The Marshmallow Lighter

“Rarity, can I have a photo of you?”

She turned to me with a curious gaze as I held up a brand new camera I purchased. State-of-the-art, film that can have up to 50 snapshots. The smallest flash bulb available and only a 10lbs. Tripod. Grinning smugly, I was giddy as could be for the camera.

“I'll have to decline, Spike.”

Yeah no what?

“'scuse me?” I asked, lowering the tripod legs with a slack jawed gaze.

“I'm sorry, but I'm just not presentable right now and I've got enough work to not be presentable for the next day or two. Maybe next time, sweetheart,” she responded, turning around to begin work on a dress.

“Oh... that's okay, I guess.”

[*][*][*]

Two days later, I fumbled with the camera once more and scrambled towards Rarity's house. Upon getting to the door, I found it locked. I knocked on it several times and waited for over half an hour, knocking over and over. Eventually, I got bored of waiting, never once wondering why I didn't stop 29 minutes ago. I knelt on the ground and pulled a key from under a fake stone and unlocked the door. Stepping inside, carrying the camera via briefcase carrier, I stepped inside and spotted a sheet of paper in front of a mirror. Jogging over there, I spotted something that shot disappointment through my body.

'Gone to Canterlot for the day; an unexpected call from a client required immediate attention. Apologies to anypony that may come by, Sweetie Belle should be here all day. ~Rarity'

Sighing dejectedly, I sat down on one of the many stools in front of the many mirrors. After a few seconds, a thumping sounded from the stairs and behind me I heard a stoic 'oh'. Turning my head, Sweetie Belle cantered towards me and I gave her a smile. She wrapped her forelegs around my belly and I returned the hug.

“Hi. Sorry, Rarity left earlier,” she said, releasing me from the hug.

I waved the note in front of her instead of responding. Sighing dejectedly, I dropped my head and set the briefcase against the ground.

“What's that?” her innocent voice squeaked.

Glancing down at it then to her, I smiled and pressed a button on the top of the briefcase. It burst open and bounced into the air from the force. Legs popped out and a camera balanced on the tripod as Sweetie Belle watched with amazement.

“Want a photo?”

[*][*][*]

All done, I glanced at the photos of Sweetie Belle I took. I offered to take a few photos but she turned it into a regular fashion show. Getting any clothing she could find, that was hers, that was here, she wore it and posed on Rarity's fashion stage. What was supposed to be a few photos took up two film reels. She turned it into a regular fashion show; music, preprogrammed lights, makeup... she milked the hell out of this and when all was said and done, I quickly developed them and Sweetie Belle was beaming.

“And Rarity says I can't run a fashion show,” she said with a smug grin.

I smirked. “I'd say I'd agree with her but—” Sweetie Belle stared daggers at me and I chuckled. “She's wrong in this case, haha,” I said nervously as I turned away, scratching the back of my head.

She beamed and skipped around as she waited for me to finish developing the second reel. Minutes passed and I cut, enlarged and basically turned Rarity's showroom into a darkroom for the moment. After an hour or two, I finished developing all photos for Sweetie Belle, glad they were being used. I glanced over them and rubbed my chin, humming in thought.

“I'm not too bad,” I muttered.

I cleaned up the room as quickly as I set it up and watched as Sweetie Belle seemingly teleported the photos out of my hand and into Rarity's photo album. I packed up the camera and folded my arms as Sweetie Belle catalogued each photo with a giggle.

“I'll admit, you'd be a pretty cool big brother,” she stated.

Pausing for a moment, I considered what she said... as well as the implications. As I thought, my face reddened and I felt myself become flustered.

“B-big brother!? What, that would require that I...!?”

Sweetie Belle giggled and flicked a paper clip at me. It impacted right between my eyes and it snapped me out of my confusion as I rubbed the area.

“Rarity said I could consider you my knight in shining armour, since she was confident you wouldn't let anypony hurt her or me. I think she's right,” Sweetie Belle responded as she snipped up several photos, putting them into her own scrapbook.

My mouth curved in a way I couldn't prevent it; my face was heated and I felt especially good. A gentle warmth encompassed my mind and I stiffled a giggle. Sweetie Belle would be a pretty cool sister. Rarity would be a pretty cool wi—

“Spiiiikey~”

If my heart wasn't fluttering before, it was now. Turning my head, I could see Rarity cantering towards me with a spring in her step. Leaving the front door wide open, she had a huge grin on her face, big glasses and an even bigger hat atop her head; Rarity looked beautiful. Without missing a beat, she reared  up on her hind legs and we embraced each other, pressing our lips against one another. A light smack sounded as we separated and she flashed her big blue eyes at me. I chuckled stupidly and completely forgot about the camera.

She slid her forehooves off my shoulder and cantered over to Sweetie Belle. Quickly, she began tickling her younger sister, much to Sweetie Belle's dismay. I smirked and even if I had a new film reel, I would have never gotten that photo; I forgot entirely.

[*][*][*]

Several days later, I got myself a new film reel and I carried the camera at the bottom of a basket filled with picnic items. The basket itself was larger than the average picnic basket, justified since I ate a lot recently as well as could carry the extra load. Rarity wore a light yellow dress with pink sunglasses and a yellow hat; the dress itself was similar to Twilight's simple birthday dress. Very modest.

Quickly, we made our way to the Ponyville Park and sat down at the top of the tallest hill, near the street lamp and looked out over Ponyville as several clouds floated in the sky, blocking the sun out for a few seconds now and then.

Much to Rarity's surprise, the first thing I pulled out wasn't the red and white checker board blanket, it was my camera. I threw it into the air and pressed the button, causing the camera to burst out atop a tripod. Within five seconds, I calibrated the settings and took a proper, in-focus photo of the wide Ponyville expanse. Rarity rolled her eyes, although I was oblivious. After, I then yanked out the blanket and gave it a wave. It spread out and I let it droop atop the grass. Rarity nestled herself on one end as I set out several snacks.

“A week later and I still feel jaded; I apologize if I act out anytime during this lovely picnic, Spike. I'm exhausted; these new young, hip customers do get some extravagant styles and it can really wear a girl down,” she said, laid out and comfy.

I sat down on the other edge and immediately devoured a loaf of bread like it was candy. Rarity seemed to be taken back by it but didn't voice any complaints. Laying back, I stretched my legs as Rarity nibbled on a small cookie, doing her best to daintily keep the crumbs off her face with a napkin.

“It's alright, Rarity. Sometimes, work is just stressful. Your worst was easily remedied with a simple massage,”  I said, giggling.

I glanced over, just in time to see Rarity manually tilting her hat down to hide her blushing face. I grinned and rolled onto my right side, positioned just right to see under Rarity's hat. Her glasses were positioned just right on her snout so her eyes could be seen over the top of the dark shades. She was staring right at me with wide eyes and a reddened face; one of her cuter expressions. Giggling in response, I reached over. Her eyes shifted towards my hand for a moment and I stroked her purple mane. Her jaw dropped a little and after a moment or two, a bit of drool escaped the side of her mouth. She caught on after a moment and quickly wiped her chin, burying her face into her forelegs. I let out a laugh as I turned back over to my camera.

“Rarity, you are beautiful.”

Rarity faced me and her face was still red, even moreso than before having been caught drooling. Using my elbows, I pushed myself up so I was sitting and watched as she gulped for a moment. She seemed at a loss for words as our eyes met, her glasses not in the way.

“Your expression right now is cute, especially the glasses,” I said, continuing to brush her mane.

She glanced at the frames and quickly pushed them up to hide her eyes. Instead, I stopped stroking her mane and grabbed the edge of the frames, taking them off. She had nothing to hide behind and her blue eyes stood out against her red cheeks. Her lips trembled as she smiled a bit, letting out a giggle.

“May I take a photo of you?” I asked.

She stared at me confused, her mind obviously jelly right now. It was my turn to giggle as I pointed at the camera and she looked, my question finally clicking.

“O-oh, right, you wanted that a week ago. S-sure, sweetie,” she said, quickly attempting to clean up the crumbs and napkins she had.

Quickly snatching the camera, I took it off the tripod, aimed it at Rarity, calibrated it for a closer-shot, and steadied my hands.

“Say cheese,” I responded, finger on the button.

Rarity's head turned in my direction as she levitated her napkin. Her face was still red, eyes still blue and now, she was embarrassed to boot. Having learned from Sweetie Belle, I gotten an attachment that instantly developed photos this time. The photo buzzed, and then came out the front of the camera. It dropped onto the checker board blanket and Rarity took a moment to glance at it, then at me once more, clearly flustered.

“S-Spike, I wasn't ready,” she said, rubbing her temples as she attempted to hide her face.

“Maybe, but those photos are the best kinds,” I responded.

“I hate you, you rude little drake,” she mumbled, stiffling a series of giggles.

I chuckled in response and patted her head twice. “Sure thing, Rarity~”