The mere fact that the sun was shining meant that his mother was wishing him luck; Of course that also could have been that it was the sun and the clouds were cleared from the sky...and that he had written a detailed letter explaining that he wanted to ask a certain filly out on a date to her.
It took nearly an hour of arguing with her by dragon mail that he didn’t want royal guards to show up with his own personal carriage, or a large bouquet of flowers freshly picked from the Crystal Mountains, or even a five star meal prepared by only the finest of chefs that even a rare group of high class nobles could afford the bits to.
He was a prince, and even though he technically wouldn’t be recognized by Equestria as royalty until he turned eighteen, that didn’t stop him from getting whatever he asked his mother or aunt for...with in reason and secrecy of course.
Besides, Spike may have had a bit of an ego when it came to his missions, or chores, or even dodging enemies and such, but he made sure to never, ever accidentally reveal that he was royalty, as it was highly the most important thing Celestia had drilled into him, as her long list of enemies may find out and use such a detail to their advantage.
“I’m a bit surprised I never realized I even had feelings for Sweetie Belle...but I guess after I looked past her beauty, I noticed that we have quite a bit in common…and I have got to stop talking to myself.” Spike mumbled out loud and facepalmed himself as he walked closer to Rarity’s home and clothes establishment, The Carousel Boutique.
Taking in a deep breath, he exhaled slowly and raised a claw to knock on the beautifully crafted door right before he felt a familiar sensation in the pit of his stomach.
“Oh no!” He exclaimed in a panic as he burped out a royal scroll, no doubt sent from his mother, as simultaneously, Sweetie Belle opened the door to the shop and was blasted directly in the face with a fresh piece of paper.
“Oh gods! I’m so, so sorry Sweetie Belle. I...I was just about to-” He tried to sincerely apologize before the filly in question merely lifted a hoof to shut him up.
“Nothing is ever simple with you, is it Spike?” She questioned as she removed the parchment with a bemused expression as he could only chuckle awkwardly in response.
“So what’s up? You here to see Rarity? You do know she had to go to Canterlot to visit my parents, don’t you?” Sweetie Belle said, more than a little confused as to why he had came to the shop which clearly had a closed sign hanging on the door.
“Um...no, actually. I came to see you, but...if she is there, then what are you doing here alone?” He questioned making the filly chuckle with a shake of her head.
“I’m not here alone; Fluttershy is watching me for the week. I have a key to the house and I told her that I needed to grab a few things before I went back up to the cottage. Rarity wanted to make sure I didn’t miss any school this week because I’ve been sick for some time, and I’m just now recovering.” She responded as he rubbed the back of his neck with a claw, embarrassed that he didn’t even know she was sick, what with being in the library with Twilight for so long that it became a habit to miss a few days.
“Sorry Sweetie Belle, I guess I’ve been cooped up in the library longer than I thought.” He spoke nervously as she only dismissed his apology with a wave of her hoof.
“It’s alright; you’re just now getting used to being around me and my friends, and it’s going to take some time before you’re fully caught up in our lives.” She responded with an award winning smile.
Instantly, Spike’s neves shot through his body and he started to become tongue tied on what he actually was going to say to her as Sweetie Belle finally picked up the scroll lying on the ground they seemed to have forgotten in the midst of their conversation.
Without permission from the drake before her, she opened it and read the professionally magic written words on the paper.
“Good luck?” Sweetie Belle spoke out loud, confused on why it only had two words when it was being sent from a princess and was not even directed to anypony or dragon, in Spike’s case, in peticular.
Without hesatation, Spike snachted the paper from her hooves and turned away, inhaling deeply before reducing it to ashes in mere seconds, leaving a bewildered filly to stare in surprise with what she just witnessed.
You...you just burned a letter from the Princess, you’re going to get in so much trouble!” She shrieked in horror as Spike resisted the urge to roll his eyes at being given any sort of serious punishment from the ruler that would fight an army alone for him if he was ever stupid enough to get dragon-napped.
Part of him really wanted to just casually say that he was a prince and that Celestia was his mom, but as much as he really wanted to tell somepony who was not family, he knew that it was to much of a risk.
So he simply played it as cool as he could.
“The Princess must have sent a scroll that I’ve gotten earlier by mistake. It happens sometimes.” He lied smoothly to the young mare who could only nod and flashed another smile his way.
“So did you need something? I think Fluttershy might be getting worried I haven’t returned yet.” She asked slowly and a bit awkwardly as she turned around to the still opened door, placing a small saddle-bag with coloring books and the like on her back before turning back to the drake, who coughed into the palm of his claw before finally gathering what remaining scraps of courage he had left.
“Uh, r...right….Sweetie Belle...would you go on a date with me?”
To be continued...