Spike has been helping Rarity and Sweetie Belle around the Carousel Boutique. In fact, the filly and the dragon have even become better friends, sharing secrets and what not. However, it seems that both of them have secrets.
“It's times like these you learn to love again./It's times like these time and time again.” –Foo Fighters, ‘Times Like These’
Spike begins to spend more and more time helping Rarity and Sweetie Belle around the Carousel Boutique. As time goes on, Sweetie Belle and Spike become close friends, sharing close secrets. But there seems to be a secret that Sweetie Belle thinks Spike should share with Rarity.
It was a bright and sunny morning in Ponyville. Celestia's sun was warming up the town and the citizens that were already outside. One particular citizen was dashing his way across the town excitedly. It was Spike. The dragon was given the day off from Twilight Sparkle and he knew exactly how he wanted to spend it: helping Rarity at her shop. The small dragon was running as fast as his small legs could move to the Carousel Boutique. Upon reaching the porch, he rang the doorbell and waited patiently yet eagerly.
The door opened to reveal a small white unicorn with a pink and light purple mane. It wasn't Rarity, but her little sister, Sweetie Belle. "Oh, hello, Spike. You come by to help with the dress-making again?" Sweetie Belle welcomed the purple dragon warmly.
Spike nodded, "Yup, since Twilight gave me the day off, I figured I could be of some help."
"I'm sure my sister would be happy to have some help, come on in," Sweetie Belle invited Spike in, "She's upstairs and 'in the zone' as she calls it. This is when I usually find something to do, but since you're here, maybe we both can help!" The filly was hopeful. She really did like helping her sister out, but she was only allowed when Rarity said it was okay.
The two youngsters made their way up the stairs towards Rarity's workroom. They could tell she was inside from the noises coming from inside. They heard Rarity's voice as they got closer, "Oh dear, this design simply will not do! I need something flashier. After all, this for Miss Sapphire Shores! Maybe if I put a few gems more on the back…."
"Hiya Rarity!" Sweetie Belle blurted out with a smile.
Rarity began speaking before turning around, "Sweetie Belle, what have I told you about barging in when I was working?" she began to turn around, "I have an important order to finish soon and I can't be pestered with you or anyp-" Her eyes saw Spike standing next to her younger sister, "Oh Spike! I'm sorry, dahling, I didn't know you were here. What do I owe this pleasure?" Rarity was quick to change her voice from annoyed to pleasant.
"Hey, Rarity," Spike waved, "I stopped by to see if you and Sweetie Belle needed any help with anything since I have the day off."
Rarity was a bit taken back, "Oh, Spike dear, you really don't have to work at all if it's your day off, especially for me."
Spike smiled, "It's no big deal, I like helping you out!"
"Like me!" Sweetie Belle chimed in with a smile.
A small smile of relief appeared on Rarity's face, "Actually that is quite noble of both of you. I do have a few dresses that need to have some gems attached to them for my client, and I simply don't have the time right now while I am trying to design her next gown. As much as I would hate to admit it, I do need help."
"You can count on us, Rarity!" Spike said with a noble tone in his voice.
"Yeah!" the white filly agreed.
With a sigh of relief, Rarity led the two youngsters to the next room, "Thank you so much, dears." She led Spike and Sweetie Belle to the room next to her work room, filled with many ponyquins wearing different styles of gowns from fancy to plain and everything in between. Spike looked around as they walked through, and it seemed Sweetie Belle was just as curious about the room, seeing how she was banned from entering certain rooms of the house.
"Alright, dears," Rarity stopped in front of two ponyquins with fancy looking dresses with marks on them, "Here are the two dresses that I need to have gems attached. They have marks on them where the gems would go. If you could finish applying gems to these dresses, it will be extremely helpful. Can you do that?"
"Of course!" the dragon smiled.
"Sure can, Rarity!" Sweetie Belle said to her sister.
"Thank you. I shall reward you for your hard work, but right now I do need to get back to work," Rarity quickly trotted out of the room and back to her workroom.
After she left, Sweetie Belle and Spike began working hard on the task they were given. There was some silence growing between the two, but Spike wasn't one for absolute silence, so he decided to talk with the filly he only got to know every so often.
"So why aren't you off playing with the rest of the Cutie Mark Crusaders?" Spike was curious. Normally they would be doing something by this time in the morning to get their cutie marks.
"Well, Applebloom is helping her family on the farm, and Scootaloo is grounded after she tried to get a fire-starter cutie mark. I told her it didn't sound like a good idea," Sweetie Belle explained as she attached another gem to the gown.
Spike laughed, "I don't think setting fires will help anypony get a cutie mark."
"That's what I said, but she still didn't listen!" Sweetie Belle giggled herself, "Also Spike, don't be eating any of these gems, or I'll tell Rarity!"
Spike was a bit surprised she said that, "What? You honestly think I would eat any of these gems?"
The filly giggled again, "You are a dragon after all!"
"I didn't even think about it! Though, now that you mentioned it, I didn't eat breakfast…." Spike looked down at his belly and his empty stomach.
"Then after this, we will go get some food, alright?" Sweetie Belle offered.
"Sounds like a plan!" the dragon agreed.
The two youngsters continued with their work and chatted away about different things. They talked about the other Cutie Mark Crusaders, the prissy ponies from school, Twilight's weird reading habits, and many of other things they couldn't remember. They wouldn't admit it, but Spike and Sweetie Belle were becoming good friends.
The white filly and the purple dragon were quick with finishing the task that Rarity had given them. They both went to inform Rarity that they were done, but after seeing the unicorn working intently on her designs, Spike and Sweetie Belle both agreed to leave her alone. With this, the two went out for lunch.
"So Spike, what do you wanna get to eat?" Sweetie Belle asked as they left the Carousel Boutique.
"Oh, anywhere is really fine. I'm not too picky," Spike smiled to the filly.
Sweetie Belle's face lit up, "Alright! I know just the place!" She used one of her hooves to grasp one of Spike's claws, dragging the baby dragon through the Ponyville townscape. Spike had a bit of trouble to keep up with the excited pony, but managed to not trip on the way.
Sweetie Belle finally arrived at her destination. Spike looked to see that she stopped in front of a familiar pony's cart. It was the Apple family's apple cart. From behind the cart, an orange pony with a blonde mane smiled as she tilted her hat to them.
"Howdy there, welcome t' the Sweet Apple Acres' Apple Cart! What can I get fer ya?" Applejack automatically gave her sales pitch verbatim before recognizing her customers, "Well, if it ain't Spike and Sweetie Belle!"
"Hello, Miss Applejack!" Sweetie Belle said with a musical touch to her words.
"Hey there, could I get an apple fritter?" Spike asked. The aroma was extremely tempting to the hungry dragon.
"Sure thing, and fer Sweetie Belle?" the earth pony asked turning her attention to the white unicorn.
"Apple juice, please!"
Applejack nodded, "Comin' up! That will be two bits!"
Spike pulled out the coins to pay for the both of them, setting them on the cart for Applejack. The orange mare turned around with the order, handing both of the youngsters their respected order.
"Thank ya kindly fer stoppin' by!" Applejack called as Sweetie Belle and Spike walked away.
"Thank you!" Sweetie Belle shouted as they walked away before turning her attention to Spike, "And thank you for paying for me, Spike!"
Spike took a big bite of his fritter, "Notta probblehm!" His mouth was full as he spoke.
The filly giggled before she took a sip of her juice, "You know, I think Applejack gave us an odd look."
"Huh? Why?" Spike tilted his head to the side.
"Well, you did pay for me….and we are together," she hinted, blushing slightly a faint pink.
Spike raised an eyebrow in puzzlement.
"Like a couple."
The dragon spat his food out from his mouth in surprise, "WHAT?! We aren't anything like that!"
"I know!" Sweetie Belle reassured him, "But Applejack might of thought differently just by that."
"But we aren't! I mean, I like ya and all; you're a great friend. But I got my sights set on Rarit-" Spike covered his mouth with a claw, but it was too late. A sly smile came across Sweetie Belle's face as her eyes narrowed onto the dragon. "Sweetie Belle….you better not say anything…."
"Oh, whatever could you mean, Spike?" the filly played dumb.
"You can't say anything, got it?"
"On one condition," Sweetie Belle was going to have some fun with her friend.
"Name it," Spike didn't like where this was going.
"You have to tell her. Deal?"
He was right, he didn't like where it was going, "Fine, just not a word to anypony, got it?"
Sweetie Belle nodded before she began to laugh aloud. Spike blushed and tried to hide by continuing to eat his apple fritter, "Come on….can you stop laughing already?"
She continued to laugh until she was able to catch her breathe, "It's times like these I'm happy were friends!"
The flustered dragon was not amused, "Moments when I say something embarrassing?!"
"Yup!"
"Just wait until I find out something embarrassing about you!"
"Like what?" Sweetie Belle asked with confidence.
Spike couldn't think of anything quick enough to say, "Um….I….don't know. But when I do, just you wait!"
Sweetie Belle laughed a bit more, "I promise, Spike, I won't tell anypony. Just as long as you keep your end of the bargain, okay?"
The dragon was still a bit sore, "Deal."
Sweetie Belle smiled and drank a bit more of her juice, "Come on, we can still have some fun today."
The two youngsters spent the rest of the day playing games, walking around Ponyville, and enjoying each other's company.
The next day, Spike returned to the Carousel Boutique brimming with confidence. Sweetie Belle had challenged the dragon to admit his feelings to Rarity, and he felt like he could conquer the world and Rarity's heart. Knocking on the door of the shop, a familiar unicorn filly was on the other side with a smile.
"Hey, Spike! You seem to be in a good mood," Sweetie Belle said, moving to the side for Spike to enter.
"I am! I feel like I can do it, Sweetie Belle. I feel like I can admit my feelings to Rarity," Spike proclaimed proudly.
Closing the door, the filly was surprised by Spike's words, "Really? That's great! Are you going to tell her right now?"
Spike hesitated, "N-No. I think I should wait until later, you know?"
The unicorn nodded, "I get it. I wish you the best of luck when you do!"
"Thanks! Do you think she'll like me back?" Spike seemed to become slightly doubtful.
"Totally! You're surely to win her heart!" Sweetie Belle answered.
The dragon looked to Sweetie Belle, "Heh. You know, thanks Sweetie Belle."
"Huh? For what?"
"Kinda forcing me to do this. I think it was the push I needed to finally say it to her."
Sweetie Belle's face became slightly pink, "No need to thank me! What are friends for? We should get up there to help her though, before she gets mad."
Spike nodded and the two youngsters ran up the staircase to find Rarity in her workroom. She was grateful to see that they had come by. Rarity had Spike and her sister aid her with making a few dresses from the beginning with cutting the fabric and fashioning it on the ponyquins. It was tiresome work for each of them, which is why Rarity treated everyone to a snack during a break. By the end of the day, they had finished three dresses from fabric to simple design.
"Goodness, we certainly got a lot done today! Thank you ever so much Sweetie Belle, and of course you, Spike," Rarity thanked her helpers for the day.
"Yeah, of course, Rarity!" Spike said happily.
Rarity smiled and turned around to clean her worktable. Spike looked to Sweetie Belle who was making a gesture to him to talk to her. After such, the white filly left the room. Spike turned back to Rarity and took a deep breath. Unbeknownst to both Rarity and Spike, Sweetie Belle was just outside of the room, listening closely.
"Um, Rarity?" Spike's voice was calm to his surprise.
"Yes, Spike?" Rarity replied with a pleasant tone, still cleaning and organizing her table.
"Can I….say something to ya?" he was becoming more nervous.
"Dear, I believe you already are, but go on," the mare turned to face Spike.
The dragon knew there was no turning back now. He closed his eyes and continued, "Rarity….I….I think I love you…."
Rarity froze. She looked down at Spike who had his eyes closed and his body shaking. She was surprised to hear the words come from Spike. "Oh….Spike….um…." Rarity was at a loose for words, "I'm flattered that you do but….oh dear….I'm sorry that I'm not interested at the moment…."
The words crushed Spike. He opened his eyes to look up at Rarity. They already had a few tears forming, "Oh, alright….I'm sorry."
Rarity immediately felt bad, "I really am sorry, dahling. It's nothing against you. You are really a wonderful dragon. I do mean that."
Her words did nothing for the dragon.
"Are you alright, Spike?" Rarity was very concerned.
"Yeah….I'll be fine….I think I'm gonna head home," Spike's words were detached.
"Alright, dear….I'm sorry and please remember what I said: you are a wonderful dragon. I'm sorry," Rarity said as Spike was moving towards the door in a sluggish manner.
Spike walked through the doorframe and down the stairs to the door. He didn't even notice Sweetie Belle who was waiting for him in the hallway. She followed after him down the staircase.
"Spike?" the filly called out. No response from the dragon.
The dragon exited the shop and headed to the library, his head hung low. Sweetie Belle watched him from the open front door as he walked away.
Spike woke up to a voice he had known his entire life. It was Twilight Sparkle telling him to get up.
"Spike, wake up!" the voice spoke warmly.
The dragon pulled the blanket over his head and mumbled something that couldn't be heard.
Twilight used her magic to levitate the blanket up and away from Spike. He looked to the purple pony that had a concerned look on her face, "How are you feeling, Spike?" She wanted to not open any wounds on the dragon. She learned of what had happened the day before about Rarity not returning his feelings.
The dragon sat up in his bed but did not speak. He had just a heartbroken look upon his face.
Twilight felt uncomfortable about speaking, but continued, "Well, you have a visitor downstairs. Take your time." She then placed the blanket on the floor next to Spike's bed before going down the stairs to the main room of the library.
Though he didn't want to move or do anything, the dragon was curious that he had a visitor. Following Twilight down, Spike saw that Sweetie Belle was waiting for him in the library with a basket next to her hooves.
"Hi, Spike," the white unicorn greeted her friend with a warm smile.
"Hey…." Spike replied weakly.
Sweetie Belle's smile quickly disappeared after hearing the response. She had feared he would be gloomy, but she didn't think it would be as bad as he was.
"What brings you over, Sweetie Belle?" Twilight asked in hopes of brightening the atmosphere.
"Oh, well, I thought that Spike could use a pick me up. So, I had Pinkie Pie help me make a picnic for us to have outside of Ponyville. Of course, if that's alright with you, Miss Twilight," Sweetie Belle addressed Twilight Sparkle for permission.
"I think that's a great idea. What do you say, Spike?" the purple mare asked as both unicorns looked at the dragon with hopeful eyes.
Spike was not even looking towards the unicorns. His eyes were looking at the floor beneath his feet. He only uttered the words, "I guess…."
Sweetie Belle wasn't expecting such a detached answer. However, she was relieved that he at least agreed to it, "Well then, let's go! I know the perfect spot!" The filly was praying in her mind that if she could be cheerful, it would rub off on to Spike. She did not like him in this state in the least.
The two youngsters left the library to the hills outside of Ponyville. Sweetie Belle led the way, carrying the basket on her back. She tried a few times to make small talk with Spike, but the conversation was quickly killed each time with his short answers or lack of answers entirely. Eventually, Sweetie Belle gave up, her ears flattening on her head.
When they had finally reached the hill Sweetie Belle had in mind, the filly laid out the blanked under the shade of a large tree. She invited Spike to sit down as she got the food out for them. Spike stared off into space with a melancholic expression, almost ignoring Sweetie Belle when she offered him a cupcake after she sat down next to him. He took one bite before setting it down in front of him on the blanket.
"Spike? Are you okay? You really have me worried," Sweetie Belle asked after taking two large bites from her cupcake.
"Just devastated is all…." Spike's voice was completely depressed.
Sweetie Belle wasn't going to let him get away with that, "Hey! Don't be like that! I know Rarity didn't share your feelings, but it's not the end of Equestria!"
"Yes, it is…."
"Horseapples! You are a great dragon, I'm sure somepony or dragon will come along and be just perfect for you!"
Spike sighed and finally became more active, "That's just it, Rarity was perfect to me. She was graceful, beautiful, elegant, full of charm, and just amazing."
Sweetie Belle kept trying to get through Spike's thick scales, "But you still have the rest of your life ahead of you to find that special pony! Who knows, you might know that pony now." Her face was slightly pink at her last statement.
Spike didn't notice as he was looking down at the pastry that he set down blanket, "I think that pony is Rarity….I honestly want Rarity."
Sweetie Belle's face turned red as she stood up on her hooves and trotted over to the dragon. Placing her front hooves on Spike's chest, she looked at Spike whose eyes in turn met with hers. Spike saw that there were tears in her eyes as she spoke, "Then please….just pretend I'm her." She closed the gap between them and kissed the dragon's lips.
Sweetie Belle's face was burning red. But while her face was on fire, her heart was fluttering as her lips were against Spike's. To her, it felt wonderful and gave her a feeling that could not be described in words.
The dragon's eyes were wide as the white filly kissed him. A mixture of emotions was filling Spike's entire body.
Breaking the kiss, Sweetie Belle pulled her head away from Spike and looked at him shyly and with a crimson tint across her cheeks. The two looked at each other in silence for what felt like an eternity.
Finally, it was Sweetie Belle to speak first, "I'm….sorry, Spike. I really couldn't help myself. It's just….I didn't want you to be so sad. When you get sad, it really makes me feel sad, and I really like you a lot. Actually, more than just like you. I really feel that I love you, Spike," Sweetie Belle turned her head to look away, "I know I'm not Rarity, and I'm pretty sure that I won't ever be. But I really feel this way about you."
Spike was blushing deeply. He looked at the filly's crestfallen face and knew she was sincere with her words. He hesitated slightly before speaking, "Sweetie Belle…." the filly looked to the dragon, causing him to stumble over his words a little, "I-I have to say that what you did was….gutsy, more than I could ever give you credit for. And….I do have to admit that you are really c-cute and all…."
Sweetie Belle's face lit up as Spike said the last statement, "Really?"
The dragon blushed more, "Y-Yeah….I've really liked spending so much time with you. I've really n-never had so much fun with somepony before. I do love ya."
Sweetie Belle smiled warmly to Spike, which in turn caused the dragon to smile back to the unicorn. She then wrapped her hooves around Spike's neck to give him a hug. Hanging from his neck, she spoke, "I'm really happy Spike….thank you."
"I should be thanking you, Sweetie Belle," Spike replied, wrapping his arms around the filly, pulling her close to him.
"Hmm?" Sweetie Belle looked up to Spike's eyes.
"Yeah," Spike nodded, "You've been a great friend to me for quite some time and, well, you even planned a picnic to cheer me up. All I did was just be depressed about Rarity and dragged myself here."
"You can't totally blame yourself. I mean, it's not like you can just get over Rarity right away," Sweetie Belle commented.
Spike sighed, "Yeah, it won't be easy to just move on without a second thought and all."
Sweetie Belle looked at Spike for a moment before speaking, "But it's alright though."
"Huh? Why's that?" Spike asked curiously.
Sweetie Belle leaned up and kissed Spike on the cheek, causing him to blush heavily, "I don't think you realize that I understand, Spike. I'll be here to help you with whatever you need. And before you ask why, it's because I love you."