“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?”