Feared Love Requited: Chapter 07/Requited
Spike clutched the spire as he looked over Ponyville and the Everfree Forest. He turned as Queen Chrysalis made her final approach, another Changeling fluttering in her tow.
"Again, I find you to your lonesome." the Queen said to him.
"Worry is company enough." Spike replied. "As I said, I am scholar. What you see as solitude, I see as solace."
"Then let her be your Solace." the Queen replied.
"Charmed." Spike replied. "I am Baron Spike, Castellan of Twilight Castle."
"Queen Chrysalis has told me what to expect." the Changeling stated.
"I doubt that very much." Spike replied, "And your name is?"
"Solace, apparently."
"An affectation to create intimacy." Spike said with narrowed eyes, his reptilian haw blinking underneath. "Then so be. I promised Twilight I would do what I can, so long as you can do the same, Solace."
"Our survival does depend upon it." Solace replied, "Serving the Princess is hardly something to be ashamed of. I will work my hoofs to the bone, as the Ponies would say."
"That isn't the hard part." Spike replied, and quicky turned. Before Solace realized what had happened, Spike had already descended to a balcony, waiting for her arrival. She quickly flittered down, landing beside as he moved into the castle with incredible haste. The world seem to flitter by at an amazing pace as they made their way through the castle.
"This is Baronet Tournesol." Spike stated, gesturing to the yellow Unicorn in front of him, "Commander of the Twilight Castle Royal Guard."
"From what little the Princess allows us to do." Tournesol replied. He turned to the side, showing a sunflower in a silver shield upon his flank.
"You speak so brazenly about your Princess." Solace stated.
"Her Majesty has commanded that we trust you completely." Tournesol replied. Solace looked perplexed as he said this. "Let's put it this way, if anyone is in a place to deal with rampaging Changelings, it would be the Princess and Friendship's Supporters. We, the Guard simply have to worry about everything else. If for a moment you would think them weak, then remember they once turned Discord, a living God of Chaos, into a stone statue."
"How did he escape?" Solace asked.
"Princess Celestia asked Twilight Sparkle to free him, in the hopes that he might be reformed."
"That has worked so well, hasn't it?"
"It wasn't exactly an easy task." Spike stated, "though, I doubt taming Changelings will be easy, either."
"They did tame a Dragon." Solace replied.
"Touché." Tournesol added.
"I still... fail... every now and again."
"And don't let the title fool you." Tournesol added, "Everyone knows it's Spike who actually commands the Royal Guards."
"Then what do you do?" Solace asked.
"I... have an affinity for stopping Dragonfire." Tournesol replied.
"Are Dragon courts always so dangerous?" Solace asked.
"They don't normally have courts." Spike replied, "Most Dragons live solitary lives when they are finished creching. The spirit of the Dragon is freedom... even if that freedom should tread on others."
"I suppose everyone fears Dragons." Solace added.
"Rarity." Spike replied, and she could feel the faintest fragments of a tremendous love as it surged from him just thinking about his favourite mare. "She forgives me for being a Dragon. The others... fear me... or what I could become."
"And what of your precious Princess?" Solace asked, and as she did she felt another great flow of love from him, though in this case was of a different colour. "She hatched me from an egg and has always been there for me."
"She is your mother?" Solace asked.
"Mother... sister... best friend... Some might call me her conscience."
"When the Princess gets too involved in matters," Tournesol added, "she often needs help to simply step back and view it neutrally."
"Would you ravage the Princess?" Solace asked.
"There are certainly parts of me that wished I could..." Spike replied, "I think I have said too much. You speak quite frankly." Spike said to her with narrowed eyes.
"Have I misstepped?" Solace asked.
"No." Spike simply replied. "Most people are too frightened of me to be honest. There are eight Ponies in the world who do not defer to me."
"You are a Baron," Solace replied, "a Castellan."
"No." Spike stated, "They have feared me and deferred to me since I was a whelp."
"When most people see Spike..." Tournesol added.
"They see a Dragon..." Solace stated. "What's wrong with being a Dragon?" Solace asked, Spike showing great surprise. "Dragons are the most powerful things in the world."
"Power is only what you make of it." Spike replied. "Few Dragons interfere with the mortal world. I wish to make it better, but everytime I do, they fear me for it."
"How long have you hidden this pain?" Solace asked him, closing the distance, looking up at him solemnly.
"He would never burden those closest to him." Tournesol stated.
"Then burden me." Solace replied. In that moment, Spike wanted nothing more then to lift her up into his arms, but paused, unsure of what to do.
"We have been commanded to do anything that is asked of us." Solace replied, "Anything." she said more slowly, as if she were savouring the words.
"The most dangerous thing to give a chaste Dragon." Tournesol added.
Princess Twilight, with Badb in tow, walked into Carousel Boutique.
"Twilight?!" Rarity called from across the boutique. Next to her she saw Áine.
"A stewardess today?" Twilight asked.
"Isn't it lovely, your Majesty?" Áine asked.
"As long as you are having fun." Twilight replied.
"Indeed, Your Majesty." Áine replied. "What can we do for you?"
"I was wondering if your Mistress might want to talk?" Twilight asked.
"About anything in particular, Twilight?" Rarity asked.
"Why don't we sit in your drawing room." Twilight added.
"Áine, some tea." Rarity stated.
"Mistress." she replied.
"So, what has you so concerned, Twilight?" Rarity asked, and Twlight just glared at her. "I'm afraid I don't..." she said, but Twilight's glare just strengthened.
"Mistress?" Áine asked.
"Yes, Áine?" Rarity replied.
"I believe she is talking about the major issue that is..."
"I... don't know... what you mean..." Rarity nervously stated.
"Rarity..." Twilight stated. "You can't keep running from it forever."
"I..."
"Both of you deserve closure on this issue."
"I don't know what to say?!" Rarity nervously replied.
"Why don't we start with how you feel about Spike?" Twilight asked.
"He's sweet... and cute... and... why are you glaring at me like that?"
"If I had to say, " Badb added calmly, "all of your responses have been ambiguous."
"Spike-wikey is more precious than anything in the world." Rarity added, but Badb just grinned at her. "I did not mean that... I mean..." she said, and stood from the table, falling back onto her fainting couch as it appeared behind her, it and her horn bearing her distinguished light blue glow. "Why does he have to?.." she asked.
"Love you?" Twilight asked, "I could give some answers."
"What?!" Rarity nearly screamed as she sat bolt upright.
"The most beautiful mare in all of Equestria." Twilight said to her. "Soul sparkles with radiance. Fight your greed to create generocity."
"That seems like something His Lord could identify with." Badb added.
"Are you saying Spikey-Wikey loves me because I'm greedy?" Rarity asked.
Twilight paused to think of the best response, "He loves you because you bring out the best in him. Just like he brings out the best in you."
"I do?.." Rarity contemplatively asked.
"What makes you want to attack someone?" Twilight asked.
"I would rather not think of my lesser moments, dear." Rarity replied.
"If someone threatens all of Equestria." Twilight stated.
"Well, there is that." Rarity added.
"And threatening to hurt a single scale on Spike's head."
"How dare anyone touch my dear Spikey-Wikey!" Rarity shouted as politely as she could. "Of course, he's not our little Spikey-Wikey, anymore, is he?"
"There's only one pony he lets call him that."
"I am?" Rarity asked.
"Anypony else would worry about facing his Dragonfire for it." Twilight stated, "Not even Tournesol looks forward to those occations."
"What about you?" Rarity asked, "You could call him Spike-Wikey, could you not?"
"He would still snarl at me." Twilight said with a smile. "In truth, the only time anyone else ever calls him Spikey-Wikey is when they are imitating you."
"I did not know I was so precious to him." Rarity nervously stated.
"I find that hard to believe." Badb added. "In your presence, he exudes as much love as a family for a newborn."
"I..." Rarity tried to say.
"You cannot be surprised, Mistress." Áine added.
"But..." Rarity continued, "he's just so sweet."
To this, Twilight smiled a wide smile, "He's many things," Twilight added, "kind, polite, and even debonaire, but he's only sweet with you."
"But..." Rarity tried to say.
"Why is this so hard for you, Mistress?" Áine asked.
"He's always been such a good friend." Rarity added.
"He smiles whenever you are around," Twilight said to her, "he visits you every day."
"By Celestia!," Rarity exclaimed, "he – is – in – love – with – me!" and once again fell backwards on her fainting couch.
"Mistress?" Áine asked.
"Yes?.." Rarity quietly replied between quivering.
"Would you like a piece of cake?" Áine asked.
"Yes." Rarity sniffed.
"You Majesty?" Badb asked.
"Yes, please." Twilight replied.
"What would Spike think if he saw me now?" Rarity sniffed.
This caused Twilight to start giggling. "As if this is the first time he's seen this."
"By – Celestia!" Rarity exclaimed, "He – has!"
"He's usually the one who helps you." Twilight added between bites.
"He – is!" Rarity exclaimed.
"He is happy to help you." Twilight continued.
"It's just so unseemly. Of the worst possible things that could happen! This is – the – worst – possible – thing!"
"Just tell me," Twilight said to her far more nonchalantly, "when you see him, do you smile?"
"I – do!" Rarity shouted up from her fainting couch.