The sweet aroma of freshly baked pancakes washed through the many rooms the library. A pan softly sizzled on the fire; its buttery contains slowly becoming deliciousness. The counter was cluttered with ingredients, various pots and pans and a half burned cooking book was hidden beneath all the chaos. Hopefully it met a tragic end in the washing machine as it was another one of Spike’s experimental cooking victims.
Various splatters of dough still stained the kitchen ceiling when Spike was carrying a plate of the freshly baked goods to the table. It was almost ten so time for a sweet and not so healthy breakfast.
He was the first one to wake up this morning which never happened and even now it was this late Twilight hadn’t woken up. If he ever dared to sleep this late Twilight would fry his scaly ass off. He didn’t mind this change at all. It was a nice pace after the hectic week, it had been nuts. After the completely ruined sleepover Twilight had Spike slaving around while the pony was reading and studying. What she exactly did she didn’t tell but Spike had an easy guess, he was made to fetch books from Canterlot sometimes and the titles revealed enough.
After reading her latest order last night, a book about the royal sisters, she had shut herself in her room. Spike didn’t know why but he was glad that he had some rest. Selfishly he wished it would stay that way but he also honestly thought Twilight needed to rest and relax. That’s why she was here with her friends and not in Canterlot or home at her parents. Twilight had eventually decided against going home, even after the sleepover.
Spike looked at the clock above the fridge to see if he still had time; the library wouldn’t open for another hour so there was no pressure. Although Twilight always wanted to be on time and it was bad idea for her to sleep out, Spike couldn’t help but think that her reaction would be funny. And who knows, her rushing to do her job might even be good for her.
He whistled a tune as he prepared another pancake. With a quick whip of the wrist the pancake flew in the air, made a flip and landed perfectly back in the pan. “Skills.”
He was just about to turn it again when somepony knocked on the front door. He shrieked in surprise and his throw went completely off track. The still wet dough flipped in the air and splattered on his face. The heat was painful and Spike screamed as he flailed his arms running the through room. After a few seconds of pain he finally found a towel to wipe his face as he walked towards the door.
He opened the door to see Cheerilee standing there with a crowd of young ponies standing behind her.
“Good morning Spike.” The teacher said cheerfully. “Isn’t Twilight here? She would open up early today for the monthly reading assignment.” Some of foals in the back gave a silent yell of approval, happy they didn’t need to read a stupid book.
Spike thought for a moment, he seemed to remember that Twilight said something about this probably a month ago or so. If Cheerilee would be here it must be today obviously. No harm in opening up early if that is what Twilight promised.
“She is here, but overslept. Just come in, she’ll be down in few minutes.” He opened the door for the class to enter. A loud sound of disapproval could be heard from the foals. With their heads held low they entered in defeat. .
He followed the pack inside and closed the door behind. It didn’t take long for the little foals to excitedly run around the bookcases showing books they found to others. In the back Cheerilee gave a warning to a little colt that had shown a picture in a Sexual education book to his giggling friends.
Spike quickly left them behind; even those little pesks couldn’t break down the library in a few minutes alone. He walked up the landing to the private area and knocked on the door. There was no answer; he figured Twilight must still be asleep. He turned the handle to only notice the door didn’t budge.
“Weird, I didn’t lock it did I?” He scratched his head and he knocked hoping Twilight would wake up. “Twilight, Miss Cheerilee is here!” He yelled through the wood.
“Then what are you doing upstairs? Go and do your job!” Twilight answered surprising the little dragon for a moment.
“My job?” Spike raised his eyebrow.
“yes, you are my assistant. When I don’t want to do my job it is your job.” She yelled back. Spike became angry at the way she was talking, what was Twilight thinking.
“Don’t want to do your job? What is your problem Twilight? You have t-“ A loud bang on the door interrupted him. Twilight must’ve used a her magic to fling a book at the door.
“Fine, be like this!” He yelled back, not having any interest in this childish argument.
Grumbling he went back down the stairs. As he entered the library again the little ponies were still running around even when most of them had already chosen a book. The library was still in one piece. At the front desk Cheerilee was waiting, she had a concerned look on her face. Spike feared she might have heard their little discussion.
“So Twilight isn’t coming?” she asked. Spike wasn’t sure but he thought he heard a hint of disappointment in her voice.
“No, she doesn’t feel so well I guess. But that’s no problem; I’m able to handle the checkouts.”
Cheerilee just nodded. “Well okay” She turned around and went to herd her students into a line for the checkout. As he was preparing the papers a yellow filly with red hair came up to him.
“Hey Applebloom.” He raised his claw and Applebloom bumped her hoof against it.
“Something wrong with Twilight?” She asked. Most students didn’t know Twilight beyond as the local librarian. But Applebloom was one of Twi’s best friend’s little sister.
“She is grumpy for some reason.”
“I hope things get better. I heard AJ talking miss Rarity this morning. They seemed really concerned about Twilight.” Spike sighed.
“They are, and so am I. I know what is going on but I can’t tell. But it still isn’t a reason to be like this.” He was getting agitated, but quickly had to put that aside as the foals came in with their chosen books.
He quickly worked throughout the checkouts. Most books were as thin as possible, except for one. Scootaloo had chosen herself the latest Daring Do. After ten minutes of work everything was done and the class went on its way. Spike quickly exchanged a high hoof with the cutiemark crusaders before they left.
He turned around to put the papers back in place when he heard Cheerilee tell her foals to wait for a minute. She came back in and walked up to him.
“Spike, is something wrong with Twilight?” She sounded concerned. Spike knew Twilight and Cheerilee were friends so it was normal for her to ask.
He sighed. “No, not really. She is having some issues at the moment.” Cheerilee put her hoof on his claw, as a way of comfort. “Aww Spike, I’m sorry to hear. Please, tell her that if she wants to talk, she can come to me.” Spike smiled at this, it was good to hear Twilight had more friends she could turn to.
“I will, thanks.”
Days had gone by since Cheerilee and her class came by, and every day since then Spike was in charge of the library. Twilight would just lock her door after Spike woke up, and appear half through the day if she needed something or if one of her friends came by. But even those moments seemed to grow thin.
“Sorry Rare, but Twilight just doesn’t want to leave her room. She keeps saying she is busy.” He crossed his arm in anger. “Busy with nothing.” This was getting ridiculous in his opinion. Twilight wasn’t only becoming lazy; she was also ignoring him and her friends. When he had told about what Cheerilee said, she just waved it away.
“This isn’t good at all. And she hasn’t talked to you as well?” Spike just shook his head. Rarity’s face fell. “I think we need some help with this. Can you send a letter to the princess?”
“No problem.” He started picking a quill and paper when Rarity stopped him.
“No Spike, I’m going to write it myself. And so will the others. We each have to show how much we are concerned about Twilight.”
“Okay, Just bring it when it needs to be send.”
Rarity soon left the library to visit her friends after a quick goodbye. It was quiet now his friend had left. He decided to clean up the library again, to fill in the time. But that soon became just a petty distraction, as everything was perfectly in order. He had cleaned the entire library 7 times this week already. It was only Wednesday.
Another hour went past without any customers. It was almost four o’clock now; the library would still be open for two more hours. Spike knew well enough that there wouldn’t be coming anypony around this time. He decided to close the library up early today and read some to entertain himself. When you live in a library, it’s impossible to not pick up reading, even if you think books are stupid. He stomped up the stairs to get his book, but when he stood before the closed door he remembered he couldn’t get in. The last days he had even slept on the couch downstairs because Twilight simply refused to open the door.
But when he tried anyways, out of habit, the door went open. He blinked a few times before going in. Slowly he looked inside the room. It was dark, the curtains were closed. But that didn’t keep him from seeing all the stuff that was lying on the floor. The room was a total mess. He turned on the light and was surprised to see that the whole floor was covered in books, quills and scroll, clothing and to his great surprise, hairs. He rushed to the bed panicking and pulled the blankets away. Twilight was lying in her bed, her bloodshot eyes open, staring at him. Her coat and hair was unwashed; feathering had grown long and thick and almost completely covered her hooves.
“Twilight, what have you done to yourself? You’re filthy.” He breathed in and had to pinch his nose shut. “You smell filthy”. She looked at him and just shrugged like it didn’t even matter to her but her stare penetrated him, begging for help.
“Oh Twilight. Why have you done this?” He ran his claw trough her hair; it was greasy and stuck to his claws. Twilight pushed her head against the claw, closing her eyes. “I’ll prepare a bath.”
The bath filled with hot steamy water as he added all kinds of soaps to the water creating a thick foam layer. Once filled, he turned his attention back to Twilight. She still hadn’t moved from her spot on the bed, only turned around to watch out the door as Spike was preparing the bath. Spike gently picked her up from the bed, her coat stuck to his scales but he didn’t care. Twilight laid herself in his arms, trying to get deeper in the embrace.
Witch much effort he walked to the bathroom and laid her and himself in the big tub. With Twilight in front of him he started to scrub her coat with a brush. Filth streamed in the water and it didn’t take long for the water to take a brownish look. It took a full two hours and a few refills to wash her coat. At the moment Spike was washing the mare’s mane. He rinsed the long strands, finishing the long wash.
“And we are all done.” Twilight sighed a content sigh and let herself sink in the water and leaned against Spike’s body. He took her in her arms and pulled her against him.
“I miss her.” She whispered, her eyes were getting heavy and it didn’t take for her to fall asleep under the caring strokes of Spike’s claws through her mane.