkward and painful it would be around the ultra-shy pegasus.

Spike began to fret - what could he do about it? Should he go find Twilight and tell her about it? But he didn't want to worry Twilight and what could she do anyway? Besides, he could solve this and urged himself to think.

He spotted a couple of friendly faces from Ponyville, including a pony whose name was on Fluttershy’s bidding list and the dragon rushed over to them “Hey Bulk, can I have quiet word? Actually, Thunderlane, do you have a moment two”

Taking the oversized pegasus and his friend to one side, Spike explained the situation. The pair agreed that having the bid so low would be a problem for Fluttershy, but there was a problem. “I can’t afford anything more than sixty bits.” Bulk Biceps lamented, whilst Thunderlane explained he had even less having already donated generally to the collection.

The bits Spike had weighed heavily around his neck, literally as well as figuratively. He sighed, knowing that he had no choice in the matter. A friend needed him, and he still might have enough bits for his bidding.

“Bulk, I’ll give you three hundred bits so you can bid higher, and Thunderlane can fake bid to help boost the price.”

“Spike, I …” Bulk tried to interrupt, but Spike raised a claw.

“Look, I know what you're going to say but it’s not for you, it’s for Fluttershy. We all know that she’s as fragile as she is strong.”

Bulk looked over to where the pony he secretly crushed on was chatting to Rainbow Dash. Spike was right - Fluttershy was a strong indpendent mare who could look after herself, but when it came to anything social she needed a helping hoof “Okay, but i’ll owe you one.”

“Erm, it can’t just be two of us running up the bids, we need at least somepony else to help make it look more realistic” Thunderlane mused.

Spike scanned the room, and saw another face he recognised, one that might be slightly less friendly but any port in a storm. He rushed across to where Discord was sweeping the dancefloor for some reason and practically dragged him over to where Bulk Biceps was, explaining the situation as he did.

“Discord, surely you can help out. You don’t want Fluttershy to be humiliated do you?”

“I…I think it may be a little weird for me to bid. Our friendship is...complicated” Discord replied very awkwardly, showing his vulnerable side.

Spike picked up on what those word actually mean, and patted the draconequus on one of his claws “Trust me when I say I understand”

The pair shared a look and in a moment connected. Both were non ponies in love with ponies. Both were significantly different ages to the one they loved. And both knew that the time they got to spend with their one true love as friends was as good as it could get.

“Spike, thank you.” Discord smiled. “I suppose I can help ‘run up’ the bidding as it were.”

Delighted, Spike quickly passed his own bits over to Bulk and the players to their play following the directions he had laid out.

From across the ballroom, Rarity had seen all this unfold, and knew something was up. Watching the trio start a small bidding war over the next half hour Rarity quickly guessed at what had happened, and smiled.

The gala had been going for a few hours, and there was about fifty minutes remaining before the end of the auction where the winners would be announced. There had been a bit of a flurry of activity around the tables when an hour to go was announced and Spike decided to check out the bids.

Spike checked on Fluttershy’s sheet, seeing Bulk at the top with what was now a reasonable bid. He smiled, knowing not only would that make Fluttershy happy that she raised money for charity, but that it might just need the push to get her and Bulk going out properly. With a little skip in his step, he decided to check on the one that really interested him.

Spike looked at Rarity's listing which had seen a couple of bids come in above his. And then he saw the amount against the latest - seven hundred and twenty bits. With the three hundred he had promised Bulk, he could no longer afford to bid. Time froze for a moment and Spike resisted the urge to howl out.

He had failed.

The one chance he had, and he had failed.

Spike shoulders slumped immediately, and he quickly walked away. Rarity noted the sudden change in Spike’s demeanour, and noted that for the first time he hadn't scribbled on her auction sheet. She knew what that meant, but had to be sure of her assumptions before acting. A little gentle flirting with a passing Stallion soon furnished her with Fluttershy’s bidding price and she knew Bulk Biceps could not afford that much. It was an assumption, but one she was sure of.

Seeing Spike sat alone at one side, Rarity excused herself from the conversation and sat down next to the dragon. “I know what you did for Fluttershy Spike.”

The whelp didn’t respond, so Rarity continued “I’m not allowed to look at my own auction...but you don’t have enough now do you?”

Spike turned away unable to look at Rarity, and shook his head slowly.

“Oh Spike!” Rarity's heart almost broke in two and placed a hoof on his shoulder.

“Please, leave me alone” Spike responded, with his back still to the unicorn.

Rarity withdrew her hoof, and slowly backed away. Suddenly, the magical evening seemed so much less so. Her good friend Spikey Wikey had built this evening up for months, working his claws off to earn those bits and now he wouldn’t get the prize he was after. And all for the greater good of protecting the feelings of one of his friends.

Rarity felt her emotions threatening to overwhelm her so she rushed into the little mares room. Sprinkling her face with water, carefully not to smudge her makeup, she tried to compose herself. She started to wonder how she could help. Perhaps she could use her own funds to subsidise Bulk?

But then she realised that would be a terrible thing to do to Spike. He was no baby dragon, but a young drake. A drake that had done a wonderful, mature thing and put a friends happiness above his own. Just like when he gave up being the Dragon Lord, Spike had given up his own interests on behalf of a friend. She couldn't take that sacrifice away from him.

Rarity had never felt so helpless.

Meanwhile, Princess Celestia had seen the dragon that she owed so much to sat alone at the side of the hall. She may not have been related to him in any biological way, but she was part of his family and her maternal instincts kicked in. A little too abruptly for a Princess she excused herself from the conversation she was a part of and rushed over to Spike, nearly tripping over her dress.

Asking what was wrong, after a little probing Spike came clean with everything that had happened. Celestia kept her calm and composed face as she talk, but did soften it a little towards the end. Spike finished up his story “So I have no chance of winning the date now.”

Princess Celestia knew that what had happened was in fact good for Spike, but she felt there was a duty to inform him of his options.

“You know Spike, you are a member of Equestrian Royalty” Seeing his face confused, she continued “Since you moved out of the castle and lived with Twilight, you have been accruing a small stipend. It’s not much each week, given your food and board were paid for and Twilight claimed some expenses for your treats.”

“So, I have money due to me? How much?”

“Well, I don’t know the exact amount, but it would easily be five hundred bits, maybe more.”

Spike’s eye lit up for a moment, but then faded “I haven’t earned those bits...no, I can't.”

“But Spike...”

“No, I earn my keep. I earn my treats. And I earned my bits for tonight. If it’s not enough, then I’ll have to try harder. To be the best I can be, for that's what she deserves.”

Celestia looked at the determination in Spike’s eyes and could almost imagine the Equestrian flag flowing in the background behind him. He was determined to win Rarity's heart and would not take the easy option to do so. Celestia brought Spike into a hug with both hooves and wings, and gently kissed the top of his head “I’m so proud of you Spike.”

Spike enjoyed the warm embrace of the Princess, reminding him of some of the wonderful times he enjoyed with her growing up. That may have been a few years ago, but Spike would never be too old to enjoy a hug from one of the first pony to love him.

“There’s no stipend is there?”

“No, but if you ever need bits, I would give you whatever you need.”

“I know...thank you.”