//------------------------------// // 70. Secret of my Excess // Story: Blaze the Pony Tale // by Wolven5 //------------------------------// In the days that followed after Blueblood and Soarin moved to Ponyville, things got more interesting to say the least. Blueblood and Soarin lived in a three-story home and Blueblood had also bought a small warehouse to use as a workshop, where he spent a lot of his time going over his airship designs and even constructing a few personal projects. Soarin and Twilight spent a fair amount of time together, Twilight gladly helping Soarin with his studies – They called each other their Study Buddy. Midnight got interested in Blueblood’s airship designing and started spending time with his new friend, and whenever Soarin wasn’t busy he’d spend time with Rainbow Dash, helping her with her training and giving a lot of tips about the Wonderbolts. Everypony was happy and welcoming to the two new stallions. Well… maybe not everypony. In his workshop, Blueblood, with Midnight’s help, was levitating a part onto the project he was working on. “Steady, steady…” the inventor pressured, not wanting to damage anything. “Got it!” Midnight felt it through his telekinetic hold as the part locked onto the project, and released his grip. The two stallions stepped back to admire their progress. “Thanks for your help, Midnight,” Blueblood smiled at the blue unicorn. “I gotta say, ever since I came to Ponyville, my nerves have taken quite a relief from running a company.” “Sounds to me that you’d rather be getting your hooves dirty with axle-grease than business deals,” Midnight teased. “Axle-grease?!” Blueblood stiffened and looked at his hooves and coat, “Do I have any on me?!” “Relax, Blue, just a joke,” Midnight chuckled as he levitated something onto a nearby worktable. Blueblood saw it was a pizza, a two-liter of chilled colt cola, and a couple crystal chalices. “Let’s break for lunch, eh?” Midnight suggested when a punctual a loud GROWL from Blueblood's stomach sounded his agreement, making Midnight laugh and Blueblood chuckle sheepishly. As they ate, Blueblood asked, “Midnight, my friend, I hope you’ll forgive my asking but-” “Why don’t I have a cutie-mark?” Midnight took the words right out of his mouth, having a feeling it would come up. “You’re not offended, I hope,” Blueblood shied a bit. “Not at all,” Midnight waved it off. He peered down at his blank-flank and said, “It’s a long story so… suffice it to say, I’m unusual for a pony.” “I’ll take your word for it,” Blueblood decided it didn’t really matter. But then they heard the door to the workshop open and in walked Rarity. “Hello love, what brings you by?” But then both stallions noticed their favorite diva looked a little disheartened. “Rarity, is something wrong?” Midnight asked her, Blueblood inviting her to sit next to him “Oh, maybe it’s nothing, chaps, but…” Rarity sighed. “Well, I was just at the library, to check out some books on fashion history, and Spike had the most gorgeous fire ruby I’d ever seen! No inclusions, pristine facets, it must’ve been at least twenty karats! Oh, I couldn’t keep my mind off of it, my research became irrelevant next to knowing it was right there in the room with me!” “So, what’s got you down?” Midnight asked again. “Oh right. Well, Spike was acting a little… different than usual,” Rarity went on. “My heart sank when I learned he intends to eat that priceless gem at his birthday next week! …Then he noted how much I adored it, and… he simply dismissed me! Not like I was trying to make him feel guilty or anything, gentlecolts, but… Well, he was rather… unwelcoming of my presence.” “That does sound strange,” Blueblood agreed. He hadn’t known Spike personally, but back in the School of Gifted Unicorns when he and Twilight were classmates, she mentioned how Spike was such an amazing assistant and very kind. “I think I have an idea of what’s gotten into Spike,” Midnight brought up, both unicorns looking at him expectantly. “Rarity, in case you weren’t aware, but Spike has had a big crush on you since the first time he met you.” “A crush on me?” Rarity gasped. “And Blueblood, nothing against you, but ever since you moved to Ponyville and Spike learned you and Rarity are a couple, he’s probably had his feelings hurt.” “Oh...” Blueblood felt quite awkward. “So Rarity, he’s probably feeling jealous,” Midnight informed her. “Remember how he got when he thought Owlowiscious was gonna take his job? In this case, he’s so hurt he’s giving you the cold shoulder.” “No wonder he acted so towards me…” Rarity felt bad. Of course she cared a great deal for Spike, and appreciated his friendship, but had she taken it for granted? Had she sent the wrong signs, given him the wrong impression? “I should talk with him.” “Actually, Rarity,” Blueblood spoke up, “I would like to have a talk with young Spike.” Spike looked at the fire ruby as he sat in his basket in Twilight’s room. She was still re-shelving so he was left with his thoughts. Ever since he and Twilight first came to Ponyville, ever since he first saw Rarity decorating the town hall, he’d been smitten. Then as he got to know her more, he saw she was more than a pretty face. She was an artist, a lady, an ambitious business-pony determined to fulfill her dreams. But then he heard of Rarity getting together with Blueblood. He’d tried not to let it bother him, act like there was nopony in Rarity’s life like that, but then why did he have to move to Ponyville? To sweep his princess off her hooves? He felt bad for giving Rarity the cold shoulder but at the time he was so miffed he’d only been thinking of himself, that he couldn’t resist giving Rarity a snub in the face about the ruby. But now, thinking back on it, he felt terrible. It was unfair of him to act so uncivil towards her when the only thing she’d done to earn it was find somepony who really made her happy. But didn’t I ever make her happy…? he wondered. Granted, Spike knew he was an entirely different species and a child no less. Then he had to consider, what could he really offer Rarity that Blueblood couldn't? “Spike?” He jolted and gasped to see Blueblood standing in the doorway. He felt his blood boil just at the sight of him and pouted, “What do you want?” “Spike, I would like to have a talk with you,” Blueblood stated. “May I come in?” “It’s a free country,” Spike hissed, his nose turned up in the air as he gave Blueblood a cold shoulder. “Spike…” Blueblood began as he sat down in front of the young dragon. “I know what it’s like to have your feelings hurt, your heart broken, and hopefully I can help you feel a little better when we’re done talking. Listen, when I was younger, I met somepony I thought was wonderful. She was beautiful, encouraging, but then I overheard her bragging to her friends of how she had a prince for a coltfriend, and I realized she didn’t care about me at all. I broke up with her and tried again. The next pony I entered a relationship with, however, only wanted to marry into royalty.” “Are you just here to give me your life-story?” Spike growled. “Please let me finish, Spike,” Blueblood asked politely. “Again, my heart was broken and again I broke up another relationship. It happened again and again, and it only got worse. I started to fall into a depression. I was afraid, afraid of having my heart broken that I all but gave up on finding a special somepony… To tell you the truth, when Rarity and I first met at the gala, I acted so rude and unwelcoming towards her she would have been fully justified in giving me the heave-ho after I had a revelation: If I gave up on love, if I did not take the risk of looking for it, I would never find it, and so I apologized to Rarity, and in her generosity, she gave this foolish colt another chance.” Spike shifted uncomfortably, Blueblood had described Rarity’s generosity to a tee. “So Spike, I am sorry that we’ve hurt your feelings,” Blueblood went on. “But I must tell you, even though we haven’t been together for even a year yet, Rarity has made me happier than I have been in a very long time. I would move the world for her, and there have been times I felt I don’t deserve her, and I so often remind myself how lucky I am to be with her.” “Are you done?” Spike sniped. “Spike, let me tell you something about love,” Blueblood insisted. “Love, true and sincere, is selfless. It’s putting the well-being and happiness of whom you care for before your own, even when it hurts. It took me a while to figure that out myself, and I promise you I would give my left rear-hoof before I ever hurt Rarity!” Spike felt his spines droop, hearing the passion and sincerity in his rival’s words. “Spike, if there’s one thing I’ve learned about love, it’s that it’s worth the risk of heartbreak. You can’t let one unrequited crush ruin your relationship with somepony you care about, even if she only sees you as a friend. Rarity does care a great deal about you, and she truly appreciates your friendship! Perhaps Rarity isn’t the one for you, but you’re still very young! You have plenty of time to find the right someone for you, and when you do she’s going to love you equally back, and it will be that love that makes you want to do anything to make her happy.” Spike couldn’t stop the waterworks, and started sniffling even though he was trying not to. It was embarrassing! Here he was, getting a lecture on love from the pony who’d stolen his own from him but he felt touched, relieved, and actually happy that Rarity had somepony like this to love her! Blueblood wasn’t sure if he’d be welcome, but he went over and placed a comforting hoof on the little dragon’s shoulder, and was a little startled when Spike turned around and hugged Blueblood, letting it out as he bawled, out of a confusing mix heartbreak, shame, and joy. Blueblood smiled understandingly and patted Spike comfortingly on the back. Twilight peered around the corner, smiling that her old classmate had helped her assistant, and had a good feeling the water was under the bridge. Spike’s birthday came and went, oddly without incident considering Ponyville’s history. But the highlight of it for Spike wasn’t all the gifts he received but rather the gift he gave to Rarity – The fire ruby. Although the birthday kiss he got from her didn’t go unappreciated, and Rarity was inspired the next day to make some capes for all her friends! From Rarity’s generosity and Blueblood’s pep talk, Spike was inspired to write a friendship report: Dear Princess Celestia, Today I learned a great lesson about friendship. Well, you might think that it would feel good to get lots and lots of stuff, but it doesn't feel nearly as good as giving something special to somepony you really care about. But I learned that it truly is better to give than to receive, and that kindness and generosity are what lead to true friendship. And that's more valuable than anything in the world. “Well... almost anything,” Spike amended as he touched the frame he’d put on the cheek where Rarity kissed him.