Living a lie without lies.

BraveWing collapsed on his bed, tired after a long day at work. A few days had passed by since the date with SunsetHeart, he had called her yesterday and actually asked her out, when she had asked what they would do he had just said it would be a surprise. Well, eating at a restaurant wasn't much of a surprise, but he had other things planned later this weekend, that would be a little bit more special than just eating at a restaurant, at least i his opinion. But that required quite a bit of planning, but hopefully it would be all worth it. He sighed and rolled onto his back, looking up in the ceiling. When he thought about it, maybe he should have told her that they where going to eat at a restaurant, the only thing he had told her was that he would pick her up at her place at 7 PM. Well, let's hope she likes the surprise at least. He thought to himself, got out of bed and started preparing himself for their date.

****

BraveWing knocked at  SunsetHeart's door, he was a few minutes early but hopefully she wouldn't mind. He was wearing a slightly pink shirt and a grey suit and a red tie, he hadn't really done much with his mane, just brushed it before he left. Last time he wore this was at the school dance a few years ago, but it still fit very nicely. Well, I hope it doesn't look to bad. He thought to himself, and he could now hear hoofsteps from the inside of the house, and a moment later SunsetHeart opened the door.

“Hey, you're early.’’ She said, smiling warmly at him.

’’Is that a bad thing now?’‘ He asked and smiled back.

“You could come back in ten minutes so I had some time to prepare myself.’’ She said and rolled her eyes. “Or just wait in the living room so I can get dressed.’’

“I think I would prefer to wait in the living room then.’’ He said.

“Well, come on in.’’ She said and stepped aside, allowing BraveWing to enter the house.

BraveWing walked inside the house and heard the door being closed behind him.

“You can just go and sit down in the couch or something while I get dressed.’’ She said before she walked into her bedroom and closed the door behind her.

BraveWing sat down in the couch and leaned back, humming on a random song. After a few minutes SunsetHeart came back, wearing a very simple, flat, orange dress with red stripes on it. Instead of letting her mane just hang down, she had braided it and a few yellow stripes in it.

“Um... does it look okay?’’ She asked with a sheepish smile and looked down at her front hooves.

BraveWing simply stared at her, his jaw hanging down slightly. Sure, she looked good, but this. “You look absolutely stunning.’’ He managed to say, after about fifteen seconds of staring.

“Aw... thanks.’’ She said and looked up at him with a warm smile. “So, where are we going?’’

“Oh you will just have to wait and see.’’ He said with a secretive smile.

“You're no fun.’’ She said jokingly and gave him a light knock on the shoulder.

****

SunsetHeart looked at BraveWing, who was sitting right in front of her on the other side of the table, looking at the menu. She hadn't really expected him to take her out to a four star restaurant. Didn't he tell me to dress up? Or did I just do it anyways? She thought to herself, but left it at that.

“So, found anything you like yet?’’ BraveWing asked, taking his eyes of the menu.

“Um... I was thinking about the potato salad, but I might take the lasagna instead.’’ She replied with a shrug.

“Well, take whatever you want, I don't really mind.’’ He said with a warm smile.

“Okay then, if you say so.’’ She said and smiled back before she returned her attention to the menu. Okay, I guess I'll take the lasagna and drink pear cider to it then. She thought to herself.

“May I take your orders please?’’ One of the waiters asked.

“Um... I'll have the lasagna and pear cider.’’ SunsetHeart replied.

’‘I’ll have whatever she is having.’’ BraveWing said and leaned back in the chair.

“Alright then, I'll get you your drinks and your food should be here very soon.’’ The waiter said and walked away.

“So... have you been here before’’ SunsetHeart asked and leaned back in the chair.

“Nah, I don't really go out and eat that often, and if I do I usually just go to a bar or something...’’ He replied with a shrug.

“Well, this is a lot nicer than just sit alone in a bar, don't you think.’’ She asked.

“I guess.’‘ He replied with a small smile.

SunsetHeart leaned back a little bit more and sighed softly. “So, how was work?’‘ She asked.

“Um... alright I guess, just a slow day but other than that, not to bad.’’ He replied. “You?’’

“About the same.’’ She replied with a shrug.

“Alright, here is your drinks.’’ A waiters said, placed two glasses and two bottles of cider on the table. “I will be back with your food in a moment.’’ The waiter said before he left them alone once again.

“So... do you know when the tryout is for the guard job?’’ SunsetHeart asked and took a sip of the cider.

“Um... I think it is in about a month, I’ll look it up when I get home I guess.’’ He replied with a small smile.

“Well, do you look forward to it?’’ She asked and leaned back.

“I guess so, it's gonna be nice to get a little change now.’’ He replied. I guess I never noticed how miserable I actually was before I met her, she really brought a new meaning to my life. He thought to himself and looked down at his untouched glass of cider.

“So... anything else that is new?’’ She asked.

“Not really, started watching a few TV-shows again but that is pretty much it.’’ He replied with a shrug.

“Well, that is nice I guess, do you recommend any of them?’’ She asked and put down her glass of cider.

“Um... I guess The Vamponys diaries is a pretty good one, I haven't really watched many of the episodes yet but so far, I like it.’’ He replied.

“Huh, well, I guess I'll watch a few episodes and see if I like it.’’ She said with a shrug.

“Well, here comes our meals.’’ He said as he saw one of the waiters coming, levitating two plates with a rather fancy looking lasagna on them. He thanked the waiter and then turned his attention to SunsetHeart. “Cheers.’’ He said and raised his glass.

“Cheers.’’ She said and they clinked glasses. She took a bite of the lasagna, it was good, maybe a little bit to hot but other than that she couldn't complain. Well, I guess things are starting to look up for me again. She thought to herself and took another bite of the lasagna, which had cooled down a little bit. She glanced over at BraveWing, who was enjoying his lasagna quite a bit. “So, have you planned anything else for this evening?’’ She asked as she took another bite of the lasagna.

“Um... not really, maybe a walk in the park?’’ He replied with a nervous smile.

“Well, that sounds just wonderful.’’ She replied with a warm smile and took a sip of her cider. Maybe this cider is a little bit to strong, I should probably ask for some water. She thought to herself, put down the glass of cider and turned her attention back to the lasagna.

****

“Hey, Equestria to Sunset, can you hear me?’’

“Huh? Oh sorry, what did you say again?’’ SunsetHeart asked as she and BraveWing walked through one of the parks in Canterlot.

“I asked you if we could rest for a bit, just need a short rest.’’ BraveWing replied.

“I guess so, how about under that tree?’’ She asked and pointed her right forehoof at a tree near by.

“Sure.’’ He replied with a smile and started trotting over to the tree and sat down under it, soon joined by SunsetHeart.

SunsetHeart leaned her head against BraveWing's shoulder and let out a soft sigh. “This is nice.’’ She said and looked up into the sky.

“Well, I'm happy to hear that’’ BraveWing said and wrapped his right wing around her and drew her a little bit closer, then leaned his head on top of hers and let out a happy sigh.

Looking up in the sky, SunsetHeart gazed over all the small dots of light, it sure was a beautiful sight.

“Do you think wishes upon the stars can come true?’’ BraveWing asked, taking his eyes of the sky for a moment and looked at SunsetHeart.

“Um... I dunno, I guess, why do you ask?’’ She replied.

“Not really sure, when I was a colt, I wasn't really the most popular kid, some teased me a little bit, so sometimes I climbed up on top of the roof and if I saw a shooting star I used to wish that I at least could get one friend.’’ He replied, with a hint of sadness in his voice.

“Didn't your parents or the school try to do anything about it?’’ She asked, looking a little bit concerned.

“I told my parents, but they didn't do much about it, and the school didn't even seem to notice, half of the class didn't even know anything about it.’’

“Oh... did it get better later?’’ She asked, with a concerned look on her face.

“I guess, one of them actually came by one day when my parents weren't around and apologized for his behavior, he had been friends with them before they started picking on ponies and they were actually nice if you actually got to know them he said. He kept his role, tried to make them stop picking on ponies for no reason but it didn't really help, we kept hanging out sometimes, but after about two years he moved away, last time I met him he told me it was due personal problems and that he was sorry, he never had time to say where he went tho.’’ He said, still a hint of sadness in his voice.

“So, did they ever stop teasing you?’’ She asked. It sounds more like bullying. She thought to herself.

“Not really, after about a year I just got enough, I took care of some things and then moved here, got a job as fast as I could so I could pay for the house, guess I didn't realize how miserable I actually was until I met you.’’ He chuckled in reply and started sobbing slightly, then felt a warm pair oh hooves draw him into a warm embrace.

“Hey, it's okay, I got you.’’ She whispered in his left ear and patted him on his back.

“I-I just, I c-couldn't s-stop...’’ He stammered. “I... I never meant to.’’ He stopped there, unable to say more. “I just... I'm... I'm sorry for bringing this up.’’ He said, a little bit calmer, he took a few deep breaths, still in SunsetHeart's embrace.

After what felt like an hour SunsetHeart lightened the hug slightly and looked into his topaz yellow eyes. “Better?’’ She asked calmly with a small smile.

“Better.’’ He replied and smiled back as a final tear found its way down his cheek. “Now, shall we continue the walk through the park?’’

“That sounds lovely.’’ She replied and gave him a quick kiss on his forehead.