In a world filled with magic and wonder, there is a far away land called Equestria, which is ruled by two majestic pony princesses. Princess Celestia, a white alicorn, was a wise, graceful and benevolent leader who was universally loved and adored by all. Her royal duty was to raise the sun each day for her subjects. Her younger sister, Luna, the co-ruler of the land, was responsible for raising the moon as well as being the watcher of the night. I am sure many of you fillies know of Luna's transformation into Nightmare Moon, and her reformation thanks to a certain group of ponies, but this story is not about them nor the city in which they reside, Canterlot.
Our story begins in a tiny village just a train ride away from the nation's capital, called Ponyville. A quaint, little town famous for its sweet apples and friendly ponyfolk. It was not a grand city like Manehattan or Fillidephia, but it was the home of the Princess of Friendship, Twilight Sparkle. Princess Twilight and her friends were known throughout the land as the Bearers of the Elements of Harmony. They are the Mane 6, the defenders and heroes of Equestria. Since the defeat of Tirek, Princess Twilight and her friends have been tasked by Princess Celestia to spread the Magic of Friendship.
But this story is not about them either. It is about one of their friends.
His name is Spike. A young dragon who has unassumingly played a much larger role in the fate of this world on more than one occasion.
I hope you fillies are willing to listen to his story, for it is a simple story. A story of his quest to find his place in this world of ponies and to find the one he is destined to be with.
It was a clear sunny day. A good day. A brilliant day, for this would be the day where all this young dragon's dreams were going to come true. He just knew it.
After completing his chores, Spike the Dragon had spent the morning cleaning and shining his purple and green scales, preparing himself for this moment. All the while, Princess Twilight Sparkle looked on her faithful assistant with pride and apprehension. Just outside the castle walls of their home, near the center of town was the Carousel Boutique. It was there that he was to find what his heart longed for, the Town's beautiful seamstress, Rarity. He went into the kitchen, grabbing a boutique of red roses and proceeded on with his quest.
"I'm off Twilight. Wish me luck," said the purple dragon as he began walking with a skip in each step.
She nodded with a gentle smile. Deep inside she had mixed feelings; hopeful yet worried as to how the mare would respond. Despite her concerns however she stood by and decided to remain supportive. "Good luck, Spike."
Since he first arrived in Ponyville, Spike had harbored a deep crush for the white unicorn with her blue crystal eyes and luscious violet curls. Whilst most of the Town's inhabitants (and probably the mare of his affections herself) were fully aware of the young Dragon's feelings, nopony said anything. They simply dismissed it as nothing more than a childish crush. A feeling that would more than likely go away over time and be nothing more. Twilight was the only pony to try and warn Spike that his affections may not be reciprocated but he didn't care. He didn't care what anypony thought. He knew what he felt, and it felt right.
He soon arrived at his destination. The young dragon gulped.
This is it, he said to himself. This is going to me the moment where our relationship starts and love blooms in its full glory.
Drawing a deep breath, flowers in claw, he knocks on her door. As he waited patiently for her to arrive, he started to recite the speech that he had prepared earlier. The speech that would help him win her heart. He continued to wait a little bit longer, but unsure if his presence was known, he nervously knocked again and called out, "umm ... Hello ... Hello, is anypony there?"
A few seconds later, he could hear shouting between two mares and what sounded like the breaking of glass behind the closed door. Concerned he moved closer, leaning his ear to the door to hear what was going on. At that precise moment however it opened, causing spike to lose his balance and he quickly fell flat on his face, the flowers falling to one side.
"Jeez Rarity, it was one time- Oh hello, Spike. What are you doing there? ... and on the floor? Are you okay?"
He groaned and looked up. Standing before him was Rarity's younger sister, Sweetie Belle. Thinking that she was a rather cute filly in her own right, he stared blankly at her before remembering why he was there. Quickly picking himself (and the flowers) up, he tried to recover from a rather awkward moment. "Nothing, I ... umm," panicking he tried to think of an excuse but instead cleared his throat with his goal is mind. "Is Rarity home?" He asked rather hopefully.
Sweetie Belle rolled her eyes and groaned rather audibly. "Yes she is. Careful though, she’s in a particular mood."
"THAT'S BECAUSE YOU USED ALL MY GOLDEN SILK!" Rarity shouted from inside, making her way to the door.
"Oh my gosh! RARITY, THAT WAS YEARS AGO! THAT MOTH RIDDEN MATERIAL IS PROBABLY UNDER ALL THAT RUBBISH IN YOUR ROOM," shrieked Sweetie Belle.
"SWEETIE BELLE, YOU KNOW THA- Oh hello Spike," Rarity said rather sweetly to the dragon standing before her. "What brings you here today, Darling?"
The change in tone was quite unsettling but considering this is what the two sisters were normally like, he thought nothing of it. "Umm... Can I speak with you alone ... inside for a moment," the Dragon asked nervously.
"Of course, Darling," speaking at first with that sweet tone, but then immediately changed into a venomous glance at her sister. "Sweetie Belle was just leaving!"
Ignoring her sister, she looked at Spike gleefully. "Yep, the Cutie Mark Crusaders are going to meet at the clubhouse to think about how we can market our services to everypony in Equestria."
It had been only a few months since the Cutie Mark Crusaders got their Cutie Marks but their aspirations to fulfill their destiny grew with each passing day ... and the lack of clientele.
"Good luck with that," Spike replies. "Hey, maybe you can ask Fluttershy to open a Twitter account or use the Web! That would help spread the word."
"That's a great idea Spike! We can ask her to talk to her sparrows! Or maybe her spiders! Or canaries, Or-"
"Ah-hem", coughed Rarity rather loudly, interrupting the flow of conversation. Whilst Rarity was very proud of her sister and her accomplishments as a Crusader, she was not very impressed with her antics and the trouble she often found herself in. And with Spike's rather unhelpful suggestion, she was certainly not looking forward to having to apologise to her dear friend, Fluttershy, about any potential misuse of her animals.
Getting the hint, Sweetie Belle poked her tongue out at her sister. "Yes I get it! I'm going! I'm going!", but just she was about to leave she quickly whispered into the young Dragon's ear and winked. "I hope it all works out."
Spike blushed, matching the color of his flowers. "I-I-I-don't know what you mean."
Giggling, the filly ran to catch up with her friends. "Bye."
Rarity sighed. "I am sincerely sorry about my dear sister, Spike. She can be rather excitable. Ever since the girls got their Cutie Marks, they’ve been very impatient in sharing their special talent."
"It's fine, Rarity. I think they’re amazing," Spike replied honestly, earning a warm smile from the mare. "Anyway can I please come inside? I have something I want to talk to you about."
Seeing the flowers behind his back, and noticing the urgency in his voice, she knew what was coming. It wasn't the first time Spike tried to confess, but it was just pure luck that each time he came over, they were interrupted. The past few months her Cutie Mark would light up conveniently summoning her to the castle to complete whatever friendship mission she and her friends had been tasked with. Today would be the exception to the norm. Without any hesitation in her voice, she replied, "Darling, of course. Are you thirsty? I was about to prepare a cup of tea for myself before Fluttershy comes over. We have an appointment at the Spa this afternoon."
Spike sat at the table in her kitchen watching Rarity put the kettle on. "Umm... Rarity," he said looking at her lovingly.
"Yes, Darling?"
He got off the chair and moved towards her. "These are for you."
"Why Spike, they are lovely," she replied as she looked at her dear friend. "Thank you, I will put them in a vase."
Before she has the chance to leave, however, he mustered up the courage and shouted rather excitedly. "Rarity!"
Surprised, Rarity responds cautiously. "Yes, Spike?"
"I ... I ..." Come on you can do it Spike, it's not as if she’s going to crush your spirit and soul. With everything we’ve been through together, there is no way she'll say no. "Rarity, I love you" he ended.
Well so much for that great speech you had prepared you dolt.
Rarity doesn't move but looks at Spike with a hint of sadness and sincerity. Rarity knew how he felt. She’d seen how he looked at her. It was no different than the looks she got from other stallions or even the odd mare, but this was Spike. Her dearest friend, Spike-Wikey. While she adored him, she never thought of him in that way. Rather than play the fool, she thought it'd be best to be honest with him. It would hurt them both him, and possibly even break their friendship, but he deserved at least that much.
She glanced at Spike, who was desperately looking for some positive sign. Unfortunately, it was not meant to be. "I am sorry Spike. I truly am, but I am afraid I can’t respond to your feelings with the same affection and admiration as you have for me," she replied softly with her eyes closed.
It was his worst fears come true. He stood there. Hollow.
"I know this is hard for you to accept but I love you dearly, but only as a precious, precious friend," she said sadly.
Unable to comprehend or understand the logic behind her words. If she loved him why didn't she say yes. Surely this would be the next step in their relationship? Tears were forming in his eyes as she continued.
"I just don't see you like that, Spike."
He shuddered. Oh he knew where this was going. He just didn't think she'd be like this too.
"It's because I am dragon isn't?" he spit looking angrily down at the floor with a clenched jaw. "Just admit it. Everypony else thinks so".
"How dare you think I am that shallow.! You being a dragon has nothing to do with it," Rarity retorted quickly but held back from saying anything further seeing the tears begin to roll down his face. Spike refused to look at her, however; she continues albeit in a softer, gentler tone. "The truth is Spike-"
"Is it my age then, Rarity?" his voice interjected, quivering under each breathe. "Is it because I am too young for you?"
"No Spike it's-"
"Is it because I'm not your dream stallion?"
"Spike."
"Then what Rarity? What is it that you don't like about me?"
Almost in tears herself, she tried to interject before it gets worse. "Spike, please listen. Let me explain-"
"You don't need to explain anything. I know what you truly think! That I am just some stupid, childish dragon. I will never be your dream stallion, but I will show you. I will prove it to you that I can be that and more. I will change and I will be somepony whom you love"
Before she could say anything else, Spike stormed off. The pain was too great to bear.
I’ll show her. I’ll show her that I can become her dream Stallion and then she'll accept my feelings
Rarity left him alone, knowing it would be better for to him to be alone then to crush his spirit any further. There was a sadness within her that she could not bear. She was upset beyond comprehension but she couldn't lie to him or herself. She needed to be honest, and not just to appease his school boy crush.
In that moment she was reprieved as a friendly face appeared in the form of a yellow pegasus. Fluttershy got the tail end of the conversation. Looking sadly at the dragon walking away in tears and back at Rarity with tears of own, she asked concerned, "Is everything alright? What happened? I can come back later if you need."
The reservoir of Rarity’s will crumbled at the question. Unable to hold back any longer, she ran to Fluttershy, hugging her and breaking into great sobs. "I had to break my dearest friend's heart".