"Close Calls"

A month passed. The two stallions spent most of their free time together. It was at this point their friends started to think something was going on:

"You guys planning something?" Rainbow Blitz asked one day when the guys were all together for lunch at the Sugar Cube Corner.

"Is it a party?" Squealed Bubble Berry. "I love parties! Can I help? Oh! Can Gummette come and help set up with me?"

"If it were a party, dear, you'd certainly be the first I'd ask for help," said Elusive, looking over at Butterscotch to gauge what to say next. "We just have been having a lot of fun together lately. Much like Rainbow Blitz and Apple Jack."

Apple Jack raised an eyebrow:

"Well, to be fair me an' Rainbow here don't frequent the spa or watch romance movies in the theater all teary-eyed. Nor do we spend night after night at each other's houses!"

"Well, Rainbow Blitz DOES live in Cloudsdale." Said Butterscotch meekly. "And we do our own thing. Is that a crime?"

Apple Jack paused for a moment:

"Nah."

"Well, I'm glad," said Dusk Shine, stretching his wings. "It's important to me to see everypony together and happy."

"Here, here!" Exclaimed AJ.

Dusk Shine's words, comforting and without judgment, washed over them... and he continued to look at his yellow and ivory friends a bit longer than was nessessary. Though the Prince said nothing, and his smile beamed acceptance, it felt as though he was saying good for you to them both. Elusive and Butterscotch each felt glad, though Elusive had told no pony about their relationship yet...

* * *

It was one hot afternoon. While on the way home to Butterscotch's cottage for some refreshment and an afternoon of idylic cuddling, the stallions heard a soft cry:

"Help!"

Their ears perked up. It sounded as if it was coming from Ponyville Pond.

"Oh, dear... That sounds like Apple Buck," said Elusive, a look of worry in his eye. "If he's in trouble, we haven't a moment to lose!"

"Oh, I hope he's alright," replied Butterscotch, already turning in the direction of the pond.

Before the yellow Pegasus could take off, Elusive was already kicking up dust, galloping in the direction of the cries. Apple Buck was Sweepy Belle's friend... if anything happened to him because the stallions were too slow, Elusive would never be able to forgive himself.

It took less than a minute for them to get to the pond. Sure enough, right in the middle of the water, towards a cloudy green patch, Apple Buck was struggling... but barely moving despite his best efforts in the murky water.

"We're here, Apple Buck!" Shouted Elusive, already wadding through the water. "I'm coming to get you out!"

"Ah'm stuck!" Shouted the colt. "Ah'm all tangled up in some weeds!"

Elusive, hesitantly wading in the shallows, paused for a moment, looking closely at the young Colt's predicment... but ultimately made his mind up moments later:

"Don't move! I'll untangle you, but you have to sit still."

The colt replied sharply, sounding very scared:

"If Ah stop moving I'm gunna go under!"

Elusive galloped in, glancing back at his Special Somepony:

"I might need your help Butterscotch... stay where you are for now."

"O-okay!" Replied the timid Pegasus.

The Unicorn doggystyle-paddled up to Apple Buck and tried to examine his predicament... between the splashing and the frantic kicking, it was hard to see for sure, but Elusive was able to feel around and find a particularly long weed the colt's hind leg was tangled in.

"I've got you," he said, calmly. "Trust me... you're going to be okay."

Looking into the stallion's calming blue eyes, Apple Buck was able to settle down a bit... but still kicked to keep his head above water.

"My, my, you're being a good boy," Elusive said, untangling the colt with his magic. "Just a few moments more and you'll be free! Able to make it to the shore by yourself..."

Apple Buck smiled at the Unicorn as he worked. Seeing how good Elusive could be with kids when they were in real danger made Butterscotch smile... though his fear trumped any affection he was feeling.

The colt felt the weed slowly coming loose...

"There! You're free now!" Yipped the Unicorn. "Head right for Butterscotch... any weeds that could catch you would have gotten me first. You're safe now..."

He didn't have to tell Apple Buck twice. The colt made a bee-line for the shore and got right out, shaking himself dry like a dog at the beach. Both stallions smiled, knowing he was now okay.

It was Elusive's turn now. Casually, he turned around and began to paddle for shore. Though he followed the same path he took going in, he made one mistake. He exaggerated an arching motion with his hind leg while trying to keep straight, and this caused him to become tangled in a low weed. He was stuck, worse than Apple Buck, his nose inches from going under. The stallion's entire focus was now spent keeping his head up, and it was because of that he couldn't use his magic. Trying to stay afloat, he kicked the other leg... only to have it become entangled by a second weed, just as low. If he let his head go under now in hopes to free himself with his teeth or his magic, it was possible that his horn or other legs could become entangled as well. He wasn't a wizard capiable of teleportation spells, just simple magic to help him at work...

"Butterscotch!" He muttered through his teeth. "Help!"

The stallion looked up and saw his Special Somepony's face barely peeking above water... everything else was invisible beneath the murky depths.

He turned to Apple Buck:

"Go get the nearest grown-up you can find! Please hurry!"

The little pony took off like a shot, disappearing behind the trees. Butterscotch flew over the water, looking down at Elusive. The Unicorn still had a sense of humor about him:

"This is quite a spot, isn't it?"

"Give me your hoof," said Butterscotch, extending a foreleg.

"It's worth a shot," said Elusive. "These weeds are pretty strong, though. I don't know if you'll be able to break them dear."

"Elusive, hush now, and give me your darn hoof!" Snapped Butterscotch. "I don't want you to drown!"

Clumsily, the Unicorn threw his hoof at the flying Pegasus... who managed to catch it. The two held on tight.

"Please don't let go," said Butterscotch, pulling with all his might.

"Please don't let me go," replied Elusive, also pulling with Butterscotch.

The stuck stallion did not budge, despite their greatest efforts... still they tried, and ultimately it made matters worse for them both. Butterscotch tried to hold on to Elusive, but his grip slipped and, as if on a rubber band, the pony was shot back into the darkness... to be tangled by other weeds. Tension mounted in the Pegasus's stomach when he did not rise up on his own.

Butterscotch had two choices now -- get help or do something. The later seemed better, though a thousand times scarier, but what choice did he have? He took a breath, holding on to every ounce of courage he had... praying to Lord Solaris that his wings wouldn't get tangled. At least they'd be together if that happened.

* * *

Elusive first panicked under the cold water, but gradually felt more at ease as it all washed over him. The further he drifted into the murky depths, the warmer things became. Eventually, when all was calm and warm, and he felt at peace, gradually, he fell asleep in the warm bliss... completely at ease.

"Elusive!" Echoed a distant, familiar voice. "Elusive, open your eyes!"

But I feel divine here! Why should I stop resting for you?

"Please Elusive..." Echoed a second, slightly more distant voice, much higher and feminine than the first. "Don't be dead! I love you!"

Dead? Me? But I'm just resting!

The calm beneath the waves began to fade as Elusive felt his eyes and head shift with sharp irritation.

Somepony just slapped me?

His head begin to throb in response, and with a rush his body jerked forward... then he threw up.

The stallion's eyes drew wide as pond water poured from his maw. He saw two purple creatures above him, but didn't care about that right now. His body felt clammy and cold. After he was done puking, he shivered and shook in shock. Then, before he even recovered... the poor Unicorn was overloaded:

"You're alive!" Exclaimed Dusk Shine above him, even though at that moment he wished he wasn't.

"Elusive!" Cried Barb the dragon. "I'm so happy you're okay!"

"Oh, Elusive!" Quietly cried Butterscotch from behind the two. The stallion cantered around the two to his Special Somepony's side and hugged him. "I was so scared!"

Elusive, still in a daze, patted Butterscotch on the back and sighed deeply. He was okay. He looked down... The Pegasus was just as soaked and dirty as he was.

Looking up at the pristine Alicorn, he managed to mutter, despite his state:

"Dusk Shine... you saved us?"

The Prince smiled bashfully:

"Actually... Butterscotch should be taking credit for this one. Me and Barb here just arrived a few minutes ago as he was pulling you out."

Elusive gently pulled on Butterscotch so they were now face-to-face:

"Sweetheart... you saved my life?"

Butterscotch nodded shyly.

The Pegasus and Unicorn locked lips in front of their friends, one who barely even flinched at the sight, while the other's jaw dropped all the way to the ground. Seeing two ponies together and so happy in a passionate kiss, the Alicorn smiled. Looking to Dusk Shine first, Barb was getting ready to open her mouth, ask some type of question, but with just a glance she knew better.... though it hurt her heart not to ask what she wanted to, she stifled it like a fiery sneeze.

When the kiss was over, Elusive pulled away from Butterscotch and asked:

"How did you manage to do it without magic?"

Butterscotch just grinned nervously:

"I-I don't know! I went under and got tangled, too... but I managed to free myself, then I swam to the bottom and managed to free you, too. You were tangled in so many, I thought they were going to get me, too!"

"He was just lucky, Elusive," said Dusk Shine. "And good thing, too... judging by the waters, I wouldn't have been able to see either of you. By the time I would have found you with my magic, it probably would have been too late. Apple Buck said you saved him, Elusive. I don't know if I would even want to swim in those waters... from what he described there might be some aggressive plants that came in on the breeze from the Everfree.. the type of plants that like to tangle ponies up. I'm going to have to stay here and investigate, possibly cast a spell... I'm glad you two are okay and together again. I can tell the relationship you both have is quite special."

Both stallions turned to their supreme friend:

"Guess our secrets out now, huh?" Asked Elusive. "Not that you didn't know about me... but us?" The stallion pointed at the dragon. "And now Barb knows, too..."

Butterscotch nodded.

"You're Colt Cuddlers!" Finally exclaimed Barb, looking directly at Elusive and Butterscotch with accusing eyes. "I... I had no idea!"

Dusk Shine laughed:

"So what if they are, Barb?" He asked his dragon assistant, looking directly into her eyes. "Isn't it better to see them happy than anything else?"

Barb shuffled her feet:

"Yeah, well... I guess."

"Barb, if you need to talk to Elusive or Butterscotch sometime without me around, I understand."

The dragon kicked the stones beneath her feet, not looking up:

"No, I'm good..."

"We'll treat you to a nice ice cream at the Sugar Cube Corner." Said Butterscotch, encouragingly.

"Yes, dear, we certainly will when we're in better spirits." Replied Elusive, sneezing up pond water. "Don't think this changes anything. You're still my cute lil rose barb and always will be..."

Barb smiled, looking up at the wet ponies as Dusk Shine addressed his friends:

"I learned years ago from Bubble Berry that if a friend wants you to keep a secret about them, you'd better do it... or else you could lose that friend forever. If you two are in love, I don't have a problem with it. I kind of suspected it, actually... I thought you already knew that."

Elusive's eyes lit up, his mind drifting back to a conversation they'd all had at the Corner earlier that morning:

"So, you're not going to tell everyone we're Special Someponies?"

"Let me think..." Dusk Shine scratched the side of his head with a wing. "That's a no, Elusive."

"I won't either..." Said Barb, still sounding dejected.

Both stallions looked at each other, then casuallyed cantered up to their sage friend and dragon. They gave them each a hug.

"Thank you!" Exclaimed Butterscotch.

"Yes, thank you!" Exclaimed Elusive, giving Barb a sharp peck on the cheek.

Barb fell over in surprise and bliss while Dusk Shine replied his friends:

"Hey, I'm just being a true friend."

"Yes," replied Elusive, thinking back to a song that once uplifted all their spirits when they were all confused about their path and identities. "A true friend..."

The Alicorn Prince beamed a grin as he accepted and returned,their warm embrace along with his assistant. His assistant wouldn't tell... Barb felt happy and empty at the same time, but that had to be her problem... Elusive and Butterscotch made a good couple and that was all there was to it.

Author's Note

I don't know if adventure fits in this story, but it was fun, and gives an excuse for them to get closer.