You really can't follow instructions, can you?
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You really can't follow instructions, can you?
The golden oaks library is a nice place. An obvious natural feel to the place allows you to relax and the service from the librarian Twilight Sparkle is unmatched. If you think of a book, she can find it. But there are times when you should never enter the library. An example of this is when she is practicing new spells, as the talking mail box will tell you, in detail.
Twilight sat on her haunches, a large book held in her magical grasp. Her eyes were scanning the page a full speed, going from left to right threes time for every second that passed. Already there were four small piles of books surrounding her. She had been reading for the past thirteen hours, forgetting about sleep entirely, not even noticing when Spike had brought down a candle so she could read during the night.
"Are you still reading?" He asked. "You really need to give it a break. Were going to run out of candles at this rate." He went to reach for the candle stick when Twilight shouted, right next to his ear. Startled, Spike jumped back, tripping over his own tail.
"Of course!" She let the book drop, which coincidentally, hit the ground the same time Spike did. "Spike, come in here." She called, looking over to the kitchen.
"Already here. You really need to stop doing that."
"Oh, Spike there you are. Could stay out of the library today, I'm going to be practicing a new spe-" Spike disappeared instantly, leaving a dust cloud replica of himself in his place. "-ll... well that was rude." Twilight looked around and noticed all the books scattered around. "Maybe I should clean all this up before I start practicing."
Spike closed the door behind him, and wiped the sweat from his brow.
"Another spell session?" The mail box asked. Spike was slowly getting used to the talking mail box, but he still forgot about it sometimes.
"Huh? Oh right, yeah." He scratched his head. "Didn't really check but I heard spell and ran. Don't know what spell, but I don't want to find out."
"I didn't have that luxury." The mail box began.
"Yeah, I know. The whole town knows. Just be thankful she wasn't practicing defence magic." Spike made an explosion noise, emphasising it with some claw gestures.
"It would still be better than this." The mail box moped.
"Bro, don't worry. She'll find a counter spell eventually. Just give her time. Look on the bright side, at least now you get to talk that that mail mare everyday."
"Yeah, she is nice, isn't she?"
"You bet, maybe you should ask her on a date, I think she likes you."
"You think so?" If wood could blush, the mail box would have caught fire.
"Dude, she's a mail mare, you're a mail box. It's the perfect relationship. I'll even put a muffin in you, for the next time she comes around. Anyway, I'll have to talk to you later Hapless. I want to get as far away from here as I can." Spike ran through the town, heading in the direction of the Carousel Boutique.
Rarity slowly attached the final amethyst to the ensemble she was working on. The dress was made from shiny blue silk, that curved to match a mares figure and had silver trimming going around the bodice in a spiral and connected to frills at the waist that connected to the skirt, on which Rarity had managed to simulated the visual effect of waves. Rarity had just finished attaching the large gem to the neck, above the sternum, when Spike arrived.
Spike slammed the door open. "Rarity, you here?"
Rarity winced. "Spike, what have I told you about barging in here."
Spike stared at the ground. "To not slam the door. Sorry."
"Thank you for the apology, but I have learned to deal with the door slamming. I was talking about my present, where is it. You promised that whenever you would come over for a visit you would bring me a present." Spike face clawed.
"Sorry Rarity, I forgot to get you something, I was just in hurry."
Rarity tutted. "We can't have that dear, we will just have to find another way for you to make me happy." Rarity pointed over to a pile of mismatched fabrics. "You could sort those out for me."
"Sure thing Rares."
Rarity chuckled. "You need to stop calling me that, or ponies might start to talk." She shot a glare at the top of the stairs, where a small unicorn filly was trying to not be noticed. Quickly Sweetie Belle bolted to her room, scared that she had been caught. "So what made you come here this early in the morning Spikey Wikey?"
"Oh, Twi's just working on some new spell. Didn't want to have anything happen, so I jumped ship."
Rarity nodded. "I understand completely. Has she found a counter spell for Hapless yet?"
"Nothing yet." Spike shook his head. He lifted out two separate fabrics from the pile and began folding.
"Shame really. He sounds like such a nice colt."
Spike flinched, but then smiled devilishly. "I wouldn't get my hopes up if I were you, he's been talking about that mail mare a lot, and I think they have a thing going."
"Derpy! Don't be silly Spike. It's not like she can avoid him. It's practically her job to talk to him."
"Whatever you say. Hey Rarity, where does this one go? It doesn't really belong in any of the other piles." He held up a turquois fabric that slowly switched shades."
"Oh, that. That's a new fabric I designed. You like?" Rarity turned her attention to a ponyquin and started placed clothing on it.
"Yeah, it's really nice. Almost hypnotic."
"Happy you think so. Just fold it and put it on the table over there." She gestured over to her workstation. "Just be really careful with it-" A bright green flash filled the room. Rarity's eyes widened in fear. Slowly she turned around and saw that in Spikes claws was a letter surrounded by a small pile of ash. "Spike. Please tell me that isn't my one of a kind fabric." She pointed at the ash in his claws and on the floor.
"Um... well."
"Spike! That fabric took me three days to make just to make that one piece! Do you realise how far back you have set me!"
"I'm really sorry. I didn't know Celestia was going to send a letter. Honest."
Rarity glared at the letter, directed all her rage at one inanimate object. Spike could have sworn he felt the letter getting hot in his hands. Rarity finally calmed down. "Well, now that my schedule is ruined, I might as well see what it is she has to say."
Spike unfurled the letter and began reading to himself. Rarity leaned over his shoulder and began reading with him.
Spike shivered. "Celestia's trying to kill me, isn't she Rarity?"
Rarity nodded. "Looks like it. Makes me glad I'm not Twilight's assistant. Anyway, it was lovely having you here Spike, but I believe you have a job to do."
"Wait, can't you punish me or something for the fabric. Anything to buy me some time."
Rarity giggled. "Oh, I don't think I need to. Celestia seems to have taken care of that for me."
Spike slowly walked towards the library, sweat pouring from his forehead. The closer he got, the more he wished Rarity had just stomped him out of existence. Spike was now just outside the library. He turned to the mail box. "Anything so far."
"Nope, haven't heard a thing." He announced, slightly confused. "That's what scares me."
"Maybe she decided to skip spell pratice." The young dragon said hopefully.
"Possibly... or she made a wormhole into another dimension and is being attacked monsters."
"Dude, not cool." Spike crossed his arms.
The mail box chuckled. "Good luck."
Spike went up to the door, and ready himself.
Twilight picked up the last book in her magic and checked the title, then proceeded o place it in proper shelf. Twilight did one last sweep of the library to make sure everything was in its rightful place. "Alright, time to see if the spell work." She said to no pony in particular. Twilight positioned herself in front of the large round table in the foyer of the library. On it sat a small ceramic pot, containing a vibrant purple flower.
Twilight closed her eyes and imagined the spell and all the mental incantations required. Slowly her horn lit up with magic, charging itself for the arcane task it was about to perform. Nothing could break her concentration. The spell was almost ready to be cast, and in the universes infinite wisdom, it was at this time that Spike decided to enter the library.
The door to the library swung open. "Twilight! Celestia sent a let- uh oh." Spike froze.
Twilight opened her eyes, her concentration broke and the spell shot off, missing the plant entirely, instead hitting the wall. But rather than simply stopping, the spell began to ricochet. Spike watched as the spell bounced of innumerable surfaces, and began to quickly pick up speed as it went. Twilight followed the spell, but her eyes couldn't keep up. Soon the room became filled with blurred lines of purple magic. Until, of course, the spell shot towards Spike, at speed that would leave Rainbow in awe.
From Spikes perspective, all he saw was a bright purple flash, and then everything went black. From Twilights perspective, she saw the baby dragon get blasted out of the library and across the street and into a nearby building, leaving a purple and green contrail as well as a dragon sized hole in the aforementioned building.
What the mail box saw was another poor soul, doomed to life his live, cursed by Twilight Sparkle. "Poor guy. Hope he enjoys life as a mail box."
Spike opened his eyes and light flooded his retinas. Wincing, he shut them quickly. He opened them again, this time more slowly. He was in someponies house, but he didn't recognize whose. Around him was pieces of broken wood and rubble from the hole he had made. "Uh, my head." Spike brought his claw to his scalp but ended up hitting himself to hard. "Ah! What the heck?" Spike looked down at his claws and screamed. His claws weren't there, instead there was something else.
Twilight was running over to Spike when she heard the scream. Her blood froze in her veins. Oh, no. Twilight leaped into the building and landed next to Spike, who was curled up into a ball, shivering. She stared at him for a few seconds before bursting into laughter. "Oh my Celestia Spike. This is just too cute. Ahahaha, wait until everyone sees this. Oh Rarity is going to love this."
"This isn't funny Twilight." Spike glared daggers at her. "What is you can't change me ba- Rarity would like this?"
"Of course she would." She kept snickering. "Not only will she have a cute little assistant, but a play mate for Sweetie Belle."
"Can we just get inside the library, I don't want anyone else to start laughing at me."
"Don't worry, no one is going to laugh at you. No one will even notice. Now come inside."
Twilight trotted towards the library, with Spike following not far behind. When Twilight got to the door, the mail box began talking. "Hey, Twilight, where's Spike... and who's the foal?" The box was silent for a moment and then gasped. "Oh you have got to be kidding me! Seriously! I get turned into a mail receptacle and he gets turned into a pony. Does Celestia hate me?"
"Stop yelling Hapless. The spell turned living things into ponies. I was going to use it to change you back."
"Well do it already, then." Twilight looked a bit sheepish.
"Well, the thing is, the spell took a lot out of me, so I'll have to wait a while before I can cast the spell again."
"Typical." Twilight went into the library and Spike followed, uttering a short apology to the mail box.
"Ok, now how do we turn me back into me?" Twilight hid behind a pile of books. "Twilight, please tell me you know how to fix this."
"Well with a bit of research-" Spike cut her off.
"Twilight, it's a yes or no question." He went to cross his arm, but fell on his face. That's right, I need all my hooves to stand.
"Technically I could change you back, but it would take a bit of time."
"How much time." Spike narrowed his eyes at Twilight.
"About," Twilight scratched her muzzle. "two days, at the most."
"Two days! What am I supposed to do for two days? What if Celestia needs to send you a letter." Spike paused. "The letter! Where is it?" Spike scrambled around the library.
Spike felt himself being lifted into the air by the unicorns magic. "Spike calm down. What letter?"
"The one Celestia sent you." Twilight placed Spike back on the ground.
Twilight rolled her eyes, which got her a glare from Spike. "Just repeat what was on the letter."
"Um. Dear Twilight, something, something, something. I'm sorry, I was in a rush. I can't remember."
"Well, while you try to remember, I have this mess to clean up." She huffed.
"Hey, it's your fault for shooting me with that evil magic of yours." Twilight picked Spike up in her magic and tossed him outside.
"My magic isn't evil!" He could have sworn he saw her eye twitch. The door slammed shut.
Spike looked down at his new hooves and idly kicked at the dirt. So what do I do now? The young colt looked around him in search of something to waste his time on. But all he could see, were ponies just going about their day. In the distance he could see the top of Sugarcube corner, and as if in agreement, his stomach growled.
"Sugarcube corner it is then."
It was a short but difficult trip for Spike. He was not used to having to use four limbs to walk, so on the way he had stumbled a few times, which earned him a few glances from the curious ponies of Ponyville. Spike clumsily enter Sugarcube corner, and trotted up to the counter. Through the glass he could see the delectable treats that were on offer, and their smell was intoxicating. His mouth was agape, as he drooled.
"Hi, what can I get for ya?" Pinkie leaned over the counter and looked at the colt, with a confused expression on her face for a few seconds before gasping. "Ah, a new pony in town, omigosh. This is totally amazing. We have to celebrate." Pinkie disappeared in a blur of pink. Spike didn't move.
"She... didn't recognise me?" I thought Pinkie of all ponies would recognise me. The small colt idly kicked at the wooden floor waiting for Pinkie to return, but she didn't come back. To his right Spike heard some snickering. He turned and saw three fillies looking at him. When they saw him turn, they quickly turned their attention to their food and whispered to each other. "What are the crusaders doing here?" He mumbled to himself. Spike ambled over to the fillies, scared of falling over. As he got near the fillies, they ceased their talking and turned their attention on him.
"Howdy. I wouldn't worry about Pinkie. She's like that with every new pony."
"Soooooo, speaking of new ponies." Scootaloo played with her food idly, keeping her eyes on the young colt. "What's your name?"
Spike gulped nervously. "Spike."
"Cool. Princess Twilight has a baby dragon named Spike." Scootaloo flapped her wings vigorously, obviously excited about something. "You should totally meet him."
Spike shrugged. "Sure, why not, sounds like a cool guy. I'll try stop by later."
"Really? We're going there later as well. We can see him together." Me and my big mouth.
Spike nervously looked around. "I can't go yet. I still have to eat and since Pinkie ran off, that might take a while." Spike congratulated himself for his excuse.
"You can have mine." Sweetie Belle offered, pushing a half eaten bagel over to the faux colt.
Spike was about to object, but then his traitorous stomach growled. Spike scowled at his stomach and accepted the bagel. Afraid of dropping it, Spike decided against using his hooves to eat. Spike leaned forward and took a bite out of the semi-bagel. Spike closed his eyes and chewed the delectable treat. He was brought back to Equestria when he heard the giggling of three fillies. "Hm, what? What is it?"
"You were moaning." Scootaloo snickered. "I knew the food here was good, but not that good."
"Sorry, I haven't eaten all day. Just hungry I guess." Scootaloo leaned over and whispered something in Sweetie Belle's ear. Her face went from white to red in a matter of seconds.
"What!" Sweetie Belle screamed. "I can't d-" Apple Bloom shoved her hoof into Sweetie's mouth to shut her up.
"Could ya excuse us for a bit?" Spike shrugged and watched as the three fillies trotted outside. He couldn't hear what they were saying, but it must be about him, considering how much they kept looking at him. Apple Bloom did some gesture with her hooves that Spike didn't recognise, then pointed at Spike. They all turned to Spike and giggled, before returning back to the table.
It was Scootaloo who spoke first. "Sorry about this girls, but Rainbow asked me to help her out with the umm... project, yeah project she's working on." The Pegasus filly turned to leave, giving a wink to Sweetie before galloping off.
"Cya Scootaloo." Spike called after her.
Apple Bloom nervously jumped from hoof to hoof. "Um, speaking of projects, I have a barn to raise. Sorry I couldn't stay longer." She gave Sweetie a wink before galloping off. Wonder what got into those two.
"So. You have any plans?" The unicorn filly asked. Spike shrugged.
"Not for the next day or so, by the looks of it." The unicorn filly smiled, and cooed in delight.
"Oh, that's perfect. Since your new in Ponyville, how about I show you around?" Her smile was infectious and Spike let out a small chuckle.
"Sure, sound good to me, but I already know a lot about Ponyville."
"And last but not least, we have the Carousel Boutique, the best fashion shop in all of Equestria. My sister actually owns it. You wanna see inside?" The small filly hopped in excitedly. Spike couldn't see anyway out, so he accepted her offer.
The bell chimed as they enter and Rarity appeared as if by magic, though considering the fact that she is a unicorn, it probably was. "Welcome to Carousel Botiqu-"
"Don't worry sis. It's just me."
Rarity's ear flattened against her head. She didn't like it when people interrupted her favourite slogan. "Sweetie? Aren't you meant to be out with you friends today?" Her eyes popped right back up when she noticed Sweetie Belle's guest. "Who is this adorable little colt?" She ruffled Spike's mane. Her eyes shot open. "Could you excuse us for a moment?" Rarity grabbed her sister in her magic and trotted over to the other side of the boutique with Sweetie in tow.
When Sweetie was back on the ground, Rarity began talking in a hushed tone. "So? How long has this been going on?" Rarity nudged her shoulder, eyes half lidded.
Sweetie was taken aback. "What? We're not... how could you say that?" Whispered back
"Oh this is great. My little sister finally has a special somepony. what's his name?"
"Rarity stop! We are not together. Stop jumping to conclusions." She whispered-yelled.
"I was just asking what his name was."
Sweetie let out an exasperated sigh. "His name is Spike, okay? Now please, stop embarrassing me."
"Spike? That's strange. Well, I'll leave you two alone. I have work to finish off anyway." Rarity left to her workshop, humming to herself a soft tune. As Sweetie Belle walked back to Spike, Rarity mumbled under her breath. "I wonder if he has a brother."
"Sorry about that. My sister can be a bit nosy sometimes."
"I actually think she's quite nice." Sweetie rolled her eyes at Spike's comment.
"Anyway, did you want me to show you around." She didn't wait for an answer. Spike was yanked by his hoof across the workshop. "This is where Rarity shows off her dresses to important clients. And this," Spike was pulled to another section of the store. "Is where she keeps her templates and tools." Sweetie Belle dragged Spike from place to place, giving quick explanations of what each thing was for. He was zoning in and out of her explanations, so he was, for a lack of a better word, surprised when she spoke next.
"And this is my room." Sweetie Belle pushed open the door to her abode. When did we get upstairs? Spike looked around the room. It was very clean, excluding a few pieces of cloth. "What do you think?"
"It's... nice I guess." Never been in here before. Sweetie jumped onto her bed.
"So Spike. Have you ever had a suit or anything before."
"I had a suit a while ago, but it doesn't fit me at the moment." Because it was made for dragons, not ponies. Thanks Twilight. Spike mentally rolled his eyes.
"Maybe I could make one for you. Wait here for a bit, I'll get the tape measure." She raced out of the room. Spike shifted his weight from hoof to hoof awkwardly, waiting for the unicorn filly to return. What have I got myself into. What am I going to do with a pony suit?
"Wear it of course." The filly walked back into the room. Spike froze, realizing he had been talking aloud. "Now stay still, I need to measure you." Sweetie measure Spike's front legs and wrote down the measurements on a notepad. She threw one end of the tape over Spike and reach under him and pull the end between his front and forehooves so she could measure his barrel. She held the measuring tape tight against his side while using her magic to jot down the measurement. Finally she walked in front of him and threw the tape around his head and began to make measurements for his collar. "So, where are you staying in Ponyville?" Spike swallowed nervously.
"Haven't really figured that out yet."
"She adjusted the tape. "You don't have anywhere to stay? You know, if you ask my sister, she might let you stay here for the night." Sweetie Belle leaned in, staring right into Spike's eyes. "I'm sure she wouldn't mind." I am so screwed. Spike tried to think of a way out of this, but his brain was on panic mode.
"Uh?" Was all he could say.
"If you're to shy to ask, I could ask for you." She gave an angelic smile, leaning in even further so that they were only inches apart. "Maybe we could have a sleep over, just you and me." I am so dead. Spike tried to lean away from Sweetie Belle, but she used the measuring tape around his neck to pull him even closer, so that their muzzles were practically touching. Spike didn't know why, but all of a sudden Sweetie leaned and pressed her lips against his. Her lips were warm and as smooth as silk. He could have died then and content with his life. They stayed like this for several seconds before they broke apart to breathe.
Sweetie Belle smiled and then hopped over to the notepad and wrote down the measurement for his neck. It was as if nothing had happened, but Spike couldn't get it out of his head. The young colt barely registered the bell from downstairs. Someone had entered the store. He could hear Rarity give quote her slogan and then a mumbled conversation from bellow. After a few minutes he heard hoof steps coming up the stairs. Rarity knocked on the door and then proceeded to push it open. Spike practically died. Rarity stood there with a amused smile on her face. Standing next to her was a purple alicorn. It was Twilight.
Sweetie leaped from her desk and ran to hug Twilight. "Hey Twilight! Good news. I've been practising those spells you taught me and I almost got the arcane luminescent spell mastered." She broke from the hug.
"That's great, so glad I have such an assiduous student." Sweetie didn't understand what she meant but just nodded in agreement.
"So what brings you here anyway. You going to teach me a new spell?" She hopped excitedly.
"No actually, although I would love to. I'm actually here to pick up," She pointed at Spike. "My cousin." Now it was Sweetie who froze.
"He's your cousin?!"
"Are you sure this is going to turn me back into a dragon?"
"For the last time, yes. This spell will turn you into a dragon." Twilight closed her eyes and focused her magic. The magic around her horn grew brighter and brighter until it shot out in a single beam, and collided right into Spike. When Twilight opened her eyes she saw a baby dragon one the ground, hugging himself.
"I am never coming back in here again when your practising spells." Spike said, checking his body to make sure everything was there. "I don't care what Celestia wants, if she wants to send you a letter, she can do it herself. Let her be turned into a pot plant. Where is that letter anyway?" Spike scratched his scaly head.
"Oh, I found it under one of the bookshelves. Don't know how it got under there though."
"Have you read it yet?"
"No, I was too busy trying to find a spell to turn you back into a dragon."
"You might want to read it."
Twilight levitated a furled scroll from somewhere, and removed the ribbon holding it closed. Her eyes scanned the letter and with each sentence she read, her eyes grew wider and wider. "We have to get to Canterlot right away."
Rarity was in her workshop with Sweetie Belle making a new dress for one of her clients, while idly talking to her sister. "So what did you two get up to?"
"Not much. I just took his measurements for a suit and that's it really."
"That's nice. It's always good to see young ponies in formal attire."
"There's something about him that I can't get out of my head though."
"And what might that be?" Rarity said with a large grin on her face.
"His cutie mark. It was so. Strange. I just can't imagine what it could represent. What could a burning scroll mean?"
Rarity took a pause from her work to think about this. "Maybe his talent is disposing of old scrolls." She shrugged. "I see what you mean. It is a vague cutie mark. You'll have to ask him next time you see him."
Author's Note
Sorry about the explanation of the dress, I sometimes get into fashion. Also if anyone would like to make some fan art for the dress, that would be amazing.
