//------------------------------// // Twilight's Visit // Story: The Sweetest Gem // by The Rarispy //------------------------------// It’s too late. I didn’t make it in time. I wasn’t there for her. I didn’t help her when I had the chance. I couldn’t save her from the heartbreak. I wasn’t assertive enough. … I’ve failed.   These thoughts all stung in Rarity’s head as she leaned over her three-mirror platform, sobbing profusely.   Fighting the tears, she bristled her hoof across the purple flowers on the table, the same flowers that she had gazed upon after an argument she had with Sweetie Belle about not wanting to attend the Sisterhooves Social.    “I should’ve talked to her as soon as I had the chance,” she lamented out loud. “I could’ve stopped this from happening. If I had just stepped in earlier! Hmm… that is most interesting though, that she was in love with Spike all along.”   After thinking about it for a moment however, she put her hoof to her forehead. “Oh, listen to yourself, Rarity! Of course she was in love with Spike the whole time! How could I have been so blind? Here, I thought that huge hunk of a sapphire was just a token of her friendship, when she had just had a conversation with me about a pony who has feelings for their companion! And now it’s all fallen apart! She must have tried to confide in other ponies! That’s how she found that Spike already had his hear on…”   But then the realization stopped her monologue cold.   …on me? Wait a second. Spike has a crush on… me? Is that— is that really true? I guess I never thought about it… Well, now that I am, that would certainly make a lot of sense. He’s always been so unusually kind and generous to me, offering his assistance constantly…   “Hang on, that isn’t necessarily an indication of infatuation. That’s just Spike being a good friend. Perhaps Sweetie observed all that and got the wrong idea…” She stood up. “Maybe I should go up and explain the confusion to her. Spike’s merely just being a very generous friend, is all. It’s not like he’s ever… actually… said—”   But before she could finish that sentence, her mind flashed back to that faithful day. The day before Spike’s birthday.   “Gosh, you really like it, huh?”   “Like it?” replied Rarity, eyeing Spike’s gleaming heart-shaped fire ruby. “It’s magnificent.”   “Then… you should have it,” said Spike. And much to Rarity’s surprise, he handed the ruby directly to her. “This beautiful gem was meant to be with you.”   “I don’t know what to say,” said Rarity, her eyes gleaming. Spike made a bashful cringe as she circled around him in her excitement.  “This is so thoughtful. Oh, my little Spikey Wikey!”   She then planted a kiss on Spike’s cheek, and his whole body shook up like a plank.   That’s right… the gem that he gave me. That selfless, generous act. I hadn’t even given much thought about what he had done until... until it saved him from himself.   “Oh, what now? I suppose you’ll be eating me or something!”   The rampaging Spike’s feelings were in flux as he remembered that tender moment with Rarity. And before her eyes, he shrunk back into his small stature.   “Spike? You’re the rampaging dragon?” As they both plummeted down, Spike decided to take his chance.   “Rarity, I need to tell you something, just in case we don’t make it! I’ve always sort of had a crush—”   But before he could finish that thought, Rarity covered his lips, tears welling in her eyes. Spike smiled in reply.   The confession he made… I remember now. I merely dismissed it as a ‘spur-of-the-moment’ confession, a rubbish thought that just popped into his head while he was descending, and I stopped him because I didn’t want him to embarrass himself with such a silly exclamation.   That confession… was genuine? Spikey Wikey… really does love me?   “Spike… how could I have not seen it before?” Rarity’s tears were starting to drip onto the table now as they completely streamed down her face. “Oh, what is wrong with me? How could I have not seen such obvious expressions of love? There’s been a triangle right in front of my eyes this whole time! Sweetie’s in love with Spike, and Spike’s in love with me, and…”   She stopped cold. Another realization hit her.   “…and, just who am I in love with with?”   As this particular thought ran through her head, there was suddenly a knock at the door.   What? A visitor? Who could it be at this hour?   The knock persisted.   “I-I’m coming, I’m coming!”   “Oh, hello Twilight!” said Rarity, opening the door to see Twilight’s smiling face. “What brings you here at this hour? My, what a lovely headpiece you’re wearing! That would be the hat that Pinkie gave you on your last birthday, is it not?”   “Thanks, Rarity! And yes it is,” said Twilight, adjusting her large green sunhat, adorned with a bright red rose. “I’m really sorry for stopping by so late. It’s just that I’m visiting each of my friends’ houses to let you all know that Spike and I are going to be away at Canterlot for a few days.”   “You are?” Rarity replied, with an astonished expression. “What’s the occasion?”   “Princess Celestia invited me. My parents are going to be in town, and she thought it would be great if I came up to Canterlot to see them. It’s been so long since I last saw my parents, and I’m so excited to tell them about all my friends and all the lessons I’ve learned about friendship!”   “Well, that’s just wonderful, Twilight!” said Rarity. “Oh, you’re so lucky! I wish I could go to Canterlot as often as you and Spike do! The flair, the pizzazz, the enrichment! I am just so envious that you and Spike get to see it all and…” But then she gasped. “Wait, no! You can’t do that! Err, I mean— you can do that, but… NO! I— uhh!”   Twilight’s smile turned into a concerned frown. “Wh-what do you mean, Rarity? Why can’t we do what?”   Twilight and SPIKE are going to be in Canterlot for a few days? That’s not good at all! How am I supposed to help my little sister with her unrequited crush when the crush in question is going to be on the other side of the mountain?   “H-how long did you say you two were going to be in Canterlot, exactly?” asked Rarity, struggling to get her words out.   “Um… well, we’re going to leave tomorrow morning and be there for five days, and then take the train back to Ponyville on Saturday.”   “Five whole days?” exclaimed Rarity, leaning in close to Twilight’s face. “Does Spike really have to be away for that long? I, uh— I might need his help!”   “Help? Help with what?”   “Um… uh… I— have a few orders to fill for some esteemed clients in… Manehattan, yes! I have over twenty dresses to make, and they all require quite the sizable abundance of gems. I mean, typically I could just search for the gems to make them on my own, but we’re talking twenty dresses here, Twilight!”   She started shaking Twilight’s shoulders, making her dizzy. “TWENTY dresses! There’s just simply no way I’ll be able to finish them in time without little Spikey’s help!”   “Well… I don’t know, Rarity,” said Twilight. “I’ve never left Spike all by himself in Ponyville for more than a day. I’m not sure if I can trust him with that big responsibility of handling the whole library himself without any assistance for five days.”   “And besides, he was really excited about going to Canterlot and catching up with some of our old friends.” She looked up the clouds. “It’s almost like it’s all he could think about since we first got the letter. I mean, you should just see how quickly he packed all his things! I’m sorry Rarity, it’s just…” She put her hoof on Rarity’s shoulder. “He’d probably be really disappointed if he had to stay here, even if it was to help you.”   “Right… regardless of the fact that he apparently fancies me,” Rarity muttered.   “What was that?”   “Um, I-I said, Canterlot must be a very fancy place to visit, then. Heh-heh,” she replied sheepishly.   “Well, if it’s that important to you, Rarity, hmm, let me think…” She put a hoof to her chin and patted it a few times, deep in thought.   “You know… I guess what I could do is just have Spike with me the first three days, and then let him take the train back to Ponyville and spend the rest of the week taking care of the library. I’m just… not sure if he’s responsible enough to be left alone for that long.”   “Oh, but he won’t be alone!” replied Rarity. “As I said, I might be needing his help quite a bit while he’s here, and…” And then, she flashed a wide smile. She just came up with a brilliant idea. “And besides, when he is home all by himself, I’ll have Sweetie Belle stop by occasionally to check on him!”   “Huh,” said Twilight, pondering this over. “That does make me feel a little better about it. You know what, Rarity? I’ll talk to Spike on the way there and see what he thinks. I’ll be sure to send you a letter letting you know.”   “Oh, thanks, Twilight. You don’t know how much this would mean to Swee— I mean, me.”   “Hey, speaking of which, how has been Sweetie been lately?” asked Twilight. “Has she adjusted well to living with you? I know things got a little shaky when your parents moved to Fillydelphia. But she’s fun to have around now, right?”   “Oh, she is indeed! She and I have been doing so many wonderful things together! I feel like we’ve become even closer as sisters than ever before.” Even though right now, I feel like the worst sister ever.   “That’s just awesome, Rarity,” said Twilight. “It’s kind of a shame that your father had to take that job offer, though. Has anypony ever told you that your mother makes the best cheese sandwiches and omelets?”   “You… don’t say,” said Rarity, giving her best fake smile. Why is everypony always so ecstatic about my mother’s cooking? It never tasted all that good to me. “Well, I suppose it's all for the best. Maybe now, my father will become the greatest college hoofball coach this side of Equestria.”   “Yeah, maybe. Well, I need to get going. I’ll have to tell everypony else about this… new change of plans.”   “Well then, it was nice seeing you, Twilight. Ta-ta!” As Rarity started to close the door, she spotted Twilight pull out her checklist and start writing things down.   “Let’s see, now I’m going to have to go back to Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash’s homes to let them know about this change in plans. I hope Pinkie Pie is actually home now so I can tell her what’s going on, and I still need to Applejack, Cheerilee, and Roseluck…”   Rarity rolled her eyes and shut the door. Typical Twilight.   “Sweetie Belle? Can we please talk?”   Rarity headed up the stairs again after Twilight went on her way. But this time, she wasn’t coming to reprimand her younger sister for the noise she was making in her room.   It was finally time to have that talk.   Nudging the door open a crack, Rarity peered into the filly’s bedroom.   “Sweetie?”   She was met with the sight of her sister’s face still buried in the pillows. Now, they were accompanied by a soft, muffled snoring.   Rarity emitted a sad sigh. Looks like I’ve missed my chance yet again. Oh, well. She began to slowly close the door.   “Good night, little Sweetums. You are growing up so fast…”