Lonely Nights

Braeburn tossed and turned, trying to get some sleep. This was the fourth night in a row he barely got sleep. He tried sleeping potions, but they did little to help. He had changed his mattress, bought lavender, and went to bed ninety minutes early.

He realized that it wasn't that he couldn't sleep, he needs somepony to sleep with. He allowed himself to remain single, for he had no intention of dating. Now, however, his loneliness had reached an all-time low. He needed somepony to snuggle up with.

"I'll ask Applejack for advice. And maybe Rarity or Fluttershy can set me up with some mare," he muttered to himself. He curled up into a ball, his eyes slowly closing. Apparently realizing his loneliness made him tired. At least now he could catch some sleep.

Braeburn approached Sweet Apple Acres. He never told Applejack he was coming, he just came. Hopefully, either her or her friends could help him. Perhaps the mare they found would be interested in him, too. That would make the journey better. He saw Applejack standing just outside the barn, having a conversation with Apple Bloom. Applejack noticed the lone stallion approaching them.

"Hey there cuz. What ya doing 'ere?" Applejack asked Braeburn.

"I need a li'l help," Braeburn told her.

"What'chu need?"

"I'm having trouble hittin' the hay. It's been that way for four nights now. I believe it's 'cause I need somepony to be with."

"You're welcome to stay 'ere," Applejack offered.

"I mean in a romantic way. I've bin a li'l lonely. I was hopin' you could help me."

"Oh. Maybe me and the girls could help ya. I'll round 'em up real quick. Stay 'ere." Applejack jogged past Braeburn. He hoped this was a good idea and that it wouldn't backfire instantaneously. Twenty minutes later, Applejack returns with her friends.

"Girls, I'm sure ya remember Braeburn."

"Of course, darling. Although, that doesn't explain why you have asked us to assist you," Rarity stated.

"Yeah. I was busy doing something."

"You mean napping the afternoon away?" Twilight questioned Rainbow Dash.

"I said I was busy," Rainbow retorted.

"Would ya two hush? Braeburn needs our help."

"What do you need, Braeburn?" Fluttershy asked in a whisper.

Braeburn tried to speak, but his words ended up stuck in his throat. He was nervous about asking six mares how to ask out a mare. He took a couple of deep breaths to work up the courage.

"I need advice on how to ask out a mare," he managed o say.

"That's why you wanted us?" Rainbow asked.

"Rainbow Dash, don't be so rude. Braeburn is a growing stallion who has decided to seek a partner. He asked us to aid him in finding the perfect mare for him," Rarity rebutted.

"Rarity is right. We need to help him," Twilight agreed.

"I know, I know! How about we set him up with Limestone? Or maybe Marble? How about Maud? I can't decide, they're all so great," Pinkie said with glee.

"While anypony would be lucky to date your sisters, Pinkie," Rainbow said, trying not to be harsh. "I think Braeburn would prefer a mare who: isn't authoritative, speaks, and isn't emotional neutral." Turning to Braeburn, Rainbow suggested, "You want my opinion? Be twenty percent cooler."

"Rainbow Dash!" Applejack exclaimed.

"What? All I'm saying is he should act cool and mares will come running to him. It would be better than what he is now."

"Rainbow Dash!" Applejack exclaimed once more.

Braeburn's vision became blurry, for tears started forming. He didn't want Applejack or her friends to see him crying, so he turned and ran. He ran til he was at somepony's house, not caring who it was. Looking around, he realized he had run all the way to Canterlot. It wasn't until that moment that he realized his legs were sore. He didn't even realize he ran that far. On a normal day he couldn't run a quarter of the distance.

Tears rolled down his face. With nopony nearby to see him, he was free to understand that no mare would ever date him.

"Hello?" a concerned voice said from behind him. Turning, Braeburn saw a unicorn. He appeared worried that a grown stallion was alone and crying. "Are you okay?"

Wiping tears from his face, Braeburn replied, "I-I'm fine."

"You don't seem fine. What happened?"

"Nothing. It's just-" Braeburn trailed off. Should he really tell a stallion about his predicament? He doesn't even know him. Braeburn stood in silent thought longer than he wanted. It wasn't until the other stallion spoke that he returned to reality.

"Hey, you still with me?"

Braeburn shook his head. He wasn't answering the question, he was bringing himself back to where he was. "Yeah, sorry. My mind's bin awful fuzzy lately. I haven't been sleeping well these past four nights."

"Happens to me a lot. I've done so much to combat that. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't." The unicorn eyed Braeburn with a questioning look, making Braeburn blush a little. "Still, that doesn't explain why you are here."

"Long story. I was trying to get advice on how to-" once more, Braeburn paused. "-sleep better. One pony said something mean and I guess I ran all the way here."

"You said it was a long story, but that didn't take too long," the stallion pointed out.

A slight blush came across Braeburn's face. "I guess you're right," he said sheepishly.

"Where did you run from?" The unicorn was now interested in what Braeburn had to say. One does not simply run away. There has to be a good reason.

"Ponyville."

"You ran from Ponyville to here?" he asked in shock. "That's incredible. Even I wouldn't do that, and I have friends there."

"Really? Maybe you could introduce me to 'em. My cousin's friend was mean."

"You're in luck. One of them is coming today, and we're going to have fun." Using his magic, he picked Braeburn up. "Come on, I'll take you to my house."

Something about this unicorn made Braeburn feel... happy. He can't quite put a hoof on it, but he figures he'll know what it is.

"This is a mighty fine place you got here," Braeburn said, after examining the unicorn's house.

"Thank you. Even though I rarely allow visitors, I prefer to keep this place fresh," he said, blushing at the compliment. "Make yourself at home, if you want."

A thought came to Braeburn, something about this unicorn. "Now that I think 'bout it, you never told me your name."

"Oh. I'm-" a knock interrupted his thought. He trotted up to the door, and opened it with his magic. A pink pony pounced on him, pulling him into a hug. Returning the hug, the unicorn said, "It's great to see you too, Pinkie Pie."

"I would've gotten here earlier, but Applejack's cousin needed some help. However, he left because Rainbow Dash was being a big ole meanie," Pinkie stated.

"It's not my fault he's sensitive. He needs to grow a spine," Rainbow Dash said, entering the foyer.

"That's no excuse fer hurtin' 'im like that, RD," said Applejack in a disappointed tone.

"AJ? RD? What are you two doing here?" Midnight asked.

"We were s'posed to help Braeburn with something, but somepony hurt his feelings," Applejack answered, giving Rainbow Dash an accusatory glare. "Anyway, the others are coming too."

"Applejack?" a scared voice said.

"Braeburn, is that you?" Sure enough, Braeburn appeared behind Midnight. "What in Equestria are you doing here?"