The kitchen of the Golden Oak Library was, at this particular moment, filled with bubbling pots and chopped vegetables. Spike, wearing his usual pink apron, was busy stirring the contents of the pot before him; a rather tasty-looking tomato soup. Every once in a while, he would take out a small spoon and sample the soup itself, muttering a little before shaking his head and resuming his stirring with a separate spoon. No...needs more oregano. Looking around, the young dragon smiled as he caught sight of just such an ingredient, reaching over to pick it up before sprinkling a little into the mixture. As he stirred, he glanced up at the clock before him, seeing that it was getting close to sunset. Hmmm. Twilight's been gone a while. Where was it she said she was going? Oh, yeah. Over to Rarity's. Something about helping Fluttershy and her with a cat or something? He shrugged his shoulders. Whatever. Gives me more chance to catch up on my cooking anyway. I've been pretty lax with that lately. He let out a sigh with that thought. Twilight's been doing so much extra work lately. I don't get to help as much as I used to when she was just doing assignments for Celestia. As he dwelt on that, he turned to read the next step of the currently-open cook book beside the pot. Still...she's doing important work, so I guess I can't complain.

In time, the young dragon finally managed to finish his prepared meal, beaming at it with pride as he carefully carried the pot over to the dining room table. I hope Twilight doesn't take too long getting back. Don't want this soup getting cold. However, almost as if the universe itself had heard him, there was the distinct sound of somepony opening the front door, as evidenced by the incredibly loud creak. Smiling, Spike placed the soup pot down on the table before darting off towards the main entrance chamber. Sure enough, there was Twilight, smiling at him as she entered. However, to his surprise, he saw that she was not alone here. For there, following behind her, were the three fillies, Apple bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle. Each of them was looking around slightly before locking their vision onto Spike, after which they waved to him in greeting. Nervously, Spike returned the wave before turning to Twilight, bearing a look of clear confusion upon his face. Seeing this, Twilight giggled somewhat before turning around and closing the door behind her, speaking up to explain herself.

"I'm sorry to break this to you on such short notice, Spike, but the fillies here are going to be spending the night."

Spike raised an eyebrow at that.

"Here?"

Twilight nodded.

"Yep. Rarity was too busy with an order of hers, so there was nopony available to look after them. I mean...Fluttershy did volunteer, but with all the new animals she's begun to take care of, she realised pretty quickly that she wasn't going to have the time on her hooves."

Spike nodded at that. That's right, Fluttershy's got those new pens now for more animals. How that mare can handle so many, I'll never know. Looking to the three fillies, who had made themselves at home by looking around at some of the bookshelves, Spike turned around, at the still-hot pot of soup upon the nearby table.

"I'm going to need to cook more stuff."

Twilight giggled at that before affectionately patting him on the head. Smiling at that, Spike began to walk back in the direction of the kitchen, ready to cook again. I don't mind visitors, but a little warning would have been nice. Still, it's not like I don't like spending time with those fillies. They're pretty fun...if a little too energetic sometimes. As he began to get out a few other vegetables to cook, potatoes and the like, he failed to notice that those very three fillies had, in fact, followed him into the kitchen. It wasn't until he turned around to get some more ingredients that he finally noticed them, yelping out in surprise at seeing them.

"HIYA, SPIKE!!!" they called out in unison.

After clutching his chest, Spike caught his breath after that before looking at them with a slight look of annoyance.

"Um...no offense, girls, but I'm kinda in the middle of something here."

They looked over to what he was doing, seeing the already-prepared vegetables on the counter behind him, before looking back to him. After a few moments, Spike noted that Scootaloo was putting a hoof to her mouth, trying to stifle a giggle. After a brief silence, she finally spoke up.

"Hey...nice apron."

Spike, looking down at his pink attire, looked up to her with a raised eyebrow.

"You should know, only real dragons wear pink."

Scootaloo rolled her eyes at that, after which, Apple Bloom began to wander from the other two, looking around at the kitchen.

"You do a lot of cooking, Spike?"

The young dragon puffed out his chest in a display of pride.

"Yep! Sure do! Twilight gets pretty busy doing other stuff, so I've gotta pick up the slack doing other chores."

He turned, looking back to his vegetables.

"I don't mind it, really. I actually kinda enjoy it."

As he began peeling a few of the potatoes, he saw, to the side, that Sweetie Belle had begun to walk beside him.

"I didn't know dragons ate pony stuff."

Still peeling, Spike shook his head.

"We don't. My dinner is in a gem box on the side over there. Much less time to prepare that, I assure you. This here is all for Twilight. And for you, now."

The fillies all looked to each other after hearing that, gathering together and forming a group huddle. Spike, looking to them, began to hear hushed words being spoken, though he merely raised an eyebrow and let out a sigh at that.

"Girls...please. We both know you're not actually saying anything. You've already decided what you're going to do and you're just going "whisper" over and over again to make it look like you're plotting something."

The fillies, looking a little embarrassed that they'd been found out, chuckled nervously before, at long last, Sweetie Belle spoke up.

"Well...we were thinking...maybe we could help you?"

Spike smiled at that.

"I appreciate the offer, but...have any of you ever cooked anything before today?"

Looking to each other, there was a silence as all of them were clearly waiting for one of their friends to speak up first. When none of them did, they turned to Spike, all shaking their heads together, giving him his answer. Didn't think so, Spike thought. I recall Rarity telling me one time of when her parents once asked Sweetie to try and make breakfast for them. From what I heard, it ended up looking like what would happen if I came along and breathed fire on it. Wonder if Sweetie would ever cook like that again? I shudder to think what Rarity would say if she was on the receiving end of such a meal. However, as he pondered that, he noted that Scootaloo now stepped forward, speaking up on behalf of the whole group.

"But just because we've never done it before doesn't mean we'll never do it. Besides...we might earn our cutie marks this way!"

The mention of their marks, as expected, caused all of them to start jump up and down with joy, much to Spike's chagrin. I swear, every time they squeal like that, I feel like my ears are going to explode. Well...if I actually had ears, that is. Putting a claw to the bridge of his nose, Spike let out a sigh before addressing the fillies.

"Girls? No offense, but is having cutie marks really that big a deal for you?"

The fillies all stopped in their tracks, looking to him as if he'd just said the most ridiculous thing in the world.

"WHAT?! Of course it's important! It's...like...the most important thing us fillies ever get to do!" Scootaloo commented.

Spike, putting down his potato-peeler, folded his arms before replying to that.

"Well...I'll never have a mark, and you don't see me worrying about it."

Apple Bloom raised a hoof and pointed to him.

"Well, it's different for us ponies. If we don't get a cutie mark, we'll be called "blank flanks" forever!"

The fillies all shuddered at that thought, prompting Spike to speak up.

"Sticks and stones. The words of a couple of high-and-mighty fillies like Diamond and Silver aren't really going to hurt you. Besides, you want to talk about standing out? I'm a dragon living among ponies! If I can deal with that, then you can handle not having marks for a little while."

Spike's words seemed to hit home for the fillies, as they all looked to each other with shame on their faces. It was a look that actually caused Spike to feel a small pang of guilt. Oh jeez...I didn't want to make them sad like that. I just...didn't want them obsessing over those marks like they always do. Guess, I kinda messed up in that department. Looking around, Spike began to think hard about this. Okay, gotta make it up to them. I already have everything I need for the cooking, except...yes, that's it! Smiling, Spike turned to the fillies once more, clearing his throat and gaining their attention.

"You know...maybe there is something you can do for me!"

They looked at him, their eyes widening with excitement as he continued to speak up.

"There's an extra box of seasonings stuffed in the closet over in the next room that I need for this meal. If you could get that over here and help me prepare it, it'd be a big help."

The fillies all looked to each other, smiling, before, as Spike expected, they squealed loudly with joy, much to his chagrin. Ugh! Why did I do that? But, as the screaming died down, Spike noted that, as Apple Bloom and Scootaloo were making their way off to the next room, Sweetie Belle remained behind, stepping forward and embracing Spike in a hug to show her appreciation. Spike, taken aback by this, soon found a great deal of blood rushing to his cheeks. A filly is hugging me? Oh sweet Faust, a filly is hugging me! WhatdoIdowhatdoIdowhatdoIdo?! Hug her back, you idiot! So, slowly, the young dragon raised a clawed hand and nervously patted Sweetie on the back in a pretty pathetic attempt of trying to hug back. Still, she seemed to appreciate it, as evidenced by the smile on her face as she pulled away from him. Moments afterwards, she ran off after her friends, leaving Spike retaining that massive blush on his face. So shocked by this moment was he, that he failed to notice a smirking lavender unicorn in the doorway of the kitchen. It was only when Twilight cleared her throat that Spike was brought out of this shocked state, looking to her and letting his face go pale.

"How...how much did you see?"

Giggling slightly, Twilight began to approach her young friend.

"Enough...lover-boy."

With his embarrassment now reaching critical levels, Spike buried his face in his claws.

"Oh! I'm never going to live this down!"

Twilight, smiling and shaking her head at that, placed a hoof upon his shoulder.

"Well, look at it this way; You have all night to get used to being around her."

If possible, Spike's face became even paler.

Okay...really wish Fluttershy had been available for them tonight.