Return of Trouble
A knock on the front door of Carousel Boutique had Rarity trotting up to answer the door "Babs Seed?" She asked recalling who the mare was, she definitely grew up over the years. She noticed a Saddlebag around her waist.
"Hello Rarity, the CMC said you'd be home." Babs flipped her longer pink mane to the other side of her face.
"Well yes, I am home for the most part. What brings you by?"
Babs happened to glance down and noticed the fire heart ruby necklace around Rarity's neck. "Oh, I heard that theirs a single resident in Ponyville." Babs Seed said casually.
Rarity tilted her head. "Somepony, I know?"
Babs lifted an eyebrow at her. "Oh, you could say that." She glanced around Rarity who was standing in the doorway and didn't see who she was after. She blew out a breath. "I see he's not here."
Rarity's eyes widened when Babs said that. "Hold on. Are you implying that it's-"
"Spike?" Babs said with a grin and then nodded.
Rarity let out a gasp. "Why exactly did you come to Ponyville again?" She kept her sapphire eyes on Babs.
"I received a letter from the CMC."
"They did what pray tell? Tell you that my...um...Spike's single?"
Babs lifted an eyebrow. "Did I hear you just say my Spike?"
Rarity felt her cheeks redden a little.
"Huh…they had told me that he was older, more defined, and above all single," Babs replied glancing around. "Well seeing as you’re the only one here I'll go and find Spike." Babs took off before Rarity could say anything else.
"She wouldn't dare..." The thought and her own words had her heart beating faster. Not my Spike… She knew exactly where Spike was today, and Babs was heading in that direction. Rarity summoned her magic and felt herself vanish from the front door of her Boutique. She had pictured Spike before she telephoned him, she hadn't even thought about what she was going to say to him.
Spike spun around when a flash of light erupted behind him. He was in the main arena of Friendship Castle. "Rarity? Why-" He noticed the fire heart ruby around her neck and caught the concerned look in her eyes. "I can tell something is wrong."
"Babs is back in Ponyville again." Rarity blurted out the first thing that popped into her head. Oh that was real suddle, darling.
“The one the CMCs finally got through to and reformed?" Huh wonder why she’s back. Spike thought rubbing his chin. It’s got Rarity worked up, that’s for sure.
"That's her darling."
Spike could still see the concern in Rarity's eyes. "Rarity, what aren't you telling me?"
At that moment Babs burst into Friendship Castle and spotted Spike along with Rarity. Rarity got in front of Spike without so much as a second thought. “Babs wait.” Rarity said with a bit of a bite in her voice.
Babs held up a hoof. "Don’t go blasting me yet.” She said and pulled out and held up the letter that she had in her saddlebag on her side. “Here's the CMC's letter."
Rarity glanced at Babs a second longer before she used her unicorn magic to take the letter so she could read it.
Can you help us out in getting Spike and Rarity together?
It was a simple letter. After she read it, she levitated it back to Babs. “You still owe me an explanation.”
"Look, I'd gotten in last night and spoke with the CMCs. I just couldn't resist helping out. Play a little matchmaker.” She smiled at Rarity. “I’d heard enough from them last night. Especially from Sweety Bell, on and on and on.” She blew out a breath. “This had been her idea to send the letter." She looked right at Rarity. "You’re not mad at me, are you?"
"So you're not after my Spikey?" I’m going to have a little chat with my little sister. Rarity thought making a mental note.
Babs grinned and realized that Rarity had forgotten about Spike being behind her. "No. The CMCs figured that all you needed was a little push."
Rarity smiled at that and remembered how she had been around Babs. I was jealous I’ll admit it. "I couldn't see my Spikey Wikey with anypony else."
Babs could see Spike’s jaw-dropping open. "Oh really? I kind of gathered that." Babs said with a smile and notice the look on Spike’s face. “I wonder how Spike feels? Oh, and which pony are you referring to?” She said emphasizing a few words and another grin and nodded in Spike’s direction.
Rarity blinked and caught the grin on Bab’s face plus her head movement. She let out a little squeak. Oh boy…I just…he’s…I forgot… Rarity felt her head spinning.
Spike had listened to the two mares with great interest. "Um...did I miss something?" He watched Rarity ever so slowly turn around to him, her face being redder and redder with each passing second.
“I…oh…um…guess you heard all that.” Rarity’s voice had a higher sound to it. She knew there would be no way of denying any of what she just said.
“Uh yeah, I’m standing right here,” Spike replied and folded his arms across his chest. He was standing on his back legs causing Rarity to tilt her head up to meet his gaze.
“I’ll just leave you two alone,” Babs said and ran off with a big smile on her face. Leaving Rarity alone with Spike.
Rarity heard her leave; her pounding hooves had echoed on the floor.
“Rarity,” Spike said her name and she blinked like she’d been spaced out.
“Uh…oh sorry darling.” She sat down and blew out a breath. I never thought I could be that honest about my feelings towards Spike. But the very thought of someone else- She shook her head. I can’t let that mistake happen. A feeling of heat started surrounding her. I know this was an eye-opener for me… Her eyes focused again, and she noticed Spike.
Spike had lowered himself back on all four and walked up to Rarity who he could tell was watching him again. She was speaking with such sincerity and honesty; I didn’t hear a hint of hesitation in her voice at all. He grinned at that. I’ll have to thank the CMC for this.
Rarity had noticed the grin from Spike when he walked up to her. She smiled back at him. “I believe you would call this an awkward moment?”
He sat down beside Rarity again, nodded to her question, and leaned in close to her ear. “What were you thinking about?” You’re not getting out of this one. He turned his face away from her. “Or should I just forget I heard you say anything?”
“That…um wouldn’t really be fair, now would it darling? I’d forgotten that you were behind me when Bab’s burst in. I had only one thing on my mind.”
No kidding. He thought. “Apparently it was me.” He turned back to Rarity who nodded. “So you thought Babs had come back to do what? Steal me away.”
“I…I…let jealousy take over.” Rarity admitted. Was it really jealousy?
Spike lifted an eyebrow. “Are you sure about that? I’ve got a feeling it was something else and it’s also the reason I would have said no and never went with her even if she had actually tried.”
Rarity smiled at Spike. “I already know about your crush on me-”
“Was a crush when I was a kid Rarity.”
Rarity’s eyebrows went up “Was?”
Spike nodded and felt his cheeks redden a little.
Rarity watched his gaze move down to the fire heart ruby she had around her neck. Her eyes lifted to his and widened.
“I gave you my heart on that day so many years ago, a child crush then, yes, and secretly vowed never to leave your side no matter what.”
A tear slid down Rarity’s cheek. “Spikey…” She felt her heart flutter at his words, she felt so warm inside and she found herself smiling at the feeling.
Spike scooted closer to her and reached out a claw and took her hoof in it. “I’ve kept this to myself as that crush I had grown into something much deeper and more meaningful.”
“Spike…I um…” Rarity felt her cheeks redden a little, lifting her head and opening her eyes she found that her nose was almost touching his. Her mouth opened slightly when his other claw cupped her cheek.
Rarity let out a sigh as Spike leaned closer, their lips were just a breath apart. “Spike I…lo-” Her lips met surpassingly soft scales on his lips.
Spike could hear the moan in Rarity’s throat as he leaned into a kiss, which he knew came from that special place between the hearts of both of them. His claw that cupped her cheek moved around to the back of her neck. Needing to take a breath had Spike breaking this that he wished could have lasted forever.
Rarity took in a breath and leaned her head on Spike’s and gazed into those emerald eyes of his.
Spike smiled at her and wrapped his arms around her shoulders. What she started to say had been echoing in his mind. “I know.” He said in a whisper and added. “Because I do too.”
“Guess, my actions around Babs made it obvious huh?”
Spike let out a little laugh. “You’re sounding like me Rarity.”
“Look how long we’ve known each other.” Rarity replied with a giggle.
“Well, I know our friends have been expecting this for a while now,” Spike replied.
A thought struck Rarity. Why did Babs run off like that? The two of them walked to the double doors of Friendship Castle and opened them only to be greeted by the roaring sound of applause from a large crowd with all their friends waiting just outside. With Babs Seed standing in the front.
“Yeah! I finally get to throw the party I’ve been waiting forever to throw!” Pinkie Pie said jumping up and down with excitement.