Spike had to be honest, he didn’t get the hype around Starswirl right now.
He wouldn’t lie, he was right in the sense that Twilight shouldn’t have messed with magic she didn’t know of but Spike found the guy so rude and condescending, especially to Starlight.
Oh Starlight… where could he begin with that problem? Starlight actually didn’t seem to be doing anything wrong. There was a chance The Pony Of Shadows wouldn’t reform but it never hurts to have that as a backup plan.
For some reason, he seemed to be the only one who was willing to even listen to her.
So as the group was preparing for battle, Spike stayed behind and let Starlight vent about how the map had only called them to solve Friendship problems, Spike did voice some concerns about her plan at first but once Starlight asked the Pillars about the tale of their rift with Stygian, he began to see why Starlight wanted to try helping him, they don’t know the full story of what happened.
When Spike saw Starlight head for the library, he immediately knew what was gonna happen, she was going to try and convey her plan again to Starswirl, Twilight, and Sunburst, two ponies who were Starlight’s closest friends, and the other pony who was adamant in not listening to her.
Spike knew this wasn’t going to be easy for Starlight so he began running along with her.
“You don’t have to come with me Spike, I can talk to Starswirl on my own.” Starlight reassured the dragon.
“No. I definitely can see why this is important to you. I can’t let you talk to Starswirl alone.” Spike argued with a smile.
Starlight smiled at him before opening the door with her telekinesis and she and Spike were both shocked by the amount of books around.
“That looks like a lot of work.” Starlight said in shock.
“It is what must be done.” Starswirl said, not bothering to look from his book, “and it would be best if we were not disturbed.” He rudely waved the two creatures off, much to Spike and Starlight’s shared annoyance.
Twilight soon walked over as she levitated her book with her magic, “I'm sorry, Starlight, but we can't stop to talk. The stakes are too high, and we have to-“
“Banish Stygian to limbo. We get it.” Starlight said in an annoyed tone.
“Uh who?” Sunburst asked.
“Stygian was the name the Pony of Shadows gave up when he turned to darkness.” Starswirl explained briefly as he went back to reading.
“But me and Starlight are just trying to figure out why he did.” Spike told the wizard.
“Spike, Starlight. I understand you want to help but we just can’t help Stygian here.” Twilight told the two.
“And why not?” Starlight asked angrily.
“Simple!” Starswirl closed his book angrily as he got up in Spike and Starlight’s face, “He wanted more power than he had, and that desire led him down a path from which there is no return!”
“Me, Twilight, and Starlight have seen from experience that’s not always true.” Spike’s eyes narrowed at the wizard as he went back to the book.
“Twilight, you can see our logic can’t you?” Spike asked hopefully but Twilight just awkwardly turned away, almost embarrassed.
“When the map called you to my village it was for a friendship problem.” Starlight told her former teacher, “Are you sure this isn’t the same thing?”
“I…” Twilight looked in thought but Starswirl interrupted, “Stygian wants to destroy all that is good in this world. There's no way to befriend a pony like that.”
Starswirl soon left the room as Starlight looked at Twilight with tears in her eyes, “I guess I’m lucky your idol wasn't around when you decided to be my friend. I might've been banished to limbo, too.” She spoke sadly before walking off and closing the door as she left the room, Spike couldn’t help but feel bad for Starlight, once again, she was being ignored from what could be a good idea.
Spike turned to Twilight with a rare amount of anger, “I rarely say this, but that was cold.” He said sternly.
“What?” Twilight asked with a raised eyebrow.
“You just stood there while me and Starlight were just casually brushed aside by Starswirl. He went on and on about there’s no hope of redeeming a pony like Stygian, well Starlight was in a similar position that Stygian’s in at one point, and instead of sticking up for Starlight, you just let Starswirl trash on her beliefs.” Spike lectured the alicorn princess.
“But Spike. We have no idea if reformation will work or not.” Twilight said sadly.
“We could’ve tried.” Spike said angrily, “It’s not like it would have hurt anypony.”
Spike soon walked off and left Twilight and Sunburst alone, the two of them needed to be alone, but he knew one pony who shouldn’t be.
Spike had found Starlight silently tearing up in her room, on her bed.
Starlight seemed shocked that Spike had showed up and spoke up, “How’d you know I’d be here.”
“Oh please, I doubt you’d let Starswirl and the others see you crying.” Spike said with a teasing smile before sighing, “He’s a jerk isn’t he?”
Starlight looked shocked before Spike rolled his eyes, “What? Am I wrong on this? He’s putting on this high and mighty attitude and not listening to anypony but himself.”
“I hate to say it, but yeah, he’s kinda rude.” Starlight admitted sadly.
“Look, Starlight, what Starswirl said was wrong. Maybe I can understand why he said that given he’s from a different time but that doesn’t excuse him from being so ignorant to other ponies’ point of view.” Spike reassured the unicorn.
“Starswirl isn’t the only reason I’m upset Spike. I feel Twilight’s starting to give up on what she believed in. If that’s the case… would she give up on me or anypony else?” Starlight said sadly.
Spike couldn’t believe what he was hearing, and yet he could totally see why Starlight was saying this, it was weird.
“I get why you might think that. Twilight totally bailed on us back there.” Spike said, a bit of annoyance showing towards his big sister figure before smiling in reassurance, “But that isn’t because she’s giving up on redemption. It’s more or less that she’s suffering from idol worship syndrome.”
“Really?” Starlight asked curiously.
“Yep.” Spike nodded firmly, “She just met her idol for the first time. It’s natural she’d get starstruck. Maybe Stygian won’t be able to see the light, but you can’t stop trying to stand up for your beliefs. Starswirl may be a wise wizard but even he has flaws.”
Starlight smiled tearfully and embraced Spike, “Thank you. I’m glad to know that no matter what, I still have you in my corner.”
“Hey. You may have been a mess in the past, but even I know when you have good ideas.” Spike smiled teasingly.