//------------------------------// // Time to Burn // Story: Quills and Sofas Warehouse Sale // by Zontan //------------------------------// Even though the Friendship Council was technically a government organization now, the six friends who made it up spent as much or more time simply reminiscing and catching up as they did working on official business. There was talk of assignments, of course—things like making sure Rarity spent at least some of her time in Harmonizing Heights encouraging hippogriffs to integrate further into Equestrian society, and not use all of it on her new shop there. Checking in on how the latest monster was settling into Fluttershy’s sanctuary. Convincing Applejack that she could spend a little more time on friendship business, and a little less time on the farm, with Sugar Belle settling in so well. But those things only took so long, and the day was barely half over by the time they found themselves lounging around the Canterlot meeting room—a room that had been designed to look much like the old map room of Ponyville—just talking and catching up. “How’s Royal Advisor treating you, Spike?” Rarity asked idly, taking a sip of her tea. Spike grinned. “It’s pretty great, actually. I mean, you know I always helped Twilight with everything anyway, but it’s nice to be doing it officially. I mean, get this - last week, I was in griffonstone, and a griffon actually bowed to me. I didn’t think griffons bowed for anything less than princesses, y’know?” Rarity smiled. “That sounds lovely, Spike. I’m glad for you.” There was a stretch of silence, before Spike awkwardly piped up, “So… how’s the Boutique? Or, well… I guess, Boutiques.” Rarity smiled at him. “I thought you’d never ask. Harmonizing Heights is absolutely delightful, and it’s such an interesting new challenge to design for hippogriffs. I mean, structurally of course they’re very similar to pegasi, but their culture is so far removed that what they consider fashionable is very different. It’s infused new life into my work, and I can’t wait to bring some of the designs back here.” “That’s cool, Rarity,” Spike nodded. “I’m glad things are working out.” Another silence stretched between them. Rarity looked around the room, observing the rest of her friends. Applejack and Rainbow Dash were deep in conversation, the pegasus waving her forelegs animatedly as she spoke. They had been spending a lot more time together lately, even outside of these councils. Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and Twilight were in another corner of the room, talking quietly and eating some of the cookies Pinkie had brought. Pinkie Pie always had something to say, and of course as Twilight’s position had increased, so too had Pinkie’s workload of celebrating it. Rarity sighed. It seemed like all her friends were still perfectly capable of finding common ground, but she barely saw any of them outside of these meetings, always travelling to new locations for work. “Spike…” she finally began, causing the dragon to look up from the gemstone he’d just stuffed into his mouth. “Am I… neglecting our friendship?” Spike hastily swallowed the gem, coughing before answering. “What? No! Of course not. I mean, we do all sorts of things together.” “Like what?” “Well… we went to that Power Ponies convention together.” Rarity sighed. “Spike, that was three years ago.” “We… uh… we had… lunch, that one time…” “At this Council, yes.” Rarity shook her head. “It is true, isn’t it? I’ve been so focused on work…” she looked around again. “I haven’t done anything with any of you besides the bare minimum.” Spike gulped. “Well, I mean, we’re all super busy these days. I have Ambassador duties, and Rainbow Dash keeps getting new recruits to train, and Applejack is working on that Sweet Apple Acres extension… it’s not your fault.” Rarity gestured with one hoof towards Applejack and Rainbow Dash. “Tell me, Spike, do you think they’ve only been seeing each other for work?” “Well… no…” Rarity nodded. “That settles it, then. Spike, we are doing something nice together.” Spike blinked. “Like…” he hesitated. “...a date?” Rarity paused, before forging bullishly ahead. “Yes! Why not? We’re both adults, aren’t we? We can have a nice meal and spend quality time together just like anypony else.” Spike blushed, and after a moment, Rarity realized that most of her friends were looking across the room at her. Oops. Rarity found herself unexpectedly nervous as she waited at Sugarcube Corner for Spike to arrive. It had been ages since she’d actually eaten there, but the Cakes had welcomed her in like they’d just talked to her yesterday. Fortunately, it seemed like Pinkie was on party planning business elsewhere, because Rarity didn’t want to try to explain what this was to her. She wasn’t even sure what it was. It wasn’t really a date, right? Yes, Spike had used that word, but Spike had also been in puppy love with her ever since they’d met. She’d never paid much attention to it, dismissing it as a child’s infatuation and assuming he would grow out of it. And he had, she’d thought. But the way he’d reacted when she agreed with him made her wonder. She didn’t have time to resolve that train of thought, because Spike walked in the door. Once again she was surprised at how big he’d gotten over the past few years. She had to look up to meet his eyes now, and no one could miss the muscles he’d developed in the course of his duties. Spike’s face broke into a wide smile as he spotted her, and he walked over to her booth. With a flourish, he pulled out a single red rose and presented it to her. “For you, Lady Rarity,” he said, his voice formal but still with a hint of a smile in it. “Oh,” Rarity murmured, taking the flower in her magic. “It’s lovely. Thank you, Spike.” Why was her heart beating like that? She pulled the flower close, and then hesitated, not sure where to put it. She was about to ask Mrs. Cake for a vase, when Spike took the rose gently from her magic, and then tucked it carefully into her mane. “It suits you,” he said easily. “But then again, you’ve always had an affinity for beauty.” He slipped into the booth across from her. Alarm bells were sounding in Rarity’s head. What had happened to sweet, innocent little Spikey-Wikey, and when had this suave young dragon replaced him? Had she really been paying so little attention to her friends these past years, and just not noticed? “Rarity? You alright?” Rarity blinked, and realized she’d been staring directly into Spike’s abs, and blushed. “Yes, yes, of course,” she fibbed. “Just glad you’re here. Did you want anything? I’m sure they still make your favorites.” Spike nodded, apparently willing to let that go. Mrs. Cake stepped up, took their orders, and gave them a knowing smile as she left, which Spike completely missed and Rarity felt was really quite unnecessary. It took a moment for the conversation to start, and longer for it to feel natural again. But as their food arrived, their conversation found their old patterns again, and soon they were reminiscing about times past. Rarity felt herself relax, finally, and soon she almost forgot it was Spike she was talking to. The mental image of the irreplaceable, but still subservient assistant was fading, and it was being replaced by the confident young adult across from her, who knew her so well but no longer felt like a child. Eventually, a break in the conversation presented itself. “Why don’t we take a walk, Spike?” she asked. “I have to get to the Boutique before it gets too late.” “Sure,” Spike replied, suddenly seeming disappointed. “Is it alright if we take the long way around?” Rarity smiled. “Of course.” With that, they stepped out into Ponyville. They walked by the town hall on the way to Carousel Boutique. The walk had brought back memories for both. Upon reaching the town hall the memory that came to Spike was of the time they first met. It caused him to stop. How he saw her and instantly fell in love. His amusement at Twilight’s messy hair had disappeared in an instant when he got his first glimpse of her. He had seen many ponies like Rarity in Canterlot thanks to Twilight’s position of being Celestia’s student however none of them ever caught his eye like Rarity had. “Are you listening, Spike?” Rarity asked. “Huh?” Spike replied as he was jolted back to the present, “Oh, sorry. I was just thinking back to when I first met you when you were decorating the town hall for the Summer Sun Celebration. I was instantly smitten, yet you were focused on Twilight’s mane.” “Yes. Honestly I wasn’t even thinking about you as I was focused completely on Twilight. At the time such a relationship was rather unheard of between a dragon and a pony. She was in a hurry too as she left the instant I went looking for a dress.” “She was almost paranoid about Nightmare Moon’s return. She was in a hurry to get back to studying that. Can’t blame her seeing as she was right. She doesn’t panic as often anymore, but at least she still has me around when she does.” “Some things never change,” Rarity laughed as she started again for Carousel Boutique, “It was a busy day for me as well, so getting to know you was out of the question, unfortunately. Thankfully we had a lot of time.” Spike starts walking with her as they continued on. Carousel Boutique was just on the other side of the buildings on the south-west corner of the city square. When they rounded the corner and saw the boutique they both stopped. “Spike this has been… wonderful. I’m sorry that I have to end it so soon.” Rarity gave Spike a soft smile. “I’ve really enjoyed myself.” “So have I,” Spike replied, “You don’t suppose we could hang out for a bit longer do you?” “Alas my dearest Spike I fear not. I have to go to Manehattan tomorrow and I have a few things to finish before I go.” Rarity couldn’t help but notice Spike smile after that. “Spike why are you smiling like that? Didn’t you just say how you wished we could spend more time together?” “I also have to go to Manehattan tomorrow. Why don’t we pick up where we left off?” Spike said with a sly smile. Rarity gasped, “I would love to.”