About three months had passed since Skylights birthday, and for Spike, things hadn’t improved much. He was still playing the part of a glorified servant, doing chores for Twilight, as well as helping with the baby that he was starting to resent. Clarity still persisted inside Spikes mind, using its words to erode Spikes sense of happiness and self worth. It was always there, making sure Spike never got back into a positive mindset. Spike had learned to deal with it as best he could, but ever since Spike had first spoken to Clarity, he’d had this dark empty feeling in his stomach, one that rarely went away.
When Spike wasn’t working, he was sleeping. At first it helped. When he was asleep, he was in a peaceful black void, where there was neither worry, nor fear. It had become his favorite hobby, more than comic book reading, and the other activities he had used to enjoy. That was, until he started dreaming. Clarity had found a way into his dreams, and used that time to preach his philosophy to Spike, showing him memories of how Spike was treated as a servant, instead of a family member, or even a friend. Spike now had nothing to look forward to, no release from the depressing continuum that had become his life.
It started out as a normal day for Spike. He had woken up early in the morning, as he was now accustomed to. In fact, he now only slept the bare minimum that his body required. He had prepared his breakfast, as the sky was still dark, and once he finished, he got started to work on his chore list.
Spike worked until the sun started to rise. When that happened, he took a break to go to the kitchen, to start Twilights breakfast. When he was done with that, he would return to his chore list.
Just as Spike finished frying up some scrambled eggs, he heard a loud yawn coming form his right. He turned his head to see Twilight walking towards him, holding a hoof to her mouth. She let it down, and rubbed the sleep from her eyes before addressing the young dragon.
“Morning Spike, how’d you sleep?” she asked.
“Fine,” replied the assistant.
“That’s good,” said Twilight, as she made her way towards the table, taking a seat. It was just then that Spike finished preparing her meal. He slid the food onto a plate, and placed it on the table in front of Twilight.
“Thanks Spike!” said Twilight, as she started digging in.
“Mhm,” replied Spike as he hung up his apron, and started heading back to the library section of the home.
“Aren’t you going to eat?” questioned the princess.
“No, I already had breakfast.”
“How long have you been up?”
“About an hour,” lied Spike. The truth was, he’d been up much, much longer. Twilight seemed satisfied, and continued eating. While she did this, Spike returned to the task he was on before he had taken a break to prepare Twilights breakfast.
“If she cared about you, she would’ve noticed that you haven’t been sleeping in anymore,” whispered Clarity. Instead of replying verbally, Spike merely considered its words, but didn’t respond otherwise. He merely grabbed the feather duster off the center pedestal, and started dusting. This was the last task he had to complete.
A short time later, Spike had finished dusting the library, and returned his cleaning supplies to where they belonged. Spike then used his hands to arch his back, causing a cracking sound to be heard. He then cracked his knuckles, before letting out a content sigh. As he did this, Twilight came walking into the room.
“So Spike, what are you doing today?”
“Well, I just finished my chores for the day, so I was going to head out into town for a while.”
“You finished your chores already?” exclaimed Twilight with surprise.
“Yeah.”
“All of them?”
“Yep.”
“Wow, I’m impressed Spike! You sure have been doing amazing work lately!”
“Thanks Twilight,” replied Spike.
“Sure. Alright, have fun, just be back within a few hours, I might need your help with something later.”
“Yeah, sure.” Twilight made her way upstairs, probably to check on her child, while Spike made his way towards the door. He stepped out of the library to meet the warm embrace of the morning sun.
“If she bothered thinking about you at all, she would realize that it’s impossible for you to finish your chores in the time she thinks you do. But she doesn’t, because she doesn’t care.”
Spike grimaced, his head jerking to the side in a quick spastic motion, before he reset himself, and started walking. Though he said that he was going to be hanging around town, he actually was going to a completely different place. A place where he could be alone.
Spike made his way through town, unnoticed by most. He didn’t see any of Twilights friends as he walked, which was fine with him. They were her friends anyway, not his. After all, it’s not like they ever spent time with him, unless they needed something. So Spike made his way out of town, past the fields, towards the outskirts of town. He stopped when he was about forty feet away from the Everfree Forest. He turned his body and head, and scanned the area for anypony that might see him. When he was satisfied that nopony was watching him, he turned back towards the forest, and entered it.
He used to fear this place, but recently, it had become a safe haven for him, as long as he didn’t journey to deep. He felt more at home here, than he did at the library. The dark, and depressing forest seemed to match how he felt on the inside. Spike made his way through the forest; gathering sticks and leaves as he walked, making his way towards his usual spot.
After a few minutes, he came to a small clearing in the forest. In this clearing, was a small little pond, and a dead tree trunk lying on its side. Spike made his way to that little spot. He set the rummage he had gathered on the ground, and sat on the tree. He picked up one of the sticks from the pile, and held it up in front of him. He looked around one more time, to make sure nopony was near, and when he was sure, he turned back to the stick. He opened his mouth, and let out a small burst of flame onto the stick, causing it to catch fire.
He just spent a few minutes watching the fire, as it slowly burned the stick. He just stared at the flickering little flame. When it came about two inches down, he grabbed one of the leaves from the pile, and touched it to the stick, causing it to catch fire as well. He would watch it burn, and once it was reduced to ashes, he’d pick up another leaf, and repeat the process.
This was Spike's hobby. He had taken comfort in just watching things burn, gazing as the tiny flames consumed them. Of course, if one of these fires were to lose control, he had the pond nearby to stop the fire from spreading. He didn’t want to burn anything down; he just wanted to watch these tiny little flames consume dead leaves and sticks. When he did this, he was able to lose himself, forget that horrible feeling in his gut, forget about Clarity, and just focus on watching the little flame.
Of course, Spike did this in the Everfree, where he was sure nopony would find him. They might confuse him with a pyromaniac, which he knew he wasn’t. He didn’t want to burn down forests or houses of course, he was satisfied with this little bit that he was doing.
It went like this for an hour or so. Spike was about to light another stick, when he felt something in his gut. He knew that feeling well. Acting quickly, he tossed the stick into the pond, and opened his mouth, belching out a scroll. Catching with his hand, he looked at it to see it was a letter from the Princess.
‘Hm. Guess I have to go back,' thought the young drake. Hopping off the log, he turned and made his way out of the forest, towards Ponyville. He made sure to exit at a spot that was farther away from Fluttershy’s cottage, or the town, and then made his way towards town. He started jogging, and navigated his way through town as fast as he could, without wearing himself out.
When he finally came to the library, he opened the door, and entered the building. When he did, he saw Skylight sitting on the floor, playing with some blocks, while Twilight sat on a couch reading. The Princess looked up from her book to see Spike enter the library.
“Hey Spike, how was your personal time?”
“It was fine. I came back, because I got a letter from Princess Celestia,” said Spike as he held up the scroll.
“Ooh,” said Twilight, as she set her book down on the couch, and stood up. She used her magic to take the scroll from Spike’s hand, and unrolled the scroll. Clearing her throat, she began to read the letter aloud.
“Dear Princess Twilight Sparkle,
It is with great pride that I announce that you are cordially invited to the Crystal Empire to aid in a diplomatic meeting between the rulers of
Equestria, and the foreign dignitaries of the nation of Maretonia. Both Luna and I will be there, along with Princess Cadence.
These talks will hopefully help our two nations come to a greater understanding of each other, as well as improving trade. The meetings will be in two days. We hope to see you soon Princess Twilight, you and your friends as well.
Gracefully yours, Princess Celestia"
Twilight lowered the scroll, her eyes slightly widened.
“Oh my gosh! My first diplomatic act as a Princess! This is so wonderful!” exclaimed Twilight, as she dropped the scroll. Hearing the name of his favorite Empire, gave Spike a boost of emotion, and excitement.
“Wow Twilight, that’s great Twilight! I can’t wait to go to the Empire again! When do we leave?” Twilight stopped her joyous reaction, and replaced it with a look of embarrassment.
“Well, actually Spike, I was hoping you could stay here, and look over Skylight and the library.”
“W-what?”
“It’s just that, with the diplomatic meetings and such, I won’t have much time to take care of the little guy, so I was hoping you could stay here and foal sit for a few days."
“O-oh…”
“You don’t mind do you?”
“Of course you mind! Speak up for yourself! Demand that you go to the empire!”
“Couldn’t I watch him AT the Crystal Empire?”
“Well, if we did that, you’d probably be to busy to actually enjoy the trip. It would just be easier this way.” With a dejected sigh, Spike consented to Twilights request.
“Yeah, sure Twi. I can handle things here.”
“Worthless!”
“Thanks Spike! And don’t worry; when I get back, maybe we can see about going back on a vacation, just the three of us!”
“That sounds…great.”
“Good, I’m glad you understand. I’m going to go get the girls,” said Twilight, picking up Skylight in her magic, and making her way out the door. As soon as it shut, Spike shut his eyes, and held a hand to his head.
“Ouch. That’s got to hurt.”