The Wonders of Time

Chapters

Suppressed Feelings
Speculations
Dreaming Blues
Bitter Memories
Real Time Romance
Determination
No Farewell
Of Dreams and Fears

Suppressed Feelings

It was close to sunset in Ponyville as Spike and Rarity walked back to the Carousel Boutique after gem hunting. He had been trying to get a chance to be alone with her for days, offering his assistance each time he met with her in the Library or came across her in the streets, but she kept refusing and refusing until one day she finally gave up. He felt elated to finally be able to spend an afternoon with her, especially since he felt she had been avoiding him ever after his return from Canterlot, just a couple of weeks ago.

They had a little chat here and there, just the usual ‘how are you doing lately’ type of questions and such. She felt so distant now, always avoiding his gaze. He really wanted to recover the friendship they had shared in the past, no matter what the cost, or rather, to get closer to the point they had reached back then. He had to try and fix what time and distance had done to their relationship.

They finally reached Rarity’s home. She opened the door and made a gesture to let him enter before her, which he rejected with a gentlemanly: “Ladies go first” as he leaned, bowing and extending his arm with his hand pointing towards the entrance, a charming smile on his face. She couldn’t help but smile dreamily as she walked inside with Spike following after her, happy to at least had made her smile.

He left the bag full with gemstones on the floor, and wiped the sweat off his forehead with his wrist. He looked over at Rarity; she was avoiding his gaze again, as she usually did nowadays. It was time to talk, and break the ice that had been present almost all the way back to the Boutique.

“Um Rarity," He hesitantly called the fashionista's attention, "I’m kind of dirty. Would you mind if I take a shower before going back to the Library?” He asked as she examined his body with her eyes; it was completely filthy, which was only logical after spending an entire afternoon digging holes to unearth the gems she detected with her magic. She could hardly suppress her disgust at all that mud and dirt.

“Of course, you absolutely should, darling! And do give me your clothes so I can clean them in the meantime. I know a very effective spell that will have them dry and ready in no time!” She shouted in a very concerned voice, finally looking at his eyes. Dirt was such a big deal for her as usual. He smiled at the fact she kept being the same Rarity he had always known and love, and the way their eyes finally met made his confidence return. So he proceeded to take his shirt off, only to find a heavily blushing woman staring at him with her eyes wide open at once.

“Is there something wrong, Rarity?” He asked as he started unbuttoning his pants. Rarity let out a gasp before reacting.

“Wh-what in Celestia’s world are you doing, Spike! Y-you can’t unclothe yourself in front of a lady!” She cried out before he finished his task, nervously covering her eyes with her hands.

“Oh… that, I’m really sorry I just—” He apologized, ashamed. He didn’t really mind being in underwear in front of a woman, he had lived with Twilight for all of his life and felt so normal doing so after all.

“You j-just have to… leave your clothes behind the bathroom’s door. O-okay?” She looked away, still blushing madly. But he just stood there, looking at her with inquiring eyes. “Wh-what? Do you need anything else?” she asked.

“Well, where do I—” He responded, in a timid voice.

“Oh, I’m sorry. Right, you can use my bathroom. Come with me, dear,” she said, turning her back to him and walking towards the stairs.

She led him upstairs, and pointed him at the bathroom door that was next to her bedroom. Once he entered, she waited for him to leave his clothes behind the door, and took them to quickly to clean and dry them, leaving them back behind the bathroom door once she was done.

She headed to her bedroom, and let herself fall over her bed, lying on her back and staring at the ceiling; she was finally getting some time to collect her thoughts about the day she had just spent with him.

With Spike.

Alone.

Why was she that nervous, she asked to herself? Her heart started to flutter violently inside her chest just by thinking about him. Ever since his return from Canterlot, where he had lived for two years, she noticed he had changed a lot; he was oh so different. He had really grown, physically speaking. That childish cute face of his was no longer there, not anymore, and that wasn't anything to complaint, as in its place stood the best testament of virility that Rarity had ever witnessed.

Wait, what had she just thought?

Oh dear. She had to admit it. She was absolutely crazy for him.

But of course, she loved him after all. She had loved him even before he left, but now her attraction towards him had grown in a ridiculously huge way. But why was that? He had grown a pair of gorgeous dark purple wings. He was taller than her now, and so muscular, she could envision his strong arms pulling her close and holding her, pressed against his toned chest... her breathing became shallower as he imagined how it would be to be held there, her lips almost touching his, her nose almost tip-to-tip with his.... Rarity shook her head, trying to dislodge the most unladylike thoughts that were blooming there as her face burned red almost breathing steam through her nostrils.

But try as she might, she couldn't get this new Spike out of her head. He seemed to have been chiseled from stone by an artist who had paid exquisite attention to every delicious detail.

And thus she had decided to avoid looking at him too often. It was too dangerous. She remembered what had happened two weeks ago, in the train station, the first time they had reunited, after two years of communicating only by mail. She gasped and almost fainted at the sight of him. He looked so dazzlingly handsome that she couldn't believe her own eyes. Right there in front of her had stood her cute little Spikey-wikey, the one that had stolen her heart years ago. Did he still love her after what she had done to him? She had broke his heart back then... had he possibly forgiven her after all this time?

They were four years apart, so it was reasonable for someone to think she was too old for him. Even if he didn't mind, things were harder for Rarity. She was twenty and he was sixteen after all back then. He had left Ponyville, moved to Canterlot, heartbroken...

That was the main reason for Rarity for keep trying to avoid meeting with him since his return. She couldn't stop blushing and feeling awkward when he was around. She feared her hormones would betray her, she imagined herself jumping Spike, ripping his clothes to shreds and taking him right there and then... Men were easy, she thought, so he wouldn't complain. What if she did that in front of other people?

Ok, maybe that was a bit too much; she would never do something like that… would she? Absolutely not! But what about the hot dreams she kept having about him? They were almost a daily (or rather nightly) occurrence ever since he had returned. She didn't even dare to try and remember them, so embarrassed she was about her naughty mind.

But she had missed him for two years, yearning for his embrace. She felt so alone all this time. And to make things worse, despite the fact that he was finally back, they were nothing more than friends, now she couldn't even kiss him if she wanted to. The worst part was that she didn't even know if he still loved her as she did. He probably didn't, in fact. So Rarity was afraid of getting rejected; bringing up the subject or even asking him about his feelings was out of the question.

She shook her head, trying to collect herself and relax, ignoring her quickly beating heart. She could hear him now, the sound of the shower coming in from the bathroom next door.

The fashionista was containing a torrent of emotions and couldn't handle it anymore. Imagining his enormous and perfect body getting wet under the falling water, made her want to get up, walk over there and, at the very least, spy on him.

"Wait a minute, dear just what are you thinking about? You can't do that, it's simply too un-lady like!" She said to herself. This just went to show just how dirty her mind had become, although it obviously was HIS entire fault for becoming so stunningly sexy. Had she just said that out loud? Oh Celestia. She hadn't even noticed, and she was just once again thinking about what she had seen earlier when he took off his shirt, letting her see his perfectly sculpted torso.

That’s when without noticing it, she finally lost it, as she was on her way towards the bathroom before she even knew it. She could hear the shower running from the other side of the door, his manly voice humming a tune, clear even when distorted by the water.

“He likes to sing in the shower, same as I do” she giggled to herself. Her heart felt like it would burst out of her chest any minute now. Gulping, she managed to unlock the door with her magic, silently so he wouldn’t notice. It wouldn’t hurt anyone if she took a small peek now would it? In fact, she would be doing it for both their sakes, and it would really help calm her hormones.

She hesitated a few moments before opening the door, her hand shivering while holding the knob. Then suddenly, she stepped back. She couldn’t do that. It wouldn’t be right! It would be horribly rude to spy on somepony (or in this case, somedragon), while they were taking a shower. She knew she would hate it if someone did it to her, besides, it was the kind of thing men did, not ladies like her!

Being busy with her own thoughts, Rarity failed to notice that the shower was not running anymore. She tried to step back and return to the parlor, hoping he would not notice her presence but just as she put her foot on the first step, she had a terrible realization: in her hurry to get away, she had forgotten to lock the bathroom door.

“He will realize what I was intending to do… and of all things that might happen that’d be THE. WORST. POSSIBLE. THING! THE END OF THE WORLD!” She didn’t flinch as she ran back to the bathroom and that’s when it happened.

“Uh Rarity, I was wondering if you—” He stopped speaking when he felt a soft and small body collide with his. Confused at first, the realization that it was Rarity hit him like a brick and he froze, her body now glued to his. He was wet, and only covering his private areas with a small towel around his waist, as if it was a mini-skirt.

“…I-if you had another towel you could lend me… I just found th-this one in the bathroom, but it seems to be too small…” He stuttered with a fainting voice, his face bright red, and his heart beating in his chest as if it was about to explode.

Rarity noticed she hit Spike’s huge and muscular wet body, her head laying over his neck and chin and her hands resting on his chest. That hot and wet chest. She could hear the drake’s heart beating wildly against her. She bet he could feel hers too.

She started to pant heavily. This was the kind of paradise she always dreamed of since her beloved had returned to town so it had to be a dream. Maybe she had stumbled while heading to the bathroom and fell to the floor, knocking her head and falling unconscious. It had to be like that. She started sliding one of her hands down over his chest, feeling the smooth sensation of his skin and his toned muscles. His clothes hid such a magnificent body.

Her hand’s path took it over his toned abs, feeling them under her palm and stopping there. She was getting too close to that part of his virility that was still unknown to her.

The whole situation and the gentle touch of Rarity’s hand was driving Spike insane as much as it did to her, he just hoped she didn’t notice what was starting to happen under his towel. Her soft touch was just too much, not to mention he could also feel her firm breasts pressing against his chest and the sweet smell of her hair right under his nostrils.

Spike let out an almost inaudible moan but, somehow, she was still able to hear it. It made her hormones go even crazier. Rarity felt her legs weaken, as if she was about to faint. It was just too much for her brain to take in, for her to want to something that un-lady like, struggling against her own body and trying to rein it in despite its desire to do otherwise. She suddenly felt tired and weak and started to slide down his chest.

Spike noticed this and quickly grasped her, holding on to her forearms and accidentally applying to much strength. She gasped softly at this, immediately realizing that she wasn’t in a dream at all. That terrible realization made it worse, just as he was about to ask her if she was all right, Spike noticed that she was having a nose bleed!

“Rarity, are you feeling ok?!” he cried out, horrified.

She noticed something flowing through her nose and yelled in horror when she saw it was blood, desperately trying to cover her nose with her own hand in order to avoid staining her beautiful hand-made white shirt. It was useless though. The flow of blood seemed to be impossible to contain using her hands alone.

That’s when Spike, in a heroic attempt to save his damsel in distress (and her clothes), quickly handed her a towel to cover her nose with. Her fabulous outfit was safe now! He also helped her lean her head back, her eyes now fixed on the ceiling so as to stop the blood coming out from her nostrils. It seemed to work and she was about to thank him for his noble and heroic act when she realized that Spike hadn’t had a better idea than to hand her the same towel he had been using to cover himself.

Just what was he using to cover his body now? Was… he... completely... naked? Rarity couldn’t find out though, as she just fainted at her latest realization. Spike, still holding her in his arms, now looked truly alarmed, having no idea as to just what was going on with her and what the hay to do now.

“Rarity!” Was the only word his mouth was able to make out while holding onto the always stunningly beautiful, and now unconscious, white horned damsel with his strong dragon arms.

Author's Note

Credits:
Sgt. Alex
Racko
TotallyNotAnyone
Thanks for making it possible xD

Speculations

Chapter 2: Speculations

After a couple of minutes of absolute perplexity, during which the dragon couldn’t do anything but observe the pale beauty resting unconscious in his arms, Spike decided the best thing to do was to get Rarity into bed.

He scooped her up carefully, making sure her head was resting against his shoulder safely while trying very hard not to think too much about how soft she was and how warm her breaths were on his skin and took the unicorn to her room, laying her down gently on her back and making sure to cover her with the bed sheets. That way, she won't catch a cold, Spike thought while he watched over the sleeping beauty before him.

A breeze reminded him that he was very much naked. Rarity had said she left his clothes next to the bathroom door, so he made his way there and true to her word, there they were. He smiled when he noticed that both his pants and shirt had been thoroughly cleaned and ironed.

It didn’t last long, however, as the guilt for making Rarity faint, even if he didn’t know how or why, came back. He was still confused over the unicorn’s strange behavior, but the female mind had always been an unsolvable puzzle to him. To be honest, he wasn’t even sure the situation had gone down as he remembered it.

Had she, the Rarity who he thought he knew, the young woman who was always prim and proper as any lady could be, caressed his bare chest with her soft and tender hands? It sounded ridiculous, but he swore he could still feel the smell of her hair, which, only a few minutes ago, had been right under his nose, and… her firm and generous breasts pressed against his body, feeling her heart beat wildly just like his.

Impossible, the drake told himself as he put on his underwear. Too good to be true.

He shook his head to clear any stray thoughts but, as he bent down to pick up his pants, worry overtook him. He remembered the blood coming out of her nose, her slender body fainting in his arms. Could she be ill? Twilight had told him about Rarity’s seeming depression during the time he was living in Canterlot, maybe that had something to do with it.

A chill ran over his spine and he hurried up. He wanted to return to her side and take the unicorn’s temperature, or perhaps it would be best if he called a doctor?

His thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a shrill female scream right behind him. Alarmed, he turned around to face the intruder, pulling up his pants at the same time.

He discovered none other than Sweetie Belle, who was currently standing between him and the stairs, staring at him with a horrified expression. Fortunately, it turned into a smile when Rarity’s younger sister recognized the dragon, and greeted him. “Oh, is that you, Spike? Hello!” However, her expression changed once again, this time to an inquisitive look, when she noticed that Spike was half naked.

“What are you doing here?” Sweetie Belle asked, seemingly innocently. But the dragon couldn’t help but notice that the young unicorn seemed to be leering at him somewhere below the eyelevel, nor could he ignore the tell-tale blush on her cheeks.

Unfortunately, he couldn’t come up with a coherent answer, so he just started babbling, “I was taking a shower and… uh… I came out to ask Rarity for a towel but she crashed into me and then her nose started to bleed and she fainted and I don’t even know why she fainted but I took her to bed and left her there and… she still hasn’t come back to.” It was frankly ridiculous, but it was the truth and thus that’s what he told the young singer.

The weirdest thing was that, looking at her eyes, she seemed to have accepted Spike’s explanation. What really appeared to have gotten her attention was when he mentioned the bleeding and fainting.

“What? She got a nosebleed and fainted?” Her face betrayed a mix of concern and confusion.

“Yeah, do you know if she’s sick or something?” Spike asked eagerly.

“Well… no! She’s always been very healthy.” Sweetie Belle’s eyes were stuck on the green-haired youth’s chest and muscles. “Could-could you please put something on? Or do you usually go around like that when you visit my sister?” She was blushing again.

“Oh, sorry.” The young drake scratched his neck before picking up and donning his shirt. In the meantime, Sweetie Belle made her way to her sister’s room, intent on checking up on her.

“Rarity?” She tried to wake up her sister, gently nudging her shoulder. There was no response, so she tried a bit harder. All she got in return was some kind of mumbled whisper.

“Oh-nospaig!... notmycudiemar-nomnom… -wellokaaaay… but-begendle…”

Spike and Sweetie Belle look at each other, one toting a questioning look and the other blushing like mad.

“Do you understand what she said?” Sweetie Belle inquired.

“Uhm… eh… no! Not at all!” Spike lied. He had, of course, managed to understand Rarity’s mumbling, but it didn’t make much sense and it was, by all means impossible. Probably a mistake from his part.

Sweetie Belle put a palm against her sister’s forehead. “Well… she doesn’t have a fever, she’s just sleeping, and seems to be having a very nice dream at that.” Her face was one of pure innocence and security. Rarity smiled, hugging the covers.

“Oh, that’s a relief, as long as you are sure about it.” He felt very lucky that the singer was such an innocent youngster.

“I am,” she declared with determination while nodding.

“I think it would be best if I left then. It's getting dark out.”

“Sure, take it easy. I’ll watch over her until she wakes up and let you know if anything happens.”

“Thanks, Sweetie Belle.” The young dragon bid his goodbye and left, still a bit worried over Rarity’s health. Thus, he decided to return the next day to verify that she was all right and to clear any doubts he could have about her supposed illness.

Rarity woke up several hours later, while it was still dark. She noticed that she was still wearing yesterday’s outfit, which was odd considering she always took the utmost care when preparing herself for bed. Needless to say she always wore one of her dozen hand-made pajamas, all designed by herself.

She couldn’t remember what had transpired, besides being incredibly confused over the intense dreams she had while unconscious.

She was caught unaware when she heard the sound of soft breathing, realizing that someone had been sleeping next to her. Her heart went wild when her mind suggested a possible scenario.

“W-what… it can’t be… th-that Sp-spike and I…” Rarity was paralyzed, too scared to confirm whether her theory was right or not. “That would be the worst possible thing!” She inadvertently yelled. The person lying next to her immediately shot up.

“Sis, you are finally up!”

Rarity had never been so happy to hear her sister’s shrill voice.

“Swe-Sweetie Belle, is that you?” exclaimed the fashionista, close to tearing up as she hugged her little sister. Whatever she had imagined was not so. She would have hated for something like that to happen without even remembering it.

“And who else would I be? By the way, what’s with all the sudden affection? You can let go of me now… you are chokinggghh,” Sweetie Belle said while she struggled to breathe.

“Oh, ha ha ha, I don’t know, Opal? Ha ha ha, I’m sorry.” Rarity let her sister go, blushing. “And I’m always happy to see my dear and beautiful sister,” she added while squeezing her little sister cheeks despite of her protests.

Next morning, at around ten in the morning, about half an hour after Sweetie Belle had left, someone ran the doorbell. Rarity went down to open the door just to find herself face to face with the last person she wanted to see right now.

“Hey, Rarity, how are you feeling today?” Spike asked, looking concerned.

Without thinking, Rarity slammed the door shut, only to immediately realize how rude and un-lady like her behavior had been. She opened the door again only to find Spike bleeding through his nose from having the door slammed on it.

“Oh no, please forgive me, Spike-Wikey!” she cried. “I didn’t mean to hit you!”

“Uh… it doesn’t matter, it’s nothing,” he responded, trying to keep his nosebleed in check by throwing his head back and applying pressure.

Rarity quickly levitated a handkerchief to help him with while making sure he got in safely and helped him to lie down on the sofa.

“I truly am sorry,” she kept apologizing while mentally chastising herself for doing something so stupid and thoughtless.

Spike didn’t answer. He had the impulse to tell her that she didn’t need to apologize but, at the same time, he was both annoyed and confused about the unicorn closing the door in his face. Spike didn't answer, but Rarity could tell that he was annoyed about having the door slammed into his face.

Rarity understood the obvious reason behind his silence but she couldn’t come up with any convincing excuse.

“Please forgive me, Spike. I didn’t mean… to do what I did. It was just a really stupid impulse and I frankly don’t know where it came from,” she lied, for she knew why she had done it.

The explanation didn’t seem to make Spike feel any better, as Rarity could tell just by looking at his expression.
Although he seemed to be there for a good reason, his expression now was changing to worried.

“I just came to check if you were all right,” Spike explained himself, stuttering, going from exasperation to worry. “You passed out yesterday… and your nose…”

“Oh, my little Spikey-wikey…” The fashionista was on the verge of tears, comforted by the fact that even after all that had happened, Spike was honestly worried about her. “About that… I…” She couldn’t find a way to excuse herself for her actions the day before, not to mention her crushing embarrassment over the way her hands had stroked his chest and the real reason behind her nose bleeding, obviously due to her uncontrollable attraction to the drake.

“If you are sick then I need to know! Please tell me, you know you can trust me!” he insisted, his voice ever more concerned, which only served to melt Rarity’s heart even more. Without realizing what she was doing, she started stroking the dragon’s hair, like the way as she used to do when they had been more than friends.

Was it possible that even after all this time and what she had done to him, he still loved her? Her heart jumped in joy at the possibility.

“Forgive me for worrying you like that, darling,” she cooed softly while discreetly wiping away her tears. Then suddenly a fabulous explanation came to mind.

“I’m not sick, it’s just that… after crashing into you, I hit my nose, and you know I can’t stand the sight of blood. That’s why I passed out.” she lied again, but what else could she do? She couldn’t exactly tell him it happened because of her extreme arousal at being so close to his dazzlingly sexy, wet, draconic body.

Fortunately, Spike wasn’t quite sure he remembered exactly how things had actually happened gone down, so her lie was accepted; especially with the relief it brought him to know that Rarity wasn’t ill.

“That’s a relief,” was all he said, realizing that his own bleeding had stopped as well. That was when his gaze met Rarity’s, who was still running her hand through his soft, spiky green hair. She suddenly stopped once she met with his intense emerald eyes that were now staring into at hers.

“Oh, I’m sorry, Spike. It’s just that I was so used to doing this back when…”

“Back when we were happy, before you decided to ruin everything,” he angrily completed her sentence.

Rarity felt her heart break in two. Any hope she might have had harbored moments ago disappeared. He probably hated her, and to make it worse, he had a good reason to. The tears she had been holding in started running free.

The unicorn got up, turning her back on her guest. The last thing she wanted was for Spike to see her crying in these moments.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to…” Spike tried to apologize, probably already regretting his harsh words.

“It’s all right, nothing’s wrong. Now, I don't want to be rude, but if you’ll excuse me, I have much to do in my workshop.” The fashionista’s voice trembled, showing just how hard she was trying to keep him from noticing her tears sobbing.

Then Spike just stood by the couch watching her as she went up the stairs. The last thing he heard was the door of the studio being slammed.

Slowly but surely, looking back at the stairs every now and again, Spike left the boutique.

“And then I stayed with her but she didn’t wake up until this morning. Before I did, too.” Sweetie Belle gave her friends a worried look. “You don’t think she’s sick or something, do you?”

Scootaloo and Applebloom looked at each other, not believing their friend could be so innocent.

“And you believed his ridiculous story?” the winged girl asked, frowning.

“Of course, why wouldn’t I believe him?” the unicorn still had a quizzical look to her.

“You really are a-“ the pegasus couldn’t finish her sentence, interrupted by their red-haired friend.

“Calm down, Scoots. And Sweetie, are ya' serious? Ya' never thought that Spike and Rarity…” A hopeful expression appeared on Applebloom’s face as she addressed her unicorn friend.

“Well, what else was I going to think? By the way, I don’t know if it’s appropriate for me to say this but… Spike sure is handsome.”

“Yeah, your sister’s very lucky, though she’s very pretty too. They are made for each other, I guess,” Scootaloo ventured.

“What’s that? You're talking as if they were a couple or something!” the teenaged unicorn said.

“Okay, maybe they aren’t, but something has to be going on if you found them… or, well, almost found them doing that, right?” A faint blush appeared on the purple-haired girl, while she avoided making eye contact with her friends.

“Good thing ya’ didn’t get there earlier, Sweetie. It would have been very embarrassing if ya’ had walked in on them while they were doing it,” Applebloom pointed out, a bit flustered, while Scootaloo nodded her approval.

But Sweetie Belle was still oblivious. “I’m sorry, girls, but I don’t understand. If I walked in on them doing what, exactly?”

Both friends looked at the young singer with eyes wide like platters. Sweetie Belle just stared back, her eyes betraying her honest ignorance.

“Come on, Sweetie Belle, are you kidding? If you find a half naked boy dressing up quickly right next to a girl’s room whose owner’s right there in her bed sleeping, just what is it that you think they were doing before you got there, eh? Now, I know you aren’t the sharpest tool in the shed, but that’s kind obvious, don’t you think?” Scootaloo was starting to get frustrated, but thankfully her listener’s face suddenly illuminated, her blush matching her friend’s.

“Are you are crazy, Scoots?! Just how do you figure that my sister and Spike would be, well… NO!! It’s not possible, Spike just got here two weeks ago and as far as I know they aren’t even dating!”

“Facts seem to point otherwise,” Applebloom said.

“Hey, wait a minute, this is my sister we are talking about, and she’s not that kind of girl. In fact, several of his suitors broke up with her because she didn’t want to do… that, until marriage and the likes!”

“And just how the hay do you know that?” Scootaloo piped in, curious.

“W-well, I might have overheard it during a conversation… but that doesn’t matter, thing is, I believe Spike!”

“Okay, okay, let’s all calm down a bit, all right? A’ think Sweetie Belle has the right to believe whatever she wants,” Applebloom placated, trying to douse the flaring tempers.

There was a short silence and suddenly Sweetie Belle perked up, as if she just had an epiphany.

“Girls, I just remembered something. Maybe Spike and my sister did have a relationship after all…”

Scootaloo and Applebloom stared at her wide-eyed.

“Though that doesn’t mean I don’t believe Spike or that I think they were doing… that!”

“Okay, okay, but come on, tell us!” Scootaloo shouted, eagerly.

“Well, this was a couple of weeks ago, the day before Spike got back and everyone went to welcome him at the station...”

Two weeks earlier…

“Here you are, Rarity. I brought the coffee you asked me…” The white-horned teenager didn’t receive an answer so she edged closer to the fashionista, only to notice that she was fast asleep over some fabric. She looked so adorable there, she thought. Sweetie Belle figured her sister must have fallen asleep while working, which was understandable since she had spent the past few days pulling all nighters and getting almost no rest, drinking one cup of coffee after the other just to keep her brain working.

It was true that her sister usually had many orders to cover, that had never changed. But it seemed that she was overworking herself for some unknown reason. This had been going on for the past… two years, more or less? Sweetie Belle wasn’t quite sure of that, but one thing was certain, and that was that she was really worried about her sister.

And she wasn’t the only one, this was a common topic of conversation for her sister's five other friends. They always asked Sweetie Belle if Rarity was resting enough, if she had gotten any sleep at all or had she just been working nonstop, sustained only by brief breaks and cups of coffee.

Beauty sleep was no longer part of her daily routine, and that was incredibly strange. Just a month ago her parents had asked Sweetie Belle to move in with her sister and keep an eye on her.

Even Pinkie Pie had complained that Rarity didn’t attend her parties anymore, always excusing herself with the typical: “I have a very important order and not enough time to fill it, and I must finish it today. I’m sorry, darling.”

To Twilight, this had to be some sort of depression. But that was a mere supposition as she couldn't think of a reason for it.

Sweetie Belle put the mug on a nearby table and ran to get a blanket, which she carefully draped over her sister’s back. She’d rather not wake her up. The older girl had finally gotten some rest and the last thing Sweetie Belle wanted to do was to force her to spend another two days working.

She was about to leave when she noticed something under Rarity’s elbow. Carefully, making sure not to disturb her sister, the younger unicorn pulled out what seemed to be a letter.

"Dear Rarity," Sweetie Belle read.

Who wrote this? the teenager questioned herself. She skimmed all the way to the signature, which answered her inquiry: “Sincerely Yours, Spike.”

Oh, a letter from Spike? Sweetie Belle was truly surprised. She had no idea that her sister had kept in touch with the dragon during the latter’s stay in Canterlot. She knew they were good friends, but not enough to keep mailing each other for so long. Though maybe it was just one letter. She decided to take a peek, if only to clear her doubts.

Dear Rarity,

How have you been? I hope this letter finds you well since you haven’t send any response for the last two months. In any case, I don’t mean to bother you, I just wanted you to know that I’ll be returning to Ponyville this week and that I intend to stay. This is because I’ve already finished my term in the military and the Princess has allowed me to go back to Twilight’s and become her assistant again.

I don’t know if these are good news to you but, at least on my part side, I miss all of you terribly and I’m very happy to return to my true home. I hope I’ll be seeing you and with the others at the station next Wednesday at 10 AM.

Well, that was all I wanted to say. I hope we’ll be able to talk more when I come back.

Take care, and don’t drink too much coffee.

Sincerely yours

Spike.

After finishing the letter, a mix of regret and surprise took over Sweetie Belle.

Since when had Spike and her sister Rarity been such intimate friends? Besides, it seemed as if he knew her just a bit too well. What’s more, could it be that a teenager like him, even if his looks were rather boyish (at least when he left), had something to do with her already adult sister outside of simple friendship? It simply made no sense, but both Applebloom and Scootaloo had mentioned that they suspected something on more than one occasion.

Sweetie Belle felt a light bulb light up in her head.

That’s it. Ever since he left my sister started acting weirdly. She barely smiles and she's become an even bigger workaholic… maybe she was depressed or something over him leaving? I can’t believe it!

The young unicorn shook her head.

No, that can’t be… they must have simply been very close friends. After all, he always helped her with everything he could and my sister appreciated it, that’s all. Sweetie Belle still preferred not to reach premature conclusions over a single letter.

With any thoughts of her sister and the dragon having a secret relationship discarded, the guilt became stronger than her curiosity. She put the letter back where she had found it, under her sister’s elbow. She had already promised that she wouldn’t peek into Rarity’s private life, back when she and her friends had published her diary on the school paper.

Though she had not intended to this time, she couldn’t have known it was a letter, plus she was worried about her sister’s health.

The teenager shook her head to clear away any feelings of guilt flooding her mind and caressed her sister’s head for a few seconds.

She smiled and headed to her room. She would need to rest, too, if she wanted to accompany her sister to the train station to greet the young dragon returning from Canterlot.

“But please, girls, don’t tell anyone else about this. Rarity would kill me if she knew I’ve been talking about this with anyone,” Sweetie Belle pleaded.

Her two best friends nodded in understanding. However, Applebloom told herself she would have to ask her sister Applejack about this mysterious business.

Author's Note

Hope you liked this chapter. Now I want to give the credits to my dear translator, Stg. Alex and to my lovely editor, Imaginary Valued : ) really guys, THANKS A LOT!
and of course thanks to all my readers and who has faved and given a thumb up, and for the coments too :D

Dreaming Blues

Once back inside his bedroom, Spike dragged himself to the bed and sat down, slouching over as he stared at his bare feet. Luckily for him, Twilight was not at home, so he wouldn’t have to explain why he was heading to bed instead of cleaning the library or cooking something for lunch.

Now finally alone with nothing but his own thoughts, Spike took out the picture he had hidden under his pillow, the very same picture he admired virtually every single day; it was the only photo he had of her, and she looked oh so beautiful.

Rarity had given it to him as a memento, right when they just started dating. It was a peculiar photograph, as it didn’t feature her in some extravagant ensemble or even some fashionable dress. Instead, she wore a strikingly simple pink blouse and a deep blue yoke skirt, smiling so charmingly as she tipped her cowgirl hat, posing with a teasing glint in her eyes as her luscious violet hair pooled around her shoulders, tied in an elegant red ribbon. She was breathtaking. On the back of the photograph was a pink lip print along with the following writing: For Your Eyes Only. And it had been. For so very long.

To Spike, the photograph was more of a symbol; a sign that everything that had happened between them, hadn’t been just a dream of an overly active imagination. Their relationship had been so wonderful at times that it was hard to believe it had really happened, especially given how things had ended, and the photo was the only physical proof that remained.

It all felt so real though, the kisses they shared were indescribably amazing. Those times when they just laid on the bed, him caressing her hair or she stroked his. Those intense days of non-stop hard work, he had always helped her and she always repaid him with the best thing in the world: a bunch of kisses and hugs, love. Maybe a couple of gems for dinner too, but that was just a plus.

Why did it all have to just...stop? It was plain torture to remember that fatidic day, the day when she had told him that it was over. That they were over, and that their relationship had to end, that they had to go back to being no more than good friends. As if that would ever be remotely possible, after all that they had shared.

He slid the photo back under the pillow and cradled his head with his crossed forearms as he plopped onto the bed.

But what if she still felt something for him? What if she had lied to him, about the reason for them breaking up? His heart skipped a beat, as he felt some form of hope return to him. A careful analysis of what had occurred since his return to Ponyville showed that he had some points in his favour.

Being around Twilight for most of his life had made him very good at analyzing things in a clear and objective way, and that analytical part of him that wanted to elaborate upon theories had struggled to take over ever since he and Sweetie Belle witnessed Rarity’s suggestive mumblings in her sleep, and that was after the nosebleed and the fainting.

Considering these observations, it could be concluded that she wasn’t being completely honest with what had happened to her. But what kind of gentleman accuses a lady of being a liar? And yet, the possibility was still there, if he added in the weird behavior of avoidance and her blushing at the sight of his bare chest during gem hunting.

But then again, if he saw any woman take her shirt off, he would also probably blush, so it could be derived that the same applied to any woman who saw a shirtless guy. That said, Rarity was a fashionista, seeing men and women in underwear had to be something completely normal and routine for her, so why was she blushing at him then? Now what other explanations could he formulate for her nosebleed? If she had injured her nose when they previously collided, shouldn’t the bleeding have started at that exact moment? But it had not been so. She had first caressed his chest and abs, and only later when he took his towel off did her nose start bleeding.

Suddenly a kind of parallel came to his mind. It was of the morning when he first witnessed the embodiment of feminine beauty. He smiled, thinking about how stunningly sexy she had looked...

About two years ago…

It was around 7:00 in the morning, and Rarity was taking her beauty shower, using a special hair treatment that Fluttershy told her about a few days ago. Once finished, she stepped out the bathtub, searching for her beauty hair towel. She used to hold up her hair with magic, but apparently this special treatment needed her hair to be left to dry up alone. After brushing it, of course.

So she wrapped her body up with a large towel before unlocking the bathroom door to look for her hair towel that she had most likely left upon the bed. Just as she opened the door, the bell ringed, making her jump and almost slip.

“Oh my gosh, that has to be Spike! He’s really early today. Didn’t I tell him to come at eight?” Rarity said to herself, a bit angry. No, no just a bit. Very angry! She had made the effort to wake early to be punctual, but he came before the agreed time and interrupted her morning beautifying ritual! How dare he!

Then, without realizing that the only garments she was wearing consisted of a towel, she marched downstairs. Her mind went over what she’d say to him to let him know just how thoughtless he was being. She wouldn’t have cared if it had been anyone else, but this was Spike; she was used to appearing fabulous before everyone else, but the dragon was such a close friend that she just thought of him as one of the girls. Thus, she didn’t stop to think just how thoughtless she would be if she showed up, half naked, in front of the drake. Her mind was set on scolding him.

Spike was waiting for the door to open or the typical “comiiiiing” singsong greeting by the angelical and melodic voice from none other than the Element of Generosity, the most beautiful creature he’d ever known. No, the most beautiful creature ever known to anybody. His expectations were not met, however.

“Why, good morning, Sir!” The angelical voice, which wasn’t quite singsong at all, cried out once its owner opened the door to glower at him. When he didn’t make any move other than a hoarse choking noise, the purple haired girl crossed her arms over her rather exposed bosom and continued to reprimand, “Spike, you have to know it is not polite to arrive at a time different than the one agreed upon. I’m so disappointed in you, darling,” she said, with a more subdued tone of voice, as part of her exasperation was quickly vented.

Spike’s eyes were beginning to feel dry.

“So, Spike, aren’t you going to apologize at least?” she said, but still not getting an answer.

Spike felt paralyzed. The girl he spent every waking moment thinking about, the very same girl he dreamed about every single night was standing before in a way he had not expected. She was wet, remarkably so, her body covered only with a towel in such a way that he could appreciate her long legs, even part of her cutie mark was being displayed, taunting him. And if that wasn’t enough, he could also see her breasts, only half covered, drops of water trailing through the valley between them.

And her hair. He had never seen her without her usual, perfectly shaped style. Now, however, her glistening hair fell around her body, like a luscious violet waterfall made out of pure silk. A few wayward bangs covered parts of her face, that oh so freaking lovely face, making her look cute even when she was angry.

All that, coupled with the glittering droplets of water that clung to her skin, made her look otherworldly. Stunning, hot, sexy, sensual, breathtaking, and a bunch of other words that were simply not enough to describe the goddess before his so bucking lucky eyes in this very moment. The only other muscles apart of his eyes that were still working now were the ones in his heart, which was beating heavily inside his chest, threatening to explode out at any moment.

Seeing his wide-eyed gaping, Rarity finally realized just what had him frozen like that. Almost instantly, her annoyance and exasperation vanished as she blushed in utter embarrassment.

“Oh my Celestia, I’m so sorry, Spike!!” she started to apologize, trying to cover her exposed chest with one of her hands while the other tried pulling the towel down, as if that was going to be useful in hiding her bare legs at least a bit more. “I w-was so distracted when I heard the doorbell that I just came to open it and…” Then she became speechless. The situation was so awkward, she couldn’t even begin to explain. Her skin took an even brighter shade of red, matching Spike’s own colorful cheeks. And in less than a second, she disappeared at a speed that would have impressed Pinkie Pie, practically teleporting back to her room.

Spike remained staring and gaping in front of the open door, almost seemingly mindless until an ear-to-ear grin split across his face. “Being early is awesome.”

Spike shook his head, trying to dislodge the images of his goddess. He had to keep thinking, he couldn’t afford to get distracted just as everything began to fall into place and make sense. He recalled just how stunned he had been upon seeing her, and it dawned on him. It was easy to draw a parallel between both experiences. After all, hadn’t he been wet and nearly naked when she ran into him in the hallway? It couldn’t be a coincidence that her hand had just happened to slid down his chest the way it did.

And then she had gotten a nosebleed and fainted. That had only happened when he took off his towel. Maybe his nakedness had played a part in it? That would also explain her mumbling. Maybe she was having one of those dreams, like the ones he used to have about her? Did she really want him to...to... no way! She’s a lady for Celestia’s sake! Do girls even have that kind of dreams like boys do? He certainly didn’t know much about that particular aspect of female nature, after all.

He couldn’t exactly blame her for having such fantasies, though. He had definitely spent some time recalling the memory of the freshly bathed Rarity, standing in front of him practically in the nude, her cutie mark peeking out of the bottom of the towel, her breasts barely concealed, with glistening water slowly sliding down those wondrous mounds of heaven. Oh, how much he wanted to hold and caress those nice soft, marshmallow-like, voluptuous breasts...

Spike slapped himself out of his fantasy, his cheeks burning red. He felt guilty for thinking about Rarity in such a dirty way. He couldn’t control his dreams, but now he was fully conscious, so he really shouldn’t.

Suddenly a faint knocking came from the door. Is Twilight back? he thought. Before he had a chance to react, there was a blue aura around the door handle as it opened, with curly purple locks peeking inside the doorway, followed shortly by the face of an angel.

Spike pulled his sheets over his body on instinct, as Rarity made her way to his bed, smiling at him. That pretty, wonderful smile. She sat on the edge of his bed, placing a hand on his shoulder, and locked eyes with him.

“R-Rarity? What are you doing--”

She shushed him with a finger. “Hush, darling. I just wanted to thank you again for worrying about me.” She smiled tenderly, removing her finger from his lips. “And I also wanted to apologize for... my previous behavior... as well as come clean with a small lie I may have made.”

“Rarity, wh--”

“A gentleman does not interrupt a lady, Spike,” she said, giving a small pout. “As I said, I want to apologize for ruining anything... special... we might have had before you went off to Canterlot. Is there anyway you could forgive me, and possibly let us have that something special, again? Perhaps, even go a step further?” she asked, taking his hand in hers, pulling it into her lap.

What does she mean by a step further? “O-of course! Anything for you, milady,” he said breathlessly, captivated by her beautiful smile and gorgeous, twinkling eyes.

“That’s marvelous, darling, and it brings me to my next point. I wasn’t completely honest about why I fainted, or why my nose started bleeding...” She trailed off, avoiding direct eye contact.

“Then, what was the real reason?” he whispered, squeezing her hand gently.

Rarity took a deep breath and shifted around on his bed. “The real reason, Spike, is because I couldn’t help myself.” She leaned in closer to him. “I was in the presence of a big, handsome, charming, sexy gentleman just fresh out of the shower.” Her face was now mere inches from his. “Just being around such a stunning physique is enough to cause me to shiver. And being pressed against such a toned figure in such a state... well, you can imagine how much pleasurable distress it might induce in a lady.” She batted her eyelids at him, and Spike couldn’t help but gulp as he nodded. “And when I noticed you had taken your towel off, I couldn’t help myself.” She closed the distance and gave him a kiss.

Spike’s body froze up. His eyes went wide while hers closed in passion. His hand flew out from hers and hovered above, mere inches from her shoulder. His body started to relax as he slowly returned the kiss. The soft moan from the unicorn encouraged him, as his hand finally came to rest on her shoulder, caressing it softly as he deepened the kiss.

After what felt like an eon of forgotten pleasures, Rarity pulled away, her eyes fluttering open with an emotional smile.“How I could ever have left such a wonderful... hot, sexy, charming, gentleman behind is beyond me, Spikey,” she said, punctuating her words with small kisses peppered upon his lips. She crawled up beside him, leaning her body against his. “I don’t know how I have kept myself from you ever since you came back. It has been so trying. I don’t deserve such a wonderful drake such as you... but right now, I just don’t care.” She launched another affectionate assault on his lips, drawing him into another passionate kiss.

Spike readily returned it, closing his eyes as he felt her soft breasts being pressed and rubbing against his chest. His hand slowly slid down her back, caressing sensually as her tongue probed his lips. His lips parted, and her tongue deftly invaded his mouth, flicking across his sharp fangs. His own tongue invaded her mouth, coiling around hers, receiving a small moan in return. Rarity’s hand rested on his chest after having slid it by under his shirt, slowly rubbing up and down his toned muscles.

Rarity pulled away for air, gasping out, “Oh, you’re such a darling, Spikey-Wikey,” before resuming another lip-lock, her tongue quickly attacking his. Spike’s hand slowly drifted down to her hips, causing the unicorn to moan into his mouth. Daringly, his hand went down further, slowly caressing her cutie mark, causing her to pull away with a gasp. “No, Spike, not my cutie mark,” she panted.

“But Rarity,” Spike whispered against her lips, “they are so soft. As soft and foamy as marshmallows.”

“Mmmm.” She kissed him quickly. “Okay. Just, be gentle,” she whispered back, blushing.

“Of course, my lovely Marshmallow Princess,” he said, leaning forward for another kiss. His long serpentine tongue invaded her mouth, running across her pearly white teeth and tickling her tongue. His hand slowly squeezed her rear, massaging her cutie mark, causing her to moan slightly, as well as her hand to start sliding down his abs and even further... when a knock came from the door.

Spike almost jumped. Who the hell came to win the world’s worst timing award!? Flustered, he looked at his surroundings. Wait, where is Rarity? She was not there! He took a look under his bed. No one there, either. Then he realised what had just happened. He had fallen asleep and everything had been just a dream. He sighed. Yeah...it was way too good to be true. Silly lizard.

A familiar voice interrupted his mental self-smacking.“Spike, are you alright?” Twilight’s concerned voice came from outside.

Spike sighed before replying, “Yeah, I just wanted to take a little nap, that’s all.”

“You’re back from Rarity’s sooner than I thought. Did something happen?”

“No, Twilight. I’m fine. Everything is fine. Just let me take a little nap, okay?”

“A nap? It’s almost noon, and you want to take a nap? What about lunch?”

The doorknob began to rattle and Spike panicked. No, please, if you enter you’ll see my... oh no. No way. Not happening!

“Ok, Twi, just...just give me a moment! I’ll be in the kitchen within a few minutes, just don’t enter, okay?” Oh wait, that’ll just spur her mother hen mode on.

“What’s wrong Spike? What are you hiding from me? I’m coming in!”

Oh, Twilight, you have no idea... let’s keep it that way!

“Twilight, please, can I have some privacy in my own room!? You don’t see me knocking down your door and invading your privacy!”

The door stopped rattling. “Okay, okay! I got it! So, will you cook or should I make something for the both of us? I learned some cooking while you were living in Canterlot.”

That didn’t sound like good idea at all. He kind of wanted a kitchen not on fire. “No, Twi! I mean, I’ll cook today. Just... wait a few minutes, please?”

“Alright~!”

Spike patiently waited for the footsteps to go away, before sighing and sitting up on his bed. He waited for a few minutes until he was ready to leave his room to hopefully avoid another awkward moment with his almost-sister. Next time, lets just hope it’s not just a dream. He sighed again, and began heading toward the kitchen.

A girl with long, pink hair was crouched down near the entrance of the Carousel Boutique, speaking to a little bunny, of all things. “So, little Angel, you better wait for me right here, okay? If you don’t mind, that is...” The girl had light yellow skin and graceful wings, and her voice was gentle and demure as she addressed the fluffy white rodent, also known as Angel. However, the name was rather contradictory to his actual personality, as could be seen from the way the critter pitter-pattered one of its hind legs against the grass, with a belligerent frown on his tiny face, as it huffed in annoyance at the request from his companion.

The bunny’s owner, the pink-haired, kind pegasus named Fluttershy, didn’t seem to notice the bunny’s complaints. She just headed toward the entrance of the colorfully decorated shop, ringing the doorbell once. It was just then that something caught the Element of Kindness’ attention. Something was off, the door bore a placard that read: “CLOSED”. The timid pegasus gasped at the sight in front of her, as her heart started fluttering inside her chest.

“Oh no, it’s already past the noon, and today is monday. Why is Rarity’s boutique closed?” She started looking around curiously, until the little bunny, now at her side, started patting the floor, drawing his owner’s gaze. He started making a series of grimaces and gestures, given its inability to speak, until the girl in front of him seemed to somewhat understand what he was trying to tell her.

“Oh, you are right.” Fluttershy closed her eyes and counted to ten, steadying her breathing. “Okay, I’m calmer now. Thank you, Angel.” She opened her eyes again and looked at her friend’s door with determined eyes. “I’ll just go in. It must be her day off.”

After taking the key hidden behind one of the plants in the front porch, a secret location only known to Rarity’s most trusted friends (and which she had established was only to be used in the direst of emergencies), Fluttershy opened the door slowly. “Well, this must be an emergency since I panicked and one is supposed to panic in an emergency, isn’t that right Ang--?”

Before she could finish, a feline shriek stunned her, quickly followed by a white blur zoomed past her, chasing after the bunny.

“Oh, it was just Opal.” The winged young girl tiptoed into the boutique, ignoring the two now scurrying pets. She noted that the curtains were wide open. This is strange, if the curtains are open, then that means Rarity is up. But I can’t hear anyone. Maybe she left?

What was strange was that the boutique looked as if it were open for business, save for the ‘closed’ sign outside. Realizing that made a shiver go down Fluttershy’s spine. But instead of letting her fears take over her, she decided to go onwards, worried about her friend.

After making sure Rarity wasn’t on the ground floor, Fluttershy decided to check the second floor. All logic told the girl that her friend was to be found in her room. Maybe she was making sketches for a new design?

Once on the stairwell, the pegasus finally heard something. A familiar voice. She breathed a sigh of relief. But as she climbed the stairs further, the voice became more loud and clear, but also came with it a sense of distress. Fluttershy sped up her pace, soon reaching her friend’s door.

“R-Rarity? It’s me... Fluttershy...” she called, not daring check if the door was locked or not. Her greeting was only met with no other response other than sobbing coming from within. Naturally, this only made the kind girl start to panic.

“Rarity, are you okay? Please say something!” The sobbing calmed down a bit. “If that’s okay, of course...” I’m starting to get really worried...

“I’m...I’m okay, darling!” Rarity’s finally spoke, her voice sounding a little forced. The pegasus heard a couple of sniffs before the designer spoke again, this time with a more normal tone. “Excuse me for not letting you in, it’s just that I’m a mess at the moment.”

“Oh, what happened? Why haven’t you opened your store yet? Why are you crying?” Fluttershy forgot her nerves, finding out what was wrong with her friend was more important than feeling afraid, especially if she could find a way to make her feel better.

“No, Fluttershy, I’m not crying. It’s just that this is my day off and I decided to rest a bit, that’s why I didn’t even get ready to receive you or anyone for that matter...”

To the kind hearted pegasus, that answer wasn’t convincing enough. Rarity still sounded a bit shaky, a clear sign of the fact that she had spent some time crying.

“B-but...”

“Anyway, what brings you here, darling? Is there anything I may help you with?”

“Oh, n-no, Rarity, never mind. I just wanted to know if you were okay.”

“Well, now you know everything is fine. So... a pleasure talking to you. Now, if you’ll excuse me, talking through a door is not exactly what I’d call comfortable, and it’s rather un-lady like.”

“Oh, yes, of course. Well, if you need someone to talk to, I’ll be at home...”

“I already told you not to worry, I haven’t been crying at all,” The fashionista stated, sounding a bit miffed.

“I’ll see you then,” Fluttershy bade her goodbye, timid as ever.

“Goodbye, darling. Have a nice day!”

“Goodbye, Rarity.” The defeated pegasus bore an expression of extreme sadness as she slowly headed for the door. I'm sorry, Rarity. I’m not sure how to make you feel better, but at least I know someone who can.

Author's Note

Now, the real brains here are:
Racko -> special help with Spike's dream xD (it basically came from his mind)
And my editors:
Imaginary Valued
Sgt. Alex -> also translator

Thanks a bunch guys for all your generous help. I really appreciate it.
And thanks to everyone for reading me.
Oh and if you liked the drawing, I'll upload more, just be alert to my blog entries ; )

Bitter Memories

Bitter Memories

Rarity laid upon her soft and enormous bed, tears still running over her cheeks. Her hair was in disarray and her makeup a ruined mess. She was still holding her diary against her chest. She had been reading it, trying to understand why she had acted the way she had; trying to discover if maybe, just maybe, there was a way to fix the mistakes she had made in the past, and recover her beloved Spikey-Wikey. But the more she read about the times they were together, the guiltier and more regretful she felt.

That painful day when she told him they were over and lied to him was still fresh in her mind as if it had only been yesterday, all thanks the pages she had just be reading all morning, after he left her Boutique.

Two years ago...

The unicorn sighed. “Oh, dear. If not for you I wouldn’t have even half of my work done for this weekend.” Rarity was sitting in front of her sewing machine, working on one of the five dresses she had scheduled for today.

“It’s nothing really, you know I’m happy to lend you a hand, though I think you could use a break. Weekends are for resting, aren’t they?” The green-haired teenager finished aligning a group of amethysts of same shape and color on a nearby table.

“Oh no, darling!” The fashionista squeaked, as she took another roll of fabric and started unrolling it. “The demand is just too high these days, I can’t just reject my clients requests or I could be giving them up to the competition!” She settled the fabric over the table, levitating a marker while watching at a pattern floating in front of her eyes. “Just five more of these and we’ll be done. Could you be a dear and sort these gems right there, in the third shelf of the left? I need the best emeralds you can find, remember they have to be very similar in shape and size.”

Spike sighed in defeat. “I know, I know,” he droned, his gaze lingering on her for a few moments before doing what he had been asked. She looked tired and tense, a few droplets of sweat running down her forehead, unnoticed by her, so concentrated she was on getting her work for the day done. At any other time she would have already made a drama about how ladies shouldn’t sweat so much and cleaned herself with one of her personalized and handmade handkerchiefs. Why couldn’t they relax and have a nice day out? A picnic on the park, like all the other, ‘normal’ couples. Well, he guessed they weren’t a normal couple to begin with.

They were secret lovers. Although the idea could and did sound exciting, thrilling even, at times, that was just fiction. This was reality and as it was, Rarity saw their relationship as being something forbidden and wrong. But to him, it couldn’t be righter; he loved her, she loved him, so why don’t act like it? Why did it have to be so complicated for her? She was a drama queen, maybe it was just that. But he didn’t mind as long as they could be just together as much time as possible.

Rarity levitated a pair of scissor to start cutting the fabric before taking a little pause to look at her young love. She noticed his eyes were unfocused, appearing to be lost in deep thoughts as he sorted the gems, almost as if he was on some kind of autopilot. She left the scissors over the table, and stepped closer to him, hugging him from behind, around his neck, she still was a bit taller than him but it didn’t matter. She pulled Spike closer, hugging him tighter. Feeling the warmth of his body against hers was like a little trip to heaven, just what she needed to relax before continuing her hard work.

Spike gasped at her touch, becoming putty under her gentle embrace. Feeling her breasts pressing against his back made him feel like someone had turned up the thermostat. He tried not to think about it, he knew he was better than this. So he tried to concentrate on her breath against his ears. Oh man, that wasn’t very good idea either, his temperature just started rising again, his cheeks reddening more and more, his heart struggling to keep up with the increased blood demand.

Spike cleared his throat soundly. “Um, Rarity?” He gently grabbed her forearms releasing the embrace and turning to face her. “Would you like a massage?”

Rarity raised an eyebrow, surprised by the sudden offer. “Why, dear, I didn’t know you—”

“Just trust me, most wonderful being” He said, grabbing a chair and motioning for her to sit down.

She blushed slightly at his compliment. “Darling, is not like I don’t trust in you. It’s just that you never cease to amaze me.” She gave him a quick peck on his lips before taking a seat, trying to relax in anticipation, but instead getting eager of feeling his gentle touch.

“Well let’s hope I don’t disappoint” He said, while flexing his fingers with his hands interlaced with each other.

“I don’t think you ever will,” she whispered, making him blush.

Spike’s tender hands began rubbing her sore shoulders, Rarity couldn’t help but let out a moan of pleasure as she felt all her pent up stress and aggression wash away as if by magic. Her eyes rolled in their sockets, her legs and arms now feeling like jelly. She felt wrong admitting it to herself, but right now she was nothing more than putty under Spike’s magical touch, willing to be molded and shaped into whatever he desired.

“Dear, that feels simply heavenly,” she moaned. “Where did you learn how to give such a divine massage?”

“Twilight has books,” Spike said. “But I never thought I’d be able to get to try it out. Guess all that practice on those pillows really paid off.”

“Lucky pillows,” Rarity muttered. Why did it feel so wrong? She wanted to feel like that pillow, to have Spike’s mystical grasp massage every inch of her body, but at the same time the idea seemed dirty, like she was exploiting Spike’s innocence and attraction towards her. Such was the dilemma she faced.

She always thought that there was something wrong with the relationship she and Spike shared, but it was always so easy to just push those doubts away when she looked into those emerald green eyes, and sharp toothed smile. Lately, however, she had been feeling… urges. They were confusing and mind numbing ideas that conflicted with one another, one side saying yes, and the other screaming no. How could she know what to do? Was it fair to just dwell on their relationship? To keep pretending like it was some light-hearted fairy tale where the dashing prince would marry the princess and live happily ever after? She had learnt with Blueblood that even fairy tales have silver lining to them; the truth was that they covered a real world punch to the face.

Spike was a sweetheart and a gentleman, but even he was only human. He wouldn’t wait forever for things to get… intimate. She needed to think more, but her mind refused to work, too distracted by her love’s angelic massage.

“Sp-spike…” she moaned, trying to resist the building desire in her chest. “I-I need you to stop…” The words stung as they came out of her mouth, even in her sweet tone she felt like she was going to cough up acid.

“Is something wrong?” Her lover asked, becoming worried. “I didn’t pinch you or anything, did I?”

“No, nothing of the sort, dear,” she said, turning around to face him. It had to be now, before things went any further. She felt terrible about what she was going to do. Like smashing a stained-glass window, she would have to break his heart. “I need to tell you something… oh my.”

Her mind was swept clean when faced with those large innocent eyes, blinking with curiosity and worry. Could she bring herself to destroy something so beautiful?

“Yes, Rarity?” Spike asked. “What’s wrong?”

She couldn’t do it, not to his face. This lean handsome boy hadn’t done anything but love her with all his heart, what kind of monster would wreck something so pure? She was lost in a dead trance, her heart racing, like it would come bursting out of her chest and claim him for itself. She tried to say something but failed to produce anything but a quivering breath, and then he kissed her.

Rarity was so happy that he misread her signal, seeing love where she saw doubt. She gladly let his lips caress hers as they tenderly embraced one another. Any doubt in her mind was fizzling out at an alarming rate as she became lost in the magical moment. She wanted him, every inch of him.

She found she had no control over her mischievous hands as they started to wrap around Spike’s waist, hugging him tightly as she placed a gentle hand on each of his cheeks, her favourite part of his body, not that he had a bad part, there was just something about his butt that drove her crazy.

Her hands ventured up north, taking the scenic route up Spike’s shirt and enjoying the view of his well-toned stomach. She broke the kiss and pushed the rest of his shirt up. They were really going to do this, even though they shouldn’t. But her brain wasn’t thinking straight, her brain was thinking Spike.

Tossing the shirt aside, Spike’s own frisky hands started to make their way down Rarity’s blouse. Starting at the collar, he made haste to undo each of her buttons, even against the heavy tide of her exhaling chest. He only got half way down before he let the rest slip off her shoulders, revealing her black brazier.

She felt so warm in his embrace as the two made their way to her bed. Spike, ever the gentleman, made sure to be careful when lowering her onto it. She laid there in her sedated state as Spike undid his belt.

“Spike…” she blushed. “I… are you sure you’re ready for this?”

Her question was answered with the drop of his trousers. Of course he was ready for this, he always was. It was just her failing brain’s last effort to stop the inevitable pleasure, but it was all lost now. He started to crawl up the bed, stopping just short of her waist.

“May I?” He asked.

She should have said no, but she found herself hypnotically nodding yes. The devilish smirk on Spike’s face was far too powerful for her to resist and she found herself arching up on her shoulders and heels, letting Spike pull down her skirt and exposing her dark panties. Her legs crossed slightly, quivering with both excitement and anxiety over what Spike had just done. Just one thin layer of fabric protected both of their innocences now…

His descent was slow, crawling up her body like a hungry predator until they met lip to lip again. Rarity knew that it had gone too far, but she found it hard to stop as her love’s forked tongue danced with hers in an everlasting tango of craving. She tore at his back, gripping his shoulder-blades, where the surface of his skin was an odd scaly spot of skin, pressing his toned body against hers, closer and closer. There was nothing she could do to extinguish the fires that burned within her now; her mind was lost to ecstasy.

Spike’s fingers began sliding down her side and she knew exactly where they were going, she could already feel his excitement pressing against her loins, all he had to do was simply open the door. When he hooked his fingers around the panty line, her heart skipped a beat. She was so sensitive; the tiniest pluck could send her screaming as Spike started to shimmy her—.

Knock, knock, knock!

They both froze in position as Spike let go of her underwear, slapping back against Rarity’s body.

“Rarity!” A voice called from downstairs. “It’s me! Sweetie Belle, we’re still having lunch today, right?”

“Oh no,” gulped Rarity, pushing the stunned Spike off of her. “I completely forgot about our lunch date! She can’t see me like this… with you!”

“What do you want me to do?” Stammered Spike, still in a bit of a daze. “Jump out the window? I’m in my boxers!”

“Well we can’t let Sweetie see you! She’ll ruin everything, the little gossip,” she said.

“Rarity? Are you even home?” Sweetie Belle called up, the impending sound of footsteps following her.

“Spike, hide!” Rarity ordered.

“Where?!”

“I don’t know… under the bed!” She said. “Go!”

Spike quickly scurried under the bed just as the door handle started to turn. Rarity quickly leapt to the door, slamming it shut with all her might. “Just a minute, Sweetie!” She called. “I’m… not decent.”

“Why are you getting changed?” Sweetie asked from the other side of the door. “It’s like one in the afternoon.”

“Oh… I was in the garden… and I got some dirt on my work clothes.”

“So you needed to get changed? Rarity, you’re so weird sometimes.”

“Perhaps,” muttered Rarity. “But could you please wait downstairs until I’m all dressed? A lady doesn’t like being questioned while changing.”

“Whatever, sis,” Sweetie Belle groaned, the sound of footsteps gradually grew more distant. “Just don’t take forever, I’m starving!”

“Of course, Sweetie Belle,” sighed Rarity, sliding down the door frame. How could she had been so stupid? What if they had gotten caught? Everything could have been ruined! Her relationships, her career. Celestia knows her parents and friends would look at her differently. She had gotten caught up in the moment and almost been exposed. It broke her heart, but she knew what she had to do… for both of their sakes.

“Is the coast all clear?” Spike asked, crawling out from under the bed. “That was a little too close for comfort.”

“Spike…” moaned Rarity, her voice as frail as glass. “We… we can’t keep doing this.”

“What do you mean?”

“I… can’t keep using you like some toy,” she whimpered, the first tear dropping from her eye. “And I can’t keep pretending that this is some children’s book where we’ll stay loving and chaste forever, only good and never bad. But we were so close… and I wasn’t ready for that.”

“Then we can wait,” frowned Spike. “I don’t mind.”

“But I do!” Rarity cried. “We were so close! Don’t you get it? I wanted to stop it but I was too lost in the moment. There’s always been something wrong with this relationship, and I think I know what it is.”

“There’s nothing wrong with us…”

“No Spike… there is,” Rarity sighed. “We’re too young for these games, Spike. I’m simply not ready to take that next step. I keep trying to force myself to do it, but I can’t. I love you with all my heart Spike… but I don’t think that we can be together right now.

“The problem is me, right?” He said, looking at the floor, his voice quivering. “I-I’m the one who’s too young”

Rarity didn’t answer. He had a point, no, that was the point!

Spike looked at her with his green determined orbes fixed on her azure ones. “Why don’t you let me decide this for myself? Please, I’m not the first one losing their virginity at this age! I love you and I want to do this! Even if we have to wait for it, I can wait, then. All it matters is the love we share for each oth—”

“Hush you, Spike, or Sweetie Belle will hear us” Rarity whispered, using her hand to cover his mouth, though quickly withdrawing it. She didn’t even want to touch him. She had made a decision and couldn’t let anything get in her way, any physical contact should be restricted or it could make her hesitate as she already had... No! Not again! This was for both their sakes, wasn’t it?

“I’m sorry Spike, but I’ll be completely honest with you. I can’t keep... deceiving you any longer.”

She couldn’t bear to look at his innocent eyes, those eyes which right now looked at her with the most horrible of uncertainty, waiting for whatever dagger she was going to stab his tender heart with. But she had to do it before it was too late. She shut her eyes closed, she had to do it. She had to, now.

“I don’t love you Spike.” She would have screamed were it not for Sweetie Belle being downstairs. It would be the worst possible thing if she were to come up and find them like this!

“Excuse me, but... What?” He said, gripping her shoulders with both his hands. “What did you just say?”

She still had her eyes shut. She couldn’t see his reaction to what she just said. She couldn’t bear to see the disappointment and sorrow in his gaze, she couldn’t live with herself knowing that the sweetest, kindest and most generous being she had ever met was getting his heart broken..

But it had to be done. It had to be.

“I said I don’t love you Spike.”

Even if it was a lie.

Sure she just had told him moments ago she loved him with all her heart, she was nothing less than a monster.

Silence reigned for a few moments, until he broke it.

“Open your eyes, Rarity. I want to hear you say it again but looking at me.” He said bluntly, as he tightened the grip on her shoulders, not noticing his claws were sinking into her bare skin.

On the verge of tears, she forcefully opened her eyes. She used all of her will to do what she had to do. She looked at his boyish eyes, trying not to focus, it helped that her tears were starting to turn her eyesight into a blurry mess.

“I said I don’t love you. I never did. I mean, not as you want me to. I just.. couldn’t let you heartbroken, you insisted so much, I had to say yes,” she stammered. Her sobs started making it hard to speak, but she made a superhuman effort to continue. “I-I had to give you a chance... and I did but... you see how it turned out—”

“Wonderful, it was wonderful. Rarity these three months we’ve been together have been, so far, the best moments of my entire life, I felt like I was living in a dream, I couldn't be happier. I’m happy being with you, and I think you can’t be serious about ending all this. You also looked happy, aren’t you Rarity? Tell me you lied when you said you—” He sniffed, tears were running over his cheeks, too. “When you said you don’t love me.”

His eyes. Those eyes, she really couldn’t. Could she?

“I wasn’t lying Spike. I was happy but I also knew something was wrong. Because I don’t love you in the same way you love me. I’m so sorry, Spike” Her voice getting weaker. Her heart was aching so much, she couldn’t keep doing this any longer.

Please you have to understand Spike, don’t insist! She said in her mind, clenching her eyes shut again, her entire body trembling.

Fortunately for her, Spike didn’t say a word. He let go of her shoulders, leaving red marks were his pointy claws once laid upon.

She just stood there, still trembling, now not sure if it was because of the coolness of being still undressed or the whole situation, while he quickly dressed himself up. She felt him step close to her, until he was in front of her. She could swear she heard his heart racing as her own was. She could also feel the sadness in his harsh voice.

“Rarity, please. For the last time... Tell me, if you’re sure all you said is the truth, and all our... all we shared... is over, or maybe we can solve this in another way that is the best for us” He sniffed after his last sentence. He was probably crying as she was, she could hear his tears as they hit the floor, or she thought she could.

Rarity looked at him, eyes still blurry due to the endless trail of tears pouring out her eyes. At least she wouldn’t see these green eyes trying to bend her will any longer. “Good bye, Spike...” She whispered, the sobbings claiming for her to let them free, she needed her drama couch now.

The young draconic boy stepped backwards, until he reach the wall. Then he turned to face the window, he couldn’t do otherwise since Sweetie Belle would surely notice that he had been in her sister’s room while she was ‘changing’, and there just wasn’t any way they’d be able to explain away something like that without her getting suspicious. After making sure there was nobody around to see him escape, he made his way down, it was three floors high but he was a dragon. He could fall from far higher without getting hurt. Once over the grassy floor near to Carousel Boutique, he ran away as fast as possible, disappearing from Rarity’s sight.

Once she saw him disappear, she fell to her knees, turned her back against the window, letting her emotions flow freely. She didn’t even consider that her sister or anypony else could be hearing her, her heart was aching as it never did before, and the tears did nothing but increase the pain. What had just she done? Wasn’t there another way, maybe one less hurtful for him? Probably not, as for her, ending their relationship had been painful enough.

Author's Note

Yay! sorry for the long delay... this was a hard writting chapter after all...
Now now, hope you liked and, special thanks to FlimFlamBross! for he helped me with the *ahem* warmest scene ever wrote in this story.

Credits:
FFB - Cowriter
Stg. Alex and Infinite Valued - Editors

<3 thanks for making it possible!

Real Time Romance

Real Time Romance

It was mostly all a blur. By the time Spike was aware of his surroundings, he was already in front of the library, struggling to catch his breath. He suspected that jumping from a third floor was a bit too risking, judging by the slight stinging sensations on his arms and knees. But he was a dragon; he was made of sturdier stuff. On the outside. The inside, on the other hand...

He pushed his way into the library, and slumped against the closed door, nearly seething with each deep breath. He really hoped Twilight wasn’t home. He really didn’t want her to see him in such a state. He couldn’t fathom facing anyone at the moment. In fact, he more or less just wanted to disappear, if only so these painful feelings would perish with him.

The painful gnawing sensation in the back of his head made his thoughts drift to Rarity. What just happened? Did she actually break up with him? Was it all over? It had been so wonderful, seemed to be going so well. And now it was just...over?

Because of what? Rarity spoke of the problem they’d have to confront if the rest of the world found out about their relationship. But who the hell cared? He sure didn’t! If she wanted to wait until he reached the legal age, then he would wait. If she wanted to make all this a secret forever, he would’ve complied, he just wanted to be with her. Sure, he would probably try asking her to marry him eventually, but he could even give up on that idea, as long as they were together.

And what if everyone found out? Then he’d defend her. He would convince all the town, all of Equestria if need be. He’d convince them that Rarity wasn't taking advantage of him, because he loved her, more than anything. She was his everything, but now...

Spike quickly found his way into the bedroom and slammed the door behind him. He clutched at his chest through the shirt, trying to ease the pain buried beneath the flesh while Rarity’s last words to him kept swirling in a cyclone of agony. His vision blurred and his back slid down the door as he slumped to the ground. Drop by drop, his shirt began to collect tears.

He kept wondering if it was truth what she had said to him, that she didn’t love him. His grip tightened. Hours filled with hundreds of thoughts passed. At one point, he thought about racing back towards the Boutique and asking Rarity if she was sure about her decision, if she actually didn’t love him, and to just give it another chance of... No, to hear her confirm his fears would probably destroy him and sink him even more into depression and he couldn’t take any more. Just these past hours had been enough for him. And she had a point after all, perhaps it was the best for her. She had a reputation to keep, after all. It was for the sake of her business. He’d endure the fire of Tartarus for her sake, and if this was what she decided, then he had to move on.

But how, he wondered. It wasn’t possible to just forget everything between them, especially if they had to be around each other every once in a while. And their friends would notice eventually, and the questioning would start. With all the pain he was yet feeling in his heart, and the tears that seemed to never end, he had to think straight. For Rarity. No matter what she did he could never hate her. She gave him some of the happiest moments in his life. The least he could do was to honor those memories. The solution to his predicament sprung to his mind, something he had been deliberating in the past few months.

It was something he didn’t want to do, because he couldn’t live without Twilight, the girls, and especially without Rarity. But now that the most important reason to stay became the most compelling reason to leave...he needed time away. In his mind, he shook hands with Shining Armor, the offer accepted.

With his decision solemnly made, Spike finally felt his thoughts slowly come to an ease, and the pain began to fade out bit by bit until he slipped into a quiet slumber.

He awoke to a sudden knock on the door.

“Spike?” Two more knocks. “Hello?” came a feminine voice.

Twilight. Spike slowly peeled himself off the floor and into a sitting position. He didn’t respond, and tried to collect his bearings. Twilight was back. And he still wasn’t anywhere near being ready to see anyone.

“Spike, are you in there?” Twilight’s muffled voice called.

Spike’s eyes clenched shut. “I don’t want to talk to anyone right now.” Great, his voice cracked at several moments, now she was going to catch on. Resigned to the inevitable, he then noticed how grimy and wet his shirt felt. He must’ve only been out for a short while. With a grunt he made his way towards his wardrobe.

Right on cue, the doorknob rattled and turned just before the door opened. “Spike, I’m really sorry but you’re making me a bit worried here--” She stopped once she noticed he was in front of the mirror of his room, shirtless. Twilight blushed a bit. “Oh, sorry, uh, I didn’t know you were getting changed...”

“It’s fine,” Spike said over his shoulder, trying to keep the reflection of his flushed face and bloodshot eyes out of the mirror, “don’t worry about it.”

He could feel Twilight’s scrutiny during the tense pause that followed. Before he could pull a new shirt over his head, Twilight interjected, “Spike, what’re those on your back?”

Spike twisted around to see Twilight’s curiously concerned expression and realized she must’ve meant the twin marks over his back; two purplish spots located close to the spine, one on each side.

“Oh, those. They showed up a few weeks ago, I think.” he explained, wiping his eyes with his forearm before turning around. “I have no idea what they are.”

Twilight gave him a look. “Spike, do you mind if we talk for a bit?

Spike took a steadying breath. “No. Yeah, we can talk.” He plopped down on the bed with his arms and legs splayed to the side and stared at the ceiling without another word. A few moments later, the mattress squeaked under Twilight’s additional weight.

There was another pause before Twilight spoke, “I ran into Lyra on the way back. She said you almost bumped into her without saying hello.”

Spike breathed in deeply. “Uh-huh...”

“She also said you might’ve been crying.”

“Well, she’s wrong,” he nearly spat and cringed at his tone. He might as well have stamped ‘something is wrong’ onto his face. He felt Twilight scoot over.

“Do you mind if I take a look at your back? Just to make sure.”

Spike wordlessly flipped over, now lying prone. He felt Twilight’s hands slip under to pull the shirt up. Soon the sensation of her touch was upon the two hardened nubs and he almost flinched. He realized he wasn’t in quite the mood to be touched yet and so pulled away the moment Twilight seemed to be done with her examination. “So? What is it? With my luck, I’m probably dying from a terminal, flesh-eating disease.”

He could almost feel the frown forming. “Spike, you shouldn’t joke about things like that.”

Spike huffed and turned on his side away from Twilight, who continued, “You know, those marks are very similar to the composition of your tail’s.”

Spike blinked and cast a glimpse behind him. “Uh-huh?”

“Well, if I had to guess, I’d say your wings might finally be growing in.”

That certainly caught his attention, and for a moment all the dark and painful thoughts from before were pushed away. “Wha...really? I’m gonna get wings? For real?” He jumped off the bed and moved to the body mirror, pulling his shirt up to inspect the reflection of his back.

“It certainly looks like a distinct possibility,” Twilight said smiling, “Congratulations, Spike.”

“Wings,” Spike said to himself, imaging strong scaly appendages of flight in place of the thick purple slits.

Twilight got off the bed and walked over. “Spike, you can tell me if something’s wrong. Please, you can trust me. I’m your sister and...” She gave a small smile, scratching her head with one finger. “You’re very important to me. You know that, don’t you?”

“Yeah... “ Spike said, sighing. “Thanks, Twilight.”

“Well?” Twilight looked at him with expectant eyes.

“I’m different, Twilight,” Spike started, taking a seat on the bed. “People look at me as if I’m a freak. I’m tired of all this, Twi. And no offense, but I’m also tired of being nothing more than a librarian assistant too.”

Twilight frowned a bit. “B-but, I’ve never noticed anyone treating you badly. I mean, I know fangs and tail can raise a few eyebrows along with those unnerving, snake-like eyes and not to mention sometimes your breath smells awful..”

“Gee, Twi. I feel so much better now. You should’ve become a counselor.”

Twilight tittered. “Um, anyway, I’m sure this is all just from your exaggerating mind. Nobody thinks of you as anything less than a friend, let alone a freak. You’re respected in this town and a lot of people love you.”

“Maybe. Maybe I am just exaggerating about all this. But still, I have plans for my life, Twi.”

“What do you mean? What plans?”

“Remember the last time we saw Shining?”

Twilight nodded. “Of course I do. That was around two months ago, I think, when we went back to Canterlot for the weekends.”

“Well, he and I had a talk, and he made an offer to me.”

Twilight frowned. “An offer?”

Spike nodded. “I didn’t think much of it back then, but now that I’ve done some thinking, I’ve decided to take it. I’m leaving, Twi.”

“What?!”

“I’m going to join the Shining’s squad, Twilight. I’m gonna train to become a royal soldier. To stop being a boy and become a man, someone more useful than just an assistant. I want to become someone who can do more than just sit on the sidelines. And I have to move to Canterlot in order to do so.”

Sweetie Belle poked her head through the open door. “Rarity?” she asked, getting no reply.

After making sure to wipe her shoes on the mat, the teenager made her way into the Boutique. She tried calling for her sister a few more times, but silence remained her only accounted companion.

Did she already go on her lunch break? Maybe she forgot that I always visit on Mondays... again...

She checked the kitchen to see if she was there. It was tidy, but there was no sign of anyone being there recently. Not even a dish in the sink or a scrap of food in the fridge.

The young woman began to feel a pinch of worry gnawing at the back of her head. Rarity wasn’t the type of person who’d just disappear without at least leaving some sort of message. She was always very responsible with all of her commitments and prior engagements, and seldom changed her plans without notice. Deciding that the quiet shop presented an opportunity to snoop, er, look for clues, Sweetie brazenly entered Rarity’s room without, as was customary, even bothering to knock, which would definitely have earned her the ‘fashionable scowl of utter disdain’ if Rarity was still around.

Sweetie Belle froze mid-stride. She rapidly blinked in stupefaction. There, lying prone in her queen-sized fancy bed, was her sister. She seemed to be asleep, and was hugging a white pillow tightly as though it were a life raft. Her face was obscured by a curtain of messy violet hair, but from what could be seen, Sweetie noticed twin tracks trailing down her flushed cheeks and a darkened circle on the pillow where the tracks ended. It didn’t take a genius to figure out what likely had happened.

As the young singer stood there staring at her distressed sister’s state, a flurry of questions bombarded her mind.

Was Rarity crying? Duh. Why was Rarity crying? How long has she been crying? Did something happen? Duh. What happened? This isn’t about stealing her makeup, is it? Duh. Duh what? Uh...

Sure, Rarity could be overly dramatic at times, yanking her drama couch out from thin air as she wailed in overemphasized woe loudly to everyone’s eyerolls. And certainly, there were the occasional tear or two. What was melodrama without a bit of tears, after all? But this was not a typical performance done at the fancy whims of a full time seamstress and part time dramatist. This was quiet, unseen, and very much real.

What am I supposed to do now? Should I shake her? But I don’t know what I should do if she’s awake! Do I bring her soup? Chocolate? Tea? A bag of bonbons?

The flustered teenager fortunately managed to panic quietly, as the older sister still slept peacefully. Somewhere between frazzled thoughts, Sweetie Belle got another good look at the woman. The fashionista seemed to be comfortable at the moment, her distress allayed by sleep, and maybe it was best not to change that for now.

Sweetie Belle began to make her way out of her sister’s bedroom, slowly stepping backwards on her tippy toes. Before she could fully pull out from the room though, something caught Sweetie’s attention from the corner of her eyes.

It was a booklet with a purple binding laying sprawled with its pages facing down on the ground. The intriguing book was close to her sister’s bed, half hidden by the bed sheets, and had likely dropped off the bed when Rarity fell asleep. Sweetie carefully knelt down and picked it up, noticing that some of the pages had gotten crumpled. She instinctively tried to straighten out the crinkles, and in doing so unintentionally read few neatly written lines of what it was unmistakably written in her sister’s handwriting. Sweetie Belle gasped.

This is totally Rarity’s diary!

Sweetie immediately slammed the booklet shut, nervously remembering Rarity’s reaction upon discovering her personal diary had been read without permission the last time. Echoes of I will destroy yooooouuuu so much were very persuasive arguments in favor of putting the diary back in its proper place and fleeing in terror.

But just when she was about to place it upon her sister’s bedside table, a flashing realization passed through her mind. Maybe it was worth risking total obliteration if she could find out exactly what had been distressing Rarity so much that the event would leave her in the state she was in. It was a big maybe, but the potential information depot presented a bigger prize. Besides, she was here to snoop in the first place, might as well take advantage.

Sweetie Belle took a seat in the same spot where she found the diary. If Rarity were to wake up suddenly, she’d have enough time to quickly leave the little book in the same place she first found it and run like hell, with or without screaming ‘I’m sorry and I totally wasn’t here!’. With her flawless plan decided, she opened up the diary at a random page and started reading.

“Twilight didn’t come to our meeting, I have no clue why. But I don’t mind, really. We’ll have a chance to spend time together another time. And it was such a delightful afternoon to complain about, to be perfectly honest. Just me and Spike... I don’t know why, but I kind of wanted to be alone with him one of these days, without any excuses such as work or gathering gemstones. Just the both of us, hanging out, together, having a nice time. Why, I wonder sometimes... if he just were just a bit older, things might’ve been very different. Oh my. Yes, Dear Diary, I know that these thoughts could be somewhat frowned upon, but I really do enjoy his company. He’s always so kind, so gentle with me. Always looking at me with those beautiful emerald eyes, that oh so lovely gaze that shower me with affection. Sometimes, I’ve wondered what it would be like if he did more than just look?

My goodness, what did I just write? But is it so dreadfully wrong, dear Diary? If you’d only seen those tender lips, and those cute little fangs... And again, I’m rambling as if I was a silly schoolgirl in love with her classmate. But no, it’s not my case. I perfectly know he’s just my friend; we can’t ever be more than that. Even if he’s the perfect gentleman I’ve always wanted, it wouldn’t be fair! And I can’t be in love with a teenager! I’m a businesswoman and have an image to keep, and he’s in the right of being with someone of his same age, not an oldie Ma'am such as myself...

“And again, what was I going to write? Oh yes, well. What did we did that afternoon. We just sat there, under the shadow of a tree, a blanket over the grass and beneath us. He brought a really nice meal for both of us; two cupcakes, some cookies, and he made them with a heart shape, can you believe it, dear? He’s always so subtle about his feelings for me. I’m still amazed of how he still keeps his little crush on me over all these years. Well, sometimes it seems to be more than just that, but I rather not think about that...”

Sweetie Belle stared wide eyed at the pages. She chanced a look over her shoulder, and upon seeing Rarity still asleep, continued to read.

“(...) Once our meal was finished, the sun was already fading in the horizont. The sky looked oh so beautiful, these perfect shapes of orange and yellow, gradually taking all the blue and turquoise to later becoming a complete dark, adorned with the most sparkling stars, and that without mentioning the gorgeous Luna’s moon we had today.

“While we were looking at the wonderful twilight, I noticed he was sitting a bit away of me. I guessed it was because sometimes he just feels a bit awkward, probably because of my awareness of his feelings towards me, and the atmosphere that surrounded us that was frankly quite romantic, if someone had seen us in these moments they would have probably thought that we were a couple.

“So I invited him to come closer, and he blushed like mad, the little charmer. Still, he slyly came closer, still not enough, though, so an idea crossed my mind. I’m still a bit regretful, but I just don’t know what happened to me. I just... wanted it and did it! Yes, dear, I told him to lay his head over my lap. His reaction was so cute, just as I expected. I love to fluster him like that, I’m such a terrible lady. But I blame him for being just so adorable when he becomes all nervous around me...

“Despite his nerves, he slowly leaned over his back, resting his head on my lap. I couldn’t help but smile, and my heart started beating faster... We both continued watching the beautiful sight we had in front of our eyes, until it was completely dark, just a bit of moonlight lighting everything. I started caressing his hair, I have to admit I didn't expect it to be so soft... it was such a delight. I noticed he shivered slightly once my hand touched his head. But later he seemed to feel more relaxed. Until he suddenly put his hand over the one I was stroking his hair with...”

A sudden soft mumbling caused Sweetie Belle’s heart almost leap to her throat as she looked at Rarity, who had only moved to adjust her position and covered herself more with the blanket.

Sweetie Belle let loose a held breath of relief and went back to her reading. It was like a romantic novel; everything was just so disgustingly sweet and cheesy. But this was an account of real life events, and not only that but ones that belonged to her sister! There was a certain sense if thrill on that notion. It also made her feel bit ashamed but that was quickly brushed aside as curiosity took over and she continued sifting through the hidden secrets of her sister’s love life.

“(...) ‘Rarity’, he barely whispered me with his soft and juvenile voice. ‘You know... not like I mind... please don’t take me wrong but...’ He hesitated.

‘Go ahead dear, just tell me. I don’t think anything you’d ever tell me could make me be mad at you,’ I encouraged him, with the sweeter of my voices. But contrary to anything I expected, he stood up, sitting in front of me, his deep draconic orbs looking intensely at mine, bristling with determination. It made me feel a bit flustered as I noticed it seemed to be an important matter whatever he was going to say in these moments.

‘Why do you do this to me?’ He finally said. An ambiguous question, whatever did he mean with that? I thought. I couldn’t help but get slightly annoyed by some of the multiple implications of his weird question.

‘Excuse me?’ I just asked. It seemed he noticed his question bothered me as he got more nervous and tried to made up his words.

‘I-I mean... not like it’s a bad thing, I mean I-I really like it! but sometimes I get a bit scared of my feelings and that maybe I’m just dreaming and later I’ll get all broken and our friendship will be ruined and--’

‘Darling, please, I don’t even know what you’re talking about. Could you please clear your mind before keep rambling like that?’ I desperately shouted. Perhaps it sounded a bit more desperate than I’d wanted, but at least it helped him compose himself, as I noticed he took a deep breath before continuing.

‘Sorry, this is just too important for me. You are just too important for me...’

I have not the slight idea of why, but his last sentence made my heart race. Ok, I’m not being completely honest, as I actually know the reason but I’m just too afraid of admit it... Nevermind, I’m just rambling.

‘I meant, why do you insist on treating me in a very different way than any of your other friends?’

I guess my face in that moment was so funny it shames me to even imagine it. His question took me by assault as I felt as I didn't have any good answer for it. Or perhaps I did, but not one I really wanted to share with him, or at least not in that very moment.

‘Aaah... A different way?’ Oh yes, that was all my mind was able to get at the moment. How dreadful. Nervous about what, anyways? And my heart started racing faster, and I already told you, Dear Diary, that I do know the reason of all this... but I just can’t write it here, I can’t even think it aloud in my mind. How coward I am!

‘You treat me in a... special way, Rarity. If you want me to explain, you are... sweeter with me, you always ask for my help, even when others could do the work you still go after me, you even have that... silly pet name just for me, and don’t misinterpret me, I really like to feel special. But I just wanted to know why... because it has to be a reason, as all of this started just after... that incident in my birthday happened...’

‘W-well, Spike, darling... I-I...’ There, I was acting like a schoolgirl again. But I didn’t have an answer for him. ‘I treat you like that, because you are special to me...’ Oh dear, what did I just said? I have to be crazy! But yes, it just slipped out. And the worst part is that it was the truth. The poor dear opened his eyes wide, as a blush covered his face, I noticed he also got more flustered, he seemed to even be shivering as well. As I was, that’s the worst part of all this...

‘You... I...’ He gulped soundly, slightly recomposing himself. ‘You really mean that?’

No no no no, this was just too much, I had to cut this short right now, or I had no idea what other words would come out my loose mouth if that awkward conversation lasted any longer. I had to stop it. There was no way I was going to tell him the truth right there and then. I can’t actually do it, not then, not now, ever! Because this is so wrong... I can’t be... yes, ok, time to be that woman I’m so proud of being, time to admit it, after all you won’t tell anyone, now will you dear Diary? How silly I am, of course you couldn’t! Well now to stop the rambling... yes, it seems I’m falling in love for him... for Spikey-wikey. That’s why he’s so special to me, that’s why I can’t help but treat him in that different way, because he’s more than friend for me. Oh my... what am I going to do now...”

A sudden blare from the doorbell rang through like a strong wind, literally snatching the diary from Sweetie’s hands and tossing it at the sleeping Rarity. If the teenager didn’t have the grip of a spastic flailing monkey, the situation wouldn’t have occurred. As it were, though, the teenager managed to catch the diary in time and even succeeded on keeping her balance to avoid smashing into the sleeping elder sister. Breathing a sigh of relief, Sweetie Belle quickly closed the diary and placed it gently beside Rarity on the bed before clambering out the room and down the stairs to see whoever it was that interrupted her reading. If it was a client she would just tell them to come back tomorrow so she could get back to invading her sister’s privacy. For good reason, of course.

“Rare? I know you’re in there. Don’t make me kick the door down!”

“Ah... Um... Applejack, I think that might be going a little far...”

“I didn’t come here to lose my time. I have plenty of duties to do back in the farm and I only came to help a friend here, so I’m not leaving without havin’ a few words with ’er!”

Applejack and Fluttershy; Sweetie Belle thought just before unlocking and opening the door. It seemed like her real life romantic novel would have to wait.

“Rarity, is that you?” said Fluttershy, upon noticing the door creak open. “Oh , Sweetie Belle, hello. How are you doing?”

“Hi there,” Sweetie Belle said simply, “can I help you--”

“Howdy, Sweetie,” Applejack pushed on. “Is Rarity in? We kinda need to have a talkin’ with her. Important stuff. And I ain’t got much time so if you’d get her we’d be much obliged.”

Sweetie Belle now had a dilemma. She could either let her sister’s friends in and maybe help deal with the whole ‘Rarity had been crying’ issue, or she could claim non-witness status so they’d leave and allow her the much more intriguing option of continuing browsing her sister’s apparently ongoing clandestine romantic adventures, which obviously would be to Rarity’s benefit as well as--

“Why, hello, darlings!” a very familiar voice came from behind Sweetie Belle.

The teenager nearly leapt out of her skirt as she spun around. Not only was Rarity suddenly awake and apparently learned teleportation, she was also absent of her distraught state from before, appearing before everyone with her trademark perfect hair and makeup, as if the last hour was simply an illusion.

“Are you a super witch?” Sweetie Belle uttered in awe.

“Rarity,” Applejack said, only giving Sweetie Belle a cursory look of curiosity, “just the gal we wanted to see. Ya got a minute?”

“Oh, certainly,” Rarity said after a short pause. “Would you like to come in?”

Applejack frowned, and seemed about to refuse until she caught Fluttershy’s look. She scratched her head and grumbled, “Sure, why not, I guess.”

Fluttershy smiled pleasantly. “Thank you, Rarity.”

Before Applejack could follow the rest of them in, Rarity stopped her. “Ah-ah. Applejack, please wipe your shoes before entering.”

Applejack nearly bristled but did as she was asked and shuffled on the welcoming mat. “Every gosh darn apple squishing time...”

Once inside, Rarity told them to grab a seat anywhere and went straight to the kitchen to brew some tea without another word.

Once the fashionista was out of sight, Applejack whispered to Fluttershy, “I don’t know, ‘Shy, she looks just fine to me. Sure you didn’t make a mistake?”

Fluttershy looked pensive. “Maybe. It’s possible, but...”

Nearby, Sweetie Belle strained all of her potential secret agent mare skills to pretend she wasn’t listening in like an eavesdropper as best as she could.

“Besides,” Applejack began again. “Ah figured she’s peachy swell with Spike bein’ back and all. Heck, she’s plum happier than Ah’ve seen her in a while.”

At the mention of Spike, Sweetie Belle’s thoughts drifted to the revelations revealed through legal perusing of Rarity’s diary. She had the sudden urge to divulge all her ill-gotten juicy information to someone. But doing so would definitely risk imminent destruction at the hands of Rarity, who at this point could be a powerful witch with abilities unknown. So she decided to keep things to herself for now.

Applejack and Fluttershy exchanged a few more whispered lines to each other before Rarity returned with a tray carrying the tea set, and invited everyone to take a seat around the dining table.

“Pardon me for the wait, girls. So, now tell me, what is it that you needed to talk about?” Rarity said, taking a seat herself.

“Well, how’ve ya been, sugarcube? You feeling alright today?” Applejack asked after a moment.

Rarity raised a brow before sipping his tea. “I’m doing very well, dear, thank you for asking. Is that what you wanted to talk about?”

“Uh, yeah, I mean, no. It’s just, Fluttershy here was a bit worried about ya. She said you weren’t running the shop and said you might’ve been crying so she got all worried, ya know.”

Rarity looked surprised. “Oh? Well, I was just taking a rest. I felt somewhat ill this morning, so I retired a little early, that’s all. As you can see, I’m in perfect condition now.”

The three other girls looked with incredulity at Rarity, who calmly sipped on her tea.The silence continued, just until Sweetie Belle’s stomach suddenly growled like a dying mole rat. The teenager looked down at herself fin utter mortification.

“Traitor,” Sweetie Belle hissed at her abdomen, just before Rarity blinked and gasped dramatically.

“Oh, goodness! Forgive me, Sweetie Belle, you simply must be famished! What kind of sister I am, to have forgotten our monday brunch together!” she dramatized, with her forearm over her forehead. “I’m sorry girls, perhaps we should speak another time. I must tend to Sweetie’s dire needs.”

Sweetie Belle blushed. “I’m not a baby, I can take--”

“Look at her,” Rarity cried, grabbing Sweetie Belle’s cheeks and squeezing so the teenager looked like she was learning the ways of the goldfish. “She’s already beginning to shrivel down to skin and bones!”

Applejack gave Fluttershy an exasperated look before standing to her feet. “Well, alright, we’ll let you two get to chow, Ah’ve got my own stuff that needs some tendin’ to anyhow. You coming, Flutters?”

Fluttershy nodded and followed suit, but not before walking over to place a gentle hand on Rarity’s shoulder. “Rarity, I just want you to know that we’re your friends, and you can trust in us to be here for you if needed.”

Rarity blinked before smiling warmly. “Thank you, dear, I’ll be sure to keep that in mind.”

“You’re welcome, Rarity. Good bye,” Fluttershy returned with a motherly smile. With a few more words of pleasantries, Applejack and Fluttershy left the shop, leaving the two sisters standing by the door.

Sweetie Belle studied her sister from behind, trying to gauge her expression. She thought about telling Rarity that she indeed saw her in a rather distraught state prior to her mysterious use of her super witchcraft, and that she should open up to her friends about the situation with Spike. But then her stomach growled again and Rarity turned to her with a teasing smirk.

Sweetie Belle blushed and smiled sheepishly. “So, uh, what’s for lunch?”

“I’ll see what sort of ingredients are lying around,” Rarity said at her sister. “It won’t be long, darling. You can tell your stomach to relax.”

Sweetie Belle grumbled under her breath as Rarity giggled and disappeared into the kitchen. As she waited, the teenager pondered about all that transpired in the last couple of hours. It was clear that Rarity likely wouldn’t be willing to divulge the truth of her woes, and with her abilities to avoid having those woes discovered it was very possible this would just drag on until something had to break.

Well, she wasn’t going to let that happen. By the low growl of her rumbling stomach, it was time for an intervention, former Cutie Mark Crusaders style!

Author's Note

Sorry for the eternal waiting, blame Life.

Next chapter won't have any more extra sad moments, i promise! xD

And thanks to:
My editor and friend Infinite Valued who also turned this chapter into something awesome.
And to my friend Princess FFB for editing Rarity's diary, because IV can't think like a girl in a sexy way.
Finally to Alex, my friend and editor/translator/troll, although I have no idea where he was for this chapter but he still
collabored a bit xD

Determination

A few days after making up his mind to leaving Ponyville, Spike thought it was time to tell the girls; with the exception of Rarity, about his departure. He simply felt he couldn’t say goodbye to her. He hadn’t even seen her since they broke up and that had been over a week ago. He’d be leaving in three days.

The only news he got about her came from the his friends. Overhearing their conversations he found out that Rarity had been very busy for the past couple of days, so busy that she had even refused to meet with the girls, even Fluttershy had remarked just how odd it was for the white unicorn to miss their weekly spa date.

He thought it was odd though. Perhaps she was too affected about what happened between them, so she didn’t want to see anyone anymore? No, she was probably just shaken. Celestia knew she was, but never to that point, she would never stop seeing her friends because of him. She probably just had a long list of orders to fulfil and was overworking herself as she usually did when her backlog caught up with her.

Perhaps it was better to just remember their good times instead of ending with such a sad farewell. Yes, it would be for the best.

Leaving Ponyville...To think in just three days, my life will change forever…

He had no time to waste, he needed to go right now and have a talk with his friends.

The first one on his list was Pinkie Pie, he figured she’d be at her workplace, in Sugarcube Corner. It turned out he was correct, as the pink-and-fluffy haired girl eagerly jumped out from behind the counter as soon as he set a foot in.

“Hello Pinkie,” the draconian greeted his bouncing friend.

“Oooh, hiya Spike! I’m so glad you’re finally here!!”

She seemed to be waiting for someone, perhaps him? Had this come from anyone but Pinkie Pie, Spike would have been suspicious.

“What? How did you know—”

“Wait a min, I’ll be back in less than a second!” She said, disappearing in a pink blur. Spike didn’t even have time to blink before Pinkie reappeared.

Before he was able to comment on her speed, she shoved a cupcake into his mouth. He frowned at her but it didn’t last much as he felt the delicious taste of sapphires melting all over his tastebuds. He savored it with bliss while Pinkie looked at him with sparkling, expectant eyes. Once he swallowed, the trail of never ending speech started flowing from her mouth in her very typical hyperventilated way.

“So, you liked it, Spike? huh? huh? huh?” She shouted, shortening the distance between their faces with each “huh” until their noses almost touched. “I made it specially for you! I know you reaaaaaaaally like sapphires, so I had to get this for you, Miss Cake gave me the recipe because you remember your first birthday in Ponyville? They made one specially for you— ”

Spike didn’t find any better way to make her shut up then gently placing his hand on her mouth.

“It was delicious; I really liked it, thank you.”

“Mhmmhmmhhhmhh,” she thanked him.

“Look Pinkie, I came to talk to you about a very important matter...” Spike said, and Pinkie seemed to calm down a bit. He removed his hand off her mouth, letting her speak again. She took a deep breath before speaking.

“Ok Spike, tell me…” She said, it was odd seeing her that quiet, as if she knew what he had to tell her was indeed a very serious issue.

Spike took a deep breath himself, and started talking.

While making his way out of Sugarcube Corner, Spike felt as if he had just told someone they had a terminal illness. He would certainly have expected a more dramatic reaction from Rarity, but from Pinkie? Well, it’s not like she had overreacted, actually, it was quite the opposite. Once he told her what he had come to say, that he was leaving Ponyville and would live in Canterlot and about his plans of joining Shining’s squad, he could notice her pink hair loose part of its puffiness, few bangs laying straight over her shoulder and face.

Her surprised and saddened face was indescribable for him, and it made his heart feel tighter as he had to hold back his own tears. He expected she would want to throw a party, so he was prepared to tell her that there was no need for that, but she didn’t. Instead she just hugged him tightly, he felt her tears dropping over his shoulders.

Pinkie whispered in his ear, “Just... promise me you’ll come back someday, so I can throw the biggest and bestest party I’ve ever made to welcome you back home. Spike...please...” She cried between sobs, and tightened her grip.

Spike had no idea when he would be back, or if he would be coming back at all, but he couldn’t bear breaking the heart of the liveliest and happiest girl he had ever met, specially seeing her so sad. Besides, he didn’t want her to go back to the way she was so many years ago, that time she thought her friends had stopped liking her.

“I will come back, Pinkie, promise,” he said, not sure If he was actually being honest, but more to make her feel better. She squeaked between her tears, and let go, sniffing and using her sleeves to whip her flowing nose, smiling slightly.

“P-Pinkie Promise?” She said, with a hopeful face. He couldn’t say no to that.

“Pinkie-Promise” He responded, making the ritual to seal the deal. Now he was forced to come back, as nobody would dare break a Pinkie promise.

Now to tell the others. Oh God, this was going to be harder than he thought. He had only told Pinkie so far and he already felt so tired, and he had to go see the others still... No, he had already decided he wouldn’t be telling Rarity, so he expected Pinkie’s reaction to be the worse after Rarity’s.

Ok, lets go see AJ, he sighed, walking towards Sweet Apple Acres.

As predicted, the other girls’ reaction were not too bad. AJ just patted him a bit too hard in his back, Fluttershy was calm, although she hugged him, which was not common for her, and he noticed she was struggling with holding back her tears.

And finally Rainbow. She just punched him in his stomach and swore at him until she finally accepted it, although he’d swear he saw her eyes water.

So it was done. Just three days and he’d be out.

What a crappy morning…Spike sighed, resting his head over his arms on his bed’s pillow. Why had he gotten so angry with Rarity? He hadn’t been nice to her. Staring at the ceiling, he remembered what he use to do when he lived in Canterlot; sometimes he tried to calm his nostalgia for the fashionista by getting mad at her. One emotion against the other. Now he felt as if this old anger had come back to him. The infuriation that her breaking up with him and breaking his heart in the process had caused.

He groaned, frowning. He didn’t like feeling like this, he had overcome it, hadn’t he? He had decided to come back to Ponyville to see all of his beloved friends; Twi, Pinkie, Flutters, AJ, Rainbow…even Rarity. Yes, even after all that had happened, he couldn’t stop loving her. At the very least, she was still his friend, wasn’t she? So what was that earlier? He sounded as if he still held some resentment against her, even after these two years. It wasn’t like that. Celestia knew he had tried to hate her back then, but it was simply impossible.

How could he hate such a wonderful creature? How could he hate that generous heart? Sure sometimes she was kind of mean to him, but she also gave him very nice memories, the best he had had in his life. And she still was one of the kindest and noblest persons he had ever met. Not only that, but she also had the most beautiful eyes and nose he had ever seen, and the softest skin he had ever touched, and the most delicious lips he had ever tasted (as if he had tasted others, anyways, but still he was sure they were the best), those gorgeous a perfectly shaped legs, heck her entire body was perfect...wait, was he rambling just like that lovesick boy he used to be years ago?

Darn. He still loved her, yes. And not in a friendly way. He came back from Canterlot convinced that such feelings had long since vanished from his heart but no, all it had taken was for him to see her again and everything had gone back to being just the way it was before his departure. And with what he had seen in the past few days, she also seemed to love him yet… or at least harboured a crush for his new, hunky self. She seemed to really like this new Spike, he could be sure of it…So what should he do about it? Didn't he have any dignity, for Luna’s sake? He had done well earlier this morning, he had made her feel at least a little bit as hurt as he felt when she broke his heart 2 years ago. That was okay, right? He was just paying her back. Surely she had expected it after all that had happened? Did she expect him to just forgive her and fall into her arms as if nothing had happened? No, he wasn’t the same silly lovesick Spike.

He sighed. No. That was not right. Revenge was not a good thing, and still she didn’t deserve that. It was not about his dignity, it was about not doing to others what you wouldn’t want them to do to you…and it was about...

Spike rolled to his side and searched for something under his pillow. That picture, the one with Rarity dressed up like AJ, actually not so much as AJ as her own feminine and regal take on her, that look only Rarity could pull. It’s not like AJ was not pretty but it was in another, very different way. Rarity was Rarity.

He sighed in resignation. No matter what he did, it seemed that that crazy fashion-obsessed jewel-lover was stuck into his heart and that’s how it was…and now that he knew he had another chance…

He kissed the picture, and closing his eyes he put it over his chest, resting his head on the pillow. He was trying to regain her heart but in order to do so, he needed to apologize for his harsh behavior first, and he didn’t feel prepared for that yet. He’d need some time to calm down the remaining shreds of anger he still had buried somewhere deep in his heart, he just didn’t want to screw up again.

Some days without seeing her would help for sure, but that wasn’t easy, he needed a distraction to make the time pass faster…or he would end in front of Carousel Boutique without even noticing it.

Spike opened his eyes, staring at the ceiling once again. Rainbow Dash!

He placed the picture back under his pillow, and got up from his bed. He needed to talk with certain rainbow-haired winged girl.

After having lunch with Rarity, Sweetie Belle rushed to meet her CMC friends. She certainly had a very important matter to discuss with them. Although she felt that maaaaybbe, just maybe the right thing to do would be not to tell anyone, she still felt the urge to do something about what she had discovered when she read her sister’s diary earlier that day.

However, in order to do something, she first needed to know just what it was that had depressed her sister so much that she had spent the entire morning in bed crying. Of course Rarity hadn’t talked about the subject during lunch. She was an expert in hiding her feelings and changing the topic of a conversation, especially if it was something she didn’t want to discuss. Whatever she was hiding was surely extremely serious, and most likely had something to do with Spike.

Once the three friends were reunited in the tree clubhouse, Sweetie Belle filled Scootaloo and Applebloom in on what had transpired.

The farm accented girl was the first in react at the story. “Woah Sweetie Belle, I can’t believe that…ya’ sure ya’ didn’t misread the thang?”

“Of course I’m sure! And my sister’s calligraphy is just too perfect for it to have meant something else.”

“Hmmm…still, it’s not something easy that’s to digest…I mean, your sister and Spike...together? Wow, just wow!” Scootaloo said, thoughtfully scratching her chin with one hand.

“Girls please, don’t tell anyone about this. I’m still not sure I should have told you in the first place…” The white horned girl said with a worried face.

“Cuz we’re your friends, don’t feel bad about it, we won’t tell anybody. We’re here to help ya’, remember...” Applebloom assured her with a wink.

Scootaloo nodded. “Yeah, if I had known something like this about my sister, I’m sure I couldn’t have kept it to myself forever, it’d be crazy. Well assuming I actually had a sister, of course…” She clarified, tittering awkwardly.

“Thanks girls,” Sweetie Belle smiled, somewhat feeling a bit relieved. “And you’re right about something, I really need help with this. If you had seen my sister…she looked devastated. She’s very sad, and I need to find out what’s going on or I won’t be able to help her…”

“Of course, we’re here for you!” Scootaloo said, with a reassuring smile. Applebloom nodded in agreement. “So, do you have any theory as to what could have made her so sad?”

“Nope,” Sweetie Belle shook her head. “But I guess it has to be something to do with Spike, that’s the only thing I’m almost sure about, like in a 99.9% of sureness.”

“Ya’ know girls, something tells me she was crying because she found out somethin’ really REALLY serious. What if yer sister took one of these pregnancy tests and got a positive?”

“What?!” Both Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo gasped with one voice.

“Positive means she’s pregnant,” Applebloom droned. “That may be possible, remember when you told us you found Spike naked in your sister’s bed?”

“No way! My sister’s not pregnant! She’s…she’s single, and she’s a lady, how would that even be possible?!”

“Not only that, but I remember the story and Spike was just shirtless and walking to Sweetie’s sister bedroom, he wasn’t IN her bed!”

“He was getting in his pants! And it doesn’t change the fact he was almost naked, who knows what they were doing before Sweetie Belle suddenly entered into the Boutique…”

“Still, I think Sweetie Belle’s right,” Scootaloo said, trying to calm her unicorn friend who was starting to fret. “I mean, I also doubt Rarity would be the kind of girl that’d take a risk like that, she’s a workaholic and very worried about her looks and reputation, she even was able to keep whatever they had with Spike in secret, even to her best friends, so your theory is just very unlikely, Applebloom.”

Sweetie Belle blinked in surprise before leaning forward and shooting Scootaloo a suspicious look. “That’s rather fancy coming from you, Scoot, you haven’t been reading my dictionary, have you?”

“She kinda got you there,” Apple Bloom confirmed.

“What? No, shut up, I can talk smart too, doesn’t mean I keep my face in a book all day!” the purple-haired pegasus fumed.

“Riiiiight… still, I guess you have a point, Scoot. Besides, after only two days, there’s no way she could have suspected she was pregnant!” Sweetie Belle reassured. Applebloom still looked skeptical though, “In case they actually err...umm...did it…” She blushed at the thought.

“That’s another point. So what we need to know now is what happened. And we only seem to have one single way to do that,” Scootaloo analyzed.

“But we can’t let anybody to know about this matter, so that discards asking any of my sister’s friends,” the unicorn teenager said, now looking directly into her red-haired friend’s eyes, “and that includes your sister, Applebloom.”

“Duh, as if I didn’t know that, Sweetie!” Appleblom responded, slightly annoyed. “So y’all have a plan already, Scoots?”

“Yep!” The orange winged teenage grinned, “we’ll need to be sure of what happened before taking any action as CMC” She waited for her two friends to nod at her words. “Sweetie Belle, you’ll have a mission as crusader.”

“What? Do tell! Anything to help my dear sister!” Sweetie Belle said, brimming with excitement and determination.

“You’ll have to read your sister’s diary again!”

Sweetie Belle nodded. “Yeah, I’ll—Wait What?! But that’s impossible!!! It’s too risky! If she even find out what I already did…”

“Yeah but Scoot’s right. You got to read yer sister’s diary, it’s the only way to know if they did it for the first time when he was still underage.”

“APPLEBLOOM!” Both Sweetie and Scoot shouted.

“But still, AB is right in one thing, I don’t think you’re going to ask Rarity about this matter or even Spike, so you’ll have to, Sweetie Belle!”

Sweetie Belle pondered this for a few moments. She remembered how she seen her sister, asleep on her bed, with that depressing look, she also remembered how she acted for the past two years, while Spike was in Canterlot. Those hadn’t been good times for her sister, and now, she didn’t want Rarity become depressed again. Sweetie Belle’s eyes shimmered as she held back her tears. Then, shaking her face to whip any sign of moisture from her eyes, she nodded, looking at her friends with determination burning her green orbs.

“I will do so; as crusader, I accept this mission!”

She high-fived both her friends and all three cried out in one voice. “CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS HEARTBREAK-FIXERS!”

After Rarity finished cleaning up the dinner table, she headed to her room, sighing in relief. Thanks Celestia Sweetie Belle had to meet her friends today, I couldn’t have handled any more “everything-is-ok fabulousness”...

That and she couldn’t continue crying and moping about all the time, it was exhausting and someone was bound to find out that something was wrong, eventually. Rarity looked at her reflection in a mirror, her eyes shimmering with determination. You look fabulous like this, don’t you? While whining is still fabulous, crying like that isn’t, so you can’t carry on like this, Miss Rarity. Besides, her mascara was falling apart, as did her hair, and no matter how fast she could re-apply her makeup, it still was kind of disgusting. And to add insult to injury bags had appeared under her eyes. It was a good thing the other girls wouldn’t notice them, and if they did most of them wouldn’t care, only Fluttershy, of the entire group, was savvy enough and she wasn’t about to tell anyone else.

Of course, making her friends worry about her was not only unfair to them but also was extremely pathetic. And that was not glamorous at all. She wasn’t someone to feel pity for.

And oh Spikey-wikey, although now she wasn’t sure if she should continue calling him like that... perhaps Spikey would be more accurate, or anything manlier. Because now he was so damn attractive, not that he wasn’t before, of course, just a different, manlier kind... She had a mental image of his bare chest and abs, water dripping all over his almost (sadly) naked body and she could feel her heart racing as she pictured his butt, so firm that she just wanted to lean forward and give it a grab, just to check if it was anything at all like she imagined... Oh but what was she thinking now? She felt like such a superficial girl.

And no, although the new Spike was stunning and dazzling, deep in her heart she still loved him just as much as she did back when they were together (and a bit before that too). She missed him so much and now knew how he had felt when he met her for the first time so many years ago and started crushing on her, just like she had felt when she saw him at the train station two weeks ago.

Yeah she had a crush on the new Spike, even though she already loved the old one, it was strange, kinda like she was betraying old ‘Spikey-Wikey’ with the new, improved ‘Spikey’ (or was it just Spike now?), it’s not like she was cheating, was it? Puh buh duh Of course not! All that crying had definitely messed up her brain, and no matter how hard she tried she couldn’t get sexy new Spike out of there, just like she couldn’t get the old one out of her heart. She was startled when her devious mind conjured up an unlikely scenario that saw her and, oh my, the TWO Spikes… No, these ridiculous thoughts again? She was starting to sound like Pinkie Pie!

The matter was she still loved him and it was not possible to get him out her mind and heart, and though she didn’t deserve him after all the pain she made him go through, as much as she was afraid he didn’t love her anymore, she had to try, no matter how hard she wanted to avoid to be rejected. And this time, she was sure he wouldn’t regret taking him back, she would do everything in her power make him happy.

So yes, she had to win him back; she needed to, she needed him. She was Rarity, after all, and that meant she was beautiful, she was smart, and above all she was an expert in the art of flirting, the only difference this time was that she knew he liked her and thus, she would soon make everything would go back to being the way it was. And she would make him the happiest man in all of Equestria.

Standing straight and looking at some point in the horizont with determined eyes, she solemnly pronounced the words that sealed her new lifelong goal.

“I promise, with Celestia as my witness, that I’ll never make Spike feel bad again!”

Author's Note

Thanks to my darling editors this time, FlimFlamBross and Stg Alex.

No Farewell

“Well, here you are Rarity! Just knock on that door once and for all dear,” Rarity singsonged to herself , trying to cheer herself up so she could finally enter the library. She was perfect, and sparkling, as she used to. No, with an extra special touch actually, as she was going to meet her draconic boy after all…Although what she still couldn’t understand, was why she had spent the last five minutes standing outside the Library, her heart beating wildly, unable to move a single muscle. She was stuck there, her nerves making her shiver. You’re acting like a silly lovesick school girl, you know, it’s not like this is your first time dating someone! And it’s not even the first time you’ve dated him either!

Sure, that was true. But the memories of that last comment he’d made earlier this morning came back to haunt her. She almost turned back on the spot, intent on returning to her boutique, without even trying anything at all.

B-But… Am I really worth enough for him?

She wasn’t certain, perhaps she was just being greedy as she wanted him for her, and wasn’t giving him the chance to hang out with other girls. Maybe she was preventing him the chance to find the real love of his life, a girl that would love him as he deserved, not make him suffer as she did some time ago. She felt an intense pain in her heart with the simple thought of him loving anybody else, and she pressed one hand against her chest, trying to somewhat sooth the overwhelming painful feeling.

“Rarity? Are you okay?” She heard a voice calling her. A feminine one. “Rarity!” The voice cried as she felt someone shaking her shoulder vigorously, bringing her back to reality. She slowly regained her focus, realising that the voice belonged to none other than Twilight.

“Oh…Twilight?” she asked out loud, still a bit groggy. Of course it was Twilight.

“Yes, who else? I am the Librarian after all,” Twilight droned. “I thought I heard something so I came out to see what it was. I thought it might have been Fluttershy but imagine my surprise when I found you standing there, mumbling to yourself…” The lavender unicorn took a long breath after finishing her tirade.

Rarity blinked a few times, Twilight’s sudden appearance had dazzled her a bit. “H-Hello, Darling…I’m sorry but I got lost in my thoughts…” The fashionista was finally able to mutter something.

“Yeah, I could tell,” her friend said, leanding her into the tree house library. “Now, come on in and tell me, what brings you here?” Twilight slammed the door shut after both friends had entered the library.

Rarity took a deep breath as she mustered up her words. “Wu-Well, I… came to…” Suddenly, the idea of seeing Spike right now and then became extremely distressing. Rarity couldn’t tell exactly why, but she was certain she didn’t feel prepared. Twilight blinked few times, probably trying to discern the reason behind the fashionista’s weird behavior. Rarity’s eyes darted frantically all over the place, trying to find an excuse.

“I’m here for a book. Yes, that, of course!” Rarity giggled clumsily, pulling a random tome from the bookshelf. “So… I’m taking this one!”

Twilight stared first at the book Rarity was holding, and then to her with a sceptical glance as Rarity slipped the book in her purse, heading to the main door. But Twilight was faster and levitated the book off Rarity’s purse before she closed it and to look what the title of the book was.

“Draconic anatomy? Why in Equestria would you need this book?” Twilight asked, after reading the title. Rarity felt her mouth go completely dry, leaving her unable to utter a single word. “Does this have something to do with Spike?” The Librarian inquired, smirking a little.

Rarity felt her cheeks burn.“Ah-I...Twilight, why on earth do you have to be so rude!” She cried, taking the book off Twi’s grip and reading the title herself to corroborate that this was, indeed, the worst possible book she could’ve chosen. “Don’t you trust me, Darling? Did you need to be so... harsh?”

“Well, I have to take notice of the books that leave and enter this library, for starters, that and organize them, I am the Librarian after all”, Twilight stated, staring studingly at her friend. “Well, whatever, take it, and you don’t even need to tell me why you need it, it was actually quite inappropriate for me to ask”. Twilight went back to her desk, and went back to her own book.

"Whahaha, of course not, Twilight, I... wasn't going to take this book, in fact it looks like I picked the wrong one..." She quickly put the book back in its place, fully intending to just pull a random one. Unfortunately for her, they were all about dragons. The one she was reaching for was titled "Draconic Sexuality". She immediately let go of it, disgust clear in her now even redder face. "Ugh... ok, no."

Twilight stared dumbfounded. "No what, exactly?"

"I... didn't come here to get a book. I..." There was no hope, her mind was unable to come up with any plausible excuse. She held her breath for a couple of seconds before sighing, resigned to what was to come. Well then, Rarity, it's time to confront this. If you really want a relationship with Spike then you should not keep it a secret from your friends. Besides, there's nothing wrong with us being together now, right? After all, he’s became an adult and...

"Rarity, are you feeling alright?" Twilight put a hand to her forehead, snapping her out of her thoughts.

"Yes, yes, I'm fine, darling...” She had to lay it all out on the table. “Truth is I came over to see if Spike was here!" She blurted.

There were a few moments of silence before Twilight finally said, "Oh, was that so hard to say?"

"No, it's not that. I mean, I..."

"He's not here anyway,” Twilight shrugged.

"H-he's not here?" Suddenly, her frayed nerves started calming down. Yes, she definitely wasn't prepared to talk to him, lucky her he wasn't at home right now.

"No, he went out a while ago, said he was going to see Rainbow Dash."

As suddenly as it had appeared, all of her calm and collectedness disappeared.

"Rainbow Dash? Why would he go see Rainbow Dash?" Rarity asked, frowning.

"No idea. But I can tell him you came see him when he returns. Is there anything else I can do for you?" Twilight asked, probably trying to remember just what page she had been reading before her friend interrupted her.

Rarity didn’t answer. In fact she wasn’t even there anymore, having stormed out of the library, leaving the lavender unicorn talking alone.

2 years ago, Ponyville Train Station.

“Well Spike, we’ll really miss you. Please don’t forget to write!”

“I’m still not sure if you’ll miss me or my help… but of course I’ll write, Twilight” Spike responded, nervously looking at this watch.

Twilight hit him lightly on his nape, “Silly dragon” She frowned. He noticed she was restraining her tears, but still smiled goofily at his dumb quip.

“How much until you leave us forever?” Rainbow asked, looking nonchalantly away.

“He won’t leave us forever, he promised he’d be back!” Pinkie moped.

Rainbow crossed her arms, giving her pink-puffy-haired friend a cold stare. “Sure, he probably told you that so you wouldn’t make a scene.”

“He Pinkie-promised it! Nobody breaks a pinkie promise!”

“Yeah yeah, whatever...”

“Easy girls, and to answer your question, it’s only 15 minutes until the train leaves,” Spike intervened.

Applejack stepped in. “So it’s better if we start with the farewell and all. We ain’t got much time left.” She moaned, looking towards the city. “Where’s Rarity anyways? She’s kind of late. I can’t believe she’d be late for something so important!”

“Wait, that’s actually odd. She wouldn’t do something like that.” Twilight pointed out, concern in her voice. “Perhaps something happened to her?” She asked, looking at Spike.

Spike started sweating and shivering. It seemed his plan had worked and nobody had informed her of his departure, so she wasn’t actually coming. Remorse started building up in him. “Don’t worry girls, she…had stuff to do…so she’s not coming, you know” He stammered.

Applejack frowned. “But y’er her friend! Nothing can be more important, I mean y’er leaving for Celestia knows how long and she doesn’t even come to say goodbye? It ain’t like Rare to do something like that, and if she did it’d be an awful thing to do!”

“I...I don’t think she’d do that…as Twilight said. Perhaps something horrible happened to her and she couldn’t make it in time? Oh… someone should go to see if she’s okay,” Fluttershy said, his eyes watering in concern.

“She’s okay girls, Rarity just isn’t coming.” Spike decided to tell them the truth, he couldn’t let them think Rarity would do something like that. “I didn’t tell her I was leaving.”

There was a brief silence. It ended when AJ grabbing him by his shirt’s collar and shouted at him, “You didn’t tell her? But why in the hay would you do something like that?! Spike, are ya crazy?”

“I-I’m sorry I…” Spike said, whose feet were now dangling above the ground.

“Can’t you see? Now she’ll be completely broken when she finds out you left without even having the chance to come to say goodbye! And you won’t be here to watch the scene, we will!” She shook him roughly, he looked like a rag doll in her furious grip.

“Calm down AJ, let the guy explain. I’m sure he has to have a good reason for his dumb decision…” Rainbow intervened, wanting to avoid having to witness a murder.

“Yes, and I really hope he does. Spike, what you did…has no name! Please tell us how could you do something so thoughtless! I thought Rarity was important to you…” Twilight scolded him. Of course there was no way someone would be on his side in a situation such as this one. Not even himself. What in Celestia's name was he thinking?

“Uh...yeah sorry. I-I thought…” That it was the better for both of us. Sure, that was the excuse. But he couldn’t say that or else he would need to tell them all of the truth. The best option was to sacrifice himself to protect her and the others from knowing. It was his fault after all; he was the coward. “I thought I’d rather not have to say goodbye, not to her. I just couldn’t leave… if I had to say goodbye to her. I’m sorry, I know I was wrong, please forgive me…”

“I really hope Rarity will forgive you.” AJ added with raging eyes, pressing her nose to his, after that she finally dropped him, making him totter backwards and almost falling to the ground on his butt.

“Ok guys, only 10 minutes left and it’s time for someone to actually do something. I’m going to see if I can get Rarity here in time before this dumbass leaves.” Rainbow said, giving him a quick hug, though to Spike it felt more like an attempted strangulation, what with the way she wrapped one arm around his neck. “I’m saying goodbye now in case I don’t make it in time” she said, breaking the hug. “And...I really hope you’ll keep that Pinkie-promise, huh? Goodbye Spike.” These were her last words before she sped away.

No matter what Rarity did, nothing happened to go right. All her designs lacked inspiration, she was working more like a machine than an artist. Sometimes she’d throw all the sketches of new designs she’d done during that day to the trash, and went crying to her bed. And then she’d start thinking and questioning if she did what actually was the best for both of them.

She’d cry herself to sleep, only to wake up a few hours later thinking about how pathetic she was. Then she’d get up from her bed, apply some makeup, recompose herself, and start working again; she had orders to fulfill after all, she had bills to pay, gifts to afford, etc. These days it wasn’t any different. The fashionista drew another twelve sketches, and her nose was already wincing at the sight.

“What a failure of a fashionista you are, Rarity…” She mumbled to herself. Her eyesight started to blur. “No, not the pathetic drama mistress again...stupid tears”. Tear after tear started soaking the sheet where she had drawn the last of her attempts at design. No matter how much effort she put into restraining her tears, the pain was simply too much to bear and it always ended up crushing her. “Spikey-wikey…” She was able to whisper, before she heard the doorbell ringing.

She quickly wiped the threatening tears away, thankful that whoever was in the door had saved her from another act of misery full of sobs and sniffs. She ran to the door, mustering the most brilliant of her smiles (number 5) before opening it.

“Welcome to—”

“Shut up, diamont butt! We gotta get going, and we gotta do it NOW!”

Rarity blinked few times, trying to understand just what in Equestria was going on. She didn’t even get a word out before she found herself being dragged outside by her rainbow-haired friend. And oh dear, she was strong. But not enough to take a lady to unknown whereabouts without a chance to properly prepare herself for the occasion.

“Hey, Rainbow Dash, what on earth are you doing here? And where do you think you’re taking me?” She cried out, freeing her hand with a slight electric shock from her horn.

“Ow! What the heck, Rarity, that hurts!” She said, rubbing her hand.

“Well if you only took a few moments of your time to explain to me why and where we are going then perhaps I wouldn’t have to zap you,” Rarity frowned, placing her hands on her waist. “So if you don’t mind, would you care to tell me what is going on?”

“Who cares, crazy zappy lady, let’s go!” Rainbow urged, flapping her wings impatiently. “We need to get to the train station, now!” She grabbed Rarity’s arm again and dragged her all the way to her flower garden before she was zapped again. “Would you stop doing that?!”

“Then tell me what’s going on!”

“Fine, Spike’s leaving Ponyville to live in Canterlot, now hurry up, we need to skedaddle!” Rainbow mumbled. “Now let’s go!”

Rarity eye’s widened when she heard Spike’s name. Spike was leaving Ponyville… and he didn’t tell her? Her knees became wobbly and she fell down. “Did I really… did I really hurt him that much?” Puh don’t be silly Rarity, of course you did! but… to the point of forcing him to run away from all of his friends? It brought a tear to her eye, of course she had caused him so much pain… but still, there was one thing that she needed to know. “W-why is he leaving?” She asked, knowing full well that she was the most likely reason behind it.

“Well, he wants to stop being lame and become a soldier I guess?” Rainbow shrugged. “But does that really matter right now? He’s leaving town for who knows how long, and for some reason you didn’t get the memo. Now I understand that you’re sad about this, we all are. But right now you can either sit here and mope around or you can suck it up and see your friend off to the train station. So what’s it going to be, Rare?”

“I…I…” Rarity trembled, wiping her sadness away and getting back on her feet. If this was the last time she’d get to see Spike, then by the goddess she was going to give him a decent farewell, and with any luck she’d be able to clean the air between the two of them. If she could do that, at the very least, then perhaps some of the weight on her soul would be lifted. “Let’s go, Rainbow.” She frowned with determination and It.Is.On expression in her face. “Now, take me to Spike—Whoa!”

She didn’t expect Rainbow to be so literal with her request. The pegasus girl grabbed her by her wrists and took off into the morning sky. It had been a while since she had last flown, and she remembered how terrifying it was, being helpless hundreds of feet in the air. And she remembered how much she hated it. Rainbow could have at least grabbed on to her better, instead of having her flailing around in the air by her wrist.

How unladylike she must have looked, wind lifting her dress and letting all Ponyville see her beautiful handmade underwear. At least she had worn one of her best… to the hell with that! If a small amount of discomfort was all it took for her to see her beloved Spike one more time in who knows how long, then she would endure this.

“All aboard for Canterlot!” The Conductor shouted as the train whistled. Spike knew his time was up and he needed to go. He took one last look around, not seeing the woman he still loved anywhere on the horizon. He supposed that Rainbow hadn’t made it to the Boutique in time. Part of him was a little grateful that the beautiful fashionista wasn’t around, it would be too painful to face her… especially since he hadn’t told her he was leaving. The conductor shouted again as more and more people started boarding the train.

“I guess it’s time to go…” Spike sighed, giving Twilight one last hug before grabbing his luggage and taking his first step onto the train. “I’m going to miss you all so much.”

Pinkie Pie burst out into tears. “WHY?! WHY DO YOU HAVE TO LEAVE SPIKE!?”

“Because Pinkie…” Spike muttered. “It’s… it’s just something I have to do. I promised to write and I’ll try to visit as soon as possible but I really need to go now. I’m sorry.” He disappeared through the train door. Spike pushed his way through the cramped hallway and into one of the vacant booths, where he looked through the window. Twilight, and Applejack were waving at him while Fluttershy tried to comfort the distressed Pinkie Pie. He really was going to miss them all…

The train started to creak, and there was a shift in the cabin. He was moving, and slowly he started to see his friends disappear from his sight along with the train station, growing smaller in the distance. He slouched into his seat, placing his suitcase next to him as he started to think.

Why didn’t Rarity show up? It didn’t seem like Dash to not make it on time to tell her, and she was the fastest girl in Ponyville. The only reason Rarity must’ve not shown up was because she simply didn’t care, and she truly had broken up with him. Or… perhaps she was too shocked at the news that she freaked out and didn’t make it in time? Sure, she said she didn’t love him in that way, but that didn’t mean she didn’t love him as a friend. And she was the type to make a scene even worse than Pinkie’s...

A single tear crept from his eyes as he closed the blinds in his compartment. He wanted to be alone right now. He felt like an ass for not telling her. Just then, he realized he had been selfish and a coward, because he was actually afraid of not being able to leave if she asked him to stay, or if he simply saw her again… could he just leave and not see her for such a long time?

However, if he had kept the window open for just a few more seconds, he would have seen two specks flying towards him at the distance.

Rainbow Dash was heftily flapping her exhausted wings as she struggled to keep Rarity in the air. “We’re…. too… late…” she panted, dropping Rarity on the ground before gliding down herself. The worn out Rainbow collapsed to the ground in a dizzy state and laid motionless on the ground, falling unconscious. “I’m tapping out,” were the last words she mumbled before her head dropped back into the dirt.

Rarity stumbled as she tried to break her fall, thankful that Rainbow was only hovering a few feet above the ground before she let go of her. She broke out into a full out sprint towards the train station as she saw Spike’s train kicking into gear. “No… no, no, no! I can’t be late! SPIKE!” She shouted, praying that he could hear her over the screeching of metal. “SPIKEY! WAIT!” She continued to run after the train, ignoring her crying friends as she chased the train as far as she could. But it was no use… it was picking up speed every second and she was running out of breath. Eventually the train disappeared into the distance.

She was too late.

The poor girl fell to her knees, no longer caring that it would smudge her skin. She was panting, tired, sweaty, and worse of all, heartbroken. “I... I wasn’t even able to tell you goodbye...” she whimpered, crying over the boy whose heart she had toyed with and broken, and would never see again.

Or at least… not for the next two years, and not that same skinny cute boy she loved with all her heart.

Author's Note

Sorry for the delay.

Thanks to FlimFlamBros for his help writng this chapter, he's awesome.

and thanks to Alex and FFB for edits.

thanks to everyone for reading and upvoting, too : )

Have nice holidays!

Of Dreams and Fears

“It’s alright, it’s alright,” Rarity repeated to herself like a mantra as she made her way for Rainbow Dash’s abode at the outskirts of town.

“It’s nothing to worry about. Not as if it’s a big deal or anything.” She let a loose a laugh reminiscent of a crow suffering from schizophrenia. “You’re just curious about what they’re up to. After all, a friend checking up on other friends who are also friends is nothing untoward. Indeed, just friends doing what friends do... ”

But what if they weren’t just friends? What would they be doing then? Rarity was already apprehensive about how she had been distant towards Spike and feared that perhaps she had chased him away, and now thoughts of Spike and Rainbow spending time together made her feel hugely uneasy. What if… what if he had moved on? And how would sordid affair between them even play out?

“Oh boy, this sidra is going straight to my head,” Rainbow would say with a tiddley laugh as she and Spike were lounging around next to the fire with a bottle of the bubbly drink between them. “Have to say, you sure know how to treat a gal.”

“I’ve had a lot of practice with my ex, unfortunately,” Spike would reply bitterly, lifting a few of Rainbow’s colourful locks away from her face, exposing her prurient gaze. “But who cares? She never loved me anyway. Besides, what does it matter when you’re here? You’re way better than she’ll ever be, not to mention way sexier...”

“And I would never treat you coldly or tease you. Here, Rainbow would be unequivocal with her intentions as she smirked. ”Well, at least only in the way that matters…”

“Aaah!” Rarity screamed aloud, startling a nearby chipmunk and causing it to drop its hard earned pinecone. She didn’t have the ease of mind to take notice of her surroundings, though, being focussed on trying regain both rationality and her breath.

Maybe now wasn’t the best time to go and confront them. There was always later… “Dressmaking! I have some orders I need to fill out, and some fabrics to sort. Yes, I have far too much to do.”

Convinced of her prioritizations and wary of any further off-kilter imagination, she turned tail and scurried back to her boutique.

“I’ll talk to them tomorrow,” Rarity mumbled. “I’m sure they’re not doing anything more than perhaps exercising together…”

“Spike! Make love to me right here by the fire! Do me like Rarity never let you!”

“Shut up, Rainbow!” Rarity screamed at the top of her lungs. And as an afterthought, added, “And stop acting so out of character!”

She flushed immediately afterwards, realizing that in addition to the forest critters there were several ponies staring at her as well. All she could do was plaster on a unnatural smile and veer off into a nearby alleyway.

“Keep it together, Darling, you’re losing your mind over this. Rainbow is not in a relationship with Spike. Well, we can’t be certain of that yet, and well… even if they are, as long as they’re happy together, then it’s not my place to question or intrude upon them. I had my chance, after all...”

She sulked on the rest of the way home. No tears, darling. No tears… she thought to herself even as her eyes grew hot and moist and it was becoming difficult to see. She had a lot of work to do, and hopefully that would help drive away the dispiriting thoughts… at least for a little while.

Spike grumbled as he made his way through the hallway, his stomach growling. Rainbow was a great friend and a be a good friend, but she was rather negligent in being a hostess. Just before he turned the corner into the kitchen, he heard a voice call his name.
He looked behind him, finding Twilight frowning at him. “Oh, it’s just you, Twi.”

“Well, duh. Who else lives here?” She followed him into the kitchen. ”I called out to make sure it was you for like three times without getting any response. I was starting to think we had a break and enter.”

“Oh, sorry,” Spike replied, scratching his head. “I guess I just didn’t hear you over the sound of my grumbling stomach. I’m taking care of that problem now, though.” He pulled open the refrigerator and grabbed a bottle of milk, drinking it all directly from its bottle.

“Ugh, Spike,” Twilight complained, blanching. “I’m not Rarity, but please, you should at least have the manners not to drink straight from the bottle!” Spike’s eyes went wide as he started to cough roughly. “Whoa, are you okay?”

Spike coughed a couple more times before the fit abated. He wiped at his mouth with the back of his hand. “I’m okay, the milk just went down the wrong pipe, I think.”

Twilight crossed her arms. “I’m not surprised with the way you were chugging it down.” She studied him for a moment. “So... what were you doing at Rainbow’s?”

Spike gave her a sidelong glance as he finished the rest of the milk. “Nothing,” he eventually answered. “Just hanged out for a bit.”
“Hanged out doing what, exactly?” Twilight asked promptly.

Spike wondered what Twilight was getting at. “I don’t know, just stuff. What’s with the interrogation? Do I need to report to you about what I was doing at Rainbow’s? I’m not a kid anymore, Twi.”

“I know, I know,” Twilight appeased, holding both hands up in gesture. “There’s no need to get defensive about it. It’s just...I was just curious because Rarity was here earlier, and she was asking about you...”
It was then that the universe had the masterful timing of cursing him with the hiccups. “Is...is that right?” he stammered between hiccups.
He frowned as he recalled their last encounter and the little fight they had. But then, his expression softened as remorse for his behavior crept in. Twilight looked at him curiously for a few moments, with some clear amusement at his sudden case of the hiccups, before continuing with her bothersome questions.
“She was—Rarity, I mean—was acting very conspicuous today when she came over. It felt like she was hiding something. And if I didn’t know better, I’d say you’re hiding something too. Did something happen? Is there anything going on with you two?”
The inquiry almost made the hiccups stop. “Wh-what are you talking about? Why would I...I mean, why would Rarity and me—” He trailed off incoherently.

Okay, calm down there, Spike, don’t lose your cool like this.

Twilight kept studying him as though she was examining a test subject. Did she know? That was highly unlikely. What happened between he and Rarity was two years ago, why would Twilight suddenly be suspicious of them now? Especially since nothing happened between them since he got back. He seemed to space off, prompting Twilight to continue questioning.

“Spike, is something going on with you and Rarity? Don’t tell me that after all this time you still have a crush on her.”
For some reason, he felt the sudden urge to tell her about everything, to just lay bare all his pent up grief and discontent for all to see. He felt like a tightly compressed spring and he just wanted to uncurl and find relief. But, no. He knew it wasn’t time, and Twilight wasn’t the one to talk to.

At least, not like this.

“No, Twi, there’s nothing going between me and Rarity,” Spike said, deceptively calm. “You’re just jumping to conclusions way too much. I have no idea why Rarity was looking for me, but I’m sure it’s nothing important. For all I know she just wanted someone to help her move stuff around the boutique.” He made a mental note to find out for sure later. “As for why I went to see Rainbow, well, she’s helping me with something… And sorry, but that’s all I’m willing to say on the matter, for now. I’m going to get something decent to eat now and hopefully these hiccups will go away in the meantime. So enough with the questions, please?”

Twilight looked at him critically, but fortunately seemed to concede, at least for now. “Alright, no more questions,” she said, then rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. “Uh, you wouldn’t mind making something for your equally hungry and lovable sister too, would you?”

“Sure, sure,” Spike droned with another hiccup, scanning the refrigerator again for ingredients.

Rarity found herself waking up at her work desk, with one of her sketches glued to her cheek. She grimaced at the sight of the paper now in her hands, soaked with her own saliva. Evidently, she had passed out asleep sometime last night during her attempt to drown out distracting thoughts by working non-stop.

Her stomach made noises of protest. Evidently she also didn’t eat anything since then either, but she felt too tired to be hungry. She grabbed a napkin to clean up her face as she looked at the clock on the wall. It was barely five in the morning. She wouldn’t have to open shop for another four hours. So she headed to her bedroom, and let herself fall heavily in a decidedly unladylike manner on her bed, falling asleep instantly.

Unfortunately, her sleep didn’t last long. There was a sudden bout of noise coming from downstairs. Before she could properly think, Rarity found herself already at the bottom the stairs, feeling as though she had floated down the steps. A hazy fog clouded over her senses, but she was able to clearly distinguish the laughter from the rest of the noise.

The laughter was familiar, comforting, and alluring. She knew that voice! There was no mistaking it. Through the faint sense of giddiness, her heart skipped a beat. A familiar warmth covered her entire face and her lips curled upwards.

It’s...it’s him! He’s here! He came to see me, finally!

She started giggling like some lovestruck schoolgirl at the thought of him, already imagining his smiling face and beautiful emerald eyes staring at her lovingly. She wanted to leap over to him and hug him and ask him to forgive her for simply everything and to tell him that she never stopped loving him and that she wanted him to give her another chance—

“Bwahahaha! Spike, your tail tickles!”

That, was definitely not Spike.

“Rainbow Dash?” Rarity cried out, scrambling towards the source of all the noise. And there they were, one of her best friends, Rainbow Dash, and Spike, sitting on her favorite velvet couch. “What on earth are you two doing here at this hour?” To-ge-ther.

“Oh, hey there, Rarity!” Spike greeted, while Rainbow waved. Both of them looked suspiciously happy. “Sorry for intruding, but we came here because we needed to ask a favor of you. We have a feeling you’ll love our little request, though.” He looked at Rainbow and the two of them promptly nuzzled their noses together, smiling goofily.

Rarity felt her teeth clench.

“Oh? And what is this oh so lovely request that you presume I would accept?” she ground out with a plastic smile, one eyebrow twitching violently.

Rainbow laughed. “Well, I was telling Spikey”—Rarity had the sudden urge to punch stuff at the sound of ‘Spikey’ coming from Rainbow’s mouth—“that we didn’t need to go through all the trouble, but he kept insisting. He’s old fashioned, after all. Kinda a lot like you in a way, Rare.” Both of them laughed for reasons that eluded Rarity.

“So, what’s going on is that Dashie”—Dashie. Dashie! Rarity was sure there were forehead veins throbbing with wrath—“and I wanted to ask if you’d be willing to design our wedding attires. Rainbow keeps gunning for some kind of punk rock theme but I think that—”

Wedding? Wedding! Spike and… Rainbow! Wedding!

Rarity felt the floor under her start to creak, and soon a gaping hole formed beneath her. Before she could scream, both her and the crumbling floor began falling to the awaiting abyss. She screamed for help but she just kept falling, with a trail of tears floating above her. Violent tremors started spreading across her entire being, and strangely she heard yet another voice calling out her name. Then everything became bright.

“Rarity!” Sweetie Belle shook her once again. “Are you alright? Wake up!”

Rarity blinked blearily. “Sweetie Belle?” she uttered.

“Whew!” Sweetie exclaimed. “Finally you’re awake. I was getting worried for a moment.”

Rarity sat up, lightly rubbing at her eyes. Looking around her bedroom, she noticed that morning had arrived with rays of sunlight sneaking past the curtains.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to enter to your room without permission but I heard you screaming. I thought you were in trouble or something!”

Rarity gave her little sister a somewhat grumpy stare. Under normal circumstances she would have scolded her for entering her room so brazenly, but she knew the younger girl was just concerned about her wellbeing. Besides, she did save her from having to continue experiencing that dreadful nightmare.

“Thank you very much, darling,” Rarity said weakly, still feeling groggy. “It was very sweet of you to check up on me. I must ask, though, why haven’t you left for school yet? Won’t you be tardy?”

Sweetie Belle just gave her sister a strange look. “Um, it’s Saturday, we don’t have school today.”

“Oh, right.” Rarity face-palmed herself mentally.

“By the way, Sis, I think you might have forgotten to change out of your clothes last night.“

Rarity inspected herself to find out that, yes, she had indeed slept in her day clothes. She could only imagine how horrid of a mess her hair must be right now. “Ugh, I need a bath, asap.”

Just thinking about it made her skin crawl with discomfort so she immediately got up and quickly grabbed some clothes out of her closet along with a few towels and headed for the bathroom. Before she left the room, though, she turned to her little sister and added, “And remember not to touch anything!”

Too tired and frazzled to do anything beyond giving a feeble warning, she left Sweetie alone in her bedroom, missing the sinister little grin that crept across the girl’s lips.

After making sure Rarity started taking her bath, Sweetie Belle immediately began her search. “Wow, I didn’t expect it to be this easy. Now where would she put it…?”

After rummaging around for a bit, she eventually found her target under the bed: the Diary. She quickly unbound the journal and started hastily scanning through the entries, flipping back and forth between the pages. In a matter of minutes she found a photo snagged near the middle of the diary. It was a photo of sixteen year old Spike, just the proof she needed! But no, a picture was not enough; she also needed to read through of the entries for understanding of context.

Leaving the door purposely open so that she would have an easier time hearing Rarity returning, Sweetie turned to the page where she had found the picture and began to read.

Dear Diary,

Today could very well be the best day of my life.

He finally did it. Today, Spike had gathered enough courage for the both of us, and confessed. To me. I must apologize, Mister Dairy, for I won’t be transcribing his words here, not even to you. There is no need, for that moment will have a place in my memories forever. And yet...I can’t help but feel utterly apprehensive.

I kissed him, you see. Or perhaps he kissed me. I guess I don’t quite remember who kissed who first, and I suppose it doesn’t matter. Although if anyone were to be at fault, I imagine it would have to be me. You would understand if you saw him then, dear Diary. How his eyes were this complicated green, one that comes across as different for every layer of emotion he was feeling. And when he expressed those emotions with words…

I haven’t much experience with kissing, this, of course, you know very well. Even so, I must say the one Spike and I shared was electrifying. For reasons I cannot explain, I believe no one else could ever make me feel the same. And I was happy. Deliriously so. And it’s exactly because of that utter happiness that one comes to realizes how cruel and unfair the rest of the world can be. I’ll be turning twenty-one later this year, while he will be turning sixteen. In the eyes of the law, we are not meant to be. But I did not have the heart nor the courage to do what was best for both of us. I could not lie and tell him I do not reciprocate his feelings. I suppose it’s pointless to dwell on such things. My body betrayed me before my sensibilities ever had the chance anyway.
I don’t know what will happen now. How should we proceed from this point onwards? So many questions, and yet so few answers; however, what I do know, I know intimately well.

Spike loves me, and I love him. That is how it is, for good or for ill.

Sweetie Belle began sniffling as she reached the last sentence. Thinking back on the time that coincided with the date of the entry, prior events finally began to add up. This new revelation certainly put certain things into perspective about her sister and Spike. “So that’s how it was…” she muttered, rubbing away the moisture of her eyes with the back of her hand.

Before she had time to contemplate on her insightful discovery, the sound of creaking floorboards warned her of Rarity’s imminent return.

With a squeak, Sweetie Belle willed the diary back to its original place under the bed in a flash of magical energy. After weeks spent training with Twilight Sparkle, who was naturally a splendid tutor in the magical arts, the teen had become rather adept at teleportation spells herself. The only major issue was that her magical reserves were still somewhat below average, and the sudden magick enfeeblement made her slightly light-headed and she nearly flopped to the ground in a heap of swirly eyes, just in time for Rarity to reenter the room.

Rarity, now wrapped in a bathrobe with a fresh towel around her hair, eyed her young sister suspiciously. “And just what are you up to now, young lady?”

Sweetie Belle gave her best shit-eating grin her awkward position allowed. “Um, Pilates? It’s, uh, for increasing concentration, eheh.”

Fortunately for the sweating teen, Rarity seemed to decide the matter of beauty repair to be a more urgent matter. Seating herself before the vanity mirror, she said, “I see. Well, do run along now, Sweetie. I would prefer to have some privacy for the time being.”

“Sure, okay,” Sweetie Belle responded weakly, having yet to recover. “I’ll be out of your hair soon.” She then began the arduous process of crawling out of her sister’s room.

“Sweetie,” Rarity called out, this time with amalgamated look of concern and suspicion oh her face. “Are you...quite alright? Is this part of the Pilates, too? It seems, um, peculiar.”

Sweetie laughed nervously, sounding like a croaking toad. “Uh, yeah, this one’s for, uh, abdominal strength. And stuff.”

Rarity didn’t look quite convinced. “Darling, I don’t think—”

Like an antelope desperate to escape the clutches of a sinking quicksand, Sweetie Belle summoned all the youthful vigor and flexibility she could muster and slithered out the room like a boneless pony, leaving Rarity to stare dumbfounded in the wake of her own sister’s absurd behavior.

After successfully retreating into her own room, Sweetie Belle relaxed on the floor, her face rubbing against the carpentry. In contrast to the apparent worn out state of her body, though, he eyes shone with determination. “Now that I know what happened between them all those years, ago, I can’t just sit by and watch them amount to be nothing but strangers to each other.” She gave a warrior’s huff. “I can’t do this alone, though. Hopefully Apple Bloom or Scootaloo will have an idea what to do. It’s time for some Cutie Mark Crusadin’ action.”

With her goals set, Sweetie Belle pushed up against the ground with wobbly arms and promptly lost to gravity. “...right after I take a nap.” In mere minutes, she began to snore.

Author's Note

Special thanks to TheFlimFlamBros and ImaginaryValued for the edition.

And thanks to everyone for making this possible ^^