//------------------------------// // Day 1 // Story: Research and Development // by RarityEQM //------------------------------// "Spike! Spike! Guess what I've found, Spike!" Twilight called, prancing into the room like a gleeful filly on Hearthswarming. Spike slowly lowered his comic book and peered at the prancing purple pony over the tattered page. Twilight was beaming from ear to ear, her eyes bright and shiny. Spike knew that smile. It was a smile that sent a cold shiver racing down his spine, despite the warm summer afternoon. That was the same smile she had after reading the complete Harry Trotter collection of fourteen books, back-to-back in one sitting. That was the same smile she had when she attempted to drill a hole in her own head, citing it would have worked had Spike not stopped her. It was a dangerous smile. "Your marbles?" Spike asked hopefully. Twilight quickly shook her head, her smile unflinching. "No, Spike! It's a unic- HEY!" Twilight growled, eyeing Spike and the sharp grin that took over his muzzle before he ducked back behind the safety of his comic book. She rolled her eyes, but even the dragon's sardonic comments couldn't diminish the excitement she was feeling. "Like I was saying, I finally got a unicharm!" Twilight squealed, prancing in a small circle around the dragon seated in the beanbag. She was holding something in her mystic grip, a small brown box that she hovered around herself proudly. Spike raised an eye ridge watching her, before letting his gaze play across the room towards the door. He could make it if he distracted her... "A what now?" He asked nervously. Twilight's smile grew ever more vast. Spike smiled too. His was not quite so bright. Or distressingly wide. Good lord, were those her molars? Did she always have that many teeth? "A unicharm, or, more commonly known as: An Alicorn Amulet!" Twilight said smugly, her smile getting wider and wider still. Spike's eyes darted towards the door then back to Twilight. Set the bookshelf on fire. Use the smoke to your advantage. Go out the window in the confusion. Don't look back. "A what now?" Spike asked flatly. He didn't move, despite the numerous survival instincts he had urging him for the 'flight' part of a fight or flight response. "Do you remember when Trixie took over the town?!" Twilight asked, nearly hopping in place from one hoof to the other. Spike nodded. "Often after screaming at three am in a cold sweat, yes," he said dryly, climbing to his feet. As casually as possible. He made slow movements. Don't make eye contact. Remember, she's more scared of you than you are of her... "Well, she was wearing one of these when she did it! It took me months and months to get the permissions to borrow it from the royal vault! Princess Celestia said it was too dangerous for a normal unicorn to use but since I'm an Alicorn Princess now, I was able to pull some strings, do a couple of favors in the carriage parking lot behind the castle, and then I...um...Spike? Where are you going?" Twilight asked, watching the dragon stroll across the room towards the door. He kept his head down with every step, looking at the floor. "Don't know. What town is a hundred miles away from here? Is that Dodge Junction? That's Dodge Junction, isn't it? Do you think that's far enough?" he asked. Twilight shook her head. "No Spike, I-". Twilight began, but Spike quickly nodded. "No, you're right, you're right. The Crystal Empire would be further. Good call," he said. Twilight tsked quietly and bounced over towards him. "Don't be silly Spike, I'm not going to wear it, I'm just going to research it! These objects have so many layers of enchantments and spells, hexes and vexes, and all sorts of jinxes, that it could take months and months to fully understand the nature of them. But I have a plan! You see, I'm going to...uh...Spike? Spike are you listening?" Twilight asked curiously. Spike was meandering around the room, gathering comic books here and there and stacking them into a neat little pile next to the door. He glanced over his shoulder at Twilight and smiled widely. "Not really, no, but, remember that if you burn yourself, run the spot under cold water for ten minutes. Don't drink anything under the sink and the address to the hospital is still carved into the kitchen counter, just in case you accidentally blow yourself up. Again, " he explained. Twilight glowered. "That only happened once Spi-" "..." "That only happened twice, Spi-," Twilight growled. Spike turned and stared at her. He stared hard, narrowing his eyes to slits. Twilight sighed. "Ok Spike, but it's been less than a dozen times and who's counting?!" She barked. "The hospital? The Insurance Company? Your mother? Nurse Red Heart? The town's Undertaker? He has made so many coffins for you by now, and he's becoming upset that you're not using them," Spike replied, rattling the names off on his claw tips. Twilight gave a harsh little snort and shook her head, levitating the box up into the air. She opened it up and carefully lifted out a small silver necklace that trembled with a faint thrum of magic. Spike let his eyes dart from the necklace to Twilight and back to the necklace again. No, the crystal empire wasn't going to be far enough. "Spike. I really need your help on this one. Look? See? It's just a necklace. I'm not going to wear it. I am going to take every precaution to make sure this is safe. This is extremely valuable knowledge to have. There is going to be a lot of data and details to look over and write down, and I need the help of my number one assistant, okay?" she cooed at him as lovingly as possible. Spike gave a quiet sigh and meandered over to Twilight, where he wrapped his arms around her neck in a comforting hug. "Twilight, listen, I care about you, and I trust you. It's not that I'm saying don't mess around with this. It's that I'm saying: please don't mess around with this," Spike squeaked nervously. Sadly, Twilight gave a defeated sigh, and slowly turned her back, looking at the floor, downtrodden and miserable. She sniffled softly, her hopes and dreamed crushed. Spike winced. "A-are you sure, Spike? You know I'd never make you do anything you didn't want to. But... this is a lot of work that needs to be done, and I'm going to be all alone here doing it. All by myself. No assistant to help. No dragon to bake me cookies and keep my spirits up when things get hard. No one there to make sure I go to sleep and take breaks. I...I don't know how I'm going to manage an-and...I'm not going to be able to write a proper report if I can't add that Spike, my favorite dragon helped me again. I just don't know what I'm going to do without you...without my number one assistant. ...Without my...my best friend..." Twilight whimpered, overwhelmed with sadness and dismay. She perked ear ears, waiting for Spike's apology and acceptance of his role as assistant. She waited for Spike to exclaim he was ready and willing with a quill and parchment. She waited for him to ask what clever safety precautions she'd come up with to ensure the safety of their home. She peeked over her shoulder when he didn't say anything. Spike had gone out the window and set the bookshelf on fire.