Punch.
Dodge jab.
Counter.
Avoid kick.
Dodge flying objects.
Catch follow up punch.
Get feet swept out.
Recover.
Get thrown into observation window.
Spike sighed as his sparring partner stared down at him. For as laid-back as she seemed most of the time, the android was surprisingly stubborn about letting him win.
"Alright, Spike, that's enough." Princess Celestia called emerging from the elevator. "Time to call it a night."
"Eh?" Spike stared in disbelief at Celestia as he struggled back to his feet. Preoccupied, he missed Maduky’s swift kick to his right leg.
Looking down, Celestia barely suppressed a snicker as she watched the young dragon reorient to his new favorite position, face down on the ground.
"Come on, princess. One more try, I almost had her this time." Spike whined.
“Just like the last twelve tries?” Maduky asked.
"That may be so, Spike," Celestia said helping him up, "but it's getting late. And though you’re full of energy now. They’re saying you still need a rest."
Leaning against one of the barricades, Celestia watched the characteristic droop of Spike's face as he tugged at keeping up his pursuit. "I'm sure you can find time to go another round or two tomorrow," Celestia mentioned.
"Yeah, I guess I can, can't I?" Spike smiled as he gave the floor a playful slap. Standing up, Spike headed to the stairs. "I'll see you tomorrow then, Maduky." He waved and set off toward the dorms.
"Goodnight Spike," Maduky replied as she covertly scanned Spike’s biometrics.
Whistling absently, Spikie wandered the building, still riding the adrenaline high from his sparring match with Maduky in the gym. “Man, this place is really different at night.” He thought.
The lights were mostly on 'fire-safe' setting, so that firefighters could see if they needed to navigate through the building. Even the laboratory kitchen, which was usually lit and running through all hours, was dark. Puzzled, Spike couldn’t help but feel as something was wrong. As he climbed the stairs and arrived on his floor, the faint sound of music floated on the air.
“Now where is that coming from?” Spike wondered aloud. He stopped, swiveling his head in an attempt to locate the source of the music. For many months his had been the only room on this level. Passing his room, he silently followed the sound down the dim hallway. Near the end of the hall, he saw a pool of light spilling from a doorway.
‘Bingo!’ thought Spike as he moved to the side of the doorway. ‘Now who-’
"No, no, NO! That does not work," Sweetie Belle growled, shaking her guitar and dropping it on a nearby desk. She grabbed the music in front of her and scribbled out her previous notes. She paused, before looking over the music again. She scratched a few new notes and brought her instrument back up.
“Show me the brighter side
Of this terrible agony
Speak life into this body
Blind me in the light
Shine truth to shatter the night
From pain to bloodshed
The the heavens to the grave
What does it mean
To live this life“
Since when did Sweetie Belle play guitar? Much less sing? Granted, there was a lot that he didn't know about this pony. They rarely ran into each other, and the times they did was for one of Spike’s tests. But still one would think he would have at least heard from someone that Sweetie Belle played an instrument! Leaning around the edge to confirm, Spike set his hands on the door frame, fingers resting slightly against the open door, and listened.
Thud!
Startled, Sweetie Belle turned to the door, pausing in the middle of her playing as she silenced her guitar. Staring at the door, she tried to discern if anyone was there. "Hello?" she called softly. Catching a familiar glimpse of purple on the floor, which she figured as an arm, she tried again. "Spike?"
The arm twitched, before moving into full view, becoming part of a red jacket riding on the slumping shoulders of Spike.
"Um, hi?" he offered, scratching his head. “Nice room you have here. They just move you up?”
A small 'eep' escaped Sweetie Belle as she hurriedly stashed the guitar under the bed and frantically covered the sheet music spread over the desktop. If she moved fast enough there was a small chance he hadn't heard anything and she could distract him. Spike was easy to distract. All she needed was...
"That was you playing wasn't it?"
Sweetie Belle froze. That statement had crushed the faint glimmer of hope that she had held. She briefly considered denying it, but Spike wasn't likely to buy it. Not if he’d seen. Her shoulders slumped as she nodded.
"I didn't know you played guitar. It, uh, sounded really good.” Spike said.
Sweetie Belle didn’t say anything.
“Yeah..." Spike said, clearly trying to avoid the potential awkwardness that was surrounding the situation. “What’s the song called?”
"My parents made me take lessons when I was younger," Sweetie Belle admitted. "It's been awhile since I actually played anything instead of just fiddling with it."
Spike nodded, "And the song?"
Sweetie Belle winced; she really wanted him to forget that part of the question. He wasn't supposed to know about this until it was finished.
"It's. . ." she paused, mentally scrambling for an excuse. "It's for a class. I’m taking it to help develop mind. Per director’s orders." Blatant lie, but he didn't need to know that. Plus with everything they were always doing. It probably was a good idea to work on herself mentally.
Spike nodded sadly, fully understanding finishing an assignment at the last hour.
"He’s also the one who moved me up here. Said it’ll be better for me to not be restricted." Sweetie Belle explained, trying to steer the conversation away from the song.
For once, Sweetie Belle's wish was granted. Spike apologized for intruding and claimed that he had tons of things to do as well. He then beat a hasty retreat out of the room.
Sweetie Belle sighed. She had wanted him gone, but didn't want to say it in such conceivably mean terms. Getting up and locking the door this time, to avoid any more interruptions, she returned to the song that she was working on.
Twilight was lounging in his room watching television when Spike barged in smelling of slight perfume and sweat.
"Kid’s got mail," Twilight grinned as she waved the envelope around. She paused dramatically, sitting up on the bed. "And it's from a girl!"
Spike’s initial confusion at Twilight's statement was quickly erased as the mare began to rip open the letter.
"Wait, give me that!" Lunging for Twilight, he grasped only thin air as the mare ducked out of the way.
Twilight smirked as Spike smacked into the wall.
"Bye," she smirked, dropping the letter on Spike’s head as she moved to the door, before taking off down the hallway.
"Stupid smart aleck sisters taking your mail," Spike grumbled as he opened the envelope to reveal a thank you card. Though it didn’t come with a name, Spike was certain that it was indeed from a girl. The handwriting and perfume laden paper were proof enough of that. Writing it off as just another one of his countless fans Twilight had told him he had, Spike threw the paper on his desk and went to bed.
