> Reaching For Your Love
>  by 2006midnight
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> Voice of the End
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dearest Spike,

I am very touched that you still think of me in this way, even after I’ve taken advantage of you so many times. And yet, it pains my heart to say this, but I just don’t know what to do. I’m not saying no, at least not yet, but I can’t honestly say yes either. All I ask is that you allow me some time to think. I’m sorry that this is the best answer I can give you, but I think you’d much rather have the truth then a lie. 

Rarity Belle





A young dragon walked through the streets of Ponyville. His eyes were downcast, his body wreathed in shadows. All around him ponies milled about on their daily routine, yet he felt nothing, saw nothing, heard nothing. He was oblivious to all but his shattered soul. Why did it matter what anypony else did? His life had ceased to have any meaning without...without her. The most beautiful, most generous pony in all of Equestria, his first and only love. 

Her white coat always polished to perfection. Her violet mane and tail always elegantly styled. Her sapphire blue eyes always sparkling and making his heart pound every time his eyes met hers. Being around her was what made him feel truly alive, like he had a purpose. But now...now that he'd finally confessed his true feelings for her, he just knew that this was the end. Their friendship would be over all because he hadn't been able to contain himself. 

His face turned toward the setting sun, the bright orange glow striking a chord in what was left of his heart. He could feel the stems of vivid fire that arose from the horizon as they caressed his fragile soul. And somehow, he understood.





Twilight Sparkle sat at his bedside, looking down at the young dragon she had helped to raise. She loved him as if he were her own son, and not just her assistant. It pained her more than words can say to see him lying there, in another world, and be helpless to bring him back. A knock on the door jolted her out of her reverie. Turning her head in that direction, the lavender alicorn said, "You can come in."

The hospital room door opened and a disheveled, white unicorn walked into the room. Black streaks ran down her face from where her eye makeup had run. Her mane and tail were a shadow of their usual beauty, and her eyes had dark circles around them, indicative of a sleepless night. Twilight gasped as she saw her friend, "Rarity! Are you alright?"

Turning her gaze towards the dragon lying in the bed, Rarity managed to choke out, "It...it's all my fault..."

Twilight jumped out of her chair and wrapped a wing around the white mare. In a soft, soothing voice, she said, "No, it's not. It's no one's fault. This was an accident, nothing more."

"But if I...if I'd given him the answer he wanted, then...then he would have seen the carriage before...before this happened..." Rarity stopped, no longer able to force out the words.

Twilight crouched down in front of her friend and, looking up into her unusually dull, sapphire blue eyes, asked in a quiet voice, "But is that what you would have wanted Rarity? Would you have been able to look at him every day, knowing that you'd lied about your feelings to protect his? How do you think he would feel if he found out? What would you have done then?"

Both her cheeks stained with a newfound wetness, Rarity whispered, "I...I would have been happy with what I did because I'd have saved him all this pain...I..."

Rarity's eyes flew wide open in shock. Her jaw dropped as her eyes began to sparkle once again. "I...I love him..." 

The white unicorn collapsed in a heap on the floor, trembling as this realization began to sink in. Instantly, Twilight knelt down beside her, and pulled her friend into a tight hug. "Shhh, it'll be alright...you haven't done anything wrong."

Rarity didn't answer, instead merely leaning against her friend. The two mares lay like that for a long time before a doctor came into the room. He stopped short upon seeing them, and said hesitantly, "Excuse me, but...visiting hours are over. I'm afraid you both have to leave."

Twilight looked up at him, her eyes crying out hopelessly. The doctor shook his head and said more gently, "I'm sorry...I just can't let you stay."

The lavender alicorn nodded, "I understand. Just...give us a minute, would you?"

He gave a small, sad sort of smile as he turned and left the room, quietly shutting the door behind him. Gently, Twilight helped Rarity get to her hooves as she did the same. Twilight walked back over to the bed and gave Spike a quick kiss on the forehead. "Please get well soon. We all love you," she whispered under her breath as she gestured for Rarity to say goodbye to him.

As Twilight went to wait by the door, Rarity stepped up to the bed. Her eyes dripping with grief and agony, she leaned over and kissed the young dragon, letting it linger for a good few moments before pulling back. "I'm so, so sorry...I wish I could've told you how much I love you..." Her throat too tight to continue, the white mare squeezed her eyes shut momentarily and joined Twilight at the door. Together they walked out of the room and by extension, out of the hospital, not knowing what fate would decide for Spike.





Rarity stood still, looking out at the congregation of ponies that had gathered for the occasion. In the front row sat all her closest friends. All but one. The one closest to her heart wasn't there, nor would he ever be again. His body, grown cold by now, lay in the casket beside her. Casting an anguished glance at the prison of her beloved, she stepped to the front of the stage and swallowed apprehensively as she struggled to keep what little composure she had managed to find. 

Nervously, her eyes still fixed on all the ponies who were there, the white unicorn began to speak, "A few weeks ago, I received a letter. This letter held many things I did not expect, all of which shook me to the core of my soul. But, what touched me the most was the very last line: 'Here’s hoping you’ll pick up the pieces of my broken heart…'"

Rarity fell silent, raising a hoof to rest just above her heart. She closed her eyes, drew a shuddering breath, and forced herself to go on, "Spike wrote me that letter, and I, foolish as I was, wrote back saying only that I needed more time. I know now, that...that if I had looked further into my heart, then I would have said something much, much different. Three simple words. That was all I needed. But, surprised as I was, I didn't bother to really consider my feelings. My reply was written on an immediate impulse, no thought or care put into it. He wanted me to mend his heart, and instead, I broke it more. If I could turn back time, that letter I wrote...it would have only said, 'I love you'."

The white mare opened her eyes, her makeup in a ruin as it flowed down her cheeks. Everypony sat still, their attention only for this one pony before them. As she turned her gaze toward the sun as it began to sink below the horizon, Rarity felt her heartbeat quicken, something within her pushing it faster and faster. The heat flooded her entire body, her eyes shone with fire, and, for just a moment, all the pain she had ever known disappeared. And in that single, short moment, she too, understood.