Twilight laughed at a joke Spike told her as she lied down on her bed, Spike indulging in a rather large complimentary breakfast over on his own bed. He offered some to Twilight, but she still wasn’t feeling that well so she passed on breakfast for now.
“And then Applejack said,” Spike said in-between giggles, “cider? I hardly know her!”
“That’s so dumb!” Twilight laughed, sitting up on her bed and smiling at Spike. It was weird to think that just last night someone had been in this room who was after Twilight’s life, and they nearly took Spike’s.
And while Twilight was worried, obviously, she couldn’t help but smile regardless.
“I’m glad you’re feeling a little better, Twilight,” Spike said with his own smile. “Better than yesterday, anyway.”
“Yeah, I guess I am,” Twilight chuckled. “The stuff with Rarity, it—it still hurts. Like a lot. But everyone else, they all said they want to still be my friend, and I—” Twilight paused to let out an awkward laugh as she wiped her eyes “—that’s more than I could’ve hoped for.”
“I hope they all get along with your brother,” Spike chuckled, and Twilight just let out a frustrated groan and fell on her back onto the bed.
“Ugh, don’t remind me.”
“Oh come on,” Spike scoffed, “he’s not that bad.”
“You shush, you don’t even know anything about him,” Twilight grumbled, pointing an accusing finger at Spike.
“That’s cuz you haven’t told me!” Spike exclaimed, throwing his arms in the air, and when Twilight gave him a bemused glance, he just stuck his tongue out at her.
He was right though; Twilight hadn't shared any real details about Shining Armor with Spike—not even his name. By the time Twilight adopted Spike, her and her brother were already on the outs with each other.
“Well whatever,” Spike huffed and batted his hand dismissively. “I’m just glad you’re not trying to pretend like everything’s fine all the time anymore.”
“Wh—I don’t do that!” Twilight balked, and Spike gave her a look of such concentrated bemusement that Twilight couldn’t help but let out a little chuckle under her breath. “Okay, maybe I do that a little.”
“I wish you wouldn’t,” Spike said grimly, poking at the bed sheets.
“Spike,” Twilight whimpered, “come on. You know it’s not fair for me to place my emotional burdens on y—”
“Twilight, would you stop with that?!” Spike clamored, and Twilight recoiled, completely not expecting Spike’s sudden outburst. “You might be my mom, but you’re also my friend! And it sucks to see a friend hurting and trying to pretend that they’re not around you! It makes me feel like you don’t trust me.”
“That’s not it at all, Spike,” Twilight said, her heart breaking right in two. “I just don’t want you to have to deal with my mess.”
“But we’re friends, Twilight!” Spike pleaded. “We’re supposed to help each other deal with our messes, cuz that’s just what friends do!”
“I—” Twilight paused. Faced with Spike’s conviction, and the pain and sadness and empathy in his eyes, how could Twilight possibly respond? “I guess I haven’t really been a model friend, huh? I’m sorry, Spike.”
“Everyone makes mistakes, Twilight,” Spike sighed.
“You’re right,” Twilight took a deep breath to calm her nerves and steady her breathing. “You’re right. About all of it. It’s not right for me to keep you in the dark all the time, or to pretend like—I dunno, to not let you help me? I guess?
“It—it still feels weird. Pinkie Pie said the same thing to me, about letting your friends help you with stuff, but it’s still such an alien concept for me to wrap my head around.”
“Maybe we can help you wrap your head around it,” Spike gave Twilight the cutest little smile, “together!”
“Yeah,” Twilight said, hopping over to Spike’s bed and wrapping him up in a big hug, “I’d like that.”