Author's Note

TWO CHAPTERS IN UNDER 24 HOURS?! WHAT KIND OF SORCERY IS THIS?? I have no idea, but hey, it happened and I'm grateful.

Yet another gigantic thank you to Josh for helping me out with this chapter. You are my brother from another mother and I kinda like to think we sorta share one brain. How else could anybody just get what I'm thinking? I dunno man, but you do and I'm grateful. You rock, bro.

Special thank you to ShadowSpider for your comment. It really got me going. I appreciate you!

And thanks to all you fabulous readers. You keep me going. I appreciate you all!

Enjoy the chapter!

Truth

Twilight and her friends stared at each other in a moment that seemed to stretch onto eternity. The room was perfectly silent. Twilight’s face gave nothing away. Nobody moved. Nobody breathed. It was, inevitably, Rainbow Dash who broke the silence.

“Uh, Twilight… You have something you want to tell us?” She asked. There was an uncomfortable silence for a second, and then Twilight sighed.

“To be honest I really don’t want to talk about this right now. Not because I’m angry, but because this was something that Spike and I should have told you when it started. I just didn’t say anything because he asked me not to. I wanted to respect his privacy. But the secrets out now, so I’ve got nothing to lose.” She said, and began to explain. “When he was a hatchling, Spike used to call me Mommy all the time. And one night a few weeks ago he called me that again. And it made me realize that I never wanted it to stop. I had an idea that maybe if he called me that, he might want to be cared for more than he let on. So I went shopping, picked up some supplies, asked him, and he said okay. The nursery came later. A few reconstruction spells really do come in handy. I’ve felt bad not being around as much for you girls, but he needs me, and he comes first. I hope you understand and aren’t angry with me for keeping this from you. Can you forgive me?”

Applejack stepped forward right away. “Aw sugar cube, There’s nothin’ to forgive. You were protecting him. Believe me, I understand.” She said. Twilight smiled weakly.

“You do?”

“Of course we do, darling. We may not have expected to see what we did, but we don’t think less of either of you for your choices. You were doing what you thought was best.” Said Rarity, smiling.

“Yeah! And baby Spikey looked soooo cute! I just wanted to eat him up like a wittle cupcake!” Cheered Pinkie.

“He was adorable!” Fluttershy gushed, lifting off of the ground in excitement. “I could cuddle him forever! He was the sweetest thing I’ve ever seen!”

“I can’t believe I’m saying this, but Fluttershy and Pinkie are right. That was pretty cute. I’m not usually one for babies but in Spike’s case I think I could make an exception.” Said Rainbow Dash, blushing a little.

“Nothing to be ashamed of darling, Spikey-Wikey looked positively charming in his little get up! I don’t think I’ve seen anything that’s made me feel like that since Sweetie Belle was a foal!” Rarity commented.

“I agree. He looked almost as sweet as Applebloom on the day she was born!” Applejack agreed.

Twilight’s smile grew in earnest as she heard her friends gush over her son. It filled her with a pride for which she had yet to name. She went over to her friends and gave them all a hug. “Thanks everypony. That really means a lot to me.” She said, trying to keep the happy tears from her voice. When the hug broke, Twilight’s smile slowly faded as she realized what she would have to do. She would have to tell Spike that they knew. Celestia only knew what his reaction would be. She could feel herself panicking, but chose to ignore it. “I’d better tell him what you saw.” She said, solemnly. They all nodded in understanding and watched her walk away, hoping that everything would turn out okay.

Twilight went into the darkened nursery and went over to the crib. After she had hushed him from an earlier nightmare, he had easily fallen back asleep. She hated to wake him, but she knew she couldn’t put off the task at hand any longer. Very gently, she tapped him on the shoulder.

“Spike. Wake up, pumpkin.” She cooed, picking him up. He stirred in her hooves and opened his eyes, confused.

“Mama?” He asked.

Twilight sat down and cradled Spike against her chest. “It’s alright, Spike. It’s just me.” She said.

“Wanna sleep.” He whined.

“I know you do, and I promise you can later on if you want, but I need to tell you something. I need you to listen to me very carefully, okay?”

He was nodding when he heard something in his Mommy’s voice that made him tense up, and he looked up at her, large green eyes staring at her questioningly and innocently.

“While you were sleeping, the girls came by to visit. They were still here when you called for me, so I went to get you. I didn’t realize that I had left the door open a little, and I absolutely did not hear them follow me. Spike, they saw this place. And you.”

Spike’s breathing hitched as a dozen emotions flew by him at once. Fear, anger, upset, shame, and guilt were a few he could name. And yet there was a strange sense of relief bubbling beneath it all. But he couldn’t acknowledge it yet. After the cold, paralyzing fear came a rush of hot anger that lit up like a firecracker inside of him. Instantly, he was out of his headspace.

“How COULD you, Twilight?! This was supposed to be OUR day! Just for US! I cannot BELIEVE they saw! And all because you didn’t close the door?! What were you THINKING?!” He shouted, frustrated. Twilight, however, kept her cool. Whenever he threw a tantrum like this, it was best to keep a level head to calm him down.

“I wasn’t thinking, Spike. I was in such a rush to get to you that I forgot to close it all of the way. I didn’t do it on purpose. I’m sorry.”

Spike’s anger fizzled out as quickly as it had come, and humiliation swooped in to take it’s place.

“This is so embarrassing! I can never show my face out there again! And Rarity saw! I’m never going to have a chance with her now! They all probably think I’m a freak and are sitting there laughing at me! What am I going to do? What am I going to-“

Spike was silenced by Twilight’s hoof over his mouth.

“Spike, please calm down. I promise you, it’s okay. Nopony is laughing at you. Nopony thinks you’re a freak. Listen for a second, okay? I explained everything to them. they were a little confused about everything at first, but after I told them what happened, they understood. They accept you, Spike. Exactly as you are. They’re your friends. They love you, big or little. They want you to know that. They would never judge you or make fun of you for something that makes you so happy, baby boy. I promise, it’s all okay.” She soothed.

Spike stared at her, deep in thought. Her words had soothed him, but his fears persisted. His little self was beginning to creep in again, but his older headspace still wanted control.

“Ma- Twi- Ma…” He struggled with his headspace when Twilight hushed him.

“It’s alright, little one.”

Spike held onto her tightly. “Mama…”

“Shhhh. Mama’s right here. I’m not going anywhere.” After he calmed down, she spoke up again. “How about you come out and say hi to everyone, okay?”

“But Mama, I-“

“It’s all okay. I promise. I would never let anypony hurt you.” She said. Spike nodded and buried his face in Twilight’s neck. She patted his spine before taking him out into the library, where all the girls were waiting.

“Girls, meet my son.”