"Now Spike," Twilight began, "I want you to keep an eye on the library and make sure you finish your chores before you start reading your comics."
"I know, Twilight," the young dragon replied in an annoyed tone, rolling his eyes, "Sheesh! You act as though I'd never done this before."
"I know, Spike," Twilight replied concernedly, "It's just... I worry."
Spike smiled understandingly and hugged the alicorn, which she returned happily.
Noble sighed quietly and turned his eyes away. At that moment, he felt like an intruder. He knew he was a guest and they were in his room, temporary though it was. However, there were some things in others lives that should remain private.
"Noble," he heard Twilight ask, "are you alright?"
"I'm fine," Noble replied, rubbing his eyes before turning back, "just thought I saw something over there."
Twilight raised an eyebrow with a knowing look on her face.
"You could still go with her, Spike," Noble pronounced, changing the subject, "I did a fair job of handling the library yesterday, if I do say so myself."
"I still have chores I have to do anyway," Spike stated with a shrug, "Besides, I don't mind. I want to stay."
Noble eyed the dragon a moment. "Alright, Spike," he relented, rubbing Spikes head, "if you want to."
"I'll be back later," Twilight replied exiting the room, "keep an eye on each other."
"Well, I got things to do," Spike replied leaving.
"Would you mind telling me where the map section is?" Noble replied rising.
"What do you need maps for?" Spike replied hastily.
Noble stopped, surprised at the dragons boldness. "I want to find out more about the area."
"I could get them for you."
"I appreciate what you're trying to do, Spike," Noble replied, smiling at the dragon's concern, "but you don't have to keep doing things for me. I'm not an invalid, in spite differing opinions. I was up and about for a little while yesterday and I was fine. And I also don't want you to feel like you owe me something either."
"It's not that," Spike replied, shyly, "I just like doing things for ponies I like, that's all."
Noble stared quietly at the dragon for a moment. He stood rocking back and forth on his heels with his eyes on the ground. Noble couldn't help, but smile. Spike reminded Noble of himself as a little foal. 'If it makes him happy,' he thought, 'what's the harm?'
"Okay, Spike," he replied, settling himself, "you win. Get the maps."
Spike bounded out of the room as though he were on a spring. Noble shook his head at the dragon's enthusiasm, wondering where he found the energy for it. He lied back in bed, placing his hooves behind his head. Staring at the ceiling, he asked himself, 'What would cause three timberwolves to run with the pack under attack?' He closed his eyes in contemplation, seeing only blood red eyes staring back at him.
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"Well," he heard Spike reply, "I'm done until somepony pops in for a book. Did you find what you need?"
"Not yet," Noble replied, closing the map, "but I will."
"What are you looking for?"
"Nothing you need concern yourself with."
Spike sighed, his ego a little deflated. With that, he pulled out a glossy paper book from a drawer underneath the shelves. He popped up onto a chair and started reading, holding the book with his feet.
"What is that you have there?"
"'The Adventures of the Power Ponies,'" Spike said with a flourish of his clawed hands.
Noble looked at Spike as though he had spoken a foreign language. Upon noticing the look, Spike shot a questioning glance at the stallion. "Seriously? You never heard of the Power Ponies?"
Noble shook his head in reply.
Spike smiled slyly at his answer. "Wait here a second."
With that, he darted from the room. Upon returning, he carried a stack of comics about as high as his chin. He staggered to the table, placed them down with a huff and stood on a chair. "Let's start at the beginning. Prepare to have your mind officially blown." Noble wasn't sure to be nervous or excited at the dragon's newfound enthusiasm.
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"Well, I can certainly see the appeal of these," Noble replied, five pages into issue seven of 'The Adventures of the Power Ponies.'
"Yeah," Spike said, contentedly reading his own issue, "they are pretty great."
"Makes me want to be a superhero."
"Eh, it's okay," Spike replied with a shrug.
"What do you know about it?"
"Got sucked into a comic once?"
Noble lifted an eyebrow at the young dragon.
"It's true!" Spike exclaimed seeing Noble's skepticism, "Twilight and everypony else was there too."
"Stranger things have happened," Noble replied, shrugging, "So which hero were you?"
"Hum Drum."
"Ouch." Noble winced in sympathy.
"It wasn't that bad. I even managed to save the day."
"Alright Spike," Noble replied, setting aside his comic, "you had my curiosity. Now, you have my attention. I want to hear this story."
"Um, excuse me," a quiet voice replied. In fact, it was so quiet Noble almost didn't hear it.
They both turned to see a butter-colored pegasus standing in the doorway. She had a long, pink, flowing mane and tail. Her crystal blue eyes peered timidly into the room. Upon being seen, she shrunk back from their gaze.
"Oh," she replied, her voice matching her demeanor, "I'm sorry. I hope I'm not interrupting anything."
"Eh, just enjoying some down time," Spike replied, placing his comic down, "Talk to me."
"Actually, I came to see how the patient was doing."
"I'm doing fine," Noble replied, "thank you for asking."
"Oh, I'm glad to hear it," she replied, seeming to shrink down further into herself.
Noble glanced at the little dragon, an eyebrow raised in a silent question.
"That's Fluttershy," he whispered behind his claw, "she's kind of timid around new ponies."
Noble nodded, rubbing his chin in thought. "Ms. Fluttershy," he replied after a moment, "I understand that you were one of the ponies that helped me in the woods."
She nodded her reply meekly.
"In that case," he replied giving a small bow, "allow me to offer you my thanks."
"I didn't really do much," she replied, a small blush creeping on her cheeks.
"I have to disagree with you, Ms. Fluttershy."
"Oh, no. It's nothing, compared to what you did with those timberwolves."
Noble felt himself start to blush. "I did what anypony else would have done. Even little Spike here was willing to have a go at them."
Spike lifted his comic from the table and hid his face behind it. This elicited a giggle from the shy pegasus.
"Hey guys," a strange voice appeared from the window, "What's up?"
Turning towards it, he noticed a cyan pegasus leaning in the window. She had the build of an athlete and her short-cut rainbow-colored mane only confirmed this suspicion.
"Hey, Rainbow Dash," Spike replied waving, "what brings you here?"
"Looking for Fluttershy," Rainbow Dash replied, flying in through the open window, "but, since I'm here anyway, I may as well see the new pony on the block."
She approached the side of the bed, her purple eyes scanning him from head to hoof. Noble had the feeling that bugs under glass went through the exact same thing.
"So you're the pony who took on a pack of timberwolves, huh?" she asked, skeptically.
"Technically..." he started.
"Well, I only got three words to describe that," she interrupted, leaning in closer.
"That...was...AWESOME!!!"
Noble felt his eyebrows raise at the last word.
"I heard all about it!" the pegasus replied excitedly, darting about the room. "You were all ZOOM! And they were all ROAR! And you were all WHOA! HOO-HAH! That sounded so epic!"
Noble felt himself start to blush even more under the pegasus' praise. "I didn't do anything that spectacular," he managed to stammer out.
"Are you kidding?! Even I won't charge a timberwolf pack and I'm amazing. You have to be like the bravest pony ever. What's your name, dude?"
"Come to think of it," Fluttershy replied, "I forgot to ask. I'm sorry."
Noble smiled, holding up a forgiving hoof to the shy pegasus. "Noble Valor."
"Well you know somethin', Noble. You're alright. I'd like to hang, but I got training to do."
Noble smiled, reminiscing about times long past. "I understand, responsibilities first."
"Come on, Fluttershy," Rainbow Dash replied, pushing the shy pegasus, "I'm trying out some new stunts and I need you to time me."
"Okay," Fluttershy replied quietly, "see you soon, Noble."
"Yeah, see ya Noble."
Noble waved as they left the room, smiling as they left. 'The way those two act,' he thought, 'they remind me of...'
He let the thought die, unfinished. He didn't have to finish it. He felt his smile leave as quickly as it had arrived.
"Is something wrong, Noble?" Spike asked, his voice filled with concern.
"No, Spike," he replied, "not a thing," He lifted the comic again, doubtful if he would enjoy it as he did earlier.