Our Garden Of Love

by HAKDurbin


Chapter 6

It hasn't rained since the day Rarity made her promise to Spike.
For the past couple of weeks, there hasn't been a cloud in the sky in Canterlot. It turned out that because of scheduling conflicts in Cloudsdale, the rainy season actually lasted ten days longer than normal. This information keeps swirling through Spike’s mind each day that he wakes up to see the sun shining through his room window. Thus he’s been spending each day forcing his thoughts about Rarity to the back of his mind to the best of his ability so that he can focus solely on his book. Day by day, he writes whether he’s in Twilight’s study with Moondancer or in his room in Canterlot Castle. Eventually, he had to visit the quill store for more paper, ink, and quills after using all the ink and paper that Moondancer had to spare in the study much to the mare’s annoyance.
Yet despite his progress on his dream, Rarity still finds a way into his mind. Every now and then, he would think about her promise to tell him what is wrong with her the next time it rains and so hasn't seen her at all because of the lack of rain. Whenever he does, he would feel a sharp pain in his heart and even want to cry over the cruel turn fate has taken upon him. It wasn't long before Moondancer noticed his change in demeanor and so decided to do something about it.
“Hey, Spike,” she says one afternoon in Twilight’s study.
“Hmm?” Spike says with his eyes fixed on his writing?
“Remember when Lemon Hearts suggested a get together between you, me, her, Twinkleshine and Minuette?”
“Yeah,” Spike answers half paying attention.
“Well, we decided to have a get together with them and we'd like for you to join us,” she says.
“Hmmm, hmmmm,” Spike replies plainly.
Moondancer frowns and puts her hoof in front of the paper that Spike is writing on, making him lift his head to face her.
“You did hear what I said, right?” she asks with a glare.
“Oh, yeah, sure. Hangout with Twinkleshine and Minuette. Sounds great,” Spike says half-heartedly.
Moondancer raises her eyebrow and leans her head very close to Spike's so that he looks at her deep in the eyes. It takes a moment before Spike fully processes what the mare is thinking.
“Oh, you mean like right now?” he asks.
“Yes, I mean right now,” Moondancer says firmly. “You've been working on your book almost non-stop and Lemon Hearts has been planning this for a while now. It’s time that you take a break and spend some real quality time with friends.”
Spike frowns nervously, looks at his writing and says, “I don't know. I kind of wish you told me this earlier so I would have been better prepared or something.”
“Oh no you don't, Mr. The Dragon,” Moondancer says in a matter-of-factually tone as she lifts all of Spike’s papers up with her magic, places them in a wooden chest and casts a protection bubble over it. “You are not writing another word until you get out there and socialize.”
Spike makes a childish, mopey face as he stares into the wooden chest helplessly, wishing that Moondancer could have let him finish the section that he was working on. Finally, he sighs reluctantly and gives the cream unicorn a childish pout.
“Somehow I get the feeling that you got more from Twilight than just her books when she gave you this place,” he grumbles.
“Well, maybe you should have considered that possibility when you started taking some of my other spare parchment without permission just to work on your book,” Moondancer remarks like a mother rebuking her child.
“I rest my case,” Spike says with a sigh.

***************************************************************

“SPIKE!”
Moondancer brought Spike to a cafe in one of the busiest sections of Canterlot where  Lemon Hearts is waiting for them with Twinkleshine and Minuette. The latter of the two are so excited to see their dragon friend again for the first time in years that they run after him. Spike chuckles nervously as Twinkleshine and Minuette ram him into a tight group hug. He gasps for air for a moment before the two excited mares let go of him. Moondancer and Lemon Hearts chuckle in amusement while Spike coughs a couple of time before speaking.
“Great to see you girls again too,” he wheezes.
“I can't believe you're back. Have you really been living in Canterlot Castle in secret?” Minuette asks enthusiastically.
Spike turns to Moondancer who merely smirks and says, “Yes, they know you're keeping your return a secret.”
“And we know not to say a word to Twilight,” Twinkleshine adds with an excited grin.
Spike sighs, satisfied with their answer and smiles at Twinkleshine and Minuette saying. “Yes, I've been back for a couple of months and I'm keeping my return a secret outside of Canterlot for the time being.”
The two mares giggle in amusement before Lemon Hearts steps in.
“Alright, fillies, let’s be seated and order some lunch,” she says. “I’m sure we all have lots of questions for Spike while we wait for our food.”
Everyone nods in agreement as they all sit together in a large table outside of the cafe. A waiter comes and takes their orders and leaves before all eyes are suddenly on Spike.
“So, tell us everything about the Dragonlands,” Minuette demands.
“Uh, well I'm actually hoping to save that for my book,” Spike says. “I don't know if Moondancer has told you, but I'm basically keeping my return a secret until I have finished writing my book about my time in the Dragonlands and the various kinds of dragons.”
Lemon Hearts, Twinkleshine and Minuette’s eyes widen enthusiastically.
“Oh my gosh, that’s exciting!” Lemon Hearts says enthusiastically. “How much of it have you done?”
“I still have a long way to go,” Spike answers. “I've only been working on it for a few months and there's a lot that I want to talk about.”
“And it was my idea to have him write it,” Moondancer says proudly. “Or at least it may as well have been since he was just reading random books for a while whenever it wasn't raining.”
“Huh? What do you mean?” Twinkleshine asks.
“Apparently, purple, tall and scaly here never leaves his room when it rains,” Moondancer says giving Spike a suspicious look. “He says he has to stay in bed or have 7-hour bubble baths if it so much as drizzles.”
Lemon Hearts scratches her chin and says, “Now that you mention it, he does ask me to help him prepare a big lunch fit for a picnic whenever it rains.”
The four mares turn to the dragon with suspicious or curious looks. Spike chuckles nervously while scratching the back of his head.
“I...uh, have a condition where I have to stay inside when it rains,” he lies. “So I ask Lemon Hearts to help me have enough food so that I don't starve while I'm staying in my room. It’s a dragon thing.”
“Oh? So this will be something we’re gonna learn all about in your book?” Moondancer asks suspiciously like a parent suspecting a foal on a lie.
“Uh, yes, of course,” Spike claims.
Moondancer glares at Spike suspiciously while Lemon Hearts, Twinkleshine, and Minuette watch him intently, believing his lie.
“Well, that sounds interesting,” Lemon Hearts says cheerfully. “Can you give us another sample of what’s in your book?”
Spike gets uneasy as all eyes are staring at him in hopes to say more about his project.
“Aw, you don't need to know too much already,” he says with a nervous chuckle. “I think one example is enough.”
“Aw, come on, Spike. I would appreciate hearing at least one other thing about dragons that you learned while you were gone,” Twinkleshine says with a pout.
“Me too,” Minuette coos.
Spike feels a slight blush on his cheeks and rubs the back of his head.
“Okay, I guess one little story couldn't hurt,” he says.
“Yay!” Lemon Hearts, Twinkleshine, and Minuette cheer. Spike chuckles, flattered by their enthusiasm as he clears his throat.
“Okay, so it was my third month in the Dragonlands, right? And I have this feud with this taller dragon named Garble,” he begins. “Dragon Lord Ember constantly tries to break us up every time we have an argument, but even she knew that she could not stop our desire to best the other even with all the magic she had in her scepter.”
Lemon Hearts, Twinkleshine, and Minuette listen intently, looking already exhilarated from the beginning of Spike’s story. Even Moondancer listens with an amused smirk despite her earlier suspicions. Spike himself finds himself enjoying being the center of attention just by telling this one tale.
As he continues to tell the story, however, he starts to have a guilty feeling inside. He wonders what is the matter in his mind as he talks until he realizes that he’s telling this story to a few mares when there’s only one mare that he would want to personally tell this story to.
“RARITY!”
Spike’s heart skips a beat as the name that Twinkleshine just said rings in his ear. He turns to her and sees that she’s staring past him in shock. He turns around to indeed see Rarity walking by them with Sassy Saddles. She is covering her face with a large hat and sunglasses and a plain dress, but even with her garment covering her cutie mark, there was no denying that it’s Rarity. Spike almost stands up to call her out too for a moment before he notices that both her and Sassy Saddles have crestfallen looks on their faces as they walk. He turns his head to notice that Twinkleshine, Minuette, Lemon Hearts have concerned looks on their faces and Moondancer is frowning.
“Rarity!” Twinkleshine calls again.
This time, Rarity turns to the four mares and the dragon and looks surprised to see them. Twinkleshine gets up from her seat and runs over to her and Sassy Saddles with a worried look.
“Twinkleshine,” Rarity says softly as Twinkleshine hugs her abruptly.
“I’m so sorry. We should have been here to help you,” Twinkleshine whimpers as tears start to appear from her eyes.
Rarity frowns uncomfortably has she gently hugs the other mare back.
“There, there, please don't worry about it,” Rarity says.
“Rarity, we better get going,” Sassy Saddles says seriously. “Fluttershy is waiting for us and we must make it to the courthouse before -”
“Rarity?!”
All eyes turn to an older mare dressed in fine clothes who looks at Rarity with a disgusted look on her face.
“You have some nerve to be showing your face again after what you pulled,” the older mare snarls.
“Hey, she didn't pull anything,” Twinkleshine barks. “She was tricked by Golden Charm and Minaudiere.”
The older mare scoffs in an appalling manner.
“You even have some ponies who actually think you’re innocent? For shame!” she rebukes.
“We don’t think, we know,” Minuette says angrily as she and Lemon Hearts walk over to where Twinkleshine is standing between the old mare and Rarity and Sassy Saddles. “Rarity would never plagiarize off another fashionista’s work in her wildest dreams.”
“Oh please,” the old mare says with a wave of her hoof. “If that were true, she wouldn't be caught with the same dress for everypony who is anypony to see.”
“That’s only because -” Lemon Hearts begins before Rarity speaks out.
“Girls, drop it, please,” she says glumly yet firmly.
“But - but, Rarity,” Twinkleshine protests.
“No buts,” Rarity says. “I appreciate what you're all trying to do, but it's no use arguing with this mare without proof. It won't change anything.”
Lemon Hearts, Twinkleshine and Minuette try to utter words of protest, but Rarity and Sassy Saddles just turn around and begin walking away without another word. As they walk, however, Rarity notices Spike sitting down next to Moondancer. The white mare and the purple dragon stare at each other with Spike confused with what he is witnessing and Rarity looks at him shocked. Her shock turns back into a glum look as she turns her head and walks out of sight with Sassy Saddles. The elder mare scoffs again and walks in the other direction without a care and Lemon Hearts, Twinkleshine and Minuette glare daggers at her before they sadly return to their seats with Spike and Moondancer. All five of them are quiet until Moondancer let's out a sigh.
“I can't believe we actually saw her out of Canterlot Carousel,” she says.
Spike looks at the mare with the glasses confused.
“What do you mean?” he asks.
All four mares turn to him surprised and Minuette asks, “You mean you didn't hear about Golden Charm dating Rarity and using her?”
Spike frowns, figuring that what Minuette just said is what Rarity was going to tell him the next time they meet privately. He wishes he kept silent for the sake of Rarity keeping her promise, but he figures it is too late so he may as well learn everything now.
“No, I never heard of him or...that,” he says, feeling uneasy. “I didn't know that Rarity was in town.”
“You mean you didn't know that Rarity moved here years ago?” Lemon Hearts asks in disbelief. “Oh my goodness, you isolate yourself in the castle more than I thought.”
“I guess,” Spike says. “But seriously, what happened?”
Moondancer, Lemon Hearts, Twinkleshine, and Minuette look at each other before Moondancer sighs.
“I'll tell him,” she announces before turning to Spike with a serious look. “Now, Spike, understand that while we don't know the entire story, Rarity is completely innocent no matter what anypony in Canterlot says and if you care for her at all as a friend you won't let a soul convince you otherwise.”
Spike nods in understanding as Moondancer thinks for a moment before she begins her tale.
“It was about a year ago when she started dating him,” she says. “Golden Charm gained a wealthy business in Baltimare that lead to him needing to move to Canterlot. Before long, he became very popular among the Canterlot elite. Everypony loved his irresistible charm and good looks and Rarity was no exception. The two met at a garden party and hit it off right away. After a couple of months, Rarity began to say that she was falling deeply in love with Golden Charm.”
Spike’s frown deepens at hearing that Rarity fell in love with someone else, but hides it from the others as Moondancer continues.
“Even though he didn't say anything to imply that he felt the same way, we were happy for her. The way she talked about how wonderful he was to her sounded like she finally found the prince charming that she was searching for, for the longest time,” she says before she frowns sadly. “But things eventually took a turn for the worst.”
Spike notices all of the mares looking depressed before Moondancer speaks again.
“It was about several months ago and Rarity was working on her line for Canterlot’s Grand Spring Festival where she had entered its fashion contest. It’s a great opportunity for ponies in Canterlot's fashion industry like her to gain attention for Canterlot Carousel. She decided to create a new fabric that she knew would blow away every elite pony in the city. She was very secretive about what she was creating because she did not want anyone to know about it after what happened between her and Suri Polomare during Fashion Week in Manehattan years ago.”
Spike nods in understanding,  remembering Rarity, Twilight and their friends from Ponyville telling him all about that adventure.
“Unfortunately, Golden Charm is very charismatic and ultimately professed his love to Rarity. She was so happy that she thought she could trust him with anything as easily as she can trust Twilight or Fluttershy or even you, Spike,” Moondancer continues. “So she showed him her line and the specific fabric she personally made and even told him how she made it.”
“Uh oh,” Spike says worryingly. “I don't like where this is going.”
“You shouldn’t,” Moondancer says bluntly. “At the fashion show during the festival, Rarity was all set with her models all ready to show everypony her work. But right before it was her turn, this other mare named Minaudiere who had just recently opened her own shop showed her dresses first and not only did Minaudiere’s dresses have the same special fabric, but she openly claimed that she created it herself.”
Spike’s eyes widened and his heart sank. He can't believe what he is hearing.
“Rarity, as you can imagine, was shocked,” Moondancer says. “What was worse was that she had to still show her dresses right after and so when the audience saw her line with the same fabric, they were confused and Minaudiere was quick to accuse her of theft. Rarity tried to explain that what her opponent said was false and that she was the real culprit, but she had no proof. She was booed and ridiculed off the stage and before you could say magical tapestries, her reputation and her business fell drastically. Clients new and old canceled orders, some ponies would come to her shop just to verbally attack her. It was just an endless cycle of shame.”
Spike’s heart breaks at this news. His shock then turns into anger as he growls, “Let me guess, Golden Charm used her to help this Minaudiere.”
“Yes, he did,” Twinkleshine says bitterly. “It turns out that Golden Charm and Minaudiere are an item and they kept their relationship a secret long enough for him to use Rarity for their own manipulative means for Minaudiere to gain popularity for her own boutique. She’s been living off all the attention and clients that should have been rightfully Rarity’s ever since.”
“Personally, I wish she brought the princesses into this. They would have done something,” Minuette says.
“No, they wouldn't have,” Lemon Hearts says sadly. “Even if they did, ponies would still look down on Rarity for using the princesses as a trump card to get things her way. Besides, the princesses can't do anything without proof.”
“You mean there's really no one besides you four who know she's innocent?” Spike asks desperately.
“Sassy Saddles, Saffron Masala, and her father do,” Moondancer says sadly. “But apart from them, there are some ponies like Fancy Pants who want to believe her but can’t really do much about it without proof, especially since they only have Rarity’s word to go off by because she isolated herself so much just to make the fabric. Some ponies like us still shop in Canterlot Carousel, but no matter what, it looks like Rarity is completely washed up here in Canterlot.”
Spike’s feels like his heart has been completely crushed into a million pieces. Having a shop in Canterlot was Rarity’s dream all her life. He probably knows that more than anyone in Equestria’s capital. As he contemplates everything Moondancer, Lemon Hearts, Twinkleshine, and Minuette just said, it becomes all to clear why Rarity has been so lifeless every time he meets her in the royal garden. Nothing in the world could devastate her so much like losing her dream after all her hard work for it.
Finally, Spike’s sad face turns into an angry one which Moondancer, Lemon Hearts, Twinkleshine, and Minuette are quick to notice.
“Do you know where Minaudiere’s boutique is?” he asks.