Nothing happens

“Is there still a lot left?” asked Twilight.

Spike sighed. He was tired. They had both been working from dawn over a big pile of requests and reports and other royal princessy stuff that they clearly would have avoided if they could have. Well, that he clearly would have avoided if he could have.
Because Twilight seemed to enjoy reading all the documents and would even get passionate over some subjects, like when Luna had wanted to proclaim that nopony should go to sleep before ten o’clock so that she wouldn’t have to begin her work so early in the day, or when Cheerilee had asked for an increase in the educational budget in order to introduce more dancing into the lessons.

The dragon looked at the few papers left in the pile. It had diminished quite clearly over the morning, but still, there was way too much left in his eyes. He began to read them in diagonal to see what they were about.

“Well, it seems you’re asked to give a speech at the sand factory in Stalliongrad to encourage them to work hard to meet the quotas for next summer.” He began, saying out loud what he understood from the documents. “This one is from Mayor Mare, who wants a clarification on who is actually competent to decide on the naming of the streets. I suppose she wants to change a street’s name and already knows what name she wants.”

Twilight smiled. She liked naming stuff. She was already beginning to think what denomination would be fitting for what kind of street and how she could create a method that would provide a systematic answer to such a question.

“This report comes from the army. They want more funding because of the increase of the recruits this year. They already seem to have Celestia’s support, but Luna has rejected it because most recruits are in the sun guards and nopony seems interested in joining the night guard. I think she is upset. Then those seem to be a bunch of requests. Applejack officially asks you to settle the dispute she is having with Carrot Top before she decides to handle it personally, the Take Care of All Animals association wants you to take action over the lack of representation of animals in court when their rights are being threatened. I see Fluttershy has signed the document too. There are three other money requests from ponies that think they don’t have enough, an invitation to a ball in Manehattan from ponies who want to show they have connections, a petition for a reprieve from somepony who wants to evade the judicial system, a plea for attention from some scientist pony who seems to have re-invented the saddle and wants to show it to you, and finally an invitation from a pony to some unbirthday party.”

Spike stopped. He looked at that last one again and laughed:

“Okay, the unbirthday invitation comes from Pinkie Pie. She seems to have found one day in the year that corresponds to nopony’s birthday in Ponyville, so she has decided to make it everypony’s unbirthday and celebrate it anyway.”

Twilight and Spike looked at each other in the eye and both began to laugh even harder. Not because it was anything surprising to them, but because they liked how much effort Pinkie Pie was putting into finding pretexts good enough to throw a party at any given time. It was always remembering them how sweet life was there in Ponyville.

“Okay, enough fun now. Let’s get back to work.” Twilight said.

“Can’t we make a break already?” asked Spike. “We have been working for hours.”

“Come on Spike. It is our duty to answer to everypony.”

But she saw that her assistant was tired, so she decided to re assure him.

“Don’t worry.” She said. “I already know what to answer to everypony.”

“You do?” replied Spike.

“Yes. Are you ready to take note of my replies?” asked Twilight, already smiling, not only confident of her abilities, but also enjoying the future amazement of her assistant over the feat that was about to happen.

“Ready.” Said Spike, doubtful, but still hoping it would actually be over very quickly for once.

“Then write: I’ll very gladly attend. Names are to be given by a commission representing all interests of the city, following rules I’ll provide. Refused for the moment on my part until I can talk with princess Luna about it. The settlement of the conflict will take place in three days and nopony will do nothing to the other in any way or form before, during or after that time. I agree on the principle with the association, Fluttershy is to handle the details of the application and then submit it to me. Refused, accepted and refused, refused, refused, accepted and I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

She stopped and took a deep breath. Then, as predicted, she enjoyed the amazement on the dragon’s face.

“How do you do that?” Spike asked.

“Do what?” she innocently replied.

“That thing with that brain of yours.” He replied “You know, like you just did.”

Twilight blushed. She liked being complimented. And also, looking at Spike now, she felt like she was in the hooves of her big brother in a total reversal of the roles, as Spike was now sort of her little sister, well, little brother. And she remembered what Shining Armor would have done in such a circumstance.

“That’s because I’m actually a robot!” she replied with a grin. “And I’m here to robotify you with hugs.” She added, while jumping on the poor dragon and tickling him.

The door opened at that moment and a guard entered, interrupting the princess and her assistant during their work session.

“Hum…” began the guard. “Your friend miss Rarity has arrived and is waiting for you your majesty.”

The guard looked again at the two representatives of Equestria’s royal power that were also looking at him, and added:

“But I can tell her to wait if you’re too busy.”

Twilight turned as red as a tomato from her blushing and immediately said:

“Spike! There is no time for your childish games.”

“MY childish games?” the dragon replied.

The guard sighed, smiled and left the room, knowing very well that it all meant he should tell Rarity to come in.

“Hello Twilight. Spike. How are you both doing? Quite a glorious day, isn’t it?” Rarity said, entering the room.

Twilight ignored the stupid look of love on the dragon’s face, and looked a bit annoyed as Rarity petted him which almost made him faint out of pleasure, then focused on the matter at hand.

“You arrived just in time.” the princess said. “We just finished answering our mail.”

“Oh my, how much I would like for so many ponies to write to me every day. It would be delightful.” Rarity stated, already imagining all the flattering letters of fans and pleas for autographs.

“It’s not that much of a delight.” Spike remarked. “More of a pain if you ask me.”

“Don’t listen to him.” Twilight said. “He is always grumpy when we treat the mail. I think he doesn’t enjoy it as much as I do.”

Rarity smiled. She couldn’t blame Spike there. Not everypony was cut for all the attention. And she liked the idea that the dragon was a little bit different from her. It made him that much more interesting.

“Shall we go?” rarity asked. “I fear we might be running a bit late on our appointment.”

“Late?” Twilight asked, suddenly noticing the time. “You’re right! Let’s go, quick.”

And under the pressure of a suddenly worried Twilight, the three of them went to the spa to enjoy a good afternoon of relaxation under the very expert hooves of Lotus Blossom and Aloe.