“Are you sure you don’t want to come, I know my mother would be happy to have you join us.” Asked Twilight, the very worried princess of friendship.
Spike, the very annoyed, green and purple dragon, and assistant to said princess, placed his claws onto Twilights face as he looked into her lavender eyes with his emerald green eyes. “Twi, I said I’m fine. I know Celestia wants to have me with her tomorrow, but if we did that, it would be pretty obvious that I am her son.”
Twilight sighed. “I know, but I don’t want you to feel alone if you don’t have to, maybe I should stay home and spend the day with you instead.”
Spike sighed as he shook his head. “No Twi, Velvet really wants to show you her job as a writer, and Shining is going with Night Light to the Canterlot planetarium.”
“But how about I get one of the girls to spend time with you, would you like that?” Asked Twilight hoping that would help.
Spike shook his head. "I wouldn't mind that, but you can’t. Pinkie is heading back to her family's rock farm, AJ and her family are heading to Appleloosa to help with the orchard with Braeburn, Rarity is spending time with her father. Rainbow is with her father for a buck ball game where he is the sports announcer in Manehattan, and Fluttershy is with her father at the cloud factory.”
Twilight started to panic, she was worried about Spike and so she did the first thing she could think of, she started to list off anypony that she could ask to let spike be their son for a day. “How about Lyra or Bon Bon, or maybe we can ask Time Turner, how about Mayor Mare, maybe Lilly, Daisy, or Rose, how about Cheerilee, there are loads of ponies who would love to have you around for the day?”
Spike shook his head. “ The schools closed, Time Turner is dealing with Dinky, the mayor is out of town for a conference, and the flower trio are gone to spend time with their mothers, Tulip, sunflower, and WildFlower, as for Lyra and Bon Bon, they would be nice to know better if they didn’t decide to head back to Canterlot, so Bon Bon could meet Lyra's parents.”
Twilight hung her head in defeat. “Fine but as soon as tomorrow is done I’m going to rush home and spend the rest of the day with you, and we’ll do anything you want.” Said twilight as she pulled Spike into a hug and nuzzled the top of his head.
Spike smiled at hearing this as he returned the hug. “Thanks Twi, have a good time with Velvet, tell everyone I say hi.”
Twilight released Spike as she nodded. She used her magic to lift her saddlebags on to her back. But before she walked out of the door she gave Spike a kiss on the forehead. “I will, have a good time, and don’t worry you don’t have anything to do tomorrow.” Said Twilight as she walked out of the castle and headed for the train station to catch the next train for Canterlot.
Spike watched as Twilight trotted to the train. Now he was alone. The only saving grace was that it was already late, and close to Spikes bed time. "Ok, I'll head to bed, grab the latest issue of Power Ponies, and once I finish reading its off to sleep." Said Spike to himself.
And that's what he did. But what he was unaware of was the fact that once Twilight was out of sight, she got out a scroll and quill from her bags and started to write a letter to Celestia.
Dear Princess Celestia.
Spike is putting up a mask in hopes of not letting the fact that he can't spend take your child to work day with you. I know that if it was known that Spike is your son, he would become a target for our enemies, and the fact that the nobles would demand something to happen, but I'm worried about him, can you do anything? I tried to stay with him but he pushed me to leave. I know you care for Spike and so do I, but right now he needs some help.
From your former student, Twilight Sparkle
Now that the message was ready, Twilight used her magic to send it to Celestia. "I hope she can do something for him." Said Twilight as she looked back at the castle one last time before heading to the train station.
In Canterlot, Princess Celestia was finishing up on today's day court, which normally was reserved to hear the whining and complaints of the nobles. And today was no different. “So please, your highness, for the next Grand Galloping Gala, could hay confit not be served?” Asked a random noble, but Celestia was not even listening to the request, all it sounded like was ‘blaa blaa blaa, I’m important, snooty snort, I have money and servants’. “Princess?” Asked the noble, worried that he was not getting through to the princess.
Celestia was snapped out of her thoughts, as she looked confused as to where she was. “Hm, Oh.” Said Celestia as she looked at the noble, he was a green unicorn with a stack of money for his cutie mark, this was High Funds, one of the more arrogant nobles, and one that was really annoying. It was time to use her get out of court free card, a line that she had used a million times already. “Thank you, High Funds, I will take your request into consideration.” Siad Celestia as she thanked him for bringing up his concern. “I will send you a letter on my decision soon, but my sister is about to assume the throne for the night.”
High Funds nodded as he bowed to the princess. “Of course your highness. Thank you for making time to listen to me.” Said High Fund as he was escorted out of the courtroom. Now that she was mostly alone, Celestia could finally relax. She looked to her personal assistant, Raven Inkwell, a white unicorn with a brown beehive hairdo. “Raven, I wasn't listening, can you give me the short version?” Asked Celestia.
Raven sighed as she pulled up the court transcript. “He didn’t like the taste of the hay confit at last years gala, and he wants you to not serve it this year.”
Celestia looked at Raven. “Wait, really? But the confit was great. Request denied, besides there were many other alternatives to enjoy.”
Raven nodded. “I’ll send out your response after tomorrow. If that is all, I will be going, my daughter, Ink Stamp is coming in from Fillydelphia tonight and she will be joining me tomorrow for day court.” At the mention of Ravens daughter, Celestia became saddened, but she put up her mask to keep it to herself.
Celestia nodded. “Yes, go ahead. Tell Ink Stamp I say hello, and have a good night.”
Raven bowed. “Of course, good night your highness.” Raven then walked out of the courtroom.
Now that Celestia was really alone, she dropped her mask. “I’m so sorry, Spike, I know you probably want to spend tomorrow with me.” Said Celestia. Just then Princess Luna walked into the courtroom, levitating a scroll in her magic.
“Good evening, Sister, how was day court?” Asked the night princess.
Celestia sighed. “So so Lulu, I approved funding for a few new schools in the growing towns in the west, I’m going to make an appearance at a charity event for the relief effort from the avalanche that buried half of Nayranto in the north, and then High Funds asked me to not serve the hay confit at this year’s gala.”
Luna looked shocked. “What, but the confit was great.”
“That's what I said. Then Raven had to go meet her daughter.”
Luna nodded. “Yes, the dreams of all the fillies and colts have been filled with the over exaggerated portrayal of their parents jobs.” Said Luna. She then looked at Celestia. “And from the expression on your face it is clear that you wish that your son was able to join you for the day, am I wrong Tia?”
Celestia sighed. “I wish I could just keep him safe, and still have him with me, but that is a luxury that not even a princess can have. I just hope that he knows that I would love nothing more than to have him with me tomorrow.” Said Celestia.
Luna moved the scroll over to Celestia. “Maybe this will help, I think Princess Twilight accidentally sent it to me, without our nephew’s ability?” Said Luna.
Celestia grabbed the scroll in her magic and opened it.
After she finished reading the message, she felt horrible and it showed on her face, as tears started to poor down her face, then her sadness became anger, as she placed the scroll on her throne. “Luna, Spike is putting up a front to hide his sadness. I’m going to the vault and grabbing ‘that’ book. The spell will take me awhile to complete.” Celestia started to trot out of the throne room, but stopped half way. She looked to her sister and smiled. “Hey Luna, how would you like to spend some time with Spike?"