In the old rickety tavern, laid three ponies drinking at the bar. Twilight had water while Applejack and Rainbow Dash had beers. They clinked their drinks and took a drink, Twilight lasting longer than both.

"So what's with this Rarity? What's she got with either of ya?" Applejack asked and slammed her glass down on the counter. The three waited in silence, wincing and waiting for the counter to snap. It didn't.

They had fixed the bar at least, it had nails jutting out and boards misaligned on it, but it held up. There was still a hole in the floor and the shelves behind Applejack were still snapped, and there were still some glass shards on the floor.

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes and groaned. "She acts like she's better than everypony else. Well, I tried to score a date with her and she rejected me! Then it became a little gag between us and she said nothing else, then today we started talking and that's when I saw how snappy she really is." She crossed her hooves and leaned back in the chair. She almost fell back when Twilight's magic caught her and set her chair straight.

"Well stop talking to her, I doubt I can kick her out -more or so that she won't listen- so don't mess up my tavern again. Otherwise I will make ya pay," Applejack said rudely and took another drink. As she did, the doors to the tavern opened. Without opening her eyes, "We're closed for the night, and tomorrow."

She opened her eyes to a pink mare with a bright smile. She laughed and bounced behind the counter with Applejack, she nuzzled up to Applejack who just looked disgusted. She pushed the mare off of her, "Sorry, I didn't know it was ya."

Pinkie Pie smiled widely. "Well duuuuuh!" She looked at Rainbow Dash and Twilight with a smile. She ruffled Applejack's mane, throwing her hat off in the process. "You didn't have your eyes open, silly!"

Applejack picked her hat back up, "Yeah."

Rainbow Dash leaned on the bar which struggled under her. "So dragon pony, what brings ya to AJ's old tavern? Always thought Twilight and I were her only friends."

Pinkie Pie giggled. "We're cousins! So I help out as an official apple!" She puffed out her chest and saluted, only to burst into laughter. She paused and looked at the awfully built counter. "What happened here?" She pointed at it.

Applejack rolled her eyes. "Rainbow got in a fight with that witch, they broke the bar, shelf" -she pointed at the shelves behind her- "and the floor boards," -she pointed at the caved in floors with broken boards sticking straight up- "though it ain't the only thing that needs fixin' round here."

Just as she said that, a piece of wood fell from the ceiling with a couple of stuff animals. Apple Bloom and Babs Seeds smiled innocently, but guiltily when they stuck their heads in the whole to see Applejacks depressed look.

"You two get away from there! Your dear big old sister and brother'll fix it," an elderly pony cooed. Applejack threw her head in her hooves in despair.

"We ain't never gonna be ready for the celebration! We'll be too busy fixin' up to even bake!" Applejack exclaimed and turned to Pinkie Pie. "Please? I'll pay, just please help us." She begged. Even Rainbow was aghast.

Pinkie Pie put her hoof up and shut her eyes. She opened her eyes and spoke, "Applejack. You are family, undefined and unsure and un-validated family, but family. Of course, I would help! With no pay!" The mare bounced to the back part of the tavern and returned with nails, a hammer, and a board of wood.

The three ponies moved to a table in the center of the tavern underneath a rickety fan that buzzed. Applejack groaned once she looked up at it. "I hope we make it in time for the festival. I don't think we can open the tavern until we get everything sorted, and that ain't gonna be for at least three more days."

Twilight smiled gingerly. "Look, AJ, we'll do anything we can to help you. Of course as long as it doesn't require actually building, as you see how that turned out." Everypony took a look at a working Pinkie Pie. They turned back to each other. "But we could get your supplies and help you cook for the festival."

"No can do!" Pinkie bounced as she pried the last board off of the broken end. The top for it fell with the pile of boards. Applejacks stomach churned.

"Why not?" Rainbow asked, flying out of her seat. She yelped sat back down to rub her wing, she winced once she tried to touch it and gave up. "I mean, Twilight has baking books I could read to learn, and I'd have her to correct everything I do."

"I think I'd be faster if I just baked," Twilight murmured.

Applejack shook her head, "Only apples cook for apples. Since we don't know if Pinkie's a real real apple, we just let her cook half of the stuff, and she loves baking!" She took a look down at her drink and took a drink from it, slamming it down on the table once she was done.

Magic encased each of their beers and threw them outside. Both shot Twilight a look. She rolled her eyes, "Look, we have three days to fix up this tavern and bake all your treats to sell. Do we really need to be drinking?" Applejack and Rainbow looked down, ashamed.

"Alright, so what do you supposed we do, Twilight?" Rainbow Dash scoffed and rested her foreleg on the table, crossing her legs and smirking as if she was queen of the world. Twilight sighed and then smiled.

Her magic dug through her satchel bag in the corner of the room that already began collecting dust, and found a scroll and pen. She smiled happily at the two. "Make a list!" She exclaimed.

The two groaned.

In the Canterlot castle, there are an abundance of rooms. In one, laid the Prince of Ponies and a female who seemed typically annoyed.

The room was blue, along with the crystal blue bedframe with a cobalt blue canopy. The floor was blue-white checkered and the bed covers looked like deep blue velvet. The furniture was a light blue, the princes white coat and blonde hair didn't stand out as he laid on his back on his bed.

The girl by the door was listening to him talk, even if she wasn't really listening. She had a light blue coat with almost white hair. She used her magic to make her hat a puppet, mimicking when the prince spoke.

"Oh please, like you're worth anything," he said and the girl put her hat back on. "Still, we need a plan. No matter how much I hate to admit it, that little weakling was right. There's not a mare in this town that doesn't despise me, or will let me get close to her."

The girl cleared her throat loudly and he started chuckling. "Like you count, you're my princess," he flashed her a smile and she just rolled her eyes and walked towards his bed.

"Why does it matter that I'm not the one you marry?" She asked rudely. "You keep telling me I'm your princess, and yet you plan to marry another!"

He lifted her head with his hoof and smiled smugly at her. She bit the inside of her cheek, she wanted to leave. "C'mon, you're going to help me. Then, we'll throw my 'princess' in the dungeon, and you and I will rule Equestria! Sounds like a lovely plan to me," he smirked and she backed away.

"Then why can't I be the one you marry? Seems like a better entrance," she crossed her hooves. "Think about it! The prince chooses a princess just as powerful as him!" She jumped to her hooves, wonder filled her eyes. "At the very end of the coronation we'll reveal that dragons are to be outlawed! And that ponies can't use magic other than royalty..." she rambled, but the prince stopped listening.

"Think about it, Trixie," Blueblood said sharply, cutting her off. "We'll find them a queen, one they can trust," he jumped off the bed and walked over to her. He could tell she was cowering from him, which only made him get closer to her. He started circling her like a shark. "And then they'll lose hope in everything once something they trusted so much has no power," he whispered in her ear with a smirk.

"So.... wouldn't it be the same if I was queen? I mean, they trust somepony, then they realize she's a villain." She said bluntly, as if it was so obvious she was smart. Blueblood wanted to growl and get rid of her, but sadly, she was needed for his plan.

"Seeing that a mare they adore can do nothing only makes them feel more hopeless," he rolled his eyes and jumped back on his bed. Trixie cowered in her stupidity. She hated feeling stupid, but she was excited for the festival, and the fact she would get to rule Equestria.

No one would call her stupid and worthless, and during the festival she'd be the best showpony. She'd steal watchers from dragons! She loved the festival, every year she went and excelled. It was the one day of the whole year she felt as if she mattered, until Blueblood came along.

He didn't treat her like every other girl, he actually respected her and came back to her. She felt so important and special, she never wanted it to end. That was, until this plan came up and he would have to go to another girl, and treat her like she mattered. He said he couldn't even see Trixie anymore.

"T-that's smart," Trixie mumbled, it really was to her. She knew Blueblood wasn't an idiot like her. Besides, the nicer she was, the nicer he was.

"Of course it is! And you're going to help me pick a girl," he smiled at the praise, he was too lost in himself to see Trixie's appall.

She was mortified. Her prince would have her pick his new princess? It was as if she was just handing him over to some worthless mare in town. Like giving up one of the reasons that made her believe she mattered. She couldn't believe he could ask that of her.

"W-w-what?!" Trixie yelled, taking him out of his trance. He simply stared darkly at her, she bit her tongue. "I-I mean... w-w-why me? L-like I have any track of which girls y-you've, uh, b-been with," she stared at the ground, just waiting for him to make fun of her.

"It seems you're right," he admitted, though it wasn't something difficult for him to do. Trixie stared in shock and the praise went straight to her head. She smirked defiantly. "Though, I still think you should help. I am doing most of the work."

Trixie rolled her eyes. "Well, duh! I know what a girl likes, no matter what you say, you have to admit you think bronze is all that wins a girl," Trixie stood to her hooves and her smirk never left her. "I know what makes a girl weak! Especially out of the things you do," she could see his interest on his face and her smirk only got bigger.

"Great, you found something useful for you to do," Blueblood dismissed it as nothing and she stared in disbelief and horror. Not that he noticed. "All that's left is to pick a girl," he sat in thought.

Trixie scrounged for something to make her useful. "You've never been with that Rainbow Dash or Applejack. I know Rainbow likes being the one in control, but certainly she would fall for a night with a prince in shining armor." She tried. "You two do have something in common."

Blueblood rolled his eyes, making her shut her mouth and telling her to stop trying. "And I know their both brutes, like they would fall for flowers and compliments... besides.... I don't want some cowpony, their disgusting."

Trixie wanted to object, but she kept her mouth shut and just listened as he thought aloud.

"There's that inventor, though she has that Rainbow and Applejack to keep her away from me," Blueblood thought. "That dragon pony seems to be the only option, though I couldn't possibly marry a pony who likes dragons, even if its a lie. I would have to spend time with her and those beasts." He groaned as he leaned back against the headboard.

"T-t-there is Fluttershy and Rarity," Trixie bit her tongue and looked away the second he looked at her. His stare made her feel irrelevant, yet she loved him and how powerful he was. His stare could paralyze the Great and Powerful Trixie, of course he was powerful all on his own without the money and royalty.

Blueblood sat in thought. There was a spell preventing anything happening to Fluttershy, so that was out of the options. Rarity hated ponies and dragons, she was obviously as poise as a princess, so of course she would fall for a prince who liked her. And she was a witch full of magic capabilities... A smirk spread across his face.

"Rarity, that's my princess," he muttered and Trixie turned away, fear grabbed at her heart and she needed to get away.

"Um, I'll go... I can help tomorrow or the day after... you certainly don't need to know how to make a girl like you now," she mumbled and left. Blueblood didn't care, he was still lost in thought about his new princess. Once she left, he noticed the door swing, but went back to his thoughts.

The second she left she cried and ran down the halls to the front of the castle. She wanted away from the suffocating air and environment that was the ponies castle. The second she burst through the front doors, the guards eyes shot to her. They looked... worried?

She didn't notice, she ran as far as her legs would take her and turned down an alleyway where she was sure she was alone. Worried faces and expressions watched her, though no action was made. She sat in the alleyway, panting as she covered herself in her cloak and used her magic to push her hat farther down on her head.

She cried.

"You're what?" Garble growled and Spike rolled his eyes.

They were sitting in the only colorful room in the whole castle: The Ballroom. It had the black and white checkered floors, but the pillars sparkled white, the candles in the chandelier were lit normally and not with dragons breath. There were decorations for the festival, bright oranges and pinks.

There was the charm of Equestria, the symbol for the Summers Sun Celebration, plastered on banners and posters that covered the walls. The chandelier was pink crystal, the walls were closer to a light blue than a grey.

The whole room made both dragons sitting in it gag, but it also made the queen sick, so it was the only place they could talk without her worrying about her 'son'.

"You're making a bet with a prince and leaving us here to celebrate without you?" Garble asked. Spike had just told him of his and Bluebloods deal for the festival. The encounter with Rarity made a lot more sense to Garble. Spike already had his eyes on a mare, yet it was one who earned her hatred from hating his kind. Garble concluded that Spike was just love stupid and would ignore his deal sooner or later.

"Yeah, basically," Spike said bluntly and Garble growled. "Look, there was no way I could decline whenever that jerk offers anything that includes competition."

"Yes you could've!" Garble snapped. "That little pony prince scum-bag doesn't deserve even an ounce of your time, much less a whole festival!"

"You don't know him like I do," Spike said, trying to keep a level head. "If I don't beat him at something he wouldn't let me live it down. And I have to reign over Equestria with this guy."

Garble finally shut up and started listening. Though he didn't want to, him crossing his arms told Spike he would be quiet and hear him out. Spike smiled.

"I didn't want to, but I'd rather not have him use a girl as something over me." Spike sighed. "I wish Celestia just picked Cadenza, whatever her name is, and not him. At least then I could rule with something that has respect for his subjects." Spike glowered at the thought. Blueblood disgusted him, and the thought of having to rule next to him made Spike hate him even more.

Garble sighed. "Well then, I guess you have to at least win a girl by the festival." Spike jumped up cheerily and smiled at his friend who was still sulking. Then, Garble straightened up and crossed his arms, "Don't think whatever your thinking, it'll be nice to have you out of the castle for once."

Spike rolled his eyes and smiled. "Thanks Garble. You do know you have to come with me, right?" Garble's confidence snapped and he just stared at Spike.

"What? I have to go with you to that namby-pamby pony show?" Garble asked. He looked so defeated as he slouched over and his arms hung from him with no force moving them. Even his wings drooped with defeat.

Spike's power went to his head, as it usually did whenever he could tell Garble didn't want to do something. He walked past Garble, "Ember is super protective, so of course she would want my guard to accompany me." He looked back and saw Garble defeated. He rolled his eyes.

"I don't expect you to be there, just run off and do whatever," Spike smiled and turned back to the ballroom door. Before he could open it, they swung open to Queen Ember. Spike stared nervously at her as she held open the doors. She crossed her arms.

"If you're finally going to the festival," she said and pointed at Garble. "Take pony-hater with you. Surely no one would attack, but there are rumors the outlaw dragons are going to show." Her eyes narrowed at the guard, "So don't go run off."

She turned and slammed the doors behind her, shutting them with her tail. Spike looked at Garble and laughed nervously. "Guess you're gonna be there after all," he said and rubbed the back of his neck. "But if outlaw dragons do show up, then we get to see them." He tried to cheer Garble up, but his friend looked so confused.

"How'd she know that?" Garble asked and pointed at the door.

Garble soon left to do something else with his 'rebellious' life, leaving Spike alone to his thoughts he wanted to burn alive.

He sat in the middle of the ballroom, his tail swaying in boredom behind him. He groaned and threw a comic book about a foot away from him. He had tried to read it to get his mind off things, but one of the characters reminded him too much of the thing he was trying not to think about.

The festival he didn't want to go to was in only two days and a morning. And he had no idea what to do, he knew there was the sun raising, speech, dragon performance, and then a day of performances a cheers. That was it.

He had no idea if Ember was going to force him to be apart of the crowd he didn't really want to see. Sure, he was determined to be king, and to be a great one too, but he wanted to live as a normal dragon before he had to rule. And currently, he was expecting to at least appear on stage next to Ember, making him a soon-to-be leader, reminding the dragons that they had hope.

Hope wasn't something he could give them, not when most dragons stayed in the dragon lands and rumored that Spike would lead them to a world without ponies. Spike couldn't lead a war, much less fight one.

The festival would remind him he's to be king in a few months, meaning he had to start learning how to be one. He started listening to Ember ramble about being a ruler, he started caring more, he left his friends constantly just to get a chance to better understand what it was like to rule over dragons.

He had only a few months, and he already had a high reputation among dragons. If he took on this bet with Blueblood and lost, then Blueblood would brag and bring every dragon to shame because their prince couldn't win a stupid girl. Yet, if he picked anything but a dragon, he'd be hated and criticized. When all dragonesses wanted was to party and have fun, none wanted to be a queen.

The first thing on his mind was his encounter with Rarity the night before. He really wanted to believe he could win her over with something special and magical. After talking to Garble, he realized she would just use him to take Equestria and rule it for her own as a dictator.

He didn't want that for anybody, especially not the dragons who even now still lived in hatred, no matter what history books said. Celestia and Dragon Lord Torch became friends, that didn't mean others had to follow. Most dragons only stayed because they were at least protected and cared for, most ponies simply avoided the creatures.

But that encounter with Rarity made her seem so sensitive and princess-like. She made herself look like a damsel in distress, fear consuming her forced smile that faded into a real smile before she left. Spike couldn't fathom that anyone could have that sort of acting, but he knew she was the witch and was determined to find another girl at the festival.

He needed to, a queen would tell them they didn't need to hate ponies, for they were stronger than hatred. But every time he imagined a queen giving a speech, he imagined the punk Rarity fitting in, like a dragon in a ponies coat.

Then, the image would fade into her cackling and setting the dragon lands aflame, leaving dragons suffering and fighting to leave, only to die right as they got to the gates to Equestria-

He shook his head and stood up, assuring himself that the pony-like room was to blame. He gritted his teeth in determination as he pushed open the doors and finally felt like a prince.

He stared at the empty foyer, not a piece of life in sight. He would pick a different girl than the witch, he would ensure his subjects a queen who they could trust. Even if he had to fall in love with a dragoness, he would pick someone they could trust.

He stared at the empty room, spine straight and his arms behind his back. His queen didn't matter about how he felt, the choice mattered and would be made for the greater good of the kingdom.

Not whatever he wanted.

He'd be ready for the festival, he'd be ready to celebrate and give his kingdom a life. He'd finally be a prince and the festival wouldn't be for a queen like Blueblood intended. The festival would be for the dragons that lost faith in everything and depended on the rock underneath them. He'd see his subjects strive with power and happiness, something he wanted to see.

They didn't follow Twilight's list. Well, if you count doing the list backwards as doing the list, then they did the list. They were supposed to fix the hole in the floor first since it was were the most ponies working would walk across. And the hole in the ceiling was meant to be third to last because Apple Bloom and Babs could survive without a part of the floor they never really used.

They fixed the ceiling first because the two fillies wouldn't stop whining. Then they were supposed to fix the shelves, they ordered the extra alcohol first and had to put it on the floor while they built the shelf. Then, they were supposed to check if everything was reinforced before sweeping, dusting, and polishing. They polished twice, swept horribly, and dusted the dust into the floor and didn't sweep it up. Then they checked in anything needed reinforcements and had to do it all over again, this time correctly.

Applejack and Rainbow constantly argued about who could hold the hammer, who was stronger, who could win Twilight's heart, who could polish faster-

Twilight always had to step in, and despite her best efforts, she couldn't get them to do the list in order. Surprisingly, they got done with a morning to spare to bake, and since Granny Smith and the fillies were working, most of the baking was done.

While Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash cuddled up to each other -they got along spectacularly during their time together, though Pinkie made it clear she was taken- Applejack cooked away in the kitchen, being her stubborn self. Twilight couldn't take it anymore and got up to go check on her.

She walked into the kitchen and found it was a complete mess. Dough and ingredients covered the rustic brown walls and hardwood floors. The table meant for three was moved to the corner and housed a white-green checkered cloth.

The stove and alternative refrigerator was just as rickety as the rest of the tavern. The pots and pans were covered in powered ingredients and ingredient covered hoof prints. Applejack was nodding off as she waited for a pie to bake. Twilight looked out the window and saw the celebration would start in a few hours. She took a few steps towards Applejack who woke up at the sound of the creaking floorboards.

"Hey-" Applejack yawned "-shouldn't you be asleep?"

"I could say the same for you. C'mon Applejack, I slept all day and you have to run a stand later. At least get a three hours sleep, I'll get Big Mac to help m-" Twilight said and was cut off by Applejack.

"I said no, don't you know what traditions are? We follow 'em cause their sacred to our families," Applejack said, sleep sealing her eyes shut as she leaned against the stove.

"No, I don't know what traditions are," Twilight said quietly as he levitated a squirming Applejack to her sleeping bag. Applejack shot up but once Twilight covered her up in the blanket she passed out. "But I know they aren't worth you health."

She sat their and finished up the baking and cooking with a happy tune in her head. At five, Granny Smith and Big Mac helped her set up the stall outside where some ponies were doing the same. Like the Cakes and Ditzy.

At five thirty, they got the sleeping ones awake and walked outside for the celebration, even if Rainbow Dash and Applejack leaned on each other and got a few extra minutes of sleep.

Twilight and Pinkie shook them awake once they saw the princess step hoof on the stage.

"This is it." Twilight breathed.

Author's Note

Tell me what you think! Hope you enjoy!