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.

Author's Note

Welp... here goes the first chapter, I didn't really have the determination to keep working on this after finishing the second chapter so I decided to put it in here with the hope that if people like it then I will continue it.

A little head's up for you all: I plan to use the power ponies true form, but I'm still unsure to put Spike in Hum Drum's true body, That is up to you.

If for any reason you want to help me out editing this then don't hesitate to let me now. Maybe this is a silly project but that doesn't mean that it doesn't deserve love.