Earlier that day
A deep sigh escaped Spike’s lips as he put down the note Twilight had left him. When he had woken up, he had found it sitting out for him on the kitchen table. She must have left long before he had woken up. Still, the fact that she hadn’t even bothered to wake him and tell him didn’t sit well.
Honestly, he shouldn’t have been surprised by this point. This wasn’t the first time Twilight and the others were off doing something without him, without even telling him about it ahead of time. He couldn’t even count the number of times he had been kept out of the loop, or hadn’t even been invited at all to something they were attending.
He wasn’t allowed to come with them to Canterlot by all means!! And he was born there!! He could understand if Twilight felt like she could trust him to take care of things, but to not even let him be included in their plans depressed him. They hadn’t even stuck around with him when they first arrived at the Grand Galloping Gala, only finding time to spend with him when their own evenings went awry.
He knew they meant well, he really did, but sometimes, he wondered if they really did remember him at these times, or if they needed some kind of kickstart to finally recognize his presence or absence. This pick-me-up for his emotions only lasted so long, however. He was once more the same overlooked, beleaguered library’s assistant, constantly getting the short end of the stick despite his hard work. They had assured him that he was part of the team, so then why were there so many times where he wasn’t? Why did it feel like they only needed him when work was to be done, never when they could just relax? Was that all he was to them? A helper, and not a friend?
With another sigh, he grabbed his broom and went to get started cleaning the library. He didn’t need to give Twilight an excuse to call him out on not doing his duties. After this, he’d just go upstairs and stay out of the way if anypony came by the library. It was all he really felt like doing at this point, his spirits so low already.
He thought of Rarity: beautiful, talented, charitable. She had known about his crush on her. She admitted to as much, more by tears than words, when they were falling to their doom when he had undergone a greed-fueled growth spurt. While she never reciprocated romantic feelings towards him, she still bestowed upon him a great deal of kindness and affection, asking for his assistance around the boutique or when gem-hunting. He was her Spikey-wikey, her Spikey-poo, her little gentledrake helper. But was that all he was to her? A helper? A means of assistance?
Then there was Pinkie Pie: exuberant, loveable, optimistic. She always knew how to make Spike smile, even when he was having an off day, whether it be by hugs or by a party. She could make anypony laugh, anypony smile, anypony have a good time. The little dragon and the pink party planner had always had a strong bond with each other. Even so, why hadn’t Pinkie bothered to invite Spike to Gummy’s birthday party? He had come to her own birthday party, but not Gummy’s. And besides, Pinkie had coerced a confession out of him that had brought her into a downward spiral. Granted, he should have been more aware of what she was going through at the time, but that was it: he hadn’t been informed of the party proceedings until the last minute, when it was time to fetch her for her birthday party. What was he supposed to have said to her?...
Rainbow Dash was fun too: sporty, boyish, devoted. The two had their share of good times several occasions, laughing at Twilight’s expense on a couple of them, and he knew she had a special place for him in that loyal heart of hers. However, she also let her attitude speak for her more often than not. Still, when was the last time the two had really connected, or had spent some time together? Did she still value his company?
And then there was Fluttershy: gentle, patient, compassionate. She had been the first of their friends to truly befriend him when they first arrived in Ponyville, gushing over the fact that he was a baby dragon. While the two never truly spent alone time together, just the two of them, she did trust him, as it was he had come to when she needed someone to take care of Angel while she and the others were away.
And who could forget Applejack: hard-working, outgoing, dependable. She had called him and Twilight practically part of the family when she introduced them to hers. Spike had always looked up to her like a big sister, and she in turn looked upon him like a little brother. She remained patient with him, and had never even considered him anything less than noble. Sometimes, however, he couldn’t help suppressing a nagging doubt that she didn’t want a repeat of what happened then…
And of course, there was Twilight: studious, brilliant, faithful. He wasn’t sure what she was to him. At times, she was his mentor. At others, something like a mother or an older sister. Ever since he had been hatched, the two had been practically inseparable, and had been so to this day. She trusted him with the upkeep of the library and communications with Princess Celestia. She had promised him that she would never abandon him, that she would always be there for him. If that were so, why did he feel so abandoned nowadays? Why did she leave him behind so often, if she was never going to send him away?