Rarity

The town was quiet, almost eerily so at this point, or she was deaf to what was happening around her. A pony with a luxurious violet mane and tail, adorned with a cutie-mark of three indigo diamonds struggled to see through the thick miasma that seemed to stifle her breathing. Rarity’s coat was white, but it was covered by dirt and mud and fog. She could only see a few feet in front of her, the oppressive atmosphere almost overwhelming. The air stung her lungs with each oxygen-starved gasp she took. All of the stores and stalls and houses were locked and barred, shut tightly. She would knock on one of them, hoping that somepony would open it and allow her to seek refuge, but none did.

As she looked around, Rarity’s eyes began to sting as well. While they welled up with tears, she could see smoke rising from behind some buildings off to the south of Ponyville. The pain became too much for her to bear in that moment, so she clenched her eyes shut and rubbed them with a hoof. Her senses were running wild, each and every sound profoundly louder than normal. Rarity staggered about, still blind to the environment, hearing the snap of a twig and fearing that a manticore or a timberwolf was about to attack her.

When she opened her eyes, the unicorn was horrified by what she saw. In the distance, several of the thatched roof houses were burning. Blazes could be seen spreading across the town, enveloping businesses and residences in a scorching inferno. Smoke rose from the green flame, as Rarity understood. This was not fog, but a thick cloud of ash and dust created by whatever was rampaging through the town. Rarity began to fear the worst, her friends having fallen victim to this…beast. Stalls and kiosks burned with a blinding intensity; neither sight nor sound of another pony for miles. She felt so unbearably alone and abandoned, tears beginning to stream down her face.

Rarity broke into a canter, spying her home, Carousel Boutique. Shaped as its namesake and adorned in colours of blue, violet, pink, orange and white, the charming building was also her place of business. It was a setting from which to sell her many sewn clothing masterpieces; though now it was grey and dull, covered with soot.

She reached out a shaky hoof, hoping it was not also impassible, as she neared the door of the brightly coloured building. Unfortunately, the doorknob would not budge as the distraught mare leaned heavily against the door, slumping to the ground in defeat. Rarity began to cry softly, knowing that it was only a matter of time before the fires reached her as well. A growl emanated from behind her, a low guttural moan that shook her to her very core.

Rarity spun around to face a creature twenty feet-tall at least, smoke billowing from its snout. It towered over the buildings, over her, staring down at her with all the primal instinct of a predator hunting for its next meal. Rarity gaped, wide-eyed in terror, at the monster. Huge emerald eyes glared back at her, narrowed in anger at everything it could see. She noticed the claws on either hand; long, sharp and terrible to behold, they clenched together and relaxed again, the creature not quite decided on what to do with her. Finally, Rarity saw its teeth: twelve inch long serrated edges, each the size and width of a kitchen knife. As it took in a deep breath, readying for another spout of fire, Rarity sat up in her bed in a cold sweat, the cushions soaking up most of her stress as she slept.

The unicorn was hyperventilating, panic stricken from the dream she’d had. She hung her head over the edge of her large velvet covered bed, trying to grasp what she saw. “Oh, Celestia, what in the world was that? I don’t recall ever having a nightmare so terrifying. As a matter of fact, it…it felt so familiar.” An image of the creature flashed before her eyes in that moment. She shuddered in fear as the memory flooded back to her. It was purple and green, with emerald eyes. “Spike…Spike was…how could I dream of such a thing? No, it wasn’t his fault back then, his dragon instincts simply took over. Everything is fixed now. I mustn’t dwell on such things.”

It was still early in the morning. Darkness and the light of Luna’s moon still presided over the world as the moments ticked by until sunrise, so once the white mare caught her breath and settled her nerves, she returned to her slumber.

Rarity was gushing. Gushing over the splendid night she and everypony was having. She wore an azure coloured dress, tied around her waist by a lovely pink fabric, looking like transparent flower petals. A cobalt ring of pearls was set atop her mane, with three pieces of fabric in the shape of water lilies clipped into it at the side. A light green necklace hanging down from her neck with a four-sided purple gem, like her cutie-mark, completed the ensemble. She watched happily as the newly married couple danced; she even caught the bouquet that the lovely pink bride, Princess Cadence, threw, Rarity’s unladylike outburst of ownership drawing some angry stares in the process.

She still held those flowers: a few kinds of lilies, some tulips and daisies and some carnations as well, though now she held them absentmindedly as she stood in the courtyard, near the Canterlot gardens. The flowers and trees on the other side of the fence were beautiful beyond compare tonight. They held most of her attention, glowing in the light of the moon, yet she still managed to think about that strange nightmare she had had a few nights prior. I cannot believe I had a nightmare about Spike destroying Ponyville. He would never do that on purpose. What could have brought on a dream like that?

“Rarity?” a voice called from beside her, breaking her from her thoughts for a moment.

“Yes?” she replied, turning around and spotting Spike looking up at her. He was a baby dragon, purple scales along his body and green spines on his head and down his back. His lips parted slightly as she gazed down at him, but his unsmiling expression concerned Rarity. Spike’s eyes were wide and glistening, and his knitted eyebrows caused small creases to form on his forehead. He wore a tuxedo for the occasion, a little something Rarity had whipped up with the rest of the dresses meant for her friends: a fitted black dinner jacket and a pressed white button shirt with blue cufflinks. A top hat rested neatly on his head and a big red bowtie, positioned just under his chin was the final touch on the outfit. She managed a smile as her midnight scare faded into the back of her mind. “Why hello there, Spike. I thought that voice sounded familiar. Enjoying the party?”

“Yeah, it’s great. There are all sorts of things to do and Pinkie’s really brought the mood up. I was just, um, coming over to check if you were okay.”

Rarity tilted her head at that, unsure of what to make of his statement. “Why yes, I’m fine. Why do you ask?”

“You left a few minutes ago and after you caught those flowers, you didn’t say very much. I was worried a little, I guess.”

Rarity smiled sweetly at the little dragon. “Why aren’t you the little gentledrake to check up on me. But yes, I am fine. I was merely enjoying some peace and quiet near the garden, thinking about how the twilight orchids are so beautiful tonight and about my own wedding someday.” She twirled the bouquet with her magic wistfully, a sad smile playing across her lips.

“You know, one thousand years ago, before Princess Luna became Nightmare Moon, she bred these flowers to only bloom after twilight. I suppose it was a little something to give her more company, when all those ponies slept through her wonderful night. I cannot imagine the loneliness she must have felt from her thousand year imprisonment on the moon.” But I do know about loneliness, all the same.

“It must have been hard,” Spike muttered. “She felt unloved by the ponies of that time. I can understand the hurt that she must have felt, watching them play in her sister’s sun. But when she was released, and almost brought a permanent state of night to us because she was upset…well, I’m just glad you and our friends were able to stop her.” Rarity smiled softly at the little dragon.

“Princess Luna made each star and each constellation,” he went on, as Rarity listened to the dragon intently. In that moment, he seemed wise beyond his twelve years. “She organised the night into something incredibly beautiful and altogether breathtaking; she made the moon bright, the stars twinkle and the sky seem so much more welcoming, but nopony was even awake to see it. I just hope that Luna didn’t know what she became at that time, having to wait on the moon for such a long period, all while staring through the eyes of a pony who felt betrayed by her own citizens.”

The seamstress smiled sadly at her friend. She was surprised by how much he knew of that event, but she guessed that Twilight had spoken to him about it after the night all of them became friends. She herself had read about her life before Nightmare Moon in a book the lavender alicorn had: the History of the Lunar Princess. “I hope so too, Spike. But I think we both know the answer to whether she was conscious the entire time.” Rarity brought a hoof up over the fence to rest just underneath the sepals of one of Luna’s flowers. It was barely open, byzantium-coloured pedals folding outwards to reveal a beautiful white pistil.

“Rarity?” Spike said again, grabbing the unicorn’s attention. She turned to look straight at him to await his question. “Do you remember when I became a huge, out of control dragon and foalnapped you?”

Rarity stared at him, sapphire eyes widened; she was startled that he would bring that up. Does he know about my dream? she mused without thinking. Nonsense, how can he possibly? She cleared her throat softly and kept a small smile. “Yes?”

“I never apologized for that, did I?” he asked, lowering his head. Spike rubbed his claws together guiltily, and Rarity stepped forward to comfort him.

My little Spikey-Wikey. The unicorn smiled sweetly and lifted his chin up with her hoof. “Think nothing of it, Spike. You weren’t yourself that day. It was all that hoarding and collecting. I understand.”

Spike continued to fiddle with his claws, but wouldn’t meet her gaze for some reason.

“Something wrong, Spike?” Now it was her turn to be worried. She sat down and placed a comforting hoof on his shoulder, hoping to alleviate some uncertainty he might be struggling with.

Grudgingly, the dragon looked up at the white mare and spoke what was on his mind. “When I became me again…and we were falling…and I started to tell you I had a crush on you...did…did you already know what I was going to say?”

Rarity’s smile faded into a serious expression, but did not flinch at his abrupt question. Awkward though it was, it was the only way he could ask her, and she understood. “Of course I did, Spike. I had my suspicions for a time; a lady knows these things. That day only cemented my thoughts.”

“Oh. And…and when your eyes teared up after you stopped me from telling you how I felt…did you do all that because...you…?” The rest of his question caught in his throat, making it impossible for him to finish.

A vision of her nightmare passed by Rarity’s sight as she stared at the little dragon; only in this vision the ‘little dragon’ was several stories tall and breathing harmful green fire everywhere. Oh my…I can’t tell him about my dream. It would break his little heart even more. No. I must do this gently, not knowing is worse, it seems, than knowing is. “You are a fine dragon; always so polite and helpful. Sometimes I don’t know what I’d do without you, but Spike…you are a baby dragon nonetheless. I’m sorry. Please don’t take this the wrong way.”

Tears started to fill Spike’s eyes, but he blinked them away quickly. “O…okay, I get it.” He turned to leave, sniffling and rubbing his eyes.

She bit her lip. “But,” said Rarity after a breath, causing Spike to look back at her. “I still meant what I said earlier. There are things about you that I search for in a pony, and I would be truly crazy to let such a sweet little assistant slip through my hooves. For I am sure there are plenty of other mares or female dragons that would kill for a dragon like you.”

“What do you mean?” asked Spike. He didn’t seem to understand where this was going, and just had a questioning look on his face.

“I don’t want to get your hopes up, Spike,” she stated carefully, trotting over to sit in front of Spike properly. “I’m not making any promises; however, if we gave it a few years…when you are fully grown, we may see what happens then.”

Spike was awestruck by what she was saying and Rarity couldn’t help but inwardly giggle at how cute he appeared just now. “You’d do that for me?”

“If this were a simple crush, you would have stopped with this sort of thing long ago. I’ve seen it happen a few times, but you haven’t given up. So I should give you a chance, at least in the future. I don’t see why not.” Other than you being a dragon and myself a pony. Rarity bit her lip once again, choosing to ignore that nagging voice for the time being.

Spike’s cheeks had turned bright crimson; a colour Rarity couldn’t help but think looked adorable on him. “W-would you like to dance, my lady?” he asked, holding out a shaky claw.

She smiled warmly at her little gem assistant. Becoming bold now are we? I suppose I owe you that much, for putting up with me. Rarity bowed low and held out a hoof. “Of course, my lord; whenever you are ready.”

The grin on Spike’s face widened, but he also looked increasingly nervous and hesitant as he took her hoof. The two began to dance slowly, just barely catching the song of the wedding playing in the background.

“So, Spike, if I may ask, what did you plan for the bachelor party?” Rarity asked. She rested her head on Spike’s shoulders as they spun around slowly, letting him lead her in the quiet of the evening. As they danced in the courtyard, the white pony took notice of the buildings around them, most being of an older time: sharp peaked ceilings and high arches of a splendid architecture and stained glass windows of an unmatched beauty and intricacy.

“Oh, nothing special actually,” Spike replied, nervously. “Twilight told me what a bachelor party was after Princess Cadence and Shining Armour left, so it’s a bit late for that anyway.”

“Maybe,” said Rarity, while they circled each other closely. The song had a lovely tune when she was able to make it out; a slow, delicate song most likely for newlyweds. “I would still like to hear what you had in mind, if you would like to of course.”

“Well, I asked Pinkie for some streamers and a big long banner reading ‘Have a great bachelor party’ on it. I decided on not putting balloons up, because I thought it was too immature.”

Hmm, not bad ideas for a baby dragon, Rarity thought, a knowing smile tugging at her lips. “Go on.”

“Uh, well, I was thinking perhaps some wine for some ponies and non-alcoholic punch, juice and water for others, just in case. We could have gone bowling; of course for this sort of thing I would need Princess Celestia to prepare most of it. I am a baby dragon after all.”

Admitting that seemed to annoy Spike now, Rarity’s smile dimmed a little at the drop in his voice.

“I must say I am impressed, Spike. I never expected you to know how to plan a mature party. No offense meant.”

“Are you impressed enough to go on a date with me?”

“Spike,” Rarity scolded, a serious look on her face again.

“Right, only kidding.”

They danced long into the night, discussing all sorts of things they had done that the other hadn’t been present for and just simply complementing one another on their dance skills. Rarity was especially surprised to see that Spike had practiced some of the steps. He was a pretty practiced dancer all in all, she decided. When the night grew late, the two rejoined their friends and returned to their respective homes in Ponyville to sleep.

Author's Notes:

Hello all you readers,

I am back with an all new story that I really hope you will all enjoy. I know I haven't been publishing my other stories and I apologize profusely for that. I know that most of you who read them want them to continue, and I assure I will oblige, but at the moment this story has all of my attention.

Now this is my first story in this kind of ship and I really hope I did a good job on it. So far I am loving this story and I would marry this story if I could. xD It would have my babies so that they could help me write all of the possible sequels and spin-offs that I have in mind for after I am finished this. Just kidding. All jokes aside, this is without a doubt my all time favourite story that I have ever created. I have never worked on a story so much and wrote such in depth descriptions as I have with this one. I keep rereading each chapter over and over again and I am never tired of reading it. I have lost count on how many times I have read it, but I assure you it's probably over ten times by now. xD

So far I have thirteen chapters to bring to you over thirteen weeks, starting today. Every Sunday I will post a new chapter and I will try to draw a picture from each chapter that I thought was the most important or the coolest part of the chapter. The cover photo is mine as well. I drew it just today and I'm really quite happy with it. It has all of the main characters' colours in it, not to mention the cool meanings behind the title of the story.

I'm not sure how to post pictures per chapter here, if that is at all possible, so I may just post them on Deviantart, unless someone can tell me how to post here. I would really appreciate that. Saves you and myself from switching to different websites to view stuff that is meant to be connected.

Wow, this is a long Author's Note, isn't it? I suppose because of how long I have been away I need to make this extra long. Anyway, I think that's it for now. If any of you wants me to draw something for them about the chapter each week (from a part I haven't drawn) I suppose I can give it a shot.

So, enjoy the first chapter, sorry again for not continuing the other stories (but I haven't really thought of an ending for either of them; which is the ultimate problem). Experimental Senses was just for shits and giggles, but I never expected it to be more popular than my other one. Still, I will write more chapters for both of those already out, but right now I'm focused completely on this one. Before I do post more, I will of course think of the ending so that I don't lose interest.

The reason this story is going so well is, in fact, because I have the whole story figured out. It's thirteen chapters in and this story has barely begun. I am working on chapters fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, seventeen and eighteen too. It's going to be amazing!

So enjoy, and good day.