Montrose

Chapters

I Like You *edited
In The Air
Austere *edited
Apple Shampaloo
I Ate My Gluestick
Rocky Road Ala Rumble
Not The First
Love-Sick-Stomach-Ache
Sweet, Sweet, Sweetie Resistance

I Like You *edited

Ah, young love.

"Come on!"

In times such as these, it's normal for a filly or a colt to suddenly develop such an emotion for another, Even at such a young age.

"Nope."

Though a heavy subject, love is taken very lightly at times. Not just by the youth, but adults as well. Love is something you express, either through physical or oral presentation. Physical mostly, due to it being a verb and all.

"Give it back!"

"Nuh-uh!"

Anyway, it can be hard to find the courage to express it, if it calls for it. When you fall for another, the first instinct is to tell them. Simple, right? Or is it? How often can one say they love another in strict confidence, without fear of loss of words or sweaty hooves? Tying tongues or cotton mouth, weak knees and the sense of falling?

But, I'm moving ahead of myself and the subjects at hoof. So let's tuck away the word *love for now...and settle for another of more likely meaning*.

"For Celestia's sake, Rumble!" Scootaloo cursed. "Give me my saddle bags back!"

She pouted, reaching for her bags that dangled just out of her reach. They were held airborne by her longtime friend, soon to be beaten to a pulp, Rumble, who swiped them and hovered above her while laughing. "Come on, Rumble! I'm gonna kick your flank!" She laughed, grabbing the pegasus by one of his hooves.

Rumble could do nothing but smile and giggle at the filly, her hooves holding on to his causing a sudden hue on his muzzle unnoticed by the orange pegasus. she hung on to the saddle bags and tried her best to pull them out of his grip, but it was all for not, despite the fact Rumble was barely even holding onto them anymore.

Across the road, Sweetie Belle and Applebloom watched with all knowing smiles.

"They are so cute together!" Sweetie Belle gushed, Applebloom was simply laughed at the two.

"I wonder what Rumble's keeping her waiting for?" She giggled.

"If It's what I think it is, he needs to hurry before Rarity picks me up." Sweetie said, loud enough for Scootaloo and Rumble to take notice.

Scootaloo groaned as she helplessly tugged at her saddle bags' strap, avoiding eye contact with the colt above her. Rumble hovered back into her view, only for her to look away again. He then moved in closer so that he could look into her eyes, laughing as Scootaloo moved again. That was one of the things he found the cutest about her, she could never talk to him while looking at him. She would always stare at the ground or look away, kicking at the ground.

As much fun as he was having with the tom-colt, Rumble couldn't bare to wait any longer, his heart beating faster and faster. His stomach churning as his nerves shook his every limb, but he still looked calm and cool to the orange pegasus. Scootaloo stared down at Rumble's hoof and at her own, how nice her shade of orange was with his calming shade of gray. She could feel her heart flutter and feel it beat in her ears. As much as she couldn't bare to look him in the eyes, Scootaloo knew they shared the same color.

The two stood partially staring at each other, oblivious to the two mares approaching the other fillies present.

"Heya, fillies!" Applejack greeted, Rarity following behind her. The farmer mare turned to the other two foals across the way, furrowing her brow. "Uh...is there somethin' goin' on?"

Rarity turned to watch as well. "Hmm, indeed. Sweetie Belle, are Scootaloo and Rumble having a disagree-"

"Shhh!" Both fillies hissed at the mares, surprising and silencing them indefinitely.

Come on, you two... Applebloom thought to her self, her hooves cross in hope.

Please say what I think he'll say, please say what I think he'll say! Sweetie Belle chanted mentally.

Okay, Rumble... Rumble thought to himself. ...If you're really gonna do this, you've got to now!

Scootaloo looked up at Rumble. He was gazing into her eyes, she could feel his grip slowly slip away from her saddle bags and the shaking in his hoof. He hovered down to the ground so that he stood right in front of Scootaloo.

"Rumble?" She asked, getting closer to have a better look at the colt. "Are you alrigh-" Her eyes went wide as he leaned forward past her muzzle and whispered into her ear.

"Scootalooyou'recutefunnyandniceandIlikeyou!" He said, then let go of the bags completely before turning away and flying at light speed in the other direction, leaving only a cloud of smoke stuck in the same shape as his take off stance in his wake.

Scootaloo stared wide eyed with her jaw hanging open, Sweetie Belle, Applebloom and their stared with mouths agape.

"S..Scootaloo?" Sweetie said, looking at her along with Applebloom. The orange pegasus stared off after Rumble, watching him disappear in the distance as her face tinted as red as a tomato.

He...likes me?

~*~*~

Miles away in a cloud home far above Sugarcube Corner, two doors opened and closed with a slam as Rumble leaned back against his bedroom door. He panted and slid down the door's surface, wiping the drops of sweat from his fore head with a hoof.

"Well..." He panted. "...I did it."

But still, a question hung in the air. What did he do? He stared at his bed across from him, finding it more comfortable than the floor and hovering over to it, plopping face down on to his cloud sheets. His heart was going a bazillion miles a second, his head swarming with thoughts like bees in a beehive. He turned over so he could stare at the ceiling, finding his breath again and finally slowing his heart.

Okay... He thought. I told her, after this long I finally told her ...But why do I feel like I'm missing something?

He then sat up, his eyes wide and his wings spread apart. "I just left her standing there! Oh, I'm such a dork!"

He fell backwards onto his bed with a fluff, his hooves covering his eyes as he pretended he was invisible. He wished he was invisible, wished he was in Manehatten, the moon. He wished to be anywhere but where he was, under his bed seemed like a nice place to hide for the rest of his life. Yeah, he stashes food under there so his brother wouldn't take it. All he needed was a couple of bottles of apple juice, some conics, maybe some Wonderbolts magazines.

"I wonder if Scoots has any-Hey wait a minute!" Rumble shouted, looking around to find that was alone in his bedroom and then face hoofing himself. "Get it together, Rumble. Nothing is bucked here. All you can do is let it sink in over night, and confront the problem in the morning."

Rumble sat there on his bed for a few moments, then threw his hooves up in frustration. "Agh! This was a stupid idea!"

Suddenly, his bedroom door opened and a large coal colored stallion burst in. He lept on to Rumble's bed, launching the surprised colt into the air and catching him.

"Sup, Rumbler!" Thunderlane said, ruffling Rumble's mane causing the colt to laugh as well. "Why are you screaming around up here?"

Rumble hopped out of his older brother's grip and landed on his bed. "N-No reason! I...I had just accidentally kicked my bed and hurt my hoof!"

Thunderlane looked at his brother quizzically, then to the bed. "Okay, I believed when you said mom hid our Hearts Warming presents on the roof. I believed you when you claimed you saw a giant dragon snatch up the unicorn from the Boutique and destroyed half the town while I was on call for weather maintenance in Baltimare." He landed right in front of his brother, raised his hoof and lightly kicked the bed. "But if you're telling me you hurt your hoof on a cloud, you got another thing coming."

Rumble rolled his eyes. "Agh, whatever." He pouted, sitting on his bed while facing away from his brother. Thunderlane sat beside him and wrapped a hoof around him.

"Aw, don't be like that. Why are you all upset?" Thunderlane asked. "Come on Rum, You can tell me!"

Rumble sat there in silence, then eventually sighed. "Alright fine." He turned to his brother and pointed an accusing hoof. "But it doesn't leave this room!"

~*~*~

"Uh, Scootaloo?" Applebloom poked her friend in the shoulder, not getting any signs of life. "Uh, it's been like half an hour now." Applebloom poked the pegasus again, rolling her eyes. "Scootaloo, hello?! Is there anypony in there?!"

Applebloom continued to poke Scootaloo for the remainder of that afternoon, not once did Scootaloo move from her standing position staring off into the distance where Rumble flew off.

In The Air

You never know what to expect in the world at times.

Nor where to expect it, that fact is scary to some. Others don't even flinch at that, making them seem strong or ignorant or too strong of will to let it affect them.

Before that eye opening moment, Scootaloo was one of those ponies. Hooves always planted firmly into the dirt, stare strong, wings flared, ready for anything coming her way. She never would've expect a surprise attack from somewhere so close, from someone like him. She wasn't upset, to make that clear.

In fact she...to be honest, she didn't know what to think.

On Rumble's side, his confidence was at it's peak from the moment he left Scootaloo and was down hill the second he got home. Now why do we feel this? Could it be that when the initial confession is made, all of the nerves boil over, but at the same time trigger a kind of chemical reaction in our brains. Does it vary on how it effects us? Can only some face it, truly display it-

Or run like a bat outta hell like Rumble did.

But even then, who is ever so confident when it comes to confessions and romance? Who hasn't felt as thought they are laying their very necks on the line to look their object of affections in the eyes and say the those three magic words? Who out there holds the calmest demeanor in this act?

No one, that's who.

I see you nodding your head, now stop it.

You silly, you.

"Scootaloo?"

...But you would think after such a display by the cobalt pegasus, that even Scootaloo would have some sort of, ya know, reaction...

"Squirt!"

...Well, so would Rainbow Dash, who's been puzzled by the statuesque filly since bringing her to her cloud home moments before.

"Scootaloo!" Dash shouted, sitting besides the filly on her couch in her cloud home's living room. "Come on, kid! Snap out of it!"

"Wha..?" Scootaloo slowly shook her head, turning to Rainbow with a look of genuine confusion. "What?"

"Sheesh, thought I lost ya!" Dash chuckled, playfully poking at Scootaloo's shoulder. "What's gotten into you lately?"

Scootaloo shook her head, blinking. "I...it's..." She looked up to Dash. "Rainbow, can I ask you something?"

Rainbow raised her eyebrow, then chuckling and sitting closer to the younger pegasus. "Of course, Squirt!"

Scootaloo played with her hooves, her mind buzzing with the millions of questions she had. Honestly, her heart lept about her chest and screamed, waving about to her as a way of trying to grab her attention. But if she did for a split second, all she saw was the certain colt's face, his confident smile.

Even though if it was only for a second he actually was.

"Has anypony ever...um, told you that they liked you?" She dragged out, her eyes darting around the room to avoid her idol's stare.

Rainbow Dash's expression melted into a thoughtful one. "Well there was this one time at the flight academy..."

Scootaloo sat up, eager to hear her idol's experience. "Yeah? Tell me, tell me!"

"Dude was a dork, always teasing and taking my saddle bags, making me late for classes..."

The dots began to connect in Scootaloo's head, her mouth opening wider and wider.

"...Till one day-Wait, why?" Rainbow interrupted herself, giving Scootaloo a quizzical look.

Scootaloo shrunk away from Dash, pressing her back into the couch. "N-No reason."

Rainbow leaned in, a bigger grin from before. "Scootaloo...do you like somepony?"

Scootaloo turned away. "Yes-No!" She answered, unsure of her own words. No one-I mean, someone. No one you would know."

Rainbow raised a hoof to her chin, looking off into space. "Hmm...Is it that one colt with the camera?"

Scootaloo stuck out her tongue. "Who, Featherweight? Uck!"

"Snails? Snips?"

"Now, you're just naming the lame colts!" Scootaloo hopped off the couch and made her way across the living room into the kitchen, when Rainbow Dash smiled a devilish smile.

"Oh...Rumble?"

...In the distance, you could just barely make out the sound of the threshold that held up what was left of Scootaloo's calmness shattering.

Judging by the sudden stop in her walk and twitching of her wings, Rainbow laid back on her couch in victory. "Wow, Scoots! Way to go, always knew you had a thing for that kid anyway-"

The rainbow pegasus was silenced by two orange hooves, the blushing face of Scootaloo frantically staring. "Stop it, Dash! I don't-I do, but I..."

Rainbow rolled her eyes, then lifted the smaller pegasus off her chest and placed her on the couch cushion beside her. "Calm down, Squirt! It's okay."

Scootaloo slumped. "It is?"

"Look, I understand what you're going through." Rainbow said, crossing her hooves behind her head. "Everypony goes through this and it's about time you did too."

Scootaloo crossed her hooves looking up to Rainbow. "Well, what is it?"

Rainbow sighed, leaning back. "It's called love, Scootaloo. Ya see, when a colt and filly-or a filly and a filly, or even a colt and a colt..." Rainbow sat there, scratching her head. "...well, anyways. When a pony hangs around another pony who makes them really happy, they start to have special feelings for them..."

~*~*~

"Way to go, lil' bro!" Thunderlane exclaimed, holding up his hoof to Rumble, who sat beside him unamused. "Aw, don't leave me hangin'."

Rumble sighed. "Were you even listening? I just ran away!" He pouted, then felt his brother pull him into a side hug.

"It's okay, Rumble. This happens more often then you know." Thunderlane told him

Rumble furrowed his brow. "It does?"

"Yes...well, it was the same when I was your age." Thunderlane winced. "Executed it the same way you just did, though not with the best of results."

Rumble gulped. "O-oh?"

"Yep." Thunder said, bitterly. He turned and saw the nervous look on his brother's face and sighed. "Rum, you have nothing to worry about. I'm sure things will go well, just don't runaway the next time you see her."

Thunderlane chuckled and got up off the bed. "Now I don't know about you, but I'm heading into town for some grub. You in?"

Rumble stared down at the cloud floor. "No, I'm good. You go ahead."

Thunderlane shrugged. "Suit yourself." And with that, flew out of the room, the gust he picked up shut the bedroom door behind him and leaving the younger pegasus alone with his thoughts.

With a heavy sigh, Rumble laid back with his hooves over his eyes. Did he have nothing to worry about? He still felt foolish, like an idiot.

It was stupid, he thought to himself. He rolled over on his bed, looking towards his bedside table to see a picture frame. In the picture frame were his friends, just a few colts from school. Also in the photo were Scootaloo and her friends, photo bombing in the center. Scoots stood beside him giving him a friend punch to his shoulder.

A smile formed on his face and all fears went away.

"Everything will be fine..." He said finally, but even that statement held some doubt.

Austere *edited

Dreams are all abstract and share numerous meanings, though we almost always forget them within the first thirty seconds of consciousness. Whether or not we found the contents of the dream important or not, it's in your eyes one second, and gone in a flash.

Feathers hovered around Rumble, almost as if time stopped around him as he stood amongst his fellow students at school. The background was a unsettling gray, all colors sucked out of the world minus the feathers in his space. Their orange presence brought the colt an odd sense of calm, though his hooves stayed still along with ponies around him, as if like the statues he and his classmates once saw on a field trip to Princess Celestia's garden.

Just as he began to question just how long he stood in the play yard of his school, he heard a giggle just from behind him. He jumped within himself yet stayed perfectly still, just as his muse walked around to stand before him. Her gleaming orange fur bright under the nonexistent sunlight, her purple short cut mane sheen and spiked.

Her violet eyes stared back into his, those whirlpools pulling him in and sending him into a trance. Memories of the two of them flooded his vision, everyone of them sending his mind off with sparks. Where he stood, he felt himself now as a vase on the edge of a table, wobbling from side to side with every second under the gaze of his friend.

"Rumble..."

The Pegasus colt tipped over to the side, hitting the ground and smashing into a dozen pieces of glass.

~*~*~

The sun rose against the wishes of a young colt in his cloud home, the night mostly spent continuously waking up from an odd dream or two, ones of orange feathers or the fears for the future, or of what could possibly happen. His sleepy eyes rested on the clock besides his bed, next to the picture of his friends. He sighed.

"Alright, you win." Rumble grumbled. *giggle*

He flew to the bathroom and started brushing his teeth, his gaze meeting his reflection in a mutual agreement and equal opinion on not exactly prepared for the day ahead of him. Of course, he was nervous. That was expected, anyone would be in his position. But there was still a lingering doubt sitting in his chest the more he pondered, spitting tooth paste into the sink and rinsing out his mouth.

After cleaning himself, Rumble flew into his home's living room and then was out on the front porch of his cloud home. Below him, he could see Ponyville in the distance. And even further, not that he could physically see it, but he knew on the other side of the small town and higher in the sky was Rainbow Dash's home. Where Scootaloo stayed.

He swallowed a lump in his throat, closing his eyes for a moment before nodding. He lept from the front door and extended his young wings, picking up speed before leaning back and evening out in his flight. He flew above the town, seeing all the ponies preparing for the day.

As he neared the school, he flew over the bus stop and neared to a stop above the scene, spotting Sweetie Belle and Applebloom. Scootaloo didn't appear to be with them.

"...and so she said, We weren't doing anything! But I knew exactly-Hey, it's Rumble!" Sweetie Belle interrupted herself, her and Applebloom spotting the approaching pegasus as he landed a few feet from them.

"Heya, Rumble!" Sweetie Belle greeted him, but looked closer to see that he was very much unrested judging by the dark rings under his eyes. "Are you okay?"

Applebloom nodded. "Yeah, ya'll look like ya haven't slept all night!"

Rumble yawned, rubbing his neck. "Yeah...well, about yesterday-"

"Hey, Scootaloo!"

A sound of breaking glass echoed in the colt's mind, turning to see Applebloom waving to the approaching filly, on the back of Rainbow Dash. Scootaloo stepped off of her caretaker, not breaking her view of the colt attempting to avoid eye contact with her.

"Have a great day, Squirt!" Rainbow said, winking at the filly and laughing as she quickly dashed from the scene. Scootaloo stood on the side of the road as her friends greeted her, then ignored their confused looks as their words sounding like distant calls when she walked by them to see Rumble.

Alright...It's cool, Scootaloo...just be cool. Cool as Dash

"H-Hey." She stammered.

"Hey." He said back.

Ice breaking 101.

"So...yesterday." Scootaloo began, kicking at the dirt road.

"Oh?" He forced his nerves to steel themselves, mentally shaking his head to get his thoughts straight. "Oh...yeah."

Did he actually forget...or is he as nervous as I am? Scootaloo shrunk under the gaze of her friend, her own heart beating like a wood pecker to a tree, taking a steady breath. This wasn't Discord, or a Cockatrice. It was Rumble, good ole' Rumble...who so happened to like her.

But did she dare have the nerve to say the same?

Pfft! Relax, Scoot! She told herself mentally. Just...I dunno, play it cool. Maybe he'll make a move or somethin'

But on Rumble side of the field...

Spontaneously combust, spontaneously combust-Wait, what am I saying? Rumble fought his fearing self. "Look, I'm sorry for yesterday...and how sudden I was and-"

"No!" Scootaloo interrupted, surprising herself and Rumble by her outburst. "I mean, you don't have to apologize, Rumble."

Rumble stood there. "I don't? But...I kinda like, dropped the ball and bailed."

Scootaloo laughed. "And?"

"You're not mad?" Rumble asked. "Confused? Baffled? Disgruntled?"

"Have you been hanging out with Applebloom?" She grinned. "It's fine, dude. Just...well..."

Rumble leaned in. "Yeah?" Just then, Scootaloo bopped on the muzzle. "Ow! What was that for?"

She laughed. "About what you said..." She bit her lip. "...I like you too."

A string in Rumble's mind snapped, his muzzle in his hooves as he stared at the filly before him. "You-you...do?"

Scootaloo's own friendly confidence from moments before diminished slightly as her answer was questioned. Her hooves tingled, her heart like a piston.

"Yes." She finally said, smiling, but slightly avoiding eye contact with the colt.

Rumble sighed, relieved. "Oh...Cool." He said, smiling as a new bode of confidence rose within him.

"Yeah..." Scootaloo, a smile returning. "Cool."

"Yeah..."

"Yeah..." She replied once more. The two of them did nothing but lose themselves in each other's eyes without realizing it. Scootaloo had always adored Rumble's eyes, her's almost the exact same color. She used this time actually look at Rumble, his coal mane in a blasted back fashion, his steel grey fur basked in the morning sunlight. She felt the heat rise in her cheeks at the thoughts coming to her almost too naturally.

The same with Rumble, his muzzle tingled where Scootaloo touched him, his eyes focused on her as she was practically glowing in the sun, her orange fur now as bright as a live flame.

Unbeknownst to them, the other fillies present sat on the edge of the road, speaking out of ear shot.

"What are they waiting for?" Sweetie bell hissed, Applebloom snickering.

"They're so awkward, it's adorable!" Applebloom giggled.

Sweetie Belle turned to Applebloom a look of seriousness in her emerald green eyes. "They're just standing there! It's like they're both too...too..." Sweetie struggled with her words.

"Stubborn?" Applebloom offered. "Shy?"

"They won't show each other how they feel!" Sweetie pouted. "How are they gonna get married at this point?"

Applebloom shook her head. "Sweetie, ya can't expect two young ponies tah understand the whole lovey-dovey-Wait, a minute. Married?" She looked at her friend with a shocked expression.

Sweetie Belle rolled her eyes. "Well, duh. I thought you and I were on the same page with those two!"

"Now listen here, Sweetie Belle," Applebloom began, "Ah ship those two as hard as you and as much as you do, but are ya tellin' me ya planned on them gettin' married before they've even held hooves?"

Sweetie remained silent, staring at the awkward couple across the way. "We're going to be late for school." She turned to Applebloom. "I have an idea."

Applebloom rolled our eyes. "Oh brother..."

"Come on, guys!" Sweetie Belle shouted, snapping the two out of their unintentional staring contest. As they began to walk over, Sweetie whispered to Applebloom. "We're going to help them out."

"Help em' out? Wait." Applebloom snapped to attention. "No. NO. Nope! Nu-uh."

Sweetie Belle pouted. "What! Why?"

"Remember when we got Miss Cheerlie and mah brother together?" The memory brought a chill to the two fillies, vowing they would never tamper with the acts of love...and chemicals, from that day forward. "And you remember how much trouble we got in?"

"But we're not going to need potions or anything, look at them!" She gestured to the two approaching. "And I'm not saying we should try and get our match making cutie marks!"

Applebloom stared.

"Ugh, just work with me alright?" Sweetie giggled, watching as the bus pulled up and her friends getting on along with her. Within a few minutes, the four of them made way for school.

Apple Shampaloo

A playground sits in the ambiance of the laughs and cries of foals.

Two sets of eyes meeting each other in a competitive silence.

An author who's consistence matches that of the weather.

Celestia's bright and almighty sun watched from high above the playground behind Ponyville Elementary, young ponies prancing about playing games of tag, dodge ball, two square, and the dare I say-four square?

But amongst them, sitting at a wooden table across from each other, we find Scootaloo and Rumble engaged in one of Equestria's most intense rounds of The Staring Contest ever. Like, ever

After finding that they kept catching the other staring, they had decided to turn into a game. Eyes burning, numerous rounds were won. During class, each lesson was loss and forgotten as mere background noise and distraction. All there was for the two young ponies were each other's violet gems.

This was now a game of chess. A game of wits and cunning, courage and overshadowing playground romance.

If only Rumble knew how to play chess, Scootaloo just grinned as she noticed another twitch from her competitor. And like another chink in the armor of a knight in battle, she fought to act on this sign of weakness from the colt.

Rumble gritted his teeth, his hooves clutched the edge of the bench he sat upon. He could feel the dry air against his near watering eyes, the strain on them wearing his endurance thin. Across from him, Scootaloo sat determined, a grin inching across her lips. His mind barked at him, ordering him to blink. He needed to blink.

For a split second, Rumble thought of blinking...all until an evil trick came to. A dirty trick.

Looking deeper into the orange filly's eyes, Rumble puckered his lips and blew a kiss at Scootaloo.

Not only did she blink, but a subtle pomf was heard as her wings shot out behind her. In which, Rumble fell backwards off the bench, shutting his eyes and laughing at the flustered filly.

"N-Not cool!" Scootaloo stammered, trying to fight the heat in her cheeks and regain control of her wings. "You cheated!"

Wiping a tear from his eye, Rumble rose back up to the bench. "Hey, I saw an opening! So now what do you wanna do?"

Scootaloo rolled her eyes, resting her head on her hooves. "I don't know, I've actually gotten used to just staring at you."

Now it was Rumble turned to be flustered, as his attention snapped to the filly at her statement. "R-Really?"

She shrugged. "Maybe...why are you sitting on that side, and not over here with me?" She asked slyly, watching as the colt's muzzle tinted a slight pink. He then flapped his wings and hovered over the table top and landed on the bench besides the filly. "Now-" She grabbed the colt into a headlock, hearing him chuckle as he started to struggle. "-about you cheating!"

Rumble was barely fighting against the filly, knowing he could easily break free from her grasp, but stayed there for a few moments just out of the fact he was so close. But soon, he flapped his wings once, lifting both into the air and launching them into the grass. They both wrestled against each other before breaking up, huffing and puffing, sharing looks two hunters would give each other.

Across the play yard, Sweetie Belle and Applebloom sat beside each other as only across the way their fellow crusader and her crush played together. They sighed, all knowing looks upon their faces.

"Ya know what, Applebloom?" Sweetie spoke up, sitting in the grass and felling the sun's warmth on her fur. "I don't think they'll need our help after all."

Applebloom nodded. "Eeyup! It's only been half a day and look at em'!" She giggled, just as Rumble attempted to tackle Scootaloo only for her to dodge him and tumble into the ground.

"It is like one of those romance novels my sister reads!" Sweetie smiled.

"Or like one of them fictions mah brother reads!" Applebloom nodded with the same smile. Though it only lasted a moment, for it faded as she noticed two fillies begin to make their way amongst her other classmates on the yard. "Oh no..."

"What?" Sweetie asked, turning to where Applebloom stared. Then, her expression broke out in disbelief. "Aw, come on! Not now!"

~*~*~

"Ha! Gotcha!" Rumble said, snatching at Scootaloo's tail with his teeth.

Scootaloo turned and struggled against him, chuckling. "Aha, Rumble let go!"

"Yeah, Rumble. Let go!"

Both pegasi cringed at the voice from behind them, both knowing very well who it's owner was. Slowly turning to its source, Rumble spat out Scootaloo's tail and faced the snobby fillies standing side by side.

"What do you two want now?" Scootaloo glared, taking a step towards the two, only to notice as Rumble took a step beside her.

"What we want, Blanky, isn't from you." Diamond Tiara hissed, not even turning to face Scootaloo as she took a step towards Rumble. "Hey, Rummy."

"Rummy?" Scootaloo rose an eyebrow to Rumble, watching him shiver at the nicknamed bestowed on him from the snobby filly.

"Rummy, why are you wasting your time on somepony as useless and unattractive as this blank flank?" She asked, flipping her mane with a hoof. "When you could be spending with with somepony as pretty and talented as moi?"

Rumbled rolled his eyes. I don't know which one is pushing it more, pretty or talented...

"Anything you have with him, you have with me!" Scootaloo said sternly, remaining beside the colt. Silver raised her brow at her words, a smirk forming on her lips.

"Aww, isn't that cute, Diamond?" She said, sarcasm dripping from her words. "The blank flank has a crush!"

Scootaloo's cheeks reddened at Silver Spoon's teasing, but she bared her teeth and stood her ground in spite of her.

"Oh, please! Like Rummy would even think of dating a chicken." Diamond snickered, a pink hoof covering her mouth. Though her fun was cut short as Rumble took a big step towards the two fillies with an annoyed expression.

"Give it a rest, Diamond Tiara!" He said with a stern tone. "What has she ever done to you? Besides, I don't want to talk to you anyway."

Diamond's lip quivered at Rumble's words. "B-But Rummy-"

"Hey, I don't care what she see's in you! Don't yell at her, you jerk!" Silver Spoon spoke up, glaring at Rumble while he barely made a move.

"Step off, or else, Silver Spoon!" Scootaloo stepped in front of Rumble. Just then, the four heard a whistling sound.

And then Scootaloo hit the ground with a thud, after being his in the head with an apple.

"Scootaloo!" Rumble gasped, before crouching besides his fallen friend as she held her hooves to the spot the apple struck.

"Aha! Wow, how unlucky!" Diamond Tiara taunted, Silver Spoon laughing beside her. "Let's go, Silver Spoon. Before this blank flank's bad luck ends with us both getting fruit to the head." She glared down at Rumble. "I'm not done with you yet, Rummy. Seeya."

Just as the toxic two walked away, Applebloom and Sweetie Belle rushed up and sat beside the two pegasi.

"Is she alright?" Sweetie Belle panicked.

Scootaloo groaned, holding her hooves to her head. "Ow...what happened?"

Rumble held his hooves over Scootaloo's, rubbing them over the bump that was now forming. "Where the hay did that apple come from?!"

Sweetie Belle and Applebloom stood in silence for a few moments before looking to each other and giving a simultaneous, "We have no idea."

Rumble helped Scootaloo to her hooves and layed a wing onto her back, holding her up with one of her hooves around his shoulders. "I'll get her to the school nurse, that could leave a really bad bump." He then turned and began to walk Scootaloo towards the school building.

"Ugh...Rummy, huh?" Scootaloo chuckled.

"Don't even start." Rumble smirked.

A few moments before...

"They're gonna mess everything up!" Sweetie Belle groaned, slamming her hoof into the ground. "We have to stop them!"

Applebloom nodded. "Yer right, but how? We can't just jump in, it'll cause a big ole' scene and they'll get in trouble!"

Sweetie sighed, bringing a hoof to her chin. A light bulb lit above her head.

"Applebloom." Sweetie said.

"Yeah?" The yellow filly asked.

"Do you have an apple by any chance?"

Applebloom raised her brow at the unicorn before turning to her side, finding her lunch bag and reaching into its contents. A moment later she pulled out a shiny red apple, freshly picked that morning by her sister.

"Now I have an idea, and Applebloom?" Sweetie asked.

"Yeah?" Applebloom said, with an unsure tone as she watched the apple in her hooves being surround by a green aura and float from her grasp.

"I'm deeply sorry." She said calmly, taking aim at the back of Silver Spoon's head...supposedly.

~*~*~

"Ow!"

"Hold still, young lady!" The school nurse told Scootaloo, placing an ice pack over the spot the apple had hit her. A small bump had formed on the side of her head from the impact, but nothing major the nurse had told her.

"Just keep this on it for twenty minutes or so and I'm sure the swelling will go down." The school nurse smiled. "That was quite an unfortunate incident, random apples falling from the sky? Tsk, tsk, tsk."

"Ugh, I know right?" Scootaloo rolled her eyes.

"Well, I'm going to head out." The nurse said, grabbing a bucket and couple of towels from the nurse office closet. "A student threw up in the hallway." She sighed on her way out the door. "Again."

Snickering, Scootaloo layed back onto the nurse office bed she sat on. This sucks...this is cold, I'm bored, and this sucks...

"Visitor!" A familiar voice chimed in as the office door opened once more, Scootaloo sitting up and smiling at the pegasus hovering above her.

"Rummy!" She teased.

"Shut up." Rumble laughed, landing on the ground beside the bed. "How's your head?"

Scootaloo moved the ice pack, revealing the bump.

"It doesn't look too bad." He told her, looking away towards the floor. "Uh...so..."

Scootaloo rolled her eyes, reaching out and bumping Rumble on the muzzle. "No. Bad, stop being awkward."

Rumble covered his nose, snickering. "Okay, ow. Do you have to do that?"

"Yes, because when you're awkward I'm awkward." Scootaloo said, holding the ice pack to her head and letting out a sigh. "Thanks for checking up on me."

Rumble smiled. "No problem. What are friends for?"

Scootaloo raised her brow, smirking at the colt. "Oh, so we're just friends?"

Rumble's cheeks turned a bright pink, his mouth suddenly going dry. "I-I-I mean-I mean, of course I'm here to check up on you! C-Cuz-" His failing words died on his lips as Scootaloo placed a hoof to them.

"I'm teasing, you dork." She giggled, staring into his eyes. "I mean it, Rumble. I'm happy you're here for me."

Feeling her eyes on his giving him slight confidence, Rumble smiled, placing his hoof in hers. "No problem, Scoot."

"Heh...this doesn't mean you're out of the woods with 'Rummy' though."

"Crap."

I Ate My Gluestick

Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.

Over and over, over and over. For the heart doesn't rest, unlike time it will wait.

For how long, sometimes feels like an eternity for those still waiting.

For love at first sight always starts out as a myth to everyone...

Until it strikes them as a victim.

Words left unsaid are the most meaningful, Thunder.

As the sun inched up to take it's superior thrown in the sky, turning the skies into a pastel blue, one pegasus stood upon a cloud above the town of Ponyville.

Thunderlane sighed, sitting back on the cloud as he stared across town to a cloud home sitting at a much high atmosphere than his own he shared with his younger brother. It was just another shadowy figure in the distance to anybody unaware, but to Thunderlane he knew all too well.

Rainbow Dash's house. Rainbow Dash, Thunderlane rolled his neck, a stubborn mare with a dare devil's life style, athletic tone, super model body, and short temper. Her eyes always piercing, hot with light violet irises highlighting them. Her lips stuck into a cocky grin, all until someone was as foolish enough to insult or show any for of harm to her friends.

Thunderlane pouted. "Monologues aren't as cool in romance."

He lept from the cloud with his strong coal wings snapping open as he took to the skies, the gust left behind causing the cloud he stood upon and others to drift off its course. The air nipped at his face as he flew faster, his vision not faltering and staying determined as he neared his intended destination.

He landed upon the cloud home's porch with a light steps, his wings furling against his sides and his hoof reaching up to tidy his mane. A weight grew heavier and heavier the more he realized what he intended on doing, a mere knock away from coming face to face with what felt like a dream from his youth. A living proof of his happiness.

"Ugh, no more corny crap." He grimaced at his inner thoughts. "Just knock, say hi, and-"

"But Rainbow!!"

The front door opened and Scootaloo walked ahead of Rainbow Dash out onto the porch, the older pegasus rubbing her temples. "Scoot, what makes you think you even need a jet powered scooter?"

Scootaloo pouted. "Cuz it has jets. Duh! And besides, the one I have-"

"Is just fine." Rainbow sighed, reaching down and ruffling Scootaloo's mane. "Look, sooner or later you won't even need a scooter. You'll be flying all over Ponyville in no time." She told the filly, a reassuring smile on her face.

Scootaloo sighed, her ears flattening against her head. "Yeah, that'll happen."

"Hey, not with that attitude it won't!" Rainbow said. "You gotta believe in yourself. You're an awesome filly, Scoot. And with the help of the awesomeness that is me, you'll fly. Trust me." She wrapped a hoof around the filly. "Alright?"

Scootaloo beamed, hugging Rainbow back. "Okay, Dash!"

"Sweet! Now let's get you to...wait a minute." Rainbow Dash stopped, standing on the porch beside Scootaloo with her ears straight up. Her violet eyes scanned the area for a few moments, searching the skies of any signs of...something.

Scootaloo stared quizzically at her guardian. "Dash, you okay?"

Rainbow closed her eyes and shook her head. Must of been just a bird or somethin' "Yeah." She said, suspiciously.

Scootaloo rolled her eyes. "Whatever. Can you get me to school?"

Rainbow laughed, lifting Scootaloo onto her back and spreading her wings. With a powerful kick, the two shot off into the sky, leaving a fading rainbow vapor in their wake.

From underneath the porch, hanging on with his hooves clung onto the cloud padding, Thunderlane breathed heavily. Sweat slid down his muzzle and his eyes were mere pin points, his heart pounding hard within his chest.

"This...is...gonna be..." He panted, looking off towards the disappearing rainbow trail in the distance, "...harder than I thought!"

~★~★~

"And then, I forgot I left the flash on and she totally saw me!"

The desks around Rumble erupted in laughter along with him, shaking his head at his friend' antics.

"Man, Featherweight." He said. "You and that camera's gonna get into serious trouble someday."

Featherweight rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. Says you and my ma."

"And me." Snips said.

"Same." Snails added.

"Hay yeah you will!" The rest of the colts groaned, Twist sitting besides them pointing an accusing hoof at Featherweight. "You could get a rethted, or woretht!"

"I sincerely doubt that, Twist." Featherweight rolled his eyes.

"Yeah, I think guards have better things to do than bust on some pipsqueak with a camera..." He turned to the desk behind him. "No offense, Pipsqueak."

Pip smiled, waving a hoof. "Non taken!"

"Alright, my little ponies!" Miss Cheerlie announced, stepping into the classroom. "Everypony get into your seats. We have a lot of work to though before the test tomorrow, so quiet down."

After everypony had gotten into their respective desks, Cheerlie turned to the chalk board and began to write down some problems. Snips turned to Rumble in a whisper.

"Hey, so I hear you Scootaloo started going out." He whispered, a small grin on his face.

Rumble turned to him, a look of surprise on his. "Where did you hear that?"

Snips rolled his eyes. "Don't lie, Rum-"

"Snips!" Cheerlie shot a glare to the colt, who gave an apologetic smile.

After she had turned back to the board, he turned back to Rumble. "Don't lie, Rumble. The whole school's talking about it." He said, in an even lower whisper. "Took you long enough."

Rumble rolled his eyes, laying his head on his desk. "Why is everybody saying that? And how does the whole seem to know?"

Snips shrugged. "It's not like nopony saw it coming." He pointed out, leaning back in his chair. "You two have been practically dating since like preschool."

Rumble sighed. "Guess it was just bound to happen, huh?"

Snips snickered. "So...you kiss her yet?"

"What?!" Rumble exclaimed, getting the attention of the class and an irritated Miss Cheerlie. "Hehe...sorry."

After Cheerlie once more turned her back, Snips buried his face in his hooves to hide his laughter.

Rumble glared at the colt, cheeks rosy from the embarrassment and before mentioned question. "N-No..."

"No?" Snips asked, his brow arched. "What do you mean no?"

Rumble shrugged. "I don't know. Just no."

"Well why not?"

"Why does it matter?" Rumble asked, becoming increasingly irritated.

Snips shook his head. "Listen, Rum. That's like dating 101. Once you start going out with a filly, you gotta take her out on dates. Hold her hoof, kiss her-"

"Tell her sweet stuff-" Snails whispered from behind Snips, startling the two.

"Meet her parents-" Featherweight added, from behind Rumble.

"And buy her floweth!" Twist finished, who sat in front of the two colts.

Ruble face hoofed. "Alright, alright!" He hissed.

Snips shrugged. "Just saying', dude. Who knows?" He turned back to the front of the class. "She could be waiting for you to."

Rumble furrowed his brow, turning to the window of the classroom and staring out into the play yard.

She could be waiting for you to...

"Great." He whispered to himself, scratching his head. "Just when I thought the hard part was over."

~★~★~

"So its been a few days..." Sweetie said, sitting besides Applebloom and Scootaloo in the back of the class. The orange pegasus was leaned back in her chair with her hind legs propped up against the legs of the desk to balance her chair on its back legs, her hooves behind her head and her eyes closed. Applebloom sat with her "...have you two like, done anything yet?"

Scootaloo opened one violet eye to her friend. "What do you mean, Sweetie Belle?"

"Like, I dunno..." Sweetie Belle said, rolling her hooves over each as a way to lure it out of the pegasus. "Stuff?"

Scootaloo simply stared.

Applebloom rolled her eyes. "What she means is, have y'all gone on a date yet? Or ya know," She leaned in wiggling an eyebrow, "kissed?"

Scootaloo's jaw dropped, blood rushing to her face as she nearly lost her balanced in her chair. "W-What?! It's only been a few days, guys!"

"So?" Sweetie said. "I mean, I'm not pressuring you. I was just asking."

"Yeah, Ah would've at least expected it almost as soon as he told ya he fancied ya." Applebloom added,

Scootaloo pondered this. "Well...I mean, I wouldn't mind I guess."

Sweetie Belle giggled softly. "It's okay, Scootaloo. You don't have to be so afraid to show that actual filly side of you!"

"I'm not afraid of nothin'!" Scootaloo glared, Sweetie Belle braking out in more giggle fits.

Even Applebloom couldn't hide the humor in the pegasi's outburst, a grin growing on her lips. "Oh cool your hooves, Scoot! We're only teasin'!'

Scootaloo crossed her hooves, staring off to the front of the class. On the white board were the class instructions while the teacher went out for a bit. She sighed, thinking about Rumble and her sudden rise in curiosity.

"But you have to admit, you've at least thought about it!" Sweetie verbally poked, furrowing her brow.

"We can see how you two look at each other." Applebloom smiled. "It's like y'all get lost in each other's eyes or somethin'."

Scootaloo chewed her lip, avoiding eye contact with her friends. She turned to the clock above the whiteboard, it reading they had only fifteen minutes of class left.

She got up from her desk, walking over to the door. "I'm going to the bathroom."

"But wait!" Sweetie Belle called after her. "What about the buddy system?"

But her words had fallen on deaf ears, as Scootaloo grabbed the bathroo pass off the teacher's desk with her teeth and opened the classroom door, vanishing behind it into the hallway.

Applebloom scratched her head. "Maybe we were pushing it a bit."

"Are you kidding?" Sweetie grinned, rubbing her hooves together. "It's all apart of the plan!"

Applebloom stared, squinting her eyes at the now mischievous looking Sweetie Belle. "Filly, what are you talkin' about?"

Sweetie Belle winked at the farmer filly. "Oh you'll see, Applebloom." She turned back to the classroom door, having now just closed completely with a faint click.

"You'll see..."

Rocky Road Ala Rumble

The final bell rung loud, but was drowned out by the dozens of cheering fillies and colts. All excited for the weekend and the plans they had made with friends and family.

Rumble, Snips, Snails and Featherweight all walked out together, Twist and Pipsqueak following them in one big group. Snips continuing their earlier conversation and pushing Rumble into the unthinkable.

"Come on!" Snips urged Rumble.

Rumble craned his neck, wishing Snips would drop the subject. "I'll do it when the time comes!"

Snips face hoofed. "Don't give me that response, I'm not asking you where foals come from!"

Rumble sighed. "What's that even suppose to mean- Look, I'm nervous alright?" He said, stopping just outside the school's entrance as his friends surrounded him. "It's not that I don't want to, I just don't to mess anything up. I literally just told her I liked her a week ago."

"We understhand, Rumble!" Twist comforted with the colt. "But we all justht want you to be happy."

Featherweight prodded Rumble's shoulder, with a grin. "And don't even try to deny that K-I-S-S-ing Scoots wouldn't put a big goofy grin on your face."

As much as he wanted to, Rumble couldn't shake the growing smile on his lips. He had thought, extensively even, about kissing Scootaloo. But everytime he did, his daydreams would always end in the worst scenarios. Getting slapped, ruining their friendship and potential relationship by rushing to something like that.

But still, even then the butterflies in his stomach wouldn't still themselves at the image of the two together. "Yeah, okay. I get it." He said, chuckling.

"There you go!" Snips said, then turning around towards the school. "Well would you look at that, Rum!"

Rumble turned with the group, his eyes falling on a certain orange pegasus leaving the school with her friends.

"Well what are ya waitin' for?" Snails said to the colt.

Rumble nodded to his friends and he walked over to meet with his crush, but made sure not to be seen.

Scootaloo waved her friends goodbye as she began her journey towards town, her saddlebags filled with her supplies. Books, a pencil and pen or two. A certain notebook, with a very detailed picture of a heart with a certain colt's name in the center-

Suddenly, Scootaloo was lifted into the air by her bags until the strap unhooked and she dropped back down to the ground.

"Ugh! Not again!" Scootaloo groaned, watching as her saddlebags were taken and sped away. "I swear to Celestia, I'm gonna smack you, Rumble!"

"Ha!" The colt taunted through the saddle bags' strap in his teeth. "Where were you off to?" Rumble asked, then laughed as the filly below him jumped and reached for her bags. "You should know by now that you can't catch me Scoots!"

Scootaloo pouted, stomping her hooves. "Rumble, I-" That's when the filly came up with an idea, a cheshire smile growing on her lips.

"Rummy~!" She spoke in a sing-song voice, reminiscent of a certain rotten tiara wearing filly.

The colt pegasus froze, looking around in search of the source of the sound. "Oh no, not again!" While doing this, Rumble had dropped Scootaloo's saddle bags.

"Aha!" She said, scooping them up onto her back. "Thanks, Rummy!"

Rumble deadpanned, crossing his hooves. "You're walking on thin ice, filly." He said, hovering down in front of Scootaloo.

Scootaloo stuck out her tongue, reaching over to bump the colt on the shoulder. "I'm just teasing. Anyways, I'm heading to town. Rainbow's waiting for me at Sugarcube Corner."

"Oh..." Rumble said, hovering down besides Scootaloo. "Well, okay." They both stood there in silence.

Scootaloo's ears dropped. Well...I don't want him to leave now... "...Do you want to come?"

Rumble snapped to attention. "Wait what?"

"Do you-" Scootaloo began, pointing at the colt. "Want to come with me-" She pointed to herself. "To get sugary treats and hang out together?" And possibly get asked a bunch of questions by Rainbow Dash?

"Oh!" Rumble said, laughing. "Oh yeah, sure!"

Scootaloo smiled. "Awesome, let's go."

~★~★~

Thunderlane landed onto the front porch of his home with a huff, his expression tired and agitated after the day's challenges at work. From the morning's failing of meeting Rainbow Dash face to face to the annoying amount of weather planing for the upcoming summer. He stepped towards the door, lifting a hoof to push it opening and retreating inside.

"Hey bro!" He called out. "I'm home!"

He waited for a response, only to be greeted with silence. "Rumble?" Again, he waited. And again silence.

"What the hay?" He made his way down the hall to his brother's room and opened the door. To his surprise, the room had remain untouched for several hours. Rumble wasn't home yet. "I guess, but where could he be? Whatever, I'm starving."

He closed the door to his younger brother's room and made hast to the kitchen, his stomach making its presence known with each step.

Stupid work, stupid stomach, stupid Rumble... His grumpy thoughts in the control of his hunger. Stupid thoughts...

He reached the fridge and opened it with hope in his heart, only for the hope to be swiped away by the sight of a mostly fridge. The only items catching his eye were a half drank carton of milk and a note.

"What the..?" He picked up the note and deadpanned.

Dear Thunder or Rumble,

We kinda accidentally used some all the food in the fridge in an attempt to prepare for dinner. We promise we will be back later with something from Canterlot! <3

XOXO Your favorite roommates,

Flitter and Cloudchaser!

P.S. Flitter Loves Th

A distant explosion could be heard within Thunderlane's head, along with steam spew from his ears. He crumpled the note and tossed it behind him, then face hoofed with a heavy impact.

"Well crap." He groaned. "Looks like I'm going out to eat." He closed the fridge and walked over to the door. After he stepped out onto the porch, and picked out a spot in town, and took off.

~★~★~

"...So she's going to interrogate me?" Rumble asked, waves of nervousness crashing in his stomach. He and Scootaloo were on their way to Sugarcube Corner, where one Rainbow Dash would greet them. Scootaloo eventually told Rumble about Rainbow being, nerving the colt and was then trying to get him to relax. She couldn't blame him, knowing Rainbow Dash for as long as she has and her...less than appropriate ways.

"She's not going to interrogate you." Scootaloo sighed. "She's not my mom, or at least DNA wise. She'll most likely have fun at your expense and possibly ask the predictable questions a parent or guardian might ask a colt."

Rumble raised an eyebrow. "Like what?"

Scootaloo shrugged. "I dunno, maybe if we done it."

Rumble's jaw might have broken by how quickly it fell. "What?"

Scootaloo snickered. "I'm kidding, Rumble." She walked further ahead, swishing her tail. "Not till we're married."

As she walked away, Rumble fought against his wings as his face was as red as a rose and twice as flourished. "W-What's that supposed to mean?"

"You're too easy." Scootaloo teased, poking him in the side. "But um...just don't worry about her."

After Rumble caught up, his blush had gone away. "I'm not."

Scootaloo stared.

"I'm not." Rumble repeated. "I mean, it's not like we've done anything...eventful."

Eventful...Hmm... Scootaloo thought to herself, as they approached the doors of Sugarcube Corner. Rumble rushed ahead of her and opened the door, allowing her inside first. "Aw, you're such a dork."

When he walked in behind her, she turned and nuzzled his cheek. "I'm glad you came along, Rumble."

Rumble couldn't fight the smile on his face. The two entered the bakery and just as quick as they walked in, was how quick the lingering scent of sugary freshly baked goods attacked their noses with a sweet force. Rumble's senses were too weak to oppose such an attractive scent, from chocolate to strawberry the air smelled as if it was baked itself.

Scootaloo and Rumble together made their way towards the booths where they spotted Rainbow Dash enjoying a root beer float, nearly unaware of the approaching two.

"Hey, Rainbow!" Scootaloo greeted the pegasus, grabbing her attention.

"Hey, Squirt!" Rainbow said, hovering out of the booth and picking the filly up into a hug. "How was school?"

Scootaloo rolled her eyes, grinning. "You've been to a school once, right?"

Rainbow shook her head, chuckling. "That good, huh?" She looked past the filly and saw Rumble staring off at the front counter where dozens of deserts beckoned him, his eyes showed as if he were locked in a trance. "Heh, is he okay?"

Scootaloo turned and face hoofed. "Colts..." She hopped away from Rainbow and poked Rumble in the side.

"Ah!" Rumble yelped, turning to Scootaloo. "What happened?"

With Rainbow Dash snickering in the background, Scootaloo grinned at the colt. "Have I ever told you you make great first impressions?"

"Well, so this is Rumble huh?" Rainbow inquired, hovering around the two and eyeing the colt in question. She then turned to Scoot and gave her the look of approve, followed by a wink.

Scootaloo returned it with a expression reading 'knock it off' which was well received as Rainbow giggled and sat back in the booth. Scootaloo and Rumble sat in the booth opposite of the cyan pegasus, both eyeing the pegasus and then exchanging glances.

"So you two want anything?" Rainbow asked, holding up a small jingling bag and shaking it. "I'm paying!"

Scootaloo place a hoof to her chin. "Hmm...Rocky Road ice cream!"

Rainbow chuckled to herself. "Alright." She turned to Rumble. "How about you, slick?"

Rumble pondered. "Uh...I'll just have an eclair."

"One Rocky Road and an eclair!" Rainbow stood out of the booth, looking over and grimacing. "Ugh, looks like there's ponies actually coming in and now there's a line. I'll be awhile squirts, don't go anywhere."

Scootaloo watched as Rainbow walked away and let out a sigh. "Well so far so good." She then leaned against Rumble, taking him by surprise. "Hey."

Rumble turned to face her. "Hey."

"Ya know, I was thinking about something earlier..." Scootaloo began, looking up into Rumble's eyes.

"Y-Yeah?" Rumble's heart rate was picking up speed just by the sensation of Scootaloo leaning against him. "About what?"

Scootaloo brushed her hoof against Rumble's on the table, laying her's against his. "Just stuff." She giggled. "Two pony stuff."

Rumble furrowed his brow. "I've never seen you act this way before." He laid a hoof on her forehead. "Are you feeling alright?"

Scootaloo laughed, pushing his hoof away. "Yes! As I was saying, I think I want to try something."

"Like what?" He asked, then froze as Scootaloo sat up away from his chest and turned to face him. Again, he found himself lost in her violet eyes. She smiled, as her cheeks turned a slight pink. Rumble's face warmed up as he felt her hoof's grip his own, pulling at him to come closer.

They sat alone in that booth in silence, slowly moving towards each other as if time in reality was in slow motion. They saw nothing but each other, everything else a mere mixture of the blurs of colors and smells. Scootaloo began to close her eyes, leaning in even closer. Rumble felt like his heart would explode, holding Scootaloo's hoof tighter by instinct and was greeted by the filly doing the same.

He remember what Snips had told him earlier that day, and mentally slapped himself for not believing it. To think this was happening, within just a week this was it. Scootaloo had inched even closer to him, her other hoof reaching out and pulling on his shoulder, while Rumble found himself reaching out with his hoof to lay it against Scootaloo's cheek.

It was all or nothing.

Rumble closed his eyes and leaned in, feeling the warmness of being this close to Scootaloo-

"Rumbler!"

The sound of glass breaking echoed in Rumble's mind as his brother's voice erupted from behind the booth.

Crap.

Not The First

The patrons of Sugarcube Corner looked on in confusion as they witnessed a red faced Rumble dragging out an even more confused Thunder, the former pulling him by his tail from the booth and out the door, leaving a frozen Scootaloo alone with herself.

As they walked outside and the doors shut, Rumble turned to his brother with manic eyes. "Of all the times to randomly appear?!"

Thunder held up his hooves, alarmed by his younger brother's reaction. "Yo whoa, Rum! I didn't know, my bad!"

Rumble's left eye twitched. "Your bad? Your bad?! Do you know how close I was?" He held up his hooves, bringing them extremely close together without the touching. "This! This close, Thunder!"

Thunder held up his hooves in defense, legitimately terrified. "Bro, relax! I-I mean it, I'm sorry. Look, I'm only here cuz Flit and CC emptied the fridge-"

"Again?" Rumble groaned.

"Yes. Again." Thunderlane shook his head. "So...you were on a date or something with that filly?"

Rumble sighed. "Kinda, not really. Scootaloo was meeting with Rainbow Dash here and-"

"W-Wait!" Thunderlane placed a hoof over his younger brother's muzzle. "Rainbow Dash is in there?"

Rumble forced the stallion's hoof away. "Ugh, yeah! Why?"

Thunderlane pondered for a moment, before answering. "Then I'm staying."

Rumble deadpanned. "No."

"Make me leave." Thunderlane teased, narrowing his eyes and grinning. "Besides, Ra like you can handle two chicks at once."

"Yeah, because since Cloudchaser and Flitter moved in you've been doing so well yourself."

Thunderlane glared. "Bite me."

Rumble grinned. "Ask Flitter, she might."

Thunderlane snorted, chuckling shaking his head as he passed his brother. "Whatever, man come on. Can't keep our ladies waiting, can we?"

Rumble rolled his eyes, following his brother back into the bakery. "Right."

~★~★~

Scootaloo sat in the booth alone, her face still hot and hooves fidgeting after having almost finally...maybe...kinda of almost kissing Rumble. Only to have his jar headed older brother end up completely killing the moment and probably ruining her chances of getting that boost of confidence back.

Though she had to admit, it was pretty funny watching how Rumble reacted. She smiled thinking back to the colt while hot in his cheeks standing from the booth, grabbing the stallion's tail in his teeth

She sighed, her ears then perking up at the sounds of hooves coming towards the booth. The site of Rumble turning into the booth brought a proper smile to the filly's face, but it faltered once he sat down and laid his head down on the table with a thud.

"Hey..." She said, laying hoof on his head. "What's up?"

Rumble turned his head, looking up at the friendly filly staring back at him. Once their eyes met, the irritation his brother left him vanished, replaced by the sudden fluttering in his chest. He leaned back against the booth's cushioned seating and leaned his head on Scootaloo's shoulder, prompting a giggle from the pegasus.

"Hehe, Rumble! So forward." Scootaloo teased.

"Blah, sorry about...that." He said. "I can't believe the timing my brother has sometimes."

"Don't worry about...Rummy." Scootaloo grinned. "Besides, there's always time for that later."

Rumble's cheeks suddenly felt very warm.

"So...where is he anyway?" Scootaloo asked, leaning away from Rumble to peek over him and out the booth. "Did he leave?"

That's when she heard Rumble let out a heavy sigh, which prompt her to look him in the eyes. "Rumble?"

He then shrugged, a grimace on his face. "Have...I ever told you that your mane looks absolutely fantastic in this li-"

"Rumble..." Scootaloo narrowed her gaze, crossing her hooves.

Rumble sighed, rubbing the back of his head. "Okay, so...it may be possible, and don't freak out or anything-" Because this may or may not affect our situation in anyway... He thought as he spoke. "-but he may or may not-"

"Rumble-" Scootaloo softly interrupted, bringing the colt to silencing himself. "Get to the point."

"He may have a crush on Rainbow Dash." He said, dipping his head.

Scootaloo stared, a few moments passed before she brought a hoof to the bridge of her muzzle and sighed. "Well that's fantastic."

"Yup." Rumble said, his ears flattening against his head. "I'm sorry."

Scootaloo punched the colt lightly in the shoulder, causing him to yelp. "Aw, don't be sorry. Now it's like a double date!"

Rumble's lips twitched. "D-D-Date?"

Scootaloo smirked. "Maybe." She then looked up, her smirk dropping to straight line as the offending before mention stallion came around to the booth, baring several different pastries on a plate on his back.

Thunderlane sat down across from the two, laying his plate down and grabbing one of the many cupcakes. "Don't mind me, you two." He grinned. "You can get back to smoochin', pretend I'm not even here."

He covered his muzzle and laughed at the red faced young ponies sitting across from him. Rumble glared at his brother, one he shared with Scootaloo, who sat with crossed hooves. "Oh Celestia, you should have seen the looks on your faces!"

"Yeah, I remember my first date." Thunderlane reminisced, balancing the cupcake on his hoof. "Eeyup, took her out to dinner, then a movie, then we sat out on a cloud-one I had picked out earlier that day-" He added with a smirk, "and watched the stars. Yeah, really wooed that one."

Rumble rolled his eyes. "What a load."

"Hey, Scootaloo!" Rainbow Dash poked her head into the booth. "Believe it or not, The Cakes say they're out of Rocky Road-" She cut herself short, seeing Thunderlane indulgence himself with the treats before him. "Uhh...do I know you?"

Thunderlane looked up, turning to the rainbow maned pegasus with surprised eyes and a muzzle filled with cupcakes. Scootaloo and Rumble remained silent as the two older ponies stared at each other.

Rainbow turned to the younger ponies, her eyes narrowing. "Is this stallion harassing you two?"

Rumble raised a hoof to say something, only to have his muzzle covered by Scootaloo's hoof. "Y-Yes!"

Thunderlane snapped to attention, nearly spitting out the half eatten cupcake. "What?! No I'm not!"

Rainbow Dash glared, her wings slightly rising in warning. Rumble saw this and bit his lip, he didn't know what Rainbow Dash was capable of but from seeing Scootaloo's ploy he knew this could turn out bad for Thunderlane. He turned to Scootaloo, who watched Rainbow stared Thunderlane down like a lion to a gazelle, then to his brother who watched the same mare.

He thought about stopping the situation, about how he could prevent Thunderlane's possible beating from the older tomboy. He thought about how he once heard Scootaloo talk about how Rainbow and Applebloom's sister spared for fun, and knew enough from the young pegasus how tough Dash was.

He thought about saving Thunderlane for a second, then thought about kissing Scootaloo.

Thunderlane turned and pointed a hoof towards Rumble. "What are you talking about? I'm his older-"

"He threatened to pluck our feathers out like chickens!" Rumble exclaimed. Ponies around the bakery turned their heads at the scene unfolding at the booth, Thunderlane's jaw dropping and eyes growing to the size of dinner plates. Scootaloo had to hold both hooves over her muzzle to prevent Rainbow seeing her face splitting grin.

"WHAT?! Rumble, I'm gonna pound the crap outta yo-" Before he could finish his threat, Thunderlane yelped as Rainbow Dash grabbed him by his tail and started dragging him away from the booth. "W-Wait! I didn't say that I swear!"

Rumble and Scootaloo poked their heads out from behind the booth and watched in amusement and slight terror as Rainbow dragged Thunderlane to the front doors of the bakery, customers sharing a group of laughter at the stallion's mare-ish screams.

"Like plucking feathers off foals, eh?!" Rainbow Dash growled. "Let's see how you like it, creep!"

Thunderlane stared off towards the booth, his scared expression turning to one of bitter anger. "I'll get you back, bro! Just wait, when you get home you're so dead!"

Just as the doors closed, Rumble could still hear Thunderlane's shouts though muffled from the outside. He and Scootaloo sat back in the booth, both bursting out in laughter.

"Wow! I can't believe you did that!" Scootaloo said, holding her stomach.

"Heh, you gave me the idea!" Rumble snickered, turning the plate of treats left behind by hi doomed brother. He reached over and grabbed a chocolate cup cake with orange icing and held it out to Scootaloo. "Well, I guess we can't let this food go to waste..."

Scootaloo smiled, reaching out and taking the treat. "I guess we can't."

~★~★~

"Come on, Scoot!" Rainbow Dash teased from her living room, musing at the two young ponies on the front porch.

Scootaloo and Rumble sat outside Rainbow's cloud home in silence, only smiling and staring at each other mindlessly. Rumble's tail swished behind him as Scootaloo's hooves trembled slightly, both anxious and thinking the same thing.

"So..." Rumble said. "I guess I should be going..."

"Y-Yeah..." Scootaloo said, turning to look at the porch.

Rumble turned out towards the direction of his house, rubbing the back of his head with his ears pinned back. "So, I'll see you at school?"

"Yeah." Scootaloo answered quickly.

Rumble nodded, rising from his seated position and backing towards the edge of the porch. "A-Alright..Later." He turned around and extended his wings, about to leap off. Just before he could he felt a sudden weight on his back, keeping him still. "What the-"

He felt a hoof manually turn his head and suddenly he was face to face with Scootaloo, her cheeks a bright crimson. His own cheeks burned as their muzzle's bumped and he felt her breath on his face. "Scoot-"

Fireworks. Fireworks, supernovas, and one million Sonic Rainbooms let out in chorus within the minds of these two young ponies as Scootaloo brought their lips together, practically stopping time in its tracks and bringing their heart beats up to an almost unimaginable speed. Rumble's eyes were wide open for the first few seconds before closing, turning himself to wrap a hoof around his filly.

It was an innocent act, nothing more than an everlasting smooch before both pulled away with soft pants. Rosy cheeks and glazed eyes, Rumble and Scootaloo smiled wrapped in each other's hooves.

"That...was..." Rumble's inner vocabulary reached critical error as Scootaloo giggled.

"That, Rumble, was to make up for earlier." She said, nuzzling his cheek. "Goodnight."

Rumble let go of Scootaloo and back away slowly, a goofy smile on his lips as he fell backwards of the porch. Scootaloo jumped up and ran to the edge. "Rumble!"

She looked down and let out a sigh of relief, rolling her eyes and chuckling as She watched her colt fly off towards his home, the setting sun flaring around him and leaving him but a shadow against it.

Love-Sick-Stomach-Ache

Crunch. Snap.

A stick was snapped into oblivion. Dropped into a pile of its fallen brothers and sisters, all who of which had suffered the same fate by the hooves of a bitter soul. A wretched soul, dripping with scorn, spite and pure rotten green jealousy. A green like an apple after falling from its branch and left out on the field till its shade had molded. Like a green like moss hanging in the Everfree forest like spiderwebs. A green like...Granny Smith. Ugh...

Diamond Tiara picked up another Goddess forsaken twig in her tiny evil hooves, lightly quivering with a silent rage she held behind a stone expression and kept locked behind grinding teeth. Her eyes unlike daggers, but full-length claymores forged in the deepest, hottest depths of Tartarus and by a large sweaty, greasy locks and dirtied smocked blacksmith from times of old.

As the stick whimpered goodbyes to its twig children, slowly but surely bending as its center split and snapped audibly, Diamond focus her piercing gaze towards her objects of anguish and hate. She knew hate was a strong word, its meaning often used to describe one's feelings towards things such as bad weather. Bad mane days, maybe celery and broccoli.

But she felt hate. Pure, unadulterated hate. Its flames tickled her gums and scorched her throat, formed a pit in her stomach and darkened her already black heart at such a young age. No one surprised? Well.

Beside her, and a bit disturbed by her friend's recent darkening of characteristics, Silver Spoon sat quietly. Her lips, once shared a smirk of Diamond Tiara, now a solemn frown. Her front hooves crossed and her eyes meeting the left lightly twitching cheek of her BFF. She knew behind that cheek were grinding teeth, grinding behind a deep sickened grimace ruining her pretty, flawless face. Her light magenta complexion, her pearl blue eyes, the wrinkle appearing above her muzzle when she ever smiled or laughed. That grimace was ruining that pretty face.

And she knew who was to blame for this...this injustice.

Across the yard from the two fillies, over the grassy fields of the school play yard sat two foals. Tails intertwined, playing together, nuzzling and laughing whilst surrounded by their friends...Silver Spoon soon felt a sudden heat in her chest, her jaw locking and feeling the anger felt by her friend.

"Stupid..."

Silver Spoon snapped out of her inner raging thoughts and turned her attention the other filly beside her, who's attention was focus across the yard. "Stupid...flightless...classless, brainless, filthy, clucking no good blank flank!" She tossed the remains of the stick father of three to the ground, standing to her hooves. "I can't believe she actually stole my Rummy from me!"

Silver Spoon reached out to her huffing and puffing friend, only to flinch back when the plastic crowned self-entitled filly stomped her way froward.

"Just who does she think she is? Better than me? Does she think she's better than me?!" She hissed through clenched teeth in a near eardrum piercing tone. "Does she think she's even waddling on the same plateau as ponies such as myself? No! You know where she stands?! She stands-kneels in the dirt with the rest of her mark-less flock of losers, at the hooves of ponies like me! And she has the nerve, the freaking tail-feathers to kiss my sweet Rumble with her freak beak-"

"Diamond!" Silver plead, walking before her marching, fuming friend. "Calm down! There isn't any reason to just walk over and cause a scene!"

Diamond's nostril's flared, halting her march. "Silver. Move."

Silver held her ground, keeping a still expression with her eyes full of concern with her friend's well being. Not that she didn't take, Goddesses forbid, Scootaloo or any of the other foals in a bout. However, she wasn't all on board with finding out for the sake of her friend wreaking physical vengeance upon the pegasus.

"I'm not moving, Diamond." She said in a calm tone, adding pressure to her grasp on the tiara wearing filly and pushing her back into a seat position.

Diamond held her glare, but slowed her breathing and siting before her calm friend. "I can't believe it, Silver."

Silver Spoon nodded, sitting besides Diamond. "I know, I know."

Diamond's glare softened, but still held a light glare. "I...why..?" She leaned forward, holding her hooves to her face.

Feeling her BFF's resolve crumbling, Silver wrapped her hooves around Diamond as the filly let lose several quiet sobs. "Shh...it's alright."

Through her sniffles, Diamond's glare returned. "I'll get her back...I swear it, Rumble. You'll be mine..."

~★~★~

Scootaloo could recall a typical conversation between herself and Sweetie Belle. Sweetie would always gush over all the lame romance book thingies her sister would check out from the library Twilight ran, and how she would sometimes sneak one away to ready herself. She would tell her all about all the lovely dovey gushy mushy junk, like when a stallion would lift a mare up at the edge of a boat, or when he would hold up a radio to the mare's window at night. Or even when a stallion near sacrifices his life for the mare's safety.

Ya know, junk that could make a filly like Scootaloo completely nauseous and woozy.

Scootaloo couldn't figure just why the unicorn filly was into the stuff, as she spaced out during class and stared out the window. Her hoof moving a pencil across the worksheet laid out before her on the desk. The students around her had long sense faded out in noise and blurs as she stepped out of reality, nothing but contrast colors outlined in the softest gray, leaving a small smile teasing at her lips.

Miss Cheerliee's voice started to become more clearer as the mare approached the daydreaming filly's desk, tapping it and bringing her out of her cloudy dreamland.

Without skipping a beat, Cheerliee continued on with her lesson while the other foals snickered at Scootaloo's awaking. Grumbling, Scootaloo turned away from them and down to her worksheet. A flame ignited in her cheeks as her pencil halted in its place, the lead worn down from the multiple outlined heart around a poor drawn doodle of herself and her new coltfriend.

I must have done this while out of it!...Ugh, stupid brain...stupid Rumble, get out of my head! Scootaloo glared at the non present colt in question, a playful smile coming to her lips. Whatever, I have to get rid of this though. I can't have Cheerliee seeing it!

She turned back to the rest of the class, searching for the trash bin. Her heart sinking when she spotted it sitting three desks away, and right next to the teacher's desk. Silver Spoon, Snips and Twist occupying the desks.

Crap! She thought, slapping a hoof to her forehead. Of course this wouldn't be easy, why would it? Why would the universe actually rotate in the filly's favor? Would wouldn't the Goddesses turn their backs on her?

Scootaloo sighed, the heart tattooed worksheet crumbling in her hooves as she focused her sights on the trashcan.

She leaned forward and whispered at the candy cane cutie marked filly. "Spssss! Twist!"

Twist's head shot up and turned back to Scootaloo. "Thcoota-"

"Shh!" Cheerliee hushed from across the room, then went back into her lecture.

Scootaloo held a hoof to her lips, then mouthed the word 'whisper'.

"Whath's up?" Twist whispered, looking back occasionally to make sure Cheerliee's back was turned.

Scootaloo held out the crumbled worksheet. "I need to get rid of this, but I can't get up and have Cheerliee catching me!"

Twist titled her head. "Whath's wrong with it?"

Scootaloo raised her head up, scanning the classroom for prying eyes and Cheerliee, who luckily was busy explaining something to a student a fair distance away. She lowered her head back down to whisper to Twist. "I accidentally doodled Rumble and drew a heart around it!...A bunch of times."

Twist smirked. "Athidently?"

Scootaloo glared. "Can it, Twitht. Can you place throw this away discreetly?"

Twist nodded, taking the crumpled up sheet from Scootaloo. "No problem, Thcoot!" She turned back to face the front of the class, reaching over and tapping Snips on his shoulder. "Hey, Thnipth!" She whispered.

Snips turned around in his desk. "What?"

"Thee is you can make a shot to the trash with thith!" Twist handed the paper ball to the colt, who promptly shrugged and turned to take aim.

He took his aim, looking over his shoulder as Cheerliee remained totally oblivious. Twist and Scootaloo eyed the trashcan with anticipation, Snips pushing forward his hoof and launching the paper ball over Silver Spoon's head and...

...landed next to the trashcan.

Cheerliee's eyes snapped opened as she turned at the sound of a bang, seeing the class turned towards the window and Scootaloo face first on her desk, along with Twist glaring at Snips who held up his hooves in defense.

After a few moments, Cheerliee just shook her head and turned back to helping the other students. Twist shook her head at Snips, who in turn rolled his eyes. "How." Was all she said.

"Don't look at me!" Snips whispered, waving his hooves. "I'm just a colt, I'm not perfect!"

"Of courth, becauth that would be the greateth overthatment in the entire world. "Twist sighed, turning back in her desk to face Scootaloo. "Are you okay?"

Scootaloo was rubbing her forehead with a hoof, her eyes shut in irritation. "I've surprisingly had worse, but I have bigger things to worry about."

"Did you losers lose something?"

Scootaloo and Twist snapped their eyes to the front of the class, where Silver Spoon sat with a furrowed brow and un-crumpling the paper ball in her hooves.

Scootaloo's face turned bright red as she gritted her teeth and met eyes with the snotty filly. "Silver Spoon!" She hissed. "If you don't throw that thing away, I swear to Luna I will-"

"Yeah yeah, blah blah." Silver Spoon mocked, rolling her eyes to the pegasus filly's minor threats. "What? Didn't want Miss Cheerliee seeing first hoof how dumb you-Ooooh!" Silver ginned, eyeing the lead heart surrounding the small doodled Rumble. She turned back to Scootaloo, grinning ear to ear. "You didn't want her to see this?"

"Don't you dare!" Scootaloo hissed in anger, though behind her eyes there was a pleading voice.

"Oh Miss Cheeeerliee-Hey!" Silver Spoon had raised her hoof holding the crumpled sheet, only for Snips to snatch it up in his magic and in his own grasp.

"Twist, take it!" Snips held it to the filly, who took it in her muzzle. Silver Spoon hopped out of her seat and over the unicorn colt in an attempt to grab the sheet, only to be tackled to the ground by a raging Scootaloo.

"What in Equestria?!" Cheerliee starred wide eyed at the ruckus before her as the rest of the class cheered on the chaos. Scootaloo wrestled with Silver Spoon, but was kicked head over hooves behind the silver filly and landed on her back. Silver Spoon rose to her hooves and ran to grab the sheet from Twist, but Scootaloo recovered and leap frogged over her and snatched the sheet from Twist's mouth.

"Aha!" Scootaloo cheered, receiving an applause from the class. Though her moment of triumph ended seconds later, as Miss Cheerliee approached her with narrowing eyes.

"Scootaloo was passing notes!" Silver Spoon huffed, rising up from the floor with her glasses upside down hanging from one ear.

"Scootaloo..." Cheerliee spoke in a low voice. "Would like to read to the class just what was so important, you had to tackle Silver Spoon not once but twice during class?"

Scootaloo laughed nervously, eyeing all the students and the towering Cheerliee before her. "It's uh, heh, not really written! It's, well more of a picture-"

"Well!" Cheerliee exclaimed, scaring the students. "Why don't you show us?"

"Yeah, blank flank." Sliver Spoon taunted. "Show us all!"

Like standing before a firing squad, Scootaloo's young heart pounded in her chest as she eyes the sheet in her hooves. The thick coat of crayon smeared all over the page and stained her hooves, a corner torn off from the four pony mosh pit. Sweat beaded her forehead as she licked her lips.

She had to think of something! The only ponies who actually knew about her and Rumble were her friends, two of them silently praying for her as Cheerliee tapped her hoof impatiently, and Silver Spoon grinning and silently wishing she had popcorn.

A faint flicker of a light bulb went off in her brain, a smile formed on her lips for a split seconded. It was stupid, but aware of the increasing tension between herself and the group and authority she was facing...she had no choice.

She looked down at the sheet and licked her lips.

You owe me big time, Rummy...

~★~★~

"So...You ate it?" Rumble asked, sitting besides Scootaloo in the nurse's office.

She groaned, holding her stomach and leaning against her coltfriend. "Couldn't...afford...embarrassing!"

Rumble laughed, extending a wing behind the filly. "So, I assume we'll be keeping this between us?"

Scootaloo sighed, easing into the ache in her tummy and looking up at Rumble. "No...I'm sorry, it's just..."

Rumble smiled, leaning down to nuzzle his filly. Scootaloo blushed, closing her eyes and leaning into the comfort of her coltfriend.

"Don't be, I get it. " He whispered.

Scootaloo shook her head, leaning in to nuzzle his chest. "I'm new to all this, I just don't want a million ponies pestering us."

Rumble rolled his eyes with a chuckle. "Well, they'll have me to deal with." He said with a confident grin.

Scootaloo giggled. She pulled away from the colt for a second, pecking him on the side of the muzzle before nuzzling into his neck, leaving Rumble to sit with a goofy smile and a rosy shade washing over his face.

Around the corner, the school nurse smiled and returned to searching for a bottle of stomach medicine.

"Ah, young love."

Sweet, Sweet, Sweetie Resistance

There was something unsettling to Applebloom lately.

She rested her hooves on the lunch table and eyed her unicorn friend, her eyes meeting two foals across the table whose gazes were locked on nothing and no one but each others. She glared, not bitterly however. No, her glare was one of impatience. Applebloom could feel Sweetie Belles anxious hooves tapping the bench they shared.

She had been like this since, ugh, Scootaloo and Rumble became a...thing. A pair? An item? Applebloom wasn't exactly all together familiar with the terms used in romanticism and such, only knowing that Scootaloo really, really like Rumble and Rumble really, really like Scoots. Not she had a problem with it, of course! Scootaloo was one of her two best friends in all of Equestria. And hay, even Rumble was starting to grow on her since her had been hanging around them more often.

Scootaloo and Rumble really liked being together, and that was fine with her...it was just starting to get kinda gross and mushy to watch.

Sweetie Belle on the other hoof knew a whole lot on the subject of romanticism, possibly too much. While Applebloom sat quietly, Sweetie chewed the inside of her lip in thought. Why hadn't they gone on a date yet, why are they just sitting her when they should be traveling together? They were doing this all wrong, according to Sweetie's vast knowledge in love...taken straight from Rarity's romance novel collection hidden in the boutique.

It was all but peaches and cream on the other side of the table. Scootaloo gazed into Rumble's eyes, nearly pure reflections of her own which she's since grown to adore. The world around her was just about background noise and blurred imagery and simply haloed Rumble, as the sun shined down on the lunch table amongst the grass ground of the school at lunchtime. She felt all warm and fuzzy whenever the colt was near, and the longer he was the less she tend to feel awkward.

Same went for Rumble, too. To think, nearly a week ago he never would've thought he would make it to where he was. At that road side with Scootaloo, he surprised the filly and even himself by telling her his feelings. A few days later, their first kiss. And now, he's mere putty in this filly's hooves sitting before him. The goofy expression on his face explained it all, for this young colt's heart then beat for Scootaloo.

It was then it was too much for Sweetie Belle to bare any longer, for the romantic passed down from her mother to her older sister and into herself reached out. She slammed a hoof on the table, scaring the crap out of the ponies in company.

"Sweetie!" Applebloom clutched her chest. "What're ya tryin' tah do, give us a heart attack?"

"Yeah!" Scootaloo complained. "What's the big idea?"

Sweetie let out a breath. "You two...are adorable."

Rumble and Scootaloo furrowed their brows, turning to each other.

"Too adorable, in fact." She stated. "Knowing this, watching you two stare each other down like puppies, as your friend-" She stood to eye both of them, her voice taking a turn for the serious. "-you must go on a date!"

"A date?!" Applebloom turned to the unicorn filly, whilst the two across the table sat still. "Sweetie Belle, shouldn't it be up tah them ifn' they wanna go out on a d-"

"Sure."

The three fillies turned their heads to the sole colt at the table. Rumble scratched the back of his head, a sheepish smile on his face. "I-I mean, no really. I think that's not a bad idea."

Scootaloo smiled. "Not a bad idea at all."

Sweetie Belle wasn't finished however, shaking her head. "No, no, no! Not like that! You have to do it right! Officially!"

Scootaloo turned to Sweetie, scratching her head. "What are you talking about?"

"Ah second that question." Applebloom stated, crossing her hooves and eyeing her friend.

"You can't just say 'oh, okay let's go on a date' and be like 'cool'!" Sweetie explained. "You gotta ask her out like the grown ups do, like anyone would do."

Rumble squinted at Sweetie, scooting over to whisper to Scootaloo. "I think she's lost it."

Scootaloo, keeping eye contact with the unicorn, nodded and whispered back. "Diddo."

Sweetie Belle stood up from her seat and moved to wrap a hoof around both Rumble and Scootaloo. "Just hear me out, alright? Here's how it's supposed to go..."

Meanwhile, a small pyramid of apple cider cans towered on coffee table. A grumpy stallion glared at the cloud wall across from the couch he occupied in the living room of his cloud home that afternoon.

One he shared with a set of twin mares, and one lately-dead-to-him little brother. His body still ached from the savaged beating he had taken at the hooves of his beloved late last week, his grimace increasing at the memory of the many feathers she had managed to pluck from him due to the story his brother told, selling him out in order to hook up with his filly-friend.

In honesty, he got it. I mean, who wouldn't pull a stunt like that if they were seconds from a kissing their filly or mare. He'd been there, he's ran that track many a time when he was his brother's age. Only up till recently, had his game caught up with him and the mojo he honed had wore on him. No longer did he just seek for a hot mare for a week and ended, but to actually...have a filly-friend.

Thunder sighed, reaching out to grab a magazine from the coffee table and opening it to a random page. Maybe he'd find some dumb article on dating advice written by some forty-something mare.

"Hey, Thunder~!"

And this moment of peace and quiet was brought to you by... He thought to himself, letting out a sigh as a pegasus flew over the back of the couch and sat down besides Thunderlane. He glanced up to see that Flitter was smiling a little too wide at him.

"How are y-"

"What do you want?" He asked, monotone.

Flitter snorted, covering her muzzle as she giggled. "What are you talking about?"

Thunderlane frowned. "Usually when you, Cloudchaser or worse-both of you-come and play kind and friendly with me, you want something." He eyed the mare. "So what is it?"

"I'm just giving you some company, Thunder." She placed her hooves on her hips, sticking her bottom lip out in a pout. "Is that a problem?"

Thunderlane stared, then closed the magazine and tossed it on to the coffee table, carefully missing the small cider pyramid he had made. "I guess not, whatever. C.C. still at work?"

Flitter leaned back against the couch cushions, laying with her back to Thunderlane and her wings laying over to shield her flanks from his view. She watched him over her shoulder as she talked. "Yeah, the boss needs her to go over some exercises over at the coffee shop...So I guess that just leaves you and I here..."

"I guess." Thunder shrugged, wrapping his fore hooves behind his head and closing his eyes.

"All by ourselves..." Flitter stated, eyeing Thunderlane.

"Yup." He said.

Flitter stared, her eyes narrowing. "All alone."

"Hmm.."

"Together." She stated through clenched teeth, as the stallion laid unmoved by her advances.

Behind them, several knocks sounded at the front door. He sagged in his position, groaning as he brought his hooves over his face.

"We don't want any cookies!" He shouted over his shoulder, only to be interrupted by more knocks.

"Oh my god, Thunder!" Flitter snapped. "Would it kill you to be conscious to the world around you for once?"

"Pbbt!" Thunderlane retorted as would a foal, returning to his resting position. Flitter sighed, rising from the couch and flicking her tail at the stallion's head. "Ow!"

"Hmph!" Flitter turned her nose up at Thunderlane as she approached the door, reaching out to pull it open. Her eyes then fell on the knocker, the mare seemed to want to avoid looking up at whoever would answer. Her multi-color mane frazzled, one hoof scratching the back of her head.

"Ahem," Flitter cleared her throat, "hello."

Rainbow Dash jumped at the greeting. "Oh, hey. Hi...uh.." She shook her head. "Sorry, but uh...is there a Thunderlane who lives here or something?"

Thunderlane's ears flicked at the sound of his name. His name, in her voice.

"Why, yes." Flitter glared. "There is, but I'm afraid he isn't-"

Rainbow stood back as Flitter was nearly thrown aside as Thunderlane jumped into the door way, one hoof leaning on the door frame causally.

"Hey." He said, staring at the mare with lidded eyes. "Been awhile since we last...met."

Rainbow cringed, both from the obvious advances of this odd stallion and the reminder of why she stood on his door step. "Uh, yeah. Look...about that, Scootaloo coughed up the truth about her and your brother lying back at Sugarcube Corner."

"Oh?" Thunder mused, furrowing his brow. "That so?"

Rainbow rubbed her hooves together. "Yeah so...ugh!" She stomped. "Look, I'm really bad at apologies."

Thunderlane blinked. "Noticed."

"So how about this-I buy you lunch or something." Rainbow offered, slightly hoping for a quick okay so she could flee the scene. "As like, a Sorry I beat you up apology thing."

Meanwhile on the other side of the door way, Thunderlane's brain caught fire as his felt light as the porch made of clouds he stood on. Did she just ask me out? He thought to himself.

"N-Not like a date or anything!" Rainbow quickly added, a look of panic appearing on her face. "Just an apology...thing."

She totally just asked me out. Thunderlane grinned, placing a hoof to his hip. "Well, alright...but uh, how about we make it dinner instead?"

Rainbow Dash sighed, glaring at the stubborn stallion. "Ugh, fine. Dinner."

Thunderlane grinned. "Hows about tomorrow, noonish?"

"Sure." Rainbow rolled her eyes, and turning away from the front door. "Whatever...See ya then, I guess."

Thunderlane watched as the rainbow maned vixen dove off the porch of his cloud home, disappearing below before flying up and away nearly as a blur. His face dawned a dream like expression, a goofy smile on his lips and his eyes never leaving where the mare once stood before him.

Behind him, an intense anger rose from the fore ground and tapped him on the shoulder. His ears perked up, suddenly remembering the mare he shoved moments ago.

"Thunder..."

Thunderlane's left eye twitched, the pain from that day at Sugarcube corner coming back to memory.

"Crap."