//------------------------------//
// A Little Thinking 
// Story: Spike The Dog 
// by bakersong 
//------------------------------//

	He couldn't really get his thoughts together ever since this morning with Twilight,  even if he did have a moment of clarity his mind didn't want to think about his problem.  After breakfast, he decided to take a walk to see if that would help him get his thoughts together. But everything seemed to still be buzzing around in his head.

"Hey, get out of here you good for nothing mutt!" He yelped as he felt something poke him in his ribs.

"What's your deal man?" He asked, and when he turned he recognized the cherry vendor who tried to take advantage of Fluttershy.

"Wait, you're that Spike kid right? Princess Twilight's little assistant?" The stallion asked, getting a bit nervous.

"Uh, yeah, and you're that guy who tried to make my friend pay twenty Bits for one lousy cherry." He rolled his eyes.

"Listen, I'm sorry for that, but that's business for ya, and I'm sorry about calling ya a mutt. I didn't recognize you," The stallion said.

"Save it, I'm going anyways." He said and started to walk away.

"Hey kid! Do you think you can get Twilight to give me an endorsement since I apologized?" He heard the stallion call.

"Like she would ever endorse somepony like you!" He called back feeling a bit angry. <Sheesh, the nerve of someponies.>

He couldn't help but to let out a little cough, and wondered if there was a dog or something around speaking what he was thinking. Though he didn't put much thought into that as he continued to walk. His thoughts once again returning to his main problem of how he was going to tell the other's how he felt about how they treated him.

No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't stand to think about their reactions, from confused, to angry, to even crying. He knew Twilight was right when she said they needed to know, and he should speak from the heart. But that was harder than anything really.

<Are you lost in your world? I do that to sometimes!> He jumped in surprise at the sudden statement, and when he looked he saw none other than Winona.

"Oh, um, y-yeah I guess I was," he said, though Winona could tell he was distracted and upset.

<So, what's on your mind?> Winona asked.

"Oh, um, i-it's nothing really," he replied.

<You know I'm better at reading emotions better than ponies, most dogs can. So, I'm gonna guess you told somepony close to you something you've kept to yourself for awhile now, and you're trying to figure out how to tell others about this as well?> He couldn't help but stare in amazement.

<H-have you been hanging around Pinkie Pie?> He asked, though as he looked at her he could see a strange look in her eyes, like she wanted to say something but didn't know whether to say it or not.

<Well, no I haven't hung around that pink mare in awhile. So, I was right?> Winona asked.

"Um, y-yeah, you were pretty close." He said, giving a sigh of defeat.

<So, who did you tell and what did you tell them?> Winona asked.

"Um, I'm not sure I should tell you. I mean, we pretty much just stared hanging out." He answered rubbing his paw on the back of his head.

<That's fine, you can tell me when your ready. But, it could help,> Winona said.

<Yeah, I know, but still I don't feel comfortable telling someone I just became friends with. That, and we kind of already talked about it.> He said.

<Oh, you mean about how your friends treat you. Also, you know you're starting to bark right?> Winona asked.

"Um, I've been told that, but I don't hear it, so I'm starting to think all of you are in on some kind of joke. But, yeah, about how they treat me." He said.

<Yeah, we're all in on a joke.  So, you finally told one of them how you felt huh? Let me guess, it was Twilight, your sister right?> Winona asked.

"Yeah, she took it pretty well I guess. But she wants me to tell the others, and that's why I got caught up in thought again because I'm trying to figure out how to put it into words without hurting them too much." He replied.

<Well, something like that can't be said without upsetting somepony. How they react is up to them, there will be hurt feelings, but if they care for you they'll understand and they'll be better for it.> Winona said.

"You're right, but still I would like to think about it a bit more." He said.

<Actually, how about this. You don't think about it, instead you come with me and hang out. It'll probably help you get some thoughts together, you know what they always say, when you don't think about it it'll come to you!> Winona said, her tail wagging.

"I don't know, I mean sometimes thinking about it helps." He said.

<Oh, please? I want to hang out and it might help you to not think for a little bit.> Winona said, giving him big puppy dog eyes which he couldn't take his eyes from.

"A-alright, but only for a little bit okay?" He said.

<Yes, let's go!> Winona said pushing him in a seemingly random direction.

"Um, where are we going?" He asked.

<It's a surprise!> Winona said.

"Well, hopefully wherever you take me it'll help clear my head." He muttered.