I remember when there was someone to tuck me in when I wasn’t feeling well

@Dragonmage  
Maybe, maybe not. I’m sure most kids are smart enough to deduce that the characters strength and affection adjusts according to what is humorous at the time.

Whether they volunteered or not is irrelevant. The mane 6 volunteered in Rarity Takes Manehattan and even Rarity admitted she took things too far. When Sweetie had to pull Rarity’s things not only did Rarity not help, she literally sat on a couch and had Sweetie pull her too. Her reassurances about being able spending time with Sweetie come off as hollow. Like with Sweetie, Rarity doesn’t consider Spike: why would anyone agree to stick needles into anyone, let alone a friend?
 
As for Spike strength, is this the same Spike that couldn’t lift a cloth made tail and had trouble at Applejack’s? Sweetiebelle pushed a load that was ten times her size-same with Scootaloo-, so this situation can’t apply to just Spike. No, this is more to emphasize the absurdness of the situation.
 
Lastly, while this is a cartoon the actions with Spike happen far too often. And it’s because this a cartoon we should care as it sends the wrong message to a younger audience that this type of behavior is ok.

@Dragonmage  
I was implying perhaps they volunteered to help her. In that scene I pointed out, Sweetie was trying to hide the fact she was struggling from Rarity, so Rarity wasn’t aware of their pain. Plus Spike being a dragon seems stronger then he looks. (Kid can swim in hot lava.)
 
Also, part of me just wants to say that MST3k-matra, “It’s just a cartoon, relax.” Best not to take it to seriously, unless you want to call child/dragon-services on Twilight & Rarity.

@Masem  
My point applies to the show too. Rarity’s friends could of helped out with the bags all the times they were there; they didn’t. They and Rarity let the weakest character in group do the work, by himself. It’s not just for one task too; Spike is working ALL the time. Twilight is just as guilty–though at least her tasks are more in his capable range.
 
It’s a double standard by the fandom when Spike is not old enough to court Rarity and understand love, but apparently is old enough to hold a job, not go to school, and play the role as a “man” by help these “girls” and serving them.
 
@Beau Skunky  
There’s a line where things goes beyond just “helping out” and ends up being taken advantaged of. Some favors are in poor taste: you don’t ask someone with weak knees to carry a heavy box up the stairs when you can do it; you don’t ask your grandmother to drive further in a snowstorm to return a video game. It’s up to Rarity to know where that fine line is. In both Sweetie Belle and Spike’s case, she didn’t and crossed it.

@Background Pony #91F0  
I’ll get the popcorn.

@Background Pony #9072  

 
Damn, then given her coronation and stuff, Twilight has a storm of abuse coming her way.

@Background Pony #9072  
I don’t quite get your reasoning. Because Spike is allegedly famous he deserves the abuse if not more unfair treatment? Is renown your barometer for determining the guilty?

Considering that he is famous enough to be getting merchandise IN UNIVERSE (Sweetie Belle teddiespike), I think Spike is definitely getting the abuse he deserves at the very least.

@Masem  
Yeah, I remember when “Sleepless in Ponyville” aired, some felt Rarity was kinda mean “forcing” Sweetie Belle to carry all the stuff for her, and such, but if you look at this brief moment here, >>176596 when Rarity looks at Sweetie looking a bit concerned, Sweetie’s strained face changes to a happy grin trying to hide the fact she’s struggling to help Rarity. As if she’s going, “It’s ok! I can handle it! Don’t worry about me!”
 
Sweetie & Spike aren’t being “tortured” by Rarity, they’re helping her, because they volunteered, and want to help her despite the trouble. People IRL do that for those they care about.

@Beau Skunky  
Yeah, even as “late” as Rarity Takes Manehattan, Spike carrying all the luggage is common. I don’t see it as them forcing manual labor on him, he wants to impress Rarity at any point so he willing takes it on, even if it is a task beyond his normal means (omg, I can actually justify his characterization in Spike at your Service??? :)

I like the li’l brief callback to the show’s continuity here.
 
@Dragonmage  
No “worse” then what you see in the show… No offense, but I think some fans are getting a li’l to overprotective of Spike. Besides Rarity cares about him, (even stood up to the teenage dragons, and such for him) and would never do anything intentionally to hurt the li’l guy.

@Masem  
I would. The power/influence scale is too skewed here. Rarity is much bigger and far stronger than Spike. Not to mention the magic she has that can make this task effortless.
 
Part of the fandom will argue that Spike is just a little kid. If you take Twilight’s words about Spike being “a baby dragon” seriously than the mane 6 probable sees Spike as child too–maybe an infant. Asking for a task is one thing, but are you saying that getting free, manual labor from an infant/little kid and exposing him or her to situations they can get seriously hurt in is fine? And yes, Spike has gotten hurt doing this kind of work. Just because Spike says it’s fine doesn’t give free reign to go crazy on the “favors”. That’s abuse.

666th preview

@Background Pony #645C  
Er? Bhazor meant the Spike toy in Sweetie Belle’s bed

@Kerion  
Big Mac also did drag a house across town, though he was under the influence at the time. Still, I think it’s the proportion in size that makes it impressive. Spike at that size is still able to carry stuff that’s reasonable at least several times his own weight. Who knows what he would be capable of if he has Mac’s mass.

@Dragonmage  
Eh. Spike would be willing to carry Rarity’s bags to curry her favor, and Rarity knows she can do that. I wouldn’t call it Spike abuse, just normal characterization of the two. He’s just making a sarcastic comment.

Spikeabuse; and this comic was doing so well.

@Meresflut  
To be fair to Mac, that cake did look heavy, and don’t forget it wasn’t well balanced on his back so he had to go more slowly as not to dump the cake.

I know that, in this comic, there’s an actual plot about family stuff and travel…
 
… but all that I can comprehend is that Sweetie has a Spike plush.

Why is big mac still considered the strongest? E could barely lift that cake while Spike carries this mountain with the same efforr one would carry a single heavy box.

Spike is seriously being trained to be the strongest there is.

@Bhazor  
Try lifting what he is lifting at that size.

That Spikey Wikey cuddly toy.

Let’s compare and contrast, shall we?