Diamond Tiara knew that love was blooming soon enough; all it took was finding out Silver Spoon's special somepony.
Sitting on a bench with a saddlebag beside her, Diamond knew that acting now was the only way she'd guarantee Silver Spoon a special somepony in time. Today or tomorrow would've been optimal for a proposed date. And with the sun shining overhead and the birds singing a cheerful cadence, finding a scenic place for confessing love wouldn't have been a problem as well.
Almost all of the ingredients for crafting love were right before Diamond.
The stage was set.
Diamond knew she'd be meeting Silver Spoon at any moment. Her ears twitched.
By sheer coincidence, Silver Spoon appeared over to Diamond's left, the former carrying a saddlebag of her own whilst taking in the scenery. Silver Spoon adjusted her glasses, cracking the faintest of smiles before turning to face Diamond. The gray filly gently waved, Diamond responding in kind.
"Heya, Silvy," said Diamond. Hopping off the bench, she skipped toward her best friend. "What's up?"
"I just finished reading Turnabout Typhoon," Silver Spoon replied. She tapped her saddlebag, a muffled noise reaching Diamond's ears. "There's something about how Shadow Spades captures the raw emotion of the romance subplot and the gripping mysteries that speaks to me. It's definitely wonderful."
Diamond arched an eyebrow. "Like, I didn't understand a word you said. Can ya speak normal?"
"Sorry." Giggles left Silver Spoon's lips. Her cheeks flushed. "You know that I totally get into books."
"I didn't think you'd make a new language. Gosh, Silvy. You're gonna be the biggest bookworm in Equestria."
Silver Spoon rubbed the back of her neck. She donned a sheepish smirk. "Well, I do love reading. But I think ponies like Princess Twilight have that title totally locked up."
"Maybe that's your special somepony," Diamond muttered as an aside. She cleared her throat, legs shaking a bit as she straightened her posture. Exhaling, Diamond said, "Anyway, I wanted to ask ya a few questions, but promise me that they won't spread until the time's right."
"I'll try." Silver Spoon nodded, nudging closer to Diamond. "Do we have something fun planned for today?"
"Maybe." Diamond shrugged. "But first, I wanna ask ya about your special somepony."
"Excuse me?"
"Like, there's obviously somepony you care about." Diamond's smirk widened. She felt that there was something enjoyable about discussing or prying out secrets. Even though she'd have loved to force the answers out of Silver Spoon, Diamond needed a rare book or catalog of recipes to do that for starters. Her friend's tautened expression prevented Diamond from pressing the issue further, however. "Everypony knows it."
But Diamond couldn't help herself from playing along a little longer, just to see how far she'd get.
Silver Spoon blushed. "Well, I do have a special somepony, but why do you ask?" Her embarrassed expression was quickly replaced with a bemused one, Silver Spoon's left eyebrow arched. "Are you looking for romantic advice? If so, I'm honestly not the best pony for the job." She feigned a chuckle. "You totally know how troubling socializing can sometimes be for me. Why not ask Princess Cadance? She's the Princess of Love and I bet she'd reply."
Diamond bobbed her head in agreement. Rubbing her muzzle, she knew that Silver Spoon and socializing went about as well as peanut butter and hot sauce. It wasn't that she couldn't socialize, but if her initial thought of only calling the Cutie Mark Crusaders blank flanks that one time was anything to go by, it was that she struggled with emotions and influencing others. Maybe that was why Diamond felt like a good match with Silver Spoon.
Getting Silver Spoon hooked up with her special somepony, however, required the right words.
Diamond's eyes widened and sparkled; there was somepony Silver Spoon expressed interest in, and the pony in question just so happened to be one of their newest friends. Ever since the duo ditched bullying, Silver Spoon occasionally glanced at a specific filly and waved at her during class. The former was even gentler around that filly than others, often complimenting her singing abilities as well.
If Diamond's photographic memory of cutie marks was anything to go by, there was only one possibility.
"Sweetie Belle is your special somepony," said Diamond. She playfully nudged against Silver Spoon's shoulder. "I've seen how ya look at her during class. Of all the new friends we've made, she's the one that you can't help but look at the most." Giggles left Diamond's mouth. "Gosh, I bet there's a sappy poem inside of ya, too."
Silver Spoon's cheeks turned a bright red. She pursed her lips.
"Is Sweetie Belle your crush or not? Like, it's okay to tell me."
A second later, Silver Spoon nodded. "You got me," she muttered. Taking a deep breath, beads of sweat trickled down her forehead. Silver Spoon shuddered for a moment and adjusted her glasses. "There's something about Sweetie Belle that's so special, something that's the perfect combination of personality and charm, but words can't describe it."
"Uh, love can describe it." Diamond cocked her head. "You can say that, Silvy."
"It's more complicated than that." Silver Spoon placed a hoof to her chest. "There's a whole spectrum of emotions involved, and—" Silver Spoon blushed upon cutting herself off "—don't worry about what I said." She snickered, flicking her tail about. "Maybe getting carried away with that will totally make Hearts and Hooves Day too awkward."
Diamond chuckled in return. "Like, no kidding." She tapped Silver Spoon's shoulder, smirking. "But things like that are what make ya so cute, Silvy."
"Like you and your sass, right?" Silver Spoon twiddled her braid momentarily. "But back to the matter at hoof. How come you want to know about my special somepony?"
Winking, Diamond stepped back. "It wouldn't be a surprise if I told ya." Come to think of it, Diamond had no plans on how she'd get Silver Spoon and Sweetie Belle together. Diamond knew about her best friend thoroughly, though when it came to one of her newest friends, she only had a limited understanding. Diamond knew enough about Sweetie to consider her a close friend, but not enough to where romantic advice best rested on her hooves.
Maybe some research was needed.
"Actually, I'll get back to ya on that later," Diamond continued. She glanced to her right, noticing Sugarcube Corner within trotting distance. Her stomach was tingling a bit; satisfying her hunger right away was something that wouldn't hurt. "Say, wanna go get some ice cream? We can get our favorites!"
"I'm totally for that," said Silver Spoon. "Sugarcube Corner, right?"
Diamond nodded. "Duh!" Her smile brightened. "Are ya ready?"
"I'm ready when you are, Di."
As Diamond made her way toward Sugarcube Corner, Silver Spoon following close behind, she figured that spending some of the time pondering how she'd get Silver Spoon and Sweetie Belle together was necessary.
She just hoped the process wasn't too complex.
The process was too complex.
While spending time with Silver Spoon at Sugarcube Corner helped Diamond understand what her friend saw in Sweetie, the dozens of variables at play froze her spine. Silver Spoon's infatuation with Sweetie came down to personality; at least that was what Diamond assumed based on the minute or two they discussed it.
The rest was just about plans for the following week. A possible camping trip with the Cutie Mark Crusaders tickled Diamond's chest most of all.
While Diamond had a sense of what defined Sweetie, it wasn't as straightforward as she hoped. And despite being back in her cozy bedroom, a world of soft cushions and fluffy pillows, Diamond still felt uncomfortable; she couldn't get her mind off of Silver Spoon and Sweetie's relationship for the past hour or two.
Diamond had devised a series of strings in the shape of a spiderweb, each connecting point a possible trait Silver Spoon and Sweetie had in common. While she loathed such organization, Diamond knew that Silver Spoon would've done the same thing; Silver Spoon even had the high grades to prove it. And as she gazed at the series of strings, Diamond rubbed her muzzle. None of the connecting points were concrete enough to forcibly bring Silver Spoon and Sweetie together with ease.
"Why are these things always hard?" whispered Diamond, cheeks flushed. A groan left her lips. "Gosh, I know they've got some stuff in common, but how am I gonna work with that?" Twiddling her mane, Diamond sat down and kept her eyes glued to the diagram. "I can't just—like—have them admit their crushes in Carousel Boutique." She cringed at the thought of explaining to Rarity how she was trying to hook her little sister up with somepony else. Such awkwardness would've been comparable with a vial of poison. "There's gotta be a better way."
A ruffling sound reached Diamond's ears.
She glanced behind her shoulder. Upon noticing the door not budging, she breathed a sigh of relief. Her mother was still bitter about what happened during the class elections, and Diamond knew that having her plan discovered would've torn it to shreds. Another scolding from her mother's sharp tongue was the last thing Diamond needed.
Sweat dripped down her forehead.
Pouting, Diamond tapped the floor with her hoof. "Gosh, one of these things has to match, right?" Her eyes darted around the web, running along each and every strand. Both Silver Spoon and Sweetie considered themselves stylish, enjoyed nature, and had a fondness for exquisite food. Diamond blinked at the third of these. "Maybe we could have a picnic, but getting stuff from Sugarcube Corner again would—like—be so silly. It's good, but nothing is that good."
Diamond gnashed her teeth. There had to have been an alternative somewhere nearby.
"Isn't there a local bakery nearby?" Diamond asked herself. Rubbing her head, images of the cottage in question popped in her mind. She recalled the white smoke bellowing from its chimney, the crisp aroma touching her nostrils, and the signs depicting loaves of bread that adorned the cottage. Dozens of ponies trotted in and out with smiles across their faces as well, a few of them also licking their lips. "I totally get it now." Diamond smirked. Glancing back at the door again, she hurriedly took apart her diagram and stuffed the supplies inside a cabinet's shelf without a second thought.
Diamond's room was just as she left it upon arriving. She took a deep breath and wiped her forehead.
"I'd better get things set up for the picnic," muttered Diamond. She crept toward the door, gently pushing it open and sticking her head through the doorway. "Like, I just gotta make sure mother doesn't think I'm being weird." She knew that her mother would've objected to mingling with Sweetie under almost any scenario. Biting her lip, Diamond slithered out of her bedroom like a snake. She took light, short steps as she made her way down the staircase. At least the fluffy carpet beneath her muffled the sounds of her hoofsteps. If she made a ruckus, anypony with ears would've noticed her.
Diamond placed her back against a wall. In the other room, her mother was occupied with reading a newspaper. The mare's hunched posture and scrunched muzzle told Diamond everything she needed. Bothering her with even the most minor of offenses would've been a recipe for disaster.
With a quick breath, Diamond resumed sneaking about her glamorous abode, paying close attention to the statues that littered the hallways. The day where she accidentally banged her head against a statue of Equestria's most famous court jester was one she'd rather forget. Luckily, aside from a scare with her almost touching the sculpture of Clover the Clever, such moments hadn't happened again.
Diamond was already a few meters away from the front door. The picture of Silver Spoon and Sweetie on a date took form, Diamond's eyes sparkling the longer she thought about it. Romantic poems, warm snuggles, and maybe even a kiss were among the visions that warmed her heart. And the scrumptious food with them was the cherry on top. All Diamond had to do was not make too much noise opening the front door and the rest was most likely smooth sailing.
Diamond cracked a smile.
It was seemingly simple enough.
"Excuse me," a masculine voice said. "But I can't let you leave just now."
Shuddering, Diamond turned around and gazed into her father's eyes. Her throat tightened. Even though Filthy Rich was never as strict as her mother, Diamond would've rather have encountered her pet cat. At least her pet wouldn't possibly snitch on her. A sigh left Diamond's lips as she turned to face her father.
"Why are you heading out?" asked Filthy, eyebrow arched. "Be honest, Diamond Tiara. Nopony likes those who just lie."
"I'm just gonna hang out with my best friend," said Diamond. At least that was part of the truth. "We're gonna play with each other first before Silvy helps me with homework." A forced chuckle left her lips. She crossed her forelegs, blushing. "It's nothing big or anything, but I'd appreciate it if I could go."
Filthy donned a slight smile. Trotting up to Diamond, he playfully rubbed her head. "Well, just be careful when playing with your friend, okay?"
Diamond bobbed her head. "Duh! Like, you know I'm always careful."
"Just making sure." Filthy stepped back and turned around. "Take care, my little princess."
With another nod, Diamond slowly opened the door and stepped outside, a cold breeze swirling past her. Closing the door in a flash, her smile widened as she trotted across the cobblestone path that led to her home. From what Diamond recalled, the bakery was rather close to where Sweet Apple Acres was.
But first, Diamond needed to provide Silver Spoon and Sweetie a time and place for them to meet. Keeping it as vague as possible was at least one of the easiest parts of the plan.
Getting the time just right for them to bump into each other was the tough part, however. And despite tension gripping Diamond, her heart raced with excitement as she envisioned her two friends confessing their love. For once, Diamond would've cheered at sappy poems instead of cringing at them.
Somehow, everything went exactly as Diamond planned.
A basket filled with bread and other treats sat over to Diamond's right whilst both rested atop a sprawled out blanket. The locale was quiet and the dew-covered grass shone under the sunlight. It wasn't watching a sunset by the beach, but for Ponyville, it was more than acceptable for Diamond.
Silver Spoon and Sweetie were scheduled to arrive any minute now. All Diamond mentioned was asking to meet them over by the large and lonesome tree just outside of the town. While Silver Spoon had a strong inkling of where things were going, Sweetie was confused when she received the invitation.
To think she arranged a date with a pair of ten second conversations; Diamond cracked a smile and felt proud about herself. Not many fillies her age could've had such an achievement to their name.
Patience, however, was something that clashed with the name Diamond Tiara.
"They'll be here any second now," muttered Diamond. She reclined on the blanket, gently placing the back of her head against it. She gnashed her teeth. "Gosh, I know it's not—like—really close by, but it shouldn't take too long just to get here. It only took me a couple of minutes."
"What was that, Di?" asked Silver Spoon. She trotted forward upon Diamond glancing behind her shoulder and making eye contact with the gray filly. "Sorry for being late. I had to take care of a few things before leaving home." When she arrived at where Diamond was, Silver Spoon stopped and glanced over to her friend. "Don't worry, it's totally nothing major."
Diamond propped herself upright, wiggling her legs. "You're always on top of things, Silvy," she said as a matter of fact. "Anyway, it's wonderful to see ya."
"Same here."
Kneeling down, Diamond procured a sandwich from the woven basket, giving it to Silver Spoon a second later. "Have something to munch on."
Silver Spoon took the sandwich, also taking a paper plate from the basket before placing both down. "I'll eat a little later. I'm not that hungry, but the food looks too good to pass up." Giggles left her mouth. "Thanks for setting this up for us. It's not often that we've gone on picnics."
"Yeah, we really need to do that more." Diamond swiveled her head to the left. Approaching her and Silver Spoon was another filly, her fluffy mane looking similar to cotton candy. And if the filly's bouncing and whistling was anything to go by, it was without a doubt Sweetie Belle. A smirk adorned Diamond's face. "Also, our guest has arrived."
Silver Spoon pursed her lips. "You mean—"
"Hiya, Diamond Tiara," chimed Sweetie. She trotted up to the basket, though Sweetie's eyes were glued to Silver Spoon. The former blushed. "Hey, Silver Spoon. Fancy seeing you here, too." Sweetie rubbed the back of her neck. "Thank you for helping me with the last homework assignment."
Adjusting her glasses, Silver Spoon nodded. "Um, you're welcome." She took a deep breath, teeth clenched. "I had a feeling you'd show up, though it's still surprising." Silver Spoon feigned a chuckle. "It's funny how things like that work out. Just because you think something might happen doesn't mean it won't be shocking."
"Now you know how I feel about some of Rarity's dresses." Giggling, Sweetie made her way toward Silver Spoon and sat down next to her. "So I've heard that you've been working on pastries."
Nodding, Silver Spoon smiled. "That's right. I totally have to keep practicing my special talent." Silver Spoon's eyes glanced over to the woven basket. A few seconds passed, Silver Spoon bringing her focus back to Sweetie. "Have you tried baking or cooking before? It's fun at times, even if it's a bit messy."
Sweetie bobbed her head. "I have. It's cool, but—" her cheeks flushed "—but I often burn the food. Rarity always gives me grief, but she means well."
"Yeah, cooking takes a lot of practice." Silver Spoon rubbed Sweetie's shoulder. "But you'll get the hang of it one day. I mean, I didn't master pastries over the course of a day. It took a lot of determination and practice to keep me going, all of it eventually culminating with a cutie mark."
"Huh?" Arching an eyebrow, Sweetie shrugged. "Culmin-what?"
"It means the same thing as 'resulting.'" Silver Spoon giggled for a moment. "Sorry."
Sweetie's eyes widened as she slowly nodded again. "It's okay. I'm guessing you're still reading lots of books, right? I've been meaning to check out that fantasy series you recommended me that one time. I mean, ponies riding dragons and crazy worlds that may as well have been created by Discord? It sounds awesome!"
"It's definitely an exciting series." Silver Spoon's expression brightened; she leaned closer to Sweetie. "I'll admit that it can get rather weird at times, but the characters and the action more than make up for it. Trust me, you're going to adore at least one or more of the main characters."
Diamond couldn't help herself from wearing a bemused expression throughout the conversation, pondering whether Silver Spoon and Sweetie had close to enough bravery to admit their love. The twinkles in both of their eyes were impossible to miss as were the sheepish smiles they occasionally wore. Diamond knew for a fact that love was blooming. If leaving Silver Spoon and Sweetie to themselves wasn't effective, Diamond assumed that all she needed to do was steer them toward it.
Luckily, Diamond Tiara was like the captain of a ship whenever it came to getting ponies somewhere.
"Like, how about we talk about something fun," said Diamond. She nudged toward Silver Spoon and Sweetie. "Maybe we could all talk about what's—ya know—cute." Diamond rubbed her muzzle momentarily. "I mean, Rumble has gotta be one of the cutest colts in Miss Cheerilee's class, but everypony knows that."
Both Sweetie and Silver Spoon nodded in unison, the pair wearing blank expressions.
Diamond shrugged, cheeks flushed. "Like, what do ya find cute, Silvy?"
Silver Spoon twiddled her braid. She glanced over to Sweetie and cracked a smile, the latter responding in kind. "Well, I totally think that some of Fluttershy's pets are adorable. I know her pet bunny is really bratty, maybe brattier than any of us were, but—" Silver Spoon faintly snickered "—but most of them are just wanting to be hugged."
Nodding, Diamond struggled with maintaining a calm visage. There was no doubt in her mind that Silver Spoon knew what was being implied. "Yes, her pets are really cute." Diamond arched an eyebrow and shimmied toward Silver Spoon. "But let's think of the cutest thing you can imagine!"
"I've seen Trixie do a few cute things in her shows," said Sweetie. "There's something charming about her that's hard to put into words. Same goes for how charming the Wonderbolts can be, but Scootaloo knows about them more than I do." She twirled her mane with the tip of her hoof. "I dunno why you'd want to talk about cute things."
"Let's just say that I have my reasons." Assuming a devilish smirk, Diamond crossed her forelegs. Shifting the conversation to what they found cute wasn't working. Something a little more blatant was necessary, though where she'd go from there prodded her nerves at the thought. As much as Diamond loathed to admit, a little awkwardness might've been necessary. "But let's talk about something that's much more fun!"
"Like what?" Sweetie tilted her head.
"Romance!" Diamond rubbed her hooves together. Somehow, neither of her friends had assumed a perplexed or disturbed visage. At least some of the world's weight was off of her shoulders, but she knew it'd take more than just that to bring Silver Spoon and Sweetie together. Tension still constricted her chest. "Like, I know Silvy loves her romance books." In a flash, Diamond turned toward Sweetie. "How about you?"
"They can be good," muttered Sweetie. "My older sister loves them." Another series of giggles escaped Sweetie. "Sometimes, she gets a little too into them. I've even seen her cheer or cry whenever something big happened in a book." She playfully nudged Silver Spoon. "I've seen you get attached to books, too."
Silver Spoon nodded. "Yeah, some books can be engaging," she said. "I know you've read some classic novels, Sweetie Belle. Have you ever read something that you got attached to and just couldn't put down? Any memorable moments from your favorite books? I can name a few. Heck, I could totally quote a few if you want."
"Yeah, I get into some of them, too." Sweetie's smile widened. "Honestly, I don't read romance books too often. As I've said before, books with lots of action and suspense really grab my attention." She clasped her hooves together. "Legends of Commander Hurricane might be one of the coolest things I've read."
"That's a fun novel, but I'm always attracted to stories with wonderful characters, fantastic worlds, and maybe some clever allusions and thought-provoking themes." Silver Spoon touched Sweetie's hoof, both of them blushing together. "We honestly should read more together. It'll be fun."
Nodding, Sweetie cracked the slightest of smirks. "I'll see what I can do, but I'd love to read something fun with you."
Diamond couldn't help herself from biting her lip, hoping that this was the moment where they'd either confess their love or even kiss. There was no hiding it from her anymore. She waited and waited for anything along those lines, yet as each second felt longer than the one before it, neither Silver Spoon nor Sweetie made that essential next step.
"Anyway, how has school been going?" asked Silver Spoon, eyes fixed to Sweetie. "Anything memorable or funny you feel like sharing?"
Diamond sighed; maybe this was poised to take longer than she had hoped.
"Well, Snips and Snails fell asleep in class again," said Sweetie. "But that's something they always do. It's still kinda funny whenever Miss Cheerilee has to order them to wake up. Other than that, there was the moment where Featherweight played a prank Shady Daze for the second time this week. Of course, Shady responded with one of his own."
"Sounds like something they'd do," replied Silver Spoon. "But is class as a whole going well for you?"
Sweetie bobbed her head. "Yep!"
"I'm delighted!"
Diamond's muzzle scrunched up. This was going nowhere; Sweetie and Silver Spoon were probably going to keep this up until one or both of them felt like returning home or chewing on some food. It was worse for Diamond; she merely observed the two with a hoof on her cheek whilst silently hoping that something interesting was awaiting her.
Maybe this was how those romance novels panned out. Love must've taken its sweet time outside of those books as well.
Diamond, however, didn't have time on her side.
If simple questions weren't working, Diamond wondered if getting Silver Spoon and Sweetie to accidentally kiss each other was her last resort. It'd be one of the most awkward actions anypony could've done and likely rude as well. But when it came to crafting love, a little awkwardness was sometimes required in the recipe.
Diamond's coat turned pale; she hoped that she wouldn't regret what was coming next.
"I have an amazing idea," said Diamond. She stood upright and swished her tail. Pursing her lips, Diamond trotted closer to where Silver Spoon and Sweetie sat. "First, can both of ya close your eyes?"
"How come?" asked Silver Spoon. She tilted her head, a puzzled expression decorating her face. "If you're planning on surprising us with a gift or something, we'd have probably noticed it a while ago." Silver Spoon turned to the left, to the right, and finally back at Diamond. "I don't see any possible hiding places."
"It's not that, Silvy." Diamond pouted. "Like, can ya both close your eyes, please. Trust me, the results are gonna be so worth it."
Sweetie closed her eyes as instructed, Silver Spoon sighing before following suit.
"Can ya both be facing each other?"
Silver Spoon nodded, turning her head and facing Sweetie.
"Okay, what you're gonna want to do now is lean toward each other." Biting her lip, Diamond suppressed a giggle whilst Silver Spoon and Sweetie followed her request. "Like, lean as closely toward the other as you can." Diamond's grin widened, her visage as bright as the sun. "Come on, don't be shy."
Silver Spoon froze in place. "Wait, doesn't this mean you're—"
Before Silver Spoon had a chance of finishing talking, Sweetie leaned a little too close to her friend and both of their lips collided with each other. They opened their eyes in unison, Silver Spoon and Sweetie both blushing. In a flash, the pair leaned away from each other with shocked expressions, yet neither of them wore any signs of confusion or disgust.
Silence filled the air.
As for Diamond, sweat cascaded down her forehead. She hoped that the aftermath wasn't so awkward to where it ruined Silver Spoon and Sweetie's relationship. Diamond noticed Sweetie's faint smirk, the sight warming her heart. Nevertheless, Silver Spoon's face still hadn't budged an inch, chills coursing through Diamond's spine in response.
Sweetie blinked. "Wow, that was—"
"Amazing?" Silver Spoon murmured. She rubbed her forehead, swaying back and forth as if she was close to passing out. Clenching her teeth, Silver Spoon straightened her seating posture and took a deep breath. "Since we got that out of our system, I wanted to—" Silver Spoon shivered briefly "—to say how wonderful you are."
A gasp left Sweetie's lips. "Really? I wanted to say the same thing!" She donned a sheepish smile. "I mean, even when we were enemies, there was something about you that kinda spoke to me. Maybe it was how you sometimes acted, but I couldn't help but see a stunning pony. I just didn't know what it meant at first."
Silver Spoon nodded. "I always found something special about you as well." She placed a hoof to her chest. "And now that I think about it, I wanted to say that I'm sorry for all the times I teased you. As unbelievable as it may seem, I wanted to be friends with you. It's just—" Silver Spoon sighed "—just that I didn't know how. At least Di made sure I wasn't alone. I don't know where I'd be without her."
"Well, I always thought you were a cool pony, Silvy," said Diamond. "Like, you can be a total dork at times and maybe you kinda followed me too closely until the election, but I've always loved spending time with you." Smiling, Diamond turned toward Sweetie. "And you and the other Cutie Mark Crusaders are also amazing friends, Sweetie Belle."
"Thanks," said Sweetie. She turned back to Silver Spoon, the pair making eye contact. "Silver Spoon, since there's no hiding it, I wanted to say that I wanna be your special somepony. I think we'll make a great couple, not to mention how much fun we'll have together when Hearts and Hooves Day arrives." Sweetie stretched her hoof toward Silver Spoon. "What do you say?"
In a flash, Silver Spoon placed her hoof atop Sweetie's, the former grinning with sparkling eyes. "Totally! I'd be honored to be your special somepony."
"Like, I totally knew you had it in ya, Silvy," said Diamond. Shimmying toward the woven basket, Diamond reached into it and procured a sandwich of her own. "And sorry for tricking ya like that." Diamond chuckled, blushing. "I knew you two were the perfect couple and all, but I wanted to bring ya together without outright saying it."
"Apology accepted," said Sweetie. "All's well that ends well, right?"
Everypony nodded in unison.
"What are we waiting for?" Diamond took a bite of her sandwich, the tomatoes and mayonnaise tickling her taste buds. "Let's have—like—the best picnic ever!"
"Sounds like a plan," replied Silver Spoon.
The three shared the array of treats and meals within the woven basket, all chowing down with smiles across their faces. Diamond was relieved that Silver Spoon and Sweetie finally admitted their love to each other, and while the steps needed to get there were a bit awkward and unusual, Diamond took comfort in knowing that the end result was all positive.
Most of all, Diamond loved seeing her best friends happy.
