Chapter 17: The Hunger Strikes Back

*BANG*

The loud noise rung out through the Library as I quickly hid the gun behind my back and covered the hole with my foot. As My foot covered it Twilight came racing down the stairs in a panic looking around wildly.

"What was that!? What happened!?" She shouted as she looked around frantically.

I snapped my attention to her and stopped whistling, as did Spike, and I gave a small shrug.

"I don't follow, what happened?" I asked holding back a nervous sweat.

"That noise! The last time I heard it Spike got hurt!" She continued to look around as she inspected everything around the library.

As she neared me I began to look anywhere but her in hopes she would give up her search. But the clever unicorn sniffed at the air, no doubt noticing the smell of wood mixed with burning gunpowder. She stomped on my foot as I yelped in pain and removed it showing the hole in the ground. She gave a low growl before looking back up at me.

"You DID shoot that gun in here! What were you thinking?" She asked as she tilted her head in confusion and anger.

Rolling my eyes in defeat and throwing my hands in the air I gave a loud groan. "Alright yes I fired it! But It was an accident! I forgot to look for a bullet in the chamber.... I honestly don't know whats up with me lately. Ever since I came here I have been feeling...." I paused for a moment as I searched for the right word, "Sluggish...."

Twilight hoofed at the hole a few times as she brought her horn down, quickly repairing the damage before looking up at me with mild annoyance. "Whatever.... nopony got hurt so I guess its alright...." She looked down and scratched hoof at the floor a couple times before rearing her head up to say something before dropping it again. "I'll be upstairs if you need me. Be more careful!" She said as she pointed at my face and squinted her eyes.

As she walked upstairs I sat down and huffed a bit as I looked over to Spike. "Damn well that just goes to show why these are NOT toys you can play with."

Spike nodded as he rubbed his ears, "Yeah, not very quiet either... OH" He gave a surprised jump as he ran to a corner of a library and came back with a bag. "This is for you, it's from the princesses. It came with this." He finished as he handed me the bag and the letter it came with.

I hastily opened the letter while setting aside the bad that made a delightful jingling sound. As I opened the letter I unfolded it and read to myself in silence.

'Dear Deckard,

I hereby give you your first weeks pay early so you may buy stuff yourself rather than have to rely on others all the time. I hope it does satisfy your financial needs. On another note I was thinking some time next week you could come to Canterlot so we may see your level of training so we know if you must be trained further.

P.S. On a more personal note, I wish to apologize for the way I looked at your weaponry without your permission. I will not make the mistake again.

Sincerely, Princess Celestia'

I scratched my chin as I finished the note, turning my attention to the bag beside me. I set down the note as I opened the bag to find a bountiful amount of bits inside.

"Huh, would you look at that, I'm not a bum anymore...." I mumbled to myself as I turned to Spike, "Hey, how about we go get some lunch? It's on me."

Spike sadly shook his head. "Sorry bro, I have too much stuff I need to get done, maybe some other time." He said holding his fist up as I pounded it with mine.

I stood up and walked up the stairs towards Twilight's bedroom and paused before opening the door, and instead knocked a few times. As I did I heard a loud shuffling inside and a few things getting knocked over. I reached for the handle and as I grabbed it the handle locked in place, via magic.

"Don't come in!" Twilight yelled from the other side as I heard a tap running for a moment.

After waiting for a few minutes I heard the door open as I turned around and was greeted by Twilight looking slightly tired. I could also smell something resonating from her bedroom.

'Is that.... sweat? What the hell was she doing in there' I thought to myself as I tried to recall Twilight ever mentioning her doing physical activities other than turning a page.

"Uh alright, anyway, I came to ask if you wanted to go have lunch? I just got my pay for my first week from Celestia and was thinking, why not?"

Twilight seemed taken aback "Uh... yeah sure I would lo-, er, yeah I would like that. Just give me a few minutes to get ready." She said as she walked past me and into the bathroom as I heard the shower begin running.

I sat down with my back to the wall as I began the waiting game for as long as I could sit still. Which to be truthful, is not very long. Finally giving up on my brain to entertain me as I waited I stood up and glanced to Twilight's room. Without a moments hesitation I slowly walked into the room and looked around. The first thing I noticed was her bed that seemed to be a lavender with her cutie mark on the covers. But the reason it caught my eye is because of the state it was in, the covers were almost thrown off the bed and the under sheet was pulled off of one corner whilst the pillow was out of place.

"Whoa, what the hell happened in here..." I mumbled to myself as I walked over and observed her bed noticing a wet spot on the sheets. "Dammit Twilight...." I growled to myself while slightly chuckling. "Nice job spilling water on your covers." I spoke aloud as I heard the shower shut off.

I quickly made my way out of her room as the door opened so I just casually put my arm against the wall and leaned a bit as the door opened fully. I watched as Twilight walked out slightly wet and a towel wrapped around her waist with her tail sticking out the bottom and dragging along the floor. Her mane hung heavily to the side of her face as it dripped now and then as she cast her eye to me.

"Well?" She said raising an eyebrow.

Looking around a bit confused I spoke up, "What?" I asked.

"Can you... move to the side please? I need to get in my room..."

"OH yeah sorry.... heh...." I said slightly embarrassed as I shifted to the side and let her move past me and into her bedroom as her door clicked shut.

"I'll be out in about five minutes." She voiced through the door as I made my way down the stairs and back into the living room/main room of the library.

After looking around at the various books along the walls for the next half an hour I heard the door open and a completely dry and widely smiling Twilight made her way down the stairs. As she reached the bottom I gave her a glare as her smile dropped for a moment with her head tilting.

"What is it?" She asked slightly worried.

I waved aside the worry as I spoke up, "Oh nothing... just the longest... ahem... FIVE minutes of my life...." I voiced accusingly as I looked down at her.

In reply she sheepishly smiled and shrugged. "...sorry?"

I waved again dismissively, "Nah, it's alright, lets go get something to eat." I said as we made our way to, and out, the door.

As we made our way through Ponyville I looked over at Twilight to see her look away immediately. "So Twilight, any place in particular?" I asked as she motioned for me to follow her to Ponyville's restaurant.

We walked/trotted forward as we took our seats on these tiny stacks of hay as I leaned forward, placing my elbows on the mushroom looking table in front of me. We sat in silence for a while as we looked anywhere but each other as the waiter made his way towards our table. He asked for our orders and Twilight ordered a daffodil and daisy sandwich, while I ordered some carrots, corn and rice. Not my favorites but other than that they really had mostly flowers on the menu. Plus I am happy eating a meal at all as I recalled my past meals on earth.

As the Waiter left we continued to sit in silence. 'Gah god dammit I can't take this silence... okay, be cool, think of something to break the ice...' I thought to myself as I thought of the perfect conversation starter.

"So how did you manage to spill water on you covers anyway?" I asked as Twilight's pupils shrank to the size of pins.

'... was it something I said?'

Author's Note

Small chapter I KNOW! But it's because I cut it in half, kinda, well I cut it off and put this out because I wanted content out. I had something come up just now I would be pretty busy with and I wanted SOMETHING out. So I decided having a half chapter out rather than nothing is worth something. Anyway I hope you all enjoyed it and are excited for future updates because I have been a total ASS and not updating the story.