All good things come to an end. Rarity knows this fact, but the sting still haunts her. She missed her opportunity at love, true, faithful love, and now may never come to fruition again.
Rated Teen:
(This is just in case I decide to continue this. If I do, there will probably be some sexual subject matter involved.)
((PS, the cover isn't quite representative of the story subject matter. It was more of an inspiration to the story. You can find the source by hovering over the cover image or clicking on this sentence. Be aware, though, the source is Korean, and I can't really read it to tell you the artist's name. But their art is beautiful. Support them as much as you can, if you wish.))
Chapters (1)
I'd love to read on if you consider continuing the story. You've my support!
I think 90% of the brony community tends to forget that Spike is a child in canon and thus often condemn Rarity's character for ignoring or (often gently) rejecting his advances. I like Sparity... I do, but only in the right context when he has advanced in age and maturity rather than being the same as in the show. I don't fault Rarity for not returning his feelings at first. How could she? He was only a child...
Ugh, anyway enough of that tirade. I'd love to see this continued. It's a well written little piece but the decision whether to continue or not should be yours and yours alone, as only the author can feel if his written piece is truly complete or not.
I think this is the start of something more climactic
I liked it
Who deserves his love, is who gave more affection in return.
Based on your story, we get very few information about the process and the strength of Spike's bond with Sweetie, which makes a bad base for judging.
Rarity, as you have described her, never spoke with Spike about a more serious romantic relationship for them, and that for seven whole years. More so, she recognized too late how she felt for him, and I assume that she actually noticed him in that prospect just because now that he is plenty mature, he appeared differently to her, at least when she thought about him more often. The problem though is, it appears she didn't think more often on him sufficiently in the recent years, so she might have recognized her true feelings sooner.
Since Spike and Sweetie fell for each other tough, Rarity cannot suddenly claim that she deserves his love more then her sister, because she already got plenty of affection from him these whole seven years, when he wanted her to recognize him.
But she didn't, and he moved on a while ago.
She must put herself in Spikes shoes for once... wait they don't wear shoes... actually the ponies might wear horseshoes, though if this is a general thing I cannot sa- NEVER MIND! You get the point! It's actually something she should have done years ago, since I suppose she really wasn't oblivious of his crush, but never gave it any second thoughts.
Here is what supposedly happened, in my opinion:
He was desperate for her attention, considering all he has done for her, but she never returned his affections sufficiently, at least in this story, and not in the way Spike had hoped I suppose. I'm pretty sure he wouldn't just turn heel and then get into the whole 'love on first sight' thing with Sweetie, that already happened with Rarity. More likely is it, that at some point in his life, probably the past months as mentioned, he discarded the idea of ever getting Rarity to romantically love him, since he must have felt frustrated that it never happened, even after such a very long time of him constantly assisting her.
He might have recognized her affections at some point as a different kind, the family kind probably, as in brother-sister/ mother-son love, so he finally gave up on her getting to love him as a romantic partner and settled for being content with simple friendship-love, even if it was hard for him. Maybe he even put some distance between him and his subject of affection, to get away from his troubled feelings.
Then after a few weeks or so, he talked with Sweetie Belle, possibly even told her about the whole issue he had with Rarity and finally get it of his chest, so that Sweetie might have consoled him. They got closer and recognized their interests for each other, maybe Sweetie was already looking at Spike like that for quite some time actually, and she might have told him that too. It probably also helped that she appears very similar to her sister (I imagine they do have the same smooth and beautiful coat, with the same color no less, slightly different mane hair, but the same kind of eyes, just like on the cover of this story, with the irises being also a slightly different color)
Thus, Spike finally got someone who returned his affections equally, a mare just as beautiful as his previous crush, and Sweetie got the chance with the love interest she had in mind as well, but couldn't ask Spike in the past since she was aware, just like everybody else, that he was always swooning over Rarity.
So there was grand opportunity here, and it worked out, their love earnestly fostered.
Not to mention that both are about the same age, which also contributed to them understanding each other better. If Sweetie really had eyes for Spike previously, then she's a better romantic choice for him anyway, because of the much smaller age difference.
Going by my idea of this story, it's obvious why Rarity really doesn't deserve him more than Sweetie Belle. She led him on for 7 years of his life, and when he is finally mature enough to get serious with her, she doesn't return his affections the way he wanted her too.
Worse yet, she never told him off, never told him why she doesn't/can't love him that way, or that she had doubted he would even like her more than other mares his age.
Nothing, he got no response from her, no amount of sufficient feedback.
This is not only rude, it's selfish and mean. All things considered and the way I see it, what Rarity did was exploit Spike for his affections, which was the reason why he tried to become so close to her and help with her work and such. The help she gracefully took from him, but never even considered to generously tell him her honest opinion about Spike, and if she could really imagine a serious relationship with him. Not even after she got the fire ruby from him. In fact she treated Spike more like a good pet with her nicknaming him as 'Spiky wiky'.
All she did was giving him tad bits, little winks and smooches, a few compliments to keep him coming, but never sat down and talked with him how serious she takes his crush and if there is hope that she will love him like that as well, eventually. Even if he'd hurt when she says no, at least she told him the truth and Spike would be content in knowing it, but did she ever do it? No she didn't.
Not really generous of the supposed Element of Generosity now, is it?
It's one of the things that already bother me in the canon series actually. Just because she thinks of Spike's crush as cute, doesn't mean she shouldn't take it seriously and treat him respectfully, the same goes for everyone else by the way, and especially shouldn't lead him on like she does if he really can't get her to love him romantically, while keeping him to work his rear off for her no less. That behavior is not as generous and sympathetic, as it is cruel.
Had she told him, for example, after 7 years that his efforts to woe her heart are in vain, despite having him around to work for her this whole time, he'd feel absolutely mistreated and heartbroken. Any guy would really.
In the worst case scenario even, he could end up angry... very angry at her, especially since she waited so long to tell him. And believe me, you don't want an angry Spike, a freakin' dragon in his late teens, to be mad at you for breaking his heart and leading him on like that for years. That can only end badly, especially during the confrontation.
Anyway, as you can see going even by canon information, Rarity doesn't really deserve Spike's love, because she doesn't bother to return it fairly and equally. She is being very opportunistic of him, and seemingly exploits his affections.
So if we put Sweetie in the mix, and assume she returns his affections in kind on a daily basis, more so than Rarity ever did in those 7 years, then Sweetie Belle is definitely the winner regarding her own worthiness of Spike's heart.
Also, since Sweetie Belle is such a good singer, Imagine her more mature version has a simply angelic voice.
Who'd ever break Sweeties heart, must be dumb, retarded, blind, tasteless, deaf, and a cruel jerk on crack... and if I was in their world, I'd probably kick his face in and set his house on fire...
... would be hard if it's a cloud home though.
Meh! I'd think of something!
From babies to boys into men, Time goes on. Nicely written conflict. One door closes another opens, Other doors are revolving.
5374376 And the janitor wonders why his keys are missing.
5376585 As long as the wiskeys not missing.
5373336 Actually, as I wrote, Rarity more times then often is blatantly ignoring Spikes advances or antics, not even batting an eye on it, INSTEAD of letting him down gently.
Remember in "Party of One", when he helped her to put out the thrash? He was stinking and asked how he appears to her, in his illusive state of affection.
She told him right in the face without a second thought, except for a short "How should I put this?"
how much he stinks (since he put the trash out). Instead of adding how sweet it was of him, she just turned and went back into her house, Spike of course didn't mind in his mad crush, but was that fair treatment of Rarity? I don't think so pal.
Or what about this, it's a good example of her exploiting Spike:
When the drake promises to take care of their pets, he wanted payment in exchange.
While Fluttershy offers him a huge jewel, which got him into the idea in the first place, Rainbow Dash pays him with a decent enough jewel, even though nothing compared to Fluttershy's payment.
What does Rarity give him? A toothpick sized fragment of a jewel...
Again, Spike was swooning over that piece of junk, since jewels are really worth nothing much in Equestria, that he didn't even care the toothpick he got from Rarity could barely substitute as one peanut.
She gave it to him, reluctantly as well, despite knowing that he has exceptionally strong feelings for her, and would settle with far less than any what the others paid him. In fact, she first didn't get that she had to pay as well! Rainbow had to point at Spike for her, to make her realize she forgot to give him something, and at the time she was loaded with Jewels on her Dress, jewels she could easily replace, as it is one of her talents to find them easily.
What kind of generosity is that? Especially knowing that the one you tricked loves you (this was in season 3 after all, after the debacle with Spikes greed issues). Not to mention, in exchange for her 'payment' she gave him a ton of instructions and requirements none passively. (His quill actually bursts into flames in that scene).
As you can see, Rarity should be ashamed of her so called 'gently treatment', but not so surprisingly, she isn't.
Even if he is a child, doesn't mean not to respect his feelings and take his affections seriously, which Rarity clearly doesn't. She could have, for example, brought him on a date sometimes, at least as a reward for his help, granted a more 'child friendly' date, but instead she just keeps ignoring him, shrugging him of when he acts love-desperate, teases him with little gifts like small compliments, pet names, and smooches here and there, and then foremost keeps exploiting him for his affections, after the motto "he loves me so much, I can get him to do this and that for me, no sweat, just feed him a sugar-cube and get showered with golden bits in return."
THIS is the worst kind of behavior for one who calls themselves "the Element of Generosity", and a 'mature' person no less. More so, considering she is doing to a CHILD, as you have pointed out. And the worst part is, she bathes herself in negligence of this, doesn't even realize what she is doing to him unless you tell it straight to her face.
And to be perfectly honest, compared to many of other foals and fillies of his age, he is acting pretty mature, since he was raised by a knowledge lusting purple librarian after all. He has to put up with Twilight's, 'over the top thoroughly' antics, every day. He is a 'baby dragon' by dragon standards, since they become so old, but he's actually lived with Twilight, and Celestia I suppose, in Canterlot for all his life, which means if Twilight was about 8 years old when she took her entry exam for the school of gifted unicorns, Spike should be about 12 years old in episode 1. That is because we also know, according to Lauren Faust, that the mane 6 are in their early 20s. Despite Equestria girls showing them in High school, it's an alternate universe with body altering conditions so what the heck, Twilight was actually in her collage years in the canon Equestria.
A lot of people forget that Spike is still young yes, still more mature then most his age, but a ton of people also forget or simply overlook Rarity's blatant negligence of her disrespectful behavior for him. She grants him so few, and gets way to much in return from the little dragon.
This is why I believe, Rarity really doesn't deserve Spike's love, despite him literally throwing it at her.
I really wish he'll get together with Sweetie Belle, both in this story and in canon.