A short story contemplating Twilight and Spike's relationship.

Twilight woke up, even earlier than usual. She had so much to do, and so little time to do it! Spike would wake up in about an hour, more or less. Twilight slipped past her friends and off to her basement. Besides having enough science instruments to make the most astute scientist jealous in every way, Twilight had stashed enough Hearth's Warming decorations to make sure Princess Celestia could see her Great Golden Oaks Library from Canterlot's highest tower. They'll be so impressed, Twilight thought to herself, This will be the BEST Hearths Warming yet! As Twilight shuffled through the boxes, she found that none of the decorations were there!

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She'll be so impressed, Spike thought as he hung the last of the ornaments, I'll bet she doesn't even know the boxes are missing.

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Boxes don't just disappear! Neither do decorations! Unless, Twilight's brow folded into worry as she realized what must have happened, Some dastardly crook has stolen all of my decorations, and boxes, too! And at that very moment, somepony, or something, walked down the stairs...

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Spike walked down the stairs to put away the boxes he had taken out to decorate for his adoptive sister when he recognized a soft pink-purple glow of magic. "Twilight?" He asked the glow.

"Spike?" The glow asked him.

"Who else?" He answered in his most sarcastic voice.

"What are you doing up this early?" Twilight asked, as if it was illegal for the dragon to wake up on his own.

"Taking initiative," Spike said, setting down the empty boxes he was carrying and gesturing toward them, "I was starting to think we'd never get this place decorated."

"You decorated?" Twilight asked, in shock. She wasn't used to Spike doing anything he wasn't told.

"Why don't you tell me," Spike remarked as he gestured Twilight to follow him up the stairs.