Spike walked happily towards the Carousel Boutique. He was dressed to the nines in a sleek black tux, bright red rose included, studded diamond cufflinks, a top hat and a grin on his face that would have him arrested were there police ponies in Ponyville.

Stopping outside the door, he politely knocked on it and waited, swaying back and forth on his heels. He cleared his throat, suddenly nervous, despite the bouquet of roses he held in his claw or the little box he was holding in the other.

"Come on, Spike," he whispered to himself. "She likes you, too! She almost said it that one time you became a giant, wingless, weird-looking, mindless dragon and almost killed her." He sighed and looked at the closed door, then at the roses, then at the little box he held in his other claw, a sense of dread coming over him. He sniffed the roses, to make sure that they were as fresh as Roseluck had promised. His nose tingled and he sneezed, engulfing the bouquet in green fire and completely disintegrating them. Not a good start. "Maaaybe I s-should come back later," he stuttered, turning around just as the door opened.

"Oh, Spike!"

Rarity's voice froze him in place, unable to turn to look at her and yet unable to step away.

"Why, look at you! You look like such a- a gentle-dragon! How lovely!" Rarity cooed.

Gulping, but encouraged by her reaction, Spike slowly turned around.

"You look adorable, Spike!" Rarity giggled, doing that little cantering in place she did when she was delighted by something cute.

Spike took a deep breath. "Just like I practiced..." he whispered, then looked up at her. "Rarity, I need to talk to you." No stepping back now.

Rarity blinked at the seriousness of his tone and stepped back, allowing him to walk into the boutique, closing the door behind them.

Once inside, he looked around nervously until they were both sitting down at the table, cups of tea steaming gently in front of them.

"What did you want to talk about, Spikey Wikey?"

Spike grimaced, trying to remember what he had planned. "O-oh, th-hese are for you!" he blurted out putting the little box on the table and pushing it towards her.

Rarity's magic engulfed the box and floated it up to her, opening it.

He could see her eyes widening as a delighted smile grew on her face.

"Oh, Spike..." she whispered, levitating the five gems he had selected out of it. "These are... these are just amazing! Thank you!"

"W-well, Rarity..." Spike cleared his throat. "I brought them to you because... well, I want to show you that you'll never lack anything with me..." he trailed off. Was this how he had written it down?

Rarity slowly tore her eyes from the gems and concentrated on him. "I... um... what?"

"Yes!" Spike said forcefully, forgetting about his notes. "R-rarity, I... I want to spend my life with you."

Rarity's eyes went wide.

"You're beautiful, Rarity," Spike said quickly. "And generous and so perfect!"

"Spike... I—"

"You love gems, just like I do!" Spike said enthusiastically. "I got you those because, think about it, we can gem-hunt together! And, you can use them for dresses or to look even prettier and I can eat them and bake gem-cakes!"

"Spike..."

"A-and we'll make an amazing couple," Spike added immediately. "You said I looked pretty good, right? And a mare as beautiful as you wouldn't just say that if she didn't mean it!"

"SPIKE!"

"An—" Spike stopped. "Y-yes, Rarity?" He watched as she slowly deposited the gems back in the box and, very carefully closed it, sliding it back to him. 'Oh no...'

Rarity took a deep breath and took his claw in her hoof. "Spike... you are a very sweet and caring and handsome baby dragon..."

'No. Nonononono...'

"You are quite the catch," Rarity said gently. "But..."

'No. Please, Rarity...'

"...you are a bit young for me," Rarity said. She held his eyes in her own, both of them tearing up. "I know you like me, Spike, and if we had a lot in common, and if you were a bit older..."

"I-I'll grow!" Spike stammered. "You are only around seven years older than me, Rarity."

Rarity sighed, shaking her head slowly. "Spike, I'll still be older... and what happens if I do meet the right colt?"

"B-but you won't need him! You'll have me!"

"No, Spike, I would be waiting for you to grow up. And in that time, what happens if another mare, or dragon, catches your eye? I'll grow older and older, until you are old enough to court me, but I'll be past the age where I can give birth to a foal. I'll have waited for you to catch up and denied any other chance I could have had." Rarity said firmly, but gently, looking deep into his eyes. "You are without a doubt the sweetest dragon I have ever met, and you are a very smart and handsome young dragon. You have a crush on me, Spike, but if I agreed... you would grow out of it, don't you see?"

"B-but..."

"And as much as I enjoy our outings gem-hunting," Rarity insisted. "It's not the only dream I want to fulfill. I don't know where my career will take me, but I want to push it as far as I can go. Gems are part of my design, but not the only thing I do or like," she lowered her voice when Spike looked down. "And, Spikey... as much as I am honored by your interest in me... I would be stopping you from growing."

Spike blinked and looked at her in confusion. "What do you mean? I'll keep growing."

Rarity chuckled. "Of course you will, physically, but what I am worried about is your emotional development," she explained. "You have so much to live for, Spike. Saving your love for me alone is not going to help you grow as a dragon." She motioned out of the window with her hoof. "All the world is yours, and you're limiting yourself to my little part of it." She smiled. "Just like I encourage Sweetie Belle to find her talent, I must encourage you to look outside. You have to experience the great outdoors before you make a little niche of your own."

"But, Rarity, I..." Spike trailed off, then he looked away. "I'm not good enough, am I?"

"Spike, you will always be my Spikey Wikey," Rarity promised. "And you are more than good enough for any mare worthy of you," she declared. "But to find such a mare, or dragon, or even gryphon... whoever you choose, Spike, you have to love more than gems. More than simply looking at them." She paused. "More than me."

"But that's not possible!" Spike insisted. "I can't love anypony more than you!"

Rarity chuckled, pulling him into a hug and sniffling a little bit. "Oh, Spike, you say the sweetest things," she whispered. "You are such a kind dragon. If you give yourself a chance, you will... and whoever she is, she will be so, so lucky."

"But I wanted it to be you," Spike's voice was muffled by her mane.

"I know, Spike," she whispered. "I'll always be here for you..."

"...just not like that," Spike finished for her and felt her nod. He nodded back and slowly pulled away from the hug, not trusting himself to look at her. "I-I should go."

Rarity gave him a concerned look. "Will you be okay?"

Spike nodded, still not looking at her. "I think I will... but... it'll take some time for me to visit again."

Rarity simply smiled sadly. "But you will."

"I will," Spike whispered, taking the box of gems and making his way to the door. "T-thank you..."

"Spike, don't," Rarity interrupted him. "As much as I did this for both of us..." she sighed. "I couldn't handle a thank you for it. Not right now."

Spike nodded and walked out.

Spike kicked a pebble as he walked down the streets of Ponyville. He had taken off his suit and burned it away.

"Find another mare," he muttered. "somepony or somebody else to love, how does she expect me to do that? Marefriends just don't fall from the sky!"

The next thing he knew he was rolling on the floor in a bundle of limbs, branches and grunts. When he finally stopped he pushed himself up and looked down into the green eyes of a young filly, lying under him and staring right back at him. His breath caught in his chest as he just remained in the same position. She didn't complain.

"Spike!" Sweetie Belle called, alarmed.

"Babs!" Apple Bloom added worriedly.

"Are you guys okay?" Scootaloo asked finally.

"Y-yeah," Spike stammered, pushing himself back and offering his claw to Babs Seed, who took it gratefully and pulled herself up with his help.

"I'm sorry, Spike," she said, looking away and blushing. "I didn't think I was gonna go through the tree."

"It's fine," he said, smiling and puffing out his chest. "I'm a tough dragon!"

Babs giggled. "Say, we're trying to get our 'Catapult Daredevil' cutie marks while I'm here. Want to help us out?"

"Y-yeah! Absolutely!" he gushed, before stopping. "Uh, if that's okay with everypony?" Spike looked at the other fillies, who nodded enthusiastically.

"Okay, then!" Scootaloo spoke up. "Let's go! I wanna fly past Rainbow Dash and I know which cloud she's napping on right now!"

The three Ponyville crusaders trotted off, while Spike and Babs walked a lot slower, stealing glances at each other.

'Maybe... maybe I should experience the world first...' Spike thought, grinning at the filly at his side who returned the smile and motioned with her head before setting off trotting after the other crusaders. Spike chuckled and started running. 'Yeah... it can't hurt.'

...

Celestia considered the bouquet of roses that had dropped on her head. Was Twilight trying to tell her something?

When the tuxedo fell on top of her, Celestia nodded. Maybe she needed to talk to her student about courtship and how to approach a mare or stallion.

Author's Notes:

Okay, so this was originally just going to be one of my blog-post stories/vignettes like:

This one or maybe this one... or even this one.

But noooo. It went a bit longer and I just thought: "What the hell."