The Flower
It was a sunny and warm day in Ponyville, not a single cloud in sight as the weather patrol accomplished their duties; rain was scheduled for further in the week. The morning sun was so bright, warm and beautiful, it matched the description of a perfect day; such a good one that everypony was busy enjoying it. Either working or just relaxing. Everyone except one little dragon who, as he was still a baby, needed a longer and a deeper sleep; despite the fact that he wasn’t a child anymore in pony years. However, his dreamy dreams were interrupted by the loud thump of a huge encyclopedia which was dropped right next to his ears, making him jump from the shock as he let a little shriek. Who other to wake him up when he overslept like this than Twilight?
“That wasn’t very nice of you Twilight” the shocked dragon said as soon as he could comprehend the situation; it wasn’t so hard at all, there was Twilight laughing at her little prank and the big encyclopedia only her magic could lift.
“Well sorry” she said, smirking “but it was the only thing I could think of, I’ve been trying to wake you for a while now. Do you have any idea what time it is?” this time she was more controlled.
“Uh, half past seven?” the sleepy dragon answered just for answering; he didn’t have time to think about that while rubbing his eyes.
“Not even close” Was his friend’s answer “it’s eleven o’ clock. You were supposed to help me reshelf the books three hours ago!”
“Didn’t we do that like, yesterday?” Spike asked, it felt ridiculous to do so, that often.
“What do you mean?” she asked back frowning a little “I do it every day before you even wake up; it’s just that sometimes I get busy studying and need your help with it.”
“Okay, okay, I’m sorry Twi.” The dragon apologized. “ I bet you’ve already finished anyways”
“Oh, I did” replied the purple pony “That is why I woke you up like that” she laughed slightly. “Anyways…” Twilight continued “Do you remember who else you had to help today? Someone you were supposed to meet in about twenty minutes?” The purple pony added as she tilted her head slightly to the left as if not to wink or gently hitting him on the shoulder.
“That’s right!” Spike realized “I am supposed to help Rarity with some errands!” the Dragon rushed downstairs but was stopped by Twilight’s levitation spell.
“Aren’t you forgetting something?” She asked; pulling out a small beautifully decorated gift box Spike suddenly recognized and blushed “Even though we are having her party tonight, I think I’d be sweet of you to be the first one to give her a gift” Twilight gave Spike a wink.
“How did you find it? It took me a while to find the perfect hiding spot.” The dragon complained.
“It was rather easy” she quickly answered; Spike frustrated about it “next time try not to hide it in the romance section.” Spike laughed shyly.
“Thanks for scaring the heck out of me in order to wake me up in time Twi” Spike said before hurrying to Rarity’s; the confused pony wasn’t sure if he had been either honest, or ironic, or both. So instead of letting it bother her, she rolled her eyes and carried on with her studies; she was looking into a book about Phoenixes. Apparently, they had magical properties like her.
She wondered though, what kind of magic properties. Were they able to make spells? Could they heal themselves? Did they reborn endlessly? Two of this questions she already had answers; she did know phoenixes were inmortal as they regenerated themselves from their ashes. But there was a lot more in it, a book given to her by Zecora specified a lot of potions for different uses, mostly medicinal, required either a phoenix feather or tear.
“I need to get Spike to let me use Pewee” she told herself. Still amazed by the uncountable number of benefits phoenix possessed; so lucky Spike owned one.
The little dragon rushed through Ponyville at full speed he almost crashed many times. People were not as fond of him as before, as he had destroyed the town already once when he rampaged into a giant monster; but he was eager to make up for it with everyone. Some did forgive him, but others were not so easy to apologize to.
“Hey Spike” Pinkie Pie greeted him by jumping along with him as he didn’t stop at all. “What’s with the rush?” she asked then answered herself “Are you running from someone? Who is it? Is it a mare? Tell me who she is!!!” The earth pony had asked all these questions within 3 seconds! A new personal record for herself. Spike rolled his eyes and sighed but did not answer; not because he didn’t want to, but he hardly had any air in his lungs for answering as he was running as If it was a marathon.
Finally Spike got to the Carousel Boutique. He was panting and gasping for air; he couldn’t talk to Rarity like that so he decided to take some breath, as well as getting Pinkie Pie out of there since he wanted to be as alone with Rarity as he could; apart from Pinkie Pie being known not only for her party fanaticism but for her sudden intromissions. But heavens Pinkie Pie was hard to get off one’s shoulders! So he decided to speak with truth, after all he did tell her his secret. On the other hand, Pinkie had a loose mouth.
“If I answer, will you keep it a secret?” the dragon asked a bit concerned.
“If you’re gonna tell me that you came here to help Rarity with some errands on her birthday and brought her gift this early so just that you could have a private moment for her to thank you and then compliment her all day, then don’t worry! I already made a Pinkie promise before. Remember?” Spike’s jaw dropped to its limit as he stared in awe.
“How did you?” He tried to ask, but couldn’t think of a correct question “Now your pinkie sense foresees answers or what?” He finally asked.
“Oh, don’t be silly” the smiling pony answered taping his head “It was just obvious.”
There was a gap of silence between them, and spike gestured Pinkie to leave him alone by clearing his throat. She didn’t get it, instead she just kept smiling at him. After a second time she finally got it. “Well I’d better give the two of you some privacy” she gave Spike a wink and left hopping and humming.
Spike took a deep sigh, got enough courage and knocked at the door; hiding his present on his back so he could surprise her. He had never been so nervous in his entire life; he had practiced what he was to tell her the entire night, which was the reason he had over-over slept. He repeated those words he had learned by heart again and again, until he heard Rarity’s beautiful voice saying ‘Coming’. And as soon as she opened the door and saw him, those words he had memorized to the perfection were automatically deleted from his mind; burned to ashes. It happened every time Rarity was around and he hated it.
“Oh why, if it’s my little Spikey-Wikey” the white unicorn sweetly said playing with Spike’s top scales (the one’s that resemble his hair) as she opened the door for him as he went in. Hopefully for Spike she hadn’t seen the present, as she was obviously busy with all the preparations. “You’ve arrived just in time, darling. I was wondering if you could possibly help me not to get my hands…uh, dirty”.
Spike instantly understood she wanted him to help cleaning; everyone knew rarity’s intolerance of dirt, trash, and nasty things. “Sure Rarity; but first I wanted to wish you a happy birthday!” this last part was practically happily shouted as he revealed the wrapped box.
“Oh, Spikey” Rarity said with modesty while unwrapping it with her magic, blushing a little. “You shouldn’t have bothered”.
“I surely had to” Spike said slowly, paying attention at how she unwrapped the gift; his plan was to talk in perfect synchronization with rarity’s gaze at the true present. She levitated a perfectly carved sapphire rose making her gasp in disbelief as it was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. The flower was obviously carved by the little dragon’s claws; there was just no way a pony could have possibly done it without breaking it as it needed something really hard or sharp. They could only shape a few things, like the fire ruby she also had from the same dragon. Spike then continued “Because there’s no diamond, as beautiful as it can be that could possibly match this gorgeous flower.” Rarity obviously caught the message.
The unicorn blushed fiercely as her heart skipped a couple of beats, and in her white coat it was impossible to hide. She stared into Spike’s green eyes and suddenly felt hypnotized; she already knew his feelings for her, but she wasn’t sure about hers. Her stare also made the dragon blush pretty as much as her. Only he was rather used to doing so.
“It-it is, beautiful” Rarity stuttered; getting closer to him without even noticing, Spike’s body moved on its own as well.
“It’s not even half as pretty as you are” the dragon said out of the blue. Blushing as he never did, he realized he had said something he dreamt about but had hardly found the courage in the real world the express it. He was going to put a claw on his mouth to stop talking, but he was still staring into her eyes. She blushed as well, as she had dreamt of the colt who would tell her such beautiful words. It was now in front of her; despite the fact that he wasn’t exactly… a colt.
“You-you really think so?” she double checked getting even closer; they were inches away now.
“But of course, my dear” Spike answered holding her hoof; she didn’t have anything against it. “Because you know, I-I have always…loved you” He had finally admitted it! For the second time as he recalled the time when they were both falling to their deaths. He got a feeling; a weird feeling as if he was jumping off a cliff, taking a leap of faith.
“Oh, Spike” a tear began to cover her cheek.
The dragon’s expression suddenly dropped; for a moment there was nothing to cushion the fall. He knew what she would think about their relationship “I know, you’re a pony, I’m a dragon, it could never…” He was sadly telling himself when he was rudely cut off.
“Spike!” Rarity loudly said making him face her as she began leaning in. Spike’s heart stopped for a second and he leaned too. They were inches closer and closer every moment; Spike now saw his leap of faith had given him wings. She did feel the same way, and they were about to kiss! As for rarity, both the dragon’s speech and her own actions had taken her for surprise, but given it a moment of though, she wanted to do it. As they leaned closer to the other’s lips they closed her eyes slowly when it finally happened…
“SURPRISE!!!” the pink party-lover pony yelled at full lung power getting between them. Throwing confetti above their heads and putting a party hat on both their heads. Spike’s shock that morning was nothing compared to this one, Rarity as well made a small screech; hopefully she didn’t lose control over her levitating spell or the flower would have crashed on the floor into millions of pieces. They both glared at Pinkie. (A/N: And you actually though I was gonna make it this easy… it’s just way too soon. )
“I decided to come here to help with decorations for the party” She tried to sound innocent “Did I do something bad?” She asked with a saddened face as soon as she saw their friends’ expressions. “Oh well, let’s not waste any more time!” Pinkie stated and from her ‘party saddlebags’ took out dozens of cakes and cookies, colored papers, more confetti, hats, and even a huge stereo. The clowns and the mini car classic trick was plagiarized into her saddlebags!
“Very, very well then” Rarity stuttered; she needed to say something in order to wake up from all that had happened as their privacy was not respected and the mood was lost. “We’d better get working”.
“Yeah…”Spike sighed wooing with his arms, of course not really meaning it “let’s get started…”
As the night fell, its crescent quarter moon shining, Rarity’s birthday party was about to start. Spike and Twilight were already at her front door; the purple pony was carrying a gift in her saddlebag, which was, guessed without a second though by Spike, a book. Spike on the other hand, didn’t need to bring another gift. He had already given her the prettiest sapphire flower she had ever seen, and helped her with the decorations; she had insisted on giving him something in return, another gemstone or somewhat. He politely rejected those gifts as his only desire was to be alone with her again, to try again; without pink ponies interrupting. That was why he had asked Twilight to try and keep Pinkie Pie away from them whenever they were in private. If they were, of course.
“I don’t think she’ll be falling head over heels for you just for whatever gift you could have given her” Twilight said rolling her eyes. The dragon didn’t answer, he wouldn’t do it until whatever was to happen, happened; because of this, and the fact that a gentleman must know when to keep silence, he hadn’t told her what… almost happened. “Are you all right?” Twilight asked her assistant with a concerned look on her face “You’ve been awfully quiet since you came back from Rarity’s. All you told me was that you were going to shower and nothing ever since.”
“It’s just… I’m nervous, excited… confused” He knew he shouldn’t have said the last part, but he had already done so, so he wouldn’t let it bug him.
“Confused?” Twilight raised an eyebrow. Having in mind that Spike knew Rarity was unattainable for him, he always intended to change her mind. She deducted then, the possibility that Rarity had felt something, and it happened just then! That would explain his insecurity.
“She…”Twilight began to state a question “Did she tell you something special?”
“No…” was the dragon’s muted answer.
“Oh, I’m sor…” Twilight was about to apologize when she was cut off.
“We were about to kiss!” Spike couldn’t hold it any longer; he was as happy as if they had already kissed. What was not to be happy about; after all his attempts, all his work, finally they all were fruitful. Only he hadn’t tasted the fruit yet.
Twilight was left open-mouthed as she didn’t have anything, anything at all that would come to her mind as an answer, addition, comment or anything of the sort. Not only was she surprised about the fact of her brother would kiss one of her best friends, but was proud of her little brother; he had learnt the lesson that with work and perseverance everything was possible. Even Twilight had her doubts about him.
“I’m happy for you Spike” Twilight answered once the shock vanished. Her face wasn’t the happiest of all either. Then she smiled normally “After all your hard work and enthusiasm, you deserve it.”
“Thanks Twi” Spike said. “I’m happy you know, and support me.”
“Of course I will” Twilight added hugging him with one hoof. “Your big sister will tame that wild, pink pony.” They both laughed as someone opened the door; it wasn’t a surprise it wasn’t Rarity, as they didn’t think they’d be the first ones to attend. Someone had to open the door for the guests while Rarity took her time preparing herself.
“Well hello Twilight” Greeted the earth pony allowing them to pass “Miss perfection here is…”
“We know” they both said in unison, Applejack chuckled.
“Yeah, if it wasn’t for Pinkie Pie being here, ah’d have ended up waiting at the door until she made her mind on which dress to wear”
“But there’s no need to wear a fancy dress tonight; were merely having a small party.” Twilight pointed out.
“Well, try to convince Rarity” Applejack answered.
Twilight wanted to add something, but she couldn’t think of an argument. “Touche” She finally said admitting defeat.
Applejack then turned to Spike “Nice work on that flower, sugarcube” she said hitting him softly on the shoulder.
“Flower?” Twilight raised an eyebrow “What flower?” she asked.
“It’s just a sweet, and delicious; yet precious, sapphire flower I carved from a sapphire for her. That was my birthday present” Answered Spike, looking away.
“Aww, how sweet of you Spike” Twilight awed rubbing his cheeks with her hooves toying with him. “Your dragon claws are developing and becoming sharper. You’re growing up…the good way!” She added at last, specifying he wasn’t becoming a monster again.
After a few minutes everypony had arrived, first Rainbow Dash, last Fluttershy; only that Rarity was still in her room. Not too long however, until she opened it and elegantly stepped in the sitting room. She wasn’t wearing a dress, but she was wearing a fancy hat; the one she wore when she went strolling in Canterlot. After all, she had only taken her time for making her mind whether to dress formal or informal; even though the 95 percent of the times she was formal, she decided she wanted something simplier. Of course not losing her style in any way.
Since Rarity had taken so much time Applejack, with the help of Spike, had the time to prepare dinner, or rather the snacks they were going to eat. Applelised, though. Spike was very useful for cooking, as he was a live oven; his flame cooked things almost instantly as if it was magic. By the time Rarity showed up, they had already baked 2 apple pies, caramel covered apples, fried hay with apple syrup, and apple milkshake. This last one wasn’t one of her best creations.
One hundred and twenty seven milliseconds after Rarity’s appearance Pinkie Pie, who was a little ‘happy’ from dinking so much Applejack’s cider, fired her party cannon and the music boomed. She was the only one dancing though, and speaking even more loosely than usual.
“Maybe you shouldn’t have brought so much cider, Applejack” Chuckled Rainbow Dash, looking at the party animal that had become of Pinkie Pie.
“Maybe ah shouldn’t have told her ah had” Was Applejack’s answer, inspecting the last of the barrel in order to retrieve any more only to find it completely empty.
Despite the fact that Pinkie Pie was the definition of wild, she was contagious, as the more she danced, the more their friends wanted to join her. Before they knew it, Rainbow Dash was flying-dancing (even though she still danced as if she was on the ground) Fluttershy trying to copy her steps, Twilight dancing awkwardly as she was new to it, and Applejack and Pinkie Pie dancing a country duet, professionally. Everyone else was in the kitchen table, where the sound was a little lower so they could talk…by everyone else I mean Spike and Rarity.
The dragon and the unicorn sat across each other, the uncomfortable silence building up in the area. They’d look away whenever their eyes made contact, and blush slightly. None of them wanted to stay silent, but they didn’t want to be the first one to talk either. Spike had no idea of how to break the last wall of ice that separated him from total happiness, but he had to try at least commenting about the party.
“So…”He began “what a party” Spike quickly said.
“Oh, yes. Yes it is…So good” Rarity’s voice this time sounded sad. Spike noticed.
“Is there anything wrong Rarity?” Spike asked.
Rarity closed her eyes for a couple of seconds and took a deep sigh. Then she proceeded to answer: “It is about this morning” Spike suddenly felt adrenaline running inside him “When we almost…you know” She said avoiding some words.
“Yes?” Spike asked, he remembered that time as if he was living it again. Not even trying could he ever forget it.
“I’m afraid to say that it was the heat of the moment Spike” Her words dropped Spike’s smile. “Not that I don’t like you, but I think it was a little soon for me to do that.”
“So you’re saying that even though you like me back, you just need some time to think things through?” The dragon deducted; not as unhappy as he expected to hear her reject.
“Does that bother you?” Rarity asked, she wanted to be careful enough not to break his young dragon heart.
“You admitted you like me back, so…” Spike answered happily. “I’d wait an eternity just for you my love” Spike said at last sounding as gentle as he could. The results were positive, as Rarity blushed and nodded in relief and agreement.
They were both staring at each other’s eyes now, but this time they were happy; they both loved each other back, all Rarity needed was to sleep on things, but she was certain that she liked him. Just before they were about to leave the table to dance, they heard a sneeze close by. They turned around 45 degrees and glared at the other five ponies who were staring at them, now faking a small laugh; Pinkie Pie cleaning her nose.
“Twilight!” Spike yelled angrily, hurt by her sister breaking her promise.
“We weren’t interrupting” She said in her defense. Spike calmed down. “We were just…curious” she faked a smile. Spike frowned as well as rarity, waiting for a real explanation or an apology. “We’re sorry” they all said in unison.
Rarity sighed and glanced at the clock on the wall. “Well, I suppose it is time for…” She pointed at Pinkie with her hoof. The Pink Pony noticed this and realized what she had to shout.
“CAKE!!” Everyone had their ears hurt with that Pinkie announcement. Out of nowhere, Pinkie brought a cake that had written ‘Happy birthday Rarity’ with caramel on the top. The main covering was white, and the borders were purple sugar; a design fitting for Rarity.
Pinkie Pie quickly sliced seven pieces and gave them to her friends; obviously starting for Rarity as she was the birthday one, then Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Fluttershy, and last Spike. Once they all got their slice, Pinkie Pie jumped on the rest of the cake nearly swallowing all of it in one chomp.
“Oh, my” Rarity gasped “It is delicious!” She said, once she tasted the blueberry sauce chocolate cake with bits of hazelnut “The hazelnut final touch is unique”. They all nodded in agreement except for Spike; he was about to give his slice the first try when he heard Rarity say the word ‘hazelnut’; immediately, Spike left his cake on the table.
Pinkie Pie noticed this and though Spike didn’t like blueberry. If that was it, it was because he had never eaten her cake before. “Don’t be silly Spike, you’ll like the blueberry night” that was the name she had given to the cake. She quickly grabbed the slice and headed rapidly to Spike.
“You don’t get it Pinkie” Spike tried to argue, but it was useless; Pinkie Pie had already snuck the whole slice in his mouth. Despite the fact that Spike spitted it up instantly, it was already too late…
“Pinkie Pie, no!” Twilight cried “Spike’s really allergic to hazelnut” she said “and do you know what happens when a dragon is allergic to something?” she added. Pinkie faked a laugh and was now looking guilty at Spike.
The little dragon scratched his throat, and suddenly he began to cough. First it was a light and normal cough; but later it became a heavy, fire cough! They all yelled in surprise as the first flame almost burns them. Spike tried as hard as he could to cover his coughing with his hand, totally useless. After several fire coughs that left some black marks on the floor as he tried to prevent the fire from reaching his friends, the inevitable came; Spike started gasping air and he already knew what that would mean, a sneeze.
With a fire powered sneeze, and given the small size he possessed and his light weight, he flew out of the house through the window, breaking it. Not only had he destroyed Rarity’s window and left burn marks on her floor, but was still coughing fire; which inevitably incinerated a couple of trees; this fire then expanded, causing a big fire.
“Quick, Rainbow Dash” Twilight demanded her friend “Bring us a rain cloud!” Her thinking was good and fast. The rainbow manned Pegasus flew high in the sky and in less than a minute she had come back with a thundercloud; close enough to Twilight’s request. The Pegasus then placed the cloud over the burning trees and with a couple of taps, the rain fell. Luckily enough, Spike’s fire was reduced to nothing in the rain, and his cough became a normal one once again; and in one more minute, he stopped coughing at all.
“I’m sorry” Spike apologized once he saw the entire ruckus he had caused; many ponies, friends and not, had gathered there and were glaring at him as it was obvious who had caused the fire.
“What are you apologizing for Spike?” Pinkie Pie shyly commented “it was my fault” the six ponies smiled at him recomfortingly. He smiled as well.
All’s well ends well; except for the intrusion of a who-cares pony, who just flied down to the dragon, glaring and growling. “Are you crazy, dragon!” His six friends glared down at the rude Pegasus.
“I-I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to…” he was cut off by many other ponies around: ‘He destroyed those poor trees’, ‘poor trees? He could have set on fire the whole town!’, ‘that’s why dragons are wild, and they belong to the wild!’, ‘He is a menace to all of us, they should get rid of it!’. Those were the comments that Spike heard and had a major relevance for him. Tears began to fall down through his cheeks; the shivering cold, inner-fire extinguisher tears, of a baby dragon. He pushed the Pegasus who had insulted him first away and ran all the way out of the scene; the night that was supposed to be the most unforgettable, ended up being the worst, unforgettable night.
Hello everyone, this is my first story on this site, i hope you enjoy it as much as i enjoyed coming up with it. I'm sorry if my English isn't perfect, im a Spanish speaker. By the Way... not sure what's the difference between Pegasus and Pegasi, just saying.