Rarity

From within Carousel Boutique, the soft inhale and exhale of the white unicorn could be heard. The blanket of the four-poster bed rose and fell with her gentle breathing as Rarity floated steadily back to consciousness.

In the light of early morning the fashionista’s eyes fluttered open. Oh, what a splendid dream that was, Rarity thought as she shuffled around beneath the covers. She closed her eyes again to relax for a few moments before truly waking up. The unicorn couldn’t remember the last time she’d had such a good sleep.

“Oh, what time is it?” she mumbled as realization struck her. Rarity blinked her eyes to focus her vision before gazing over at the clock on her side table. It was nine in the morning. The seamstress stiffly rose from her mattress and looked over her room, the stress of being late setting in. “I only have an hour to get ready, my goodness, how could I have been asleep for so long?” Without answering that line of questioning, the mare jumped out from under the covers and raced into the bathroom for a quick shower.

A soft sigh escaped Rarity’s lips as she began to clean herself, standing under the showerhead. The hot water pouring over and down her pristine white coat managed to calm her down a little as she thought of how to make up for the time delay. Now I have about an hour to be ready for this day, including my time in the shower. Then I have to dry off and set my mane again, of course. She dipped her head under the shower head and felt her violet-coloured mane fall straight against her head and neck. After that I will have a quick breakfast, possibly some toast with apricot jam. Rarity licked her lips at the thought of her meal choice.

She once again let out a sigh of pleasure as she felt the heat of the water wash over her. Her horn lit up, levitating her special shampoo over to begin her ritual to keep her mane full, colourful and most importantly, gorgeous. It was a trick that Rarity had picked up from Aloe and Lotus to make sure that her mane always looked fabulous. The unicorn hated using unnatural tactics when it came to her mane and body, so such healthy products from the Ponyville Spa were always her initial choice.

“I do hope that Fluttershy won’t be too upset if I am late,” she said aloud as she grabbed a scrub brush in her magic as well. Rarity giggled as she cleaned her soft coat with her au natural body soap. “Fluttershy, upset. How silly of me. Still, I do not like to make her wait. A lady must be punctual, after all.”

The unicorn let out another moan of pleasure as she stepped under the hot water to wash away the shampoo and soap from her mane, tail and body. She took hold of a towel that she had laid out for after her shower and wrapped it around herself, sighing as the lady felt comfortable and toasty warm. Rarity dried herself off with the towel and hung it up over the door to the shower, before pulling on a cerulean robe with a red patch of a ruby sewn in at the chest.

“Oh, I never get tired of wearing you. Truly one of my best designs: simple, yet elegant,” Rarity chuckled as her cheeks heated up. “And usually I am the only one who sees it.” She trotted up to the mirror and began to dry her mane and tail, before setting them back to how they were. “There now,” the seamstress grinned into the mirror. “Perfect.”

With only one last glance at her breathtaking reflection, Rarity sauntered out of her bathroom and bedroom to prepare her light breakfast. A day at the spa will do wonders for me, she continued as the kitchen lit up with her sapphire aura. She set the toaster up and magicked the fridge door open to set the apricot jam on the counter. They always do, after all. Another soft chuckle escaped her lips as she thought about her planned out day. And then after that… The fashionista trailed off with a fairly large smile on her face as the toast popped up.

“Oh I simply cannot wait for this day to truly begin.” Rarity sat at her table, with a plate in front of her containing a slice of apricot toast. The other slice she held in her magic. She took the first bite of her toast and moaned with delight at the delectable taste of the jam. “Going to the spa with Fluttershy. Oh, we haven’t been able to enjoy one of these days for quite some time, and then lunch with my handsome dragon! He has been so looking forward to this too, if that blushing face of his whenever I brought it up was any indication.” The unicorn found her own cheeks reddening at the thought. “Then we’ll fly around a while, enjoying the open air and maybe stroll around the town…before dinner, dancing and…well.”

Rarity glanced down at her robe again and felt her cheeks burn. Simple…elegant…and maybe just a little bit…enticing? She hoped that it was. Of course the lady knew that whatever outfit she was in would elicit stares from the dragon, but today was special. After all, it was their anniversary. Rarity squealed in delight at the word.

She had never been so happy in her life. Finally she had somepony to call hers; somepony to care about her and protect her, to truly love her. It was all Rarity ever wanted, but it had never actually happened. The fashionista grumbled into her second piece of toast as she was reminded of all of her past suitors. I cannot believe I had been so silly back then. I was searching for my special somepony in all of the wrong places…and he was never even a somepony.

Now that she imagined it, the unicorn thought that something was off. She couldn’t quite place the cause of her inability to remember, but for some reason Rarity couldn’t recall her first date with the dragon. She shook off her worries as she trotted over to her sink and placed the dishes into it. The seamstress hummed a wordless tune as her magic took care of the dishes, washing them and placing them back in their rightful places.

A song broke out on her lips as she finished up her work, though nothing she did seemed to shake what she was feeling. Rarity stepped away from her kitchen and made her way back up the stairs. She couldn’t recall what happened the day the two of them had begun dating either; the day he finally asked her out. “Why can I not remember?” she whispered to one of her pictures on the wall.

Taking in a few shallow breaths to calm her nerves, the unicorn set aside those worrisome thoughts. Not to worry, dear, Rarity thought as she sauntered back into her room to remove her cerulean robe with the gorgeous red embroidering on it. I am certain that I will remember in time.

Her thoughts swiftly drew elsewhere as the proper lady opened her house’s door and shut it quietly behind her. Rarity drew in a deep breath of the morning air before trotting off in the direction of the spa. She glanced up at the sky and saw the sun shining happily above her. A quarter to ten. Oh, dear, I am just barely on time. I am so glad that I will not be making Fluttershy wait for me. Not wasting any more time on those thoughts, Rarity made her way to the Ponyville Spa further in town.

Ponies were out and about at this time as usual; she waved to Lyra as she smelled the flowers outside of Colourful Carnations, to Caramel, to whom the seamstress wished a pleasant day, to Big Macintosh, Apple Bloom and Applejack, as they trotted past on their way to the marketplace, and to Filthy Rich as he bartered with somepony at a stall.

Crossing the threshold of the spa, Rarity allowed herself a calming sigh of relief. She stared up at the clock and found that she had made it to her destination with a few minutes to spare, something that the white mare was grateful for. She spotted Fluttershy sitting in the waiting room, reading one of the many magazines placed on the table in front of her.

“Good morning, darling,” called Rarity as she walked over to the seated pegasus. She smiled at Fluttershy as the yellow mare set her choice of reading down. “It is so good to see you again, my dear. I must say I have missed being able to do this on a regular basis.”

“Good morning, Rarity. You look well rested.”

She let out a light giggle in response. “Oh, yes. It was wonderful. One of the best I have had in months. Not to say that the other nights haven’t been lovely, but I cannot for the life of me think of another time that I have been this relaxed.” In fact I cannot remember another night or morning either. Rarity grimaced, hoping that Fluttershy would not pick up on her dilemma.

The timid pegasus only smiled back at her friend and stood up. “Well, that’s good. I’m glad that you have been having pleasant dreams. Are you ready for today’s spa date?”

Rarity nodded as the two of them walked up to the counter together, quickly being greeted by Aloe. They set up their appointment, Fluttershy exchanging a few words with the pink mare about why she was unable to continue their usual spa sessions until this time, before making their way in to begin with a mud bath. As they walked, Rarity began to wonder what her reason was for not being able to go to the spa until today. I am not usually this forgetful. Oh well, no need to panic. That is exactly the opposite of what I am here for.

“You have no idea how long I have waited for this day,” replied the unicorn as she slipped into the mud bath with a soft moan of delight. Her worried thoughts quickly faded away as the warm mud covered her body.

Fluttershy tilted her head to the side as the white mare relaxed. “Oh? What’s so special about today…? O-oh…other than our spa day, that is.” Rarity tittered as she watched her friend grow more and more quiet as she spoke.

“There is no need to fear, darling. It is not something I would imagine you to remember. It is an anniversary of sorts. The day I finally found my special somepony.” She blushed and let out a quiet chuckle. “I mean, special somedragon…though again I suppose I found him long ago, but never truly understood what he meant to me until a year ago.”

“Oh…um, yes. I’m sorry. I did forget about that.”

“Nonsense, dear. There is no need to apologize.”

The timid mare managed to smile again as Rarity sunk further into the wonderfully calming mud bath. “But then…you must be so happy. I know how you always wanted a very special somepony…and now Spike is-”

Spike…Spike. Rarity’s thoughts interrupted what Fluttershy was saying. That name sounded so familiar as she stared up at the ceiling of the spa, although she didn’t know from where she’d heard it before. Rarity flicked her ears back and forth, suddenly feeling drowsy within the bath. The proper lady shifted in the small pool to try and warm herself, but despite the bath, Rarity only felt shivers go through her now. Odd, that has never happened before.

“Rarity?” Fluttershy’s voice echoed in her head, snapping her out of her reverie. “Are you okay?”

Rarity felt her eyelids growing heavy. She tried to look back at the pegasus to reassure her that she was fine, but the fashionista found that she felt too weak to move. She kept focus on the name that she had just heard, swearing that she knew who this Spike was. Spike…Spike is…later today. Rarity shuddered again, suddenly freezing. What?

Spike…no…no!

She felt her eyes fluttering open again, only this time what welcomed her were thousands of snowflakes falling all round her. Rarity blinked a few times blearily, not truly understanding where she was. What…happened to Ponyville? Hadn’t I just been…at the spa with Fluttershy? The half-awake mare glanced down at her hooves, feeling them chilled to the bone. They were covered in snow, as was most of her body.

A shiver went through her as reality came flooding back. Rarity looked round at her surroundings, beginning to fear what her situation seemed to be. Her sapphire eyes widened in realization. Where…where am I? How did I get here? She swallowed hard and attempted to stand on her legs. She screamed, feeling her entire body seize up suddenly. When the pain subsided, Rarity rested her head clumsily on her hooves. The pony was panting from the stress that she was experiencing, trying to grasp her current predicament.

“My…my back…it was…sprained years ago.” She gulped again, keeping her body as still as she could. “But then why…wait a minute…the Ibexian Tundra, I remember. Spike and I…” Rarity gasped and lifted her head again to look around. “Spike?!” Her eyes eventually fell upon a purple mass, covered in a layer of snow. “Spike! Spike, wake up! Wake up, please!”

The fashionista tried to drag herself toward him, but her injury kept her from moving. She let out a shallow gasp of air as she felt her shoulders tense up in agony. Spike…he’s in trouble. He was knocked unconscious by…something…and I am the only pony who knows. Rarity struggled to raise her head again, gazing at the form of the dragon before searching for some possible refuge. Everything around her was snow, either covering the ground or clouding up the skies above and beside her; however, off to her left the injured unicorn spotted a few jagged rocks beside a small cave.

Her eyes lit up at the prospect of salvation from this deadly weather. Rarity couldn’t imagine how long she had been out for, but she suspected that her slumber had not been for very long. The stress of this situation was too much to allow for sleep for too long, and if she had been asleep for hours Rarity was sure she would be dead. The mare focused back on Spike, still being covered by snow.

Spikey-Wikey…no, she thought, feeling tears well up in her eyes. If I had not been injured I could-…I could save… Rarity shut her eyes, and she felt the snowflakes which stuck to her eyes and eye lashes melting. She felt herself shaking now, her body naturally trying to warm itself up from the unbearable cold. “I…h-have to…s-s-save him…”

She opened her eyes again and reached out with her left hoof. Okay Rarity, she thought, taking a few deep breaths, this…this is going to hurt. Before she allowed herself to think, Rarity dragged herself through the snow, the sweltering heat and excruciating pain in her back causing her to groan in agony the entire time. She could hear her cries of anguish echoed back at her from the mountains in the area, feeling like her entire back was broken. Her body slumped to the white surface, panting heavily as the mare felt razor sharp needles in her lower spine.

Recognition set in again as Rarity’s lungs starved for air. She shook her head in disbelief, blinking away the snowflakes that continued to land carefully in her eyes. “No…it can’t be.” Her breathing became more ragged, fully comprehending that not only had her back been once again strained, but it had been broken during the fall. She gasped loudly as she felt one of the dislocated vertebra move further out of line. Her head was swimming, adrenaline and fear taking over as Rarity thought about her position.

She reached out with her right hoof and pulled herself forward a few more inches. The unicorn cried out, feeling her watery tears well up in her eyes and fall down her cheeks. Rarity collapsed upon the ground again, passing out from the sheer strain on her body.

The seamstress awoke once more after some unknown time had passed, shaken to her senses from the thoughts of her situation. Her breaths came in shaky gulps, knowing that her destination was still a few feet from her location. It was unbearable, imagining the terrible pain that she would have to endure until she made it to Spike. Rarity whimpered, but she knew that if she didn’t do this they would both be dead. I have to…do this… Thinking before Rarity kept crawling, the mare had an idea. Her horn lit up, enveloping her back in her sapphire aura, to prevent her body from moving too much as she made her way over to Spike.

“Almost there, darling,” the unicorn whispered to the unconscious dragon as much as to herself. Rarity managed to sigh and smile as the snow continued to fall from the sky. “I would take…a day at the spa…and an afternoon with you…over this- any day.” Though…I am afraid that there is nothing for it.

Her pulling resumed, the magical field around her body taking much of the stress away from her. However she still screamed, the spasms of her muscles continuing to drive Rarity to unconsciousness. After several more agonizing minutes of dragging her half useless body through the near hypothermic snow covered lands, the mare managed to rest her hooves on a purple arm. Her form shook involuntarily from the frigid temperatures, making her release a shrill shriek of surprise and agony, before she pulled herself closer to the still relatively warm dragon.

Rarity allowed herself a sigh of relief from hearing Spike’s heart thrum in his chest as she laid her head against him. He’s still… She laughed and tightened her hold on the dragon. Thank Celestia…but…he’s not nearly as warm as he should be. “I am not too late. Hold on, Spike. I am going to get us out of here.” She calmed herself down using her deep breathing technique, before her mind focused on her, Spike and the cave off to her left. This is going to hurt…isn’t it?

A scream echoed through the cave as Rarity materialized inside the crevice, still holding the ambassador in her arms. She had been hoping that being under the same strain so many times would allow her to adjust to and ignore the aching, but her hope was not answered. Rarity couldn’t breathe, her mouth open wide and her head dropped to the uneven floor of the cave. Her lungs were burning and her hooves were shaking by the time she lost the energy to voice her suffering. The unicorn thought it was less painful than the previous crash from the air, but her adrenaline and the sharp needles in her back were clouding her mind.

When she finally managed to breathe again, she tried to take in shallow gasps to minimalize the pain from her broken body. Her breathing became more even, and Rarity took to brushing the quickly melting snow from Spike’s arms and chest. When her head was clear again and she managed to focus her eyes, her heartbeat quickened fearfully. What on earth is…? She touched a hoof to some snow and ice still present on the left side of his chest. The fashionista tried to wipe it off, becoming more and more frantic as the patch of white remained.

What is this thing?! She winced as her excitement caused her body to seize up. The lady lay her hoof on the ice and snow, staring into the closed eyes of the dragon beside her. It was a relief to Rarity to feel any kind of heat emanating from Spike’s body, warming her up due to their close proximity. Her mind drifted back to what she had dreamed of before she woke to this frozen wasteland. Blood rushed into the unicorn’s cheeks as she looked off into the cavern, embarrassed by what her mind had gone to, to avoid the real situation. “What was that?” she asked, eyes jolting back at the dragon’s chest when she felt something odd shift beneath the ice patch.

She couldn’t identify why, but Rarity could feel the ice grow further into Spike’s body. Her sapphire eyes widened in fear as her horn lit up. Her aura surrounded the frozen patch of skin in an attempt to melt the ice and snow. Whatever this is, it is burrowing into him. If this should converge on Spike’s heart… “Spike, please…please fight it, you have to.” Her throat clenched, making her unable to voice her concerns any further. What was this patch on his chest? It felt just like ice and snow to the fashionista, but after a few minutes of applying heat on it through her horn, Rarity felt tears welling up in her eyes and running down her cheeks. It hadn't melted at all. Her breathing shook again, her mouth remaining open uselessly. I can’t save him…

The unicorn whimpered helplessly, holding onto the dragon in desperation. “S-Spike…please…please don’t die…” Rarity felt her tears flowing down her cheeks and hitting the dragon’s scales. She tightened her grip on him, gasping in sadness that she might never hear his voice or see him smile at her again.

“Please…please don’t die, Spike…I love you.”

Author's Notes:

Good morning,

So, here is the chapter that I have been waiting to post for some time now. I'm not sure if you readers were waiting for another Rarity or Spike chapter, but this was definitely one that I was happy to write and post.

I loved writing the dream sequence and if you noticed, there was no mention of Spike's name until Fluttershy brings it up. Even that is Rarity's mind trying not to think of what is really happening in the real world, but the cold reminds her. That dream was probably my favourite to write, along with the whole chapter. She finally said it! Now hopefully she can save Spike from whatever this ice is on his chest.

Thank you all for reading and have a great week! Ta ta!