Growing Pains
“I’m glad to help, Rarity, but don’t you think there’s wonderful things about flying that don’t involve dresses?”
It had, in hindsight, not seemed much different from any other visit to the Carousel Boutique. For as long as they’d known each other, Spike had happily taken every opportunity he could to offer his assistance to Rarity. He treasured the time they spent together, after all, and it was only appropriate for a fine young gentledragon to treat his lady with respect.
So why then, after all this time, did it still feel so unrewarding?
“Of course, darling. Flying will also be beneficial for you to help me with gowns, frocks, robes, shifts, skirts, minis, maxis...”
The only response Spike could give was a sigh. Already his wings were straining from the effort of hovering in place, being fitted for a dress he was certain was to tall for a pony to wear. If he didn’t know any better, he’d have thought...
...no, that couldn’t be it. She wouldn’t be that disrespectful of his time, surely? Regardless, the thought persisted in the back of his mind like a stonescale’s itch.
Might as well scratch it, Spike thought. “Rarity, just who is this dress supposed to be for, anyway?”
“Hmm?” said Rarity. Her attention had momentarily turned away from Spike, glancing at one of the several design documents haphazardly spread across a nearby desk. She glanced back towards him, and gave a “The one you’re fitting? Nopony in particular.”
“Oh,” said Spike. “You mean... it’s for a creature that isn’t a pony, right?”
“Well, I wouldn’t say it’s for any specific creature,” Rarity replied, “but more or less, yes.”
“Not... specifically?”
“It’s more of an experiment, really,” Rarity answered. Her horn glowed a sharp crystal blue, and a length of measuring tape levitated itself off of her desk. “After thinking about the larger bipedal creatures we’ve seen, I wanted to expand my horizons just a tad. It’s always worthwhile to challenge yourself, as I always say.”
“So, uh,” said Spike, “what are you going to do with the dress, then?”
Rarity paused, briefly looking contemplative. “Well... I haven’t yet expanded into a market where I can sell it, so most likely I’ll have it recycled for fabric. That being said, I do find it satisfying to know I can make this sort of thing whenever I want to.”
For a moment, Spike could feel his breath catching in his throat. “R-right, of course.”
Rarity had quickly picked up on the sudden change in Spike’s demeanor. She lowered the measuring tape, briefly, and looked him in the eye. “Spike, dear, is something wrong?”
Spike felt a heavy lump settling in the pit of his stomach. His eyes drifted away, sliding away from Rarity’s gaze seemingly of their own volition. “Well, uh... not really. It’s just...” He hesitated briefly, scratching the back of head. “...I’ve just been hovering in place here for the past three hours, is all. I was sorta hoping you’d get something you can use out of it.”
Rarity blinked rapidly. “Oh,” she said, “well... I suppose if it makes you feel better, I could donate it to a creature large enough to wear it. Given Ponyville’s demographics, I imagine it would be quite tricky finding one...”
“Yeah, thanks,” Spike mumbled. His whole body felt heavy, more than it should have been even with the fatigue of flying.
Rarity smiled back warmly, and brought up the measuring tape to Spike’s waist. “It’s no problem at all, dear! Now, if you would just hold still for a moment...”
For a second time, Spike could only sigh heavily. It was going to be a long day.
————————
Spike had gone to bed that night with his wings aching and sore. Sprouting two entirely new limbs had been a difficult enough adjustment to make by itself; despite the ease he took to using them, he sometimes struggled to understand the unfamiliar sensations his wings brought.
Now, having exhausted himself meeting Rarity’s demands, he almost wished that he hadn’t grown them at all. As he lay flat on his stomach, the fatigue slowly began to overtake the sting prickling at his overtaxed wing muscles, and he drifted into unconsciousness.
For the rest of the night, he slept a dreamless sleep, unburdened by the tasks he would perform the next day.
————————
The following morning, Spike eaten his breakfast without comment, save for the obligatory morning small-talk. Twilight hadn’t paid any mind, for she was already busy preparing the lesson plan for her latest school endeavor. After a simple meal of cold cereal, he walked out the door, and began his journey over to Carousel Boutique. He’d agreed to meet with Rarity that day to help her out with another set of errands. Steadily, he made his way through the busy morning streets of Ponyville, eager for another chance to help Rarity.
Yes, definitely eager. So eager that his feet were dragging against the ground as he walked.
By the time he arrived at the familiar doorstep of the boutique, the sun had already climbed well into the sky. He raised his claw, and gave a series of limp-wristed knocks that dully echoed on the wooden door frame.
With a gentle creak, the door opened, and Rarity stepped into view. Her eyes twinkled gently in the morning sunlight, and Spike couldn’t help but be drawn into their pristine gaze.
“Spike! There you are! Thank goodness, I was worried sick!”
“Huh?” said Spike. “Worried? What for?”
“What for?” said Rarity, taken aback, “Spike, you’re late! You’re never late! Why, I was terrified that something could have happened to you!”
Spike reached back and scratched the back of his head. “Ah. Right. Sorry, I was just distracted by, uh... wing stuff. Yeah, let’s go with that.”
Rarity smiled. “I suppose I couldn’t blame you,” she said. She reached out with a foreleg, and pinched Spike right in the center of his cheek. “Just look at you! Oh, I still can’t believe my little Spikey-Wikey is growing up!”
Spike wasn’t about to question how Rarity could pinch his cheeks with a single hoof. At her touch, he’d already forgotten what it is he’d been worrying about to begin with. He quickly followed Rarity through the door, into the boutique proper.
Rarity eventually led him through the main shop room, past a set of stairs that led down into a dark, dusty room. With a flicker of hornlight, Rarity tugged on a chain hanging from the ceiling, and a single lightbulb above flared to life. The room was covered in plain wooden shelves stacked with rolls of fabric in all possible colors and patterns.
“Huh,” said Spike, “I didn’t know you had a basement.”
“Well, I haven’t really used in a while,” Rarity replied. “But I do like to keep some extra supplies on hoof in case of an emergency.” She reached out behind herself, and pulled out a long scroll list from a place that Spike couldn’t see. “Now, what I need you to do is take stock of the entire inventory, and make sure that everything is accounted for. With your new wings, you can reach the upper shelves far more easily than I could.”
Spike raised a single eyebrow. “Uh, can’t you just lift the fabric down with your magic?”
“Spike, dear, you know I’m not good with dust. Why, just take one whiff of this air! It’s absolutely atrocious!” As if to demonstrate, Rarity took a deep breath through her nostrils. Immediately afterward, she followed with an explosive coughing fit, sending flecks of spittle all over Spike’s face.
A sharp blush appeared across Rarity’s cheeks. “Ah... oh dear. Terribly sorry about that. I’ll, er... just leave the rest to you. Let me know when you’re finished!” With a rapid clopping of hooves against the floor, Rarity quickly darted out of the room, disappearing up the stairs.
Spike gave another sigh, only to be interrupted by a coughing fit of his own as motes of dust caught on the inside of his throat. It was going to be a very long day.
————————
After hours of cataloging the boutique’s dusty inventory, the soft embrace of his bed was the only thing that Spike had on his mind. He came into the Friendship Castle with the burning itch of dust still in his lungs, and blearily pushed through the door and into the main throne room.
He had hoped to return to his bed without comment, but as he dragged himself through the hallway, he had caught the attention of Starlight Glimmer, who stopped to greet him as she made her way through the opposite direction of the corridor.
“Oh, hey Spike, haven’t seen you in a while,” she said. Her eyes shifted focus, gliding over his disheveled form. “Are you okay? You look terrible.”
“Nah, I’m fine,” said Spike. His voice was scratchy and dry, and he subsequently forced a puff of dust from his through by a pair of hacking coughs. “Just a bit tired, that’s all.”
“You look like you’re a little bit more than a bit tired,” said Starlight. “Just what have you been doing the whole day, anyway?”
“Oh, nothing much,” Spike replied. He extended his arms upward, letting his wings flutter as he stretched out their tired muscles. “Just helping out Rarity with a few odd jobs here and there. No big deal, really.”
“Really?” said Starlight. “Rarity’s been pushing you that hard? Seems kinda harsh.”
“H-Hey! She’s not pushing anything!” Spike shot back. “I’m happy to volunteer when she needs me! There’s nothing wrong with that... is there?”
“Well no,” said Starlight. “But I don’t think volunteering means you need to work yourself to the bone. Why don’t you just take a break from it every now and then? I’m sure Rarity wouldn’t mind.”
Spike hesitated. It had been such a long time since he’d first started assisting Rarity on her errands, and not once had the thought crossed his mind. “You really think so, huh?”
“Of course!” said Starlight. “You just take it easy, okay?” She gave one final nod, and began to breezily trot down the hallway. As she left she turned over her shoulder and spoke. “Anyway, I’ve gotta be going. Just remember to take care of yourself, alright?”
“Yeah,” said Spike, “thanks.”
For a long time, Spike stood there in the now-empty hallways, a flurry of uncomfortable questions swirling in his mind. As he finally worked up the energy to make his way to the bedroom, he realized that he’d like the answers even less.
————————
The sun peeking over the horizon brought Spike into the realm of awareness, and right away he was struck with a terrible certainty. A thought loomed heavy over him, one that he had flirted with just before he had fallen asleep. Only now, with a refreshed body and mind, did he understand its true gravity.
It was horrible. Enough to tie his stomach into knots several times over. Yet even as the discomfort washed over him, he felt his chest swell with determination.
He had to find Rarity. Sooner rather than later, if possible.
Spike quickly jumped out of bed, and hurried out the corridor and down the stairs. He had stopped just long enough to scarf a slice of untoasted bread from the kitchen pantry — a task made easier by the reach of his new wings — and quite literally flew out the kitchen door. He passed Twilight on the way through the main throne room, shuffling another stack of papers atop the crystal table. As he hovered past Twilight, he grabbed the massive double doors and pushed with all the strength that he could muster. His muscles strained, and yet the door refused to budge, a reminder that growing wings didn’t make them weigh any less.
“Whoa! Slow down there, cowboy,” Twilight remarked. “Here, let me help.” Her horn glowed a light purple, and rapidly dodged the massive crystal doors as they swung inwards.
Spike laughed weakly. “Oh. Pull. Right.”
“You seem like you’re in quite a hurry,” said Twilight. “Got any big plans for today?”
“It, uh... depends on what you mean by ‘big,’”, said Spike. “But basically, yeah.”
“Well, I won’t keep you waiting,” Twilight said. With a warm smile, she waved Spike off as he glided out the doorway.
“Yeah,” Spike grumbled, “good luck with that.”
————————
Flying, as Spike had quickly learned over the past two days, was a much more effective means of getting from point A to point B than walking was. Aside from the occasional crossed paths with an equally cross-eyed mare, he’d had very little difficulty navigating the wind currents to his desire. Moving through the air was almost reflexive, something he felt like he’d known how to do his entire life, as impossible as that seemed.
He eventually landed just at the doorstep of Rarity’s boutique. This was it. This was what he’d promised himself he would do. His arm trembled as he reached forward, his hand balled into a fist that far tighter than he needed to knock on the door. Barely able to hold his gaze against the door’s surface, he lightly tapped against the door three times.
Silence hung in the air, followed by more silence. His body tensed, and he contemplated running away then and there. It would have been easy to forget everything and walk away, pretending as though nothing had happened.
The choice was made for him when the door finally opened, and Rarity appeared in the door frame to greet him. Her coat and mane smelled of fresh lilac shampoo and body wash, the fragrant scent relaxing him as the gentle morning breeze wafted through his sinuses.
“Oh, hello Spike!” said Rarity. “I didn’t expect you this early. To what do I owe the pleasure?”
A lump formed in Spike’s throat, forcing him to swallow. There was no turning back now. “Oh, uh... nothing. I just wanted to talk to you for a bit. May I come in?”
“Oh no, not at all!” said Rarity. “Come on in, make yourself at home. I was just about to make myself breakfast, I’ll be happy to have you over.”
“Thanks,” said Spike. A slight rumbling of his stomach reminded him that the slice of bread had not been much of a meal. Rarity had always been willing to provide food and hospitality in the past, even when he spent the rest of the day working to assist her.
He followed Rarity through the main showroom, past the shop rooms and into Rarity’s living quarters. Rarity’s kitchen was simple, far less extravagantly decorated than one would expect of a pony like her, though she had made sure to include a few doilies and tablecloths where necessary. A single functional dining table sat a distance away from the stove, sink, and pantries, where Spike could faintly catch the smell of a multitude of different fruits and herbs. The sun gently shown through an open window beside the stove, letting the fresh smell of summer flowers in to mingle with the kitchen’s aroma.
“Come, sit down,” said Rarity, motioning to the table. “How do you feel about oatmeal this morning? I should be able to have it ready in just a few minutes.”
“Yeah, oatmeal sounds good,” said Spike. “Thanks.” He pulled out a chair and sat down, the noise of its legs scooting against the floor lingering in his ears. As Rarity began preparing the meal, he could do nothing but stare down at the table’s surface.
There were so many things he wanted to say, yet he had no idea how he could say any of it. How would Rarity react? Was it really too late to just give up and turn back? He could spend the rest of the day with Rarity without ever bringing any of it up. As he pondered, he gazed at his distorted reflection in the wood’s varnish, staring right into his own eyes.
There’s no point hiding from it. You can’t keep going like this with Rarity forever, you know.
Spike sighed. “Yeah, I know.”
Several minutes passed, and eventually Rarity came trotting forward, carrying a pair of bowls in her telekinetic grasp. She placed them each down at their respective sides at the table, and then sat herself down across from Spike.
For such an otherwise plain breakfast, Rarity had clearly put in a great deal of effort in preparing it, her attention to detail as meticulous as ever. The hot cereal was garnished with carefully sprinkled with blueberries, walnuts, and banana slices, a light drizzle of maple syrup, and topped off with whipped cream. An ornate silver spoon lay embedded within the body of oats, its handle sticking out just enough to grasp.
Spike idly grabbed the spoon, and prodded at the oatmeal. As hungry as he was, he just couldn’t bring himself to think of eating.
It wasn’t long before Rarity noticed Spike’s lack of enthusiasm. The glow surrounding her own spoon faded, and she set the utensil aside. “Spike, dear, is something the matter?”
Spike’s grip on his spoon tightened, and he immediately felt his stomach clench. Rarity knew that something was up now. He wanted to turn back, to lie and say that everything was fine. In the back of his mind, a tiny part of him told him that he could. He was almost tempted to listen, for a moment, but he had come too far to turn back now.
Still, it was probably better not to rush things. A more subtle approach could ease the inevitable sting of truth.
“Er, nothing’s wrong,’” said Spike. “I was, uh... just wondering. Was I planning on doing anything with you later today?”
“But of course,” Rarity replied. “You agreed to come to Mount Cinder this afternoon to help me find some lava rubies, remember?”
“Ah, right,” said Spike. He hadn’t remembered much of what he’d said to Rarity the previous day, after having worked for so long. Yet as he considered the statement, something in his mind clicked into place. “Wait, I agreed to go into an active volcano?”
“Certainly, darling,” said Rarity. “After all, it’s not like I’d be capable of surviving in such a harsh environment. You dragons are quite remarkably durable, you know.”
“Y-yeah,” said Spike, “I guess so.” All things considered, he wasn’t sure why the idea was so frightening at first. Molten magma was barely more harmful to him than a hot sauna.
Yet still, something about it didn’t feel right.
Spike took a deep breath through his nostrils, exhaling slowly from his mouth. It was a stress-relieving technique he’d learned a long time ago, one that he’d insisted Twilight perform whenever she became too tense.
“Spike?” said Rarity. “Spike dear, are you absolutely certain nothing’s wrong?”
“Well, I...” For a moment, Spike could feel his breath catch in his throat. “...no, actually. I-I mean, not that there’s anything wrong, it’s just...”
Rarity tilted her head to the side, in equal parts fascination and concern. “Just what?”
“W-well, I, uh... you see... it’s just...” Spike sighed, unable to finish the thought. A direct approach brought too much tension to bear. Perhaps, then, an indirect approach was warranted. “Rarity, why do you keep asking me to do things for you?”
Rarity went silent for several moments, staring blankly into Spike’s eyes. “...I’m sorry, what do you mean?”
“Why do you keep asking me to do things for you?” Spike repeated. The trepidation he’d felt just moments before was already beginning to melt away. “Whenever you want something done, I’m always the first one you go to. Why?”
“I... I’m not sure I understand the question,” said Rarity. “Are you saying you want to skip our errands for today? I’d be perfectly fine with postponing our visit to Mount Cinder, if you really like.”
Spike shook his head. “This isn’t just about Mount Cinder. It’s about everything I’ve been doing for you since we met. Chores, modeling, gem collecting, manual labor...” as he continued, Spike felt a sharp pang forming in his stomach. “...and I... I’ve been thinking about it lately. All the stuff you’ve been asking me to help you with. It’s almost always something that benefits your dressmaking business.”
There was a vague glimmer of realization in Rarity’s eye, and her pupils slid away, struggling to maintain eye contact. The moment of truth was rapidly approaching, and it appeared no more comfortable for her.
“R-Rarity. Look. I’m... I’m going to be honest. You know I’ve had a crush on you for a long time. And I know that you know. Heck, I’ve practically worshiped the ground beneath your hooves! I-I just...” Spike gave another deep breath. Every moment that passed, he could hear his own heart pounding in his ears. Now or never, Spike. Come on.
“...I’m starting to think you’ve been taking advantage of me.”
He had expected Rarity to react dramatically, as she often did. But there were no astonished cries or loud bursts of emotion. She simply stared back in silence, mouth hung agape, quietly moving as if struggling to find a response. Several seconds passed before any words escaped through her lips.
“I see,” she said. Her eyes drifted away, then back towards Spike, small dots of water already visible in their eyes. “Do really think I’ve been doing this? Using you for my own benefit?”
Spike felt his body tense, and another sharp pang in his lungs. It had hurt to see her hurt. “I... I don’t think you ever meant to, honestly. I was eager to help you out however I could, and you just didn’t think much of it. But you know how I feel about you and... and that I was willing to do anything just to be close to you.”
“To be close to me?” said Rarity.
“You know... to get a chance to be with you,” Spike replied. His stomach turned again, as he thought of all the things he’d realized the past night. “A-and maybe part of it’s just that I was too afraid to tell you what I really wanted from you. I’d just hoped that if I helped you enough, you’d start feeling the same way about me that I felt about you.”
Rarity blinked rapidly. “Feelings... for you?”
A sudden jolt of electricity ran through Spike’s body. He slammed his arms against the table, glaring daggers at Rarity. “Yes! I wanted you to love me back! Why is this so hard to understand!?”
Almost immediately, he regretted the outburst. In that moment Rarity had flinched away from him, and there was something in her eyes he’d seen once before, during an event that had still haunted him. Fear. Fear of him. Spike recoiled at the sight, sliding back into his sitting position.
“I-I’m sorry, I-I didn’t mean to...”
Rarity let out a sigh, brushing a stray mane hair out of her eyes. “It’s quite alright, darling. You... well, you’re still young. I can’t imagine it’s easy learning how to deal with these feelings for the first time.”
“No,” Spike muttered. “I guess it isn’t. But... why? Why couldn’t you just say something? If you were going to reject me, you could have done it at any time! Why would keep toying with my feelings like this?”
Rarity bit her lower lip, sucking in air between her teeth. The question had her practically squirming within her own chair. Finally, she exhaled deeply, letting her body relax. “Well... if I’m going to be honest with you, it’s because I didn’t think anything ever needed to be said about it.”
Spike through his arms into the air. “And why not!?”
The silence that hung between his question and Rarity’s answer was nearly unbearable. The seconds stretched onward, far longer than any clock would measure, and for that time Rarity could only stare straight at him. Spike struggled to recognize the expression in her eye, the vague melancholy that was written across every feature on her face.
Then, suddenly, it dawned on him. Pity. Rarity was pitying him.
“Spike,” she said, “I’m a grown mare. And as much as you’ve matured, by your own species’s standards you’re still just a child. I understand you’ve had feelings for me, but it just wouldn’t be acceptable for me return them. Until now, I... I thought you knew this.”
The words struck Spike like a lightning bolt to the center of his chest. In its aftermath, time itself crawled to a standstill, and every breath he took became a lump of molasses. Suddenly, everything around him felt unbearably heavy.
Spike sluggishly moved his arm, wiping a tear from his eye. A part of him wanted to beg, a part of him wanted to yell, and a part of him simply wanted to crawl into a hole and disappear. “Right, of course. Silly me.” He pulled back out of his chair and dropped to the floor. “Guess I’ll just go home now, if you don’t want me.”
“Spike, wait—”
Spike didn’t bother looking back. By the time Rarity called to him, he was already flying out the kitchen window. As he glided away, he could only wonder if he’d ever stand to look her in the face again.
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Hmm, interesting.
Poor Spike XD
I've been making pretty much this exact point for four years now. I think it's high time more people start to see it that way.
The story itself is also well written, to the point where reading it actually made me think this could be an episode. Have a fave and an upvote from me.
Uh-oh, Rarity's in trouble now. And Spike, poor Spike.
*Upvote and putting on Tracking list.*
Very interesting, using a small moment from a recent episode to address the elephant in the room. Good work so far, I'll definitely be watching this one.
You thought... he knew? Yes, because children already holding down the local equivalent of a part-time job often go out of their way to do hours of back-breaking menial labor for their crushes without being paid in a field they've shown no deeper interest in. -_-
It's like... imagine you are a foal Rarity, and have yet to get over your crush on Blueblood. Now imagine him telling you that he would spend more time with you, if only he weren't so busy. So you spend practically all of your free time helping him with anything he needs doing, and he's always nice about it, always appreciative, but always expects you to be there, and always expects you to work your tail off for him for no real benefit. And while this is happening he never mentions your crush, despite knowing about it, and peppers you with little compliments, gifts, and signs of affection even as he goes out and dates other mares, never really discussing your feelings for him. Now imagine that you've been doing this for so long you've missed out on discovering your Talent, because you've spent so much time worrying about other people and other things, you never really had time to develop as a person, outside of a few personal desires and hobbies. How would all of this make you feel Rarity, as a child?
Imagine falling in love with this pony, after years of fantasizing about them, about being their wife, about becoming a princess and leading this idyllic, fairy tale life. Now imagine, that on the brink of heartbreak you finally confront him about his actions, and what does he say?
Not so rosy from the other side, now is it?
Spikes not that far off from thier age though lol, hes older then the cmc and not to far from twilight tbh, age gaps that our like 3-7 years ain't really that big of a deal
I'm not buying it.
Spike doesn't just do these things because he likes Rarity. A major part of his character is being The Number One Assistant. He likes helping out Twilight and Rarity where they need help and the real only time Rarity has taken advantage of Spike has been for the Fire Ruby.
And it's more his fault for choosing such a roundabout method for trying to convey his feelings rather than doing something far more direct. Especially considering his choice of trying to convey them go back to point one. He likes to help.
8986508
Rarity has proven to be aware of Spike's feelings for her, and having no problem about using them to her advantage. She has no excuse.
Then again, Twilight is at fault too, and maybe more. She raised Spike to be her assistant (read servant) all his life, knowingly or not.
He didn't go to school to learn a trade and start a personal career. And he never had friends or a social life on his own. His entire life has always revolved around serving Twilight.
He learned from birth affection is expressed through servitude to the beloved one. It really surprised his relationship with Rarity is so unhealthy?
I hope this story address Twilight's role in Spike's plight.
Keep it as a keepsake of the two of them spending time together?
Hurry up and become an Alicorn lady, that way you can wait out for him to reach his adult years.
She's acting so cold and rational, and gets all high and:
Because she acted all cold and rational with all of her crushes...
8986533
I'm aware. I plan on talking about some of this in the next chapter.
The thing about children is that they don't don't usually dedicate inordinate portions of their life solely to assisting other people. Spike is certainly the Number One Assistant, but the question isn't that he is, it's why he is.
None of the characters involved here are meant to be "more at fault", it's a story more about them not thinking to communicate their feelings, and dealing the consequences that result.
Spike... needs to learn how to have fun.
8986537 This statement is so full of head-canon it's almost amusing, but sadly just marks one of the many trends of fandom projection into the show.
---
Edit: To talk about the fic itself, I've generally tended to lean towards your interpretation of Rarity here. Albeit possibly a bit oblivious or something. Stories in which they come face to face to discuss that there really isn't an actual romantic relationship, and there was never one to begin with are always interesting to read and explore, IMO. Mostly because it reflects what the author thinks of the characters and their roles.
There are of course those that just want to blame one side or the other, and others who explore it from both sides of the equation. Regardless, Spike being young, it's bound to hurt, especially this being his first real crush so his reaction here is understandable.
So, why is Rarity exploiting Spike to do menial labor worse than Twilight doing it?
Ouch, Rarity really stepped in it now, can't wait to see what will happen in the next chapter.
8986576
Please, we all know that Starlight is probably next on the slate while Sunset gets absolutely zip.
Of course, even if there wasn't the age issue, she just might not be into him.
8986753
Maybe because Spike helps Rarity expecting something out of it. Rarity does know what this particular thing is, yet never bothers to correct it. The most she's ever given him are some gems which, while he appreciates, are not why he helps her in the first place.
Spike helps Twilight because that's part of his livelihood. He gets a place to live in exchange. It's what he lives for.
How wrong or right either of those things are is really up to interpretation.
Hmm. I'm not sure how to feel about this one just yet. I'm going to reserve my judgement until I see the rest. Still, it's certainly an interesting angle to work with.
(Also, when Rarity said she'd recycle the dress, I couldn't help bit think that Sunset Shimmer felt a sense of vague disappointment without ever knowing why.)
8986753
The easy answer here would be that Spike doesn't have romantic feelings for Twilight, but that isn't quite the angle I intend to go for. Twilight's relationship with Spike raises a few questions of its own which I intend to address in the concluding chapter.
I wouldn't say that any character involved in this fic is "bad" by any means, but rather that they're all fallible in their own ways and have things to learn about communicating and relating to each other in a healthy fashion.
8986775
Agreed. I'm going to see where this leads, though it's already a good thing this isn't another one of those stories condemning Rarity for taking Spike up on it when he offers to help her. I mean, you have people in the comment section claim Spike only gets a few gems sometimes in return, apparently forgetting the bowtie or the kiss on the cheek.
Why do I have the feeling that MLP is gonna have a FOP "Here's Chole!" moment in a attempt to break and tackle the Sparity situation in the near future?
Or at least, have a acutal episode where Spike actually calls Rarity on all of her BS and he realizes for himself that his crush for her has to end and he looks at someone else that he crushes on (one that actually kinda has something for him as well)...
8986826 Or maybe the lesson learned is that just because you want something really bad it doesn't mean you're gonna get it?
Oh Spike, you're the show's Butt Monkey and you always will be. The writers just toss you a bone every now and then.
But afterward, you're right back under hoof where you belong!
8986843 That's why you TAKE OVER THE WORLD AND DOMINATE ALL LIFE!!!
THEN you get what you want!
8986877 Yes.
Really liked this chapter and story idea. Everyone else has grown both physically and mentally. Time for Spike to get his turn, seeing that the writers are probably going to push this aside or not explore it.
Good job. Let the drama continue.
After Spike's long flight!
8986533
Honestly, this is close to victim blaming. You yourself pointed out that his behavior is learned behavior, and you also already mentioned who conditioned him that way: Twilight. Honestly, I think her relationship with him isn't exactly healthy either. So what exactly is she? His foster mother? Older sister? Employer? Even if we assume she pays him a fair wage for his job as Number One Assistant, these roles still really don't go together well. This form of upbringing produces a person who acts like Spike towards everyone he's interested in almost by necessity.
...But even if we assume that he's the only one to blame for his learned behavior, it would still be Rarity's obligation to make her feelings for him - or rather lack thereof - perfectly clear and not take advantage of his codependent behavior.
I really liked this chapter, but when is the next one coming out
8986785
Yeah, to make this point clear, I also don't see Twilight or Rarity as being intentionally malicious. It's not completely unintentional either, they both have an idea that something is wrong. It's more like a blind spot. You're so used to something and it has become a part of your normal everyday life to such an extent that you don't see the truth of it any more even though it's directly in front of your nose. It happens to all of us, but it can be something that really needs to be overcome. In other words, I don't think they're outright malicious, but that doesn't mean I see them as blameless either. The idea of fallibility seems to be an appropriate concept here.
8986791
Oh, hi Derpsby.
Yeah, kisses on the cheek are cute gestures... but they become a different meaning if they make the receiving person believe that the giving person is expressing a feeling that they don't actually have. It's painfully obvious that Rarity has no romantic interest in Spike. Gestures that may seem romantic acquire a somewhat different meaning if you keep this fact in mind. The point is that Spike has wrong conceptions about Rarity and his relationship to him, Rarity knows it - and instead of dispelling these wrong conceptions, she fuels them. Now of course, one could say that she doesn't want to hurt his feelings - but that's just postponing the inevitable, isn't it?
8987010
What's wrong with service? Work is honorable. Spike exemplifies the classic virtue of loyalty.
8987054
There's nothing wrong with voluntary service. There are a lot of things wrong with being conditioned to letting people take advantage of you, or taking advantage of someone who is conditioned that way.
We're talking about unhealthy relationships here. It is unhealthy to have someone who acts as both your mother figure and your employer. It is unhealthy to be romantically attached to someone who doesn't share your feelings and takes advantage of them to get favors from you. Yes, loyalty is a virtue, but one point of the show precisely is that the different virtues need to balance each other out. In this case, loyalty needs to be balanced by honesty.
8987010
That's a lot of headcanoning and if anything you're the one forcing him into the victim role here.
From when he's hatched to the present, we have no idea of who has truly "raised" him because for all we know it was Celestia or Twilight Velvet or all three who did it.
And you're acting like they conditioned him into negative behavior. Which is assuming they actually did that or if he came about that type of personality himself. Nevermind he's learned to be responsible. To be helpful. Rather than be some obnoxious child that has to have everyone else clean up his messes and be told to do something.
You're also assuming that she doesn't give him sort of reward or allowance for anything he does.
Lastly, you're also assuming Rarity even knows of his feelings, at least canonically.
8987095
Now that's what I call headcanon. I guess it's technically possible, but most of what we see in the show points to the contrary.
Yup, people come about a personality themselves somehow. It's totally not their environment, the relationships with the people around them and the expectations set up for them that shapes their personalities. Personalities just magically pop into existence.
I'm not saying he was conditioned intentionally. I'm saying the way he was raised caused it. It doesn't matter how you frame it or who taught him this: This type of behavior is a kind of learned behavior. You yourself said it: A large part of his character is being the Number One Assistant - and that's an acquired part of his personality almost by definition.
Or in other words: He was never allowed to have a proper childhood.
8987106
...
What the hell? How is learning to be a responsible child that isn't an obnoxious burden on those raising you "not having a proper childhood"?
8987111
Number One Assistant isn't normally a job you give to a child.
There is a reason why we don't normally give children the same responsibilities as adults. We don't do it because it's unhealthy for a child's development. Against the backdrop of this fact, the concept of a "responsible child" rings hollow. I know what you mean by that, but that's simply not what's going on here.
8987010
That's BS.
First of all, Spike is only a victim of his own desires. He's a kid with a crush. Saying that he's also responsible for not being to start discerning how things are not what he wants is not victim blaming. Spike is not a victim. The only way he would be a victim is if you turn everything upside down to justify your opinion.
That's... BS too.
Just more "spikabuse!" conspiracy theory. Spike has everything he could ever desire, all the support, love and encouragement to succeed in what he wants or needs. He has responsibilities that he chose to take on his own. He doesn't get ordered around, or abused or is demanded to do anything unreasonable. In fact, the only times he does unreasonable things, it's because he insists on going somewhere or doing something he shouldn't. Again, to drill the point in further: he's a child. A child. He might be smart and capable, but he's still a kid. He just recently hit puberty in the show, if you want to take it that way. He's acting this way because he is not ready to act as an adult would in a romantic relationship and it was the only thing he could think of because he was too shy to say it outright. He's doing nice things for Rarity because he wants to be nice to her, and yes, he wants her adoration, but there's no one here forcing him to do anything, nor messing up his development.
It's not "learned behaviour" it's being defensive against something that scared him when he was younger and compensating for it by doing something he is already good at: helping others. And he does that for ANYONE in MLP. He's done it for AJ, Pinkie, Starlight and the Crusaders. So yeah. Your theory fits if you want to turn everything around and scrunch it up to fit that box.
And this is particularly strong BS. The BS that makes you wave your hand in front of your nose in the futile attempt to disperse the smell, but it just lingers.
It is also my main real peeve, with Sparity: the idea that Rarity is responsible or owes it to anyone to do anything. If we go by your metric, she's the victim of consistent amorous persecution from someone she has no interest in but would most likely feel guilty for hurting. If we go by a more rational sense, she simply owes him nothing. She is not obligated to date him because he wants it. She is not obligated to be his mom. She's not obligated to break his heart or to say anything at all.
There is no obligation from her to Spike. It's shitty if she were intentionally stringing him on. But is she? There is no canonical absolute certainty that she is doing such a thing. So let me repeat: she doesn't owe him anything. She's not taking advantage of his behaviour, especially if he displays the same willingness to help ANYONE. It's not limited to her.
We know that he's infatuated with her, because we see everything in the show from outside. Including the little hearts in his eyes and his attempts to say something to her when she's already walking away. To go back to the point above, he has never actually confronted her with his actual, real feelings.
So she owes it to him to clarify that it is not going to ever happen? Why? How is that her responsibility, when he hasn't made an attempt to communicate that to her without any room for error? She gets presents all the time. From everyone. She gifts EVERYONE something. Why would she interpret a specific gift from him as something other than given in earnest friendship and appreciation?
Please.
8987122
I love how you guys contradict yourselves. You insist that he's just a child, but you expect him to have the emotional maturity of an adult. I guess that's also learned behavior, since that contradiction is displayed in the show itself by how other characters act towards Spike.
And also someone with a job as Number One Assistant. Wrap your head around that contradiction. Does that qualify as child labor? If not, why not?
Taking advantage of someone's good will does not necessarily require force. It only requires dishonesty.
Rarity is dishonest with Spike. At the very least she's not as straightforward with him as she should be. And she benefits from not being. That's a fact. From what we've seen in the show, I don't see how that could be reasonably disputed. I'm not saying Rarity is malicious or outright abusive. I'm just saying she acts irresponsibly.
Of course she isn't obligated to date him. As a matter of fact, I think she shouldn't date him - like, ever. What she does owe him is honesty. ...Then again, that's Applejack's strong suit, not hers.
Yes, I already said it was a blind spot of sorts. I'm not trying to vilify Rarity. I genuinely think this isn't malice, it's just a matter of her being a flawed individual. But that doesn't mean that she's blameless. It just doesn't.
........daaaaaaaaamn........
8986647
EXACTLY!!!! Look at her and Blueblood, she had a crush on him just because of his social standing and his looks. He never even talked to him before.
8986753 The difference that I see is that it's pretty much just doing home chores for you family.
I really liked the story so far, even though I usually avoid anything "sad" tagged. Made me think of Spike's characterisation, which has been all over the place. BUT! On the topic of being a loner all his life, Spike has shown remarkable social skills, especially compared to the (at the start of the series) anti-social Twilight. I don't really think he's been lonely or forced into servitude or anything. He's made a lot of new friends, has "boy's nights" and hobbies to relax with. Only thing I'd like to see from him is to finally realise that his crush on Rarity is just that, a crush. All kids have them for someone, and then they grow out of it. It's a healthy step into adolescence and social interactions in the future.
I also ship SpikEmber.
8987138
Maybe I should break this one down for you because the concept seems to elude you.
"Saying that he's also responsible for not being able to start discerning how things are not what he wants is not victim blaming."
Means that: just because we understand the fact that he doesn't get it, it doesn't mean that we're blaming the victim.
There. Is that more clear? OR do you still that's a contradiction?
I hate to burst your bubble, but "Number 1 Assistant" is not an official job. It's an endearing term from Twilight . You understand the difference? There is no contract. It's not a degree or a technical diploma that you get. Furthermore, if you want to get even more clear on this: your values are not the values of a bunch of ponies and dragons living in a monarchy. AND, again, It. Is. Not. A. Real. Job. It is him wanting to be useful and having a title of endearment.
That is not servitude, slavery or a job. That is what a parent calls their kid when they help them fix the car by passing them the tools they need to do so.
Great to see Spike showing some spine. I'd love it if he did this in the show.
8987149
Honestly, you're grasping for straws. There are a lot of things wrong with what you just said. First of all, I didn't say it was victim blaming, I said it was close to victim blaming. Secondly, I didn't accuse you at all, since I was talking to kztxl7 when I made that accusation. And third, that's not how the conversation between him and me went down at all.
This is what kztxl7 actually wrote and what I responded to:
8986533
That's what this was about. This is no "understanding acknowledgement of the fact that he doesn't get it". This is a shameless accusation of Spike for not getting it.
If it's not a paid job, that actually makes things even worse. It's not even ultimately about payment or contracts. You do not make a child your assistant. It's not a position you give to someone who you believe isn't mature enough to hold it. Either Spike is a child and Twilight understands that, then she shouldn't have given him this position. Or Spike is a child and Twilight doesn't understand it, then that raises a few really ugly questions as well.
I'm not going to discuss value relativism here because that would derail the conversation completely. If you really want to debate me on that, send me a PM. For the intents and purposes of this conversation, let's just say I disagree.
When it comes down to it, this isn't even about "values". It's about known psychological facts.
Except there is a difference between calling a child that once as a means of endearment, and reinforcing it repeatedly and connecting it with certain expectations until it becomes an integral part of their perceived identity.
8987148
To be clear, that's also not what I was saying. I know there are people who think there's something like forced servitude going on here, but I'm not one of them. I'm saying the way Rarity and to an extent Twilight treat him is unhealthy. I'm not saying it's outright abusive. When it comes down to it, my position is fairly moderate in comparison.
Yeah, that's kind of my point as well. Hell, he might still help her out now and then as a friend afterwards. What he does need to develop is the ability to say No to someone - Rarity in particular. Incidentally, I think he won't just learn that all on his own. Most people don't learn it all on their own. In this story, it's Starlight who gives him a push in the right direction. I think my point is that this is something I believe he should have been taught a long time ago.
8987149
Oh yeah, I spotted another little oddity in this conversation that I think needs to be addressed.
Wanderer D said:
8987149
On the other hand, kztxl7 said:
8987095
I know these two comments came from two different people... but it does raise the question again: Is Twilight a mother figure for Spike or isn't she? Incidentally, if Spike is still a child, that means the process of raising him isn't even complete yet - which invalidates xztxl7's point. I tend to agree with Wanderer D here: Twilight is a mother figure of sorts for Spike. (I'm not even saying she's doing an all-out bad job with that. I'm just pointing out her mistakes.)
8987173 I tend to butt into these kinds of discussions with sometimes worrying frequency.
8987213
Yeah, me too.
Looks like the little dragon is finally growing up.