~3~
“Sorry if I’m imposing.”
No one talked at dinner.
Awkward glances? Yeah, there were tons of those. From behind her bowl of stew, Twilight stared at Spike. He would smile and quickly look away.
No one talked at dinner. No one bid the other good-night. Both went to sleep in silence.
Twilight awakened early morning. She hadn't set an alarm clock, for, it was the weekend. Despite the weekdays, where it was struggling to wake up, on the weekend, her body would wake up refreshed and ready. Twilight didn’t have a clue on how that worked.
She kicked off the covers and used her magic to tuck them in of the corners of the bed. Satisfied, she made her way downstairs.
The scent of eggs was in the air. A frying pan is swooshing over a flame. Twilight wasn’t the only one to wake up early today. She smiled as she reached the main floor and walked into the kitchen.
Inside, Spike donned his pink apron with a white chef’s hat. He hovered over the oven-top with a frying pan in hand. The drake swirled the pan over the fire before settling it down on top of the flame. He inched to the right, picked up a spice jar, pinched the contents, and spread it over the eggs. Once the scent hit his nose, he switched off the flame and went for the plates.
He noticed Twilight first. “Oh, Twilight. I didn’t think you were going to be up early.”
“Neither did I,” she replied with a small giggle. “What are you cooking?”
“Just eggs with spices on it. I didn’t think you were going to be up–” Spike reached into a cupboard and retrieved two plates, holding out both for Twilight to see “–but there should be enough for the two of us.”
“That’s great to hear,” Twilight said as she took a seat at the table. “Sorry if I’m imposing.”
“Not at all.”
As Spike began to tilt the eggs from the pan to plate, Twilight watched him from afar with a smile.
Looks like he’s back to normal. Ah, that takes a load off mind.
Spike brought the pan to the sink and filled it with water. Heat and cold battled – the aftermath being steam. Spike stopped the tap and left the water filled pan in the sink. He gave that chore to future Spike.
Spike picked up both plates and brought it to the table. He slid a plate over to Twilight and took a seat himself. The duo began to dig in.
“So, Spike?”
The drake looked up from his plate.
“Now that you’re looking a bit better today. How about we tear up that silly old resignation letter?” Twilight said. She was certain Spike had forgotten about it or was too shy to bring up the topic himself.
“Eh, sorry, Twi. My decision is still the same.”
Twilight breathed. “You had a full night to realize what a bad decision that was! Why are you are you still going through with this?”
Twilight’s outburst didn’t stop Spike from eating his eggs. “Because I want to try something new, Twi. I getting tired of doing the same thing every day; going to the same places every day. I want something new. I have no idea what it is, and I know that this is a terrible idea. But I already took a step forward – I’m not taking one back.”
“Spike” – Twilight pointed a hoof to her head – “think!”
“I did. And I thought it best not to think. If anything, thinking is what’s kept me from being happy.”
“This is ridiculous.” Twilight rose from her seat and stormed out the room.
Upon hearing the door slam, Spike sighed and dropped his shoulder. “So much for eating for two,” he muttered.
No one talked at breakfast.
Twilight couldn’t believe Spike was still serious about this. He must be joking! A little trick – a little joke on Twilight. She found the joke unfunny, as she did most jokes played on her. And, if this wasn’t a joke, then Spike was just out of his mind. Not thinking straight, letting his emotions take hold.
It was only a matter of time until Spike would admit he had made a mistake. Twilight believed this to be true for a week.
“You’re sure you don’t want to rip that paper?” Twilight inched her head forward. “I bet it’ll sound funny.”
“I’ll pass."
Spike sat back in a chair with a book in claw. A hot tea waited for Spike to pause in his book so that he would take a sip.
Twilight frowned. “Spike, this is something you’re going to regret, and you know it.”
Spike sighed as he closed his book. He sipped on his tea before addressing Twilight. “Twilight, you’ve been hounding me all week. The answer is the same. Honestly, I do not see why this is such a big deal – you can easily do all the things I can.” Spike stopped for a moment and bounced his head left and right. “Well, besides cook.”
Twilight shot him a glance. “Ignoring that last part. It’s going to be…er…lonely around here without you.” Twilight shrugged her shoulders.
“Ah, I guess that answers my question about whether I would get to stay or not.”
“No, wait.” Twilight sighed. “Isn’t this matter something we can discuss later?”
Spike picked up his tea, gazed down into the liquid, and gulped it in one go. “Twi, you can’t keep putting this off. I’m leaving – that’s it. If come back and there’s a home here, then great. If not? I’ll just sleep under the trees.”
“Tch. Like you’ve slept outside for more than a day.”
Spike place a claw over his heart as he inhaled. “Ouch,” he said through clenched teeth. “But you fuel my point more, Twi. That’s why I need to leave.”
“Heh. Leave. Leave. Leave! You’re talking like you’re already gone.”
“In a week, I will.”
Twilight shut her eyes and breathed deeply. If Spike is going to keep acting this way. Not listening to reason and being foolish. Then fine. Fine fine fine! Let him a try a day out there, and see how that works out.
“Know what, Spike?” Twilight opened her eyes. “Forget the week: you can leave right now.”
Spike tilted his head. “Seriously?”
“Yep.” Twilight directed her head to the library's entrance. “You can go march out that door right now for all I can care.”
“You sure?”
“Yeah,” Twilight breathed. “A hundred percent. To have a lazy dragon, who refuses to think on his own. Takes everything he has around him for granted, and thinks all his answers lay out there. I shouldn’t have to put up with that attitude.”
“Oh-oh. O-Okay.”
“And don’t worry about coming back, Spike.” Twilight giggled and inched her head forward. “Wanna know why?”
Spike hesitated before answering. “Why?”
“Because you were right: all your work was menial. I kept you around because I cared about you. Now, eh, not so much.” Twilight looked away, uninterested in the conversation. “I won’t even need Owlicious to replace him.”
“Heck, I guess he was kinda useless…”
That’s what did it. That’s what caused for Spike to curl his right claw. The reason why he stood up and punched that wall. The claw made it to the other side. Spike shot his head back to Twilight and smiled.
“I didn’t think you were going that far, but you did.” Spike breathed heavily through his nostrils. “I’m not sure if you meant that.”
Twilight could’ve taken this moment to realize the mistake she made. At this time, she could've found the reason why she said those hurtful words. Or, at least, know what effect the word useless has. But no, Twilight delved deeper, into her anger.
“Oh, I meant it, Spike. And thanks to your damage, on my property, you’re officially fired!” She shot a hoof to a door.
Spike withdrew his claw. His eyes didn’t stare at her, but he looked at her. A fire was burning in his green pupil. So many questions; so many feelings, burning in one flame. Spike walked to the door never breaking contact. Once at the door frame, he cracked a grin.
“So on my card, will this show up as a voluntary resignation?”
The door shut in his face. The curtains shuffled closed. Spike stood there, eyes unmoving from that door. Then his shoulder shook, and his mouth struggled to stay close. Then, it happened.
Spike burst out into laughter! “HAHAHAHA! This splendid – this is fantastic! Today, my last day working for Twilight Sparkle.” He flicked his wrists up as he turned his back on his home. “My LAST day as NUMBER ONE ASSISTANT.”
Spike rose a claw to they sky, clenching it at the clouds. “My first day of freedom.”
Spike continued to laugh a little longer. But, once the giggles stopped producing, Spike took his leave. Today was a good day. Nothing about today was going to affect Spike’s happiness. Today Spike would find out who he was.
Spike walked to nowhere, as the tears raced down his cheek.