Update on my 5-year anniversary stories & a sneak preview

Trying and failing to think of a less boring way to start this blog I figured I'd give an update on the upcoming 5-year anniversary stories. First, to give a little recap for those who didn't see my last blogs: Dec. 15th will mark my 5th-year anniversary on fimfiction. I had opened requests last month for what I will write to celebrate 'da anniversary, and two stories are in the works. While I did settle on just 2 stories, several of the requests given were interesting, so I won't rule out at some point using those ideas, and if I do, a future blog about it will be made and the one who requested it will be alerted via PM.

But I'm getting ahead of myself. Let's get back to the 2 stories I'm writing as the anniversary stories. Now, my plan was to have the first story out on the 15th and release the 2nd one about 3 or 4 days later. But, a little cold I caught last week slowed messed things up a bit and unfortunately delayed some of the progress I was making on the stories. I've recovered from that cold, but there's still gonna be a sight delay on those stories. As for now, the first story is planned to be out on the 18th, and the second story should be out on the 23rd. Both stories will be one-shots.

However, while it's not fully edited/proofread by me yet, is somewhat raw, and the finished version may look and be worded slightly differently. the beginning of the 1st story is still finished enough to leave its first scene here as a sneak preview. Its (working) title is A #1 Assistant's Bad Day. Enjoy!

Ta-ta!

With the eventful, occasionally even life-risking, days Spike faced, normal days like this can feel like heaven in Equestria. Sure, as Princess Twilight Sparkle’s faithful #1 assistant, a clawful of chores still awaited him, but those would be dealt with later. 

For now, he could just lazily lay in his bed and bury his nose in his newest Power Ponies comic. A nice, tall, cool glass of his favorite fruit juice waited for duty beside him on the floor.

Though, when Spike peeked at his cup, it was only a quarter of the way full.

“I’m low already? I better get some more.” He stretched his arms while blowing a deep yawn. With his yawn free, he pushed himself out of bed, picked up his cup, and wandered out of his room and down the hallways of the crystal tree-castle. Why it felt bigger on the inside is a question so mysterious, even the research-obsessed Twilight didn’t attempt to deduce the reason. Spike even chuckled at how any future castlemates might initially be bewildered.

A nearby door opened in magenta magic. Twilight stomped through the newly open doorway. A sour frown adorned her face and her eyelids bitterly drooped over the top half of her eyes.

“Oh, hi, Twi, how–”

*Slam!*

Shakes from the slammed door, almost fearful, vibrated the entire castle. An anguished groan from the door-slamming alicorn followed.

“–Are you doing?”

“Awful. Between how a package I should have received five days ago is still running behind, ponies pestering me to solve petty problems between them, and how I misplaced my octuple-back-up checklist-writing quill this morning and more…ugh! Nothing is going right today!”

“I’m sorry your day’s been so rotten, but at least the stuff you wanted me to do will be done on time and perfectly–just the way you like it.”

Twilight’s scowl eased ever so slightly. “I’m glad to hear that. At this point, I might scream if one more thing goes wrong.”

“Then there will be no screaming as long as I can help it, and you still have the evening picnic with me and the gang tonight to look forward to." Spike raised his head, brimming with pride. "Just let your #1 assistant take care of business while you–"

Twilight stomped off the hallway and toward her room. She flew open the door and slammed it, coaxing more shakes from the castle.

“–Go lie down in your room or something?”

Twilight’s bedroom door opened back up and she peeked her head out. “Oh, and could you stop by the post office in a couple of hours, just in case my package is finally there? If it is, could you open it and check if everything inside is working? It’s really important that you do.”

“You got it, and I’ll write it on your list.” Spike hurried back into his room and scooped up a quill and a checklist full of his unfinished tasks. ’Pick up package and check inside,’ he mumbled as he wrote his new task down on the list in question. “But, what’s in–”

*Slam!*

“–That package? Oof, she’s in a really bad mood, so I gotta do the stuff she wants perfectly to cheer her up.” He peeked at the checklist. “Let’s see…I’ll put some cookies in the oven, then while they bake, I’ll go to Sugarcube Corner and grab the cupcakes for the picnic, then to a store to get her...whatever-she-said-backup checklist-writing quill she wants.”