Spike was faced with a conundrum. Or, more specifically, Spike's body. He approached the Carousel Boutique, anxious to see the most creative and illustrious mare in Equestria, the one whose radiance gave Spike's life vision and color, the lovely lady Rarity. Unfortunately, after having one of the most distressing mornings of his life, his body was torn between floating on air or dragging his feet through the dirt. Spike arrived at the door when he realized that a gentle dragon shouldn't bring down a lady with his own anguish and indecision. Spotting a nearby puddle, Spike examined himself, intent on not spreading his attitude to the one he loved.
"Hey Spike," the drake said to his reflection, grinning all the while. "Looking good." He brushed his spines with a claw and made sure to swipe off any excess dirt that remained after a morning filled with aerobics. The problem laid in the fact that dragons were beings of scales, something which isn't too easy or comfortable at keeping clean. And Rarity, although a paragon of elegance and benevolence, could be, to Spike's own admission, a BIT of a drama queen. Thus, he would, unknown to Twilight or anypony else, always spend painstaking hours trying to spruce up his scales before seeing Rarity. At the end of the day, Rarity could be a drama queen as much as she pleased, as long as he got to be her humble servant, and eventually, knight in shining scales.
"Hey," Spike exclaimed in feigned surprise. "Who's that handsome drake?! Hello, guards, there's a handsome looking drake in town! Oh wait, cancel that, it's only me." Spike gave a light laugh, his confidence rising to a level only the toughest of stallions could achieve.
"Spike!" shouted a very elegant voice.
"Ahhh," exclaimed the the young welp, as he fell into the small puddle. Looking up in dismay, he saw a seemingly-worried Rarity, hiding a chuckle behind a raised hoof. "R-Rarity!"
"Spike! Whatever are you doing outside?! Quick, Spike, we must get you inside and dried up!" Rarity's horn glowed her signature blue aura as she brought Spike in, slamming the door. She levitated a sizable towel and dried up Spike, much to his embarrassment. Rarity peered through her window shutters, looking frightened out of her wits.
"Rarity, what's wrong," Spike asked with fear, but mostly concern for the mare of his dreams.
"There is word that there is a dangerous, if not dashing, dragon marauder in town that is out for a prowl." Rarity gave that teasing smile of hers and Spike covered his embarrassment with the towel, clearly seeing where this was going. "I was going to go around town, making sure every mare was safe at home, when I spotted you in this most vulnerable of times. I knew, at once, that we could not allow this ruffian to gaze upon you. Otherwise..." Rarity lifted the towel from Spike's body, who was unaware of how close Rarity was to his face. Oh how ironic that the dragon who found gems a delicacy, would always be eaten up by the most alluring sapphires he had ever seen.
"...he might do something rash out of pure jealousy." Rarity grinned as she received her reward, a babbling dragon whose head seemed to be on fire. Even though Spike did not appreciate it now, he secretly enjoyed the times Rarity teased him, taking it as some sort of tradition they shared together.
"T-thanks Rarity.” Rarity giggled, delighted Spike had no hard feelings for her teasing. Spike, more often than not, was always an incoherent mess after Rarity's teasing.
"Well, I believe that we should be alright for now. So, how can I help you Spike? Or have you come to provide your invaluable services as number one assistant once again?" Spike adopted a look of pride, glad to be known throughout the town as number one assistant.
"I wish I could Rarity." Spike then took on a more reserved attitude. "I'd actually like your help with something." Rarity looked bewildered at his request, thinking something must be serious if he were coming to her for help. Spike noticed this and started stuttering like Fluttershy. "I-If that's okay with you? I really don't want to be a bother."
"Nonsense, darling," replied Rarity. "I'd be more than happy to help. What is it?" Spike looked unsure of himself. He really didn't think this through as he searched for a way to tell her, without actually telling her.
"Well. You see. I...have this friend," Spike said, with pauses in between words. "And, you see, this friend...doesn't know much about...his parents. He's never met them." Spike decided to make the story around a male to prevent Rarity from thinking of Applebloom. "And...I just found out something about this friend of mine. That his...loved ones are hiding something from him, though I don't know what. It doesn't feel right to keep this from him, but his loved ones truly have his best interests in their hearts. I think," Spike said with a hint of bitterness. "I can already see that this is going to end ugly, so what I'm wondering is should I keep meddling further and risk tearing up all the good things he has? Or, should I leave it alone and trust that his...family will tell him the truth eventually?" Spike looked expectantly at Rarity, who seemed to be overloaded with information and trying to make sense of what Spike just told her. Suddenly, a look of realization came over her and she transitioned into a sympathetic look directed at the drake.
"Well...Spike, darling...I would have to ask, how would you feel about the situation if, say, you were in this 'friend's' position?" Spike had somewhat considered this before, but didn't really think his opinions should have an impact upon his decision. He understood how a secret could affect a family so tightly knit as the Apples. But he didn't really know how differently he would've acted in the same place. He took a couple of good, long minutes to think about this while Rarity waited patiently to hear his answer and thinking about why the drake seemed to be lying to her.
"What would I do if somepony told me I had no family? Ha!" Spike gave a fake chuckle that made Rarity even more concerned. "It's not a hypothetical question. I know how it feels."
"I would want to be told from the beginning. I wouldn't want any lies, just the truth that this wasn’t my real family. It would save me from more personal pain." Spike put the towel on a nearby counter, folded of course, and made his way to the door. "Thanks Rarity. I think I got my answer." Rarity used her magic to spin Spike around and hold him in place.
"Spike!" Rarity had that look only a grown mare could give. A look of compassion and concern, mixed with sternness. "Now wait just a minute. I'm not allowing you to leave my Boutique until I know you aren't going to do anything to hurt yourself." Spike scrunched his face and tried to squirm out of her magic.
"What are you talking about? My friend needs my help." Rarity put her hoof under Spike's chin and gently raised it so that he stared right into her eyes.
"Spike. Don't you think I'm smart enough to know what's truly going on." Spike's eyes grew to the size of bowling balls as he started to sweat under the pressure.
"Y-you do?!"
"Yes I do." Rarity hugged the drake as part of her pony instincts. "You're that 'friend' Spike. You are the one unsure about his family." Spike was about to interject, when Rarity tightened her grip. "Now Spike! I don't want you to make up a story saying you're not! However, I must tell you that you are one-hundred percent wrong! We are your friends. We are your family. I know for a fact that we all love you, and Twilight especially holds your life on the same level as hers. I wish for you to never forget that." Spike managed to push himself out of Rarity's grip.
"Rarity! I'm telling you the truth! This IS about a friend!" Rarity shook her head.
"Now Spike, don't tell my parents this, but I've had a heavy hoof in raising Sweetie Belle, what with all the 'vacations' they take. And the one thing I've learned is that she never wants to admit to me or my parents that she has problems. It's always a 'friend' that is hurt. Spike, I think you're old enough to not make up stories to mask your problems. It also hurts me, personally, that you think I would fall for it, and even more so, that you don't think I want to help you." Spike was at a loss for words.
He replayed their conversation a few times in his head, trying to find out when he gave Rarity the idea he was talking about him. He then realized that it did seem that way. Word for word, he did put himself into Applebloom's position. Or did he put her in his position? He then thought of all the those nights he spent without sleep, wishing he had a family and a home. Of all those days where he laughed and made jokes, only to crawl into bed and drop the charade. He thought long and hard of that day. The day he realized he wasn't a pony. He wasn't even a dragon. He was nobody. The perfect assistant. Spike's eyes quickly darted around the boutique, dodging Rarity's words like they were poison darts. His breathing became sporadic, as if the Boutique itself was choking him. He had to get out of there. He needed to be alone. He sprinted all the way to the door, and as soon as he did, Rarity locked it with her magic. He spotted an open window and jumped through it. Rarity galloped to the window and saw Spike running off somewhere. She knew that, if she chased him, he would keep running until he hurt himself, so she decided to go to the library and tell Twilight what happened. She hoped that she would have the best grasp of what was going on with Spike.
"Oh Spike! Don't worry yourself Rarity," she said, trying to motivate herself. "Before you know it, he'll be back home soon."
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Spike bobbed and weaved through the various crowds of ponies that were heading home for the evening. He hadn't realized it, but it was quickly approaching night and Twilight would be expecting him soon. Spike tried to shake his thoughts of Twilight, of Ponyville, and his aching memories. With tears in his eyes that stung and burned, he didn't realize where he was going and ran head first into somepony. Somepony really small.
"Ahhh!"
"Ooof!" Spike's back laid on the ground as he shook himself out of his stupor. He got up with a crack in his back and tried to see who he bumped into. To his dismay, it was Diamond Tiara, an infamous school bully the crusaders always complained about.
"Watch where you're going looooseerrr!" Spike recoiled at that remark, but decided she was just frazzled.
"Sorry about that! Let me help you u-," Spike began, but was interrupted as Diamond scoffed at him.
"Get your claws off me!" Diamond got up on her hooves and took her tiara off, beginning to inspect it for any sign of damage. She disregarded the dragon's eye roll as she set it neatly back to place. She began to glare at Spike, who could who could do nothing, but hold his claws up in defense.
"What? I said I was sorry," said the dragon.
"Sorry," began the little diva. "Why should you be sorry?" Spike was a little confused at the sudden mood swing. That was, until, she continued talking. "Except that you could've hurt my priceless, one-of-a kind diamond tiara!" Spike, being a dragon, examined the tiara and saw in an instant what it really was.
"What so special about it? It's just made of plastic. It doesn't take a dragon to see that." At this point, Diamond looked like she just got hit in the gut as her eyes were wide in shock, but quickly contorted in fury. She got real close to the dragon's face, so close he could just smell her arrogance (with some rancid perfume).
"How DARE you say that about my tiara?!" She harshly poked the dragon's chest with her hoof, pushing the dragon back with every sentence she uttered. "I'll have you know that my priceless tiara is a priceless family treasure, which I deserve because my family only provides the absolute best for their beloved daughter!" By now, Spike was backed up to a wall, positively frightened that his off-claw comment about the dingy little thing would spark such a reaction from the wearer.
“Hay! Leav’em alone!” Both Diamond and Spike looked away from each other to see the Cutie Mark Crusaders glaring daggers at Diamond Tiara. Spike looked away, as his guilt stopped him from making eye contact with Applebloom. She began walking close to Diamond, who could only back away from Spike and Applebloom.
“What are ya’ doing ganging up on Spike? Isn’t it enough that you gotta pick on the rest of us at school, now yer pickin’ fights off the street?” Diamond couldn’t even look Applebloom in the eye, fidgeting in place.
“W-w-well...that l-loser was…” Diamond began, but was unable to even finish her insults. Applebloom dropped her accusatory stance and examined Diamond with concern. She had never let Applebloom speak this long without some retort or snide comment about her blank flank. “Um...Diamond Tiara. Ya’ll alright? This is where you’re supposed to make fun of me.” Diamond was at a loss for words as, even now, the goody two-hooves filly showed concern for HER. Off in the distance, a silver coated filly, sporting an extravagant necklace and glasses, witnessed her only friend being cornered by the blank flanks and Twilight’s lackey, attributing the obvious distress on Diamond’s face to being outnumbered.
“Hey! Get away from DT!” The collected fillies and drake looked towards the arrival of another filly, regarded by some as Silver Spoon, but mostly remembered as Diamond Tiara’s lackey. She made her way through Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, making sure to rudely push them aside, and advanced towards Applebloom. “What kinda nerve do you have getting in DT’s face! Whatever she did, it was right and you’re wrong.” Diamond could only roll her eyes as her only friend tried her best to take the lead, which usually ended poorly. Applebloom took up a defensive stance again as she faced Silver Spoon.
“Me? It was your friend that was bothering Spike here and causing trouble like she always does!” Silver could only scoff as she made her way to Diamond’s side, putting a hoof on her shoulder.
“DT never causes tro-” Silver began, only to stop herself as even she didn’t believe what she was about to say. “Well, it doesn’t matter what she’s doing because she’s trying to help somepony right now.” Applebloom looked confused at the prospect of Diamond helping anybody but herself.
“Help somepony? Whoever the hay needs her help is better jumping off a barn in the middle of a thunderstorm in the Appleloosan desert!” Silver Spoon, and the rest of the children gathered there, were momentarily confused by Applebloom’s countryisms, until Silver shook it off.
“Well, you better get jumping, because she’s trying to help you.” Applebloom looked bewildered, while Diamond Tiara realized what was happening and tried to make Silver stop.
“Silver, wait!” Silver Spoon immediately put a hoof on Diamond’s mouth (which she found totally gross) and motioned for her to be silent.
“Don’t worry DT, I finally got this one!” Silver looked delighted to finally take the lead as she began, what Spike feared, a chain of events. “Yes, DT is trying to save you from finding out the truth too late. It’s even more noble when you consider that your own family hasn’t done the same for you.” Applebloom’s hooves shook with rage and her eyes squinted in loathing at Silver Spoon.
“Now listen here ya’ varmint! Don’t you ever talk about my family like that and start slandering their names!”
“But Applebloom....” Silver began with a fake pout. “Even Spike is trying to help you.” The other crusaders began to look worried at what was unfolding before them.
“Spike?” Sweetie questioned.
“What do you mean?” Scootaloo asked, directing her suspicion towards Silver Spoon.
“Well…” Silver drew out, “why don’t you let him tell you?” She pointed a silver coated hoof at Spike, whose mind was racing with questions about what to do. Could it be that these fillies already know more than him? How did they find out? Why were they snooping into Applebloom’s life? Spike stared at Silver Spoon hard and asked himself what they were going to do with such information?
“Spike!” The assistant hurriedly looked away from Silver Spoon, surprised at the sheer volume of Applebloom's voice. He examined the yellow filly, who at first glance, looked as confident as ever, but revealed the concern she truly felt in her eyes. Those eyes were something Spike couldn’t lie to, be it because she was an Apple, or because she was his friend.
“Nothing Applebloom,” Spike denied, while trying to avoid her gaze. “They’re just trying to get into your head. You know how they are and they would do anything to make you upset.” Applebloom would’ve accepted this information any other day of the week, as she suspected that the pair of bullies would make up just about anything to get out of trouble or to torment the Crusaders, but there was one thing that was bothering her. Not once since she intervered had Spike or Diamond Tiara met her gaze. While that single fact kept springing up her mind, Scootaloo decided that this was just about enough.
“See, that’s all there is to it! Why don’t you jerks get lost now, your dumb tricks didn’t work this time,” she said, having no intention of being manipulated. Silver could only scoff at the scene as she decided that it was time to stop beating around the bush. Coming out of a nearby alley, Twilight galloped as if her life depended on it, with Rarity only barely keeping up with her pace. While Twilight was not an athletic pony, the time she had spent in Ponyville had conditioned her more than she would’ve liked and it clearly showed when Rarity told her Spike was acting strange and might hurt himself. Being the worrisome librarian she was, she could not sit still as thoughts of Spike doing something foolish ran through her mind, which is why she had spent a good twenty minutes galloping around town for him. Nearing a point of distress where she would’ve called the Royal Guard, she finally got a glimpse of Spike talking to a group of fillies. Relieved he was still safe, she decided to stop and catch her breath in preparation for whatever lecture she was going to give Spike for making her worry.
“Oh thank goodness you stopped, Twilight. I know my physique looks like it’s in top form, because it is, but even I struggle with aerobics,” Rarity said as she stood next to Twilight, wiping the sweat from her head with an imported hoof-kerchief, with personal embroidery. Spotting the drake out of the corner of her eye, she took a moment to compose herself and comment on the scene before her. “Oh, there is Spikey-wikey right there. And he’s with Sweetie and her friends as well.”
“Yeah, thank goodness. Unfortunately, he’s going to be pretty embarrassed when I march over there and find out what’s going on,” Twilight proclaimed in a very concerned, if agitated, tone. Rarity, realizing something, held a hoof in front of Twilight’s frame to stop her from going.
“Now wait just a minute Twilight. Spike said he was asking things for a friend and now he’s with them. Perhaps he was just asking for a friend, and is in the middle of something very important. I don’t think they’ve noticed us yet, so perhaps we should just wait and listen.” Twilight, still too tired to even think, agreed and cast a hearing spell on her and Rarity.
At the same time, a downtrodden orange mare, with her freckled face hung close to the ground, came out of intersecting street after having just left from a conversation with her brother that turned into a hollering match. With many thoughts on her mind, she hadn’t even paid attention to where she was heading until she saw a cute little bow in the corner of her eye, partially obscured by her iconic Stetson. Of all the fillies she had to see right now, it had to be her sister. Not only that, but Applejack had to find her with a dragon that she desperately wanted to hogtie to the tallest tree in her orchard. Concerned with what the reptile had to say to her sister, but unsure of how she would react, she decided to listen in behind a nearby stand that was left unattended. As both parties started listening in on the conversation, the little silver filly started a chain of events that would leave both parties heartbroken.