//------------------------------//
// Foalsitting 
// Story: Spike's Centennial 
// by CinnamonFritter 
//------------------------------//

	“We really don’t have to continue today, Spike.” Pinkie said reassuringly.
Spike wiped the tears on his cheeks away, “N-no… this is good. I can take it. I’m a big guy.”
Pinkie nodded. “If you say so. They should be getting happier anyway, right?”
Spike looked pensive, rolling up the scroll. “Maybe.” He picked up the next scroll.


My Dearest Assistant and Beloved Little Brother Spike:
I’m taking this chance with you out of the library to write another of these letters. I haven’t decided when I should show them to you yet. I doubt you’d appreciate the sentiment that goes into them right now. You’re off with the crusaders, taking care of our honorary nieces and nephews. I don’t know if you’ll ever consider having children of your own, but I hope you do well with them as you grow. Libraries will always have children about, and if I have any say in it, you’re going to be the best Librarian there ever was. I know a lot of the work seems tedious, but I’ve seen the way you open up when you talk about a book you love. I’ve seen you eager to share knowledge with ponies, and it is a remarkable sight. Anyway, you’ve always been better at finding books and sorting them than I am. Hopefully, foalsitting is not too stressful tonight. I’d like to see you outside of your room for a while.
Sincerely, Twilight Sparkle.


Spike thought back, and chuckled. “Oh, Sweetie…”

“Spike? Spike? Spike? Spike? Hey Spike? Spike? Spike?”
Spike sighed, looking up from his book. “What is it, Sweetie?”
The grown mare chuckled at the town’s resident dragon/assistant librarian. “AB, Scoots, and I are gonna be taking care of the kids tonight, want to join in?”
“I dunno if I’m all that good with colts and fillies.” Spike raised one scaley eyebrow at the singer.
Sweetie tugged on his claw with a field of green magic from her horn. “Come ooooonnnnn…”
“Go on, Spike. The library will survive not having its watchdragon around for a few hours.” Twilight Sparkle smiled, walking down the stairs. “Mothers of Ponyville taking another ‘mom’s night out’, Sweetie?”
Sweetie turned around to face Twilight, the motion combined with her magic tugging Spike over the returns desk and into a faceplant into the hardwood floor. “Oh yeah! Rarity, Fluttershy, and Applejack are having a night out again, with Bon Bon and Lyra this time.”
Spike grunted, and pushed free of the magical hold, flexing his wings. “And I bet the dads are off on their own party night so they won’t have to watch the foals.”
Twilight peered at Spike. “Don’t be so negative Spike.”
“Not being negative.” He stood upright, stretching and letting some joints pop. “Just being realistic.”
“Well, don’t talk like that around the little ones.” Twilight chided.
Spike sighed and nodded. “See you later on tonight, Twi.”
She nodded as well, waving. “Have a fun time, you two.”
Spike made some sort of noncommital sound, and stepped out the front door.
Sweetie had waited for him, and now moved to walk with him, “You were right, you know. The ‘guys’ are off drinking as far as I know.”
Spike nodded smugly. “So, what’s the venue for tonight’s circus?”
“We’re gonna be holed up in the barn with a projector and that video game system Rarity bought to help raise Lancer.” Sweetie led the dragon towards Sweet Apple Acres.
“The Gamesphere? Neighstation’s got a better game library.” Spike chuckled. They were both distracted by a low rumble.
Turning to look, there was Scootaloo approaching on her motorcycle. Spike still didn’t know how she afforded the payments on the hog, but he remembered how the first time she’d seen one she’d sworn she’d have one.
She rumbled to a crawl next to them, raising her helmets’ visor. “Hey Sweets, Spike. Think those overgrown bat wings can beat me to the farm?”
“Oh, I know they can.” Spike grinned.
Sweetie covered her ears with her hooves, as Scoots slammed her visor down and tore off down the road.
Spike stood where he was, looking smug.
Sweetie looked up, “I thought you were racing?”
“We’re already inside the border of Sweet Apple Acres, and you and me got here first.” Spike winked, and continued to amble along the lane. Maybe a night without library duties would be nice.
Then he heard the clamor of fillies and colts, rushing to greet “aunt Scootaloo” on her motorcycle.
And then Spike remembered.
Sweetie smiled, but muttered, “Gonna be a loooooong night.”
“Well,” Spike deadpanned. “If we’re lucky I won’t burn down the barn this time.”

“This time? Did you burn it down before?” Pinkie looked inquisitive.
“What?” Spike snapped back to reality.
Pinkie peeked at the scroll from her position rested against Spike. “See, it was happier.”
“I suppose it was.” Spike smiled softly.
Pinkie grinned. “It reminded me, though. How come you haven’t found some nice dragoness to settle down with?”
Spike groaned, but couldn’t help but grin too. “Because all the dragonesses I’ve met would sooner burn my face off as look at me.”
“That’s what they call playing hard to get.” Pinkie winked.
Spike laughed, setting the scroll down.
Pinkie beamed, watching Spike laugh.