Twilight,

She couldn't love anyone. Even as the element of generosity, she just couldn't do it, and I think that's because she gave so much of herself, there wasn't anything left to give. After she moved to Canterlot, I visited her as often your schedule would allow. She kept an entire orphanage open with the money she saved from her business. It almost bankrupted her, with how much money she gave. And that wasn't enough. She made outfits for anypony who couldn't afford one. I remember one in particular, I had just come into the shop.

"Darling, don't worry about it. It wouldn't help anypony for you not to have a nice outfit for your wedding. Of course, I'll have a dress made up for her as well." She looked exhausted, bags thick under her eyes and her ears sagged. Her mane was a mess.
"I-I couldn't ask that of you. I can't afford anything so wonderful, a simply patch up of my old suit is fine." The young pegasus was clearly uncomfortable taking a gift like that from her, and yet Rarity would never have accepted anything like it.
"Dear, please. I'm sure that suit was a gem when it was first made, but I doubt any designer in Equestria could repair it." It was true, the suit had been extremely tattered. Still, I think she just said that to help the stallion save face. "Besides, I don't think I could rest knowing that a mare as lovely as Mila was going with anything less than the best on her wedding day. I'll have it all ready by Monday."
"Mon-n-nday? But, it's Friday already! How would you make it in such a short time?" It had clearly been his first time visiting her, or he would have known better.
"I will have it done. Now please, do hold still, I need to measure your chest." He snapped to attention.
At that point, I spoke up "Rarity, I came by to help, if you need any..."
"Oh yes, do come in Spike. I was just finishing the measurements for this handsome stallion, and I could use your help preparing the ponikin. If you would go up to the antechamber and retrieve one, I would be ever-so grateful." As I headed up the stairs, I could still hear her speaking to him. "Now, how much did you say you could pay for the repairs?"
"Oh, yes... I have about 20 bits. I know it isn't much, but I don't have much, I certainly can't pay for a whole new suit and dress."
"Shush. You will pay me 10 bits, and return on Monday. Also, send Mila here sometime this afternoon so I can get her measurements and work through what style of dress she would like. Oh, it will be just beautiful."

She had that dress done by Sunday morning. It's like she lived off of being generous to other ponies. And I think that hard work wore on her. That was only a few weeks before... She did things like that so often, I don't understand how she kept her doors open. Maybe she charged a lot to her paying customers. I know the materials alone for that suit were over 600 bits, because I picked them up for her. When Mila came in to pick up the dress, it was hilarious how hard she tried to get Rarity to let her pay.

"Oh Rarity, I can't accept this for free, it must have cost you a fortune, I wouldn't feel right."
"Nonsense dear, consider it a wedding gift from me to you. Besides, I don't imagine I'll be keeping this boutique open much longer, I am getting on in years." I think that was the first time her aging really dawned on me. She was going to die, and I wouldn't.
"Well, you don't look it. Honestly, most of us thought you were not much older that we are." I think she was being honest, especially with how well Rarity kept up her appearance. Even on that last day, she wanted to look her best...
"But of course, I said I was getting on in years, not in beauty." She winked at the young mare before levitating a beautiful silk a-line wedding gown to her.
"It really is incredible. How did you make it so quickly?"
"Oh... It was no trouble at all."
"Well, thank you. And, if you would please, I would love it if you could come to the wedding." She took me with her to that wedding, by the way. Said it was unseemly for a lady to go without a date to such an occasion.

Twilight, I wondered for weeks about how she managed to stitch that dress in a weekend. I knew she was good, and with magic, maybe that good. But a brand new dress, a brand new suit, in one weekend? By hoof? I asked her about it the first day, but she told me it wasn't important at first.

"A lady never reveals tricks of the trade. Not even to her most prized assistant." Rather than the usually tone of flattery, however, she seemed uneasy, sad almost.
"Rarity, what's wrong?" She started to stare out the window after the mare as she left
"Huh? Oh, nothing dear, just watching a dream come true." I'm positive I saw a tear roll down her cheek.

I finally got her to tell me about the dress. Twilight, it was HER dress. The dress she planned to wear at the wedding she'd planned to have. She realized, I don't know when, but she realized that she would never marry, never have fillies of her own. She told me that it was because she never took the time to be courted, and I know she had plenty who tried. I really think she just couldn't love like that for anypony, because she gave to much of herself away already.

I loved her Twilight, and I will always love her. Every time I think about her, I start to tear up, and I remember my birthday all those years ago, when we were falling and about to die, and she stopped me from telling her. I remember so many things about her, and it hurts, it hurts that every time I close my eyes, I see her last few minutes. Every time I close my eyes, I see her spirit slip away to wherever the mortal go when they die.

It's time to let go. Having me there isn't going to help, you or me. All it will do is remind us of what we lost. I found a new home, with other dragons. They don't trust me very much, but it's nice to live somewhere where I don't get stares walking around. I feel at home here. You're like a big sister to me, I'll always love you, but at least for now, I need to be away from there... Away from her.

Love,
Spike

Author's Note

Sorry this took so long, midterms were harder than I had expected.