//------------------------------//
// Chapter 2 
// Story: Our Garden Of Love 
// by HAKDurbin 
//------------------------------//

It's been a couple of days since Spike moved back to Canterlot Castle. By now, everypony who works for the Royal Sisters including Lemon Hearts or works near the area like Moondancer knows of his return and understands that he wants it to be a secret. Spike has been enjoying living in a nice room with a comfortable bed again as opposed to living in a cave. He has been spending most of his free time reading at Twilight’s old study where Moondancer often comes to study. Lemon Hearts asked if she could at least share Spike’s secret to Minuette and Twinkleshine so that they all could catch up together when they and Moondancer can get together next and Spike reluctantly said it was okay. 
It’s his third full day back in Canterlot and Spike is exiting his room in Canterlot Castle feeling fully rested. He makes his way to Twilight’s old study to read again. It starts to rain so Spike heads over to the study with an umbrella only to find it locked. He looks at it confused until he sees a note hanging on the door.

Spike, 
Had to leave Canterlot for a family emergency. I probably won't be back until tomorrow.
Sorry,
Moondancer.

Spike frowns as he was hoping to continue reading in the study. He scratches his chin wondering what he should do until he remembers something Princess Luna said.

There’s a small, gazebo in the private section at the castle gardens. I used to go there a lot to think about my life in solitude after Nightmare Moon was defeated. Maybe that will help while you’re keeping yourself away from your crush’s sight.

Spike scratches his chin in thought and ultimately decides that maybe he should try it since he has nothing else to do. With a shrug, he makes his way to the royal gardens, until he enters the private section. At the far end of the garden closest to the mountain wall is the gazebo, looking big enough to shelter about half a dozen ponies with a couple of benches. Spike has a small smile on his face, thinking it's a perfect place to sit peacefully until he notices something else and he freezes in place with his eyes wide open.
Sitting on one of the benches inside the gazebo on the right side is a familiar white unicorn with a beautiful purple mane and tail and sapphire blue eyes. She doesn’t seem to notice Spike as she is looking far into the distance. Spike stares at her, unsure of what to do until his look of shock fades and he looks at her a little more closely. The mare is staring at the rainy clouds with a spiritless look on her face. Her sapphire eyes look dim and she is holding a can of cider with her magic and a bag full of chocolate candy bars is lying on the floor. She takes a small sip of her cider robotically as she keeps her eyes on the dark gray clouds. 
Spike stares at Rarity confused. He wonders why is she here of all places and why is she drinking canned cider and has a bag full of chocolate. Above all, he wonders why she looks so depressed. Eventually, he decides he still wants to avoid her and she probably wants to be left alone anyway and so turns around to leave until he hears a faint voice.
“Spike?”
The purple dragon freezes in place again, this time feeling his heart leap, his cheeks heat up and goosebumps forming all over his scales. She spoke very softly but it was enough for Spike to have a warm feeling in his chest. He remembered her voice very well in all the years that he was in the Dragonlands, but it felt as if he was hearing for the first time all over again. 
“Spike, is that you?” Rarity asks with her voice a little louder.
Spike hears her slowly get off the bench and walks over to him. He takes a deep breath and reluctantly turns around to face her. Her eyes are a little wider in disbelief as she walks toward him like a deer unsure of whether or not something is safe. Spike gives her a small but sincere smile before he finally responds. 
“Hi, Rarity,”
Rarity’s eyes light up a little and a happy smile appears on her face.
“Spike!” she says in a weak yell as she runs over to Spike and pulls him into a hug.
Spike feels his cheeks grow hotter as his crush hugs him tightly. It takes a moment before he hugs her back with a sincere smile on his face. Even though his cover is blown, he can't deny how good it feels to feel Rarity’s embrace for the first time in years. When they finally break the hug, Rarity looks at him fondly. 
“You're back, from the Dragonlands,” she says. 
“Uh, yeah I am,” Spike admits. “I just got back a couple days ago.”
At hearing this, Rarity frowns and gives him a suspicious look.
“Really?” She asks. “Then how come you haven't come to visit me in Canterlot Carousel?”
Spike hesitates and makes up a lie.
“I actually didn't know that you're in Canterlot,” he says. “Besides, I figured that if I just came in I'd catch you at a bad time. You are a very busy business pony after all.”
Rarity tilts her head in confusion before she lets out a giggle. Spike frowns at her laughter; not because he thinks she’s insulting him, but because her giggle sounded a little lifeless. She laughs as if she’s laughing out loud on her mind, but in reality, her giggle does not have the same melodic ring that he remembered.
“Dearest Spike, you may have forgotten some things while you were gone, but I would think you would know I would always find time for my friends and that especially includes my favorite dragon,” Rarity says.
Spike feels slightly bashful again at her words before Rarity takes him by the claw and pulls him over to the gazebo.
“Come, come, sit,” she insists as she leads him to the bench opposite from hers. “Tell me, how were the Dragonlands?”
“It was pretty good,” Spike answers. “I learned a lot about dragon life and culture while I was staying with Ember.”
“Oh yes, how is Ember?” Rarity asks trying to sound cheerful. “It’s been a couple of years since I last saw her.”
“She’s been doing well. She enjoys ruling the lands when she wasn't helping me understand our own kind,” Spike replies.
“That sounds like her,” Rarity comments.
Spike nods in agreement before he decides to change the subject.
“So I heard that Sweetie Belle is running Carousel Boutique now,” he says.
Rarity winces and her smiles falters. Spike looks at her confused before Rarity gives him a sad smile.
“Yes. That is correct,” she replies. 
“Is she enjoying that?” Spike asks while giving Rarity a concerned look.
“Oh yes...yes she is,” Rarity answers assuringly. “She’s been managing the store very well. In fact, she has been making extra money by using it as a place to have singing performances for herself. She’s become very popular over the last year.”
“Oh, that sounds great,” Spike says.
“Yes, I'm very happy for her,” Rarity says.
Spike looks at her concerned as Rarity looks away to have another sip of her canned cider. The way she said she was proud of Sweetie Belle felt off to him. Like she wants to be happy for little sister, but something is getting in the way. Rarity glances at Spike, noticing the way he is looking at her and shakes her head before speaking again.
“So have you told Twilight and the others that you're back?” she asks.
“Uh...no I haven't,” Spike admits. “In fact, I'm not going to yet for a while.”
This time, it is Rarity’s turn to look at Spike confused.
“You're not?” she asks. “Why is that?”
Spike hesitates and scratches the back of his head before he answers. 
“I’m kind of back in secret,” he says. “I wanted to come back to Canterlot Castle and figure out what I want to do with my life. I want to figure out what that is before going back to Ponyville and see Twilight and the others again.”
“Really?” Rarity asks.
“Yes,” Spike says. “So if you could please keep it a secret that I'm back from everyone back at Ponyville, I would deeply appreciate it.”
Rarity looks at Spike surprised with his explanation. She can only recall a couple of times when he was younger where he would talk about wanting self-discovery including when he decided to go to the Dragonlands and stay there for a few years. Out of all the times that he's made such decisions about his life, there's something about his quest that feels different to her. Like she feels a strange sense of maturity from him to want to find something like what he wants to do with his life back in Equestria.  
Finally, she shakes her head and gives Spike a weak smile.
“Tell you what, Spike; I'll keep your secret if you can keep mine,” she offers.
Spike looks at her interested.
“What secret is that?” he asks.
Rarity lets out a soft sigh and says, “I would like for you to not tell anyone I come here or that you have ever seen me.”
Spike tilts his head in confusion.
“You want it to be a secret that I ever see you here?” he asks.
“Yes,” Rarity confirms. 
“Can I ask why?” Spike asks.
Rarity frowns and looks away from Spike.
“It's complicated,” she answers. “It's kind of something I don't want you to worry about.” 
Spike frowns and gives her a pleading look.
“Maybe I'd like to worry about it,” he suggests. “You know I always have a listening ear for you, Rarity.”
Rarity keeps her serious frown for a moment until she turns her head to give her purple-scaled friend the closest thing to a heartfelt smile he’s seen her give in years. 
“That’s sweet of you as always, Spikey-Wikey,” she says sincerely, earning a faint flutter in Spike’s heart to hear his nickname. “But this is something that I have to handle myself. But if I'm ever ready to share it, you will be the first to know.”
“Promise?” Spike asks.
“Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye,” Rarity replies while robotically making the hoof gestures of a Pinkie Promise.
Spike hesitates, unsure of whether or not to press the issue further despite her claims but ultimately decides to let it slide, knowing it’s not like her to make a Pinkie Promise unless she really means it. 
“Alright, Rarity,” he says making a zip-of-the-lip gesture. “No one will get a peep from me.”
Rarity keeps her smile on and says, “Thank you, Spikey. I know I can always count on you.”
Spike can't help but smile back at her compliment. The two of them beginning to sit in silence for a few minutes, unsure of what to say next until Rarity gets up.
“Well, I think I should head back to Canterlot Carousel,” she says in a stale tone. “Sassy Saddles will want me to come back and help her with some new orders.”
Spike nods in understanding despite feeling down with watching Rarity put away her canned cider and chocolate in her knapsack.
“Okay, well maybe I'll see you around sometime?” he says hopefully.
Rarity stops walking away from the gazebo and stares at the rainy sky.
“I’d like that, Spike,” she says softly. “I'd like that very much.”
Without another word, Rarity walks away leaving Spike alone in the private garden. Spite feels a sense of sincerity in her last words before he frowns and thinks deep in thought. Despite looking as beautiful as ever and acted as friendly to him as he remembers, this was not the same Rarity that he had crushed on for so many years. Something about her felt like her life has been drained away somehow during the six years since he left for the Dragonlands. He wishes she could tell him what’s up, but he knows he would never try to force something like that out of fear of losing her trust. 
And yet in his heart, he knows he wants to see her again and find a way to maybe save the mare he has always loved.