“No. No, no, no, absolutely not, get out please,” you say, pushing Spike out of the kitchen rather haphazardly with a hoof.

“Alright,” he calls back, “but don’t say I didn’t warn ya, and don’t come crawling back!”

You press your back against the doors to the kitchen to prevent any attempt by Spike to reenter. None comes.

Sighing, you steel yourself for the task ahead.

---

You’re nervously sitting at the dining room table, silently judging the respectable-yet-mediocre meal you had prepared without Spike’s help, when Twilight walks into the castle.

Scurrying up, you accidentally knock over your chair on the way to greet Twilight. “Twilight! Twilight Twilight Twilight!”

Twilight appears slightly rattled by your sudden appearance but appears to shrug it off quickly. “Yes, what is it?”

“I...I know I’m leaving soon and I wanted to do something to thank you, so I cooked you some dinner with the plants you’ve helped me grow.”

“Aw,” Twilight sighs happily. “How thoughtful! Let’s sit and eat now, I’m starving.”

“Sure!” you exclaim, hurrying down the hallway to the dining room. You turn the corner and leave the entryway open for her, excited to hear her first thoughts on the food.

“Oh, wow, look at all of this!” she exclaims in subdued awe. “Fruit salad, some cabbage rolls, a…” Twilight’s breath seems to catch in her throat briefly, and she clears her throat before she continues. “...Is that a quesadilla?”

“With lettuce,” you state proudly. “I had to buy the cheese, obviously, but the flour is home-ground!”

Twilight shivers slightly.

Your heart drops in your chest. “Is everything alright?”

Forcing a smile, Twilight nods vigorously. “Oh yes! E-everything is fine.”

“Okay,” you remark mostly to yourself, shrugging off the strange interlude. “Please, have a seat and let’s get started!”

Proceed to Chapter 54.

Next Chapter: Chapter 38 Estimated time remaining: 35 Minutes