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.