Anon helps Spike stop sucking

"Spike, it's time we had a little talk."
>"What's up? Rarity asked if I could go get-"
"That's exactly it, Spike. We need to talk about your issues with being a doormat."
>You lean down to his height.
>"I am not a doormat! Everypony values how much I help out!"
"You're a dragon. A tiny, tiny dragon. But you can be far greater than this."
>"Oh, no! Don't you start with that! Zecora helped Rarity save me from hurting everypony else and hoarding their things!"
"Ever wonder if it's not greed that makes you grow, but value?"
>"...Huh?"
"You grew larger thinking material goods make you better. But what about immaterial things? Pride and self esteem for example."
>You give him a pat on the head.
"You seem happy, contented, but never more than that."
>"I don't have anything to feel sad about."
"But do you feel like you're respected and admired, or patronized and treated like a child?"
>Spike looks down at his feet, lightly nibbling his claw in thought.
"Listen, think about it a bit. If you want, drop by my house after sunset. We'll discuss more then."
>You leave Spike to contemplate his place in life as you go about your business.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

>Enter the dragon
>Anon had given you some doubts about your real position with the Mane 6 as an accessory.
>You had their conditional admiration at the very least, but often the doting comments were belittling.
>Except from Rarity.
>But could she just be using her feminine wiles to get you to do things?
>You pull out the checklist of items for fashion horse.
>Lots of it was busy work, for the most part. Errands that weren't too critical but very nice for some patsy to have do them for you.
>You frown. Maybe Anon is right...
>At any rate you won't welch out on your agreed errands. You're a dragon of principles, after all.

>Rarity beams as you pull the small wagon full of materials into Carousel Boutique, along with her parcel of dry cleaning.
>"Oh! Back so soon? Spike, darling, you're just a gem."
>Rarity lifts some of the items away with her horn, then gives your cheek a little pinch with her hoof.
"It was no trouble at all Rarity."
>You can never seem to get your voice to stay 'normal' when you see her. She's just too damn perfect.
>That plush marshmallow flank, those gorgeous eyes, it was like she had a constant spell of hypnosis on you.
"What new outfit have you been working on, Rarity? I bet it's super amazing if you've had all day to focus on it!"
>"Ah, new outfit? I was tidying up the storeroom with Sweetie Belle and her friends today."
>Her sister's voice echoes out of a back closet with Scootaloo and Apple Bloom.
>"Cutie Mark Crusaders Closet Organization!"
"Oh. Well, I bet you'll have everything ready for your next order!"
>"I fancied a short bit of vacation actually. I'm taking Sweetie with me to Manehattan for a few days."
>You done got got, Spike.
"Happy to have been of service, then..."
>Her hoof pats your head.
>"You're such a sweet little guy, Schpikey Wikey~"
>Rarity returns to her task without another word.
>You feel a bit of fire bubble in your belly. Heartburn? No, this is more of an emotional feeling than that.
>You turn on your heels, leaving out the door.
>It's not quite sundown, but perhaps Anon wouldn't mind.
>Celestia and Luna are readying their swap as you give a knock on Anon's door.
>It opens into the small hallway threshold with a mat and shoe stand.
"Uhh, anypony home?"
>"Come in, Spike. Wipe your feet."
>Your first scratch of foot on rug gives you a tickling feeling as your claws leave streaks in the fibers.
>Anon's house is not much bigger than any other houses.
>It's just a bit larger scale.
>Anon is sitting in a chair by a fireplace, sipping on a snifter of cognac.
>"So have you thought about it?"
"You made some good points. I can understand how you see it looking in from the outside."
>"Good. So you want to learn some things?
"What would you teach me?"
>"Some self empowering gimmicks and some actually useful mental tricks for getting ponies to do what you want rather than vice versa. "
"Sounds like it would help..."
>"You can think what you like. It's all about you anyway. So why don't you think you've grown?"
"I don't have a bunch of stuff to hoard?"
>"How much can you say you value all the gratitude from the favors you hand out?"
>You pause, dwelling on that. It's not untrue to say you give more credit to others than others give you.
>"Let's try something else."
>Anon waves a hand dismissively.
>"You're a proud dragon, right?"
"Of course!"
>You puff up your form and stand with your chin held high.
>"Prove it to me. What have you done that is worth anything to anyone other than yourself or someone you serve?"
"I saved the Crystal Heart!"
>"You were a runner, again. Like always."
"What about the Equestria Games!"
>He scratched his chin.
>"So far you have one point."
"And when I saved Rarity from the Diamond Dogs?"
>"Where as if you were a competent dragon you could have roasted them into Chinese take-out before they laid a hand on her."
>Wow, Anon. What a cunt.
>But he wasn't wrong. You were pretty low on yourself for only having done one thing worth any recognition.
"Alright, you made your point."
>"What you need is some confidence and some self esteem, buddy."
"But-"
>"You haven't got either. You've got the illusion of it. You don't feel it in here."
>Anon gives you a firm poke in your chest.
"What should I do?"
>"First thing we're going to do is make sure you're comfortable on your own two feet in any kind of situation."
"How are you going to do that?"
>Anon pulls a box out from behind the chair. Taking out a paper plate and some string, he tapes a picture of Rarity's face onto the makeshift mask.
"What are you-"
>"Seduce me."
"...What?"
>"I said. Seduce me."
"You're kidding."
>"I am a mare who needs a stallion worthy of my status, why should I waste my time with a simpleton like you who can't even understand two words!"
>Anon swoons with all the dramatic flare that fashion horse would have.
"Uhh... A-Alright."
>You plant your feet and clear your throat.
"Rarity, you look lovely tonight!"
>"Are you saying I don't look lovely EVERY night? My word, how rude!"
>Anon slaps you across the face.
"Ow! Hey! She wouldn't do that!"
>Anon slaps you once again.
>"You will NOT tell me what I would or would not do, Spike!"
"This is stupid!"
>"Is it? You're getting pushed around by a man wearing a mask of a mare you swoon over without lifting a claw in your own defense. What's stupid?"
>*SLAP*
"Cut that out!"
>"Make me, whelp!"
>*SMACK*
>You feel a deep welling of anger rising up inside you, clenching your claws before burping out a gout of flame at Anon.
>His arms windmill as the mask flares up in a puff of ash off of his face.
>"...Good. Feel better?"
>It did feel good to let loose without trying to fight it.
"Yeah."
>Anon took out another mask, this time with a more suggestive picture of Rarity's face.
>"Now. Again."
>This was going to be a long lesson.