Damn, I can actually feel how hurt Spike’s feelings must’ve been hearing TWO of his best friends in the world yelling at him like that. I say I don’t like when people do mean and cruel stuff to Spike. But stuff like THIS I can except because it’s not him being abused. It’s him crying because ANYONE who has ever been told to “SHUT UP” like this especially by their own friends knows exactly how hurt Spike’s feelings were. And don’t worry, Rainbow and Starlight do apologize in in the next page.
 
This is a good example of showing how much of a friend Rainbow Dash is to Spike. She’s just as protective of him as she is with Scootaloo. And she would never do anything to hurt Spike or his feelings on purpose. And this is very accurate to how Rainbow would feel if she hurt Spike’s feelings and didn’t even know.
 
Applejack is also the same way for the little dragon.