Spike was just finishing up in the bucket. His body was as clean as a whistle, having removed the horrible gunk which seemed to have spread everywhere. It was a bad first step to his enforced stay with Fluttershy, but he was sure that once he'd settled in and shown the yellow pegasus just how helpful he could be, he would become an invaluable, indispensable, resource to have around. In fact, maybe if things worked out THAT well, Twilight may take him back. He could just see her grovelling now "Oh Spike, my life is in complete disarray without you. I took you for granted... I know that now... Owlicious and *INSERT NAME OF NEW ASSISTANT HERE* just don't compare. Please come back... I'll do anyt..."

His mental reverie was abruptly cut short by the sound of gnawing. Spike opened his eyes to see what this irritating noise was... and there, standing a few feet away, was everyone's favourite little bad tempered critter, Angel Bunny. He was staring at the young dragon, while munching a carrot. He'd almost finished the vegetable, and was down to the leafy stalk.

Remembering his few run-ins with the troublesome creature previously, Spike put on a sheepish grin and waved. "Hi there, Angel. Did Fluttershy tell you? I'm going to be staying here for a while. So why don't we start on the right hoof, and..."

"OW!!" that was the sound Spike made as the rabbit launched what was left of his snack right at the baby dragon's face. Unable to block in time, it hit him right in the eye. Rubbing it profusely, he spotted Angel sticking his tongue out, before hopping away at a fast pace.

Unable to control his anger (and without even bothering with the courtesy of wrapping a towel around his small form) Spike quickly jumped out of the bucket, knocking over the contents in the process. He flung open the back door, where he saw the small white troublemaker perched on a row of shelves inside.

"WHAT THE HELL, ANGEL?" Said Spike, still with one eye closed. The bunny responded by simply imitating the dragon's action, before falling on his back and laughing uncontrollably.

Fuming, Spike lost his temper completely. " WHY YOU LITTLE..." He started to climb the shelves, towards the top one on which Angel was now perched, intent on having Roast Bunny for tea. Well, you gotta have a break from gems once in a while.

Now, the shelves were sturdy in design, and on them was quite a lot of animal feed. There was also Fluttershy's prize collection of crockery, along with a few other bits 'n' pieces that may have seemed like trinkets to the casual observer, but held great sentimental value to the soft-hearted Pegasus.

As well assembled as they were though, they were not designed to hold the combined weight of a spoiled, overweight bunny and a baby dragon. Spike was nearly there, he had that furry nuisance right within his grasp. Victory was assured... but then, two things happened.

The first was that Angel, ever alert to the dragon's outstretched paws, let out another raspberry and jumped off the shelf. The second was an ominous creaking coming from the structure, on which Spike had now reached the peak.

"Oops" he thought,  "better get dow..."

It was too late. With the sound of breaking wood, the shelf collapsed completely... and with it, all the ones underneath. Bird seed, vegetables, fruit and various other flora and fauna were scattered everywhere... and the sound of smashing plates broke the silence. Spike was caught in the middle of it all, and he fell to the floor, bruised, shaken and temporarily dazed.

"What's going on... OH MY!!" Said a soft voice, which quickly reached a higher crescendo. Spike, still seeing stars from his recent mishap, could just about make out a yellow equine shaped figure enter the room, and a little white dot jumping up and down, pointing at him... and the mess scattered everywhere.

"YouseeyourhorriblepetthrewacarrotatmeandIchasedhimbuthenhehoppedontothereandthen..." Spike tried to tell his side of the story, but he was so irate it all came out at a million miles an hour, not to mention the slight concussion he seemed to have picked up made his words all slurred and barely coherent.

Unable to process Spike's mumbling, Fluttershy's attention was passed back to Angel... and her pet seemed to be trying to draw her attention to something. She trotted over to where the rabbit was gesticulating furiously... and winged pony let out a strangled gasp.

Still bleary of mind and covered with bruises, Spike clambered to his feet and stumbled over to see what all the fuss was about... and there, lying on the floor, covered with broken glass and half ripped, was a photograph.

Oh, it wasn't just ANY old picture, no. You see, this one was of Fluttershy's closest friends, the day she first arrived in Ponyville. Yes, it was none other than Twilight, at Pinkie Pie's surprise welcoming party. There the purple unicorn sat, looking completely bewildered with her five soon-to-be best friends around her. It was one of Fluttershy's favourite memories, which explains why it had been put pride of place on display, for all the world to see.

And Spike had just trashed it.

The dragon looked at the torn photograph, then at an unreadable Fluttershy, then at a manically grinning Angel (Of course, he was facing away from his owner while doing this). He began to put everything together, realising the true depths of what this jealous bunny was capable, how the deranged rabbit would stop at NOTHING to have his owner all to himself...

"F-flutters" he stammered "I-I"... his words caught in his mouth as he saw a small tear trickle down her cheek. "How... how could you..." her mouth struggled to form the words.

"HOW COULD YOU!!!!" It was as if the spell was broken, and suddenly, Fluttershy was airborne,along with a very bemused Angel, who had been clinging onto her. "JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE MAD AT TWILIGHT FOR KICKING YOU OUT DOES NOT GIVE YOU THE RIGHT TO TAKE YOUR ANGER OUT ON AN INNOCENT PICTURE!! AND JUST LOOK AT THIS ROOM NOW!! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW LONG IT'S GOING TO TAKE ME TO CLEAN THIS UP? I'M SURPRISED AT YOU SPIKE, I THOUGHT YOU WERE BETTER THAN THIS... BUT IF I CAN'T TRUST YOU ALONE, I'M AFRAID YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FIND SOMEWHERE ELSE TO STAY. I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF YOU TOOK YOUR THINGS AND WENT, NOW. COME, ANGEL. She landed on the floor in a huff, literally dragging her double crossing pet with her.

Needless to say, Angel was still relishing the moment, and took the opportunity to grin even more like a Cheshire cat at his poor victim as he left the room, before all-too-predictably sticking his tongue out for the third time that day.

Spike was still seething, but by the same token was completely taken aback by FLUTTERSHY, the most mild mannered, docile pony he knew, subjecting him to such a tirade. And after being shouted at by Twilight the previous day, he started to wonder if it really was just a coincidence. Perhaps there was something about him that rubbed others up the wrong way. His head slumped, his eyes started to water up. He gingerly took a few steps forward, trying to avoid the broken china and glass on the floor. He was intent on getting his bag and leaving as soon as possible. Where... he didn't know. All he knew was he had to give Fluttershy as much space as he could right now... as well as hugely increase the distance he was from that nasty little long-eared bully. Lest he feel like sticking him in a pie, or something.

Meanwhile, down at the Rainbow Castle...