@Lord Griffin  
Yeah…. I’ll admit that I didn’t read the entire comic, but it didn’t really explain how Spike was a familiar so much as ignore any focus on him, and he still had a tendency to come across as a GMPC.
 
Spike and Twilight don’t have any magical connections. There abilities don’t depend on each other. Spike isn’t even particularly obedient, beyond being an employee/friend. Aloysius actually fits as a familiar, even to the point of an implied empathic connection. Heck, his introduction had him summoned in response to a need.
 
I’ve never understood the compulsion to turn Spike into a class feature. Heck, he’d fit better as an apprentice than as a familiar.

@Sjogre  
Friendship is Dragons does a pretty good job of establishing the Spike/familiar concept: http://friendshipisdragons.thecomicseries.com/comics/1/
 
Ultimately, it’s a pointless discussion, but it’s a fun comic!

I wonder what’s worse. O~O;

Sonzoned.  
Worst than friendzoned.

Look at the good side of this Spike…you might have some good MILF time..

“I don’t need you to mother him. He’s done well enough without one so far.”
 
“Thanks for reminding me, Twilight.”
 
“Your welcome.”

@PonyPon  
No. It’s just called a Fire Ruby. Aside from the unexplained rock farm, there’s been no reference to growing inorganic materials, and gems have been referred as being mined rather than grown or picked.
 
@Lord Griffin  
The problem with that is that Spike doesn’t act like a familiar. Additionally, Twilight has a familiar-like entity: Aloysius.
 
In D&D terms, Spike’s either a NPC hireling or player character himself.

I like the D&D version. Spike is Twilight’s familiar. He “ages” as she gains class levels. Since she defeated a corrupted goddess in episode 2, she gained several levels at once and Spike instanty grew from “baby” to “teen” as a result.

@Itsthinking  
Either they’re supposed to do that (it’s called a fireheart ruby, right?), or he put in a glass container shaped like a heart when he buried it.

If Spike grew that gem, why did he grow it into the shape of a heart?

@Sjogre  
(cringes at the thought of Spike “Growing” gems)

@Sjogre  
They kinda do the Pokémon thing where gems grow larger underground if you bury them.
 
What was that, 3rd gen?

@Background Pony  
…Since when could Spike grow gems?

“I’ll be your Mommy”  

@Sjogre
 
I had assumed that, since he said he’d been aging it, that he’d grown the ruby himself. Other than that, I completely agree. Spike has no “Mom”, and he’s survived, rather than benefited from, Twilight’s “parenting”.

I looked through the comments to see if anyone saying something along the lines of  
“then let us make incest”  
and to my surprise, no one did… until now :P

Haha that’s a new one XD

@Sjogre  
So the “pretty shitty” upbringing that I said might have been true. And God knows Twilight had/has no clue how to care for another living being emotionally all the time, being a mess herself.

You cannot replace Twilight in that job, Twilight, defend your post! and Spike, accept no substitutes!

@Itsthinking  
I can buy Celestia being limbs-off enough that she doesn’t give him presents, she hasn’t paid him any visible attention, even to the extent of Twilight. While Celestia has reasons to lavish Twilight with attention, the lack of even a visit on his birthday still seems odd.
 
Admittedly, I do wonder about him having enough money to buy a fire ruby right before his birthday…
 
I generally think that Celestia kept him close at least until she knew that he wouldn’t be a danger to others.
 
@PonyPon  

@Sjogre  
I like to think Jeeves training.
 
He’s quite talented.

@Sjogre  
My headcanon is that the time Celestia raised Spike was one of the only times in her life where she actually had a lasting feeling of love and it helped her realize that she needed her sister back.
 
Other than that, “pretty shitty” would probably describe it well. Spike seems like he’s raised himself.

It’s either develop a mother kink or sink Spike. Your move.

Twilight doesn’t mother him. Sister at closest, but often not even that.
 
Supposedly, Celestia did, but she’s never shown him any special attention on screen. Really raises the question of what his upbringing like.