Intoxicating Scales

Rarity grumbled as she shifted on the sofa in the dark. Sighing and regretting being so distracted with the french toast and the discussion of an obscure book that she agreed to sleeping in different rooms. She still felt wide awake and no where near ready for rest.

Defeated, she dragged herself from it's plush surface, allowing her horn to softly glow as she traversed towards the staircase. Descending, she couldn't help but wonder what Sweetie was up to? Her friends? Spike.

She shook the thought out of her head. "You'll only hurt yourself with that." she seethed almost inaudibly.

Her hooves carried her across his garden, and back down the path she had come from. She intended to go back, though wandered without direction. The sky was blotched with onyx clouds, twinkles of stars barely able to escape the fray. As she passed the last oleander bush, the ambrosial scent of the flowers faded, replaced by the the fragrant dust and grass of typical PonyVille trails.

"I could go home," she whispered "I don't suppose I wouldn't really need the book anymore."

Her hoof-falls became heavier the closer she came to the Boutique, thankful for the tiredness so she could turn off her mind. Pinning back her ears when she thought of WolfBane waking up, only for her to be gone. He seemed like an easy stallion to lie to, she'd say she had forgotten business. Her close friends would even believe that one, she was nearly a household name at this point.

A twinge of guilt stung inside her chest. What was the real reason she was traveling back at night? Alone.

She broke into a jog, as if to escape her own thoughts, tired legs plodding against roads and grass. Her vision began to gray as it evolved into a gallop, uncaring that she must've chipped a hoof kicking up stones. Tail billowing behind her, glowing softly as rays of moonlight caressed it.

She was unaware where she stopped, or that she'd toppled over. Her body and mind demanded rest, and she willing allowed herself to shut down. It was an ironic tragedy that she would miss this summers most beautiful, golden dawn. Which ignited the crystals of the castle in front of her, oceans of shimmering light caressing her body as she curled up at the foot of the stairs.

The unicorn awoke, startled to find herself in a firm bed with a downy purple blanket. Stretching and yawning, she flinched when she heard claws clicking against hard floor. Rubbing her eyes, she pried them wide enough to see all of her surroundings- to which all the blood in her body froze.

Spike stood in the doorway, head sheepishly peaking in. "Sorry Rare, didn't mean to scare you. Just wanted to check and make sure you were okay."

She did her best to meet his eyes, but she couldn't fully. "O-Oh thank you dear."

The drake offered her a grin sweeter than honey, "Did you need anything? More time to wake up? Some water and breakfast?"

"All of that, if it wouldn't be any trouble," she sleepily drawled, "Spike darling, can you tell me why I'm here?"

The dragon furrowed his brows, "We were hoping you could tell us. I found you sleeping by the stairs and carried you inside when I couldn't wake you. I put you up in Starlight's old room- she's collected everything but the bed and a few little things."

"Good heavens, I don't remember even coming here, I was sleeping over at WolfBane's-" Spike winced at this name, but his face was still cloaked with sympathy. "And then I woke up here."

"Don't worry about it and rest up some more if you need it, me 'n Twilight will figure out what's going on."

"I can't thank you enough, you really are a gem."

The drake rolled his eyes but gave a wide smile, "Anything for you, Rare."

As he left the room, she rubbed her pulsating marehood to calm it down. Blushing and burying her head under a pillow, her tail twitched, swishing under the covers. It had been a considerable time now that it hurt like this, she clenched her jaw as her traced the area in circles, the coolness of her pajamas a true blessing.

This time was different, however. Instead of images of them salaciously tangled, his compassionate eyes and grin flashed through her mind. A fantasy where she went down and cooked breakfast for him and talked about how he'd been feeling lately and thanking him for going through all the trouble-

"Am I really that lonely?" she mumbled into a pillow. "Come on Rarity, pull yourself together."

The pain in her nethers slowly died down, moving up to her heart instead. She curled tighter under the blanket, coldness enveloping her body. She raised an ear when she heard multiple sets of hooves clomping down the hallway. Easily picking out voices.

Two hooves clicked in the doorway, planted with precision. "Looks like she went back to sleep." Twilight.

"Poor dear," a soft voice cooed, hooves brushing against eachother. Fluttershy. "I have no idea what happened, he was gone when I went to check."

The next voice was accompanied by the flapping of wings. Rainbow. "Must've been pretty bad. Rarity doesn't run from anything, have to give her credit for that."

"Pinkie!" Twilight growled at the the hooves who swiftly scrapped the floor beside her.

"Sorry Twi, I just wanted to make sure she looked okay," the mare tsked, "It's worse than I thought. She's curled up like a little teeney-tiny caterpillar miserably hiding from snow in winter. That position is reserved for her worst days."

"Is she going to be okay?" chorused a voice with calculated hoof steps. Sweetie?

"Don't you worry none, she'll be fine," consoled a voice furthermost from the group. AppleJack. "Whatever happened, I know she's strong an' will bounce back.

Her muzzle scrunched as ambivalence flooded her. An arctic blast of guilt fought with a heatwave of relief. A smile crept up on her face.

"Everpony!" Spike quietly chastised, "She won't be able to rest properly with all of you talking in the doorway."

Reluctant sighs and clamoring of hooves faded away from her.

"Sorry," the drakes whispered, "Sleep well, and know we'll help you get better after whatever happened."

She mouthed thank you into the mattress, the grin spreading wider as trickles of warmth ran through her. Healing some of her sadness as she loosened her form.

"Just know you're appreciated and I will always be here, even if no one else is," the claws began to click away, "I'm sorry I haven't visited, that'll change."

Rarity allowed herself to slip back into a deep slumber. Splaying out on the bed like a starfish and nuzzling the pillow in her arms.

Upon waking again, it only took her a few moments to be fully awake. Cantering down stairs with purpose, mane and tail in sloppy buns. The late afternoon sun brilliantly illuminating patches of crystal on her walk. She bashfully entered the kitchen, looking around and swiveling her ears to detect any sound. Frowning when she didn't pick up anything, and retreating.

"Spike? Twilight?" she called, "I am ever so grateful for your hospitality, I do hope I wasn't of any inconvenience?"

Furrowing her brows, she checked both of their bedrooms and the study. "Well I know it's not a school day. Where would every one have gone?"

She ultimately decided to go back to the kitchen, pouring herself some strawberry cereal and waiting. "I'll reimburse her an enter box to make up for this," she moaned flatly.

"Rarity?" Spike called, footfalls coming closer to her location.

The unicorn dropped her spoon. Hastily picking it back up and gaining her composure. She sighed, growling at herself under her breath.

"Sorry, I didn't realize you'd woken up," he shyly grinned, "Did you sleep well?"

Shuffling in her seat, she nodded. "I really did, thank you dear. Have we solved the mystery yet?"

The drake shook his head, "Not yet. None of us have been able to find WolfBane. Fluttershy hopes he's out looking for you, I'd imagine he's worried sick." He avoided her gaze as he said this.

"Perhaps. Gracious, I hope this isn't my fault and I've hurt somepony else with my rashness."

"What do you mean?"

"O-Oh, um, perhaps later dear," she tapped the table with her hooves. "I heard some voices earlier?"

"Shoot, I knew they were being too loud and responded too late." he growled.

"They didn't interrupt my slept dear, but thank you for leading them away. Truth is I haven't been sleeping well recently."

"Would you like some coffee with your cereal while we talk about that? You like yours with two parts milks and a spoon of sugar, right?"

She couldn't help but giggle, "Why yes. How have you remembered that? I can't remember the last time I've even had coffee with you nearby."

"If I'm good for one thing, it's remembering the little things." he shrugged, preparing a pot.

"Spike. Your good for much more than that, though that is rare to find these days."

"Hm? Like what?"

She cleared her throat, "You exemplify not only all the Elements, but you are understanding, empathetic, thoughtful, and resourceful. And that's only getting started."

He chuckled, "Alright, I get it."

"H-How did the date go with Sweetie, by the way?"

He was silent for a moment, before sighing. "It was good and all but, Rarity, can I be honest with you?"

"I wouldn't have it any other way."

"I can only see the two of us being friends. Just because we make good friends doesn't mean we'd make a good couple, you know? Especially since I'm still hung up over someone else. Throughout our date I couldn't help but think about her. It's not fair to her if I'm not fully invested."

She felt another part of herself break, though it was only a crack compared to canyons she'd felt recently.

"Oh? That's actually pretty insightful and mature, darling."

"Really? I keep worrying I'm being a jerk and am just going to hurt her. I suppose when we care about someone, we have to face the reality they'll hurt us in one way or another, but I didn't want it to be like this."

"Spike, never feel like you have to with hold how you truly feel from anyone. So long as you are respectful, she'll understand."

"But there's more..." he grumbled, setting down a hot cup in front of her.

"I apologize dear, go on."

"I know it's not fair, but what if I can't get with the...creature I mentioned? Like, it's entirely impossible? And is she, or someone else wants to be with me, am I being awful still being with them?"

She attempted to mouth words, but just gaped like a fish.

"I'm sorry, I know that sounds like a very childish problem. Perhaps I deserve to be alone."

"No darling. Look, so long as you communicate that to them beforehand, I think it's okay. And feelings do fade dear. I know it sure doesn't feel like it, but I'm sure whoever this is, I can assure you won't be able to remember them in a few years. I promise. Nothing helps better with that process than love however, you aren't bad for missing someone."

He nodded with a blank stare. "You said you hadn't been sleeping well, though?"

"Oh yes, that."

"Any particular reason? Odd dreams perhaps?"

"Actually, yes. Mind you this may sound odd, but I'll try my best. I had one where I was trapped in a kaleidoscope, and all the colors were too bright. As the patters turned they played this awful cacophony of sounds that made my eardrums feel like they were bursting. And both in the dream and in real life I could feel my heart hammering in my chest and I couldn't breathe."

The dragon rubbed his chin, taking a sip of his coffee. "This is just a theory, but it sounds a like a panic attack. From what Twilight's said recently it sounds like you've been stressed, which adds more evidence to that."

"In my sleep?Is that possible?"

"Happens to me every once in a while, it's really scary, but a little less each time it happens."

Her ears drooped at this. "Spike," she cooed, "Has anything been wrong recently?"

"I don't think you'd understand and wouldn't want to trouble you with my problems anyway." he said, getting up.

"You wouldn't be troubling me at all dear. In fact I am upset now that I know a calamity has befallen you, and if you don't tell me what it is, my imagination will do the work."

"Alright," he sighed, sitting back down. "I don't know how to say this."

"Take your time dear. I'm here for you."

Just as he opened his mouth, they heard a collection of hooves and voices approaching. Rustling of bags could be heard, all bearing chipper tones.

"Another time then." he grinned, "You still need cheering up, I can wait."