@Background Pony #24F6  
This is what I gathered from this episode as well. Spike was more mature about the situation and knew that her affection for someone she didn’t actually know was unjustified and just as potentially bad as BlueBlood.
 
Turned out that wasn’t the case, but Rarity was willing to do lots of self harming stupidity, but also FRIEND harming stupidity, outright insulting AJ because her blindness to the situation was the prominent fact.

This is when Sparity became my OTP. I believe that when Spike gave the fire ruby to Rarity and confessed his crush on her in Secret of My Excess; their relationship as friends was cemented.
 
As several fans point out, the Fire Ruby was symbolic for his aging, growing heart. As he grew to know Rarity more, his crush grew into actual, true love. Whether Rarity returns the feelings is to be debated, but regardless, Spike’s feelings cannot be considered a small crush anymore. Hell, even in Simple Ways, he’s shown he truly cared for Rarity. He could have thrown a tantrum, cried, felt angry that Rarity even loved someone else (he did show some disgust, but that was mainly due to her pressing the issue). But he didn’t. He did what would make her happy, because her happiness is more important than his.
 
You know what that’s called? THAT’S CALLED FREAKING LOVE!

She’s up all night ‘til the sun,  
I’m up all night to get some.  
She’s up all night for good fun,  
I’m up all night to get lucky!

I just can’t get enough of seeing Rarity and Spike interacting together! Hopefully, we’ll get more moments between these two in the next thirteen episodes…

@Ree  
You know what they say. Friends make the best lovers. Any girl would be lucky for a guy to have her support her even when she’s making an ass out of herself.

You know, Rarity. I think you should start considering that maybe it’s not a stallion you should be looking for.

♪♫ I wrote her off for the tenth time today, ♪♫  
♪♫ And practiced all the things I would say, ♪♫  
♪♫ But she came over; I lost my nerve, ♪♫  
♪♫ I took her back and made her dessert… ♪♫

@trueblue02  
He’s bidding his time.  
He knew this would be a trainwreck just like always.  
In the end, she’ll be his.

not to many guys friendzone themselves so willingly

@Ree  
Hey, he’s the one who said “anything for a friend” with no hint of sarcasm, so I don’t know what you’re all whining about “friendzone”.

@Background Pony #71C6  
We all have. We all have…

I’ve been there.

“Gettin’ real tired of your shit, Rarity…”  
(snuggle)  
“So, a complete reworking of the festival, you say? I’m your dragon!”

Frienzoooooooooned!