//------------------------------//
// Her Number One Assistant 
// Story: In The Rough 
// by BlackRoseRaven 
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Chapter One: Her Number One Assistant
~BlackRoseRaven

Spike listlessly swept his way down the hallway, humming a little to himself, eyes half-closed with boredom as he let his body work on autopilot. It was that draggy middle of the week time, the time when everything seemed to last twice as long as it should have, when all the chores that at least kept his mind busy were done, and instead he was just performing the same monotonous task, over and over and over again, like a broken clock.
Sweep the halls. Sweep the rooms. Sweep the floors. Sweep the walls. Yes, even the walls, and even the ceiling, because everything got terribly dusty because there was so much space in this great crystal castle, and yet so few rooms were actually in use.
When was Twilight going to finally get guards, or servants, or at least a butler? Sure, she wanted to live like a normal pony, but even a Number One Assistant like he was couldn't hold down the fort forever by himself.
Especially when that fort was literally a fort. Well, a castle. There was apparently a difference, Twilight said, but all he knew was that they were both big places where royalty lived. Usually with other people.
They were lacking the other people part still, though. How did Twilight not get lonely in this big, empty place?
As if to answer the question, Spike's earfins twitched as he stepped into the next corridor. Was that a voice he heard in the distance? Did Twilight want something?
He half-ran down the corridor: it was hard to get himself to go any faster than that, because he wasn't as anxious as he had used to be to please, not when he already had so much other work to get done.
Being a Number One Assistant was something he was proud of, sure. But it seemed like the more he grew up, and the older that title got, the more he had to do to remain Twilight's 'Number One Assistant' and the less rewarding it felt, and the less rewarded he was.
Was that just part of growing up? This was all he had ever wanted to be, after all.
This was all he knew how to be.
Spike shook off his thoughts as he hurried down the corridor, then skidded to a stop when he heard another voice. He blinked and rose his head slightly, then grimaced a bit as an unfair thought whispered through his mind: Maybe that's why she's never lonely, Spikey-Wikey, and you are.
“I have friends too.” Spike defended under his breath; defended against himself, he realized after a moment, which made him wrinkle up his snout before he shook his head quickly and carefully pushed the door open a crack.
In the next room, he could see Twilight had her friends gathered around a table. She had a big smile on her face and her eyes were sparkling in that way they always did when she was happy and focused on something: from the much-milder interest of her friends, Spike guessed that she was going over some kind of agenda with them.
It was funny: it wasn't that Twilight was really much of a control freak, even if she seemed like it. She just liked being organized... perhaps a little too much.
“-for the next week. It's short notice, I know, but it's a request from Princess Celestia herself, so it must be important.” Twilight was explaining, and Spike cocked his head curiously. Was she planning on taking a trip?
He hesitated for only a moment before he gingerly pushed the door open, sweeping his way into the room and beginning to clean around the perimeter. Twilight and her friends barely gave him a glance: he supposed that was the one advantage of being a background character even in his own home.
“Hey, you know I'm always up for anything.” Rainbow boasted, and then she looked up in confusion when Rarity cleared her throat loudly and Applejack gave her a flat look. “What? Don't tell me you guys are wussing out. Rarity I can believe but-”
“Did you already forget we promised we'd take the girls on another camping trip?” asked Rarity, and when Rainbow only looked at her blankly, the unicorn huffed and tossed her gorgeous purple mane. “Rainbow, honestly. I think you'd lose your wings if they weren't attached to your body.”
“Hey, I would not!” Rainbow huffed, crossing her forelegs before she shrugged and added: “And I totally didn't forget, by the way, I just agree that this must be like, important, and stuff.”
“It's pretty bad timing.” Applejack put in, looking over at Twilight with a slight frown. “Are you sure this is for something important, not just some get-together in Canterlot? I mean, normally I wouldn't make such a big deal out of a little trip away, but-”
“You gotta do what you promise.” Pinkie agreed with a bright smile, almost jumping onto the table as she exclaimed: “But I don't want to miss what's going on in Canterlot, either! So we should definitely do both, we can throw a big camping sleepover party for everyone in Canterlot!”
“Uh. I don't think that's going to work, Pinkie.” Twilight said delicately, and then she shook her head and continued: “Whatever Princess Celestia wants us for, I know it has to be something urgent. She wouldn't ask us to come meet with her if it wasn't something important.”
The others traded looks, and Twilight gave a small smile as she looked around at them all, Spike inconspicuously sweeping his way carefully along the wall behind her as he listened intently. “I know this is asking a lot from all of you. But I know that Princess Celestia wouldn't ask for us to go there on such short notice unless it was really important.”
Twilight hesitated, then lowered her voice and added: “The letter was sent directly to me, too, not through Spike. That always means it's something really important.”
Spike scowled a bit despite himself at this, even though he knew it was both true and understood the reasoning behind it: almost everyone knew that the Princess communicated through letters sent by his dragonfire, and there were plenty of ways for inventive unicorns to intercept those kinds of communications if they really wanted to.
“I get it, Twilight. I know it's important.” Applejack said, although she sounded less than impressed and almost exasperated. “I just... got other things to deal with too, you know?”
“Don't worry. I'll take care of everything, I promise.” Twilight said with a smile, straightening in her seat. “Why don't you have the girls stay here in the castle? It can be an... indoor camping trip, and Spike can keep an eye on them!”
Applejack looked flatly at Twilight, and Rainbow looked meditative for a moment before she pronounced: “That's lame.”
Twilight blinked, and Fluttershy half-rose a hoof as she started quietly: “Well, I could always-”
“That's not lame!” Twilight unwittingly steamrollered, glowering at Rainbow. “Well, what do you suggest?”
“We should just let 'em go on their own!” Rainbow said airily, waving a hoof. “I'm sure they can handle a night or two of camping by themselves.”
Applejack and Rarity both glowered at Rainbow, who huffed and looked back at them before Rarity snapped: “And what if something happens? They're still young fillies!”
“It'd be one thing if they were campin' out in the field or something, but considering the aptitude those three got for gettin' into trouble and the fact we're supposed to be going outside of Ponyville, I'd much prefer someone with them.” Applejack added with a grunt. “And we already got all our stuff packed and ready, and when Apple Bloom gets it in her head that she's gonna do somethin'...”
“Just like Sweetie.” Rarity smiled slightly, and then she hesitated before suggesting: “What about Marina? Apple Bloom certainly seems to be fond of her, and her schedule isn't quite as hectic as most ponies' are...”
“I dunno.” Applejack shrugged a bit, biting her lip. “It's a lot of responsibility to be looking out for three little fillies. And it would be kind of last minute... she might not-”
“Well, we can ask at least, yeah?” Rainbow shrugged, then she grinned and teased: “Or what, are you scared of the big bad Changeling? She's totally a cream puff.”
“I know Marina better than you do, so shut it.” Applejack grumbled, and Rainbow held up her hooves in mock surrender. The earth pony glowered at her for a moment longer, then sighed as Rarity nudged her and looked at her pointedly, finally nodding with a sigh. “Alright. I'll ask her once we're done here.”
“And I can send Spike along, too! He can help out.” Twilight said, and Spike visibly flinched from where he was dusting along the wall in the background. But Twilight didn't so much as glance at him, and nor did anypony else. “Actually, that's right, I should probably call him and have him start packing up my things. We're going to have to catch the train by late afternoon if we want to make it to Canterlot this evening. Spike!”
Spike sighed and closed his eyes for a moment, doing his best to swallow his resentment as he approached and asked: “Yes, Twilight?”
Twilight blinked in surprise, then turned with a smile to him: a warm, bright smile, he thought. Somehow, that always made it more frustrating to him, because it was like Twilight never realized... “Spike! There you are, I was wondering where you were. Could you please go get a suitcase together for me? I have to go to Canterlot with my friends. And afterwards, we need you to look after Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo. They're going on a camping trip and need a chaperon.”
“Uh huh.” Spike said, and when Twilight frowned a little, he cleared his throat before forcing a much brighter tone to correct: “I mean, yeah, sounds exciting, Twilight!”
“Great! I'm sure you'll have lots of fun!” Twilight said, brightening immediately, and Spike smiled in spite of himself. She was so smart, so good with numbers and magic and theories, but when it came to dealing with people, well... she still needs a few friendship lessons, I guess.
“Yeah. I'm sure we will.” Spike echoed, before he turned and trundled away from the table, and, as usual, felt the eyes of all the ponies leave him the moment he started to leave, as if he completely ceased to exist once Twilight was done with him.
That was what it felt like, at least. He was here to help, to be Mr. Number One Assistant, and otherwise, he ceased to exist. He knew that wasn't fair: Twilight worried about him, cared about his welfare, did her best to take care of him, but he didn't think she always realized that sometimes even a dragon needed a bit of time to himself.
He sighed as he headed up to Twilight's room, clutching the broom against his chest as he scowled a little. Do this, do that, and don't worry, when you're done your chores we'll come up with more for you. It made him want to shout and stomp his feet. But he'd already learned that wasn't going to help the situation: he always got caught when he did something, and it always made things a thousand times worse.
It was like he had no real control over his life, no matter what he tried to do. Maybe that's why he was Twilight's Number One Assistant: because he couldn't be himself, only someone else's tool.
Spike sulked as he pushed his way into Twilight's room. He headed over to her closet first to drag out her suitcase, and then he sighed as he started to pack it. She would complain later that he hadn't included the Atlas of Equestria Volume XVII or five of whatever ten other books she was currently reading, but he knew that was why he packed, and she didn't: Twilight only ever filled her bags with books and forgot all the necessities.
Spike smiled a bit in spite of himself, then he shook his head quickly, grumbling again as he smacked the side of his head a few times. But that was the crux of it, wasn't it? He really did honestly care about Twilight and want to help her and be her Number One Assistant, but at the same time, he felt like he was being stifled, like... he wanted to grow up, but no one wanted to let him.
Spike didn't think he wanted to be an assistant forever. He thought that someday he wanted to be his own Number One, whatever that entailed. But it was painfully hard to get Twilight and her friends to see that: he guessed that since he still looked like a baby dragon, that's all they saw him as. That would maybe be all they ever saw him as.
He sighed a little as he finished packing Twilight's suitcase with essentials, then grumbled as he began to lug it down the stairs, cradling his broom in one front limb. He puffed his way down to the front hall, pausing only long enough to throw the broom in a random closet on the way.
He was somehow unsurprised to see Twilight was already waiting for him, tapping a hoof impatiently. He did his best not to scowl as he dragged the suitcase closer: it would be a thousand times easier for her to just pick the thing up with her magic, after all. At least if any of his expression slipped through, it was mistaken for exertion, as Twilight looked him quickly over before asking: “Did you pack everything? What about-”
“Clothes, toothbrush, all the essentials, Twi. I'm sure you won't be gone for that long. And you know, if you need me to stay here and hold down the fort, I don't mind...” Spike wheedled, looking pointedly at Twilight.
And Twilight, as always, missed exactly what he was trying to say as she smiled and patted him on the head, answering cheerfully: “Oh, don't you worry about a thing, Spike! I'm sure the Crusaders will be more than happy to have you along!”
“Great.” Spike said with a marked lack of enthusiasm, and then he sighed a little before he asked in spite of himself: “How long do you think you'll be away?”
“Oh, don't worry Spike, there will be other ponies to check up on you, and Owlowiscious is here, too, he can keep you company and keep an eye on things.” Twilight said kindly, and Spike wondered morbidly if she understood how humiliating and insulting it was that she had just inferred her pet owl was more responsible and mature than he was. “Oh, right, that reminds me! I need you to go and find Octavia now and ask her where Marina is so you can ask her to look after the Crusaders. Try and hurry, okay? The girls and I have a few things to do, too, and I'd like to make sure you have everything before we go.”
Spike nodded and rubbed at his head, half-wanting to argue... but with Twilight's mix of authority and maternalness, it was hard to do anything but lower his head a little and mumble an 'okay' before he headed to the doors leading out into Ponyville.
He winced when he almost bumped into Applejack, who blinked and then tilted her head towards him, asking: “Where are you goin', Spike?”
“I'm supposed to find Marina. Well, Twilight told me to talk to Octavia to find Marina.” Spike answered, and Applejack frowned a bit at him.
“Darn it, I said I could do that myself.” grumbled the mare, and then she looked at Spike for a moment before nodding once and saying finally: “But alright. You go talk to Octavia and I'll go tell Apple Bloom about the change in plans. She probably won't be too happy about it, so... you know, try and be understanding if she's a little grouchy and all.”
Spike nodded and rubbed at the back of his head, and he lingered for a moment. Applejack cocked her head curiously, but then the dragon only smiled awkwardly before he shook his head and turned, hurrying in the direction of Octavia and Vinyl's home.
He knocked at the door, then lingered, wondering what he was even supposed to say: but when it opened a moment later and he found a gray mare looking curiously down at him, he simply blurted: “Hi! Uh, is Marina here?”
“Marina? Does Twilight want to speak to her again?” Octavia frowned, and Spike smiled lamely and shook his head.
“No, uh... Twilight actually wanted to see if Marina could look after Apple Bloom and her friends for Applejack because Twilight is taking them all to Canterlot.” Spike awkwardly explained.
Octavia frowned deeper, cocking her head slightly, and then she sighed before saying finally: “I can't speak for Marina, but this seems like it's rather short notice. She also regularly visits her friend Moonbeam around this time every week, but she should be coming back home shortly if you'd still like to ask her.”
“I'm sorry. I really should though. I kind of have to.” Spike said lamely, and Octavia smiled at him with the faintest hint of sympathy, he thought.
“Alright. Please come in, I'll find out when Marina will be home.” Octavia said, and Spike nodded awkwardly as he stepped into the house, the door swinging closed behind him.
Octavia headed down the hall, and Spike lingered awkwardly in the entrance hall, looking back and forth for a few moments before he looked up curiously as he heard Octavia's muffled voice. He took a few steps forwards, frowning slightly: he didn't hear any response, but Octavia spoke again like she was talking to someone...
“Hey, Spike!” greeted Vinyl Scratch, and Spike nearly jumped out of his scales, spinning towards her with a wince, which made the unicorn grin and toss her neon blue mane, laughing before she smiled at him when he glowered at her. “Sorry, sorry! Didn't mean to startle you. What are you doing here?”
Spike shrugged after a moment, looking grouchily back at Vinyl Scratch before he said almost grudgingly: “Looking for Marina.” He paused, throwing off his sulkiness as he added: “I thought I heard Octavia talking to someone...”
“Oh, yeah, she's probably talking to Marina, telling her to swing by here. What are you looking for Marina for, anyway? Twilight?” asked Vinyl curiously.
Spike simply nodded, tired by now of answering the same question over and over again, and Vinyl shrugged before she said mildly: “Don't envy you, kiddo. Must be hard being the assistant to the princess, huh? I remember when I used to work as a gofer for a production company back in Canterlot, it sucked a lot. Makes me glad that I was able to strike out on my own, even if it's a hell of a lot of work.”
Spike stayed silent, only smiling awkwardly, and Vinyl peered at him for a few moments before she shrugged amiably and asked: “Have you ever met Marina? I bet you have. You've probably met everyone in town at some point, but like, have you ever, you know, met Marina?”
The dragon resisted the urge to sigh, instead nodding: he understood well enough what the unicorn meant, after all. “We've talked a little, yeah. Not much, but she seemed nice.”
Spike smiled briefly: Marina had treated him like an equal. He had liked that: even when the ponies didn't mean to talk down to him, they usually did, after all. He guessed it was because he was smaller than them, because he was just Twilight's assistant, because he was a 'baby' dragon. But maybe because Marina was... well, different, too, she had never treated him the way the other ponies had.
“Good. She's great.” Vinyl nodded with a wink. “So make sure you put in a good word with the princess about her, huh?”
“I will.” Spike promised, even if he didn't think his word would mean much. Then he paused and frowned before asking: “Hey, wait, how is Octavia talking to Marina?”
“Trade secret.” Vinyl said, and she managed to keep her mouth shut for all of two seconds before almost blurting out: “Through her computer!”
Spike stared at Vinyl: what was a computer? Vinyl seemed to register his confusion and clearly attempted to keep her mouth shut, but after a few more seconds, she rambled out: “Well, it's sort of like a magical device that can show you stuff and connect to all of Marina's prosthetic implants so we can talk to her or see what she's up to or stuff. Although we don't usually do that, we usually just like-”
“That's enough, Vinyl.” Octavia said mildly, and Vinyl and Spike both looked up guiltily as the earth pony approached. She turned an eye to Spike, studying him for a moment before explaining much more simply: “Think of it like a telephone. That's a quick and rough explanation for it, anyway. I have one end, and Marina has the other. That's all.”
“Oh.” Spike said, and there was silence for a moment before he hesitantly asked: “Is she...”
“Marina will be here in a few minutes. Please.” Octavia gestured at Spike to follow, and the dragon smiled lamely before falling in step behind her, Vinyl wandering along behind them.
They headed into the kitchen, where Octavia guided Spike to a seat before she asked: “Would you like anything? I was about to put on tea.”
“Uh, sure.” Spike began to get up – it was so natural for him to be the one doing the work! – before he winced when Octavia reached back without looking and gently but firmly sat him back down.
“Please.” she said: somehow it was both a request and a reassurance, and Spike smiled awkwardly at her back as Octavia went about preparing the tea, while Vinyl simply threw herself down in a seat on the other side of the table.
“Just excuse Tavi, she's kind of a control freak.” Vinyl said airily, waving a hoof absently before she winked over at the dragon. “How much of a chance do you ever get to relax, anyway? So relax, kiddo!”
Spike shrugged lamely, his eyes wandering around the kitchen: he actually didn't recognize some of the appliances that they had, which was rare for him, considering he was the one who did all the cooking in Twilight's castle and was responsible for maintaining all the appliances. “Hey, that coffeemaker looks uh...”
“Yes, I made a few adjustments myself.” Octavia glanced over at the coffeemaker with a brief smile. “Vinyl is very fond of her coffee and I'm not very fond of the mess she usually leaves behind.”
“So you uh... you're an electrician.” Spike said awkwardly, knowing that was the wrong word, and yet the right word was something right out of a comic book, and he'd feel even sillier calling her a 'roboticist.'
Octavia gave him an amused look, then rolled her eyes when Vinyl said cheerfully: “Tavi's got a hell of a brain, that's all I know. But hey, it's not the worst thing in the world. Helps keep me out of trouble and it helped Marina... and hey, did you hear that she's-”
“We're not talking about that in public yet, Vinyl. Luciferin projects are confidential until Princess Celestia decrees they can be released to the public.” Octavia said firmly, as she turned around and put two cups of tea down on the table: one for herself, and one for Spike. He blinked in surprise as Vinyl only shrugged and put her hooves behind her head, leaning back in her chair, but then smiling when they all heard the click of the coffeemaker, and the distinct scent of the dark liquid reached their nostrils.
Spike picked up his teacup and swirled it a bit as he looked down at it: it smelled right, it looked right... a hesitant taste, and it tasted right, too. How had Octavia made such a perfect cup of tea so quickly?
He looked at her, but Octavia only smiled at him: they were spared trying to force any conversation by the sound of the door opening, however, followed by a clomping of metal hooves as Marina stumbled in and blushed as she half-fell into the kitchen, saying lamely: “I'm home.”
“Hello, Marina.” Octavia greeted politely, as Marina straightened a little and hurriedly brushed herself out. She looked like a chocolate-colored unicorn, with a currently-frazzled blonde mane and bright green eyes, but Spike knew in reality Marina was a Changeling... and she was a Changeling with four prosthetic metal legs, at that, her original limbs having long been lost even before she came to Ponyville.
Spike awkwardly stood and waved at Marina, which just made him feel stupid because when he stood, he was barely head-level with the table they were sitting around, so he had to stand on his toeclaws just to see her, clearing his throat as Marina turned a lame smile towards him. “Uh, hello.”
“Hi.” Marina said, and then she cleared her throat before asking: “What uh... did the Princess need something from me, Spike?”
“Yes, uh. Well. Sort of.” Spike fumbled, and then he carefully slipped to the side so the table wasn't obstructing their view of each other, asking lamely: “Can you look after Apple Bloom and her friends on a camping trip?”
Marina stared as Octavia slowly tilted her head and Vinyl looked dumbly up, and Spike turned beet red, resisting the urge to hide his face as he explained as professionally as was possible: “Well, Twilight and her friends were called away on official business, but Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo need someone to look after them while they're gone. They were going on a camping trip tomorrow, and Twilight was hoping that you could look after them. I'll be there to... assist.”
Spike rubbed at his head, fighting the urge to mumble an apology, and Marina studied him for a few moments before she gave an awkward smile and asked hesitantly, her eyes automatically roving towards Octavia: “Do you think it would be okay if I brought Moonbeam along?”
Octavia pointedly gestured with her head towards Spike, and Spike blinked before he rubbed at his head, saying finally: “Uh... I don't think that should be a problem...”
“It's just that Moonbeam... could really use a friend, I think, so I spend time with her and uh... I think that it would be good for her to be out and do normal pony things. She's gotten much better, much stronger since... she was sick.” Marina said carefully, glossing over what that sickness had been: near-coma from being kept as a captive and food-source for the Changeling Hive. “It would be good for her.”
“I don't have any problem with it.” Spike shrugged, and then, in a rare burst of nerve, he added firmly: “Yeah, I don't have any problem with it, and I'll be there with you so... it'll be fine. That sounds good to me.”
Spike nodded to himself, and then he frowned before wincing a bit as he realized- “But I gotta go tell Twilight fast, then! Uh, thanks for the tea and I'll see you later, Marina! Thanks!”
Spike hurried past the mare, who stared after him before she winced and blurted out a little too late: “Wait! Where should I meet you? When?”
“From what I gathered, you don't have to do anything tonight. I'm sure we'll find out shortly: at worst, I'm sure Spike will fetch you tomorrow morning.” Octavia reassured, and Marina looked over at her with a smile, before she blushed when the mare added gently: “I'm glad you asked. You should do that more often, Marina.”
“I'm... trying to be a little more...” Marina didn't really have the word for it. Assertive? Open? No, it wasn't really either of those things, it was something... something that almost all Changelings lacked, that she was still struggling to learn. The ability to make decisions; the ability to think for herself and what she wanted, not just searching for the right answer. “I'm trying.”
“Hey, don't sweat it. Are you going to hurry out again now, or do you want to join us for tea time or whatever this is?” Vinyl asked, and Octavia rolled her eyes.
“Well... there's always time for tea, I think.” Marina said after a moment, giving a small smile as she reached up and brushed down her hair.
She joined Vinyl and Octavia at the table, and then looked up in surprise as Octavia asked almost suddenly: “And you're okay with this?”
“Yes? Why wouldn't I be?” Marina asked curiously, before she shook her head and added: “I think it'll be good for us both, really. It'll take some convincing, but... I like the fillies, and Moonbeam needs to get out a little more, too. And Spike is... it's not that I dislike ponies, you know that, but Spike is... he's understanding.”
“I suppose he would be. I don't think his life under Twilight's tutelage has been rough, but I'm certain it's been difficult, for lack of a better word.” Octavia sipped at her tea, studying Marina for a few moments before she said finally: “Remember that if anything happens, you can always contact me through your radio.”
Marina smiled curiously at Octavia, but Octavia only shook her head as she looked out the kitchen window, not saying anything even as Vinyl and Marina both studied her intently. But she didn't have the words to explain, anyway: it just felt like there was something in the air, like something was going to happen.
She just hoped that she was wrong.