I found myself... ....
“Are you alright, Rarity?” Fancy Pants questioned softly, raising an eyebrow.
“Yes, I’m fine, thank you, Fancy,” Rarity slightly chuckled, clarifying.
“If there’s something bothering you, you know you can trust me, right? Don’t let these petty ponies get in the way of your own well-being,”
Fancy gently offered, stretching out his hoof.
Always the charmer, she thought. She didn't know what her fashion career would be without his help. She smiled, gently wrapping her hooves around his and setting them down together.
“It’s quite alright, I’m just a little exhausted,” she assured him. He looked unsure, but nodded.
“Well, then, if you must,” he bowed courteously, retreating towards Fleur and the Princesses.
“Thank you,” she told him, walking away. It was good to have someone reliable in a sea of unfamiliar faces.
She stepped through to the outside.
Rarity inhaled deeply, letting the sweet aroma of the Royal Canterlot Gardens fill her lungs as she shut the door behind her. The sound of ponies’ conversations grew muffled as the door closed, now replaced instead by the peaceful ambience orchestra of the nighttime. As much as the fashionista loved the elegance and prestige of Canterlot’s high society, even she could grow tired of the constant chatter and mingling. Sometimes, one simply needed a moment to step outside and take a lovely stroll, to help refresh the mind and spirit.
She began to trot through the elegant stone paths, admiring the fauna and decorations that adorned the gardens. The moon and stars shone brightly above, a gorgeous display of white specks among the dark night sky.
She had to give credit to the gardeners, and all of Canterlot Castle’s staff, really. The ponies had truly outdone themselves this year, gathering and designing some of the most wonderful decorations Rarity had ever seen, to perfectly adorn the castle and its surrounding grounds for this evening. Yet tonight was no casual night, no ordinary soiree. Tonight was one of the biggest events in the whole country, a gathering of Equestria’s most esteemed individuals and leaders.
The Grand Galloping Gala.
In silver and gold...
Rarity took a moment to stop and straighten out her dress, and was satisfied to see that it was still in as flawless a condition as when she had entered the castle. Despite her honest humility, she had decide to treat herself and opt for a luxurious and standout appearance this year with this particular piece: an elegant white dress with gold linings and curvature patterns. And what better way to complete the design, she had decided, than with one of her most prized pieces of jewelry: a beautifully crafted gold neckpiece sporting a pristine, one-of-a-kind fire ruby.
She began to give a slow, content hum, allowing herself to be lost in the quiet, peaceful ambience as she progressed with her stroll. The soft rustling of leaves, the soft trickling of water from the fountains, the songs of the garden’s birds…
“Rarity?”
Snapped out of her trance, the white mare looked around for the source of the call, scanning the trees and walkways. She blinked in surprise for a moment as her eyes locked on to the source of the call, sitting at a bench near one of the balconies at the garden’s edge.
“Spike?”
Like a scene from a movie...
The young drake smiled warmly as she trotted over to him, happy to find she was not alone out here. She had assumed that she was the only one in the garden, the majority of the guests still inside as well as her other friends, who were undoubtedly attending to their own interests and affairs.
“What are you doing out here?” Spike questioned, having similarly assumed he was alone, yet nevertheless delighted by her presence.
“Oh, nothing much. Just enjoying a nice stroll by the gardens. A lady needs her peace and quiet, don’t you know?” she answered, smiling elegantly and putting her hoof to her chest.
“Right, how could I forget?” Spike gave a small laugh, beckoning her over to him as he playfully but on his best attempt at a fancy voice. “Well then, my lady, why don’t you join me here, and we can walk together, yes?”
...that every broken heart knows.
Rarity happily accepted the invitation, chuckling as she walked over to him. She positioned herself at his side, smiling as he bowed, crossing one arm over his chest and motioning to her.
“After you, my lady.”
We were walking on moonlight...
Smiling, the two began to walk near the white stone railings that surrounded the gardens. The elevated location of the Castle on the mountain provided them with an excellent view of the city of Canterlot. Elegant, tall homes and manors, with towers stretching upwards to the sky, cobblestone streets lined with an array of shops and restaurants, the soft, faint yellow glow of the lanterns and lamps that illuminated the streets at night.
Perfect.
Rarity briefly turned away from the view to study the dragon who now escorted her.
Ever since the spark of his transformation not too long ago, the young drake had certainly grown into his new body. He was now taller and bigger than Rarity or their friends, rivaling Princess Luna in size. His body was far more muscular than any average stallion, but not big or heavy, giving him a slim and sleek physique. His hardened purple scales radiated a faint feeling of warmth from the magical fire that burned in is heart. His tale swished slowly behind him, pointed and snake-like as it moved across the path.
And of course, his powerful wings. She had not expected them, nor had anypony else. Given his appearance during his previous… display, from the day he had unintentionally grown and threatened Ponyville, they assumed that his particular species didn’t develop wings. Princess Ember, when sought for advice, had informed them that during their youth-to-adult stage, dragons like him did, in fact, sprout wings. It was not until he reached full age, once again becoming a behemoth, that his wings would slowly retract and disappear, no longer needed now that his sheer size and strength would be more than enough evolutionary advantages.
A true dragon, he now was. Majestic, powerful, perhaps even handsome…
“So, enjoying the Gala so far?” Spike spoke up, distracting Rarity from her analysis. She cleared her throat, refocusing.
“Oh yes, yes, quite. I’ve met with so many interesting individuals! Not only rich or prestigious ponies, but even some nobles from the lands around Equestria! The music is absolutely delightful as well, and the refreshments are quite exquisite. I tell you, this evening has been simply fantastic!”
Rarity paused for a moment, thinking. “Although, I don’t seem to recall seeing you very much tonight, Spike.”
“Oh, don’t worry about me. I was inside for a while, but this kind of party isn’t really my thing, you know? I mostly hung around the edges of the party until I decided to come fly around out here. It’s really fun swooping and diving around the castle! There wasn’t much for me to do inside anyways, not really anybody to talk to…”
“What about us? Are you saying you don’t want to be with your friends? Or that you don’t like talking with us?” Rarity questioned, feigning a look of shock and hurt.
“No, no! It’s not that!” Spike quickly backtracked nervously. “It’s just… you all seemed kind of busy. You were all talking with other people, doing your own things… I didn’t want to bother any of you. And some of the guests looked like they were trying to avoid me. They seemed… scared.”
He lowered his head, halting their walk and falling in to silence for a moment. Rarity’s smile fell as she recognized his pain. Ever since he took on his new form, ponies, particularly those outside of Ponyville, seemed a bit more… cautious of him. His baby form had been very much small and non-intimidating, but his new size was certainly anything but. He may not have been a full behemoth, but most ponies were nevertheless not used to having a dragon among their mix. Add in the sometimes snobbish and harsh judgements of Equestria’s high society, and the night must have certainly been lonely for the dragon.
Rarity couldn’t help but feel guilty as he gloomingly moved aside, leaning against the railing as he looked into the distant horizon. She had spent so much time amongst the partygoers that she had hardly paid any heed to him, or her other friends. At least the others had people talk to, someone to keep them company. But who did he have? Who would care for the lone, intimidating dragon, when there were scores of other, more “normal” ponies to be with?
“Spike…”
BOOM!
There was a sudden, piercing crack of thunder, causing Rarity to yelp in surprise. She looked around and spotted a mass of clouds gathering above, growing larger and darker by the second. The thing was far bigger than either of them, appearing as some kind of jagged shape. It loomed over the edge of the garden, hovering in the air. A strong gust of wind whipped against her and Spike, startling both. He raised one wing in front of him, shielding both him and her from the growing whirlwind of air that struck them.
“What is that?!”
Neither could tell, truly. The dark mass howled against them, a set of red eyes and a devilish mouth suddenly opening on its face as it looked at its prey. Rarity felt her knees begin to tremble. She was not sure what this evil being was, but whatever the case, it had a gleaming, hellish look to it’s plain red eyes, and a malicious grin spreading wide across its makeshift “face”.
Tall and menacing, the creature floated above them, it’s mass blocking out the moonlight and suddenly darkening the night. Not the typical night sky, dark but radiant, dotted by stars and the moon. No, this sky was now pitch black, a palette of pure darkness and doom.
“We have to warn the others!” Spike called out over the furious wind, slightly poking out his head from behind his wing.
“R-right!” Rarity finally answered, snapping out of her trance. The two began to hastily retreat back the way she had come, hoping to reach the castle and receive help in defeating the beast, from either their friends, the princesses, the Guard, or all of the above.
They had only been running a few seconds before a wall of dark shadows sprung in front of them, strange emissions coming from it, causing them to halt. The shadow barrier began to expand, creating a wall of darkness that begun to spread around them and trap them inside.
And you pulled me close...
“Hang on!” Spike suddenly yelled, taking Rarity into his arms. The white unicorn gave a yelp of surprise, not expecting the drastic move. The reason quickly became clear as Spike spread his powerful wings and shot upward, attempting to fly over the barrier.
The being was not that foolish, it seemed. They had only just taken off when the barrier suddenly shot upwards, once more blocking them. Spike thrust back in shock. He quickly turned around and tried to fly in a different direction, but to no avail, for the barrier repeated the movement, impeding their escape. The dragon and the mare looked around in horror as, faster than Spike could fly, the barrier began to arch upwards. The two were too slow to stop it. Within moments, the barrier had stretched to become a dome of total black and blasting gusts, trapping them inside with the evil entity.
For a few seconds, the dragon simply hovered there in shock, frantically trying to find some escape. Rarity felt an imminent dread begin to creep inside her as she dangled there in midair, protected by the young drake.
“STOP THIS NOW!” She yelled helplessly, charging her horn and clenching her eyes shut as she fired a blast of magic at the creature. The thing was far too quick for her, the ball of magic suddenly melting into wisps of black smoke. The creature’s eyes glowed a pulsing red, and Rarity began to feel a wave of numbness take over her horn. Both her and Spike watched in horror as her horn gave a small pulse of black before suddenly going completely and utterly lifeless. Rarity gave a terrified cry.
With no more point in flying, Spike quickly set down, putting Rarity down carefully as the mare once more got on her hooves. He quickly stepped in front of her, rearing himself into a battle stance.
“Alright, bring it on, you beast!” Spike roared, readying himself.
The creature seemed to give a wicked laugh as inhaled immensely and shot a blast of magical green fire at the demon. The fire collided perfectly with the entity, but upon the flames’ clearing, both dragon and pony gave a gasp of unbelief as the creature still hovered in place, unharmed. Another terrifying cry was heard as the creature suddenly began to swell in size.
“W-what-!” Rarity managed to stumble, but her words failed her as the being stretched out in volume, spreading and growling as it began to slightly creep towards them in midair, as if on the prowl. The powerful gusts of air seemed to grow more intense, almost completely blinding her.
“H-HELP!” was all she could manage, her eyes shutting in hopelessness.
Then, the wind seemed to stop assailing her muzzle. Though the wind was still roaring, the change was enough to make Rarity open her eyes once more. She looked in surprise yet again as she saw Spike standing before her, shielding her almost completely.
“It’s okay,” he said simply, faint but barely audible through the storm. “I’ll do this.”
He turned around to face her, managing a small, weak, but slightly content smile. Something about it immediately alerted the mare.
“Spike!” she cried once more, a creeping worry on her heart. “What are you going to do?!”
The dragon said nothing, briefly lowering his face against hers. He seemed to pause for a moment, before he began to, out of nowhere, nuzzle against her gently. Rarity was taken aback by the show of affection as he slowly caressed her muzzle with his own, a comforting warmness emanating from him.
It ended too suddenly when Spike pulled away, turning to face the demon once more and holding his ground. Rarity was too shocked to move. The demon was now upon them, a meager distance away, its radiating evil overwhelming them. Protruding arm-tentacle limbs peeked out of the mass and began to shoot towards them. Spike spread out his wings one more time, shielding Rarity in a defying stance as the arms of black wrapped around him. He gave out one last cry of horror as the being completely overtook him, enveloping him in darkness completely. Rarity only managed to get one last look at his terrified face as he became lost in the mass of black.
Split-second and you disappeared...
“SPIKE! SPIKE!!!” Rarity screamed in utter, pure horror as the being gave one more cry of howling laughter and evil. The winds blasted against her in one final fury, almost sending her flying back. She looked up to see the creature beginning to fade away, a malicious grin of triumph on its face.
“SPIKE!!! NO!!!!!” Rarity wailed in desperation, attempting to run to the entity, only to reach the edge of the railing as the creature began to fade further away.
“NO!!!!!” She cried out in hopelessness, tears streaming down her face and her eyes clenching shut.
There was one final explosion of black, and she felt her heart shatter into a million pieces.
...and I was all alone.
…
“NO!”
Rarity shot up in her bed, panting heavily. She felt a painful pounding in her head and a suffocating thumping in her chest. Her teeth clenched firmly as she gripped the blanket. Her eyes shut completely as she attempted to lose herself in the darkness, tears trickling down her face.
I woke up in tears...
One.
Two.
Three.
After a few seconds, she began to feel a slight tremble as her body began to slowly soften. She tried to calm herself and pace her breathing as she felt the fear slowly seep out of her body. After a few seconds of panting and eye batting, the tears began to cease, and she was able to stabilize herself enough to look at her surroundings.
Yes, she was in her bedroom. Moonlight poured through the window not far from her bed, dimly outlining the various furniture around her bedroom. Some drawers, shelves, and a small workstation, equipped with some of her dress-making supplies. Even a white cat with a purple bow, snoozing away near the foot of her bed, in her own plush sleeping basket. The shining glimpse of red from the broken seal of the envelope on her desk caught her eye, reminding her of her upcoming dress order.
She would have to remember to thank Fancy for that.
Nothing else to see there. No ferocious wind, no castle or gardens, no evil creature towering over her.
She gave a small sigh of relief, letting herself shudder as she thought what everypony needed to remind themselves in this situation.
A dream, she thought. It was a just dream. No problems here, no danger, everything is how it’s supposed to be.
With the terror gently streaming out of her system, a sudden wave of clarity alerted her to one last item on the checklist.
That item just happened to be beside her. She turned around to the other side of her bed.
With you by my side...
There he was, safe and sound.
Beside her lay her lover, a young, grown, purple drake. His body rhythmically rose and fell with the soft breathing of his sleep. At least it should have, had it not been for her outburst.
“R-rarity?” Spike groggily called, stirring as he began to sit upright. He blinked his eyes for a few moments as he cleared them enough to see the white unicorn beside him. His purple frame and scales slightly gleamed with the reflection of moonlight on him from one of the nearby mirrors. A soft illumination on his tall, powerful body. He immediately snapped to attention as he recognized the trace of fear in her expression.
“What’s wrong?” he worriedly asked. He diligently began to scan the room around them, perking his ears. “Is there danger? Is somepony breaking in or something?”
Rarity was simply silent for a few moments, her mouth still slightly open from the panting as he continued to defensively observe his surroundings in a protective manner.
He’s getting jolted awake at this hour, and that’s the first thing he thinks? About… my safety?
She felt her heart skip a beat as she recalled the scenes from her dream. Their entrapment, her helplessness, his brave loyalty… and sacrifice. At the thought of his face, giving her a terrified look as he was overcome by the darkness, the feeling of dread once more crept up inside her.
A breath of relief...
But it didn’t matter. He was here now. That is what mattered.
She finally exhaled.
After a few moments, Rarity’s mind finally snapped out of her trance, and she did the only thing she cared about at that moment.
She threw her hooves around him, burying her face muzzle into his neck and beginning to softly sob as the tears threatened to spill once more.
“R-rarity?” the dragon asked, not expecting the embrace of all things. If there was danger, this sure seemed like a strange course of action. He put one arm around her body as well as she continued to sob for a few moments, before finally speaking up.
“It-it’s fine,” she said, half-lying. “There’s no danger, I just…”
She took a moment from her relieved grieving to look into his confused face. She thoroughly analyzed every single detail of his handsome face, his purple complexion, green scales, long mouth, and matching green eyes, a shine of beauty within those pupils.
A shine of loyalty, dedication, and love.
And I realized...
“I’m just glad you’re here,” she finally finished, once more nuzzling against him.
Spike was once again surprised at the sudden affection and embrace of the mare. He blinked in confusion for a few moments, before finally coming to.
He didn’t need an explanation to love her or comfort her.
No...
“I’m glad you’re here too, Rarity,” he commented, returning the embrace as he wrapped his wings around her. She moved even closer to him, wrapping her stylized tail around his longer one and pressing against his chest. She could feel the beat of his heart as well, a warmth spreading from his body to her, emanating from that magical fire that burned deep within his heart.
How many times had she ignored that heart, and what feelings it harbored towards her? How many moments had she spent gushing over her work rather than having fun with him? How many times had she engrossed herself in the frivolity of the upper classes, rather than spend a simple day with him?
Some Element of Generosity.
...we’re not promised tomorrow.
The guilt wrapped heavily around her heart. The tears threatened to fall once more.
She didn’t deserve him. She was selfish, self-absorbed, whimsical. He was generous, sympathetic, and determined. Had he been a pony, he’d undoubtedly be a far better fit as an Element than her.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Spike questioned worriedly.
“I… I… I don’t deserve you,” she choked on her words, still sobbing against him.
“What? Rarity! Don’t ever think that!” he reprimanded her, lifting her muzzle to meet his gaze. Just like their first meeting, he found himself entranced by her utter beauty, her blue eyes shining like a sea of diamonds.
“I don’t know what’s got you like this, but listen to me! I don’t care about what you might do or seem like on the outside. What’s more important,” he said, bringing his claw to her chest, “is what’s in here. You’re not perfect, nopony is. But you’re perfect to me. Whatever you do on the outside doesn’t matter. Why do you think I stood up to your Nightmare self? If all I cared about was appearance, I wouldn’t have gone through all that trouble. I may have fallen for your illusion. But you know why I didn’t? Because I recognized that I loved not the outer you, but the inner you. The pony who, despite her flaws, is always willing to put her friends before her, who believes that everyone deserves happiness, not just herself.”
He paused from his ramble, bringing her face even closer and whispering.
“That’s the Rarity I fell in love with. I’m not here because you want me to be. I’m here because I want to be. I don’t want to take your love, nor do I want you to take mine. I want us...”
He put a claw to her heart.
“...to share it.”
Silence for a few seconds as the two looked on in a trance.
She felt her heart warm in relief and kindness upon hearing those words.
So I’m gonna love you...
“I’m so lucky to have you here,” she simply said, nuzzling against him affectionately. He happily returned the gesture, glad to see her doing better.
“I’ll always be here,” he commented tenderly, bringing her lips to meet his own.
Like I’m gonna lose you...
The last remains of her fear and worry melted as she blissfully melted into the moment, losing herself in the kiss. The warmth of his mouth against hers, bringing the warmth of the flames within him into her body. He gently began to stroke her mane, running his arms and remarkably soft claws through the rich curtain of purple. He didn’t care if it was stylized or not, and in that moment, neither did she as she gently rubbed her hooves on his back, feeling every piece of his skin gently slide under her hooves.
I’m gonna hold you...
This wasn’t something she wanted. This was something she needed. To feel his body around hers, to savor the taste of his lips, to hear his gentle, caring voice. He had always been there, from helping her around the boutique when he was just a small baby dragon with a silly crush, to facing danger alongside her on the many quests of her and her friends, to this, right here and now, grown in mind and body, as her lover.
Like I’m saying goodbye...
And if she had anything to say about it, he would always be there.
Wherever we’re standing...
Life is too short, too fragile. Her dream warned her as much.
I won’t take you for granted...
Wherever they went, whatever they did, she would treasure every moment. She would not simply take and enjoy his emotions. She would amplify them and prove her title of Generosity by always returning his affections tenfold, loving him every minute, and letting him know just how much he meant to her.
’Cause we’ll never know when...
He may not be a typical lover for a mare, but she didn’t care. He would always be her own handsome prince, and she would always be his loving princess.
When we’ll run out of time...
“I love you,” she managed.
“I love you too.”
Forever.
The two slowly faded once more to the world of dreams, guided by the princess of the night and her soft, gentle darkness, hearts at peace once more.
Only this time, they would dream of each other, with each other.
Together.
So I’m gonna love you...