The Ember Date

We sat for a few more minutes, until our stomach's simultaneously growled. I thought the butterflies, which we both definitely had, would be enough to keep food out of thought. I gave out a quiet giggle at the coincidence, followed by him doing the same.

We made our way through the town to find a restaurant. The night hadn't been planned as such, I suppose, but I didn't mind. I kind of expected it from Starlight, and when I asked, he said it would 'keep us both guessing'.

We did get to a fancy diner in the end. Completely empty of anypony, and about to close. Olive quickly runs over to the owner and makes a deal.

I stand over be the doorway, as my date talked to the restaurant owner in a hushed voice, looking over to me at the end, smiling.

It worked. We sat in the middle of the diner and ordered away.

"What do we have here? A date, I presume?" The waiter questions.

I didn't expect a sarcastic answer from Starlight, but that would have been funny.

"Yeah. Just a date." He bluntly replies.

"Very well. Your orders will be here shortly."

I put my hoof across the middle of the table to hold Starlights hoof. Unfortunately, he doesn't get the gesture, and assumes I'm passing him something. So he just looks at my hoof, confused and head tilted slightly.

"Hehe, no silly. I want to hold your hoof."

His face lightens up. "Oh, heh, I knew that! Of course!"

We hold each others hooves, staring into each others eyes. Probably a task for Olive, he seems to have a hard time doing that. The adoring smiles on both of our faces grew for one another, as the flickering candle gave brief, satisfying touches of warmth, and set the lighting perfectly. Beside it, a thin glass vase, quarter full with water and a freshly picked, red thornless rose.

"Starlight, this is really different of you. I thought you always kept to yourself."

"I thought so too. This is a surprise for both of us."

"I assumed you were so shy. Never would I expect to see you on a date...and with me, too."

He smiles.

"I really like you, Olive."

He looks at the table with blushed cheeks, "Well, I aim to please." then back at me.

"Your food, Madam." The waiter says. "And your food, Sir."

"Thank you. Well, enjoy then!" Starlight says.

We tuck into the food. It's quite amusing watching Olive try to eat in an orderly manner, taking small bites of his food and slowly chewing them. I did the same, but understandably.

The food was exquisite. It always has been, and tonight was no exception.

"Wow, I never thought somepony could make a simple sandwich taste that good!" Olive awkwardly remarks.

"You haven't been here before, have you?"

"No, and do I regret it." He says, voice cracking a little.

"I used to come here occasionally as a fillie. But in those days, I has no idea how..." Our eyes meet again. "...romantic...it was...how romantic you are..."

"...there is only one thing that could make you look any more...beautiful..." He remarks, oddly for him. He must have finally got completely comfortable.

Olive takes the red rose out of the vase, dries the end with his folded napkin, and puts it on my ear. My heart exploded for him after that. You could probably see heart shapes in replace of my irises.

"Perfect." He quietly says to himself, as his wings raise and expand.

I could feel the muscles of my back and sides tense. If I had wings, they would have done exactly what Olives had. Would that have been a sign of affection? Or...love entirely? I should have brought my mech wings with me. This thought was not at all distracting, though, I was lost in his tranquil gaze, topped off with his strong, admirable wings. His deep gray mesmerizing eyes, staring into me. He is just amazing.

"...I have never felt feelings like this...for anypony else, Ember..."

"Me...neither..."

The bill was paid, we exited gleefully to find a spot on a hill, underneath the all consuming view of the stars.

The view was as good, if not better than at dusk. Even for night time, the view all around us was just sublime. Although, my attention was with a different kind of Starlight.

"Did...did I mention this was my first date?" Affectionately asks Olive.

"...I can't remember. It's been a long night...but...it's been the best night...of my life..." I reply, sitting down.

"Well..." He sits down next to me "...I aim to please..."

We lean closer. I'm getting that feeling of my muscles tensing again.

Our eyes are half shut, heads slightly tilted either side, and then, our lips meet, like the many times our eyes had. A loud *fwoosh* is heard, Starlights wings had opened faster than last time. He wraps his front legs around me, bringing our heads closer together. The rose falls falls from my ear. We fall back, giving out a slight *umph* from me, but we carry on regardless. His front legs are now either side of my shoulder, and I had mine wrapped around him. His shy-side had completely evaporated into thin air. He gently falls beside me, still with our lips together. We were both holding each other, making out so to speak, as the white moonlight shone down upon us. My hind leg crosses over both of his. Minutes pass, and eventually we hold onto each others shoulders, finally open our eyes, and lovingly stare at one another.

"...that was...amazing...I...love you, Stalight..."

"...I...I love you too, Ember..."

We take a much more formal kiss, and look up to the night sky. The clouds had all departed from earlier, making the night crystal clear. As we embrace, the stars become all the more mesmerizing. With the warm feel of Olives fur, abstracting the gentle chill of the night, the dark, twinkling sky above, and the memories of a wonderful date with an amazing stallion for a lifetime, I was over the moon. We must have been there for ages, in awe at each other.

The sound of our extremely paced, relaxes breathing was interrupted.

"...do you ever wonder what could be out there...?" Olive asks.

"You mean...out in the stars?"

"Yeah. Call me weird, but when I can, I always look up at the night sky and think about that. It's so...I can't even explain."

"I think I understand. I love the night. It's much more relaxing than the day, where everypony is out doing something."

"I just love to look. At the night that is, heh. But like I say, what if there is somepony else is out somewhere in the vast open space we call...well, space. Maybe they could be thinking these exact same things, explaining them to somepony like...like you."

I guess the saying 'those who talk the least think the most' is true. But on the other hand, who knew having deep thoughts could be so...attractive?

"Sorry, was I boring you? I can't help it som-"

"No. No you weren't."

He smiles, and quietly says

"...that's ok then."

"...when you said before...that my wings were beautiful...that was...the sweetest thing anypony has ever said to me..."

He turns his head to face me.

"...and...and I really meant it, too..." He replies, the awkward side of him slightly prevailing.

"...I can tell..."

I face him.

"...I...have always been attracted to you, Starlight..."

The tips of our noses touch, and gently nuzzle. That must have looked adorable. Another sign of love? These things are all to new to me.

We sit back up, and his wings extend. Olive takes his front leg from around by shoulder, and replaces it with his wing. The warmth from it was so soothing, and his feathers were soft, fluffed up from having being kept by his sides on the ground. My back and sides had gotten sensitive from the muscles reacting with my emotions, making the touch of his longest feathers, stretching down my back quite ticklish. Unintentional, but cute that he did it.

"...St-stop it Olive!" I say, gleefully laughing.

He reacted confused. "Stop what?"

"...stop...tickling me!" I say, trying to holding back more laughter.

He didn't realise what he was doing. "But I'm not!"

Water fell from the corner of my eyes, and I couldn't stop giggling.

"St-...oh Celestia...st-stop...!"

"I swear! I'm not doing any...oh right..."

He returns his wing to his side.

"...sorry..." He says, giving out an embarrassed smile.

I wipe the tears of joy from my eyes. The innocence of his reaction made it all the more funny.

"I forgot about that spot being sensitive..."

I didn't say anything, I just caught my breath.

"...you look...kinda cute when you get tickled..." He says, chuckling at the end.

"...you look cute when your embarrassed..."

After some more cute-talking, Starlight walks me home. I really enjoyed having him as a friend, but I thinks it's going to be a thousand times better as a lover. The only thing? The whole Flight School probably knows about Starlight asking me for a date, thanks to those two Pegasi who saw him. Word tends to spread quick in this town, after all, it is a small place. I wonder what questions may arise when we get back from the holiday...

But for now, all is perfect. He, is perfect.