Getting this one in just under the wire! Still completed before episode 6 airs!

Enjoy!

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Spike and Rarity's expressions couldn't be more different. Rarity hadn't stopped beaming since they'd sat down for lunch. Spike couldn't even bring himself to really look at her, or at the other two mares she'd brought along, for that matter.

"I'm just so proud, I can't stand it!" Rarity said. Her front hooves danced in the air as she reared back in her seat. "Sweetie Belle, a flag bearer at the Equestria Games!"

"Thanks for bein' such a great coach to them, Rainbow," Applejack said. "Apple Bloom hasn't stopped talkin' about the Games for a second. She's just so excited!"

"Yeah, well, those fillies deserved this chance," Rainbow Dash said, shoveling more hay fries into her mouth. "They seriously kicked flank with their performance."

"That they did," Rarity said. "Of course, they're going to need costumes for the actual ceremony. Something suitably symbolic…something with flair…"

Spike slumped a bit in his seat. He should be happy for the fillies. He really should. But once again, his lunch with Rarity was taken over by other ponies, and she seemed completely unfazed by this trend.

"I'll have to get started on the designs straight-away," the unicorn continued, setting her salad fork down. "Now, should it be three different designs, or all of the same?"

Before anypony could answer, Rarity continued.

"Oh, that's a silly question, the designs clearly should be different, but all run with a unifying theme to show how our differences unite us. Yes, of course. Now, as for a color scheme…obviously, something to complement the flag colors, but not take away from the focus on the flag itself...oh, I have so much prep to do! Goodness!"

"Uh, Rarity?" Spike tried to interrupt.

She continued to talk. "But can you just imagine it? My designs in the Equestrian Games! Everypony who's anypony will be there, and think of the business—!"

"Rarity," Applejack said, much louder than Spike had. "We're celebratin' the fillies success, remember? Not yer own?"

Spike winced. That was more blunt than he was going to go for.

Rarity shrunk back in her seat a little, giving off a nervous laugh. "Ah…right. Sorry. I suppose I got carried away."

"Psh, don't worry about it." Rainbow waved a hoof in Rarity's direction. "Besides, as long as you make the costumes at literally the top-most level of awesomeness, I'm sure they'll come out okay enough."

"Er…thanks, Rainbow Dash," Rarity replied.

Applejack laughed. They all did. Except for him.

Spike swirled his straw in his drink. He was feeling like the one book that didn't quite fit on the shelf. Maybe he should just go.

Just then, Rainbow Dash grabbed him around the neck and pulled him towards her. "Spike here could even model for you! He's about the size of those three!"

Squished up against Rainbow Dash, Spike's face blanched. "I—no I'm not!" he protested, glancing up at Rarity.

She was laughing.

Spike wanted to shut his eyes and disappear.

"Rainbow, ah might not understand dresses and such as well as Rarity, but ah'm pretty sure a dragon won't work as a model for a school filly," Applejack interjected.

Spike turned to the farm pony to give her a grateful look, but then Applejack's grin turned sly.

"Though it would be stinkin' adorable." She winked.

That got Rainbow Dash laughing in addition to Rarity, and she slapped at Spike's shoulders with the hoof she held him with. Spike clutched his claws together, silently begging for them to stop.

"What a lovely idea!" Rarity commented, wiping at her eyes and giggling profusely. "Spike, the filly fashion model!"

"I—I'm not a school filly!" Spike protested.

They continued laughing.

"I'm not!" Spike said again, though nopony seemed to be paying him any actual attention. One last look at Rarity's mirthful face, and that was it.

He was done.

Spike forced his way out of Rainbow Dash's grip, stood up from his seat, and marched out of Clementine's.

Rarity's laughter faltered as she watched the dragon leave the restaurant.

Oh dear.

She went quiet, and Applejack and Rainbow Dash soon followed suit. It wasn't long before they were all sitting in an awkward silence. Around them, the rest of Clementine's patrons continued to eat, not seeming to have noticed anything dramatic at all.

"Do you suppose he was offended?" Applejack finally asked, just when the silence had reached a genuinely unbearable point.

Next to her, Rainbow Dash rubbed the back of her head. "Yeah…maybe just a little…"

Rarity narrowed her eyes, reaching a decision. She stood up, nearly toppling over her salad bowl in the process. "I'm going to go talk to him."

At her declaration, Rainbow flew out of her own seat. "We're coming too!" she exclaimed.

"No," Rarity said firmly. Then her eyes fell. "Not yet," she added, a little more quietly. "I feel like I should speak to him alone, at least at first."

Rainbow looked like she was about to protest, but Applejack cut her off. "We'll take care of the bill, Sugarcube," she said with a nod.

Rarity gave them both a small smile, and then left the restaurant.

The roads were damp from the morning's rain, but luckily finding Spike didn't take too long. He was just down the street a ways, sitting on a bench. He didn't say anything when Rarity sat down next to him, but he did turn his shoulders away from her, so he clearly recognized she was there.

Rarity grimaced. This was her mistake, and she had to fix it. "Spike, I'm sorry if we made you feel uncomfortable back at the restaurant," she apologized. Gently, she set a hoof on one of his shoulders, trying to get him to turn back to face her.

Instead, Spike just sighed and squeezed his arms around his chest. The cloudy skies above seemed to match his entire demeanor at the moment. "It's not that. Really."

Rarity's eyebrows drew together quizzically.

"I mean, yeah, you guys weren't being all that awesome to me," Spike continued. "But…it's more…"

He trailed off, and Rarity bit at her lower lip. The last time they'd made Spike feel ridiculous, he'd run away and joined a dragon migration. Had they somehow triggered another avalanche of insecurities again? Was he going to run off again?

But then he spoke again. "Rarity, I miss when our lunches really were just…our lunches," he said, finally turning to look at her.

Rarity blinked, a bit startled. "That's what this is about?" she asked, pulling her hoof back from him. "I…I thought…"

"No." Spike shook his head, turning all the way around on the bench to really face the unicorn. "That filly fashion model stuff was definitely insulting, too, but mostly…I guess I'm just upset that we never get to spend time together like we used to anymore. I miss that."

Rarity put her hooves to her mouth. "Oh, Spike, I'm so sorry! I hadn't even realized."

Spike scrunched up on the bench. "Yeah. I know you hadn't."

Ouch. Rarity winced a little.

"Spike," she said. "Next week, I promise. I promise it'll just be me and you again. I won't invite anypony else, and we'll just excuse ourselves if anypony tries to join in. How does that sound?"

Spike's eyes shimmered, looking up at her. "Really?"

Rarity smiled. She much preferred hopeful Spike to miserable Spike. "Yes. Really. Next week will just be the two of us. You have my word." She mimed jabbing a cupcake into her left eye.

Spike smiled back at her, and the sun poked out from behind the clouds.

Author's Note: A slightly less comedic installment, to be sure. But I felt it was more appropriate after last week's episode. I tried to run with the themes of bullying others (even accidentally) about their insecurities, and being loyal to your friends...especially when they're feeling troubled. No idea if I pulled it off, but there you have it. Thanks for reading!