Chapter 8: Keeping a Secret

On that day, I had to make up an excuse to be gone from the library for a few hours.

"I'll be back late Twilight, I have a lot of errands to run." I said, trying to fool her.

"Oh, let me come with you!" Twilight said, looking up from her book. She wanted to go everywhere with me.

"It's a little too personal for you to come, Twi. Sorry." I said as I picked up my grey cloth bag. I had it empty today for a good reason. I put on my sneakers.

"Nonsense, nothing is too personal between us." Twilight said and stood walking to me over by the door.

I put my hand on the knob and turned,"Twilight, you can't come with me this time. I really mean it."

"But...but-" Twilight started. I had cut her off.

"Why don't you go upstairs and get on the xbox while I'm gone?" I said with a smile. We finally got electricity to run using the giant battery like canister plan.

"Okay..." Twilight gave in and started to go up the stairs. She had that depressing smile going on. It usually gets to me and caves me in.

"Twi, there are some things that a man has to do alone. But, I'll be back as soon as I can." I said, trying to reassure her. I exited the library. I always wanted to use that line.

It was 3:45 PM when I left. I immediately ran to Rarity's. I would bet it took me five minutes to get over there. I knocked on her door before I heard her call.

"Cooooome in!" Rarity called to me.

I opened the door and Rarity turned to me instantly.

"What brings you here, Zach?" she asked me.

"I just had a question. Where would I find a good jewelry store?" I inquired.

"In Canterlot, Bold Baubles. Why?" Rarity asked and turned back to a dress she was designing.

"Uh...no reason. Anyways, thanks. Bye." I slipped out the door fast before she could start the guessing game.

I paid for a ticket to Canterlot and went to the benches. The next train was due in twenty minutes. I realized I screwed up big.

"Damn...I don't even know where that store is..." I whispered to myself. I waited quietly until the train arrived. Nopony looked at me odd. I had been here for roughly two years. Everypony knew me and was completely comfortable around me once they knew I am courting Twilight. The moment the train arrived I handed in my ticket and boarded.

Once I arrived in Canterlot I asked a kind looking pegasus who pointed me down the street and to the right. I continued down the street and saw a big golden hued sign that stated Bold Baubles. There were many jeweled shining objects of gold and silver. I had four hundred bits from all the odd jobs that I took whenever back at Ponyville. I walked inside and saw three others that were browsing. One was a couple, I could tell from their actions any neanderthal could, the other was just a lone stallion probably here for the same reason as me. I started to browse on the left side of the store. I didn't see any store employee at the moment. All the jewelry behind its glass fortress walls were necklaces and bangles or anklets. They were separated by silver and gold, the latter being in front of me on the left side of the glass display case. The store was rectangular in shape. The main counter was connected to the wall opposite of the door. On the other two walls were the jewelry displays. It was, of course, small, but jewelry is small, so it wouldn't be like a walmart even if it was well known.

I started to think of what Twilight would like and what would look good on her. 'Something silver...perhaps with an amethyst...or something gold with a high styled diamond..', I thought while I had browsed. I heard the couple leave and someone else enter the store. I didn't look, I was deep in thought with the task at hand.

"Zach?" someone behind me called. I didn't hear due to the other voice in my head, my brain.

"Zach?" the mare behind me said and poked my back. I exited my thoughts and jumped. I spun around to see someone I really wished I didn't.

"R-rarity, what are you doing here?" I asked, panicking. I felt like jumping out the window and sprinting down the street.

"I should be asking you the same. You certainly aren't one for jewelry, so why are you here, Darling?" She asked.

"Uhhh...Well you see..I.." I must have looked pathetic trying to form a sentence. 'Kill me now', I thought.

"You don't mean...you're here for Twilight, do you?" Rarity asked. I sighed.

"Yes, I'm here for her." I gave in.

"How romantic! Sadly for you, Darling, I have no idea what Twilight likes in jewelry." Rarity said. The lone stallion was walking out of the store with a simple gold diamond necklace. He was staring at us oddly.

"I'm sure I'll find something she'll like." I said then walked over to the other side of the store.

I ignored Rarity as she talked about romance and the like. I browsed through the silver section of the long display case. Something very majestic stuck out to me. A silver bangle with decorative lines engraved like ocean waves and the Aurora Borealis. Two amethysts that were studded into a circle shape laid embedded on the sides of a six pointed star shaped diamond. The bangle looked to be three inches in width. I looked at the number below it, bangle forty-three. All jewelry here had a number, I guessed it was to make a purchase. Rarity had finally stopped her rambling as I walked up to the main counter. A red maned and tailed gold coated unicorn smiled at me.

"You must be Zach the human. I'm Gold For Cash. How may I help you?" she greeted me warmly.

"I would like to purchase bangle forty-three." I said with a smile.

The lock on the display case glowed a deep bronze color as well as her horn, a click noise followed and the glass slide door opened,"That'll be for hundred and thirty bits." Gold For Cash said as she levitated the exact bangle with its stand onto the counter.

"It seems I don't have enough." I said as I reached into my dull grey cloth bag and pulled out four packed bags of bits each having thread that said '1H' on it. I placed them on the counter and Gold For Cash's smile disappeared. She just opened her mouth.

"'No need to worry, dear. I'll cover the rest." Rarity interrupted her and took out thirty bits from her saddle bag with her magic and laid them next to the bags. I hadn't noticed her bag until now.

"Rarity, why would you spend your hard earned money on me?" I asked while Gold For Cash put the money and bangle stand behind the counter and gave me the piece of jewelry. I placed it into my bag along with the black felt box it came with.

"Anything for a friend and for romance." Rarity said, smiling.

"So he has a special somepony. She must be lucky." Gold For Cash said with a smile. I saw no reason to stay since I got what I needed. I had a tint of red over my cheeks. I walked to the door quickly.

"Have a nice day!" I heard her call after me with a chuckle.

Rarity walked after me and we made our way to the train station with a lot of chatting. Once we arrived the station clock said 7:01 PM. The train was there and about to leave. We handed in our tickets and boarded. Right before the train took off I heard something I haven't since I went to get the lightning battery made.

"Evil is almost upon you and this land, Zach." the deep voice boomed. I thought it was gone.

The train ride to Ponyville was quiet, most of the riders were sleepy or they were snoozing . The Ponyville station clock stated silently, 10:32 PM. Rarity went to the boutique fast, worried about it and her cat.

I ran to Fluttershy's before I went home. I knocked on the door in a rush.

"Hi, Zach." Fluttershy answered,"Why ar-"

"No time. Keep this hidden and don't let anypony see it." I said and pulled out the black box which secured the high priced bangle. I handed it to her,"Don't look inside it and don't lose it." I said then closed the cottage door and ran to the library.

Nopony was outside and the moon hung over head. I could hear the drowning timer from Sonic the Hedgehog(that belongs to SEGA) play in my mind as I got close to the door. I opened it.

"Where the hay have you been!? It's almost eleven o'clock !" I was greeted by a furious Twilight. The timer stopped in my head and the words GAME OVER came to my thinking vessel.

"I said I was going to be home late..." I said apologetically.

"Your dinner is in the kitchen. I'll see you upstairs." Twilight said, holding back all of her anger. She walked upstairs and into our bedroom.

I went into the kitchen and ate the salad with a tall glass of water before I headed upstairs. I opened the door to the bedroom and took off my shoes then silently slipped under the blanket and into the bed. Moonlight poured into the room and revealed Twilight's face. I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her close, she was facing the same direction as me due to pulling her into my loving embrace.

"What were you even doing while you were gone?" Twilight asked me. I knew this was coming.

"Shopping..." I stuck to short answers.

"How could shopping take that long? What were you even shopping for?" I knew this was coming as well.

"I was shopping in Canterlot. For something special." I answered. Twilight turned her head to see me.

"What is it?" Twilight once again asked a question I knew was coming .

"I can't say. Now, shhh, go to sleep." I said and gave her a quick peck on the lips, closing my eyes.

"But-" Twilight was about to talk again.

"Can't hear you when I'm sleeping." I said with my eyes closed. I heard her grunt before snuggling into me with her heavenly soft coat.Twilight always loved the feel of my skin. Sadly for her, I was too tired to get comfy and take the time to remove my apparel. All I thought about last night was when to pop that question. When to do that...

Author's Note

This is where things start to boil into the good part. For those who got the password, you could start to paste things together. Just don't try to give a guess. This is where Zach having the sword skills of a dozen heroes and the voice in his head start to make a little sense.