Little Spike smiled as he clutched a small bouquet of flowers in his right paw. Surely Rarity would fall for him if he gave her flowers! Most ponies seemed to love them, though he didn't understand why. They burned too easy and didn't even taste good. He'd heard the saying "diamonds are a girl's best friend." They would have been a better choice, but Spike had eaten his stash up the other day. So "flowers are a girl's best friend" would have to do instead.
Spike's smile widened. There was beautiful Rarity, standing right by the fountain in Ponyville's town square. What luck! Such a romantic place to give a girl flowers. The little dragon held them behind his back so he could surprise Rarity with them. But as he drew near, his smile slowly vanished. Standing next to Rarity was a well-built young stallion about her age, maybe a little older. The unicorn was blushing, giggling and fidgeting.
Are you SERIOUS? Spike thought to himself as he stood on the opposite edge of the fountain from the two equines where he wouldn't be seen.
"Oh, Ray, I would be DELIGHTED to go on a date with you!" Rarity's voice said. "You seem very sweet and charming."
"And you, my dear, are the most beautiful pony in Ponyville. You have made me a very happy stallion."
Spike had heard enough. Hanging his head, he dragged his feet as he slowly stepped away from the fountain. For a few moments, he looked at the colorful arrange of flowers, contemplating what possessed him to gather them in the first place. He closed his eyes, and tears ran down both cheeks. With a sigh, he tossed the flowers over his shoulder onto the dirt road and moved on, his heart in pieces.
A few moments later, Rarity trotted by the flowers on her way home. They were her favorite! Who would throw such beautiful flowers away? She picked them up with her forehoofs and took a deep whiff of their pleasant, fragrant aroma. Finders keepers, she always said. She placed the stems in her mouth to carry them home with her, and noticed tiny dragon tracks in the dirt next to where the flowers had been thrown away. Looking up, she saw Spike walking away in the distance. Did he gather them… for her? Though Spike didn't know it...
Rarity couldn't help but smile after him.