"I've been going over this a hundred time in my head," Render began, "what I'm going to say, how I want it to all play out. I just don't know if I'm ready yet though. What if things don't go the way I planned?"
Winter looked up from his book. The pegasus sighed. "Will you calm down? Everything will be fine," he assured. "Look, Twilight's birthday isn't for another month, right? Just ask her what she wants. It's not that big of a deal. Besides, I'm sure she'll like whatever you get her."
"Birthday? Did I not tell you?".
Winter looked around as if he had missed something. The usually observant pegasus wasn't used to being in the dark on most matters. "What?" he asked.
"This isn't about Twilight's birthday," Render explained. "I'm asking her to marry me."
"Oh, well... hm..." Winter put his book down on the table and thought for a moment before continuing. "That makes things infinitely more interesting, doesn't it?"
"Yeah, and I'm freaking out," Render said as he began to pace around the room with heavy hooves. "What if she turns me down? What then? I would be heart broken. Not to mention the awkward silences when we're together."
Winter leaned over the arm of his chair and stopped Render in his tracks with his hoof. "Are you joking? She's crazy for you. Just go for it," he encouraged. "But don't try to make a big deal out of it or anything. Just have dinner together or something. Get comfortable and when the opportunity presents itself, pull out the ring and pop the question."
Render flopped back on his bed with a sigh and looked up at the ceiling. "I don't know. Is it too soon? I cant help but feel that I'm rushing in without knowing what I'm doing."
"Too soon? You guys have been together for three and a half years!" Winter exclaimed. "Most married ponies I know were together for a shorter amount of time before getting engaged. Now is the perfect time to ask her. Heck, I wouldn't be surprised if she's just waiting for you."
"You sure?" Render asked as he pulled his head off his pillow.
"Of course. You two make a great couple."
"That's why I'm so nervous though," Render explained as he rolled back over. "She's the love of my life. If she says no, I don't know what I'll do." He depressingly slumped his head back into his pillow.
"I already told you. There's no way she'll not say yes. Don't be nervous. Get excited." Winter stood up and walked over to Render's bed side. "You, my friend, are about to get engaged to a princess."
"You think so?
"I know so. You're going be, like, the prince of friendship or something."
"Don't say that," Render pleaded as he took on a guilty look.
"What's wrong prince charming?"
"Please stop. I hate it when ponies point that out." Render threw his pillow up over his ears to block out the sound of Winter's voice. Of all the words in the Equestrian dictionary that someone should hate, Prince was the one that got under his skin.
"Why? The fact that you'll be one of the most powerful and influential stallions in Equestria doesn't hurt." Winter stopped suddenly at a realization and his ears fell flat on his head. "Oh, wow. I just realized how bad that sounds out loud."
"Yeah, that's my point,: Render said. He got up and sat on the other side of the bed, looking out the window like the answer to relieving his stress would be on the other side of the thin transparent pane that separated him from the rest of the outside world. "When Twilight and I are together, that's just us, you know? Her being a princess never had anything to do with it. I mean, I knew her before she was a princess and always liked her," he continued, remembering the few days that they had talked in Canterlot before she moved to Ponyville. They had always been short conversations, but enjoyable ones. Twilight hadn't put much stock in friendship back then. "Now that she is a princess though, I don't want ponies to think that I'm just doing this for the power. I especially don't want her to think that way."
"Oh, for the love of Pete." Winter walked around to Render's side of the bed. "Do you really think that the past two years have meant nothing to her? This whole, "I'm so uncertain" thing is pathetic. Do you love her?"
"What?" Render questioned, having been caught off guard.
"Do. You. Love. Her? Answer the question."
"Y-yes. Of course. With all my heart."
"Do you want to be with her?"
"Yes."
"Then what are you waiting for?" Winter nearly shouted as he stood right in front of Render. "It's now or never. Either tell her how you feel and offer your hoof in holy matrimony or forever hold your peace, or whatever."
Winter was right and Render knew it. He hated the fact that his roommate, who got on his nerves to no end and also happened to be his best friend, was right, but he was. He sighed and smiled. "You know for someone who's been single for so long, you sure do have a way with words."
"What can I say, I read a lot of fanfiction," Winter said as he returned to his seat. "That's besides the point though. Now get out there and go get your girl."
"Hmm... thanks, Winter. I think I needed to hear all that. You're a good friend. I hope you know that."
"How could I let you forget?" Winter said as he retrieved his book. He began reading again only to look back at Render a second later. "Oh, by the way," he said. "I expect to be asked to be the best stallion at the wedding and to have priority rights to the chocolate fountain at the reception."
Render smiled. "You got it." He hopped up off the bed and trotted across the studio apartment towards the door. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have something I've got to do."
"Go get 'em, tiger," Winter called from across the room.
And with that, Render was out the door and on his way to opening the next chapter in his life.
Author's Note
Yes, I'm aware that everything here is pretty generic and cliché, but it was written just to practice a new writing method that I'm trying out in which I write all the dialogue (meaning everything in quotes) first and everything outside of those quotes is added afterwards. I think it really helps with achieving an even pace. Hope you guys enjoyed.
