Dear Journal,
Being the number one assistant of Twilight Sparkle isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
Sure, I have a great life. I love Ponyville and all of its inhabitants, and I really do love the library. I’ve cleaned that dusty old tree so many times I could probably point out where every crack in the wall is, what book goes on what shelf, and why it’s absolutely unacceptable to put Star Swirl the Bearded’s Guide to Brews, Stews, and Flus next to Star Swirl the Bearded’s Guide to Spells, Shells, and Wells, but I won’t bother. It’ll use up too much paper anyways.
But a lot of ponies seem to think I’m constantly floating on that figurative cloud in the sky. Cloud 9, or whatever. I’m sidekick to the Princess, the Element of Magic herself! Great, right? Wrong.
I guess the first thing is that she’s got me cleaning constantly, and if it’s not cleaning, it’s doing a chore of some sort or another. Run errands down to Sofas and Quills, pick up a batch of cupcakes from Sugarcube Corner, deliver a message to Applejack; you name it, I’ve done it. I don’t really mind all that much, though. It’s helping Twilight, and she’s my best friend, right? I love her like an older sister. She’s been with me since the day I hatched, and she knows me better than anypony. She never gets overwhelming, and she always lets me take a break when I need it – she’s got this crazy sense of intuition that tells her when I’m tired, even before I know I’m tired. Then we’ll sit down together and play a game or read comic books and laugh. It reminds me of when she was a filly, before she moved to Ponyville, back when Shining and Cadence and I were her only friends. It was a lot of fun then, and it’s still a lot of fun now.
So if all the cleaning isn’t the letdown, then what is?
Twilight is the Element of Magic. She embodies Harmony itself. She’s a Princess now, for Pete’s sake! She has wings! With feathers and everything! And she and her friends are always off on some crazy adventure – saving the town from being overthrown by the Everfree Forest, battling the Lord of Chaos, even just doing regular things like shooing away pesky fruit bats can turn into a wild time.
She and her friends will come home laughing and smiling and talking about all the new experiences they’ve had, that they’ve bonded over together. Experiences I haven’t been a part of. But I’m not a whiny baby, so I’ll come and I’ll help them out and eat food and try to catch up on what’s happened. Half the time I don’t even know what I’m listening too – I’m still confused about what went down at the Crystal Empire, with Ms. Harshwhinny.
Sometimes I’ll be with them, at the start of a crazy adventure, and I get so excited, because finally I’m going to do something! Spike the Dragon will no longer live a boring life, but instead accompany his magical and majestic friends, the Elements of Harmony, as they traverse dangerous plains! Fear not, Lady Rarity and company! For Spike shall save thee from the dreaded Chimer-
Guess I got a little carried away there. Too bad this is Twilight’s last pot of ink, or else I would cross it out. Hey, anyone who happens to read this, just ignore the last few sentences up there, alright?
Yeah, like I was saying. Anytime I try to do anything with them, I mainly just screw things up. When the Breezies came to town, and I jumped on the branch and knocked a whole bunch of them clear out of the sky? I felt so awful. It was all my fault! And that’s not the first time that’s happened, either. It seems like anytime I actually could do something, everything just goes wrong because of me.
So I stay in the library, and while all my friends are out there battling monsters and going on journeys, I’m just at home. Nothing happens. I read a book. Nothing happens. I draw a comic (they’re pretty good, if I do say so myself). Guess what? Nothing happens.
That’s how I learned that sometimes, the worst thing that can happen is nothing at all.
They’re out doing something again right now, I don’t even know what. Hanging at Sugarcube Corner, maybe? Without me? Honestly, at this point, I wouldn’t put it past them. I still love them and all, but it can really get under my scales. That’s when I found their journal, just lying out on Twilight’s table. I skimmed through it, read a few entries, and decided I was going to write an entry of my own.
This is my entry.
Twi, when you read this, I’m sorry. I hope this doesn’t hurt you, because I know you, and you get really easily hurt by stuff like this. I still love you, alright? I’ll always love you, from now until the end of eternity. I just needed to get this out. You call it vent, right? Well, then, consider it vent.
-Spike the Dragon
Twilight lifted her eyes from the paper, violet glazed over with unshed tears. The words determinedly scrawled out by the baby dragon had scrawled themselves into her brain, the pointed end of the quill tracing the words, and she read them over and over again, trying to make sense of it, trying to figure out what to do, for she had to do something. There was no way she could ignore a message that powerful. No way.
Spike was sleeping now; he had been sleeping when she had snuck in, still tasting the delicious remains of her treat from Sugarcube Corner. The previously delicious cupcake now burned like acid in her stomach, with pain, with upset, but most of all, with an overwhelming amount of guilt. Her wings opened and closed, fluttering against her side.
What to do, what to do, what to do…
And then it hit her. Spike had mentioned the days when she, Shining, and him were inseparable – practically joined at the hip. Most of the games they had played back then had been adventure games of one sort or another. Had they been childish? Yes. Had they cared? Absolutely not.
Her friends would never be any different.
Heart racing with excitement, Twilight zipped out the door, hoping her friends hadn’t gone to bed yet, hoping that it wasn’t too late.
The six friends stayed up long into the night, whispering, watching, and waiting.
-
Spike opened his eyes and screamed as he found himself staring into the face of a terrified looking Twilight. “Whoa! Twi, what’s going on?”
“Spike, Pinkie Pie is missing!”
It was her damsel-in-distress voice, her little filly voice, the voice he hadn't heard out of her since the old days. Spike hadn't heard that voice in quite a while, not since they had played games like 'Find Shining Armor.' But hey, any chance to hold onto the past, right? He activated his best worried civilian voice and decided to play along. “That’s terrible, Twilight! Are you and the others going to go find her?”
Twilight gave him an odd look before shaking her head slowly from side to side, voice turning from melodramatic filly to serious princess. “Of course not, Spike.”
The dragon stared blankly at her. “I don’t get it.”
Twilight smiled, and spoke the next words more slowly, as if explaining them to a small child; however, it also sounded as if she was trying to hold back a grin. “Me, the others, and you are going to go find her.”
Spike stared at her, green eyes going wide as the realization sunk in. Slowly he began to tremble with excitement, a wide grin covering his face. “Me too?”
The alicorn nodded, using her magic to levitate him out of his bed and onto her back, where he dug his claws into her silky mane and squeezed tight. “Yeah, Spike, you too.”
Twilight’s wings spread majestically as she headed out the door, making one final remark – “Ready to go do something?” – before it slammed shut behind her.
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Beautiful.
Now if only the show's writers would read that journal entry.
Too bad Spike gets nothing in the show
I'm glad I could help inspire you. I'm two for two on proposing story prompts to people in random blog entries. Apparently I have found my true calling.
Great work as always, Driz.
I've always, personally, always wanted to read a Spike fic based around this concept... Now, here it is!
When you said that you were proud of this piece, you had a reason. It's very good!
4200620
He apparently kicks serious ass in the comics, though...
derpicdn.net/img/view/2013/8/1/387960__safe_princess+luna_princess+celestia_spike_idw_royal+guard_cockatrice.PNG
Another great and touching Spike fic.
The ending is especially cute 
Awesome job! 
4201664 Yep, time to retire as a writer.
4204288
No, he's wearing an eyepatch
Well sometimes when you're down you need a cute fic to make you smile and feel happy inside. This is one of those fics
So nice.
Happy tears...I needed this, I really did.
ALL HAIL SPIKE OUR LORD AND SAVOIR
4200402 I think the reason why they don't include Spike very often is because the unusual animation model isn't always in the budget. I imagine that's the same reason why they rarely use the Princesses except in short parts or during Season Finales. The hair must be a nightmare to animate both monetarily and logistically.
All of which is to say, the writers know how the fanbase feels about Spike (especially prevalent in the Season Three opener, Power Ponies and Equestria Girls), but have trouble including him regardless.
This is an absolutely adorable story. I really liked how you captured Spike's character, and Twilight's solution to the problem was also really nice. Overall, an awesome read. Have a like, fave and watch.
4206941 I really don't think it's a question of animation cost. They've got four years of Spike animations at this point; next to the standard pony body he's probably the character with the most art assets. If they can afford all new art for Twilicorn, I doubt Spike is going to break the bank.
Testing Testing 1, 2, 3 actually provides an interesting example. Spike appears early on playing the snare drum and directing the play - both of which seem like they would require lots of new art. Then he disappears from the final act - even though standing on the ground holding a flash card could easily be done with preexisting Spike art. It's like once we switched from the comedy to the drama the writers forgot Spike existed.
4207964 Ah, but you see, Spike doesn't sell the way Twilicorn does. Even though they do have a lot of stock animation built up for Spike, it's the getting him to interact with the other animated stuff that's a problem, I imagine. They could have him standing in the background in some of the scenes they usually don't show him in, but that would be one extra crowd animation they feel they don't need.
My theory is also backed up by the lack of foals in crowd shots not involving schools, despite there logically being some that would be there, the fact that only Dash is ever flying in groups not in Cloudsdale and the fact that we only see unnamed mules, minotaurs or goats when they are important to the plot. Griffons break the trend by having a singular appearance in a large crowd of flier during Rainbow Falls, but that's it.
4207992 Sorry, I just don't buy it. The CMC and Big Mac, who are also unique art assests, were used two different times in the flying over town scene from Testing Testing 1, 2, 3. They also took the effort to design background ponies wearing historical Wonderbolt uniforms. I don't know much about animation but I doubt all of that was cheaper than drawing Spike holding up a flash card.
No, I think the economics involved are exactly what you said at the beginning:
Spike isn't popular with most of the fandom nor the target demographic. And that's why he gets left out - because no one's pushing for him to be included.
4208118 He's actually hugely popular in the fandom, though he sells poorly, too. That said, the CMC and Big Mac have almost as many character appearances as Spike and don't necessarily need speaking roles. Besides which, it is easier to animate all bipeds or all quadripeds. I think it's a combination of his not selling very well and his having an awkward animation model to utilize. I mean, Cadance is in way more episodes than she needs to be (most of them written by Megan McCarthy...), but she also sells quite well. By contrast, despite selling quite well, Luna is in very few episodes (though almost as many as Celestia at this point) because her mane must be a nightmare to animate.
Huh, I could have sworn I've seen this cover picture used before for another slice of life story that's only eleven words longer...
Liked and faved.
4208227
Coincidentially, I saw your story a day or so after I posted this one. Weird!
4201664 May I have a prompt pretty please?
I have opinions, but I guess I'll keep them to myself.
Spike needs more love.
Really great story, btw.
Cute, and aye. Spike needs more airtime.
Le
Randomly stumbled across this, and glad I did. I've always though there needed to be more Spike. He's a great balance to Twilight and he's often smart enough to see what she can't. When Twilight was freaking out in lesson zero, who was it who just calmly went ahead and did the right thing? Also the pair of them snark so effectively at each other.
i.imgur.com/6MrWqNZ.png
welp no one can complain after the Equestria game ep since Spike has a FREAKING empire thinks he the greatest thing since slice bread.
I love stories that address and rectify Spike's often sad situation. Aside from the awkwardness of Twilight resurrecting childhood role-playing and kicking it off in the split-second he wakes up, this was a nice one.
4337564 The episode was indeed more than most of us dared hope for, but much of the fandom's still too busy bitching about missing the sporting event to care. It's also probably the only satisfying Spike-support (or even mane seven) episode we're gonna get for a long while. He'll be part of the season finale, but how much compared to the other six, I wonder?
Love it. Love it love it love it.
That ending was so cute and heartwarming just oh my god.
Been on read later list for months, finally read it.
Short and sweet. Spike deserves more.
D,aaw meter is officially broken!
4337564
Sometimes an empire at their feet isn't what someone wants or needs, but rather the love and compassion of the ones closest to them. If the ones you hold nearest and dearest to your heart don't care about you, it won't matter if the whole world loves you, because they don't, and they're the ones who're important to you.
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SPIKE BEING APPRECIATED GIVES ME LIFE. I LOVE THIS STORY SO MUCH.
i love it all of it
With Spike being my favorite character I can't help but love this story
4201664
Hey, look! You got your cutie mark!
(Insert picture of a quotation bubble over a hand [an off-hand remark] here.)