[i]"Not as it seems... as it seems..."[/i]

Spike sighed, feeling the hooves on his back push him deeper into the massage bed. His lips quirked into a smile, and his eyes drifted closed, letting him focus on the room's background noises.

The steady breathing of the masseurs. The gentle movement of hooves on bodies. The quiet tune playing on a radio somewhere. The softspoken lyrics...

[i]"...not everything is as it seems..."[/i]

There was a click, then momentary silence, as if somepony had turned off the radio. Spike's eyes opened and his mouth half-formed a question; but then the masseur hit a pressure point, and he gurgled with a mix of pain and pleasure.

A small laugh from the bed next to his made him turn his head. Rarity lay stretched-out like he was, visible primarily as a single half-open eye beneath the long white towel wrapped around her mane.

"Spike, [i]darling[/i], didn't I tell you a couples' massage would be just the thing to help you forget all your troubles?"

She blinked. Spike startled; for a moment, he thought he saw her eye as red, not blue. But then she blinked again, and it was definitely blue.

Spike's mouth quavered into a frown. "You... did? I can't remember..."

Rarity’s smile grew deeper. "Girls, why don't you give dear Spikey-wikey and I a few moments? We'll call for you when we're finished."

The pressure on his back abated. Spike turned his head quickly, curious to get another... or maybe a first? He wasn't sure... look at the masseurs, but only just managed to catch the private spa room's door clicking shut.

His eyes drifted to a picture hung next to the door; a portrait, indistinct but for the look of urgency in the figure’s eyes. He paused, making an effort to [i]concentrate[/i]. The picture resolved itself a bit more clearly, showing a dark coat and a mane of starry blue...

Something blurred at the edge of his vision. He turned, seeing Rarity upon him, pressing forehooves down on either side of his body. "Dearest Spike," she purred. One hoof began a slow stroke down the spines on his back.

He shuddered, squeezing his eyes shut, relishing the sensation. "R... Rarity? What are you..."

"Shhh." She leaned in, brushing his ear with her muzzle. "We're all alone now. Everything you've ever wished we could do together? Now, we can."

Her forehooves gently rolled him onto his side. He swallowed as he watched her rise on her hind legs and undo the towel, sending a cascade of dark, damp mane down upon her body.

For a moment, a pony seemed to peek out from the wake of Rarity’s dark mane, mouth moving soundlessly. Spike blinked, and the pony was gone.

Rarity’s forehooves caressed down her neck, her barrel, and finally her haunches. “What’s wrong, Spikey-wikey? Isn’t this your… [i]dream[/i]?”

Spike’s vision swam, and--[i]there[/i], just for an [i]instant[/i]--he caught a clearer view of the dark-coated pony, mouth open wide, hoof reaching toward him.

“What’s going on?” he asked, pressing a claw to his forehead.

Rarity glanced behind herself. Spike saw nothing there, but Rarity laughed regardless. “Why, let me simply offer this…”

She leaned closer, bringing a hoof to the base of his skull, pulling him forward. His protests were lost in her warm, soft, but [i]insistent[/i] muzzle, and a kiss that set his blood afire.

Her body moved closer, their kisses becoming more passionate. Soon, he felt her begin to climb atop the bed, and then atop him, too…

He pushed her gently, gasping for air. “Wait, Rarity… something’s wrong. [i]I don’t remember coming here.[/i]”

"Not enjoying yourself, darling?"

He looked past her again, hoping to catch another glimpse of the other pony. “No, that’s… you don’t know how many times I’ve…”

A hoof brought his head back to face her.

He stared into her eyes… and she was Rarity. He knew it. His whole [i]body[/i] knew it. There was no room for doubt.

And yet...

The door flew open again. Spike turned to see a swirling, [i]insane[/i] vortex howling at him from beyond. A dark hoof pierced its surface, reaching toward him.

“I’m what you’ve always wanted,” Rarity said, pressing down harder.

The radio switched on again. The song was unchanged: [i]"Not as it seems..."[/i]

“I want to give you everything,” she whispered in his ear.

He shuddered, then reached with his claw and somehow clasped the hoof despite the apparent distance.

Rarity gave an unearthly scream as Spike was torn away.