Secrets in Equestria

When Spike woke up, he was in a large cave with the sun shining through. The back of his head hurt but he remembered what Ember said and he was a little worried to find out what a temporary mate was. “Hey, you alright?” Ember came up next to him with some sapphires and gave them to him. Ember chuckled nervously unsure of what to say. Lucky for her, Spike did.

“First off, thank you for the Sapphires and second tell me what a temporary mate is?” Spike asked not sure he was ready for the answer.

“So basically, uh, we are like lovers but in a less romantic way?”

Spike could guess what she was trying to say and hoped he was right. “So were dating then?” Ember cocked her head in confusion. “Basically we don’t go beyond hand holding and a kiss now and then.”

“Exactly.”

“So here’s another question, why does beating Garble mean this?” Spike had so many questions and he wasn’t sure that he really wanted the answer.

“Garble was most likely to win the Gauntlet of Fire which is a test to see who will become the next Dragon Lord. That’s why I was with Garble. I didn’t want to be but that’s how it is. Honestly, none of the dragons here interest me. The only one that comes close is you. It’s why I’m glad you won and this is sounding really bad isn’t it?” Ember shook her head with her head in her claw.

“No, not yet anyway. Why is it called a “temporary” mate?”

“It goes like this, the Dragon Lords daughter gets matched up with the most likely to win the Gauntlet of Fire. If a dragon beat the most likely to win in a fight, which none have until now, the daughter goes to the winner. The daughter being me.”

Spike looked disgusted by this. He couldn’t believe that any father would be ok with their daughter being treated like a trophy but he did have to know something. “This is only temporary until after this test?”

“Correct. In which case I go to the winner.” Spike face palmed knowing that regardless of what happened, Ember was a trophy. Ember ignored the action by Spike and continued. “Usually those deemed most likely to win do but there were a few times in the past it didn’t end up that way. The royal family keeps in the royal family this way. The son of the Dragon Lords are lucky. They don’t care who they end up with in the end. It doesn’t matter which female wins the Gauntlet, the males are always happy. It also helps that any female who competes in the gauntlet wants to be with the male. Daughters though are passed around. We have to listen to whoever we end up with and we must back them up no matter how bad what they do is. I haven’t had any freedom since i was old enough to, Date was it?" Spike nodded. "I want to leave this place but Garble won’t let me. I’m sorry for everything I said before by the way.” Ember looked down and away from Spike.

“There must be some way out.” Spike didn’t know much about dragons but he did know one thing, everything had a loop hole even if it wasn’t a good one.

“There is one, I could kill myself but then I would be a disgrace and besides, I’m no quitter.” Ember stared Spike in the eyes.

“There isn’t any other option.” Ember shook her head and Spike grimaced at the thought. He hated to see Ember so trapped in something that she didn’t even want a part of. It wasn't because he cared for her necessarily but she was a prisoner in her own home. It wasn't right. “Is there something, anything I can do?”

“You can, oh boy, um, huh.” Spike waited patiently while Ember tried to find the words. “We can become permanent mates. True I wouldn’t be able to find any dragon I truly loved but at the same time, the only dragon here I remotely like is you. I’m sorry Spike, I’m not thinking about you at all. You’re free to choose between being with me or not being with me. I’ll probably just end up with Garble again but who needs to be happy at all right.” Ember’s eyes widened in shock and immediately apologized. “I’m so sorry, I’m guilt tripping you aren’t I. I’m so, so, sorry again.”

Spike folded his arms and shook his head. “Don’t be, you want a way out and I don’t blame you. Can’t you participate in the Gauntlet?”

“No I can’t, it’s too risky.”

“How is it, may I ask, that we can be permanent mates as you put it? Wouldn’t that disrupt the whole Gauntlet, Fire lord thing?”

At that point, Ember dead panned and answered. “You beat the current fire lord in battle. That is a feat no dragon has ever done but then again, you’re not just any ordinary dragon. You get to become most likely to win the Gauntlet and become Dragon Lord because you beat him. You stay Dragon Lord so long as you and I become life mates. Other wise you can be beat and I’ll be given to whoever beats you. If we become life mates, we stay together.”

“Right, I need some time to think.” Spike stood up and walked out of the cave. The way he saw it, there was no way for Ember to be happy where she was. At the same time, he wasn’t ready or old enough or at least he didn’t think he was old enough to marry. “Ok, pro. I can make Ember happy by getting her away from here just for the sake of doing something nice. Con, there is no promise that we would ever feel attracted to each other. Pro, I can see myself with her. Con, Ember may not like being around ponies. Nice or not, she is a dragon and I have no idea how she would react.” Spike made a pro and con list as long as one of Twilights to do lists. In the end, there was one more pro than con. He walked back into the cave to see Ember talking with her father. Spike cleared his throat and grabbed their attention. “Ember, we need to talk.” Ember rushed over to Spike both nervously and slightly excited. “Ember, I’ve been thinking really hard about this decision and I just need to know one thing. If we were to become forever mates, would I need to stay here?”

Ember opened her mouth to speak but the thought had never come up before. “It’s hard to say, you aren’t technically the Dragon Lord yet.”

“If you do decide to marry.” Ember shivered. “Sorry, I know you hate that word. If you two were to become life mates, you would have to go wherever Spike goes. However, Spike will have to come back to participate in the Gauntlet." Torch said.

“Why, that makes no sense at all?” Spike wasn’t going to marry to help Ember just for him to lose at the gauntlet and have her trapped again.

“It would only be formality, all other dragons would lose on purpose and you would end up the victor. You will then take over as Dragon lord.” Torch waited for Spikes decision.

The idea of winning a competition by default wasn’t appealing to Spike however if Ember was happy, things could change for the better there and his pride could take a hit. Most importantly, Ember would be happier. “Alright, I will become her permanent mate but only if she wishes it.” Ember and Torch were shocked by this. They couldn’t believe Spike had just given Ember a choice. The shock wore off on Torch as soon as he realized that Spike didn’t know how things worked. Ember was just happy to have a say in something. “So Ember, it’s up to you.”

“Thank you Spike and yes, I accept.” Ember ran to the back of the cave never having been so excited about anything in her life. She finally had the chance to have some freedom.

Torch had a few words he wanted to have with Spike. “Alright, I understand that you do not understand dragons very well so let me give you some advice. You are the male and you make all decisions without question. I only let this marriage happen because she seems fond of you and I care about my daughter. You also are able to take care of yourself. I don’t like the idea that you live with the ponies. I’m sure it’s not your fault of course and so I’m simply cautious but I expect you to behave like a dragon. Have I made myself clear?”

Spike bowed and smiled. “Of course Torch, I understand. I will do my best.” Torch smiled and went to check on Ember. Spike was being honest, he would do his best but not in being what Torch thought to be a dragon. Spike would do his best in making Ember happy and free as her happiness and freedom were the only reasons for this marriage decision. Torch was right, Spike didn’t understand dragons and he still didn’t. The rules, customs and traditions just made no sense to him. One thought did occur to Spike though, what would Twilight say when he returned married. He looked to the back of the cave and whispered. “Luna, help me.”