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Way of the Dragon

by Alesiopdv

Chapters

Chapter 1

It was a quiet and pleasant day in Ponyville...or it should have been had not the Cutie Mark Crusaders decided to ransack the entire Golden Oaks Library.

Spike took a good look at the devastated bookshelves with all their contents scattered across the floor and said "Oh man, Twilight is going to get so mad at me! She is going to ground me for a full year, or send me to sleep outside on the Everfree Forest or make me brush my teeth!"

"Ah shucks! Will yah relax already? We´ll fix this in a second!" Apple Bloom said, poking from under the books pile.

"Yeah, I bet you we can clear this mess in fifteen seconds flat!" Scootaloo assured.

"Don´t you mean ten seconds flat?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"I´m always five seconds behind Rainbow Dash." Scootaloo said, proudly.

"And what are you three up to now?" Spike asked.

"Us four! Mah cuz Babs is back in town and since this´ll be her first time visiting Ghastly Gorge, we figured we needed a better map o´ Ponyville!" Apple Bloom explained.

"Yeah because our first one isn´t that good..." Sweetie said while showing the results of pegasus hoof writing.

"Hey!"

"And where is this Babs?" Spike asked, curious to meet her since they didn´t had a chance to talk during her first visit.

"I´m all the way up ´ere!"

They looked up and found Babs on the top of a bookshelf, trying to reach a book just in the corner. Spike saw the ladder shaking and yelled. "Look out!"

Too little, too late; Babs lost balance and fell to the ground landing in the scaly arms of Spike.

"Woah, that was a close one! Are you okay?" he asked holding her on his arms.

Babs couldn´t say a word. She was lost in a sparkly vision of a handsome knight with bright green eyes and a shiny smile.

Of course, that was all in her head. From the point of view of the Crusaders Spike was simply holding a filly that was actually taller than him.

"Oooookay. You are fine, I guess." he said, putting her down.

Babs remained on her spot, frozen. "Cuz, are yah alright?" Apple Bloom asked.

"Ye-yeah I am"

"You sure? You look kinda red..." Scootaloo said.

"Wh-wut? What are you implying, uh? You saying something, uh? This is my natural tone! You have a problem with that?!"

"Cuz, calm down..."

Sweetie decided to ignore the fight and instead focused on Spike who was intensively reading the book that Babs had took down.

"What´s wrong with that book, Spike?" she asked.

"I´ve never read this one before..." he kept on reading. "No way!"

****

Twilight finished reading the book that her magic kept floating on the air. "A-ha..."

"So? Was I right?" Spike asked.

"You are, Spike. This books explains where in the Crystal Kingdom you can find another book with explicit details about dragon lore. Without this reference guide, we could have spent weeks searching to no avail but now..."

"Now?"

Twilight smiled and began levitating several objects. "We are paying a visit the Crystal Empire."

Spike jumped in the air, filled with joy.

"But first..."

And now Spike stopped in mid-air.

"YOU ARE GOING TO CLEAN THIS WHOLE MESS!"

****

The Cutie Mark Crusaders were sharing a milkshake outside of Sugarcube Corner after their latest escapade.

"Can´t believe we ended up covered in tree sap...again." Scootaloo complained.

"Ah bet Zecora won´t let me near her hut fer a week now..." Apple Bloom added.

"I wonder how is Spike doing." Sweetie Belle said which caused Babs Seed to spit her drink.

"Wut? Who was talking about Spike? I wasn´t!"

"Eh no, I was." Sweetie said, looking confused. "I was saying that its been a whole week since he and Twilight left. I wonder when they will return."

Her answer came in the form of a fanfare as Twilight entered carrying a golden carriage with Spike, wearing a royal outfit, crown included; sitting on top of it.

"Behold, citizens of Ponyville! Prince Spike the First has returned to your tiny town!" he announced.

All the curious ponies in town came to take a look, including most of Spike´s friends.

Snips and Snails pretty much summarized the entire town opinions when looking at the new Spike

"Woah!"

"What´s up with him?" Scootaloo asked.

"He really was a prince..." Once Babs noted the other Crusaders looking at her she quickly added. "I mean, who does he thinks he is? The most handsome guy in town, uh? Hehe..."

She wasn´t fooling anypony, maybe only Sweetie Belle.

Spike kept blowing kisses and waving at the peasants until Twilight had enough. "Okay Spike, you had your fun." And she made the carriage and his clothes disappear.

"...oh man."

"What was that all about?" Rainbow asked, trying and failing to suppress a chuckle.

"Did you discover anything about Spikey-Wikey family, Twilight?" Rarity asked.

"Plenty. According to the records on the Crystal Library, Spike is a descendant of a Noble kind of dragons that abandoned Equestria centuries ago. That´s why his egg was kept in Canterlot." Twilight explained.

"Which means I´m a royal and I must abide to the Noble Dragon Code." Spike said and took out a really long scroll. Really, really long.

Twilight noticed the look of her friends and said. "He´s very excited with all of this..."

****

"Rule 26: A Noble Dragon must be brave."

Cue to Spike being chased by a furious horde of bunnies.

"I´m sorry Angel! I didn´t mean to steal your dessert! Fluttershy said I could take whatever I wanted!"

****

"Rule 55: A Noble Dragon must protect anypony that is in danger."

"Look out Rarity!" Spike yelled and jumped to subdue the mysterious pony that lurked behind Rarity. "Take this! Ha!"

"Spike darling, you´re punching one of my mannequins."

****

"Rule 87: A Noble Dragon must suppress his greed."

Pinkie Pie opened the box revealing a tasty set of cupcakes.

"Thank you Pinkie! They look delicious!" Twilight said, levitating one.

"Here you have Spikey, take as much as you want!" Pinkie said.

"Really? Great! No, wait. I´m a Noble Dragon now, I must learn to share."

"Hihihi how cute! But really, you can take the whole box!" Pinkie said.

"No no no no I must leave enough for everypony!" he insisted.

"But we don´t anymore cupcakes..."

"Spike, just take the box." Twilight insisted.

"No no no. A Noble always follows the code. Now if there are seven cupcakes and three of us then..."

While Spike struggled with maths Twilight sighed, obviously tired of the whole code thing. Pinkie simply finished her cupcake.

*****

"...and the most important rule. Once the ritual is complete and the Noble Dragon has found his mate, they will be together. Forever."

Spike put down the scroll, concern written all over his face.

"Forever...well, it doesn´t say that I can´t marry a pony. But it does say that I can´t make a mistake. If the ritual happens I will bonded to that pony for the rest of my life! What if I make a mistake? I could end up married to somepony like Pinkie Pie..."

A mental image appeared, that of living with Pinkie, turned into a really big blob due to all the pastries his wife kept baking.

"...or what about Fluttershy?"

Now he saw himself living on the cottage surrounded by forest critters and little purple pegasus flying all over his and his wife heads.

"If I´m not careful I could even end up with Twilight!"

The image of Twi-

"Uh bad thought bad thought! Well, as long as I´m careful, I won´t have to worry about that...after all, I´m still a baby dragon! I´m sure I have plenty of time to find my one and true wife!" Spike said, basically inviting disaster.

****

Back in the barn, the Cutie Mark Crusaders were working in yet another decorate carriage.

"Look at it! This year Hearts and Hooves parade is going to be great!" Apple Bloom proudly said, looking at their work, a giant pumpkin carved as a heart.

"Yeah if only there wasn´t anything of that icky romantic stuff! Bleurgh!" Scootaloo complained.

"Oh come on Scoots! A little romance can be nice! Don´ yah remember last year when we paired Mrs. Cheerilee and mah brother?"

"Do you remember how that one went?"

"...good point."

Sweetie once again was distracted, she moved to the other side of the pumpkin where Babs Seed was craving some initials. Once she finished she sighed

"A-ha!"

"WOAH!"

"I get it now! I get it now!" Sweetie Belle jumped in excitement." You have a crush on somepony!" she announced pointing at the initials inside the heart.

"Wut? N-no, I don´t!"

"Yes, you do!" she chimed back.

"Are you calling me a liar, uh? UH?" Babs was basically choking Sweetie.

"Babs! Yah promised to be nice." Apple Bloom yelled.

Embarrassed, Babs let go of Sweetie. "O-okay, I think I have a little...umh."

"Crush on Spike?" Apple Bloom finished it for her.

"You knew?"

"It was kinda obvious." Scootaloo nodded.

"It was?" Sweetie asked.

"Oh cuz, you got to help me! I´ve never had a crush on somepony! What should I do?"

Apple Bloom was just as naive in the matters of the heart but curious enough, Scootaloo offered a solution. "Just tell him."

"Scootaloo! She can´t do that!" Sweetie chastised her.

"Why not? If I had a crush on some boy, which I don´t because guys are totally gross; I will just go and tell him. What´s the big deal?"

"It is a big deal! A girl first crush is the most important one on her life! At least that´s what Rarity is always saying..."

Apple Bloom looked at her cousin who was silently begging for help. Scootaloo turned over on the roof of the carriage, obviously boring with all of this.

"I still don´t see what the big deal is. Let me know when you´re done with all this namby-pamby business and we go back to the parade..."

Apple Bloom got a revelation. "That´s right! Yah´r a genius Scoots!"

"I am?"

"Wut are you talking about, cuz?"

"The parade!"

"Uh?" Babs was as confused as the other two.

"Think about it! During tah parade with all those couples celebrating their love, it´ll be the perfect opportunity tah confess!"

"Yo-you think?"

"Come on cuz, trust me on this one!"

Babs looked at the other two crusaders. Sweetie was nodding while Scootaloo looked bored.

"O-okay, if you say so..."

"Cutie Mark Crusaders Matchmakers!"

"This won´t end well..." Scootaloo said.

****

Finally the day of the parade arrived and all the couples gathered along the main road, holding hooves and leaning their heads. The Crusaders talked Spike into joining their chart which he agreed because Rule 43 of the code was that a Noble Dragon must take part of every parade held in the town he resides.

While Spike saluted at the crowd the Crusaders (well, two of them) pushed Babs Seed to go to the top of the pumpkin and confess her feelings.

Watching from the crowd, Twilight and her friends saw Spike pass by.

"Spike looks very handsome on his outfit." Fluttershy commented.

"He insisted to look regal and I must say, that cape I made certainly makes him look older and taller, the look of a true prince!" Rarity said.

"He´s not a prince Rarity..." Twilight said, pretty much tired of how high of himself Spike had been the past days.

"Oh come on Twi! Let the little guy enjoy a little fame!" Rainbow said, hovering above their heads.

"I´m happy for him Rainbow, I just wish he wouldn´t be so...vocal about his newfound identity." Twilight said.

Applejack put a hoof on her shoulder, a silent gesture that said more than a thousand words.

Finally Babs gathered the courage to climb to the top. "Umh S-s-spike?"

As Spike turned over down in the crowd a certain pink pony start to shake. "Uh uh uh,it'ss a combo! A big one! Shaky knees, itchy nose...buzzing ears! The cart is falling down!"

And right on cue, the weight of both a pony and a dragon in the cart caused it to loose balance, one of the wheels got loose...

"Ha! Trixie told you to never trust wheels!"

...and the whole cart headed down the hill.

"Come on girls! We need to stop that cart!" Twilight said.

"Let´s go Fluttershy!" Rainbow yelled and took off.

"Oh my goodness oh my goodness..."

The cart headed to a cliff, totally out of control. Inside, the Crusaders did their best to recover it, only managing to break the brakes; while in the roof, a terrified Babs clinged to Spike.

Spike was scared but he also had a code to honor.

"Quick! Come up here!" he told the Crusaders.

"Are you crazy?" Scootaloo yelled.

"Trust me! I´m following the Code!"

"Will you knock it off with that Code?!"

"Scootaloo, stop it!" Apple Bloom yelled as she and Sweetie climbed up.

"Okay, now I want all you three to hold onto me, okay?" Babs was clinging the stronger. "When I say three, we´ll jump, got that?"

"Spike, yah sure about this?"

"Not really. But I have to follow the Code. Now, ready?"

"No!" Sweetie cried.

"One...two...three!"

And they jumped right when the cart went down the cliff.

"I got you!"

"Ah got yah!"

"I got you!"

"I got you."

"I got y-wait? Why did you guys jump?" Rainbow asked as she found that all the six ponies were in the air with her.

"You told me to follow you..." Fluttershy said.

"I couldn´t help it. He was in danger." Twilight said.

"Everypony was doing it, I just wanted to be popular!" Pinkie said.

"If I may interrupt, I couldn´t help but notice that neither Rainbow nor Fluttershy are flapping their wings..." Rarity pointed out. " So in that case, who is holding us in the air?"

They looked up and found Spike, furiously flapping his new wings and holding ten ponies with his hands.

After a few minutes of struggling, Spike managed to take everypony to safe ground. Obviously the first they did was ask about his wings.

"You have wings now?" Rainbow was very blunt about it.

"Congratulations Spikey!" Pinkie said and threw around some confetti out of nowhere.

"Oh no oh no oh no!" Spike said, looking terrified.

"What´s the matter? Don´t you like your new wings?" Rarity asked. "Because you like quite dashing with them!"

"Hey!"

"No you don´t understand! When a Noble Dragon grows his wings it means he´s engaged!"

"What? Where in the Code did it say such a thing?" Twilight asked.

"Rule 94. The most important of all! When a Noble Dragon meets his special somepony his wings will spur and his mate will have a mark, the mark of my claw! I´m obliged to marry the pony who gets that mark!"

"...well, that´s just silly." Pinkie said.

"Oh no! I have to follow the Code! I have put my mark on one of you!"

"Yes, but..." Fluttershy said. "on who?"

All the ponies looked at their hoof, their faces going through a parade of relief, disappointment and finally, once the bearer was revealed, surprise...

"APPLEJACK?!"

"...woah nelly."

Chapter 2

"No no no no no!"

Twilight Sparkle was having one of her usual fits, magically throwing books and furniture away. This was such a routine for her that none of the other girls bothered to calmn her down, Pinkie was even having popcorn.

But there was a small seriousness to the whole situation.

"You are not going to marry Spike, Applejack!"

"Of course ah won´t! Ah don´t want to marry him!" Applejack retorted. "Think about it, he´s just a baby dragon and ah´m a full grown mare. ´sides, ah don´t want to get married...not yet."

"Sure as hay you´re not getting married. I already had to go through one brother´s wedding and that´s all I can take!"

Rainbow took another slurp of her hay juice, obviously not caring much about the situation.

"But...the dragon code says he has to..." Fluttershy softly said.

"That blasted code! I wish he had never found it!" Twilight levitated the scroll next to her. "There has to be some rule that could cancel this whole nonsense. No no no no dragons can only have mint flavored cupcakes the second tuesday of a uneven month? no no! There is nothing useful in here! I better go back and ask Mrs. Agate, she may know something..."

"Agate who?" Rainbow asked.

"The librarian back in the Crystal Kingdom."

"Uh I like her!" Pinkie said.

"I have to hurry, if I take the train now, I may be back in just a couple days. In the meantime..." she rushed to poke a hoof at Applejack. "You better not laid a hoof on Spike!"

"Ah won´t do anything like that!"

Twilight took a good look at Applejack´s honest face.

"...Pinkie, you are in charge of watching Applejack. Make sure she doesn't do anything strange."

Pinkie gave her a salute.

"Ugh! How in the name of apple fritters did ah get into this mess?! Rarity, why are yah looking at me like that?"

Rarity, who had been silent this entire time, merely did a gesture of contempt and leave the library.

"Bored now. Let´s go Fluttershy." Rainbow said.

Before leaving, Fluttershy tiptoed her way back and shook Applejack´s hoof. "Congratulations."

Out of frustration, Applejack slammed her own hat against her face.

"...Pinkie, stop staring at me."

*****

Back in the Apples house, Babs Seed was burying her face on the pillow, her broken heart escaping through her tears. Apple Bloom was comforting her cousin, slowly caressing her mane.

"Ah´m so sorry cuz! Ah don´t know how this happened!"

"It´s okay..." Babs said, rubbing her watery nose. "Cuz Applejack is really pretty and nice, I bet they´ll be happy together..."

"But it ain´t fair! Yah were about tah confess when she interrupted yah! Yah were the one who should be married tah Spike!"

"Ma-married?" the sole mention of the word turned Babs redder than Big Mac.

"Applejack should know better! She´s always lecturing me about being generous and now she goes and steals a girls first love!" Apple Bloom moved to her window and saw Applejack coming. She frowned, she was mad. Really mad at her sister for hurting Babs.

Applejack was about to enter the house when Spike came out, carrying a pile of blankets.

"Oh hi Applejack! Granny Smith gave these blankets but I think she overdid it..." Spike said, looking at the huge pile of blankets.

"Yah´r not thinking in sleeping in ´ere, right partner?"

"Of course not! Rule 21 of the Dragon Code..." Applejack rolled her eyes, Twilight was right that whole Dragon Code was getting tiresome. "A Noble Dragon´s lair must always be in the highest point of his assigned spot and since my assigned post is being next to you at all times, I´m moving to the roof of your barn."

Applejack sighed. "Listen Spike, yah know ah really do love you very much..."

Spike put on the most adorable and yet saddest of smiles.

"But ah´m not interest on yah, yah understand right?"

Spike put the blankets down and took Applejack´s marked hoof on his claws.

"Applejack, as a Noble Dragon and your one and true husband, I promise you I will never leave your side and make sure that you are happy every single day."

"..."

Ponyfeathers, why did he have to be such a damn gentlecolt?!

*****

Babs Seed was looking at the barn, pieces of hay and old furnitures being tossed through the window as Spike was making himself comfortable.

She gulped and wished for Apple Bloom to be there but she had gone to town, insisting on finding a way to "fix this". Babs felt like she should get over Spike but for some reason she couldn't understand, the little dragon was fixed on her mind with his bright green eyes and his charming smile. Suddenly, a hoof touched her shoulder and Babs reacted like usual. Punching the pony attached to it.

"Auh!"

"Ups, sorry Sweetie Belle! Didn´t see you there.” Babs apologized.

"It´s okay..." Sweetie rubbed her cheek. "What are you doing standing here in the middle of the farm?"

"I´m just...just standing. Why?! Can´t I?"

Sweetie shook her head, not wishing to get another punch. When Babs returned her sad gaze to the barn, Sweetie finally understood.

"Hey, why don´t you go talk to him?"

"Wut? What for? He already has cuz Applejack..." Babs blew her mane in frustration.

"Well, yeah. But that doesn´t you can´t talk to him never again. Why don´t you just try to be his friend?"

"His...friend?"

Sweetie Belle smiled. Babs Seed wasn´t so sure about this but she wanted to see the dragon so badly.

She climbed the stairs to the roof where Spike was turning the old place into a very comfortable room.

"...hey." she said.

"Oh hey Babs! Tell me, does this couch looks fine in here?" Spike asked, looking at an old red couch he brought from the library.

"I...guess?"

"...nah. I better move it back to the right." and he lifted the couch, apparently unfazed by his newfound strength.

"So umh...the place is looking fine, uh?"

"Yeah but there is still something missing....got it!" Spike snapped his fingers and rush in front of Babs, their snouts practically touching.

"W-w-w-wut?!"

Babs was already burning red but all Spike did was lift her high and took a carpet she was standing on. He put her down and placed the carpet on the couch.

"Perfect!"

Spike sit down on his couch, feeling like the boss in there. Babs scratched her arm, trying to find a new subject to talk.

"So..do you like life in the farm?"

"Its nice but then again I don´t have much of a choice. I must be at Applejack´s side at all times."

"Oh yeah, Applejack. She is really pretty, uh?"

"I guess so..."

"You don´t think she´s pretty?"

"Oh nononono, I didn´t say that! its´s just..." Spike sighed. "Its just I never thought she will be my one and true wife."

"Umh, and who did you think it will be?" Babs asked, blushing.

"Of course the most beautiful creature in all of Equestria...Rarity!" he basically gleamed at saying her name.

"Oh, you like those kind of ponies?" Babs blew her mane in frustration.

"Yes she is so gracious and majestic! Hehe, its funny now that you mention it. Twilight once joked that I should go after a pony closer my age, like Sweetie Belle. She almost looks identical to her sister after all. Oh well, I have to follow the code now, where did I put that footstool?"

Spike went downstairs. Once he was gone, Sweetie Belle climbed up.

"Hey Babs, how did it go?"

Babs answer was to punch her. Hard.

"...auh."

****

"That was a long day! Ah´m going to take a bath big bro!"

Big Mac nodded as Applejack got inside the house. She entered the bathroom, filled the tub, put down her hat, let loose her hair and was about to enter the water when...

"Horseshoes! Pinkie Pie, get out of mah house!"

*****

Spike reached above the clouds and spread his wings, letting the morning wind fill renewed his strengths.

He loved flying.

The past couple days he had been doing his best to help at the farm. Applejack was against it at first but they soon discovered that Spike was almost as strong as Big Mac and could fly like any pegasi thus, he had plenty to offer. Still, he tried to interfere the least, spending his days on his room at the barn. Without Twilight around, he didn´t had to work on the library so he was free to do whatever he wanted, mostly eating and sleeping; but he had found a new hobby, flying.

He started doing practice to get used to his new set pf wings but by now he had grew accustomed to fly around the orchard for hours. Now he understood why Rainbow loved flying so much, it was the best feeling ever!

Spike folded his wings and let himself fall. Faster and faster. When he was about to hit the ground, he spread his wings again and flew in a straight line at full speed, letting go the loudest yell of happiness he ever let go.

He flew back to the skies and roar, an actual dragon roar.

He loved his new body! He loved his new life! He couldn´t wait to start a family with Applejack and having tons of foals and...how did one exactly makes foals? He tried asking Twilight once but she just teleported out of the room. Oh well, he´ll find eventually. Right now all he wanted was to fly some more.

*****

Twilight returned a few days later bringing Mrs. Agate with her who, like always, was a little bit not quite there.

She did brought a book that offered a solution. If there was another suitor for the Noble Dragon intended wife, and the marriage had not been officially confirmed, then the two suitors will fight each other in a duel.

And the pony that would be Spike´s rival would be...

****

"YOU WANT ME TO DO WHAT?!"

Rainbow Dash yelled, finally paying attention.

"You want me to fight for Applejack´s hoof?"

"It won´t be for real, Rainbow. You will only have a little duel against Spike to free Applejack of this silly business." Twilight explained.

"But then why don´t you ask one of the guys in town, like Thunderlane?"

"Because I need a pony I knew wouldn´t hurt Spike. The little guy is still just a baby!"

"Umh Twilight...maybe you don´t know because you have been gone this past few days but Spik-"

"I still don´t get why it has to be me?" Rainbow Dash interrupted Fluttershy.

"She´s right Twi. We need a pony who can actually do the job." Applejack said, knowing exactly what buttons push. "Maybe ah should call another pegasus, a nice looking stallion. Like that Soaring fellow..."

"Back off sister! Soarin is mine!"

"Oh yeah, then why does he keeps coming to visit me for pies every weekend?"

"He does what?!"

"Ah thought yah knew. Funny he never visited yah once..."

"SHUT UP!" and Rainbow pushed Applejack.

ROOOOOAAAAAARGGGHHH!

Fluttershy jumped to hide behind a couch, terrified of the dragon´s roar. But there was no dragon in the sky, instead there was one in the ground, standing between Applejack and the pegasus.

"Don´t ever touch her again!"

Spike was growling, his nostrils letting go smoke and all the spines on his body made a sound to indicate they were sharp. He looked pretty much like a...a real dragon.

Twilight finally snapped and whispered to Rainbow. "Hit him with your tail."

"What?"

"Do it, now."

Rainbow did it, a very soft whip since she was so scared.

"Rainbow Dash is challenging you to a duel, Spike. One for Applejack´s hoof!" Twilight said.

"...very well. You will regret hurting my lady."

Rainbow saw her reflection on the dragon's eyes.

Rainbow Dash simply gulped.

****

Applejack went to bed, wishing that tomorrow this whole business will be over. There was no way Rainbow Dash will lose after all. right?

Right?

She got in the sheets and closed her eyes and open them again when she felt something watching over her.

"Pinkie Pie! Get out of mah room!"

Chapter 3

Spike took a rock as big as his head and smashed it with his claws. He growled, his blood boiling inside him. His lady had been insulted and like a true Noble Dragon he will defend her honor.

*****

"How did I get into this?!" Rainbow Dash cried, flying all over the library. Below her Pinkie Pie and Rarity kept a card game while Fluttershy looked through the window at Spike training. "Spike is going to beat me into a pulp!"

"He has grown pretty strong..." Fluttershy said, watching him smash rocks. "And handsome".

"It´s the hormones. Dragons have sudden growth spurts when they get excited. Remember when he turned giant his last birthday?" Twilight explained.

"Oh great so instead he is just going to eat me!" Spike roared once again. "I´m out of here!" but her tail got caught by Applejack.

"Wait a minute! Yah ain´t gonna ditch me like that! Ah thought yah were supposed tah be the Element of Loyalty!"

"Oh no, don´t you dare play the Element of Harmony card on me!" Rainbow said while Pinkie tossed her card to the floor, her strategy just ruined by Rainbow. "I didn´t ask to be pulled into this mess!"

"None of us did! Ah bet not even Spike is happy with this, ah mean he had his eyes fixed on Rares all this time..." Applejack pointed at Rarity who just did another "hmph!" sound and placed a card, completely ruining Pinkie´s game. "And ah certainly wasn´t looking after him either!"

"I don´t know. Remember that time he almost kissed you and you almost let him?" Twilight eyes lighten up with that eerie green glow she had when using dark magic.

"...Twi? Calm down, will yah?"

Twilight eyes went back to normal. "I´m sorry Applejack. Its just...when it comes to Spike I tend to get a little overprotective, especially when it comes to other mares. Back then, he used to fell in love with a different mare every week and then I had to deal with his broken heart when he was inevitably rejected. I just...don´t like seeing him sad."

Applejack put a hoof on her shoulder. "Ah understand sugarcube. Ah got like this when Big Mac finally settled down, ah got all jealous and mean. Guess it can´t be helped, to a little sister her big brother is always going to be the first boy."

"Heh I don´t think Spike sees me as his first girl..."

"Well, yah do have a lot of common." she joked pointed at her purple coat. They both laughed at this.

"Uh are we done with the whole I want to marry my sibling talk? Cause its gross." Rainbow asked.

"Look Rainbow, you just needed to defeat Spike in this duel and we can put an end to all this." Twilight said.

"Come on, yah think little Spikey can defeat yah?" Applejack patted the pegasus back who blushed. "Also ah need yah tah help me. Granny Smith is already fixing the barn for tah wedding."

"She is okay with this?" Twilight asked.

"As long as ah´m getting married she doesn´t care if its a dragon or a pony."

The girls laghed again but Rarity instead got up, withdrawing for the duel and causing Pinkie to smash her face on the table, her victory move once more ruined.

"...Rares?"

Outside, Spike smashed yet another rock causing Fluttershy to said

"Oh my..."

*****

Scootaloo was chill, relaxing on the Crusaders clubhouse when Apple Bloom bursted in.

"It ain´t fair!"

Scootaloo sighed, not this again.

"Ah asked Zecora fer a potion and she kicked me outta her hub! Ah asked tah Mayor to pass a bill to stop this marriage and she kicked me too! None of the grownups wants to help me! Ah even wrote a letter to the Princess but ah doubt Derpy will send it on time!"

"Would you give it a rest, Bloom?"

"Ah can´t! It simply isn´t fair! Babs is suffering, just look at her!" She looked through the window at Babs Seed, who was sitting on a log, Lyra style, blowing her mane while Sweetie approached her carrying a trail of cookies.

"Umh Bloom, exactly with who are you mad with?"

"What do yah mean?"

"Well it seems you are mad at Applejack for getting engaged to Spike but also you seem pretty upset that this is hurting Babs Seed, you know almost like yo-AUH!" Scootaloo couldn't finish because she got hit on the head.

"Stop that! Ah´m only trying tah help Babs, she´s mah cousin and Apples need to stick together! Yah wouldn´t understand Scoots, yah don´t have a family!" Apple Bloom regretted saying that the second it came out of her mouth. "A-ah mean..."

"No no I understand, my foster parents are not my family, I mean its not like they love me and take care of me everyday."

"Wait! That´s not what ah mea-"

"Oh no, I get what you mean! The way you see it blood its the only thing that matters, right? I guess Twilight and Spike are not really familiy, right?!"

Apple Bloom couldn´t say anything, she couldn´t even look Scootaloo at the eyes.

"I´m out of here."

Scootaloo left the clubhouse passing by Sweetie Belle who was lying on the ground after Babs accidentally kicked her. Again.

Apple Bloom remained there, unable to move or say anything.

"...ah´m sorry."

*****

Spike let go a ball of fire that exploded into a small green cloud. He was getting better at this, before his flames will explode the second he let them go but now he was able to hold them for almost a minute. He was certain to get a hit on Rainbow, even if she was at full speed. Not that he wanted to hurt her, just scare her. Actually if she would just quit this whole thing it would be better.

"Woah, you got...taller."

"Oh, hey Scootaloo! What are you doing here?"

Scootaloo jumped at a big rock and turned to laid on her back. "Ah, I needed to get out of there! Apple Bloom complains all day, Babs does nothing but cry in a corner and Sweetie has become her official punching bag!"

"What happened?"

"I don´t know, is that whole boys thing. Guess we are at "that age" whatever that means..."

"Boys? Which boys?"

Scootaloo turned over with "really?" written all over her face but since Spike looked so clueless, she decided to say nothing. "I don´t know. Wish we could go back to the old days when we worried about nothing else but getting our Cutie Marks."

Spike laid down too, his head resting on the side of the rock. "I get you. When I first heard about the Code I was excited because I thought I will finally be acknowledged as an adult but instead I only got more duties and responsibilities like, you know I have to count all the frogs in the area every thursday?"

"Really? Why?"

"Who knows but its rule 81."

"Hehe what a bummer..."

"Tell me about it."

"Growing up sucks!"

"True that."

They remained in silence for a while, watching the unattended clouds pass by. They didn´t need to share any words, just enjoy the moment.

"Spike, are you really going to fight against Rainbow Dash?"

"I have to. It´s in the code..."

"Would you knock it off with that code? What, if the code tells you to jump off a cliff, will you?"

"Actually..."

"ARGH!" Scootaloo rolled over but instead of falling on her back she actually flapped her wings really fast, stopping mid-track. "Look if you want to go through with this, fine; but let me tell you this if you keep focusing in the things that you think matter you´re gonna lose sight of the things that you care about."

"..."

"Think about it." and she left leaving Spike alone, trying to find an answer for all this.

****

Finally the day of the duel had come and the entire town was present in the improvised stadium. Right on the center it was the "princess" Applejack, wearing the most girly of dresses.

Babs and Sweetie tried to get some seats but they found an unexpected obstacle.

"Well well Silver Spoon look what we found here, if isn´t half of the Crybabies club!" Silver Spoon joined Diamond Tiara on her laughs.

"Hey!" Sweetie cried and looked at Babs who put on a brave face to defend her but before she could said anything Diamond Tiara attacked her again.

"So you came back, what, you couldn´t find any loser to join your blank flanks club?"

"I bet she is so dumb she got lost in Manehatten and actually ended up back here!" Silver Spoon added and they both laughed.

Usually Babs would have fought back but she was so distressed that couldn´t say anything.

"Move aside losers, we want those seats!" and they pushed them aside.

"Come on Babs, let´s find other seats..."

Once they settled down, Apple Bloom joined them, carrying several flags and banner to support Rainbow Dash. Scootaloo also joined them sitting next to Sweetie Belle.

"Ah thought yah wouldn´t come..."

"Hey, its Rainbow Dash."

An awkward silence followed suit.

"Why are you three here is the real question?" Scootaloo finally said.

"Well, fer what ah understand if Rainbow Dash wins, Applejack and Spike compromise will be over so ah thought we could cheer fer her..."

"Cuz, I don´t want to be in here..."

"But Babs, this is yer chance!"

"More like your chance..." Scootaloo murmured but Apple Bloom heard her.

Sweetie desperately tried to change the subject. "Look! Look! There´s Rainbow Dash! Why is she shaking like that?"

Precisely, Rainbow Dash was shaking like a leaf in a thunderstorm.

"Are you okay, Rainbow Dash?" Fluttershy asked.

"Heh Ju-just a little nervous. Guess I could use a little cheers..."

"Oh okay...you rock, woo-hoo!"

"...thanks, that really helped."

Applejack struggled with her dress, unable to move with that thing on. "Horseshoes, couldn´t yah gave me a more uncomfortable dress Rares?"

"I did my best. If you don´t like it you could just take it off..."

"Like if ah could..." Rarity decided to ignore Applejack once more. "Can yah tell me why are yah giving me tah cold shoulder? Did ah did anything to ya-"

Before she could finish they were interrupted by the sudden appearance of Spike, a tall intimidating, almost a teenager dragon Spike.

"...I HAVE TO GET OUT OF HERE!!"

Rainbow Dash was stopped by Twilight´s magic and put back into the arena.

"Rainbow if you leave the area you´ll lose the duel!"

"Sounds good to me!"

Twilight rolled her eyes and pushed her back into the arena.

Mayor Mare walked front and asked the audience to be silent.

"According to the rules of the Noble Dragons Code, that Twilight explained to me last night..." Twilight failed to notice the Mayor wasn´t exactly happy she was up all night listening to them. "The two contenders will fight for the hoof of the princess. Take your positions! And now the audience will do the traditional salute..."

All the ponies did the wave.

"...can´t believe that was actually on the rules. Begin!"

Rainbow Dash and Spike reached the skies, the dragon proving his flying skills were on pair with the pegasus.

"Hey Spike, you really don´t want to go through with this, right?"

"You offended my lady."

"Oh come on, its Applejack! She is no lady!"

Bad idea. Rainbow only managed to say "uh uh" before Spike punched her and she ended up digging a hole in the ground.

"Point for Spike." the Mayor announced.

"Rainbow Dash, what are you doing? This a duel for three points out of five. You can´t waste any!" Twilight asked, peeking,

"I can´t do it Twilight. He´s stronger, sturdier and I hate to admit it, faster than me. I can´t win!"

"I can´t believe you, Rainbow. You fought against a giant adult dragon without a second thought and now you´re scared of Spike?"

"Well, yeah, I mean, look at him!"

Spike flapped his wings, waiting for Rainbow to come up.

"All I see is my little brother making the biggest mistake of his life. Please Rainbow."

Rainbow sighed. "Why does everypony plays that card?"

She rushed into the air at full speed, hitting against Spike and making him crash into the ground.

"Auh..."

"Point for Rainbow Dash."

Spike got up and tried to get another take at Rainbow Dash. He maybe be faster than her but Rainbow had years of practice, allowing her to avoid his attacks. She didn´t take into account his claws so he managed to get her tail and spin her around, tossing her against the stands.

"Point for Rainbow Dash."

"What?"

"She fell out of the designated area so its a point for the opponent." Mayor Mare explained.

"Come on Rainbow Dash, you only need one more point!" Twilight encouraged her.

The audience began to cheer for her too the only thing that Rainbow needed, her ego coming back.

"Well, little Spikey, let´s see what you have..."

Rainbow began to fly around the clouds, taking advantage of the cover they provided. Spike had another trick under his sleeve, his flame balls. With each shot the clouds began to break, cornering Rainbow. She decided to take another route, grabbed a raincloud and poured a waterfall on top of him. All soaked he was an easy target for Rainbow who kicked him and tossed him into the ground again.

But Spike didn´t fall, before he hit the ground he flapped his wings really fast, managing to avoid hitting the ground.

"Woah..." Scootaloo said.

"Okay Spike, no more Rainbow Nice." and she began to circle around him , going faster and faster until he was trapped inside a tornado.

The entire crowd cheered for Rainbow while Spike was trapped inside the furious whirlwind.

The Crusaders watched in awe, so impressed they couldn´t even cheer until finally Babs Seed snapped.

"Come on Spike! You can do it!"

"Babs, what are yah doing? Yah supposed to cheer fer Rainbow!"

"I´m sorry cuz but I can´t! I don´t want Spike to loose!"

"But...why? Isn´t this your chance to finally get him?"

"I don´t care about that, I care about him! I...I don´t know how to explain it! It´s just...like you care so much about somebody you just want to yell and scream and cheer for that one?!"

"Yeah, like I cheer for Rarity when she is making a new dress! I always jump and go Go Rarity Go Rarity!"

"Yeah exactly!"

Apple Bloom was still confused but Scootaloo knew very well what she meant. "Come on Spike! You call yourself a noble dragon? Man up!"

Apple Bloom finally understood and start cheering as well. "Come on Spike!"

"Spike! Spike! Spike! Spike! Spike!"

"Ugh, what´s up with them?" Diamond Tiara complained.

"Yeah we´re trying like watch this, could you be quiet?" SIlver Spoon added.

The crowd began to notice the four enthusiastic fillies cheering for the dragon and they began cheering as well.

"No no no, what are you doing girls?" Twilight lamented.

Applejack looked at her sister, jumping and shouting for Spike. "...Apple Bloom?"

Exhausted and losing the audience support, Rainbow began to slow down allowing Spike to break free and grab her, trapping her wings.

"Oh no he is going for a tactical knockout!" Twilight said.

"He is going for a what what?" Rainbow asked.

"If one contester unables the other to use its wings, then its considers an automatic victory." Mayor Mare explained.

"Couldn´t you two explain all this before the match?!" Rainbow shouted.

Spike put more pressure on her, trying to take them both into the ground.

"Okay Spike I didn´t want to do this..." she raced into the air, going higher and higher while increasing the speed. Soon they turned into a bright comet and once they reached the terminal point, they exploded into a rainbow colored wave that was visible all the way to Canterlot.

The Princesses´ tea party was interrupted by the sudden explosion.

"What do you suppose that was sister?" Luna asked.

Just then a cross-eyed pegasus crashed against the balcony.

"Oh I got mail."

Back in Ponyville, once the rainbow faded away the crowd could see Rainbow still hovering while Spike lay on the ground.

"Point and victory for Rainbow Dash!"

The entire crowd cheered and rushed to hug the winner, Twilight sighed on relief and the Crusaders blinked in confusion.

"Finally!" Applejack said and got rid of the girly princess dress.

Spike got up and found Twilight next to him. "It´s over Spike."

"Bu-but...I don´t understand. Applejack was supposed to be my one and true wife. The mark..."

"Sugarcube, let me ask yah something, do yah really wanted to marry me?" Spike turned his face, unsure of what to said. "Yah will find yer special somepony one day and yah won´t need no mark to know who is the right mare."

Spike looked back, this time smiling while Twilight tapped her chin, an idea forming on her head. She magically pushed Spike, Applejack and Rainbow Dash together.

"Hey, what gives?"

She then placed their arms so Spike was in between the mares and made them slap.

"AUH! What did yah do that, Twi? This going to leave a mark fer...days?" Applejack finally realized. "Oh."

"Oh what? What happened?" Rainbow demanded to know.

"Simply Rainbow Dash, the so called "mark" was nothing but a bruise. You see, Applejack was the first to touch Spike and her hoof was in the bottom, pressed by all of ours." Twilight explained.

"Wait! I thought I catched him first."

"Yah, just like yah thought you won the Running of the Leaves last year."

"I did win the race that year!"

"No, yah didn´t!"

"Enough! You both lost to Carrot Top!"

The alluded mare showed her medal around, proud of it.

"So what yah saying is that this wasn´t the real mark but simply the result of too much pressure on my hoof?"

"Precisely."

From the crowd, Pinkie Pie summarized the whole explanation with one word.

"Laaaaameeeeeee!"

"So...it wasn´t the mark of the bride?"

"I´m afraid not, Spike."

"But...my wings."

"They must have been a natural reaction to the adrenaline running through your body. You were so scared your wings popped up in response."

The schock was so big that Spike reverted back into a baby dragon but kept his wings.

"Well, now that this whole crazy ordeal is over what do you said we go back home, Spike?"

"Okay Twilight...but I need to get my stuff back from the barn."

"Ah help yah with that partners."

"Oh no no no, you´re not going anywhere, my lady!" Rainbow interrupted Applejack.

"´cuse me?"

"I just won your hoof in marriage which means you are my lovely wife now and, as my wife, you have a long list of duties to perform."

"Ah don´t have any duties. Ah was never engaged to Spike to begin with so yah didn´t won anything!"

"So I risk my neck and I don´t get anything?"

"What did yah actually intended to win?"

"What? Ugh! Gross! No, but don´t get anything for the fight? At least give me a few apple pies!"

"Go make yer own apple pies!"

"Oh come on, at least let me know when Soarin comes so I can talk to him!"

"Like yah have a chance with him to being with!"

"What are you implying, tomboy?"

"Who are yah calling a tomboy, yah colt with a wig?"

"That´s it!"

Now that the only spectacle was the two mares fighting the crowd began to disperse.

"That was a monumental waste of our time, right Diamond?"

"I don´t know, I may have found something interesting..."

Apple Bloom approached Scootaloo, rubbing an arm in shame.

"Uh Scoots, about what ah said early...."

Scootaloo smiled and lightly punched her shoulder. "We are cool Bloom." Apple Bloom smiled, a smile shared with Sweetie Belle who loved seeing her friends talking to each other again. "Besides we don´t have time to moop we need to help this filly here get the boy of her dreams!" and she grabbed Babs.

"Wut?"

"We are gonna be your assistants and help you get Spike fall in love with you!"

"Yeah, we are gonna be Cutie Mark Crusaders Love Assistants!" Sweetie said.

Babs looked at Apple Bloom who was still smiling.

"Cutie Mark Crusaders Love Assistants!"

And the four fillies knocked their hooves, a sign of their unbreakable friendship.

Chapter 4

Spike looked at his reflection. He was still a baby for dragon standards but he had grown a few inches. He now could reach easily the top shelves, hug Twilight on the neck without stretching and, more importantly, he had kept his wings. They were tiny, they reminded him of Scootaloo's, but they were still able to lift him off the ground. They were a sign that Spike had grown, even if it was just a little.

With a smile on his face, he got down stair and headed for the kitchen.

“Twilight?” he asked, looking at the mare with her head on the fridge.

“Hey Spike, do we have anymore eggs? I wanted to make us breakfast but I can't find any eggs,” she said

“Oh yeah, we ran out of them last week,” Spike said.

He rubbed his arm, a little ashamed. He usually took care of shopping since Twilight might be organized but was a mess in the kitchen. Not that he was the best of cook but he did better than her.  But this past week, with the whole Noble Dragon Code issue he had forgotten to help Twilight like before.

“I´ll go get some!” he announced and rushed for the market, ready to make up for her.

Twilight watched him go and smiled. She was glad to have her little brother back. She rummaged through the fridge a while more, trying to find something, anything to eat. A sudden knock on the door distracted her and she hit her head with a shelf.

“Auh. Spike, did you forget something?” she asked but when she opened the door, she found a different sibling. “Shining Armor!”

“Hey Twiley!” Shining Armor returned her sister hug. “I´m so glad to see you.”

“Me too! What a surprise! What brings you here?” she asked.

“Cadence and I made some more discoveries regarding the Dragon Code and I´m afraid I have some bad news to tell you,” Shining said and Twilight face fell flat. “I also came to pick by Mrs. Agate. There´s nopony running the library right now.” And he pointed at the old crystal mare who was nonchalantly taking a cup of tea and smiling at the siblings.

“Oh yeah, her,” Twilight said.

*****

“Good morning, Spike!”

“Great match yesterday!”

“You look pretty handsome today.”

Spike´s smile was even bigger than this morning. It seemed everypony in town was happy to see him, giving him compliments and waving at him. Even some young mares giggled when he passed by. He felt like he was atop of the world, better than he ever felt since he discovered the code. He was happy with the fact that he could carry two bags full of groceries with one claw.

Spike waved back at all the ponies but he didn't stop until he ran into one filly. “Babs Seed?”

“Whu? Oh hey Spike, what´s up?” she said, blowing her mane nervously.

“You still in town? I thought you will be back in Manehattan by now,” he said.

“No. My folks decided I could stay the rest of the summer,” she explained.

“That´s great! Let me carry this for you.” And he took another pair of bags with one claw.

Babs blushed and barely said thanks. She walked out of the market along with him and noticed how the mares were looking at them. She felt a cold feeling in her chest, almost like she was embarrassed but when she looked back at him, she couldn't help but smile. Spike noticed this and she turned away, blushing.

“Hey, have you girls go to Ghastly Gorge yet?” Spike casually asked, snapping Babs out of her thoughts.

“Wut? Oh that, no. Cuz Applejack learned of what we wanted to do and said it was too dangerous,” she explained.

“Oh too bad.”

“But...” Babs blushed a little, struggling with the words. “Cuz Apple Bloom told me about this place they went camping once and she said, they were rainbow waterfalls and it was tons of fun.”

“That sounds like fun!”

“Umh yeah. Actually cuz, I mean Apple Bloom, was talking of going back there. An official Crusaders camping.”

“That sounds even more fun!”

“Would you...umh would you...”

“What´s that?” Spike asked, leaning over Babs who had to close her eyes to not burst.

“Would you like to come with us?” she finally blurted.

She waited with her eyes closed for what it seemed like an eternity before she finally heard “Sure! I´ll tell Twilight and we´ll all go together!”

Babs didn´t bothered to hide her happiness. Her face was basically beaming.

“Heh, I just noticed I'm now a few inches taller than you,” spike said.

“Wut? No way! I bet I´m still taller than you!”

“Ha, you wish.”

The ponies in the market smiled, watching the filly and the dragon laugh and shove eachother like the best of friends.

*****

“WHAT DO YOU MEAN SPIKE HAS TO LEAVE?”

“Twilight, calm down.”

Usually, ponies had a hard time calming down Twilight, especially if she had legitimate reason to be upset. But Shining Armor was her big brother and it only took one stern look to quiet any complaints.

Twilight went back to her seat and looked at her brother, asking for answer.

“Let me finish. Cadence sept days in the library, looking through history books for some explanation for the Noble Dragons leaving and especially, why they would left an egg behind. Turns out many generations ago, Princess Platinum made a deal with the dragons. They would allow the unicorns to search the mountains for the gems they both wanted and in exchange, they would protect the ponies from the many threats like Diamond Dogs and such. And for centuries, that deal was respected. But you know that dragons are greedy creatures and even the most noble of the dragons can fall prey to the hoarding instinct. So the Dragon Code was written and one of the rules was that after a century of service, a noble dragon must abandon the land and go beyond the sea.”

Twilight let go a sigh of relief after hearing the explanation. “Well, then I don´t have to worry. I won't even be around by then.”

Shingin looked at her, confused.

“When I was young and I learned that dragons live longer than ponies, I got really sad. But Princess Celestia assured me that she would always look up after Spike, even after I´m gone, she will never leave his side.”

“She will have to once Spike´s time is over.”

“Yes, I understand that but I´m sure by that time, Spike will be a full Noble Dragon and he will have a great life overseas.”

Shining looked at his little sister with proud eyes. He was still used to think of her like that cute little bookworm that cried at the end of a sad novel but now, she sounded like an adult. Even more, she had the same serene and confident tone as the Princess.

His proud smile disappeared quickly however, since he had sad news to tell.

“There´s another rule that Cadence discovered. One that explains what happens when Noble Dragons break the Code...” Shining looked at Twilight who was looking worried again. “Noble Dragons that go awry are expelled from not just their home but from Equestria all together. And I´m afraid that Spike has broken the Code.”

“What? No, he didn´t! He has stay loyal to that dumb code ever since he discovered it!”

“Now he has but before...”

“Are you talking about that incident last year? He wasn't even aware the code existed! And it wasn't his fault entirely! We spoiled him too much. I didn't even knew what was going on until I asked Zecora!” Twilight explained.

“It doesn't matter, Twilight. Spike is a Noble Draogn by birth which means he is oblgided to follow the Code, regardless if he knew it or not.”

“But that...that means that Spike...”

Twilight was about to break in tears, so Mrs. Agate held her in a warm hug, patting her head.

“There´s one way to get him off the hook, however...”

Shining looked front and found two very angry mares that didn´t appreciated he didn't mentioned that before.

“Umh the thing is, there´s an even older Equestrian law that predates the Code and says that citizens of Equestria, regardless of race, cannot be expelled. And it also includes citizens by marriage so if Spike gets married to somepony, he can´t be expelled.”

“Why didn't you say that first?” Twilight yelled and levitated a wedding gown from somewhere.

“Where are you exactly going, Twilight?” Shingin yelled.

“To get the Mayor so she can marry us,” she bluntly said.

“What? You're not going to marry Spike!”

“Let me go, Shining!”

Mrs. Agate moved back to the kitchen, wondering if there was some eggs on the fridge. She didn´t heard the sound of the kitchen door slamming, a young dragon running away from the house.

*****

Babs Seed was happily humming a song while she unpacked her stuff. She had originally only brought a light changes of clothes (and considering ponies rarely wear them, it was a light change) but now that she was staying for more weeks, her parents had sent a box with her stuff. Babs was now claiming half of Apple Bloom´s room as hers. In just a few minutes, there were hoofball banners and superhero posters all over the walls.

“Hey Babs...”

“Oh hi cuz,” Babs replied in a very flat tone. That was a Manehattan joke but Apple Bloom never got it. “Sorry about your wall. I´m just trying to feel more comfortable.”

“Ah don't care about that...” Apple Bloom sounded distressed but Babs was so giggly she didn't noticed it. “Hey cuz...”

“Yeah?”

“About Spike...”

“Spike just told me he wants to go camping with us! Isn't that just awesome?”

“Yeah, awesome. Hey, what yah said ´bout him...”

“I asked cuz Applejack and she already said yes. Isn't that great?”

“Babs Seed, could yah please listen to me?” That brought Babs´ attention. “What yah said about really, really liking him.” Apple Bloom took a pause before counting. “Were you serious?”

Now Babs took a pause. She played with a Mare-Do-Well figurine for a few seconds before she nodded.

“So are yah in love with him?”

“I...I think I am. I´m not so sure, I mean, I´ve never felt anything like this before for anybody. But when I´m around Spike I do feeling something inside, like a very warm feeling. I think that's love.”

Apple Bloom walked next to her and placed a hoof  on her shoulder. “If that´s how yah really feel...then ah promise to do everything ah can so yah two can be together.”

“I thought you were already doing that. Cutie Mark Crusaders Matchmakers and all that,” Babs joked.

“This is different! That was a crush but now yah´r telling  me yah´r serious so, as yah cousin and best friend, ah five my Apple word to not rest until yah two are together.”

Babs smiled and hugged her cousin. “For a sec, there I thought you were going to say you were jealous or something.”

“Why is everypony saying that? Ah´m not jealous!”

“Heh, Scootaloo says you are. Of me.”

“Shut up!” Apple Bloom shouted and punched her cousin, who just laughed at the blushing Apple Bloom.

******

Spike ran, he ran faster than ever. Not only his legs were now a little longer but his wings were flapping in tune, giving him extra boost. Before he knew it, he was on the outskirts of town, reaching the Everfree. He tripped with a rock and fell flat, right next to Fluttershy's´s cottage.

“Oh my, are you alright?” she asked, rushing to meet him.

Spike lifted his head, tears falling down his face.

“Oh Spike...”

Fluttershy walked him to her fence and they both sit. She waited until Spike had spent all his tears and he explained the situation.

“I see...” Fluttershy simply said.

“Why is this happening to me? This stupid Code...it has brought nothing but troubles! Wish I had never find it.”

Spike cried some more, buying his face on his knees. Fluttershy played a little with her mane, mustering some courage to finally speak.

“But Shining Armor did said there was a solution...”

“Yeah but that solution is marrying. I already made a mess about that yesterday,” Spike said, wiping his tears. “Besides, I still haven't find the pony that will get my mark. I still haven't met my one and true wife.”

“Maybe...maybe you should try again,” Fluttershy said, looking at her own hoof.

“Fluttershy?”

Timidly, Fluttershy extended her hoof to him. Spike looked at the bright yellow hoof and then at the blushing mare. Fluttershy was chewing on her mane, avoiding looking at Spike. Spike raised his claw, approaching her. He only had to place his claw and if a mark appareaded, then all his troubles will go away...

“NO! This is wrong!” Spike yelled, pulling back.

“Spike, I'm just trying to help you...”

“But if you get the mark, you'll become my wife! For the rest of your life!”

“I...I wouldn´t mind that...”

Spike looked at her, wondering if she was serious. If she really won't mind if the mark appeared. She extended her hoof again and Spike raised his claw but he couldn't do it.

“No! You're too kind. This isn't right!”

And Spike ran off, leaving behind a shy mare with her hoof still extended.

*******

This morning, all the ponies in market saluted Spike and smiled at him.

This afternoon, they barely acknowledged him as they passed by, ignoring the crying dragon sitting under a tree.

There was no cruelty in that act, they simply continued with their daily life. They didn't knew what was in risk for Spike. None of them stop to ask him what was wrong. None of them.

“Hey there, Spike. What´s wrong?”

None except one little filly.

“Do you need any help?”

“Diamond...Tiara?”

Chapter 5

“One fried hay plate and two oat drinks, please,” Diamond Tiara asked the waiter and she refused with her head when Spike tried to pay for them.

“Umh Rule 17 of the Noble Dragon Code says I cannot accept any kind of bribe or payment, even food,” he explained.

“Well, what about a friend sharing her food? Does the Code says you should reject or there´s actually a rule that orders you to accept it?” she asked.

Spike playing with his fingers before admitting. “Rule 47.”

“All settled then.”

Diamond Tiara silently waited for the drinks while Spike kept laying with his fingers, wondering why was she talking to him to begin with. He knew Diamond was a pretty know bully that got away most of the time so, why was she being nice to him.

“Diamond Tiara?”

“Yes?”

“Why do you want from me?”

Diamond blinked a few times, looking confused. “I don´t want anything from you. I just saw you crying under that tree and that nopony was lending a hoof to help you so...” she casually explained and received the drinks the waiter was bringing,

“So, you don't want anything, at all?”

Diamond Tiara shook her head and took a sip of her drink.

Spike sighed relieved and took a bite of the fried hay,

“So...do you want to tell why were you crying?”

Spike sighed once again and began to talk. “Here´s the thing...”

Explained everything to her. Not just the part about he being in danger of being expelled from the country but he actually started since his journey to the Crystal Empire. For some reason, he felt comfortable talking to Diamond Tiara. She didn´t interrupt him or ask more than the occasional question. She just listened and right now, that was exactly what Spike needed.

When he finished, Spike sighed a final time and leaned back on his seat, taking a deep sip from his drink.

Diamond however was concentrating, tapping her chin.

“Spike, can I see the Noble Dragon Code?” she asked.

“Uh sure...” he said and punched his chest a little to get enough strength to blurp the golden scroll.

“Thanks,” Diamond said and pulled a pair of glasses to begin reading.

Spike went back to his drink. He thought Diamond was wasting her time. Twilight had already revised that scroll, three times, and highlighted all the important rules. Too bad the ones about breaking the Code were in a separate one. She also skipped all the rules that dealt with courted a lady arguing that Spike was “too young for this stuff”. No wonder she missed the part about him not being able to make a mistake or else he will brand his wife for life.

“From what I understand, a mark will show who´s going to become your wife,” she said.

“Yeah and mistaking a burn mark for that it was caused that whole jousting problem. It doesn't matter now anyways, I´ll probably get expelled before I discover who´s my one and true wife.”

“Not necessarily,” she said and when he looked confused, she pointed at one rule in the scroll and told him to read.

“Rule 195, point b. An Escorted Lady is a mare than the Noble Dragon is bound to protect until the Lady or her legal protector consider she is no longer in need of his service or she becomes the Noble Dragon one and true wife due to the appearance of the bonding mark,” he read out loud.

Spike scratched his head, not really getting the point. Diamond couldn't help but roll her eyes before explaining.

“According to this scroll, a Escorted Lady is pretty much the same as a wife, expect you´re not forced to marry her. You will only guard her for a while and I bet Shining Armor wouldn´t  expell you if you´re protecting simepony.”

“You´re right! I only need to find one of these Scorched Ladies! I should ask Twilight if she´s willing...”

“She won´t do.”

“Uh?” Spike asked.

“Think about it. Twilight will never tell you to stop serving her but the scroll says her legal protector can. And who is Twilight's protector?”

“Her...parents?”

“Princess Celestia and she already has the obligation to expel you after what you did last year,” Diamond explained.

“You´re right. Then I have to ask one of my friends...”

“Good idea. That Fluttershy was already willing, wasn´t she?” Diamond asked, taking another sip of hay.

Spike remembered the incident with Fluttershy that morning. How she shaking and avoiding his gaze and how he almsot branded her. She was being just kind, sacrificing to help him. But a little bit of Spike wondered if she was actually honest, if she actually did have feelings for him.

“No. I can´t ask them. I can´t risk them being forced to marry me,” he said.

“In that case you should go with somepony who has no attachments to you. Somepony in town who´s willing to help you, no strings attached?” she asked, casually playing with her drink.

“Like who?”

Diamond Tiara sighed, frustrated and pointed at her.

“You? Why would you want to be my Scorched Lady?”

“First of all is Escorted. And second, I just wanted to be nice and help our noble guardian. My dad taught me that we must be respectful to our public servants. And besides, I´ll hate to see you leave town,” she said and moved her hoof over the table, approaching him.

Spike hid his claw under his arms and she retreated her arm.

“Right. We can´t risk that. But still, what do you think of my offer, Spike?”

Spike pondered about the issue, his claws still tucked under his arms.

****

Fluttershy knocked on the Golden Oaks library door but got no response. She insisted a little harder but got no answer again. She then pounded the door as hard as she could but she barely managed to shook the knocker. Taking a deep breath, she tried to knock once more when the door was opened by a smiling Mrs. Agate.

“Let go of me, Shining Armor!”

“Not until you come back to your sense, Twilight!”

“Umh am I interrupting something?” Fluttershy softly asked, looking at the tow siblings wrestling in the floor.

“Fluttershy! Have you seen Spike?” Twilight asked.

“Actually, I came here to tell you about him. I ran into Spike early today and...I kinda...asked him to be his wife.”

“YOU WHAT?” Twilight asked, her face just inches from Fluttershy´s.

The shy pegasus trembled, awaiting the furious blow of magic, wondering if she was going to be transformed into a plant or teleported straight into the jaws of a furious hydra.

“That...is...wonderful!” Twilight exclaimed, hugging Fluttershy.

“Uh you aren´t made with me?” Fluttershy asked.

“Mad? Why would I be mad at you?”

“Well, you got a little jealous when Applejack was engaged to Spike.”

“Oh, I wasn't jealous. That´s crazy. I was just a tiny bit concerned for Spike. Also, she was too old for him,” Twilight explained, her eye twitching.

“Umh I´m actually two years older than her,” Fluttershy meekly said but Twilight didn't listened.

“Now Spike cannot be expelled! Ha!” Twilight said, pointing a hoof at her brother.

Shining put her hoof down and looked at Fluttershy. “He said  no, right?”

Fluttershy silently nodded.

“What? Why would he say no?” Twilight asked.

“He said I was being too kind with him and that it was wrong for him to accept,” Fluttershy explained in a whisper.

The room went silent for a moment. Twilight then levitated her wedding gown back to her head.

“Umh Twilight?”

“Spike! You´re back!” Twilight smiled disappeared when she recognized the filly that walked in with Spike. She pointed at Diamond Tiara, asking with no word what she was doing there but Diamond ignored her and walked next to Shining Armor.

“Greetings, Prince Shining Armor,” she said, bowing to him.

Shining looked at her sister and friend, who looked very confused.

“My name is Diamond Tiara and on this day, I declare Spike the Dragon to be my Escorting Companion.”

“Your escorting what?” Twilight asked.

“Everything is explained in this scroll. Items d to h of Rule 197,” she said, indicating Spike to handle the scroll to Shining.

He levitated the scroll and study it. He then looked at Spike who nodded.

“Mrs. Agate, take your things. We´re going back to the Empire.”

“Wait, Shining! What´s going on?” Twilight asked.

“I had to return to the Crystal Empire, I still had obligations there,” he said.

“But what about Spike?”

“I'll be back in a couple of days. In the meantime, Spike is obliged to never leave the side of this filly here. Understood?”

Spike stood straight and saluted. Shining smiled and walked out, followed by Mrs. Agate who waved at Twilight and her friends. Twilight and Fluttershy looked at Diamond who was accommodating her mane and to Spike who was sheepishly grinning.

“By the way, I´m going camping this weekend...”

****

The weekend finally came and Applejack went to Rarity´s house to pick up Sweetie Belle. She cheerfully knocked at the Boutique´s door and a very grumpy unicorn received her.

“Howdy Rarity!”

“Oh, it is you. Sweetie Belle, come down! I´ll invite you in but...” Rarity said and almost slammed the door shut but Applejack blocked the door.

“Now, that´s ´bout it! Yah´ve been giving me tah cold shoulder the entire week and ah wanna know why!”

“I have no idea whatever you´re talking about,” Rarity said.

Applejack simply glared at her, refusing to move her gaze. Rarity finally gave up,

“Alright, it´s true. But that´s because I was terribly jealous.”

“Yah were jealous of Spike?”

“What? Oh no no, Spikey-Wikey is an adorable treat  but I´m not interested in him in that way, at all. I was more jealous of you.”

“Of me?”

“Yes, but not in that way, you silly filly,” Rarity said, poking at her friend´s nuzzle. “I was just mad that you got to get married before me.”

Rarity played a little with her mane, waiting for Applejack´s reaction. The farmer pony bursted in laughs, rolling in the ground.

“I fail to see why this is a laughing matter.”

“Oh, yah´re so silly, Rarity!”

“Well, I suppose one can see me as being a little superficial.”

“Ah didn't say superficial, ah said silly! That´s why yah been so meanie? That little thing?” Applejack asked.

“It´s not a little thing, it´s a serious business for me,” Rarity said and Applejack laughed harder. “Applejack!”

“Ah heard yah, ah heard yah. But Rarity, that´s just silly. That whole circus wasn't even a real wedding, and ah didn't wanna marry Spike to begin with.”

“It´s a good point. But still Applejack, how can you call it a little thing? Haven´t you dreamed about the perfect wedding with the perfect groom? Oh my stars, that´s has been my dream since before I got my Cutie Mark.”

“Having Rainbow Dash joust fer yah heart was your dream?”

“Well, not precisely her...” Rarity said, blushing a little and Applejack snickered.

“Ah Rares, yah always worry too much...” Applejack said and she put a hoof on her shoulder. “Ah´m sure yah´ll have your perfect wedding. Yah just need to go and look for it.”

“Always the practical one. You don´t believe that your prince in shining armor will eventually come?” Rarity asked,

“Hay, no! That kind of frilly stuff ain´t mah thing. No offenses.”

“Well, I do believe in true love and I´m sure someday I´ll find him. Oh Sweetie Belle, how long have you been standing here?” Rarity asked at the little filly who was standing with her luggage, looking at them. “Nevermind. Applejack is here to take you. Have fun at the mountains!”

“Okay Rarity...”

Rarity waved them away. Sweetie walked with head low and then took a glance at Applejack.

“Something´s wrong, sugarcube?”

“No, no. It´s nothing.”

******

Diamond Tiara was grooming her mane, making sure it was perfect. Silver Spoon was sitting beside her, struggling to say some words. Diamond sighed exhausted and asked her:

“What´s the problem, Silver Spoony?”

“I still don't get what you´re trying to do, DT.”

“What´s so hard to understand? Haven't you seen me the last couple days, how the entire town couldn´t keep their eyes off of me?”

“Yes, everypony looked at you being served by Spike. But that seems wrong somehow.”

“Why? There´s nothing better than a devoted servant,” Diamond said, tending to her hooves now.

Featherweight entered the room, struggling to lift a very heavy backpack. He finally collapsed next to Diamond who gently patted his head.

“But Spike is not like the boys at school. He´s Twilight´s assistant and she is close friends with Princess Celestia. What if she hears what you have been doing? What if Twilight tells her?” Silver Spoon asked.

“The Princess will hear nothing about this and Twilight won't tell her anything. She needs me to keep her little dragon around. I´m the only thing keeping Spike in town which means that the entire town has to keep content or else...”

“You would actually send him away?”

“I don't want to but once the Prince returns...let´s just say I´ve a contingency plan,” Diamond Tiara said.

“And what about that mark business? What if you get branded?”

“Well, that wouldn't be so terrible, right? Being married to a Noble Dragon. That sounds...kind of nice.” Diamond Tiara got up and moved to the stairs. “Bring those bags downstairs, Featherweight”

The pegasus colt sighed and flapped his wings the best he could to move the bag.

******

Twilight watched Spike get his luggage ready, struggling to say some words.

“Spike, are you sure about this?” she finally asked,

“Twilight, you already checked the backpack. Four times,” he responded.

“Not that. It´s about this Diamond Tiara. Are you sure she isn´t just using you? She has been bossing you around this past couple days.”

“She hasn't been bossing me around. I´m her Scorching Guardian, I´ve to protect her. And besides, she isn´t that bad once you get to know her. She is actually quite nice. And the fact that she agreed to buy me some time, for no reason, it´s so nice. KInd of like how Trixie comes once a week to help with the chores,” he said, waving at the unicorn in the kitchen doing the dishes.

“Actually I would prefer if she stops doing that,” Twilight said.

“Twilight, Diamond Tiara is doing me a favor. Can I just enjoy these few days before Shining armor comes back?”

Twilight looked at Spike´s pleading eyes and eventually gave in, giving him a tight hug.

“Don't you worry, Twilight Sparkle. The Great and Helpful Trixie got your kitchen as clean as new and she also made cookies!”

“Trixie! I already forgive you! Get out of my house!!”

Just then, somepony knocked at the door.

“That must be Applejack!” Spike said and he rushed at door,

“Howdy Spike! Ready tah go?”

“All set! Hi Sweetie Belle!”

“Applejack, please take care of him.”

“Don't worry, Twi! Ah brought Big Mac with me this time. With five excited fillies and one dragon, ah´m going to need some extra help!” Applejack said.

“I didn't meant that...”

Applejack patter her friend in the shoulder. “Ah know what yah meant. Don´t worry.”

Twilight looked with sad eyes as Spike walked down the road with the other two ponies. Trixie moved next to her and levitated a cookie. Twilight accepted it and took a bite, admitting it was quite good.

****

Applejack led Sweetie and Spike to the exit of town where Big Mac was already waiting with a cart and a group  of fillies.

“Everypony here?” Applejack asked.

“I guess so...” Scootaloo retorted with her arms crossed, glaring at Diamond Tiara.

Apple Bloom looked a little hurt and Babs Seed just avoided looking at Spike.

“Well then, everypony hop in!” Applejack ordered.

Spike tried to lift Diamond´s Tiara luggage but Big Mac saved him the embarrassment by simply picking it up with his mouth.

Spike jumped in the cart and he turned over to see Diamond Tiara waiting. He then extend his claw, causing the other fillies to hold their breath. Diamond accepted the claw and hop in. When he retired it, there was still no mark. Diamond smiled at Spike who blushed a little while Apple Bloom looked at a hurt Babs, Sweetie Belle seemed worried and Scootaloo just grumbled some more.

“All settle then, hee-yah big brother!”

“Eeeeyup!”

And off they went to the rainbow waterfalls.

Chapter 6

“I´m thirsty. Spike, water.”

“Yes, My Lady.”

Scootaloo growled and almost pushed Applejack on her way back to the tent. Applejack looked at the scene that made the filly growled and sighed, agreeing it wasn't the most pleasant of sights.

Spike was tending to every one of Diamond Tiara´s demands, even the most outrageous ones. She remembered how it was when Spike was serving her and it was something she wanted to experience again. It wasn't just the fact that she didn't like other ponies doing stuff for her, being proud of her own hooves, it was also how obsessive Spike could get. It hurt her watching him go through such extreme lengths to please others. It didn't seemed right to her.

She took a good look at the camp and noticed the Crusaders hiding on their tents, doing their best to avoid the forced couple. This camping trip was supposed to be a fun experience but it was already leading to disaster. She adjusted her hat and stomped the ground, venting her frustrations. The biggest blow she could take wasn´t her pride but seeing her family, extended members included, getting hurt so, she decided to take matters in her own hooves and make this trip work.

“Alright y´all, listen up!” she yelled and the fillies peeked from their tents. “Before we get our hooves dirt with games and fun, we need to get the dirt by settling the camp! Big Mac, why don´t yah take Babs Seed to fetch us some water down the stream?”

“Eeeyup!” the big stallion replied.

Babs came out of the tent, her head hanging low and followed her cousin.

“Scootaloo, Sweetie, go get us some wood fer the camp fire.”

Scootaloo rolled her eyes but left her tent along with Sweetie.

“Diamond, how abou-”

“I´m sorry Applejack, but I got my father and doctor instructing me to not get into contact with any form of dirt due to...allergies,” the filly interrupted her.

“Then why did yah come to the woods?”

“I can still enjoy the woods without actually having to, get my hooves dirty as you said. Shadow,” Diamond explained and Spike rushed to put a n umbrella on her to cover the sun.

Applejack sighed. “Then Apple Bloom, come with me get the pots and stuff from the cart.”

Diamond tiara give Apple Bloom a smug smile, asking Spike to fetch her some snacks. APple Bloom sighed, just the same way her sister did, and went down the hill back to the cart.

*****

Babs put the bucket in the river, filling it up with fresh water. She took a look at her reflection and scowled. She thought she looked ugly and couldn't compare to some filly like Diamond Tiara. She remembered awful days in her old school, when ponies like her made fun of her appearance.

She knew that Spike was doing things for her because of the Dragon Code, but her ever since she first saw them together, a dreadful thought got into her mind. The idea that Spike will eventually fell in love with Diamond. It didn't seemed like much of a stretch for her. Diamond was very attractive and she seemed to have all the boys in town after her. During the few days she spent with her and Silver Spoon, when she thought they were her friends, she noticed how boys did anything she asked. the just couldn't say no to her. Apple Bloom kept saying that she was simply a bully that tricked others, but Babs Seed thought that boys actually liked the likes of Diamond over tomboy pony like her or Scootaloo. Even without the Dragon Code around, he would have probably dumped her for some other filly.

Frustrated with this idea, she kicked the bucket down. She gasped when she realized what she had done and apologized to Big Mac.

“I´m sorry, cuz.”

Big Mac just patted her head and picked the bucket up.

“Cuz, can I ask you something?”

Big Mac nodded.

“You´re dating Mrs. Cheerilee, right?”

Big mac nodded again and Babs could swear she saw his cheeks were slightly redder.

“And do you...love her?”

Big Mac put the bucket full of water down ands scratched his head, now his blushing pretty obvious. Babs Seed smiled, even a big, strong pony like Big Mac got a little embarrassed when talking about stuff like this.

“Mrs. Cheerilee is very nice. The other day we kinda ruined her gardens when we tried to be Cutie mark Crusaders Bug Control Squad, but she didn´t got mad at us. She buys medicine for the bee stings and made us lemonade.”

Big Mac chuckled at the image and filled a second bucket.

“Bug Mac,  have you ever wondered what other ponies think of you two?”

Big mac put down the bucket and looked at tBabs, one eyebrow raised

“I mean, she is the nice teacher of the school and you a gruff farmer. I bet some ponies whisper at your backs, asking how can a pretty mare like her chose such a rude pony as her partner.”

Big Mac placed a hoof on her shoulder. “This has nutin´ to do with looks. yah can be the prettiest pony in town, and still act like a nasty critter. Yah did some very nasty thing to yer cousin and friends, ´member? Does that means yah ugly?”

Babs didn´t answered, the memories of her bullying days still too fresh.

“Yah´re not, babs. Yah´re very pretty filly. Yah got the Apples freckles, after all!” he said, pointing at his face.

Babs laughed at this and gave her cousin a tender hug.

****

“Gah, can´t believe her! Did you hear what she said? i have a note from my father. Gah, I can't stand her!” Scootaloo yelled, imitating Diamond´s tone of voice and having to pick the twigs twice since she kept tossing it with every complaint.

Sweetie Belle was only half listening. She was absently picking twigs, her mind elsewhere.

“And Spike is even worse! All that talk about Noble Dragons being protectors of ponykind, but all he really is is Diamond Tiara´s slave!” Scootaloo yelled, tossing all the twigs in the air. She growled once she realized she had to pick them up again.

“Scoots?”

“What?” Scootaloo growled.

“Do you believe in destined soulmates?”

“What?”

“I mean, do you believe that two ponies are destined to be together, kinda like Prince Shining Armor and Princess Cadence?” Sweetie Belle asked.

“Oh no, who are you in love with? Big Mac? Why all my friends turned into namby-pamby babies?” Scootaloo yelled, grabbing her head and tossing the twigs again.

“I´m not love, Scoots!” Sweetie replied, blushing. “Thing is...”

Scootaloo looked at Sweetie, raising an eyebrow.

“Spike´s mark will appear when he meets the one pony he´s destined to be with, right?”

Scootaloo approached Sweetie, looking worried for her. “Swets, what are you talking about.”

“It´s just...my sister believes that one day her special somepony, her knight in shining armor, will appear. But Apple Bloom´s sister doesn't believe in that. And Spike has always been in love with my sister but then that Code thing appeared and now, now he´s willing to marry Diamond Tiara if that´s what the Code says. And I´m...confused. It´s love something real, something we earned like our Cutie mark or we have no control over it? I´m so confused!”

Scootaloo didn't know what to say, so she just hugged Sweetie to make her tears go away.

“Told you that all this love thing only brings troubles...”

****

Apple Bloom and Applejack returned to the camp and Apple Bloom growled upon seeing that Diamond Tiara was so lazy, that she didn´t even bothered to walk, demanding Spike to carry her from a log to a new comfy chair.

Dropping the pots she was carrying on her mouth, Apple Bloom walked over to Diamond.

“Oh, there you are. Hold this for me,” Diamond said, putting an empty glass atop Apple Bloom´s head.

“Are yah planning on staying all day sitting in yah rump?” Apple Bloom asked, tossing the glass away.

“Well, I do have a note from my doctor,” Diamond smug at her, showing her the papers.

Apple Bloom slapped the papers from her. “Seriously? Why did yah even came here on the first place?”

“I´m  escorting my beloved Guardian Dragon. Or better said, he´s escorting me, making sure nothing happens to me.”

“Stop talking about SPike like that! Yah keep treating him like he´s yah slave!”

“And why do you even care? Are you jealous or something?”

Apple Bloom growled at her, slightly blushing.

“Oh, you are! Hahaha, that´s so pathetic! You actually believe you have a chance with him? Even if he wasn´t bond to serve me, for as long as I want...” Diamond said, showing another piece of paper, the Escorting Companion contract. “He wouldn't even look at a dirty farmer like you. He´s a prince and you are less than a commoner. Youé a farm animal.”

Apple Bloom couldn't take it anymore and pushed Diamond to the mud, jumping atop of her to give her the pounding of her life.

Before she could lay a single hoof on her however, Spike appeared and tossed her to teh ground. Apple Bloom looked up at Spike who was standing straight, protecting Diamond. Apple Bloom got up and intended to attack Diamond agian but Spike got in the way.

“Move, Spike.”

Spike kept his ground. “No.”

“Or what? Yah gonna attack me like yah did Rainbow?”

“I´m not going to fight you, Apple Bloom. But you´re not touching my lady.”

Apple Bloom lose her composure and jumped over Spike but, once again, she was caught in mid air. This time by Big Macintosh.

“What the hay is going on ´ere?” Applejack yelled, coming out of her own tent.

“A little argument that got out of control. My apologies, Applejack. Spike, apologize as well,” Diamond basically ordered him.

Spike lowered his head at Applejack which made Apple Bloom boiled with rage

“Well, if yah apologize ah believe is all right then. Apple Bloom, yah apologize too,” Applejack said.

“What? But ah...” Apple Bloom began but she then looked at Big Mac, standing beside her and looking a bit angry. “Ah´m sorry.”

“Well then, let´s get the campfire ready and start with the activities,” Applejack said.

Apple Bloom saw Diamond smuggling again but Spike was in the way, so she just kept quiet.

The rest of the day they actually managed to have fun. Applejack planned a lot of activities,most of them really boring ones, but she soon dropped them once she realized playing in team was more fun. They had a hoofball tournament, the Apples fighting against the Crusaders and Spike. Diamond remained in the side, “cheering for Spike.”

“Do you best. And do get me a cookie before you finish that shot.”

Babs Seed proved to be the best player, singlehandedly scoring five times. the other team had Spike as a goalie, whose wings made him fast enough to match Applejack dexterity. And while Scootaloo and Sweetie weren't the best players, they managed to score a few against the big wall that was Big Mac. But when Apple Bloom changed sides with Babs Seed, they didn't stand a chance.

Babs rolled over both Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle and threw with such strength that, even when he catched it, Spike fell down, scoring the winning point.

the Apple sibling celebrated bumping their hooves and babs moved over to the tired Spike.

“That was...a great shot.”

“You weren't half bad either,” Babs said, offering her hoof to him. He took it with a smile and got up.

“Ah! The mark!” Spike yelled, letting her go.

Babs looked at her arm but there was nothing there. They both sighed in relief and then laughed, blushing.

Diamond looked at the entire scene and frowned.

“Well, that was a great game! And since we won, dinner is on Spike and the girls!”

Scootaloo groaned but Sweetie was still looking a little down.

“Now, how abou-”

“Excuse me, Applejack. But I came here under the impression this was a camping trip,” Diamond Tiara said, standing up.

Applejack looked at her siblings, Big Mac as confused as her and Apple Bloom frowning.

“Well, we haven't done much camping so far. We are less than five steps from the camp,” Diamond said, pointing at the tents. “I was promised a visit to the rainbow waterfalls and I´ll hate to be disappointed.”

Everypony went quiet, the only sound being Scootaloo grownling.

“Well, ah guess yah have a point. We still have a few hours before sunset, ah think we can take a small trip up the stream and see what we find,” Applejack said.

They packaged lightly for the ascension, big mac taking the most weight and walked up towards the waterfall. Diamond actually walked, staying close to Spike to keep Babs Seed away from him. Spike sighed but he had to be loyal to his lady so he carried her bags and walk with her. Now both Scootaloo and Apple Bloom were growling.

After a few minutes of walking, the sun began to settle, painting the forest ona unsettling tone of orange. Critters could be heard walking behind the buses and owls flied over their heads. Diamond leaned closer to Spike, no longer out of spite but seeking comfort. Even the Crusaders started to feel a little uneasy, walking closer to each other.

“Applejack, are yous re this is the same path we took last time?” Sweetie asked.

“Ah´m not sure...Ah don´t recognize some of these trees,” Applejack admitted, scratching her neck.

She took her hat and pulled a map form inside it. A sound came from behind a bush and everypony jumped behind her, even Big Mac. Applejack put down the map and looked at the trembling bush.

“Wha-what´s that?” Sweetie asked.

“A friendly forest critter?” Babs added.

Diamond clinged to Spike while Scootaloo jumped over to Big Mac´s neck. Applejack moved back, providing shield for her sister, cousin and Sweetie. The bush trembled some more and then a creature jumped from it.

“Hoooowdy, little ponies!”

An old, bearded pony with a pickaxe Cutie mark.

All the ponies and the dragon blinked, confused.

“Hello?” Applejack asked.

“Hello there! Name´s Old Picker! Not sure why I´m name that, ah ain´t old! Ahahahaha!”

All the ponies and the dragon blinked, confused.

*****

Old Picker turned out to be a pony that lived in a cabin near the woods, and who seemed not quite there. Applejack thought he´ll make a good couple with Mrs. Agate. He offered to show them an easy way to the waterfalls, completely free. If you don't count listening to his rambling as payment. Being used to Granny Smith, the Apples handled him really well but the other were starting to get bored.

“And up ´ere we have it, the entranced to the Lovers Peak!”

“What a corny name,” Diamond dismissed the old pony.

“It ain't corny, yun´ lady! It´s more acorn-y...” he said, taking an acorn from his jacket. “Yah get it? ´cause there´s lot of acorn! hahahahaha!”

The only one who actually laughed at the joke was Sweetie.

“Actually there´s a story around ´ere Peak but I can't remember what it was,” the old pony admitted, scratching his chin.

“The Lovers Peak is a magically place. It is say that a Princess and her mate stood at the top of the waterfall and looking down, they saw a rainbow descend upon a patch of land, showing where they will build their kingdom. Since then, legend was told that if two lovers look from the top they can see the place where they first fell in love,” Big Macintosh explained with his charming tone of voice.

“So romantic...” Sweetie Belle said, Scootaloo sticking her tongue at her comment and the sappy story.

“Yah know a lot of this stuff, big fella! There´s a special somepony waiting downhill?” Old pIcker asked, picking at the blushing Big Mac.

“Is that the story of this land, mister?” Babs Seed asked Old Picker, her cheeks a slight tone of red.

Diamond noted that and growled in turn.

“Pretty much, although there´s another part ah can´t remember...”

“Well, this sounds dumb. let´s go back to the camp,” Scootaloo said.

“I actually, I will like to see that. Don't you too, Spike?” Diamond asked, obviously seeking to hurt Apple Bloom and her cousin.

“Sounds a bit cheesy but since we came all the way up ´ere..” Applejack said and pushed some bushes to show the way. Instead of a clear path however, there was a dark tunnel, complete with a swarm of bats.

“Oh right, ah remembered the other side of the story. Before the lovers can go on top, they have to go through the Tunnel of Despair.”

“The Tu-tunnel of Despair?” Sweetie asked.

“It´s a cursed tunnel that puts the lovers on trial. If their love is not pure, they'll gobble them leaving nothing behind!” the old pony said, looking over Sweetie. “Nah, it´s just an old mare´s tale! hahahaha! Truth is the other side of the mountain is too slippery so, yah have to take this tunnel to reach the top.”

They took another look at the dark tunnel and flinched.

“I don´t like how that looks...” Babs admitted.

“It does look kinda dangerous. We should better go back,” Applejack said, taking off her hat to sachte her head.

“But we already came all the way here. It will be a shame to just waste such an opportunity. Especially with such a promising reward,” Diamond teased, her desire to win overcoming her sense of self preservation.

“Wel,, ah suppose we can give it a try...”

“Bu-but what about the curse?” Sweetie yelled.

“Ah Sweetie, it´s just a tale! ´sides, we´re all family and friends. Ah´m sure the spirits won't try to hurt us,” Applejack joked.

“Yah have to hold hooves or claws in her case, young lad; before entering the tunnel. that keeps the spirits at bay” Old Picker explained.

Applejack rolled her eyes and patted Sweetie to reassure her it was just a tale. Diamond rushed to take Spike´s claw. Apple Bloom took her cousin hoof and smiled at her, offering a little bit of comfort. Babs returned the smile. Scootaloo growled and let a shaking Sweetie take her hoof.

Applejack laughed and took Big Mac´s hoof, going first to the tunnel.

“who knows, big bor. Ah may get tah see where yah confessed to Cheerilee first time?” she snickered and he blushed.

Diamond and Spike followed them with Babs and Apple Bloom behind and Scootaloo basically dragging Sweetie the last.

“Be careful of the spirits, youngling! Just kidding, there are no spirits! Hahahaha! But there are snakes!”

“SNAKES?” Diamond shouted, clinging to Spike.

The tunnel itself wasn't that scary, just narrow and dark. Big Mac having the most troubles due to his size. They kept walking up the tunnel, wary fo the sound of luring snakes.

HISSSS!

“What was that? A snake?” Diamond screamed.

“Actually, it sounded more like a kettle...” Apple Bloom said.

Just then, they got hit by sudden stream of steam. The water pressuring from the sides of the mountain, escaping from between the rocks.

“Ah suchuks, ah can´t see a thing! Is everypony all right?” Applejack asked but she only got a few coughs in response. Squinting her eyes, she was able to see an exit. “Ah think ah found the end of this damn thing, everypony hold hooves and walk forward!”

“Spike? Where are you, Spike?” Diamond cried.

“My lady? Diamond?”

Nopony could see a thing due to the darkness and the steam.

“Ah horsefeathers, it´s getting difficult to breath ´ere! Everypony hold hooves now!”

“Wait! I can't do it, Applejack! the mark!”

“Ah, stupid code. Big Mac, go brag Spike, yah´ll be safe for being a boy!”

“Is that an established fact?”

“Stop being dumb and do it!” Applejack yelled and grabbed the first hoof she find.

Diamond Tiara extended her arm and grabbed to something, failing to realize it was a hoof instead of a claw. She was so distressed and confused that she didn't looked where she was stepping and ran into a snake. This time she recognized the hissing sound and ran off, screaming and crying whoever she was holding hooves with.

“What the hay? Apple Bloom,Big Mac? Where are yah?” Applejack yelled and got pushed by the terrified Diamond. The tunnel took a sudden turn down and everypony rolled down towards the exit.

Applejack got up on her hooves and finally was able to see who she was holding hooves with. She raised an eyebrow at the equally confused Babs.

“Where is Spike?” Babs asked.

“Ah got ´m” Big Mac declared and raised the thing that cling for dear life to his arm, Sweetie Belle. “Oops.”

Applejack and Babs were about to ask for Spike again when they heard a scream.

“Oh, gross! You touched me! Ah, I don't want that stupid mark!” Scootaloo yelled, looking at her arm.

“Oh no,oh no! I don't want you to get the mark!” Spike yelled, looking at her arm.

“HEY!” they both yelled, offended at the comments.

Applejack sighed, knowing that they were alright and there was no mark around, but something was wrong. two fillies were missing.

“APPLEJACK!”

“SPIKE!”

Everyone rushed down the path and found Apple Bloom and Diamond clingin at a side of the mountain.

“Help us!”

“Hold on yah two!” Applejack yelled.

“Don´t let go off me!” Diamond pleaded, still holding to Apple Bloom.

“You don´t let go of me!”

“Hang on! Big Mac, hold mah tail!” Applejack ordered and tried to get the fillies but her arms couldn't reach. “Dang! Spike, ah need yah help!”

Spike looked at his claws, worry that he will mark them if he touched them.

“Will yah stop with yer stupid code fer one second and help me ´ere?”

Spike took a deep breath and climbed down Applejack's until he reached her hooves. He leaned forward and took both fillies.

“Now, pull Big Mac!”

And Big Mac did that, pulling up all four into safety. Sweetie and Scootaloo rushed to hug Apple Bloom while Diamond clinged to Spike, crying and thanking him. Applejack whipped her forehead and smiled at Big mac.

Babs Seed sighed, having been holding her breath the entire time.

******

Spike was sitting at the edge of the waterfalls, looking down at Ponyville´s outskirts. He sighed, tired of all the ups and downs this day had. Assisting Twilight wasn't a problem for him and, to be honest, he didn't mind serving Diamond that much. But today she had been in actual danger and he almost let her get hurt, all because of his fear of the mark. Spike wondered if he had been suing both the mark and the code as an excuse to hide his own fears. Maybe he wasn't the noble and brave dragon that he thought himself to be, maybe he was still just a coward baby.

“You were so brave today.”

Eh turned over, surprised and saw Diamond Tiara approaching him.

“Hey Diamond, are you alright?”

“Just a little scratch. But it does sting,” Diamond said, showing her bandaged hoof.

“I´m sorry, Diamond. I failed as your guardian. I would understand if you're mad at me and no longer want me as your protector.”

“I´m mad at you,” Diamond said, sitting next to Spike. “For ever thinking I would let such a noble guardian leave my side.”

Spike was about to ask him something when she suddenly kissed him. Spike blushed and hsiw igns flapped. He wasn't even able to process the fact that this was his actual first kiss, he was just shocked. But after a few seconds, he began to return the kiss.

Babs watched the whole scene and turned back, tears running down her face. She bumped into Sweetie who had also watched the scene. Sweetie said nothing and just hugged Babs, holding her tight.

A little further away, Applejack finished tending to APple Bloom´s wounds.

“Thank Celestia Spike was around, otherwise...” Applejack began but Big Mac patted her back to calm her down.

“Ah´m fine, sister. Don´t need to worry.”

Applejack smiled and left to tend to Scootaloo, who had a bruised wing. While her siblings were busy with her friend, Apple Bloom took off her bandages and looked at her bruise.

A bruise shaped like a dragon claw.

“...why me?”

Chapter 7

Apple Bloom rubbed her arm with a sponge, hard. She stop to take a look and growled. She start rubbing again, harder. She stop to take a look and growled again. She rubbed so hard she almost made herself bleed but when she looked again, it still was there.

Clear as day, the scorching mark of a dragon claw.

Apple Bloom choked and search through the cleaning products, desperate to find one that would actually work. A sudden knock on the door startled her and she almost drop everything.

“Apple Bloom, are yah come out any time this year?” Applejack yelled from behind the door.

“A-ah´ll be out in a minute. Ah´m combing mah mane!”

Applejack knew that was a lie but she also knew better than to barge into a bathroom while a filly was in there. Even if said filly was her sister.

“Well, let me know when yah´re done. Granny made yah some hot soup. Are yah feeling any better, sis?”

“Ye-yeah, ah mean...” And Apple Bloom faked a cough. “Maybe one more day before going back to school?”

Applejack sacrtehd the back of her head, wondering what was really goin on wit her sister. “Ah´ll be downstairs, AB.”

“Okay,” the faint voice of Apple Bloom replied.

Applejack sighed and walked downstairs, meeting with her brother there.

“Ah don´t know what´s gotten into her. Ever since we came back from the camp trip, she´s been acting awful strange.”

Big Mac simply nodded.

“Babs too. She hardly talks anymore and spends all day on the barn. Ah saw you talking to her on the woods. Did yah two talk about something important?”

“Eeenope.”

Applejack wasn't buying her brother´s story either. She could tell both of her siblings were keeping things from her and since Applejack believed the honest way was the Apple way, she was getting exasperated. But she also knew that forcing the truth out of them wasn't the Apple way. She sighed and scratched her neck some more.

“These past couples days everypony have been acting awful strange. Rarity, Twi, all because of them love business. Wish ah could understand them some more...”

“Maybe yah´ll understand more if yah ever settle dow-” Big Mac didn´t got to finish her sentence because a punch to the head interrupted him.

“Don't get me ta Granny Smith speech! Ah´ll settle down when ah wanna settle down!” Applejack yelled and left the room, blushing red and left stomping the ground.

Big Mac sighed.

******

Meanwhile, at Golden Oaks Library, Spike was giving Diamond Tiara a four stars breakfast. The filly waited with a smile as the dragon rushed around serving her dish after dish, from some pretty good pancakes to an almost liquid toast. It seemed Spike´s ability at the kitchen depended on how much he liked a plate. Once or twice, Diamond Tiara had to spit a gem that he tossed inside it.

“Well, that´s quite a sight...” Rainbow Dash commented, looking down at the main room.

She was in the first floor along with Twilight, Pinkie, Rarity and Fluttershy.

“She has it all wrapped across her front hoof,” Rainbow said.

“I´m not sure Spike is very happy with this situation,” Fluttershy murmured.

“He doesn't seem to be complaining,” Rainbow added, watching as Diamond gave Spike a little kiss on the cheek, making the dragon flutter to the kitchen.

“Are you comfortable with this scenario, Twilight?” Rarity asked.

“Not really but there´s not a lot I can do right now. I don't like that filly but if she can keep Spike in here, I´ll guess I can endure her,” Twilight said.

“Yeah and how about when your brother return?” Rainbow asked.

Twilight´s answer was to levitate the wedding gown back to her head.

“Yeah, like the Princess is going to let you marry Spike,” Rainbow joked.

Twilight´s response was to then put the gown on Pinkie.

“I don´t believe that´s a permanent solution, darling,” Rarity said, failing to notice Fluttershy next to her, scratching her arm.

“I know, but I need to find some way to protect him. I´ve been doing some research and found out that most dragons hated Noble Dragons. There are records of almost wars between the two factions. If Spike is forced to leave he would become an easy target for other dragons. I´m surprised none has appeared yet, searching for a fight,” Twilight explained, making the other girls tremble at the idea of a dragon invading Ponyville.

“Well, the ideal solution will be for our dear Spike to find his soulmate. I know we all got a little...carried away with the whole marriage issue...” Rarity said, taking a short glance at Rainbow who pouted at the mention of the past week events. “But I believe it will be best for Spike to meet his special somepony in our tiny niche.”

“What, are you offering yourself now, Rarity?” Rainbow teased her.

“Of course not. I´m simply too old for dear Spikey-Wikey. I was thinking somepony more on the lines of my sister and her friends. Think about it, doesn´t that makes more sense than any of us?” Rairty said.

Fluttershy was now blushing, remembering what she tired to do and almost screamed when Twilight spoke again, thinking she will bring up her proposal.

“Personally, I would prefer to Spike to not become involved with anypony, of any age. He´s still too young for this kind of thing,” Twilight pouted, blushing a little and making Rainbow snick at her.

“Why are you all so worried? The way I see it, the mar thingy will show Spike who he´s destined to marry, right? Kind of like a Cutie Mark,” Pinkie said and the others nodded. “Well, I have yet to met a pony that isn´t happy with his or her Cutie Mark, Sure, they are a little hard to understand sometimes. I first thought my special talent was making balloon animals”  

And Pinkie proved her point making a giant manticore out of some baloons that she pulled from nowhere.

“But turns out I was wrooong!”

“Woah, that manticore is impressive, Pinks,” Rainbow said.

“What manticore? It´s supposed to be Fluttershy!”

They all frowned at her, especially Fluttershy. Pinkie sighed and threw the balloon away.

“See? Nopony understand my art. But, I´m not sad. I discovered my true call was making ponies happy, no matter how! So, what I´m trying to say, is that Spike is not forced to marry a pony that he won´t love. Maybe he will find a pony that loves him with all her heart and he will love her back.”

Pinkie´s words made them smile and Twilight removed the gown from her head.

“Thank you, Pinkie. Those were some nice words,” Twilight said.

“Very touching, darling.”

“Yeah, kind of weird they come out of your mind. I never thought you were the profound type, Pinks,” Rainbow snickered.

“I can be profound! I can be as wise as Princess Celestia herself!” Pinkie said, making a figure of what seemed more like an hydra.

“Why does Princess Celestia has three heads?” Rarity asked.

“Those are not heads! Those are her wings!”

Pinkie cried, Twilight tried to calm her down, Rarity apologized and Rainbow laughed some more. It seemed like a nice picture. The only pony that didn´t shared the joy was Fluttershy, who looked down at the table, getting a glimpse of Diamond smiling at Spike but once he turned over, she pulled her tongue out and threw the burnt meal out the window.

Fluttershy frowned.

******

In the opposite part of town, at the town square; Sweetie Belle looked at the other fillies and colts playing. She started to notice something that never noticed before. Ponies acting all lovey with each other.

It was so obvious that she wondered how she never realized it before. How she never saw Twist and Truffle Shuffle sharing their meal and blushing as she cleaned his snout with a napkin. She noticed Peachy Pie and Sunny Daze giggling and pointing at Rumble who blushed in response. She even noticed how Lickety Slip and Strike, the pony from the bowling alley, leaning into each other while they read comic books.

It was like everypony in town was interested on another. Even Scootaloo was getting attention from Snails.

Sweetie Belle had to blink a few times to process that but certainly, Snails was pretty obviously confessing to Scootaloo, who didn´t seemed thrilled at all.

Sweetie watched as Snails stumbled for a full minute before Scootaloo shook her head and turned around, walking towards her. Sweetie saw Snips pat his friend on the back and gave them a sad smile.

“Poor Snails...”

“Gah, you saw that? Is everypony in town infected with a disease or something? I can get some of the fillies. Even I think Soarin and Rainbow will make the best couple in Equestria but, come on...”

“Still, you should have said yes.”

“Why I don´t like the guy?”

“You could have kept him around. Colts do tons of things for the promise of a maybe,” Silver Spoon said, causing Sweetie to jump, startled.

“How long have you been there?” she yelled.

“Uh? Wasn´t she talking to you?” Scootaloo asked.

“If you consider me eating my lunch and she sighing for five minutes...” Silver Spoon retorted and Sweetie played with her hooves, slightly embarrassed.

“Well, I was about to ask what were you doing here anyways but I think I know. Now that Diamond is goofing around all day with Spike you feel lonely, right?” Scootaloo snickered, looking surprisingly similar to Rainbow doing so.

Silver Spoon didn´t bothered to answer her and continue with her sandwich.

“Scootaloo, that wasn´t nice. And besides, we´re in the same boat. Apple Bloom is bed ridden and Babs barely talks to us anymore,” Sweetie said, making Scootaloo pout.

“That city flank? No wonders. She also stop talking to us after all we did for her,” Silver Spoon said and clap her hooves, getting a dozen colts to bring her treats. The winner was a brown colt with a propeller hat that got her a juice box.

“You mean how you turned her into a bully?” Scootaloo retorted.

“We tried to teach her how to be cool. Not our fault she got it all wrong,” Silver Spoon avoided the question.

“I understand why Babs is mad a tus, we promise to help her get together with Spike and instead he ended up with Diamond Tiara. But maybe, that isn't so wrong..,” Sweetie Belle said.

“You serious?” Scootaloo barked.

“Well, remember how we tried to hook up Mrs. Cheerilee with Big Mac and we learned nopony should force two ponies to fell in love? Well, they did end up together at the end so maybe the Dragon mark is like the Love Poison, it seems like a bad idea but then turns out it wasn´t. Or maybe love is more complicated than that and you can´t use magic to know who is the love of your life,” Sweetie Belle said and looked at Silver Spoon, who just shrugged.

“Ahhhh! This complicated talk is making my head hurt! Why should we care about this stuff anyways? We don´t even have our Cutie Marks yet! Besides, Diamond and Spike won't last. I bet she´s going to ditch him the second he burns her mane or something!” Scootaloo yelled and looked at Silver Spoon, searching for a confirmation.

“I don't know much about love. To be honest, I still think boys are gross,” Silver Spoon said, taking a look at the group of snotty colts around her, waiting for her orders. She threw the empty juice box at them and they start fighting for it. “But about DT, I know she´s not going to let go of Spike. Not until she gets what she really wants.”

“Oh really, and what's that?” Scootaloo asked.

“I don't know. She did mentioned something about Canterlot but I have no idea what she meant.”

“Ah,I miss the days we simply got covered in tree sap. Those days were fun,” Scootaloo said, scratching her neck.

Silver Spoon sighed bored while Sweetie Belle sighed too, although her sigh was more melancholic.

******

Babs See was roaming across town, throwing a ball around. She wasn´t really playing, she was just venting her frustrations. She didn´t know what to do with all her rage. Big Mac had managed to calm her down a little but it was still little comfort. The image of Diamond giving Spike a kiss was a like a spear piercing her heart.

She threw the ball harder, knocking down a trash can. She was regretting come to this town on the first place. Not only she got her heart broken here but the first reason she came, to spend time with her favourite cousin, that got ruined too. For some reason, Apple Bloom had stop talking to her. They didn't look each other at the eyes during dinner and at nights, Apple Bloom buried her face in the pillow right away. Babs wanted to talk, she wanted to tell Apple Bloom how she felt, how confused and angry she was but her cousin was ignoring her and that made her even angrier.

With a frustrated growl, she threw the ball with all her strength. The ball bounced at some walls and finally landed behind some bushes.

“Auh!”

Babs gulped, wondering who had she hurt. She trotted around the bushes and found Rariary rubbing her head, a deflated balloon stuck on her horn.

“That wasn´t nice.”

“Oh, terrible sorry. I didn´t mean too...” Babs apologized to Rarity.

“I´m sure you didn´t, honey,” Rarity said, taking the ball from her head. “Although, now I can see why Sweetie is always praising your skills at hoofball. I never saw it coming.”

Babs wasn't sure that was a compliment so she just blew her mane. Rarity noticed how sad she looked.

“Say darling, why aren't you with Sweetie and her friends at the park? You're not really making the best of summer vacations being all alone.”

“I...I didn't feel like going to the park today,” Babs said and blew her mane again.

Rarity pondered for a few seconds and then tried to get hold of Babs´ mane.

“He-.hey!”

“Those bangs, or should I say half bangs, are always getting in your field of vision. I don´t understand how can you stand it.”

“I...I like my mane cut...” Babs replied, blushing and pushing her away.

“Oh, I didn´t meant to insult you. I was simply thinking that maybe with just moving it to the left a little....maybe add some earrings...oh and makeup...uuuuuh, I can feel it coming. Ideaaaaaa!”

Babs looked at Rarity having one of her classic episodes but since she wasn't used to her, she was just confused.

“Come with me, darling. I'll give you a complete makeover!” Rarity said, grabbing the filly by the hoof.

“Wa-wait! What´s a makeover? Where are you taking me?”

******

Zecora studied the scar, rubbing her hooves around it. She patted her chin, pondering. She looked at Apple Bloom whose mane was a complete mess. Zecora was still a  little mad at the filly for the mess she made last week but when she arrived at her hut, almost at the verge of tears and with a bandaged hoof, she couldn't say no.

She at first thought Apple Bloom have scratched her arm or touched some poison ivy with it was something different. Something that she had never seen before. Apple Bloom was sobbing on the stool. Zecora could tell she was desperate and probably tried a million things before coming asking for her help. Zecora never asked but she had the feeling that the filly came visit her for things that she couldn't share with her friends or siblings. THat somehow made Zecora smile, feeling she had a bond with her no other pony had. Zecora patted AppleBloom´s head and went searching for some ingredients.

“Yah think yah can get rid of it?” Apple Bloom asked.

“If it´s like your sister´s, a simple burnt mark, then I have the perfect potion to make it leave with a bark,” Zecora said.

“Bark?”

“Just like that.” Zecora leaned, smiling.

Apple Bloom groaned at the zebora sense of humor and put a hoof on her face but then noticed she had her arm covered in a blue lotion. “When did yah...”

“The best medicine is the quiet one, have you never looked at the nurse carrying a shot tried to take a dive?”

Apple Bloom blushed and rubbed her neck. They waited for  few seconds for the medicine to work but nothing was happening. Zecora humped and went back to the cabinet.

“Ah tried everything to make this stupid thing disappear but it just won't go away! Why did ah got this? Ah mean, Spike grabbed both Diamond and me, why did it appear only on mah arm?”

“That I can not explain since some magics are too hard to understand; but one thero comes to mind, maybe it´s a magic of a different kind.”

Apple Bloom raised an eyebrow wondering what she meant.

“Zebras have stories about the Noble Dragon, folk, about their tales of bravery and shiny stock. It was said that the biggest treasure of their horde, was a golden heart made entirely of love.”

“Ah don´t get it...”

“A Noble Mark is not a curse but a signal of a strong bond. Instead of what you believe it to be, it shows the true love hidden down.”

“Tru-true love? Yah mean...but ah´m not in love with Spike!” Apple Bloom replied but Zecora responded by raising an eyebrow.

Apple Bloom took a minute to keep quiet, holding her hooves close to her chest. She repeated that she didn´t feel anything for Spike but his face won't go away. She started to remember things, small moments shared together that she never gave importance but know they ache on her heart. Spike offering her a sandwich, Spike laughing at her trying to be a clown, Spike helping at the farm, Spike simply being with her. She remembered how Scootaloo made fun of her, she remember how much it hurt looking at Babs so sad but now all of that was in a different light. Now she was no longer mad at Spike for noticing but jealous of Diamond for getting close to him, she was no longer sad for Babs but glad SPike wasnpt marrying her sister. She was glad because that would mean that maybe, just maybe...

The sudden realization hit her like a slap. Apple Bloom opened her eyes, gasping for air. Zecora put a hoof on her shoulder, calming her. Apple Bloom slowly recovered her breath and leaned towards zecora, the zebra taking her into her arms.

Apple Bloom sobbed.

*****

Babs Seed growled. She never liked that makeup thing to begin with, but being used like a mannequin for a crazy unicorn was even worse. She just frowned while Rarity played with her like she was a doll.

“Oh darling, your mane is simply fabulous. If you only took better care of it. And those adorable freckles! They just made your face look so lovely! In fact, your entire family have them and, don't tell Applejack I said this, but they're quite attractive. Especially in somepony like Big MacIntosh. Oh that Cheerilee is a lucky mare...”

Babs sighed, this unicorn will never shut up. At least, she had to admit she was no longer angry. She was still frustrated and the ache was still there but somehow, Rarity had managed to calm her down. Maybe it was the fact that somepony was finally  paying attention to her or that she kept complimenting her every two minutes. Was she really that pretty or she was simply being nice out of courtesy?

“Aaaaand there! Simply dashing! Take a good look, honey,” Rarity said and let Babs look at her reflection.

Babs end up blushing at her own face. She did looked pretty, really pretty. She never thought she could look so pretty. obviously not like a supermodel but still, for a young filly, she was as pretty as Diamond Tiara. Or at least Silver Spoon.

“See? You only needed a little help to see how pretty you really are,” Rarity said, holding Babs´ shoulders.

“Everypony keeps telling me I´m pretty but I don't feel pretty...”

“In order to find a shiny diamond you must break a rough rock. That´s the lesson I learnt after I got my cutie Mark.”

“Is that true?”

“It is true and it applies in everything you do.”

“Even...love?” Babs asked.

“A special somepony  can't see what´s right in front of his yes?”

“Not a special somepony...”

Rarity giggled at the blushing filly.

“Don't worry honey, your prince will see you as the princess you are.”

Bas wasn't too fond of the namby.pamby talk but right now, she needed it.

“Is nopony in here? What a terrible service!”

Babs recognized the voice and growled again. Rarity was frowning too but in her case it was her pride being hurt.

“Excuse me, I was tkaing care of a personal matter...oh, Spikey-wikey. And, what was your name again?”

“Diamond Tiara and I understand you´re have the best dresses in town,” Diamond said, playing with her mane.

Rarity raised an eyebrow and looked at Spike who was carrying a ton of shoes boxes. Obviously, Diamond was in a shopping spree.

“I do but I don't think I have anything in the kids department,” Rarity said, competing with Diamond on who could make the snobbiest gesture.

“I´m not looking for a cheap piece. I want you to make me a special piece for a special occasion.”

Rarity raised an eyebrow again but this time Spike responded, making a piece of paper appear with his breath.

“Look Rarity, we got invited to a special event.”

Rarity levitated the card and her eyes almost rocketed out of her skull.

“The Summer Star Sighting Show?”

“Woah, that´s a lot of...” Spike was about to say but Diamond ptua hoof on his mouth.

“Precisely. And that´s why I need a special kind of outfit. One that would be up the ante, think you can do it?”

Diamond Tiara was being purposely rude but Rarity was still distracted by the ticket.

“How? When? What? How come you two have an invitation to the Four S event! Only a Princess could get you into it!”

“Well, a Princess or a Noble Dragon,” Spike said, pointing at his chest.

Rarity barely heard him, she was just fascinated by the invitation.

“Ejem!” Diamond said and Rarity came back to her senses..

“Oh yes, a dress. Well, we should start with taking your measurements this way...”

And Rarity took Diamond behind a curtain. Spike let go a deep breath. Despite his newfound strength, he could still get tired. Especially after spending half a day running around town with Diamond Tiara. Since he got that invitation after breakfast Diamond had been dragging him around. He didn't mind that much, he was used to serve others and besides, it was in the Code. He was following on hsia ancestors footsteps. Not to mention, the reward was really good, he thought, caressing a cheek.

“Hey Spike...”

Spike turned over and almost fell due to the surprise.

“Ba-ba-babs? What happened to you?”

Babs blushed and tried to blow her mane but she no longer had it like before.

“You look...amazing. Is that a new mane cut? And are those earrings? they look really nice.”

Babs was blushing at Spike´s compliments.

“Say, I never noticed before how green your eyes are. Kinda like mine. Hey, maybe we have more in common than I thought!”

Now Spike was blushing too but Babs was starting to lose some color and frown.

“Hey, we haven't really talked since the camp. Think we can maybe...”

“Now you want to talk? Now you notice me? I knew it! I knew you care for nothing but looks!” Babs snapped.

“He-hey, where does this come from?”

“You never looked at me before, you never payed me any attention. But when I got all pretty like Diamond...” And Babs removed all her makeup with an arm. “Then you notice! Why couldn't you notice before? Why couldn't you notice me when we met at the amekt and I invited you to the camp? Why didn't you notice me when I was cheering and shouting at you at that stupid duel? Why didn't you noticed me when I landed in your arms the first day we met?”

Her yelling was so loud that Diamond and Rarity peeked from behind the curtain.

“Wha-what do you mean? Notice you? Like...how?”

“Why can't you notice that I´m love with you?”

And then Spike finally noticed and he could simply say one thing:

“Oh...”

Chapter 8

Babs Seed didn´t stayed to hear what else Spike got to say, she just turned around and trot off the store.

It took Spike almost a minute to react and chase after her.

“Spike! Get back here this instant!”

Spike´s first reaction was to stop and listen to his Escorted Lady but he couldn´t let Babs go so he left the store, despite Diamond Tiara´s orders.

Babs wasn´t exactly the fastest filly but she took first and got faster once she got rid of her dress. Spike found the dress in the middle of the road and pick it up. He didn´t know what to say or do but he knew he had to catch Babs.

Babs reached the Town Square and ran into Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo who were accompanied by Silver Spoon, who without Diamond Tiara had really nothing to do all day. Scootaloo was complaining about that when Babs bumped into her.

“He-hey! What´s wrong, Babs?”

Babs was too distressed to answer but they got their explanation when Spike arrived.

“What did you do?” Scootaloo said.

“And where´s Diamond Tiara? You are supposed to be with her at all times,” Silver Spoon added.

Spike decided to ignore them and try to get to talk to Babs but she was still crying on Scootalo´s chest. Spike extended a claw towards her and what happened next, made everypony gasp.

“How could you? You made her cry. Again!” Sweetie Belle yelled, right after she punched Spike right in the face. “How can you keep ignoring her and making her feel sad? You have any idea how much you hurt her? You have any idea what it feels to love someone and that he doesn´t has the faintest clue you do?”

“Sweetie Belle?” Scootaloo asked but her friend was too angry to hear her.

“I´m...I´m sorry. I had no idea, I mean…”

“No, you don´t! You broke Babs´ heart and you didn´t even noticed it!”

Sweetie Belle turned around and left, not bothering to hear Spike´s response. All around them, the ponies began to whisper saying things like “He really did it?” or “So he was dating two fillies at once, the nerves!” or “Hey dude, you think Sweetie Belle was talking about me?”

Spike didn´t hear any of that, he just stood there in the middle of the plaza until Twilight came pick him up that night.

*******

“Love triangle in the Town Square? The Noble Dragon not so noble after all? School´s princess just a fool? Featherweight, how could you publish this stuff?” Diamond Tiara yelled, tossing the papers at the shivering pegasus.

“We got more papers!” Snips said while Snails struggled to keep the giant pile of papers.

“Are they all the copies?”

“Well, except the ones that got shipped to Canterlot. And Trottingham. And Baltimare. And…”

“I get it! This is a disaster, now I´m the town´s laughing stock! And the worst thing is that everypony is siding with Babs Seed. How come she is the poor victim and I´m the villain?” Diamond Tiara asked, prancing around the room.

Snips raised a hoof to answer but Featherweight made him put it down.

“Maybe this will be a good time to stop this, Diamond. After all, it´s not like you really like him or anything,” Silver Spoon said.

“He´s not...that bad. Besides, I can't stop now! I already got invited to the Summer Star Sighting Show. That´s my first step to get into Equestria´s high society. I´ve been asking my father to get me into Manehattan´s School for Earth Fillies Future Talents but he keeps telling me no because of respecting your roots or something like that. This party is my chance to impress the headmistress and get into the School.”

“Is this what this is all about? You leaving me behind to get into some fancy school at another town?”

“Oh, don´t be like that Silver Spoon. I´m sure I could get you a scholarship, eventually. Besides, what´s better than your best friend being in one of the kingdom most prestigious schools?” Diamond said, nudging SIlver who wasn´t really too happy with this idea.

“Anyways, I doubt you´ll get to go to the 4S event. Twilight Sparkle raised a magic shield to keep all the reporters away from Spike. And besides, I doubt he´ll like to talk to you right now. He must be really confused.”

“Hey, what about Babs?” Snips asked.

“Pfft! I could care less about that blank flank!”

“Isn´t the expression couldn´t care less?”

“As for Spike…” Diamond continued, ignoring him. “I have the perfect idea to make him take a decision. I know that Twilight Sparkle was waiting for the perfect opportunity to make Spike stop being at my service but she forgot about one rule that Spike can´t break even if he wants too…”

Diamond´s face covered in sinister shadows while Snails finally sucummbed to the massive weight of the papers.

****

Spike was sitting on a fence in the far side of Sweet Apple Acres. Despite Twilight´s meticulous nature he knew the way around her shield so he escaped to get some peace and quiet. He needed to straighten his thoughts.

Babs was in love with him. He still couldn´t believe that. He wasn´t dumb, he knew that Diamond Tiara didn´t really love him but she at least like him and he liked her too, a little. But this was different. It was also different to when he thought he had to marry Applejack. Back then he was only thinking about the code and being noble and all that, he didn´t really gave any thought about his feelings for Applejack. Now, he has a choice. If he wanted he could ask Twilight to make him stop serving Diamond and get together with Babs…

Spike shook his head. That was a selfish thought. He was trading one filly for the other. Sweetie Belle was right, he never think about their feelings. He needed to look deep down inside him and see who he really loved.

“Hey there, shrimp!”

If he made it alive of this one.

Spike recognized the dragons. The red one and leader of the group was Garble and the other two were his minions. Spike never catch their names and honestly didn´t care. He wanted to forget all about them. He thought that after the Dragon Migration they will

go deep south and never be see again. Obviously, he was wrong.

“How is it going, Spike? Oh wait, it´s Noble Dragon Spike, right guys?” Garble joked and the other two laughed.

“What are you guys doing here?” Spike yelled.

“Relax man, we´re just here to say hi to an old friend,” Garble said, raising his hand, calling to peace.

“I´m not your friend! You guys are just bullies!”

“Uuuuuh, looks like someone thinks he´s so much better than us. Got that title got on your head, shrimp?” Garble said, patting Spike´s head. “Hey, is it me or you got taller?”

“He has wings now, too,” the purple dragon said.

“Oh yeah, that too.”

“You call this tiny things wings?” the brown dragon asked, lifting Spike by his tail. “He´s like a baby pegasus. Look at these things!”

“They´re still larger than yours, dude,” the other dragon said.

“They´re not!”

“Let me go!”

“Mace, Screech, put the little guy down,” Garble ordered and the brown dragon let Spike drop. “Here´s the thing, Spike. We were just hanging our business down the Badland when we came across this,” Garbel said, showing Spike a newspaper. “You´re giving our species a bad name , dude. You can be around protecting ponies and acting squeaky-clean. You´re supposed to a scary and ferocious dragon.”

“You serious? You're mad because I´m not a jerk like you three? I don´t want to be like you!”

“Well, you´re gonna be one day. You're a dragon after all,” Screech, the purple one, said while poking Spike´s head.

“That´s not true! Not all dragons are like you! Noble Dragons were fierce warriors that protected Equestria!” Spike retorted causing the other dragons to burst in laughter.

“Oh man, he really believes that! That´s so sad!”

“Shut...up.”

“Listen Spike, it´s simple. We don´t like what you´re doing and we want you to stop.”

“Or we´ll stop you,” Mace added.

“Bring it on. I´m not letting you three cause any problems in my town,” Spike said, his voice going deeper and his nostrils steaming.

“Uh, that sounds almost like a real threat,” Garble mocked him.

“Just try it.”

Mace and Screech moved to make the first punch but Garble stop them.

“Okay Spike, you win. You´ll get your fight but not now. This afternoon, at the Town Square and you better be there. Got that?” And Garble finished his sentence poking Spike in the chest. He was expecting the little dragon to fell down but Spike kept his ground.

Garble and his two minions took off, flying away from the orchard. When they were around the Whitetail Forest, Screech asked Garble, “Hey, why did we left? We could have take him?”

“I could take him all alone,” Mce said.

“We all could take him and, if it was up to me, I will pound him to the ground for what he did to us last migration but,” Garble said and descended to the forest. “We can´t do it. At least, right now.”

“No, you can't,” a voice said, tossing a couple of bags filled with gems at them. “Not if you want your reward.”

“You got some guts there, little pony. Even stallions are afraid of us,” Garble said to the shadowy figure who revealed herself to be Diamond Tiara.

“Please, how can I be scared of a trio of smelly dragons?” Diamond Tiara said.

“Hey!” Screech said and stop chewing the gems to take a sniff. He immediately regretted it.

“Besides, I know you won´t do a thing to me. I can get you all the gems that you want and once the job is done, I´ll give you a map with a cave filled with even more.”

The dragons rubbed their tummies, already imagining the delicious rocks. Diamond Tiara covered her mouth with a hoof so they won't see her devious smile. Sure she will give them the map, too bad the map doesn't say anything about the Diamond Dogs living in those caves.

“You wanna fill us in on that plan again? We kind of forgot,” Garble admitted, taking a few gems from his bag.

“Seriously? You dragons are all dumb. You will start a fight with Spike in the middle of the town when everypony can see you.”

“That´s done.”

“When Spike refuses to fight back, you will reveal that you have captured me...” Diamond Tiara added air quotations to that last word.

“But he already said yes,” Mace said with her mouth half full of gems.

“Trust me, he will take it back. That´s why you have to gave him a reason to fight. After you beat him for awhile, not too hard! I don´t want you to hurt him for real, you get that?” Diamond Tiara shouted and Garble raised his arms, calling for peace. “When I made you the signal, I want you to throw me at Spike, lightly. And after he catches me you will all go away and I will reveal Spike that I have the mark, meaning that I´m his one and true wife and he´ll have to stay with me for life.”

“Awww. It´s cute you like him so much,” Garble mocked her.

“Shut up! Now remember the plan, don´t punch him too hard and don't throw me too hard either. You all got that?”

“Okay okay, we got the idea. Screech, Mace, take the gems to our hideout and meet me at noon with the pony,” Garble said, and his two friends took off. “There´s only one problem with your big plan, Princess,” Garble said, pointing at Diamond´s bare arm.

“That´s not a problem at all,” Diamond said and moved next to Garble. She made him raise and hand and then stomp on his tail, making him burst some flames. Once Garble´s claw got hot enough, she made him slap her in the arm.

“Auh! Girl, you´re crazy!” Garble said.

“Auh auh, I hope this isn´t really permanent. I could always come out with a reason why the makr disappeared…” Diamond murmured, blowing her burnt mark.

******

Twilight was cleaning her desk when he found an old picture of her and SPike. He had just hatched from the egg and looked so tiny on her hooves. Twilight's eyes watered at the memory. He had grown so much the past couple of days. Twilight was used to have him around that she couldn't bear the idea of him leaving. It was different to knowing that he will live longer than her, this was the real possibility that he would leave right now and despite acting strong in front of Shining Armor, the truth was that she didn´t want him to grow. SHe wanted him to stay by her side forever.

Her trip to memory lane got interrupted by two pegasus crashing into her magic shield. Twilight peeked through the window and put it down to let Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash in.

“Twilight! Brother! Emergency! Hurry!”

“Rainbow Dash, breath and make actual sentences!”

“We saw Shining Armor by the town´s entrance. He´s coming this way,” Fluttershy explained.

“Oh no, and I still haven't find any loophole in the Dragon Code. I know that Shingin didn´t buy Diamond Tiara´s solution.”

“We need to hide Spike! Pronto! Spike, get down here!” Rainbow Dash yelled.

“He is not here, Rainbow Dash.”

“What? What about the magic shield we crashed into?”

“Oh Spike escaped hours ago. He thinks I didn´t noticed but of course I did.”

“And you left him all alone?” Fluttershy asked.

“I figured he needed some time alone. He now has a lot of things to worry about. And we can´t let SHining be one of them! Girls, go get my brother and entertain him for a few hours. I´ll go get Diamond Tiara and get her to help me convince Shining to take the case to Princess Celestia herself! That´s our only option right now!” Twilight ordered and teleported out of the library.

“Entertain him? How are we supposed to do that?” Rainbow asked Fluttershy who played with her hooves, nervously.

*****

Meanwhile, back at Sweet Apple Acres but in a different part; Apple Bloom was resting against a wheel. She was supposed to be getting some water but she just couldn't focus. She too has plenty of things to think about.

She was in love with Spike. She has accepted this fact. All  her confusion and anger from the past few days now made sense knowing that. She wanted to be with Spike and the mark on her arm was telling her she would. The problem was her cousin. Apple Bloom loved Babs and didn´t want to do anything to hurt her. To make matters worse, her feelings were now know to the entire town and Babs had been the entire day locked on her room.

Apple Bloom sighed. She had promised her cousin she would anything for her but what she really wanted, will actually hurt her even more.

“Apple Bloom, ah know yah´l be slacking off!”

Apple Bloom startled at the sound of her sister yelling.

“Yah said you could work again. Ah was okay with you going to Zecora instead of the doctor but not if yah made her lie to get me off your back!” Applejack said, glaring at her little sister.

Apple Bloom hung her head low, not daring to look at Applejack. Applejack sighed and sat down, trying to get her sister to look her at the eyes.

“Sugarcube, what's going on? Ah want to help you but ah can´t if you don´t tell me the truth.”

Apple Bloom looked at her sister and found a warm smile. Sighing, she unwrapped the bandage, revealing the claw mark.

“Oh horse apples…” Applejack said and then covered her mouth, ashamed of her language. “Well, maybe it´s just like happened with me, just a burnt mark.”

“Zecora says it´s the real deal. She says that when the feelings are real…”

“Oh, yah mean…”

Apple Bloom blushed, not giving a real answer.

“AH little sis. Ah can´t say ah´m too surprised about this.”

“What yah mean?” Apple Bloom asked.

“Well, ah kind saw the signals before hoof…”

“What? Ah didn´t even knew ah had these feelings, how could you tell?”

“Privileges of being an older sister,” Applejack said, ruffling her sister´s mane. “Now, ah bet yah feeling very confused with all this but yah know the Apples way, right?”

“Always the honest that´s the Apples way,” Apple Bloom said.

“Exactly. And you know what that means?”

Apple Bloom did not answered.

“Apple Bloom, yah got to talk to your cousin. Yah can´t keep these feelings hidden inside you. It´s not fair for you or Babs or even Spike.”

“What about Diamond Tiara?”

“Yeah, ah suppose her too,” Applejack said, rolling her eyes.

“Applejack, ah don´t know what to say.”

Applejack raised Apple Bloom´s chin and smiled. “Just speak with your heart, Apple Bloom.”

Above their heads, Screech and Mace were flying over the orchard, heading to the Town Square.

“Dude, those gems were delicious! I can´t wait to get our claws on that map!” Screech said.

“Yeah!” Mace agreed, munching on a last gem. “Let´s go give that shrimp a kicking so we can get more gems!”

“Hang on, we first need to get that filly. What was she called again?”

“Beats me. All ponies look alike to me.”

“Garble said he got his scent so…” Screech said and smelled the air, trying to get his friend´s smell. “Ah, there!” he pointed at the wheel where the sister where.

The dragons descended and Applejack immediately jumped to protect her sister. Screech barely looked at her when she grab her by the tail.

“Let me go, yah big scaly blockhead!”

“Is this the one?” Screech asked but Mace just shrugged. “Meh, she smells like a dragon. Good enough.” And he threw Apple Bloom to Mace.

“SIS!”

“Ah´ll get the both of ya-” Applejack didn´t got to finish her sentence since Screech tossed her into the wheel.

Apple Bloom called for her one more time before the dragons took her away.

Chapter 9

Babs Seed sighed and took another look at the envelope, the stylised earth filly in the emblem looking like a snake ready to bite. She put down the envelope and re-read her parents letter, the first couple paragraphs were they simply saying how much they missed her and that they wished she was having a good summer. The last one however, made Babs frown. They sounded so happy and proud of her for passing the preliminary test and being accepted in the “fancy school for fancy ponies” like she called it. They still wanted to respect her wishes and she could stay in her old school if she wanted but the tone of the letter made obvious what they wanted for her.

Babs sighed again and leaned against the chair. Nopony other than her parents and sister knew she had taken the test, not even Apple Bloom. She had been keeping the secret for a few days now, from before the camping trip, she didn't wanted to ruin the summer. But considering what happened with Spike, the summer could be considered officially ruined.

Babs had to take a decision and answer their parents before the summer closes.

******

Shining Armor was signing some autographs for a couple of blushing mares when he spotted two familiar pegasus approaching.

“Hey RD, FS. Nice to see you again!”

“Hey...SA?” Rainbow said, shrugging when she noticed the confused look of Fluttershy. “How is it going?”

“Pretty good. Life in the Crystal Empire is nice, we have a new zoo for ewes. I bet you'll like to see that, right Fluttershy.”

“Oh yes, I'll love to see it,” Fluttershy admitted, blushing.

What followed was an awkward minute of silence as Skining Armor kept smiling at the two nervous mares.

“Well, I'm off to see my sister,” Shining announced.

“Wait! No need to rush there stud, we want to...show you around town! Yeah, that's it. Last time you barely stayed and there´s so many cool places in town you haven't seen yet,” Rainbow said, grabbing one of Shining´s arms.

“Yes, we'll love if you could spent the day with us. If you want to,” Fluttershy added, taking the other one.

Shining took a moment to process the info and then let go a soft chuckle. “Oh so that's what going on. Well, can't be helped. This used to happen with all of Twilly´s friend back when she was a filly. Whenever I go pick her up at the library, all the fillies were like that.”

Rainbow brought Fluttershy closer and whispered to her, “Is it me or this blockhead thinks we're making a move on him?”

“I think so. Should we...tell him he's wrong?”

Rainbow took a look at Shining and said, “No, we got to use this. We'll keep him distracted long enough for Twilight to put Spike in a safe place.”

“If you think that'll work, Rainbow…”

“So ladies, ready to show me around? Although try to refrain for any romantic spots. Do remember I´m a married colt,” Shining said, making his mane flow and causing the two nearby mares to faint.

“Okay…” Rainbow said, suppressing the urge to punch him in the face while Fluttershy was just confused.

********

Spike was standing in position in the middle of the Town Square. He had made an improvised armors with a few pillows and kitchen supplies. He bothered to paint it with the traditional noble Dragon Battle Armor tribal paints, as depicted in Rules 145 to 151 of the Code. He thought he looked intimidating enough to scare Garble from an actual fight. The ponies around who keep snickering at him disagreed.

Spike was nervous and that was causing his body to react. All the adrenaline of this morning had gone the second he realized this wasn't at all like when he “fought” against Rainbow Dash. That was a harmless (Rainbow will disagree with that part) match, this was going to be a lot messier. Spike wasn't sure he could take on a teenage dragon on his own and didn't want to risk the town getting involved. He was their protector, after all. That was also the reason he didn't tell Twilight anything about it, he hoped to get rid of this whole business by his own.

“Well well, looks like somebody has guts after all,” Garble said, descending into town and causing the nearby ponies to search for cover.

“I warn you. As Noble Dragon, Spike the First, protector of Ponyv-”

“Would you cut it out?” Garble said, pushing the bucket into Spike's head to interrupt his speech. “Noble Dragons are a myth! Real dragons are mean and nasty and don't get along with namby-pamby ponies!” And to prove his point he spat on a fruit stand, causing it to burst into flames.

“I´m not like you…” Spike said.

“Oh really, wanna prove it?” Garble said, letting him go and asking for the first strike.

Spike clenched his claws, fighting against his natural savage instincts. Finally, his rational side, nurtured by years of being by Twilight´s side won and he stood his ground.

“I´m waiting, shrimp,”

Spike took a deep breath and stood straight. “I won't fight you.”

“Heh, she was right. You will chicken out.”

Spike looked confused at Garble.

“So you don´t wanna fight? Well, let's see what you say after this,” And Garble snapped his fingers.

Nothing happened.

He snapped again.

Still nothing.

Garble growled and shouted “Where are you, blockheads?”

Finally, Screech and Mace arrived, Screech carrying a bag.

“Now, why do you have to say about this?” Garble said and snapped his fingers.

It took a few seconds for Screech to get that was his queue to take the filly out of the bag but when he did, Spike gasped and Garble smiled.

“Apple Bloom?”

“What? Hey, that's not the right filly, you idiots!” Garble roared.

“But she has your scent!” Screech protested as Apple Bloom kept kicking his head.

“Mmh, you're right. And she does have the burnt mark, that´s weird,” Garble said, taking a closer look at the filly who kept punching and kicking the other two dragons.

“Apple Bloom?” Spike repeated and the filly avoided looking at him.

“So, ready to fight now?” Garble said, getting in the way.

“Let her go! Now!”

“Yeah, let her go!” Scootaloo shouted, coming along with Sweetie Belle, Silver Spoon and a couple other ponies.

“Oh, that's so cute! Are the little fillies here to help you getting your butt kicked, Spikey?” Garble joked.

“I don't care what you do to this two-timing dumb!” Scootaloo said, showing the brutal honesty she had learned from Rainbow Dash. “But you better take your stinky claws from my friend!”

“Yeah? What you´re gonna do if I don´t?” Garble said while Spike looked depressed.

“We´re gonna call her big brother on you!” Sweetie said, thinking she was sounding intimidating.

“You mean that guy?” Garble said, pointing at the other side of the square where Big Mac and most of the local stallions were being crushed by Crackle.

“Uh, how come we didn't noticed that before?” Silver Spoon said.

“Well, this is embarrassing,” Mr. Cake said from under the unusual dragon.

“Eeeyup.”

“Now you see it, Noble Dragon Spike? You're the town´s only hope. So…” Garble said, cracking his knuckles and getting ready to give Spike a severe pounding.

******

“Stop it, springy! Twilight is at the other side of town!” Pinkie Pie argued with her own left hind leg, that kept making her bounce all the way to Sweet Apple Acres.

“Pinkie Pie! Is that you?” came a voice from the wheel.

“Applejack! How did you end up down there? Ooooh, I get it! This is what springy was trying to tell me!” Pinkie said, peeking down the wheel.

“Springy?”

“Is my left hind leg´s Pinkie Sense! It tells me where to find important stuff and here you are!” Pinkie chuckled. “Wait! We don't have time for this! We need to find Twilight! There are dragons in town!”

“Ah already know that! Those scaly no-gooders thre me ´ere and took Apple Bloom with them! Yah gotta help me get out!”

“Okie Dokie Lo-AUH!” Pinkie shouted as her hind leg did a final jump, dropping her into the water. Springy then touched Applejack in the snout. “Good job, springy.”

*******

Spike tried his best to fight against Garble but even with his new strength and height, Garble was too much for him to handle, blocking his punches and landing a few good punches. The mares tried to help him but Mace kept them away with his fiery breath while Screech kept dealing with a very angry Apple Bloom.

“Mrs.Mayor, we need to help Spike!” Sweetie Belle pleaded.

“I know that but I don't know what to do. Those dragons are very dangerous, we can't find Tiwlight and her friends and any help from Canterlot will take too long to arrive,” Mayor Mare admitted.

“Hey, where´s Diamond Tiara now?” Scootaloo barked at Silver Spoon.

“And what do you expect her to do?” Silver Spoon retorted.

“I don't know but she should be here to support Spike!”

“I thought you didn't want anything to do with him anymore,”

“Well, I´m not the one dating him!”

“Girls, stop it! Fighting isn't going to solve anything. We have to find a way to help Spike,” Cheerilee said, splitting the two fillies apart.

Mayor Mare analyze the situation and came out with an idea. “Scootaloo, the Weather team is at the east side of Whitetail Wood collecting water. How fast you think you can reach them?”

“In fifteen seconds flat!” Scootaloo announced and took off on her scooter.

“Have a plan, mayor?” Cheerilee asked.

“I´m not sure it will work but we have to try.”

“I´m going to get Babs Seed, then!” Sweetie annocuend, trotting off.

“Sweetie Belle, wait!” Cheerilee shouted.

“She needs to be here, Mrs. Cheerilee! Don't worry, I'll be back soon!”

“Take care, honey!” Sweetie's dad shouted, being crushed by Crackle´s tail.

******

“And this is Mr. and Mrs Cheese. They like cheese,” Fluttershy saying, showing a couple of mic to Shining Armor.

“My pleasure. You have a lot of good friends, Fluttershy. I bet they make your house very lovely.”

“Oh yes, my friends are my greatest pleasure. They fill my house with music every morning.”

“That´s a sight I'll love to see when waking up. The stallion that will be your husband will be a really lucky one,” Shining said, taking her hoof.

“Oh, that´s...I don't think that´s going to happen. Stallions usually don´t talk to me. Actually, I´m the one who doesn't talk to them that much.”

“And they're making a terrible mistake. Need any help starting a conversation? I'll be glad to help.”

“Oh well, this is…”

“Oh, is there already a stallion you have in sight?”

“I think but he doesn't know about me…”

“Again, what a terrible mistake he´s making.”

“Oh but it´s not his fault. He's young and I…”

Rainbow almost puke at the scene. If this is what Twilight had to deal with when a filly, she had new respect for her for not turning into a namby-pamby reader of romance novels. Despite how annoying and how full of himself Shining was to her, at least he was distracted enough to stay way from the library.

Rainbow took a look at the town, wondering what was Twilight doing. Also, why was the weather team moving those clouds into town?

******

Twilight Sparkle bursted open the door of Carousel Boutique and headed for the dressing room, finding Rarity fixing Diamond Tiara´s dress.

“I knew you´ll be here.”

“Oh hello, Twilight Sparkle. I´m getting the final touches to my dress so it's...perfect,” Diamond said, causing Rarity to roll her eyes.

“Listen, little lady. I don't like you and I know you don´t care about Spike, at all. Your little plan worked for a while but now we're going to do it my way,” Twilight said, showing her big sister side.

“What´s the matter, Twilight?” Rarity asked.

“Shining Armor is back in town and he won't let this Escort Dragon charade continue any longer. So we're going to Canterlot to speak to Princess Celestia directly.”

“You think that would be the best idea?” Rarity asked.

“Princess Celestia is the highest authority in the kingdom. Her word will be final on this matter. So, I´m sorry to ruin your little Gala event but this will be the last time we'll deal with you,” Twilight said.

“Oh I'm sorry you think that way, Twilight Sparkle. Because you see…” Diamond said and took off a bandage on her arm, revealing the mark. “It seems you'll have to deal with me for a long, long time.”

“That´s…” Rarity began but Twilight took the word.

“When did that appeared?”

“This morning. It seems it appeared on my sleep, fitting since I was dreaming of my brave scaly knight,” Diamond said, obviously mocking Twilight. “This bonds Spike to my service forever, making him the key I need for Equestria High Society.”

“I knew it! You don't care about him! You're using him!” Twilight snapped.

Diamond bit her tongue, realizing she had spoke too much.

“Of all the...I can't believe you´ll do such a thing to Spikey!” Rarity said, putting down her needles.

“Well, what if I don't like him..that much?”

Twilight and Rarity looked at each other and this made Diamond blush.

“Listen, Spike is a Noble Dragon. Get it? Noble means royalty which means he deserves to be with a pony of status, somepony like me.”

“Oh please honey, your family is hardly of any status. Maybe here in Ponyville they have a reputation but to those Canterlot snobs your parent and mine are in the same level,” Rarity said.

“She is right, Diamond. Not everypony is so nice as say Fancypants, some ponies in Canterlot are very judgmental. Even I was victim to that when I came here to Ponyville.”

“What...what do you mean?” Diamond asked.

“Some ponies at the market...they said things to me. Apparently they were under the impression I was a snob and won't fit in the town,” Twilight admitted, blushing.

“Oh darling, tell the names of those ponies right now!” Rarity said.

“Bu-but that's just unicorns! In an earth pony city like Manehattan, I won't have any troubles!” Diamond retorted.

“Actually, Applejack told me that the ponies in Manehattan are just as snobs, if not worse. Little Babs Seed is obviously the exception,” Rarity said.

“Diamond, I think you have a very mistaken idea of what the adult world is and you have bitten off a lot more than you can chew,” Twilight sentenced.

Diamond didn't had any witty retort for that, she just rubbed her burnt mark.

*******

“HELP!” SOMEPONY HELP!!!”

“It's no use, Pinkie. Ah don´t know where Big Mac is and Granny Smith won't hear us even if yah pull an entire orchestra out of yer mane...don't even dare,” Applejack said.

“Aww, what are we gonna do now?”

“Ah don´t know Pinkie,” Applejack said and she lean her head against the bricks. “Ah´m worried about Apple Bloom.”

Pinkie Pie put a hoof on her shoulder, bringing comfort without words. Applejack responded with a smile and touching her friend´s hoof.

“Ah´m out of ideas but what about you? Got any new ones?” Pinkie took a deep breath, “´side for yelling out loud…”

“Mmh, I think I have one but I'll need soda for it to work,” pinkie said.

“Will Apple juice soda work?” Applejack said, pulling a bottle out of her hat.

Pinkie stared at her with a confused look.

“What? yah´re the only one who can pull stuff out of nowhere?”

With a very not-amused look, Pinkie took the bottle, shook it, grabbed Applejack and then made them both took off into the sky.

After they landed on the soft grass, they shared a hoofbump that got ruined when a giant shadow passed over their heads. A winged shadow.

“Woah nelly…”

******

“Let me go, yah big scaly dummy!” Apple Bloom shouted, pulling Screech´s bangs.

“Dude, you can't handle a little filly? That´s lame,” Garble mocked his friend while keeping Spike down with one claw.

“Hey, you try it! She AUH! bites!”

“Haha, he´s right, you can't handle a little pony,” Mace mocked him as well, getting distracted enough for the pegasi team to gather some clouds above his head.

“Now!” Mayor Mare ordered and they all kicked the clouds at once, bringing a downpour on Mace´s head.

“That's all?” he said, ready to let go another round of fire.

And right on queue, the pegasi gave another kick, sending a bunch of lightnings over the dragon.

“Get him!”

The mares jumped over the scorched dragon, giving him a severe beating and hogtying him, Mrs. Cake adding the final touch by putting an apple on his mouth.

“Good job, honey!” Mr. Cake said.

“Oh, come on! Can you guys do anything?” Garble complained and this let Spike an opening to land a powerful punch on his stomach.

Spike was happy at first but then he noticed how angry the other dragon was.

“Oh hoho, he´s in a lot of trouble,” Screech said.

Apple Bloom stopped fighting and looked at Spike,, terrified for him. She then looked up and found her cousin and Sweetie Belle atop of a roof. They waved and gestured her to distract Screech.

“Hey, mop head!”

“What you call me?”

Screech had got enough with this filly and opened his mouth, which proved to be a bad idea since Babs and Sweetie handled Apple Bloom a bottle of hot sauce.

“Mmmh! I´m a dragon, duh! You think this was going to beat me?”

“No but ah bet mah brother can,” she said and Screech turned over to see who was patting his shoulder.

Turns out that the mares had found enough time to roll Crackle over and free the guys, who were obviously not very happy. Especially Big Mac.

Babs, Sweetie an Cheerile rushed to hug Apple Bloom after she was put down.

“You okay, cousin?” Babs asked.

“Listen Babs, ah…”

Babs interrupted her by giving Apple Bloom a big hug. They then turned over to teh sound of Spike being tossed against a wall.

“I've enough of you!” Garble roared.

“Wait!” Diamond shouted and she got in the way of the angry dragon. “Deal is off! Here´s the map! Take it and leave!”

“I don't care about your map anymore! I´m tired of this shrimp and this lame pony town!”

“Good job, Mrs. mayor. We'll take care from here,” Twilight said coming over with Rarity, the Mayor sighing in relief.

“What? You think you can take me, ponies? You all want to fight me?”

The ponies didn´t challenged Garble, they backed down with terrified looks.

“Yes, that´s right! Run away! You can't handle me! Wait, why is it so dark all of a sudden?”

The answer of course was another dragon. A very angry, big dragon.

“Oh hello, sir. Lovely weather today, hahaha,” Garble said.

The dragon simply responded by blowing smoke out of his nostrils.

“Okay, we'll leave.”

And Garble and his friends ran off.

“(Wait up, guys!)” Mace called with his mouth stuffed and bouncing since he was still tied up.

Pinkie Pie and Applejack arrived in time to see them leave and saw the giant dragon looming over the town.

“I think we arrived a little late,” Pinkie said.

The dragon was now growling, showing all his sharp teeths.

“Good thing you're in charge, Twilight Sparkle. Any ideas?” Mayor Mare said.

“What did we do last time an angry dragon was in town?” Twilight asked.

“Fluttershy gave him a scolding,” Rarity said.

“Oh right…”

“Wait. I´ll...I´ll talk to him…” Spike tried but he was too beat up to even stand.

The dragon let go smoke out of his nostrils agian but this time the cloud bounced back on him. He waved it away with a claw and found a gleaming magic shield and a very stern stallion on his way.

“Heh, Fluttershy ran out of friends,” Rainbow said, shrugging.

“My name is Shining Armor, captain of Canterlot Royal Guard. According to the treat established between Commander Hurricane and Broken Fan the Fierce, ponies won't´take action against dragons as long as they stay away from their towns. I ask you to respect the treat.”

The dragon waited a little before pointing to Spike and ask, “Is it true? Is he a Noble Dragon?”

Spike couldn't answer and the rest remained silent.

“Dragons are greedy but so are some ponies. When the Noble Dragons started making favours for them, ponies thought they could demand our service and start ambushing and blackmailing dragons. Eventually, it all ended on a big fight and the Noble Dragons leaving this country. We don't want those days to come back. If you want to serve ponies, you do it alone,” the dragon said to Spike.

“Spike is not our servant. He´s our friend,” Twilight said, standing her ground.

“Ponies and dragons, friends? That´s funny,” the dragon said and took off.

All the ponies sighed in relief, sharing hugs and hoof bumps.

“Twilight! Twilight! Dragons! Applejack! Wheel! Springy!”

Nopony understood what Pinkie was saying but they were all just happy everything was over, Applejack giving her little sister a big hug.

“Hey look, a mark!” Pinkie said, pointing at Diamond Tiara´s mark.

“Then Diamond Tiara really is…” Fluttershy began but couldn't finish the sentence.

Spike looked at her, asking for explanations. Diamond sighed and admitted “It´s not real. It´s just a burnt mark. I got it from that red dragon.”

“What? You brought them here?” Scootaloo yelled, ready to punch her but Cheerilee stop her.

“You have a lot of explanations to do, young lady.”

Diamond saw how angry all the ponies were and almost broke in tears. The only two who looked worried for her were Silver Spoon and Spike. Twilight sighed and asked Cheerilee to take her with her father.

“You think that´s enough?” Rarity asked.

“We'll discuss that later. Right now, I want to take Spike to the doctor.” Twilight was actually addressing Shining who nodded and let Twilight help Spike got up.

“Umh, am I the only pony who noticed that?” Rainbow asked, pointing at Apple Bloom´s burnt mark.

“Is that one real?” Sweetie asked and they all looked at Pinkie Pie.

“Hey, don't look at me! I don't have a Pinkie Sense for that!”

“Yes, it´s the real deal,” Applejack said.

The looks then turned to Babs Seeed who responded with a smile.

“That´s great cuz, I couldn't think of a better pony for Spike.certainlyy a lot better than Diamond Tiara, hehe.”

“Babs…”

“Okay okay, let me recap! Diamond Tiara is no longer engaged to Spike so he can be with Babs Seed who is in love with him but Apple Bloom now has the real mark meaning she is her destined love,” Rainbow Dash said.

Nopony said a word.

“What? I´m just trying to make some sense of this! Is anypony else as confused as me?”

“Trixie is!” Trixie said, wearing a wedding gown.

Apple Bloom couldn't take anymore of this and ran off. Spike tried to reach her but he was too hurt and fall down while Babs just looked at her cousin ran off. Not even Applejack decided to chase after her, they just let her alone.

She ran and ran until she reached the edge of the Everfree and she tripped with a root.

“Oh my little pony, are you alright?”

Apple Bloom looked up and saw the comforting smile of Princess Celestia.

“Sorry for my delay but I´m here to answer to your letter, little Apple Bloom.”

Chapter 10

“I´m terribly sorry, Princess Celestia,” Twilight Sparkle said, bowing down before the Princess.

“I apologize as well, your Highness,” Shining Armor said, mimicking his sister.

Celestia however remained calm, taking a look around the town. “Well well, it seems there´s no harm to be sorry for. You handled the situation with a level head, Mayor Mare.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty!” the Mayor said, bowing down as well.

“I insist, Princess! This would have never happened have I wrote you in the first place!” Twilight said,

“No, Your Majesty. This is my fault! I should have never kept what was going on a secret from you!” Shining Armor said.

“Will you two stop it? If this is anybody's fault...it´s mine!”

Everypony turned to see Spike, who had mostly recovered from all the bruises sustained after his fight.

“I never imagine that Noble Dragons were so hated. I brought these guys here and that other dragon too. Who knows what could come next? maybe something even scarier than a dragon like changeling or maybe even Discord have a score to settle with my kind. I can't stay in town any longer if it means endangering you all.”

“Spike, what are you saying?” Applejack asked.

“I´m saying...that maybe I should leave Ponyville.”

“No!” all of Spike´s friends shouted and Twilight rushed to hug him.

“Princess, you can't take Spike away! This isn´t his fault! I should have done more research, read the entire Noble Dragon code! Please, you can´t take him away from me!”

Celestia however remained unfazed, playfully stroking her chin.

“A Noble Dragón. Haven't heard about them in centuries. What about you, Luna? Do you remember them?” Celestia asked her sister who had come with her to inspect the town.

“I recall similar incidents to this when dragons were left free to roam.”

The harsh words of the Moon Princess were like a judgment and Twilight hugged Spike closer.

“Yes, they could get quite messy. Especially when it comes to matters of the heart,” Celestia said and after hearing that, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo moved aside to let Apple Bloom move forward.

She took a few steps and then showed the burnt mark to everypony. Applejack took her hat and smiled at her sister, trying to reassure her.

Twilight Sparkle couldn't help but smile, thinking this means that Spike would stay but he wasn't looking so enthusiastic, especially after he took a look at Babs Seed who looked devastated.

“Ah, young love. Those were the days. Remember when we were young and all the guards in the palace were pinning after us, Luna?”

“O-of course I don´t! WHo could recall such frivolous matters? Now please behave Celestia, we are in the presence of our subjects!” Princess Luna said, blushing.

“Oh please Luna, I´m sure you remember! Even now a few of your guards get a little nervous around you. Can't say I don´t envy you,” Celestia said, playfully.

Luna kept blushing and looked away while the Royal Guards tried to keep their composure and hide their own blush.

“Now, if I read this correctly, this later came from a young filly who asked my help to assist her cousin,” Celestia explained, holding Apple Bloom´s letter with her magic. “It seems she could not gather the courage to confess to the dragon she was infatuated with and in the meantime, he got engaged to a certain farmer pony.”

“That matter got solved on its own, yer highness,” Applejack said.

“And then there was the duel with Rainbow Dash and then the Diamond Tiara business and then the dragon atta-” Pinkie Pie began but Rainbow Dash shoved  a hoof in her mouth.

“But that´s all taken care off now, ight? Your true love is Apple Bloom! You like Apple Bloom, right Spike? You´re good friends and it´s perfect because you can still live together in the town. We could make you a nice house in between the library and the farm and…” Twilight was obviously in a manic state so Shining Armor placed a hoof on her shoulder.

“Seems like you have grown to quite a heartbreaker, Spike. I still remember when you were a little baby chewing at my mane,” Celestia laughed but Spike was too embarrassed to say anything. “Twilight, may I take a look at the Code now?”

Spike puffed the Code into his claws and handled it to the Princess who silently read it.

“Oh yes, I know remember...I still don't understand the point of that rule of singing yodeling at the top of a roof every two sundays.”

“We neither and it´s very annoying,” a pony from the crow said.

“I seem to recall a rule for this type of situation. There was one time when a escorting pony fell in love with her guardian dragon and didn't want to lose him. Even after he found his true love...oh, there it is! The Endurance of True Love.”

“It´s like a test or something, Princess?” Twilight Sparkle asked.

“More like a competition. According to the rules, the Noble Dragon and her true love must take part in a race where she must protect him from being stolen, so to speak, from the other mares.”

“Well, that´s going to be a short race. Everypony in here wants AB to end up with Spike, am I right?” Scootaloo said.

“The winner of the race will receive a nobility title handled by the country ruler which entails a palace, complete with pool and recreation grounds, complete access to social events from here to eternity, a quarter of the country's treasury as reward…”

Princess Celestia kept reading a list of the “benefits” of getting the Noble Dragon and, even when the ponies tried their best to remain nice and gentle, they couldn´t help but lean their head forwards when reading the announcement.

“And finally a flugelhorn. Seems like a nice deal to me, not to mention the fairest way to resolve this issue.”

“What do you mean, princess?” Twilight asked.

“A competition, Twilight. And just in time, it´s the end of the summer, my favourite season, let´s celebrate with a sports event! Guards, prepare the south fields of Sweet Apple Acres for the race!”

The guards saluted and rushed to the farm, despite Applejack´s protests about it.

****

True to their fame, the guards got the entire filed ready in under five minute, complete with banners and stands for the audience. Big Mac had to fan Applejack to prevent her from fainting at the sight of her beloved farm transformed into a sport stadium.

“Princess, I don´t meant to question you, but are you sure this is the best idea?” Twilight asked Celestia.

“Of course, Twilight. I assure you this is perfectly safe, now, Spike, Apple Bloom, please come forward.”

The dragon and the filly, still not looking at each other,a approached the Princess.

“For this competition, the rules will be a bit different. Namely, that your safety will be in Apple Bloom´s hooves, Spike. Do your trust her?”

Spike looked at Apple Bloom, who was still unsure to hold her sight but she finally looked at Spike, who was smiling. “I´ll trust her with my life.”

Apple Bloom´s eyes widened and she blushed.

“That´s good because you have to!” Celestia said and she conjured a pair of shackles and put them, one in Apple Bloom´s right fornt hoof and the other, on Spike´s left hind leg. “This is a magically enhanced chain, it won't break easily so get ready for quite a bumpy ride,” she said with a wink.

“Umh Princess, I don't think this is right…” Spike said but the Princess wasn't listening.

“Listen up eveyrpony, the rules are very simple. Spike and Apple Bloom will get a head start and you must chase them across the field and get a hold of him, making Apple Bloom lose her grip on Spike but that´s easier said than done, let me warn you.”

“Princess, who are you talking too?” Twilight asked but Rarity patting her back to make her turn and she saw dozens, if not hundreds, of mares behind them. “This...this must be half of Equestria. What are all this ponies doing here?”

“Little Strongheart?” Fluttershy asked, recognizing the buffalo.

“My deepest apologies, my pony friends; but the prize for this contest will bring my tribe all the land they need. Plus, I do think Mr. Spike is cute,” the buffalo answered, blushing.

“Gilda? What are you doing here?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“Hye, if you want the little shrimp, then I want it!”

“Same goes for me!” Lighting Dust said.

“Oh come on, I don't want him!”

“Yeah sure, that´s why you got into a fist fight with the farmer for him!” Gilda said.

“It was a fist fight with Spike for her! You got it all backwards!”

“Ooohhh…” Lighting Dust said, rolling her eyes and Gilda snickered.

“No! I didn't mean it that way! You two shut up!”

“Uh, look at all these ponies! One, two, three…” Pinkie Pie began, trying to count them and see if she had enough party hats.

“This is bad! This is bad, bad, bad, bad! None of these ponies are thinking about Spike…” Twilight said.

“Or Apple Bloom,” Rarity added.

“They just think about all the prizes they can get!”

“Trixie doesn't know what's going on! She just wants to be popular!”

“This is terrible! We have to get into the competition, girls!”

“What? Why us?” Rarity asked.

“Think about it! If any of these mares wins, Spike will have to go, for real this time! We need to make the competition and make sure we get him, you got that?”

“Twilight, Im not so sure about this…” Rarity said.

“We have to do it. For Spike,”Fluttershy said, mustering all the confidence she could get.

“forty-nine, fifty, fifty-one…”

“Twilight is right! We can't let all these crazy ponies get Spike!” Rainbow Dash said.

“And we can't let them destroy mah farm in this crazy race!” Applejack said and when she noticed the look she was getting she added, “And fer Spike and mah little sister too, obviously. heh.”

“It´s settled then! No matter who wins, we all protect spike!” Twilight said and they raised their hooves together.

“two hundred ninety-seven, two hundred ninety-eight...ahhh, I need more hooves!”

Except Pinkie Pie.

“Did you hear that, Sweetie? We have to protect Spike, otherwise he´ll be snatched by a pony worse than Diamond Tiara!” Scootaloo said.

“Are you sure about this, Scootaloo?”

“Hey, you want Spike to be taken away by a pony like that?” and she pointed at Vinyl Sratch who  didn't liked the implications.

“Actually, I want Spike to end up with the one pony who he should have end up with first,” Sweetie said, taking a side glance at the still depressed Babs Seed.

“Then we better make sure we win this race. Come on, Cutie Mark Crusaders Love Protectors, remember that?”

Scootaloo raised a hoof and Sweetie Belle meet it.

“I want to help too.”

They turned over and gasped upon seeing Silver Spoon.

“What are you doing here?” Scootaloo asked.

“I know Diamond Tiara did something wrong and she has been forbidden to participate in the race by Princess Celestia; but I also want Spike to stay here in Ponyville.”

“And do what? Hand him to Diamond Tiara?”

“No, let him chose who he really wants to be with.”

“We want to help too!” Twist said, approaching with the rest of the female classmate of the Crusaders.

“We don´t want Spike to leave!”

“Girls…” Scootaloo said.

“You all really like Spike that much?” Sweetie asked.

“We think he´s really cute!” They all said together and Scootaloo just grunted.

“Everypony, get set..:” the Princess announced and the ponies got in line.

“Ready, girls?” Twilight said.

“On your marks…”

Spike took a look at the line of ponies and gulped, he then turned to Apple Bloom and said, “Apple Bloom, you really don't need to do this. I know I´ve been acting like...well, not very smart. I let that Code dictate my life and made some terrible mistakes. I don´t know what to do anymore, I don't know if we´re truly destined to be together but…”

“No. I want to do it.”

“You...do?”

“Yes. I  need to protect you…”

“Apple Bloom…”

“Because I love you,” Apple Bloom said, looking Spike straight at the eyes.

“GO!”

And with that order, all the ponies either took flight or started running.

“Let´s go, Spike!”

“Wait, Apple Blooooooooooooooommmmm!!!!”

“Sister, are you sure there wasn't any other way to settle this issue?”

Celestia answer was to simply smile at Luna, who sighed in return.

Final Chapter

Granny Smith leaned back on her rocker and sighed. It had been an agitated couple of weeks, with another filly running around the house, being told make wedding preparations and told not and then that dragon roaring around and not letting her have her nap. She just wanted to sit down, close her eyes and have a good afternoon sleep.

“Hi, Granny! Bye, Granny!”

“Hi, Granny Smith! Bye Granny Smithhhhhhh!”

“Youngling these days. Running around the fields in shackles, it´s all them damn funny strips and arcades fault.”

Granny closed her eyes, ready to go to sleep but a sudden turbulence waked her again.

“HI, GRANNY SMITH! BYE, GRANNY SMITH!”

“Well, hello half of Equestria running around mah orchard….”

And it really looked like half of Equestria was chasing after the little filly and the young dragon. Dozens upon dozens of mares, running hysterical, pushing each other and shouting their reason to take a hold of Spike.

“If I capture him, the Canterlot Philharmonic will finally get a new building!” Octavia proclaimed.

“If we marry Mr. Spike, ze spa will be known all across Equestria!” Aloe shouted.

“Photo Finish will make him the most fabulous groom in Equestria!”

Twilight Sparkle and her friends were at the head of the mob of desperate mares but the others were catching up and Apple Bloom got a very good head start.

“We need to hurry, girls! If only one of us catches Spike, then he´ll be saved!” Twilight said.

“Don't worry, Twilight Sparkle! The Great and Helpful Trixie Lulamoon is here to help you!” Trixie exclaimed but she then tripped with her cape, causing the ponies behind her to fall down too.

Right then, they were all zapped by a magical beam.

“I forgot to tell you the final rule, if any contestant trips or falls, they will be automatically disqualified,” Princess Celestia announced from a balloon that was following the race.

“Thanks, Trixie! I owe you one!”

“You owe me? That means...I no longer have to do your dishes! The Great and Powerful Trixie is free!” Trixie shouted, right before being zapped and Twilight merely rolled her eyes.

“Apple Bloom, could we AUH! Can we just AUH! Would you AUH! My head!” Spike complained, his head hitting every single rock in the way.

“No time to talk! Ah need to put ya in a safe place!” Apple Bloom said, rushign the pace and causing Spike´s headache to get worse.

“Twilight, I...I cannot...a fashion designer shouldn't do this kind of exercise!” Rarity said, clearly exhausted.

“Come on, Rarity! We can´t abandon Spike! He needs us!”

“Maybe he doesn´t. Maybe he needs to make a decision on his own, choose who he really loves and stand his ground.”

“He´s just a baby, Rarity! How can he possibly know who he really loves?”

“Well, we´ll just have to find out…” Rarity said and then put a hoof to her forehead. “Oh, I´m fainting!”

Rarity fall to the side and she took a few mares with her. Twilight worried for her but she couldn't slow down the pace.

“Good luck, Spikey-Wikey,” Rarity said with a sad smile.

“Good job, Rarity!” Lyra complained and Rarity simply smiled, before she was zapped with the rest of the mares.

“The competition is heating up! Do you have any favourites so far, Your Highness?” the announcer, because the competition now suddenly have an announcer, asked the Princesses that were sitting next to him in the balloon.

“There´s a few enthusiastic ones that are giving their best but for now, I´m just enjoying it the competition. I don´t have any favourites,” Celestia said and the announcer moved to Luna.

“I refuse to comment  in such a foolish contest.”

Twilight looked up and saw that, in addition to the balloon, all the pegasi ponies were closing in into Apple Bloom and Spike.

“Rainbow Dash! You have to get those pegasus down!”

“I´m...trying! Auh! No pulling!” Rainbow shouted, struggling with both Gilda and Lighting Dust.

She kicked them away and rushed to create a tornado, causing half of the pegasus to crash into the trees. However, the remaining pegasus were more than a challenge.

“Spitfire? You too?”

“Sorry, Rainbow Dash. But getting that dragon boy will give the Academy all the founding it needs to branch into other cities,” Spitfire said. “Also...I don't have a boyfriend at the time. I´ll be nice to have someone, anybody.”

Spitfire didn't like the pitiful look Rainbow was giving her and rushed ahead, her sonic boom, while not as powerful as Rain-boom, was enough to knock the rest of the pegasus.

“I´m not going to lose against you!” Lightning Dust declared.

Spitfire gave her a smirk and circled around her, making her ditzy and crashed against a tree. This actually helped Rainbow, teaching her how to regain her balance so when Spitfire did the same maneuver on her, she didn't crash, although Spitfire was still way ahead.

Apple Bloom saw her coming and bumped against a tree, releasing a swarm of fruit bats against her. Spitfire proved her skills avoiding them swiftly but Rainbow was closing down on her. She moved faster and faster, stretching her arms to catch the Wonderbolt and then…

“I got him! I got him! Wait,” a confused Derpy Hooves said after catching both Rainbow and Spitfire.

Spitfire didn't seemed that mad and Rainbow, after looking at Spike and Apple Bloom get away, smiled and waited to be zapped.

Scootaloo took the opportunity to rush ahead on her scooter, quickly catching up with Apple Bloom.

“That is cheating! Remove her inemeditaly!” Luna shouted and then blushed, noticing the looks of the announcer and her sister. “I mean..a competition, as foolish as it may be, needs to be fair.”

“Come on, Apple Bloom! Hand Spike over!” Scootaloo shouted.

“No! Ah´m not giving him to you!”

“Oh, come on! We´re the Crusaders! We need to stick together!”

“No, this ain't about the Crusaders! This is about you! Ya always had a secret crush on Spike!”

“What?”

“Really?” Spike asked.

“No! That´s not true!”

“It is! Ya two like the same things and get along well! Ya two make the best couple but ah´m not giving him to you!” Apple Bloom shouted.

“Oh come on, that´s ridiculous! Just because we get along we're in love? I don't love Spike!”

“Well, thanks for that,” Spike said, crossing his arms.

“You know what I mean! I love you as a friend but I don´t want you as my boyfriend! I just want us to be friends again, all of us! This contest is stupid, Apple Bloom!”

“It may be...but ah´m not giving up!” Apple Bloom said and jumped over a log while Scootaloo stumbled down, losing the race.

“Apple Bloom, wait up!” Sweetie Belle said, moving closer.

“Ah´m not giving him to you either, Sweetie!”

“Okay. But Apple Bloom, do you really love Spike?”

“Yeah!”

“I mean, you love him like  a brother, a friend, a boyfriend?”

“Ah...ah don´t know! Ah just know ah don't wanna lose him, ah don´t want any pony to take him away!”

“I understand…” Sweetie said while Spike kept hitting rocks with his head. “No, I do. I know what is to love somepony and being confused about it…”

“That´s because you are in love with him too!”

“No! I´m in love with your brother!”

“....what?” both Apple Bloom and Spike said.

“It´s true! For the longest time, I had a crush on your brother! I never really noticed it until Mrs. Cheerilee started dating him so i understand how Babs Seed felt all this time. I know how it feels when you love somepony and he doesn't love you back. But I also learned that if you love somepony, really really love him, well..maybe you need to let him go and let him be happy with his own choice.”

“I´m proud of you, Sweetie. You´re really mature,” Cheerilee said, joining the conversation.

“Mrs. Cheerilee! Ya in the race too?” Apple Bloom asked.

“I wanted to make sure you girls wouldn't hurt each other...also, it´ll be nice to have a second building in the school.”

“We can´t stop them!” Silver Spoon shouted and they all look behind them, realizing that Silver Spoon and Twist had lost control of the fillies group and they were coming close.

“Class, stop!” Cheerilee ordered and the fillies stop mid -track, crashing with each other and Cheerilee.

Apple Bloom slowed her pace a little, worried for them but after an encouraging look from her teacher, she resumed the race, despite Spike´s protest because he kept bouncing in the ground.

“Mrs. Cheerilee?”

“Yes, Sweetie?”

“I´m..I´m really happy for you and Big MacIntosh.”

“Thank you, Sweetie,” Cheerilee said, patting her head.

“The competition is getting fierce. We have lost half of the competitors and now it´s when the race really begins! Will Apple Bloom keep ahead of the game? The others are closing down on her!” the announcer shouted while Celestia and Luna shared popcorn and waved flags and foamy fingers.

“Apple Bloom. Apple Bloom!” Spike shouted and then noticed how tired the filly was. “Apple Bloom, you can't keep dragging me around. We have to stop.”

“No!” Apple Bloom said and put Spike on her back. “Ah won´t let go of you, ya hear me? Ah won´t!”

Hearing this, Babs Seed snapped of her depressed state and stopped just pacing and rushed to a trot.

Apple Bloom saw her coming along with the other mares and looked around, searching for a way to stall them. She then found a pile of logs next to her and untie them, letting them roll over the mares. Most of the them tripped and fell down but Babs Seed wasn´t one of them. She showed high skills, jumping over the rolling logs and quickly catching up. Apple Bloom jumped over the logs too, using one to roll down the hill.

“Apple Bloom! Look at the mess ya making! Ya´ll have to clean all of this after the race, young lady!” Applejack shouted, managing to keep over the logs.

“Apple Bloom!” Babs shouted, getting into the same log and rolling around with them.

“Ya won´t get him, Babs!

“Hey Apple Bloom, I´m confused! I was supposed to capture you or Spike?” Pinkie asked, playfully rolling in the log but Apple Bloom ignored her.

“Ah´ll do everything to protect Spike even form you!”

Applejack heard that exchange and let go a sigh. She then saw Little Strongheart showing her skills, easily jumping over.

“Oh no, ya don´t!” Applejack shouted and used her rope to catch the buffalo, putting her down although she also got pulled. “This is a family business!” she said and got zapped.

“Now this is a family duel! cousin versus cousin! Tell me Your Highness, have you ever resolve your disputes with a competition?” the announcer asked.

“Of course not. As Rulers of Equestria, we need to settle an example from our subjects,” Celestia said and then her Sock em Robot took the head of Luna´s robot.

“Five out of ten!” Luna shouted.

Apple Bloom and Babs Seed kept struggling in the log, trying to change its direction, all the while making Spike feel sick. Apple Bloom finally jumped and made Babs fell down but she managed to land on her feets, avoiding being disqualified. Apple Bloom smiled but then she noticed she wasn't falling down.

“I caught him! Let go!” Cloudchaser said, pulling Spike from his right arm.

“No, I caught him! You let go!” Flitter said, pulling Spike from his left arm.

“Umh could you please hand me Spike? I need to have a few words with him,” Fluttershy politely asked them.

The sisters looked at each other and then sighed.

“Here you go, Fluttershy,” they said.

Fluttershy hold him Spike with her hooves and blushed, struggling to find the right words. “...hi.”

“Hi, Fluttershy.”

“Listen Spike, you know I love you, right?”

“Of course! I love you too.”

“No, I mean...I really love you.”

“Oh, you mean…” Spike said, blushing while Apple Bloom couldn't believe what she was hearing.

“I know it sounds strange but I just couldn't help it. You're kind and sweet and we're not so different, if you think about it. Plus, you're not a pony and you know I have an easy time talking to other animals beside ponies…”

“Fluttershy, I...I don't know what to say…”

“It's okay, Spike. Because I don't want to have you. Forcing you to be with me, it will be like having one of my animal friends in a cage.”

“Don't you have birds in cages?”

“They can leave if they want. I never force anybody to stay, it wouldn't be nice. And it wouldn't be nice of me to do the same thing to you.”

“But Fluttershy…”

“I love you, Spike and that´s why I have to let you go,” Fluttershy said, putting Spike on the ground. “Now, you need to decide for yourself. Listen to your heart, just like I did and decide.”

Spike touched his chest, trying to find the answer while Apple Bloom looked sad.

“Seems we have new competitors! All the way from the Crystal Empire!” the announcer shouted and they all looked behind to see the swarm of crystal ponies approaching.

“Oh, you better leave! I´ll slow them down!” Fluttershy said and Spike took Apple Bloom´s hooves, rushing ahead.

“Oh my, they're so many…” Fluttershy said, facing the incoming horde. “Please, slow down. I´m...I´m not moving from my spot! Please, stop…”

Fluttershy closed her eyes, ready to be trampled down when suddenly…

“Surprise!” Pinkie Pie shouted, her party cannon shouting into the air and putting down all the ponies, including her and Fluttershy,

“Ooops, looks like I over do it! Well, everypony makes honest mistakes. Right, Fluttershy?”

Fluttershy looked at the innocent smile of Pinkie and smiled too. “Yes, honest mistakes,” she said.

“Spike, about what Fluttershy said…” Apple Bloom began, the shackles losing its grip but suddenly, a cloud of green smoke appeared in front of them.

“If you slow down, you might trip and miss sight.  Keep your pace steady and hold each other tight.”

“Zecora! Not you too!” Apple Bloom cried.

“I'm not after the dragon prince´s hand although I won´t deny the temptation of a bigger house to have. I´m here to ask you why you race so fierce, has your heart finally find peace?”

“Ah...ah don´t know! Ah thought ah knew but now, ah´m confused again! What should ah do Zecora? Ah donna wanna lose Spike but ah donna hold him prisoner! What´s the right answer?”

“You must look back your tracks when in doubt and more importantly, follow the kind spirit advice and listen to your heart,” and with these words, she disappeared in another puff.

“Zecora! Wait!”

“Zecora? Where?” Spike asked, looking around but before Apple Bloom could said she was just right there, Babs Seed tackled them and the three fell down a sliding hill.

“Apple Bloom!”

“Babs! What do ya want Spike so badly? Ya don´t really love him? Ya just have a crush on him! Ah´ve known him for years, we´ve been friends for longer, ah should be his one and true love!”

“Why? because you know him the longest? You're acting like a spoiled child who doesn't want her toy taken away! You're just the same as Diamond Tiara!”

“Do I get a saying on this?” Spike asked and both fillies shouted “NO!”

“So ah´m being spoiled but ya want to take Spike away from his family and friends!” Apple Blooms aid.

“I don´t want to take him away!” Babs retorted.

“How else are ya going to have a relationship? Ya going back to Manehattan and you´ll take him with you!”

“No! I don't want to take him to manehattan and even if I wanted to, I can´t!”

“What ya mean ya can´t?”

“Because I accept the scholarship!”

“...what? What scholarship?”

“My parents enrolled me in the School for Earth Fillies Future Talents! I´m staying there a full two years!”

“The School for Earth Fillies Future Talents? Along with Celestia School for Gifted Unicorns and the Cloudsdale Flight Academy it´s one of the most prestigious school for ponies! Congratulations, Babs!” Twilight said, teleporting in between them. “Also, I'm taking Spike with me. Sorry, girls!” Ans she teleported again.

Twilight hugged Spike while they fell down a cliff, Apple Bloom still cuffed to his leg and Babs falling along with them.

“I got you, Spike! And I´m never letting you go!”

“Twilight...Twilight, you're squishing me! Twilight, stop right now! Stop treating me like a baby!”

“I´m not treating you like a baby! Now, let´s go back home and get you back in your bed! Will you like a warm bottle of milk?”

“Seriously Twilight, I´m no longer a baby dragon! I grew up and you need to accept it! Let me make my own decisions, my own mistakes!” Spike insisted.

“But...but I don't want to lose you.”

“You won´t lose me, Twilight. But you need to let me go.”

Twilight looked at Spike, really looked at him, and finally saw that the dragon in front of him was a young adult and not a helpless baby.

“You´ll always be my baby brother, Spike.”

“And you always be my B.S.B. F. F.”

Twilight smiled and let go of Spike, teleporting in a flash, her tears staying in the air and hitting Spike.

“Umh Twilight, I think you forgot something…” Babs said and then she shouted as the ground kept coming closer.

“Babs, cuz, ah just want to say...that ah´m sorry. And you were right. Ah love Spike and ah love you too but ah can´t force you two to stay with me,” Apple Bloom said, her shackles finally coming loose.

“I love you too, Apple Bloom. And since I´m not going to see you in a long time, I want you to know that you´ll always be my favorite cousin.”

“I love you two so, now can we avoid being crushed to death?” Spike said and he grabbed both fillies and used his newly grown wings to glide and safely land.

Once they hit the ground, the three shared a hug.

“And we have a winner! Mrs. Babs Seed of Manehattan got the price!” the announcer shouted and all the ponies cheered.

“Congratulations, Babs Seed! You are the one and true love of Spike the Noble Dragon,” Celestia said, approaching them.

“What are you going to do now, lovebirds?” the announcer asked but an angry Spike broke his microphone.

“Enough! I´m tired of all of this! I never wanted this competition and I don't want you to decide for me!”

“But she wont the competition and according to the Code…” Celestia insisted.

“I don't care! I´m tired of everybody telling me what to do! You, Twilight, that dumb Code! I want to decide on my own!”

“And what do you want Spike?”

“I want…” Spike said and he took a good look around at all the ponies around him. “I want to stay here, with Twilight, in Ponyville. I´m not a bay but I still have a lot to learn. But I also don´t want to lose touch with Babs so...how about letters? I´m good with the correspondence,” he asked Babs who blushed.

“The best answer you could give, Spike. You've proven to be a mature individual and a true Noble Dragon,” a voice said above them and they saw Princess Cadence descending next to them.

“Cadence? What are you doing here?” Twilight asked.

“Well, I was in the Crystal Kingdom, cleaning up the mess on information about Noble Dragons that Shining Armor left behind when he disappeared all of a sudden this morning, when I learned about this silly contest,” Cadence said and looked at her aunt who just smiled. “I´m glad to see that Spike has shown enough maturity to call it off and took the adult decision.  Love can be difficult, even painful to some, definitely complicated but when you find it, the right decision becomes clear.” And she winked at the couple.

“But what about my mark? Shouldn't Babs have the mark?” Apple Bloom asked.

“Babs Seed, do you really love Spike?” cadence asked.

“I do. And I want to keep in touch with him.”

And upon saying these words, the mark in Apple Bloom vanished and a pair of glowing marks appeared on Babs´ back, glowing along with her incoming Cutie Mark.

“Your Cutie Mark!” Sweetie shouted.

“Look at the marks! That´s when Spike caught her the first time at the library!” Scootaloo said.

“Your mark was incomplete, AppleBloom. Neither of you felt true love and thus there was no sign. Now, it´s your time to chose and get the mark forever,” Cadence explained.

“Be aware that said mark will never disappear. Just like a Cutie Mark, it will remain with you two forever,” Celestia said, placing a hoof on her chest ornament, that now seemed to be guarding a secret behind it.

“I accept it,” Babs Seed said and she extended a hoof.

“I do too,” Spike said and took her hoof.

The mark of a dragon tail appeared on Babs´ hoof while on Spike´s chest the sign of her Cutie Mark was engraved.

“What´s that? A flower?” Scootaloo asked.

“An orange flower. Pretty appropriate,” Cadence said.

“So, Babs had the mark the entire time?” Sweetie asked.

“Yes, it only needed for them to recognize their love to appear,” Cadence explained and all the ponies nodded their heads.

“Guess this whole race business wasn´t necessary,” Scootaloo said.

“You know, this whole thing could have been over have you just simply asked me, the Princess of Love, about it,” Cadence said, raising an eyebrow and causing both Sparkle siblings to blush.

“Ah´m happy for both of you,” Apple Bloom said, smiling at the beaming couple.

“Hey hey, what about the whole Spike going to be expelled business?” Pinkie Pie asked, bringing them all back to reality.

“None Noble Dragon was ever expelled from Equestria,” Princess Luna said. “They left the kingdom on their own.”

“What? Why would they do that?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“What transpired earlier, attack by jealous dragons, was a common occurrence on the old days. Noble Dragons couldn't tolerate that ponies were attacked because of their presence. they left, before letting their love ones get hurt,” Luna explained, looking at Celestia who kept caressing her chest ornament.

“Noble Dragons are the symbol of undying loyalty and love. They prefer to abandon us rather than seeing us being hurt, just like you Spike, they took the most painful but adult decision,” Cadence added.

“So, that means I don´t have to go? Won´t other dragons come after me?” Spike asked.

“Times have changed, Spike. Now that you're the only Noble Dragon in Equestria, words will be known that the whole kingdom protects you and not even the most confident of dragons will try my wrath. After all, I can't let my baby getting hurt,” Celestia said, nuzzling Spike.

“Come on, I already said a hundred times I´m not a baby!”

“No, you´re a Noble Dragon,” Babs said, daring to kiss his cheek.

This of course, got all the ponies to shout and cheer, including Apple Bloom who shouted the loudest.

That night Ponyville got their biggest party ever, worth of a Noble Dragon and his partner.

Epilogue 1

“The Summer Star Sighting Show. The last royal event of the summer and one of the most prestigious held in the Capital City of Canterlot. The most influential ponies of Canterlot, from the msot distinguished families and organizations, all come together to witness the night sky in the shortest night of the year, the last before autumn. And this year is even more especially because for the first time in a thousand years, Princess Luna, fully recovered from her absence, will settle the night for all ponies to see.

“The most special night of the year...and I´m stuck here.”

“Do yah feel the need to talk to ya self, Diamond Tiara?” Apple Bloom said, stacking a pile of boxes on her back effortlessly.

“I was merely expressing my sorrows, you illiterate mule. And the correct word is monologize,” Diamond Tiara said, falling over her own pile of boxes.

Apple Bloom merely rolled her eyes and easily stacked her pile of boxes atop another one. She hated to admit it but Diamond Tiara´s suggestions had really helped clear the storage room. The way Apple Bloom was doing it before, the boxes were piling in a corner, threatening to fall over. Diamond Tiara had the idea of spreading them according to weight and now the room was looking much more organized. She may be rude and obnoxious but she had a talent for organization. Too bad she didn´t had a talent to carry heavy things.

“Well, quit ya mono-thingie and get moving yer hooves. Otherwise ya never finish cleaning the Cakes storage by the end of the day.”

“I don´t see the point in rushing. I still have two hundred more hours of community service to make,” Diamond Tiara said, dramatically falling over a box. “Then again, it's a fitting punishment for endangering the whole town. Not to mention this nasty ugly scar that still won't´go!”

Apple Bloom couldn't help but laugh at the sight of Diamond Tiara pouting. After the event with the dragon, Diamond Tiara was so shocked that she actually spent days without talking. Looking at her so devastated while Princess Celestia and her father gave her a lecture was such a sight that even Scootaloo  was feeling sorry for her. Watching her acting a little more like the old Diamond Tiara was actually a relief for Apple Bloom.

The whole town had been going slowly going back to normal as the summer approached its end. The novelty of Spike´s heritage had worn out and he himself let go of several of the most ridiculous rules of his Code. He still insisted in repairing all the damages caused by the other dragons but the rest of the town didn't let him do it all alone. Everypony, including visitors Princess Cadence and Prince Shining Armor, all helped rebuilt the town.

A few days later, Spike appeared in Sweet Apple Acres to formally court Babs Seed. It was as ridiculous and cheesy as you can imagine and the whole incident turned into a chase when Rainbow Dash learned she was technically still engaged to Applejack which totally ruined her chances with Soarin. It was a funny little scene, the last scene of the summer.

“Babs must be really enjoying the party with Spike. Lucky her, getting both him and the scholarship for the Earth School of Fillies Future Talents,” Diamond Tiara said, emphasizing the last words.

Apple Bloom raised an eyebrow, a little angry that Diamond was acting too similar to the old Diamond Tiara.

“But I suppose she deserves it. I still don´t understand how she could keep something so big hidden for so long. I mean, if I have got a scholarship invitation I would have told everpyony about it.”

“Ya wanna know why?” Apple Bloom said and once she got Diamonds attention she trew a box over her. “Because Babs doesn't like to brag. She´s smarter than you and me. She´s the smartest of the Crusaders, she studies hard and that´s why she got grades notes high enough to get a scholarship. Instead of, ya know, trying to use a famous boyfriend to get in.”

Diamond blushed and tossed the box aside, getting up. “Fine, I see your point. I guess I´m still a little angry because leaving this dirty town and going to that school in Manehattan has been my dream for years. And now it will never come true.”

“Your dad won't let you try the exam?”

Diamond Tiara shook her head. “Even if he changes his mind, I´ll still have the reputation of the pony that almost destroyed an entire town. I´m not  ESFFT material anymore.”

Apple Bloom approached Diamond and patted her in the back. Diamond just turned her head around which Apple Bloom figured was the best she would get and get back to work.

“I don´t need you to feel pity for me. I may be not be able to go to ESFFT but I will graduate from a famous college. I´ll go to Fillydelphia or Baltimare or even Vanhoover and I´ll show all of you that Diamond Tiara is the shiniest gem to come out of Ponyville!”

“Glad to see ya have cheered up. Now, can we please go back to work?”

“Why are you even helping me? Shouldn't you be with the other two blank flanks digging holes or whatever is you blank flanks do?”

“Sweetie Belle and Silver Spoon are at Rarity's Boutique, picking up some dresses for a dance Silver is preparing.”

“Yeah, i know all about it. I can´t go. In fact, I can´t go to any parties for the next five years” Diamond said, pouting.

“Well, Sweetie got you covered. Seems she and Silver Spoon are now really good friends,” Apple Bloom said,shrugging. She was giving her back to Diamond Tiara so she missed her looking a little sad at this fact.

“They spent all day talking about boys and dating. Ever since Sweetie got over her super secret crush on mah brother, she´s been all lovey-widey-eyed. Seems Silver Spoon is trying to help her get a boyfriend,” Apple Bloom keep explaining.

“Good luck with that,” Diamond said but Apple Bloom decided to ignore her spite. After all, Diamond was talking out of pain of losing her friend.

“Scootaloo can´t take them any more and now spends all day with the boys. I saw her the other day bossing around Rumble and other kids. If ya ask me, she'll end up making them fall for her if she keeps hanging around with them.”

“I didn´t ask,” Diamond said, by now turning green for all the envy she had. She used to had all boys in school following her around.

“Well, ah can´t stand being around any of them. Ah rather spent the last day of summer doing some actual work and since ah have nothing to do at the farm, ah may as well help you. ´sides, ah can´t let poor Featherweight do all the heavy work for ya.”

They turned to the side to see the scrawny, who had been present the entire conversation, struggling to get one single box atop a shelf. He blushed when he noticed they were looking and tried to look tough, lifting the box over his head, only managing to get the box to fall over his head, crushing him.

This caused Diamond to giggle and then blush when Apple Bloom looked at her with a smug.

“It´s his problem. I didn´t asked him to come hlep me!”

Apple Bloom helped Featherweight got up and send him upstairs to get some ice from Mrs. Cake.

“Ya know, ya could be a little nicer to the guy. Out of all the colts, hay, out of all the ponies in Ponyville, he´s the only one who still talks to you. Sorta,” Apple Bloom said, referring to how the pegasus still followed Diamond around.

“He´s..dumb. Like I said, I never asked him to help me. This is my punishment and I don´t need any help. Certainly not for a dumb colt who barely speaks a word,” Diamond said, blushing so hard that her whole argument fell flat.

“Ya not fooling anypony, DT. Why don´t ya just come out and say ya like him?”

“Ha, you´re one to talk! After you show off the entire town how you were Spike´s one and true love, then you let him go so easily!”

Diamond Tiara regretted those words the second they came out of her mouth. For a second, she thought Apple Bloom as going to hit her but she just went back to the boxes, not looking back at Diamond.

“It wasn´t easy.”

Diamond looked at Apple Bloom work in silence after saying that. She pushed boxes with no effort and kicked them with obvious resentment.

“That whole business with the mark turned out to be a major fiasco. If you truly were his destined love, how come you didn´t get him?” Diamond said.

“Ya heard Princess Cadence. Mah mark was incomplete ´cause Spike didn´t shared mah feelings and mah own feelings weren´t that sincere.”

“So you never loved him?”

Apple Bloom turene dover and Diamond almost gulped looking at that sad smile.

“Ah do love him.”

“...”

“But ah also love mah cousin Babs. And ah´m happy they´re together.”

Diamond kept quiet while Apple Bloom stacked some more boxes. “...I don't get you,” she finally said.

“It´s okay. Ah don´t expect you too. Point is, ah made mah choice and ah don't regret it.”

“But how could you let go of him? If you love him so much, why wont´you want to have him?”

“Thing is, ah think a always had Spike. Ah had it for years, as a friend, as family, he was always around, either with Twilight or alone. Ah guess ah got so used to him being with me that ah felt like what ah felt for him was I mean, ah sure liked being with him.”

“Yeah, it´s really nice having him around. Not just doing stuff for you but, he can be really funny at times…” Diamond said and once again blushed when she noticed Apple Bloom looking. Although this time, Apple Bloom didn´t had a smug but a sincere smile. “Do-don´t get me wrong, I'm not saying that I was falling for him or anything. I just…”

Apple Bloom giggled and went back to work but Diamond Tiara still wanted to talked.

“Still, you liked him and feel good when he was around, why let him go? I could never do something like that.”

Apple Bloom sighed and hold her chin on a hoof. “How can ah explain this? Remember when you still didn't have a Cutie Mark, how anxious ya were to get one?”

“I never felt that way. I always knew exactly what my Cutie Mark was going to be and, after I got a perfect score on that test, it appeared right on queue. Remember Mrs. Cheerilee said I got the highest score she had ever seen in years? She mentioned it again to my father during my Cutieceañera party, remember that?” Diamond said, playing with her mane in a haughty manner.

“Ah was a little busy that day. Mah point is about learning the true value of things.”

“I don´t follow you.”

Apple Bloom facehoofed. Was she so dense before? No wonder her sister was always so frustrated when she failed to learn a lesson.

“Let's try another thing. That tiara of yours is special, right?”

“Was my birthday present, yes.”

“And what if ya have to get rid of it?”

“Why would I? It´s my tiara.”

Apple Bloom rolled her eyes. “What if ya have to give it to your special somepony. Would you?”

“I...I don´t know.”

“First smart thing ya have said all day.”

“Hey!”

“Diamond Tiara, ah love Spike but ah´m not in love with him. Ah could let him go because ah want him to find his own happiness. Ah don't wanna force him and setting him up with Babs was doing that. He chose Babs, not because some mark told him to but because he wanted to,” Apple Bloom said.

“And you think those two are truly in love?”

“Ah don't know. Ah think that´s a matter for them to resolve. Ah´m just happy ah resolved mah own issues. Ah´m no longer afraid of losing either of them and ah´m no longer angry or scared. Ah´m okay,” Apple Bloom said, finishing with a smile.

“Tsch. I hate that you sound so mature.”

“Well, after all ah went through, ah believe ah´m a little more mature than you, Diamond Tiara.”

“Oh yeah, then how come you don't have you Cutie Mark yet?”

It was just like the old days with Diamond teasing Apple Bloom, only this time, she had a response.

“Ah can wait. After all, every Apple got their marks last of their classes. If ah don't get it today, ah can wait until next summer.”

Diamond pouted some more. She really hated that Apple Bloom acted so mature, it made her look like she was still a child. Didn´t she went through a whole ordeal too? She had also changed and wasn´t going to let Apple Bloom take all the credit.

Just then, Featherweight came downstairs, carrying a tray of sweets Mrs. Cake made for both fillies. With a haughty gesture, Diamond approached Featherweight and put her tiara over his head. He blushed and she blushed too, taking one sweet and teleign him to shut up.

Apple Bloom giggled, missing the fact that her flank was glowing and a mark appearing.

Epilogue 2

Princess Celestia looked at the saloon and her mind traced back to a long time ago, when her sister was missing, locked away in the moon as a shadowy silhouette, trapped in the form of Nightmare Moon.

Those were troublesome times, filled with regret and discord, Celestia had to spend decades trying to fill the void her sister left behind. One of those ideas was the creation of holidays, celebrations made to encourage the population and ease the dark memories of the many invasions and infestations that plagued the nascent kingdom. That was the origin of the Grand Galloping Gala, to celebrate the Princess now residing in Canterlot´s castle, the origin of the Summer Sun Celebration, the beginning of the new year for ponies but a painful reminder to Celestia of what she had to do; and, to a lesser scale, the birth of the Summer Star Sighting Show, a ceremony Celestia created to make ponies appreciate the night more, a gift for her lost sister, to show her when she returned that her kind have not forgotten her.

That was the original intention but, like most other celebrations, with time it had changed into a more traditional party, where rich ponies tried to pull as many levels to get their children into the most prestigious schools in Equestria, the Flight Academy in Cloudsdale, the School of Gifted Unicorns founded by the Princess herself and finally, the Earth School of Fillies Future Talents. Celestia looked at all the teachers and principals, all with different levels of boredom an annoyance, dealing with pestering fathers. Celestia knew that was a gross exaggeration and there was genuine talent to be found and teachers with a keen eye to a diamond on the rough, but to the casual pony it must surely look like a rather boring event.

“This party gets worse every year,” Gingersnap said.

Case in point, Gingersnap.

“Oh but look at the decorations! Everything is start theme, there´s constellations in the banners and balloons shaped like star animals! Look, looK!” Giddilee said, showing her less enthusiastic partner balloons shaped like Ursa Minor and Star Spiders.

“Every year is star theme, it´s a celebration about stars,” Gingersnap replied with her usual cynicism, causing her friend´s balloons to deflate. “Not that these ponies care at all. To them the stars are their spoiled children and not the ones in the sky. Princess Luna must be disappointed.”

“In a sense you´re right, Gingersnap. To these parents, their children are the only stars that matter because they´re filled with pride and confidence in that they will shine in the future,” Princess Celestia said in her common solemn tone.

Gingersnap blushed, thinking she had offended her.

“And as for my sister, I think she is quite pleased with the attention the event has gathered.”

They looked to one corner of the room where Princess Luna was being practically harassed by parents wanting to get on her good will. The night guards had to bark at them to keep them at bay.

“Poor Princess…” Gingersnap said.

“Should we help her?” Giddilee asked.

“I´m sure my sister can handle a little bit of pressure. Besides, she insisted to me to let her handle the ceremony this year. She says she has something planned for the occasion. In the meantime, why don't we go get a few sweets?” Celestia asked and Giddilee´s mood improved, her balloons inflating accordingly.

They moved to the desserts table, Giddilee bouncing not unlike Pinkie Pie but she soon got frantic. She wanted to take a sample of all the desserts but her hooves were busy so she shifted from taste to taste, not knowing how to get them. Gingersnap rolled her eyes and took the Ursa balloon from her hoof, frering one of her arms.

“You do remember you have a horn, do you?” Gingersnap said but her partner was too busy stuffing her mouth with cupcakes too notice and Gingersnap couldn't help but smile at her.

Celestia giggled at the scene and decided to leave them alone.

“Princess?” Gingersnap asked.

“I´m going to take a look around. You two...enjoy.”

“We will!” Giddilee said, grabbing one of Gingersnap´s arms, making her blush even harder.

Celestia laguhed to herself. She may noy be the Princess of Love but this past week, she had been playing matchmaker a lot. That reminded her of a certain young dragon and a young filly who were supposed to be in the party but they were nowhere to be seen. Celestia saw the filly parents talking to the ESFFT´s principal, who actually seemed quite pleased to have Babs Seed around. Celestia knew he was a stallion that put talent above status and had already accepted her. That made Celestia think about another filly, one who forever lost her opportunity to apply to the school but she was paying for a serious offense and, knowing the principal, he would have rejected her unless she showed signs of determination to improve. Celestia thought that the kid had determination but a misguided one.

With those thoughts in mind, Celestia walked across the room, greeting everypony she ran too while looking around for the elusive couple. Her attention shifted to a tablecloth that was shaking. Curious, she thought. The top of the table was filled with crumbs and Celestia smirked, lifting the cloth with her magic to expose the culprits.

“Uh uh…” Babs said.

“Busted,” Celestia finished while Spike gulped a whole cinnamon bun.

“Spike, you´re getting crumbs all over your tuxedo. Twilight will surely not approve.”

“Sorry Princess…”

“And you, young lady. That beautiful dress was a gift from Rarity. I know you´re not risking getting it covered with chocolate and sprinklers, are you?”

Babs said nothing and tried to hide her dirty hooves.

“There´s a perfectly nice party around. Why are you two hiding under a table?” Celestia asked.

“Well, all these geezer ponies have been pestering me all night for favours,” Spike explained, cleaning Babs hooves. “We only wanted to have a little privacy.”

Spike realized what he said and blushed along with Babs.

Celestia was amused and said, “I´m quite happy to see you two have such good chemistry together.”

“Please, don't say that word, your Majesty. If I have to recite the Equestrian Table of Elements once more…” Babs said.

“I thought you liked studying,” Spike said, a bit confused.

“I´m good at studying, doesn't meant I like it.”

“Heh, if Twilight was here she would give you such a lecture.”

“Hey, I´m smart but I don't want to spend my whole life with my nose under a book. I have other things I want to do! Once I´m in Manehattan, I´m going to a game of the Saddlers!”

“That sounds awesome! Spike said and Babs beamed. “Although I´m more of a Seaddle SonicBlasters fan myself.”

“You did not say that;” Babs said, looking pretty intimidating.

Spike however, wasn´t fazed. “What if I say so?”

They both locked sight and seemed like anytime now they will start a fight or making out.

Celestia coughed to get their attention back and said, “I see you two are getting along.” This caused the couple to blush together. “Glad to see you´re having fun.”

“Better than be in this boring party. I´ve been doing nothing all night but answer questions from the teachers. Ugh, so boring,” Babs said, grabbing her head.

“But you answer them all correctly! You should've seen her Princess! If this was fair game, she would have won like a dozen plushies by now!”

Babs had a permanent blush by now and Spike praising her wasn't going to make it go away anytime soon.

“Are you having a good time then. Spike?” Celestia asked.

“Yeah! I mean the party is pretty dull but I´m having a lot of fun with Babs!”

Babs gave him a gentle smile and took his claw. Celestia looked at them and smiled before saying, “Well, the party can be quite a dull before the sight event but the food is always delicious.”

Babs and Spike looked at each other and then offered her a cupcaked.

Celestia took it with her magic and said, “I think I´ll take another look around. I was looking for somebody but still haven't found them.” And with a wink she left them.  

Once the Princess left, Basb dropped her smile and asked Spike, “Are you really having fun?”

“Of course I am! Why do you ask?”

Babs gave him a sad smile. “With all that happened these past weeks…”

“Hey, I´m fine. Serious. Beside, this is a lot better than giving the weather report to the bees…”

“That Dragon Code has a lot of weird rules.”

“Tell me about it. Good thing I´m no longer following it,” Spike said.

“Are you sure about that? Think you made the right decision?”

“I´m fine, Babs. I´m not ditching the entire Code, there´s still plenty of good rules, about how being a good dragon, a good citizen and…” he said, taking her hoof. “A good husband.”

Babs recovered her smile and took his claw too.

“It´s goign to be hard to keep this long distance relationship thing,” Spike sighed.

“Hey, I have vacations. And if you ever come visit the Big Apple, you could stop by the school. Unless I´m in classes or in a field trip, or lab duty or library shift or…”

“I get it…”

Babs laughed but then said something that had been bothering her from a while. “Spike, you think you made the right choice? I mean, the whole mark thing is almost a coincidence. I didn´t even knew you back then…”

“Hey, I fell in love with Rarity the second I saw her. I´m not one to blame.”

“But still…”

“Babs, I already said it. I´m not letting a dumb Code decide which pony I love,” Spike said and smile at her. “You know, for all the troubles this Code gave me, it also gave me the best summer of my life.”

“Yeah,” she said, leaning her head towards him. “I had the best summer too..”

Spike and babs were about to kiss when they were interrupted by the loud, bombastic voice of Princess Luna

“Dear citizens, please follow me to the balcony where we should begin the main event!”

Spike and Babs shrugged and followed the mass of scholars, parents and the children they dragged along. The balcony soon became too cramped and they barely had room to breathe.

“This is awful..” Babs said, not really wanting to be there.

“Hey, wanna sneak out?” Spike asked her. “I know a way to a second balcony. Wanna come with me?”

“Do you even need to ask? You know that I'm a bad seed,” Babs said, smirking.

Spike took her by the hoof and took her to a hallway and a set of stairs that led them to a smaller but empty balcony.

“Nice” babs said, taking on the view.

“I know. Twilight used to come to this place to look at the stars. We always sneaked during parties to come up here.”

“Should I get jealous?” Babs asked, with an obvious playful tone.

“Hey, she´s like my sister! Although for a second I was worried I may end up engaged to her…”

“Let's not go there.”

“Yeah, let´s.”

Spike and Bab sat at the edge of the balcony and looked down at the partygoers. They were all chatting and trying to keep their children straight, flattening their hairs and adjusting their bowties. Princess Celestia was happily munching on her sweets, happy that Luna was dealing with the traditional boring speech. She actually seemed quite into it, reciting with ease the speech she herself had written.

“...and with those wishes, we sent our little fillies and colts, our children, for all the ponies of Equestria are one family, bound together by love and friendship.”

Spike and babs both shared a “yuck” gesture.

“And now, my gift to you, childrens of Equestria..”

Princess Luna raised to the air and made her horn glow. She made the moon slowly rise from its position in the sky until it reached a zenith, touching a set of stars in the sky and then making the entire field glow like fireworks. The Princess dispelled all the clouds with a thought and the entire sky shone like diamonds right before a rain of shooting stars began.

All the ponies gasped and took on the sight of the night lights. Parents hugged each other and their children, who snickered a bit when they saw them drop the act and start acting all lovey. A few colleagues exchanged awkward stares, trying to keep protocol but also holding hooves. Celestia saw Gingersnap put an arm around Giddilee who leaned over her. She then smiled to her sister who smiled back.

In the upper balconey, Babs Seed and Spike looked at the spectacle with awe, then looked at each other and finally, sealed the night and the summer with a kiss.

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