Chapter 6
The sun settled into its usual resting place on the horizon as it gave way for the moon and stars to shine bright and conquer the heavens. The resplendent orb brought forth by Princess Luna shone with striking beauty, and mesmerized those who bothered to take notice of it. Rarity had always admired the intricate beauty of the night, although she'd never admit her preference of Luna's creation over Celestia's auroral day.
It wasn't so much the complexity of the design that the princess bothered herself with, but the simplicity in its essence that drew a dreamy sigh from her lips every time she gazed towards the stars. Such a crime it would be, to rob the night of its sparkling inhabitants, to blind the moon and stars and leave a dark cloth draped over the skies above. The moon, the centerpiece in the marvelous visage, cast the gentle reflected light of a sun long-gone, and surrounded by many a-twinkling stars, revealed the world in a different light. A soft, tender light that brought out a silver glow, a shining spirit, from everything, and everypony.
To Rarity, it seemed that no matter who it was, or what it was, under the compassionate gaze of the moon, it shone bright despite whatever faults it held. And maybe, just maybe, that was why she found solace in the silent night. The moonlight entered, even now, only an hour after the sun had fallen to its cradle, through her silky curtains and illuminating her bodouir, perfecting her reflection in the mirror in many ways. Her eyes met her own, and her thoughts once again returned, as uneasy as always, and profoundly troubling as they'd never cease to be.
She was beautiful, that much she, and most any pony, could attest to. The moonlight made it even more so, and she always felt a bit irked at the fact that nopony could ever really appreciate her in such a light. The silver aura made her white coat shine bright like the stars huddled around the moon; the violet waves in her mane and tail seemed to flow almost ethereally around her, and her eyes... Her eyes sparkled with an intensity that rivaled even Fluttershy's stare, and she knew why it was; she could feel the reason for her uneasiness deep within the folds of her anguished spirit.
No matter how brightly the moon shone, no matter how beautiful she made herself look, nothing ever seemed to really bring out the best in her. Despite her looks, her generosity and cultured sense of things, there was something inside of her that longed to be free, yet remained locked in her heart, repressed by a lack of... something.
And that was where the vicious cycle of self-doubting and reflection ended and began. What did she really want? What did she need? Who was she, really, beneath her glamorous surface? She felt that something was missing, a part of her own soul, tarnished and hidden deep within, awaiting the arrival of the catalyst that would jump-start her heart and spirit. And so she justified her quest for beauty, grace, and love. There were no other reasons, and she didn't really need any. Not to go through with things, at least. She'd never be content until her questions were answered, but that didn't mean she'd simply give up on it. She'd try to come up with her own answers, in whatever way possible.
The red waxy substance met her lips, and smoothly ran over them, as an assortment of personal products covered her face and bosom, matching her skin to the outfit she'd set aside. After quite literally years of practice, everything moved in a perfectly synchronized manner, not blotches or errors or clashes of color as she perfected her complexion. It was all second nature to her, and she took advantage of her magic's innate memory of movements, and risked a few glances back towards the clock, beneath which lay her gown.
Even in the dim light, the black fabric shone with the reflection of the moonlight on it's intertwined silver threads, giving it the appearance of an entire galaxy trapped inside its folds. She'd only finished it recently, and so hadn't had the opportunity to show it off quite yet. However, the idea wasn't a new one. A few months back, when Twilight had invited her to go stargazing, something which she hadn't been too keen on doing, due to the whole "outdoors-experience" idea, she'd been able to witness some of the most amazing sight anypony could ever witness. Just outside of Ponyville, where the Southern Plains ended, and the Crescent Valley formed around the placid lake at its center, where the luminous pollution was virtually non-existant, entire galaxies adorned the skies in ways she would've never dreamed possible. It wasn't just mere specks of light, but swirling nebulae and enormous galaxies all meshed together perfectly in the dark fabric of space. Every now and then, a blazing meteor would streak across, leaving a fading ripple of light in its wake.
It truly was a magnificent sight to behold, and she'd tried to thank Twilight for giving her the opportunity to share in the experience. However, she wouldn't have it. Quite literally, in fact. Twilight had spent the entire night with a dreamy stare fixed upon the cosmos, and no matter what she did, she was simply lost in the stars. It had been fun nonetheless, although she'd found it odd that Twilight had invited only her, and when questioned about it, she'd simply said the others hadn't been interested. When Pinkie and Rainbow and AJ and Fluttershy weren't interested in spending quality time with friends, Rarity didn't know, but she'd decided not to probe, and simply enjoy the evening.
As for the dress, it had originally started out as a way to thank Twilight for the opportunity. However, as it developed into something much more than just a simple evening gown, Rarity had decided to dedicate a little more effort to it, as she recognized the potential for the dress. It was so much more than just a dress, it was the incarnation of the universe molded to her form, laced with silver and gold thread, and speckled with diamond dust in strategic cuts. It was a work of art, and she'd give her masterpiece the attention it deserved at the most important event in Ponyville that summer. As for Twilight's gift, she'd have to give that a bit more thought afterwards.
The Summerwind Theatre was the biggest event in Ponyville every summer, especially since the Summer Sun Celebration lost a bit of its dramatic flare after everything that'd happened. Everypony who was old enough, and smart enough, to stay awake, presented themselves in all their glory, and even a few Canterlot ponies bothered themselves with the trip south to watch the spectacle. That, and of course, her friends never missed it for anything. They rarely missed any important or semi-important cultural events, and were always more than happy to simply meet for no reason whatsoever to spend time with each other. It was always the highlight of her day. Her thoughts meandered and contemplated her friends for a bit, and soon, she was capable of thinking of nothing else.
And soon enough, the thoughts turned into troubling reflections on her betrayal, her selfish purposes for breaking a promise to her friends.
But it was justified, wasn't it? Perhaps Twilight and Pinkie didn't agree, or even understand why she would be willing to commit such a heinous act. Perhaps they'd give her a sermon about the importance of keeping a promise, or simply let it go after a few days of their childish silent treatments. Whatever the consequences, she had to do it. It was her chance to find that something that she longed for, that somepony who could make her shine the way the sun made the moon shine bright in the night sky.
As the last of the eyelashes were placed in their respective spots, and the bottle of perfume settled back onto the dresser, there came an abrupt knock of wood from downstairs, perfectly punctual as it should've been.
“Coming!” Rarity exclaimed, keeping her volume in check, but in such a way that whoever was at her door could hear her.
With one fell swoop, she removed her silk robe and allowed for it to float gently down upon her bed, turning towards the stairs and descending to the lower floor of the boutique. As she walked closer to the door, her hoofsteps counted down the precious seconds to double- and even triple-check everything. Her eyes darted to and fro, making sure everything was in its place. The fine china was safely tucked away inside the glass cabinet, the cloths and fabrics draped delicately over their respective stands, the floors were clean and not a dust bunny in sight; everything was perfectly presentable, and she breathed a little easier as she approached to door, already grabbing the handle with a magical aura.
Slowly, the door opened, and in it's wake appeared the image of a dashing stallion, the very same one that had so often graced her boutique for quite a few fittings, the one who truly seemed to match her description of the “perfect stallion”, and had finally asked her out to a romantic dinner in the park. The one who she was hoping would be unlike all the previous suitors, his silver coat shining in the pitch black darkness. Every aspect of him, be it physical or otherwise, only seemed to reinforce her opinion of him.
Still, Twilight's reminder lingered in her mind. Would this turn out to be yet another failure at romance? Was she perhaps cursed with misfortune? Was she destined to spend the rest of her life in somber solitude, never finding a suitor, simply another old mare with her cat, hiding away in Ponyville?
“Wow... You look stunning!”
She was brought back into reality by the deep voice that came from just outside her door, and she blushed madly as she realized she'd been to busy daydreaming to even bother with her date. She clumsily stepped aside, eyes darting from Topline to the floorboards, remaining fixated on the latter for longer periods of time.
“Thank you! P-Please, do come in!”
Rarity allowed herself a content smile as her suitor contemplated her fine establishment under this new light. Even she had to admit everything looked quite different at that time of night, illuminated by a fading candle here and there. Perhaps it was the flickering of the flames, or the permeating moonlight that made the entire boutique look completely different. Or, then again, perhaps it was simply the company, the situation, the atmosphere itself.
Although not too keen on interrupting Topline's appraisal of her home and shop, a quick glance at the clock confirmed her fears. And fashionably late simply didn't exist in theater. Arriving after the curtains had been drawn would be absolutely humiliating, and so her fear or humiliation overpowered her love of compliments for a brief moment.
Rarity let out a polite cough, and immediately won over Topline's undivided attention, giving her the slightest twinge of satisfaction. He turned a smile in her direction, his sleek black mane undulating ever-so slightly before returning to its perfect place. She blinked away her admiring stare and focused on the essence of time once more.
“Give me a few minutes to get ready and we can get going.” She said in the most amicable tone she could possibly muster. She turned towards the stairs, but her gaze remained fixed on Topline, awaiting some sign of approval or dissuasion.
Neither came, and he simply smiled and nodded, quickly turning away to continue admiring her latest works. The apparent lack of attention focused on her was a tad unsettling. But then again, the last thing she wanted was a needy, obsessive male who refused to give her her own space. Still, she was used to males granting her their undivided attention. This newfound attitude was strange, but not entirely unpleasant. Actually, it was quite a bit alluring. She felt the need to get the attention back, whatever it took, and a challenge was always welcome when it came to attraction. Thoughts of future dates and seductive tactics swam in her head while she ascended the staircase towards her bedroom.
It didn't take her ten minutes to get in her dress and triple-check herself in the mirror. She stepped out into the warm light of a nearby candle where Topline stood, silently appreciating the brush strokes of an old painting, her soft hoofsteps gently drawing his attention towards her desired target. Her. The effect was immediate, and one that filled Rarity with hidden pleasure and satisfaction. His jaw almost hit the floorboards, and his eyes absorbed every detail on her, unblinking. A smile broke out across her face that she simply couldn't hold back.
“Wow..... I mean, you look.... Wow....”
“Stunning? You said that once before, dear. Now, shall we get going?” Rarity asked, this time not waiting for a response before turning and heading out the door.
Topline followed silently, remembering to shut his mouth only once the cool nighttime air made its way into his lungs. With a click, Rarity locked the door, and waited patiently for her companion that evening to join her side. However, Topline hesitated for a bit, standing beside the door, and before she could question his behavior, a single red rose emerged from a nearby bush, and floated before her, swaying with the breeze.
With as simple a gesture as the handing of a flower, all of her doubts implanted by Twilight and Pinkie vanished. If she'd known how soon they'd return, she might have reflected on them for a while longer.
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The dry earth, although practically nonexistent in the surrounding darkness, was already deeply scarred by Spike's incessant scratching. Ever since his claws had grown dagger sharp, he'd acquired what some would call a bad habit or scratching at hard surfaces. It served him twofold. For one, it kept his claws somewhat blunt, which was difficult since dragon claws were naturally razor-sharp. And it also served as a great distraction for his motor functions as his brain switched into automatic while pondering the more difficult schemes of life.
If someone bothered to look very closely at the seemingly random collection of scratches on the ground, they might find that the scratches actually spelled out several names. Six to be exact, six names of six amazing, wonderful, absolutely unforgettable ponies that were the entire purpose to his life. He couldn't imagine living a life where he couldn't call them his friends, and yet, here he was, contemplating that very thing.
He was older now, smarter, wiser. Sure, he was still a young-adult in pony-year terms, and barely a hatchling in comparison to a common dragon. However, perhaps it had been the scholarly way he'd been brought up, or maybe his species was keen on philosophy, but no matter the reason, thinking was second-nature to him. And now that he'd finally made his decision, finally confronted his feelings for Rarity, there were really only a few plausible outcomes. Most ended the same way, and he'd been thinking about the worst-case scenario all through that evening since her visit to the library.
It wasn't something he was looking forward to; on the contrary, every single fiber of his being hoped that everything would turn out fine, if not magnificently. However, if the odds were true, if her reaction was anything but sheer joy, Spike knew he wouldn't be able to bear living with the shame. Even worse, he wouldn't be able to live in the same town as Rarity, knowing they might bump into each other during the most casual of occasions.
Spike rolled over, the blades of grass tickling his soft skin between the hardened scales on his back. His weary eyes scanned the skies above, the intricately designed ceiling hanging above everypony's heads. It was times like these, although not too often, that he wished he knew whether or not his kind ever developed wings. It would be an enormous relief to be able to soar through the clouds and feel the wind on his scales, letting his worries flow with the currents for a while.
For now however, he was stuck on the ground, where all he could do was release a frustrated puff of smoke into the night air. He could feel scrutinizing stares coming from several ponies nearby, most likely due to fear, or resentment, or both. He tried to do as Twilight had encouraged, and simply ignore their whispers and glances, but he couldn't help but feel the bitter sting of discrimination. It hurt of course, that the ponies he'd grown up to call his friends, would doubt him simply due to his being a dragon.
A leaf from the tree under which his best friends were huddled under, detached from its branch and fluttered down towards him. His emotions got the better of him, and he engulfed it in a brilliant emerald flame, causing quite a clamor around him and earning the attention of Twilight and her friends.
“Spike...” She said in a condescending tone, lifting herself from the picnic blanket and trotting over to him.
“Yeah, yeah, I know... But I'm not sorry.”
Twilight halted in her steps, almost flinching at his tone. With everything on his mind, he didn't really have the heart to care about whether or not some ponies got scared over a little fire. And he most certainly wasn't going to withstand another of Twilight's lectures. Not now, when the show was just a few minutes until curtain.
“Come on Spike, you might as well try to enjoy yourself,” Twilight said, casting a sad glance his way.
Spike matched her expression, allowing his doubts and pains to show through his hard emotional shell as he sat up. His tail instinctively wrapped around his body, trying to protect himself from whatever was causing him such angst. Their eyes met, and they shared in the painful silence for a few seconds before a few gasps and exclamations from their friends drew their attention towards the northeast path.
Spike's eyes widened and he felt his heart skip a few beat more than was healthy as he watched the most beautiful progression in the world walk towards them. Rarity paced herself gracefully, head held high, fully conscious of the attention she was getting as she made her way towards a nearby spot on the grass. Her usual magnificent complexion was highlighted by her choice of dress. A long, flowing gown accentuated her outline while maintaining a mystical aura around it, as it swirled and shone like the very galaxies it was meant to resemble. Her eyes never met his own, but Spike knew, as he'd always known, that they were her most beautiful feature. The way they shone in any light, the intensity they bore, the sheer passion that could be felt from just a lingering glance, always left him speechless.
However, his blood soon began to pump once again, rather agitatedly, as Rarity's companion for the evening, that so called Toprun or whatever, trotted up from behind her. Despite the utter hatred he felt towards this pony that he'd never even met, he had to admit it did seem to make sense at first sight that he and Rarity would be together. He had a certain haughty aura that most Canterlot ponies seemed to share, with a smooth, oily black mane and a shining silver coat, he matched perfectly with Rarity's refined tastes. That, and of course, the custom-tailored suit he bore, no doubt a work of Rarity's based on the stitching on the hems and the signature cuff-links she always provided.
They chose a spot quite a distance away from them, although Rarity had at least bothered to acknowledge them with a half-hearted wave of her hoof. She would probably be feeling a bit guilty over ditching her friends, no doubt, but as Spike cast a glance over to the other five ponies sitting atop the checkered blanket, he could see nor sense no ill-feeling towards her.
The moon was directly overhead by this time, and even the wind seemed to have died down, meaning only one thing. The show was about to start, and the audience would have a few more short minute to prepare for the spectacle. Last chance to find a spot, get settled in, and claim their playbills. For Spike, it only meant one thing.