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// Does this count as a 'Sick day'? 
// Story: Princess Spike 
// by Daelyx Len Auphydas 
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"Cant I go? I can... uff," Spike was interrupted as his attempts to walk were once again interrupted by faceplanting into the ground. Twilight suppresses a giggle as she helps steady him, giving him a look of both concern and amusement.

"I don't think you're in any kind of fit state to be walking around." Twilight states, a little wryly. "Plus, I want to keep a close eye on you to make sure you're ok. You did just destroy your bedroom not that long ago, what if you blew up like that again in the middle of town? Somepony could get seriously hurt." Twilight justifies. It somewhat reminds her of when she had to absorb all the Alicorn magic in Equestria; Suddenly having to control far more power than she was used to. Her young charge would certainly need some tutoring in how to control his magic before he could do anything.

Of course, that wasn't the only reasons she doesn't want him to be walking around town... Twilight would not put it past him to try and use his newfound Alicorn status to sweep Rarity off her feet.

Spike reluctantly looks down at the ground. "Yeah... I guess you're right." he mutters after a moment.

Twilight puts a hopefully reassuring wing around his shoulders and gives him a smile. "C'mon, I can help give you some pointers so you can get along alright. We don't know how long you'll be stuck like this, but at least you should be able to be safe and comfortable before I start focusing on investigating."

Spike can't help but roll his eyes reflexively when he hears the signature tone shift that warns him whenever Twilight goes into 'lecture' mode. He can't help it, it's just a gut reaction, even when the lecture in question is actually helpful. "Now, watch what I do and try to follow along." Twilight instructs, standing in front of Spike and then slowly, meticulously taking a step forward, emphasizing good posture and balance.

"Um, I think I've seen ponies walk before, Twi." Spike retorts dryly. 

Twilight looks maybe slightly offended, but takes it in stride. "Sure, but have you ever paid close attention to how they do it? You need to get comfortable on your own four legs before you can do anything else." Twilight affirms. Spike sighs, and reluctantly follows along.

Thankfully, it doesn't take too long for Spike to get the hang of it, and soon enough he was practicing some slightly more complicated maneuvers- Opening doors, holding objects, climbing ladders. It was amazing how many simple tasks you just took for granted, that became so much harder when your entire body proportions shifted overnight. But slowly, Spike was growing more comfortable with his ability to navigate the world in this new form.

For Twilight's part, she is at least relieved that Spike's horn doesn't seem to be igniting with green fire anymore. At least, until he starts getting frustrated trying to use a quill with his mouth.

"I've had it with this! How do ponies even write with these things?" Spike protests. "Now I get why you always have me write everything, this is impossible!" Spike complains.

"U-um, Spike, be careful!" Twilight protests, eyeing his horn as it lights up with green fire reflecting his growing frustration. Too late, because Spike spits out the quill in agitation, and in the process, accidentally releases a dart of green fire from his horn. His mane and tail flare up, once again appearing like a devouring flame, and a streak of fire jets from the tip of his horn. Spike yelps in surprise, in the process spitting out another burst of green flame from his mouth.

"No!" Twilight shouts in terror as her precious books are incinerated before her eyes. She reflexively casts a protective spell to block the flame from spreading farther, but some damage had already been done- An entire bookshelf was reduced to cinders.

Twilight shrieks in horror, jumping forward to try and salvage anything she can. "No! Spike, this was where I was keeping the Compendium of Breezy Anatomy! I hadn't had time to read that yet!" Twilight scrambles to look through the burnt books, desperately hoping any of them were intact, but all turn to ash as soon as she touches them. 

Meanwhile, Spike stumbles backwards and stares at the ground, cheeks burning in shame and anxiety. "I-I'm sorry, Twi, I didn't mean to..." Spike mutters huskily- He knows exactly how important books are to Twilight after all. 

Twilight looks back at Spike, pausing, two separate emotions at war inside of her head. One part of her wants to comfort Spike, tell him it's all ok, that he was more important than any silly books. The other part wants to scream at him for desecrating the sanctity of her library.

Gradually, a third voice starts to win out- One enraptured by Spike's apparently unique magical abilities. Fascinating! Even though he's an Alicorn now, he still seems to have retained his fire breath. The warring emotions within Twilight begin taking their toll on her, and her breathing and heart rate accelerate. 

Spike looks on, distraught, recognizing the tell-tale signs of a neurotic episode from Twilight. "H-hey, Twilight, I'm sorry. I'll make it up to you somehow, I promise." Spike tries to reassure her. "I-I'll make a trip to Canterlot once this is all sorted out and buy a new copy of it with my allowance, ok?"

Twilight blinks up at her assistant, feeling herself calm down as compassion overbalances the tragedy that had just occurred. Taking a deep breathe, she clears her throat, which feels oddly dry. "It's ok, Spike." She forces herself to say, although she most certainly did not think that burnt books were ever ok. "You don't have to do that, it wasn't your fault." Twilight states with some effort, suppressing the murderous rage that destroyed books incites in her heart. "We'll just have to clean this up later. Right now, I think we should get to the lab and see if we can get that fire of yours under control." 

A subtle undercurrent of excitement pulses through Twilight's heart. Not only get it under control, but learn how it worked- As far as anypony could tell, Spike was now an entirely novel organism! The study opportunity quite simply could not be passed up.

Spike nods, seeming to cheer up a little, seeing that Twilight was apparently not angry at him. "Alright! I bet I can walk there on my own, now!" Spike proclaims, before immediately feeling somewhat pathetic for saying such a thing. Imagine being proud of just being able to walk...

Twilight shrugs. She could have just teleported the both of them, but, Spike could probably use the practice; after all, who knew how long he would be stuck like this? "Alright, Spike, come along, then."