*Ten Years Later*
Apple Jewel walked into town carrying bushels of apples on her back as she made her way to her aunt's bakery. She briefly stopped when she spotted two ponies in particular who were her best friends since childhood. A pink earth pony with purple and white curly hair and she also had swirly eyes making her very unique from everypony else, something Jewel could relate to. Then there was her other best friend, an orange pegasus with his bright blue eyes and a light purple mane.
"Morning, Screwball! Morning, Fire Spark!" she called out.
They saw her and gleefully went toward her.
Screwball exclaimed, "Hey, Jewel!"
Fire Spark smiled and inquired, "Got another delivery to make?"
Jewel replied with a grin, showing off her fangs, "You know it. Aunt Sugar Belle always runs out of apples all because her apple products always sell at a fast rate."
Screwy pointed out, "You know, we haven't seen much of you lately, any reason?"
Apple Jewel responded, "Just that the farm needs to be taken care of, I'm working my hardest to help keep it running. With Granny Smith gone and Aunt Apple Bloom traveling Equestria with Aunt Sweetie Belle and Aunt Scootaloo, Ma and Uncle Mac have been making sure that the farm doesn't go under. Daddy has been helping but they could always use the extra hoof."
Screwball asked, "What about your brother?"
"Pear does help on occasion but lately he's been busy courting Miss Perfect…" she said that last part bitterly.
Fire mentioned, "You know Gemstone's not perfect."
Jewel muttered, "Yeah, well, she sure acts like it…"
Screwball giggled, "It's no secret that you two couldn't get along ever since we were kids."
"Because she was so fussy and she tried to act like a princess! And she still does to this day! It's so annoying!"
Fire gestured, "And the fact it bugs you that your brother got along with her so well got under your skin."
Jewel humphed, "You would think that because we're twins we would be on the same page… But nooooo, he just had to gain that stupid crush on her!"
Screwy said, "Gem's not so bad, in fact, I think she and your brother make a really cute couple."
Fire pointed across the marketplace, "And there's your proof."
Jewel turned to see her brother wearing a hat like their mom's and a green handkerchief that was their Great-Grand Pear's around his neck as he was buying flowers for a unicorn mare that had a snowy white coat, blue mane with a slight curl, and bright blue eyes.
Gemstone was giving loving glances to Pear Jam as he presented her the flowers, then they rubbed noses before moving on.
Jewel had seen enough and quickly told her friends, "Well, I need to go, it was great seeing you both." she galloped on before they could say another word.
Princess Celestia and Princess Luna sat across from the conference table as they watched Dragon Lord Ember give out a grave expression.
Luna inquired, "What was this important matter you had to bring up with us? And it better be important because I was resting before I go on my night duties."
Ember stated, "It is important." she paused before solemnly saying, "It has to involve with the Selection…"
Both princesses had wide eyes from the statement with Luna asking, "But did you not dissolve the Selection and as such made a new peace treaty with us to replace the Selection's purpose?"
"Yes. But recently I discovered an old chamber in my castle that had Dragon Lord Flamethrower's old documents and among them was the original peace treaty you made with him…" she took out the old scroll and showed it to the sisters then she held up the Bloodstone Scepter to it and the scroll began to glow. She explained, "It's magically binding to the scepter which means, we dragons are forever bound to keep peace between our lands by a Selection taking place."
Celestia and Luna gapped at this information.
Ember sadly pointed, "It gets worst, I'm afraid."
Celestia inquired, "How?"
Ember replied, "As my son is the only heir I have, he cannot participate. And since my cousin Garble has been banished from our lands so his line cannot do a Selection, so that leaves only one choice…" she let them fill in the blanks.
The royal sisters glanced at each other in shock as Luna commented, "They're not going to like this…"
Applejack asked her husband as they made their way to Twilight's castle, "What do you suppose this is about?"
Spike shrugged, "Who knows? When I burped up that message, it just said: Come to the castle immediately!"
AJ said, "And that sounds like trouble to me."
They finally got to the front doors where Flash wearing his golden armor let them in. They gave him a questionable look and he in turn shrugged, telling them he was just as clueless as they were before he escorted them to the throne room where Twilight was looking worried along with Celestia and Luna. But once Spike saw Ember he ran up to hug her. Normally she would begrudgingly accept the hugs but Applejack noticed right away that Ember was hugging him back in a tight embrace making her grow more concern about what was about to happen.
Spike had noticed the tight hug too and when Ember whispered, "I'm sorry." he grew alarmed on what was going on.
Ember took a step back and sighed, "I hoped it wouldn't happen again… but now… we got no choice…"
Spike and his wife exchanged glances before he inquired, "No choice?"
Celestia and Luna walked to them with the sun princess stating, "It would seem that Dragon Lord Flamethrower had pulled one last feat before his time as Dragon Lord ended. To insure that his word was law…"
Spike gulped and was almost afraid to ask, "What did he do?"
The three princesses exchanged sad looks before Ember declared, "He bounded the treaty with the Bloodstone Scepter… which means…" she sighed, "The Selection must go on…"
Upon hearing those words Spike and Applejack were beyond shocked. Their mouths were gapped open, making them speechless. Finally Applejack shook her head in disbelief as she uttered, "No… no… it can't be…" then her voice grew loud to the point of shouting, "The Selection was suppose to die after Spike and me got married!"
Spike agreed, "That's right!"
Ember motioned, "Believe me, I thought so too… But when the scepter took me down to that chamber, I knew it was telling me we had to continue the Selection, no matter what we did to change it…"
Tears welled up in Spike's eyes, "So… I guess we have to find another prince to take up the cause…"
Ember lowered her head, "I'm afraid that's the problem… My son is the only heir I have as I have no other children… And Garble's line is no good due to his banishment, which leaves with only one option…" she eyed them sadly.
Spike and Applejack gasped at what she meant. Then AJ shouted, "NO! No, I won't let them take part in this!" she stomped her hoof for good measure.
Twilight's eyes were full of tears as she told her friend, "Believe me, Applejack, I don't want this for them either but we don't have a choice…"
Applejack was on the verge of crying while shouting in rage, "But they shouldn't have to go through it, not like us!"
Twilight put a hoof around her and comforted her as best as she could.
Spike looked desperately at his sister, "Is there really no other way?"
Ember somberly nodded her head.
He looked down at his wife with sorrow and kneeled down to her ear, "AJ… You know we have to…"
She looked at him with tear-stain eyes, uttering, "It's just not right, Spike… It's just not right…"
He softly replied, "I know… I know…" he took her in his arms letting her express her anguish.
Apple Jewel was in the kitchen of the farmhouse making her apple-gem smoothies that she made ever since she was a kid. Naturally since there were gems in the drinks, her mother's side of the family couldn't have them. But her brother and father were able to indulge in them and they told her that they were the best smoothies they ever tasted. Of course, not wanting to leave out the rest of her family, she made actual fruit smoothies for them that were just as good.
She was taking a sip when her parents walked in with small smiles on their faces.
Apple Jewel asked, "So what did Aunt Twilight want? It must have been important since you two practically ran out of the house once you read that message."
Applejack unsteadily replied, "Oh, it was."
Spike took over, "But it's taken care of now."
Jewel brightly smiled, "Great! Oh, and there's some things I want to go over with you regarding sales at the marketplace, I think I know a way we can improve those. I'll be right back." she left the room.
Applejack and Spike exchanged sad looks with her telling him, "I can't do it, Spike… I don't have the heart to tell her…"
Spike softly said, "I know… but better she hears it from us then one of the princesses."
She sighed, "You're right…"
"Would it help if I went first?"
She nodded.
Apple Jewel came back then with a list and noticed the somber looks on her parents' faces. Making her frown in turn and asked, "Mom? Dad? What's going on?"
Spike gestured, "You better have a seat, sweetheart. Your mother and I need to discuss with you something very serious."
Warning bells went off in Jewel's head as she slowly inquired, "What? What is it?"
Spike took a deep breath and stated, "It shouldn't have to happen… but it did… Jewel, honey… We would not be asking this of you if there was another way, but since there isn't…" he paused letting his words set in before continuing, "We need you to take part in the Selection…"