"SPIKE, WATCH WHERE YOU'RE GOING WITH THOSE"... Twilight hoofpalmed for what seemed like the fifteeth time that day, as Spike tripped over, spilling her carefully arranged pile of checklists everywhere. NOW how was she supposed to know when she was due to have her hooficure, when Cadence was popping over for tea, what time her appointment was to see Doctor Hooves about her ever worsening OCD...

"Sorry, Twi" the scaled one picked himself up and hastily started gathering the assorted papers off the floor. The newly crowned Princess Of Friendship could only roll her eyes. This was happening all too much recently. First, he 'accidentally' set Owlicious's tale on fire. Then, he barfed up a day's supply of gems all over her latest Daring Do Novel. And to cap it all off, she'd caught him in the bathroom reading Playdrago... in fact, she didn't even want to dwell on that.

Now this latest incident. He was becoming disruptive, clumsy and inefficient. He just hadn't been the same since Rarity had told him recently, in no uncertain terms, she only wanted him as a FRIEND. Anything further than that would be simply unacceptable, and most probably illegal. Rarity wanted kids you see, and a mare friend of her's from Manehattan had been impregnated by a dragon. The results... were not very pleasant. Sufficed to say, the word 'abomination' was used a lot...

The purple alicorn watched Spike put the last of the papers on the table, and breathed a sigh of relief. "PHEW, at least he's done something right toda..." Ever heard the expression tempting fate? Well, hear was a classic case of it. No sooner had Spike finished picking everything up, then suddenly his nose started twitching. AH...AH....AH... Twilight noticed this with a growing sense of horror. She knew what would happen next... but was powerless to do anything about it. "SPIKE... NNOOOO..."

It was too late. The sneeze came forth from the dragon's nose, and with it brought a green plume of flame which instantly set the highly flammable heap of papers alight. Within seconds, there was hardly anything left but a pile of ash. You see, dragon fire is much more combustible than normal flame. Or, perhaps it isn't. Maybe I'm just making it up for the sake of the story. Ever heard of poetic license? Good. Let's move on.

Twilight was distraught. Her schedule for the week... RUINED. How would she know now when to sleep? Eat? Breathe? She instantly started running around like a headless Scooterl... chicken, and murmuring "WHAT DO I DO?" "WHAT DO I DO"? Over and over again. It was just like Lesson Zero all over again, except 20% crazier.

Spike watched his mistress with growing concern, as she crashed into walls and started mumbling gibberish. In an effort to stave off this apparent sudden attack of madness he toddled over, and said quite possibly the worst thing he could in that tenuous situation: "Calm down Twi, it's not the end of the world".

That did it. The alicorn immediately screeched to a halt and spun round to face the dragon, which Spike took for a good sign. Until, she opened her mouth. "NOT THE END OF THE WORLD? THIS IS THE WORST THING EVER!" ( 6/10 impersonation of Rarity

there)"MY ENTIRE WEEK IS RUINED NOW! YOU MAY NOT KNOW THIS SPIKE, BUT AS I AM A PRINCESS NOW I HAVE RESPONSIBILITIES ALL OVER EQUESTRIA... RESPONSIBILITIES THAT YOU HAVE JUST THROWN INTO COMPLETE CHAOS! IF ANYPONY SUFFERS AS A RESULT OF YOUR CARELESS ACTIONS, WHAT WILL I TELL CELESTIA...?"

Spike had never seen Twilight this agitated before, and had turned a visible shade of white while enduring this verbal onslaught. In the midst of her tirade, the alicorn noticed this, and paused for breath, feeling slightly guilty but also still somewhat angry. She closed her eyes as if pondering something, then having made her mind up, she spoke to Spike again in a calmer but still firm voice.

"Look, Spike. This isn't really working out. You've become sloppy with your work, and your personal life is proving too much of a distraction. I love you little guy, I really do.. but I think it's time we went our separate ways. I'll always be grateful for the help you've given me over the years, but I think with my new position I need someone with more professionalism for the job of my number one assistant."

Spike was flabbergasted. Tears started rolling down his little cheeks, and it was all he could do to avoid blubbing like a newborn... "T-Twi" he sobbed, "W-What are you saying?"

Twilight stared at the floor, a look of resolution on her face "I'm saying It's time we parted ways. Don't worry... I've give you your months wages in advance, plus a little bonus for the inconvenience of terminating your contract early. Let's see... Three sapphires and a ruby should just about cover it..."

Spike, at this point bawling his eyes out, ran over to Twilight and wrapped his claws around one of her forelegs "TWI, PLEASE!!" He begged. "DON'T DO THIS!! I'LL... FORGET ABOUT RARITY!! I'LL... TREAT OWLICIOUS BETTER!! I'LL... THROW OUT ALL MY DIRTY MAGAZINES... I'LL STOP USING YOUR TOOTHBRUSH TO UNBLOCK MY TOILET... I'LL... NOT CLEAN MY SCALES WITH YOUR...

"Stop it, Spike. My mind is made up." Said Twilight, who was in no mood for anymore confessions, and slightly aghast at this new information. "You're a talented young dragon. I'm sure you'll find a role somewhere out there to fulfill. In the meantime..." A suitcase appeared from nowhere, levitated by the alicorn's magic. " Pack what you need, and go. I'll need some time alone this evening to sort out the mess you created. Tomorrow, I'll be putting out wanted advertisements all over Ponyville for a new helper. Until you can find more permanent living arrangements, I'll contact Fluttershy. I'm sure she'll be more than happy to have you. Why, she told me herself, how well Angel and you got on when you babysat me and my friend's pets when we were away at the Crystal Empire."

For some reason Spike slapped his head and muttered something incoherent under his breath upon hearing this, but seeing how his former boss wasn't going to be changing her mind, he reluctantly took the suitcase upstairs, trudging all the way.

Twilight turned away, deep in contemplation. What would she put in the ad? Personal assistant wanted for neurotic princess? Must be eager, willing and not be a fire breather? Heavy workload, but comfortable bed provided in the BRAND NEW Rainbow Castle?

She pondered these thoughts as she started ascending the stairs herself. "I DON'T HEAR PACKING!" She shouted, making sure she stopped on the way at the bathroom, to throw her toothbrush away. Next Chapter: Moving On Estimated time remaining: 12 Minutes