Not Moving On

Prologue

A light bulb flickered over Spike’s head as he sipped his hot cocoa, a scowl plastered across his face. Pony Joe occasionally shot him a glance, but apart from them the shop was empty.

It wasn’t fair of them to leave him alone – he understood they wanted to have fun, but couldn’t they have at least taken him along? He spends every day running errands and doing chores; is it too much to ask for one night to socialise?

Apparently. But if they don’t want me there, so be it. I’m not going to beg.

He slammed the mug on the table. “Hey, Pony Joe, another donut.”

“Don’t you think you’ve had enough?”

“Another donut! Extra sprinkles!” he shouted, glowering at the confectioner. But when the confectioner turned around to get it, Spike slouched and sighed.

I wonder what they’re doing now.

As if to answer his unasked question, the door bell rang. There, right in the entrance, stood all of his friends, all roughed up and frowning. All except the one that mattered.

“Hey, how was the Gala?” Spike asked, getting off his chair and walking towards them. “How was your best night ever?” And where’s Rarity?

“Let’s just say that it was bad. For all of us,” Twilight said, sitting at the nearby table.

“What? Why?”

“Ya’ don’t wanna know, sugarcube.”

“It was the worst party ever!” Pinkie exclaimed. “Everypony was boring and I was bored and so I tried to cheer them up with a song but then they said that this is not that kind of party so I tried even harder but then Applejack came with her cake and I jumped and... and...”

“...and then she catapulted that cake straight at Rarity,” Rainbow Dash finished. “She was lucky she had her new coltfriend there to hide behind. But, that idiot slipped on the cream and tipped over a large statue. I did my best to hold the statue and prevent it from breaking, but since everypony was too stupid to help me, I stumbled into some colums that some dimwit built there. That moron destroyed the room, and then Fluttershy came in with her animals to finish it.”

Fluttershy hid behind her own mane. “They... they weren’t really my animals. I just wanted to make friends, but they all kept avoiding me, so I... umm... tried to catch them. I’m so sorry!”

That actually sounds like they had some fun. Maybe I shou– Rarity’s what?

“Did you just say ‘new coltfriend?’” Spike asked shakily, his stomach aching like it was encased in ice. Surely, it was just Rainbow Dash exaggerating again, the ‘new coltfriend’ being just a kind stranger.

“Yeah. He’s right over there,” Rainbow said, motioning behind her. And indeed, there was Rarity being carried in the hooves of a white-coated, yellow-maned and pastry-covered stallion. They both smiled at each other, Rarity giving him a kiss on the cheek every now and then.

Spike ran towards her, feeling wetness in his eyes. “Rarity? What... who’s this?”

“Oh, hello Spike,” Rarity said as if she only noticed him now. “Let me introduce you to Prince Blueblood, member of the most prestigious house Solaris, honorary member of the Canterlot Gentlestallion’s Society, and the stallion who captured my heart.” The kiss following that statement was like a knife thrust into Spike’s very soul.

Blueblood slowly lowered Rarity to ground and grasped Spike’s hand, pumping it up and down. “Pleased to meet you! A friend of Rarity is a friend of mine.”

“I’m... pleased to meet you too, I guess.” Spike offered no resistance, just staring at his beloved mare and searching for explanation in her marble-like face.

“Good!” Blueblood grinned. “Now let’s go inside; I’ll buy us all something to eat and clean myself up. It’s time to celebrate, for it’s not every day that I meet somepony as captivating as this fair being of concentrated beauty.”

“Oh stop it, you flatterer!” Rarity said, blushing.

They both walked into the donut shop, being welcomed by a choir of voices. Spike stared blakly at the pair, snapping back to reality only after he heard the door close. He deeply inhaled the night’s air and followed them inside.

———

The night couldn’t have gone more horribly. Blueblood joked around, engaged in pleasurable conversations, played a few games with them and even paid everypony’s bills. Minute by minute, Spike could see how his friends were becoming Blueblood’s friends and was forced to watch how the love of his life wasted her kisses on this scoundrel.

Who does he think he is? Luring her into his clutches like that. I did all the things he does and more for the past year, so why is he more successful? This just isn’t fair!

Spike could feel the bile rising in his throat when Blueblood went for a French kiss. This had to stop. He looked at each of his friends, carefully examining their expressions – perhaps they could help.

Applejack was currently indulging herself in conversation about possible exportation of apples across Equestria’s borders with Blueblood, Rainbow Dash was wiping off her tears after his last joke, Pinkie Pie kept ordering more and more cocoa using his money, and Fluttershy just stared at him with a dumb smile on her face. That left Twilight, who sat in a corner and calmly sipped her beverage.

Of course. Why didn’t I think of this sooner? Twilight is sure to have an idea; she always does! Oh, I can’t wait to hear what she has prepared for him!

Ignoring the sonorous laughter behind him that could only belong to one pony, Spike positioned himself next to Twilight, motioning her to lean towards him.

“I wondered when you’d come to me,” she said, laying the mug with cocoa aside.

“Twilight, you have to help me! You know what I feel towards Rarity and now he... he...!” Spike pointed at Blueblood, grimacing like he was suffering from immense pain.

“...he came in and stole her from you,” Twilight finished, her face remaining stoic.

“Yes!” Spike said, leaning towards her with his eyes widened.

Twilight sighed. “Spike, Rarity isn’t some object that you can steal. She’s been searching for her special somepony for forever and–”

“–and she has to yet figure out that she actually needs a special somedragon, I know,” Spike said, frowning. “But now that fop comes in and tries to sweet talk his way into her innocent heart!”

I should have protected her better. A mysterious, influential stranger with a fancy name and good looks – of course she fell for it! Her pure soul doesn’t suspect any treachery. She doesn’t know that he’ll just use her and throw her away, like she’s an empty tube of toothpaste. Damn it, Spike!

“Spike, stop.” Twilight scowled. “First of all, that wasn’t what I was trying to say at all. Second, Prince Blueblood is not a fop. Where did you even learn that word? He’s a really nice guy and obviously loves Rarity, so–”

“He doesn’t love her nearly as much as I do! Did he try to rescue Rarity from diamond dogs? Did he spend days working in her boutique just to catch a glimpse of her divine smile? Did he spend every last second of his miserable life wondering when will he see her again?”

“Doesn’t she pay you for your work at the boutique with gems?” Twilight asked, cocking her brow. “And she saved herself from the diamond dogs, not you.”

“It’s the thought that counts.”

Twilight slowly exhaled, shaking her head. “Listen, Spike. When Rainbow mentioned Rarity has a coltfriend, I knew you’d come to me sooner or later. You always seek me out when you have a problem, and I’m always the one who helps you fix it.”

“Exactly!” Spike smiled. “So what do you have planned? Will you convince Rarity to leave him be? Or will you cast a spell on him that will make him unattractive? Or...” Spike lowered his voice into an almost inaudible whisper. “Will you send him to the moon?”

Twilight smiled back, but her eyes frowned, looking at him like one would look on a wounded animal. “Spike, I will do none of those things.”

Spike’s jaw dropped. “What do you mean, you won’t? Do you have better idea?”

He winced when Twilight shook her head. “I’m sorry, Spike, but it wouldn’t be right of me to do something like that,” she said softly. “Rarity has the right to date whomever she wants to, and Prince Blueblood looks like he deserves her affection.”

“Twi, what... what are you saying?” Spike’s eyes welled up. “Do you mean that I don’t deserve her? What does he have that I don’t?”

Sighing yet again, Twilight took a large swig from her mug with cocoa. “I knew this conversation was going to come sooner or later. Spike, I don’t doubt you really like Rarity, but... you’re just too little for her. He’s a grown up stallion, while you’re a little dragon. Plus she has never really shown this kind of interest in you.”

“I’m just five years younger than you!” Spike exclaimed. “So what if he’s all gaudy and has a fancy bloodline? It’s the inside that’s important!”

“Yes, and so far his inside seems to be pristine. Really, the only one acting badly tonight is you.”

“Me? I’m not the one who came here like a prince from an old-mare’s tale, seducing her by his evil charms! He’ll turn out to be nothing but trouble, mark my words!”

Twilight frowned. “Spike, I don’t know how else to put this to you – you need to move on! Maybe I should have told you this a long time ago, preventing this situation altogether. Rarity is not the mare you can be with and she never will. Be happy that she found herself somepony like Blueblood, and find yourself someone of the same age group. And species, if you can.”

“I am not moving on!” he roared, attracting the attention of everypony in the room. “What do you know about love? Read about it in one of your books, I’d wager.” With his fists clenched, Spike walked out of the room into the night outside, ignoring the glares he got as he walked past his friends. The only look that actually hurt him was the raised eyebrow from Rarity.

How could she say something like that? Even if she thought it, she’s supposed to support me! Besides, Rarity and I are meant to be together.

Spike kicked the nearest pebble, walking further and further from that accursed place.

‘Different age group,’ bah! Five years is not a different age group. And species? If a unicorn can marry a pegasus, then why should a dragon be any different? It’s not like I’m going to eat her or anything. Do they think I would eat her? Why would I even do such a thing; it makes no sense! I have to ask Twilight about it. Or rather not – I’m not gonna ask Twilight about anything! She’d just tell me to ‘move on’ and stuff.

He vaguely noticed that he was no longer walking on the stone road, but on soft soil covered by twigs and pine needles.

That damned Blueblood! Shoving it into everyone’s face; that he’s so ‘perfect and noble’. I can’t believe they all actually fell for it! He saved Rarity from a cake, so of course she’s grateful, but the rest? They have no such excuse.

The patter of his feet landing on a rocky surface marked the end of his trip. In front of him a vast emptiness stretched into the distance, the lights of different towns shimmering deep under him like fireflies. He took a deep breath, the cold, fresh air filling his lungs, and exhaled, letting the chill course through his body.

Perhaps I’m overreacting. Maybe it’s just a little craze that will end right after she learns more about him. He can’t be as perfect as he portrays himself to be, can he?

Spike kicked a little stone into the depth below and watched it fall. Then, with a final sigh, he turned around and began his trek back, preparing explanations for his outburst as he went.