"But then we crashed into the Everfree Forest, and a manticore chased us back to town, and we got yelled at by our sisters, and Twilight, ya know, the usual stuff. But other than that it was cool, huh?" Scootaloo finished telling Spike the latest exploits of the Crusaders.
"Uh, yeah, cool......" Spike said, looking rather dejected.
" Somethin' wrong, Spike?" asked Apple Bloom.
"Nah. Well, it's just, I mean you three always go on crazy and fun adventures, right? And so do Twilight and the girls. But all I ever do is sweep the library and stock the shelves. It gets boring, ya know?" Spike said.
"Cmon Spike, you do cool stuff. Saviour of the Crystal Empire? Best cook in Ponyville, Manehatten, and Canterlot? Ring any bells?" said Sweetie Belle.
"Yeah, yeah, thanks for trying make me feel better. I'm just gonna take a walk." Spike got up and left the treehouse/clubhouse.
Ponyville was unusually quiet right now. No stands were set out in the town square, and the only ponies out were those going to and from their friends houses, or some store, or the bowling alley.
Spike briefly considered going bowling, but rejected the idea. He just wasn't in the mood for some reason.
'Weird how the mares never feel like this, always saving the Princesses' flank during one disaster or another,' thought Spike to his self, 'Also weird how they never bring me along; I just take care of the library.'
Spike thought maybe they just wanted to keep him safe, ya know, a fire-breathing dragon. Keeping safe. Yeah right, who was he kidding? They just didn't want a 'baby' dragon slowing them down. Spike's shoulders slumped lower and lower as he approached the library.
'Poor little Spikey-Wikey, whatever.' Spike reached for the handle to the library, but stopped when he heard voices.
"You're lucky the Crusaders haven't tried to drag Spike into one their missions yet. They'd try to get him to take them to the dragon migration, for 'Dragon-Hunting Cutie Marks' or something." A voice, clearly Twilight Sparkle's, could be heard from outside.
Spike backed up and went to the window instead. He could just see all six of his friends laying near the couch, apparently talking about him.
"Oh, they're not that hellbent on getting their marks." Rarity giggled while she said this.
"Oh, I reckon they are. And they probably will try to get Spike to help 'em." said Applejack.
"He wouldn't help them, though," said Twilight assuredly,"He's a nice, upstanding dragon who would never put fillies in harms way."
"I agree," Rarity said,"He's quite the gentledrake, always helping me around the Boutique, and out gem hunting too. Never has a complaint passed his lips."
The little group in general nodded to this statement. Outside Spike was grinning like an idiot. 'Oh yeah, Rarity definitely likes me.' he thought.
"He's also very kind and generous," came the sweet voice of Fluttershy,"Remember that he took care of all our little animals when we were away at the Crystal Empire?"
"Hey, speaking of the Crystal Empire, Spike was the one that saved it! Twice! Like, that second time was totally awesome, with the huge ball of fire! Didn't think the little guy had that much in him!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed, always her energetic self.
"Yep, that was pretty impressive. Steppin' up like that, when he knew no one else there coulda stopped that big chunk o' ice fallin' on us," said Applejack, "I'd also like to point out that he tried to become my slave once, for saving his life. Might be kinda dumb, but it was honourable."
Everyone giggled at the memory of that. Even Spike was having trouble keeping silent. The whole timberwolves was so scary at the time, but looking back on AJ saving him, them him saving AJ (from real wolves, not the fake one the girls built), he couldn't help but smile.
"His cooking too! His cooking is AWESOME! I mean, I don't like having to pick gems out of teeth cuz I'm not a dragon and I don't eat gems, well I've never actually tried gems before, maybe they taste like rock candy! Now I really want to try some!" said Pinkie Pie in her peppy, over-the-top fashion.
"How'd he get so good at cooking, anyway?" Rainbow cocked her head at Twilight.
"Well," Twilight said, clearing her throat with a slight cough, "When we lived in Canterlot, he would always bring my food up from the palace kitchen. He started doing it the moment he could walk. Then, as he got older, the cooks started teaching him a thing or too, cuz they thought his fire breath could help them cook faster. And it did, but it also got better. I don't know if it's his dragon smell, or just a natural ability; he's always been a great cook." Twilight finished her little story.
"He probably learned so fast because he's a hard worker. Like Rarity said, he never complains about what we ask him to do, and he always does it so well," said Fluttershy.
"Yeah! He's the best little scaly, fire-breathing friend a pony could have!" said Pinkie.
"Amen to that, man," agreed Rainbow Dash.
There was a general murmur of consent inside the library, and outside Spike just sat down and smiled, a warm feeling blossoming in his heart.
"I can't believe I ever doubted the loyalty of my friends" he whispered softly to himself.
He then got up and entered the library, stepping into his circle of friends.
"I heard what you guys said about me, and yeah, I know I'm awesome." Spike stood proudly, smiling all the way.
"Aww, you heard us? Come here, Spikey-Wikey," Rarity said, pulling him into a hug.
Everyone else piled on, making a little group hug in the library. All their hearts were full of love and smiles on all their faces. They felt more magical than they ever had before, thanks to their best frien-
"Wait a minute! Rainbow, what's 'man' mean?" said Twilight, suddenly flabbergasted.
