“No, no,” you reply, shaking your head. “You deserve a girls’ night out, and I have a lot to get through here.” You can’t help but smile softly at the offer, regardless.

“Aw...Are you sure?” she asks.

“Yup. Go have fun! I’ll see you tomorrow,” you conclude.

“Okay, will do!” Lingering for a moment, Twilight throws a single hoof around you in an awkward hug before dashing out of the library.

It’s difficult to focus on your work as you ruminate on some new questions over the next several minutes. Why did Twilight ask me along? Heck, why did she feel bad about leaving me here in the first place? And that hug...was it a hug? Is that something mentors do, or does that qualify as workplace harassment? Or maybe-

“Hey, Chump!” a voice calls, tearing you away from your thoughts.

You glance over to find Spike leaning casually against the door leading from the library into the foyer.

He lifts his head once in a casual greeting before continuing. “I heard Twilight snubbed you tonight and left you here to rot in the library.”

“I don’t know if that’s really an accurate characterization,” you object weakly, furrowing your brow. “In fact, I think I was the one to snub her.”

“You keep telling yourself that, pal.” Spike sniffles once and scratches his muzzle with a claw before continuing. “Believe me, I know snubbing when I see it. In fact, I’ve got a little bit of a proposition for you.”

You look back to your book briefly before returning your attention to Twilight’s wizened little assistant. “...I’m listening.”

“Me and a couple buddies, we got a little...tradition we like to take part in whenever the girls are out of the castle. You could call it a guy’s night, even.”

You glance behind Spike and catch glimpses of a red stallion and a creature you don’t quite recognize. “...I’m still listening…”

If you and Twilight are working on romance literature, proceed to Chapter 19 (for trashy, steamy novel projects) or Chapter 20 (for those researching reputable, symbolic pieces of love literature).

If you and Twilight are working on botany, proceed to Chapter 21.

If you and Twilight are working on epidemiology, proceed to Chapter 22 (Ponyville Public Health) or Chapter 23 (Flu in the Frozen North).

Next Chapter: Chapter 17 Estimated time remaining: 1 Hour, 15 Minutes