Rarity

“Yes, my little Silurian. I am your mother…and I am so glad and relieved to see you.”

Light shone upon the creatures within the crater, the red rocks and gravel of the earth appearing to glow in response to Celestia’s sun; at least it gave that impression to the alabaster unicorn. Rarity stood at her mate’s right side, yet with her hoof against him in comfort. He had long since fallen silent in her presence, although the seamstress knew that he was simply beside himself with glee that he had at last found his mother.

Spike, darling; breathe, relax a little, she soothed in her mind, rubbing along an area of scales that she had found since last night to be quite sensitive and aided in calming the dear.

It was mere moments after the reveal of his birth mother and the only disturbance to the quiet among the visitors was the warm breeze of the eastern air. The dragoness was yet settled on her tummy ahead of the pair, waiting patiently for her son to find his voice and speak.

The proper lady merely watched him regain himself and swallow gently, prior to staring across at her. She beamed in return, of course, urging him on with her sapphire eyes. Spike answered with a small sliver of a smile, what he could muster with all of the thoughts and questions warring in his head at the moment; she could understand that. I have a fair few inquiries for her myself after all, such as why he was abandoned in the first place.

A moment passed and Rarity saw the ambassador shift his gaze to his forelegs. He furrowed his brow and inhaled noiselessly, prior to lifting his head to his birth mother. “I have waited for so long to finally meet you. I can’t believe that this is actually happening.”

Shifting her own sight toward the settled dragoness, the fashionista saw a few tears falling from her striking orange eyes. Rarity gave a little pressure on the shoulder that her hoof rested upon and giggled giddily, while her own eyes glistened as the two neared and embraced. The dragoness rested her head over her child and held him there for a time.

While the lovely scene transpired, the elegant mare imagined that she should take a gander behind her, to see how her friends and sister were taking this new information. Rarity grinned at the sight, viewing all of the ponies with some sort of glad countenance; her grin turned brightest upon seeing the fresh and happy tears cascading down Twilight’s cheeks.

“I am so glad my drokhan. It has been so lonely without you for all of these years,” her sudden words caused Rarity to quirk her head toward the scene once more, finding that the two had separated. “We have much to discuss and to catch up on.”

Oh my, she is speaking in the very language of dragons, she imagined in awe briefly, before noticing that Spike’s mother had locked eyes with her. The lady was uncertain; yet while she returned her gaze, growing slightly timid, it appeared as though his mother was giving her a stern expression. Hers was one that Rarity suspected that would be given by one of those distrustful dragons or a privileged, corrupt noble.

“You were the pony who brought him here to me?” the dragoness queried, her spiral spines shifting just so as she inclined her head.

She does not seem as eloquent and restrained in poise as Thiuvinal is, Rarity supposed. Still, she had not reacted in an upset manner, so the alabaster mare dropped her apprehensions and took a few strides forward to stand at the ambassador’s side again. “Oh, well, I did not precisely; I would say that he brought me here, rather. I suppose that, in another sense, you could say that I saw to his safety throughout the journey.” She was sure to add that last bit, certain that Spike would not appreciate her surrendering all of the credit for the successful ordeal to him.

“What is your name, pony?” she asked with a tilt of her head.

“My name is Rarity.” The seamstress responded with an elegant bow, rising shortly afterward. “May I ask you your name?”

“My al danath and lin drana named me Arlaan.” When she uncrossed her forelegs, Rarity could notice a soft smile envelop her features. She stood again and shrunk a bit farther to approach the mare on her own level. “Thiuvinal has,” she paused, taking what seemed and sounded like a difficult breath, “informed me of your deeds; how you aided,” another ragged breath, “in my little drokhan’s growth. How, if not for a very brave and,” again, a strained inhale and exhale, “eloquent unicorn, my son would not have arrived here in the Scorched Lands.”

The alabaster mare stood still a moment, while the sapphire dragoness took a seat before her. Your breathing, she imagined, it seems like more than simple excitement and tiredness from the flight to this land to finally reunite with your son. However, Rarity did not believe that it was her place to question such a being after having met her moments prior, so instead, she righted herself and mused over how to answer. “Well, I suppose, yet do not think that your son did not have his fair share of times where he has saved my life.” Both of them glanced over to see Spike’s cheeks flaring in embarrassment and joy.

Arlaan returned her focus to the proper lady and dipped her head, yet with her worrying breaths. “I thank you, lanith al cen Rarity. You have…reunited me with my yizileb rs; after such a terrible long count…of years.” She rose and leaned forward, foreleg wrapping across Rarity’s back. The lady recoiled slightly at the sudden embrace, yet rapidly accepted that the mother was over the moon as it were, to see her little one.

Even if he is not so little any longer, she pondered clandestinely. Shutting her sapphire eyes and settling her backside on the ground, the fashionista easily reciprocated the motion. “I am simply happy that we managed to return you to each other.”

“I see that my saneianl was not incorrect about your elegant tongue.” She separated from Rarity, although she yet rested her hands on her shoulders after sitting upon the ground. “I sense that you care deeply for one another. I am glad that he knows a pony such as you, my lanith al cen.”

“Thank you,” the mare murmured, almost in tears from Arlaan’s heartfelt words. I simply wish that I knew what some of your words meant.

Dropping her claws from Rarity, the sapphire dragon stepped a pace backward and gazed behind the seamstress. She quirked her head as well, witnessing Spike performing the same action, in time to view who she wished to address next. “I also heard…during my travels to this location…that a pony raised Silurian in my absence. Who might you be?” Once again, her sentences were riddled with awkward pauses and short, focused breaths.

It was beginning to seem to the purple-maned unicorn to be a medical condition, rather than any normal passing exhaustion. Yet for now, Rarity allotted what cheer that she possessed to smile kindly at the studious alicorn, still viewing the marks of the glad tears down her cheeks. Pinkie and Fluttershy urged her silently to stand and approach the dragoness; she wiped her face and pushed herself to her hooves, sauntering toward the proper lady.

“It is truly an honor to meet you. I am so glad that Spike finally found his mother.” Concerned for the princess, Rarity flicked her tail behind her as she stood and ventured closer to provide some comfort, seeing fresh tears welling up in her lavender eyes, a stark contrast to her own now focused orbs. “My name is Twilight Sparkle.”

“Twilight, dear; please calm down.” She leaned in and whispered in her ear, “Spike will not forget you now that he has found his birth mother. He purely has two mothers now.” Leaning away from the alicorn, Rarity saw her snivel a little, prior to swallowing and nodding in her direction.

She smiled reassuringly, mouthed a thank you and the elegant mare stepped a few paces away. Turning about once again, Rarity saw that Spike had taken several steps toward the two as well, out of fear for what Twilight could be shedding tears over.

“You are the princess, Twilight Sparkle?” Arlaan quizzed, pushing herself to her feet and wandering closer. “The foster mother to my yizileb rs, is it?”

“Yes. I was the one who hatched him. I know how long that you have been wondering about whether he was alive too.” The statement was peculiar and the proper lady tilted her in silent question herself.

What is that meant to mean, Twilight? It was an odd thing to say, to be sure and she perked her ears to pick up any subtleties in their tone. Do you know something that even Spike doesn’t, perchance?

“I would ponder that,” she hesitated, appearing uncomfortable for a time and exhaling as she rested a hand against her chest. The dragoness groaned quietly and rested the hand upon the red earth. “My apologies; as I was saying, I would ponder that you would all know of Silurian’s age.”

She shook her head. “Not everypony here, no,” Twilight clarified, garnering Rarity’s undivided attention, while she stepped beside the alicorn. “Spike was in his egg for quite a few years before I hatched him with magic.”

“Magic?” Arlaan quizzed, with an incline of her head, her spines shifting from the motion. “That is a most bizarre way to hatch the egg of a drokhan; although, I would not-” She stopped again, Rarity watching as her gentledragon ventured toward his mother in worry; she quirked her head to the side when he rested a hand on her shoulder. “I am well, my dear Silurian; have no fear. So, magic was what gave you life.” Spike nodded mutely, although while a grin danced across his lips. “I suppose, having lived all of your life with ponies, that that would be the only way to possibly hatch you. Do you know how long that he was within his egg for?”

“Not an exact time, no,” Twilight answered, with a bit of a dip of her head, astonishing Rarity that she appeared to know. The astute mare crossed glances with her momentarily, almost as if voicing an apology for not telling her or Spike sooner, prior to returning to respond to Arlaan. “I only know that he was in there for a great deal of time, almost three hundred years, before any of us were even born.”

“What?!” Rarity and Spike both uttered at the same moment. Wandering to the fashionista’s side, he merely waited for her to elaborate.

The lavender mare let out a sigh and furrowed her brow as she spun to face the two. “I am sorry, Spike, Rarity. I only found out after the two of you had left. This was way before our time; way before even Luna was freed from Nightmare Moon.”

“Yet it is still not an accurate account of the years of my son’s life,” voiced the sapphire dragoness, presenting a neutral countenance.

“How old am I then?” Spike questioned in earnest, shifting on his feet to be staring at her.

Reaching a claw toward the young dragon, she rested it under his chin, developing a tender smile while she gazed at him. “You are three hundred and twenty-seven years old, little one. I do not know the reason why none of these creatures know your true age, yet I have been counting the years since I lost you.”

“I know why,” Twilight said, gaining the focus of all present as she stretched her wings along her sides.

“Twilight, how could you possibly?” Rarity asked with no little concern in her voice. “How do you know that he is even three hundred years old?” Uttering those words suddenly connected something for the seamstress. Oh my goodness, that would mean that I am the youngest, not my dear Spikey-Wikey. Four years is one thing, certainly, yet a three hundred and three year difference?

“Because Princess Celestia told me.”

As she refocused her attention to the issue at hoof, Rarity saw the dragon’s jaw drop. It was certainly not something that the lady expected to hear either, yet she merely set to stroking her alabaster hoof along his left side scales again in comfort. “Princess Celestia knew about me?”

“She was the one who found you all of those years ago, Spike,” Twilight corrected, walking nearer as well out of concern.

Spike flicked his tail about a bit, shifting his wings into a different position. He lifted his gaze to his mate and, picturing her moment quickly, she touched her nose to his as he seated himself. “How could she not tell me that? I am mature enough to handle knowing.”

“She didn't want to tell you because she would have had to tell you that your father…” She hesitated in that moment, yet in Rarity’s heart and from the look in Spike's shaky eyes as she spoke, it was clear what Twilight was experiencing trouble with, “that your father may have died to protect you.” She shut her eyes tight upon uttering those words, Rarity saw a few tears forming. Her own heart sank as she spun and sat to comfort her dragon, seeing in his emerald eyes the sorrow and confusion that she would expect from a reveal such as that.

“Your princess is correct, I am afraid.” Her breathing worsened for a moment, Rarity, Spike and Twilight glimpsing her trouble. It passed briefly and the elegant mare’s heart settled a touch, although her hold on her gentledragon never faltered. “My mate perished in order to protect you from harm. If I had not been injured and dropped your egg, I would have joined him. This…” She gestured to her left breast and wheezed slightly. “I was lucky to have survived; it only took the use of one of my…lungs. I assure you all that many were not so fortunate. Yet I see that my young hatchling has suffered a similar fate as I.”

Rarity exchanged a glance with her mate, finding that he was taking things as well as could be expected, while they dealt with these detrimental reveals. He exhaled and caught her eyes, telling her what he wanted to say and what he knew that she wished to speak of also.

The proper lady dipped her head and looked to the sapphire dragon. “My lady; yes, Spike did suffer an injury along our path here. I feared that I would not be able to help him. I had not slept in days to be certain of his condition, yet-”

“Yet you managed to heal his wound and keep him from harm,” Arlaan finished astutely, giving her a small sliver of a smile. “My saneianl did tell me of your feats, dear unicorn; however, I did not expect your gifts to be so lofty.”

“You are kind, but I am far from gifted in terms of magic.”

She felt gentle clawed hands grasp her hooves. “No, Rarity,” the ambassador said, finally voicing his opinions and garnering her attentions. “She is correct. Without you, I would have never met my mother.” Through his shed tears for his late father, Rarity could see his smile, always reserved for her. “I will never forget how hard you tried and succeeded for my sake.”

He touched his right hand to her left cheek, eliciting a smile of her own; one only ever shown to him. It was not long before the fashion designer felt pressure on her left side, seeing that Twilight had joined the embrace from what Spike and Arlaan had revealed. Tears were in her lavender eyes again, while she held her. With her doubts about her magical aptitude momentarily dissuaded, Spike then turned to his mother.

“This same ice afflicts you, mother?”

“Indeed. As we fled from a terrible foe, I was pierced through my breast and fell from the sky, dropping you in the process.” Her explanation ceased once more, while she shut her orange eyes, struggling to breathe. Her strife was swift to break apart Twilight’s tender hold to once again stand worriedly. The trouble appeared to dissipate in Rarity’s eyes and Arlaan opened hers. “If two of the elders of my colony had not aided me in escaping while I was unconscious, I would have perished also. I will suffer from breathing problems for the rest of my days.”

“I am sorry. I felt a bit of trouble as well when I first awakened from a deep slumber. By then, Rarity,” he quirked his head to the side and peered at the mare with thanks in his eyes and on his lips. Spike rested a hand on her hoof, yet extended to his shoulder. “She had already succeeded in halting the ice and it appears that I don’t have any lasting effects.”

“I am glad, little one. I again must thank you dearly, Rarity, for keeping my yizileb rs, my son, being the closest translation, from harm.”

She set her free hoof on the fire ruby necklace and beamed at Spike and then at his mother. “Of course, Arlaan; I could not let him die.”

The sapphire dragoness inclined her head, giving the seamstress a look of recognition. It once again drove her to regard the gemstone around her neck; viewing that same stare that Thiuvinal and her group of elders had garnered her with. Coming from a dragon’s perspective or one of learned deduction like her, the seamstress speculated that a unicorn appearing in dragon lands with a stunning jewel adorning her neck and a dragon at her side would be suspect for a quick rationalization of a curious relationship. Rather, if given the details that dragons gift a valuable trinket to express their love and devotion.

“Rarity, I realize that this is not the best time to question you on matters pertaining to your relationships, yet it has been a great many years and I know nothing of my Silurian. I would like to ask you something and learn all that I am able about how he has grown; if I may?”

“What is she talking about, Rarity?” Twilight quizzed in a delicate whisper. The fashionista merely peered at her dragon, viewing him match her eyes.

With only a nod and a sliver of a certain smile from Spike, the alabaster unicorn resumed her attention on Arlaan. “You may, yet I have a feeling that I already know what it is that you wish to hear. We had planned to reveal this soon regardless, but it really only truly began a little while ago.” She turned to him, seeing out of the peripheral of her vision that the astute alicorn was giving a bit of a startled expression. “My lady, I love your son, Spike. Honestly, I should have known how I felt long before now, yet I do love him.”

“And I love Rarity in return. I always have.”

Rarity chuckled cutely and placed a hoof to the necklace. “This wonderful fire-ruby was his gift to me, although at the time it may not have been for any specific courtship; however, I have sufficient details from how the elders have taken glances at this gemstone over our time here to fashion such conjecture.”

“Wait! Rarity, you really do love him; truly?” asked Twilight, trying to contain her glee, clearly.

“Yes, Twilight; we meant to tell you when all of you were about, but I could not leave such a question unanswered when a mother…or rather, mothers ask.” The princess grew embarrassed, shifting her gaze away from Rarity to stare at the red earth. She dropped her hoof to the ground and looked at Arlaan. “If you please, I also have a question for you that I believe that both Spike and I would like to have answered.”

“Whoever has the heart of my yizileb rs, whether they be drokhan or otherwise, I have no true right to deny a swift answer to whom Silurian bared his soul. After so long a time, I am simply glad to know that in your capable hooves, he has found his place. What is your question, q’ondla jei soo yizileb rs, love of my offspring?”

Not forgetting her niceties, even in the presence of Spike’s kind mother, Rarity rose and bowed her head. “I wish to know why this was the focus of each dragon here when Spike and I first arrived. Why did each of you suspect that my knight in shining scales and I were attached to each other?”

The creature inclined her head in acknowledgement, giving her bright wings a few flaps, prior to folding them against her sides once more. “Ah, when you have…lived for as long as we all have, regardless of the difference in age, you begin to grow a sense for such things. The way that he looks to you for confidence in himself and for the ability to protect life and how you look to him to recall how far you have journeyed in life and how much he sees in you as you are; the only true opinion that matters to you. It is clear that you both think highly of one another and the care that went into crafting that beautiful jewel only accompanies those sentiments.”

“It was a dual effort there as well, mother,” announced the purple dragon, shifting in his seat next to Rarity. “It was a gem that I was growing for my birthday four years ago, but I thought that it would be best to give it to Rarity instead. I would have simply eaten it otherwise and she really wanted to use it for a special dress that would shine on forever. Yet when I gave it to her and told her that it was meant to be hers, she told me that she couldn’t part with something so special. She created the necklace instead, as a sign of our friendship.”

The alabaster unicorn giggled and tapped a hoof on his chest. “Well, I believe that a more apt name for it, thinking on it now, would be our ‘complicated relationship’, dear. It was when I truly began to ponder his feelings for me and, in return, my feelings for him. I should not forget to mention when he attempted to save me from diamond dogs either; that was a most noble occasion for Spikey-Wikey; although there are plenty more where that came from, I assure you, Arlaan.” I should also remember to speak to Spike about my second encounter with those callous brutes.

“So, it was indeed on the part of both of you. Was it on her side also, Silurian, that she managed to rescue you from some type of peril?”

The dragon laughed. “Yes, she has saved me from plenty of things, some of which she didn’t even need to be present for.”

“Oh? Do tell; I have not heard of these times yet.” She gave him a sly visage, raising her eyebrows vivaciously.

“I will, I will,” Spike voiced, chuckling lightly. “I will be sure to regale you with all of the times that you saved me from making a bad misstep during my years as an ambassador, but truly what I wish to mention most of all is when you helped me through those tough times.”

Rarity’s amusement faded into a curious visage, inclining her head and setting one foreleg ahead of the other. “When was this?”

Letting another chuckle slip from his lips, her mate stretched his wings. “Well, there are plenty of occasions, but for instance, when I had an argument with Twilight. I came over to your house. Well, walked by it truthfully. I didn’t want to bother you with something like a squabble, but you happened to be outside tending to your garden and you spotted how downtrodden that I must have looked.”

Spike allowed his sight to fall to the brilliant red rocks, with a reminiscent expression. “After I denied your first attempts at trying to help me, you practically demanded that I join you in the boutique. You helped me through it by simply keeping me company. I didn’t tell you about what was wrong until directly at the end,” he added, returning his sweet emerald eyes to Rarity, “but you still stuck around and tried to cheer me up regardless. Even though I knew that you had an important order to fill and flowers to water, you still told me that I came first, since I was feeling so miserable.”

“I remember,” she merely stated, giving him a honeyed and glad countenance in reply, while swishing her tail to and fro gracefully. “I am happy to have helped you in those situations. I never like seeing my Spikey upset.”

“Is that your only question, Rarity?”

It was a good start, to be certain. The time would arise for further questions, of course, yet Rarity felt that both she and Spike desired more information on one topic of interest. “Actually, no; I do have one other thing to ask of you currently.” The sapphire dragoness dipped her head, standing ahead of the three proudly. “What of gems in dragon society? It would appear that all of you have noticed the necklace that I bear. What significance is it to your culture?”

“Ah, a decent question to ask indeed. It is of our dedication to another individual, whom we have special feelings toward. We grow a special gem to symbolize our emotions and trust, shaping it into a certain object that that dragon has always fancied.” It was that last bit that struck the alabaster unicorn keenly, her eyebrows rising in concern. “When it is grown to the size that we wish for, we gift it to the dragon of our heart’s desire and they do the same.”

Hearing the end of the explanation, Rarity took special interest in the earth before her hooves. “That is beautiful.”

“Rarity?” the ambassador inquired worriedly, scooting nearer and cradling her delicate chin in his clawed hand, raising her eyes to his. “If it is beautiful then why do you look so sad?”

“Spikey, you gave me this wonderful jewel on your birthday to symbolize your strong feelings for me,” she answered, setting a hoof against the fire-ruby, “even when you did not know that it was what dragons do for their mates. I have not done the same for you, dear.”

“That is okay, Rarity.” Spike beamed at her, yet holding her chin aloft lightly. “You told me how you feel with your words and company and that is good enough for me.” Once again the elegant mare dipped her head, feeling a bit better from hearing the ambassador’s soothing words. “Rarity?”

Wait a moment, she pondered in her mind, furrowing her brow and pouting gently as a memory occurred to her. “Spikey-Wikey,” the fashionista spoke with a focus, raising her hoof to drape it across her gentledragon’s extended foreleg, “do you recall when you offered to help me in collecting gems the very first time that I asked?”

He was rapid to give her his courtesy, easily noticing the seriousness in her sapphire eyes. Spike nodded. “Yes. It was the best decision that I have ever made, considering that if I hadn’t then you would have been captured by those diamond dogs without anyone’s knowledge.”

“Well, while we are on that topic, I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for being my knight in shining scales that day. Even if I hadn’t been alright on my own at the very end, I am certain that you would have rescued me at any cost. I will never forget your dedication to me.” His expression seemed brightest to her then, emerald eyes shining that Rarity yet recalled that time. How could I forget such selfless sacrifice and commitment, you silly thing; honestly? “Now, I know that this may be a slim chance. It seems a little selfish of me to ask and I will understand if you did not keep it, but would you perchance have kept that blue gem that I rewarded you for your help?”

The purple dragon swallowed lightly, not speaking a word as the two of them returned their legs to the red earth. He merely nodded his head in a gentle smile and firm redness to his face.

Tearing up at her knight’s silent reply, the seamstress let slip a quiet giggle and hugged him tightly around his neck. She felt his forelegs reciprocate the passionate embrace shortly after, resting his chin on her right shoulder. “Oh, Spike, you ever chivalrous hero of mine; don’t you ever change.”

As a way to calm her and while they cuddled in their temporary bed the night prior, Rarity and Spike discovered that rubbing his hand through the fur of her cheeks brought her a large measure of peace from stresses or high emotions. She grew quiet and stifled her happy sobs into something more manageable as he did exactly that and the proper lady couldn’t help but chuckle a bit as he grazed a somewhat sensitive spot under her right ear.

Once the two were settled enough, they loosened their holds on one another and Rarity retrieved herself from him. “However, I do believe that I yet have something that must be done.” Spike tipped his head to the side in bemusement. “I have not forgotten the second part of dragon culture for this sort of thing. You shall have to retrieve that gemstone when we return home, so that I may reshape it into something worthy of your affections and of course I will need to fashion another necklace for such a trinket; nothing but the best for my Spikey-Wikey.”

“Home,” Spike began, his eyebrows rising in near unhidden concern. He quirked his neck to view his mother and it took little time for Rarity to comprehend.

He never was good at hiding his true emotions, the proper lady spoke to herself, matching those apprehensions inwardly. “Oh, yes, I mean, of course you would wish to stay here, Spike. You only found your mother moments ago. I am sorry, dear, I wasn’t thinking.”

The sweet creature resumed his sight on her, appearing even more frantic for upsetting his love. “No, Rarity. That isn’t,” he began, but faltered in her sapphire eyes.

“Spike,” the mare whispered, touching a hoof to his chest carefully. “I understand your hesitance. It isn’t only me that you will be leaving, I know. Yet I stand by what I said earlier; I will not be what keeps you from discovering who you really are.”

In answer, the ambassador clenched his teeth and squinted to ease the tears in his emerald eyes. Seeing such a terrible sight, Rarity’s lower lip trembled and she threw herself into a hug with her mate, crying into his scaled neck while he lowered his head to settle on top of her mane.

“Now, there is no need to be emotional; nor to be considering staying here to learn about your culture. It should take little time, although it may be a bit unorthodox with our current predicament; yet you may choose to live in Ponyville with this unicorn, should that be your wish.”

Yet in their embrace, both Rarity and Spike regarded the sapphire dragoness. “What do you mean that it will be unorthodox?” the dragon asked. “Don’t you have millions of years of history to inform me of?”

Arlaan dipped her head. “I do indeed. Yet with our method of passing on our history and the lives of our ancestors, it will not be such a lengthy event.” While the creature spoke, the two sat beside one another with Twilight to hear her words. “You see, when a dragon is born, my young Silurian, it is the duty of the al danath and lin drana, or the father and mother, to pass those memories from their past and their family onto their offspring. Rather, the al danath passes his memories onto the son, while the lin drana passes hers to the daughter.” She hesitated and clenched her teeth a bit, allowing Rarity to see her dragonfriend suffering in the same way. “Considering the circumstances, I believe that I may be forgiven for wishing to teach my yizileb rs about our past. We have not a documented history to speak of, yet throughout our lives our minds stay vivid.”

“Really?” the princess remarked in intrigue. “So that might be why I never needed to remind Spike about writing proper letters to the princess or organize the library or my to-do lists.”

Rarity watched Spike chuckle and lean ahead of her to glimpse Twilight. “Are you sure? Maybe it was because you made so many of them so often that you beat it into my head,” Spike responded cheekily, tapping the side of his head with a clawed finger.

“Perhaps that is why you remembered which perfumes that I wear for different occasions,” the proper lady added with a clever grin.

“Of course I remember- um.”

The dragon’s cheeks reddened at being caught by that, Rarity stifling a shrewd giggle behind an alabaster hoof. “Oh, Spike, you are so cute.” She leaned toward him and gave him a quick peck on his cheek, setting her forelegs on his chest. “My apologies, Arlaan,” she stated, garnering the dragoness’ attention. “Please, continue.”

Dipping her head in reply, her sharp orange eyes turned to her son. “Very well; now, while we do not have a recorded history, we have a way to transfer our memories to our kin. It is a long and winding history to be sure and at this time it will take several meetings to have everything in your mind. Unfortunately, this is the only way that it will occur; if Thiuvinal and the elders have not yet told you, they cannot reveal anything in the same fashion, not to a dragon that is not their offspring. This is what I would like to do.”

“Wow,” uttered the ambassador, looking quite perplexed and overwhelmed by this state of events. It was certainly a turn for Rarity, to find that dragons had such an ability. “I had no idea. Yes, I want that.”

“My apologies, Arlaan,” the olive green dragon spoke, stepping forth at a decreased height to stand among them. “Yet I believe that another matter has come to our attention. We must gather and speak of this new event and give these ponies and dragon a chance to recover from their ordeal prior to asking questions.”

“What events? Do you mean of those ice creatures?” Rarity posed fretfully, leaning into Spike as he cradled her.

Shifting her gaze, the calm dragoness inclined her head. “I am afraid so, my dear Rarity. It is a matter that must be attended to; however, I feel it only proper to wait for Hiralean, Lukovius and your friends to return to discuss the matter in detail. For it pertains to the future of us all.”

Arlaan rose from her seated position and stared at the couple, a grim look appearing across her features, as though the sapphire dragon recalled something. “Very well, Thiuvinal.” It took little time for Rarity to draw connections between the mention of ice creatures by Twilight’s party, the ice patch on her dragon and his mother’s labored breaths, while she watched in silence as the two elders retreated to Ciciquez, Uralia and Zirana.

That confirms it, she speculated, they must know of these things; that thing that nearly took my Spikey away from me. Unfortunately, I do believe that I have found what could frighten a fully grown dragon.

“Are you serious, Rarity? You finally realized how you feel about Spike?” her sister exclaimed, now practically bouncing from excitement in front of her as Rarity yet remained seated.

With a practiced giggle and sigh, the fashionista set aside her disparaging thoughts for the moment and quirked her head to view the aforementioned creature. “Yes, Sweetie Belle; I believe that I have.”

“Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy!” Pinkie shouted with glee, bounding on the right side of the young mare and hugging Twilight tightly. “This calls for a party! Don’t you think, Twilight?”

“I am so happy for the two of you,” came the whispered, yet sweet and lilting voice of Fluttershy as she wandered forward on Rarity’s left. “So, Spike, what was it like to finally meet your birth mother?”

The purple dragon chuckled at that and stood, flicking his tail in the process. “It was terrific. I can’t believe that this is finally happening. I simply wish that I could have met my father, that is all.”

It swiftly became quiet as the weight of his words settled on the assemblage, the only one to truly act being the seamstress; standing and cuddling into the ambassador. “Oh, Spike; I know that this is not much of an appeasement, yet if your father was anything like your mother, I believe that he would be proud to call you his son, his yizileb rs.”

“Rarity is right, Spike,” the knowledgeable princess confirmed. She stepped forward, out of the pink mare’s now loose grasp to stand on the opposite side of him from Rarity. “I know that it is difficult to accept; not only about Princess Celestia keeping such a thing a secret for so long, but because of his sacrifice.” Twilight pressed a hoof to his shoulder and tried to smile for her son. “He made that decision to save you himself, knowing that you would grow into a wonderful dragon.”

Affirmations spread about the entire attending group, causing Rarity’s and, by her deduction of the firm grin easing its way onto her mate’s face, Spike’s moods to brighten considerably. “Well, I am not really mad at Celestia. I know that whatever reason that she had for not telling me, she imagined that it was better than the alternative. She protected me from harm for so many years after all and still seems to. Thank you, everypony. I am lucky to have friends and family such as you to always cheer me up.”

“Of course, do you know how much cheer and love that I had stored away for you and Rarity this whole trip?” asked the party mare exuberantly. “There is a bunch of time to make up for. I still have to remember to go and book a boat trip for the two of you when we return home; it has to be a proper vessel for Rarity though, like the Sea Princess.”

I don’t know what it is, but I will never grow tired of her ceaseless party planning, the alabaster unicorn mused good-humoredly. She still glanced at Twilight for any semblance of sense to Pinkie’s prattling, yet all that she received was a bemused shrug. “Well, Pinkie, I am certain that whatever you mean to do, it will be a lovely excursion for the both of us. Thank you.”

“No problem, Rarity.”

“Princess Twilight, my apologies for disturbing you,” Vem called from behind the friends. Rarity tilted her head toward the stallion, finding Tabatha close beside him as well. “Might I have a word with you while we wait for these dragons to finish their meeting? There are still some concerns that I have for our near future.”

Seeming to sense the urgency with which the Captain spoke, the studious alicorn nodded her head in acknowledgement. “Certainly; I myself would like to catch everypony up on what our situation from here is, after all. I would also like to see how Applejack is faring with that dragon.”

He dipped his head in silence and ventured off toward his remaining crew. As Rarity viewed the others leaving in the same fashion, very soon it was only her, Spike and Twilight remaining.

“I really am glad to see the two of you. I was really worried that something had happened and that we would be too late.”

“Well, do you hear that, Spikey-Wikey? She doubted our ability to keep each other safe.” She huffed indignantly and quirked her head toward her dragon, seeing in his emerald eyes that he understood what she was doing. He simply furrowed his brow and gave an incredulous glimpse at Twilight, nodding without a word.

The lavender pony shrunk at the accusation, cheeks growing pink. Twilight in response reached behind and scratched at her mane. “I guess I should have known.”

“Yes, you should have,” Rarity began sternly, yet she rapidly shed that façade of an upset countenance and smiled brilliantly at her friend. “However, I hold nothing against you, Twilight. You were merely concerned for our safety. Once again, I am sorry that we lied to you.”

“Yes, Twilight; we should have likely told you from the beginning what was really going on.”

“You should have!” she shouted, startling the couple in the process. Yet the fashionista saw the anger drain away from the mare’s face almost instantly, replaced by a relieved, glad visage. “But I am really just glad that you two are alright.”

Once again, the three quickly embraced, holding each other close for a brief set of moments. In a settled mood, Rarity exhaled and drew herself away from the hug, sitting herself beside the dragon.

“Rarity?” the astute princess queried, garnering her focus. In reply, the purple-maned mare hummed to show that she was listening. “You really love Spike? I am sorry to keeping asking you this, but I can’t stop grinning and asking.”

“It is alright, Twilight, dear, truthfully,” answered Rarity with a measured giggle, leaning into her dragon. “I understand that you are protective of your son.” Another slight chuckle of humor escapes as her knowledgeable friend flushed in embarrassment. She waved her hoof to ease her stresses. “Easy, Twilight; it is only natural after raising him for so long. I always believed that it was sweet; now, to answer your question, darling.” Rarity spun in her seat to face Spike, raised her hooves to either side of his cheeks and pulling him into a tender kiss. She held him there for a time, feeling him reciprocate to the action after a few heart beats and released him with a passionate moan. He was once more dazed by her unabashed advances, yet the mare simply brought her side to his again, staring across at Twilight. “Does that answer your question?”

Her lavender eyes were wide and blinking, before she appeared to recover herself a tad. “I think so. I am more worried about how Spike is feeling right now. Perhaps you should refrain from such large and surprising shows of affection for a while.”

“Oh, pish posh, darling,” Rarity called, dismissing her concerns with a foreleg. “Besides, we did much more with each other last night for him to be upset about something such as that.”

“Rarity!” Spike shouted, coming out of his reverie to a bright red face and furrowed brow. “Why would you say that?”

“See?” she responded with glee, gesturing toward the flustered creature. “I told you that he was fine.” He moaned into the air, leaning his head back in frustration and surrender. Rarity merely giggled again and wrapped him up in a hug; flushing a bit herself with the knowledge that she could now do this at any moment. In a few of his heart beats, she could yet hear and feel it in his breast, warmth further engulfed her lithesome form as Spike stretched his wings across her back.

Twilight laughed a bit from beside her, causing the alabaster unicorn to shift her gaze in her direction. “You two really are adorable together. I am truly happy for you both.”

“Thank you, Twilight,” the two of them answered her together, both pulling the other closer in the process.

“Well, I had best go and talk with Vem and the others about where we will go from here. The Sea Princess took quite the beating from those things, so we are basically land locked for the moment. Are you two going to stay here for a bit?”

“Honestly,” Rarity began shuffling herself gently out of the purple dragon’s hold, she scooted herself about to face the mare properly, still holding her dragonfriend’s warmth bringing wings against herself. “I believe that I shall partake in a bit of a stroll, prior to returning to hear of this ice creature story. Could you send me a letter if they begin to return, Twilight? I still know how to cast that letter retrieving spell that you taught me.”

“Of course, Rarity,” she responded with a light nod.

The dragon ambassador shuffled forth as well, placing his clawed hands on either sides of Rarity’s slim body. “I will come with you.”

Yet the proper lady turned slightly and placed an alabaster hoof against his chest to prevent his advance. “Nonsense, Spike; you should stay and chat with Twilight. You can catch up with me in a few minutes, I am certain.” She winked at him and began to saunter off, swaying her hips to and fro, with her tail covering the proper amount to entice the dragon to not be too far behind. “Ta ta, darling.”

Well away from her group of friends, Rarity decided to stroll along a modest pathway lying between two small cliff faces. By this time, Celestia’s sun had about reached its highest point in the sky and the wind had grown in force as a result, yet it was still a lovely breeze that the elegant mare enjoyed. Even so, the weather and the scenery wasn’t what mattered to her at the moment; she simply needed a bit of time to herself to think.

I can’t believe that Spike was in his egg for so long, she imagined, her sapphire eyes beginning to glisten, it must have been quite lonely for three hundred and seven years. It could also explain Spikey’s dream. If that is the case, then he could have truly heard his father’s passing, but he wasn’t technically born yet. Yet as she thought of that, Rarity blinked her sorrows away and stood proud. Well, I will be absolutely certain that my Spikey never has to feel lonely again.

However, as she arrived at her stern resolution and upon rounding the bend of the path which led between the cliffs, the alabaster unicorn noticed some unwelcome guests intruding on her merry walk.

Garble and two of his friends stood in her path as she approached with a relaxed manner.

“Ah, would you three happen to be enjoying a merry little jaunt through this location as well as I, or are you here to see me for something specific?” the lady queried, coming to a halt a few hooves from the dragons.

The red creature blew smoke from his nostrils, glaring crossly at her. “You know why, pony. We have a bone to pick with you.”

Rarity rolled her sapphire eyes and flipped her mane. “Oh please, I have no reason or wish to fight you. Perhaps you should listen to your grandmother, Garble and behave yourself.”

“Why you little…fine; if you won't fight me, then I will pummel that dragon of yours instead.”

At first she merely smiled, yet as she stared into the red dragon’s eyes and saw that he was serious, Rarity couldn't help but giggle a little. She covered it with a hoof momentarily, her amusement surfacing. “Oh my; good heavens, Garble. You amuse me so. You couldn’t defeat Spike in battle. Why, you would have difficulty facing one of the Cake’s little ones.”

His eye twitched slightly. “That does it.” Garble began inhaling, readying a breath of flame, when Rarity struck an elegant pose and lit her horn. The bully ceased in his motions completely and the fashionista smirked at the surprise on his features.

Without moving from her position, she lifted him simply in her spell and tossed him against the rock face to her right. The large thud upon impact with the obstacle was followed swiftly with a groan of agony from Garble. As she held him there, Rarity viewed the others exchanging glances and readying to attack her also.

They lunged at her and she in turn teleported behind them, yet with their leader in her grasp. The proper lady yet faced toward them and tossed the immobile dragon against the other small cliff, with another painful reaction emanating from Garble, prior to her chucking him indignantly at his friends. They landed in a heap and she released them, yet standing proudly.

She saw Garble clench a fist and mumble a word that was most unlady-like, flaring his wings. “Stand up! She's just a pony!” They stood and lined up ahead of her. “Fly and blast her with fire, while I attack from the ground.”

“Well, that is not very noble of you,” Rarity commented. “Not that I expected much less from someone like you, but I thought that this was a match between you and I.”

“I don’t care what you think this is, pony. I’m going to tear you apart and then move on to Spike after. I’m going to be the next leader of this group of dragons, so I won’t have to worry about upsetting anyone.”

Rarity set one foreleg ahead of the other and raised her chin a tad, sapphire eyes narrowed. “By the end of this, you will address me as Rarity, you ungracious buffoon.”

He growled ferociously and broke into a gallop toward her, while the others lifted themselves into the air on either side of the proper lady.

The first few sets of flame hurtled toward Rarity, flowing with a burning hot intensity, yet she remained quite calm. Before Garble could charge even within a few hooves of her, he hit an invisible wall of magic that she conjured.

Merely huffing at the terrible attempt to encroach on her position, the seamstress turned her focus upward in dealing with the flames. She enveloped them in her sapphire aura and drove them straight into the red soil on either side of her, snuffing them out with ease.

Garble slid down the magical wall for a brief moment, prior to Rarity ceasing in her cast of the spell and he collapsed to the dirt with a pitiful sound. It was clear who was having more success by this point, while she stood with the graceful wind at her back; Rarity could see the realization crossing the faces of her foe’s crew even from a distance.

Only now did the alabaster unicorn begin to saunter forward and the two remaining creatures flew to intercept her from either side before she met their leader. She merely maintained her leisurely pace, meandering closer to Garble, until his friends were nearing her.

Her horn glowed with a sapphire light once more and she vanished, appearing a few steps behind her initial spot. The two creatures peered at her in shock, realizing that they did not have enough time to alter their courses. Rarity watched with a level expression as they impacted with one another and crumbled to the ground. She then continued on her way about them, to stand in front of the bully animal that had almost taken her Spike away. She stared at him crossly, not happy with how he and his allies had attacked her.

He grumbled and lifted his head. “How did…?”

“How did I defeat you, you ask? I kept my head, dear. You, on the other hoof, only allow your anger to power your strength. With my magic ceasing each of your strikes, you could not even use that strength. I hardly had to participate in this little scuffle at all, I am afraid. You defeated yourself. Now Garble, what is my name?”

The dragon blinked in what she felt was shock, perhaps even a bit of fear; she did not bother to speculate. He did not deserve such attention at this point, perhaps if he smartened up some and learned from Thiuvinal, Rarity would try to know him. Garble grumbled and turned his head away.

The mare raised an eyebrow and surrounded his face in magic, turning his chin to her. “I am waiting. Perhaps you need to raise your voice, darling.”

This time he let out a growl and bared his teeth, appearing ready to attack again or breathe fire; yet with a stern countenance, supported by her horn glowing with an intensity that she had been practicing for over seven years, since her encounter with the diamond dogs, the earth erupted on either side of Rarity with stylishly shaped crystal pillars, aimed eloquently at the sky.

This seemed to dissuade the dragon and he shrunk away, his face no longer filled with rage, but genuine concern. The proper lady released her power, forcing his attention on her and proceeded to wait.

Garble ground his teeth and peered at the red dirt of the Scorched Lands. “Rarity; your name is Rarity.”

“And?” she prodded without missing a beat.

“And I’m...sorry for only calling you a pony.”

The two remained silent for a brief time, Rarity gazing at him to be certain that he meant that. Perhaps he still does not respect me, yet at least he will think twice about challenging me in any way; least of all in combat. “Very well,” she began and offered a hoof to Garble. “Let this be the end of this altercation.”

The dragon looked at the extended appendage and appeared baffled momentarily, prior to raising his claw to meet it. She aided him in rising to his feet and set her hoof upon the earth again after.

“Whatever.” He wouldn’t meet her gaze, simply keeping his eyes on something in the distance behind Rarity. “I guess you aren’t all talk after all.”

“Well, that is a start to giving me the respect that I deserve. Simply because an animal is smaller than you, or does not live as long as you, it does not make them weak.”

He let out a gruff laugh. “Yeah, apparently; maybe you ponies aren’t so bad. You sure knew what you were doing. Just...don’t mention this to anyone; how badly I lost.”

“Hmm, I don’t know,” Rarity remarked, giving an incline of her head. “It would be a fascinating story to have with my customers or friends over tea. Yet I believe that I could be persuaded.”

Upon hearing that, Garble exhaled lightly and almost seemed to smile; not a smug smile either. “Thanks, I guess.”

The fashionista dipped her head and kept her focused spheres on him as he moved passed her to attend to his friends, who were roused from their involuntary slumber.

“Of course, Garble, I may have a large supply of magic at my beck and call now, yet I am afraid that I cannot wipe unwanted memories from ponies’ minds as of yet.”

As she finished and glanced at him from over her shoulder with an astute and sly visage, he froze. “What do you mean?” Garble asked, not turning to face her.

“She means that we saw what you attempted to do, Garble,” Spike remarked from the top of the cliff to Rarity’s right. “You are lucky that Rarity outwitted you so badly too or I would be far less forgiving. I don’t ever wish to see you raise a claw to hurt her or any of my family again, or either Rarity or I will be certain to teach you another unforgettable lesson.”

“I will be certain to inform Thiuvinal of this occurrence also,” Ciciquez added from beside the purple dragon. “This will not cause her any joy, little one; you may be certain of such.”

Garble deflated in answer and nodded his head, appearing rather humbled as he left with his group. Rarity, on the other hoof, simply spun about to wait for the two dragons to descend into the pathway to greet her.

“Are you alright, Rarity?” her mate asked, trotting toward her in concern.

The alabaster unicorn chuckled lightly, viewing Ciciquez trailing behind him at a more relaxed pace. “Yes, dear; I am not injured. I believe that the only true thing that was injured during this altercation was Garble’s pride.”

“Well, hopefully that will teach him a thing or two.”

“Indeed; you did well to discipline the young one, while defending yourself with such poise and precision,” Ciciquez complimented softly. “You remind me of my mate, in fact. You two are lucky to have one another. Garble will not be so troublesome after this quarrel, losing to a creature that he assumed to be weaker. However, we have come to collect you, Rarity. We have much to discuss and your friends have returned from Hiralean.” With little else to say, the slim amaranth dragon inclined his head in courtesy, turned on his heels and began meandering to the entrance of the path.

Rarity peered after the silent creature, somewhat surprised that he had praised her on such a matter. I remind you of your mate, is it? Is that the reason for that ring on your horn? she imagined, smartly. Whatever the case, I hope that you have not lost her. She exhaled delicately, realizing that it would not be proper to ask such a question of the dragon and instead regarded Spike with a bright countenance. “Well then, Spike; shall we? I daresay that this next talk shall be rather serious.”

“Yes; they seem to be quite worried to hear about these ice creatures. As we wandered over to you, Ciciquez was clear how concerned that he was despite being rather silent most of the time.”

I shall be by your side for the entirety of these sessions. Approaching for a gentle kiss, Rarity and Spike followed the elder side by side. Yet after a few moments, the seamstress noticed how Spike was trailing behind her somewhat. She peered over her shoulder at her love, finding the ambassador staring quite fixated on her backside. He was quick to realize that he had been found out, yet by then it was already too late.

The fashionista merely smirked vivaciously and halted in her stride, allowing the elder dragon to gain some pace. Spike, in turn, ceased in his sauntering as well, appearing rather petrified about being caught.

“I-I was only-”

“Spikey-Wikey,” she began in a sing-song voice, dripping with alabaster voracity, while she yet kept his gaze, staring over her curvaceous body, “seeing as how you have seen some of what I have learned from Twilight during your absence, I am inclined to reveal another little something to you.”

He merely gulped, likely anticipating some harsh reprimand in the form of a spell of some sort.

I know what it is that you are doing, my dear Spike, she pondered, viewing the absolutely adorable reaction that the dragon was lending her in response to her words. Can you hear me?

“Yes,” he managed quietly.

‘My voluptuous curves are vivaciously shaking as I walk’ are they? Her smirk only grew upon thinking that. Well, I must say that I am truly flattered that you think so highly of my lithesome form, darling.

Spike’s emerald eyes immediately widened and his wings shifted uncomfortably. “Rarity, please, I am sorry-”

I am not upset with you, Spike. Quite the contrary, in fact; I am simply happy that you are here with me. Rarity smiled softly and turned on her hooves to approach her mate. “I am however sorry that I did this without your consent, Spikey dear. I am truly sorry.”

“What are you apologizing for?” he interrupted her, making up the distance and giving her a toothy smile. “That was incredible! You are incredible, Rarity; my lady.”

The seamstress’ face flushed and she dipped her head a touch; not only due to his complimenting of her abilities, but also because of the new context that calling her his lady now had. “Thank you. I learned so that I would not worry you any longer, Spike. I knew that one day you would return and that you would be different, at least in size. I was also aware of how afraid that you were for me, especially after the diamond dog incident, yet after your transformation on your birthday as well.”

Rarity settled her backside upon the red soil and breathed in calmly. “It wasn’t only because I wished to be stronger, or to be able to handle myself in situations where my charm or daring could not alone carry me through. When that accident with my back injury occurred, it only further supplanted that thought in my head how scared that you would be to discover that I had been hurt in your absence; the very absence that I caused in you.” She vacillated for a moment, sapphire eyes glistening and seeing Spike’s fright clear on his features. “Whether you still felt the way that you did or whether I had any hidden emotions for you that I could not quite see at the time, it did not matter.

“You were my friend and I wanted to be there when you returned; to apologize for causing you to miss your mother for four years of her life; of yours. Twilight thought that it would be a great idea to teach me what she knew when I queried her, as I thought that she would and yet,” she paused again, focusing her attention on the ground ahead of her, “I could not bring myself to tell her what the most important reason was for requesting it. I do not know if she ever suspected that it had something to do with you and your departure, yet if she did, she never remarked about it.”

Spike crept forward and sat in front of her, curling his arms about her and gently inching her nearer to him. She did not protest or speak during the process; she simply allowed it to happen, needing the closeness to the dragon’s warm heart; craving it. Merely placing her hooves to his muscular chest, Rarity snuggled up to him and rested her right cheek against his momentarily. Finally, the gentledragon draped his wings across her back as a heated blanket.

The two remained in that formation for a time, the proper lady knew not how long; she did not care. It was enough to be accepted by Spike after what she put him through; even after confessing to all of these secrets that she had kept to herself, not knowing whether revealing them would cause her friends and family to dislike her; for Spike to hate her.

“You don’t have to worry about any of that, Rarity,” he whispered soothingly, matching her eyes when they parted slightly. “Please, you were too generous to me then for me to be anything else but proud of you and for me to think ever more highly of you; simply letting me help you, to brighten up your day, even if it was only because you thought that I was sweet and a good friend. I know that you never meant to hurt me in any way. Even what you said at the wedding was better for me to hear than to continue on wondering if you liked me in return or not. I did some pretty mean things to you too.”

She raised her head at that, looking alarmed and wanting to say that he had never done anything but love her. “I left you,” he said first, causing her to blink and remain silent. “I worried you. Not only the day that I left for those four years, but also when I went on that migration; I made you afraid for my safety. That was unconscionable on my part and I am truly sorry, to you, Twilight and Rainbow. I was in a way glad when you three appeared, because after I realized what a mistake that I had made I was worried that none of you would accept me for leaving.”

Rarity shook her head vehemently upon hearing that and rubbed comfortingly at his smooth purple scales. “I will always accept you for being who you are, Spike; never doubt that.”

Beaming in response, Spike continued. “Being happy that that did not occur also made me feel selfish. When you so brazenly, but still so eloquently declared in all of your ever lady-like fashion and I quote, ‘I will rip you to pieces if you touch one scale on his cute little head’, I couldn’t help but think that you felt the same way that I did about you. Only for a moment though. I wasn’t going to speculate on that too much.” Rarity tightened her grasp about her dragon, remembering that day and those emotions.

“That truly was one of the days that brought my feelings for you to light, Spike.”

Her confession made him swallow lightly, before he pressed on. “So, Rarity, generosity or not, some things that you do to be generous may seem afterward to be greedy on your part. Yet they weren’t. I should know, since most of what I did for your affections I later thought that I was only being greedy and embarrassing you. There was no generosity in what I did for you, it was only my innate greed building and compelling me to seek your favor. Well, we know now that it isn’t greed that causes dragons to grow, but I only thought that more after the dragon incident and tried to control my affections a bit to give you more space, but you almost seemed to want me around more.”

“I did,” Rarity finally spoke, leaving her silence behind. I remember that they said that dragons grow to defend what they wish to protect, regardless of if they know how to control their growth or not. So, Spike, does that mean that you also grew to protect me, like I did for you? “You didn’t embarrass me, Spike. I knew that I wanted you around more even then, darling. I didn’t truly know why, yet I knew that it was because you were my friend and I missed having you around so frequently. I now know why that was.” Taking the initiative, the alabaster unicorn pressed a hoof to his chest to garner his undivided attention. “Spike, you may have thought that what you did was out of greed for my hoof and I am so sorry that you were uncertain whether to be around me afterward.”

Turning wistful, she glanced at his chest for a moment. “I suppose that I felt the same, in a way; not certain myself whether seeing you so much after the length that you went to,” Rarity returned her sight to Spike, “to try and woo me as it were, would only make things worse. Yet I can safely tell you that whatever you thought of your actions at any time, I only ever thought of as the most valiant and thoughtful actions of my favorite dragon; by far the most generous soul that I know and love with all of my heart.”

He smiled in response and caressed the alabaster fur of her back gently. “I am truly glad that you told me that, my precious diamond.”

Rarity didn’t miss a beat, giggling and regarding him with sensuous sapphire eyes. “Oh, so now I am a treasure, am I?”

“No, no, it slipped out. I meant to call you something different.”

She nodded calmly, maintaining her expression. “Well, what would that something be, hmm?”

Spike chuckled helplessly, clearly already knowing where this was leading. “I don’t know, but whatever it is, I meant it as a sign of your beauty and generosity to give me a chance, if anything. I swear.”

Chuckling into one hoof, she waved his concerns off with another, taken by his honesty and his sentiment. “So I see. I believe that it is quite the fitting name then. After all, you did need to begin calling me something to show that I am yours and that you are all mine.” He gulped as Rarity pulled him closer to her, so that their chests were touching, her fur sending what seemed, to her practiced sapphire eyes, to be akin to tingles and shivers along Spike’s scales.

“I was always yours, Rarity. You always had my heart and my body was always ready to serve you.”

Dropping the clever countenance, the elegant mare placed her hooves on either sides of his face, instead regarding Spike with a concerned appearance. “Please do not use the word serve, Spikey-Wikey. You were never my servant, I would not have that. I truly cherished your company and aid and it was about nothing else. Granted, I did ask too much of you many times and I gave you little reward or resting time for your deeds. You did not have the same stamina that the average pony would have had at the time and I should have been more careful with you.”

She felt his hands move across her slender figure once again, stroking her fur to keep her calm. “I simply began to trust in you to always be faithful and I lost track of your feelings. With you there, I was far faster in my sewing and stitching, embroidering, finding gemstones. I always had a kind voice urging me forward, to be who I was and perform better than I could previously. I had a caring individual who I could turn to or speak with about anything that troubled me or gave me elation and who was there to cheer me on no matter what the cost to himself; I noticed that. I am sorry that I never spoke of it out loud.

“The long and short of it, Spikey,” she began again, prodding his nose with her right hoof to have his sweet emerald orbs upon her, “I never wish to hear you say anything that degrades you in any fashion. No doubts about being worthy of my love or attentions, nor any about being like a greedy dragon or that I should mind what other ponies might say about us being a couple. My work speaks for itself and I will present my heart to whomever I choose; does that suffice for you?”

While Spike’s hands scratched at her back in circles, claws drawing tender coos from Rarity in the process, he inclined his head, never dropping his gaze from her beautiful eyes. “Very well, my lovely lady of all things charitable.”

“Hmm, I enjoy that little name; it is a touch lengthy. Might you have been practicing what to call me if we should ever become mates, my love? Hmm? Perhaps even over those four years.”

“Mmmaybe,” he admitted with a coy visage. “I might have had a few conversations with the Canterlot guard that led me to ponder a few fitting names for a mate at some point.”

“Aha! I knew it, you sly thing you.” Rarity giggled sweetly at the slight red tinge upon his face and regained her lidded visage and smirk. “You always did have a way of making me feel appreciated.”

“You deserved it, Rarity.” With a tender grin and a careful tilt of the head from the proper lady, the ambassador curled his wings at his sides once again. He kept his arms against her body however, something that she took quick notice of and giggled at. “Rarity?” he asked, garnering her gaze and silencing her affections. She merely tipped her head to the side to say that she was listening. “I am curious; what was that spell that you used?”

Rarity nodded at that and flicked her tail behind her. “Ah, yes; my special spell. Well, first off, neither Twilight nor I believed that I would be able to cast it at the off. As you already know from living with a studious pony such as Twilight, not all unicorns have the substantial magical abilities as the princesses do. Having not grown up under the tutelage of one of those great figures or attending a school dedicated to magic strictly, I was only ever able to teach myself a few spells.

“Granted, I did fashion that gem locating spell on my own. Yet before you go and say that I should be a princess like Twilight for inventing my own spell, it is not quite the same thing. I simply funneled my magic into my horn and taught myself to tune into and differentiate between the pull strengths or pulses brought on by differing metals or crystal deposits within the earth. After I found my cutie-mark, I dare not have an experience like being dragged along for ceaseless days by my sensitive horn ever again.”

Spike dipped his head along to her explanation, beaming brilliantly from it. “Still, hearing how you taught yourself a spell, especially since you had no magical background is still astounding. I had no idea how resourceful you were, Rarity and I never thought to ask during all of those gem trips.”

“Simply gazing dreamily at my vivacious curves and voluptuous back end, were you?” she questioned and giggled adoringly at his alarmed and embarrassed facial expression.

“Well, no.”

Rarity flicked her tail a bit as she wiggled her backside onto his lap. “Is that hesitation that I recognize in your voice? Come along, dear, I thought that we were honorable to a fault.” Spike sat for a moment, looking as though he was pondering over her seriousness. She let no cracks slip, of course, while the lady batted her long eyelashes at her dragon, yet by now Rarity could tell that the short game was concluded. After all, he knew her like no other creature did; like she did of him.

He was swift to recover and shook his head. “No, I only had the utmost respect for you, Rarity. I would not disgrace you by doing such a thing.”

“Hm, I should think now that being looked upon in such a way by a handsome and debonair dragon such as yourself would be quite the compliment.” She waited, dropping a hint that perhaps he could escape with revealing something about those days without incurring her dainty wrath.

Spike cleared his throat and swished his tail upon the soil behind him. “Well, it was never on purpose. You were-…err, are so beautiful and when you were working hard and hadn’t given me a task yet, I sort of lost myself; never firmly on your backside, per say, simply on all of you. How good that I thought that you were for me. I still think that you are good for me, my Rarity.”

You fashioned an excellent save at the start, my dear. “Now, now, it is alright. Even years ago I still caught myself glancing at you in similar ways, after all. Whenever you would step right to some task that I requested of you without complaint, failure or hesitation, it always brought a brightness to my face that no other creature could. Not even Opal.” Rarity paused to laugh lightly. I hope that she is faring well, with whoever Sweetie Belle left her with. “To be clear, I did not say that with your return, those looks of mine ever diminished while you were around.”

His ear frills flared and his emerald eyes widened at the come hither look that Rarity was now showing him. “It simply had a different meaning. I cannot say when I fell for you, darling; that I have no definite answer to. You might say that I have always been falling for you, slowly; noticing only bits and pieces of your devotion until they all suddenly came crashing together on this silly mare’s slow head during our journey here. I can tell you when I knew for certain and it was when I was almost certain that I would lose you.”

“You aren’t slow or silly and you didn’t lose me either,” he said, being quick to take her hooves in his careful, loving claws against his chest. It silenced her and made her purely beam at Spike. “You saved me, remember? I am right here and you don’t need to fret about a thing.”

She chuckled at his reassurances and ceased in her clever responses for this discussion. “Yes. You are right. Well, I believe that I have yet to finish my tale. You are quite the alluring and impossible distraction, my dear sweet scaled knight.”

“Guilty,” Spike answered, allowing a soft laugh past his lips.

Rarity raised an eyebrow and lowered her chin slightly to regard him with a clandestine smile. “Yes, quite guilty. Now, onward; you now know how my gem locating spell functions. Rather, it is not quite a spell, per say, so much as it is using my aura as a new sense to track and locate objects. Even Celestia and Luna admitted once how it was incredible that I managed to procure such a feat, yet I believe that it had been accomplished prior to my discovery.”

Spike nodded along silently, keeping with his deliriously delightful motions at her back. It elicited supplementary moans from her as she continued. “It did however lend to the possibility that I could tap into a hidden reserve of magic that not even I knew of; so said the princesses and Twilight. I was quite beside myself with the thought of it, truth be told. So, with the approval of the princesses through letter and my pleas to not have you know of what I was planning being heard and accepted by all accounts, Twilight began to teach me. It began with the basics, of course; simple levitation, illumination, precision casting.

“Then we delved deeper, myself being tasked with levitating multiple objects at once, to practice and fine tune my magic stamina,” Rarity paused to break a few of those crystal spears that she had formed during her tussle with Garble and brought them to where they were sitting to provide an example, “illuminating an ever growing area to see how far I could push myself. I cast a few walls of magic, which Twilight in turn attempted to shatter.” She chuckled at the memory and rested the crystals on the ground behind her, away from the curved path. “It was rather easy at the start to break those, yet with time and patience, she required more exertion of her own magic to break mine.

“Teleporting was a tad difficult; belie what you saw me do with those brutes. I was truly exhausted after those long days. Sometimes I could not bring myself to pick up a needle and thread at my home afterward. Yet what kept me returning was you, my dear,” Rarity leaned forward and planted a passionate kiss on Spike’s lips, momentarily ceasing his calming ministrations, “the knowledge that I would be able to finally protect you should the occasion arise once you returned to us. Having mastered most medium level spells and not feeling overly frazzled by the process, Twilight imagined that it would be alright to start on the more draining magicks. Prolonged invisibility, casting transfiguration magic, the cloud walking spell and of course offensive magic such as beams of energy, fire and ice and such.”

The farther in depth that the proper lady went, the farther Spike’s intrigued and excitement seemed to stretch in response. “The Masked Matter-Horn would be lucky to have you on her team, Rarity,” he said humorously.

She let a giggle escape, imagining that he would be comparing her abilities to a comic, even as a jest; although, with the way that Spike was enraptured with her now, perhaps she had been mistaken as to who his favorite unicorn heroine was. “Perhaps, yet I believe that I enjoy being on our team far more, dear.” Her dragon flushed with pride from her answer, adjusting his wings a touch. It gave her a special feeling also, while she beamed daintily at him.

“Well, not all spells were exactly my forte, yet I managed well enough; so Twilight reassured after a time. The one under question now is my mind-reading capabilities; one especially challenging cast to perform, have no doubt. It took a rather long time, yet I am able to delve into a mind and uncover thoughts. Passing fancies, such as my figure.” She winked at Spike, causing him to chuckle in good humor. “I am able to speak to you using my mind.”

Seeming to have an idea, the dragon remained silent, yet squinted his eyes a little and leaned in toward her, appearing now focused. After a moment, Rarity caught on and drew an aura into her horn. Another short silence and she was grinning from ear to ear.

“No, Spike,” Rarity stated with a good-natured giggle, “you cannot speak to me in response to the spell.”

“Aww,” he moaned, deflating and allowing his wings to droop.

Yet you can think it, the fashionista imagined, caressing an alabaster hoof underneath his chin to garner his courtesy. The dragon lifted his head, appearing uncertain for a moment before resuming his emerald eyes to Rarity.

You mean like this? he questioned within his mind.

She inclined her head, her elation showing. As long as you think it, my lovely dragon mate, I can hear it and reply.

You are most definitely my lady.

Rarity gave another giggle at his cuteness. “Yes, I am. I cannot quite yet master such an advanced spell; however, Twilight did tell me that if I ever could, I would be able to share thoughts with another animal of my choosing. She named it a psychic link, I believe. So, if I ever did manage to perfect such a spell, would you be willing to link with me, Spike?” she asked, feeling suddenly abashed and coy as she massaged her hooves upon his chest.

Spike himself appeared taken aback by her request, but recovered shortly, acting in a shy manner, but glad to hear her ask such a matter of him. The dragon pulled her closer on his lap, brightening Rarity’s countenance when her pristine alabaster fur caressed his hot chest. “It would be the greatest honor to know you like that. I know that we can already tell what the other is feeling or thinking simply by looking at each other, but I also understand the intimacy that such a process would entail. To be that much closer to you and you to me would be breathtaking.”

While expressing a coo of affection, Rarity smoothed the scales of her dragonfriend’s chest and sides, bringing her hooves about to grip the scales of his back tightly and nodded. “I know; which is why Spikey, I am already able to do precisely that.”

“You what?” he jolted upright, obviously ecstatic. It brought out a happy giggle from the alabaster unicorn.

Rarity inclined her head in joy, brimming with cheer that he was about as enthusiastic about this matter as she was. “Yes, Spike. My training is very nearly complete. Twilight said that I have improved as much as I likely will by this time and did not wish to push the boundaries much farther, yet I am powerful enough to unite us in such a way.”

“That is incredible, Rarity,” Spike responded, stroking along her back again in a delicate manner. “I had no idea that the most beautiful and attractive creature of all was such a powerful magic wielder as well. This is really giving me some ideas for later.”

“I do not doubt it. After all, I am hearing them currently. You are quite the naughty dragon, aren’t you?”

His countenance faltered quickly. “Uh, uhhh…” I forgot about that.

Rarity inclined her head in return with a sensuous visage. Oh, I know that you did. All the more arousing to learn of what it is that you wish to do with me after hearing how much that I have grown, not knowing that I can hear you initially.

“Okay, I know that I should likely be afraid or at least nervous of what is to come, but this is only exciting me more. I have a feeling that after this I will have to watch what I think daily as well as what I say around you.”

She chuckled lightly and shook her head. “Don’t worry. You have been quite the gentledragon when it comes to speaking with me. You are allowed to have those thoughts, darling. I can teach you a method of deeper imagining that I will not be able to pick up on, should you wish to conceal some truly dirty thoughts that you may have of your precious diamond, however.”

“By this point, I will need an entire book to contain how many things that I will never hear the end of from you, won’t I?” Spike questioned his lady with a chortle, scratching his head and swishing his tail about.

Rarity waved off his concerns with a hoof and simply enjoyed his presence for a time. A breeze wound through the trail, cooling her off slightly from the calming heat emanating from Spike. “You know,” she commented, garnering his intrigue, “while I have you here for a touch longer, I may as well tell you that Sapphire Shores has been asking for a rather long time now after when I will find that special somepony.”

“Oh, really?” the ambassador inquired.

“Mmhm, she even tried to set me up with a few stallions that she knew.” Spike appeared a little worried hearing that, but Rarity was quick to assuage those matters with a slightly sensuous glimpse at her mate, flipping her mane. “Yet they were not my type. I was honestly by that time about to give up on finding love. In fact the only love that I was waiting for I mistakenly sent away; I was not even certain whether he would ever return.”

Spike frowned, appearing uncertain of what to say. “Well, I am sorry that whoever he is never did.”

“It is you, you silly loveable creature.” She emphasized her obvious reveal with a quick kiss on his lips and prod to his chest. He had that goofy and endearing expression again as he cradled Rarity gently in his clawed hands.

“Oh,” he said, looking quite happy with himself about his jest.

She giggled and muffled it with a hoof to regain her poise and continue. “Yes and now I will finally be able to tell her that my affections do not belong to a stallion at all.” Rarity beamed as brightly as she could muster, giving him the smile that she only ever seemed to reserve for the dragon, even prior to his departure; the visage that she now knew spoke volumes about their complex yet truly wonderful relationship, reaching with a hoof to lightly caress Spike’s cheek. “I cannot wait to walk in with you on our next meeting and see the look of sheer shock on her face. She has always been a mare of control in such matters, such as I, yet I have a feeling that this will provide the exception required to see Sapphire positively beside herself with joy.”

Spike chuckled and stroked her raised hoof, causing tentative coos to escape her lips. “Would I truly only be present to wow the outrageous pop star?”

Rarity shook her head. “Oh no, of course not; you will also be there to carry all of my things; my suitcases, my saddlebags, my carry-on luggage, my hat box.” As she spoke, her smirk only grew until it was practically encompassing her entire appearance; not very ladylike, yet Rarity could not help it. Spike looked absolutely baffled for a few short seconds when she began, yet it turned to an astute, learned expression rather rapidly. Her own features lessened, becoming more of a delighted smile as she ceased in her feigned posturing and sighed. “You may accompany me there if you would like to, Spike.”

“I would love to be there, Rarity. All that you have to do is ask.”

“Well, as long as I may join you on some of your quests as well, Spike. I should take part in your life as you undoubtedly will in mine.” Although we will work on your ability to say no to me when those times arise, the alabaster unicorn imagined.

Spike raised his eyebrows in confusion. “You want to come with me on my quests?”

She smiled eloquently at him. “Well, yes. They are rather fascinating. I found myself wondering where you were upon learning, from your letters to Twilight of course, that the princesses had tasked you with being an ambassador. It honestly worried me.”

“Rarity?” He lifted a clawed hand and rested it against her cheek, while she inclined her head sadly. “What is wrong, my lady?”

Rarity lifted her sapphire eyes to his emerald ones and managed a glad visage, shaking her head. “Mm mm; I am alright, Spike. Besides, as I informed you of earlier, my dear, I do have more free time at my shop nowadays. I have to catch up with all that my lovely dragon has seen and accomplished.”

He simply gawked at her for a time, causing her to giggle internally at how her words affected him.

She tapped him on the hand. “Spikey-Wikey, it is not polite to stare, even at your marefriend.”

The purple dragon answered by scooping her up in his arms and placed a gentle kiss on her lips, while she pressed comfortably against his chest scales. Now as they separated, she was giggling outwardly as well. “I love you,” Spike soothed.

Rarity tilted her head to the side and beamed at him, swirling her hooves in circles along his chest. “Very well, you may stare, my love; as long as I can also. Especially since I have not yet explored all of you as I have allowed you to do with me.” In one smooth motion, not shifting her eyes from Spike’s, the proper lady brought her forelegs across to his back and along his body, smoothing out the scales that she encountered. Her hooves came to rest on his backside and by this time her dragon was already rather flush with emotion. His wings extended immediately upon contact, creating two wind patterns that gradually dissipated around them. He gulped, appearing rather bothered by her tender ministrations.

Rarity was quite satisfied with her work and the reaction that she obtained.

Her eyes grew lidded while he gazed at her, locked on to every action it seemed that she would perform, if his answering countenance alluded to any thoughts or desires that Spike had presently. “I love you too, Spike. Have I ever told you that you look simply smashing, dear?”

His lips curled a bit in answer, yet he did gaze at her chest in slight concern. “I was concerned that I wouldn't return too, truthfully.” Rarity ceased her motions in order to listen intently; however, she did not remove her hooves. “I suppose that I always am, but it was worse for those four years. I didn’t want my last known activity to be read from a letter from the princesses; not after the way that I left.”

The fashionista raised her eyebrows fretfully, earning his regard. “Spike, I am so sorry. I wish that I could have done something differently, but I-” He interrupted her with a deep kiss, loving and passionate. She melted into it and returned the embrace while it lasted. She knew what this embrace meant. Do not punish yourself for something that you imagined in the moment to be right. So despite her fears, she acquiesced and waited for him to break the kiss; patiently, of course. There was no hurry after all. He drew away moments later, leaving the fashionista with a bit of a hungry visage.

Spike yet possessed a sorrowful countenance, driving Rarity to rest a hoof on his cheek in concern. “I feared that I would never see Twilight again, that I would never see you again, Rarity. So I always thought of being in your hooves in Ponyville and how awful it would be to find you passed away on a quest instead. That gave me strength to survive no matter what and see you again soon, even if it was for one day only. Reading those letters that you sent me along with the others; simple things about how you and Sweetie were faring, about business and the latest fashion trends. That you wished for me to be there so that you could make me something fancy for every occasion, kept me going.”

She had tears in her eyes now, thankful that he had found comfort in those letters detailing her days. He had tears in his own eyes as well. They both reached for the other's face at the same time, pausing to laugh affectionately at the other's attentions.

Once they both looked presentable, Rarity not needing to look in a mirror to know that he had made her look as beautiful as she could be, even before wiping her eyes. The alabaster unicorn knew that what he saw in her was always the same, not only beauty on the outside, but inward too. She didn't need make-up on to impress any stallions or high end fashionistas; Spike mattered the most to her and he simply saw her as beautiful no matter what she did.

“You look smashing, Spike,” she started sweetly, garnering her dragon a kind expression. “Well, Spikey dear, you have made this lady very happy, knowing that my letters gave you some measure of happiness.”

“It was something that I waited for all day every day,” Spike said gladly. “Many times I would read your letters again when I was off somewhere, escorting a disciple or member of royalty from another nation from Canterlot to their home. I don't need to tell you how many times my presence was necessary at those times.”

The proper lady chuckled. “They should count their lucky stars that you were there to protect them.”

“I count myself lucky that I am here to protect you, Rarity and also that you are here for me,” her dragon returned. “We make a pretty good team.”

Rarity beamed at Spike, continuing her delicate ministrations in circles upon his scales. “We make the best team, darling; positively.”

Spike smirked in amusement. “So tell me again; how badly did you embarrass Garble, Rarity?”

In response, Rarity waved a hoof in his direction and rolled her sapphire eyes. “Oh, darling, it wasn’t even a contest. I did not even require a shift in pose.”

Spike laughed heartily and she returned her hooves to the dragon’s back, feeling his swiftly beating heart against her soft chest. “I will never be bored hearing how you beat him, Rarity.”

“I should think not. I do tell stories rather well, after all.” The eloquent mare shuffled in a touch closer to the creature, tittering cutely as she did. The dragon, for his part, wrapped his lady up in his arms and draped his wings about the two of them.

“I have never grown tired of hearing your tales, no matter what they may be.”

With another gentle breeze flowing through, Rarity inclined her head, feeling her mane follow the motion. “Even my boring gossip about the next rumors budding or expecting couple, or my comments on the latest fashion?”

“Even, nothing,” the purple dragon responded incredulously, stroking his clawed hand along her mane in a careful manner. “Your voice is like an angel’s song, yet thrice as pure, dainty and delightful to hear upon the breeze.”

Rarity giggled as her face flushed a tad with emotion and she garnered him with a clever appearance and an incline of her head. “Well, your silver tongue has grown considerably in over four years. However, Spike, we should be returning to hear what the elders have to say.”

“Of course, I guess I forgot,” Spike admitted, appearing slightly embarrassed himself. “You seem to be as alluring and impossible a distraction for me as I am for you.”

“Quite so, Spikey-Wikey; now, I cannot remain in your warm lap forever. We must be off.” She swiftly slipped off of him and aided him in rising to his feet. Standing close, the two of them hurried their pace and quickly left the cliffs behind to hear of the coming peril.

Author's Notes:

I shall be giving a list of dragon words and their pronunciations later, for I believe that it is necessary and helpful for the tale. I spent quite a bit of time on the different combinations of letters garnering differing pronunciations.

I hope that you enjoy this newest chapter. It is at long last finally here.