//------------------------------// // 14 – "Uncalled For." // Story: Spike Quits His Job and Goes on Numerous Quests // by B_25 //------------------------------// ~14~ "Uncalled For." Fluttershy was standing before the Golden Oak Library. She left the cottage while the Luna’s moon hung high in the sky; departing through the back of her cottage to avoid waking Spike while being careful not to trigger his more sensitive hearing. It had been almost foal’s play for her to get through town, but when she finally reached Twilight’s house, she froze. Now, at the door of the tree home, Fluttershy’s heart raced. In her head, as usual, this moment played out far easier than it did when practiced; Twilight would be found crying alone in her room, and she would comfort her and make it known that the world was okay. But what if Twilight was still upset over what had happened? What if she got angry with Fluttershy for even bringing up his name; yelling until the ceiling cracked(What? I have never heard that expression before. Keep it if you like, but it’s weird. Also how would a roof crack in a tree house?). Fluttershy would be backed into a corner, as Twilight yelled louder and louder! Oh, how she would— Fluttershy, determined to put an end to that line of thought, turned her head around and shut her eyes tight. No! she thought. Twilight would never do that! Even if Twilight is upset, I know she would never yell. She just wouldn’t! Fluttershy reasoned. Her heart still raced. Suddenly she realized that the door had creaked open. “Fluttershy?” Twilight said, astonished at seeing a friend at such an hour. “I certainly wasn’t expecting you here at this time. Did you knock, or, did you not mean to knock?” “I, uh—” Twilight leaped out of the door frame. “It’s cold outside. Come on; please come in. I’ll make you some tea” she said with a warm smile. Fluttershy blinked as all that came out of her mouth were breaths. Not knowing why, she stepped into the library, Twilight closing the door behind her. “What were you doing out there?” Twilight asked as she led Fluttershy to the kitchen, “I was having trouble sleeping, so I decided to go for a walk.” She sat Fluttershy down at a table as she went to boil some water. Fluttershy smiled sheepishly as her eyes nervously scanned the room. “I was having trouble sleeping as well, and thought I’d come pay you a visit.” “At this time in the night?” said Twilight, picking up a few teacups and placing them on the table. “Well, you do tend to stay up late when you’re studying, and you were already up.” Twilight nodded. She went and took a seat while the water boiled, beckoning for Fluttershy to pull one up as well. She did as requested. “So, what can I help you with, Fluttershy?” “I… um…” Fluttershy cleared her throat. “H-How are you feeling, Twilight?” Twilight’s lips parted slightly. “I’ve been fine… thank you?” Her train of thought had derailed, and it took a second to restart. “How are you?” “I’m good, thank you.” Twilight did her best to smile. Just what was she supposed to say to that? “Is there any reason for your coming here?” “Well, sort of...” Fluttershy said, averting her eyes. “Well, it’s been awhile since you’ve last heard from Spike, right?” “What do you mean by that?”, said Twilight with a somewhat hostile expression growing on her face. “Well, he came by the other day to tell me… things weren’t great at home, and that he was going to leave to go on an adventure.” Somewhat of a sneer formed on Twilight’s face as she remembered her thoughts of her reptilian comrade, crawling back to her.“Oh, and did he do so?” Twilight questioned, already knowing the answer. “Well.” Fluttershy gulped. “I manage to convince him to stay around a little longer, so we could persuade him to stay.” “And why would you do that?” Twilight asked, sneer already melting off of her features. Fluttershy snapped her eyes to Twilights. “Why would you say something like that?” She demanded, awestruck at her friend’s disregard for Spike’s feelings.”We all love—” “Hah!” Twilight ‘s sneer returned with a vengeance. A little whine had started being heard. “I’d only go as far as like.” “How? How could you.” Fluttershy shook her head, mane following with her movements. “He’s Spike! The little dragon who's been with us for as long as we’ve been friends, so of course, we’d want him to stay around.” Fluttershy tried to talk sense into the alicorn princess to no avail. Twilight looked away sneer finally gone, but Fluttershy kept her eyes firm on Twilight. “We do want him around, don’t we, Twilight?” “I don’t think our opinions agree, Fluttershy.” The whining had gotten louder. Fluttershy wished she could not believe her ears. To do so is to hear that Twilight Sparkle didn’t want Spike in the picture of their friendship. “If anything, having him gone would make matters between the six of us so much easier. No more having him tag along when we want to be left alone. There would be fewer screw-ups, of course. But just the six of us, with him gone, sounds so pleasant to the ears.” Fluttershy needed to get her ears checked because she swore she heard ringing in them from how angry and sad she felt. The words she were hearing didn’t exist or weren’t true. “Twilight, what is the matter with you? What happened between the two of you to create such a rift?” “I don’t think of it as a rift, Fluttershy. More of a necessary distance for the betterment of our lives.” Twilight said, nearly shouting over the tea kettle. “No. Something is wrong here; you’re not telling me something.” “Spike wanted to stop being my pet and to become his dragon. It’s not an unusual request, and I do think he will find something out there that’ll satisfy him.” “Twilight! None of this makes any sense! Spike loves you!” “He loved me. And I liked him. But our duo team wasn’t bound to withstand time. Though, maybe with you, a pair could be formed.” said Twilight. “Don’t. Talk like that, Twilight,” Fluttershy spat. “As a friend, never talk like that to another friend. Even if you were joking you never talk to another friend like that.” “Who said I was joking?” “You better be, Twilight,” Fluttershy said. “You removed one friend from your life, and you’re about to do another.” “Oh, but I’ll still have five afterward.” Fluttershy shot up, throwing the chair backward into the stove, knocking over the boiling kettle. She wanted there to be tears in her eyes, yet a fire occupied her throat. “Here I been thinking: Am I taking advantage of Spike? Is this too much, will Twilight be upset? Oh, being more friendly with Spike is bound to stir issues, better not get close to him.” Fluttershy shouted, all thoughts of diplomacy flying out the window. “Do you know how hard it was to do that Twilight? I cried myself to sleep one night, just so I could preserve our friendship, and this is how you react to my kindness?” “Sometimes kindness is uncalled for. That’s a lesson you’ll learn soon enough, Fluttershy.” The fire in Fluttershy’s throat erupted, through her mouth closed before the flames could sprewed. Instead, Fluttershy dug into her satchel, removed a card, and threw it onto the ground. Fluttershy left through the back door without a sound, leaving Twilight to attend to the destroyed kitchen. Twilight rose up and carefully stepped before the card. Leaning her head down, she read it: Dear Twilight. You’re invited to attend a party with your six closest friends...