//------------------------------// // Chapter Two - Diamonds and Apples // Story: Just One Day // by Moonshine34 //------------------------------// Spike whistled cheerfully as he flew through the streets of Ponyville. In his arms he held a large cover bag containing Twilight’s dress and corset. The purple dragon knew he was lucky that Twilight needed her outfit redone otherwise he would of had to keep hammering tent pegs into the ground all day. Plus, it gave him a good reason to visit his long time crush, Rarity. Spike could of sworn that the unicorn just kept getting more and more gorgeous each time he saw her. Not to mention she was also intelligent, extremely fashion forward, kind, courageous, generous, inspirational, flawless... The scaly reptile suddenly realised he had been dragging the bottom of the bag along the dusty street. Spike hastily picked up the end and brushed off as much dirt as he could, Raity would not be best pleased if he ruined the it. After a few more minutes the dragon reached Carousel Boutique, home to Ponyville’s resident fashionista. The cream and mauve building looked as elegant and stylish as ever. Spike pressed the doorbell and faintly heard it echo through the shop. The door opened and a snow coloured mare emerged and looked down to see a small, purple dragon with a huge grin on his face. “Spikey wikey, my darling! What brings you here...,” Rarity trailed off, noticing the cover bag he was clutching and the small brown marks on it and purses her lips, ”I see. Was Twilight not satisfied with the style, or the colour perhaps? Did it not go with the tiara she selected, I told her that rubies are SO much more in season than sapphires, but would she listen?” “No, no,” Spike quickly reassured the unicorn,” She loves the dress. It’s just too tight around the waist. Oh, and she told me to tell you that she’s never, ever gonna wear that corset you made her.” “Ah well. I was a long shot I suppose. Corsets are terribly uncomfortable after all, and very outdated come to think of it. Even Princess Celestia doesn’t wear them anymore. Come on in, dear. I’ll see what I can do with the dress. I’m sure I got the measurements right though,” Rarity sighed, levitating the bag out of Spike’s claws and trotting into the boutique. “Maybe she’s been stress eating?” the scaly reptile offered, scampering after her retreating figure. “Mmm, possibly,” the alabaster unicorn mused walking up the stairs to her bedroom. Once there she went over to her sowing machine, removed the dress from its bag and got to work. Spike gazed at Rarity with a dreamy expression on his face. Oh, when would she finally realise he was the dashing suitor of her dreams? Suddenly a stroke of pure genius hit him. What if he asked Rarity to accompany him tomorrow? It wouldn’t be as nerve wracking as asking her out on an actual date. They could just go as friends, but he perhaps he could convince her that he was a tough, handsome dragon and get her to think of him in a more romantic way as oppose to a little brother. “Yes, that’s a great plan,” Spike congratulated himself, ”Now, I’ll just casually drop it into the conversation...” “There, all done,” Rarity smiled levitating the dress back into the cover bag at the same time as she removed the corset. “Wow, that’s so amazing. You’re amazing Rarity,” the purple dragon gushed as he took the bag from her. “Why thank you, darling. I do try my best and it is nice to be appreciated from time to time,” Rarity preened. A moment of silence ensued before Spike spoke. “So, um, Rarity. I was wondering, if you’re not already going with somepony, maybe we could, um, possibly, er, you know, go to the-“ CRASH. Something large and grey coloured smashed into the bedroom window startling Rarity and Spike considerably. “What in Celestia’s name was that?!” Rarity cried as the thing slid down the window. A loud bump was heard as it connected with the ground. The pair rushed downstairs to see what the mysterious creature was. The thing turned out to be none other than Ditzy Doo, better known as Derpy Hooves, one of Ponyville’s mailponies. She currently lay face first in dirt on the ground. Spike immediately helped her up while Rarity used her magic to gather all the scattered letters and parcels before levitating them back into Derpy’s mailbag. “Thank you very much,” the pegasus smiled gratefully, ”Sorry for crashing into your window. I’ve got a delivery for Canterlot Boutique addressed to a Miss Rarity. Is that either of you?” “That would be me,” the alabaster unicorn said gently, used to the mare’s goldfish memory. “Oh, well, here it is. It’s from a Mr Posh Underwear or something,” Derpy chirped, digging out a petite cream-coloured box tied with a dusk rose ribbon from the depths of her saddlebag. “Ooh! From Fancy Pants?!” Rarity gasped in delight, snatching the parcel from the pegasus and tearing into it, “Oh, thank you very much, Miss Hooves.” “No problem,” Derpy said with a clumsy salute, haphazardly lifting off from the ground and into the air, “Bye Rarity, bye Spike!” “See you!” the purple dragon called after her, wincing as Derpy narrowly avoided a collision with a lamppost. “Oh my Celestia! This is absolutely divine, what excellent taste he has!” Rarity babbled, marvelling at an exquisite gold necklace with a shimmering sapphire pendant lying in bed of crushed velvet, “There’s a letter too! Is that a hint of Clove Hoofington’s Celestial Majesty scent I detect? And just look at this penponyship, it’s positivity dripping with elegance and class. He’s requested to be my escort to the wedding, ME, of all the mares in Equestria! This is too wonderful for words, I must write back at once. Maybe I should redesign my dress, he may find it too shabby, or perhaps I should just leave it in case he thinks that I’ve put too much thought into it.” As Spike watched his crush freak out his heart sank like a heavy stone. All of the stallions she had romanticised about in the past had turned out to either be jerks or insensitive idiots. However the scaly reptile could tell this one was different. It seemed like he really knew Rarity well and had put a lot of effort into getting her a beautiful present. A part of him mentally chastised himself for being such a coward and not asking her to go to the wedding with him as soon as he saw her. Now it was clear she was head over hooves for this stallion and had become a lovesick school filly again. “Howdy there,” a warm voice greeted him from behind. “Applejack!” Spike cried, glad to see the orange farmpony, and putting a big false grin. AJ wasn’t fooled at all though. She looked past him at the giggling Rarity a heaved a huge sigh. “Lemme guess, she’s gotta new coltfriend?” Applejack questioned. “It looks like it. I mean, I was going to ask her be my date to the wedding tomorrow but things didn’t really go to plan...,” Spike trailed off sadly. “Aw, I’m so sorry, sugarcube,” AJ murmured, pulling the dragon into a hug, “Rar don’ mean tah be all tactless like and ya know she loves ya dearly. Jus’ not in the way ya want ‘er tah.” “I know, it just hurts so much,” Spike whimpered, a tear trickling down his cheek. “It’ll get better, ah promise ya. Hey, ya know ah’d be mighty pleased to go with ya to the weddin’ tomorrow, jus’ as friends, obviously,” Applejack suggested. “Oh, um, sure. Thanks, AJ,” the purple dragon sniffed, giving her a watery smile. “Well, that’s settled then. Y’all can come and pick me up tomorrow mornin’,” the farmpony nodded, “Ah think it would be best to leave Rarity now. She’s a tad busy with, erm, stuff.” “Yeah,” Spike agreed, wiping his face and gazing at the alabaster unicorn who was now doing a mad dance of joy, beaming from ear to ear like a loon. “Ah’ll walk back to Twi’s with yer. After all I’m already headed there to drop off these here apple treats,” the farmpony explained, gesturing to the cart she was pulling. The pair set off side by side, not speaking but simply enjoying each other’s company. The gentle creak of the ancient wagon’s wheels had an oddly calming effect. Both pony and dragon sunk into deep thought. Spike realised for some reason that Applejack was the only pony who truly understood his feelings for Rarity. She could read him like a book but never seemed to judge him at all. The orange mare wondered if Spike would ever get over the alabaster unicorn or if his love would continue unrequited forever. She had often hoped he would move on and find a nice young mare or dragon who was more empathetic and attainable. However this hadn’t happened yet and might never. It was heartbreaking at times, watching the lengths poor Spike would go through to win Rarity’s approval, though it always seemed to be in vain. For now at least he seemed to be at peace, so Applejack left well alone.