WARNING
This chapter will be almost completely, if not completely, replaced. It has come to my attention that this chapter is heavily flawed and needs revisions.
Rarity opened up the shop, previously closed with all of the shades drawn. As soon as the rest of the group saw this, they rushed to the door and greeted her, them being so worried over their dear friend.
"Rarity, what happened? Are you alright?" Applejack questioned with worried expression, the rest also curious to what had caused their friend to react so drastically, closing up shop and shunning all of them.
"I'm fine. I was just having one of those breakdowns, that's all!" She laughed, though her friends were hesitant to accept her reasoning. For a moment, it was quiet, until Twilight finally spoke.
"Well, we better get going. We don't want to intrude any longer. Right Spike?" Twilight said with a fake smile.
"Oh, but I actually needed Spike for a bit! There is this outfit that I absolutely need him to try!" Rarity batted her eyelashes at him, tightening her hug.
"Unfortunately, his schedule does not allow for such a thing. Sorry." Twilight retorted, trying to pull Rarity from Spike. But she had a iron grip on him.
The drake felt torn at this, not sure how to react. He blushed as they argued over him, with the rest of the group just staring at the conflict. Eventually, the two mares realized this, both backing away from Spike with blushes.
"Just a breakdown? Really?" Rainbow crossed her hooves on her chest, and looked as if she was deep in thought. Then it clicked. With how Rarity had this sudden breakdown, taking Spike to solve it, and Twilight seemingly hesitant to let him go.
"Huh...?" Rarity looked just as confused as the rest of them.
Applejack looked at Rainbow oddly, noticing her actions. Rainbow quickly went to Applejack and whispered into her ear.
"Wha-?" Her green eyes widened, as he nodded. "I guess that does make sense."
Rainbow Dash repeated the same process with everyone else, except Rarity and Twilight, all of which she told had the same reaction as Applejack. Pinkie simply squealed hopping up and down. Fluttershy only blushed.
"...I think we all better get going. Right?" Rainbow said, with Pinkie Pie, Applejack, and Fluttershy nodding.
After they all left, the two remaining mares stared into each other, anger burning inside both of them.
Twilight huffed, clearly annoyed. She muttered under her breath "Yeah, right."
She eyed the element of generosity viciously, not buying her excuse. It was clear to her that something had happened during those few moments that Spike was inside the house, noting that Rarity had her hoof around Spike securely, rubbing his scales. Her eye twitched, before she coughed and calmed herself down somewhat.
"A breakdown, huh?"
"Yes, a breakdown."
"Somehow, I feel like you're lying." Twilight snapped back, with a harsh tone.
"Twilight, dear, why are you so tense?" Rarity said calmly.
"Why are you playing dumb?!" Twilight yelled, stomping her fore hooves. "I know you're hiding something! I know something happened when we were all out there."
"And so what if something did happen? You don't own Spike! He can make his own decisions!"
"He is still too young!" Twilight glared at her, while Rarity only smirked, unmoved by the purple mare's anger.
"Calm down, Twilight, if you keep narrowing your eyes like that you'll get wrinkles!" Rarity laughed at her own comment.
"After all, why are you acting so affected? I just want to spend time with him. What's so wrong with that?"
This statement made Twilight back down, a mixed expression on her face.
"Ooh, it looks like I hit a nerve. Is it because I want my little dragon back? Perhaps you've... developed an interest in him?"
Spike looked up to Twilight, also wanting to know the answer to this. The way she was acting was very off from how it was before. Something had caused her to act this way.
"I... I guess I have."
Spike's heart skipped a beat as those words left Twilight's mouth. Sure, he had a his suspiscions, but it was still surprising to him.
"Let's let Spike choose." Twilight said calmly, in contrast to her angry tone from before.
"Agreed. Well, Spike?" Rarity smiled at him seductively, biting her lip and giving a wink. Twilight rolled her eyes at this, scowling.
"I..." Spike narrowed his eyes and looked at both of them, before looking downwards. "I'm not sure. I need time to think... everything is happening so fast."
His eyes darted from Twilight to Rarity, his mind thinking back to the times he shared with both of them.
Twilight - Practically his mother. She raised him ever since he was just a hatchling. She was always there for him, in his worst days. When Rarity had rejected him, she provided him comfort nopony else could have given.
"She healed my broken heart."
Rarity - The one who had stolen his heart from the beginning, ever since his first day in Ponyville. He always had eyes for her, loyal, never betraying. Nopony else had this effect on him. And who seemed to just be user of others, came out to be the opposite, as he had heard the sincerity in her voice when she confessed.
"I... love..." The two stared at him, waiting in anticipation: who had he picked?
"...the both of you." Spike finally said after a long pause, and following this was another, no one in the room speaking a word.
"And before either of you can argue... I honestly cannot pick. Both of you just mean so much to me. You can't just choose between two ponies who have been by my side this whole time."
They both seemed to understand, nodding and listening closely.
"I'm sorry. It's just so difficult to come up with a straight answer right now..."
Rarity opened her mouth to intervene, but was not able to say anything. She looked to Twilight for her reaction, and saw her more or less same expression. "I... don't know what to say." Rarity spoke in quiet words.
"Spike, I don't think it's that simple. Both of us...?" Twilight looked at Rarity and met her eyes briefly. They were unsure. Just like hers.
He sighed, and turned away from the both of them. "Ugh, I can't think straight like this..."
The young dragon stood there in the same posture for quite some time, lost in the maze that was his scattered thoughts.
"I just need time sort all of this out."
"Of course, Spike." Deeming it appropriate, he left the carousel without a look or word, leaving Twilight and Rarity there. Rarity looked up at Twilight and saw her serious expression, eyes looking like they'd burn the ground.
"So... ceasefire?" Rarity asked.
Twilight nodded. "Yes. He needs time to think this all through... we can't pressure him for a choice now." With a sigh, she started towards the door, following where Spike went.
