Day Six Spike

Spike jogged happily along the trail to the place that he and his pony friends usually had their picnics. He couldn't be more happy. He had felt both highs and lows all week long but no more. This was going to be a good day. Nothing was going to go wrong today. He came over the last hill and the tree came into greater view. He saw the grass and the welcoming breeze moving it. But best of all, he saw the welcoming pony waiting for him underneath the tree. She smiled warmly at his approach and as he climbed up the hill to join her, she kissed him on the cheek. He smiled at her and lifted his picnic basket up.

"I packed up a lunch," he said.

"Thank you Spike," she said warmly. "I'm sure this date will be spectacular," whispered Rarity, more to herself than Spike. Spike spread out the picnic blanket and unpacked the basket. Then he pulled out a cushion and placed it on the ground. He looked up at Rarity, hoping that she would compliment him again but to his surprise she was staring out of focus into the distance. He stared at her for a moment before she seemed to snap out of it and looked back at him. She smiled at him again and sat down on the cushion. Spike jogged to the other side of the blanket and sat down too. They started eating and talking, listening to each other and laughing at each others stories. They talked about Sweetie Belle and wondered when she would realize that her talent had always been in singing. They talked about Rarity's new dress and Spike's new ruby he was growing. Finally Rarity asked Spike something that had been in the back of her mind all week.

"Spike." she said.

"Yes?" Spike asked.

"What has Twilight been doing lately? She seems to have taken on a new, anxious personality. The poor dear seems to be working herself to death!"

Spike's eyes widened. He told her all about Twilight's obsession. He told her about the bamboo stick. He told her about the tests and the experiments Twilight had been doing recently. He told her about how he was worried that Twilight was going to do something dangerous and that he was tired of cleaning apple juice off his scales. He talked for about an hour and a half until finally he finished with his worries that Pinkie Pie might hurt herself with one of the traps she was setting up with Twilight.

"So Twilight thinks that an Imp put a spell on us?" Asked Rarity.

"Yep" said Spike. "And if we're not careful she's going seriously hurt someone, or worse still, I might have to bathe in onions or something." There was a pause. He looked at Rarity. She looked at him. And then, suddenly, they burst out laughing. They laughed until their sides hurt and their voices were hoarse.

"A …an…a… Vexation Imp!" Rarity managed to choke out. She was on her back wheezing with all dignity forgotten. Spike was on his stomach, beating the ground with his fists and kicking. "Well we can't blame the dear," said Rarity after a while, composing herself into a more dignified and sophisticated stance.

"I guess we have been acting silly," Spike admitted, sitting up and looking at Rarity.

"And I'm truly sorry about that" Rarity said more softly.

"Me too," said Spike.

"I shouldn't have been so cold to you. You were just being your usual charming self," said Rarity.

"Yeah, why were you acting cold?" Spike asked. "It's very unlike you."

"Well I thought that you were using me. I was sure that you liked Sweetie Belle."

"Sweetie Belle? She's just a friend." said Spike with his eyebrow raised.

"I know that now." said Rarity softly as she looked into Spike's eyes. Spike smiled warmly back. But Spike thought he saw something more in her eyes. He couldn't quite place his claw on it but Rarity was troubled.

Like she's sad about something.

Spike stared at her. "What's wrong Spike?" Asked Rarity looking slightly worried.

"I could ask you the same thing." Remarked Spike. "I can tell you're sad about something Rarity. Please tell me what it is." he said softly.

"I'd rather not talk about it now Spike. Wait until our date is done and ask me then." Spike looked at her puzzled and not best pleased by her answer, but nodded and said nothing.

I know she likes to be dramatic but she usually not so cryptic.

"How about we go into town and have some fun?" Said Rarity, clearly wanting to change the subject. Spike smiled and nodded. They walked down to Ponyville together, Rarity's hoof in Spike's claw, and enjoyed the rest of the day. They looked in the shops, they had dinner at the cafe they went to the previous night, they went to Fluttershy's cottage and said hello. Finally, as the day came to a close they found themselves on the bridge that Spike had once been comforted by Rarity after destroying the town. Spike looked at Rarity. He had been paying very close attention to her movements all night. She had seemed enthusiastic about anything they did, even if it wasn't her idea. She had put on a nice show but Spike had lived with Twilight Sparkle for too long not to know when somepony's pretending everything is alright when it's not.

Remembering what she had said earlier he finally asked. "Rarity what's wrong? You seemed distant all day! Please tell me what's wrong! Didn't you any fun today?" He looked at her scared and nervous. She sighed and looked at him. To his surprise he saw tears welling up in her eyes.

"I had a wonderful time Spike. Don't you ever forget it." Rarity whispered.

"Then what's wr–"

"We can't ever do this again." Rarity said.

"But that doesn't make any sense!" Spike said shocked.

"These past few days we have been fighting and avoiding each other and it almost killed me. We can't ever do that again. You are too important to me to lose as a friend. What if we were to become… more than friends and then we got into a row and one of us left? That can never happen. I'm sorry Spike!" With that she turned and galloped away crying, and leaving a crushed Spike in her wake. He stood there staring at the sobbing mare gallop into the distance. He stood there for what seemed like a very long time but slowly, he turned and trudged slowly back home.