Chapter 24: Sneaking into My Heart
"Twilight, you do realize how late this is, don't you?" Rarity asked, hoping that would be sufficient to keep the obviously irate mare from tearing her limb from limb. For Rarity knew exactly what was pissing Twilight off, and the presence of Spike all but confirmed it. But why is Big Macintosh here? she thought.
"Don't test me Rarity. I'm very close to the edge, and you don't want to see me pushed."
"Are you sure this is a good idea, Twilight?" Spike asked.
"Spike, this isn't open for discussion. I brought you here so we can resolve what happened, because in spite of all that has happened I don't want to see your friendship with Rarity ruined over this."
"That's mighty noble o' you, Twilight," Big Mac said, "but ah still don't know why we're here."
"Rarity, she…" Twilight started, but couldn't bear to name the crime aloud. The mere thought of it was still too painful.
"Never mind. Ah'll find out soon enough, ah suppose," Big Mac said.
"Um, okay," Twilight said. "Now, I think it best if we all found a place to sit down." Rarity led the other three to some chairs and they all sat, Rarity seated across from Twilight, Spike, and Big Mac.
"Care to explain to Big Mac what happened to Spike, Rarity?" Twilight asked.
"I still don't understand why he has to be here for this," Rarity said. Twilight sighed, her patience wearing even thinner.
"He's here to keep me from doing something I'll regret," Twilight said darkly.
"Big Mac," Rarity said, trying not to imagine what regrettable action Twilight might take. "I, well…I forced myself on Spike, um…sexually."
"You did what now?" Big Mac asked, his voice rolling with anger. This scared Rarity even more than Twilight did.
"I…oh, I can't believe myself…I raped Spike," Rarity said, seared with pain at her confession.
"And why aren't we calling the police?" Big Mac asked Twilight.
"Big Mac, I don't know if you know anything about their history," Twilight said. "The situation is decidedly more complex, and as much as I loathe Rarity's decision, I don't want to see her in jail."
"But she committed a crime!" Big Mac yelled, causing Rarity to jump with fright.
"Please, Big Mac," Twilight said. "I brought you here to calm me down, not the other way around."
"Maybe I can better explain what happened," Spike said. "Then you might understand, Big Mac." Big Mac was breathing heavy from his outburst, but he sighed deeply.
"Ah suppose ah should hear all the facts…" he said.
"Okay," Spike began, "so I walked into the library the other night to find Rarity sobbing uncontrollably on the couch. I'm…not sure what she was doing there by herself."
"It was the night you took me out on our first date," Twilight explained to Big Mac.
"Gotcha," Big Mac said.
"Oh, so that's what it was," Spike said. "Okay, anyway, I of course wanted to know what was wrong. I don't think Rarity actually ever told me. We talked about my date with Ruby, a dragon I met while I was away, and I admitted that I didn't feel the same way about Ruby as I did about Rarity."
"So, you really like Rarity?" Big Mac asked.
"Well, um…yes, I guess I still do…" Spike said, blushing. Rarity's heart just about broke to hear him say that. After all I did to him… she thought.
"So what happened after that?" Big Mac asked.
"Well, Rarity started asking if there was anything she could do for me. She started really pushing herself onto me, and part of me was excited but something else told me Rarity wasn't feeling quite right and that I shouldn't let her do what she was about to do to me. I told her to leave, and well…um, well, she didn't."
"And that's when…" Big Mac said.
"Yep," Spike replied dully.
"So now we're here," Twilight said, "and, well, to be frank, I don't know what I expect to happen here, but I guess first I think you owe Spike an apology."
Rarity jumped at the chance to express her remorse. "Spike, you have no idea how sorry I am for what I did to you. I took advantage of you and stole your innocence, and I know nothing I can do will ever repair the damage I've done to our friendship."
"Thank you, Rarity, but as you know, there's still a problem we haven't talked about…" Spike said.
"What happened?" Twilight asked.
"I came over to Rarity's house tonight to talk to her about this, and I told her I still loved her and I…well, I kissed her."
"Spike! Why?" Twilight asked.
"I don't know!" Spike cried, and it looked as though tears were beginning to form in his eyes. "It was just an urge that came over me," he said.
"This just makes things even more confusing…" Twilight lamented.
"So let me get this straight," Big Mac said. "Rarity raped you, and yet you kissed her and told her you still loved her? How does that work?"
"I don't get it…" Spike groaned. "The last couple of days have been so confusing." The four of them sat uncomfortably for a few minutes, trying to figure out what to say and failing. Twilight glared at Rarity, who gulped nervously every time she cast her eye in Twilight's direction. Big Mac closed his eyes and breathed deeply. Spike sobbed quietly and was looking at the floor, wrapped up in a fetal position.
"Rarity, I guess I do have something to ask of you," Twilight said. "Why did you do this to Spike?"
"Oh, Twilight, I fear going into the details given the presence of Spike and Big Mac. How much do they know about what was going on between us?"
"Wait a second," Big Mac said. "What is she talkin' about?"
"Oh, dear Celestia…" Twilight groaned, thinking she knew now to what Rarity was referring. If that was the reason behind her abhorrent behavior, then they really had some patching up to do. "Maybe it's best if you don't say anything," Twilight said.
"Come now, Twilight, I think Spike deserves the truth at the very least. And you can't lie to Big Mac. I assume you've told him nothing."
"Where do you get off making me look like the bad guy?" Twilight asked, a fit of anger returning after hearing Rarity's accusatory words.
"Fine, if you won't say anything, I will," Rarity said.
"Don't you dare!" Twilight said.
"Before she decided to go out with you, Big Mac, Twilight and I were sharing a very personal relationship. And before you ask, yes, that means we were having sex."
"You were having…what?" Big Mac asked, utterly shocked at the idea.
"What is she talking about, Twilight?" Spike asked.
"It all started at that slumber party all those nights ago," Rarity said, "and it simply escalated from there. Well, I guess I was no longer satisfying you, Twilight, and you decided to move on to…well, bigger things. I suppose you're the only one who can judge if he's better."
"Rarity, it's not like that—" Twilight started.
"It burned me quite deeply to know that Twilight had just unceremoniously tossed me aside like I was garbage, and when I saw Spike I saw a chance at revenge."
"Revenge?" Spike asked, utterly outraged.
"Yes, and though I am loathe to admit it, that was what was going through my mind when I forced myself upon you."
"You're unbelievable," Spike said. "Are you hearing this Twilight?"
"I am so utterly surprised, I can't even fathom it," Twilight said. "You did this for revenge? Because you thought I just threw you aside? Are you sure you understood what was going on?"
"I thought we were in a deeply passionate relationship, but I guess to you I was just some fling," Rarity said haughtily.
"Twilight, is Rarity tellin' the truth? Did you just throw her away like that for me?"
"It wasn't like that, I…" Twilight started, but she sighed deeply. "I guess I was a terrible friend. I'm so sorry, Rarity."
"I appreciate your attempt at an apology," Rarity said, "but after what I did, I should think no apology would be necessary. I completely overreacted, I admit it. Spike, it must pain you so much to know that I am in love with your caretaker Twilight, but unfortunately that is the truth." Twilight turned away in shame. She had no idea Rarity had felt anything of the sort, and it felt like her world was crashing down around her.
"Rarity, I don't know if there's any way for me to make it up to you, but again, I'm terribly sorry for what I did," Twilight said.
"Believe me, Twilight, you aren't as sorry as I am," Rarity said.
"I'm sorry, too," Spike said.
"For what?" Twilight asked.
"For being so pathetic. I can't believe I said I still loved Rarity after what she did to me."
"Spike, that's not pathetic," Twilight said. "If I had to venture a guess, I'd say it was your way of trying to get control back after feeling completely out of control when Rarity forced herself on you."
"Wow," Spike said, "you know, that kind of makes sense, actually."
"Eeyup," Big Mac said, "and ah feel sorry for the lot o' ya."
"Don't be brash, Big Mac," Twilight said.
"If only there was some way to reconcile how I felt about you, Twilight," Rarity said.
"I wish there could be, too, but I'm dating Big Mac now and I really do care for him," Twilight said. There was a long silence.
"Threesome," Big Mac said. Twilight, Rarity, and Spike all stared at him incredulously.
"Nope? Sorry ah said anythin'," Big Mac said.
"Well, I think it's time for us to get going," Twilight said. "See you, Rarity."
"Goodbye, Twilight," Rarity said. Twilight, Big Mac, and Spike all walked out the door.
"Oh, Twilight," Spike said as they began walking back to the library. "I got a letter from Princess Celestia, but I put it aside because I needed to talk to you."
"You did? This late at night? It must be urgent. You need to show it to me as soon as we get home," Twilight said.
"I will," Spike said. When the three of them returned to the library, Spike showed Twilight the letter, which she read aloud.
"Dear Twilight Sparkle," she said, "I regret to inform you that the statue of Discord has been broken, and we fear that Discord has been freed. We are currently searching for him, but have no clues as to his whereabouts. When we do find him, however, we'll need the Elements of Harmony to come together to defeat him once again. In the meanwhile, I want you to be wary of everything around you. You never know what kind of sinister plan Discord may have in store for you, so keep your guard up. Continue to write to me regularly, especially if you see anything suspicious come up. Thank you. Sincerely, Princess Celestia…this is bad," Twilight said.
"Isn't Discord that guy that caused all of Equestria to be turned upside its head?" Big Mac asked.
"Yes," Twilight said, "and he was able to brainwash my friends and I and nearly cost us our friendship. He's not to be taken lightly."
"Is there anything we can do about this?" Spike asked.
"I don't think there's anything we can do right now except do as the princess suggested and keep our guards up."
"I wish we could do more about it, but frankly I'm too tired to think about it right now," Spike said. "I guess I'll see you two in the morning."
"Good night, Spike," Twilight said before following Big Mac up the stairs to her room. They shut the door and climbed into bed together, but neither of them felt like fooling around.
"Do ya forgive her?" Big Mac asked.
"I don't know, Big Mac," Twilight said after thinking about it. "What she did was so heinous, and yet I couldn't bear to lose a friend over this. Part of me hates her for what she did, but a part of me loves her friendship. She's been there for me a lot, and I can't believe she could do something like this to Spike. It's all so confusing…"
"Ah reckon ah get what ya mean, Twilight," Big Mac said, "although ah've never seen anythin' like it happen before."
"I think Spike's right. Maybe I need to sleep on it to really figure it out."
"Okay. Good night, Twilight."
"Good night, Big Mac," Twilight said.
"Morning, Dashie!" Pinkie Pie said chirpily passing Rainbow Dash by on the street.
"Hi, Pinkie Pie," Rainbow Dash said.
"What are you up to?" Pinkie Pie asked.
"Not much. I don't go on weather patrol until this afternoon, so I'm just chilling, I guess."
"Why aren't you with Applejack?" Pinkie Pie asked.
"Oh, she's real busy on the farm today," Rainbow Dash said. "Getting ready for the harvest takes a lot of work."
"Oh, okay, I wouldn't know anything about that," Pinkie Pie said.
"Me neither," Rainbow Dash said.
"So, are you and Applejack still doing okay?" she asked.
"Yeah, Applejack and I are just great. We're really getting along right now. I'm so glad I started dating her," Rainbow Dash said.
"So our little encounter didn't become a problem…?" Pinkie Pie asked in a hushed tone.
"Why are you bringing that up? I thought we said we wouldn't talk about that!" Rainbow Dash hissed.
"I'm just making sure everything's okay. I don't want what happened to ruin your happiness."
"I think it's best just to leave it alone," Rainbow Dash said.
"Okie-dokie-lokie," Pinkie Pie said. "Well, I've got to run. I'm picking up some flour for Sugarcube Corner. See you later, Dashie!"
"Bye, Pinkie Pie," Rainbow Dash said. When Pinkie Pie had left, she rolled her eyes. What am I going to do with that mare? she thought.
Unbeknownst to both of them, a certain mare with pink hair and a light blue mane and tail had overheard their conversation, and she was eager to learn more about a secret that might tear Rainbow Dash from Applejack, whatever that secret was. She went into an alley out of sight of the other ponies and teleported away, returning to the cave where Discord laid waiting.
"Excellent news, Discord," Chrysalis said. "I've just discovered something that might drive a few of the Elements of Harmony apart."
"Do tell," Discord said.
"It seems, first of all, that Rainbow Dash and Applejack are dating," Chrysalis said.
"Ew, really? I wouldn't have pictured those two hooking up," Discord said.
"Yes, but what's better, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie had what Pinkie Pie called a 'little encounter' that, if revealed, may become a problem for those two."
"And what did that encounter entail?" Discord asked.
"That I couldn't figure out," Chrysalis said.
"Hmm, it might be time we took that obnoxiously bubbly pony and made her tell us what she meant…"
"How are we going to get away with that?" Chrysalis asked.
"I'll do the kidnapping if you'll pose for her," Discord said. "With you playing the part of Pinkie Pie, nopony will suspect she's gone missing."
"Ingenious," Chrysalis said. "I like the way you think."
"I do, too," Discord said.
"Girls, ah've been thinkin' long and hard about this," Applebloom said to her friends Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo while they were hanging out in the tree house.
"Thinking about what, Applebloom?" Scootaloo asked.
"About how Applejack's datin' Rainbow Dash and all," she said. "Ah'm wonderin' if I should tell Grannie Smith and Big Mac about it. Ah mean, wouldn't they want to know?"
"I'm not so sure that's a good idea," Sweetie Belle said.
"Why not?" Applebloom asked.
"Because," Sweetie Belle said, "if Applejack wanted them to know, wouldn't she have already told them by now? She's keeping it a secret for a reason."
"Yeah? Well, ah'm tired o' secrets! Ah don't think it's right for Applejack to hide her relationship from us! Ah mean, what harm's it gonna do to tell them?"
"You don't know, Applebloom. Maybe it won't blow over so well," Scootaloo said.
"Well, that ain't fair," Applebloom said, crossing her forelegs and pouting.
"Look, Applebloom, I know you think you're trying to be helpful," Sweetie Belle said, "but maybe we should just leave it alone now. We've already snooped long enough, don't you think?"
"Yeah, we found out way more than we should have," Scootaloo said, "and I kind of just want to forget about the whole thing."
"When did you girls get so borin'?" Applebloom asked.
"Don't call us boring!" Scootaloo said. "We're the Cutie Mark Crusaders. We do all kinds of exciting things."
"Most of which get us into trouble!" Sweetie Belle added.
"Ah suppose yer right. Ah don't want more trouble…" Applebloom said.
"That's the spirit, Applebloom," Scootaloo said. "From now on, we're going to be good, right, Sweetie Belle?" Sweetie Belle nodded her assent.
"Okay," Applebloom said. "Ah just hope this doesn't come back to bite us in the butt…"
"Why would it?" Sweetie Belle asked.
"What if Grannie Smith or Big Mac finds out about it and they get mad at me for not telling them sooner?" Applebloom asked. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo turned to each other, unsure of how to answer.
"I don't think that's going to happen," Sweetie Belle said.
"Yeah, wouldn't they have found out by now?" Scootaloo asked.
"Who knows…?" Applebloom asked, unsure of what to say.
"Well, like we said, it's best not to worry about it," Scootaloo said.
"Cutie Mark Crusader Meditators!" Sweetie Belle cried.
"What?" Scootaloo asked.
"Ponies that meditate don't worry about anything, so we should be Cutie Mark Crusader Meditators," Sweetie Belle said.
"That's ridiculous," Scootaloo said.
"I knew you wouldn't appreciate it," Sweetie Belle said, pouting at Scootaloo.
"Hey, what's that supposed to mean?" Scootaloo asked.
"Will you just try it before you shoot down the idea?" Sweetie Belle asked.
"Okay, how do you meditate then?" Scootaloo asked.
"I've seen Rarity do it once! I think you just have to sit and moan a lot, but I'm not sure how that's supposed to relax you."
"Let's try it!" Applebloom said. Sweetie Belle started, humming to herself as she sat with her forelegs raised up, in quite the relaxed meditating position. Scootaloo had to keep from chuckling at how ridiculous it looked.
"That looks like fun!" Applebloom said. She quickly joined Sweetie Belle in meditating. Scootaloo, now the odd one out, felt like she had to join in, so she did. She found the sensation oddly relaxing, as the other crusaders did, and they spent the rest of the afternoon meditating to their heart's content.
Ruby had not slept well. She'd been worried about Spike ever since he'd dropped her off at the hotel the night before, and it was about time to get some answers from him. She set off towards the library, thinking of nowhere else to look for him. She knocked on the door to the library when she arrived, and Twilight answered.
"Good afternoon, welcome to the Ponyville Library. Can I help you find anything?"
"I'm looking for Spike," Ruby said.
"Oh, right. Spike!" Twilight called. "Your girlfriend's here!"
"What?" Spike asked, coming to the door. "Oh, hi, Ruby. Nice to see you again."
"Can we talk alone for a bit, Spike?" Ruby asked.
"Is that okay, Twilight?" Spike asked.
"Of course it is!" Twilight said. "I can maintain the library on my own for a while. You go ahead."
"Thanks, Twilight," Spike said, and he followed Ruby outside. The two of them decided to take a walk through Ponyville as they talked.
"Spike, I know something's been bothering you, and I would be sorely amiss if I didn't find out what it was," Ruby said.
"You're right, Ruby, something has been bothering me, but I really think it best if you didn't know about it."
"And why not?" Ruby asked in an accusatory manner.
"You might get mad at me if you found out."
"Why would I get upset? Did you do something wrong? Is that what's bothering you?"
"Well, no, I didn't really, but I didn't react well to the situation either, so I don't know," Spike said.
"Look, this is all really confusing," Ruby said. "Wouldn't it be easier to talk about if you just told me?"
"Who said I wanted to talk about it?" Spike asked. "I don't feel comfortable bringing it up with you, and the more you ask, the less comfortable I am about it."
"Well, did you get anyone else's help, at least?" Ruby asked.
"Yeah, I talked to Twilight and she went a long way in helping me resolve the issue."
"So you'll talk to Twilight about your problems but not me? Is that it?" Ruby asked.
"What are you talking about? I've known Twilight all my life. I met you, what, about a month ago?"
"Well, I still think you should be able to talk to me," Ruby said.
"I wish I could, but it's just too complicated," Spike said.
"Try me," Ruby said.
"What?" Spike asked.
"See how much I can or cannot understand," Ruby said.
"Do you really want to know what happened?" Spike asked.
"Yes, I do," Ruby said.
"Fine, I'll tell you," Spike said. "Rarity forced herself on me and I told her I loved her after she did it."
"Rarity…what?" Ruby asked.
"She made me…she made me have sex with her…" Spike said.
"She what?" Ruby shrieked in outrage.
"Yeah, that's what happened," Spike said.
"She raped you," Ruby said.
"I guess so," Spike said.
"Where does she live, Spike?" Ruby asked.
"What?" Spike asked. "No. There's no way you're going over there to talk to her. I won't let you do that."
"Tell me where she lives! I want to give her a piece of my mind. Wait a minute, you said you loved her?" Ruby asked.
"Twilight thinks I was trying to get back control," Spike said.
"You're supposed to love me, Spike," Ruby said, "not the pony who raped you!"
"I'm sorry; I told you I reacted badly!" Spike said.
"No, Spike, I think I get it," Ruby said. "You never really loved me, did you?"
"That's not true," Spike said.
"What?" Ruby asked.
"Now that I've gotten to know you, I've started to fall for you more and more. What I've felt for Rarity goes back a lot deeper, it's true, but more and more I find you sneaking into my heart every day."
"That's so kind of you to say, Spike. Now where's that pony? She needs to hear what I have to say."
"I already told you, I'm not going to tell you that—"
"Is that her over there?" Ruby asked, pointing at a white pony with a curly purple mane trotting down the road.
"Oh no…" Spike said.
"It is, isn't it?" Ruby asked, her anger building.
"Please don't get involved in this, Ruby," Spike said.
"Rarity!" Ruby yelled. "I know what you did, and you're going to pay!" Rarity turned to the voice and saw Ruby barreling after her. She turned tail and galloped in the other direction, but Ruby turned out to be faster and tackled her to the ground. She started clawing at every inch of Rarity she could reach, tearing her hair out and scratching her deeply. Spike caught up and desperately tried to pull the irate Ruby off of Rarity, but to no avail. Rarity finally came to her senses and used magic to lift the dragon off of her body.
"How dare you attack me like that?" Rarity said. "What is the meaning of this?"
"I…might have told Ruby what happened between us," Spike said.
"Oh," Rarity said. "Well, Ruby, I can understand why you're upset, but I think it best if we sat down and talked about it. Clawing me to death isn't going to resolve anything."
"I refuse to sit with a rapist and try to talk things out," Ruby said.
"Then we'll just have to agree to disagree," Rarity said, "but I'm not letting you go until you promise not to attack me again."
"Ruby, if you attack Rarity again," Spike said, "then you and I are over. Do you hear me?"
"I'll stop," Ruby said, tears streaming from her eyes.
"I believe you," Rarity said, and she let the sad dragon down on the ground. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I must return to my business. Make sure this doesn't happen again," Rarity told Spike before trotting away.