Smith's Pov

Tired, sore and out of breath, I just laid there on the dirt looking upwards to the pony standing above me. That pony was Lyra and she too was panting because of the long sprinting we just did. When my brain finally caught up with me and registered who had caught me, I was relieved. In fact I was down right hysterically happy that Lyra was the one to catch me. I suppose I should explain why huh?

You see, for the last few days that I've been running for my life in this 'mare'a-thon, I haven't really done all that well. I wasn't the most physically fit person before I came to this world and had a bit of a chub. Now throw me into a crazy female dominated world where I spend most of my hours running, you could probably guess how that turned out. The first day was definitely the worst, Iron Will woke me up way to early and barely fed me anything before telling me to start running as we headed over to Zecora's for my checkup.

By the time the actual 'mare'a-thon started I was already tired, hungry and sore all over. Since the point of the 'mare'a-thon was to run away from lust crazed females you can be damned sure I tried my best to escape. But like all things, it had to come to an end. The first time I fell behind the group and the chasers closed in for the kill, or in this case I guess it would be 'closed in for the rape'. I tried, I really did try to outrun them but unfortunately I'm not built for speed like these ponies are. I was tackled swiftly and harshly to the ground, face first.

I was scared. Thoroughly and utterly scared as I dreaded what was to come, but it never came. When I worked up enough courage to turn over onto my back, I saw Lyra standing over me then just like she is now. At first I thought she was going to do what she did when I first got here but the look on her face told me otherwise. She was genuinely concerned about my well being and fawned over me like an overprotective mother. Now calm and collected I saw the chasers moved on leaving Lyra and me behind. I guess they ignored me because Lyra had claimed me and probably thought she was having her way with me. Anyway I was happy I didn't have to run anymore and Lyra was actually rather pleasant to talk with while we both cooled off.

We didn't really talk about anything important, just the usual things about who we are and what we like to do, that sort of thing. Eventually when the group did a full lap, Iron will would somehow find me and put me back into the race. It was definitely hell. However each and every time I was close to being caught Lyra here would swoop in and save me. I really appreciated what she was doing for me and even offered to pay her for her troubles, but she declined every time saying that there's nothing she wouldn't do to help out a friend. The feels got my right in the chest every time, I feel bad that she's running constantly in this event just to save me. I also feel bad that I judged her a little harshly for what she had done before as well. All in all what I'm trying to say is that she is a good girl, err mare.

"You ok Smith?" Lyra called out to me, breaking my train of thought.

"Yes I'm fine." My response seems to comfort her as she gives one of the biggest smiles I've ever seen. Like a lady she extended her hoof out to me which I grasped and got pulled back onto my feet. Once the direction had been picked we both started walking. Since Lyra had supposedly 'claimed' me, our path was pretty much free of barriers as we walked onward or she trotted along I don't know.

"Smith?" My companion said grabbing my attention as I stared into her golden eyes.

"Yes Lyra?" I replied. Lyra herself wasn't able to maintain proper eye contact and was constantly looking downward or elsewhere, anything but me. It's clear that she is a little more than uncomfortable but weather it's because of me or what she's about to say I have no idea.

I'm starting to get concerned as she fidgeted even more, with her hair, with her hooves, you name it. Usually when I talk to Lyra she's a rather confident outgoing mare but now she seems timid and it's really throwing me off. I would press the issue but then again it would be rude to press the issue especially if it didn't involve me. After a full minute and a half the awkward silence is broken as she finally speaks up. "It's getting rather late and I was wondering, if you would like to.....go to dinner with me?

"I'm sorry what did you say?" I replied, unable to make out the last part she said.

"I...um...." Lyra tried to speak but was squirming more than a worm on a hook. I could tell she was really nervous about what ever it is she's trying to tell me but once again I don't try to push the issue. "I said...if you would want to.....go to dinner with me?

"Huh?!?" I said while my brain tries to process what she just asked me.

"I asked if you wanted to go to dinner with me. I mean, we've been running for hours since lunch and it's now dark so I thought we both could go to a restaurant or something for dinner." Once again Lyra says to me, unsure of how I'd respond but a little less timid and uncertain than before.

"I would be fine with that however I still haven't gotten paid from Iron Will yet so I have no money." This didn't deter Lyra, in fact it just made her smile even bigger. Like a switch on her personality had been flipped and now she was the confident Lyra I've come to know these past few days.

"Oh that's fine! I'm sure you would do the same for me Smith so I'll happily treat you to dinner." Normally as a guy I'm obligated to say no since I'm the one who's supposed to pay for the meal. But since this clearly is a matriarchal society the roles are probably reversed. It might be a hit to my pride but it would be rude to decline her offer since she seems so determined to be a gentlemare I guess the term would be here.

Eventually my stomach growled it's opinion and Lyra giggled in response, I guess it's two on one now so I agreed to dinner. Lyra's expression lit up like a kid unwrapping a Christmas present and leapt forward, nuzzling my leg before taking my shirt in her mouth dragging me along with her.

After a short walk (more like a tug and pull) we arrived at our destination. The restaurant Lyra had chosen was called 'A Mare's Flower' and it looked fancy. One look at the name and I had an unbearable urge to smack my head upon the brick wall because of it's hidden meaning. Later I had found it is called that because they serve actual flowers grown by three local mares.

"Smith could you please wait here while I go use the little fillies' room?" Lyra asked me innocently. Like the gentleman I agreed and waited outside while she walked up the stairs into the restaurant.

Lyra's Pov

After finishing my business in the little fillies' room and sprucing up a little I head back to the main lobby. A mare's flower is one of the most fanciest restaurants here in Ponyville that just opened up recently. It's so popular right now it takes a day in advance just to make a reservation but luckily for me and my date, I was able to make one for us yesterday.

All that running around surely has left me hungry and I can only imagine how famished smith is, you know stallions. Cantering up to the pony behind the podium and clearing my throat to get his attention. He looks at me with disinterest while saying, "Do you have a reservation?"

"Yes I do. Reservation for Lyra Heartstrings."

The stallion looks down at the book atop the podium and flips through it rather slowly until eventually he stops to read the bottom half of a page through his monocle. "Ah yes, Lyra Heartstrings table for two. Everything is in order I'll show you to your table."

"Could you wait one minute please?" I tell the posh colt but he doesn't respond and just looks at me rather irritably. Taking that as my cue I head back outside where I left Smith only to find him staring off into Luna's starry sky. "Thank you for waiting, you're a true gentlecolt." His attention now turns to me as his piercing gaze now rests on me. Oh how that look of his riles me up, it's like a predator watching his prey before the pounce. I'm sure we'll both like it if he pounced on me. No Lyra! Don't think like that! You can't go get hot and bothered now, it'll drive him away. Or will it?

"You're welcome. Are you sure you want to eat here? It looks rather expensive." Here I am treating Smith to dinner and he's worried if I'm spending to much. Oh sweet Celestia I could skip dinner and embrace him now! No Lyra you need to control yourself! I was brought out of my inner ramblings when he opened the door while saying, "After you." Luna's teats help me this is torture, oh so lovely torture.

Smith's Pov

The restaurant was indeed fancy on the inside as it was outside. Little fountains and potted plants along with marble floors. To our right were the bathrooms and to our left was the seating area but with pillows instead of couches. Since we were going to be eating I quickly went and washed my hands in a sink that was barely off the floor. Clearly hand washing and hoof washing don't hold the same amount of urgency. I made my way back to Lyra as we both approached this snobby pony guy behind the podium. He took one look at me then to Lyra before motioning us to follow him without saying a single word. The little bastard was definitely sizing me up or something.

We had a short table near a window with a lit candle and folded menus. When I say short I really mean small like a kiddie table but a little more wide. Instead of chairs we have large fluffy pillows upon the floor, makes sense since ponies aren't built like us humans. I would have pulled out the chair for Lyra but you can't really do that with a pillow, I at least waited for her to be seated first before I sat down on mine cross legged. I figured I might as well show some manners since she is paying for my meal after all.

It was after I looked at the menu that I had realized that this wasn't going to be like a typical restaurant, I had forgotten that these ponies were vegetarians so goodbye steak, which is probably a good thing because steaks are expensive at these types of restaurants. Well at least they have pasta otherwise I would be rather upset about eating only salad because half of the menu is flowers and the different dishes they're cooked into.

A mare dressed with a shirt and bowtie trotted over to our table and introduced herself as Cloven Hoof, she was our waiter and asked for our orders. I ended up getting the 4 cheese pasta with assorted breads and sauces while Lyra ordered some casserole with a rare flower in the middle. Cloven asked if we would be interested in any of their wines, but before I could say no Lyra spoke up and ordered one. Normally I would have spoken up about this since wines are usually expensive but since Lyra was paying for something she clearly wanted, I used the ancient art of shut the hell up.

Half an hour passed in pleasant conversation before our meals arrived. The smell of cooked flowers was a little nauseating but luckily not so much. Our dinners were consumed in relative silence because that's just how delicious they were. Add on top of that the entire bottle of wine Lyra ordered and it wasn't long until both of us left full and happy. The alcohol had left me feeling warm and tipsy but not enough to be really drunk or anything, however I don't know if it was the same with Lyra. So there we were, meandering along the streets now bathed in moonlight. Eventually we had happened upon a park and both layed down in the grass.

Before when I would talk to Lyra, she would tell me about her world and what she knew about certain things. Imagine my surprise when I find out that the sun and moon are moved about by two princesses similar to the one who had brought me here. I was skeptical at first but since I'm in a world were magic is real I pretty much believed Lyra's word for it. Every night there would be new constellations and arrangements, something new every night to suggest someone continuously working on the night sky.

In my own inner ramblings I fail to notice that Lyra had snuggled up to me, she was warm and her fur was pleasantly soft. She let out a content sigh before nuzzling my side. I know this should have sent a lot of red flags up but I just couldn't bring myself to break myself away from her embrace. 'Perhaps this is what friends do here in Equestria' my brain tries to come up with an excuse so I wouldn't have to leave this comfortable position.

In my own way I accept that I'm cuddling with a pony and the more important fact, that I like it. Like I used to do with my cat back home, I reached my fingers up and started to scratch her behind the ears. Lyra was definitely startled at first but basically melted to my touch and purred in content not unlike my old cat. So there we were, underneath the starry sky cuddling and I was giving Lyra the best and probably only scratchies she's ever had. After a couple of minutes her breathing started to get hard and labored and her whole body started shuddering.

I was concerned that she might be getting sick or something and stopped scratching to ask if she was alright. Before I could even speak she climbed atop and pushed her lips onto mine. Shocked. I was completely and utterly shocked at what was happening and mine brain could not register that a pony was kissing me. It was passionate, it was pure. I couldn't do anything until she broke the kiss and nuzzled my face while sighing contentedly.

"Lyra...........what.........why?" I try to say, my brain still rebooting from the crash Lyra gave me. Lyra still with labored breaths looks down at me with a tender expression, her golden irises looking deeply into my own she says.

"Because Smith. I want you."

Author's Note

Damn that was the longest chapter I've written for this story yet. I would like to give a shout out to Ocean Stardust and DominiusTWD because they both pretty much guessed right about what was gonna happen. Kudos peeps/ponies kudos.