Another Spike isekai

by Claude

Bureaucracy and grandeur

Previous Chapter

I think you take everything too personally. Since the bear incident, Twilight has been closer to me. It’s only been two days, but I’ve already participated in three picnics and a trip to a water park. Fortunately for me, my letter was answered, though the answer was a trip to Canterlot to help Princess Celestia with some preparations. It seemed strange at first, but when I dug into Spike’s memories, I noticed that the princess trained him to be Twilight’s assistant. Another proof in my theory of the evil of the princess and her fanaticism for giving cruel punishments to different people

-Hey, Spike, remember to behave with the princess and be alert when she asks you for something, Twilight said.

Twilight kept reminding me how bad it would be if I didn’t attend to the Queen’s requests.

-By the way, Spike, remember that here in Ponyville we are all your friends, me included, he said.

-I know, Twilight, it was just a joke, I said.

Last time I said goodbye to Twilight. Unlike before, I didn’t feel weird about walking away from her. I didn’t see him do anything with his horn, so my theory that it was magic is out of the question. So, if it must be psychological. So he cared so much about my little chuckle. He doesn’t want me to become aware of my slave status. How perverse

The ride was quite serene. The ponies still don’t notice that a bipedal, clawed lizard is locked in with them. Will they be warned in advance? Or is it normal behavior? Maybe I’m misjudging these horses and the ponies don’t judge those who look different. I’ll keep looking.

After four hours I arrived in the capital. The city had fairy-tale architecture, marble streets and high-nosed ponies and funny hairstyles.
.

These ponies, which are a clear parody of the snobs, but in pony version, do not mind my presence. Getting to the castle was easy. After the initial impression, you realize that Canterlot is a horrible city. All the streets look alike, it feels like a maze and not like a city. The only interesting thing is the castle hanging from a mountain. I suppose if it’s a fantasy city...

No one questioned me to enter. The guards (all brothers) recognized me and let me into the throne room.

Celestia descended from her throne of... I don’t know, bones.

Celestia told me in a simple way what was my main task while I stayed at the castle. Celestia’s secretary was indisposed, so I, the scribe of birth, was asked by Celestia to help in any way possible. That sounded like Twilight borrowed me, but I don’t blame her. I’d give my friends to the crazy woman who sends her sister to the moon for losing a game of Jenga.

-That’s all you have to do for now, Spike -said Celestia. Shit, she kept talking.

-Shining Armor will be here in a few minutes to lighten your duties. I’ll have to take care of the court, so we’ll see you in a few hours.

Celestia came up to me and planted a soft kiss on that green thing I have up on my head. An obvious way to remind me of the fact that I am now under their control. How perverse.

-I’ll be back soon, Spike. don’t be afraid to ask for anything from the servants if you wish.

Now he wants me to fall into his network of corruption. A despicable being.

There was little time between the departure of Celestia and the arrival of Shining, which was very convenient to conceal my ignorance about my obligations with the pile of papers I have in front of me.

God waits, the one that is of Twilight... If he wants me to protect her, it must be someone close. Hell, I don’t have time to dig into Spike’s memories. I’ll have to go to safety.

-Yes, you know, I help with what I can. I keep the stallions from coming to him, heh, I said, trying to sound convincing.

-Please believe it -I thought.

-Spike, we’re her brothers. I don’t think we should interfere with Twilight’s love life.

Apples is not his girlfriend!

-Wait, since when does Twilight have suitors?

-Yeah, look, I was just bothering you, ha ha. Can you remind me what we’re supposed to do here?

The work was really simple. I was even surprised that I, a dragon trained in the art of bureaucracy since childhood, was called to do something so crude. Basically, I had to sort an approximate five thousand scrolls into 17 different stacks. The scrolls ranged from issues and problems with embassies; these files were to be separated depending on what was considered more serious, in addition to the country in question. This was the easiest part, since either there are few countries or Equestria has few embassies.

Then, he had to make groups of scrolls on the budgets that the crown would allocate in the most remote areas of the big cities. It was really simple, almost mechanical work, even when Shining kept complaining about how he didn’t understand the lyrics or his astonishment at the idea that there were more types of graphics than just bars and pastels.

-Spike, how did you do that? You just made the bureaucracy look like it was quick and easy, said Shining in amazement when I finished the pile of papers in less than four hours.

-Isn’t it? -I asked Shining.

We were waiting for the princess. Shining took the time to tell me his life, his emotional stories in the Royal Guard, like the time he helped with the migration of fairy ponies (of course that exists) or the time he found out one of his best friends was, In fact, the leader of a group that sold illegal weapons to rebel groups in the swamps. Well, that’s a lie. They just stopped a pony who sold unauthorized rakes so the ponies could defend themselves from a tiger-headed monster.

They were silly stories, but they worked to not think about what the princess would do to me.

As the sun set, the gates opened and the princess allowed Shining to return to her post.

Celestia is too powerful. She probably already knows I’m not the real Spike. Maybe she’s angry at me for sending her an unauthorized letter. Or maybe I’m looking for a friend to play Jenga with.

I will not leave this room in one piece.

-Read your letter, Spike, said Celestia. Pony feathers are angry at my insolence. I was too bold. At least I will die before the Twilight Light, ha.

-I wanted to talk to you personally about its contents, Celestia added.

It was a conversation I always hoped to have with you, or that you would have with Twilight when she was more prepared, but I guess I underestimated your growth, said Celestia.

Do you want to talk about what I wrote? Maybe, if it was a good idea, it’s better than winning at Jenga and being banished to a celestial body.

-Spike, I won’t lie. My knowledge of dragons is limited. I know dragons take a long time to grow, as far as I can tell, you’re a baby dragon until your wings grow, which I hope will be a long time, Celestia said.

Celestia looked nostalgic; her wings rested on her sides, brought me to an inviting embrace.

-You’re just too cute, said Celestia.

We stayed in this position for a few moments until Celestia was back in a position worthy of the title of princess.

But I ignored it to concentrate on that detail. I could magically force my size, be big and strong and terrorize the population. But why did Celestia tell me all this? Why would she be sweet and cordial to me? Besides, he is always looking at the window as the moon rises, with a melancholy look, as if he remembers simpler times. Will it be part of your plan? Use my desire to become stronger? Or was it a small slip on your part? Anyway, now I know how to become more cool.

Night fell on Canterlot, the halls of the castle changing gold and sun to silver and moon. Celestia decided to take the long way to her room. Her conversation with Spike reminded him how fast time feels when it’s just a memory. The days of foals playing in the meadows while a grumpy unicorn watched from the shade of a tree seemed like seconds. Even a thousand years on Equestria are ephemeral when compared to the seconds it took him to realize he had banished his sister. Now, the memories of little Spike and his student felt equally ephemeral.