(Prologue)
[Not part of the 45 minutes.]
Dear Moondancer,
This is Spike. I know Twilight and I weren't able to make it to your party. I'm very sorry about that. I got you a gift, which Twilight caused me to ruin. I managed to find something equally wonderful and I hope it makes it through just fine. I might not get a chance to say this to you again for a while, but thank you for being the first pony besides Twilight that was willing to be my friend. Twilight has made a lot of new friends since our move, it's a bit unclear if they'll be friends with me as well.
Sincerely, Best wishes,
Spike the Dragon.
Attached to the note was a medium size teddy bear with emerald eyes rather than buttons and a purple ribbon around it's neck.
(Five years later)
Spike woke up early this morning. Stretching out his slightly longer limbs, tilting his head from side to side, yawning a little bit before climbing out of his bed. He moved out from his room into the main area of the library. Twilight was still asleep by the looks of things, so he took the opportunity to get into the bathroom early; Spike had wanted to clean off his scales with a nice warm bath. When he finished the bath, then he double checked himself in the mirror for any lingering particles of dirt or bubbles. He brushed his teeth and moved out into the library finding that Twilight was still asleep. He moved downstairs quietly and headed out the front door slowly making sure to lock it behind him, having left a prepared a note for Twilight on his bed.
Spike moved out into the fresh early morning air of spring then thought, 'Before anypony knows it'll be Hearts and Hooves Day.' He moved towards the market square, finding the shop he was looking for. He pulled out a large quantity of bits from his scale pockets. Rose, the proprietor, was selling several different bouquets which were set up offering a wonderful view of her selection. Spike knew the one he wanted: a spectacular bouquet of twelve white roses. Rose only had these once a week and before anypony else could, he made his purchase and left with a large grin on his face.
Spike was soon standing in front of the door of Carousel Boutique, noting that he found himself her frequently as of late. He raised his hand slowly, knocking hard against the door.
Rarity had gotten up early today as well; she would have to leave later that day a set of measurements from the spa twins who were looking to go to Fillydelphia on business. She was just starting her breakfast when she heard the knocking at her front door. She couldn't imagine who would want to see her this early. She used her magic to straighten out her mane and slowly approached the front door in he favorite robe. Opening it slowly, she smiled as she realized who it was and asked, “Spikey, what are you doing up so early?”
“Well, Rarity, I thought I would bring you this lovely bouquet, and ask if you'd like to go to dinner with me tonight at L'Astrotance.”Spike looked into her eyes gently and couldn't help but be taken away by the blue sapphires in her eyes.
Rarity had been just about to answer when from the side of both of them. Came a loud shout, “Spike! Oh, Spi~ike, it's been ages. I've missed you so much. Especially after that great gift you gave me.”The mare that had sounded the shout was galloping up to the pair of ponies who were now both blushing a bit. She had a long flowing red mane and tail with purple accents her amethyst eyes were accentuated by the eggshell color to her coat, her cutie mark was a silver moon with three stars under it, and her name was Moondancer.
“M... Moondancer? Gosh I haven't seen you for almost five years now. I thought Princess Celestia gave you a very good diplomatic position after graduation. Didn't sound like I'd see for a very long time,” Spike said this as though she was a dear friend, yet Rarity had never even heard of this mare.
“Excuse me, 'Moonprancer' was it? I was just about to accept the dinner invitation of my very dear friend, Spikey Wikiey here.”Rarity moved to put a hoof on Spikes shoulder before continuing in her calm cool collected tone, “ Maybe, you should just catch up another time.”
“It's 'MoonDancer' maybe you're loosing your hearing I hear that comes with age for an old mare like you. Spike, please don't tell me this is the girl you keep telling me about in your letters. I studied dragons more than anypony at school. It's why I was asked to be Princess Celestia's personal envoy to the Dragon Empire. You know even though you didn't show up at the party I was always glad I got your gift Spike.” Moondancer looked back at Spike with the bright eyes of shining shimmering youth, putting her own hoof against his other shoulder.
“Old mare, indeed. Isn't that the pot calling the kettle black. I don't know who you are but Spike is my friend just as much as he is yours. I'm not going to just sit back while you try to scoop him out of my arms and into yours.”Rarity said with a slight huff moving up to Spike and giving him a gentle kiss right on the lips.
Spike could only respond to Rarity's motions with a gentle touch to the side of her face.
“Get away from him!” Moondancer cried and charged at Rarity sending both ponies to the ground tumbling around and wrestling a bit.
Spike watched for a moment before shaking his head and letting out a roar that would wake everypony else in Ponyville, “ENOUGH LADIES!” He reached down and pulled the two apart and looked down at them disapprovingly.
“Rarity, If we're going to dinner tonight I don't want to see anything from this morning so please go inside and get cleaned up. It's not the right time I hoped for, but I love you.”Spike turned his head to face Moondancer once Rarity was inside. “Moondancer, you were my first friend beyond Twilight and I will always respect and cherish that fact. I'm honored that you've dedicated yourself to leaning and understanding dragons just for me. Right now I just don't know who that pony was who attacked my friend Rarity, but it wasn't my friend, Moondancer. We'll always be friends, Moondancer no matter where we are.” Spike moved and gave her a big warm hug as he felt the tears starting to roll down her cheeks and onto his shoulders.“Twilight should be up now, why don't you go visit with her I want to talk to Rarity more directly some. I do want to catch up with you though if you can stay till tomorrow I'd like to take you to dinner as well so we can spend time catching up.”
With that Spike let go of Moondancer and slowly moved into Carousel Boutique, “Rarity, where are you?”
“Up here, Spikey,” Rarity called out from her bedroom.
When Spike had finished climbing the stairs he entered her bedroom and looked out into the bedroom to find that Rarity had cleaned herself up and was wearing the fire ruby necklace she had made from his gift to her. He smiled a bit and came up to her from behind and put a hand out to touch her shoulder and said, “Rarity, Moondancer is a good friend of mine. She shouldn't have attacked you, and I hope you can forgive me. Rarity, please just tell me if you love me too.”''
Rarity brought her hooves around his neck and then nuzzled his cheeks gently bringing her muzzle up to his ear frills whispering, “Spike, my dear friend. How could I not love everything about you? No matter what you do, you're always my hero, my knight in shining armor.” She finished her statement with a kiss to his lips again.
Spike put his arms around her as he held her close to his body and he stroked her backside letting the kiss last.
Moondancer saw a silhouette, a pony and a dragon kissing, on the upper most window as she walked away from Carousel Boutique; which caused a simple tear fell from her cheek while continuing on to Golden Oaks Library. She had waited too long.