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.”