Is Rarity milking Spike's crush?

[Obsidian Sky 14,004]

Question fr you all.  What does Rarity, like about spike.  Not romance sense.  Does she see him as a friend nad not just a sap to maniuplate ot her whim.

 

I mean seriously, I know she said that fire ruby was speical cause spike gave it to her but she clearly knew using her looks would bend him to her will.  Only time i've seen her acutal be thankful and such was in Manifisation infestation.

 

Oh, rariy oes to manehatton, two unicorn on the trip and WHO carries the bag, spike, a child as thier pack mule when hoverin speical objects i like a cake walk for rarity.

 

Show me a few moments wehre she cared for him when it didn't come to her own desires in mind. I don't think that bow from owls well tah ends well counts, that was more of a plot device but I guess that is one moment.

 

The whole Fire ruby thing was debunked already, but have the tweet anyway.

Rarity did not seduce Spike out of his ruby, and if you still think of that lie as true, you are wrong.

 

Rarity and Spike are friends, their friendship is very deep, and both are more than willing to do great things for another. It is a relationship that both value very much. And Spike gets a great deal out of it, much more than carrying a few trunks.

He gets the feeling to be needed, something he has great problems with, as seen in Power Ponies. Doing these things for Rarity makes him feel important, like doing things for Twi does make him feel important.

Twilight lets him do things for her too. And like you mentioned, there were two unicorns in Rarity takes Manehatten, so why is Rarity the bad one if Twilight could have helped him also. Why is Rarity the bad one when she is the one who actually buys him food? Why is she the bad one if she does extra work to get tickets for that theatre thingie for HIM too? Why is she the bad one if we see later Spike carrying stuff for the other mane6 too, and NOT for Rarity?

 

Twilight lets Spike work for her too, why is Rarity the bad one if she does? Seeing that he REALLY wants to help her. There is nothing he wants more, he would probably even feel bad if she would not ask him.

 

And she can be really sweet to him too. Did you see her in Dragon Quest, where she first defended her from Rainbow Dashs ridiculing, and then set out to rescue him from the teenage dragons? And was even willing to face them, fight them even, just because of him.

 

And in Secret of my Excess, where she was unwilling to part from the ruby she got from him as a voluntary gift, just because it was from him! She risked her life in this situation, as she did not know the giant dragon was actually Spike.

 

Im also not sure why you dismiss Owl end Well so easily, she made him a valuable gift, a bow studded with gems. If you go with the plot device logic, everything that ever happens in the show is a plot device, and can easily dismissed, hmmm?

The bow was a valuable gift, and uncalled for gift, she made it herself, with her own hooves. Of course it counts.

 

She was very sweet to him in Inspiration Manifestation too, as you have already said.

 

Spike WANTS to help her. it makes him happy, and there are more than enough cases of her showing how much she values his help. Spike is happy, and Rarity is happy.

Whats the problem then?

 

Spike has has a brain and free will, even though some people seem to think thats not the case, seeing as they think he is so easily manipulated. If he does not want to help, he can just say no.

All Rarity, and lets not forget Twilight, can do is ask. Twilight even has more leverage to get him do work than Rarity, seeing that she is basically his mother. But if Spike does not want to help, does not want to do Twis chores, or carry Raritys luggage, he could just say no.

 

Spike has a great deal of free will, and critical thinking, if he REALLY does not want to do something, he will not do it. But if he wants to do something, nothing will stop the little guy...

Edited January 2, 2015 by Obsidian Sky

[Guest]

@@Old Fluttershy, as your thread is directly concerned with FiM and its characters, I have moved the thread from Sugarcube Corner to Show Discussion. Please take care when posting a new thread to find an appropriate location beforehand. If you are uncertain, I have provided 2 links below which detail what is suitable for each of the aforesaid sections.

 

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[VitalSpark 1,830]

 

 

Twilight lets him do things for her too. And like you mentioned, there were two unicorns in Rarity takes Manehatten, so why is Rarity the bad one if Twilight could have helped him also.

 

Twilight was actually an alicorn by this stage, so her magic should have been powerful enough to levitate all the bags with barely any effort.

 

Personally the only episode where I thought Rarity really seemed to be taking advantage of Spike's feelings for her was Party of One - the garbage can scene, about half way through.

 

One interpretation of it though, might be that she occasionally does these things to calm him down when he's starting to get a bit too clingy. Maybe ordering him around a bit is her attempt to get him to realise that she's not perfect.

[Obsidian Sky 14,004]

 

Personally the only episode where I thought Rarity really seemed to be taking advantage of Spike's feelings for her was Party of One - the garbage can scene, about half way through.

 

One interpretation of it though, might be that she occasionally does these things to calm him down when he's starting to get a bit too clingy. Maybe ordering him around a bit is her attempt to get him to realise that she's not perfect.

I think that had mostly to do with the fact that she really, really, REALLY dislikes dirt, and he was pretty much covered in garbage. Imho that was the reason she wasnt really that warm to him after he was done. The whole reason for that scene was to show how much she fears getting dirty, and to show that she is willing to overcome that fear to keep a suprise party secret, by putting hear carefully crafted mane into a garbage can.

 

She could have handles that situation better, but like you said, its the only scene i can think of too. Nopony is perfect after all.

[Jeric 46,851]

 

 

One interpretation of it though, might be that she occasionally does these things to calm him down when he's starting to get a bit too clingy. Maybe ordering him around a bit is her attempt to get him to realise that she's not perfect.

 

I hadn't considered that as a possibility, but it is a very very interesting interpretation. You see, that is why I love this site. I wouldn't have even thought of that angle otherwise. It is a valid way of looking at it to be sure. 

 

 

 

I think that had mostly to do with the fact that she really, really, REALLY dislikes dirt, and he was pretty much covered in garbage. Imho that was the reason she wasnt really that warm to him after he was done. The whole reason for that scene was to show how much she fears getting dirty, and to show that she is willing to overcome that fear to keep a suprise party secret, by putting hear carefully crafted mane into a garbage can.

 

My view on the scene as well. Some of the scenes, as you so perfectly pointed out, are there to highlight a specific trait of the character. One of Rarity's pet peeves is dirt. She is fastidious and a perfectionist in many ways, so that fits beautifully with who she is.  

[Fractured 2,684]

I swear, I love these threads. Not because of the conflict, but because Rarity defenders have some of the most stylish and eloquent posts i've seen here.

 

Anyways, agreeing with what the others said, in that no, Rarity is not milking Spike's crush. If Rarity was doing nothing but manipulating him, she wouldn't sacrifice anything for him that's more valuable then a pair of hands around the house. At least, that's what we're assuming Spike is worth right now.

 

And yet, she's risked her life twice already. She's made stuff for him of her own free will. She's given him things in exchange for his work, when she's smart enough to know that he would gladly do them without it. With all this self-sacrifice(entirely unncessary from her standpoint), there's no way to say she doesn't care about him.

 

And to go on a mini tirade, using the word crush cheapens this relationship, by assuming Spike is doing all of this in exchange for something purely physical. Not to be crude, but if he simply wanted Rarity's body, he would've allowed her to keep changing things in Inspiration Manifestation; instead, he gave up his chances of a "greater than friends" relationship in order to save her. That's an entirely selfless act, and the complete antithesis of what someone with a simple crush would want. It's... a love... beyond just friendship, and the physically based, often possessive quality of romance. It's selfless; the kinda love that would make you walk to the ends of the earth and risk your own life just to see the other person happy. I'm sure it has a name... but I just can't place it right now. I hope you get the idea.

[Winged Dragon of Ra 55]

I don't know but Spike and Rarity is actually my favorite and only 'couple' that I really like and support in the show.

[Jeric 46,851]

And to go on a mini tirade, using the word crush cheapens this relationship, by assuming Spike is doing all of this in exchange for something purely physical. Not to be crude, but if he simply wanted Rarity's body, he would've allowed her to keep changing things in Inspiration Manifestation; instead, he gave up his chances of a "greater than friends" relationship in order to save her. That's an entirely selfless act, and the complete antithesis of what someone with a simple crush would want. It's... a love... beyond just friendship, and the physically based, often possessive quality of romance. It's selfless; the kinda love that would make you walk to the ends of the earth and risk your own life just to see the other person happy. I'm sure it has a name... but I just can't place it right now. I hope you get the idea.

 

 

You mind if I place that in my arsenal? That was well put! Beautiful. 

 

Not sure if you are a Star Trek The Next Generation fan, but in a specific episode there is a seen where Guinan and Picard's relationship is described as "Going beyond family and friendship". That is how I see Spike and Rarity. A deep connection to someone other than Twilight who Spike likely sees as his mother. 

[Fractured 2,684]

You mind if I place that in my arsenal? That was well put! Beautiful. 

 

Not sure if you are a Star Trek The Next Generation fan, but in a specific episode there is a seen where Guinan and Picard's relationship is described as "Going beyond family and friendship". That is how I see Spike and Rarity. A deep connection to someone other than Twilight who Spike likely sees as his mother. 

Go ahead, I put "free use" claims on all my thoughts anyways.  

I'm not much of a Star Trek fan, though; the closest I can describe this as is Amy and Rory's relationship in the episode The Last Centurion from Doctor Who. It sounds about the same, though; it's something that's just on its own level.

[Alleviate 342]

I think it's more of a favoritism for Rarity than her manipulation (though she's far from innocent in that regard), thus he is more willing to help her and do more for her that, say, Fluttershy. Example, when he was looking after their pets, Fluttershy paid him with a large Emerald (which he apparently savoured the most), the other paid him with varying sized stones, but Rarity gave him the smallest, and he definitely cared for her charge the most, at the time.

 

Though there have been signs of her using Spike's infatuation, it's never malicious, she never uses it to take anything from him (apart from his ruby, and we all know how that turned out,) so I think it's generally just a 'doing things for the one you love', and there have been times when she's reflected his feelings, in some way.

[sweetolebob18 728]

I would say that, at times, Rarity DOES take advantage of Spike's feelings for her.  Clearest would be in "Secret of My Excess" & "Dog and Pony Show". & Yes, at the end of "Secret of My Excess", Spike is going to tell her how he feels & she stops him, implying she knows

 

Now, to be fair about this

1)She does have feelings for him ("Dragon Quest" &  scene in "Dog & Pony Show" where she tells Spike to save himself even though she is being dragged off).  IMO, she thinks of him more as a little brother & NOT a romantic interest.

 

2)By Season 4, she has matured  some & is MUCH less inclined to take advantage.  Yes, she makes him haul her luggage, but she does that to EVERYBODY not just him.

 

As to Twilight & Spike.  T has raised Spike literally since the day he hatched.  She is more like a Mother/ Big Sister to him & is usually the one to carry him.  +IMO, he thinks of T as family & not as a romantic interest.

[Geek0zoid 1,468]

I like to think Rarity isn't that cruel to simply take advantage of Spike's crush on her like that. And, I believe that she wouldn't. Spike has a crush on Rarity, and Rarity loves Spike, but she knows a relationship like that wouldn't work. While it's admittedly a bit wrong not to simply tell someone you don't think a relationship will work, leaving them with little more than guess work to go off of, I don't think she wants to break Spike's heart. It's a perfectly understandable feeling. It's also been proven many times over that she does care for Spike on a friend level. I know some characters from other shows care for other characters for their own selfish reasons. I doubt Rarity has similar reasons in mind about Spike.

 

On top of that, Spike really don't seem to mind assisting Rarity all that much. Plus, he's not being made to do it. Rarity isn't putting him through slave work. If he didn't want to do something, it's not like he could be forced to do it. Before someone says "He's basically Twilight's slave" he's not. He is Twilight's assistant. An occasionally rebellious and snarky assistant at that. If Rarity (or Twilight) were to ever, for one reason or another, want him to do something he wasn't okay with, it would be totally in his character to reject it.

 

So, no, I don't really think Rarity "Milks" the relationship. I will admit she is not 100 percent clean when it comes to taking advantage of it, but she has an extent. I doubt she'll want him to jump into a volcano to retrieve a petty gem, or something along those lines.

[KiwiPony 125]

In I believe its, Secret to my Excess, when Spike clearly starts saying he has a crush on Rarity she just holds his mouth and smiles at him. So now her thoughts have become fact, she knows he has a crush on her yet continues to do the whole "Spikey Wikey" stuff. I don't think she's intending to kind of lead him on or utilize her crush however I think she does. But she loves Spike, so she won't see what she's doing is wrong

[LZRD WZRD 1,929]

Considering she's had Spike carry huge loads for her, I'd say maybe. But then again she made Sweetie Belle do it too, so my guess is she just is a little insensitive towards other's generosity

[Radiance64 7,053]

No, they're friends. Spike does things for her because he wants to, Rarity appreciates it. It's not 'milking' if he wants to do these things and doesn't mind it. Don't see much point of reading any more into it.

[Misty Rose 3,216]

I don't think she's really milking his crush, just slightly his willingness to help Great example is in the beginning of Rarity Takes Manehattan. This doesn't happen too much so I don't think she's really taking advantage, but still the little guy shouldn't have to carry all those suitcases

[MechanicalDoom 300]

She definitely is, and I dislike that aspect about her. She's using Spike, which goes against her element. There should be a season 5 episode that addresses this.

[RainbowTashie 378]

Ok let's be honest here, Spike has basically been a slave for Rarity ever since he met her. And I really don't think that she is helping with the whole "but Spiky-Wiky I just need one more thing." And because of his crush he complies with it. I feel like she's taking advantage of Spike's crush but I'm not an expert on these types of things.

who doesn't take advantage of their loved ones she is there to defend spike as much as she asks of him (that and he is willing to do anything for her)

[Stardust 641]

Sometimes I do think Rarity overuses him like in the cave and he is compliant. But I think they are just friends. Though yeah I do feel Spike often has too much of a slave like assistant role in the show like always complying to Twilight. But he seems very happy and sort of willing to do so, and he does have the option to leave if he wants. So maybe it is more just the bond that makes him stay. I do wonder what he gets out of being in ponyville but I guess he enjoys the friendship and atmosphere rather than living with other dragons.

[Ittoni 538]

I do think so but at the same time spike allows it. he's a simp for rarity. and she knows and he knows but they still do it so.... idk. I guess is just convenient for both of them until spike found someone else.

[FlareGun45 2,221]

Not anymore! That crush is gone, buddy!  

[Splashee 28,564]

Yes, she was. She was giving him the wrong hints, to make him do work for her, however compared to Twilight's slavery, it was almost nice of her

[DonMaguz 1,023]

Dragon Dropped made it clear that she was.