>Your door shuddered under a barrage of hooves.
>At least they didn't break it this time.
>You set aside your book with a sigh and approach the door.
>Almost certainly it'd be some pony here to bug you about some inane thing.
>It always was.
>You opened the door and got knocked aside immediately.
>"WHERE IS HE?!"
>The purple alicorn that barged into your house seemed a bit high strung.
>Of course you knew exactly why she was high strung this time.
"Twilight"
>"WHERE?"
>She dashed around your three room house, looking in corners, under tables, even in the fridge.
"Twilight"
>As she tries to dash past you to search the kitchen again you grab her tail, forcing her to stop.
"He's not here Twilight"
>And now you've got her full attention.
>She rounded on you, eyes boring into yours.
>"THEN WHERE IS HE?"
>You just fold your arms and match her stare.
"You are being very rude right now. Tone it down"
>Your stares duel for a few moments before Twilight seems to deflate.
>"I'm sorry... It's just that Spike hasn't been home for hours and I'm worried and I used a tracing spell to find that he came here but the spell went dead here"
>She started pacing halfway through her speal.
>And her ears were twitching in agitation.
>No matter the situation, that was still adorable.
>But now she was turning to you with big worried eyes.
>"So can you tell me where he is, please?"
>Oh, this was going to hurt your soul.
"No"
 
>It took a second for the word to process through her brain.
>You could almost feel her click over from worry to worried anger.
>"No?"
"Wait Twilight!"
>"Why not?!"
"... I swore by the man code"
>"... what."
>You shrug, starting to feel discomfort from her stare.
"Spike asked me not to tell anyone and I swore by the man code"
>She looked at you incredulously before advancing towards you.
>"Tell me where Spike is now."
>You start backing away.
>Maybe it was just the situation but her horn was looking a lot sharper than normal.
"I can't Twilight, I swo-"
>"Tell me!"
>Your back hit the wall but the horn continued approaching.
"I can't-"
>"Tell m-"
>"I found them Anon!"
>Two heads swung around to the dirt-covered dragon at the door.
>"Spike!"
>"Twilight?"
>The purple unicorn dived across the room, scooping up the dragon, leaving his bag behind him, and crushing him into a hug.
>You relax and simply watch as Twilight sets him down and begins mothering him.
>Rubbing at patches of dirt, pulling twigs from his spines, and embarrassing him in general.
>You'd be sure to needle at Spike later about this.
 
>After a minute of this you cough loudly, getting Twilight's attention again.
"So, I imagine that you're done yelling?"
>She blushes heavily.
>"I'm sorry. He's just still so young and I was worried"
>"I'm not that young!"
>Spike waves Twilight's hooves off before scampering over to you, gesturing at you to bend over so he could whisper.
>"I found some, but it needs to be a surprise, don't tell anyone!"
"I swear by the man code"
>With two wide grins you fistbump and draw your arms back in an explosion gesture.
>Twilight just looks on in bemusement.
>You straighten again and look to Twilight.
"So, am I still invited to the book club next Tuesday?"
>"Yes. I'm really sorry for how I acted. I'll find a way to make it up to you, but for now I've got a dirty dragon that needs to take a bath"
>You laugh as you watch spike dragged away with magic, bemoaning his fate.
>After they left you go over and pick up the bag Spike had left.
>It was too risky to leave it around Twilight, she'd be certain to discover it.
>You smile as you pull out an amethyst.
 
END.