//------------------------------//
// Chapter 2: Whatever it takes (properly edited) 
// Story: Somepony to Love 
// by Jet Storm 
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Back at home, Princess Twilight and her student, Starlight Glimmer were busy working hard in the castle's library. Princess Twilight had planned to spend the day researching eastern philosophy and magical theory and its potential application to modern magic with Starlight's help. There was, however, a slight problem.  

"So maybe ... if you put Caponicus's theorem of relativity into Hippus's equation ... but Starwhirl's three laws of magic equilibrium clearly states otherwise.... hmm," mutters Starlight as she bores into her notebook, whilst shifting her gaze into three books levitating around her.

"Uh-huh," mumbled Twilight, staring dully outside the window with a hoof underneath her chin.

"Wait! No. But that's- Yes. No ... Unless." 

"Uh-huh..." 

This exchange had been going on for an hour, the two mares deep in their thoughts with neither paying attention to the other. 

"Ah! Of course! I got it! By Luna's moon, I've got it," Starlight shouted triumphantly. "It all makes perfect sense now when you put it like that. So what do you think, Twilight? Twilight?"

Starlight turned to look at Twilight for the first time, who has noticed Starlight calling for her.

"Hmm..."

Intrigued, Starlight moved towards her teacher waving her hoof over Twilight's face.  "Ahem. Umm ... Hello? Twilight?"

Twilight didn’t flinch as she continued staring outside. 

Starlight sighed. She knew a simple trick to get her teacher's attention when it was necessary, but she rarely liked to do so. The last time she did this, Twilight made her reorganize the pantry, cutlery, and linen closets every day for a month. First by color and size. Then by brand. Then in order of when and where she bought them (which required looking up the receipts and reorganizing those too), before settling on by special occasion. But desperate times called for desperate measures, and nothing was getting through to Twilight in her current state.

"Twilight, Pinkie came over and spilled her chocolate milkshake all over your first and only edition of Sun Shoes's Art of Wares. Spike burnt your favorite dress, and Princess Celestia is coming over within the hour to see how our friendships lessons are going," Starlight said casually.

"Uh-huh ...." replies Twilight simply.

Confident that she was heard, Starlight backed away slowly and started counting down. "Three ... two... one."

Suddenly Twilight's eyes widened, the left twitching, face convulsing and her jaw dropping. "Wait! WHAT! OH NO! OH NO! OH NO!" Twilight screamed in a panicked frenzy as her brain tried to process everything that had just been said.  "I need to look at my schedule, my diary, next week's timetable - SPIKE WHERE ARE YOU? SPIKE!" 

It was a sight to see, one that would have made Rainbow Dash proud. Running up and down like a headless chook, Twilight was desperately looking for her assistant. Flashes of light appeared everywhere as she teleported throughout the castle while Starlight stood watching this. Realizing it may be better to hide, she stopped when all of a sudden, Twilight abruptly teleported in front of her. Starlight collapsed underneath Twilight's intense gaze. Twilight's left eye was still twitching as she gasped for each breath as she tried to regain her composure. 

"Princess Celestia isn't supposed to come until next week,” said Twilight dangerously with a strained voice. “The dress should be at Rarity's and Pinkie is not allowed in the restricted section since she last smeared pink frosting over my Daring Do collection."

Sheepishly, Starlight broke into a nervous smile. Raising her forelegs, she shrugged and chuckled, "hehe ... Bazinga."

"STARLIGHT!" Twilight yelled, restraining the anger in her voice. "I haven't had a near meltdown like that since the last time you told me that one of Fluttershy's animals had desecrated Luna's birthday present and Rainbow Dash crashed and broke the bust of me that was given to me by Prince Rutherford of Yakyakistan who was coming over the next day to sign an important trade deal. Why in all of Equestria did you do that?"

Feeling a little guilty at the cruel prank, Starlight looked away shamefully. Kicking her hoof, she responded, "I'm sorry, Twilight. I tried calling your name several times, but you were so deep in thought, I couldn't even get your attention."

Twilight eyes widened and relaxed, but quickly closed.  With the adrenaline rush finally passing, she was able to regain some composure.

"Is something on your mind? You can tell me," Starlight continued hoping to alleviate Twilight's mood.

Twilight sighed. "I'm sorry, Starlight. I've been thinking about  ... a friend."

Unsure what to make of it, Starlight took the opportunity to make amends and satisfy her curiosity. "Hey, it's no sweat. Why don't we put these books away, and we can talk about it. We can even make it into a friendship lesson. I’ll go prepare us some afternoon tea."

"That sounds good," Twilight smiled. "Thank you, Starlight."

Starlight nodded and promptly left for the kitchen. Feeling a bit more relaxed, Twilight sat down and used her magic to put the books away. A couple of minutes later, she heard the door open down the hallway. She got up and moves towards the entrance, but stops midway as Spike enters the room, his eyes red and puffy. 

Twilight bits her lip. Obviously things didn't go as planned. Making her way over to the dragon, she asked cautiously, "so, how did it go, Spike?"

Spike clutched at his chest tightly and looked down dejectedly. "She doesn't love me."

Twilight gasped and covered her mouth with her front hooves. "I'm sorry to hear that, Spike," Twilight said sympathetically. She extends her forelegs and pulls the dragon into a reassuring hug. "Is there anything I can do?"

Wiping his face, he closes his eyes. His voice filled with determination he asks, "Twilight, I need you turn me into a pony."

She pulls away from the hug and looks at Spike perplexed at his request. "What did you just say?" 

"You heard me," Spike replies sternly. "I need you to turn me into a pony."

"But why Spike?"

"So that Rarity will love me."

"Did she say that to you?" asked Twilight, raising an eyebrow.

"No, but she didn't have to," Spike muttered.

"Spike, I can't do that. Listen, let me talk to Rarity, maybe this is a big misundersta-"" 

"Then can you at least make me older?" he pleads, the tension raising in his voice. "You're an alicorn now; surely you are capable of the age spell. I need to become older so that she will take me seriously."

"Woah, hold up, Spike. Why wouldn't she take you seriously?"

"Duh! Because I'm a kid, Twilight. She is a full grown mare, and I'm Spike-Wikey!" he said, imitating Rarity in a mocking tone. "Nopony takes me seriously!" 

"Of course she does Spike, you're her friend. I don't understand. Where is this all coming from?"

"Does it matter? Look, Twilight, I don't ask for much, but I’m begging you. Please change me so that she will look at me, so that she will love me. Please, will you do this for me?"

Twilight didn’t even blink twice before she replied flatly. "No."

Baffled, Spike looked desperately at his friend. "B-but you're the Princess of Friendship and Magic. You have the power to do everything. You can change me." He collapsed on his claws and knees, and begged, "please, Twilight."

Undeterred by his pleas she repeated, "I said no, Spike."

Crushed, he looked at his claws in disgust. "But I need-" he whimpered under his breath. "I ... need ... this."

"Spike, you’re not making any sense. Let me go over and speak with Rarity. We can get this sorted. I promise."

"You're the Princess of Friendship and Magic. You're supposed to be my friend, but you won't even help me."

"Spike, I am offering to-." 

"Twilight, look at me!" he roared glaring at her.

"I am, Spike," replied Twilight with her brow crossed. "So what?"

"Don't you see what I am? Rarity was my only chance. I thought she could look beyond what I see in the mirror."

"Spike, do you honestly believe she thinks like that?" Twilight retorted defending her friend.

"I don't know," Spike admitted. "All I know is that if Rarity doesn't love me, then how can anypony love me?"

"Spike, stop pleas-"

"HOW CAN ANYPONY LOVE A DRAGON!"

"SPIKE!" Twilight shouted angrily. "THAT IS ENOUGH!"

"Forget it. If you won't help me, then I’ll go and find some other pony who will!"

"SPIKE, GET BACK HERE THIS INSTANT!" demanded Twilight.

Defeated and angry, he ignored her and ran down the hallway. He turns sharply around the corridor and crashes into Starlight who was carrying a plate of sandwiches and drinks with her magic.

"Careful, Spike," huffed Starlight as she balanced the platter.

Spike turned his head sharply and glared at Starlight, startling her. He looks away bitterly before he scampered to his feet and bolted for the door. 

His unusual reaction and lack of an apology agitated and surprised Starlight. She had never seen Spike like this before. 

“Where’s he off to?” she wondered. She shook her head, snapping any ill thoughts before proceeding into the library. She wasn't going to let Spike’s rude behaviour get in the way of a friendship lesson with Twilight. But she had a right mind to express her annoyance with Twilight nevertheless.

"Hey Twilight, I've got afternoon tea,” chimed Starlight as she entered the room.

“I just saw Spike leave in a hurry. Well more like crashed into, but boys will be boys. Anywho, I wonder where he's off to- Twilight are you alright?" Starlight asked.

Twilight was crying. "Spike confessed his feelings to Rarity."

"Oh," replied Starlight as she was hit by a sudden realization. His odd and rude behaviour made sense to her now, and she chastised herself for not noticing earlier. "So then you were thinking about Spike earlier."

"Yeah," admitted Twilight. "I didn't think it would go this badly. I knew he had a crush on her, but I never knew he felt like that. Why would he think like that, of course, everypony loves him."

"Yeah but Twilight, I think he means more."

"I know. It's just he's like my little brother. I've known him for years, I just never thought that he ... that he felt this lonely," Twilight said, another tear forming in her eye.

"So ... do you think you'll change him then?" Starlight asked innocently.

"Even if I could, I wouldn't," replies Twilight. "The only change can come from within. No matter what he looks like on the outside, if that special somepony doesn't see what is inside his heart, then he will never truly be happy. I am doing this for him." Twilight shifted and moved towards her pupil with a stern gaze. "Starlight, if Spike should ask -" but before she could finish, Starlight raised a hoof and smiled sadly. 

"It's okay I understand." 

Twilight sighed, "I better go to Rarity's and see how she is going."

"I better come too," offered Starlight.