“Honestly, Twilight, out of all the times you choose to help, now you’re ready?”
It was just after twelve o’clock. Twilight stood by the center-left bookshelves, with a veterinarian textbook still floating over her shoulder as she tried not to look Spike in the eye. The baby dragon stood dead center in the library. His claws had turned into tiny fists as he spoke. And she didn’t like the way his pupils had narrowed into cat-like slits. Not one bit.
“I-I know how this must look, but we only want what’s best for you.” Twilight paused as she finished putting the book back on the Very Special Somepony’s Shelf. “It only seems fair to help you win Rarity’s heart now that she’s—”
“Now that she’s confessed she’s had feelings for you this whole time?” Spike’s left eye started to twitch. Now Twilight was beginning to see what everypony else saw whenever she got onto one of her panic attacks. “I don’t want your pity, Twilight. I wanted to win Rarity fair and square. I wanted to prove my love for her. Is that so hard to understand?”
A thousand arguments poured through Twilight’s mind, all trying to justify her decision. All trying to console him like a mother with an angry child. But she couldn’t make the words come out. She couldn’t bear to have Spike look at her this way. The icy glare reminded her of the cockatrice’s stare before it had turned her to stone. It reminded her of the giant red dragon that had breathed out a constant plume of foul smoke and ash from the mountaintop.
And when she thought of those moments, she remembered that it was Fluttershy who’d saved her on both occasions. Poor Fluttershy, whom even her friends kept underestimating, always forgetting how strong she really was until the danger was at its worst.
Something that she and Spike had in common.
I deserve it, she thought. When did I ever treat his affections for Rarity as anything but a joke? All I ever thought was, well, he’s still a kid…
Then, an idea came to her. Twilight turned her back and faced the nearest shelf, organizing her thoughts carefully. She forced herself to listen to Spike’s angry breathing behind her. If she waited long enough, she picture the daggers he was glaring into her back.
“You’re right,” Twilight said. “You deserved better from me. I’m sorry I didn’t see it sooner.”
“What?”
“I said you were right. You’ve always loved Rarity. And what did I ever do except laugh it off?”
“I…” When Twilight turned around, Spike’s mouth was hanging open. His clenched fists suggested he was caught somewhere between fury and sorrow. “No, I mean, you… you did try to help. You were always there for me, Twilight.”
She shook her head and trotted to his side, trying not to set off any triggers or alarm bells as she moved. When he didn’t run off, Twilight gently pulled him into a long and tight hug. It didn’t surprise her in the least when he started to cry into her chest. She patted her head, hoping to express all her affection for him in a single kind gesture.
Maybe Fluttershy was finally starting to rub off on her, after all.
“Don’t forget,” she whispered, “you were there for me when I needed help with Fluttershy. I was scared and depressed, but you never left my side. Not once. How could I not do anything less for my number one assistant?”
“Th-thank you,” Spike blubbered into her chest. Twilight felt every tear streak through her coat, but she didn’t mind. She’d gone through plenty of that when she raised him as a hatchling. So she continued to stroke his scales and bent down to kiss the top of his head.
As soon as Spike started to let up on his sobbing, Twilight nudged his face up and gave him a tender smile. Had to be careful with how she phrased this. “So how about I make you a…” Her grin slipped a little when she pictured the dish in her head. “A sapphire sundae… and then we’ll work on a plan for courting Rarity, okay?”
“Heh.” Spike wiped a tear from his eye. Twilight immediately wanted to give him another hug; he was just too cute. “All right. A-and thank you, Twilight.”
“Anytime, kiddo.”
While she guided Spike toward the kitchen, Twilight felt a connection growing inside her heart. It was like looking through a microscope at a leaf and seeing a whole new universe on its surface. She finally understood everything Spike had gone through over his crush on Rarity. All she’d needed was to experience romance herself—and to see how much better her life was once she’d found it.
How could I not want to help him find that love, too?
Warm water cascaded down Fluttershy’s back, filling her with such joy that she thought she was going to evaporate into steam herself. After a very long day and night of being sick and in bed, she needed this. She needed a spa day more than ever. Even more than the sweet embrace of her marefriend—and in Fluttershy’s mind, nothing could compare to any moment sitting beside to Twilight.
“Ahh, yes, c’est magnifique!” Rarity exclaimed. Her head floated just above the surface of the hot tub, a cute little swan with a freshly washed and primped mane.
Fluttershy giggled, but the sound of Rarity’s voice did bring her around to a troubling thought she’d been wrestling with all morning.
For the longest time, she’d often wondered about Rarity’s affectionate nature. Of course it was obvious that she was a generous pony at heart; even poor and clumsy mares like Derpy Hooves weren’t immune from a token or gift of Rarity for the hard work they did in town. But whenever she was with Fluttershy, the fashionista seemed to be far more expressive. Far more likely to stroke Fluttershy’s mane or nuzzle her during a conversation. Nothing that Fluttershy couldn’t tolerate—or even enjoy—but she’d had her suspicions.
If you loved me, thought Fluttershy as she looked over at her friend’s smiling face, you really should’ve said something, you silly filly. I’m the one who’s supposed to be shy and quiet, remember?
Standing beside the tub, Vera took a ladle into her mouth and poured in another dash of cold water. Steam blossomed into the air, surrounding the two ponies in the tub like an embrace. A friendly embrace, Fluttershy thought, and nothing more than that.
She looked over at Rarity, still floating away in her own happy world. It’d be rude to disturb her.
But Fluttershy had waited long enough. And Twilight was depending on her to have this talk.
“Um, Rarity?” With her hoof, Fluttershy gently pushed on the surface of the water, sending a ripple in her friend’s direction. “Sorry to bother you, but there’s something I want to ask.”
“But, of course!” Ever so gracefully, the unicorn rose up from the tub within a fountain of steam. Fluttershy took a moment to admire her luxurious coat and mane. Never let it be said that the spa ponies didn’t do a fantastic job every time.
Her ears drooped as she looked away from Rarity. “Oh, dear. How do I put this?”
“Just say what’s in your heart, love.” Rarity’s voice had dropped an octave, now softer and inviting. “It’s worked wonders for me.”
Fluttershy squeaked, but she nodded in agreement.
“Okay,” she continued. Turning to Rarity, she smiled. Be brave, Shy, Twilight’s voice murmured inside her head.
“Okay. There’s something that I wanted to ask you. Something I thought I could help you with.”
“Fluttershy, I’d be delighted. When have I ever refused your help?”
“Well, you still might. I-I wanted to help you find your very own…” Fluttershy swallowed and winced. Her throat was still a teensy bit sore from the cold she’d had the day before. “Your very own very special somepony.”
“Oh.” The word fell from Rarity’s lips like a stone in a pond. And like that stone, the hoof she dropped into the tub sent out an endless series of ripples.
Fluttershy squeezed her eyes shut, retreating to the other side of the tub. “Eep! No, I’m sorry! I-I shouldn’t have said anything! Please forgive me!”
More water splashing. Now Rarity was at Fluttershy’s side, sliding one hoof around her shoulders. “Hush, darling. I’m not mad at you. I could never be mad at you, I promise.”
“You’re not?” Fluttershy peeked one eye open, searching her friend’s smiling face.
Rarity shook her head. “No. In fact, I’m flattered you’d want to help me. That’s so generous, even for you.” She tilted her head, giving Fluttershy a more knowing smile. “But I have to ask, did Twilight put you up to this? Because if so, then I think see where this is going.”
All Fluttershy could do in response was blush. It wasn’t just the steam turning her face red.
“Oh, my.” Rarity blinked, her mouth still hanging open. “You want to set me up on a date with… Spike?”
“O-only if you want to,” Fluttershy quickly amended. She leaned into Rarity’s shoulder, nudging her in the same way that the cats back at the cottage did when they wanted attention. “You can say no. We’ll understand.”
While the steam around them began to dissipate, Rarity looked away into the tub. Fluttershy had no idea what to do at this point. She’d planned out a few different scenarios with Twilight, but she couldn’t think of a single one. All she could do was sit and wait. But that was fine. She did plenty of that during the hibernation period in winter, when she had the cottage to herself.
“Listen,” said Rarity. “It’s not that I don’t appreciate Spike. He’s quite a lovely little dragon. I just don’t know if we’re… right for each other.”
Fluttershy nodded. “But you’ve known how he feels about you. Maybe you could just give him one date and see where it goes?” Memories of a lovely picnic and an awkward flight home made Fluttershy blush as she added, “I-it worked for me and Twilight.”
Technically, it was still true. But it wasn’t the picnic that brought them together. It was Nightmare Night and being curled up against Twilight with a book of poetry. She’d give anything to relive that moment over and over again.
In a heartbeat, she added a note to ask Twilight about another late-night poetry reading. Maybe even an outdoor one, if Fluttershy was persistent enough. Her wings fluttered below the water in anticipation of that evening…
“But we’re so incompatible, dearest.” Rarity spread her hooves out in a shrug. “What could we possibly talk about over dinner?”
“Whatever you want,” Fluttershy insisted. Thinking about another quiet evening with Twilight made her feel empowered. She could afford to be a little more assertive now. Assertive without being unpleasant. “Think about everything you said you admired about Twilight when you first met her.”
“Where do I even begin?” Rarity murmured. Though she turned away, her expression reminded Fluttershy of a hurt filly. “A beautiful and brilliant mare from the greatest city in Equestria. And she’s better than anypony I’ve ever met who’s from Canterlot. Beauty, brains, and bravery in one chic ensemble.”
Fluttershy touched her shoulder, rubbing it with the slightest amount of pressure. “Well, if you think about… that could describe Spike, too.”
“Yes, I suppose…” Rarity’s answer trailed off into stunned silence. Her head whipped around so fast that Fluttershy feared she might have hurt herself. She found herself gazing into Rarity’s enlarged eyes.
“Oh, I see!” said the unicorn. She tapped her wet hoof against the side of her face and giggled. “How could I not have seen it before? He’s her companion, after all! Her dear little companion. Oh, this is just marvelous!”
Fluttershy giggled. Marvelous was the highest compliment a pony like Rarity could bestow. She knew it was working.
“Will you let me help you, then?” she asked, refusing to slink back or look away like before.
Rarity’s face lit up like a candle. “Yes, Fluttershy. Of course I want your help!”
Suddenly her hooves were wrapped around Fluttershy, squeezing her tightly. The pressure didn’t bother her one bit. It was nothing compared to the steel-trap hug of a full-grown manticore.
Sinking back into the water and deeper into Rarity’s hug, Fluttershy smiled to herself. This spa day had gone better than she could’ve hoped. For a moment, she pictured Twilight in her library, talking to Spike and giving him the same kind of embrace.
I hope your day’s going just as well, Fluttershy prayed.
The aroma of garlic bread and fresh soup hung in the air at Le Abreuvoir, tantalizing every pony who passed by. Naturally, few could afford an appetizer at the posh restaurant—let alone a full meal—which led to a few well-educated ponies nicknaming it “Le Au Revoir.” Oh, the joke went, you don’t have enough bits to cover your bill, Monsieur? Au revoir!
Garçon didn’t care for the joke, but he did take pride in his work. Greeting everypony who came to dine, serving every course from soup to entrée to dessert, and cleaning up after such gentlefolk until every table was spotless. He may have lived in a tiny house on Sunflower Lane, but Le Abreuvoir was his one true home. When he spoke within its marble walls, everypony listened.
But even Garçon was still a servant compared to the restaurant’s more illustrious guests. Case in point: the lovely Twilight Sparkle who came trotting through the fine glass doors, followed by her assistant Spike.
He’d rarely seen the new princess show up without the company of her friend Rarity. He’d become so used to their visits over the last year, all their brunches and afternoon teas. Compared to the intimidating presence of an older princess like Celestia or Luna, Twilight was far more approachable and always kind. It made the head waiter’s day every time she appeared. But no Rarity? he wondered. How curious…
“Good afternoon,” said Twilight. With a swish of her tail, she nudged Spike ahead of her. “Can we look at a menu?”
Garçon glanced down at the dragon. The little guy was blushing; he didn’t realize dragons were capable of blushing. But then, he was a young drake. And given how many ponies were embarrassed to be seen in such a fine establishment for the first time, Garçon knew how to put them at ease.
“Oh, most certainly!” He bowed his head and reached behind his podium for a menu. “Might I recommend today’s special? It’s foin au poivre with a white wine sauce.”
Spike blinked. “Uh…”
Garçon knew that reaction, too. He leaned down and whispered, “Foin au poivre is hay cooked with a dash of pepper.”
“Oh. Well, why didn’t you say so?”
“Hmph. I believe I did, young fellow.” Alas, not everypony could appreciate elegance. With a stately turn, he looked over at Twilight. “Miss? Have you decided?”
“I think we’ll take two orders of the foin au poivre and a bottle of your finest Pony Blanc wine.” Twilight smiled as she returned the menu. “And if’s not too much trouble, can we get this order for takeout?”
“Takeout?” Garçon stared. Did the princess have no conception of where she was standing? He glanced between her and the dragon, trying to read their blank friendly expressions. Was this some kind of joke? “Miss, I’m afraid we’re not normally in the business of...” He covered his mouth with his hoof. “Ahem, takeout. We are a five-star restaurant. We serve not just cuisine, but experience. An experience that’d be cheapened if we let every colt and filly waltz in and out with a plastic carton of our finest—”
The jingle of a bag full of coins stopped him cold. Twilight’s eyes slid half-shut as she floated the bag from behind her back and discreetly dropped it on the other side of his podium. Garçon only had to nudge the bag with his hoof to feel how many coins were in there. At least forty-five. Practically a whole week’s wages.
“Ahem,” said Garçon. He drew himself up, remembering his place as a waiter. “A-as I was saying, Your Highness, I-I’m sure I can persuade the chef to make an exception just this once.”
“I thought you might.” Twilight cast a knowing smile to the young dragon. “Well, that takes care of dinner.”
“Provided we get enough gems to cover my hay,” Spike responded, pulling out a long sheet of paper and a quill. “Fabulous dinner for tonight, check!”
Gems? thought Garçon. Such a waste! But then, as so many common ponies who’d dined at Le Abreuvoir had proven, there was no accounting for taste…
Spike gazed at the spread laid out on the library table. He didn’t care as much about the food or the drinks—though the sapphire shards covering the pepper-hay were looking very appetizing—but he saw more than that. He was looking at the empty seat on the other side of the table. A violet velvet cushion fit for a queen. Nothing less would do for his Rarity.
To think, in a few short minutes, she’d actually be sitting there. Right there, across the table from Spike. Having dinner with him. He’d dreamt of that scene so many times and now he was finally about to live it out.
It was amazing how quickly everything came to pass once Twilight had gotten on his side. But then, she had to go through the same with Fluttershy first.
Generosity, Spike thought as he snuck one claw over to spear a piece of sapphire from his plate. Getting Twilight a marefriend helps me get one, too. Rarity would love that—
A rapid-fire triple knock at the door made his heart clench. Spike almost gagged on the sapphire, but he stopped himself and swallowed it whole instead.
“Hnngh!” Spike bent over and coughed. Once his throat was clear again, he grabbed a glass of water from the table and took a quick sip. “Gah! Omigosh, she’s here! Twilight! Twilight, she’s here!”
With a pop, Twilight teleported into the library and patted Spike on the back. “Easy, Spike. It’s not Rarity.”
“W-what do you mean?”
Twilight didn’t say a word. She smiled and tilted her head to the right. As her horn glowed, Spike saw a ball of magenta light appear in the air over the table. A second later, the ball went pop and turned into a trio of pink butterflies.
“Oh,” said Spike. He patted his stomach, suddenly feeling like a hatchling who’d been caught stealing cookies from the jar. “Guess I’m just anxious.”
He felt Twilight’s hoof slide around his shoulders. “And you’ve every right to be. Just sit back and be patient.”
“B-but what do I say? What am I supposed to do once she—?”
“Spike.” Twilight leaned down until she was looking him straight in the eye. He’d seen this pose so many times before, but never this intense. “If I’ve learned one thing from this romance business, it’s that you need to be attentive. Make tonight about her and what she likes.” As she looked up and headed for the front door, Twilight giggled. “Of course, it’ll be different for the two of you. I doubt Rarity’s into reading poetry by the fireplace.”
“Uh, guess not.” Spike glanced around the library. Maybe there was a book or two that Rarity would enjoy. She did like some of the Daring Do books after all—though he was more partial to the Sky Sonnet series. He could picture the two of them getting excited over dinner, and as the candles burned lower, their eyes would meet and then—
“Hello!” said Fluttershy once Twilight opened the door. The pegasus trotted to the side and lifted a triumphant hoof. “Look who I’ve brought with me!”
Spike froze. His eyes locked on Rarity, who stood just behind Fluttershy. Gorgeous and well-coifed as ever.
On second thought, he didn’t need to say a word. It’d be enough just to gaze upon her beauty all night long.
“Welcome!” said Twilight, sweeping her hoof across her chest as she bowed. “I wish you the two the best of luck on your date tonight.”
“Why, thank you, darling,” Rarity replied. She trotted over to Spike, who was now conscious of the way he’d been staring. By the time she reached him, he recomposed himself and stood up straight, picturing Shining Armor during his Royal Guard training days. And why not? Shining Armor had been lucky enough to find Cadance. Maybe that confidence was all Spike needed, too.
“Hello… Rarity.” Spike clasped his claws behind his back. “You’re looking lovely.”
“Oh, you’re too kind, Spikey—” Rarity’s eyes widened briefly. She pressed a hoof to her lips and giggled. “Hmm. No. Just Spike, I suppose. Much more mature-sounding.”
“Uh, yeah. Mature! Heh, that’s me.” But mentally, Spike was slapping himself. Stupid, stupid, stupid! Try harder!
Rarity giggled again. “Well, Twilight, I don’t suppose you—” She frowned and looked around the library. “Twilight?”
The next thing they heard was the front door closing and being locked from the outside. And a pair of mischievous laughs from the other side of the door.
Spike swallowed. Now he had no plan and no backup. Which, when he thought about it, was just business as usual on most of his adventures with the gang.
And what could be more adventurous than his very first date?
“Won’t you sit down?” he asked, waving a claw toward the table.
Fluttershy giggled as she raced after Twilight. Spreading their wings at the same time, they took to the skies, soaring together just like they did in their last shared dream—which reminded Fluttershy to write a letter to Princess Luna in gratitude for arranging that. Twilight was laughing out loud as she reached for Fluttershy and grabbed her hoof, pulling up into the cloud layer with surprising ease. It made Fluttershy proud to see how excellent a flier her marefriend was becoming. She would never have flown this high with anypony but Rainbow Dash before.
Higher and higher they rose, their laughter turning to an eager silence as Twilight and Fluttershy landed atop a small white cloud. Fluttershy gave the fluffy white mass a prod. It felt soft like a pillow, but wasn’t wispy. She’d never had this kind of luck at finding such a perfect cloud right away.
There were, she decided, benefits to dating somepony who’d read a lot about meteorology.
“Hurry, Shy,” said Twilight, settling down into the cloud. “We don’t want to miss this!”
Fluttershy snuggled up against her, shifting in place so that there wasn’t any gap between their bodies. It was icy cold this high up, but she couldn’t tell because of how warm Twilight was.
About a mile ahead of them, two pegasi were pushing clouds around for the evening sky. They weren’t anypony that Fluttershy recognized, but they did good work, swiftly kicking apart smaller clouds and rearranging the larger ones. Tonight’s forecast called for a partly cloudy sky with little chance of rain.
None of which could hold back the full moon.
As one pegasus nudged the biggest cloud away, Fluttershy’s breath caught. The moon was revealed in all its majesty, a glorious white sphere with visible craters and the silhouette of a mare’s face. But the Mare in the Moon she saw wasn’t the cruel face of Nightmare Moon. It was the radiant smile of Luna redeemed.
It had taken a long time for Fluttershy to reconcile the fact that Luna was no longer Nightmare Moon, especially after that first Nightmare Night. But how could she stay afraid at somepony who took such good care of the moon and the dreams of other ponies?
“Bit for your thoughts,” Twilight murmured, leaning against Fluttershy’s shoulder.
“I just can’t believe how lucky we are to see this.” Fluttershy slid her wing over Twilight’s back, savoring the warmth and adding some of her own. “I’d have never done this on my own.”
“Really? Not even after all those years in Cloudsdale?”
“Nope. Not even for Rainbow Dash.”
Twilight glanced up at her. “So you’re saying I’m better than Rainbow Dash?”
“No, I… oh, goodness, I’d never think such…” Fluttershy trailed off when she saw the teasing smile on her face. Her brow furrowed. “It’s not nice to tease, Twily.”
And there was that beautiful grin again. “Sorry, Shy. It’s impossible to resist anything with you.”
They sat for a while in silence, watching the moon continue its imperceptibly slow ascent. The clouds in the sky settled into place and the last of the weather teams headed home.
“I hope Rarity and Spike will be okay without us.”
Twilight held up a hoof to cover her yawn. “Of course they will. Those two get along great.”
“But do you really think they’ll hit it off like we did?”
From the side, Twilight flashed an embarrassed smile at her marefriend. “Well, we didn’t exactly it off the first time. I had to give you space, remember?”
“Like it was yesterday.” Fluttershy sighed and slid her hooves around Twilight. “I could cuddle with you forever, Twilight.”
“Yeah… cuddle.” Twilight looked down at her hooves. A sudden tension had popped up along her back. Fluttershy could feel it underneath her grip.
“I-is something the matter?”
“I’m not sure how to put this.” When Twilight finally looked up, her eyes were large and sad. It was a needle driving through Fluttershy’s heart. Just like the expression she’d worn on their first picnic together, when Fluttershy had broken her heart. And I’ll never do it again, she vowed.
“Take your time,” she said out loud. “We don’t need to be anywhere else.”
A shiver passed along Twilight’s back, ruffling the feathers on Fluttershy’s wing. “Okay. So you know how we’ve been going steady for a couple of months and it’s been really, really nice?”
“Oh no.” Fluttershy felt that cold needle in her heart grow twice as thick. “You’re breaking up with me?”
“No!” Twilight was hugging her in a heartbeat, squeezing her tight against her chest. “No, no, no! I never want to lose you, Shy! I promise I’d never do that to you!”
“Oh…” Fluttershy’s heart was racing. That cold spike subsided, but only by a fraction. She looked up into Twilight’s eyes, searching her face for a clue. “Then what’s wrong?”
“What I’m trying to say is that I’m very happy to have you in my life.” Twilight rubbed the back of her head. Her body was getting warmer against Fluttershy’s wing. “I love how often we snuggle by the fire and drink hot chocolate together and go on long walks. It’s wonderful, honestly. But I’ve often wondered if you’d ever consider getting more…” She swallowed. “Uh, more physical. In our relationship.” She ducked her head. “W-with me.”
What Fluttershy wanted to say was Just be patient with me, Twilight, I’m sure we’ll get there eventually. What came out of her mouth instead was a strangled, prolonged squeak that not even a mouse would’ve understood. The longer she squeaked, the deeper into the cloud she sank, trying to wrap its fluff around her like a blanket.
Finally, as the squeak turned the back of her throat into a sharp rasp, Fluttershy was able to croak out. “Oh, my. You… you mean…?”
Twilight giggled. “That’s right.” She spread her wings. “I was hoping you could give me a good preening. I’ve been neglecting it for a while.” A teasing, not-so-innocent smile blossomed over her face. “Unless you’re not ready for that kind of… intimacy.”
“Oh. Right.” Though she was kicking herself mentally for jumping to conclusions—again—Fluttershy examined her marefriend’s wings. Those lovely, sensual wings that only a princess could wear. Wings that no Wonderbolt had ever worn, not even the great Spitfire. And sad to say, there was a layer of debris and loose feathers that needed to be cleared away.
Against her will, Fluttershy’s tongue stuck out the corner of her mouth as she stared at Twilight’s beautiful wings. Or rather, wings that she could make beautiful again, using nothing but her teeth and a little pegasus magic.
“O-okay,” Fluttershy whispered. She took hold of the nearest wing and shuddered. “Here goes nothing…”
“So…” Spike stretched out the word as long as he could, acutely aware of the silence in the library. The long shadows cast by the candles on the table didn’t help much. They weren’t nearly as romantic as he’d imagined. “So. How’s your day been?”
Rarity finished chewing on her hay and dabbed her mouth with a napkin. “Mm. Just lovely, thank you for asking. I feel so much better after a spa day with Fluttershy. She makes for such good company, don’t you think?”
Spike nodded, jumping for joy inside. At least Fluttershy was somepony they could talk about. “Yeah, she’s pretty nice. Just having her around here makes the day go by smoothly.”
“Oh?” Rarity leaned forward onto her elbows. “Do tell, darling. I never tire of hearing how she and Twilight are getting along.” Her eyes lit up like sapphires. “Do they have any wedding plans in the works?”
“Wedding?” Spike laughed. “If they do get hitched, that’s far down the road.” He laughed again, trying to picture the two of them at a wedding chapel. Fluttershy’s half of the chapel would be nothing but woodland creatures, shocking all the Canterlot elite. And Twilight would still be sorting through checklists and panicking right up until she said “I do.”
Then again, it wasn’t the worst idea. The two marefriends had more or less settled down with each other. Ever since Hearth’s Warming Eve, Spike felt like Fluttershy had been more or less adopted into their family.
“Well, I suppose it can’t be helped.” Rarity settled back into her seat and lifted a glass of wine to her lips. “But if they ever do, rest assured I’ve got a whole file full of wedding gown designs and bridesmaid dresses ready to go!”
Spike expected nothing less from the mare of his dreams. He sighed and watched her take a drink. She had poise and grace to match any well-bred mare from Canterlot, but there was something more to Rarity that attracted him to her. Generosity. A deep-rooted conviction to actually help other ponies with no benefit to herself. He could see it in her eyes. He’d seen it on the day they’d met, though he didn’t have the words for it at the time.
“Darling, are you feeling alright?” Her posh voice snapped him out of his trance. Rarity pointed a hoof at his plate. “You’ve barely touched your dinner.”
Just the mention of the word dinner was enough to make Spike’s stomach rumble. He looked down at his plate of foin au poivre. In the five minutes since they’d started eating, he’d picked it clean of the sapphire pieces he’d sprinkled over the hay, but couldn’t stomach the rest. Maybe it was just his nerves.
No. That wasn’t it. He owed Rarity—and himself—the truth.
“I’ll be honest,” said Spike, pushing his plate away. “I’m not much for pony food. But don’t let me stop you from enjoying it.”
The crooked smile on Rarity’s face caught Spike off-guard. She leaned in and whispered, “Well, since we’re sharing secrets, I must admit I’m not fond of this dish myself.”
“Really?”
“Oh, don’t get me wrong. Le Abreuvoir is first-class when it comes to cuisine, but that doesn’t mean they get every dish right.” Rarity pulled back her napkin from the plate, revealing a half-eaten salad and her own barely-touched pepper hay. She gave Spike a conspiratorial wink.
Fantastic. Spike dropped his head against the table. “Argh. I can’t believe I blew it.”
“Don’t worry your sweet little head. I’m just glad you put all this effort into our date.”
“Then tell me.” Spike lifted his eyes, searching that beautiful face for a hint. Some crack in her polite and flawless exterior. “Tell me what you’d like to have instead. I’ll be happy to cook you anything you want. A soufflé. A cake. A croissant. A stack of pancakes. Anything you want!”
Rarity tossed her mane back. “Really, there’s no need—”
Spike couldn’t resist it any longer. In one swift motion, he jumped onto the table, reached forward, and grabbed Rarity’s cheeks by his claws. The unicorn stared in quiet shock as he looked her in the eye.
“Really,” Spike answered. “Anything you want. I want to make this night special for you.”
Nothing came out of Rarity’s mouth, though she worked her lips in vain. It suddenly occurred to Spike how stupid he probably looked and quickly let go of her face. He couldn’t scramble off the table fast enough, even though he ended up putting one foot right into his uneaten salad and almost slipped.
“B-be careful,” Rarity blurted out. She put a hoof to her mouth, watching Spike sit back down on his stool. “I’m so sorry, darling. When you put me on the spot like that, my mind’s a blank. Please don’t go to all that trouble. I can make do with this meal just fine.”
“But if you don’t like it, then why—?”
“Because you offered it, sweetheart.” Rarity beamed. “You and Twilight put that much thought in my dinner. I can’t be upset about that.” As she cast a critical eye at his own plate, she added, “But please, don’t force yourself for my sake. You should have something that you like. I promise I won’t be offended.”
Spike’s stomach growled again, even as he slammed both claws onto it to muffle the sound. That got a light giggle out of Rarity. And the more he looked at her smiling face, the more Spike realized that he had nothing to worry about at all.
And then it hit him. One more way he could be generous with her. One more way to make their night special.
“Stay right there,” said Spike as he jumped off his stool and headed upstairs. “I won’t be long!”
In the farthest recess of the closet that he and Twilight shared in the bedroom was a small gray casket that belonged to Spike. He remembered how happy he’d been when Twilight Velvet bought it for him on his birthday years ago. It was the last birthday present that Spike had gotten for a long time that wasn’t another book from Twilight. But the chest wasn’t as important as what lay inside.
After pushing aside an old mattress and linen they kept for guests, Spike knelt down in front of the casket and pried the lock open. It was strong enough that only a dragon’s claw could pop the chest open, so he never needed a key. As the casket opened, Spike grinned at the rainbow wave of light that washed over his face.
Over two dozen gemstones lay nestled within. Rubies, sapphires, emeralds, diamonds, lapis lazuli, and malachite—all sorted out by color and cut, all chosen for their quality. Spike thought they were the most appetizing things he’d ever seen.
Of course, as soon as he reached down for the first ruby he saw, Spike could hear Twilight’s voice hovering over his shoulder. Now, now, Spike. Just one at a time! You don’t want to get a tummy ache, do you?
Leave me alone, Twilight, Spike retorted. I’m not a hatchling anymore. He grabbed the ruby and one of the largest diamonds. And besides, this isn’t just for me.
Concealing both gems in his claws, Spike kicked the closet door shut and spun around. He beat a quick pace downstairs, so eager that he couldn’t keep from grinning.
Rarity was still waiting at the table. Spike noted that the wine in her glass was almost completely gone now, which made him regret giving her such a poor meal. He’d heard so many stories from Sweetie Belle about what happened when Rarity didn’t watch how much she drank. The best story was the one where she wrapped herself in a blanket and strutted around the boutique, proclaiming herself to be “Princess Platinum, sovereign ruler of Unicornia!”
But Rarity wasn’t the least bit tipsy—so far. Spike gave her a quick smile as he dashed over to the table and held aloft his first prize.
“If it’s all the same to you, we can continue dinner.” He dropped the ruby onto his plate and tied a napkin around his neck. “I’ll be having this!”
“Oh, my.” Rarity gazed down at the gemstone on the bed of hay and lettuce. “You’re really going to eat that…” She blinked. “That magnificent specimen?”
Spike smiled. He’d been hoping she might say something like that.
“Well, I’ve got another for dessert, but I thought you might prefer it instead.” From behind his back, he produced the diamond and set it on the table.
Rarity gasped. “Ohh… oh, goodness… t-that cut…” A blue aura of magic lifted the diamond up to her eyes, twirling it around faster than Spike could track. “Why, it’s flawless! Wherever did you find this, Spike?”
“Dug it up in the backyard. Only took me half an hour.” Spike grinned and lifted the ruby to his mouth for a bite.
His jaw froze on the gem when he felt Rarity suddenly standing beside him. Very slowly, he turned his head and looked up into her warm smiling face.
“You really are too kind,” she said. With one hoof on his cheek, she leaned down and kissed the top of his head. “You’re more of a noble pony than anyone else knows.”
Spike blushed and removed the ruby from his mouth. “Well… you know.”
“I do.” Rarity nudged his face toward hers, and before Spike could even say another word, she leaned in and pecked him softly on the lips.
Time seemed to stop. Spike stared into Rarity’s closed eyes, memorizing every line in her face, every curl in her mane. He could hear his heart pounding against his chest, threatening to escape and run off. He smelled the candles burning and Rarity’s fragrance and it was too much. This was more than he could have ever dreamt of, bigger than any fantasy he’d conjured up.
And it was perfect.
Spike returned the kiss, but his lips were too weak. The shock was overwhelming. He couldn’t stop the ruby from dropping from his claw and hitting the floor with a very loud ding.
“There,” said Rarity once she’d pulled back. Her eyes opened halfway, making her smile all the more alluring. “That’s how you end a date.”
“C-can’t argue with that,” Spike said, fighting his numb tongue. He snapped his jaw shut and picked up the ruby from the floor. “W-was it… I mean, was I… alright?”
Rarity giggled and patted his cheek. “A little smoky, but I don’t mind.”
I don’t mind. Not exactly the three words Spike had been hoping to hear from the mare he loved most, but it was fine. The look on her face was the only answer he needed.