Author's Note

My second attempt at a story. Read at your pleasure.

For those who enjoy Spike's new mansion. It's unfortunately put on hold for now. Also, this story is unrelated to Spike's new Mansion.

Chapter 1: Sunburst's Favor

During an average day within the quiet town of Ponyville, Ponies were going about their usual business and routines. Some were managing their stores at the marketplace, others were simply having a good day. One dragon in particular was walking through town, enjoying his free time and no catastrophe befalling over their heads.

He just finished helping out his farmer mare friend, Applejack, at the farm. The orange mare needed an extra hoof… or claw, with harvesting the apples. Spike was happy to help, especially if he got a chance to have a piece of Granny Smith’s delicious apple pies. Once evening began to show itself, Spike completed the last of the harvesting and headed home, ready to relax.

Spike continued on with his walk, humming to himself, taking a path back home to the Castle of Friendship. While Spike kinda missed the quiet and cozy Golden Oaks library that was his and Twilight’s home, he quickly adapted to living in a large castle made of crystals. Unlike Starlight, it was easy to know the place inside-out. He had to help his unicorn friend how to navigate the place after a few embarrassing walk-ins with him in the bathroom… in nothing but a towel.

Spike mentally slapped himself back from his thoughts as turned onto the main path to the castle.

“I wonder what Twilight and Starlight are doing?” Spike thought to himself. “Knowing Twilight, she’s probably reshelving books in the library again.”

Spike chuckled to himself on that thought. Since the day he was brought under Twilight’s care, he had to deal with the bookworms antics with the library. Though the dragon was often annoyed at handling any kind of large book, aside from comic books, Twilight loved every chance the purple alicorn got when handling any book, be it reading or sorting.

Spike finally reached the front door but upon opening and entering, a couple of loud voices were heard.

“Aw come on Starlight! I’m begging you!!” A male voiced shouted from across the hallway to the map room. The voice sounded familiar to Spike.

“I’m not doing it and there is nothing you can do or say that will change my mind!” A mare’s voice said in angry defiance. This voice Spike recognized was indeed his housemate, Starlight Glimmer.

Spike peaked past the opened door and saw three ponies he knew all too well. Twilight Sparkle, the princess of friendship, sitting at her throne in between the two other ponies, the orange furred Sunburst and Starlight.

Starlight Glimmer was a tall unicorn with pale-pink coat with a purple mane that had aquamarine streaks in it. She also possessed a slime hourglass figure with nicely shaped breasts and hips.

Twilight Sparkle, Spike’s surrogate elder sister, was a purple alicorn with a light purple coat and a deep purple mane that had various purple and pink streaks in it. She had a figure similar to Starlight but since becoming an alicorn, her womanly assets become more pronounced. Though Spike wouldn’t really admit it but he has noticed such a development.

Sunburst, his friend from the Crystal Empire, was a bright orange stallion with orange-red hair. Physically, Sunburst was borderline lanky in comparison to an average Stallion. He kinda reminded Spike of his younger days, just entering his teenage years, before he developed more muscles.

All three looked well into their mid-twenties while Spike just passed the adult age of twenty.

“Please Starlight, would you do this for a friend?” Sunburst pleaded.

From what Spike could see on Sunburst’s face, he really looked desperate. Almost ready to drop onto his knees to get Starlight to comply with whatever he needs.

“I’m not going to Sire’s Hollow just so you can avoid your mom’s obsession with “modernizing” the town.” Starlight said with an annoyed tone in her voice.

“I-It’s not really that! She just needs an honest, outside opinion with her plans for the town.” Sunburst replied in honesty but with a sheepish, pleading smile.

“Oh please, you just don’t want to hear anymore of her crazy ideas or want to hear her scold you for not finding a marefriend.” Starlight pointed out with narrowed eyes.

Sunburst’s shoulders slumped in defeat. It was true that Stellar Flare had some schemes to get the two together but such plans only annoyed Starlight and embarrassed him.

Twilight looked both uncomfortable and nervous. She didn’t like seeing two friends argue and tried to be the peacekeeper but when it reached their personal issues, it only became awkward.

“What’s going on?” Spike chimed in.

All three ponies looked towards the entrance and saw Spike enter.

“Oh Spike! Your back from AJ’s.” Twilight said in surprise.

“Yeah, a good workout for the day. So what’s going on with you three?” Spike asked again.

“It’s nothing Spike, just Sunburst wants me to go to Sire’s Hollow to be his mom’s assistant in her committee’s project.” Twilight explained with slight annoyance in her voice.

“Please Starlight!?” Sunburst begged again. “I’ll do anything! I’ll give you some of my more valuable books.”

Starlight gave a deadpanned look. Though Twilight looked interested, it was a failed bargain to convince Starlight.

“Not. Going. To happen.” Starlight said sternly, cowing Sunburst.

“(sighs) I’ll take anyone at this point but all the other ponies I’ve asked refused or said they didn’t have time.” Sunburst said in defeat.

After a moment of thought (or sulking on Sunburst’s part), Spike stepped forward.

“Well, I could fill in for you.” Spike volunteered.

All three ponies looked at Spike in utter surprised. Sunburst looked like he met his savior while Starlight looked at him with dread in her eyes. Twilight looked a little concerned, likely out of her protective nature when it comes to him.

“You do that for me Spike?” Sunburst asked, hoping he heard right.

“Yeah, I mean I’ve rarely left Ponyville in the recent years. The only places I’ve ever really gone to was Canterlot to visit Celestia, the Crystal Empire being its hero and all or to Appleloosa to see the rodeos .” Spike reasoned. “So going to somewhere like Sire’s Hollow would be a nice and quiet adventure.”

Starlight chuckled nervously a bit. “That’s all ok Spike, but you don’t really know anything about Sire’s Hollow or being a critic to a development committee.” Starlight pointed out.

“True but since I’ve been to both rural and urban places, I could provide some good input to balance out Stellar’s plans so they don’t resemble a shopping mall.” Spike explained. “That and I have experience in being a good, faithful assistant.”

Twilight looked deep in thought, analyzing Spike’s proposal and he did make some good points. Starlight still didn’t like the idea of Spike going to Sire’s Hollow to be an eccentric mare’s assistant but then again he’s been Twilight’s assistant since the beginning and if he could handle being Twilight’s assistant, then he could probably handle Stellar Flare. Sunburst looked completely on board with this plan.

“He makes some good points Starlight.” Twilight said in agreement. “I don’t normally like Spike going on extended trips but this could be a good experience for him.”

Starlight looked back at her former teacher ready to argue again but sighed in defeat. “Alright, it does sound like a good plan but I still don’t like it.”

“YES!!” Sunburst cried out in joy. He ran over to Spike and shaked his hand wildly. “Thank you, thank you, thank you, Spike!”

“N-No problem, Sunburst.” Spike said, a little surprised with Sunburst’s joyous outburst.

“I’ll send a letter to my mom immediately, telling her I can’t make it and that you will be filling in for me.” Sunburst said before zooming past Spike and out of the map room.

“Well… looks like I better pack things together.” Spike said before taking his leave. Though his back was turned, he could feel both Twilight’s concerned gaze and Starlight’s annoyed stare.

After Spike left, Twilight and Starlight almost immediately looked at each other.

“I still don’t like this.” Starlight firmly stated. “I feel Stellar Flare is going to be a bad influence on him.”

“Oh don’t be like that Starlight.” Twilight replied. “This could be good for Spike. Visiting a different town than those he’s used to and being an assistant to a pony besides me could be good experience.”

“Maybe Twilight.” Starlight said with reservation. ‘Either that or be eaten alive by a crazy urban planner.’ She thought in dread.