Once the attack had stopped, the girls were allowed to go back to their rooms for the rest of the night. Applejack had fallen asleep the minute she hit the bed but it wasn't long until a sneeze woke her up and she found two glowing green eyes staring back at her.
At first she jolted in fright until she recognized the eyes and asked, "Spike? Is that you?"
He softly replied, "It is… I'm sorry I woke you up."
"Just… why are you here? In my room? In the dark?"
"Sorry, I know it seems I'm a creep by doing this. But I couldn't sleep given what happen to you earlier tonight, you could have gotten capture or worst…"
"I am sorry about that but when I saw that figure flying past me I had to check it out and it's a good thing I did. Now we know the griffons have a probable reason for doing this."
"I just don't understand it. Why would a dragon want to take the Idol of Boreas to begin with?"
"I can't say for sure, sugar cube. I can only tell ya what I heard."
"You know… I was wondering if you would ever call me that again…"
She could tell from his voice he was smiling which made her smile too with her admitting, "Frankly, I was kind of missing it too, not just calling you somethin' sweet but spending time with ya…"
"I've missed that too. In fact being stuck in that safe room tonight made me realize why it would be so hard for you to sit back and doing nothing while living in Dragonia. I wanted to get out there to find you and bring you back to safety."
"Really?" her voice sounded hopeful.
"Yes…" he gently placed a claw near her face and slightly stroked a piece of her mane.
The contact alone made Applejack realize how much she missed his touch, it just felt so right with him near her. But then she scowled when remembering the look on Rarity's face when mentioning Spike.
Thanks to his night vision he saw her look and asked, "What's wrong?"
"Well… it's somethin' that Rarity did today… She brought up a point that she wanted you to be proud of us for we when finish planning the party for the yaks and changelings, and well she had this strange look on her face like she was mooning. I wonder, does she have a reason to act like that?"
Spike went quiet and the silence alone made her insides ache at the fact that Rarity's feelings weren't just one-sided on this…
Finally Spike sighed, "She does, we've… gotten closer this past week and well… there's something about her that makes feel all fluttery inside."
Applejack had to bite her lip from expressing the pain she was feeling right now. She felt like she was torn in two as her head scolded her.
Well what did you expect? You told him you couldn't marry him after all so he had to look somewhere else didn't he? Besides, remember how in the beginning you didn't want this? And you had him pursuing Rarity because you thought she would be a good pony for him to have?
Then her heart beats out.
Yes, but did he have to move on so quickly? I thought he liked me… He kept telling me how much he did and he practically proposed on Nightmare Night! I was his first choice!
Her head contradicted.
Exactly, was… Now he's got a new favorite and her name is Rarity…
Applejack felt like screaming right now but kept it in as much as she could.
Spike then started for the door and said, "I haven't forgotten what I told you last week, now that I have a clearer understanding to your needs I can try to make something work for you…"
Those words alone made her heart thump with joy, there was still hope… Still hope for some kind of future with this dragon prince…
"Good night, Applejack…" and with that he left.
The next few days proved to be hectic as Applejack and Rarity busied themselves with party planning. While it was hard working with the pony that was likely your closet competition for a certain dragon's heart, she had to admit without Rarity's help in this she would have been lost. Then when the day of the party arrived, all five of the Selected mares were dressed up in fancy dresses to impress their company.
Princess Celestia and Ms. Harshwinny came into the room and looked around the room to see the many decorations and food preparations that was there.
Celestia addressed them, "I must say girls, I am quite impressed by your choices."
Harshwinny stated, "Let us hope our guests feel the same way."
Just then trumpets blared announcing the arrival their distinguished visitors. Three large yaks entered the room with the middle one stepping forward and saying, "Ponies! Greetings, ponies!"
Celestia bowed before him and the others followed as the princess greeted him, "Welcome back to Canterlot, Prince Rutherford. I hope your journey wasn't too strenuous."
Rutherford spoke, "Journey fine. Now yaks make treaty with Changelings so yaks and Changelings be friends for a thousand moons!"
Celestia smiled, "But of course, but as we are still awaiting the arrival of King Thorax and his subjects, please, won't you enjoy some refreshment that three of the Elite in Prince Spike's Bride Selection have prepared for you?" she gestured to Pinkie, Fluttershy, and Sunset.
Prince Rutherford went forward, "Me honored."
Pinkie squealed, "I was so hoping you would say that!" she started offering the yak some cupcakes.
Rutherford took one with his tongue and declared joyfully, "This taste yummy!"
Fluttershy uttered in relief, "Oh, thank goodness…"
Sunset just rolled her eyes.
As yaks ate, the trumpets blared again and this time brightly colored bugs entered the room. The tallest of them all with antlers on his head approached and bowed before the alicorn.
She bowed in return as she said, "King Thorax."
"Princess Celestia." he smiled as he stood up.
"It's wonderful to see you again, old friend. Come, let me escort to the refreshment table where you shall meet with two of the Elite that have prepared for your arrival as you mingle with his highness, Prince Rutherford then we can have you two sign the peace treaty."
"That sounds wonderful." the Changeling King kept smiling, "I hope you don't mind but I have invited a friend of mine as well. He's never been inside the castle so I thought he could join us."
"Why certainly. Where is this friend of yours?"
"He's touring the castle right now, but he'll be here shortly he loves a good party, considering he travels across Equestria to make the best parties there are."
"How very interesting! I can't wait to meet him then."
Once she introduced Applejack and Rarity to him, they quickly offered food and drinks to him and his loyal subjects. As they ate, they complimented them.
Rarity giggled, "Oh, think nothing of it darlings, it was a pleasure doing this for you."
AJ pointed, "She's right. We're mighty honored to be hosting y'all."
Thorax gestured to the cowgirl, "I thought recognize you from the interview. I can't tell you how happy I was to hear you speak about Spike like that."
Rarity motioned, "Oh, do you know Spike personally?"
The king nodded, "I do. We met during a royal summit and became close friends because of that." he looked at Applejack, "You managed to explain his personality so well that it makes me feel at ease about him going through this. As a creature who shares love with other beings, it worried me to no end that Spike would have no love in his life because of this Selection nonsense but never had I been so glad to be proven wrong."
Applejack blushed, "Well… he is all I said he was… and more…"
Rarity sighed lovingly, "He certainly is…"
Thorax beamed when seeing the mare's faces. Knowing these two really cared for his friend made him feel so joyful that he ended up radiating that feeling all over the room causing the room to be more uplifting then before. Eventually that caused Pinkie to dance on a table much to Harshwinny's horror but it made the yaks and changelings laugh to which Celestia and the girls (Sunset more or less begrudgingly) joined in.
Suddenly an orange stallion with curly brunette hair and a cutie mark of a cheese sandwich in the shape of an accordion came into the room and marveled at the sight. Seeing the merriment all around him made him feel excited and actually joined the dancing mare!
Pinkie was surprised by the colt but upon seeing him acting just as wacky as her, a smirk formed on her lips that she gestured to him of having a dance contest. The stallion had a smirk on his own face and motioned to accept her challenge.
The entire room was bewildered by the stranger and Pinkie dancing off on the table until they stopped and they applauded as Rutherford pointed, "Ponies most funny on table. Yaks not stop laughing."
Thorax chuckled, "Typical Cheese Sandwich. You never could resist doing something crazy for a party."
Pinkie inquired, "Ooh! Is that your name? Cheese Sandwich?"
Cheese smiled, "That's right, little pony. Name's Cheese. Cheese Sandwich. And I already know you, Pinkie Pie."
Rarity said, "No doubt because she's part of the Selection."
The stallion replied, "Actually, it's because I knew her from a time long ago…"
The pink mare was intrigued, "Really?"
"Uh-ah, it all started when I stumbled onto a party one day that you happened to be throwing!"
She gasped, "Really?!"
He exclaimed back happily, "Really!"
She bounced around him, "Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh!"
When Cheese got into the story, every pony around him paid close attention even Applejack but then she felt a tap on her back and turned to see Spike! Before she could exclaim him being there, he had a finger to his mouth, making a shushing motion and gestured her to follow him out the room. She was unsure why he was doing this but she did as he wanted her to and once they were outside in the hallway he turned back to her.
"We must be very quick about this so no one finds you gone."
"Why? Where are you takin' me?"
He smirked, "You'll see, it's a surprise." he kept walking forward leaving AJ to her thoughts.
A surprise? What in tarnation could he surprise her with? He already gave her an apple tree, what else could he possibly get for her? Not that she was complaining she just wasn't sure she would like what he had in store for her when he went through such trouble to prepare it.
He stopped in a wing that seemed to be off limits and that concerned her when Spike passed a velvet rope and went to a door.
"Spike?" she asked, "Are you sure we should even be here?"
He gave another smirk, "Nope. All the more reason we're doing this now while everyone's busy with the party."
She tilted her head in confusion and her concern grew more as he led her into a place that looked like it was underground but had all kinds of trinkets and bobbles around, then they stopped at another door. Spike told her with a smile, "Close your eyes."
She was hesitant at first but obeyed his request. She could hear him opening the door and heard… hoofsteps?
"Okay, Applejack, you can open them now."
She did and what she saw made her gasp. For standing right in front of her, was Twilight…