Spike used to call Twi "mama," back when he was just a little bab. he's embarassed by it around show age and starts calling her twilight, only calling her mom/mama when he's scared or by accident. When he gets older he embraces it a bit more and switches between mom and twi a lot more freely.

When he grows older spike permanently walks on 4 legs, but at a younger age he sort of switches between 2/4, often opting for 4 for mobility's sake. this is typical of younger dragons in general.

i think im finally at somewhere with him that i like!! YEETdragon hunting has, for hundreds of years, been considered an illegal activity across Equestria. The practice of slaying dragons was popular due to the medicinal and magical value of dragon scales, teeth, and claws - however to many it was considered cruel and in many ways murder, so Celestia was quick to outlaw the practice.Guards and Equestria's top forces were sent out to track down and bust dragon hunting bases. The largest of them all, hidden deep in caverns below the dragon land, was raided by Celestia herself. Hundreds of workers were captured and thrown into jail while thousands of dragons were freed, fleeing the scene and taking their young with them- however, one small, cold, purple egg was left behind, untouched.Dragon eggs do not hatch by themselves. they can remain dorment for several years, and can be hatched by the mother at any time using a strong enough burst of magic (typically their flames). This is a survival characteristic, to ensure that eggs can survive harsher conditions and can be hatched only when the mother believes it is safe to do so.Celestia takes the poor, lonesome egg and keeps it under her wachful care for many years. She considered that, whoever was able to hatch the egg, would be strong enough to take the role forward as nightmare moon.Hundreds upon thousands of students attempted to hatch the egg, but it seemed to be an impossible task - no unicorn, especially a young unicorn, could in no way match the magical capabilities of a fully grown dragon. Celestia noted many that came close - namely sunset shimmer, who got the furthest and became Celestia's pupil for a handful of years - but no one could fully hatch the egg and poduce a living dragon.But then here comes lil twily, who, in a burst of magic, hatched the purple egg and produced a bug eyed, confused ickle dragon.Twilight, young and a little distracted by the fact she had JUST gotten her cutie mark AND accepted into Celestia's school of magic - was asked in a bit of a flurry what she wanted to name the new dragon. She named him Spike, for...obvious reasons. Not very creative, but she was a little caught in the moment of it.Though only 11 or so, Twilight was entrusted with caring for Spike, almost by herself. Though she received some support, Celestia was too busy herself, and her parents were far from kind and caring towards their children. Though velvet and night light were never mean nor hurtful towards spike, they were very tough on twilight, and hardly made any time for her let alone spike. so, it was primarily twilight, and a bit of help from shining armour, who raised him.Twilight, though young and confused and under an immense amount of pressure, still tried her hardest to be a good mother to spike. she wasn't perfect by any means, but she loved him unconditionally. He helped her to grow a lot, and the skills she picked up from mothering him she used later in her life when raising her own children.The two sort of grew up together in a way. As he matured Spike himself managed to pick up what made twi tick, and half looks out for her himself. He's usually the one to remind her not to stay up late studying or to go out and get some air. They're kind of all each other has for a while, with twilight being a loser loner lol, her parents being rather absent/cold and shining away training for the royal guard. Thankfully things changed when twilight moved to ponyville, and twilight fully grew into himself - but as selfish as it feels, sometimes spike wishes things could be like how they used to be, just him and her.As he grows older, Spike starts to wonder where he came from more and more. It prompts him to make a trip to the dragon lands, but all it does is remind him of how unlike anyone he really is - too soft to be a dragon, but too scaley to be a pony. His isolation grows and grows, reaching its breaking point when Twilight and Rainbow announce they're having a foal together.Spike begins to spend less and less time at home. He spends all day out, either flying aimlessly or making trips to various different places - dragon lands, appleoosa, cloudsdale, anywhere but ponyville. He can't face being at home, seeing Twilight make preparations for her new family, and does everything he can to be anywhere but there. Of course, she's worried sick this whole time, and on one particularly long spout of Spike being absent (lasting about 3 weeks) - she goes to Luna for some assistance.Luna knew of the trouble that Twilight was having, and though she tried to abstain from matters that were too personal, she promised to her she would visit Spike in his dreams.Kindaa dont want to reveal too much, because ill probably draw this scene later on, but it ends in Spike finally coming home, at 2am, to a worrisome Twilight - who he grabs into a hug and cries, confessing he's sorry, that he didnt mean to drift away, or to upset her - and they work through and talk through what was troubling him - and twilight promises that she would never replace her number 1 assistant.Spike remains in Ponyville, living in the castle and as a constant part of twilight's family. He vows to be the big brother best friend to both bird song and summer, teaching them how to play ogres and oubliettes, make the best sapphire cupcakes, and of course the hottest memes off the press. He probably taught birdie to swear, but dont tell twilight that.As I've mentioned before, Spike gets along very well with thorax and the two are best friends. and maybe a bit more? considering making a thorax x spike nextgen, but im not sure how that would work because spike is pretty set on living in ponyville with twilight and thorax is pretty busy running the hive, so who knows.some extra little tiddly bits: