Even If You Knew That You Would Lose, I Know That You Would Always Choose to Continue
Slowly the library door opened, and equally as slow Spike entered it. Each step he took felt like it would be the last, his sore and worn body from an entire day of helping Rarity weighing him down like a suit of armor, his muscles completely numb from constantly walking around, digging for gems, lifting and carrying massive rolls of fabric, and much more.
Spike reeled across the wooden floor in a drunken pace, sleep clouding his mind, making each blink heavier and last longer than the last. But still he persevered, passing through Twilight, who seen to be too busy reading a book to notice him, and making his way upstairs to the bedroom where his basket awaited.
His lovely basket with the soft, malleable pillow that fit his head perfectly, the warm blanket that enveloped him into a soothing, melting embrace that could destroy all of his worries and heal any of his pains, and finally the cloud cushion without any lumps or hard spots making it feel like he was sleeping on air. All combined to give the ultimate sleeping experience, something that Spike very much needed.
Once Spike reached his destination all the strength he had left completely vanished as his body began to shut down, and like a ragdoll he fell back first inside the basket and to the sweet embrace of a worker’s well deserved sleep.
Back at the main floor of the library, Twilight put her book down and let out a deep sigh.
This can’t keep going, I can’t let this keep going. Him coming home so tired like that, and without saying a single complaint. If this continues he will only hurt himself, both physically and mentally.
But what I’m about to do will also hurt him… No. As much as this is going to hurt Spike, I have to stop him. It’s for his own good.
Twilight quickly got up from the floor, her face bearing a hardened expression. She walked to the stairs with a firm pace, each step meeting the wooden floor with a hard impact, as if a heavy weight rested on her back.
Little by little, as the weight grew heavier, her pace slowed until Twilight was practically crawling across the floor. Grinding her teeth she continued on against her own subconscious, eventually reaching the stairs.
Twilight lifted one of her front hooves forward, it shaking uncontrollably, and then slowly put it down on the first step.
Is it right for me to crush his dreams like that? Who am I to tell him who he can and can’t go after? It’s not like I’m his mother or anything like that.
Suddenly, her face softened into a solemn expression, the weight disappeared from her shoulders and she took a deep breath as she made her final decision.
But I’m his friend, his best friend, and as much as it pains me to do this I have to put an end to this.
Gracefully, Twilight walked upstairs, her hooves making not a single sound against the wooden steps. Once she entered the bedroom, her eyes immediately fell into the sleeping Spike, the sight of him peacefully snoring without a care in the world putting a smile on Twilight’s face, and making the next thing even more painful.
Carefully, as to not wake him up, she got up on her bed and stared at him from the edge of it for a moment. Just watching his chest moving up and down, how his scales shined on the moonlight, and most of all the content smile he had on his face.
He looks so peaceful. Sleeping just like a baby. Can I really do this? Destroy his dreams and peace like that? No, don’t think like that. I have to do this, it’s for his own good.
“Spike? Are you awake?” she asked in a soft tone.
Without opening his eyes Spike replied in a cranky tone. “I’m now. What do you want?”
“It’s just… We need to talk about you and Rarity.”
At that, Spike’s eyes bolted open. “What about us?”
“It’s just... you work so hard for her; day after day you go to the Boutique and spend most of your day there, sometimes the entire day. It was charming at first, how you were willing to do all that stuff for her, but now with you coming home so tired, and after the whole Trenderhoof incident. I’m starting to worry about you.”
“Worry about me? Twilight, there’s nothing to worry about! I’m doing this because I want to. It’s not like Rarity is forcing me to help her.”
“That’s the problem!” Twilight suddenly yelled, causing Spike to jerk back in surprise. “If this was about Rarity I could just talk to her and tell her to stop,” she continued in a more calm tone. “But because you choose to go and help her day after day in an attempt to win her heart little by little, I’m worried… I’m worried that one day you will walk in the library crying. Or worst, work yourself to death because of a faint hope that Rarity might one day return your feelings.”
Done with her rant, Twilight waited to see Spike’s reaction, but instead of saying anything he just stared back at her.
“I know this isn’t something you wanted to hear, but you need to stop, Spike. If you keep this up you’ll only hurt yourself, you need to realize that if Rarity loved you the same way you love her she would have shown it a long time ago.
“Please, Spike, I don’t want to see you hurt. You need to promise me that you will stop going after Rarity, it just… it just isn’t suppose to be.”
There was a moment of silence as Twilight waited for an answer: a raging outburst, a sad sigh, anything. But instead Spike gave her something she wasn’t expecting: a smile.
“I see. But you got it all wrong,” Spike said, his tone completely calm.
“What do you mean?”
“I don’t care if Rarity doesn’t love me back. I don’t care if we never become more than just friends.” Spike lifted his claws, jolts of pain traveling through his sore muscles as he did so making him wince for a moment. He stared at the blisters and callous that covered the scales of his worn claws. “I don’t do all that stuff for her to gain her love, I do it because I want to see her happy, and because is the right thing to do.” Spike’s claws fell back to his sides and he once again looked back at Twilight. “Even if we aren’t a couple we are still friends, and helping her out is the least I can do for her.”
“But even then, why do you work so hard for her? I understand that you’re her friend, but the things you do for her, and without asking anything in return…”
“Because I like helping ponies,” Spike said quickly and blunt.
“You do?”
“Yeah! Helping ponies out feels good. I can’t exactly explain, but when I’m helping you or Rarity or anypony, I feel happy, and once I’m done helping them I feel satisfied, content. Like when you finally learn a new spell and you run around the house before almost crushing me with a hug.”
“Why did you never told me that?”
“Are you kidding? If you found out you would triple or quadruple my chores! I like helping but I still have limits you know?”
“Oh, come on. I would never do that to you.”
“Really? Do I need to remind you of the Infamous Winter of Canterlot? When we had to catalog the entire Royal Library?”
“That was a special occasion. But if that was so bad, why did you still helped me?”
“Because helping you feels even more good,” Spike replied, giving Twilight a big smile.
“It’s that so?” Twilight whispered to herself, a big smile forming on her face as she did so. But then her smile vanished, returning to the situation at hand Twilight asked the hardest question. “And you’re okay with Rarity getting together with somepony else? Even after everything you did?”
The moment that question left Twilight’s mouth Spike immediately looked down, the smile disappearing from his face. He stayed silent for a moment, and then, with a low tone, he responded. “As long as she is happy then I’m too. It doesn’t matter who she’s with, if she is happy, if we’re still friends and I can still help her, then I’m content.”
“Oh, Spike,” Twilight said in a tone that sounded sad and prideful at the same time. “You’re the sweetest dragon, you know that?” she concluded with a more happy tone and a smile.
“Yeah, I hear that a lot,” he responded, giving Twilight a cocky smile.
In return she rolled her eyes at him but still kept smiling. “Well, this was a long day and we both need some rest. So…” Twilight then leaned her head down and gave Spike a gentle kiss on his forehead. “Goodnight, Spike,” she said before turning around and going to sleep.
“Goodnight, Twilight.”
