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...”