Twilight lay in her bed, staring at the ceiling, much like she had done most of the night. After being dropped off at home, she had gone to bed and tried to sleep, but it had proven to be elusive. No matter how much she tried to put it out of her mind, her brain kept returning to the revelation that Sunset had outed Gardenia Glow.
I know she's not like that anymore. I know that. If she was, she wouldn't have helped me at the Friendship Games in the first place. At the very least, Rainbow and Applejack wouldn't have anything to do with her if she hadn't actually changed.
But she ruined that girl's life. She got her kicked out of her home. She had to know something like that was a possibility when she decided to start that stupid rumor.
Twilight put her hands over her face and let out an aggravated growl. From his pet bed on the floor, Spike's head popped up, eyes bleary.
“Huh? Wazzat? Squirrel?” he yelped.
“Sorry Spike,” Twilight said, rolling on her side and reaching down to scratch her dog behind the ears. Spike made a noise of pleasure. “I was just thinking.”
Spike turned his head upward to look at Twilight. “Sunset?”
“Yeah,” Twilight sighed. She rolled onto her back. Spike jumped from the floor to the bed, lying down next to her. “I know she's changed, but I just can't get past what she did to Gardenia Glow. If she could do that, what else has she done that she doesn't talk about? How can I trust her not knowing what else she's done in her past?”
“Does that matter?” Spike asked. Twilight sat up and looked down at him, disbelief on her face.
“Of course it matters! I have incomplete data, Spike! How am I supposed to trust her if I don't know everything she's done before Princess Twilight came over here? ”
“Because she's your friend,” Spike replied. “Friends trust each other.”
“But – “ Twilight was cut off as Spike placed a paw over her mouth.
“If you're going to demand proof that she's changed just for you to be friends with her, then you're the one not being a good friend, Twilight. She has changed.”
“But how can I know that?” Twilight drew up her knees and wrapped her arms around them. She sighed, resting her chin on her knees. Spike walked around and sat in front of her.
“Okay,” he began. “You want to know? Here's what you know. You know Sunset is your friend. You know she has done bad things in her past. You know she has been trying to make up for them. You know she helped you when the magic took you over. You know she's been there for you while you were adjusting to life at Canterlot High. You know that the other girls wouldn't give her the time of day if they didn't believe she changed. You know that she did everything she could at Camp Everfree to help you realize that having magic isn't a bad thing. You know she's your friend, Twilight. You know she'd do anything to help you, because she's already done it.”
Spike frowned at his owner. “You also know that she's lying comatose in the hospital because someone else with magic attacked her. You know that same person is somewhere out there, using the magic against other people. You know that person needs to be stopped, and you and the others are the only ones who can do it.”
His expression softened. “And you know that you all won't be able to stop her if you doubt your friendship. Sunset has been there every time you've needed her, Twilight. Now, she needs you. Are you really going to turn your back on her now just because of something you know, deep down, she probably feels terrible about? Are you really going to do that?”
Twilight stared at Spike for a moment, then swallowed when she realized her eyes were tearing up. She sniffled and wiped her eyes, before grabbing Spike and holding him close.
“How did I get such a smart dog?” she whispered. “You're right, Spike. You're right about everything. I'm a terrible friend.”
“No,” Spike reassured her. “You're not, Twilight. You just forgot how friendship works for a minute. Not everything can be boiled down to a data point. Not everything should be.”
Twilight nodded and hugged Spike tighter. Spike smiled and licked Twilight's cheek. She giggled and held him up to her face. “Thanks, Spike, I needed that.”
“Twilight, breakfast!” came Twilight's mother's voice from downstairs. Twilight put Spike on the floor and grabbed her glasses.
“C'mon, Spike. I know a certain wise dog whose earned himself some bacon with his breakfast this morning.”
“Awesome! What are we waiting for?” He dashed over to the door and began pawing at it, then excitedly jumping up, trying to reach the doorknob. When that failed, he sat down and looked at his paws and howled. “Why couldn't I have gotten thumbs as well as speech?”
Twilight took pity on him, picked him up and opened the bedroom door. She made sure Spike got three strips of bacon, ignoring the many looks her mother gave her.