//------------------------------//
// Chapter 17 
// Story: A Dragon's Selection 
// by CartoonNerd12 
//------------------------------//

When it was late at night and the party had ended. Everyone had gone to bed expect for one dragon. Spike was still too excited by Applejack's decision that he had to make sure he wasn't dreaming the entire time it happen. He lingered in the ballroom where they had their beautiful dance. He could still see them dancing the rest of the night away not once letting go of each other. He felt nothing could spoil his good mood.

No sooner had he thought that, two guards rushed to him.

One said, "Your highness! You are needed in the dungeons at once!"

Spike's eyes widen by that request and rushed out right away with the guards right behind him until they reached the castle's dungeons. 

Shining Armor was there in his armor waiting for him with a look of despair on his face.

"Shining Armor? What's going on?" Spike inquired.

The stallion had sad pleading eyes as he grimly said, "It's bad, Spike… Twily… She… she was caught kissing a guard in a closet…"

The dragon's eyes widen in shock.

Shining beseeched in a low whisper, "I beg you… Spare her…"

Spike's eyes softened and touched the captain's shoulder, "Of course I would… you know I would… but my father…"

Shining sadly nodded, "I know, but knowing that you would spare her in a heartbeat brings me great relief… Thank you."

"But I do need to talk to her."

Shining Armor nodded again and led the prince down a row of cells before stopping at one and unlocked it.

Spike entered the dimly lit dungeon as Shining closed the door behind him and saw a purple unicorn crying in a corner.

"Twilight?"

She stopped sobbing and faced the dragon and cried out, "Spike! I am so, so sorry! I never meant to hurt you! I was… I was…" she wept again unable to get the words out.

"In love…" he finished for her.

She stopped and stared at him.

He approached her and gently held her, "Twilight, I'm not upset at you for falling for someone else… but I am upset that you didn't tell me this sooner… Why didn't you tell me this was going on?"

Tears ran down her face, "I was afraid to… I made a promise to you that you could choose me as a last resort but when I met Flash… I couldn't help myself… We kept bumping into each other in hallways that I think fate was telling me he was the one for me… I got to talk to him in private moments and I learned so much about him that I was right… I'm so sorry, Spike…"

"Twilight-"

"I understand that you never want to be my friend again and I would let you punish me in the worst way possible as penitence-"

"Twilight!"

She looked at him.

He sighed, "I don't want to lose your friendship. That's not an option. You've always been there for me and now it's my time to be there for you. I don't want you to feel obliged to me just because you found somepony else. Had you told me this sooner we could have avoided this situation completely. As it is, my father will demand your punishment and with my cousin here he will want to enforce it."

She questioned in concern, "What will you do?"

Spike frowned and admitted, "I don't know…"




"A CANING IS THE PROPER THING TO DO!" bellowed Torch through the mirror, "THAT PONY HAS BETARYED HER FIDELITY TO MY SON! THEREFORE SHE AND THAT WORTHLESS COLT MUST BE WHIPPED FIFTEEN TIMES!"

Celestia objected, "Lord Torch! You do not have a say in this! That girl may have hurt your vanity but she certainly did not hurt your son's heart! Only he can decide what must be done here as it his Selection!"

Spike could tell the princess was grieving over this, she may have looked strong to Torch and Garble but she was hurting on the inside at the thought of her dearest student getting in harm's way. Shining Armor and Cadence were in grief as well, they didn't want Twilight to be punished with such cruelty all because she fell in love. Luckily, it was still night so Twilight's parents were asleep so they didn't have to hear this about their daughter.

Ember's face was stone while Garble was smiling and not in a good way.

Torch scoffed, "My son is too softhearted to carry out the necessary punishment."

Garble spoke up, "Then allow me the privilege, Uncle. I would make sure that mare is taught a lesson for disrespecting our mighty family."

Spike shouted, "No! I won't let you!"

"Ooh, the twerp actually has fangs… well then squirt, what do you suggest?"

Spike scowled at the nicknames before saying, "Why can't we just let her go? By falling for someone else, she has made it easier for me to decide." he would say that he already made his choice but he knew he had to prepare his father for Applejack and in turn had to prepare Applejack of his family so now was not the time to bring it up.

"NEVER!" yelled Torch, "She has brought disgrace upon you and our family!"

Ember finally spoke, "That maybe true, Dad but I also agree with Spike. At least Twilight Sparkle was shown her true colors before Spike could choose her as his wife. So I suggest banishment, no caning."

There was a collective gasp as Spike saw the horrified faces on Celestia and Twilight's brother and sister-in-law's faces. Then he faced his sister who gave him a hard look as if saying, I'm sorry… but this is the only way your friend will be okay and to appease Dad…

Spike understood of course but it will leave Twilight's family and Princess Celestia in devastation over the unicorn's departure. Unless… It was risky but with some help he could pull it off. He announced, "I will take Ember's suggestion."

There was another collective gasp while Garble grumbled under his breath. Torch stated, "Good." then he addressed his daughter, "Well done, Ember. See to it those ponies are banished immediately."

Ember said in an emotionless tone, "Yes, Dad."

When Torch's image disappeared, Spike knew there wouldn't be much time and quickly went out of the room. He waited until Shining Armor and Cadence would come out and when they did, he signaled them to follow him into another room.

Cadence spoke first, "Spike, I know you have to follow your father's orders but I thought you would put up more of fight then that."

"Believe me, I would have but since Garble's here it makes things more difficult for me to go against him. And Ember's suggestion was the only thing that would work to appease my father while Twilight and her lover didn't get hurt. But I have an idea and I need your help."

The couple exchanged unsure looks but listened nevertheless to the dragon.




Twilight and Flash looked around their new surroundings of an underground cavern with all sorts of objects and signs like: Lucre Cellar, Respite Niche, Stellar Cartography, Jeffries Tubes, Athenaeum, Larder & Scullery, and Besom Repository.

Flash questioned, "Where exactly are we?"

Twilight brighten up as she explained, "In one of Star Swirl's old magical studies! I came down here with Princess Celestia at one point as she showed me all of Star Swirl's collection and his personal library!"

Flash gapped when seeing a large skeleton of a creature that was pining in the fjords. "Is that a hydra?!"

"Yup, Celestia told me she and Star Swirl used it to protect the magics and secrets that are down here. Of course… it's not needed anymore given this cavern is so well hidden in the mountain that no one could possibly find it unless Celestia or Luna showed it to you."

A voice behind them said, "Which is exactly why I brought you down here." they turned as Spike continued, "That way, Father and Garble will think you're banish and you'll be able to stay in Equestria. I'm sorry that you'll have to stay here until I get married and leave, but I hope that won't take too long."

Flash asked, "How are you going to make it look like we're banished?"

"Cadence and Shining Armor are already finding ponies that will be willing to take your place and be sent to the Frozen North, naturally when they get there, Shining and Cadence will let them live in the Empire. And that's why it will look like you were banished but not."

Twilight beamed, "Spike! That is absolutely brilliant!"

Spike shrugged with a smile, "What can I say? Your smartness rubbed off of me."

Twilight wrapped her arms around the dragon and he welcomed the hug, it reminded them of those hugs they exchanged back when he was much smaller.

"I wish you weren't so big to hug." she said, "I miss my baby dragon." Spike and Flash chuckled when she let go. "You are definitely not husband material for me."

"That's okay, I already found my wife so it's no big deal."

Twilight smirked, "So, when are you proposing to Applejack?"

Spike shook his head in amusement, "If it's that obvious then it just goes to show I was meant to marry her which hopefully will be soon. I have to make the official announcement to my family and introduce Applejack to them and we'll have to make the necessary arrangements of her moving to Dragonia with me. Now that her family gave their blessings she won't have to feel so bad about leaving them and spend the rest of her life with me."

Flash and Twilight exchanged lovingly looks.

Then Spike frowned, "Of course… this whole thing about your banishment might upset her…"

Twilight frowned as well, "I'm afraid you're right, and I'm sorry to say but you wouldn't be able to tell her about us hiding in the castle since she's the embodiment of honesty, what if something were to happen where by some freak occurrence that Flash and I were suspected of living down here and Applejack had to be questioned… She won't be able to tell a lie even if she wanted to."

Spike sorrowfully said, "Gosh… I hate to leave her in the dark like that… And you were her best friend here, I would like to give her some assurance that you were okay and that you're not far away from her."

"And you can. Just not now. We need to figure out a way for her to able to tell the truth without our secret being exposed. I don't like doing it anymore then you do but it has to be done. You know I'm right, Spike."

He sighed, "Yeah… I still don't like it, but for now… I'll do what I have to keep you both safe."




The next morning, Applejack woke up feeling happier then she could ever imagine and when she looked down on her sleeping sister, she gave a small sad smile and stoked Apple Bloom's red apple mane.

I sure am going to miss ya, little sis… but thank you for supporting my decision in marrying Spike… it won't be easy living away from you, Granny, and Big Mac… But with Spike I never felt such happiness in my life when I'm around him… I can't wait for the day I can call him my husband…

Suddenly her maids came in with sad looks on their faces and hung their heads when they faced her.

AJ questioned, "Gals? What's going on?"

Coco whimpered and started sobbing immediately which woke up Apple Bloom.

The filly said with weary eyes, "Huh? What's going on?"

Sugar Belle quickly comforted Coco as Night Gilder told her, "It's Miss Twilight Sparkle… She's…"

Applejack started to worry and fret, "She's what?! She's what, Night Gilder?!"

"She's… she's been banished." the pony hung her head in sadness.

Applejack and Apple Bloom gasped.