> A Sidekick's Duty
>  by sejox
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Prologue: Humble reasons
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Manehathan. The city that never sleeps. Yellow carriages and multicolored dots covered the scene from above as the ponies who drown the streets were moving from and out of stores and buildings.

One of this many dots were a purple one and an alabaster one: The dragon Spike, and the unicorn Rarity. It was enough to say that the latter one could be confused as a walking luggage. Not that the little Spike minded the fact that he had been walking across one of the most crowded cities in Equestria with ten times his own weight of luggage on his shoulders, after all, he had been in worse situations.

“Poor little fella,” muttered a passing stallion who witnessed the little drake. He approached him, “do you mind if I help?”

The alabaster mare and the drake exchanged a furtive glance before the latter stepped closer to the colt, “Sure, but beware, darling, my dear Spike is stronger than what he looks like,” Rarity said while pressing her hoof against her chest in a regal manner.

With that said, the unicorn handled the stallion the chests at the top of Spike and settled it with care in his back.

The stallion straightened his face after the white mare dispelled her telekinesis, sweat covered his fur after a couple of seconds as his breathing turned more ragged.

“Ahm… Are you sure you can’t handle it?” Spike said with an arched brow.

“Yeap, sure buddy… is not…” he managed to say before the strength on his legs vanished and he collapsed chest first on the pavement. “My good Luna, this thing is heavy!”

Rarity didn’t hesitate and took the chest to their previous location, turning to the stallion once again after she made sure that the pile of luggage on Spike’s shoulders was balanced.

“Are you alright, Mr? I apologize for the inconvenience, I tend to forget the weight of those packages and chests. Spike always seems to handle them so well,” she explained, looking at the drake with an adorable expression as she stretched a hoof and caressed his chin.

“Don’t worry miss,” the stallion reassured while getting up with the utmost care of not hurting himself in the process, “It was my idea, after all. Gotta tell you, that little fella could give a run of bits to some of my toughest friends.”

Spike just shrugged at the comment and smiled at the stallion, “What can I say? It just comes naturally for me,” he stated quite prideful. His luggage tilted to the left a second later when he tried to puff his chest with pride, he noticed then the loss of balance and the imminent mishap that could happen later, ”Wow, wow, hold your horses!”

Fortunately, Rarity was well aware of the possible outcome, as she knew how Spike used to react towards that kind of compliments. She took a hold of the entire pile before Spike could trip and helped him stand properly again.

“Thanks, Rarity,” he blushed, his eyes darting down as a tiny feeling of shame punched his stomach.

Rarity smiled at his little companion, “Don’t you worry my dear,” she then turned to the stallion from before and hummed in content. “Seems like nothing is broken, how delightful!” she said before clapping his forehooves.

The stallion nodded and then politely waved his goodbyes to the duo. The duo bid their farewells, Rarity turned their sight to a jewelry not so far from their spot and motioned Spike to follow her to yet another shopping stop.





After a couple of hours, Rarity and Spike were at her boutique’s front door, the pile of suitcases and bags doubled in height and by the struggling expression on Spike, he was making a lot of effort to keep his balance.

Miss. Pommel devised them while they were crossing the street and received them both with a warm smile just before Rarity could manage to knock. She helped the two with their belongings.

Spike looked in awe at the spacious area, he knew the new boutique was big, but the fact that the place was mostly empty at the time made it look at least two times bigger, a desk and three comfy chairs were the only things present in the place. The costume designer mare didn’t hesitate to explain to him that she had just finished cleaning and was just waiting for them, more specifically Rarity, to begin with the preparation for the next season.

The impression and the heavy work from before seemed to be too much for the little drake, and as he made himself comfortable in one of the chairs, he asked Pomel for a drink. The mare nodded enthusiastically and went to the back of the store. Upon her return, she noticed that Rarity took a seat too and was taking care of her mane and coat. Pommel then turned her sight to the dragon, and after a couple of seconds of a spring trot, she handled the cold drink to the tired drake.

“Thanks, Pomel. Good grief, I thought I was going to trip again,” Spike said, his throat eager to be refreshed with the cold beverage. He took the drink and hesitated for a moment, he really wanted to gulp down the content of the glass, but he didn’t want to look nonchalantly in front of the alabaster fashionista.

“That would have been disastrous,” Rarity said, her tone turning more into an exclamation at the last bit, “Not even I can hold that amount of weight, thank you so much for your help, my Spickey-wickey.”

Spike blushed, the glass on his hold now half empty, “It was nothing, Rarity. I just wanted to help,” he sipped his drink in a successful attempt to calm himself, “besides… I needed to go here too.”

Rarity perked up at the hearing of his words, a memory snapping inside her head just before she pulled a package inside one of the many cases, “That reminds me,” She paused to take a second lock at the box on her magic hold before handling it to the dragon, “this is yours, Spike.”

Spike hurried to place his drink on the crystal clean floor before taking the package and opening it with a swift movement of his sharp claws, his grin growing like the one of a little colt just before receiving his first hearts warming eve’s present.

Rarity had several ideas of what could be inside the box, even still, she was not a mare known for her patience against the unknown… and the gossips. “May I ask, what is the thing that has you grinning like a filly after her first kiss?”

Spike once again blushed, his mind making the scene foretold with him and Rarity as the protagonists. He quivered himself back to reality a second later, “Ahm, is just the third special ‘loot-box’ of the power ponies,” he said and then looked at Rarity, making himself sure to acknowledge the reaction of the mare of his affection.

She just nodded happily and gestured him to continue, “This version includes three figurines, six t-shirts, an eight-inch plushie of humdrum, materials to make your own costume of the main cast, a guide in how to make the costumes and also the measurements of the girls. Finally and most importantly, the version includes an enchanted version of the sixth tome, which features the daily routine of the power ponies outside their job of being superheroes,” he concluded with a satisfied smile and hum. His view turning to Pommel who was the one moving first.

“That’s a lot!” she gasped, “I mean, these materials alone should be really expensive,” she pointed while inspecting the box’s content, “And I can tell that those shirts were hoof made.”

Spike nodded proudly, “that’s right, and they were made to fit me. I even got a note from the staff saying that this is the first time they made clothes for a dragon. They want to talk with me in the next convention and everything!” he charred with bumped fists and a toothy grin.

“That’s wonderful, they must be so happy to know that their stories are reaching more audience than just ponies,” the yellow mare chimed in glee, “But that must have been really expensive.”

“Not that much. My Moth-” Spike interrupted himself with a faux cough, Pommel Tilted her head to the side and furrowed her brows in confusion, “Sorry, I mean, The princesses gifted me this as a reward for doing royal duties…” he avoided her gaze, his tail swaying left and right as a red tint shaded his scales, “I’m sorry, is just that Princess Celestia tends to behave like a mother… so… sometimes I call her like that by accident…”

Pommel giggled at the piece of information given, “that’s cute, mommy Celestia and his little baby dragon,” she said and patted the young drake’s head before acknowledging what she just did, ”Ups, sorry Spike, I didn’t mean to call you a baby,” she jolted, ”is just that… you know… you look so cute and little…”

Spike looked intrigued at the young mare, whose eyes were now adverting from his, she was blushing furiously whatsoever, and that brought a smile to the drake, “Ha, ha. Don’t worry Pommel, I don’t mind if my friends call me cute or little… just don’t call me Spickey-Wickey… only Rarity can do that,” he stated, fear scratching his tone at the last bit of information. Memories of the killing intent that Rarity showed to the ones who dared to call Spike by his nickname.

The silence that followed that sentence made both, the dragon and the mare, realize the absence of comments from the designer mare, and with it, they also noticed the lack of an object inside the box: the enchanted volume of the power ponies.

The duo gazed forward, the sight of a Rarity holding the book and scissors making Spike shriek in fear.

“Rarity, wait! Don’t!” he managed to say before the scissors drawn themselves closer to the comic book.

The white mare flicked her mane to the side, her eyes glaring at the little dragon in a reprimanding manner, “Spike, this kind of dreadful books are too dangerous, and you know it far too well.”

“Let me explain please,” he pleaded with puppy eyes.

“Don’t bother,” Rarity eased her stern expression and continued, “I won’t take any chance at you getting hurt again at the hooves of that wicked villain,” she added with a caring and soft tone.

“Uhm,” Coco intervened, making the other two turn their head to her almost at the same time, “Rarity, I’m pretty sure this present is really expensive, and maybe the work made to get it was even worthier, At least you could hear Spike’s motives to keep it.”

The words of her friend relented the designer’s resolve, she placed the scissors down and glanced unamused at her purple friend, and then back to the book, she knew how dangerous the thing in her hold was. Memories of her little visit to the alternative version of Manehattan: were thief, predators, and villains of all kinds lure in every corner.

She shivered for a second, her eyes turning once more to the little drake, her dear and vulnerable friend. She knew the many dangers Spike has confronted in the past, she still remembered how he handled every challenge of the gauntlet of fire with a confident smile; but even with all that acknowledgment, she still wanted to protect him at any cost.

But.

“Hmmm…” she hummed, the book drawing closer to the dragon’s little claws. For she knew that Spike was smart. Her consciousness implored her to show the dragon that she believed in him. “You are right Pommel. Spike must have his reason to want such dangerous artifact, enlighten us, my dear.”

The book was now placed in the polished scales of the drake’s hands. He had an honest smile glimmering his faculties. As a creature that looked like a little child, being treated as an adult—and the fact that others took his thoughts and decision seriously--was something that made his heart drown in joy.

“Thank you Rarity. I promise you, this book is nothing to be afraid of,” he reassured. The fashionista slightly arched a brow, making the dragon wonder if she was feeling intrigued or unconvinced.

He took a couple of seconds to compose his next words, he had the hunch that an explanation will be the best thing to do to ease her friend’s doubts, “Let me explain: This volume, as I said earlier, is heavily focused on slice of life situations, a total of six chapters, each one explaining the daily routine of each power pony. All the events occur inside the headquarters of the heroes, so there is no chance for me to get hurt by someone on the streets. After all, I can’t get in the streets to begin with.”

Rarity shifted closer to the drake and eyed him, his words seemed truthful but something was still bothering her. A volume with the sole porpoise of knowing more about the characters? Characters that usually run their days and nights saving the day. Characters whom truth behavior probably has not been shown because they are always too busy rescuing damsels and knights on distress.

The Alabaster unicorn jolted at the realization of another important factor of that description: Spike would be sharing the same roof that a character that looks just like her, that’s without mention the similitudes with the others, even still the point was clear, he will share the same private space than the others 6.

Rarity hesitated, her mind was shouting at her that this was a call from the desires of a drake that looks like a child but could be as old as the mare currently by his side. Yet, she believed in him, she knew that her little friend would not use the book with that kind of intention.

But, asking wouldn’t do any damage, right?

“And what do you want to do inside that volume?” she asked, her tone more concerned than what she wanted, she recomposed her tone before continuing, “I mean, there is no action or alluring adventure, just the six mares… and you… living in the same place.”

Coco Pommel blushed a second later, the words, pauses, and tone of Rarity were proven enough to make her mind to find the same assumption that her friend had.

Spike by the other hand, was oblivious to all the possible outcomes that his trip to the alternate universe could mean for others, he only considered one possibility after all. “Why? To know more about humdrum of course!” he exclaimed with determination. “He is the only member of the main cast without powers, but I know that he still has a chance to get better. This volume was a chance for me and a lot of fans to know him more, but the staff had an issue with the distributor and they had to finish the volume without his section… or at least that’s what they say…” He paused, noticing then that his eyes, who were previously burning with vigor, were now empty and lost in the marble floor.

However, his next words were the only encouragement he needed to achieve to light that flame on him once again, “When I noticed that he appears in small glimpses of every chapter, that’s when I knew that there was still a chance for me to obtain more info about him. I just needed the right volume, and this is the one!” He concluded while presenting the book as if it were a mathematical theory that could mean the beginning of a new era.

His sudden outburst and the words that followed it hit the mares like fresh hot water after a long day of hard work. They sighed in relief and smiled warmly at the drake.

“That is wonderful to hear, darling,” She tilted her head slightly with a content smile, “I have to admit that I’m curious about this Hum Drum character too. For what I knew on our little and almost disastrous conundrum inside that world, he seemed to be someone that always did the best for his friends, and tried his best, even when the odds were against him. Which was the usual since his lacks of superpowers.”

While giving her little speech, the designer mare couldn’t get rid her mind off the fact that all the packages and suitcases scattered on the floor. She scanned the surroundings briefly while thinking about how much time it will cost to set everything up.

The distinctive shine and movement of her eyes didn’t go unnoticed by the keen senses of the young drake, “hum… we could speak of this while I help you and Pommel with the stuff of the boutique,” he proposed, his left claw scratching his cheek in an attempt to make the proposal as casual as possible, he didn’t want to make his dramatic friend believe that she looked so desperate, to begin with the preparation for the boutique.

“None of that,” She halted, her hoof gesturing him, “Spike, you have made more than enough, for us to ask you for assistance will be an insult. Go to the back of the store, if you take too long inside the book I will take your possession, and the book, back to the castle.”

Spike thanked his friend, action who only made Rarity tell him that he didn’t need to thank her. The dragon was about to get up from his seat with the box at his hold but was interrupted by Coco Pommel.

“Ahm, Spike, can I keep the box for the moment? I really want to give another look at its content after finishing my duties.”

Spike's eyes widened for a brief second, “Really? Well now to think of it, you really like to make costumes so-”

“Well, I too am a fan of the comics…” she chimed in, flustered, “not as much as you, but still, I really like to give everything a good look. B-besides, it could help me with my future projects.”

Spike needed no further explanations. With a nod and a brief assortment of words, he handled the box to the mare. The enchanted book was now the only thing on his claws, and his wide smile made sure to emphasize the eagerness of the dragon to get inside it. Without more things to do, he waved to his friends and sprinted past the door to the back store.





Rarity and Miss. Pommel were each holding a glass of lemonade, their coat slightly wet, the heat present in their bodies for the work completed made the cold glass transpire. It has been a rough day for the duo, almost eight hours while they unpacked, placed, classified, planned, and organized the new assortments of dresses and accessories to show in the store and the ones to show in the next couple of seasons. They added a slight clean to the end of their schedule just to make sure that everything looked as perfect as it could be achieved.

Now, with all the things said and done, the only thing for them was to rest and enjoy the sweet aroma of new silk and the warm feeling of accomplishment.

Miss. Pommel took a long sip of her beverage. While she looked at the surroundings and enjoyed the view offered by a work well done, her half-lidded eyes founded the box of Spike. She got up from her seat and took the package with her mouth, the tingling feeling of soreness still present on her hooves and back. She shuddered the pain away and concentrated in the content inside the box while making her way back to her seat.

“I didn’t know you were a fan of the fiction, even less the ones about superheroes,” Commented Rarity before dragging a napkin from one of the stands. She proceeded to clean the trails of sweat in her head and chest while looking how her friend looked astonished at the materials and silk inside the box.

“Well, I think everything started when a friend showed me a poster of the saga with Mistress Mare-velous featuring in it,” She paused and turned to the fashionista, her expression as serious as her next words, “It was something outstanding, a work that only legends could craft into reality, the number of details in her costume, the lines and patterns on her accessories.” she paused and then gave a second look to a red silk inside the package, her eyes glimmering in contrast with the solid color. She failed to keep her mouth from being agape as she added, “I just had the need to know more; about them, about their costumes… Last thing I knew, I was enjoying the comics for reasons beyond their chose of attire alone.”

Rarity smiled at her friend, “I’m glad to know you have a hobby that adds something to your professional career, Coco. To be honest, I had been looking for something that could fetch my likings; a hobby outside of the world of fashion,” She shifted slightly and moved an inch closer to her. “You know? To ease the tension after a rough schedule. The closest thing that I had found is the drama novels…” She took a silent sip of her almost empty glass and chuckled slightly afterward, “The problem is that they tend to stress me more times than my job has ever achieved.”

The young mare laughed at the remark of her friend, mindful to keep her outburst concealed with her right hoof, “I know the feeling. It seems like sometimes fiction can hurt us the same way reality does.”

“At least reality is bound to limits, darling,” She refuted mockingly, which earned another giggle from her friend.

While recomposing herself from the last joke, Pommel didn’t realize that her hoof was now holding a folded white silk with pink patterns, she blushed as thoughts that coursed through her mind earlier at the morning played back on her head.

Rarity witnessed that sudden change in her friend expression before asking, “It’s everything right, dear?”

“Ahm…” she paused, and with a huge breath, she tried to shove her thoughts out of her mind. She knew for sure what the intention of the drake was.

But what about the others?

“Sorry, what did you just said?” Asked the white unicorn, making aware to her friend that her last thought was too loud for her mind to contain it.

“Ahm, well the thing is…” She sighed heavily. “Is about Spike… and what happened early in the morning.”

Rarity tilted her head in confusion, “What’s the thing bothering you my dear? Don’t you believe him? I know that you understood the meanings behind my little chat from before and that the idea of a male living with six mares in the same house could seem as something…” she twiddled her hooves, “outrageous… or precarious…” The designer shook his head from side to side, “anyway, I can assure you that my dear Spike-poo is not going to take advantage of any of those characters or the situation as a whole.”

Rarity set down a firm hoof in the comfy mattress of the chair, her chest puffed and her posture reminiscent of a goddess as an aura of pride and conviction seemed to surround her.

That show of resolve made the young Miss.Pomel unsure for a second. Whatsoever, she knew that the best was to make everything clear and for the sake of the well being of her friends, she clarified:

“No, Rarity, I know Spike will not try to make such a horrible thing… but,” She traced a hoof all the way to the back of her head, “What about the others?”

“… What do you mean, Coco?” Rarity asked, her tone barely hiding her raising paranoia.

“In an interview with the staff, is was told to the fans that at least two power ponies could have a secret feeling towards Hum Drum, one of them being Fili-second…” she hesitated for a second before gulping the knot holding her next words, “and yes, that ‘secret’ pretty much means that they have a crush on him…”

…

“Or maybe even a relationship…” The mare added, her words echoing the same way they would do inside the cave of a bloodthirsty monster.

“It has been more than eight hours…” Rarity whispered.

Pommel was about to said something, but Rarity signaled her to stop before she could even move forward.

Rarity placed her glass with the utmost care on the floor. Her eyes now fixated on the door that led to the back of the store, “Miss. Pommel, if by any means I don’t get back in a few hours, I want you to buy some food and let it on the fridge,” Rarity instructed, her tone serene yet hideous. “Close everything on your way out.”

Pommel watched between bewilderment and intrigue how her boss calmly walked to the back of the boutique. The silence proving itself dense enough to outstand the sound of the mare’s hooves steps. Only the screeching sound of the door opening was strong enough to destroy the deafening effect inside the building.

“Ahm, Rarity, are you alright?” she asked, her intention more devious to pulling herself back to reality than finding an answer from her boss.

“As long as my dear Spikey-Wickey stays pure, I will be fine my dear…” she responded.

Rarity closed the door, a small glimpse of her eyes was the only remarkable thing that Pommel could perceive.

To be more precise.

The lack of shine in her eyes.
> Chapter 1:A Humble Job
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Spike woke up, his vision blurry and foggy, he scratched his eyelids slowly as the after effects from the magic trip faded. The world around him was now more detailed and tiny: four walls surrounded his cardinal points, and a ceiling of granite protected both his head and his feet from the outside world… It was a room.

"This must be..." Spike turned to his left and moved forward. He noticed a bed with purple sheets, a nightstand with a golden clock atop of it. The most remarkable thing was the pile of costumes resting in the mattress. Spike pulled one piece from the stack to confirm his suspicion.

"It’s from pink- I mean, Fili-second," he gasped slightly after stretching the costume to its full length. The odor of sweat sprung out from the silk after being stretched. “And it has been used…”

Spike sniffed a couple of times, the smell was odd, a combination between the smell of caramel with sweat… a bittersweet fragrance which oddity made it someway addictive. he sniffed again, this time more briefly as a dumbfound smile started to curl his face. He was about to take another breath out of the costume before a sudden thought flashed through his mind.

“Why would they leave their clothes here?” He turned his sight to the right as if trying to find clues to an answer inside the room.

A brown wardrobe, a white chest and a magic mirror resting on a desk were the only things he found. He narrowed his distance to the odd—yet familiar—mirror that reflected no images of the room, but detailed information, just like one of the many enchanted books inside the castle’s library.

“Maybe this screen will tell me,” he said, his eyes furrowing at the blinding light coming from the enchanted crystal, “The information of the city, villains status, amount of prisons available…” he narrated for himself before shrugging, “nah, this doesn’t help.”

Spike turned to his left, a plain wall, green and cleanest than the others. The drake left his shoulders go limp as the realization hit him: Hum Drum’s room was plain boring. Ugh...

He breathed deeply.

No, he stood firm once again, I know there is more than what he shows.

Spike scratched his chin in deep thought as his eyes took a second view of the room, Maybe Humdrum is too occupied to have any time left to enjoy his own room, hence the lack of interesting things in it.

The drake recomposed his posture, eyes shimmering with new found determination. He just needed to go out and look at the headquarters, train himself to the limits of the hero, study his diet, his traits, his training methods, his powers and weakness. He needed to know everything.

Hum Drum is more than just a sidekick, I know he can be more than just the comic-relief of the story.

Spike turned back, towards the door of the room, his steps firm and vigorous. In less than five seconds he was in front of the knob and was about to open it; until something got his attention from the up corner of his eye.

He stepped backward and looked more cautiously at a piece of paper wrapped on the door. It was a list with the title, Humdrum to-do list, written in bold letters. What followed was a list of fourteen things to do each one had the day—with an odd separation between each one--in which the task should be done remarked with a reddish color.

Spike then recalled the pile of used clothes in his bed. Everything was obvious for him now, his task for today included cleaning those costumes. He searched through the list to see what other thing was needed to be done. Muttering to himself each point while his claw was used as a cursor.

“Cleaning the girls’ attire… and,” he pointed to the paper with his claws, “Clean the HQ’ central rooms…” He trailed off for a moment. He would have to practically clean the whole installation, all by himself. A complex facility that is at least six to seven stores high…

“…” he groaned in exasperation, “do I really need to do all this crap?” he pondered some more, “This time the main event is just doing the heroes daily routine… so there shouldn’t be a way out until I finish my duties… I think…”

The drake sighed… he had his early chores done and then helped Rarity till mid-day… does everything in his life have to revolve around errands?

The drake took a brief glimpse of his attire, the attire of the hero he long-waited to one day be great and awesome.  A couple more of errands are nothing; I will find what really makes Hum Drum especial.

His face turned upright with a toothy smile, “Ha, The castle is way bigger than this place anyway.”

Spike turned back to the hero’s bed, and with a swift movement, folded them around the clothes, making a bag-like form which made the stack easier to be carried.

“I can clean that crystal fortress before breakfast,” He said while taking the bag up his shoulder. He then noticed another weird occurrence, the pack of clothes was heavy… a little pack of clothes was heavy for him. “How weird… ugh…” he grunted but even still kept moving towards the door, “The book probably changed my own strength to fit the one of Humdrum’s…”

He grunted again, and with a little more of effort opened the door and pushed the bag to the other side, “It doesn’t matter, just a handicap. I had it worse while living among butlers and maids at mom’s castle.”

Spike quivered at the memories, images of floors covered in mud, special rooms made to wash the dishes, the special test that each aspirant has to pass to be the right hand of Celestia.

He shivered again, “Only Raven Inkwell and I had passed that test…” He sighed, his eyes closed as he took a huge breath. “Come on Spike, focus, you need to clean this place quick.”

After that self-scolding, he closed the door and took the silk-made bag before starting his short journey through the castle.





Aside from Humdrum’s room, the rest of the fortress was well known for the little drake, his first stop was the wareroom just in front of Hum Drum’s room which most of the belongings of the heroes were stored. Gadgets, suits, and maps were organized in a huge table at the center of the room. The side walls were occupied with shelves, each shelf packed to the brim with books that had been proven in the past to be useful against the sneakier or powerful of enemies.

The room’s southern side was equipped with machinery that automatized the process of washing the clothes and costumes, a row of metal blocks, each one with a panel at the top and a pristine window in the center.

Spike looked cautiously at the buttons and valves at the panel of the machine. His eyes went down below the panel and detailed a cylindrical space at the other side of the oval crystal door. The little drake didn’t last long to conclude what was the given space for. And so, he started to work with a confident nod and smile.

“These ones are just like the ones I used way back in Canterlot… well, except that this looks rustier and less fancy… that valve labeled pressure is also new… I wonder what is its purpose…” he trailed off. His head moved slowly from side to side as he tried to find a clue or note in the place. Luckily enough, there was a note in the pillar at his right. Upon reading the note, he understood the proper use of the uncommon valve.

So… every costume needs to have a special treatment, especially the one from Zapp, Fili, and Saddle. Otherwise, the cloth will evaporate after making contact with the girls' powers… that’s really interesting, and could really be used as a plot device in future chapters.

Spike gave the notes a second read before putting his claws into work. After a quick mental calculation, he concluded that it will take him at least three hours and a half to clean everything up. Leaving him more than enough time for cleaning the HQ’s.

“Well, maybe I can make a use of this situation,” Spike scratched his chin, “Hum Drum’s stamina could be not as good as mine… which will means me getting tired pretty easily if I try to clean the whole place in the first run,” He paused, made sure that the clothes were well placed and everything looked good before turning on the machines. The engines made a silent and pleasant sound after starting to work that matched the one from his hum.

Spike turned back and gazed at the metal framed door of the elevator. ”Better give it a try in the last floor, were the observatory and Masked’s room are. That way I can finish everything and end up here,” he proposed before calling the elevator.





Spike laid panting on the shimmering floor of Masked Matter-Horn room, sweat soaking his costume. He had to pull of his mask after the amount of salty water started to bother his vision. It has not been less than five minutes upon his arrival at the last floor of the headquarters and he was already done with the cleaning and dusting. He pondered next about his possible options and decided to rest on Masked’s room and try to get some information about Hum Drum in the process.

Spike glanced to a metal door with no knobs, a digital panel was placed at the side of the door, in it, a screen with a red symbol signaled that the door was closed and needed a password.

I can only assume that there is where Masked is… Spike panted. If I recall well, that room serves as a bunker in which she can use her powers without worrying about collateral damage. He thought, his breathing becoming less erratic.

Suddenly, the door started to crack from the inside, metallic and thunderous sounds clouded the drake’s senses for a brief moment before the door opened. A white smoke slithered inside the room at the same time a purple figure made its way out of the bunker. The drake couldn’t help but hold his head tight as the pain from the booming sound echoed inside his mind.

“Looks like creating oxygen from thin air isn’t as simple as I thought,” a feminine voice said, its tone ragged and hinting exhaustion. “Ahg… I can’t feel my horn… wait I don’t have one, Ha-ha! …” the voice commented while the smoke faded, revealing a pink mare of a darkish pink mane, eyes, and tail, “there must be a way to make that joke funny.”

Spike snickered at the hero’s antics while scrunching his eyes in an attempt to detail her features between the fog. Her body was covered with scruffy silk that before could be described as a lab coat, and in her neck was a pair of broken goggles. It’s like seeing Twilight on a bad sci-day.

She deposited its accessories in a nearby trash bin placed near the door before turning her attention to the being resting on the room’s floor.

“Hum Drum, you are here!” she exclaimed to the hero, action that earnest a faint wince of pain from the drake, “And~ you look dead tired, did something happened?” she added after noticing the hero’s fatigue.

“I finished cleaning the whole floor…” he managed to say before feeling the soothing sensation of pain dissipating.

“Really? That is new for you, you usually take the whole day cleaning the floors below before going up here,” she pointed out as she made her way to the hero.

“Well I decided to go here first this time, this is the smallest section of the HQ after all,” He explained before adding with a prideful tone, “And it just took me three minutes and 10 seconds.”

The mare’s jaw jolted down. “Three minutes!? That is really impressive. Are you sure you are okay?”

Spike confident smile halted at the question. He forgot the possibility of Hum Drum being bad in his owns duties too. He tried to come with a quick answer before the plot of the main story could get damaged, “Aa-ahm… yeah, actually I just woke up feeling dizzy, maybe it’s just an illness… a weird one,” he stammered--sweaty palms included--an idea blighting his consciousness a second later in the form of a question, “Now to think of it, I feel like I’m forgetting something… I just went here because that’s what the list on my room told me to do. But everything else is still foggy, what are the other things I usually do in the ca- I mean the HQ?” he corrected quickly at the end before putting on a smile on his face.

Masked furrowed her brows at him, her humming interrupting the disquieting silence as she inspected every detail of his comrade, including the fact that his smile was shivering more and more with each thrilling second that passed.

Fooling her into thinking that I have amnesia seemed like a good plan in my head… but now it seems more like she is about to do some test on me to be sure I’m not a spy… well done, Spike, you are getting better at taking bad decisions when the situation gets rough. Spike cursed himself.

As Spike enhanced his gritted toothy smile, he watched in cheer inner paranoia how the mare was going back to the room from where she came in search of her horn. Great, just great… now I’ll have to start all over again. That is if the book lets me do so, he commented before catching a glimpse of the mare’s horn shimmering between the mist, a bright lavender aura restrained him soon after.

his eyes clenched shut, expecting the worst to happen Please don’t use the spell from issue thirty-one please everything but the hug of feathers, He prayed for mercy while feeling how the gap between him and the vigilante narrowed. Wait, I could try to convince her that I’m not a spy though… but I can’t take the chance of her asking me about Hum Drums’, I can recite every detail of each power pony but him.

With that final thought, Spike breathed in and waited for the worst to happen, his body trembled at the memory of the many issues in the comic in which the Masked Matter-Horn has tortured villains in search for an answer.

He felt his body moving through the air at a slow pace.

The magic around him loosened his grip.

And then…

Warmth… A soothing and comfortable warmth. Hooves were surrounding his body and caressing his back. His trembling ceased abruptly, just in the same way his eyes opened.

He was being embraced, Masked Matter-Horn was hugging him. The event making him recall for a brief moment the cold heart’s warming eve accompanied by his best friend: Twilight.

“Hmmm…” She tightened her hug slowly, “For a moment I thought you were a spy, but this feeling,” she paused and squeezed the hero for a brief second, “You are indeed Hum Drum.”

Spike stood awestruck. He tried to recall something that could be compared with that moment, an issue, an interview, a single moment in the whole saga that could hint this kind of closeness between Hum Drum and Masked. Her words and actions were out of everything he knew.

“We… we use to do this often?” he asked agape, his dazzled state shimmering his features.

“Hmm? It seems like something really happened to you,” Masked brusquely parted from the hug and started searching and touching the head of the hero, her eyes focused and narrowed. “Maybe you got a hit on the head in our last battle,” she huffed, “stupid Knucklehead, I will kick the hell out of him next time we catch him.”

Spike recalled the fight against the mentioned villain, a Black Echidna with a reckless desire of punching the ponies of Maretropolis. Hum Drum received a couple of the villain's trademark punches during that fight.

“So that is what happened…” Spike said slightly astonished. His eyes shimmered brightly, his body curled inside the embrace of his friend the same way an injured puppy will do.

His little act showed its fruit a second later when Masked resumed the hug. “Stupid villains. Arhg…” she growled, “I should have created a shield around you at the time…” She tightened the hug once more.

Spike smiled coyly. He was safe from breaking his character facade. He concealed his hideous expression and turned his gaze upwards to the mare, “Don’t blame yourself for it. This is just part of the job,” he reassured.

The mare smiled down at him and kissed his forehead, “Well… that is true, but you shouldn’t be the one receiving the toll. You are too important for us.”

Spike fins perked at the hearing of those words. “Really? Why?” he asked, mindful to keep his expression and tone oblivious.

“Well, to begin with, you are our stress reliever, remember?” she pointed with a cheerful tone. Her hooves relenting for a second before she surrounded herself and the hero with her magic.

Spike couldn’t even process the words from the mare, the initial revelation shock was too much for him, and for his dangling mouth, to handle, “Speaking of which, I know that today isn’t my turn… but…” Masked blushed as her eyes darted between him and the metal framed door from before, “your services would be of help at the moment, all these tests from before left me rather exhausted.” She added while moving them both to the bed of the room, “I promise just to hug you this time.”

Stress reliever? What does that mean? Wait, just hugs this time? What other thing does this two-no, no wait… she said that Hum Drum is their stress reliever? As if, the whole gro… Spike tried to muster something but his mind was so adrift that he expelled a hum that sounded like approbation instead.

“Excellent!” Masked cheered, “Don’t worry it will be just a minute, I know you have to get ready for Fili-Second’s marathon tonight,” she commented before approaching her bed.

“Wait,” Spike finally pulled himself back to reality, “marathon? As like, running alongside her?”

“Well…” Masked blushed as a mocking tone captured her voice, “by the sounds you two often make… it seems like there are a bunch of marathoners panting in Fili’s room,” she explained while prompting a hoof towards her muzzle, “hehe… the only relief is that it doesn’t last… after all, she is really fast.”

Spike's eyes widened as his mind ran a mile per hour once again, what made him oblivious to his own environment for some seconds before he could speak again.

“What? Wait, what do you mean with those weird hints? We are just comrades, right? Friends bonded by love towards justice?” Spike insecurity started to swell inside his body.

“Well there is a lot of love between us,” Masked said as Spike detailed the position in which he was now. His head was inches away from Masked necks while his hands were trapped between the joints of the mare’s forehooves. He could hear the soothing beats of the heroine’s heart. The mare’s eyes were shimmering with lust, lust that tainted her eyes with a hideous intent that only could be deceived by the cuteness of her red cheeks.

“I can assure you that,” she added before pulling Spike closer to her, tucking him into her furry chest as she started to kiss his head with the same caring that her hooves provided in their way up and down throughout Spike’s body.

He tried to stay calm in the situation, there was nothing for him to be wrong about this. A power pony that made him remember his best friend was pampering, snuggling, and kissing him like a marefriend will do to her partner.

Spike stood still as a prey inside the predator’s territory. Okay, Spike, nothing to worry about, this comic is PG-13. So the characters shouldn’t have those kinds of moments anyway, right? She is just making implied sex jokes, yes, that’s it.

Masked’s hoof stopped his ministration at the bottom of Spike’s back before slowly applying force to the area, making their bodies grope more and more profusely.

Wait… there are some PG-13 stories that have implied sex moments, what if? No, that can’t be. Silly me, is impossible to even think off-

Masked started to moan between her kisses; her hoof now pumping Spike’s back up and down as she herself shifted her loins upwards with each grope.

And- aaaand…. there is nothing wrong with this, right? Is just Hum Drum and Masked having some time for themselves out of the cameras right?

It was the third time he had tried to reassure himself to no avail.to make it worse, the soft skin of the mare lips pressing against his scales left an electrifying feel each time she parted away. Her hums and quite moans resonated inside his head and made a mess of his thoughts.

I- I~  need to stop her for a second, this is getting weird, His hand shrieked as another kiss interrupted his line of thoughts, I need to stop her- for Twi- I mean, for Masked and my own sake, I need to-

“C-can you,” Spike panted, his head snapping upwards, “explain to me ho-” His words were interrupted by another kiss…

Unfortunately for the little drake, he was so desperate to speak that he didn’t notice that while moving his head upwards, he left his mouth just in the same spot at which Matter-Horn was aiming for her next smooch, resulting in a rather disastrous event.

Or at least that’s how the drake took it.

Spike Eyes shoot open. The warm from the mare lips served as a perfect fuel for the now burning red check of the dragon. He waddles his hand up and down in a vigorous attempt to make the mare snap out, the call worked and Masked’s eye opened shortly after.

Thank heaven, I thought for a second she was too lost in it for… Spike paused, his arms going limp as he was counting for the act to be stopped... however, Masked’s lips were still pressed against his own, even more, she was actively snogging him now. Oh oh… her hooves gripped the dragon against the mare’s hot fur. Her tongue made its way through the drake’s mouth, until she finally made contact with the object of her desire, his partner’s tongue. Her previous soft moans were now full-blown calls of lust that only stopped every four or five seconds.

Spike twirled his arms left and right, all the while looking how the eyes of the pink mare stared at him: her eyes brightness were long gone, just like her consciousness. She was lost in the act. Her mind could only focus on their tongues colliding and dancing inside their entrances.

There was no doubt on the drake’s mind: he needed to get out of her grasp. He shifted upwards, grasping the mattress’s covers as he tried to pull himself from the kiss to no avail.

Okay, Spike, just breath, relax, He stammered inwardly. You’ll find a way out of this.

Spike took a huge breath from his nostril and hummed.

I just need to relax first and…

Their tongues swirled in a mix of lust and saliva. Spike started to lose his strength as the pleasure boiled inside his body.

A plan….

Masked rolled with him on the bed, just to push him down as Spike’s back pierced the mattress softly. Slurping sounds and muffled gasp of air echoed inside the room. Try as he might, Spike couldn’t fight the feeling, and sooner than he could even anticipate, his claws found the way to the mare’s head.

Plan… was the last coherent thought before he pulled the mare closer to deep the snogging. This, this feel so good…

Masked opened her mouth just enough to take a long and warm breath before munching the lips of the drake. Her hooves were no longer embracing the drake, instead, she found more pleasure caressing the spikes on his head.

“I… love your… hair…” the mare gasped between her journey inside and outside the soaked kiss. “I’m sorry Hum,” She breathed out, “I won’t be able to keep my promise.”

Spike furrowed his brows, the little pause doing wonders to his self-control. The pause didn’t last, however, for Masked went for another session before he could even compose his thoughts. Yet, the dragon had enough time to ponder something.

Did she just said hair?

And with that, Masked Matter used her magic to hold down Spike’s tail before enhancing it with her power. The tail grew in length and mobility, all the way down to the point it could touch Masked’s tail without problem… and its way, another thing, something moister.

Spike’s eyes snapped out of the dazzling effect at the sudden realization. His tail was between the heroine loins. The heroine wet loins.

Spike’s vision traveled up, to the almost heart-shaped ones of the pink mare. There was no doubt in his mind, she was crazy for Hum Drum, and she was about to take his tail to a place that no other creature on Maretropolis had been before.

Seconds passed by like eons in the head of the drake as the mare grinded his tail with anticipation. Ramblings clouded his mind as he tried to understand, what was the best thing to do? Follow the act—that only happens behind cameras--like the comics do? Forget the fact that Twilight, his best friend, looked just like the vigilante who was actively running her marefolds against him like a mare on estrus, and give her what she wanted? What would Rarity, his precious diamond, think of him?

Unfortunately for Spike, life doesn’t go easy with the indecisive ones. Masked had taken his tail before he could even think on a solution, and in a swift magical motion, introduced the drake’s member halfway inside her haunches.

“Agh! Aaagh, good grief this feels…” She paused for a moment to make her hips dance around the member, “Your puffy tails feels better than usual, maybe~” She rose up mere inches just to sit back down in a quick motion, “oh~”

Masked jolted upwards, her forehooves pushing the drake down by instinct as the pleasure consumed her. Her mouth lost the ability to get closed; not that Masked minded, it only made her breathing more easy to handle, and her inner fire to rise with each exchange. “I think I’m getting better with my magic!” She exclaimed in joy, her tongue slightly lolling in and out as she breathed.

“Agh, Twi- I mean, Masked, we shou- agh~” Spike panted with confusion running in his arched brows. Something was giving him pleasure, but that was impossible; Masked had just stopped from kissing him, and his tail wasn’t that sensitive to- “Uff, that, Holly!”

“Don’t worry~” Masked shouted between a gritted smile, her eyes were losing her focus little by little in their way up, “It’s just a side effect~ I don- oh….”

Masked moaned furtively, her whole body arching down as she tried to contain the incoming climax, “I don’t want to get you tired before going with Fili… just stand there for a second.”

“I don’t… know if I can,” Spike breathed out to the mare’s face, who in exchange did the same just before closing the gap between them. Masked let her haunches rest on the drake’s loins as she started another adventure through his mouth.

I don’t think I can… Spike claws gripped the mattress in search of strength. No, Spike, hold it!

Masked grounded herself down the drake’s staff, caressing it between the silk of his suit. Spike grasp on the mattress halted as the surge of pleasure consumed what little willpower he could gather.

Hold It! Spike shouted again, but his body wasn’t responding so well, he was craving to have more; his staff was pumping with desire to get out from its captivity.

Do it for her! Spike roared at the same time his hips traveled up to meet its way with the one of the mare.

Do… Spike stammered. His claws crawled all the way up to mare’s hips. He pressed the tender skin and fur of the heroine.

Do… He pressed down slowly, released them, and then pressed again. More… He pressed again, this time more forcefully, the act made Masket hum in delight before embracing the drake, pink eyes meeting green for a sudden moment.

A moment with no movement, just the two, pressed firmly against each other in search of becoming one. Their breathing colliding in mid-air, their heartbeats marching like stallions running in the fog of war, the fog remaining in the room making the whole scene feel like a dream…

More

Spike took the mare by the flanks, and with new found energy and craving lust, pumped his tail by himself all the way up to the mare’s womb. Masked eyes rolled up to the back of her head as her tongue turned into quivering mess inside the one of the drake.

Want

Spike’s tongue slithered around the mare like an anaconda taking its prey, he held her down like that as his tail ravaged her insides. A wicked smile possessed the mare as the long-awaited climax coursed through her.

“Spike…” he shoved the mare’s clit down, pressing her against his grinding dragonhood. “Wants,” Spike kept groping the mare's sensitive area; tears of joy accompanied the perverted expression of the mare as she felt another orgasm coming nearby. The drake empowered his tight hold and trusted again, and again, to the point his member slipped out of his suit to the surface.

Masked’s cried out loud as the rod texture and pre fooled with her pink sensitive area. She sat down by instinct, all the while still imprisoned by the drake’s tongue. Her forehooves surrounded the drake in a tight squeeze.

Spike gritted his teeth, his trusting becoming faster in erratic at the same time his claws pinched the mare’s flanks. He pumped up his tail to the end of the mare’s content before reciprocating the squeeze.

“Mine,” He growled like a hungry beast before releasing the mare’s tongue and shoving her down to the bed. “You,”The drake steeled himself, his tail and staff had the mare in a state that by the mere looks seemed to be at the brink of blacking out in ecstasy.

“Goodness gracious…” Masked quivered as droll tainted her smile, “Hum, I didn’t know you had this…” she stammered as the orgasm rose from down below “this~”

“Are mine!”

Spike roared with a guttural tone, Masked following the call as she shrieked in blissfulness. The drake shot rope after rope of cum, staining and soaking the mare on his essence as she squirmed on his suit and loins.

As the last strings of seed painted the slim body of the heroine, the magic held upon the drake’s tail faded, making the member go limp and tiny like before. Spike fell on his back after that, exhausted, dizzy and out of breath.

He took a moment to compose himself, his vision turning more clear and detailed, and with it, his consciousness too. He stood there, retaking everything that happened in the span of minutes.

…

“What the buck I just did?”





Spike finally found the strength to stand up once again. He looked at the vigilante: she was dreaming in peace, a smile still lingering in her features, her fur unkempt and her position clumsy… it would be an adorable scene if not by all the cum covering her body…

“Dear Celestia. This is going to turn into a relationship issue between me and Twi in the future,” he sighed, his instinctive rambling making him shudder a second later as a sudden shift from the mare made the fear of being caught crawl down his spine. He stared with wide eyes at the face of the heroine. “Ahm, Masked, I…” he trailed off for a second, Masked woke again and barely standing but there was something on Matter-Horn that seemed off, her half-lidded eyes were struggling to remain open, and her breathing was slower and had a humming tone.

Before Spike could say or ask anything, the heroine dropped her artificial horn and fell down into the land of dreams once again, a pleasant smile fidgeted in her expression. Spike moved to the side of the bed and looked how the mare curled into a ball, her slow breathing ever present on top of the silence offered by the thick walls of the fortress.

So… what should I do now? No, wait scratch that, Spike paused, his mind recreating the previous events. A stern expression took a hold of his face as he tried to convince himself that the previous events did happen.

Hum Drum is the power ponies stress reliever? What does that even means? Will everypony try to do me the same thing Masked did? No, she was going easy on me, that’s the only thing I can be sure at the moment… holly guacamole she was going easy on me?He grunted, what are the others even capable of? God… this is supposed to be a family-friendly comic, He criticized before shaking his head, there were a lot of question and doubts, yet no one reliable enough to answer them at the moment. But one thing was sure, I need to get out of here before something like that happens again.





Spike stepped out of the room, just to be stopped by himself a second later. He couldn’t just make his way out of the book, he still needed some answer. While being a “stress reliever” was information to consider, it couldn’t be considered as a hero’s faculty. No. He needed to find something really useful, like special gadgets, or a secret skill that Hum Drum has been practicing since the beginning of the series. It has to be something unique and awesome.

Once again the little drake stepped out with a firm foot, his eyes shimmering with the same determination he had at the beginning of his conundrum.

He was going to find Hum Drum’s secrets.

That is… if he finds a way out of the girls’ sight.
> First interlude
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two hours after Spike’s departure.

“I think green will be the next color for this summer, what do you think, Miss Rarity?” Asked Pommel while holding a green dress above her cream fur. The top of it had a fluffy chest that, alongside the leaf-pattern running diagonally to the bottom of the dress, made the piece look like something stolen from Mother Nature’s wardrobe.

Rarity glanced up above the half-dressed mannequin in front of her, her eyes narrowing in thought as she focused on her next task while searching for an answer. “Green is always a complicated color, my dear, Personally I would go with orange this season, it looks more like a safe bet.”

The mare’s eyes darted down at the comment. A hum of disdain making her delusion more palpable. Rarity wasn’t the one to let other ponies’ inspiration to fade; and before Pommel could throw her dress into one of the many boxes scattered around, she took a hold of it with her magic and added.

“Now, now, darling. I said Green is complicated, not useless,” Rarity said before happily trotting to the mare’s side, “A lot of ponies will be flustered by the idea of something different and unique. But, most of these ponies will fret for their public image, especially in crowded areas like this city and Canterlot.”

The eye of the mare rose with high expectation and a content smile, “so... that leaves…”

Rarity eyelids rested, and with a confident nod, she said, “yes, Ponyville. My hometown is really tolerant to new things, what makes it a perfect place to forget about the stress of keeping a business and enjoy making what I do best,” she flicked her hair at the same time her chest swelled with pride,  “Art.”

Rarity swirled on place and was about to resume her previous activity, but something caught her attention in the process, the store’s backdoor was mildly open, leaving a purple aura shine to the outside.

She lost herself at the sight for a second, a smile slowly curling up. “Besides… I can always count on someone to love my work in Ponyville.”

Pommel tilted her head to the side as she detailed the cuteness in the unicorn’s gaze, ”I  was always curious about you two…” she commented at the same time her hoof trailed its way up to her cheek, “I thought at first you were more like... friends, but…”

Rarity woke from her dazzle. Her brows furrowed in confusion as she glanced to Pommel, “What do you mean, Darling?”

“Eep!” Pommel jolted, her hoof jumped instinctively to her shoulder, caressing herself in quivering motions as she eased her thoughts. “Well, you looked so worried about him earlier… and he is always searching for a way to help you… I thought…” Her eyes drifted to the side as a pink shade tinted her features, “you know, that you two were…”

Rarity’s confusion faded, replaced now with a something that could be more described as sorrow. “My most sincere apologize, Ms. Pommel, for showing that kind of impression…” Rarity eyes darted to the side, and like the clouds being caressed by the sun in the morning, her cheeks were too caressed by an inner fire which left a red tint that enhanced her beauty, “the truth is that we have certain feelings for each other… yet, those kind of feelings are something we cannot share.”

“Is because he is a…” Pommel hesitated, feeling the weight of her next word consuming her. She didn’t want to think of her friend as someone who would dismiss her own feelings for something as shallow as the difference between their species. Fortunately, she didn’t have to.

“Darling, I now that I was a pony that sought fame at the sake of her own happiness in the past. I learn from my mistakes and my eyes are now open to new ideas. Nevertheless, dating a male out of my own species was never a matter that could bother me.” Rarity explained before resuming her strode to the mannequins waiting for her delicate hooves to work, “More than once I saw Spike as a possible suitor, but the main idea changed as the years passed.”

Pommel narrowed her distance, she flicked ears demanding more information. Information that the fashionista was happy to share while working on her dresses. “First, I believed that he was too young for me. That he would wait years to come and restrain for any other relationship… keeping his heart for me and only me,”Rarity pampered her mane for a second as she composed her next words inside her mind, “That belief changed after the Greed incident.”

Miss Pommel scratched her fore hoof while her previous curious expression turned dreadful, “I did read about it… he almost destroyed Ponyville that day.”

“It was a disastrous day, Darling. A really unfortunate day for Ponyville. By Celestia’s mane, it could be the worst of them all!” Rarity exclaimed before letting her hooves rest on the soft silk suiting the mannequin. She breathed deeply and flicked her mane upwards, “It didn’t, however, Spike saved us, he stopped that beast that day… he won one battle against the monster who curses his race,” she paused, her hoof moving to her chest as she sighed slowly, “yet, the war was far from over.”

“He is still fighting his Greed?” Pommel’s head rose in bewilderment, “That’s horrible!”

“It truly is, my dear. And as long as he fights it, he will look like the child he isn’t and behave as the grown male he truly is. That left me with the only hope that one day he will overcome that dreadful beast, and we will finally-”

Like a bell disturbing the mind of a colt lost in the crowd, the door of the store interrupted the duo as four powerful knocks echoed inside the room. Rarity ears propelled up in realization, her eyes snapping towards the door as a sudden memory coursed through her thoughts.

“That must be the Sapphire shipment!” She cheered and applauded. Her magic surrounded the knob of the entrance door and pulled it, a blue stallion in brown attire waiting with boxes by his side.

Rarity’s eyes widened briefly before darting down below in thought, she glanced the mare soon after with an apologetic expression, “Pommel, my dear, I’ll need to apologize for this, would you mind if we keep this conversation for later? Some of those packages are a gift for Vinyl Scratch and I’ll need to go there before she starts her show.”

“Sure, I’ll keep working on the wardrobes positions and move the mannequin’s that are ready in the meantime,” The mare beamed. Rarity took her words with a pleasant hum and nod before taking her belongings with her magic and turning to the building’s stairs.

“Rarity… uhm,” called Pommel with certain shyness in her tone. The unicorn glanced back to her with intrigue, “Try not to take too long, I really want to know more about… you two, if that’s alright with you, of course.”

The unicorn brought a hoof to her muzzle, muffling the refined snicker escaping her lips before replying, “I will do my best, darling. Vinyl may be not the one to talk too much, but when she does…”Rarity turned back to the stairs, her voice raising to make sure her friend could hear her, “my goodness,” she laughed joyfully, “is like hearing one of Octavia’s magnificent solos!”

Ms. Pommel faintly laughed as she imagined the reference, a mare who speaks words so beautiful and captivating that could only be compared to the majestic sound of a cello. “That sounds interesting, I’ll try to know her better for myself in the future,” she said for herself before turning her gaze and thoughts back into work.
> Chapter 2: Cheating for the second time
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Spike had been resting for half an hour on one of the beds of the gym, that’s, of course, a product of the hard work made once he entered the room… which consisted of a two minutes run that had to be done before his real workout could start. The main issues, however, were three really important facts.

One, the warm-up session was supposed to last fifteen minutes, not three.

And two, he was already spent.

“This can’t be happening,” Spike snarled before taking another breath, “I shouldn’t be this wasted because of a short run, I mean, I took that mountain of clothes to the laundry room, cleaned masked room, for Celestia’s sake I even had sex with her!” Spike paused at that last statement, “… that last one shouldn’t have happened either…”

He slowly—and painfully—made his way up. His focus lost on the machinery in the background as his mind tried to digest everything. “The comic will return to its original content…” he thought out loud, “but my mind will not forget that… her smell, her moans…”

Spike’s breathing became slower, his cheeks red, and his expression one of joy. “What…” he snapped, eyes the size of a plate. He slapped himself, “No, Spike that is wrong, there is only one mare for you,” he scolded.

Still tired, he made his way out of bed and started his way out of the room. The comfy carpet making his waddling more bearable, “Come on, focus a little… Hum Drum should be good at something heroic, and I still have two more floors to prove it.”

Spike stood in front of the elevator, a claw reaching the base of his chin to support all the thoughts inside the drake’s mind. “Maybe I should try at the fourth one first, it’s just one level down so if somepony is there it will be easier to get back here and choose another one…” he hummed, thoughtfully, “or maybe I should go directly to the first floor and start testing the gadgets… at least I’ll have something at claw to defend myself from the girls.”

As Spike took his time to consider his options, he noticed how the world around him turn darker. He was so focused that his perception of the universe consisted of him, his thoughts, and the dark and unknown future.

His claw rubbed the absence of beard at the same time his eyes shined at the realization: someone that is that good and dedicated at thinking should be the one making the plans!

The satisfied dragon, now with a smile on his face, was ready to make his option. Now the only thing he needed to do was to press the “4F” labeled button, after the dark surrounding him disappeared, that is.

“Yeap~ anytime now…” he waited, “ok, brain, I made my choice. You can focus on other things now.”

Nothing. The void surrounding him was still there. Spike started to rub his elbows, a faint laugh escaping his lips. “Okay… ahm, it got cold all off a sudden…” he pointed with a trembling voice. “And… those shadows moving around me are really disorienting, right, mister mean glowing eyes?”

Beads of sweat now clouded Spike's face; His breathing almost inaudible. The bright yellow eyes narrowed the distance.

“Th- These must be the work of an enemy-” he paused abruptly, almost biting his tongue, “no, I had never seen this one before… this shouldn’t be…”

“Hum” the void growled, “Drum!” it shouted demonically.

Spike fell on his back out of fear, hugging his tail and silently whimpering as teardrops formed on the corners of his eyes.

“Really?!” the voice asked incredulously. “Come on pup, you did better last time!” it added before the glowing eyes disappeared. The void surrounding the drake disappeared, proving itself to be a tornado and not a vacuum on space. A Pegasus mare stood before Spike, wearing nothing but black shorts and a cocky smile.

“Wait, what?”

“Don’t give me the wait what now,” she scolded, her rump falling down to the ground, “dude I’ve thought we were progressing since last time,” she said before sighing in discontent.

Spike looked at the mare cautiously, her detailed abs, a thin and short body, her powerful and thick flanks… focus Spike! He shook his head and looked at the mare again. There was no doubt, she was the power pony known as Zapp.

“Are you ok, shrimp?” Zapp tilted her head, “you looked lost even before I could capture you with my powers.”

“Huh?” he mumbled, “y-yeah, just a little lightheaded,” he made up on his way up to his feet, “I… ahm, woke with a serious case of amnesia…”

Zapp crossed a brow and then smiled smugly at the drake.

“What?” the drake took a step back, his lips shaking.

“yeah~ right” she cooed, “it so happens that you forgot everything on laundry day…” she approached the drake, her pose firm and—even though she was smaller than the average—authoritarian, “or maybe… you are just trying to avoid Fili, since is her turn to have you today.”

“What? Of course not!” he replied, yet his stance remained on guard. “Why I would even try to avoid her?”

Zapp’s cocky expression faded, replaced now by a confused look. That look soon turned into a stare, a deep stare that surrounded the drake as she moved around him. That made the drake all the more nervous.

Oh oh, maybe I said something wrong? He thought as the mare moved out of his field of view. I thought my acting as Hum Drum was near to flawless. Come on! Stop staring and say something!

…

agh nothing it seems like I’ll be headed to the interrogation room very soon…

…

Wait, she has been staring at my back for a while… he concluded before opening his mouth with the intention of asking for the mare’s doing.

“Yo,” she exclaimed and the drake jumped for the second time since last hour, “I can’t be sure if all that amnesia crap is true. If it’s then maybe we will need to call the others… if not then you are a bad guy that choose the wrong day to mess up with us.”

Spike glanced back at her. Zapp’s eyes were shimmering back at him with tenacity; her forelegs were bent and her head near the ground: she was ready to attack him dare he tried to make a wrong move.

At least that was what Spike hoped, unfortunately, he wasn’t seeing her on guard but rather…

“Only way to find out is by fighting!” She roared before launching herself at the drake.

Spike duck his way out of the first attack of Zapp. A glimpse of joy swelled inside him before it faded at the contact with her second attack. The drake’s coughed out his hair in pain as the previous kick from the hero was barely being processed by his brain. He did not have the time to think about how he got hit, however, since another punch was waiting for him at the end of the room.

Zapp somehow had managed to kick him from the back before flashing herself to the other corner of the room for a combo.

“Holly,” Spike stammered, a punch meeting his face seconds later, “guacamole…”

The blow made the drake spin in the air like a drill as his little body coursed down through the air and roughly on the ground. Two more spins on the ground at the end of the ride were the last thing he felt before his eyes opened again. She is as fast as Rainbow Dash… or maybe I’m just too slow…

Spike tried to stand up, his eyes focused on the mare’s ones. Groans and moans escaped his mouth on his way up, really? I have been hit by worst things while training magic spells with Twilight, He thought, his breathing shallow and erratic, oh, right, those were with my real body, not this one… he made a quick check up at his hand and body, at least he is not bleeding.

“It seems like you are as tough as him,” Zapp smiled, “only Hum Drum can withstand my blows like you did, kid.”

Spike's eyes widened at the new information given. He finally heard something useful about his hero.

“Well, that is considering the fact that all of our villains are douchbags who had never trained in their lives,” Zapp added to the drake’s discomfort. “But well, that is enough talking. I hope you got enough time to breathe because now it’s your turn to show me what you are made of!”

Spike readied his claws as his opponent prepared herself. The difference in strength between them was so evident that it could be misunderstood as a universal law. Knowing his possibilities, he moved sideways—without losing his focus on the mare—while thinking in his next move.

Two, three, a skip and then a jump. Spike ran at the mare while giving small jumps in zig-zag. I don’t have my strength, he looked at the mare as he narrowed the distance, her pose was threatening enough to make his claws shake, but his legs didn’t betray him. Neither my speed nor my agility, Zapp tried a punch in the jaw but he clutched the her forehoof and used the momentum to get himself above her.

It doesn’t matter, I have always been confident about my other skills. Spike prepared himself to land on the mare’s back, his claws aimed at their target.

Including the one who can beat even the most powerful of mares!

“Ag-Kyaaaaahhh!”

The determination and bravado who previously colored Spike’s eyes with a shimmering green were gone. His claws, however, were still pressed firmly against the mare’s flanks. “uhm… that was, unexpected…” he commented, mostly to himself.

Zapp didn’t answer with words but actions. She slowly laid on his stomach and let her head rest on the carpet. Spike denoted how her flanks were now easier to hold and softer.

Really soft… as if, wait… Spike gripped the handful of rump with the tip of his fingers, humming sounds disrupting his concentration, ahw… I shouldn’t be doing this

“Hummy~” moaned Zapp, warm puffs coming from her snout, “Th-that, is more like the Hum Drum I know.”

Spike claws keep working as his mind tried to hide from the world, okay, Spike, remember what you know up until now. He breathed deeply; Zapp moaned softly. Would you stop that already!

“Ahg, yes, be a little rougher my little one,” she faintly shouted before inhaling deeply.

Dang it, I just touched a sensible spot there… he paused his thoughts and tried his best to mute the moans out. Alright, what I know is that Hum Drum is the stress reliever of the power ponies.

From the outside of Spike’s vacuum of thoughts, words tried to reach him with no avail.

Maybe they are not all like that, surely masked and Fili are the only problematic ones while the others just get off by things like this… he convinced himself, Yes, that’s surely what is happening.

“Hum, yo… going to roug…”

I don’t have to worry; just a couple of massages here and there and I could go to the next floor. He smiled at the thought and his body responded with vigor on its work.

“My mind… blank, I’ll end… lovin… you dumb…”

Radiance and mare-velous should be even easier, after all, they are the purest of them all, a little talk with them and I may get my way down to the others floors without any incident.

“Cummi… I’m… can’t hold it…”

Ha, this can be a piece of cake with enough caution. The only thing I need to do know is clean this oil out of my… wait…

Spike got back to reality after seeing his now musky claws, a intense fragrance emanated from the oil like substance covering his digits.

“Hum Drum~”

Spike looked back, his claws near his snout and his expression the one of a perpetrator. His victim, Zapp, laid gasping for air below him, a satisfied grin curling her lips and a lustful tongue lolling out in sought of fresh air.

He slowly dismounted her, still incredulous of what had happened, yet his guilty claws were stubborn enough to remind him of how real everything had been. I don’t understand… I’ve given massages no mares before, they moan and make weird sounds but it had never got this far… he fiddled with his dirty fingers, was that me, or Hum Drum?

Zapp waddled his way to Spike. And how is that I got so lost in my thoughts? I know that my time with Twilight has made a toll on my habits but this is ridiculous.

“All that work made me thirsty,” Zapp said before sniffing Spike’s crotch, “mind if I drink a little of Hum’s special beverage?” she smiled smugly, her half-lidded eyes luring Spike.

Spike hesitated for a moment, his claws reaching his chest on instinct. “ahm Zapp…” he paused, What should I say to her? What if Hum Drum actually likes or had liked this kind of situation?! I can’t refuse her… wait, an excuse! That’s it!

Spike took a step back, “Ahm… do you remember… Fili!” he exclaimed, not noticing that the mare was slowly approaching his crotch, “Yes, Fili, it is her turn today, right? That’s what you told me, soOO-”

Zapp caressed his crotch, making Spike tremble. “Zapp… no,” he moaned as the mare sniffed and kissed the spot. “I-I…” he stammered, still trying to refuse. His body, however, was thinking otherwise. His member was already reaching out from its lair, making a bulge inside the hero’s leotard. Zapp noticed the prisoner inside Spike’s costume and decided to taunt him.

“Hello lil’ fella,” she licked her lips, her hot breath reaching Spike’s rod, “You seem to be struggling there, let me help you,” she took the zipper with her teeth and freed Spike’s pink rod.

The drake couldn’t move at the sight of what was happening, his mind becoming foggy again, yet this time his focus was on the mare touching his dick with her soft and wet lips. He moaned and gasped with every kiss given from her.

“Mmm, it smells dirty…” she cooed, “I wasn’t your first one today, huh?”

“No! I-I didn’t use it,” he protested.

“ho~ so you don’t deny it,” she said, her tongue lolling out.

“It wasn’t my fault I jus- ah!” Spike shouted at the mare’s tongue contact with his sensitive skin, “ple… ahg…”

Zapp licked the drake slowly, making sure to expel out as much warm air as she could. The drake legs shook as she fooled with him. She kissed the tip of his cock and opened her mouth, ready to take her next step.

Looking at what was next to come Spike couldn’t help himself but fell to the ground, letting his member expose—to the mare’s content.

Gasping for air, the mare glanced between the drake’s eyes and his member, “are you still trying to deny it? Come on Hum, as a hero you should be more honest,” she said before lying between his legs, her mouth inches away from the drake’s tip. “Here, I won’t do anything unless you want me too.”

Spike considered the proposal. That’s it, I can make a run for it now! He thought, a faint smile curling on his lips. Then he looked at himself, there was still a problem on his plan. If I were to leave on this state, I don’t think I could ever move properly like this. She made it so rough and stiff that it was painful just to see it.

And she won’t stop breathing on top of it… my good mother… it feels so good…

Spike’s right claw moved to the mare, taking her from the check. Zapp, in response, opened her mouth in a display to the drake. I can’t leave like this, I’ll only be an easy target for the others… he caressed the mare, and she in response kissed him on the tip of his cock.

Spike held her tenderly from the back of her ear and pressed down. Zapp understood the motion and opened her mouth on the way down, enveloping the drake’s member.

Zapp started to lick Spike’s rod as she wobbled down just a few inches from her starting point. “Mmm… so tasty…” her saliva started to drench the drake, making it easier for her to take it deeper.

Spike patted her head and mane as she slowly savored his dick. This… feels sooo… and her face; she looks so cute while sucking me. It’s like that time Applejack made a cider flavored lollipop for Dash’s birthday…

Zapp eyes focused on the drake as his soft moans made her aroused marehood drench the carpet below her.

She released her grip for a moment to breathe. “So dirty… did you work out before I got here,” she asked before licking the tip.

“Y-yeah… I… a lot… of work…” Spike gasped, his cheeks red and puffy, “sorry…”

“Don’t be, such a faint smell won’t stop me,” she said before taking Spike’s dragonhood into her mouth, sucking loudly this time. “Such a rotten… salty… delicious taste… won’t-”

Zapp eyes turned more lustful as she rammed her mouth deeper. Spike could only moan in ecstasy as the mare blew him vigorously without any signs of minding her choking.

“Come on, is this your first time getting head or something?! Shove it deeper!” she scolded, her wet crotch fidgeting with the carpet.

“I…” Spike started to focus on the mare as she made it to the base of his dick, “I, can’t, I’ll cum” he muttered, the mare’s throat proving to be too much for the little drake, “I feel like I’m melting… goodness…”

Zapp took the drake’s cock out for a moment, “give it to me, lil pup, I’ll handle it,” she stated before swallowing the drake’s rocket right to the base.

Spike couldn’t take it anymore; he started to thrust fervently as his hands reached the back of Zapp’s head and pushed her deeper. The mare’s wet folds squirted as the member inside her mouth began to pump.

“I am… cumming!”

Spike took a hold of Zapp’s head and restrained her on the base of his cock as his member shot row after row of his seed, making the mare wistfully moan. Spike let her go, yet she remained on her spot, swallowing every last drop and sucking the last remains from the tip before making a loud pop sound once she released him.

“ah~ Now, that was refreshing,” she sighed in content, her head lying on the carpet. She glanced at her partner with a smug face, noticing that Spike’s cock was still stiff and ready. Meanwhile, the drake was looking at the same target as the mare but with a different set of thoughts.

What the-? How is it possible for you to still be like this?! We just betrayed Rarity Twice today… wait, I didn’t consider that at the beginning? His dick saluted him, don’t give me the, “she will never know” nonsense, his member then jolted up, the damage is already done! Casting a memory spell on me won’t make me less guilty.

“Hey kid,” Zapp called. The drake glanced at her, his eyes widening in the process. The mare laid on her back, her hooves pulling her shorts down and presenting her wet loins, “are you wondering why your weewee won’t come down? Maybe your sessions with Fili are the reasons. Anyhow, I think me and my friend over here can take care of it.”

The drake was already eager to deny the proposal and think of another way to handle the problem, but something was taking the words out of his mouth… that same something was also making his legs move towards the mare.

I… I can’t, Spike tried to restrain himself but failed. His member, on the other hand, was eager to keep the pace, we shouldn’t be doing this.

Yes, we should.

N-no, my heart belongs to Rarity!

I don’t see a problem sharing our dick then.

Spike stopped, not only in his stride but also in thought; someone was messing around with his head, that voice couldn’t be him.

Of course, I am...

Spike then understood what was happening, it was greed, the greed of a dragon who was speaking to him.

“Hey Mr. Indecision, I’m waiting here,” Zapp groaned while flapping her shorts in an attempt to lure the Drake.

That’s not helping Zapp, he thought. The voice in his head tried to convince him to give in. I don’t know how you got here too… but I’ll make sure to not let you do as you please.

Try me.

Spike scrunched his fist and started to move again, yet he went towards the mare’s head instead of her loins.

What are you doing?! Her secret garden is over there!

“Zapp, It won’t be fair for Fili if I get spent with you,” he scolded, claw holding his member—an action that made Zapp smile even though she was caught cheating on the rules—“but, I can give you another taste if you want. That it’s my offer.”

Zapp only opened her mouth as a response; meanwhile, her forehooves fumbled with her wet marehood. Spike slowly introduced his rod inside her craving mouth, sighing deeply as he was enveloped and milked.

He stood there like a puppy while Zapp sucked him tenderly. Lost in paradise; moaning and relishing on the feeling.

Well, I won’t complain, this girl really know how to milk…

Don’t get too cocky, I’ll make sure to get rid of you once this is over.

Really? I thought you would take care of the other girl first.

Huh? Spike caught his breath. What other girl?

The one looking at us from the stairs.