> Buffing the Diamonds
>  by Steel Quill
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Limbering Up
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rarity stared at the doors before her with trepidation. She had faced many a foe in her long years: various dangerous creatures, the occasional megalomaniac villain, and a few rounds of saving the world from ending. The fashion industry had posed many challenges as well, but she overcame them all to become an icon; a pillar of innovation and taste that nopony could ignore or surpass. Well they could, they’d just look dreadful trying. Magazines and catwalks everywhere had her likeness presented in clear display. She was a paragon of success and fortune..

Well. Except for the doctor who informed her that she needed to curtail her eating habits and get proper exercise, lest she succumb to becoming...diabetic.

It was why she was standing before the gym of the crystal castle, the final doorway between her and at least an hour of struggle with weights and cardio training. It was not a militaristic regimen the doctor had suggested, but something that he encouraged to stave off the looming reality of her health hitting a decline she wanted to avoid at all costs. Rarity had considered herself to actually manage a decent diet, but she could see how the back to back entrees and sweet treats at post-show parties could take their toll. Curse those sweets and their deliciousness!

“You’re stalling, Rarity,” she muttered to herself, steeling her will and opening the door. The gym wasn’t overly large, able to accommodate perhaps twenty ponies before it would feel crowded. It was intended to be small, as the guard platoon assigned to the crystal castle wasa small force. Some would argue one could go bigger, but when it’s the residence and place of gathering for some of the most powerful and influential ponies in Equestria, it isn’t as needed as one might imagine.

The walls were painted a basic egg white with a few streaks of red or purple coloring here and there, a small flair of change that was reflected best in the crystalline surface she gazed at. The layout of the machines was simple enough to divide into quarters: treadmills for running in place, weights and dumbbells for lifting, punching bags hanging from crystal chains above a firm looking black mat. The last corner was empty, save for another black mat, but she presumed that was reserved for stretching or yoga . Rarity made her way there first, setting her small gym bag and water bottle on a bench before looking down at the mat.

“Flexibility is always a must in any venture. I should stretch first,” she told herself, mentally reviewing her planned path and electing the stretches as most essential. Looking down at her body, Rarity felt some degree of relief that at least her supposed bad diet hadn’t harmed her appearance too much. Her attire, consisting of a sports bra and track pants both matching in a colored blend of blue and light purple, hugged her figure in just the best, snug way she designed them to. It bore no aura of sensuality, she admitted, but it still looked good on her. The satisfaction took a small veer when gazing at her navel, the once slim belly now having given way to a small pudge of fat. It reminded her of what she needed to accomplish, and further delay wouldn’t do at all.

She started with her upper body first, a simple forward, back, left, then right motion of her head to loosen up the neck muscles and work on circulation. Her mane, a rich purple with a greyish-white streak piercing through it, swayed in it’s ponytail behind her as she moved, batting her lower back when she came to a stop. Then her arms followed, forming a T-shape pointing left as she felt her muscles come to life, the mild sting of effort waking them to what she was doing. Rarity held the position for several seconds, feeling the joints of her arm and pectoral start to whine before she released it, swapping arms to give it’s twin the same treatment.

“You would think a guard or two would be here.” She mused aloud to herself. It was a little off-putting, being in there on her own. She knew that with her and the other Elements having come to the castle to catch up and spend time together, they’d likely be at their posts. Tartarus, just getting Twilight anywhere now required at least six of them to be near her at all times. “Or maybe they heard one of the Elements was in the gym, and thought it was Applejack or Rainbow. Those two are still ruffians even at our age.”

The age comment came back to bite her as she leaned forward to spread her legs out on either side of herself, the smallest twinge of protest coming from the small of her back as she leaned to one side, putting the effort on her squatting leg while letting her left stretch out. “Oof!” she grunted out, wincing as she came back up after just a few seconds to rub at her back. “Come now, darling. We have to do this. Better to bite the bridle now than in a bed of tubes and regret.”

Her reasoning went unanswered, letting her mind wander once more as she spread her feet a little further apart, then started leaning forward. She continued until she felt the tug on her hamstrings, the dull sensation persisting and growing as she held the pose. Rarity’s thoughts occupied her awareness; her friends would certainly make this whole room less quiet. 

Pinkie would be doing impossible stretches to defy the laws of reality. Applejack and Rainbow would be trying to outdo one another, ratcheting up their competition to the point their sexual tension would snap like a twig under their feet. Fluttershy would keep to herself, though she might struggle with how blessed her figure was if she wore the same attire as Rarity had. Twilight would have two, no, three books levitating nearby to look for the best theory on exercising properly, ready to correct or answer anyone’s open musing on the subject. The fashionista couldn’t hide her smile at the mental image she’d built. And Spike would…

Spike.

Rarity’s lips fell from their smile to a small frown, further strained by her protesting muscles. She only needed a few more seconds, and then she’d let go. Just a little longer. A little more…

“Rarity, is that you?”

The male voice snapped Rarity from her thoughts, making her stumble forward and fall on her face. She groaned, shifting onto her side to right herself and moving her hair out of her face as she looked up. Her blue eyes stared up as the shadowed male stood there before moving forward. When he came into view properly, Rarity did a double take.

“...Spike? Spikey-wikey?”

“That’s a nickname I’ve not heard in awhile. Most of the time, it’s just Spike.” He stepped closer, the bright light above him being shadowed out by his form. He was smiling, his green eyes alight with humor as he held her gaze. “Kinda surprised to see you here, of all places, Rarity. You need a hand?” He questioned, extending a hand to her. She took it, noting how small her hand seemed in comparison with his bulkier own. All of him was bigger, something she could better see now that she stood before him. He stood a whole head taller than her!

“Thank you, darling. Spike, you’ve...I swear, you’ve gotten bigger than when we last met!” She exclaimed, looking him up and down. His attire was casual enough for a gym visit, a pair of darkened grey sweatpants and a sleeveless t-shirt. His light purple scales and green fins atop his head were prominent as always, looking healthy and polished. The “bigger” comment didn’t just seem to apply to his height; the brief glance to his folded arms showed more muscle in his biceps and forearms than what she recalled. “It’s been ages, it feels like.”

“Well, being an ambassador between the Dragon Lands, the Crystal Empire, and Canterlot keeps me moving around a lot. I know I’ve missed a few meetings here and there, so that’s probably why you haven’t seen me.” He replied. His sharpened teeth flashed in his smile, looking at her. “Work keeps one busy.”

A twitch of awareness suddenly balled up in Rarity’s stomach, but she kept her composure before him. Politeness was next to goddess-ness, she was told. “Indeed it does. I’ve been so wrapped up lately, these visits are my true break away from things, it feels like. I admit, I must seem a touch out of place here alone, in the gym.”

“For sure. Your usual hangout is at the work desk, or on a runway. A sweaty gym? You used to bolt away from the mere idea.”

Rarity managed a small titter. “Yes, well...I’m here on doctor’s orders, in fact. As it turns out, a diet of treats and drinks at fashion galas is not the way to good health. He insisted I take on some exercise, for my well-being to improve lest I succumb to unpleasant ends.”

Spike offered a sympathetic look. “Ouch. That’s rough, Rarity. But good on you for taking the initiative.” He told her before glancing past her and around. “The other guards must be out on exercise drills. You’d usually have at least four of them in here at a time. Guess it’s just us, huh?”

Just the two of them. Alone. No one else. Rarity’s mind sparked and she was stuck for a moment on what to say. How could he be so calm, so welcoming, in spite of everything?

“Y-yes. Well, I’ll try to at least not be in the way. I was just finishing stretching before trying out...oh...perhaps that one?” She pointed to the nearby shoulder press machine.

“That’s a good place to start. I have my own routine to do.” Spike said, nodding at another set of machines on the other side of the room. “If you need a spotter or something, just ask, ok?” At her nod, he turned and walked over to a machine with it’s seat in an odd position, at least to Rarity’s perspective. Of course, it made more sense once the mare saw him draw his legs in before starting to move the leg press machine in a steady, paced motion up and down.

“Right. Yes. Let’s exercise.” She told herself, as if urging herself to move away from the taller drake. It took her a minute to orient herself into position, having to adjust the seat for her smaller frame compared to the average guard. After picking what she felt was an appropriate weight for her to start with, she took hold of the bars on either side of her head and pushed up. Her muscles protested at the sudden effort, but she pushed through, lifting it up and squeezing a grunt out through her clenched lips before bringing it down, the weights settling with a clack once she’d stopped.

One rep. And Spike was already on his fifth.

She had an easy view of the drake from her seat, being treated to the sight of his frame continuing to push and relax in practiced motions. His sweatpants didn’t do much to illustrate any muscle beneath them, but if Rarity had to guess from the stack of metal plates that moved in tandem with his efforts, he was hefting quite the weight. Her cheeks colored as she envisioned seeing his bare scales under the pants, legs coiled with muscle that stretched and flared as he worked out.

Then came back the guilt. The reminder of the past. Rarity’s hands tightened their grip on the bar and pulled down hard, almost too hard as a metal CLANG rang out; she’d pulled with enough force to make the weights crash into the top of the slot. Her surprise made her almost drop them back down, but she caught them and steadied herself. She could manage to right herself physically, but mentally, she was still stricken.

“Go easy on yourself, Rarity.” Spike’s voice called out, making her attention snap forward from the floor to the dragon across the room. “It’s your first time, right? If you overdo it, you might hurt yourself.”

“O-of course. You’re right, darling.” She replied, forcing a smile to her lips. “Just...eager to pump up!” His eyes lingered on her for a moment before he went back to work, and Rarity sighed.

‘Get a grip on yourself! You can survive the harshest critics of Canterlot, but one drake makes you whimper?’ The determined voice pushed Rarity on, and she found herself adopting a similar method as Spike demonstrated with the leg press. Up and down, smooth motions that weren’t rushed but level in pace, she could feel the strain upon her shoulders. But it was a good burning sensation that egged her on; she could handle this. She could do this!

A few reps passed before she stopped, resting for a moment to breathe. Spike carried on, no doubt surpassing her count by many a bound. He hardly even seemed winded at all, despite his efforts; how much exercise did this drake considered to be normal? She was left to ponder this while he changed to another machine, this one looking like just another seat but with weights attached to the side. However, the intent became clear  when he started to move again, leaning forward and lifting his legs up, moving the weights in tandem with himself. It was like some kind of seated sit-up, and Rarity paused from her second round to observe.

Just like the leg press, Spike’s body bore little trouble with the exertion, even as she could see a bead of sweat slide down his cheek from the green spines atop his head to his chin. It made her feel warm just to see his effort on display, forcing her to swallow and finish her set quickly to move on. He shouldn’t affect her so; it was just...surprising to see him be so athletic! Yes, that was all. He’d gone from wiry to built since she’d last seen him, if the bulk of his muscles told her anything.

“Yes. Now focus, Rarity. You can’t beat diabetes on wishful thinking alone.” She told herself aloud before moving to an open space with exercise mats. One of the main exercises she knew she needed to do were ones for her middle; she had no qualms with any mare or stallion who didn’t bear a firm abdomen, but in the realm of fashion, one had standards to keep to. It wouldn’t do for her to not be at her best. With a sigh, she settled down on her back and brought her arms behind her head, assuming what she considered to be a normal, standard crunch position.

The burn of her abdomen wasn’t as prominent or strong as she’d hoped by the time she got to her twentieth crunch, and was still missing by the thirtieth. Her neck, however, was protesting a fair amount which led her to stop and rest on the floor, her gaze centered upwards. “This really is going to be difficult. Curse those buffets!”

The light above her was blocked out when Spike leaned into view, a touch of concern on his face. Directed at her, she felt herself shrink a little under his stare. “Spikey?”

“It’s your neck, isn’t it?” He asked.

“How did you...yes, it is, but that’s just my muscles doing more work, isn’t it? I rarely ever exercise my neck. I think, at least.” She told him.

Spike shook his head, a chuckle leaving his lips. He knelt beside her, his knees beside her head before he continued. “Your neck hurts when you’re doing it wrong. Sorry, Rarity. Do you want a helping hand, maybe?”

“I suppose you’re the better expert, if the way you handle those weights tells me anything. What do I need to do, darling?”

He answered by bringing a hand forward, sliding it behind her head and making Rarity’s eyes shoot forward and away from his face. His talons just barely scratched against her scalp, weaving through her mane to hold her head before she relaxed and let him move her. She felt him move her head, the unicorn’s chin coming to rest against the top of her chest, listening as Spike explained.

“Your neck’s hurting because you’re putting all the strain on letting it lay back like that. It takes a little work to keep it here,” he paused to tap the back of his fingers against her head, “where your chin meets your chest. But doing this takes that strain off, and makes it easier on you too. Go ahead, try it.”

It took a moment to orient herself, as it meant moving out of Spike’s grasp, but she obeyed. The lift up and pause at the crux of the crunch made her abdomen pang from the effort, but it wasn’t echoed by her neck. She smiled and fell back, finding her head resting again in his waiting palm.

“Oh, that’s much better! I was afraid my head might slip off.” She joked, urging a chuckle from the drake above her. “Thank you, Spikey.”

“No problem. Do you want me to spot you? It takes a little getting used to.” He offered.

Rarity swallowed and nodded. She could handle this, it was just...friendly cooperation! That’s all. Yes. “If you don’t mind, dear. I don’t want to take away from your own time for little old me.”

“You’re hardly old, Rarity. Or little. If you put on a set of heels, you’re as tall as me, you know.” He joked to her, bringing a giggle out of the unicorn. She started up the process again, finding it easier to handle the continuous motion now that her neck wasn’t impeding her. Every few reps though, she felt herself start to slip only to have Spike catch and correct her. He was gentle every time with her, polite and courteous. It was delightful to have him be so attentive to her. So kind.

The tear-stricken face of a younger Spike walking through her boutique’s doors flashed through her mind. Voice croaking, shoulders sagged, eyes downcast.

Rarity’s whole body gave a jerk when she came back down from that rep, making her stop and catch herself. Her heart was hammering in her chest, regret and guilt piercing through her form from her mind and down her spine and throughout her being. It was an intense sensation that left her paralyzed, looking up at the grown up Spike before her, who looked back with genuine concern.

“Rarity? Hey. Rarity, look at me.” He said, leaning in closer.

“Huh? Yes. I’m fine. I’m fine.” She insisted quickly. “Just...shocked! It’s so much work!”

“Uh-huh. Nothing else hurting? No bad pains?”

“No, not at all. Well, perhaps my abdomen, but that’s the point, right? No pain, no gain?”

“Believe me that that phrase is not what it’s cracked up to be.” He told her. “There’s not much to gain from pain.”

“Yes, well. I’m fine darling, really. It’s ok.” She told him. As much as she insisted, his emerald eyes still shone with concern. Concern Rarity felt she didn’t deserve, most of all from him. “I-I might just need some water? Where’s the bottle I brought with me?”

Spike nodded, letting her head lay back against the mat - still as gentle a drake as he had been - before going to her bag where the bottle had been left and bringing it back to her. She popped the top of it and took a healthy swig of the water within, kept cool thanks to a minor enchantment on the plastic. It helped soothe her a little, if only just.

“There. Better?”

“Somewhat. Forgive me, dear, you’ve been attending to me. You have your own workout you surely wish to do?”

“I could. But just make sure you don’t hurt yourself, ok? I’m here for you.” His reassurance earned a nod from the mare before he stood up again and moved back to his machines, leaving Rarity to watch him walk away while she laid on the ground. She watched him for a minute more, the drake settling into the shoulder press machine like she’d done before. Only he handled it with much more certainty and strength than she did, if the weight counter was any indicator.

Rarity did get herself to move, rolling onto her front to take up another of the machine-less exercises: push-ups. These were a little less difficult, once she had her footing down right and found her rhythm. Every few passes though, she’d chance a glance over to Spike, to see how he was doing. He exerted effort with only a few grunts and sounds coming from his end, the only other sound to fill her ears beyond her own exercise. Her arms ached when she’d hold herself up to watch him, but a part of her persisted in wanting to see him exercise.

Rarity had seen and dated many a stallion in her lifetime; ponies of every sort and shape, from the unique to perhaps even plain. Everypony has a different flavor, after all. But Spike was a wholly different field, in comparison. The few men she’d dated who considered themselves to be “strong” or “healthy” seemed to pale before the drake. His arms would flex as he worked the shoulder press, the muscles twitching and giving a small show of swelling before relaxing as he did at the end of a rep. There was scarcely an ounce of fat on his form, it seemed like, but she could hardly judge that from this vantage.

Her arms protested more, and Rarity looked away to bring herself down to rest on the floor. The relief made her sigh, and she rose up to try something different. Maybe a pair of the small dumbbells like Spike was going for, although his were much larger and no doubt heavier. Rarity picked up her water bottle, sipping from it again and closing her eyes as the cool relief ran down her tongue and into herself. When she opened her eyes again to look to the only other occupant of the gym, her jaw slipped open as she stared.

Spike had thrown off his shirt, in his fervor of exercise, and revealed that his fitness extended far beyond merely his arms. It was like looking upon a body cut from marble, chiseled to perfection. From the large, firm pectorals all the way down to a four pack of muscle on his abdomen, there was no flaw, nothing lacking. His scales reflected the light from the ceiling above to show he kept himself clean, despite the sweat starting to now dot his form as he continued to workout.

He had a controlled pace, practiced and steady of lifting and lowering a dumbbell with each arm. Her scrutinizing eye could make out the bulge of a vein along his bicep as he lifted, only for it to relax as he lowered and swapped arms. Rarity’s tongue licked her lips as she found herself entranced by his efforts. Only when he stopped moving and spoke did she snap out of it, having completely stopped doing anything except observe the marvelous specimen before her.

“Surprised to see how much weight I can move?” He asked.

“Uh. Y-yes. You’ve...certainly grown stronger.” She replied. The unicorn forced a swallow as he lifted an arm, flexing it a little and making something in her core tingle in a way that it hadn’t for some months. He was so...built!

“The fruits of my labor, haha.” Spike replied, lowering his arm and nodding at her. “You’re losing water, by the way.”

“I am?” She certainly felt like she was plenty hydrated. Plenty of places...perspiring, that usually didn’t.

“Your water bottle. Its top came off.”

Rarity looked down and saw a small steady drip of water flowing out from her uncapped bottle, making her fumble to close it while Spike just chuckled. He offered nothing further, but retained the smile. Rarity’s cheeks burned, but his happy expression didn’t deter her; it only fueled further the shuffling in her stomach between attraction and guilt. It was wrong of her to just stare at him like that. But could anypony blame her? She found no answer in her thoughts, and focused back on her exercise, all the while stealing glances at the muscle-bound drake nearby.






“C’mon Rarity, you got this. Push it!”

“I’m trying! It’s just...oof!”

The gym was filled with the sounds of struggle and metal clanking in place, the source coming from Rarity with Spike looking on. The rower machine was a tough one for the fashionista, as it seemed to be working over all of her body. It was one she’d avoided at first, but Spike’s insistence on covering all her bases made her cave. She’d started at his recommendation, and was doing alright, at least in the beginning. But now she was feeling the burn, from her legs to her core and all around. Sweat ran down her neck and back, while she did her best to maintain the right pace and posture.

“Easy, remember your breathing. You got this.”

Spike’s encouragement should’ve been helping, but more and more, Rarity found a duality that was wreaking havoc on her mind. Each moment of kindness he expressed, every helpful hand he gave, should’ve left her smiling and feeling happy, delighted even. But it was tainted with the pain of guilt, woven into her emotions as tightly as the fabric of her workout bra she was wearing. There were times that she’d retire to her room, weary and exhausted, but full of the will to scream into her pillows had she the air in her lungs. It was a back and forth tug that was leaving her at wit’s end.

Further amplifying her irritation was the slow progress she was making with her exercises. She had been hoping that her efforts would reward her with more than sore limbs and lost energy after a week’s time spent going at it. Rarity knew that she had a ways to go, but shouldn’t some degree of progress be showing? Couldn’t her waist tighten up a little more, or her belly become a bit more taut? The lack of progress taunted her, like a persistent reminder of the bad habits and choices that’d come back around to nip at her heels.

It all boiled within her, waiting for something to erupt, her will to crack. But she fought back, almost snarling at the rowing machine’s grip she held onto as she pulled back on it for another rep. The elongated pull made the machine give a small whir of noise as the rope extended, before she relented and returned back down. It made her body burn, but that was the point, wasn’t it? “How many...more?” she grunted out to him.

“Five more. You got this.” His hand rested on her back, gentle, assuring. She pulled back, winding the rope again.

The same palm on her back had belonged to a begging drake years ago, adamant on seeking a recourse for him and her. And she had said no. Her fingers slipped, but she held onto the grip and finished another rep. Her lungs burned, as water tugged at the corners of her eyes. Did it sting with the sweat of her effort, or the pain of the past?

“I believe in you, Rarity.”

She got to the end of her rep, and it was then that her grip failed her. Too focused on venting her frustration out on the machine, unaware of what was happening, Rarity reared back again but now without a grip to balance her. The sudden jolt of motion caught her by surprise, making her fall back and off the machine, bumping into Spike’s leg as she came to the floor and stopped. She stayed there, a crumpled heap of sore limbs and sweat, and it was then that she erupted. It wasn’t a noisy eruption, but the sobs that left her muzzle were as loud as fireworks in the empty gym.

He was there in a moment, pulling her up and helping to right the mare. Rarity had no will to stop him, almost curling up into a ball as he assisted her. Spike was gentle, lifting her and helping the unicorn find a bench to rest on. When she did, she held onto his arm, keeping him there. She shuddered, letting out a breath of exhaustion that prompted Spike to speak.

“Easy, Rarity. Did you hurt yourself?” He asked.

“No. No. I…” she started to say, ready to once again push down her feelings, but the noises that escaped her ruined the attempt.

“Spike…” Rarity choked back a sob, refusing to look up at the dragon who sat beside her hunched over form, “...I-I’m so sorry.”

“Rarity, it’s ok, we all have rough times. I know it’s not easy to cope with the doctor’s words, but it’ll work out and-”

“Not that!” She exclaimed, her voice louder in the empty gym as her emotions took hold of her. “I...Spike.” Rarity calmed herself as best she could, willing herself to finally lift her head and look to the drake’s face. “Spike, I...I hurt you. All those years ago. When we...when I...”

She couldn’t bring herself to finish the sentence, and Spike did not chance trying to help her. He folded his hands together, staying beside her on the floor. There it was, finally. The figurative elephant in the room that had been there since she’d seen him walk in. She would almost give anything for anypony to walk in right now, even if they saw the mess she was looking like, if just to get her out. To hide from it like she’d done for the past few years.

“I remember.”

Spike’s soft intoning was like a strike to Rarity’s heart, making her gaze fall to the floor. Her feet weren’t willing to move, no matter how bad she’d like to have run.

“I do as well. I...it has never left my memory.”

Quiet fell between them, perhaps both wanting to give the other a chance to speak first, but holding on to be polite. It burned in the air, sparks of frustration as the right words to say continued to elude the unicorn. Her fingers clenched onto one another, as if to squeeze the words she needed from some imaginary fruit.

“Spike, I’m so sorry I-”

“You don’t have to do this to yourself-”

They both started, looking to one another. Hearing the other made them stop, holding their opposite’s gaze from emerald to blue and back. It was Spike who broke the stalemate first, tilting his head to the right a little.

“Please. You first.”

Given the chance to finally act, Rarity’s heart hammered in her chest. How can she say it? How to properly address years of tension, ages of unspoken and unresolved sorrow that she was responsible for? How could she? And how could Spike look at her and still smile that damned wonderful smile she didn’t deserve to see?

“I...I did wrong. By you.” Rarity felt the words leave her, and though she spoke softly, Spike was all ears as she continued. “We were together all those years ago. And things were so...so wonderful. For once, we weren’t beating away a villain every week, or some social problem of friendship. We were living life. My boutique was growing in popularity. Twilight was still learning the ins and outs of being a world leader.”

Spike nodded. “She still doesn’t get it down perfect. The last time she invited a kirin ambassador, she had to work out a system of communication just to make sure there wasn’t misunderstandings or accidental fire bursts.” He told her. “Imagine trying to have a talk about politics and there’s just this random fireman pony in the wings.”

The humor was in Spike’s tone, but Rarity could not partake as she continued. “But just when things were going so well, I...I made a mistake. I thought that I had to put my priority upon my work, my fashion, to keep myself at number one. It cost me many things. Time with friends. Public events I was invited to.” She paused to steady herself, exhaling a shaky breath of air. “...relationships I should’ve paid more heed to.”

Spike didn’t correct her, leaving Rarity to feel like she’d hammered the nail on that particular piece well enough. “I broke off our relationship. For the sake of chasing a dream that did well to lift me to the upper echelons of society. But the cost of that, to sacrifice what I had...what we had.” She stopped to close her eyes, bringing a hand to her face as she felt wetness well in the corner of her eye. “It is the single biggest regret I have had in my life. Worse than any other.”

Quiet again. Her words hung between them, Rarity finding some semblance of courage to carry on when he didn’t respond. She didn’t dare try to reach out to him, deathly afraid that she’d open her eyes and would be reaching out to nothing but air. But her heart pressed her onwards.

“I tried to move on. I tried to tell myself it was the right decision, for the both of us. I swung myself into work with all the might I could muster. The ensembles never seemed to end, and I fed their greedy machines of money and showmanship with everything I had. I had flings with ponies I once considered untouchable, fleeting moments of passion I thought could stymie the regret I carried. But they were merely sparks outside the fire I was hiding away from.” She took a breath and continued, scarcely missing a beat. Her eyes remained closed, unwilling to look.

“They were nothing. And I knew it. I could hide myself in my work, flaunting my ability and keeping the true Rarity behind the famous mask she’d made for herself. The smiling mare on the magazine covers and at every fashion show? An illusion. A lie I had to make so nopony would know that beneath it all, a broken mare lay there, tormented by her mistakes. And Spike, I just...I-I’m so sorry!” Sobs escaped her as tears trickled down both sides of her face. “I don’t deserve to be forgiven, but I must say it! I must! I’m so sorry for what I did!”

She cried, quiet and curled into herself as she covered her face. Even without worrying for her makeup running, she knew she would look awful if she moved her hands away. But with it all out and open, the wound exposed to the air, she could not help but to let her grief out. Spike said nothing, and she felt truly alone. He must have left when she started talking, not wanting to hear her out. She’d driven him away again, she had failed again -

A large hand rested on her shoulder, firm in its grasp before she was pulled towards a warm if sturdy surface. A pair of arms enveloped her form, as a head came to rest atop hers, letting her hide her face against soft scaled skin.

“I forgive you.” Spike whispered to her. Her ear flicked at the feeling of him being so close, but she couldn’t believe it.

“W...w-what?”

“I forgive you, Rarity. It’s alright. Let it all out.”

“How?” she whispered back, into his chest. “Why? You...you should be upset at me. Enraged! I deserve it, I deserve it for what I did!”

His embrace tightened, if only for a moment, before relaxing as she held onto him. Her fingers pressed against his chest, feeling the firm muscle beneath. There was a strength to him she didn’t recognize before.

“I’ll tell you both how and why. But only when you’re ready to listen. Right now, you need to just...let it all out. It’s ok.” Spike replied. “I’m here.”

The floodgates surged open, and she wept into his chest. She wept for the lost time, the broken heart she suffered and no doubt him as well. She wept for the years gone and lost to the whims of work and life, time spent without his presence. Rarity didn’t think to how long it took, but by the time she could stop, and her body had eased enough, she found it was easy to just lay there in his embrace. She would sniffle, but if he was bothered at all, he made no motion to stop her. When the unicorn finally lifted her head, she was certain she looked a mess if the dots of teardrops on his shirt were any indicator. It took two attempts to steady herself, the first leaving her gasping for air a little after such a long cry, but the second let her find some degree of composure.

“...thank you, Spike.” She murmured, looking up to him. He nodded, and held up a small towel for her to take and wipe at her eyes. “Please...please tell me. I must know. How...how can you just smile and tell me all is well?”

“Well,” Spike started, keeping one arm around Rarity as she leaned against him while the other rested on the bench to keep his balance, “to be honest, for a time early on, I couldn’t do that. It was why I got so busy with diplomat work for Twilight at first. I needed time away to settle things myself. Just hanging around here and moping wouldn’t do anypony good. So I went to work: Griffonstone, the Dragon Lands, Seaquestria, you name it. If Twilight needed to talk to them, I was first to nab the job. It let me travel a lot.”

Rarity nodded, listening to the drake as he continued. “I did find myself enjoying the work, and eventually, I did find myself kinda...entangled, let’s say, with others. Gabby was the first to really pick up on things and we dated for a time. We didn’t last too long though, but it was a mutual thing. We enjoyed one another’s friendship and still do, but nothing beyond. Then I tried things with Ember. That was...different.”

Rarity raised an eyebrow in curiosity. “Was this around the time I heard talk of the Dragon Lands wanting to become a proper part of Equestrian society? Did you have a claw in that?”

“Well. I helped. Let’s go with that.” He told her, prompting a small smile out of the mare. “But, in the end, I wasn’t the right fit for Ember either. She’s the type of dragon to be the boss in public, but likes direction in private too. I didn’t feel comfortable being the ‘brains behind the throne’, so to speak. She’s a plenty capable ruler on her own now, though. But through all that, I still realized part of me was hanging around. Waiting. Wondering.”

Spike’s brows furrowed as he spoke. “I realized...the part of me that was upset had a right to be, but you can’t hold onto anger forever. It’ll just hurt you in the end. We’ve both seen that in our adventures. Despite what you did, I still had a piece of my soul that loved you. That cherished you. I’d see your smile on the magazines and feel a little lighter. I knew that it was better for me to focus on the positive, than to try and drown myself in the negative.” He turned his gaze back to her, holding her stare. The bright green eyes were almost radiant to the unicorn’s vision.

“I forgave you long ago. I don’t want you to hurt anymore. Because I never want to hurt you. Not then, not now, not ever.” Spike’s hand came up and caressed Rarity’s cheek, gentle as she leaned into it. It was comforting to be held like that by the drake.

“...you’re too good to me, Spike.” Rarity said. “You would swoop in and save me from despair when others would be fine to leave me to it.”

“Well. I always did like being the hero for you when I was little.” he replied, chuckling as Rarity joined him. They stayed like that for a time, just holding onto one another. Rarity moved to nuzzle her head under his chin, and Spike welcomed it with another embrace. It took the unicorn a moment before she returned his hug. It was like a weight was gone from her shoulders, her spirit elated at reconnecting with perhaps the most important soul in her life.

“I can certainly say I didn’t expect this to be how today would go. But I think it’s much better than I’d anticipated. If perhaps a little less sweaty.” Rarity noted.

“Still plenty of time to make that happen. After all,” Spike paused to adopt a haughty air, “exercise is most essential in maintaining one’s health and fitness.”

Rarity giggled, patting Spike’s chest. “Well you’re certainly an example. You’d give a guard a run for his money, I imagine.” Rarity lifted herself up and off of Spike, standing up before him while he looked at her. She felt almost like a new mare now, unburdened by the woes of the past as before. And his smile felt so much more welcoming, and looked all the more handsome too. Rarity felt her cheeks warm but smiled back at him. “Let’s get back to it, darling. I don’t think I’ll do quite the routine you have, but maybe you can be my inspiration to keep at it.”

“For you Rarity, I’m more than happy to.”
> Pump It Up
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

It was slow, but interesting to watch, from Rarity’s perspective. After the heart to heart with Spike, the world seemed to brighten day by day. She first made several calls to her friends and businesses in Canterlot and other cities, telling them she was taking a personal vacation for her health. It was rooted in truth, as she still needed to maintain a regiment of exercise as per the doctor’s orders. She would go to the gym every other day, her routine alternating to various machines and sets. Sometimes it would be all machines, and sometimes it would be none at all, working on her flexibility with yoga. And even if it did leave her a mess of sweat and sore limbs, she kept to it, diligent and faithful.

And best of all? He was there.

Spike seemed to time his arrival at the gym to coincide with hers. It took only three occasions for her to get him to admit he wanted to help her out still and he liked having her as a partner. His word was sincere as he stayed close by and ready to lend a hand or be a spotter when she needed it. It was, in a word, a breath of air for the unicorn. Where once was sadness and guilt, his smile now only brought her joy and comfort. Sometimes, it still lingered in the back of her mind, but he would dash it away with an embrace or with gentle words.

“I’m not going anywhere. Who else is gonna keep up with you?”

It was true, he could keep up and then some. The grown drake was relentless in his routine, but efficient and precise. No part of his body was left unworked, and his efforts showed. From his arms to his chest, his abs to his back and down his cut-from-marble legs, everything of the drake was defined and full of strength and vigor. More than once, Rarity had caught herself watching him workout, and was enraptured enough to lose track of her count and focus only on the marvelous specimen before her eyes.

One such time still left Rarity shivering. She had been practicing her yoga that day, her flexibility improving with each session. Of course, the various poses would be rather challenging, but she took to it with the same effort she gave her clothing line. One of the poses, she was told, was called “Downward Facing Dog”. Honestly, the naming of such poses befuddled her, but she digressed. The pose itself wasn’t hard, just a proper stretch of a great deal of her body. It was at one point, however, that she went a little far, finding out her limit when she felt something pop.






“Oh!” She grunted aloud. The sound was loud in the gym, and Spike put his weights down on hearing it. Rarity had felt it in her back as much as heard it in her ears. “Oh. Oh dear.”

“Rarity? Talk to me, you ok?” Spike questioned, coming up beside her.

“I’m ok. I’m ok, darling, just...I think I moved a little far.” She told him. Rarity’s body tried to lift, but it didn’t want to cooperate. She stayed stuck in that pose, feeling a little embarrassed with her rump pointed up and out. Even if it was just Spike present. Well. He could maybe look if he wanted.

“I can help you. Does it hurt anywhere?” He asked.

“No, no. I’m not...well. A little.” she admitted. “Seems this old gal isn’t quite as strong as she used to be.”

“You’re not old, Rarity, for the...thirtieth time.” He told her, making her smile to herself. He was counting; it was adorable to her for him to do that. “I can help you. We need to move you slowly.” He stepped in front of her, leaning down and taking hold of her wrists. She turned her arms and held onto his hands in kind. “Let’s just walk you up, nice and easy. Use me for leverage if you want.”

She nodded, her purple/grey mixed mane falling about her face. It was a slow effort, but little by little she rose up with his help. Their grips shifted, and Rarity had her hands pressed to his knees, then his thighs as his grip moved to her arms. She could feel the hardened muscle beneath the sweats he wore, fingers giving a squeeze before moving higher up. Her face wasn’t red now just from the blood that’d been rushing up from the pose; she was feeling the efforts of Spike’s workouts, and by the Sun, he was glorious.

“Easy…” he intoned. Did he...growl, a little just then? Her hearing must’ve been toying with her. She continued to raise up, and lifted her gaze up until she stopped with a grunt. Her sound made him stop as well, which took her a moment to realize just where her perspective was now.

“...oh.”

Her eyes were centered right at his groin, the cloth sweatpants keeping him decent, while Rarity’s mind ran anywhere but decency. The position of her head would’ve been ignored had she not stopped. If he was so sculpted elsewhere, was he gifted there as well? Was he endowed? Her hands were on his thighs, close almost enough to just tease near it. She looked up.

Spike’s amused eyes stared back, a smile on his lips. It wasn’t the innocent smile of his youth, or the lovestruck one she saw on occasion. It was a grown man’s smile, one who knew exactly where she was looking, what she’d been thinking. Caught red-handed in the scaly cookie jar that made up Spike. Rarity blushed, but didn’t break his stare. She could see the sweat trailing down his neck, vanishing once it crested past the start of a defined pectoral covered by his sleeveless shirt.

“I’ve got you, Rarity.” He told her. And she believed it. He had her; he could have her on the floor or on one of the benches, if he wanted. It was scandalous to think about and yet, Rarity’s marehood was already pulsing with want for it. If she stayed in that position too long, she wondered if she’d be exposed even further. Would he look at her that way?

Spike’s hands moved, and before Rarity was aware, she was upright again. She stumbled for a moment, feet twitching before settling. The fashionista brought a hand to her head, regaining some clarity now that she wasn’t stuck elsewhere. Another hand joined hers, dwarfing it but remaining gentle as it held her. She looked up into Spike’s eyes again, her heart beating faster.

“Thank you, Spike. What would I do without you?” She questioned.

“Well, a few things. But doing some things together can be more fun than alone.” He replied before letting go of her to move back to his station.

Rarity felt her face color darkly and she busied herself with a healthy drink of water. Oh yes; he could do many things with her.






That following night, in her personal quarters in the castle, Rarity indulged those thoughts and let herself be lost to them. And stars, did she relish it. He was igniting a fire back in her that she hadn’t felt in so long, it was like a new experience all over again. She wanted to feel him up against her again, only this time with nothing to get between them. To have those burning emeralds drink up her form before leaning in to kiss her, trailing down her form until he could make her scream in ecstasy as she did that evening. Her fingers could only do so much, though.

It was a new day now, some days past that time. The desire still lingered in her, however, and in the air between them. It sizzled on occasion, and Rarity was seeing that it wasn’t just one-sided. There were times she’d be counting Spike’s reps in tandem with her own, and she would hear Spike’s counting stop. She’d reason that he finished before she did, but a quick glance would show him stopping just to watch her. He was quick to move again, with more energy than he’d been exerting, and she’d smile and carry on. When she needed a helping hand, he was right there, and he didn’t even hesitate to be physical with her. He’d linger sometimes, and his touch was as much a pleasure for her as it was for him.

“Spike? Could you spot me, dear?” Rarity asked as she stood next to the bench press, setting up her weights for herself. She had not really expected to take to this particular machine, but Spike’s encouragement had her willing to try.

“Absolutely. Just remember, lift easy and move in slow motions,” he advised her. The drake took up position at the head of the bench, waiting for Rarity as she settled on her back before bringing her hands up to grasp the metal pole before her. Her weights weren’t at the level Spike had, of course, but was fitting for a mare of her stature. The upside down perspective of Spike overhead looking after her was a nice positive, given how well she could see his muscles under the lighting above them. He’d taken to working out without a shirt now around her, blaming the heat of the summer outside the castle walls.

Personally, Rarity hoped it had to do with her. She certainly wasn’t complaining.

“Here we go.” She murmured before lifting the weight bar up and starting her series of reps. Up and down, a slow but fluid motion that put the strain on her arms. It was considerable, but she endured it while Spike kept a close eye on her. The feeling of his gaze on her form while she grunted and did her reps made Rarity feel more warm than she would have alone. She did her best to keep her gaze centered above her, but the unicorn couldn’t help the occasional glance around. Spike’s face. His pectorals, bare to the world. The ceiling tiles. Spike’s eyes glued to her chest.

‘Oh, you naughty little devil.’

Rarity finished that set and Spike assisted her with putting the bar back in place. She breathed in a few gulps of air, the effort burning in her arms. Her heart was beating quicker, she could feel it throughout her being, but it was only half due to the exercise. Teasing Spike and getting a reaction out of him was far more enticing, she reasoned, as she took another deep breath. The effect it had on her chest made them push out a little further than normal, and a peek up showed Spike zeroing in on them before he tore his eyes to look elsewhere, like Rarity’s bare midriff.

“This really is quite stimulating, Spikey-wikey. Although I’m not the type to perhaps be a muscular girl, it is invigorating to ‘pump up’ as it were.” She remarked, looking up at him. She exhaled slowly, smiling to herself as he offered a polite smile back.

“Really Rarity, I think it’s good to keep it light for you. On your figure, too much muscle looks...odd. You gotta hit that right balance that suits you.” He replied. “Besides, we both know the real big muscle on you is your brain, Miss Fashionista.”

“Flatterer.” She quipped back, relishing his appraisal. Taking hold of the bar again, she readied herself and brought it down to her chest, then began the process again. This time though, it took more time as she went slower, feigning struggle to let Spike’s gaze dwell longer. Moving the bar a little to just under her chest meant every downward motion would make him stare at her cleavage, and stare he did. The grunts from Rarity made a line along his chest twitch, a spasm of want she hoped was meant for her. “Ooh!”

And then quite suddenly, Rarity felt much warmer. It centered on her chest, making her pause mid rep and look down. A spark of flame was resting on her bra, and her eyes widened as the spark began to grow. “Oh dear.” There was a touch of panic that shot through her; panic that made her realize she was stuck as she had a weighted bar of metal in her hands. Trying to undo the bra meant going for the clip on her back, as the front was quickly immersed in flame. Synthetic fibers were meant to look good, but apparently burnt fast as well.

But the decision was made for Rarity before she could see or reason what to do; a sudden gust of motion overhead had the weight bar out of her hands, flung away to crash on the floor with a metallic clank as the weights slid off to one side. Another motion of purple struck at her bra, the fiery cloth suddenly torn away and flung to the floor. Spike was on it in an instant, stomping the cloth into the tile floor until the smoking heap was gone. She wasn’t sure if it was reduced to ashes, but the danger was gone in an instant.

“Rarity, are you ok? Are you hurt?” Spike questioned, at her side once the fire was gone. He knelt down close, hands on her shoulders as she sat up. The unicorn needed a moment to gather herself, as things had happened so quick. Only once she saw Spike’s concerned gaze did she find her focus again, and nodded.

“I’m alright, darling. I’m not burned. Is this what they mean when they say workouts ‘fire you up’?” she asked, making Spike scoff.

“Probably not what they meant.” He replied, looking over his shoulder at the burn marks on the ground behind them before looking to her face again. “I’m so sorry. I haven’t done that in years. I was...distracted.”

“Good to know this old girl can still pull off that kind of attention.”

“You’re not old, Rarity, for the fifteenth time.” He replied before looking down. His purple scales took a dark coloring before he jerked his head up and to the side. Rarity was confused at his reaction before sense caught up with her: she wasn’t wearing anything else besides that bra and her sweatpants, leaving her quite bare before Spike’s vision. She should cover herself up, get a spare one from her bag maybe, or even borrow Spike’s shirt as a stand in.

Or…maybe not.

“Oh, Spikey,” She said, bringing a hand up to his cheek as her arm crossed over her chest, offering momentary cover, “was it me who distracted you?”

“Ehehe…” Spike’s nervous laugh and sustained blush only pushed her onward.

“You’re allowed to look, you know. I’m a grown woman, you’re a grown, strapping,” she paused to glance at the tossed aside weight bar, “...strong man. Of any who I’d want to look at me, it would be you.”

The statement made Spike indeed look at her, hovering just a moment at the tops of her chest before meeting her mischief-filled blue eyes. “Rarity?”

“Yes, darling?”

“Would you be offended if I told you that...it’s hard to look away from you sometimes?”

Rarity’s smile grew, and she brought her fingers along his cheek and down to his chin as they sat there together. Her heart was racing, and she was sure her own cheeks were warming as well. She didn’t plan on this exact sort of scene, and yet, the thrill of being his focus was all the more enticing.

“Not at all darling. I think it’s a fair admission on both our parts; you’re every part the strapping man women hope to have sweep them off their feet. Or perhaps sweep their bra away.”

They sat there in quiet after the admissions, neither looking away from the other. It was Rarity who made the first move, inching closer to hover before Spike. He didn’t move away, his serpentine tongue briefly licking his own lips and making Rarity’s own both above and below tingle.

“Shall we both be honest?” She whispered to him. “We’ve danced around it for these past few weeks. And as much as I love a slow dance, there’s a time for action as well.”

“Rarity. I won’t lie to you. I could never.” He answered back. “I can’t stop thinking of you. I just...didn’t want to push you away. To be too forward.”

“Be forward, darling. My Spike,” She beckoned, “and I promise I’ll meet you right in the middle. We...I…” Rarity’s words trailed off as she seemed uncertain how to explain it, the simultaneous burning want to ask for him, yet fearful of a misstep like in the past.

Spike answered the call for her and him both, closing the gap as he pressed his lips to hers. Rarity’s eyes widened, then drifted closed as she sank into the kiss. She brought her arm away from her chest, palm to his own chest while she returned his affection as best she was able. He was tantalizing, invigorating, a taste unlike any other stallion who’d tried to stand in his stead. Warm, but inviting and promising care as his hands came around to her back to embrace her and pull her close.

Spike pulled back, only just enough to breathe, panting as she licked her lips.

“Is that a good start?”

Rarity could taste him still, a hint of smokiness and a flavor that was inexplicably Spike. Her face warmed, as her loins stirred with the fire he was stoking to life in her.

“A good start. Let’s keep it going, shall we?”






Carrying on in the gym amongst the machines didn’t quite suit either Spike or Rarity’s idea for what they wanted. At Rarity’s suggestion of moving to the showers, Spike obliged and even helped move her, picking her up and carrying her with his arms around her middle and under her rump for balance. He moved steadily, all the while taking kiss after kiss from the unicorn that she was happy to provide. The sensation of him carrying her, his strength evident in how little it slowed him, only encouraged her further.

When they reached the showers, Spike moved them to one of the wider stalls, pressing a small switch on the doors to lock them in and any outside interruptions out. He kept her close, never letting her move but an inch or two away as the kissing session fell into deeper territory. She was moaning into his mouth, her tongue seeking to invade his maw. He welcomed her, beckoning her in with a flick of his own serpentine tongue and wrapping her in it as she explored his mouth. The sensation of his tongue teasing hers, the brush of his just sharp enough teeth against her; it thrilled the unicorn to no end.

She pulled back finally, panting for air as she gazed up at him. Spike brought her closer to him, embracing her head to his chest and letting her relish the firm muscle against her cheek. As she did, the spray of water suddenly came upon them both, briefly cold before turning to warmth. Rarity looked to her partner, as Spike grinned at her.

“Like you weren’t thinking of me in the shower too,” he teased. Her fingers twitched against his sides at the thought of the water trailing down his chest, his abs, down past his middle. It pushed her to act, the mare kneeling before him, warm water falling down her mane and back as her pants were soaked through, clinging to her legs like a second skin. “R-Rarity?”

“I’ve thought all about you, mister. The shower, my bedroom, the boutique. There’s a time for a lady to wait and be treated, and a time to claim,” she paused as she tugged his pants down, bringing his boxers with them in one sweeping motion, “...her prize.”

Spike’s member did not disappoint: he was only halfway stiff, no doubt warming up to her actions as she had been. His length was already beating her toys, still growing outwards as she watched. He was thickening with every second, quicker as she took hold of him for her own exploring. His cock was heated in her hands, small barbs dotting up along the length from base to tip. The end was much different than a stallion’s, a pointed tip instead of a flat head. The exoticness of it, along with the rush of the smell of his manhood filling her senses, had her nearly drooling. “Oh, you big beautiful drake...hiding this from me. I could scold you, but I can think of much better things to do instead,” she told him before giving the end a kiss, earning a groan from Spike.

“Rarity…”

The moan of her name made her marehood pulse, wanting to hear it more and more. She continued to kiss the tip, savoring the feel of it as she caressed him on either side with her hands. The small dotted barbs were intriguing to feel against her palms as she stroked, but it only egged her interest on while she lavished his pointed end with her tongue after a few kisses. Getting the taste of him awash in her senses was pulling her deeper and deeper into lust, her yearning growing stronger. It wasn’t enough to just taste him, she needed more.

Opening her mouth, it was an easy fit to bring him into her hungry maw. He slid in and was nearly to the start of her throat when she caught herself, her eyes closing shut as she centered on the sensation of her tongue encircling his cock. Spike’s moans continued above her, his hands coming down to caress her head. The corners of her lips tugged up as she felt how gentle he was, even in the throes of lust with her being the perfect little whore on her knees before him. There was a small tug at the base of her ponytail before the mane tie came undone, her soaked locks falling down her bare shoulders and back unrestrained. She pulled back to the tip and came off, one hand stroking his cock while the other caressed his balls, full and delightfully warm in her palm.

“Do you want more, Spikey-Wikey?” She asked him, adding a small flick of her tongue to his tip while holding his stare.

“A lot more. Hard to contain myself like this with you looking so beautiful.” He replied, making her flush as he twitched in her grasp.

“Oh, I’ll give you more darling. A lot more.” She assured before the unicorn dove back in. A new goal worked its way into her mind as she fed more and more of his impressive cock into her mouth. With a slow deep breath, she worked him further into her mouth, tongue brushing the underside of his dick and bringing him further in as he slid into her throat. There was a brief hitch as she adjusted to the size before moaning as his heat radiated off him and into her being. A couple more inches, and she had her muzzle planted square into his groin, her nose flush against his scales and letting her inhale more of his musk direct from the source.

Rarity’s eyes rolled back as she held there, basking in the sensation of deepthroating him. It was a little bit of a challenge, but experience won out in the end. She was pulsing down below in her water-soaked sweatpants at the feeling of his cock being so deep, her fingers twitching at his hips as she held onto him for balance. She inhaled through her nose, pulling back and letting her soft lips give a loving squeeze around him as she withdrew to the middle of his length before diving back in. The slow bob of her head continued to coax moans from Spike, the occasional snort and stomp of his foot making her all the more aroused.

Her mane would sway against her side as she moved, the process requiring her to breathe through her nose lest she run out of air fast with him plugging her airway. But the dilemma of his size didn’t frighten her; instead, she found it all the more appealing. When the grip on her head tightened and he bucked forward, a lapse in her control made her gurgle around his member. Spike pulled her back, all the way out, allowing her to gasp as strings of her saliva connected her to his cock.

“Sorry, I...it’s just too good, Rarity. You’re gonna make me lose it.” He told her. The concern in his green eyes was touching, but the burning want in her blue eyes outshone them.

“Then lose it. Lose yourself in me, Spike.” she beckoned, nuzzling his cock against her cheek and sighing as it twitched. “I can take it.”

The invitation was left to hang in the air as she pulled him into her mouth once more, the size not so rough to adjust to now that she’d gotten used to it. Her head bobbing was quicker, sliding over several inches on each pass while basking under his gaze. A flutter of her eyelashes as she moaned around his thick cock seemed to push his buttons, as his grip on her head and mane tightened. His legs shifted a little in their stance before Rarity felt him take control, and he started bucking into her throat. He didn’t cause her harm, though she did give a wet gurgle again as he caught her by surprise.

Rarity let her eyes center on his abdomen as he claimed her throat for himself, finding a perverse pleasure in being made his plaything. It didn’t even hurt her as he worked himself into a steady pace, her airway no more than a wet fleshlight for his cock. She couldn’t hold off anymore, her hand diving down past the waistline of her pants and the drenched panties beneath to toy with her pussy. Two fingers slid in with ease and worked at her marehood, coaxing more moans out of her that mixed in with Spike’s grunts as he fucked her throat. He was hitting just the right pace to let her enjoy it as much as he was, her tongue slurping and licking at him with each pass it could manage.

When he started to swell in her throat, her fingers worked themselves faster, her moans rising in pitch. She wanted, needed that climax from him, and hollowed her cheeks to try and suck harder on his cock. It took only a few more thrusts from the drake before he hilted himself in her throat and groaned her name. His cum surged into her throat and down into her stomach, Rarity swallowing up every drop she could get from him with nary a pause in her tongue or her hand at her pussy. She was all his, and basked in the sensation of his cum flooding into her belly. He started to withdraw, and she offered no resistance save only to slurp and suckle on his final inches to milk more of the hot seed that was warming her entire body, more than even the shower was doing.

“Holy fuck,” Spike breathed out. His member was still half hard, growing back to it’s full state already while watching her. Rarity made a show of lavishing his cock with affectionate licks, even with her lips and chin stained white with his seed, before releasing him to lick her own lips. “That was...you’re amazing.”

“To have no gag reflex is a blessing some mares never understand,” she told him, staying kneeling for the moment as she caught her breath. “It’s been some time for you, hasn’t it?”

“Months,” he told her, “and none of my fantasies can compare to the real deal. Not after that.”

“Fantasies, hmm?” she repeated, bringing herself to stand before him. The water of the shower spray continued to fall on them, long rivers of water making their way around and down her bosom before his eyes. He looked to them, eyes hovering on the pale pink areola capped by her hard nipples. He licked his lips and then met her stare again as she pressed her chest against his middle. “And what fantasies of me do you have?”

“Do you trust me?” It was an odd question to hear, given the circumstances. Rarity only had to pause for a moment before nodding.

“Absolutely darling. It’s not even a question. But why-oh!” She was interrupted as he was upon her in a breath, arms wrapped around her and giving her a brief taste of his strength before she was raised up, soon heaving her upper half above the shower stall while Spike stayed standing. His grip changed, one hand moving her leg to rest over his shoulder before doing the same for it’s sister, giving Rarity some balance as she held onto both sides of the shower stall.

There was a tearing sound down below, and Rarity looked to see Spike’s teeth tearing her pants apart at the crotch. They could do little in their soaked state against his fangs, her panties soon following their example and leaving her mound bare before him. Her face flushed dark as his breath washed over her folds, his nose nuzzling into the groomed tuft of violet hair above her entrance. He kept her close, one arm up and positioned at the small of her back to keep her steady there. The other held onto her butt cheek, giving it a squeeze that filled his grasp.

“S-spike, what are youuuuuuohhhhhhhh!” she trailed off into a moan as his tongue - that sinful, long, serpentine devilry - slipped into her folds. Rarity’s breath left her, the mare gasping as he just seemed to go and go within her depths. Every little wiggle, every twitch of his tongue was a spark of pleasure that made her knuckles turn white as she gripped the stall’s sides. She couldn’t help the tremors rocking her form, but never lost her balance thanks to Spike’s grip on her. “S-Spike!”

Her cries only fueled him on, it seemed, as his tongue began to really work her up. It was slow, at first, letting him explore her and feel the moist walls of her pussy against him. But the gentle exploration gave way to teasing, slow licks, almost making her beg for more before he was suddenly a writhing ball of pleasure at her core. He could hit the places no stallion ever could before, curling and pulling back before diving back in ways she was struggling to keep up with. One hand moved to the back of his head, gripping along his spines and the smooth curve of his head before pushing on him.

Spike replied with a flick of his tongue against her clit, making her cry out before he dove in again. The wet sounds of his feasting on her pussy overtook the sound of the shower, the humid air around them only adding to her pleasure. “Oh Spike! Spikey, more! Give me more!” She begged.

He obliged, and a new array of shapes was being traced along the roof of her marehood. Rarity would’ve giggled were she not in the throes of pleasure, recognizing Spike’s method of tracing out the alphabet on her sensitive walls. He only got to the letter H before Rarity’s insides clenched, and she was sent crashing into a climax. Her legs trembled, and she almost feared falling off his shoulders were it not for Spike’s grip tightening. She was safe, safe to relish the ecstasy of her orgasm.

“S-Spike?!” she exclaimed as his tongue didn’t stop moving throughout her orgasm. It was prolonging the sensation, her sensitivity kicking up three notches as he continued to pleasure her. Rarity was left to gasp for air as he worked her up, the never-ending pleasure keeping her fire going while Spike continued to eat her out. If he was deterred at all by how much she was gushing, it didn’t show in the fevered motions of his tongue. Her fingers clenched around his head again as he found her G-spot, the cry she released making him give the same area a great deal more attention before breaking off to love the rest of her.

Head swimming, all Rarity could do was to ride out Spike’s hunger for her marehood. He became ferocious, swiping his tongue against and around her clit before leaving it to penetrate her depths with his tongue again and again. She trembled, and wailed her lust as he worked her up. She could feel it building again, and couldn’t find the words to even try and say why, or how, or even to thank the heavens for giving dragons such long tongues. The attempted babble of gibberish only made Spike snort into her pussy.

The second orgasm crashed into her as hard as the first, the pleasure overwhelming her senses and leaving the unicorn to latch onto Spike while the muscle-bound drake kept her steady. This time, he eased off on her thoroughly licked pussy, turning tender and gentle as she rode the waves of the second climax before it eased off after many long seconds. Spike was gentle in removing her, not even struggling in the slightest as he eased her down off his shoulders. She couldn’t quite stand, though, needing to lean on him for support.

“So feisty. Was that a fantasy of yours? To do that to me?” She asked between deep breaths. She could hear his breathing, her ear to his chest as he held her close. His hard cock throbbed against her belly, poking against the underside of her bosom.

“One of them. For every treat you’d give me, I’d give two back in kind.” He replied, looking down to her. She met his look and her heart soared at the sincere affection burning within him. He meant it, she knew. It made her want to keep going, to get more from him as much as she could handle.

“And if the treat I wanted was this,” she asked while reaching between them to stroke his cock, “to utterly ruin me for tomorrow?”

“Your wish is my command, Rarity.”

That husky tone, the sheer lust in his voice directed at her; Rarity’s mind went rampant with ideas of him claiming her in every fashion possible. She watched the water from the shower - now lukewarm from the time spent within - wash over his form. She kissed his chest, giving one to each pectoral before speaking again.

“Take me. Rut me full with all you have, Spike.”

The drake was happy to oblige, bringing her in for a deep kiss that she melted into as he embraced her. His throbbing cock stayed wedged between them, rubbing against her belly and making her body tingle at the sensation she felt from it. Lost as she was in the kiss, she bore no resistance as Spike hoisted her up again, hands finding their grip on her rump and holding her there so she could rest at his midriff. Her tail flicked to and fro in anticipation as one of his hands kneaded the butt cheek it held onto, while she worked herself up against his waiting cock. Able to see it pressed up against her properly, she felt herself shudder at imagining the full length of him going inside of her.

“Don’t worry,” Spike whispered to her in her ear, “I’ll start slow.”

She shivered, and whispered back, “What if I don’t want it slow?”

“Heh.” Spike’s chuckle was his only reply before he shifted, lifting Rarity up a little to better align himself with her wanting marehood. The unicorn bit her lip, lust ramping up as he handled her like she weighed nothing. His pointed tip found its mark soon enough with a little wiggling on both their parts, parting her folds with ease and letting him start to sink into her. She tried to inhale a breath, but all she could muster was a whimper as he penetrated her. His unique cock parted her with ease, allowing her folds to grip him and squeeze around him while he pushed on, his arms moving to lower her onto himself.

“Oh...o-oh...oh my stars!” Rarity gasped. He was definitely thicker than the toys she’d used before, and soon had reached farther than them as well. The feeling of those tiny nubs that ran the length of his member against her walls was a pleasant, if almost ticklish sensation. It was a slow buildup that had Rarity feeling warm, full, complete. When she felt herself finally stop moving, a glance down confirming she’d taken him all the way to the hilt, she moaned. The sound pleased Spike, if the throbbing mass within her told the unicorn anything.

He moved, making the mare hold onto him tighter as he braced her back against the wall of the shower. Her mane splayed out against the tiled wall, a splash of indigo and grey on white as Spike’s form overshadowed her. He gave a small jerk of his hips, and she hissed. “Is it ok? Do I need to pull out?”

“Darling, if you pull that cock out, I’ll surely perish. Keep it in. It feels so...ooh!...good inside me.”

Spike snorted, hot air ghosting over Rarity’s forehead as he peered down at her. “You feel amazing. Better than anything I’ve dreamt.”

“Spike.” she whimpered before leaning forward to kiss him. He returned it, keeping the kiss going as he started to pull back, the withdrawal making her moan into his maw as his cock teased every part of her stuffed pussy. With a huff through his nose, he shoved himself back in, and Rarity saw stars as he moved. “Spike!”

Her cries pushed him on, adopting a slow, loving rhythm at first to his motions. It became a continuous loop of pleasure for Rarity, who found herself quickly becoming more and more addicted to Spike’s cock being within her. Every time he pulled back, her folds would clench tight around him, trying to keep him inside until he returned with a strong thrust to push all the way back in, evoking a cry from her that she could scarcely keep within her throat. Her legs, dangling over Spike’s hips from her position, fumbled around before locking with each other at the small of his back. Not once did she feel off balance or in danger while being held by him.

Spike’s head lowered and he claimed her lips again, his tongue slipping over hers to coil around it, a loving stroke she found enthralling as much as his cock was working her over. She could feel him almost everywhere on her body, be it hard muscle, soft tongue and lips, or his thrusting cock pumping in and out of her marehood. Her world became him, and she loved every moment of it. Her fingers clenched at his shoulders, nails pressing into his scales as she basked in everything he offered her. Only when he pulled back to let the flushed mare breathe did she get a chance to speak.

“Faster. Faster, Spikey. I want it. Please give it to me.” she breathed out.

Emerald eyes gleamed with mischief as his hips started to slow, and she whined. “Give what to you?”

“Your cock. Give me your cock!”

“You want it bad?”

“Rut me, Spike. Rut me like a whore. Your only whore.” She begged of him.

Spike pulled her closer, lifting her off the wall and making her cling harder to his larger frame. “You’re no whore, Rarity. Never.” He whispered in her ear, withdrawing his cock inch by inch and making Rarity whine, her hips shaking as she tried to get him back in but unable to thanks to his firm grip. He stopped just before the head would pull out of her, and he spoke again. “But if that’s the way you want it…”

Her reply was cut off as he pulled her down on his cock hard, fully sheathing himself in her again. The force of it almost knocked the wind out of the unicorn, making Rarity throw her head back as Spike took control again with much more force. His pace from before was nothing compared to the rough and quick thrusts he was doing now, pounding his cock straight up into her pussy. It took all the will Rarity had just to hold onto him, though she knew she needn’t fear falling with Spike holding onto her. It left the unicorn gasping as he claimed her, the wet slaps of his hips coming up to crash into hers mixing into the sounds of the shower and her moans.

“Yes! Yes! Spike! My Spike!” she yelled out, her marehood tightening around his cock as he hammered into her. She was entirely at his mercy, and relished the fact as she took all Spike had to offer. He tilted his head down and licked at her neck, the mare turning her head to let him mark her with a tiny nibble, the brief sting of his teeth only adding another spark of pleasure before he withdrew, leaving a small red hickey amidst the white fur. His breath washed over her skin, as if he was breathing in her lust to fuel his own desire.

She came with a shriek, her marehood squeezing tight around his cock as he continued to fill her. Not once did he stop, her juices squirting around his cock as the wet schlick of his dick entering her continued. It heightened Rarity’s orgasm to the point she almost thought she’d faint, only to come back down to find herself still in the throes of being claimed by the muscular dragon. His stamina was almost never-ending it felt like, and it was all she could do just to hold onto him.

“Fuck me, Spike! Fuck your mare! I’m yours! Yours always!” She cried out. Her head pulled forward, and she found purchase in being tucked under his chin. Were her mind not so rattled by his fierce pace, she could envision hearing the rapid heartbeat in her ears as he claimed her. Her beckoning drove Spike faster, himself grunting now as Rarity nearly screamed. He was a beast, and she loved it.

Time faded in and out of Rarity’s awareness, left to the mercy of Spike’s sexual ability. He could make her shiver with one touch, her whole body tremble with one hard thrust. All the while, he kept her upright, using his own strength while they fucked. Rarity’s mind played visions of giving worship to his form in all manner of ways: dotting his torso with kisses and licks, bathing with him and hand washing his sculpted form. She would treat his cock to a loving array of her lips, her hands, her pussy, even her ass if she was daring enough. All of her was his to have, and she’d give it gladly.

Feeling Spike’s cock begin to swell within her made her come back to reality, realizing Spike’s grunts were growing louder as he tried to stave off his climax. She wasn’t having that for a moment, squeezing around him and moaning up at the drake for him to hear. “Oh, Spike. I want your cum. I need it! Please give me your cum!”

“You want my cum?” He repeated.

“Yes! Please!” He throbbed inside her, pulse quickening as his climax drew closer.

“You’ll take every drop?”

“All you have and more! Cum in me, Spikey-Wikey!” She begged, her own body ramping itself up for him it seemed. “Please!”

“Can’t...hold out...Rarity!” He cried out. His feet stumbled a little and he moved them both back to the wall again. The cool tile helped Rarity brace against something as Spike slammed into her without rhythm, becoming lost in his own desires for the precious few seconds he had left. With another cry of her name, he hilted himself into her and Rarity’s eyes widened as his cum poured into her womb. Splash after splash of seed filled her pussy to the brim, globs of it running down her walls and being overrun by the excess pooling within her.

The warmth of his seed spread through her entire being, as if all of her was in the midst of an orgasm and not just centered on her stuffed marehood. She let herself be lost to it, awash in the ecstasy of the moment as Spike was. He stayed within her the entire time, the mare trapped between his form and the wall as he stayed close. It wouldn’t be until his sated lust withdrew from her, shrinking and pulling out, that she could feel heavy globs of his cum flood out of her pussy and down her thighs, further staining her body white.

She felt exhausted, all the strength in her gone, but fulfilled in a way she hadn’t felt in years. Spike helped to lower her, both of them coming to sit on the floor of the shower together. Rarity bore no resistance to being pulled into his lap, returning his embrace as he held her and nuzzled the top of her head. They were both an absolute mess, she knew, but it was perfect to her with his arms around her.

She kissed his neck, then his chin, before leaning up to look at him. “Spike.”

He stared back, smiling at her. His purple scales were tinged red, a light enough shade that she could only tell from being so close up. “Rarity?”

“I’m never letting go of you. Never again.” she murmured, trembling hands coming to hold his cheeks as she spoke. “I’ll never let myself be pulled away. Not even by my own foolishness.”

“Don’t worry.” He told her, hands running up and down her back. “You’ll find I’m keen on keeping you close to me too.”

They shared a laugh together before kissing each other once more, relaxing under the now cool spray of the showerhead above. Rarity felt there was no better place to be than there, in his arms. They would have to get up and leave eventually, but for now, she could wait. He was worth the wait.






20 minutes earlier

“...and that is why you must consider the ramifications of this tax change, your majesty.”

Twilight Sparkle had mastered keeping a patient expression over the years of hearing out the populace when they came to her with their issues. It was this same mastery that kept the absolute boredom in her mind from showing on her face. This particular stallion was making his case for the...fourth? Maybe the fifth time in two weeks, concerning a tax reform bill being brought before her soon. It humored the alicorn of magic that even after so long, some ponies could be so predictable.

“Yes, well. We will certainly keep your thoughts in mind, my little pony. Everypony has a voice in Equestria, after all.” She assured him. With that, he was dismissed and Twilight took her five minutes of peace between then and the next inbound civilian to ponder on where her assistant had wandered off to. He was usually present and kept things at least less boring, injecting humor and honest commentary aplenty to keep the court less boring and stiff.

“Hmm?” She looked up, seeing a spark of green flame hover above her head. A message from Spike? That was most curious, she reasoned, as he would usually just come to her personally to tell her what he was up to. Still, the old fashioned approach of a scroll through magic fire from their days of youth humored her. When the fire finished materializing, Twilight held out her hand and waited for the expected weight of a scroll to land in her palm.

It was actually much lighter than she anticipated, making the alicorn open her eyes and look down. It was in fact, not a scroll, but a blue bra that sat there in her grasp. Twilight had to take a moment to realize it really was, in fact, a personal undergarment in her hand and not an expected scroll before looking closer. There was three diamonds inscribed on the inside of the right cup, a trio of diamonds that looked very familiar.

Twilight leaned up in her seat, and shook her head as a smile formed on her lips. She magicked away the undergarment, but the humor remained in her eyes.

“It’s about time.”