That day, the weather was beautiful. A wonderful spring morning, unlike most others. The sun shone, the birds chirped, the wind blew oh so gently across the fields and apple orchard. It was one of those special, once in a blue moon days that came around so rarely that the residents of Ponyville just had to enjoy it with a stroll or simply bask in the warm rays.
One such resident was trying his best to do just that. However his mind weighed heavily on him, thoughts and regrets surfacing. His face remained emotionally detached as he stared up through the sky. On the outside he looked like he was just bored, though inside he was in turmoil.
She doesn't love me. Heck, I'm not even sure she likes me.
The dragonling Spike, his scales a deep shade of royal purple and a green just lighter than the grass he lay upon. One of his greatest fears had become realized the day before. Why did it hurt so much? That mare's beauty surpassed all others, even rivaling that of the princesses combined. If he could, he would pluck the stars from the night sky just so she could use them in her dresses. He would move mountains in her name. He would love her unconditionally. Rarity was truly a gem, one he would never have, for she did not love him.
He inhaled deeply until he felt a slight pain in his chest and exhaled in a sigh. Spike just wasn't sure how he could face everypony.
“Did I ruin my friendship by asking her out?” He wondered aloud. The purple drake wasn't even sure if he really wanted to be friends with her anymore. As soon as that thought finished he mentally slapped himself. Of course he wanted to stay friends with her! Even if she didn't love him like that, he wouldn't abandon her just because she said no. He couldn't do that to her, even though part of him wanted to.
Through all this contemplation of self, Spike never noticed a rather pink personification of happiness and smiles bounce jubilantly through the park. Pinkie Pie was very hard to miss, even when one was so deep in thought, but still Spike stayed oblivious. The party pony noticed him, however, and with a beaming grin she began making her way to the dragon.
Her thoughts drifted to Spike as she approached. He was a bit young, but he was a true gentledrake and tons more fun than a lot of ponies she's met before. He played pranks with her a few times before, and that was a blast! Heck, he was cute as a button to boot. If he could get his mind off of Rarity for all of five seconds...
“Maybe I should just avoid her for a couple of days and let things settle down.” She overheard him say. Of course, the pink pony's curiosity was piqued. Why would Spike avoid somepony? Maybe she should stick around a bit a little ways away and see if he said anything else. Spike, still not aware of the spying Pinkie Pie, kept his train of thought going.
“I guess it was stupid anyway.” Spike muttered sadly, his features growing to express how he was feeling. He looked so depressed! Pinkie just wanted to run over and give him a big hug and tell him, whatever was bothering him, it was going to be fine. She did not, however. Instead she restrained herself and waiting.
“No one could love me.”
Suddenly, realization dawned on the pink mare. This obviously had something to do with Rarity! It might have been best not to make her presence known at that moment, but something like this needed to be resolved as quickly as possible! If Spike truly thought no one could love him, maybe she could show him otherwise.
Spike nearly jumped clean out of his scales when a sudden blur of pink wrapped itself around his frame, lifted him clear off the ground and started to swing him back and forth like a rag-doll. He was confused for only a moment when he started hearing the trademark motormouth of none other than Pinkie Pie.
“Ohmygosh Spikey-Wikey! Don't be sad, come on tell Pinkie what happened!” She started, and it went by so fast the trapped dragon took a moment to decipher it. He tried to wretch himself from her death-grip, to no avail.
“Pinkie.” He tried, feeling a bit woozy. She didn't seem to hear him.
“Pinkie!” He attempted again, louder this time with the same results.
“Stop it, Pinkie!” He practically screamed. This time he was heard.
“Oops,” She giggled, dropped him on his feet. Of course she heard him the first time, but she just didn't want to let him go. He took a moment to balance himself and force down the bile that threatened to come up. After a few moment of gathering himself, Spike looked up at Pinkie with slight agitation evident in his glare. Pinkie just looked back expectantly, her eyes practically glowing with mirth.
“What do you want, Pinkie?” He started a little harsher than he wanted. The pink mare just giggled in response, much to Spike's confusion.
“Oh, Spikey, I can tell you're feeling down.” She stated. Spike suddenly found the floor much more interesting than the pony in front of him.
Maybe she should go about this a little differently. There's too many ponies around that could overhear him. With a grin in place, Pinkie grabbed Spike's tail in her mouth and threw him on her back. He was shocked, to say the least.
“Whoa! What are you doing?!” Questioned a none-to-happy Spike.
“You'll see!” Was her reply, and they were off.
Sugarcube Corner was dark. Darker then he ever remembered seeing it. But worse then the black depths of the bakery was the silence it sat in.
“Mister and Misses Cake are on a week long vacation to Fillydelphia, so the store's been closed until they get back.” Pinkie answered his unheard thoughts. “They still don't trust me to run it alone after that one time, with the pudding and muffin batter.” She and Spike were before the front door as the pink party pony set to the task of unlocking it. A single hoof rummaged through the saddlebag in search for the key, however she only turned up a strange assortment of items.
Spike was awed by the amount of things she could fit in that little bag. A stack of party hats, a mound of confetti, a really long rope, an extension cord, some spare parts to what Spike could only guess were to her Party Cannon. The list went on and on. That is, until she finally yanked out a single key on a keychain in the shape of a balloon.
“Great success!” Pinkie yelled, though it gathered little attention. Most of Ponyville was used to her antics, or so they'd like to think. So, she dropped her bag to the ground and brushed all her unsorted items inside. With a swift movement she unlocked the door, stowed the key, and brought Spike inside.
“So, what did you bring me here for?” Spike inquired, both curious and a little bit exasperated. Pinkie let him slide off her back and onto the tiled floor of the bakery. She trotted over to the counter and flicked the nearby switch on, illuminating the room as the lights switched on.
“You,” She pointed a hoof at him. “Are gonna tell me what's wrong.” Her perpetual grin seemed to grow.
“You're kidding.” Spike grumbled.
“Nope!” The pink mare giggled. She delved under the counter and began to dig around for something. A few things flew this way and that, a ladle, silverware and a stray straw were all Spike could count before she pulled something out with a grunt of effort. A safe, no taller then a ten inches, slammed onto the countertop.
“Uh,” Spike tried. “Why should I?” He said, regaining his composure.
“I'll show you why.” Pinkie began with a sly grin and a mischievous look in her eyes. She turned the level on the safe door, opening it and without losing her grin she produced a gem, but not just any type of gem. No, this jewel was truly something rare. At that very second, Spike's stomach growled at him, the traitor.
“Are you bribing me?” He questioned incredulously, though he couldn't take his eyes off the sharp, blue embodiment of yumminess before him.
“Maybe.” Pinkie sang, twirling the crystal on a hoof. “I'm sure you know what this is.”
“An Ice Sapphire.” He said in a distant voice. The treat called to him, but why did she have it in the first place? He decided not to question it, given the situation.
“Not just any Ice Sapphire, this one's been aged for ten months.”
Spike's heart nearly stopped beating at that.
“Now, tell me what's bothering you, and its all yours.” She declared. It was obvious she had him, every way she moved the sapphire his eyes would follow. Spike was caught, he knew that Pinkie wouldn't leave him be until he told her. So, while she was offering, he might as well spill the beans despite not wanting to talk about it. With a groan, Spike plopped on one of the stools behind the counter and tried to mentally steel himself for the coming confession.
“Well, it happened yesterday.”
It was just about noon when he arrived at the boutique, rose in hand. Spike stood before the door, his hand refusing to listen to reason. He wanted to knock on the door, but he couldn't do it! He was scared, this would be the first time he actually asked Rarity out on a date. Or, at least, the first time he was truly serious about it. Those times before he had come off as joking, but now he was going to do it right. Taking a moment to gather himself and strengthen his resolve, the dragonling finally found it in him to reach up and knock on the door.
“Coming!” A voice called. He could faintly hear the sound of hooves on wooden floor as she approached. He felt his nerves weaken, his fight or flight instincts kicking in. He was afraid, what if she said no? What if she laughed at him? What if she really didn't like him like him like he did her? These thoughts raced through his mind and when the door finally opened they all came to a screeching halt.
There she stood, a vision of beauty, the one of a kind mare herself. Rarity, his angel. She looked down at him with a little, polite smile and he couldn't help but let a grin find it's way to his face as well.
“Oh, Spike. Hello, darling, what brings you here?” She asked, seemingly not noticing the red rose.
“Uh, you know. Just wanted to drop by since I was around.” He lied, an awkward claw finding its way to the back of his head, scratching at his spines. As his gaze dropped to the ground he spotted the rose and it seemed to boost his courage, if just a bit.
“Would you like to come in for tea, then?” Rarity offered nicely, making a motion with her hoof for him to come inside. “I'm sure I can find a few gems for you.” Spike was awfully tempted, but he had something important he needed to do.
“Actually, Rarity. I was wondering something.” He ventured, and it looked like the porcelain mare's eyes found the rose, only to look back at him in an instant. Her polite smile vanished. Spike continued, despite the warning signs. “There's this new restaurant up in Canterlot, I hear its really nice. Uh, I was wondering if you would go with me.” He was losing his resolve for sure. “On a date?” He finished lamely.
She suddenly found the ground very interesting. Spike took that as a very bad sign and he was right to do so. Rarity thought carefully, she knew this day would come and she had been dreading it for a long time.
“Spike,” She spoke slowly with carefully chosen words. “I'm sorry, but I just don't like you that way. You're a very good friend and a true gentledragon.” She smiled sadly at him as she crushed his heart into powder. “But I'm afraid that's all you'll ever be to me.”
It was something that everypony had seen coming, but then Spike wasn't a pony. He had truly wanted to be with Rarity, he loved her so dearly. And yet, she didn't love him. Pinkie watched as he restrained his tears, spilling his issues in a choked voice. She felt bad about forcing this, but she felt worse about how this had all played out. A part of her really wanted him to end up with Rarity, if it would have just made him happy. She looked upon the dragon digging his way deeper and deeper into his own thoughts, hateful views and self-loathing.
Spike was a dragon, that much is known, but what came with that was the painful price of his species, a woefully long lifespan. In most cases this would not be a problem as dragons rarely interact outside their own kind. Spike on the other hand was raised by ponies and they did not live nearly as long. His fear began to consume him. Twilight, Pinkie, Applejack, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash and even Rarity would all eventually die and leave him all alone in the world.
He wanted to disappear, maybe he should. He could leave now, he could live somewhere else. Not among his own kind, he had already met other dragons and they were horrible. But he could live alone, he could forget. But did he have the power to do that? Pinkie Pie watched as his expression of sadness deepened, she could only guess as to what was on his mind.
“Maybe I should leave.” Spike mumbled, the treat he had been tempted with forgotten. He dropped off the stool and started for the door. Something about how he said that made it sound all the world to the mare that he was going to do something he would regret. With a nimble leap she hoisted herself over the counter and slid between the drake and the exit, her bright blue eyes speaking of determination.
“Pinkie, move.” He growled with a glare to match.
“Spike, I can't let you leave until we fix this!” She barked back.
“Fix this? Fix what?! There's nothing to fix, it was never broken! I'm a dragon, okay? A dragon living with ponies.” The way he said that final sentence sent shivers down her spine. It was almost as if he hated them, hated her.
“So what? That never mattered before!” She countered.
“Of course it has, it's always mattered! It's because I'm a dragon that I'm an outcast, it's because I'm a dragon that nopony will never love me, it's because I'm a dragon that I'm going to live even...” He choked back a sob. “Even after everypony is gone.”
That broke it. His rant over, the emotionally exhausted Spike broke down on the bakery floor, a shocked Pinkie Pie left to think on what he had said. Surely, he wasn't right about all of that. Everypony around here loved having Spike around and if Rarity didn't love him back because he was a dragon then it was her loss! But that last thing, it really got to her. She had never thought about it like that. Dragon's live so long that a ponies lifespan was like a blink of an eye to them.
Spike found no solace in the coldness of the tiled floor, however the icy grip of the surface was soon replaced with the warm fur of the only mare in the room. Pinkie cradled the dragonling in her arms, nuzzling his cheek even though he refused to open his eyes.
“Spikey, I think you're wrong about one thing.” She whispered to him. Curious, he slowly opened his eyes only to find her face rather close to his, nearly nose to nose. She had a faint, though sad, smile on her lips. “I know somepony likes you a lot.”