Chapter 4
Spike awoke in the morning, feeling both excited and terrified at the same time. He knew Princess Luna would never lie, so he was feeling a tiny bit less anxious, but it was still a big deal to finally tell Rarity about how he felt.
He drew back the covers and plodded over to his cabinet, on which stood several picture frames, holding photos of Spike and his friends. One was from his first birthday, with Twilight, Twinkleshine, Minuette, Lemon Hearts, Moondancer and Lyra Heartstrings just as fillies. Another was of him, Big Macintosh and Discord in their Ogres & Oubliettes warrior costumes. That action-packed night where Discord had brought Spike and Big Mac's favourite board game to life was certainly something to remember. Most of the others were of all his Ponyville friends, with the exception of the day he had helped Princess Ember become Dragon Lord, and the day he had befriended Thorax and gotten the Crystal Empire to accept him.
Spike picked up the photo of him and Rarity collecting gemstones together. It was from a long time ago, yet seemed like only yesterday.
"Alright," he told himself, putting the photo back on the dresser, "This is your chance to do it. You've gotta write a love letter for Rarity. Something that really says how you feel."
Trust me, Twilight had said, It always feels good to write down your feelings.
Time to see if she was right.
"OK, Spike," Spike said to himself, walking down the road with a piece of paper and a quill in his hand, "Rarity is the best, so she deserves the best. What kind of letter should I write?"
He cast his gaze around Ponyville, watching all the groups of friends laugh together. Lyra Heartstrings and Sweetie Drops were enjoying cupcakes on the grass, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon were laughing with their friend Noi, and dozens of happy couples were sitting at tables together, chatting and looking into each other's eyes.
Maybe that'll be me and Rarity, thought Spike, If I can write a decent love letter.
He glanced to the left and spotted the Cutie Mark Crusaders talking to a Blank Flank with shiny silver hair and a lilac coat called Violet Silverspin. He suddenly had an idea.
"Hey, Crusaders!" he called, jogging up to the trio and their friend.
"Hey, Spike," said Scootaloo.
"Hi, Spike," chorused Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle.
"I was just wondering," said Spike, "Could I...borrow Sweetie Belle for a while? It's really important."
"Sure," the white unicorn filly replied, walking forward.
"Sweetie Belle!" protested Apple Bloom, "What about helpin' Violet find her cutie mark?"
"You two go on without me," said Sweetie Belle, "You've already got a pretty good idea of her talents, and it doesn't take more than two ponies to find a cutie mark."
"Well, alright then," said Apple Bloom, "See ya later, Sweetie Belle."
She, Scootaloo and Violet Silverspin headed off down the road, while Sweetie Belle headed off with Spike.
"So what do you need me for?" asked Sweetie Belle, "Have you found somepony with a cutie mark problem? Oh! Do you want me to sing a song!?" She sounded very hopeful for the latter.
"Actually," said Spike, a blush tingeing his cheeks, "I...wanted to talk to you about Rarity."
"Sure," said Sweetie Belle, "What about her?"
"Well," said Spike, nervously, "It is Hearts And Hooves Day tomorrow...and I was gonna...I was gonna..."
Sweetie Belle waited with anticipation. "Yes?" she pressed.
"...Write Rarity a love letter," said Spike, blushing furiously.
Sweetie Belle gasped out loud and clapped her hooves to her face! "You're in love with Rarity!?" she exclaimed!
"Everypony knows that," said Spike, flatly, "Everypony except Rarity. And you're her sister. Maybe you can help me figure out what to write."
"All you need is to get started," said Sweetie Belle, matter-of-factly, "And the best way to get started is to find some inspiration! That's what Rarity always says. Hey, I know!" she exclaimed, "Come on, Spike!"
She galloped down the road and Spike jogged after her.
"Normally I'm not supposed to touch these," said Sweetie Belle, taking a pile of Rarity's tapestries out of a cabinet in Rarity's workroom, "But what Rarity doesn't know won't hurt me!"
She and Spike had come to the Carousel Boutique to look at some of Rarity's tapestry designs. Sweetie Belle said they were sure to inspire love. Spike didn't doubt that, judging by the pony who made them. And Rarity was out collecting gems, so she would never know.
Spike opened up the first tapestry in the pile Sweetie Belle had gotten out. It was—as Rarity would say—simply divine. A dark green landscape stretched across the bottom, with a long river and a few trees dotted here and there. A silver crescent moon was sewn into the indigo sky fabric, and the sky was dotted with stars, some shooting off trails, some making constellations like the Lobster or the Ursa Major.
"Starry nights are always perfect romantic settings," suggested Sweetie Belle, pointing at the constellations, "Maybe you should write something about the stars. Oh, and look!" she pointed to a pair of shooting stars sewed into the fabric, "Shooting stars always mean romance."
Spike gazed at the stitched stars. They had long trails, leaving silver twirls in the sky as they circled round each other.
"Kinda reminds me of me and Rarity," he sighed, looking at the two star trails, "Two of us, around each other all the time, but not a pair."
Sweetie Belle suddenly gasped! "Wow!" she exclaimed, "That's great! You've gotta write that in your poem!"
"Oh!" exclaimed Spike, realizing he had just unintentionally said a piece of love poetry himself, "I should! Thanks, Sweetie Belle! Definitely made the right choice asking you for help!"
He put aside the tapestry and picked up another. It was of the symbol of Equestria: Celestia and Luna circling round the sun and the moon in a yin yang symbol. That sparked another idea in his head. Perhaps he could write something about the sun and moon. Rarity had loved watching Celestia and Luna bring day at the Summer Sun Celebration. She would like that.
Spike scribbled down a few notes, then looked at another tapestry. It was of a burning flame on a candlestick, with flickers of red and orange sewn into the fabric. That gave him another idea, which he wrote down. He was just looking at another few when he and Sweetie Belle heard the sound of a door opening from the next room.
"Oh, Sweetie Belle!" called a voice, "Are you home yet, darling?"
"RARITY!" exclaimed Sweetie Belle and Spike in horror!
Fast as lightning, Spike grabbed his love note so Rarity wouldn't see it, and Sweetie Belle frantically tried put away the tapestries! She had just shoved the corner of the starry sky one back into the draw, when Rarity stepped into the room.
"Hello, Sweetie Belle," she smiled, walking in, before spotting Spike, "Oh! And my little Spikey-Wikey, too," she cooed, rubbing his head, with a smile, "What are you doing here?"
"Oh...I just came here because...I came to..." stammered Spike.
"To find me!" exclaimed Sweetie Belle, jumping up!
"Yeah!" added Spike, "I came to find Sweetie Belle because I...I..."
"Found a pony with a cutie mark problem!" finished off Sweetie Belle.
Rarity tilted her head. Sweetie Belle and Spike smiled innocently.
"Speaking of which," said Spike, loudly to Sweetie Belle, "We's better get going, Sweetie Belle. That pony really wants her cutie mark."
"Hmm? Oh yeah!" exclaimed Sweetie Belle, "Let's go!"
Not stopping to think twice, they scooted round Rarity, out the room and slammed the Carousel Boutique front door behind them. They gave a sigh of relief!
"That was a close one!" exclaimed Spike.
"Sweetie Belle!" chorused two familiar voices from nearby.
Sweetie Belle and Spike turned round to see Apple Bloom and Scootaloo galloping towards them with Violet Silverspin close behind them.
"Violet got her cutie mark!" exclaimed Apple Bloom, the three of them skidding to a halt, "Look!"
"Oh, it's exactly what I always hoped it would be!" squealed Violet, showing Spike her flank, on which shone a brand new cutie mark, a paintbrush painting the petals of a lilac flower onto a piece of paper, "Isn't it lovely!? Turns out my special talent is art! How cool is that!"
"Really cool!" agreed Sweetie Belle.
"We're heading round to Zecora's for some soup now," said Scootaloo, "You'd better come along, Sweetie Belle."
"OK," said Sweetie Belle, trotting off with her two best friends, as Violet scampered off to show her parents her cutie mark, "See you round, Spike."
"Bye, Sweetie Belle," called Spike, "Thanks for your help!"
He headed down the road from the Carousel Boutique, taking a good look around for something that might inspire him. He spotted a flower shop selling Hearts And Hooves Day flowers, including bunches of red roses. Perhaps he should get Rarity a rose, too. And some Hearts And Hooves Day chocolates. That would be perfect. But first he had to finish the letter. What to write?
As he racked his brains, he heard a familiar voice speak from nearby.
"Honestly, I don't know how any of you ponies manage having nothing but these ordinary little trinkets," Spike heard the voice say, "No chaos or excitement at all. Surely you get bored of them in the end?"
A second voice giggled. "Thanks for helping me with my shopping. I just can't wait for the party tomorrow. You are coming, right?"
Spike turned round to see Discord and Fluttershy striding out of the market about fifty metres away. They were both holding several shopping bags. It looked like Discord was helping Fluttershy with her weekly stock-up.
"Well, of course I am," said Discord, ruffling Fluttershy's mane, affectionately, "You know I love to party almost as much as Pinkie Pie. Almost," he added, quickly.
Spike suddenly had an idea. "Fluttershy! Discord!" he called, jogging up.
The pegasus and draconequus looked round. "Hi, Spike," they both said in unison.
"Can I talk to you about something?" Spike asked, shyly, "Well...I'm writing Rarity a love poem, and—"
Both of them gasped!
"A love poem?" exclaimed Fluttershy, with intrigue.
"Mm-hmm," nodded Spike, "I really want her to be my Very Special Somepony for Hearts And Hooves Day."
"Ah, yes, Hearts And Hooves Day," said Discord, clasping his hands together, "Love is in the air, my friends. For some ponies, at least," he added, with a dismissive smile.
"Aw, come on, Discord," teased Spike, "We all know how you really feel. Fluttershy told us you keep a picture of Princess Celestia on your bedside table."
Discord's eyes widened for a moment, and a few beads of sweat trickled down his brow. He rubbed the back of his head, nervously, then put his hands on his hips and gave Fluttershy a disapproving look.
"Sorry," Fluttershy apologized, with a giggle.
"So do you either of you know what I should write about?" asked Spike.
"Hmmm," Fluttershy thought for a moment, "You should write down why you feel this way," she said, "What is it about her that you love so much?"
"Well, I guess, everything," said Spike, thinking about the unicorn he loved so much, "Her amazing mane, her sparkling eyes, her voice, her cutie mark, the way she flutters her eyelashes..." he began to drone on and on, "The way she sweet-talks ponies, how she makes all those beautiful outfits, the way she calls me Spikey-Wikey, her generosity and her love of gems..."
"OK, we get it," said Discord, rolling her eyes, with a knowing smile, "You're obsessed with her."
"Just write down everything you just said," said Fluttershy, "Everything you love about her."
"OK," said Spike, jotting down some notes on his piece of paper, "Great! This is really coming along! Thanks, you two. See you tomorrow." He waved and headed back down the road.
"Bye, Spike," Fluttershy and Discord said, before Discord snapped his fingers and they both vanished in a flash of white light.
"OK, Spike," said Spike, as he strode through the orchard of Sweet Apple Acres, "You've written down some love poetry, and the things you love about Rarity...what else do I need to write?"
He suddenly heard a wet crunching sound from nearby, followed by the sound of liquid bring poured into a container. He turned round to see Big Macintosh pouring a crate of apples into a cider press. Warm golden cider poured out of the tube into a barrel.
"Hey Big Mac," said Spike, "Whatcha doing? Making cider?"
"Eeyup," replied Big Mac. He placed the empty apple crate down on the grass, then picked up an empty cup, which he dipped into the barrel of cider and handed to Spike.
"Wow, thanks!" exclaimed Spike, taking the cup.
He took a long drink of the cider, and let the warm, sweet juice flood down his throat. He licked his lips. The Apple family really did make the best cider.
"So," he said, teasingly, "I hear you've already got a Very Special Somepony."
Big Mac blushed and giggled into his hoof as he thought of Sugar Belle. "Heh heh heh...eeyup," he said, blushing redder than usual.
"Say..." Spike said, making his voice sound random, "If you were...I don't know...writing somepony a love letter, or something...d'you know what you'd write?"
"Eeyup," replied Big Mac, "We...are talking about you, aren't we?" he queried.
Spike blushed. "Eeyup," he said.
"When I fell in love with Sugar Belle," said Big Mac, "I wrote her a song. About me and her in the countryside. Told her about how much I love her and how much I think about her."
"So..." said Spike, "You think I should write about what makes me think about Rarity? And what we could do together?"
"Eeyup," replied Big Mac.