Spike had a fairly easy way of life. The young drake enjoyed being his surrogate big sister’s number one assistant and being helpful around the library too (mostly for the pocket money at the end of each week). Before coming to Ponyville it was mostly “Hand me that book please, Spike” or “Let’s double check the exam timetables, Spike.” Fairly normal magical protégé to Princess Celestia stuff.

Then he and Twilight came to Ponyville, and barring the one or two escapades a couple times a month, it was simply organising Twilight’s books but on maximum overdrive. It was like he’d been training all his life to work in a library or something.

So far nothing’s really changed with Twilight being a Princess so he couldn’t really say that it affected him in a negative way… yet. So he was content to keep on with his duties and make breakfast this morning which so happened to be toasted leeks and bluebells, sandwiched between warm fluffy potato waffles. As far as things went in the library these past few years nothing had really become an abnormality.

‘And then there’s this guy.’

Waddling into the main room to lay the second dish onto the table, opposite his own bowl of topaz and milk, Spike regarded the new addition to the building. He could pass as a piece of furniture, either as a heavily armoured mannequin or a really ugly lamp.

The knight simply stood against the wall, between the two bookshelves. He faced the entrance with his arms folded. It was just so… weird having a guard around. Spike wasn’t too sure what to make of it and let his thoughts take over as he worked on auto pilot, waiting for Twilight to slump out of bed from last night’s reading binge.

Spike thought the knight would at least wait outside, guard the front door or something, but then again Princess Celestia had guards posted outside her bedroom. He guessed this was sort of similar. The knight was silent as the guards too, the difference being that he’d actually talk back.

“You, uh, sure you don’t want anything?” Spike asked again, feeling somewhat awkward.

“I’m certain, Master Spike, but thank you for the offer,” Ser Vincent replied with a cordial nod of the head, slow and exaggerated. “It certainly smells lovely, do you do this often?”

Master Spike huh? Sounded good but the young lad knew it was just him referring to his age.

“Yep, everyday!” Spike chirped with pride, hearing fin twitching as the door upstairs opened up. “I’ve always been an early riser so I figured I’d make use of it. Love cooking too!” Spike chest swelled as he took his seat, glancing back to the knight as he in turn nodded in response.

“I had no choice in becoming a dawn walker, myself,” Ser Vincent replied. “Well, I always did, but in boot camp that’s the wrong choice.”

See, like this, he was fine and it actually felt like somepony else was in the room. But when he fell silent and looked back to the door as he always did moments later, Spike couldn’t help but get creeped out a little. Did Celestia just get used to this? He hoped so, because there was a chance he could too.

With bags under her eyes and with heavy hoofsteps, Princess Twilight Sparkle descended the staircase, tail limp and her mind still full of sleep. She unleashed a tremendous, adorable yawn, the alicorn soon shuffling over to take a seat at the table. Vincent then chose to focus on her as she sniffed the meal before, licking her lips and reaching for a cup of coffee.

“Good morning, Twilight,” Spike greeted before snickering into his claws.

“Good morning, Spike,” she replied with a weak smile. She then levitated the waffle sandwich with her magic and promptly chomped into it, munching slowly as her eyes scanned the room. Thoughts of today appeared in her mind as clearly as one wiped off the condensation from a steamed mirror – a lot to uncover and a bit time consuming. The cobwebs spun from the short bed rest last night were cleared away after a few more bites, her mind spotting the viridian figure in the corner.

“Oh, good morning, Ser Vincent.” She offered a wave before downing the rest of her morning coffee. Spike chuckled once more, silencing himself with a spoonful of milky gemstones.

“Good morning, Your Majesty,” the knight replied with a fist-on-heart bow.

Both Spike and the knight looked to one and other, and although Spike couldn’t see it, he felt as if Vincent was wearing the same wide grin he was.

‘Wait for it,’ Spike thought, nearly squirting milk out of his nose when Twilight’s eyes shrunk.

“Aaaaagh!” Her scream was pointed to the knight who offered little in response as she nearly fell out of her chair. He was as still as stone. “Vincent? Wha- What are you doing here?”

He offered her an upturned palm, a shrug, and an answer. “Guarding you.” He then glanced to the merrily chewing Spike. “She’s quicker than you gave her credit for.”

“Eh, that was mostly the coffee,” Spike remarked with an off-hand wave of the claw. “One time I had to spoon feed her because she was that tired the next day.”

“Excuse me?” Twilight felt a tad offended at being made fun off. “That did not happen.” Spike stopped eating and pointed an incredulous brow her way. She glanced to the side, folding her arms beneath her chest. “You gave me two bites and I was back to normal afterwards.”

She shook her head recalling how things had been since Ser Vincent had actively been on guard duty. He’d been sent out on other missions, the only time he sounded honestly truly happy, but whenever he wasn’t away he stuck to her like her own shadow. At least this wasn’t something he ambushed her with. He started out by explaining that he was going to start stalking her as she went about her days around town so that made it less stalker-ish.

‘No. No. No. He’s a bodyguard, this is his job…’ Her thoughts drifted to a recent letter from the Prince as she chewed on her breakfast, every so often glancing to the stoic standing knight. Prince Blueblood wanted reports on Ser Vincent’s progress as her new guard, but the fact that he also wanted minute details suggested he just wanted to check on his friend instead. She just wished he carried himself better and found her mind drifting to the start of the last letter.

‘To the fair and inexperienced, Princess Twilight Sparkle--’ And just what was he eluding to with that? Words and phrases popped into her mind, souring her morning mood. ‘He’d attempt to isolate himself in his new home and only come out when needed, I trust you know how bad that can be for a pony.’ Then there was the one about her lifestyle: ‘Be wary of how much ketchup you get on your muzzle, you are a royal now, not a mare fresh off her diet.’ Who the heck did he think he was?! From time to time he mentioned what good he was doing back in Canterlot but otherwise it was snide remarks here and there. It was just little snippets of back and forth that made having the knight a bit more of a chore.

Speaking of which maybe it was time for… the talk.

“Spike, could you run to Sugercube corner and fetch us two fresh loafs of Prench bread?” Her request was met with her adoptive brother scratching the spine on his head before shrugging.

“Sure thing, Twi.” The purple drake then slid out of his seat, taking his empty bowl to the kitchen before seeking a small bag of bits by the record book near the door. “I’ll be back in no time.”

“Take your time,” Twilight said with a closed-eye smile and little wave.

Spike waved to Ser Vincent. “Take it easy, big guy, don’t strain yourself.” He grinned as the knight huffed in amusement.

“We’ll see.”

When Spike closed the door, Twilight turned in her seat to fire a frown at Ser Vincent. He merely looked to her, stoic mask easily hiding whatever expression she had for him. It was probably one of those arched brow looks, at least that was the impression his tilted head gave her.

“Is something the matter, Your Majesty?”

With a flare of her horn, Spike’s chair was pushed back after being encased in a magenta glow. “Take a seat, we need to talk.” Steadily and with the mask trained on her he complied. She then took a moment to her hold her tail on her lap as she formulated the correct way to say what needed to be said. “Look, I don’t really know how to say this…”

“Most start with the usual ‘It’s not you, it’s me’ spiel,” he remarked. It caught her off guard and a smile crept onto her muzzle. She shot him a wry grin, pouring another cup of coffee with her magic.

“Well, now that you mentioned it and got it out there, it does make thing easier.” She took a quick sip, sighing at the sweet taste of caffeine. Unlike the guards she knew, apparently knights could speak out of turn, something Blueblood said was why he favoured the human. She then blinked, a sheepish look pegging her ears to the side of her head. “Oops, pardon me, would you care for a cup of coffee.”

He tapped his mask. “No thank you.”

“Oh, then let’s get started,” she said before coughing into her hand. She offered a bright smile, her eyes showing she meant no offence. “Okay, so I want to talk to you about your methods of guarding, well, me. I think you’re doing a great job, really, but I think you need to lessen it up a tad.” She almost bit her lip but managed to withhold the course of action.

For a while Ser Vincent was silent, appearing to merely be a collection of scaled plates and a mask, all cloaked by a timber hood and forest green long coat. Not a sound was heard nor a twitch seen. That is until he shrugged.

“With all due respect, ma’am I don’t.”

She was taken aback by this. She spluttered before taking a sip again, placing her cup of coffee back on the table before shifting in her seat to get comfortable.

“Really? You don’t think it’s unnecessary to wait inside my house early in morning?” Her thin lipped stare was met with a shake of the mask.

Ser Vincent then raised his primary finger, or as she was reminding herself, two human fingers under that pony glove. “Firstly this establishment is registered as a public library, whereas the upper floor is an apartment, ergo, I am permitted here unless banned. To which my retort would be that as a knight I am enforcing the right of trespass, wherein, if in order to protect the citizens, country or crown, I am permitted in any and all facilities, civilian, government, privatised, etc, without lawful punishment. T’is a rare act that nearly no knights act upon but that I must justify to my superiors but for the sake of duty, they won’t mind.”

He extended the second digit of the glove.

“Guards are stationed outside the chamber hall of their charges, otherwise, at the bottom of the stairs leading to their domain,” Ser Vincent pointed to the railing above and behind Twilight but she didn’t follow where he pointed. Instead she let her glare harden, a ghost of a smile working onto her maw. “As is, I am permitted to stay down here, but not to stand outside your bedroom door without your direct orders.”

“Then I’ll just order you out.”

“Nope.”

“Look, Vincent—“

“Ser Vincent.”

“Ugh!” With a groan she threw her hands into the air, ears pointing up and tail lashing. She then let them fall, simply staring at the ceiling before chuckling to herself. With a shake of the head and a waggle of the finger, she warned the knight that slowly tilted his head. “Don’t try and play technicalities with me, buster, the worst thing you can do is make me read how you guys operate.”

She leant forward in what he assumed was an attempt to seem threatening. “I’ll use your own rules against you.”

“I’m known for being unconventional when necessary so go ahead.” He offered a shrug and she gritted her teeth at his cool demeanour.

She then sighed and slumped back into her seat, rubbing the bridge of her snout before looking to him with light exasperation. “Did Blueblood have to put up with this?”

Ser Vincent shrugged, his voice sincerely turning sympathetic, “He grew up with this and… at times he has found it to be suffocating.”

Twilight perked up in interest as he continued.

“Says it made privacy a valued commodity. That he could only scream at times inside his head.”

It was odd to see, but she saw it. A layer peeled away as the knight slouched, his glance drifting away from her. She felt the pity to his words, and in a way, it made reading him a bit easier. She felt he was honest in what he said and how he said it, something that she didn’t feel often. “So you understand how I feel then?”

“Of course but you don’t care how I’m supposed to feel about this,” he shot back. “What am I supposed to do? You don’t need me to protect you and because of that you lead a normal life; greasy hayburger shops that leave dollops of ketchup on your nose after every meal, a sugar powdered muzzle from eating at Sugarcube Corner, opening unchecked packages that make you dance on your hoof-tips whenever a book’s inside.” He shook his head and scoffed. A nightmare is what this had become. “And don’t even get me started on your little adventures.”

“Wow, that’s… thorough,” she blushed at the part about the book but was otherwise put off by the details he picked up.

“I’m your guard, Princess.” His words were flat as he rolled his hand, “I remember these things when I panic over poisons in your food or spell traps in your mail, or when you disappear without warning.” He rubbed the back of his head, words turning melancholic. “Prince Blueblood gets at least one attempt every two years or so, nothing fatal in the last six years or so I hear. Just things that would ruin his image.”

She gasped at that. Sure, he was insufferable company on average but she caught onto the some of his usefulness in his last visit. Nopony deserved an attempt on their life though. “Oh my…” she whispered. “That’s horrible.”

“He’s… used to it. Surprised when it happens, almost like every time Pinkie Pie greets me.” Vincent could not trigger his magic as he could not will himself into an adrenaline rush – he could scare himself; there had been numerous moments in his career where he purposely leapt from great heights in order to activate a rush. Vertigo was as an instinctive fear he could overcome when in need but never be rid of. Perhaps that was one of the few natural things about the first human born into Equestria.

Pinkie Pie, however, could startle him just enough for him to allow his magic to take over, but often controlled himself and avoided such a thing. A needless rush of magic was discomforting, after all. That was the extent of his control: using the rush and ending one before it starts, never initiating his abilities himself. She was just so… spontaneous that he had a hard time keeping an eye on her.

“I doubt that,” she said dubiously, giggling to herself. “Well, it’s just that, you can afford to ease up a bit.” She smiled in a placating manner as he folded his arms, turning his head ever so slightly to hear her better. “From time to time, the girls and I do travel around and we can handle—“

“Don’t even get me started on that!” Ser Vincent interrupted, weary in voice and in the shake of his head.

Twilight had to admit, out of all the amazing creatures and ponies of the world, there was one she can finally say she had the immense honour, the immense pleasure, and the immense joy to have seen in action, in her element. Twilight was far luckier than most, more privileged, she realised, than others to have met this amazing mare, to spend as much time as she had with her as she had.

And that mare, who millions admired no doubt… was Daring Do.

Still feeling ecstatic from meeting her favourite heroine, she waltzed back into the library with the fur on her neck still on end, goosebumps lingering on her arms. She was completely thrilled with today’s turn of events, especially having gotten the address of her (non)fictional hero, and planned on trading letters as soon as she could! So, so much fan mail to send.

“Spike, you’re not going to believe this,” she said, honing on the shrinking drake. She missed the worried look in his eye, his grip tightening on the broom he held when he glanced past her. Of course, she excitedly went on to regale her tale, completely oblivious to the ever growing concern on her assistant’s face.

Traversing miles of wild forest, hiding from dangerous animals? Beads of sweat fell from head to tail. Perilously fending off hired thugs? His pupils shrunk. Teleporting between spear lunges and beating away tribe-ponies that attempted to harm her friends? He raised a single claw to try and quieten her. Fleeing a crumbling temple? Well, it wasn’t that that froze him, but the loud bang of somepony shutting the door.

With a startled gasp she spun around. There, gloved hand extended from his side and pinning the door shut, stood a shadowed Ser Vincent with his back to the wall. The light seemed to miss him as it beamed through the nearby window, his form silent and statuesque as he glared back with that blank mask. She didn’t know how she knew he was glaring at her, maybe it was because she felt her goosebumps returning. It was different this time, her instincts telling her to flee the gaze of the human; it was fear not excitement that energised her.

“Welcome back… Princess. Sounds like a nice… safe trip you had…” He moved out of the shadows, steps oddly quiet and soft like his words. “It does soothe my mind and heart to see you safe, Princess Twilight.”

Twilight rubbed the back of her neck, ears slightly downcast as she offered a sheepish grin. “Sorry about that.” She regained her composure with a cough into her hand. “It was a force of habit; I’m just not used to having a guard around.” Her wings twitched as her ears fell lower. “Heck, I seem to be getting all the negatives with being princess, none of the pluses.”

In the second-long pause, the knight tilted his head and regarded her in a new light. He grew up with Prince Blueblood learning his place in the world, the greatness he was destined to strive for, albeit for a long time it was at a distance until later into their lives. He didn’t know how well this capable mare had been taking her new duties and responsibilities. Maybe he should consider this a bit more?

“Well, isn’t that nice to know.” Vincent reclined in the seat, folding his arms as she perked up. “I’m a great asset, and now, the worst thing to happen since your coronation, if not in your life.” He offered huff before counting on his pony-gloved fingers respectively, “Of all the evils to bother you, I trump a spirit of chaos, a deranged tyrant fuelled by hate, why, even one jealous alicorn princess and a love-sucking insect queen.”

She offered a scowling grin as he raised his head, rubbing his mask’s chin and what she assumed was also his ego too.

“I wonder when I’ll be commemorated for this? Sometime soon, with a glorious statue.” He didn’t mean all that he had said (save the asset part), he was merely trying to lighten the mood. “I’ve always wanted my own stain glass window.” Honestly, that part he meant.

“It’s not like that,” she rebutted, leaning forward with a small smile. “It’s just, I don’t feel like I’m a princess yet but there’s little things I have to do that remind me I am.” She thumbed up to her quarters upstairs. “A few tax issues here in Ponyville, and one or two small legal matters elsewhere is all I’ve accomplished so far. Blueblood keeps asking about you and now I’ve been told that I can relay your missions through my magic soon.” She sighed and slumped. “By the way, I might be sending you test letter through Spike as soon as I can arrange it. Not really big princess stuff is it?” she finished.

“You must be qualified, Her Majesty wouldn’t have ascended you otherwise,” Ser Vincent reassured. “Give it time.”

“Yeah, I know but…” She trailed off, looking to him with a hesitant expression. “With you here, it’s half as good as I thought it would be. It’s like being Celestia’s student again when I was five and needed to be looked after by the guards whenever she was busy. I was prepared for the responsibility, even looking forward to it.”

“Well, pardon me, Princess.”

She giggled as he jerked his head back, appearing insulted as he folded his arms and looked away. She admitted, “I guess I just want to sort out this whole guard relation thing.”

He nodded slowly, in understanding. She was a very accomplished young mare, a master of the arcane, a sorceress above all sorceresses of this era, and an ex- Element of Magic, and with a few bested villains under her belt that made the knight a tad envious. He wasn’t needed but he did have a job to do. His entire role here was convenience in moving around the south quickly, but he was yet to even do that. Before he could voice his opinion on the matter the door burst open.

Both looked to the entrance to find Spike panting, baguettes wobbling in the paper bag as he swiftly shut the door behind him. He turned to face Twilight with a slight wince.

“It’s Morning Star.”

At his words Twilight shuddered and grimaced. “Not again. Where is he?”

“He’s on the way, I think he saw me come inside.” Spike then set the bag aside and exhaled deeply, shaking his head. He cast Twilight a withering a stare. “You’d think he’d get the hint by now.”

“Morning Star?” Ser Vincent inquired, noting the embarrassed look on the Princesses face. She seemed reluctant to answer, twiddling her fingers as she looked for the words. He wasted no time in turning to Spike and tilting his head.

“Twilight’s coltfriend.”

“He’s not my coltfriend!” Twilight quickly corrected, cheeks pink rose blossomed.

“I take it this Morning Star assumes he’s the princess' consort.” He earned a sagely nod from young drake.

“It doesn’t help that she keeps dodging him,” Spike explained.

“Hey I’ve never…”

Ser Vincent couldn’t hear what she began muttering under her breathe but he could take a hint. Stories around the castle, before she left, told that the student of Princess Celestia was a reclusive sort, hardly a socialite. Blueblood said she even had to write friendship letters as she made new friends. He dared not think how she was going to tackle actual courtship.

Another round of knocking silenced the room.

“Twilight, I mean, Princess Twilight?” If this was Morning Star, and given the stares from the others it was, then Ser Vincent assumed he was a young sounding stallion.

“I’ll tell him to go-“ Spike began, before being interrupted by Ser Vincent.

“And what exactly troubles you about this stallion, Princess?”

“I have train tickets to Prance, my sweet! Soon will be the night of the Valvian comets passing, we’d be fools not to take this chance. I have the new book by Scarlet Prose we could share as well!”

Ser Vincent was stunned, glancing between a blanching Spike and a deadpanned, red cheeked Twilight. She simply pointed to the door, tail lashing and ears pointing skyward.

“That!” Twilight hissed with a scrunched muzzle. “Barring his aggressiveness, he doesn’t know what I actually like. Scarlet’s too sappy and it’s actually the Mirigan comets passing over Prance, and over Ponyville too a few hours later.”

After another bout of knocking, Ser Vincent rose to his boots. Spike was about to open the door before the knight placed his hand on the handle, looking down to him. He gave him a nod away from the door, Spike quirking a brow before retreating with the baguettes in tow.

Opening the door revealed a handsome, if a tad feminine stallion. Bulky too, blue furred muscles hidden under a thinner layer of fat. Hardly trim or toned, nor tall for that matter, his blonde locks coming to the muzzle of the knight’s mask. Morning Star regarded him with surprise, shirking back and revealing a stop watch with a solar motive for a cutie mark. Ser Vincent didn’t care for these features and instead resorted to an old trick for dealing with royal admirers back in Canterlot.

“Can I help you?” Ser Vincent folded his arms, maintaining his imposing stance as the poor stallion straightened himself up.

“Oh, um, Hello,” the stallion managed weakly.

“Greetings.” Ser Vincent replied with a lukewarm voice.

“Y-you’re that… that…”

“The knight, yes.” Ser Vincent thrusted a hand out, almost gutting the pegasus pony. “Ser Vincent. A pleasure.”

To his credit, the stallion took hold of the hand and gave it a vigorous shake. “Well, I’m Morning Star, and I’d like to speak to Twil-“

“Princess Twilight Sparkle.”

“Oh, absolutely!” Morning Star then took on a dreamy look, goofy smile, glazed over eyes, the sort of look Vincent saw on countless mares and made his stomach coil and roll. “She was regal and beautiful before, and now a gorgeous and divine alicorn, I simply have to see her once again.”

“No you won’t.” Ser Vincent’s bluntness caught the stallion of guard. “There are rules and commands. Either follow the rules, social and otherwise, or get her permission.”

“But she has ponies come to her all the time-“

“Nopony who wishes to court her.”

“Well… ask her, and I’m certain that-“

“Don’t have to.”

“What?!” It almost hurt Ser Vincent’s ears how outraged, how high pitched, the stallion’s indignation was. “Then what other ways must I prove myself to you?”

“We could have a duel of honour,” Ser Vincent offered with a shrug, “I know Celestia is waiting for a stallion to best her greatest guards, and I image Princess Twilight would enjoy a story book romance as well.” He then, as if to seem conspiratory, stole a quick glance inside before looking back and lowering his voice. “I’d take the deal if I were you. See, security’s tightening up soon, so unless I can say your part of an exclusive group, you can’t ever ask her hand in courtship. Put a date on the line, look a bit bolder in her books.”

With a smile that rivalled Pinkie Pie, Morning Star nodded vigorously. The guard was willing to help? What a nice mon- erm… thing.

“Well in that case, I’ll prove myself worthy!”

‘Baffoon.’ Ser Vincent stepped forward. ‘Fell for it, hook, line, and sinker. He walked close to the stallion, closer than he would have liked but he deemed this as necessary.

“So we have a deal? You win, you may visit her and attempt to win her heart.”

Morning Star nodded, blissfully unaware to the Ser Vincent wrapping an arm, not around his shoulder, but his waist. Then he became awfully aware. It was after a moment of inspecting the scenario that he dared to ask the uncomfortable question now buzzing in his mind as he looked up to the mask.

“And… if you win?”

Ser Vincent cupped the cheek of the wide-eyed stallion. “You take me to dinner…” He trailed off, pulling the mortified stallion closer and lowering his voice to a practiced husk. “…Handsome…”

“Nope!” With that the stallion squirmed, the knight setting him free and watching him flee like an escaping convict, tail tucked between his sprinting legs.

‘The good ones always run away, story of my life.’ He chuckled to himself, thinking how mares usually reacted. Of course, he didn’t challenge them to a duel, merely hinted at his own interest in them. It was a good tactic for dispatching would-be dames vying the Prince’s attention. The knight had no interest in the same sex himself.

Upon returning to the library he was greeted by a guffawing Spike and a giggling Twilight at the window. He resumed his designated post by the door and regarded the princess with a slow nod.

“I do believe you may favour this one, Princess. I approve, for what little that’s worth.”

“That was hilarious!” Spike guffawed, wiping a tear from his eye.

“I do hope I have proven myself,” the knight said as he went down onto his knee, hand on heart. “Though you should set him free yourself soon, I can help keep him at bay.” He lowered his gaze to the floor.

Princess Twilight rolled her eyes before regarding the knight with a wry smile. “Okay, so you are good to have around… most of the time.” She heard the smirk in his voice when he replied.

“When needed I assume?”

“Hey, Vincent, I’ll make you a deal.” She strolled over and stopped before him, giving him permission to stand to full height. He towered above her by a full head. “When I’m just being Twilight Sparkle, hanging out with my friends or going on adventures, I don’t want you as my guard. But when I’m Princess Twilight, promise not to leave my side unless I say so. Deal?”

He was mute for a moment, glancing away as he contemplated. A soft ticking could be heard for a few passing seconds before he looked back to her with a curt nod. “I suppose that’s a fair deal; I don’t like it but I understand. Under any other circumstance I would have declined this offer, you know?”

He sighed, feeling something eat away at his integrity as a knight. This was… so wrong, but at the same time, so was saying that the princess needed to be watched twenty-four-seven, or that she couldn’t handle herself. It wasn’t as if he was completely abandoning her anyway. “I’d much rather you avoided putting yourself in harm’s way altogether though. Tell me what you’re doing when you disappear, however. It’s a nightmare for a guard not knowing where their charge is, after all.”

He turned to leave but was stopped by Spike tugging his short, fake tail. “Hey, where you going?” Spike looked up to the clothed human. “You’re not going to stay a while?”

“I’m no longer needed,” said Ser Vincent with a casual shrug whilst pushing the drake’s claw away gently.

“So?” Spike replied with a frown. “You can hang around if you want to.” He glanced around the library, gesturing to a small potion section, “We got books you can read. Or we can talk, you must have a few awesome stories to tell.”

“Yeah, come on, Ser Vincent,” Twilight added with a pleasant smile. “Just because I don’t need you now, per se, doesn’t mean I don’t want to get to know you as a friend.”

Ser Vincent kept looking down to the serpent-eyed drake, his hand tightening on the door handle. There was little reason for him to stay except for recreational purposes and he didn’t really read in public places. He certainly hadn’t considered anypony in this town his friend, but he could think of six that were becoming friendly acquaintances. Yet… something made him concede.

“I suppose I can browse the collection for a while.”