Spike Loses His Queen

When he pulled away, Spike turned to the crowd and declared, "Arrange the marriage!"

The audience gave out a huge cheer, but Apple Jack felt unsure and shouted out, "Wait!"

The crowd went into complete silence.

"What? What is it?" Spike asked, "You're all I ever wanted. You're beautiful!"

"Well, thank you. But what else?"

"What else?"

"Is beauty all that matters?"

Big Mac cleared his throat and shook his head; AJ gave him a glare.

Twilight said through gritted teeth, "Spike… What else…?"

"I uh… Uh, what else is there?" he shrugged.

On the side, Rarity smacked her face while Twilight dropped her jaw and Big Mac had wide eyes. Apple Jack could only lower her head in sadness.

The carriage was ready to go as Big Mac and Apple Jack were ready to set for home.

"We tried, Princess Twilight." Big Mac said, "No pony can't say we didn't try."

"Yes…"

"Say good-bye, AJ."

Apple Jack had her head turned away, "Good-bye."

"Good-bye…?"

"Prince Spike."

Twilight nudged him, "Mother…"

"Spike…"

He sighed, "Good-bye, Princess."

The king and princess headed into the carriage. Apple Jack gave one last look before she got in, but Spike turned his head away. She solemnly got in and the carriage rolled away. He looked up in regret.

Twilight stomped back into the castle, yelling, "All these years of planning… Wasted!"

That night, it was cloudy and stormy. Spike, Fluttershy, and Rarity were in one of the game rooms with Spike and Fluttershy playing chess, but Spike was pacing back and forth while Rarity was lecturing on what happened that day.

"'What else is there?' She says, 'Is beauty all that matters?' and you say, 'What else is there?'!"

"It was dumb, I know!"

"Have you ever considered writing a book? How to Offend Mares in Five Syllables or Less."

"Um, it's your turn, Spike." said Fluttershy.

Spike made his move without realizing the mistake he made, "I didn't know what else to say! Give me a break!"

"Oh, dear… You lost your queen, Spike."

"Ugh! That's twice in one day!"

"Think, you're a smart dragon; you must see something other than Apple Jack's beauty," Rarity told him.

"Of course! She's like, you know? And how about… and then…? Am I right?"

Rarity had her eyebrow raised while Fluttershy gave him a confused look.

"I don't how to say it! Wait… I'll prove to her! I'll prove my love!" he saw a move he could make and shouted, "Checkmate!"

Fluttershy looked down in surprise, "Huh?"

It started to lightning as a shadowy figure saw a carriage approach on the road.

"Today's the day…" the figure hissed, "Everything you own… everything you love… Will be mine…"

In the carriage, Big Mac asked, "I don't get it. What else did you want him to say to you?"

"I need to know if he loves me, for just bein' me…"

The carriage screeched to a halt and Big Mac looked out to see a shadow with glowing eyes blocking the way. To him, it seemed all too familiar… "Stay here." he ordered to Apple Jack.

The shadow then made a menacing chuckle and launched itself into the ground…

Spike and the two mares were making their way down the stairs when suddenly, the front doors burst open. A guard entered and dropped down.

The dragon prince rushed over to him, "It's one of King Mac's guards!"

"We… were attacked…" the guard was saying, "A dark shadow…"

"AJ…" Spike said under his breath and he rushed out.

"Spike, wait!" Rarity called out, but Spike was too far ahead.

With the help of his chariot pullers, he arrived at the scene of the carriage that was tipped over. He shouted as searched around, "Apple Jack! AJ!" Then, he saw at his feet her golden necklace with the apple jewel on it. He picked it up, remembering he was told that he gave it to her on the day of her birth.

Suddenly, he heard a groan coming from some shrubs and found Big Mac, injured.

"King Mac!" he rushed to his aid.

"Spike…"

"Who did this?!"

"It came so quickly. A dark shadow overwhelmed us…"

"Where's AJ?"

"Listen, Spike, it's not what it seems… It is not what it seems."

"What's not? Where is Apple Jack?!"

"AJ… she's… gone…" he sniffled.

"Here," Spike ordered to his guards, "take him back to Canterlot and get a doctor. See to it he'll be alright."

The guards nodded and helped Big Mac into the chariot. Once they had lifted off and were out of sight, Spike looked at the necklace again and screamed high to the sky, "No! AJ!" He kneeled down in sorrow.

Just north of Canterlot was a mighty empire, or at least it was mighty, since it was ruled under the tyranny of an evil unicorn. The ponies who were once happy there now were sad and enslaved. Near the empire was a lake, which was currently occupied by an orange swan.

The evil unicorn, Sombra, was on the banks, "Don't be sad, my little pony princess… The spell doesn't even last the whole day… When the moon comes up…"

On cue, Luna raised the moon from afar. Its reflection touched the swan from underneath and the water surrounded her. She transformed back into a pony. Meanwhile, not too far away but still unnoticeable to Sombra, two mares by the names of Maud and Trixie watched the transformation.

"And that is how it is done every night… But only if you are on the lake…"

A pink pony with long straight hair nervously moved towards him, "Um… King Sombra?"

"What?!" he barked at her.

"The crystal ponies are griping about their freedom again. And I was wondering the same thing."

"You'll be free when I say you're free! Right now, you serve to me!"

"Yes, sir…" Pinkamena backed down.

"Now… where were we? Ah, yes… Princess, this sort of thing doesn't give me any pleasure, but what I really want is your brother's kingdom…"

"What for?! You obviously have your own!"

"Perhaps… but I don't want one kingdom; I want them all… And the first one I plan to take over is yours… but I can't do that without us being married…"

AJ nearly gagged at the suggestion, "Oh, there is no way I could ever be saddled to a vermin like you!" she started to trot off.

"I wouldn't advise that… Once the moonlight leaves the lake, you'll turn back into a swan… No matter where you are…"

Apple Jack stopped in her tracks, turning back to him in fury, "You no good… low down…"

But he just grinned evilly.