Aftermath: Operation Rari/jack

Looking into his comic book with a blank stare. He already knew it in and out, read it a dozen times. He had only picked it up to draw his attention away from the throneroom. As soon as he has seen Applejack´s and Rarity´s cutiemarks appear on the map, he had closed himself in to his room. He had made a good face to them for the whole Sunset Festival he felt fatigued on keeping this farce. He was not okay about them being a couple. Applejack once safed his life, he had alot of respect for her, and Rarity, he just wanted her to be happy, but why could she not be happy with him?

So he kept locking himself away and keep looking at the pictures of the Power Ponies. But, oh sweet Celestia, that was a terrible choice for escapism. He looked at Mistress Mare-Velous fighting side by side with Radiance and he kept wondering how long they have been a couple. It knocked on the door so he opened it.

"Howdy, Spike. May Ah come in?"

Spike could not be angry at Applejack for loving Rarity, so did he and to blame others to see that wonderful mare in her as well was just not right to him. But it would be a lie to say that he was enthusiastic about it. "Sure, come in."

Applejack looked around she sure had not been often in this part of the castle and settled to sit next to the little dragon´s bed with the open comic book on it. Spike sat down on his bed and so both of them were roughly on the same eye height for once. "So, what do you want?"

"Ah heared that ya were pretty upset about the proposal and Ah needed to talk with ya about what happend..."

"It´s alright Applejack."- said Spike, even thought his heart shattered doing so.

Applejack shaked her head: "It isn´t alright. It is a lie. This whole marriage was a scheme by the changelings!"

Spike´s eyes widen with joy, pleasure, delight, happiness, gladness, glee and all the other synonyms he could think of for the euphoria he felt right now. His tail waved like that of an overjoyed dog as he leaned over to her to question her: "You are not going to marry her?"

"No, Ah..."- Applejack stopped suddenly. A spark of hope glimmed in her eyes, even thought it contradicted everything she had heared so far. Could she really still be an Apple by law? -"Wait, Ah thought they already wedded us?"

***

The young dragon was sitting at Donut Joe´s having an an abundance of donuts. He should have brought the `good news´ and a request to Princess Celestia by now, but had stopped a Joe´s Donut Shop to wallow in self pity and sprinkles. The tall pale yellow unicorn stallion looked at the purple dragon on his counter. Spike used to come her all the time when he was living in Canterlot and since he moved to Ponyville he had been here just a few times, but still he was known here. Welcomed here like an old friend. Spike as spend countless hours talking to Joe when Twilight was here with her old friends. Minuette was always taking one of the tables in the middle of the room for them to join around and Spike sat most of the times on the counter. His establishment was the secret-not-so-secret-getaway for many students of Celestia´s School for Gifted Unicorn. This was the best place he knew for donuts and a nice talk to a great stallion that always has an open ear for everyponies problems.

Spike slammed his cup of hot cacao on the counter. A few splashes of cacao spoiled the board and the stallion just swept it away with a rag as Spike continued to poured his heart out to Joe: "... I mean seriously after everything I have done for her she suddenly decides that she is no longer into stallions? What gives?!"

Joe gave an understanding smile: "Even if you might not believe me, Spike, I know exactly how you feel."

"So what should I do now? Should I just go to Princess Celestia and ask her to be their priest? I... I really don´t want that marriage to happen." said Spike letting his head sunk to the counter.

"Well Spike..."- he put his hoof on Spike´s claw.and they shared a short moment of deep understanding each others -"when I am you I will not interfere with Queen Chrysalis´Operation `DreamCatcher´for the Canterlot Royalty." as he spoke this words his body transformed within a second into that of Spikes. Replacing the gentle hoof with a grabbing claw and pulled Spike over the counter.

***

Having listened to what has happened to Spike in Canterlot, Applejack ran down the stairways with Spike riding on her back. When were all of them abducted? If they got married in Canterlot and not in Ponyville, they maybe not got married at all! They burst through the door into the throne room again. Were Rarity was still crying over some Changeling had lived her dream wedding, about the finally sunk in comprehension that her reputation has been permanently corrupted by her marrying a mare in a widely known ceremony hosted by Princess Celestia. All of high society would know about such an event.

As well as screaming at the newly arrived Fluttershy about, how she could have confirmed such an obvious and dreadful lie of her and Applejack being a couple.

"I-I am sorry Rarity,"- stuttered the yellow pegasus, blushing at the mere thought of two of her friends finding love with each other -"but I... wasn´t aware... I don´t think that was me... ."