For a moment Spike thought that Celestia was about to give him a dressing down the sort of which he only heard on the most seldom of occasion, after all some ponies might have considered his previous statement a rebuke. But Celestia reacted to his challenge with a smile. “They do. I look forward to hearing more about your journey then.”
It was another instance that forced Spike to wonder how the Dragon Lord might have reacted under similar circumstances.
For the rest of the meal the conversation meandered around familiar topics such as funny stories about young Twilight, how Spike liked living in ponyville and the grand galloping gala that was fast approaching. The food was unexpectedly delicious and Celestia had even arranged for an assortment of rare gems for dessert while she enjoyed a slice of chocolate cake. If Celestia disapproved of his new code she certainly didn’t show it by being anything less than a gracious host.
Later that night Spike lay awake in his room. One of the aspects of a strong dragon, according to Balroth, was a healthy dose of self awareness. So Spike thought about himself. On one claw, he generally liked both himself and his life in ponyville. On the other hoof, he wanted Rarity to like him and so far she had never viewed him as anything other than a friend, or at least certainly not a prospective partner. That meant he had to change. So before he drifted off to sleep is doubled his resolve to live by his new code.
Having his new code, and a copy of Hoard Spike opted to return to ponyville the next day. The train ride home was filled with a nervous energy. He thought a lot about his job as Twilight’s assistant. He also generally liked his job most of the time. Twilight may have leaned on him a little hard sometimes, but his job kept them together, it afforded him the opportunity to travel Equestria and he got free room and board out of the deal. He was stronger as Twilight’s assistant than he would be striking out on his own, though maybe he’d ask for a raise.
Twilight wasn’t home when he walked through the doors of the castle, having been summoned to Yakistan, which was just as well. Twilight’s approval was still important to him and he was glad that he had a few days before she passed judgement.
With Twilight gone, the running of the library and general castle upkeep fell squarely on his shoulders. The first thing he noticed was that the castles food stores were running low, so he set out to go to the market. In between picking up carrots and cherries he heard a familiar voice.
“Heya Spike I’m glad I ran into ya. We got a bumper crop of apples this year and Big Mac is away on a delivery. I sure could use some help with the harvest this afternoon.” Applejack said, smiling from beneath her ever present seston.
His old reflexes kicked in and he was forced to catch himself. “Sure-” Do what’s best for Spike “Wait, what do I get out of it?” he blurted out. The words sounded foreign despite speaking in plain equestrian, but he pushed that feeling down.
Applejack cocked her head to the side. She was prepared for the possibility Spike might be busy, but she hadn’t considered that he would demand payment, because well, Spike was always ready to help out a friend. “Huh, well I guess I could float a few bottles of cider your way, though I probably would have done that anyway,” she said with a shrug.
Spike considered the offer, he’d be working a cider press and hauling carts for an entire afternoon, and while cider was delicious, he’d rather be reading comics or figuring out how to impress Rarity with his newfound attitude. But maybe he could use this to earn some extra cash to take Rarity somewhere nice, certainly nicer then wherever that goof who she was going out with was taking her. “Throw in a few gems and you’ve got yourself a deal.”
“Well hay Spike, it aint like I got a chest full of gems lyin around the farm. I’m an apple farmer, not a miner,” Applejack said with a nervous sounding chuckle.
It was the first test of his new code and Spike was determined not to back down. The old Spike might have caved, but that’s not who he was anymore. “Sorry Applejack, if you want my help that’s what it’s gonna cost ya.”
Hurt flashed across Applejacks face and Spike again almost rescinded his demand. Be Strong. He steeled himself. Applejack should either be able to properly pay for his help or do it herself, in the long run it would make her stronger. He just stood, rooted in place while he waited for an answer.
Applejack didn’t snarl, she was a polite country girl and it wasn’t like Spike had any obligation to help her. But even without a snarl, there was no masking the disdain in her next words. “Forget it Spike, if you're going to be like that I don’t want your help.”
Before Spike could retort with a very dragon like maxim about weakness Applejack stormed off.
The encounter left a decidedly rotten taste in Spike’s mouth. And that taste was largely responsible for what happened next.
It was a few hours later at the library and he heard a familiar tepid knock. Spike opened the door to find Fluttershy standing there with the exact same expression she had the last time she had come by the library.
“Hi Spike, I’m glad you’re here, would you mind going back to the Everfree forest with me? I need more supplies and our last trip went so well.”
This time the answer came easily. “No.”
“Oh, okay.”
The old Spike might have just left it there, but he the distaste of what happened with Applejack had left Spike more than a little surly. “Fluttershy you need to stop being scared of everything. You’ve been to the Everfree forest dozens of times and nothing’s ever happened to you. And nothing is going to happen because all the animals love you. ” Spike couldn’t be sure if his rant was being fueled by some sort of misguided attempt to make Fluttershy stronger, or if he was still angry that Rarity had met someone while he helped Fluttershy the last time, but he kept going. “You’re scared all the time! You keep facing your fears over and over again, and they’re always the same stupid fears. Why can’t you just stop being so scared over EVERY! LITTLE! THING.” When he finished he noticed that he was breathing harder than usual.
“I’m sorry I bothered you, Spike.” Fluttershy squeaked turning and sprinting away before she would let Spike see her cry.
Oh. There was no further discussion with Celestia at all...
And then it went pretty badly.
Then it went really badly.
Spike does make valid points when he refuses to help Applejack and Fluttershy. Fluttershy faces her fears on a nearly daily basis; yet she never gets over them. Applejack is asking Spike to do some hard manual labor that will profit her much more than him in the long run.
Overall, Spike was right in refusing to help.
7158937
Well, the problem is that he hurt both of their relationships with what he did.
Fluttershy is the simple one: what he did with Fluttershy was just be mean about it. If he less meanly pointed out that she was very safe last time and didn't need his help, it would have been a more positive encounter. He was right but a jerk, and he didn't need to be a jerk.
AJ... is less simple. There was no obligation for him to help her, and she sure would be grateful but probably nothing more than that... So if it winds up that AJ holds a grudge against Spike for refusing to help her... then it winds up almost like AJ was friends with Spike with the expectation that he would help her when asked, and the opposite where she would put in a days worth of work for him is pretty unlikely.
But she didn't say that she was ending the friendship with him. Nor do we actually know that she wouldn't do that (or something similar) for Spike if he somehow needed it.
Of course, treating friendships like series of trades can be bad for those friendships, because the expectation is that you two trade favors and time together out of care for each other, and a desire to help and spend time with each other, rather than out of the idea that it must be a profitable trade... But that doesn't change that if you keep on having bad trades, even if you don't treat it like a series of trades, then you're not doing well, and can wind up resentful or just in a worse position.
7159155 All good points. However, you have to keep in mind that Fluttershy has always needed a less than gentle push to get her to overcome her fears. Spike was a little to harsh but if he was gentle about it Fluttershy wouldn't take the advice seriously. Also I don't see Spike and Applejackas great friends simply because she has brushed Spike off multiple times. When he offered to help she refused. When she wants help, Spike accepts. Spike just hasn't recieved that many benefits from his friendships. Friends help eachother, but usually it's Spike whose the one always helping; only Twilight seems to be the one who actually would help Spike in tough situations.
All in all, I respect your opinion and just have only small issues with it but all these issues arise from a differing perspective.
7159219
Fluttershy has a pretty good chance of taking Spike's advice if he told her she didn't have anything to be afraid of. In fact, Spike encouraging Fluttershy to be more courageous and her taking that advice was part of an episode: Scare Master.
Would she take to it as well if she did not think that it was something that would also help her with her friends, and instead was just "I think you'd be safe if you went alone"? Maybe not, but I don't think we can entirely write this off.
As far as one sided help from Spike... this is down to headcanons, really. We see Twilight (and Rarity, and Rainbow Dash once) helping Spike in a few episodes, but overwhelmingly it's Spike helping the adults around him, as he is the assistant archetype. Beyond that, the writers of the fanfiction can say the time we don't see him is filled with anything.
7158937
7159353 I want to weigh in here but it might spoil future chapters so I'll just say thanks for commenting.
7159732 Don't worry about it. Better unspoiled and thanked than spoiled and thanked. It allows surprise.
7159353
7159219
While Spike did have a point in telling Fluttershy to get over her fears, his tone made it less likely she will follow his advice. I'm contrasting Rarity gently coaxing Fluttershy into singing with the Ponytones, versus Rainbow Dash angrily telling Fluttershy she needs to watch the Dragon Migration with them. Fluttershy panics when cornered.
And Applejack does seem to have a regular habit of using her friends for free farm labor, with the understanding that what free time she does have is often devoted to helping out her friends in turn (Pinkie Pie and baking, Rainbow Dash and athletics, etc.) I also think part of why Applejack asks others to help on the farm so often is that it is a good way for the busy farmer to spend time with others without missing out on her own chores. I think that Applejack having to direct a novice on a lot of the farm labor ends up costing almost as much time as doing the chores herself, but she also gets to spend time with her friends.
The problem is that Spike doesn't really have his own projects, his main thing is just doing chores for Twilight. And we know that Spike is kind of insecure about his job, and very resistant to letting anyone help him (if he's threatened by an Owl, he's definitely threatened by another pony). I could go on at length faulting Twilight for raising Spike in a manner that sees his self-worth tied so intimately to his job, but the point is that Applejack and others think that friends help you out when you could use it, and you help out your friends in turn. But Spike never asks for help while also volunteering to help others, so it ends up being one-sided.
7168368
Well put.
Especially that it doesn't strictly blame Applejack for inadvertently benefiting more in this case, and explaining what would be going through each character's head to justify this without the justification being that they're simply terrible to each other, even if by accident.