Buffing the Diamonds

Rarity stared at the doors before her with trepidation. She had faced many a foe in her long years: various dangerous creatures, the occasional megalomaniac villain, and a few rounds of saving the world from ending. The fashion industry had posed many challenges as well, but she overcame them all to become an icon; a pillar of innovation and taste that nopony could ignore or surpass. Well they could, they’d just look dreadful trying. Magazines and catwalks everywhere had her likeness presented in clear display. She was a paragon of success and fortune..

Well. Except for the doctor who informed her that she needed to curtail her eating habits and get proper exercise, lest she succumb to becoming...diabetic.

It was why she was standing before the gym of the crystal castle, the final doorway between her and at least an hour of struggle with weights and cardio training. It was not a militaristic regimen the doctor had suggested, but something that he encouraged to stave off the looming reality of her health hitting a decline she wanted to avoid at all costs. Rarity had considered herself to actually manage a decent diet, but she could see how the back to back entrees and sweet treats at post-show parties could take their toll. Curse those sweets and their deliciousness!

“You’re stalling, Rarity,” she muttered to herself, steeling her will and opening the door. The gym wasn’t overly large, able to accommodate perhaps twenty ponies before it would feel crowded. It was intended to be small, as the guard platoon assigned to the crystal castle wasa small force. Some would argue one could go bigger, but when it’s the residence and place of gathering for some of the most powerful and influential ponies in Equestria, it isn’t as needed as one might imagine.

The walls were painted a basic egg white with a few streaks of red or purple coloring here and there, a small flair of change that was reflected best in the crystalline surface she gazed at. The layout of the machines was simple enough to divide into quarters: treadmills for running in place, weights and dumbbells for lifting, punching bags hanging from crystal chains above a firm looking black mat. The last corner was empty, save for another black mat, but she presumed that was reserved for stretching or yoga . Rarity made her way there first, setting her small gym bag and water bottle on a bench before looking down at the mat.

“Flexibility is always a must in any venture. I should stretch first,” she told herself, mentally reviewing her planned path and electing the stretches as most essential. Looking down at her body, Rarity felt some degree of relief that at least her supposed bad diet hadn’t harmed her appearance too much. Her attire, consisting of a sports bra and track pants both matching in a colored blend of blue and light purple, hugged her figure in just the best, snug way she designed them to. It bore no aura of sensuality, she admitted, but it still looked good on her. The satisfaction took a small veer when gazing at her navel, the once slim belly now having given way to a small pudge of fat. It reminded her of what she needed to accomplish, and further delay wouldn’t do at all.

She started with her upper body first, a simple forward, back, left, then right motion of her head to loosen up the neck muscles and work on circulation. Her mane, a rich purple with a greyish-white streak piercing through it, swayed in it’s ponytail behind her as she moved, batting her lower back when she came to a stop. Then her arms followed, forming a T-shape pointing left as she felt her muscles come to life, the mild sting of effort waking them to what she was doing. Rarity held the position for several seconds, feeling the joints of her arm and pectoral start to whine before she released it, swapping arms to give it’s twin the same treatment.

“You would think a guard or two would be here.” She mused aloud to herself. It was a little off-putting, being in there on her own. She knew that with her and the other Elements having come to the castle to catch up and spend time together, they’d likely be at their posts. Tartarus, just getting Twilight anywhere now required at least six of them to be near her at all times. “Or maybe they heard one of the Elements was in the gym, and thought it was Applejack or Rainbow. Those two are still ruffians even at our age.”

The age comment came back to bite her as she leaned forward to spread her legs out on either side of herself, the smallest twinge of protest coming from the small of her back as she leaned to one side, putting the effort on her squatting leg while letting her left stretch out. “Oof!” she grunted out, wincing as she came back up after just a few seconds to rub at her back. “Come now, darling. We have to do this. Better to bite the bridle now than in a bed of tubes and regret.”

Her reasoning went unanswered, letting her mind wander once more as she spread her feet a little further apart, then started leaning forward. She continued until she felt the tug on her hamstrings, the dull sensation persisting and growing as she held the pose. Rarity’s thoughts occupied her awareness; her friends would certainly make this whole room less quiet.

Pinkie would be doing impossible stretches to defy the laws of reality. Applejack and Rainbow would be trying to outdo one another, ratcheting up their competition to the point their sexual tension would snap like a twig under their feet. Fluttershy would keep to herself, though she might struggle with how blessed her figure was if she wore the same attire as Rarity had. Twilight would have two, no, three books levitating nearby to look for the best theory on exercising properly, ready to correct or answer anyone’s open musing on the subject. The fashionista couldn’t hide her smile at the mental image she’d built. And Spike would…

Spike.

Rarity’s lips fell from their smile to a small frown, further strained by her protesting muscles. She only needed a few more seconds, and then she’d let go. Just a little longer. A little more…

“Rarity, is that you?”

The male voice snapped Rarity from her thoughts, making her stumble forward and fall on her face. She groaned, shifting onto her side to right herself and moving her hair out of her face as she looked up. Her blue eyes stared up as the shadowed male stood there before moving forward. When he came into view properly, Rarity did a double take.

“...Spike? Spikey-wikey?”

“That’s a nickname I’ve not heard in awhile. Most of the time, it’s just Spike.” He stepped closer, the bright light above him being shadowed out by his form. He was smiling, his green eyes alight with humor as he held her gaze. “Kinda surprised to see you here, of all places, Rarity. You need a hand?” He questioned, extending a hand to her. She took it, noting how small her hand seemed in comparison with his bulkier own. All of him was bigger, something she could better see now that she stood before him. He stood a whole head taller than her!

“Thank you, darling. Spike, you’ve...I swear, you’ve gotten bigger than when we last met!” She exclaimed, looking him up and down. His attire was casual enough for a gym visit, a pair of darkened grey sweatpants and a sleeveless t-shirt. His light purple scales and green fins atop his head were prominent as always, looking healthy and polished. The “bigger” comment didn’t just seem to apply to his height; the brief glance to his folded arms showed more muscle in his biceps and forearms than what she recalled. “It’s been ages, it feels like.”

“Well, being an ambassador between the Dragon Lands, the Crystal Empire, and Canterlot keeps me moving around a lot. I know I’ve missed a few meetings here and there, so that’s probably why you haven’t seen me.” He replied. His sharpened teeth flashed in his smile, looking at her. “Work keeps one busy.”

A twitch of awareness suddenly balled up in Rarity’s stomach, but she kept her composure before him. Politeness was next to goddess-ness, she was told. “Indeed it does. I’ve been so wrapped up lately, these visits are my true break away from things, it feels like. I admit, I must seem a touch out of place here alone, in the gym.”

“For sure. Your usual hangout is at the work desk, or on a runway. A sweaty gym? You used to bolt away from the mere idea.”

Rarity managed a small titter. “Yes, well...I’m here on doctor’s orders, in fact. As it turns out, a diet of treats and drinks at fashion galas is not the way to good health. He insisted I take on some exercise, for my well-being to improve lest I succumb to unpleasant ends.”

Spike offered a sympathetic look. “Ouch. That’s rough, Rarity. But good on you for taking the initiative.” He told her before glancing past her and around. “The other guards must be out on exercise drills. You’d usually have at least four of them in here at a time. Guess it’s just us, huh?”

Just the two of them. Alone. No one else. Rarity’s mind sparked and she was stuck for a moment on what to say. How could he be so calm, so welcoming, in spite of everything?

“Y-yes. Well, I’ll try to at least not be in the way. I was just finishing stretching before trying out...oh...perhaps that one?” She pointed to the nearby shoulder press machine.

“That’s a good place to start. I have my own routine to do.” Spike said, nodding at another set of machines on the other side of the room. “If you need a spotter or something, just ask, ok?” At her nod, he turned and walked over to a machine with it’s seat in an odd position, at least to Rarity’s perspective. Of course, it made more sense once the mare saw him draw his legs in before starting to move the leg press machine in a steady, paced motion up and down.

“Right. Yes. Let’s exercise.” She told herself, as if urging herself to move away from the taller drake. It took her a minute to orient herself into position, having to adjust the seat for her smaller frame compared to the average guard. After picking what she felt was an appropriate weight for her to start with, she took hold of the bars on either side of her head and pushed up. Her muscles protested at the sudden effort, but she pushed through, lifting it up and squeezing a grunt out through her clenched lips before bringing it down, the weights settling with a clack once she’d stopped.

One rep. And Spike was already on his fifth.

She had an easy view of the drake from her seat, being treated to the sight of his frame continuing to push and relax in practiced motions. His sweatpants didn’t do much to illustrate any muscle beneath them, but if Rarity had to guess from the stack of metal plates that moved in tandem with his efforts, he was hefting quite the weight. Her cheeks colored as she envisioned seeing his bare scales under the pants, legs coiled with muscle that stretched and flared as he worked out.

Then came back the guilt. The reminder of the past. Rarity’s hands tightened their grip on the bar and pulled down hard, almost too hard as a metal CLANG rang out; she’d pulled with enough force to make the weights crash into the top of the slot. Her surprise made her almost drop them back down, but she caught them and steadied herself. She could manage to right herself physically, but mentally, she was still stricken.

“Go easy on yourself, Rarity.” Spike’s voice called out, making her attention snap forward from the floor to the dragon across the room. “It’s your first time, right? If you overdo it, you might hurt yourself.”

“O-of course. You’re right, darling.” She replied, forcing a smile to her lips. “Just...eager to pump up!” His eyes lingered on her for a moment before he went back to work, and Rarity sighed.

‘Get a grip on yourself! You can survive the harshest critics of Canterlot, but one drake makes you whimper?’ The determined voice pushed Rarity on, and she found herself adopting a similar method as Spike demonstrated with the leg press. Up and down, smooth motions that weren’t rushed but level in pace, she could feel the strain upon her shoulders. But it was a good burning sensation that egged her on; she could handle this. She could do this!

A few reps passed before she stopped, resting for a moment to breathe. Spike carried on, no doubt surpassing her count by many a bound. He hardly even seemed winded at all, despite his efforts; how much exercise did this drake considered to be normal? She was left to ponder this while he changed to another machine, this one looking like just another seat but with weights attached to the side. However, the intent became clear when he started to move again, leaning forward and lifting his legs up, moving the weights in tandem with himself. It was like some kind of seated sit-up, and Rarity paused from her second round to observe.

Just like the leg press, Spike’s body bore little trouble with the exertion, even as she could see a bead of sweat slide down his cheek from the green spines atop his head to his chin. It made her feel warm just to see his effort on display, forcing her to swallow and finish her set quickly to move on. He shouldn’t affect her so; it was just...surprising to see him be so athletic! Yes, that was all. He’d gone from wiry to built since she’d last seen him, if the bulk of his muscles told her anything.

“Yes. Now focus, Rarity. You can’t beat diabetes on wishful thinking alone.” She told herself aloud before moving to an open space with exercise mats. One of the main exercises she knew she needed to do were ones for her middle; she had no qualms with any mare or stallion who didn’t bear a firm abdomen, but in the realm of fashion, one had standards to keep to. It wouldn’t do for her to not be at her best. With a sigh, she settled down on her back and brought her arms behind her head, assuming what she considered to be a normal, standard crunch position.

The burn of her abdomen wasn’t as prominent or strong as she’d hoped by the time she got to her twentieth crunch, and was still missing by the thirtieth. Her neck, however, was protesting a fair amount which led her to stop and rest on the floor, her gaze centered upwards. “This really is going to be difficult. Curse those buffets!”

The light above her was blocked out when Spike leaned into view, a touch of concern on his face. Directed at her, she felt herself shrink a little under his stare. “Spikey?”

“It’s your neck, isn’t it?” He asked.

“How did you...yes, it is, but that’s just my muscles doing more work, isn’t it? I rarely ever exercise my neck. I think, at least.” She told him.

Spike shook his head, a chuckle leaving his lips. He knelt beside her, his knees beside her head before he continued. “Your neck hurts when you’re doing it wrong. Sorry, Rarity. Do you want a helping hand, maybe?”

“I suppose you’re the better expert, if the way you handle those weights tells me anything. What do I need to do, darling?”

He answered by bringing a hand forward, sliding it behind her head and making Rarity’s eyes shoot forward and away from his face. His talons just barely scratched against her scalp, weaving through her mane to hold her head before she relaxed and let him move her. She felt him move her head, the unicorn’s chin coming to rest against the top of her chest, listening as Spike explained.

“Your neck’s hurting because you’re putting all the strain on letting it lay back like that. It takes a little work to keep it here,” he paused to tap the back of his fingers against her head, “where your chin meets your chest. But doing this takes that strain off, and makes it easier on you too. Go ahead, try it.”

It took a moment to orient herself, as it meant moving out of Spike’s grasp, but she obeyed. The lift up and pause at the crux of the crunch made her abdomen pang from the effort, but it wasn’t echoed by her neck. She smiled and fell back, finding her head resting again in his waiting palm.

“Oh, that’s much better! I was afraid my head might slip off.” She joked, urging a chuckle from the drake above her. “Thank you, Spikey.”

“No problem. Do you want me to spot you? It takes a little getting used to.” He offered.

Rarity swallowed and nodded. She could handle this, it was just...friendly cooperation! That’s all. Yes. “If you don’t mind, dear. I don’t want to take away from your own time for little old me.”

“You’re hardly old, Rarity. Or little. If you put on a set of heels, you’re as tall as me, you know.” He joked to her, bringing a giggle out of the unicorn. She started up the process again, finding it easier to handle the continuous motion now that her neck wasn’t impeding her. Every few reps though, she felt herself start to slip only to have Spike catch and correct her. He was gentle every time with her, polite and courteous. It was delightful to have him be so attentive to her. So kind.

The tear-stricken face of a younger Spike walking through her boutique’s doors flashed through her mind. Voice croaking, shoulders sagged, eyes downcast.

Rarity’s whole body gave a jerk when she came back down from that rep, making her stop and catch herself. Her heart was hammering in her chest, regret and guilt piercing through her form from her mind and down her spine and throughout her being. It was an intense sensation that left her paralyzed, looking up at the grown up Spike before her, who looked back with genuine concern.

“Rarity? Hey. Rarity, look at me.” He said, leaning in closer.

“Huh? Yes. I’m fine. I’m fine.” She insisted quickly. “Just...shocked! It’s so much work!”

“Uh-huh. Nothing else hurting? No bad pains?”

“No, not at all. Well, perhaps my abdomen, but that’s the point, right? No pain, no gain?”

“Believe me that that phrase is not what it’s cracked up to be.” He told her. “There’s not much to gain from pain.”

“Yes, well. I’m fine darling, really. It’s ok.” She told him. As much as she insisted, his emerald eyes still shone with concern. Concern Rarity felt she didn’t deserve, most of all from him. “I-I might just need some water? Where’s the bottle I brought with me?”

Spike nodded, letting her head lay back against the mat - still as gentle a drake as he had been - before going to her bag where the bottle had been left and bringing it back to her. She popped the top of it and took a healthy swig of the water within, kept cool thanks to a minor enchantment on the plastic. It helped soothe her a little, if only just.

“There. Better?”

“Somewhat. Forgive me, dear, you’ve been attending to me. You have your own workout you surely wish to do?”

“I could. But just make sure you don’t hurt yourself, ok? I’m here for you.” His reassurance earned a nod from the mare before he stood up again and moved back to his machines, leaving Rarity to watch him walk away while she laid on the ground. She watched him for a minute more, the drake settling into the shoulder press machine like she’d done before. Only he handled it with much more certainty and strength than she did, if the weight counter was any indicator.

Rarity did get herself to move, rolling onto her front to take up another of the machine-less exercises: push-ups. These were a little less difficult, once she had her footing down right and found her rhythm. Every few passes though, she’d chance a glance over to Spike, to see how he was doing. He exerted effort with only a few grunts and sounds coming from his end, the only other sound to fill her ears beyond her own exercise. Her arms ached when she’d hold herself up to watch him, but a part of her persisted in wanting to see him exercise.

Rarity had seen and dated many a stallion in her lifetime; ponies of every sort and shape, from the unique to perhaps even plain. Everypony has a different flavor, after all. But Spike was a wholly different field, in comparison. The few men she’d dated who considered themselves to be “strong” or “healthy” seemed to pale before the drake. His arms would flex as he worked the shoulder press, the muscles twitching and giving a small show of swelling before relaxing as he did at the end of a rep. There was scarcely an ounce of fat on his form, it seemed like, but she could hardly judge that from this vantage.

Her arms protested more, and Rarity looked away to bring herself down to rest on the floor. The relief made her sigh, and she rose up to try something different. Maybe a pair of the small dumbbells like Spike was going for, although his were much larger and no doubt heavier. Rarity picked up her water bottle, sipping from it again and closing her eyes as the cool relief ran down her tongue and into herself. When she opened her eyes again to look to the only other occupant of the gym, her jaw slipped open as she stared.

Spike had thrown off his shirt, in his fervor of exercise, and revealed that his fitness extended far beyond merely his arms. It was like looking upon a body cut from marble, chiseled to perfection. From the large, firm pectorals all the way down to a four pack of muscle on his abdomen, there was no flaw, nothing lacking. His scales reflected the light from the ceiling above to show he kept himself clean, despite the sweat starting to now dot his form as he continued to workout.

He had a controlled pace, practiced and steady of lifting and lowering a dumbbell with each arm. Her scrutinizing eye could make out the bulge of a vein along his bicep as he lifted, only for it to relax as he lowered and swapped arms. Rarity’s tongue licked her lips as she found herself entranced by his efforts. Only when he stopped moving and spoke did she snap out of it, having completely stopped doing anything except observe the marvelous specimen before her.

“Surprised to see how much weight I can move?” He asked.

“Uh. Y-yes. You’ve...certainly grown stronger.” She replied. The unicorn forced a swallow as he lifted an arm, flexing it a little and making something in her core tingle in a way that it hadn’t for some months. He was so...built!

“The fruits of my labor, haha.” Spike replied, lowering his arm and nodding at her. “You’re losing water, by the way.”

“I am?” She certainly felt like she was plenty hydrated. Plenty of places...perspiring, that usually didn’t.

“Your water bottle. Its top came off.”

Rarity looked down and saw a small steady drip of water flowing out from her uncapped bottle, making her fumble to close it while Spike just chuckled. He offered nothing further, but retained the smile. Rarity’s cheeks burned, but his happy expression didn’t deter her; it only fueled further the shuffling in her stomach between attraction and guilt. It was wrong of her to just stare at him like that. But could anypony blame her? She found no answer in her thoughts, and focused back on her exercise, all the while stealing glances at the muscle-bound drake nearby.

“C’mon Rarity, you got this. Push it!”

“I’m trying! It’s just...oof!”

The gym was filled with the sounds of struggle and metal clanking in place, the source coming from Rarity with Spike looking on. The rower machine was a tough one for the fashionista, as it seemed to be working over all of her body. It was one she’d avoided at first, but Spike’s insistence on covering all her bases made her cave. She’d started at his recommendation, and was doing alright, at least in the beginning. But now she was feeling the burn, from her legs to her core and all around. Sweat ran down her neck and back, while she did her best to maintain the right pace and posture.

“Easy, remember your breathing. You got this.”

Spike’s encouragement should’ve been helping, but more and more, Rarity found a duality that was wreaking havoc on her mind. Each moment of kindness he expressed, every helpful hand he gave, should’ve left her smiling and feeling happy, delighted even. But it was tainted with the pain of guilt, woven into her emotions as tightly as the fabric of her workout bra she was wearing. There were times that she’d retire to her room, weary and exhausted, but full of the will to scream into her pillows had she the air in her lungs. It was a back and forth tug that was leaving her at wit’s end.

Further amplifying her irritation was the slow progress she was making with her exercises. She had been hoping that her efforts would reward her with more than sore limbs and lost energy after a week’s time spent going at it. Rarity knew that she had a ways to go, but shouldn’t some degree of progress be showing? Couldn’t her waist tighten up a little more, or her belly become a bit more taut? The lack of progress taunted her, like a persistent reminder of the bad habits and choices that’d come back around to nip at her heels.

It all boiled within her, waiting for something to erupt, her will to crack. But she fought back, almost snarling at the rowing machine’s grip she held onto as she pulled back on it for another rep. The elongated pull made the machine give a small whir of noise as the rope extended, before she relented and returned back down. It made her body burn, but that was the point, wasn’t it? “How many...more?” she grunted out to him.

“Five more. You got this.” His hand rested on her back, gentle, assuring. She pulled back, winding the rope again.

The same palm on her back had belonged to a begging drake years ago, adamant on seeking a recourse for him and her. And she had said no. Her fingers slipped, but she held onto the grip and finished another rep. Her lungs burned, as water tugged at the corners of her eyes. Did it sting with the sweat of her effort, or the pain of the past?

“I believe in you, Rarity.”

She got to the end of her rep, and it was then that her grip failed her. Too focused on venting her frustration out on the machine, unaware of what was happening, Rarity reared back again but now without a grip to balance her. The sudden jolt of motion caught her by surprise, making her fall back and off the machine, bumping into Spike’s leg as she came to the floor and stopped. She stayed there, a crumpled heap of sore limbs and sweat, and it was then that she erupted. It wasn’t a noisy eruption, but the sobs that left her muzzle were as loud as fireworks in the empty gym.

He was there in a moment, pulling her up and helping to right the mare. Rarity had no will to stop him, almost curling up into a ball as he assisted her. Spike was gentle, lifting her and helping the unicorn find a bench to rest on. When she did, she held onto his arm, keeping him there. She shuddered, letting out a breath of exhaustion that prompted Spike to speak.

“Easy, Rarity. Did you hurt yourself?” He asked.

“No. No. I…” she started to say, ready to once again push down her feelings, but the noises that escaped her ruined the attempt.

“Spike…” Rarity choked back a sob, refusing to look up at the dragon who sat beside her hunched over form, “...I-I’m so sorry.”

“Rarity, it’s ok, we all have rough times. I know it’s not easy to cope with the doctor’s words, but it’ll work out and-”

“Not that!” She exclaimed, her voice louder in the empty gym as her emotions took hold of her. “I...Spike.” Rarity calmed herself as best she could, willing herself to finally lift her head and look to the drake’s face. “Spike, I...I hurt you. All those years ago. When we...when I...”

She couldn’t bring herself to finish the sentence, and Spike did not chance trying to help her. He folded his hands together, staying beside her on the floor. There it was, finally. The figurative elephant in the room that had been there since she’d seen him walk in. She would almost give anything for anypony to walk in right now, even if they saw the mess she was looking like, if just to get her out. To hide from it like she’d done for the past few years.

“I remember.”

Spike’s soft intoning was like a strike to Rarity’s heart, making her gaze fall to the floor. Her feet weren’t willing to move, no matter how bad she’d like to have run.

“I do as well. I...it has never left my memory.”

Quiet fell between them, perhaps both wanting to give the other a chance to speak first, but holding on to be polite. It burned in the air, sparks of frustration as the right words to say continued to elude the unicorn. Her fingers clenched onto one another, as if to squeeze the words she needed from some imaginary fruit.

“Spike, I’m so sorry I-”

“You don’t have to do this to yourself-”

They both started, looking to one another. Hearing the other made them stop, holding their opposite’s gaze from emerald to blue and back. It was Spike who broke the stalemate first, tilting his head to the right a little.

“Please. You first.”

Given the chance to finally act, Rarity’s heart hammered in her chest. How can she say it? How to properly address years of tension, ages of unspoken and unresolved sorrow that she was responsible for? How could she? And how could Spike look at her and still smile that damned wonderful smile she didn’t deserve to see?

“I...I did wrong. By you.” Rarity felt the words leave her, and though she spoke softly, Spike was all ears as she continued. “We were together all those years ago. And things were so...so wonderful. For once, we weren’t beating away a villain every week, or some social problem of friendship. We were living life. My boutique was growing in popularity. Twilight was still learning the ins and outs of being a world leader.”

Spike nodded. “She still doesn’t get it down perfect. The last time she invited a kirin ambassador, she had to work out a system of communication just to make sure there wasn’t misunderstandings or accidental fire bursts.” He told her. “Imagine trying to have a talk about politics and there’s just this random fireman pony in the wings.”

The humor was in Spike’s tone, but Rarity could not partake as she continued. “But just when things were going so well, I...I made a mistake. I thought that I had to put my priority upon my work, my fashion, to keep myself at number one. It cost me many things. Time with friends. Public events I was invited to.” She paused to steady herself, exhaling a shaky breath of air. “...relationships I should’ve paid more heed to.”

Spike didn’t correct her, leaving Rarity to feel like she’d hammered the nail on that particular piece well enough. “I broke off our relationship. For the sake of chasing a dream that did well to lift me to the upper echelons of society. But the cost of that, to sacrifice what I had...what we had.” She stopped to close her eyes, bringing a hand to her face as she felt wetness well in the corner of her eye. “It is the single biggest regret I have had in my life. Worse than any other.”

Quiet again. Her words hung between them, Rarity finding some semblance of courage to carry on when he didn’t respond. She didn’t dare try to reach out to him, deathly afraid that she’d open her eyes and would be reaching out to nothing but air. But her heart pressed her onwards.

“I tried to move on. I tried to tell myself it was the right decision, for the both of us. I swung myself into work with all the might I could muster. The ensembles never seemed to end, and I fed their greedy machines of money and showmanship with everything I had. I had flings with ponies I once considered untouchable, fleeting moments of passion I thought could stymie the regret I carried. But they were merely sparks outside the fire I was hiding away from.” She took a breath and continued, scarcely missing a beat. Her eyes remained closed, unwilling to look.

“They were nothing. And I knew it. I could hide myself in my work, flaunting my ability and keeping the true Rarity behind the famous mask she’d made for herself. The smiling mare on the magazine covers and at every fashion show? An illusion. A lie I had to make so nopony would know that beneath it all, a broken mare lay there, tormented by her mistakes. And Spike, I just...I-I’m so sorry!” Sobs escaped her as tears trickled down both sides of her face. “I don’t deserve to be forgiven, but I must say it! I must! I’m so sorry for what I did!”

She cried, quiet and curled into herself as she covered her face. Even without worrying for her makeup running, she knew she would look awful if she moved her hands away. But with it all out and open, the wound exposed to the air, she could not help but to let her grief out. Spike said nothing, and she felt truly alone. He must have left when she started talking, not wanting to hear her out. She’d driven him away again, she had failed again -

A large hand rested on her shoulder, firm in its grasp before she was pulled towards a warm if sturdy surface. A pair of arms enveloped her form, as a head came to rest atop hers, letting her hide her face against soft scaled skin.

“I forgive you.” Spike whispered to her. Her ear flicked at the feeling of him being so close, but she couldn’t believe it.

“W...w-what?”

“I forgive you, Rarity. It’s alright. Let it all out.”

“How?” she whispered back, into his chest. “Why? You...you should be upset at me. Enraged! I deserve it, I deserve it for what I did!”

His embrace tightened, if only for a moment, before relaxing as she held onto him. Her fingers pressed against his chest, feeling the firm muscle beneath. There was a strength to him she didn’t recognize before.

“I’ll tell you both how and why. But only when you’re ready to listen. Right now, you need to just...let it all out. It’s ok.” Spike replied. “I’m here.”

The floodgates surged open, and she wept into his chest. She wept for the lost time, the broken heart she suffered and no doubt him as well. She wept for the years gone and lost to the whims of work and life, time spent without his presence. Rarity didn’t think to how long it took, but by the time she could stop, and her body had eased enough, she found it was easy to just lay there in his embrace. She would sniffle, but if he was bothered at all, he made no motion to stop her. When the unicorn finally lifted her head, she was certain she looked a mess if the dots of teardrops on his shirt were any indicator. It took two attempts to steady herself, the first leaving her gasping for air a little after such a long cry, but the second let her find some degree of composure.

“...thank you, Spike.” She murmured, looking up to him. He nodded, and held up a small towel for her to take and wipe at her eyes. “Please...please tell me. I must know. How...how can you just smile and tell me all is well?”

“Well,” Spike started, keeping one arm around Rarity as she leaned against him while the other rested on the bench to keep his balance, “to be honest, for a time early on, I couldn’t do that. It was why I got so busy with diplomat work for Twilight at first. I needed time away to settle things myself. Just hanging around here and moping wouldn’t do anypony good. So I went to work: Griffonstone, the Dragon Lands, Seaquestria, you name it. If Twilight needed to talk to them, I was first to nab the job. It let me travel a lot.”

Rarity nodded, listening to the drake as he continued. “I did find myself enjoying the work, and eventually, I did find myself kinda...entangled, let’s say, with others. Gabby was the first to really pick up on things and we dated for a time. We didn’t last too long though, but it was a mutual thing. We enjoyed one another’s friendship and still do, but nothing beyond. Then I tried things with Ember. That was...different.”

Rarity raised an eyebrow in curiosity. “Was this around the time I heard talk of the Dragon Lands wanting to become a proper part of Equestrian society? Did you have a claw in that?”

“Well. I helped. Let’s go with that.” He told her, prompting a small smile out of the mare. “But, in the end, I wasn’t the right fit for Ember either. She’s the type of dragon to be the boss in public, but likes direction in private too. I didn’t feel comfortable being the ‘brains behind the throne’, so to speak. She’s a plenty capable ruler on her own now, though. But through all that, I still realized part of me was hanging around. Waiting. Wondering.”

Spike’s brows furrowed as he spoke. “I realized...the part of me that was upset had a right to be, but you can’t hold onto anger forever. It’ll just hurt you in the end. We’ve both seen that in our adventures. Despite what you did, I still had a piece of my soul that loved you. That cherished you. I’d see your smile on the magazines and feel a little lighter. I knew that it was better for me to focus on the positive, than to try and drown myself in the negative.” He turned his gaze back to her, holding her stare. The bright green eyes were almost radiant to the unicorn’s vision.

“I forgave you long ago. I don’t want you to hurt anymore. Because I never want to hurt you. Not then, not now, not ever.” Spike’s hand came up and caressed Rarity’s cheek, gentle as she leaned into it. It was comforting to be held like that by the drake.

“...you’re too good to me, Spike.” Rarity said. “You would swoop in and save me from despair when others would be fine to leave me to it.”

“Well. I always did like being the hero for you when I was little.” he replied, chuckling as Rarity joined him. They stayed like that for a time, just holding onto one another. Rarity moved to nuzzle her head under his chin, and Spike welcomed it with another embrace. It took the unicorn a moment before she returned his hug. It was like a weight was gone from her shoulders, her spirit elated at reconnecting with perhaps the most important soul in her life.

“I can certainly say I didn’t expect this to be how today would go. But I think it’s much better than I’d anticipated. If perhaps a little less sweaty.” Rarity noted.

“Still plenty of time to make that happen. After all,” Spike paused to adopt a haughty air, “exercise is most essential in maintaining one’s health and fitness.”

Rarity giggled, patting Spike’s chest. “Well you’re certainly an example. You’d give a guard a run for his money, I imagine.” Rarity lifted herself up and off of Spike, standing up before him while he looked at her. She felt almost like a new mare now, unburdened by the woes of the past as before. And his smile felt so much more welcoming, and looked all the more handsome too. Rarity felt her cheeks warm but smiled back at him. “Let’s get back to it, darling. I don’t think I’ll do quite the routine you have, but maybe you can be my inspiration to keep at it.”

“For you Rarity, I’m more than happy to.”