I, Clownius

by Matthew Penn

Rating: everyone
Tags: Spike, Comedy, Twilight Sparkle, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
Length: 5442

Twilight Sparkle is possessed by a clown, and her only hope is Spike. None of this will make sense.

Twilight Sparkle has a fear of clowns, and things only gets worse when she is possessed by one. Now her only hope is Spike, her most trusted assistant.

WARNING: This story will not make sense.

Published 2017-11-16 19:10:12 UTC
Last updated 2017-11-16 19:10:12 UTC

I, Clownius

Twilight Sparkle spent the afternoon reading her favorite book, a classic 1300-paged tome. She created a magical soundproof dome to clear away all distraction. Twilight knew it worked because she couldn’t hear a thing. She had the idea from yesterday when Spike disturbed her with his paddle ball. “Finally, some peace and quiet,” she said with relief.

The door burst open. Spike rushed into the treehouse calling out Twilight’s name. He noticed the magical orb that took up most the center of the library. He knocked repeated on the orb and shouted at her as loud as he can. Twilight didn’t budge. He thought of something. Spike went to another room and returned holding a needle. He tapped the orb and it popped. Twilight shrieked, panting heavily. She thought she was going to suffer a heart attack. She caught of glimpse f Spike, who was smiling.

“How did you do that?” she asked, still shocked from what happened.

“It was a trick Pinkie Pie taught me. Anyway, I came here because I have big news! I was listening to my favorite radio station until the DJ said there is a special prize for anyone who can answer a riddle. I called and answered and I won!”

“Okay,” said Twilight. “What was the riddle?”

“Why is a raven like a writing desk?”

Twilight scratched the back of her head. She heard of that riddle before. “Is that the riddle with no answer?” she asked, curiously.

“Yep, and I was the one that got it right! And I won the prize!” he exclaimed.

“What’s the prize and what does it have to do with us?” asked Twilight.

Spike presented two tickets in his claws. It had the logo of the circus inscribed in bright red letters, with a colorful circus tent as the background.“They’re tickets to the circus! Isn’t it great? The radio station gave them to me, which means one for me and one for you! What do you think?” He giddily waved the ticket to Twilight’s face. However, she smiled half-heartedly.

“That’s… great,” she said weakly.

“I knew you two will like it! The circus is this weekend! I’ll see you there!”

“I can’t believe it! We got actual tickets to the circus! I never been to one before!” He looked on to Twilight, who didn’t seem to be putting effort into her enthusiasm. “Aren’t you excited?”

“To be honest… I don’t think I should go,” said Twilight.

“Why not?”

“Well… it just so happens I’m going to be very busy this weekend,” she said quickly. “The Princess wants me to… write an essay… on Solaris Capricious’ astronomical discoveries.”

“I thought you already wrote that essay,” said Spike.

“Well… I liked it so much that I decided to do it again,” she said hurriedly. Spike wanted to object, but she already trotted upstairs, without a single word.

That’s strange, Spike thought. Who wouldn’t want to go to the circus? He could understand if someone like Rarity or Fluttershy didn’t want to go, although, as he thought about it some more, Twilight never liked to do anything fun with him. Still, she acted very strange, as though she was nervous about something.

On that same night, when Spike was dreaming of wonderful things, he was awaken by noises in the middle of the night. His eyes opened as the noises increased. He heard low mumbling from Twilight’s bed, and soon discovered Twilight was one mumbling in her sleep.

“Twilight?” yawned Spike. She didn’t answer. She spoke in a low voice, muttering incoherent words, and tossed slightly under her blanket. “Twilight, are you okay?” he asked again. Spike sat up to examine her. Twilight turned her head sideways, slowly; from the look of her face she seem to be in distress. She pulled the blanket close to her, and mumbled once more. “Twilight,” he said again.

“... Clowns,” muttered Twilight. “Clowns everywhere. Get away from me!” she said slowly.

Spike leaned close to wake her, but he stopped himself. Did he hear what he thought he heard? Clowns? There was no possible way she could be…

Twilight turned herself frantically on the bed, pleading for the imaginary clowns to leave her. Her voice grew fearful, and there was a chance she may scream herself awake at any moment. Spike shook her, calling out Twilight’s name until she was jolted awake.

“You were having a bad dream,” he said. “Are you okay?”

Twilight and Spike stared at each other for what felt like a long time. Then she quickly sat up and climbed out of her bed.

“I’ll be fine,” she said, hurrying to the door. “I just need a glass of water.” Then she exited the bedroom.

Spike tiptoed out of the room and silently followed her downstairs. Without being seen or heard, he stood at a considerable distance and watched Twilight sit at a table with a glass of water. She raised it to her lips, only drank a small amount, then cried softly.

The next morning Spike woke up to find that Twilight was not in her bed. Then the events from the night replayed in his mind. He thought she couldn’t get any sleep, and chose to stay with her. He hoped Twilight wasn’t too tired for the day. Spike went downstairs and found Twilight at the table with a hot cup of coffee.

“Um… Twilight?” he asked.

“Oh, good morning Spike,” said Twilight. She was jittery from the coffee. Spike didn’t know how many cups she consumed before he arrived.

“Are you okay? Because, you know, last night -”

“Last night? I don’t remember last night, not at all,” she said quickly. “In fact, let’s not talk about last night. Come have some coffee with me.”

“No thank you. Are you sure you’re okay?”

Twilight consumed more coffee. “I’m fine, why do you ask? Do you want some coffee?”

“Look, if it’s about the clowns, you don’t have to -”

Before Spike could finish his sentence Twilight leaned forward, and gave him such a glare he never seen in her eyes before. “I thought I told you not to talk about last night!” she yelled. Her heated exchanged forced Spike on to the floor. His gazed was locked into Twilight’s eyes; it were as though she were a stranger. Her face soften after a while, and decided to go upstairs. “I’m sorry,” she muttered. As she took the first steps Spike stopped her.

“Come on, talk to me,” he pleaded. “I know you’re afraid of… those guys, but if you talk to me maybe you’ll feel better.” Twilight was silent, sadly looking at Spike. Then she lowered her head. “Tell me… are you afraid of clowns?” he asked.

Spike noticed that she cringed inwardly, possibly because an image of a clown entered her mind. She shook her head, then collected herself. “Yes. Yes I am,” answered Twilight.

“Is that the reason you weren’t excited about the circus?”

Twilight nodded. “It has been carried over well from my fillyhood,” she said.

“Can you tell me about it?” asked Spike.

Twilight wasn’t sure if she should. It was possible that explaining her phobia will bring up a string of bad memories. She took a deep breath and told Spike to sit at the table. Twilight saw that her cup of coffee remained at the table, still warm, so she drank some.

“Years ago, I believe it was before you came around… I was having my fifth birthday party. My parents invited some of the children in the neighborhood, although I wasn’t as social as I am now. Shining Armor was there, too. The essentials were there, as you’d fine in every birthday party: games, music, cake, streamers. Everything was fine… until he arrived.”

“Who?” asked Spike.

“Bosko,” gulped Twilight.

“Who is Bosko?”

“Bosko was a clown my parents hired to entertain the party guests and myself. I wasn’t expecting him at all. I remember it as clear as day. My father presented a red box to me. I thought it was another gift, then suddenly the box exploded… and Bosko appeared. It took me by surprise. Well, maybe his unannounced appearance was planned, but he scared me. I don’t know whether it was the makeup, the clothes, or his big shoes, but I grew fearful of him every moment that passed. Then he pulled a trick on me. I can’t explain it, but it felt like he went right inside my mind and… and, he did something. I couldn’t take it anymore. It was so horrible that I began to cry, and my mother took me inside to console me. And that was last I saw of Bosko.”

“But then you realized you were afraid of clowns,” added Spike.

“Precisely. My parents never hired clowns again. It was so bad that I missed out on going to places like the carnival, even the Canterlot Circus when it came to town. I just knew I’ll see clowns and have a panic attack. And that’s why I can’t go to the circus with you. I’m sorry.”

With nothing left to say, Twilight sat up and left the table. Spike watched as she went outside and shut the door, then he sat there and began to think. He noticed that Twilight hadn’t finished her cup of coffee, so he decided to try some for himself. He gagged and spat it out.

Spike spent much the day in the library thinking about what Twilight had explained to him. He had no idea a close friend of his kept such a deep secret. Out of everything in the world Twilight Sparkle could be afraid of, it was clowns. She is the Element of Magic, Princess Celestia’s most favored student, the most gifted unicorn in Equestria, and she was afraid of ponies in makeup.

But Spike refused to accept that. Twilight owed him her free time. He couldn’t remember a time when they did something together that didn’t involve work or studying, when it was just the two of them together enjoying their company. If it did happen, then it was a long time ago. If only there was some way for Twilight to get over her fear of clowns. He took a little nap while thinking about it.

It was well into the evening when Twilight entered the library. Spike was waken from his nap by the door opening and closing.

“Hi Twilight. Back already,” he yawned. Spike wondered how long he had been asleep.

“Yes. I was just taking a little stroll to take my mind off… certain things.” She sounded better than this morning, Spike realized. She rubbed the side of her head, wincing her eyes.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. I just have a slight headache,” answered Twilight. “It just started when I was out.”

“Oh… do you need some water or something?”

Twilight shook her head. “I wanted to apologize for not going to the circus with you. I’m sure one of our friends would like to come if they’re not busy.”

“That’s the thing, I only got them for us,” said Spike.

“I know. I’ll make it up to you next time, I promise.”

“Yeah… sure,” said Spike. He knew next time will never come.

Twilight rubbed her forehead when the pain returned. It was much worse than before. The pain coursed through every inch of her skull. She even felt it affecting her horn. Twilight moaned and sucked in her teeth. Spike came to her side the moment she stumbled on her work desk.

“Are you sick?” he asked.

“I… I don’t know. I need to go to my room,” Twilight said weakly.

She took a few steps upstairs until she froze. Spike looked on, noticing she suddenly looked sleepy. She never blinked all that time. Spike waved and snapped his claws in front of her face. “Twilight, are you okay?” Twilight’s body wobbled back and forth. Drowsiness overtook her senses, she let out tired moans. Spike caught her before she tumbled backward. He had no idea how heavy she was. He led her into the bedroom and tucked her under the blankets, then turned off the lights. He stepped out of the room and began the think. No matter how much he wanted, circumstances will keep him and Twilight from spending time together.

The next morning Spike was jolted awake by a loud air horn. He stumbled face-first onto the floor with a throbbing headache and ringing in his ears. Spike slowly came to his sense, although his sight was still blurry. A figure of a stranger stood before him.

“Who are you and how did you get in here,” he inquired. Spike rubbed his eyes to clear his vision. To his disbelief a clown had somehow entered their home. The clown was dressed top to bottom in ridiculous clothing and yellow overalls that were much too big, complete with large, shiny red shoes with yellow laces. Colorful makeup and a oversized orange wig decorated the face and head.

“Didn’t mean to blow your top!” joked the clown. “Glad to see you’re finally awake! Dragons are usually heavy sleepers!”

The little dragon frowned. “I don’t know who you are, but you need to leave right now.” He pointed to the door.

“That’s no way to treat a houseguest, especially someone as fun as me!”

Spike approached the clown with a frustrated look on his face. Looking closely he saw something familiar in the clown’s eyes. He leaned closer… the irises were lavender.

“What’s the matter, cat got your tongue?” the clown said.

“Oh my gosh! Twilight, is that you?”

Twilight Sparkle, dressed as a clown for some reason, flipped upside-down to balance herself on her tail. “Twilight Sparkle? Who’s that? I’m the one and only Bosko the Laughing Clown!”

Spike watched as she pulled bowling pins from her comically-large overalls and juggled. He admitted the feat was impressive, but questions were running through his mind. How did this happen? Was it a spell gone wrong? Could it be Discord playing his dirty tricks again?

“Wanna hear a joke?” asked Twilight. “Why can’t you trust trees? Because they’re too shady! Get it?”

Twilight stopped juggling and turned herself over. Out of her overalls she pulled out a pogo stick and jumped circles around Spike, laughing hysterically.

“Twilight, something happened to you! You’re in serious need of help!”

“Kelp? I don’t need kelp.”

“No, not kelp! Help!”

“Kelp, help, what’s the difference?”

The pogo stick touched the floor and Twilight jumped off, performing a backflip, then making a perfect landing with ease. “That’s a ten out of ten if I say so myself,” she said. Twilight reached into one of her pockets and place a very small convertible automobile on the floor, then sat on it. “Well, kiddo, I gotta head-tail on outta here.”

“You have to go? Where are you going?” asked Spike.

“There are ponies out there who need a good laugh, and by golly I’m gonna deliver! I’ll see you on the flip side!”

She quickly grabbed Spike by his claws and immediately he felt an irritating shocking sensation course through his nerves. Twilight showed him the joy-buzzer attached to her hoof. “That one was for free,” she joked.

Spike tried to stop her, but she already drove off in that incredibly small car that somehow had great mileage. It even made one of those funny-honking noises that can be heard in cartoons. He heard the sound of glass shattering, meaning Twilight either broke a vase or managed to get the car out of the window. Spike rushed downstairs to the library, surprised and confused it was both the window and the vase.

The quiet of the morning was disturbed by an exploding red box on the middle of the street. All eyes were on the cloud of smoke that formed. The smoke cleared and a clown leaped out to the surprise of all. “It’s showtime!” called Twilight.

She reached into her overalls and tossed a small record player on the ground. Circus music played from it. Twilight danced while doing flips, cartwheels, and tumble-rolls. She blew balloons and formed them into shapes of animals and gave them to confused children.

Twilight approached a mare who had a nervous look on her face. “Hello! Bosko the Laughing Clown! Please to meet ya!” Twilight smiled and extended her hoof. The mare took it and shrieked when the clown’s arm slipped off her sleeve. “Well, that’ll cost you an arm and a leg,” Twilight joked.

She spotted a young filly who seemed to be frightened of her. Twilight leaped forward and knelt to her. “Don’t be scared of me,” she said with much enthusiasm, which made the filly hide behind her mother. “Here, have an apple.” Twilight gave the filly an apple. The little pony took a bite and quickly spat it out as she tasted an orange instead of an apple. Twilight jumped around, laughed hysterically, and squeezed her red nose.

She leaped to a young stallion this time and held a stack of playing cards to him. “Pick a card, any card!” The stallion hesitated and selected a card, looked at it, and returned it to the stack. Twilight shuffled with such quick movements that his eyes couldn’t follow. A moment later she was finished, then presented a joker card to the stallion. “Is this your card?”

“Uh, yes. Yes it is.”

“It should be, because they’re all jokers!”

Twilight laughed and tossed the cards away. She jumped on a unicycle and juggled bowling pins. “What’s the best season to jump on a trampoline? Spring time!” Now she juggled the pins with one hoof and spun a dinner plate on a stick with the other. “What did the duck say when she bought lipstick? Put it on my bill!” One backflip later she was off the unicycle. At that moment the bowling pins and the dinner plate flew upward, then downward. Twilight stretched open her overalls to catch them, and took a bow. The crowd applauded, slowly and nervously.

“This is most definitely outrageous!” bellowed an older pony.

“You think this is outrageous? I’ll show you outrageous,” Twilight answered back. She placed a watermelon on the ground in front of him and held a mallet over her head. “What’s black and white and red all over?”

The older pony looked at himself, realizing he was wearing a black and white business suit. Twilight brought the mallet down and pieces of watermelon splattered over the poor stallion’s suit. “In case you were wondering, the answer was actually a newspaper. Ain’t I a stinker?” The stallion wiped the pieces of the smashed watermelon off his suit, grumbling about how he had just purchased it for a business meeting. “Sorry about that. Let me help you,” said Twilight. From out of nowhere she aimed a seltzer bottle at the stallion and sprayed water over his face, making him even more angry than before. Twilight didn’t care. All she did was laugh.

“Is this some kind of joke?” a mare from the crowd asked.

“You tell me,” answered Twilight. She gave the mare a bouquet of flowers, much to her surprise. The flowers snarled and snapped at the mare like miniature beasts, and she ran away in terror. Once again Twilight had to laughed.

She reached into her orange wig and held a black top hat. “For my next trick, I’m going to pull a rabbit out of my hat!” She presented the inside of the hat to the crowd, and turned it inside-out, crushed it, then turned it to its original shape. She reached down and a fierce manticore popped out head first. Frightened ponies cried out and scrambled in all directions as quickly as they can before the lion had a chance to eat them. “Must have gotten the wrong hat,” chuckled Twilight. With the crowd gone she decided to go elsewhere. Twilight performed a silly dance, then spun around until she was so fast she became a colorful tornado that dug itself underground. Anyone who was there all decided it was the strangest thing they ever seen a clown do.

Spike was on the run, searching Ponyville high and low for Twilight. He hoped she didn’t hurt herself or other ponies. Spike kept his focus as he ran. She couldn’t have gone too far. Or maybe she decided to take the train to the next town. He stopped to catch his breath, then dwelled on his thoughts. If that was the case, then it was no use. The only one who can help her now was Princess Celestia. But how can he explain the situation to her? Dear Princess Celestia, Twilight has turned into a clown for no reason, please help. That sounds reasonable, he thought to himself sarcastically. He had no idea of what to do.

Spike didn’t know where else to go, so he wandered aimlessly. A moment later he caught of two children looking at a hole on the ground.

“Did you see what the clown did?” the colt said. Spike heard what he said. He rushed to where the little ponies were standing, he too looking at the medium-sized hole on the ground that led to nowhere.

“Excuse me, did you say a clown did this?” asked Spike.

The colt nodded. “Me and my sister were there. The clown was doing this weird street performance, then she accidentally made a manticore come out of her hat, and everyone ran away.”

“Then the clown spun herself so fast she made a hole on the ground,” the filly added.

Spike gazed at the hole. This was his only lead to Twilight, and had to take it. He put one leg inside the hole and crawled down until his entire body fitted.

“Hey, where are you going?” asked the colt.

“I have to save my friend.”

As he climbed down he can hear the voices of the young children debated whether they should follow him or not. His feet touched the surface. Blackness was around him, sunlight nothing more than a little speck of glowing white high above. Spike breathed a small green flame to give him light. The flame showed a long tunnel that stretched to nowhere, and he walked forward. He remained cautious while keeping the trail. He had no idea what was going to come out from the darkness, either behind him or before him.

The trail led to an area that was quite larger than the tunnel. Spike found himself in a dome made of earth. There was something big in front of him. The blackness of the cave obscured his vision, despite the light from the green flame.

Colorful lights filled the dome, revealing a calliope. A loud bang echoed through the dome when the calliope opened. Twilight the Laughing Clown stood on the stage, grinning widely. Silly music played from somewhere inside the dome and danced. Seeing Twilight in such a way caused him so much trauma that he had to look away, but when he opened his eyes he was greeted up close with a huge red grin to his face. Twilight howled with laughter as the little dragon stumbled on the ground.

“Hiya, Spike! Long time no see!”

“Twilight, you have to listen to me. I’m here to help you. I’m here to bring you back to normal.”

“There’s nothing wrong with me! I’m a-okay!”

“No you’re not. You’re not like this. I know you’re still in there, Twilight, and I want to get you out. I don’t know how my life will be without you. Please… let me help.”

The clown laughed for a long time. Spike noticed how the laughter became more sinister by the very second. It crept into his spirit, and he didn’t like the feeling.

“Sorry kiddo, I can’t let you do that. You see, Bosko need this body, and nopony is going to take me away from it. A long time ago, Bosko was the greatest clown in the business. Everyone wanted a piece of Bosko. But then, Bosko became very ill. Bosko was going to die. Then he became interested in the black arts and learned immortality. Then I went to little unicorn’s birthday party and transferred my essence onto her!”

“Oh my gosh,” muttered Spike. This wasn’t the version of the story Twilight told him.

“Now with this calliope, which is fueled by dark magic, I will take control of all the minds of everyone in Equestria! I will make everyone laugh! Oh, sweet, delicious laughter! And soon you will join me, too!”

The clown leaped and crawled on top the dome. It vomited green ooze. Spike dodged every shot the clown spat out. Bosko, in Twilight’s body, peeled off and landed on its hooves, taking out a bow and shooting rubber chickens at Spike. The dragon used a rock to block the incoming plastic poultry.

“Don’t be a chicken, join me!”

The rubber chickens stopped. However, the clown threw rotten eggs at Spike this time. The eggs discharged an awful-smelling green mist that made Spike cover his nose and mouth. “I’m trying to egg you on!” the clown said.

The awful green smoke tried to slow Spike down. He held his breath and fought through. The smoke dissipated, but a sharp edge of a playing card stabbed the ground by his foot, startling him. Another one flew over his head. “You gotta know when to fold them,” said the clown.

Spike stood his ground with his newfound bravery to fight back. More lethal cards were thrown at him. The little dragon breathed free which turned the cards into smoking crisps. The clown released an angry roar. Its red shoes inflated. He held a custard pie launcher, leaped forward, and fired at Spike. The dragon was quick on his feet. He tumbled and rolled as the clown tried to hit him with the pies. The clown had another trick up its sleeve. It reached into its orange wig and threw a banana peel on the ground, and celebrated its victory when Spike slipped and fell on his back.

“I never get tired of that gag!” it said. The clown laughed maniacally and kicked Spike around before stretching its forearms and pinning him on the wall. “Nothing will stop Bosko! You’ve lost, dragon! Now my essence will be part of you forever!”

Spike gasped for air and dared to look into the eyes of the clown.

“Hey Bosko… you like riddles? Here’s one for you. How is a raven like a writing desk?”

“Ha! That’s easy! A raven…”

The clown took some time to think. It mumbled to itself about a possible answer. In fact, it was so stumped that the clown hadn’t noticed it let go of Spike. “I… I don’t know,” it finally said.

“That’s because there’s no answer.”

The clown screamed in horror, babbling in gibberish and writhing on the ground in agony. “It’s not possible! Riddles always have answers!” it shouted. “Riddles should always have answers!” Spike watched, surprised that such a silly riddle can cause a monster like the clown to have a extremely nervous breakdown. The clown roared in despair and defeat. The makeup melted, the ridiculous clothing magically vanished, and the orange wig transformed back into Twilight’s regular hair. The pony stopped screaming and fainted. Spike rushed to her side and checked for a pulse. He sighed in relief.

Spike put Twilight to bed once he arrived home with her. He chose to stay awake until he knew she was okay. This had been the most incomprehensible day he ever had in his life. Spike hoped it was only a very bad fever dream. Unfortunately, he pinched himself several times before he realized it was still reality.

And then there was Bosko, or… whoever it was that took over Twilight’s mind and body. This morning it seemed he only encountered just an ordinary (and annoying) clown. After everything that’s happened, he understood why Twilight hated clowns. Now she’ll never go to the circus with him. Spike slumped on the couch. Things never go well in his life.

He heard movement from upstairs. Spike turned around in anticipation as he heard moans from a sleeping pony, the bathroom door opening and the splash of water. Twilight descended to the library with a moist face and wet strands of hair over her eyes.

“Spike, what happened,” she asked tiredly. Spike responded by hugging her as tightly as he can. “What’s going on? Did something happen? And what time is it?

“You’re not going to believe this… but you were possessed by an evil clown,” answered Spike.

“... What?” was all she can say.

He told Twilight to sit down, that it was going to be a long and complicated story. Spike explained how it happened with the nightmare she had the other night, her headaches, and the events from the morning and their confrontation underground. Twilight listened to every word uttered from his mouth, not sure of how to respond. Her eyes grew when Spike explained how Bosko, the clown from Twilight’s past, was responsible for it all.

“The nightmare, the headaches. It all makes sense now,” said Twilight. “When he came to my party he saw something in me he has never seen in any filly. By using dark magic he somehow used me as a shell for his spirit while his original body withered away. When the time was right I was a portal to release him into the world once more.”

“I’m surprised you got all that, because none of this makes sense to me.” Silence entered the room before Spike spoke again. “So, um, I guess you don’t want to the circus now after all this,” he said sadly.

“Why are you so upset that I don’t want to go the circus?” asked Twilight.

“This isn’t about the circus. I’m upset because we never hang out anymore. Whenever I want us to do something together, you’re always busy with work or being possessed by evil spirits. You never have time for me. And, well, sometimes I think you don’t want to be around me.”

“How can you say something like that? I never think something so awful. You know how important you are to me.”

“Yeah, you only need me to help you with some kind of experiment and stuff. Whenever I want to do something, you’re inside a soundproof orb. And that hurts, you know.”

“The orb was not because of you. I was reading and I needed to concentrate,” said Twilight.

Spike sat back and said nothing, leaving the unicorn to her thoughts. She believed they were already spending time together performing the scientific and magical experiments. There was another benefit Spike gained from them; he was learning about the world around him. She didn’t feel she was working too much or ignoring him deliberately. Was she? It was never her intention to neglect him.

“Spike, you know I don’t feel that about you,” said Twilight. She sat next to the dragon. “You are a very important part in my life. Not just for those experiments, but for everything else. You’re by my side when nopony else is. You try to do the things I can’t, and stopping that evil clown was one of them.”

Spike glanced at her, then looked away saying nothing. “Well, I just want to say that… you’re right,” said Twilight. “I do put too much focus on work instead of your well-being. Real friends… actually, family shouldn’t do that to each other. And I never meant to ignore you when you need me the most. For that, I am truly sorry.”

Twilight gave him the sweetest smile. Spike knew he couldn’t decline her with that face, so he smiled, too. “Apology accepted,” he said.

“I was thinking. Since you worked all day trying to save me and possibly the world, how about we take a day off tomorrow? We can do anything you want; just you and I,” said Twilight. “And about the circus… I guess I will go. I’ll just have to cover my eyes when I see clowns.”

“Nah, you don’t have to go if you don’t want to,” said Spike. “Maybe Pinkie Pie would like to come. But I will take up on your offer for tomorrow. We both need a break.”

Twilight nodded in agreement. They bid each other goodnight, and Spike went upstairs. When the library was quiet, she sighed heavily with relief about Spike not taking her to the circus. “Thank goodness,” she said.