Braeburn sweated as he looked for an earring. He was stuck on deciding between one with diamond butterflies and one with diamond flowers. The choice was stressful for him because he was to propose that evening. He had to choose quickly so he could plan. Plus, he had to talk with his friend, Cheese.
"Have you decided yet?" The stallion at the desk asked for the last time. Maybe it was rude, but Braeburn took a while.
"Yeah, Ah thank Ah'll chose the-," Braeburn paused for a moment, "-butterflies."
"Very well," The stallion took the ring and gently put it into a jewelry box, which he put into a shopping bag. He mumbled, "Finally."
Braeburn grabbed the bag with his teeth, and ran out towards the small house next to Sugar Cube Corner.
When he got there, he knocked several times before Pinkie answered.
"Hi, Braeburn! How are you?" She asked with glee.
"Ah'm fine. How are you and the foal?" Braeburn responded.
Pinkie glanced down at her pregnant belly and sighed, smiling, "I'm fine. The foal is fine, too, but she's wanting to come out sometime soon. Anyway, come inside! I'm sure you want to see Cheesie!"
Braeburn nodded and Pinkie led him to the livingroom.
"CHEESIE!" Pinkie called. "BRAEBURN'S HERE TO SEE YOU!"
"COMING, PINKS!" They heard Cheese respond. His hoofsteps echoed through the hallway as he entered the room. "Hey, Braeburn! What's up?"
Braeburn took a deep breath, "Ah'm gonna propose to Fluttershy."
"Awwww...," Pinkie cooed. She brought out her party cannon and let it explode heart confetti. Braeburn have a 'really?' sort of look and Cheese just smiled.
"What? Too soon?" Pinkie sheepishly grinned. She made her way to the kitchen and ate a cookie.
"Now that she's gone-," Cheese started. "-let me give you a checklist of what to do."
Braeburn groaned.
"First thing's first, don't be too romantic to where Fluttershy knows what's up. Make it a surprise! Mares love it!"
"Yeah, Ah know."
"Second thing's second, take her somewhere nice, but not too fancy. Fluttershy seems like the filly who would rather take a nice walk near a lake than go to an expensive restaurant with a lot of people. If you were taking Rarity, that would be a totally different story."
"Well, Ah'm not proposing ta Rarity, and Ah already planned where Ah'm supposed ta go,...a lake-," Cheese knew him too well.
"Third thing's third,-"
"Why do ya do that every time?"
"Do what?"
"'First thang's first', 'second thang's second', etcetera."
"Oh, that! Because it's fun!"
Braeburn brought his hoof to his face.
"Anyway, third thing's third," Cheese grinned, knowing he was annoying his friend, "the proposal is between you and Fluttershy. You don't have to be nervous if you love her. If she means the whole world to you, let her know that. If she feels the same way, she won't say 'no'."
Braeburn smiled to himself, "Ah do love 'er."
"That's all YOU need to know. And last thing's last, be yourself. She can see right through you. I mean you've known her for five years, and you two have dated for two of them. She'll know if you're pushing your 'romantic level'."
Braeburn knew he was right about all of this, and that scared him half to death, but he had to listen to him if he wanted this to be a night to remember.
"Okay." Braeburn said.
Pinkie bounced out of the kitchen and grinned, "I'M SO EXCITED, FLUTTERSHY WILL BE SO SURPRISED!!! I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE HER EXPRESSION! OH MY GOSH, I'M SO HYPER! HEY, CAN I HAVE PICKLES AND ICE CREAM? THAT ACTUALLY SOUNDS REALLY GOOD! THE FOAL'S HAPPY, TOO!"
Cheese sighed, "Did you have sugar?"
Pinkie's eyes widened, realizing she was cought, "...No."
"Pinkie, Sweetheart, you know that sugar isn't the best thing to have right now, and stop bouncing."
"But, sugar's so sweet, and bouncing is so fun."
"You can bounce and eat sweets after our foal is born."
"But that's so far away."
"Actually, the due date is in two weeks. It's not gonna be that long."
"...THAT IS LONG!"
Braeburn chuckled. Pinkie was the type of mare who got sugar rushes often.
"Well, Ah've gotta go. See ya!"
"Bye!" Cheese called. "Don't forget to shower her in rapture!"
Pinkie elbowed him, "What he means is, have fun! I'm going on the trampoline."
Cheese's eyes widened and he snapped, "No, you are not!"
Braeburn went to his temporary apartment in Ponyville. He took a shower, and combed his mane in the usual way. He bought flowers, and, finally, he was ready and on time.
Braeburn paced back and forth at the lake, waiting for Fluttershy. Once, he thought he saw her, but it was Sweetie Belle, who was getting flowers for Rarity's new dress.
At about seven o'clock, Fluttershy arrived.
"I'm so sorry I'm late, Braeburn. Angel really wanted his salad," She said in an annoyed manner.
"It's fine. Ah'm just glad you could come," Braeburn responded.
"You and me, both."
Braeburn and Fluttershy went for a walk and had a great time. At ten o'clock, after a long time of talking, drinking hot chocolate, and joking around, Fluttershy looked upset as they looked at the stars.
Braeburn noticed, "Fluttershy, are ya okay?"
"I'm fine," Was the blunt reply.
"Ya sure?"
Fluttershy sighed, "No. I am upset. I'm sorry to ruin this. I--"
"It's okay. Ya didn't ruin this. What's wrong?"
Fluttershy took a deep breath and slowly spoke,"When I was sixteen, I was dating Rainbow Dash's cousin, Whiplash. He seemed nice at first, and he...got me to do wrong wih him," Fluttershy paused, not wanting to go on. Braeburn looked at her sympathatically, noticing the tears in her eyes.
"I got pregnant, and he left me. I left the child up for adoption. She grew up with no parents, and now she's nine. Her name is Scootaloo. I regret leaving her."
"Fluttershy, Ah don't care about your past mistakes. All that matters now is that you've changed. Your a better mare. You've strengthened your morals, and Ah love you fer that,"Braeburn told her. She smiled and cried into his shoulder.
"Which is why Ah want ta ask you somethang," Fluttershy gasped at what she heard. Was he going to propose? Really? "Fluttershy, ever since Ah first saw you, Ah liked ya. And when Ah kissed you that first time before ya left Appleloosa, Ah barely knew ya, but Ah wanted to know you. Now that Ah have, Ah've decided Ah want ta live the rest of ma life with you. So, what Ah'm sayin' is...," Braeburn brought out the small box and opened it, revealing a beatiful earring, "...will ya marry me, Fluttershy?"
Fluttershy's jaw dropped, and she grinned with tears of joy in her eyes, "Yes, Braeburn, yes!" She kissed him. "Of coarse I'll marry you!"
Meanwhile, in the bushes, Pinkie and Cheese were watching the happy couple with big grins.
"He did it," Cheese said, proud of his best friend.
"And at the right moment, too!" Pinkie added.
"I didn't know Scootaloo was Fluttershy's daughter."
"I did."
"How?"
"She told me. I'm one of her best friends."
"Okay, okay. Wanna go get ice cream?"
"I thought you said I couldn't have sugar."
"Well, we should celebrate, but I'm not giving you too much."
"Can I have pickles?"
"No."
Pinkie sighed, "Fine."
They giggled together as they left, quietly.
