Blank Flank!

“So, Dusty,” Rainbow Dash shifted in her seat on the park bench, it was about half an hour after they went roller-skating, and Rainbow wanted to talk with him about a personal topic, “I know it may seem awkward to ask this, but…” Rainbow cleared her throat, “What’s it like being in love?” she asked, Dusty raised an eyebrow at her, “I know what you’re going to say,” Rainbow tried to imitate Dusty’s voice, “You keep talking about your weird fantasies about the Wonderbolts.” Dusty had to be honest, it was a good impression, Rainbow turned towards him in her seat, “That is different, I don’t know what love feels like and even I know that isn’t what it is.” Dusty had never seen Rainbow like this, Dusty tried to find a way to explain it,

“I guess love feels like the longing of wanting to be with another, you know, kissing, hugging, and at one point, marriage.” Dusty explained, Rainbow scooted back a bit,

“Do you think any pony might be in love with me?” she asked, “Be honest.” She suddenly added,

Dusty began thinking, there was a pegasus who Rainbow would hang out with, and Dusty would sometimes notice him just staring at her mane at times, he noticed this because he usually was there with them, “Well, I know this one pony, what was his name again…” Dusty began thinking, “He has a winged lightning bolt as a cutie mark,” he described, Rainbow seemed to scoot back a bit more, “And if I recall, you had…saved his pie during the Grand Galloping Gala” Dusty snickered, Rainbow’s expression went from horrified, to absolute glee,

“Soarin’?” Rainbow chirped,

“That’s it,” Dusty nodded, that was the name,

“Do you really think he likes me?” she asked, her wings jutting out in excitement,

“Well, it may just so happen that one morning he had told me that he was in love with you and wanted to tell you himself but he just couldn’t find the courage to do so.” Dusty recalled that day,

Soarin’ burst through the front door of Dusty’s home, breathing heavily as if he ran a marathon, Dusty stared at him confusedly, “I need to talk to you, Dusty, it’s very important!” he exclaimed, Dusty raised an eyebrow,

“Alright, sit down,” Dusty replied, and when Soarin’ sat down Dusty took a seat next to him, “What do you need?” he asked,

“I have to tell you a secret, and whatever you do, do not tell any pony, especially Rainbow Dash!” he looked around the room frantically,

“Relax, no one else is here.” Dusty reassured, Soarin’ finally calmed down a little and sighed,

“I think I’m in love with Rainbow Dash.” Soarin’ cringed; Dusty stared at him with surprised expression, and smiled,

“Well, that’s great news!” Dusty responded, “But why come to me?” he asked, “I mean, I barely know you, you barely know me,” Dusty continued, “Another question is, how did you know where I live?” Dusty blurted out,

“Pinkie Pie,” Soarin’ responded,

“Right…” Dusty shrugged,

“I barely know you, that’s true, but you are closer to Rainbow Dash then even Applejack!” he exclaimed, “Information given by Rainbow Dash.” He added as if he was a commercial, Dusty had to admit, Rainbow and Dusty hung out together a lot, sometimes with Applejack, sometimes without, though he never considered Rainbow a friend, more of a play pal,

“Fine, but on one condition,” Dusty gave Soarin’ a devious look,

“And that is?” Soarin’ responded grumpily,

“If you don’t tell her within the month, I will tell her myself, possibly followed by an insult.” Dusty chuckled,

“Fine, whatever, it’s a deal.” Soarin’ opened the door and slammed it shut,

“Oh my gosh, I can’t believe it!” Rainbow hovered with excitement; Dusty looked up in the air and saw Soarin’ flying towards them, Oh, so now you show up. Dusty thought,

“Rainbow Dash, I have to tell you something!” Soarin’ quavered; Rainbow tackled him before he could say anything and squealed,

“I love you too, Soarin’!” she gave Soarin’ a kiss and flew off him, Soarin’ gave Dusty a look, and all Dusty did was shrug, but other than that, Soarin’ looked happy, Ah, love… Dusty thought, his mind drifted towards Twilight, suddenly his train of thought was broken when Rainbow hugged Dusty,

“Thank you so much, Dusty!” Rainbow finally let him go of her choking embrace, Dusty finally remembered,

“The wedding!” he shouted out loud, Soarin’ stared at him,

“Isn’t it a bit early for that?” Soarin’ asked, Dusty nearly slapped himself,

“I’m talking about my wedding, I have to go, bye you two!” he waved as he ran off, hoping to find Spike, he ran to the first place that came to mind, the Carousel Boutique, opening the door, Rarity came out with her same usual greeting but stopped mid-sentence,

“Oh, hello, Dusty…” Rarity glared at him, “Come to apologize for what you did?” she presumed, Oh Celestia, can’t she let that go? Dusty remembered when they barged in on him and Twilight at the worst of times,

“Yes, I’m sorry about that, anyway, have you seen—“ Dusty was interrupted by Spike’s voice,

“I found it Rarity, where do you want me to put it?” he called as he came downstairs,

“Over there on the table, darling.” Rarity responded, Spike placed a bundle of fabric on a table and waved at Dusty,

“Hi, Dusty.” Spike greeted, Dusty gave a small wave and immediately began to ask,

“Did you get the wedding all sorted out?” he forgot that Rarity was right next to him,

“A wedding?” Rarity chirped, “How come you didn’t tell me sooner?” she asked, shaking Dusty to the point where everything was spinning, “I have to get a dress ready for Twilight!” after she said that, Twilight came through the door, Speak of the devil and she doth appear, Dusty thought to himself, Rarity already began speaking, “Congratulations on your wedding, Twilight!” Rarity hugged Twilight, “I will start working on a dress for you, and a suit for the loving groom!” Rarity squealed with delight, Dusty shivered slightly,

“You told Rarity about our wedding?” Twilight asked,

“Well, actually, I was asking Spike if he got the wedding sorted out and I forgot Rarity was standing right next to me…” Dusty admitted, Twilight chuckled and put an arm around him,

“Don’t worry about it; your timing couldn’t have been better.” Twilight chatted, Dusty was relieved, after about a few minutes Rarity found Twilight’s gala dress,

“Would this not be perfect for a wedding?” Rarity asked, holding out the dress, Dusty nodded slowly out of instinct, Twilight chuckled,

“It’s perfect, Rarity, but what about Dusty?” she patted him on the back, “Can’t have him waltzing down the aisle without a suit on.” Dusty nodded in agreement, Rarity actually seemed stumped, suddenly she pushed Dusty on some sort of modeling stand and began taking measurements, cutting out fabrics and sewing them together, and on occasion, combing and cutting bangs off his hair, and repeating that process for about a few minutes when she squished a tuxedo on him and pushed a mirror in front of him,

“What do you think, darling?” Rarity asked, Dusty was completely dumbfounded when he looked in the mirror, he was wearing a white suit with a yellow bow tie, his hair was cut neat and no longer had the wild spiky look,

Dusty blindly put a hoof to his mane, feeling a bit depressed about his new hairstyle, he enjoyed the wild spiky look that he had, now he looked…formal, but still, he couldn’t help but smile in the mirror,

“I have to be honest, I kinda like it!” Dusty made different poses in the mirror, he looked at Twilight, “What do you think?” he asked happily, Twilight stared at him and ran a hoof through his mane,

“I love it, thank you so much Rarity!” Twilight turned to Rarity,

“It’s quite alright, darling; after all, we are friends.” Rarity chuckled, as they both hugged,

“Thanks for the makeover, Rarity.” Dusty smiled, Rarity gave a sort of half-smile, It’s going to take some time for her to get over what she saw… he chuckled, Spike poked Dusty on the shoulder and showed him the list,

“Everything is ready, when do we start?” Spike asked, Dusty thought about it and started whispering in Twilight’s ear,

“How about a week from today?” he whispered,

“Sounds good, gives us some time to round up some guests.” She whispered back, Dusty nodded and turned towards Spike again,

“I want you to tell Pinkie to send out invitations to the others; the wedding will start a week from today, at noon.” Dusty ordered,

“But where will it take place?” Spike asked, Darn, didn’t think about that… he thought, he turned to Twilight for help,

“I will take care of that.” Twilight said, Spike began scribbling down on the list that was given to Dusty,

“All right!” Spike bounded off, nearly slamming the door shut behind him,

“I am sorry to cut things short but I should return home, and invite my parents, perhaps they’d be happy to see me after all these years.” Dusty began walking out the door, when Twilight grabbed him by the tail, Dusty nodded, already knowing what she was going to ask and opened the door for Twilight, it was a long walk home and once they got home, the moon was starting to come out, “Let’s get some shuteye.” Dusty said, normally he would ask if she wanted the bed but since they were engaged, he didn’t really care, they both slipped into the bed, and Twilight draped an arm over Dusty,

“I love you…” she muttered,

“And I you…” Dusty managed to say before drifting off into sleep.