To me, Twilight is Spikes mother since she hatched him and chose to continue raising him after moving to Ponyville. After all the shit he went through in the show, he deserves a mom.

I think the most realistic explanation for what kind of relationship Twilight and Spike have is that she’s an older sister who took the /role/ of a mother figure, and now that’s gone to make an unusual, but no less beautiful kinship. They are a different species from one another, and as such the way they age is not completely in sync. But with that said, even in the real world, not every family is ideal. There is no one-size-fits-all for a household - sometimes a dysfunctional group can adapt into something at least semi-functional, so this odd relationship is actually more down to earth than most realize. You just have to take a closer look.
 
Like #OF1C said, imagine a family like that from Lilo and Stitch - one of the most interesting families ever in a Disney film imo. One sibling is significantly older than the other, and suddenly both parents die in an accident, leaving the eldest to be in charge of the household. In that film we see Nani still struggling with the challenge of being the legal guardian to her younger sister - it’s like babysitting while the parents are on a date, except it never ends. So naturally, Nani is the only remaining mother figure to her but she also grew up knowing her as a sister. So their relationship is an odd mix of the two. One way or another, it works, because it has to.
 
Now, of course the situation isn’t the same, but the basic dynamic is similar. As far as we know, Spike started his life knowing of only two as mother figures - Celestia, if you count the comics, and Twilight as the same kind of sister-mother mentioned above. Mentally, I would say Twilight is probably around 17-22 while Spike is still about as developed as a 12 to 15 year old. Who’s to say what their canon ages are though, or what that would even translate to for both ponies and dragons. Twilight has referred to Spike as a “roommate” before, and as far as I know has never actually called him a brother, son, or any other label like that. But the way she interacts with him in many instances is that of a guardian. So yeah, in other words, she basically is a kind of mother figure, in a mild and weird kind of way. Accept it. Cuz it’s cute.
 
I just wish the actual show would make it more canon that Celestia actually raised him. I think it would add more depth to this odd relationship.

@Background Pony #DCFD  
Or Nani and Lilo from Lilo and Stitch.

@DragonWraith  
It more like older sibling raising the young sibling like Mako did with Bolin when their parents were killed.

@evilshy  
But she was no more than 6 at the time.
 
I think part of the reason people love seeing Twilight as Spike’s mother is that she’s at an age where she would make a good mom now.  
That ignores, however, the fact that she wouldn’t have been old enough while Spike was still an infant. (Keep in mind that, although Twilight calls him a “baby” dragon, he’s in his early teens by the time episode 1 rolls around.)

Remember twilight did hatch spike

Awwwww, so sweet.

It’s pretty cute regardless of what the details are.

Perfect <3

@Background Pony #5B24  
Honestly, I see Twilight Velvet taking that role more than anypony else (in part due to what BP#CF9B pointed out).

“I think Spike was not even included in the original draft, but was later added to be a throwback to Gen3…”
 
According to the art book he was among the earliest of Lauren’s sketches with Twilight and Clestia, so he was always going to be a part of the show.

This has been my headcanon for a while now. I swear I’ve seen stuff alot like this before too :3

@Background Pony #7C33  
Hatching, imprinting, magical imprinting.
 
@Background Pony #5B24  
That sounds more plausible.
 
@Background Pony #CF9B  
Well, that’s why it’s an opinion and not a fact.
 
@Background Pony #CF9B  
And whoever said she’s any good at being a mother? Just remember Lesson Zero…  
There must be a reason for Twilight’s issues, right? There’s too much pressure on anyone near her.
 
@Background Pony #902B  
The idea probably clashes with his idea that Twilight and Spike can get together. Who knows?  
People get angry over the most ridiculous things these days…
 
I think Spike was not even included in the original draft, but was later added to be a throwback to Gen3…  
And yeah, it would be great if Celestia was more, dunno, WITH FEELING? She’s portrayed just so… bland.
 
@Background Pony #4485  
Who knows, Twilight is already an aunt, maybe this might awaken her motherly feelings. Though she was overprotective and did follow Spike in the Dragon Migration episode, sooo…

Ok, this is cute, but I really don’t see Twilight being the Mother for Spike

@Background Pony #7C33  
What I really hate about the fandom is how angry folks get over the tiniest things _ Is this idea of Spike and Twilight having a mother/son relationship really going to kill you?
 
@Background Pony #CF9B  
I really do wish that Celestia and Spike had a closer relationship than what they portrayed, you’re right it did sort of come off as a bit cold how she completely blows him off like that, not even saying hello to him.

As I say… in fiction, anything goes

…I love these.

@Background Pony #5B24  
That would be the most distant, disconnected, loveless mother-son relationship ever. Their interaction amounted to total five seconds and included Spike bowing in front of her and addressing her “Your Highness”.

@Background Pony #7C33  
For me your opinion makes no goddamn sense.

I prefer Celestia being Spike’s mother and Twilight being more like a sister but whatever.

if there is one thing I hate about this fandom, it’s the fact a lot of people seems to think that Twilight is Spike’s mom, which is stupid and makes no goddamn sense.