How to Train a Prince

by Foal Star

Chapter Five: The Date

The following morning, Rarity sat in her rather elegant kitchen, drinking a small glass of tea as she read the newspaper. She was reading it rather intensely with Prince Spearheart's successful party and many of Canterlot's elite calling him the most prized bachelor in Equestria. She was amazed at the story, and despite what Twilight said earlier, she couldn't help but shake that maybe this Prince Spearheart was the real deal and not Spike in daisies. Of course, Twilight wouldn't lie to her about such a thing, but perhaps she was just mistaken? Celestia knows when she gets into a manic state; she isn't always in the best state of mind. But she won't rule out Twilight's theory that this mysterious prince isn't Spike; she'll go with him on this date and figure out the truth herself.

---

Rarity folded the newspaper, dabbed her lips then set off down the road to the spa as she prepared for her date.

Meanwhile, Spike was in his much more grandiose kitchen, where he was eating his favorite breakfast pancakes with gems baked into them. His servants were going about their duties, cooking and cleaning around him as he sat at his freshly polished dinner table. He was reading the same newspaper with a smile on his face. He felt like he had already succeeded in selling him as a prince to Rarity. He folded the newspaper and looked up at the chandelier overhead as he daydreamed about his date tonight. As a servant came by to clear the table, Owlowiscious stood by, looking rather angry. Spike couldn't help but gloat over proving the old bird wrong.

The drake turned towards his old friend and asked, "Hey Owlowiscious, did you read the paper!?"

The griffin didn't look amused as he said, "I did."

"And…" Spike asked with his voice trailing.

The griffin then rolled his eyes then said, "and she'll see right through you."

The drake groaned angrily, then snapped, "even if she does! She'll be curious and go on a date with me!"

Owlowiscious glared at the false prince and asked, "Is that when you will tell her the truth?"

"Of course! Ugh, you still think this isn't going to work?"

Owlowiscious placed a wing over his face, shook his head, and said, "Spike, I think you believe this will work, but that's not how reality works. You can change everything about yourself, your appearance, and your actions. But you can't force somepony to love you.

"I'm not trying to force her! I just want her to give me a chance!" Spike shouted.

He was now getting frustrated with his griffin; it didn't matter what he said; the only way to show him he was wrong was after his date with Rarity was a success. He then rose from the table, "forget this. I will go make a reservation at the fanciest restaurant in Canterlot." He threw his hooves up, rose from the table, and stomped off.

---

Spike stomping eventually turned to a light trot as he went down Restaurant Row. It was still quite early in the morning. Hence, the streets were primarily vacant, with a few ponies going about having brunches. He got many kind looks, with many ponies waving their hooves at him. He eventually came upon the Princess's Palace, a massive regal, looking restaurant with a vast dining area and a ballroom and looking as extravagant as it does in the magazine he read about the highest-rated restaurant in restaurant row. But getting a reservation was nearly impossible. He hoped his prestige from last night's party would help with that.

He then went over to the front desk, where a rather handsome-looking stallion waiter was organizing things. He looked at Spearheart with an odd look, then asked, "Good Morning."

"Good Morning, good sir!" Spike proclaimed rather loudly. "I am Prince Spearheart! And I require a reservation for tonight for two!"

The waiter looked upward with an annoyed look on his face, then said, "ahh, I heard of you; you're looking for a reservation?"

"Yes, anytime tonight would be perfect, and remember, I am a prince," Spike showed off a smug grin just like Prince Blueblood had taught him."

"I see," The stallion looked at the schedule and said, "yes, I have an opening tonight."

"Really!"

"Yes, one year from now, you'll have a reservation opened on the same night."

Spike started to get furious and shouted, "Seriously!?"

"I do apologize, but we are normally completely booked. Getting a table on such short notice is near impossible."

Spike gnashed his teeth, resisting using his powers to turn the pompous waiter into a penguin, and grumbled under his breath, "well, I guess I'll have to find another restaurant."

"Yes, it seems you will; good day, sir."

Spike stomped off, grumbling to himself; that was when he saw a rundown-looking restaurant; he then looked around, thinking about how to remodel the decrepit manor, and saw an opportunity. If he can't get a reservation, he'll make his own five-star class restaurant! He lit his horn and began reorganizing things, making the walls and floor glisten with polished marble; there was a fountain in the middle with statues of himself and Rarity holding each other in their hooves as water spouted from them their mouths in a pool of water.

He then went about and used his powers to transform the building, fixing it up with ease. Then setting up a single table made of white oak and aligned with a purple tablecloth and with a bouquet of white roses centered in the middle.

"There, much better!"

Spike turned to see some rats scurrying about, and like before, with the rodents around his manor, his horn lit up with green magic and transformed them into chubby chefs and some into classy looking waiters.

"Wha… what's going on?" one asked, seeing himself outfitted with a white apron and puffy chef hats sitting on his heads.

"Y…yeah!? What is this?"

Spike smirked and threw his hooves, "it's simple, your chefs, and you'll be making the best food in Equestria!"

"Oh really?"

"Yes, now go and practice!" Spike ordered; he then went off to grab his other servants, have them keep the place in order, and make it look like a proper restaurant! He skipped off down the road with a smile on his face as he felt like everything was finally ready for his date tonight!

---

A few hours later…

Later that evening, Rarity was now dressed in a beautiful violet dress and waited for Prince Spearheart; she then heard the clopping of hooves and saw an elegant carriage with the handsome purple unicorn coming out of it. The stallion held his head high as he trotted out of his carriage, but upon seeing the mare in front of him, the stallion stopped in his tracks, and his mouth went agape.

Rarity blushed seeing her date wearing a fancy tuxedo and looking a lot like Spike when he saw her; she couldn't help but notice the resemblance, but she would need more evidence before she was certain it was him, "good evening Prince Spearheart shall we go on our date?"

"O…Of course!" The stallion quickly exclaimed; he trotted alongside his partner, took Rarity by the hoof, and then escorted her into the carriage. She then sat across from him as it started to move, and then she began to see his nervous disposition and how he would brush his hoof across his wavy mane just like Spike. Rarity could see that even from now, the chance of him being Spike was growing every second; she then asked, "so, Prince Spearheart, how did you get a reservation in Restaurant Row so soon?"

"Well…I pulled some strings being a prince and all…."

"Hmm, I see; you've been making quite an impression despite being rather anonymous for so long.

"Well, I have been endorsed by Prince Blueblood, and well…Princess Celestia didn't endorse me being a prince, but she seemed ok with me…."

"I see," Rarity replied somewhat reluctantly; that was a huge red flag as Princess Celestia would have extensive knowledge of the royal family. Seeing how Prince Blueblood was, she wouldn't trust his judgment on anything.

"Well..um, enough about me, how about yourself?" Prince Spearheart quickly asked.

Rarity put a hoof to her mouth and chuckled, "well, I guess it's a good idea to know each other, and seeing you told me so much about yourself, I'll begin."

During the carriage ride to the restaurant, Rarity went on about her life in Ponyville, how she grew up with a dream to become a famous fashionista and have her designs known across Equestria! She had plans to open a shop in Canterlot and is in Talks with a pony named Sassy Saddles. But then the carriage came to a stop, and a servant called out, "we're here!"

Rarity was then escorted out of the carriage and towards the restaurant; her eyes went wide with amazement upon seeing the structure glisten in the moonlight. She then went through the front door, and there she was, amazed at how beautiful everything looked: the glistening marble, statues, the musicians, and waiters going about their business; it was like a dream!

The fashionista gently sat down across from Prince Spearheart. They conversed while having a lovely dinner of fresh pasta dressed with a creamy tomato sauce, tofu balls, mushrooms, and olives garnished with basil. The meal was delicious, and Rarity was enjoying every bite of her meal. They talk much about the "Canterlot Elite" and how much they despise them.

Rarity remembered from the article she read and asked, "So Prince Spearheart, how was Prince Blueblood?"

The stallion finished a bite of his spaghetti before replying, "if I'm being honest and if this is off the record, I must admit he is quite a rude and pompous oaf."

"Quite right; he was so awful when I went to the Grand Galloping Gala with him." Rarity scoffed.

"He helped me get introduced into Canterlot society, but I cannot stand how he looks down at others and treats mares."

Rarity nodded as she looked into the prince's eyes, then asked, "I agree; I think you're much more refined than that pompous windbag."

The prince's cheeks went pink as he replied, "uh…thanks…."

Rarity dabbed her lips as she finished her meal, then asked, "would you like to dance?"

"Y…yes!" the stallion exclaimed. He then got up off the table, and then the two went to the dance floor and started to dance to the beat of the music playing. They continue to dance throughout the night, but Rarity felt that with everything, she can only conclude that what Twilight said was right; this prince was indeed Spike. She always saw his love for her as a childish fascination. She never took it seriously, but now he was influenced by chaos. She didn't mind playing along but should end this before things got too serious. Then the music suddenly stopped as they looked into each other's eyes. They went for a kiss, but then she took a hoof to his lips then whispered, "Spike, I know it's you."

"W…what!?" the stallion stammered, "no, your mistaken; who is this Spike you're talking about?"

Rarity rolled her eyes, then sighed, "Spike, this is lovely, and I'm more than surprised you did all of this for me, but this has to end."

“I…I…” Spike groaned as he collapsed on the chair, then shouted, "Buck!"

Rarity slowly trotted over and whispered, "Spike, listen, I know you love me…but…you have to know this would never work."

Spike looked downward, looking somewhat depressed, and sighed, "yeah…I guess…I just thought you would take me more seriously."

Rarity placed a hoof on her cheek as she saw how sweet Spike was despite being so misguided. She wanted to reassure him that she appreciated everything he's done for her. She said, "Don't get me wrong, darling, you're an amazing dragon and would make a wonderful prince. But this…this isn't you."

Spike then Pulled at his own mane, and he seemed he wanted to shout and scream out all kinds of profanities, but he relented as he plopped back down into his chair and then gave a deflated, "fine, you win…I was wrong lying to you and pretending to be a prince."

He then looked upwards at her and asked, "are we still friends?"

Rarity came over and hugged him, saying, "of course, I value your friendship as much as I do with Twilight and all the others."

At that moment, that prideful demeanor Spike put on had faded, leaving a sheepish, blushing stallion who then said, "well…I…I guess this can end then…."

At that moment, all the magic started to fade from Spike's eyes; the restaurant around them began to regress to its decrepit state as the chefs and waiters turned back to rodents. As the rats and mice scurried off, Rarity cried out as Spike caught her. She turned to see he was back in his dragon form and sighed in relief, "thank you, Spike...though I have to ask did you have rats cook the food?"

"Well, they were five-star chefs," Spike responded squeamishly. Although the chefs were enchanted to be pony chefs, Rarity made a mental note to wash out her mouth with some mouthwash before bed.

"Well, I believe that is enough excitement for me for one night," Rarity responded as she held a hoof, "would you mind escorting me home?"

"Of course!" Spike exclaimed excitedly as Rarity felt relieved that despite being unable to win her heart, it seemed the young drake was more than ok with them just being friends.

But as they walked out onto the cobblestone streets, an aura of blue magic surrounded Rarity. She was suddenly hoisted into the air. Spike ran after her, and she cried and screamed, trying to break the magic bonds around her. As the mare levitated in the air, she turned around and saw that Blueblood was in the air with two massive white wings, elongated horn, and glowing green eyes.

"Prince Blueblood, what in Equestria do you think you're doing!"

"Just getting some revenge for humiliating me at the gala!" Blueblood jeered as he looked downward at the stubby purple-scaled dragon who shouted, "Blueblood bring Rarity back now!"

"Sorry, not going to happen!"

"But why!? Weren't we becoming friends?"

"Friends!? I would never be friends with a dragon," Prince Blueblood replied as he stuck his nose up, then continued, "You honestly think I would believe Prince Spearheart was really a prince? I just used you to lure Rarity here and waited for the chaos magic you inherited to come to me once she rejected your advances! Now I'm the most powerful being in Equestria!"

"Blueblood, you're obviously being influenced by chaos magic! Release me now, and we can help you." Rarity insisted.

Blueblood's sneer turned into an angry glare as he snapped, "as if you made a fool of me at the grand galloping gala, and yet I still love you. But knowing how you are will make you much more docile and obedient until we're officially married!"

Then Rarity's body began to change from warm fleshy to cold, stiff porcelain; she tried to talk but could barely move as she became a lifeless porcelain doll. Blueblood then flew off towards what appeared to be an ivory tower in the distance where Spike's old manor used to be. But despite Rarity's inability to move, she could see Spike running after her. She wanted to shout at him to get help, but it seemed he would try rescuing her himself.