//------------------------------//
// A Long Overdue Conversation 
// Story: Missing Years 
// by Tom of Bedlam 
//------------------------------//

Soft jazz floated through the vast crystalline ballroom causing the floor to hum in sympathy with Octavia's double bass, the purple jagged walls augmented by pastel banners were smokey enough at the base to obscure vision but translucent enough at the ceiling to allow the cool starlight of Luna's subtle night to filter in.

Many well to do ponies in ball gowns or tops and tails swayed together in the center of the floor, drifting like jellyfish to the sound of the band that slid dreamily from one arrangement to the next. 

Starlight Glimmer gave a sharp nudge to a rather panicked wyrmling dressed in his purple crushed velvet tailcoat with the emerald lining, he had taken care to put on a deep green cravat and matching kerchief to fully accent his look, Rarity would appreciate the care he had taken in his appearance if nothing else. 

Ponyville's famous fashionista herself was seated at the bar nursing a maretini, her flowing dress embroidered with simple sapphires swept airily to the floor giving her a wraith like appearance. Spike clambered up the tall bar seat with reptile agility and perched next to her playing nervously with his talons. Rarity didn't look round but smiled a sad enigmatic smile "It really is a beautiful night, there is a melancholy feel in the air; but whether it is the sadness of longing..." She turned and fixed the diminutive dragon with a piercing look "...or regret, well we'll just have to see." 

Spike spread his claws on the table top "You know I've wanted to tell you something for like...forever, if I don't ever speak my piece I'll never know your answer..." He raised a claw to forestall her comment "... if it's something I don't want to hear and I can't take it then I never had a chance to begin with. That's the question, am I a stallion or a colt to you?"

Rarity sighed as she ran her eyes over his apparel, the fish scale embroidery on his emerald shirt and the cufflinks made from white ivory highlighted his draconic heritage, he proudly wore his own colors too, everything about his attire spoke of honesty and him presenting himself as he was. Rarity's ensemble couldn't of been more diametrically opposed, she was all deception; makeup to change her face and shift her features to be more appealing, the white though correct about her virginal nature exaggerated a long lost innocence and masked some metaphorically dirty hooves. Her loose fitting dress flattered her profile and the seemingly simple jewels were worth a fortune, Rarity gazed up at the stars and lost herself in them as she considered.

The white mare stood with her back to the young dragon and called back "Follow me...", attached to a pillar next to the photo booth there was a dress mirror for attendees to check themselves, Rarity closed her eyes as she walked up to it coming to a stop just before it, she felt Spike enter her personal space and stand beside her "... What do you see Spike?" The wyrmling blinked at the mirror in incomprehension "well, you and me next to each other"

A sad smile crossed Rarity's face "You are witty, well read, polite, honorable and brave. I've never met someone so fiercely loyal and deeply devoted, I'll admit at first I couldn't imagine courting outside my own species but the passion you pursue that which you dragon's value set me aflutter. Sometimes I played with the thought, I mean your only six years my junior, eighteen years old now. I'd hear you talking then giggle, compliment and flirt as I know I shouldn't but I was just so taken with you, but then..." The lids of her eyes drew back revealing her tear filled eyes "...I'd open my eyes. Spike you may have lived for eighteen years but to my eyes eight of those are missing, I hear myself fawn on you and feel revolted that I could feel that way for a child, I'd tell myself I'd wait for you but for how long? The years march slow for dragons it seems and ponies are but mayflies to them, by the time your flesh began to match the gentleman within my life would nearly be over." 

Spike had clenched his eyes and fists shut, not in denial of the truth of her words but because he promised he wasn't going to cry like a child no matter what, Rarity dabbed at her eyes with the cuff of her dress "Even if we had met and you were of a suitable maturity we would still of been divided by time, my existence but a fleeting moment for you, leaving you to mourn through the centuries."

Rarity placed her hooves on his shoulders and turned him face to face with her "Look at me Spike..." The young dragon opened his eyes as two stray tears leaked down his face, Rarity's beauty was cracking at the edges as the tears smeared her makeup "...It was nothing that you did, in another life I would have been yours for the taking, we were just unlucky. The odds were insurmountable though it touched my heart that you tried your best anyway and no matter who I end up with I'll know I'm only getting second best." Spike gave the object of his affections a long emotional hug and tried to will all his love for her out of his body into her to keep, he croaked out "I love you Rarity and I wish I could of been the stallion you needed". The fashionista choked at that and whispered "I love you too Spike and I wish I could of been the dragoness you deserved".

The two broke their embrace, Rarity may have turned into a runny faced, puffy eyed mess but Spike took pride that he had limited himself to a few manly tears, The fashionista gave a pained smile "are you going to be all right?" The dragon smiled sadly back "No, but I got some good friends to help me through it."

Rarity excused herself and fled towards the door in a rustle of fabric and shuddering sobs, Spike sighed heavily as he let her go and wiped a tear from his eye, Starlight walked up and lay a hoof on his shoulder "That was rough buddy" she winced, Spike gave a mirthless chuckle "Well at least she didn't laugh in my face, actually I think that would've hurt less" the fuchsia unicorn yanked at his shoulder and nodded at the bar "come on, let's get some drinks, its traditional" Spike cocked an eyebrow at Starlight "Giving drinks to a minor, I thought you were reformed?" She just lidded her eyes and snarked "With your dragon anatomy it's going to take more than alcohol. Waiter a glass of drain cleaner for my friend...".