As much as Shadow Spell, Jetstream and Twilight would've loved to spend more time with one another and catch up, they knew that family was always a priority for her, and they respected that. Jetstream knew how she felt, considering how close he is with his own family, especially his younger sister, Starlight. Such is the way things in life go, and despite their painfully brief meeting, they were grateful that they at least had those few moments together.

"Thanks for walking me to the station, guys," Twilight said, as she was preparing to board the now delayed train.

"No prob. It gave us an excuse to spend a little more time with you after all," Jetstream said with a small smile.

"Not only that, it's the least we could do after fulfilling our contractual agreement," Shadow said with a sly smirk, which earned him a small glare from Twilight.

"Hey, remember it works both ways, Twilight. It's clearly stated in the contract after all," Jetstream teased. "Anyways, have a good trip. Tell Cadence and Shining Armor I said ‘hi’." he said as he gave her a warm embrace.

Twilight returned the embrace, "I will, Jetty-Jet," she said. “Just try to stay out of trouble. I know how you can get, hot stuff,” she said with a teasing manner.

Jetstream blushed hard and shuddered as she said that. “Uh...yeah, I’ll do that,”

Seeing him blush and tense up like that wasn’t lost upon Shadow, but he felt it would be better to ask a little later what that was all about. Instead, he offered a smile, acting like he didn’t notice anything. "Yes, have a good time with your family, Twilight. Give my regards to them as well."

"Will do, Shadow," she responded, returning the embrace.

"Princess Twilight? The train is ready when you are," a brown pegasus stallion kindly informed.

"I'm ready," Twilight informed. "Bye, guys. Hopefully next time we'll be able to spend the whole day together."

"We will one day, Twi. Until then, take care of yourself," said Jetstream. Twilight nodded, and entered the train, and almost immediately began taking off. Shadow and Jetstream watched the train take off, and ride until it was out of sight. "Next time we have a vacation, we definitely need to check with Twilight's schedule," said Jetstream as he began walking away from the platform.

Shadow followed suit, walking beside his friend. "Indeed. Now, what was she implying when she called you 'hot stuff'? You've never been embarrassed by such terms of endearment before, so I'm led to believe that there's a story behind that," he challenged. His suspicions were confirmed when Jetstream once again blushed and visibly tensed up.

"Damn it, why do you have to be so freaking perceptive?" Jetstream dismayed.

"Don't dodge the question, Jetstream! Now spit it out!" Shadow Spell demanded.

Jet knew that look in Shadow's eyes all too well. Once that spark was there, he would be relentlessly pushing the issue until he got the information he wanted. If that wasn't bad enough, he wasn't above exploiting his weaknesses to extract that information.

The last time he tried to hide something from him, he wound up completely bound and tied upside down to a lamppost. All the while, he was getting a steady dose of arcane lightning magic on his most ticklish of spots until he finally spilled the beans. The bad part was that Jetstream had a tendency to wet himself when he was tickled too much, and him being upside down would've meant that he'd would give himself a golden shower in the worst of ways. The very memory made him shiver, and he knew that Shadow would do it again in a heartbeat to get the information he was looking for, a tactic he proudly called 'Creative Information Retrieval Techniques'.

With a defeated sigh, Jetstream rubbed the back of his neck uncomfortably as he began to recount the events of the night in question. "It was a several years ago in Canterlot. I just won first place in the Wonderbolt Derby, just barely beating Spitfire and Fleetfoot. After such a hard race and thankful that my long training period paid off, I decided to celebrate by going to the bar and just cut loose, you know? There were so many ponies there celebrating with and I got involved in several drinking contests with some fans of mine. Anyways, I ended up getting very drunk. Shitfaced, actually. To the point that I couldn't even walk straight, let alone fly home. So there I was, stumbling throughout Canterlot making a big fool of myself, singing incoherently and picked a fight with an alley cat...and lost."

Shadow raised an eyebrow, not entirely sure how to react to such a ludicrous claim. "...dare I ask how in the wide world of Equestria that happened?"

Jetstream gave him a sheepish smile. "Well, the damn thing stole my potato, haybacon and cheese burrito. I chased it to an alley and cornered it. Then it jumped on my face, knocked me down and...it wasn't pretty. As it turns out that pussy had buddies there too, and they jumped me. They really laid a beating on me."

Shadow Spell gave Jetstream a dubious look, cocking his eyebrow as he looked at him in the most scrutinizing of ways. “You. Got your ass kicked. By a bunch of alley cats?” he deadpanned.

Jetstream blushed, obviously very ashamed from a soul-crushing, ego shattering and embarrassing loss from a bunch of feral felines. “...I was outnumbered, alright?! There was absolutely nothing I could do to defend myself!”

Shadow Spell facepalmed himself. “Jetstream...only things as ridiculous as that could happen to you. Anyways, we’re getting sidetracked. Get back on topic.”

“Right. After my...run in with the demon cats, I cleaned myself up in the nearest fountain, and I noticed that Twilight’s house was nearby, so I decided to make my way there to rest up and take off first thing in the morning. When I arrived, all the lights were out, and I didn’t want to disturb Twi’s parents and Shining Armor, so I decided to sneak in through the window.”

Shadow gave Jetstream a scowl. “Breaking and entering our closest friend’s house. Nice job,” he said with a thick layer of sarcasm.

He nervously cleared his throat. “A-anyways, the window was already open, and for once, luck seemed to be on my side. I climbed in and tripped over the nightstand I didn’t realize was there, and to my surprise, nopony woke up from the noise. So I spot the bed, and climb right in. I say ‘Hey, Twi. Just crashing for the night.’ then I...well I cuddle with her. I throw my arm around her waist and place my head on her shoulder.”

“Hm. Then what?”

“Well, I hear some mumbling and we stay there for a moment, but then I noticed something off, so I ask, ‘Twi? Since when did you start wearing Tommy Hayfiger cologne?’” After a brief, uncomfortable silence and a gulp, Jetstream continued. “Then I hear a voice that wasn’t Twilight’s mumbling, ‘Cadence...you’re so beautiful...will you...be mine?’”

Shadow’s eyes widened, and his otherwise stoic expression started to crack when an irresistible and overwhelming smile began to tug on the corners of his lips, and a snort escaped his nostrils in a vain attempt to suppress the side splitting laughter that was forcing its way out of his lungs. Unable to stop it, he let loose a very rare, and surprisingly loud fit of laughter. He was laughing so hard that he had to stop walking and clutch his gut as tears were standing in his eyes. “You...you were cuddling with...SHINING ARMOR?!” he asked between breaths. Jetstream’s unamused scowl was answer enough, thus forcing him in another fit of hard laughter.

Jetstream’s eye was twitching in irritation. “Are you done yet?!” he growled. He waited until Shadow caught his breath and wiped his eyes before continuing. “Anyways, I froze in place, and panic started to set in. So in as feminine a voice as I could muster, I answer, ‘Of course I will, Shiny. You and Twilight are the best thing that’s ever happened to me, and I would be honored if you were my stallion.’ Then I try to slip out of bed, but Shining Armor wrapped his arms around me, and he has this dreamy smile on his face.. Come to think of it he was still sleeping...but then he says, ‘Kiss me.’” he looks like he’s about to vomit as he struggles to say the next part, “Then he...k-k-kissed my freaking cheek and said ‘Mmm. So soft’ then kissed me again! I was flailing my arms trying to escape his grip! He’s a lot stronger than he looks!”

Shadow Spell once again snorted, trying to suppress the side-splitting laughter from coming out again. “So...pfft...w-what happened...pfft...next?”

Jetstream lowered his head in shame, his face now burning a pretty shade of crimson. “...Twilight walked in, and spotted me while I looked like I was about to die from embarrassment. She looked confused at first, but then it clicked in her mind what was happening. She gently removed his arms with her magic and I wasted no time in getting the hell out of that bed! Twilight takes me to her room and I say, ‘This doesn’t leave the house!’ Then she says, ‘Sure thing, hot stuff.’ From there, she tossed me a pillow and blanket, and I fall asleep on the floor.”

Shadow couldn’t contain his laughter any longer, once again gripping his sides as he let loose another wave of merriment from his lungs.

“Jackass…” Jetstream muttered under his breath, only to be hit with an arcane lightning bolt on his tickle spot immediately after.

* * *

After getting back into Ponyville and closing in on their hotel, Jetstream and Shadow Spell noticed that the air seemed to be filled with an excitement of some kind. Their suspicions were confirmed when they saw the citizens gathering at the Town Square.

“Hmm. Must be a shindig of some kind,” said Jetstream.

“Must be,” Shadow responded simply, “And before you ask; no. I’m not interested. Let’s just get back to the hotel and…” He was interrupted when the steel blue pegasus grabbed his wrist and pulled him to the Town Square.

“Too bad. You’re coming with me,” he said

“Let go of me, Jetstream!” Shadow demanded.

“No. You’re gonna watch whatever is on display! After that, you can do what you want. That way, you can honestly tell Princess Luna that you actually went out. After all, we both know that she’ll ask you that question sooner or later. Best to get the unpleasant duties out of the way first, don’t you think?” Jetstream interjected.

Letting what he said sink into his head, Shadow realized that he had a very good point. Princess Luna would indeed ask if he at least went out during his vacation. He didn’t like the idea of disappointing her. “...You win, Jet. I’ll go with you this one time. After that, I plan on going back to the hotel,” he conceded.

“Hey, one time is all I ask for, buddy. Nothing more. The rest will be up to you,” Jet responded with a smile, happy that Shadow decided to go through with it.

They arrived at the Square, and there was already a sizeable crowd that gathered around the familiar-looking stagecoach. “Wait a minute,” Shadow thought to himself. “Could that be..?”

It was then that they both heard a voice echo throughout the Town Square. “Come one, come all! Come and witness the amazing magic of The Great and Powerful Trixie!”

Almost immediately, there was a smokescreen that appeared for a brief moment, revealing the blue mare that they were looking at from a distance earlier. Shadow swallowed hard, a small blush spreading across his face as he once again found himself awestruck at her beauty. It didn’t make it any easier on his frazzled state of mind when he saw her outfit. She was wearing a purple leotard that flattered her figure exceptionally well, not counting where it was folded open at the cleavage area where her cape attached. The way it hugged her tight flank when she pirouetted as she appeared from the smoke cloud didn't hurt either. The magician’s hat was also a nice touch.

“Hey, Shadow? Isn’t that the mare that you were drooling over earlier today?” Jetstream asked out loud, earning a curious glance from several nearby ponies.

Instantly, Shadow’s blush grew darker and with a swing, he hit the back of Jetstream’s head. “Shut up!”

“Hey, it’s not my fault that your one-eyed trouser snake started to rob your brain of blood flow when you first saw her!” he teased further, earning him a glower from his unicorn friend.

Before Shadow could say anything edgewise, Trixie gained everypony’s attention by firing off some impressive fireworks with her magic, thus beginning her performance.

As Trixie went through her performance, Shadow's eyes found themselves tracing every movement of her body, every flash of emotion on her face, her every gesture as she called up magical illusion and illusion of magic alike. Whether through true magic or just the magic of the stage, it was plain to any who looked could see that Shadow Spell was entranced. He wasn’t alone in this trance he found himself in. Most of the other stallions were in a trance of their own,albeit to a lesser degree, and the mares were awed by the quality of the performance.

For his part, Jetstream found watching his friend to be more intriguing than the stage. While Trixie was certainly attractive, had a good stage presence, and knew how to use her looks to catch the eye, Shadow's reaction was above and beyond what Jet had expected. It was almost embarrassing to watch someone so obviously infatuated. As tempting as it was for him to crack a joke or otherwise irritate him by drawing his attention elsewhere, he ultimately decided against it. It was very rare to see him so enticed by a mare. It reminded him that, despite his immense discipline and his extensive training, he was still pony.

From the looks of things, the show was about to end. It was confirmed when Trixie performed a graceful bow in the center of the stage. “Now that you have all been undoubtedly dazzled by Trixie’s sheer magical prowess, it is time for this show to close. Ta, ta!” With that, she unleashed another smokescreen and was nowhere to be seen. After a brief silence, the crowd applauded for a performance well done.

“Well what do you know! She actually mastered that trick! This was a better show than I thought it would be!” a young, purple scaled drake wearing a black, button down shirt and khaki slacks commented happily as the crowd began dispersing.

“I simply must agree! She’s shown so much more improvement since she turned a new leaf and dropped that dreadful arrogant attitude of hers!” an alabaster mare with a stylized purple mane concurred. Jetstream couldn’t help but notice that she was wearing an elegant, scarlet, strapless dress that exposed her back and had a slit that showed off her legs. It wasn’t a big slit, rather it started on the side of her knees down. That, and the drake seemed to be a little on the nervous side, and almost equally as well dressed as the mare.

“Huh. Way to go, Spike.,” Jetstream said to himself, as he watched the two walk off together. To anypony else, it would seem like the drake was way out of his league, but to Jetstream, he could see that there would be a future between the two. “So, Shadow. What’d you think of Trixie’s exit? Personally I think she could’ve picked a better place to teleport than the back of her stagecoach.”

“Yes, I agree. However, it wasn’t a mere teleportation spell. It also allowed her to change out of her clothes so that she could blend in with the crowd unnoticed.”

“Oh? How do you..?” Jet was about to ask when he saw a mare with a familiar figure wearing a purple blouse and dark blue denim jeans heading to the local bar. “Oh. Clever.”

“If you say so,” Shadow said, obviously unimpressed.

“Hey, even I didn’t catch that and I never forget a face. I bet nopony would’ve realized what she did unless it was almost too late.”

“You only caught on because I told you about it. I saw the transition the moment it happened while you were distracted by Spike and his friend when they passed by us,” Shadow corrected.

“And you were only looking because you wanted another glimpse of her ass,” Jetstream retorted with a wry smirk.

“Actually, I was trying to determine her skill level with that spell. If you haven’t mastered it completely, it only works for one layer of clothing...which can be embarrassing at times.”

“So basically you’re hoping that she isn’t wearing a bra or panites then,” Jet chortled.

“No, I can tell from here she isn’t, anymore than when she was onstage.”

“Oh, so you were really looking then, weren’t you?”

“...Shut up. I was wondering where she learned the spell that she only learned it to journeyman level, Jetstream.”

Jet’s eye had a glint of mischief in it when he said that. “Well then, let’s go ask her!” he said, immediately heading to the bar she went inside to.

Shadow tensed up instantly, knowing exactly what his friend intended on doing. “Jet?! Oh, you are not..!”

“You coming or what? It’s only fair to warn you that even if you don’t come with me, I’m asking her!” he teased, not slowing down.

A wave of nervousness filled the unicorn, making his heart palpitate and his hands start shaking. With a groan, he reluctantly followed Jet to the bar. “You better not embarrass me in there!”

“Aw! Where’s the fun in that? You embarrassed me, so it’s only fair that I return the favor, wouldn’t you say?” he asked, more of a statement than question. Before Shadow could retort, the door opened, filling their ears with a song playing on the jukebox.

The bar seemed to be moderately filled, with neither too many or too few ponies around. The majority of the patrons seemed to be stallions, with the few mares that are present unavailable for those seeking to hook up.

“Huh, imagine that. All the mares here are taken,” Jetstream said. “Wonder which ones that I could rut if I was really hunting.”

“Jetstream, you just confirmed that they were all taken. That means they either have a coltfriend or a husband, genius,” Shadow retorted.

“So? Soccer has a goalie, but that doesn’t mean I can’t score!” Jet laughed. Shadow Spell facepalmed himself from yet another absurd remark from him. “Not that I would though. After all, I wouldn’t want some prick trying to steal my mare either,” he said as he took a seat at the bar, with Shadow doing the same.

The barkeep, a tall, well built gray earth pony with an eye patch walked up to the duo, “What are ya boys havin’ tanight?” the keep asked with a thick Trotland accent.

“I’ll have a Buckweiser,” Jetstream answered.

“A dirty martini for me. Shaken, not stirred.”

“Comin’ right up, lads,” the barkeep responded, quickly getting their orders out of the way.

“Thanks,” said Jet as he took his beer. “Say, I don’t mean to be rude, but what’s the story with your eye?”

The barkeep laughed. “It’ll take tha better part o’ the night ta tell the tale lad. Besides, I bet yer both lookin’ ta make use o’ yer Ding Dong McDorks on that lassie there,” he says, pointing to Trixie, who was sitting by herself on a table on the other side of the bar. She seemed to be perfectly content on being alone, sipping on her mug of hard cider.

“Well, not me per se,” Jet acknowledged, “but my friend here took a big liking to her,” he says as he points to Shadow.

The barkeep took a long, discerning look at Shadow, one that would normally alarm him if he was on a mission. “Well now. Me thinks ya’ve gotta chance with ‘er. If only because yer pegasus friend ‘ere is more the risk taker than you lad.”

“Hm,” Shadow replies simply, risking a glance at Trixie. Once again she catches him looking at her, then smiles as she brings her mug to her lips, another sip of the amber liquid. It was then that he started to really pay attention to the lyrics of the song currently playing on the jukebox. “Luna...if this is one of your dream messages, you’re failing miserably at subtlety” he thought to himself.

“Man! Trixie is so hot!” a stallion comments. “What I wouldn’t give for ten minutes with her!” Shadow and Jet look to see a group of three pegasus stallions sitting nearby, and talking loud enough to hear over the jukebox. They were all wearing ball caps with the bill pointing to the left, along with some long denim shorts with the waistband below their flanks and wearing oversized T-shirts. Jetstream couldn’t help but roll his eyes at them for such a failed attempt of appearing tough.

“You got that right, Hoops! She’s got a smoking hot body that’s just begging for attention! Her ass is so nice too! I mean look! It’s just begging to be railed!” another stallion commented.

“Her rack is fucking great too! She’s got the perfect ass to tit ratio! Hey, End Zone, I’d say she’s on par with Rainbow Crash even,” the third stallion chimed in.

“Shit! I wouldn’t go that far, Dumbbell, but she’s definitely on my ‘Mare I’d wanna buck’ list,” End Zone replied.

“Yeah...let’s face it. She’s way out of our league. She already turned us all down after all,” Hoops said in a defeated tone.

“Hell, she’s turned down every stallion and mare that’s approached her thus far. Makes me wonder what it’ll take to get in her pants,” Dumbbell said.

The entire time the conversation was going on between the three stallions, Shadow Spell felt anger steadily welling within him for their apparent lack of respect for mares, especially regarding Trixie. His hand clutched his drink to the point his knuckles started to turn white under his coat. His eyes focused on his drink as he struggled to quell his anger.

This fact wasn’t lost upon Jetstream, as he could feel the tension steadily oozing from his being, a really bad sign for those who incurred his wrath. However, when Jet looked at Trixie, an idea started to form in his mind, “Hmm,” he says thoughtfully, rubbing his chin.

Shadow turned at Jet’s thoughtful sound, as much for the distraction of his own thoughts as for the perceived novelty of Jet being thoughtful. “What are you thinking?” he asked, his grip on his glass relaxing.

Jetstream once again looked between the culprits and Trixie, looking back at his troubled friend with his ever present smile. “Say, it’s painfully obvious why these three dumbasses haven’t gotten far with her, and I think I have an idea. Wait a sec…” he says, thinking for a moment longer. “...yup, definitely an idea. You go walk over there, and show those three kids how a real stallion should treat a mare. In my eyes, the only way to shut them up and get on their nerves at the same time is to succeed in your endeavor. Don’t you think?”

Shadow was quiet for a long time, turning Jetstream’s words over in his mind. “...I think you’re right,” he said at last. “I think I’ll do just that.” He stood up with his drink and walked over to Trixie. He pointed to the empty seat next to her. “Is this seat taken, miss?” he asked politely, respectfully.

Trixie studied Shadow’s eyes and his overall body movement for a time, gauging his intentions as best as she could. She’s dealt with all manner of stallions trying to be smooth operators and sacrificing who they really are in an effort to bed her. However, instead of turning him down, like she’s done with so many more before him, she smiled. “No, not at all. Have a seat,” she replied.

Jetstream couldn’t help but smile when he heard the collective, exasperated gasps of the three pegasi.

“No...fucking...way! That loser actually got that far with her?!” Hoops dismayed.

“But...HOW?!” End Zone said in disbelief.

“All he did was act like a freaking gentlecolt?! That’s so fucking lame!” Dumbbell spat.

“Yup. Unlike you jackasses, my friend isn’t a wannabe hard ass, and as such, he doesn’t try to act like somepony he’s not,”Jetstream said proudly. “Why don’t you kids just take it as a lesson learned, make like a tree and leave?”

“Hey! Who you calling jackasses?!” Hoops yelled as he angrily approached. Jetstream got up as well with a confident, if mocking, smile, ready for a throwdown,

Before he got too close to Jet, however, the barkeep pulled out a club and placed it on the Hoops’ chest. “I’d back up if I were you, lad. Ya’ve caused quite enough trouble fer me, an’ the local mares ‘ere before before. Now, if ya wanna keep yer teeth an’ wings, I’d suggest ya take a hike,” he said with a tone that could scare even the most fearless of ponies. If Hoops and his friends’ expression were any indication, it looks like he succeeded in putting the fear of Celestia in them. Even Jetstream was a little unnerved by his tone and icy look.

“C-come on guys. Let’s get outta here!” Hoops said. Not wanting to risk injury, he signaled his friends that it was time to leave. And so, with the three gone, Jetstream turned his attention to Shadow.

Shadow, meanwhile, found himself at a loss. While it had been easy enough to walk over here and ask for a seat, he had no idea what to do from here. If he were on the job, there were any number of approaches he could take, but none felt right here. He stared into his drink, wishing he knew how to break the ice. Though he’d never voice it, he wished Jetstream would come over to lend a hand. There was an awkward silence hanging between the two ponies, neither one seeming to make an attempt to break the ice.

“Mind if I join you two?" asked Jetstream. The pair immediately noticed that he was carrying a platter with an assortment of drinks. Among them were a mug of hard cider, a dirty martini and a bottle of Buckweiser. "I brought drinks!"

Shadow Spell couldn't be more relieved to see his friend come at his hour of need, the apprehension that was welling within him quickly subsiding. "That depends on Trixie, Jetstream," he responded. He then turned to Trixie. "How about it? Mind if my friend joins us?”

Trixie gives Jetstream the same scrutinizing gaze that she gave Shadow earlier, however she raises an eyebrow. "You're not 2nd Lieutenant Jetstream of the Wonderbolts, are you?"

"The one and only!" he responds happily.

"Well, well, well! It's only fitting that a star of the Wonderbolts be graced with the presence of the Great and Powerful Trixie. Please, have a seat, my dear lieutenant." Trixie stated, more in a show of mock arrogance than anything.

"Sweet!" said Jet, placing the platter in the center of the table, turning it to where their respective drinks were in front of them, easily within arm's reach.

"Ah. How thoughtful, Jetstream. And you got us the right orders too," Shadow commented, grabbing his drink.

"Compliments of Captian Winkie over there," he said, pointing with his thumb over his shoulder to the barkeep. "He generously offered to put the drinks on the house."

Shadow had a scowl on his face, "Honestly, if he was so generous, then why are you disrespecting him?! Calling him such names just because of his disfigurement is a brand new low for you!"

Jetstream gave him a confused look, "Huh? I'm not disrespecting anypony! That's his name! He was a Captian of the Royal Navy, and he just retired! He's just doing the barkeep deal to pass the time. Hey, Captian Winkie! Thanks for the round!" he said as he raised his bottle to him in appreciation.

"Think nothin' of it, lad! Consider it a thanks fer dealin' with those bampot fearties disrespectin' that bonnie lass!" the Captian replied.

Shadow looked between him and this 'Captian Winkie' in mild surprise. "...So his name truly is Winkie." He deadpanned.

"Yup! Captian Netherus Rodimus Winkie. Apparently one of the most feared Naval Captains in the Equestrian Military's history," Jetstream responded.

Shadow Spell faceplamed for the umpteenth time tonight. "I don't know what's worse. The fact that that's his true name or the fact that you can say that with a perfectly straight face."

Trixie had a blush creep on her face as the conversation went on about the Naval Captain's name. "Well, he must have very...eccentric parents," she commented.

"You could say that," Jet concurred, then leaned, resting his elbows on the table. "However, that's a story for another time. I'm more interested in you, Trixie. That was a hell of a show you put on."

Trixie smiled, and flicked her mane back with her hand. "Why yes, I do get that a lot. What can I say? I am one of the more talented unicorns this side of Equestria."

Jetstream chuckles. "You've got great stage presence, that's for sure. And you definitely know how to use your looks and that amazing body of yours to captivate the audience. That way, all eyes are on you, whether or not they're looking at your magic. You're definitely a performer at heart, and it shows."

Trixie gave a curious glance at Jetstream, once again looking in his eyes. "Hm. You're certinaly more perceptive than you look. You strike me as a bit of a goof."

"Ha, ha, ha! I am actually. And hey, I'm a performer too. Takes one to know one," Jet said as he took a drink of his beer."

"Well, at least you're honest about it, Jetstream. Most would try to mask that fact about themselves or try to act like somebody else entirely. I find your honesty about it refreshing actually," Trixie compliments, then turns her attention to Shadow. "And what's your story?"

Shadow gave a small smile, his previous state of nervousness now a distant memory. "Forgive my inactivity. I'm Shadow Spell. I wasn't quite sure how to break the ice, Ms..?"

A genuine smile began to tug at the corners of Trixie's lips. To see him relax and have such an honest respect about him intrigued her further. "Lulamoon. Trixie Lulamoon. But you don't need to be so formal with me. You can just call me, Trixie."

"Trixie Lulamoon. That's a nice name! It rolls off the tongue nicely," Jetstream commented, then went back to drinking his beer.

"I agree. It's a lovely name," Shadow agreed. "However, I was wanting to ask about that spell you used at the end of the show. The 'Teleport into Another Outfit' spell?"

"Did you like it? It was a trick I picked up recently during my performance in Manehattan a couple of weeks ago," Trixie responded.

"I did as a matter of fact. However, I noticed that you haven't quite mastered that spell yet," Shadow informed.

Trixie's eyes widened slightly, a clear sign that he was dead on in his claim. "How did you know that haven't mastered it yet?"

A blush started to grow on his face and he unintentionally stared at her breasts. "Um...W-well if you haven't mastered that spell yet, you can only get a single layer of clothes on. As...evidenced by...um..y-your..." Shadow found that he couldn't bring himself to finish the sentence, so instead he cleared his throat and pointed at her chest to show her what he meant.

Trixie looked down to see what he was pointing at, blushing hard when the realization. "Oh. That."

Shadow saw an opportunity to steer the conversation back on track. "I use that spell quite a bit as a matter of fact due to my line of work. It's quite handy, but it can lead to...rather embarrassing outcomes of it isn't done correctly." Shadow stated.

Trixie's eyes sparked it an ever growing interest upon hearing his claim, pushing past her earlier embarrassment. ”Is that so? What's your line of work? It must be interesting if it requires that kind of spell often."

"My apologies, but I'm not at liberty to say. It's classified," he responded with an apologetic smile.

If Trixie was interested before, looked very much intrigued now. She leaned towards Shadow, placing her hand on her cheek. "Really, now? Well, I won't ask about your job...yet. However, I will ask if you're open to talking about how you cast that spell."

Shadow nodded, "As a matter of fact I am. I can even offer you some tips if you'd like."

"I'd like that, thank you!" She responded happily.

Jetstream smiled as he leaned back on his chair. He wasn't following the discussion as soon as it started to drift into the technical aspects of spellcasting. However, what he was enjoying the most was seeing Shadow Spell actually enjoying himself for once. It was a stark contrast to his borderline anti-socialism, but one that he wouldn't mind seeing more often. To see him so invested in a conversation, with his crush no less, was a nice change.

Not only that, but Trixie seemed equally as interested in the conversation, taking on everything he was saying with mounting interest. It was evident that they were warming up nicely to one another, and nothing else seemed to matter to them. They were in their own little world, everything else now a distant worry for them. Jetstream let out a relaxed sigh, perfectly content on staying silent and watching his friend be happy. If things go well enough, Shadow may very well be spending some alone time with her. "That would be awesome. Maybe a good rut is what he needs to smile a little more. A real connection for once," he thought to himself.

After a time, the conversation started to shift to another direction entirely. "Tell me, how long have you two been friends? You two seem quite close to one another," asked Trixie, now shifting her attention to both stallions.

"Since we were colts," Jetstream answered. "We spent so much time together that most ponies thought we were brothers. To me, he is in all but blood. He's spent enough time at my house that my parents and little sister consider him a part of the family."

"Yes, we've spent our foalhood together and stuck with one another until we graduated high school. From there, we had our paths set before us, with Jetstream heading to the Wonderbolts and I to the Lunar Guard," Shadow said.

"We maintained contact with each other as often as we could, until one day, Shadow told me that he couldn't keep a correspondence with me for reasons he couldn't get into. I myself was getting very busy with the Wonderbolts, so I couldn't keep in touch with him either," Jetstream stated.

"You two were separated at one time? When did you two find each other again?" Trixie asked.

"We can't really go into detail with that," Jet responded. "Suffice it to say that it was unexpected, but at the same time, it was like finding a part of myself again."

Trixie gave Jetstream an incredulous look. "Wait, you get sent out on missions as well? I didn't think the Wonderbolts did missions of that nature."

"We do, but it's not very well known among the public," he informed. "You see, there's two Special Operations Units in the Wonderbolts: The First Aerial Response Team, which deals with saving civilians from unnaturally strong storms, and The Pegarescuers, an elite unit of Wonderbolts that fly into combat zones to rescue fallen members of the Royal and Lunar Guard. I managed to get on the First Aerial Response Team and stayed there for a few years, then I qualified for the Pegarescuers. Been there ever since."

Trixie looked at Jet in utter disbelief. "But you still perform in shows and participate in the Wonderbolt Derbies though. How can you do that and be part of the Pegarescue?"

"We' don't get deployed often, which isn't a bad thing in my opinion. The less we are, the better Equestria is as a whole I say. The extra time gives me a lot of opportunities to perform in shows and whatnot. We still train to stay in form though," he answered.

"Huh...I'm sorry but you don't strike me as such. It's hard to imagine you as a Special Operations type pony," Trixie stated.

Jetstream once again laughed. "Not all of us are stoic and uptight, Trixie. No offense, Shadow."

"None taken," Shadow responded.

"You're certainly more than meets the eye, Jetstream. It's painfully obvious that you're a goof, and you're so honest about who you are. You're definitely not a typical, stuck up soldier boy. Neither of you are. I like that actually. There's not a lot of stallions like that these days."

"Well, we certainly try," Jetstream responded happily.

"We may be elite members of the Equestrian military, but that hardly gives us the right to be unpleasant ponies," Shadow concurred.

Jetstream was about to take another drink of his beer, only to find out that he was out. "Huh...didn't realize I finished already."

"Doncha worry, lad. Gotcha another round fer ya," Captain Winkie said, handing him another beer.

"Ah thanks! " said Jetstream, handing him some bits.

"So how long are you boys in town?" Trixie asked.

"We've been placed on a two week vacation, as per Princesses Celestia and Luna," Shadow answered.

"Yup! Tonight's just our first night," Jet confirmed.

Trixie had another glint in her eyes, licking her lips and biting her lower lip. "You boys want to go back to my place? Since we're being so honest here, it's only fair that I return it in kind. It's been a long time for me, and I try to enjoy my life to the fullest. I haven't met any stallions worth my time, and you two are indeed very intriguing. So how about it? I promise I'm mare enough for the both of you."

Needless to say, Shadow was caught off guard, and gave her a confused and shocked look. "Is she saying what I think she's saying?" he thought to himself, the message and overall tone eluding him.

Jetstream, on the other hand, grinned, as if he expected such a question to be asked. "So, sounds to me like you want your pink fortress to be breached. Well, lucky for you that you have two Streamin' Semen Trucks with full tanks and ready to blow their load."

Trixie responded to Jetstream's comment by giving him a sultry, half-lidded gaze, and placing her hand on his thigh, slowly rubbing it up and down. "That sounds delicious."

It was then that Jetstream noticed the confused look on Shadow Spell's face. With his earlier show of confidence with Trixie, he almost forgot that he doesn't face this situation often. He was even willing to bet that this was Shadow's first time being in this situation outside his line of work. Jetstream leaned closer to Trixie, resting his forehead on hers. "Hey," he whispered, "Shadow's a little confused about what you want. Give him a more direct invitation to get him past his confusion.”

Trixie looked at Jetstream with a knowing smile, nodding in confirmation on his request. She turned to Shadow, scooting her chair closer to him. She then rested her forehead on Shadow's and placed her hand on his thigh, giggling when she felt him tense up from her touch. "You know, I'd really like you and Jetstream to come back to my place with me. It wouldn't be the same without you there," she whispers in his ear, giving it a sensual nibble shortly after.

Shadow was shivering in delight as Trixie nibbled in his ear, a pleasurable tingle running down his spine. "Hah! I-if you insist, Trixie, I'd be happy to oblige your request."

"Good. Let's get going then. The night is young and I intend to enjoy myself with the two of you," she replied, giving him bedroom eyes.

"Well, then lead the way, Ms. Lulamoon. Damn, no wonder you address people like that , Shadow! It's actually pretty neat!" Jetstream chimed.

Shadow rolled his eyes at his statement. "It's a more proper form of respect, Jet."

"I know, I know. It can also be condescending as hell when the more arrogant pricks do it," Jetstream responded.

"Speaking of 'doing it', let's get out of here," Trixie suggested, standing between the two stallions. She linked her arms in theirs, and the three of them headed out of the bar.

Author's Note

Man! Talk about catching hell with writing this chapter! It was like Murphy's Law was in full effect this time around, with my laptop crashing and my phone's word processor glitching, I'm amazed I got this far. Tatsurou deserves a big round of applause for his help, without him I couldn't have done this. Thanks buddy! Also, I'd like to thank Nightmare_Shinigami for prereading!