The one question that changed everything

Note: I really like Sparity and love the two stories „Like Fine Wine“ from SleeplessBrony and „Purely Scientific Interest“ from CarcinoGeneticist as a continuation story. So i decided(hope they don´t mind) to continue this establishment and hope, I will be doing a good job.
Also it´s my first real story I´ve ever written and i´m a german, so it could be, that you find some spelling or grammatical errors.

5 months have passed, since the „incident“ between Rarity, Twilight and Spike and everything went more or less on as they used to in that time. Though when Twilight hadn´t had any job to do, Spike was nowhere to be seen in the Magic Academy in Canterlot. He spent his time instead with his love Rarity.

At first Twilight was displeased about his absent time but began to understand that they love each other and let him be, as long as he would still do his duties.
On the other hand, Spike couldn´t be more happy, to be with his lifelong love and that Twilight is accepting it.

They were doing all great, until the day before his yearly hibernation.

Twilight was standing in the library of the Magic Academy studying books as usual in her spare time and awaited the return of her #1 assistant for their traditional dinner they held the day before hibernation to make this time of the year a little more bearable for both of them.

Spike entered the library, looking broken.

„Ah, Spike welcome back. How was your day?“

„Ok....I guess...“ This was far away from his usual answer after a date with Rarity and the somehow sad tone in his voice made her forget her books and turning instantly to her little dragon.

„What´s wrong, Spike. I haven´t seen you like this since the day we left Ponyville. What happened?“ she worriedly asked

„Nothing.....I don´t wanna talk about it.“ She wanted to press him further but didn´t as she saw the sad look on his face just before he averted her gaze.

„Well...Ok then. Could you please make yourself ready then? I don´t want you to miss our special dinner. It should be in my Tower in about one hour, so you don´t have to hurry things, just be there in time please.“ she tried to comfort him with a loving smile, but he somehow couldn´t bring up the strenght to smile back, or even to look at her.

„I will.“ he said and he went outside heading to the royal bathhouse, the only place in Canterlot where he wanted to be right now so he could relax his muscles after the flight back.

While arriving he quickly shot a glance in the open ancient looking bathouse to be sure, he could be alone. After confirming that there was nopony else, he landed and went right into the magically heated water.

The warm water was just what he needed in a moment like that. Winter was coming so it got chillier over the passed few weeks and the cold got somehow into his muscles and bones on the flight back, something that never occured before, considering the fire in his chest.

„Did I do something wrong....?“ he thought to himself

After arround half an hour in the pool he gazed up to the royal tower and the balcony he could see from his angle, where both princesses were standing right now to lower the sun and raising the moon and watched the show they did while performing the natural circle of day and night.

Sighing he got out of the pool and flew directly to the smaller tower where Twilights chambers are located.

„Ah you´re here Spike, even 10 minutes earlier than needed.“ she beamed happily, forgetting about his state.

„You know, i would never dare miss that dinner.“ he said with a little smile also forgetting his misery from before.

They ate their dinner, came right out of the royal kitchen, in total silence, much against the curiosity of Twilight but she didn´t want to aks, because he seemed calm and a little happy at the moment 'He will tell me if he want to. But i really want to know, what has upset him so much, that he looked like this sad right after a date with Rarity. I bet something happened between them, but i hope it´s nothing bad.' she though to herself.

Spike knew that Twilight was curious„You know...“ Twilights ears perked up „....I think I kinda screwed up yesterday...“ she watched him, as he spoke „I asked Rarity if she wants to marry me...“
She nearly spat her dinner all over the table and swallowed hard „YOU DID WHAT?“

„Yeah I know it was stupid...“ he looked sad again
'Oh no Twilight, look what you did! He looks more miserably than before. Do something!' „No Spike, it was not stupid“ „But then why did you nearly spread half of your meal on the table?“ „Well,.....I was surprised“ she chuckled „What did she say?“

„Excactly that is the problem. She looked at me and my handcrafted ring and said nothing!“ he growled „ She said NOTHING. She looked several times at me and the ring and then just left. It was the perfect setting. I found a nice little restaurant in Ponyville and we had a nice evening date, really romantic with candles and i could even bring the staff to get us our own butler and organised her favourite wine for that dinner.“ Twilight saw that a tear was running down his cheeks. „After paying the restaurant i flew to the boutique and knocked at the door, i shouted her name. I knew she was there but she didn´t respond. I just don´t know what I did wrong.“ Now he cried. Twilight went to him and tried to reassure him „ Shh, my little #1 assistant. I think she had a reason why she ditched you. I will talk to her while you hibernate, maybe it´s just a misunderstanding „I hope so Twilight“ he sniffled 'I hope so to, for her sake' Twilight thought.

Somewhat heartbroken Spike released himself out of Twilight´s embrace and said „I hope you don´t mind but I will retreat myself for hibernation sooner than planned.“ „Yeah it´s ok. See you next spring.“ right when he was about to leave, Twilight said „Spike, I love you.“ she said in a motherly tone.

„Yeah, I know“ A weak smile left his face and then he went. He hadn´t have to fly long. His cave was in the mountain where Canterlot was build only a little above the castle, so he could see everything but no one could see him there.

'Just what did I do wrong....?' He asked himself before starting his hibernation.