//------------------------------// // Somepony to lean on // Story: It's okay Spike // by Hoping for death //------------------------------// It was late in Ponyville. Twilight and Spike had just gotten home from the Grand Galloping Gala in Canterlot. Twilight seemed tired, but that's mainly because she was. She and Spike went into the Library as Twilight closed the door behind them. "So, Spike." Twilight said, "Did you have a good time at the Gala?" When Spike didn't answer Twilight turned around. "Spike?" She asked, only to find Spike curled up in a ball, crying softly. "Spike." Twilight said, "What's wrong? Why are you crying?" Spike just said, "I'm fine, Twilight." "Listen Spike." Twilight Said, "I know that you're upset right now, so don't hide it from me." "I can't bring myself to say it." Spike cried. "Spike." Said Twilight, "You can always talk to me when something is bothering you. I want you to remember that, okay?" "Well, okay." Spike sniffed, finally opening up, "To be honest, I just really wanted to spend some time with you and the other ponies. Because I feel like I don't do that enough. But when you all went off to do your things I was just brought down and... I feel bad that you all had a bad experience." Spike didn't fight the tears anymore and just started breaking down. "Think fast, Twilight." She thought to herself. Twilight picked up Spike in her hooves, sat down and began to cradle the dragon. "Hey, hey, it's okay." She whispered, "Let it all out." Twilight began to rub his back while Spike was pushing out his grief. The pair had stayed like this for a while, until Twilight finally spoke up. "Spike," She whispered,"Are you feeling any better?" But Spike did not feel any better. His scales were drenched with tears and his eyes were red and sore and he was sure he needed water on the count of his throat was dry. "Spike," Twilight said, concern showing in her voice, "Please talk to me." "I don't know where to start though." Spike said between sobs. "Okay, I understand." Said Twilight, "Let's break it down." "Twilight, It's, it's really hard to explain, I." Spike sniffed, "I'm just really upset." Twilight held her number one assistant close to her. She really, really hated to see Spike like this. So she did the only thing she could think of to calm him down, look in a book. She used her magic to choose a book about dragon feelings. Scrolling to find upset, she looked under how to comfort a dragon when one needed it most. Her eyes scrolling through the words until they landed on the do's and don'ts. "Do talk to the dragon calmly." It said. "Don't kick the dragon while the dragon is down. Do find something else to read, because these words lack purpose. Don't keep reading." Twilight questioned the last do and don't but continued to read. When she finished she looked around for Spike. After seconds of searching Twilight found him in his bed curled up in a ball. Tears still dripping down the scales on his face. "Spike?" Twilight asked, "Are you feeling any better?" Spike sniffed then silently nodded. "Spike, Listen." Twilight said, "I want you to tell me how you feel right now and please be honest with me." She placed a hoof on Spikes' back and began stroking it. "Well," Spike said, "From our first episode with the other ponies, I felt as if you and I were growing so distant from each other." Twilight gasped. "And tonight just seemed to prove it." Spike continued, "I felt so dead inside when you left me hanging. I looked forward to a fun night with you girls and yet, I got stuck at the donut shop eating undercooked donuts. I didn't even have sprinkles." Spike buried his head in his claws. Regardless of the pain his claws caused him." Twilight used her magic to levitate a sprinkle shaker towards Spike. Spike grabbed it, opened the shaker and started sucking it down, crying, "Thank you, you're a good friend." "Spike, Listen," Twilight said, "I am very, very sorry. " "Why Twi?" Spike asked putting the shaker of sprinkles down. "When you said what you said earlier about feeling so distant from me and my friends, it made me realize something." "That all I do is slow you down?" Spike asked ready to break down again. "No," Twilight said, "Spike, I don't ever want to hear you be so hard on yourself. Understand?" "Oh, alright" Spike said, "I won't say it when your within ear shot." "Fair enough," Twilight sighed rolling her eyes, "But Spike, seriously, what I realized is that ever since we left Canterlot, I haven't been treating you as well as I should have and again I'm really, really seriously sorry." Twilight started crying, "All you do is take care of me, but I'm always so awful to you. I just can’t face the-" Spike put a claw over Twilight's lip or whatever you call it. "Twilight," Spike said, "Listen, I don't mind serving you. I love you and to be candid I haven't always been the best I could be. Remember the Owlowiscious incident?" "Yes." Twilight sniffed. "I was the true villan then. I lied to you, then I framed Owlowiscious, then I ran away because I thought you hated me." Twilight gasped. "Spike," Twilight cried, "I would never hate you, ever. I was disappointed in you. We've been over this. Besides, I should've never made you feel bad the way I did in the first place. Spike, I always want you to know, I will always be here for you. Always." With that Twilight pulled Spike into a warm embrace. Spike graciously returned the hug yawning, "Thanks, Twilight, can we get some sleep now?" "Of course, Spike." Twilight said wiping a stray tear. With that they drifted off to sleep with Twilight sleeping next to Spike. After all that they had been through in the last several minutes. They've finally gone to sleep. Which was just what they needed.