Chapter 2: Dream Eaters

For those who seek power to control, they must sacrifice their most beloved. In a world where your existence is strong but heart fragile, you will not survive the never ending pain of those suffering and be doomed to feel their pain for eternity and beyond. Are you ready to make a sacrifice...

"I was bodiless, ethereal in a sense, but aware. Surrounded by darkness, yet still able to see, alone except for the entity that was speaking to me," he says. "I was at the bottom of a stairway-type structure and was looking up the stairs, but not seeing the one speaking to me. I was very warm and comfortable, but apprehensive trepidation of what I was about to embark on. This entity was speaking to me and giving me a brief description of how my life would be. I asked for more information, but it was refused. I was basically told that my life would not be a hard life, but would lack any luxuries and that I would experience great difficulties at a relatively early age. It seems there were a few other small details, but I can no longer remember it quite as clearly as I once did when I was younger.''

Spike was jolted from his embrace with the dream world. A pounding sound could be heard from a faraway distance that wouldn't go away. A low groan and incoherent speech was mumbled as the layer of black and white blankets was pulled up over an individual's head. The pounding on the door just seemed to intensify and whoever was causing such a ruckus was too stubborn to go away; they sounded more desperate than anything else.

Covers drawn down, deep green eyes slowly opened to stare up into a blank ceiling; unruly spikes were in disarray from disturbed bed rest and the childish blanket that adorn the young drake's side fell soundlessly to the floor. The knocking; but Spikes's bleary mind thought of it as pounding; on the door didn't let up. The young drake's eyes squinted, still trying to adjust his vision to see clearly from his sleep and to the dark lighting in the room; as the first thing he did was peer at the alarm clock, the bright blue light stating '03:13 am'.

Vigilant, but still tired, the dragon made his way through his very large apartment or house depending on how one looked at it. The sound was getting louder to his sensitive hearing and he could faintly make out the frustrated requests of the one responsible for waking him up during the middle of the night as he reached the living room and the front door.

The drake opened his door, his eyes widened in recognition and disbelief to see the young female drenched from the top down in rain water. The summer storm the past three days in Ponyville haven't been that pleasant for anyone and still didn't let up till tomorrow.

"Fluttershy..." he asked softly, his eyes still not believing that a friend, albeit one of his best friends over the course of nearly seven years now, would come to his home, knocking on the door at such a time for anything. There was never a time in the 21 years of his life that he could remember any female coming to his home for anything; unless it was to give him information from Twilight or telling him to report to the princess for a mission and if so that female was always accompanied by others.
Fluttershy stood there feeling out of sorts with herself, it was silent and she glanced only once at Spike when he addressed her, probably startled and still not fully awake to comprehend he still had his unexpected company standing in the doorway. She was only grateful that his refurbished home had a patio deck that covered the top of the door to keep the rain from pouring down on her.

"Um Spike..." she whispered, she felt awkward just standing there and wasn't really able to think of anything else to say. All the words she wanted to say to him and to explain why she was there in the first place were all right there in her head, but now standing here feeling cold despite the warm humid wind from the rain; all her words and courage flew right out the window.

What could she possibly say to him? More than that, what in the world was she hoping to gain by coming to Spike of all people at three in the morning? What and how could he handle or understand her situation at all? She suddenly felt embarrassed coming all the way across town to see Spike.

While Fluttershy was standing there being silent, Spike opened the door wider while moving out of the way to give her entrance into his home. She didn't notice yet, but reading her face those couple of minutes told him the basics of what he needed to know. He knew he had a reputation from a while back for being loud, obnoxious and an idiot; though if those he grew up around only knew how much more observant he was than he let on, they'll all probably die from shock.
For the most part, they still saw him as the same hyperactive 12 year old baby dragon. Now only just a more older and mature version of the pudgy kid he used to be. But they didn't realize he only did this to get on everyone's nerves on purpose; when alone or on a mission; he acted his true age, if he did that on a regular basis or just suddenly did it one day being and looking mature they would still die from shock, the thought of that happening made him chuckle inside.

And amidst his sleepiness, fatigue, and sluggish demeanor Fluttershy's posture, facial expression, and slight movements simply informed him that she was nervous, uncomfortable, embarrassed, and saddened by something that happened not too long ago because even if the rain did wonders to drench her face and hide it; he knew she had been crying for a long while.
He knew she was also crying a bit before he opened his door. He didn't need to see the ruined mascara and eyeliner most mares were fond of putting on their faces. And the rain just added to the effect of Fluttershy's whole look; ruining her favorite green and pink dress; her wet mane clung to her face and the style she put it in was ruined by the rebellious summer storm going on outside.

"Fluttershy, sorry about spacing off there, come in," he smiled to her. Fluttershy was snapped out of her daydreaming to look up at Spike hearing his offer to come inside. It was still something to most ponies and it still amazed Fluttershy that she was one of those people who had to tilt their head just slightly to be able to look Spike in the eyes; he was surprisingly tall when he returned after his two and a half years away when he was 13 and from there on he never seem to stop growing until he reached his limit height of 6'3" on hind legs.

Spike closed the door once she was fully inside, "So what brings you here? Do you need anything Flutter, are you thirsty perhaps?" He offered, looking a bit sheepish and awkward; he almost did that old habit of rubbing the back of his head with his hand when feeling out of place or embarrassed.

Fluttershy tried to smile, but it wasn't reaching the corners of her face, "Yes... um actually, can I use your bathroom to dry myself?, if you don't mind... that is." she asked the young drake still clad in a dark blue shirt, he had a burn tattoo of magic shining dimly on his neck.

"Sure, there's a bathroom upstairs all the way to your left down the hall," he said.

"Thank-you," Fluttershy silently and slowly made her way up the steps to the bathroom indicated, unfamiliar with the large house she was in.

Spike watched her ascend to the 2nd level before disappearing from his sight, "Well looks like I'm not getting back to sleep anytime soon," he said to himself, smiling.

This was unexpected; he always offered but never thought any of the females he knew, except for Twilight, would take him up on his offer to come visit him sometimes. The guys naturally always chose his place of residence when they got together and hung out; since he was a loner and his place was bigger than any of theirs combined. He wondered what Fluttershy wanted to tell him; it seemed urgent if she was in desperate need to come here the way she did. Either that or she just chose him on a whim not really knowing anyone available to talk to at this time of night.

Spike decided to make his way over to the kitchen to make a pot of raspberry tea, since he knew the young mare was fond of it and most likely would want a cup to warm her up a bit from being in the rain and calm her from whatever made her so sad.

"Some night this turned out to be, 3 in the morning and I'm over at Spike's…I seem to be a burden for everybody." she looked at her appearance in the mirror before turning her head away. She didn't like to see herself in the mirror after she cried, it was a horrible sight to see her reflection that way. She took a towel placed neatly on the rack to dry her body. Once she did that she wrapped herself with one and started drying her mane with another.

"Burden for Big Mac maybe but Spike doesn't seem to mind me being here. That damn Big Mac if he was so adamant of everything about me he-," she paused sitting down on the marbled bathtub, "Should have said so!". Fluttershy sighed sadly, there was nothing worse than having your feelings hurt or rejected so coldly by your crush/or what she had thought was a boyfriend.

"I mean I wasn't asking for much! Unlike that weak minded hussy who had the nerve to hang all over him, but of course it was too much for the Apple genius to bother to even say 'hi' to me. I bet if that were me drooling all over him like that he'll probably lecture me about why I should not act that way."

Taking her depressed thoughts off of Mac, she stood moving about in the bathroom finished drying herself and her damp but dry mane: when she heard a light knock from the other side of the door "Fluttershy you all right in there?" said Spike from the other side of the door. Fluttershy narrowed her eyes at the door before realization dawn on her, "Oh pony feathers

," she swore softly to herself. In her fit of talking among herself about Big Mac and his 'sweetheart' she forgotten real quick where she was at, namely whose home she was in.

"Fluttershy" he asked again sounding concerned.

"Oh…uh y-yeah! I'm okay Spike I'm fine!" she tried to sound like she was happy when she knew she wasn't.

"I just remembered you didn't have any form of clothing here, so I brought you something to put on. I'll leave them by the door so I-," The bathroom door cracked open just enough for Fluttershy to take the clothes personally from Spike's claws. Spike's eyebrows rose not expecting Flutter to just do something like that, he was pretty sure she would have wanted him to wait until he left to take what he offered to bask in her privacy.

"Thank you Spike... thank you." She smiled at him, she took his night clothes while hiding the majority of her body behind his still closed bathroom door after all nopony likes being seen after a shower.

He smirked, "You're welcome Fluttershy, but I would have kindly left them here by the door without invading your privacy."

"It's alright, I'm fully covered anyway, besides it's I who interrupted your slumber I feel like I'm more of a burden," she said.

"True, you did interrupt my sleep but you’re not a burden at all; you're always welcome here Flutter."

"Thanks," a smile wider than the first was spreading a bit across the pony's face at that comment. She was already feeling welcome and she hadn't stayed that long yet.

"I know they won't fit you perfectly, especially the pants since, well; both the night shirt and bottoms are mines; I unfortunately do not own anything remotely feminine. And when you're ready I made some raspberry tea…um if you need anything else just let me know okay?" he smiled.

"Uh…again thank you so much for this Spike and I'll love some tea- so…I'll see you in a bit!" she smiled.

"Sound's good," he said before walking away from the door.

Fluttershy closed the door, before leaning against it and sighing. She thought for sure, Spike would have acted like a complete idiot and tried to ogle at her even though she did her best to hide herself behind the door. She was surprised this night by many things revolving the drake.

He kindly welcomed her in, despite being rudely woken out of his sleep; he offered her something to wear while she was washing and drying herself; even made her favorite cup of tea; which was probably done by coincidence. There was no way Spike could have known she like that specific brand of tea; and he actually made her smile forgetting her issues about Mac if even for a minute.

Fluttershy descended the stairs in pajama wear too big for her small frame; bare feet touching blue carpeting. She was greeted to the sight of seeing Spike preparing to pour her a cup of tea; he even laid a plate full of rice cakes on the dining room table.

Fluttershy took a moment to look at her surroundings, she was astonished at how big his place actually was, the place had three floors and very spacious. There was carpeting in almost all the rooms, except the bathrooms and kitchen area.
She was amazed she honestly thought that he still lived in the old small one bedroom apartment, located on this side of Ponyville. As mostly half of the buildings on this side of town looked run down and unused for many years. There were some, including his own place, that had been rebuilt and fairly new.

Spike passed her a cup of tea and two rice cakes once she sat down. She took a sip of the mildly hot tea.
"That's really good Spike! You make fine tea," she said, grabbing one of the rice cakes on her small plate.

He smiled eating his own rice cake, "Heh! I try, are you feeling better now Fluttershy?" he asked.

Fluttershy put her half empty cup down, ignoring his question beaming a wide smile in his direction, one he quickly saw through too, "Your rice cake making isn't that bad either!" she finished her first and started on her second.

"Thanks, but am I to believe Fluttershy is changing the subject?" he took a sip of tea, watching her face fall into a frown before continuing, "It's all good you'll tell me if you want to, I'm not prying. But do me a favor and do not hide your sorrow; believe it or not I can tell how you really feel inside hidden or not." he said, his eyes flashing purple for a split second. going unnoticed by Fluttershy.

Fluttershy put her rice cake down, staring dully at the white polished wooden table underneath her and Spike. "That obvious, huh?"

"It all depends, but I already knew something was upsetting you when you first appeared at my door, I was kind of hoping by keeping you company, you'll feel better but I could be just making things worse," he rubbed the back of his neck, making his traditional daggertooth grin.

"No! No, you have a natural talent for making your guests feel at home, that's what a gentleman does," she said smiling at him, "Spike… it's... cute."

He blushed, "Well…you're welcome."

It became suddenly quiet between the two of them. There wasn't any tenseness in the air, they were just deep into their own thoughts. Fluttershy, making a decision to tell Spike about her problem and Spike waiting patiently for Fluttershy to tell him of said problem, broke the silence.

"Do you think it's wise to keep going after someone who hasn't or refuses to acknowledge your feelings for them?" she asked hoping he could provide some insistence, knowing he went through similar events with a certain purple maned fashionista.

He looked surprised at the question, letting it play in his head for a moment. He almost looked depressed for a minute, then quickly repressed it with a pensive smile. "I'm no good at these sorts of things, but I'll try to help the best way I know how," he said, giving her his trademark daggertooth grin again.

"Hmm, I think if Big has outright refused your feelings and doesn't reciprocate them, don't continue to go after him. You'll get hurt less and won't feel as bad as you do now," he said, thinking about what happened between him and Rarity two years ago.

Flutter looked stunned, "How did you know it was Big Mac? I didn't say anything indicating it was him," she poured herself some more tea.

"I may be ignorant sometimes, but I noticed like everyone else," he bit into a rice cake before continuing, "And well if he doesn't know at all how you feel than just tell him. That way either of you aren't left in the dark, he'll know he has someone that likes him and you won't keep wondering whether or not he likes you at all."

"Just tell him?"

"Yes! What do you got to loose? Anyway I think he has a thing for you too!" he shouted excitedly.

The Pegasus just blushed, "Really? You think so?" she asked not believing him.

"I've noticed him looking at you oddly, studying you when he thinks no one is looking, so I believe you'll be having far better luck with Mac than I had in my entire life trying to woo Rarity!" he grinned.

This made Fluttershy smile, but it faltered a little bit, "What if there's another mare involved?" she asked.

Spike was thoughtful before responding, "Does he seem to take interest in her?"

"Not really, at least it doesn't seem that way," she said, "But she surely has one in him!"

"If you have competition, then…you should tell him anyhow, but not so soon. Maybe hint at going out as friends, but also as a couple I suppose a few times before letting him know if he hasn't picked up on it yet. Mac's a real genius so it shouldn't be too hard for him to not notice," he said.

"Wow, you sure seem to have a lot of insight with this sort of thing," she said amazed at his advice.

Spike only laughed, "You'll make me die from blushing so much!"

"Really you are; I never pictured you to act so mature Spike!" she said.

"Nah! I see it as learning from my mistakes, if I did things differently, maybe Rarity…" he trailed off, "So anyway," he said getting off that topic, "What are you going to do?"

"I think I'll go through with your advice, I'll ask him out, hinting at my feelings for him before I finally say how I feel if he hasn't figured it out," she said with determination, pumping her hand in the air.

Spike followed her example, stepping on top of his small table, "Yeah! That's the spirit I want to see Fluttershy! You go after your special somepony and nab him before that other pony does!" he yelled.

Fluttershy paused to look at Spike questioningly; he looked at her and started laughing, she following behind him.
After their laughing fit, Fluttershy got up looking towards the door, realizing she still wore Spike's pajamas. "It's well past time for me to go Spike," she said.

"Already? Well, I'll go get you an umbrella," he said walking off in the direction of the laundry room.

Fluttershy just stood there, deep in thought, Spike came back not too long ago with a umbrella, she took it and thanked him before ascending the stairs to the bathroom. she came back down giving Spike his pj's back and walking over to the door. He followed behind, throwing the clothes on the sofa and grabbing his own raincoat for her to borrow.

"Well this has been a nice stay, hmm looks like the rain isn't letting up anytime soon," said Fluttershy already fully dressed in the clothes she came in. She sighed looking at the torrential storm, cowering at the thought to go back into it.

"It's not that bad when you have an umbrella that works in good condition and a heavy duty raincoat," he said holding out the items to Fluttershy.

"I could walk you or you could always stay here for the night," he said absent minded. The mare lady in front of him started to blush slightly, mocking annoyance.

"I'll take my leave then you pervert!" she huffed.

"What?! What are you talking about Flutter?!" he was surely confused.

"Inviting me to stay the night with you, and here I thought you didn't turn out like Thunderlane!" she accused.

A prominent blush rose to the surface on the young drake's face before he started yelling to explain himself, "I'm nothing like TL! I didn't mean it in that way flutter, I just suggested it in case you didn't want to go out-"
She started laughing, planting a chaste kiss on one of his cheeks, "Got ya!" she pinched his cheek a little.
Spike stared at her bewildered for a second, then sheepishly grin, "Well…don't do things like that its not right," he still wasn't over his embarrassment.

"I know," she took his raincoat, putting it on and also the umbrella, "But it's fun, " she said walking out the door.

He just sighed, "Don't worry about returning those so soon I have extras okay?"

"Alright, see ya around Spike!" she waved at him covering herself fully, umbrella over head and running out into the rain to make it home.

''Yeah," he whispered to no one in particular, shutting the door.

XXXXXXX

A blinding blur went by, springing from one rooftop to the next at lighting speed. A scaled flash with a striking green tail after, him was in a rush; he only had less than an hour to stay at the hospital. He spent so much time between training and gardening; that he almost forgot he told her he'll stop by her again.

He knew of course that Peachie-pie refused to have him within a one mile radius of her breathing space.
It was his fault she was in there in the first place and he felt badly about it. The herd assigned for the royal class a-mission consisted of him, Peachie, snip's, and Scootaloo. It was all around an easy mission until they got into a fight with the strongest member of a three mended herd. All three were considered guard's of first class and were known as thieves that stole from the rich and assassins who killed for a price. Their specialty was taking out groups of the royal herds assigned to assist a client in need; pose as the pony's they killed only to steal and kill the client for all they were worth.
During their fight with one of the last members, the four of them split into groups of two. He and Peachie and snips with Scootaloo; somehow he took a critical blow in the back, covering Peachie who did her body-bind magic so snips and Scootaloo could team up against the thug.

Peachie pie got hurt feeling the recoil of the damage done to the enemy quickly surge into her own body; once Spike saw she was withdrawing her spell, he left her side to make the finishing blow, as snips and Scootaloo were low on power, and they weakened the enemy a great deal.

He never thought the stallion could still move even after all the damage put on his body, so it came as a shock to him that once he released his 'Inferno breath' he didn't count on the guy using one of his comrades as a shield and using mirror magic to send it towards Peachie; luckily he reacted quickly stepping in front of the attack with lightning speed, pushing her out of the way as much as he could before getting hit with his own attack and passing out from blood loss.
He woke up the next day, in a hospital bed, with the eight members of the royal herd surrounding him. Scootaloo looking at him worriedly, Snail's was smirking, and chip was quiet as ever.

He learned that aside from being grazed by his attack and having her share of bruises and a broken hoof, Peachie was fine. He felt guilty and made sure to visit her everyday, even during his short stay in the hospital, he didn't stay for long, the 'other side' rapidly healing him, even taking the brunt of the damage which he was also noted did a number on an enemy who was finished off by snip's. To say the mare welcomed his visits would be an insult, she hardly said anything to him, partly blaming him for her condition; to which he agreed to without question. He had profusely apologized to her until she got annoyed and told him to leave her alone.

He left, only to return everyday after that to see how she was feeling, and volunteering to help her with anything. Peachie blushed prettily despite herself. She was a bit touched by Spike's annoying yet stubborn willingness to assist her in anyway he could. He never did comment on the small blush that rose across her face.
Of course he overdid it with his suggestions having her yell at him and throwing an unused book (which her mom got her just to irritate her) at his face; she sported an embarrassed look, shouting for him to get out.
After Peachie saw him come by again within the same day and after two hours he had been there, she sighed and just gave up, accepting his apology and his need to smother her, with doing anything she asked of him. She wouldn't let on, but she was secretly enjoying the way he doted on her, even if he was getting on her nerves.
And this day would be no different than the others as well.

"HIIII PEACHIE!" Spike banged her door opened wide with his foot and loudly announced his presence in her room by yelling and jumping on top of the bottom bed rail. He had a goofy grin on his face, but his shoulders were shaking like he was trying to hold in his laughter at the look on her face.

Peachie was o startled while eating that she started choking on her food before quickly coughing up her half-chewed oatmeal, which now sported her saliva and flew to hit Spike straight in the face. "What do you want this time?! And don't call me Peachie' so familiarly!" she yelled, crossing her arms.

"Peachie spitted in my face, how rude!" he whined playfully.

Peachie growled, "It serves you right for making me choke in the first place idiot!"
Spike calmly swiped a napkin from her small eating area to wipe the half chewed rice from his cheek. He hopped off the bottom bed rail to throw the offending piece of food in the trash bin.

"I see you're fine Peachie pie," he smiled, "How much longer until you can go home?" he asked, taking a seat in one of the chairs, pushing the bed railing down some and scooting his chair up to the bed.

"I was fine until you came again I said your apology was accepted you could just leave now. But since I know you're not going anywhere still blaming yourself for what happen I guess I could tolerate you for a bit longer," she said. Peachie looked at Spike just nod his head, gently unwrapping her old bandages on her sore left ankle. He began to quietly rub her calf before moving down to her still bruised but healing under hoof. "I'll be able to be released once my hoof is fully healed, Redheart said hopefully my stay would last three more days," she decided to say, watching him massage her legs.

"That's good, I'll just rub your hoof before I go this time, I have other stuff to take care of and can't stick around too long," he said smiling.

"It wasn't like I wanted you around anyway, but since you're so good at this I guess it's worth tolerating you," she felt a pleasant sensation go up her spine at his small ministrations on her leg, the one with the swollen hoof.

"Hey…Spike?"

"What?"

"Why do you insist on taking my bandages off?" she asked suddenly, she noticed he did that all the time paying more attention to her sore spot than anything else.

"Because…when I look at your hoof, it reminds me of why you're still here and makes me want to try even harder to help out so you can get back to doing what you like instead of being bored stuck here in the hospital all day…besides…" he trailed off, barely brushing his fingertips against the bruised skin. "Besides?" Peachie asked, curious to know what else was going on in that head of his, he was being relatively quiet today, usually; he would be bouncing around like a child that couldn't sit still for a minute. "Besides, Peachie should show her legs more often," he said grinning.

Peachie blushed before automatically removing her legs out of his reach, "What would make you say something like that?! What mare would want to show bruised and marred skin? My hoof aren't something to be stared at!"
Spike calmly grabbed her left leg firmly, setting her leg back down and rubbing her hind leg which wasn't as painful as it was when she first got there to the hospital. "The bruising marks will go away eventually, and you have very pretty hooves with or without bruises," he smiled, not paying attention to her red face or the fact it redden more when he placed a kiss on her swollen hoof.

The book was instantly whacked hard on Spike's head, bending it; and his face took on a comical look with tears falling down his face. She looked angry, but she was speechless and couldn't come up with anything to say. Mainly because it shocked her to see him doing something like that; then again he had that reputation for being unpredictable at times.

"You're cruel Peachie," he said before grinning at her again, removing the broken book from his head. "I heard kissing a sore or cut will make the pain go away, I wasn't trying to be perverted if that's what you thought, just sincere is all," he began to redo her bandages with new ones. His work was sloppy, but it was better than nothing.

"You shouldn't do, or say, things like that than!" she managed to find her voice again, crossing her forelegs. It seem she produced a habit of crossing her legs when dealing with Spike.

"I was only being truthful," he said going back to massaging her hoof again.

Peachie blushed, "Humph! Be truthful, just don't try to show it too! When you have a marefriend then you can do all that stuff!" she said, lying back down on the bed.

"Alright, Peachie" he said.

She said nothing feeling tired and worn out by Spike's visit. He had been going at it for awhile now, rubbing her leg and he stopped noticing she had fallen fast asleep.
He got up to remove her empty dishes and eating area away from the bed, covering her up properly. He smiled again removing a piece of strand mane away from the mare's face.

"Heh, I wasn't being loud today like usual because I knew you're really tired today and I wanted to show even I could be
considerate sometimes," he muttered softly to himself.

"I'm sure you asked yourself that question," he said to the sleeping pony in the bed.

Spike sat in his chair looking at the sleeping mare with a smile on her face; he sat for a long while before getting up again. It was time he went, but before that, he took the day old bouquet he brought in from his own personal garden to be replaced by the new batch in today. Peachie didn't see him bring in anything, either she was asleep when he got to her room or she was up, talking with someone else fully ignoring his presence or yelling at him to be quiet when he made his rather loud announcement he was there.

He had wanted to bring some tulips as well, knowing immediately the mare’s fondness of flowers and her family owning a flower pie shop business would get the immediate meaning behind the tulips. Unfortunately, he didn't grow any, and had to just settle for the yellow roses instead. He didn't want to go to her family's shop for them because he didn't want anyone coming to the wrong conclusions or questioning him.

Besides, he heard by 'word of mouth' that Peachie liked roses, but her favorite were cosmos, however those had just started taking root and personality wise, yellow roses did do her justice.

XXXXXXX

"How's it hanging Mrs. saddle?" He teased a very well known Purple maned unicorn.
Rarity turned around to look at Spike standing on his balcony; only to make a flip off the balcony to stand upright next to her.
His friend for nine years when they were younger was walking in the direction he just came from. She had to meet with Applejack today to do some measurement for her wedding. She narrowed her eyes at him, "Don't get cocky dear, I'm not Mrs. Dream saddle yet," she said sighing.

"Heh! Like you don't already consider yourself his wife now," he said, smirking at her expression.
Rarity chose not to comment, only nodding her head in agreement but her thoughts were on other things, things that didn't entirely focus on Dream at all.

It suddenly became quiet between them. Since their situation two years prior, a very uncomfortable feeling crept up against the two longtime friends. It made them become silent and forced them to come up with something to say to each other. Usually it resulted in Spike coming up with excuses and Rarity, well forcing herself to 'brag' about Dream.
"Well, I gotta be somewhere right now so I'll see you around beautiful!" he smirked before running off, jumping from rooftop to rooftop.

One minute he was around, and the next he was leaving her to be by herself. This is what made her stop to think. Like for instance, she felt confused. Like she was being torn in two different directions; on one hand she favored the direction of the path she was going now, loving dream, being with Dream, having dream notice her, having him return her feelings. While on the other hand, she felt like she was being tugged to walk down the other direction towards a certain drakes whose heart she broke badly.

Nowadays she was beginning to regret it, not that she was willing to give up dream, fat chance in hell that'll happen; but the strain it put on their friendship. The way she went about doing it made her feel guilty and with good reason.
At first before dream started to take an interest in her when he returned after their war with Night fury; he thought his feelings had died, after the way he abandoned life; thus she took to Spike's side. Even at one point she began to like him more than a friend, she never told him because she knew Scootaloo liked him also, liking him longer and she was trying to get over her one-sided love for Dream.

It didn't mean she didn't hint to him at her newly found like of him, but he was completely dense, so being too subtle was out, but she didn't want to get on the wonderbolts genius bad side. Scootaloo almost constantly defended Spike's character, when he was teased or doubted.

Just asking him out on a date, got the thought through to him, though she said she only asked him because he was nice enough to remember her birthday despite being in the middle of a mission just to get her something. It made Scootaloo back off, knowing Spike's crush on Rarity and after their one date together, he made even more of an effort to follow her around wherever she went.

Eventually, Scootaloo placed her feelings on hold for the drake, and started dating snails, it seemed out of the blue, but it's what happened and they've been together ever since. It was surprising when Dream started to act more like his normal self and started to be nice to her since she was just beginning to feel confident enough to let the drake know how she felt.
Dream started warming up to her even more as the days went by and her feelings for him surfaced and she left Spike in the dark. So when Spike, sincerely told her that he loved her, she let the words simply fly over her head and none too gently brushed off his confession, trailing behind Dream.

At first she was genuinely happy, her and Dream were an item and she took every moment to brag about it, especially to Peachie. After awhile her lovely dovey attitude changed, and the feeling of being with Dream sort of dulled out.
Dream was still a respectful and passionate lover, but she didn't feel the same intense feelings as she had before.

Maybe because one of her best friends was avoiding her or maybe it was due to something else She refused to admit to even herself. It still came as a surprise he even bothers to talk to her albeit being short before heading off somewhere.
Rarity walked on into the mall, unable to let go of the fact that she did something wrong and Spike's ways of avoiding her without acting like he wasn't, was her own punishment.

Once again she didn't get a chance to apologize. Then again, she wasn't so sure what she wanted to say sorry for. After all, Spike wouldn't accept a miserable sorry from her that didn't even mean something.

''would he...''

XXXXXXX

Author's Note

i'm sorry it took me this long to get started again, but i got a plan now and i'm sticking to it. there will be another update in a week, thank you.

My credit goes to Bennet001 for helping me with the story.