Based on Robert Louis Stevenson's The Black Arrow.

During the War of the Sun and Moon in medieval Equestria, young Spike, a knight in training, doesn't know who he can trust when a band of outlaws accuse his guardian, Lord Tirek, of being responsible for his father's death. His suspicions grow when he meets a young colt who claims to have been kidnapped by Tirek. Soon Spike will have to choose between his duty to his guardian and his duty to his heart.

Cover by Steadfast Hoof

After being shipwrecked in Illyrimane, Applejack disguises herself as a stallion so she can make her own way into the world and serves the Duke Spike, who sends her to woo the Lady Rarity for him. Applejack is soon shocked to discover that the unicorn has fallen for her instead!

How will she untie this tangled knot? More importantly, how will she win the dragon she loves when he thinks she's a boy?

Based on William Shakespeare's play Twelfth Night.

Loosely based on The Selection Book Series by Kiera Cass.

35 mares. 1 dragon. The competition of a lifetime. Applejack never thought she would end up in a Selection to win Prince Spike's heart much less actually wanting to see if she has a future with the dragon after all! For Spike he is going to have to make a difficult decision if Applejack can't stay after all.

"I dunno man, maybe it's not me. Maybe, it's...the rest of Equestria, ya know?"

Suffering badly from the almost inevitable rejection of his long time crush, Spike chooses to man up and cry in a bar instead of his bedroom. Looking to cheer him up, the squad assemble to help him realize he still has a place in the world; even if that place doesn't include Rarity.
Hopefully Soarin and Discord will be able to bring him around, as well as resolve some of the new tension between him and Applejack (who has had to put up with his insufferable brooding for four nights straight).
And what better a way to do that than over a couple pints of the Apple family's infamous Sweet Apple Cider.

Edit: This is meant just as a random, slightly mushy, humorous, light read. Just something that came to mind and thought I'd write just to see how it goes down. I have added a sentence or two and slightly revised the description, so that you all get a slightly better idea of what to expect. This does include Applespike.

Book 1 in the friendzoned series. Prequel has been written. The link is in the final chapter, 'The survival guide'.

Love can be a fickle thing, it can be ever changing. It can also be one of the hardest things to find. However honest love can be the worst of them all. When someone finds their true love could they ever truly love anyone else?
For Applejack that saying is stronger for heart than any others. Even if she found her love she could never try to get him. Not with his heart filled by another, it wouldn't be honest.
However if someponey's were there to push him in the right direction maybe their hearts could become one.

A big shout out to my editors Rocket Lawn Chair and Shadowghostalex
also to the artist of this photo tinacrazy29