"Okay, Spike, you may take a break. I can finish this dress. Thank you for your help."
"Don't mention it Rarity. I'll be in the other room if you need me." Spike went into the next room over to let Rarity finish her current dress in peace. He had come to the boutique, both to help out Rarity in anyway he could, and to see her again.
Spike walked into the room where Rarity stored fabric and gems. Sweetie Belle laid on the floor, lazily staring off into space. Her gloomy expression did not waver when she glanced to Spike. He sat down next to Sweetie Belle, who was lying on the floor, looking as bored as ever. "Hey, Sweetie Belle," he greeted her.
She noticed him when he sat down. "Oh, hey Spike," she said in a less than enthusiastic tone.
"What's wrong, Sweetie?" Spike asked with concern.
"Nothing, I'm just bored," She mumbled. "Apple Bloom is doing chores and Scootaloo is doing... homework, I think. I always do my homework at school, and Rarity doesn't let me do chores, so I never have anything to do around here."
"If it helps, you have me to talk to until Rarity needs me again."
"I guess. You're probably the best male friend I have, if it means anything to you."
"Really?" A huge smile formed on Spikes face. "Hey yeah! Of course that means something. You may not be Rarity, but you're a good filly."
Sweetie Belle smiled. "Thanks, but don't say it that way, it makes me sound like a foal."
"Spiiiiike!" Rarity called from the next room. She quickly peeked through the door before walking in. "I need you now. I just finished an order and sent it out. We're almost done for today."
"That's great, Rarity!" Spike said with enthusiasm. "What now?"
"All that's left for today is one big order I just need you're help. I need to make six suits and dresses for six friends down in Canterlot. So come on!" Rarity pulled multiple colors of fabric off her shelves and dumped them on Spike. "Let's get to it!"
"Six dresses? I dunno about that. I'm still a little worn out from..." He stopped when he noticed Rarity looking at him in an almost seductive way.
"Please, Spikey-wikey? I found a very rare gem and if you help me, I'd be happy to give it to you." Rarity fluttered her eyelashes.
"Well, when you mention rare gems..." Spike tapped his claw to his chin a few times. "I'll do it!" He gathered the fabric and followed Rarity to the sewing room.
Sweetie Belle groaned and buried her face in her hooves. It always annoyed her when Rarity do those kinds of things to get Spike to help her.
Even though Twilight paid Spike in gems for doing chores at home, something about the way Rarity did it annoyed Sweetie more than anything.
Rarity herself said that Spike would never be with her. That didn't stop her from doing things like that whenever she could. It always annoyed Sweetie because next to Apple Bloom and Scootaloo, Spike was the only other friend of hers that was constantly around. Not only that, but she had recently realized something. She had a crush on Spike.
They don't spend that much time together, but they usually talked whenever Spike was taking a break. Considering how often he was at the boutique, that was a lot. It had taken some time for her to realize this, and even more time to get over the fact that he was a different species. She had no intention of trying to be anything more than friends with him though.
Why does Rarity always have to be like that? Sweetie thought to herself. If he should be with anypony, it should be me. Oh, what am I thinking? I dunno if he'll ever get over that crush on Rarity. She sighed hopefully. Maybe someday.
______________________________________________________________________
Several hours later, Rarity was almost finished the six dresses she planned on giving to her friends. She spent most of that time sitting down at her sewing, and she barely broke a sweat. Spike, on the other hand, spent several hours walking back and forth fetching supplies.
"Rarity, are we–" Spike yawned loudly, "–almost done? I don't think I can do much more."
"Well don't worry Spike, because I'm finished with the last suit." She picked it up and examined it. It was a black suit with the red tie, standard for any formal get together. The difference with this one was that is was specially made.
Spike observed it through his worn out, drooping eyes. "It looks–" he yawned again, "–beautiful." He would be more enthusiastic about it, but he wasn't used to doing several hours of work at a time.
"Spike, you did a very good job today, and, like I promised–" Using her magic, Rarity pulled out a topaz from her gem box and handed it to him. "–here it is."
Upon seeing the gem, Spike got his enthusiasm back. He licks his lips and started drooling. "Rarity, is that...?"
"Yes, Spike, this is 100 percent bonafide topaz. You deserve it for the work you did today."
Spike wiped the drool off his face with his forearm. "Rarity, this is nice, but I can't accept this." He held it out to her. "You keep it.
"Nonsense, take it. I don't need it anyway. If I want orange gems, I could just heat up some amethyst. It turns into a nice orange color with a heat treatment. Or if I looked hard enough, I could use citrine. Please, I insist you take it."
"Alright, I'll keep it." Spike held the gem to his chest. "I'll always cherish it. Goodbye Rarity, I'll see you later."
"Goodbye Spike."
As soon as the door was completely closed behind him, Rarity sighed to herself. Oh Spike, if only you would actually eat the gems I give you. At least then they would be put to good use.
"Rarity, why do you always have to push him like that?"
Slightly surprised, Rarity turned to face Sweetie Belle. "I'm not pushing him, Sweetie, he offers to work with me. Besides, I'm always sure to reward him.
"Yeah, but you've seen the way he acts with those gems. I highly doubt he ever eats them"
"Why do you care anyway, darling?"
"It's nothing, I just don't think he deserves being treated that way." Sweetie yawned. "I'm gonna go to bed too. Goodnight." Without waiting for a response, she trotted up the stairs, into her room, and closed the door behind her.
I should be more careful with what I say. I wonder if she was suspicious with the way I climbed up the stairs. Probably not.
The night began a little while ago, so it was fairly dark. The only light came for the moon shining down on Ponyville.
Spike was so tired, he could barely walk. He slowly made his way through Ponyville, trying to see through the darkness. He stopped and looked down at the gem in his hand.
It was topaz, a type a quartz that was yellow in color. Spike couldn't tell it's exact size from looking at it, but he estimated it to be 10-20 carats. The light of the moon caused it to shine dimly. With the lack of energy, the rarity of the gem, and hunger, it was very difficult to resist eating it.
He licked his lips as he stared at it. He tried shoving it away from himself. No, I can't eat it. This is such a rare gem, and Rarity gave it to me. This is special. Even if I do happen to love quartz. He suddenly felt a rumble go through his stomach, making the gem look more appealing.
Spike continued walking at a much faster pace so he could get home. The library he resided in was now in sight, he just had to walk a little further.
Twilight was sitting in the main room of her library, fascinated with the book she was reading, when Spike slowly opened the door and stumbled through it. “Spike, where were you?” she asked sternly. It was obvious, even to him, that Twilight wasn't happy with him. "Did you see Rarity again?"
Spike stood back up with some trouble. "Yeah, I helped her make some dresses. It's no big deal." He waved a dismissive claw at Twilight.
She sighed. "Spike, go to bed. You've been working too hard." She picked him up and took him up the stairs. "We'll talk about your visits with Rarity in the morning, but for now, you need to go to sleep."
"Twilight, it's no big deal. I'll be fine. I'm not ti-" Spike immediately passed out in his bed. Seconds later, he started snoring.
She tucked him in and took the gem he was still clutching in his claw. She took it to the closet Spike stored his gems in and put it in there with the other gems given to him by Rarity
Twilight sighed again. Doesn't Rarity know what she's doing to him? He's never this tired unless he's helping her. I don't want to think like this, but is she using him?