Noticing Spike has been working himself too hard, Twilight suggests that Fluttershy help him take a break and relax, which seems to be just what the pegasus would like.
“Sometimes it feels like a barricade,/To keep us away, keep us away,/It kind of does.” –Interpol, ‘Barricade’
Spike seems to be overworking himself for some reason and it concern Twilight. But with the help of her yellow pegasus friend, she manages to get him to take a break. But something still seems to bother the dragon.
A lazy Sunday afternoon was settling over Ponyville. Most of the residents of the town were either relaxing at their home or spending time with their friends. One creature, however, was busy as could be in the Ponyville library. The small purple dragon seemed to be pulling more than his fair share of weight, cleaning and organizing all of the shelves in the library. Not even the voice of a purple unicorn could stop him.
"Honestly Spike, you can call it a day. You've been working a lot for the past week as it is," Twilight Sparkle pleaded with her assistant.
"No can do, Twilight. I still got to reorganize the magic section after your last late night study session. Then I still have to clean the shelves in the fiction section after Rainbow Dash stopped by," Spike stood on top of a stool, shelving book after book into their proper locations. He seemed to be very content with his job of returning each book to it's home.
Twilight sighed, "But it can wait. You have been shelving books since at least breakfast. Take the rest of the day off. The rest of the week, even, you deserve some time to get out of this library."
The dragon didn't break his shelving pace, "And go where? Besides, I'm perfectly fine doing this."
Just as Twilight was about to interject with a comment, there was a soft knocking at the library door. Not wanting to argue, she dropped the conversation and went to open the door. On the other side of the door was a yellow pegasus with a pink mane.
"Hello, Fluttershy! What brings you over?" Twilight welcomed her friend, inviting her inside.
The pegasus meekly smiled back as she entered, "Hello, Twilight. I came by to return a book back to you. It was quite a fascinating read."
Spike overheard that she was returning a book, "What book is it?"
Fluttershy reached into her saddlebag, pulling out the library book, "Um….Daring Do And The Final Crusade."
"Oh, put it on the table. I'll take care of it when I get back to the fiction section," Spike brushed it aside as he returned to his shelving.
Fluttershy gave a blank and puzzled stare from the dragon's comment. Twilight sighed as she placed a hoof on her forehead. "I apologize for Spike. He seems to be preoccupied with his work right now," the unicorn explained, "I haven't got him to take a break once for at least a week."
"Oh dear….that can't be good for the little dragon," the pegasus commented.
"That's what I say, but he doesn't listen."
Spike interrupted, "I told you, I'm fine."
The dragon's remark didn't convince either pony.
Fluttershy began to speak, "Well….um….if Spike would like, he could stop by my home for a relaxing day tomorrow or some other time….if he doesn't mind, of course…."
A smile came across Twilight's face, "That sounds like something he might enjoy. What do you say, Spike?"
Spike was quite to reject the idea, "No can do. I already told you I still have the magic and fiction section to get to. And then I still have the basement to take on."
"Oh, come on Spike. They will still be there after you take a few days off," Twilight pleaded.
The dragon didn't reply.
An idea, however, was quickly hatched by the unicorn, "Well, if you don't do it for yourself or myself, do it for Fluttershy. Just look at this face!"
Spike turned to see that Twilight had pushed Fluttershy forward. The yellow mare had a worried and sad look upon her face. Her wide turquoise eyes and her quivering bottom lip made it impossible for Spike to refuse. Defeated, he replied, "Alright, alright, just cut it out will ya? I still have some more work to finish."
Both of the mare's shared a laugh at their victory over the dragon.
The next day, Celestia's sun rose over Equestria. Spike, against his wishes, was slowly walking his way over to Fluttershy's home on the outskirts of town. Both Twilight and Fluttershy insisted that Spike take a day off from his extensive work in the library. The dragon, on the other hoof, wanted to continue with his work, but he saw no real point in trying to argue.
Arriving at the pegasus's cottage, Spike took a deep sigh before he knocked on the door.
The door was opened by a yellow mare with a long, flowing pink mane, "Oh, good morning, Spike." Fluttershy's voice was inviting and warm.
"Hey, Fluttershy. I came by as I promised you and Twilight," Spike's response was slightly bitter. He really wasn't in the mood to 'take a break', as they would put it.
"Please come on in. I have a number of things ready to help you unwind and loosen up," the pegasus stepped aside to allow the small dragon inside.
Upon entering, Spike noticed that the interior of the mare's home was filled with animals from birds, rabbits, weasels, and even chickens. "You seem to have plenty of….company?" Spike was trying to find the right words.
"Oh yes. I love helping any and all creatures with whatever problems they might have," Fluttershy explained, looking at a bird that landed on her back, "Many of the animals here needed medical help, which I was more than happy to assist them with. And of course, I care for them until they are ready to leave and return to their own homes."
"Sounds like you got your hooves full," the dragon commented, trying to walk around a cluster of chickens pecking at the carpet, looking for food.
"Sometimes, I do. But its very rewarding work," Fluttershy warmly smiled at the thought of the outcome of her work. She then turned back to Spike, "So, what would you like to do first, Spike?"
Spike looked away, "I don't know…."
"We could start with a relaxing massage. That always helps the mammals relax," Fluttershy explained.
"I don't know…." Spike echoed his previous statement.
"I could make you something to eat. Thought I'm not sure if my cooking or the herbs would have any effect since you're a dragon though…." the pegeasus thought as she brought a hoof up to her mouth.
"No….it's fine…."
"How about a spa treatment? It could help you to unwind any stress and help soften your rough and sharp scales," the mare offered with a smile.
"No…." he rejected yet another idea.
"Do you happen to have any ideas of what you would like to do? I've never cared for a dragon before and I'm worried that I might be going about this all wrong," Fluttershy's meek voice had a slight pleading touch to it as she asked for Spike's input.
The dragon still was stubborn as his voice slightly grew, "I really don't know…."
Trotting closer to Spike, the mare continued her efforts to get an answer, "There has to be something you would like to do. How about a relaxing bath? I can even help by washing your back, if you'd like."
Spike's voice grew drastically to a shout, "No! I don't want to be babied! I refuse to be treated like some baby by anypony!"
The loud cry from the dragon caused alarm in the cottage. The animals who where residing inside quickly evacuated the house in a hurry. Within seconds, the entire house that was bustling with activity and creatures of all sizes was empty. All that remained in the cottage was a small purple dragon and a yellow pegasus who had tears forming in her eyes.
In the now vacant cottage, Spike looked at Fluttershy. The yellow pegasus already had one tear roll down her cheek. Her body was still trembling from Spike's shouting. It seemed as if she had something to say, but she was so shaken from the incident that even if she had the words, she would more than likely have more tears fall.
The dragon looked away from the mare, immediately regretting his action. With his scales on end, he spoke, "I-I….I'm sorry, F-Fluttershy…." Spike couldn't bear to look at Fluttershy, even for a moment, "I-I….didn't mean to yell at you…."
The yellow mare took a few deep breaths to calm herself down. After wiping a few tears from here eyes, she finally spoke, "It's okay, Spike."
Spike, still with his head turned, shook his head, "No….it's not….I had no right to burst out like that…." With a few blinks of his eyes, he alright had a couple tears in his own eyes, "I guess being treated as some kid finally just caught up with me…."
"So is that's why you have been working so hard lately?" Fluttershy asked. She didn't wait for an answer. Instead, she trotted towards the dragon, lightly hugging him.
The action from the mare startled Spike. While in her embrace, Spike's face burned red and his body uncontrollably shook.
Fluttershy continued, "While you are a small, cute little creature, you still have the heart of a dragon." She broke the hug from Spike and gave a warm smile to him. Her face was beaming, even with the recent tears from her eyes.
Her smile and words were sweet to Spike, like the sweetest honey. He couldn't help but blush the same shade of pink as her mane.
Seeing Spike's flustered expression, Fluttershy couldn't help but giggle and blush a bit herself. "You're very cute when you blush, Spike," she couldn't help but make the comment.
Spike tripped over his words. After a series of nonsensical words, phrases, and babbling, he seemed to just give up trying to justifying his embarrassed expression. With a sigh, he laughed at him own reaction to the mare's statement.
Smiling, Fluttershy finally said something that seemed to even surprise herself, "Well, how about we both go have a pleasant take a nap?"