Chapters Sweetie Belle relaxed on the couch in the CMC club house as she waited for Apple Bloom and Scootaloo to show up. Spring had just arrived and Winter Wrap Up had just wrapped up last week, and she was wondering if the other crusaders had noticed what she had noticed, namely about couples. Everypony she really knew was in a couple, and most ponies her age were starting to pair up too. After a few minutes she heard the dead give away of Apple Bloom hurrying up the steps of the ladder. "Hello Apple Bloom." Sweetie waved as her friend came up the stairs. Her hair was pulled back into a ponytail and her ribbon had been replaced by a yellow band.
"Hey there Sweetie Belle, how're you doing?" She dropped down on the couch Next to her friend.
"I'm doing well," Sweetie answered her tone had slowly become similar to Rarity's, but she still had her own little song like spin on the upper-crust accent. "How're you today?"
"I'm good." Apple Bloom leaned back and stretched out. "I hope that you weren't waiting on me for to long. I would have gotten here sooner, but I promised to watch the colt till Mac and Sugar go back."
"That's alright. I was just thinking about how to talk about what is on my mind right now. Thank you for letting me head up here early."
"Sure no problem, I wish Scootaloo would hurry up and get here though. She does know that the meetings today right?"
"I'm sure she does. I think she was partying with Rumble and Featherweight last night. So she might be nursing a bit of a hangover."
"What she went clubbing and didn't invite us?!"
"I think they flew her up to Cloudsdale so we couldn't have gone with her."
"She could have still invited us, though." Apple Bloom crossed her forehooves. Sweetie couldn't help but give a stifled giggle at Apple Blooms behavior. "So do you want to start talking about whatever it was that you wanted to talk about and then we fill in Scootaloo when she gets here?"
"No, not really. I think it would be best if we waited for her besides I don't think that we'll have to wait too long," Sweetie Belle said looking out the window. "Because unless I'm mistaken that's Rainbow Dash bringing her over right now." A few moments later Scootaloo came in through the door.
"Hey girls what's up, did you miss me?" She smirked as the came into the old CMC club house.
"Yeah we've been waiting for what feels like an eternity." Apple Bloom slouched in exasperation.
"Oh, huh sorry I was in Cloudsdale last night and Dash was my way home."
"It's okay Scootaloo she just got here a few minutes before you did," Sweetie said. Apple Bloom playfully stuck her tongue out at her friend.
"Well either way I'm here now." Scootaloo flopped onto the couch next to Sweetie Belle putting her between her two friends. "So, Sweetie Belle, what's up. Why'd you call a meeting?"
"Well, so, you know how like all our sisters and their friends are in relationships right?" Sweetie asked.
"Well yeah?" Scootaloo nodded.
"Sure do." Apple Bloom nodded.
"Well. I've also noticed that there are a good number of ponies that are our age that are also starting, couple up. I saw Snips and Snails with Babs and Dinky heading out on a double date after we finished Winter Wrap up."
"Ha. I knew that my cus' was seeing a colt!" Apple Bloom cheered. "I just can't believe that it's either Snips or Snails. Hmm, I wonder which one it is."
"Apple Bloom focus." Scootaloo clapped her hooves bring her friend back into reality. "So, anyway Sweetie. What about it?"
"Well, I was wondering if maybe it was time that we tried getting colt friends of our own," Sweetie said. "I mean our sisters seem to be having a good time of it, and shot even ponies our own age are starting to try the dating scene. So maybe we should too?"
"Maybe Sweetie's right Apple Bloom. I'd feel kind of silly if you and I were the only two mares our own age that don't have a colt friend."
"Well yeah. I mean I would be pretty embraced too." Apple Bloom nodded.
"Well I mean it'd be the three of us as outcast again," Sweetie Belle said. Both Apple Bloom and Scootaloo gave her an incredulous look with slightly raised eyebrows. "What?"
"Don't play dumb with us Sweetie." Scootaloo smirked and playfully punched her foreleg.
"I'm not. What was that for?" She asked rubbing her leg, it didn't hurt, but it was the principle of the matter.
"Come on Sweetie Belle everypony knows that you and Button Mash are all googoo eyes with each other." Apple Bloom smirked. "So don't play dumb with us you two have been a couple for at least a two or three years now."
"W-Wait what n-no." Sweetie's white cheeks were becoming red with a growing blush. "He and I, we're just friends that all, we've never even been on a date."
"Sugarcube. We're just friends." Apple Bloom smirk only grew. "And you've never stuttered or blushed about ponies talking about how much time we spend hanging out."
"Well no pony ever teases me about it," she said defensively. "And besides what about you and Tender Tap or Scootaloo and Rumble?" She pointed an accusatory hoof at her two friends.
"Hmm. Well you know." Apple Bloom started tapping her chin. "Tender Taps ain't exactly a bad colt as far as colts go, and he certainly ain't no Snips and Snails. Hmmm."
"Rumble's already got a filly friend." Scootaloo shrugged. "And besides, we're just friends, and competitors, and team mates, and stuff. But its not really a date thing."
"Wait Rumble's got a fillyfriend?" Sweetie asked.
"Yeah she's in Cloudsdale, she's actually pretty cool. You know. I think they were trying to get me and Featherweight to get together. He was acting all kinds of goofy. Colts do that when their around a crush right?" Scootaloo asked, when her two friends nodded, she clapped her hooves together. "Alright Crusaders! Here's our mission." She jumped off of the couch her little wings buzzing. "This time next week we're all going to try and see if the colts we're friends with are 'coltfriend' material. Cutie Mark Crusader Triple Daters!" She put her hoof out and Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle put there hooves on hers, and repeated it with a cheer.
"Cutie Mark Crusaders Triple Daters!"
SweetieMash or is it ButtonBelle
Sweetie Belle arrived at Sugar Cube Corner early, and looked out the window as Pound and Pumpkin worked on filling her order. The colt and filly seemed to have assimilated Pinkie's strange ways of doing things. As she waited she wondered how her sister and Orange knew that they were right for each other. She'd probably ask Orange when she visited them next time. Given how much her sister played things like that up. "Here you go, you okay Ms. Belle?" Pumpkin Cake asked as she put two vanilla malts on the table.
"Not much, just waiting for Button Mash."
"Uh-huh?" She said. "So you finally making the moves on him?" She gave Sweetie Belle a wry smile.
"Wh-what aren't you to young to be asking things like that?" Pumpkin's smile only grew as Sweetie Belle's cheeks began to redden with a growing blush.
"Well we do work in one of the most frequented places in Ponyville for dates." Pumpkin smirked. "And to be honest me and my brother have been wondering when you two would stop pretending to be 'just friends'. If you need any help to set the mood just caw like a crow. Or just wink at us, we're totally routing for you." Pumpkin hurried back over to her register, and started talking to her brother. Sweetie Belle groaned.
Has the entire town been thinking this kind of stuff behind my back? She wondered when the bell rang as a brown colt with a propeller hat came in. He smiled and hurried over to Sweetie Belle. "Hey Button." She smiled her blush coming back.
"Hey Sweetie Belle." He smiled and sat down opposite her. "What's up are you okay? Your cheeks are red you aren't sick are you?" he asked concerned.
"What no, I-I'm fine. Just a little flustered." she said trying to will her blush to go away. Come on Sweetie Belle this is going to be exactly like every other time you've had malts with him. She tried to pump herself up. Button looked at the vanilla malt. "So, wanna race?" She smiled.
"No, let's take it slow." He smiled at her. "Races are for casuals. And this is a date right?"
"Ah-a date who said it was a date?"
"You did?" Button said, and pulled out the letter she had passed to him during class.
"Did I put date, I mean it doesn't have to be a date if you don't want it to be a date." Pumpkin audibally face hoofed. "Not that I don't want it to be a date or anythingjustthatifyoudon'tthenI'm" Button cut her with a soft boop to her nose.
"A date sounds nice," he answered her with a smile. "And maybe after we've finished our malts, we can go back to my place."
"Oh right you moved out of your mom's place a little while ago didn't you?" Sweetie asked taking a long sip of her malt from her straw. Button Mash shrugged as he did likewise. The first pull from the straw was always the most difficult as you tried to get the soft ice cream to go up the straw.
"Well," he said swallowing a mouthful of his milkshake. "It's not really my own place, and my brother and I still need help from mom and dad occasionally but we make due." He smiled as he and Sweetie took smaller sips from their straws. "I'd really like for you to come over. I've got a ton of old retro 8-bit games that I'd love to play with you. Some of them are super rare."
"That sounds nice." She smiled and took another sip from her malt. "Could we take a nice stroll through the park before we head back to your place though?" she asked. "I mean I'd really like to take a nice walk in the moon and star light. Just like in that movie the Crusaders and I saw last week."
"Hmm. What was it, and was it a good movie." Button asked now about half way through with his milkshake.
"Yeah it was really, really good." She smiled. "Or at least I think so, Apple and Scoots said that it was trying to hard to be romantic that it made them both gag." Sweetie Belle sighed. "Some times I don't understand them."
"Hmm. It's that new one that just came out right?" he asked. "Yeah my mom went to see it with my dad last week. I'm all for a stroll in the park, but from what my dad told me about that movie, I think I'm going to side with Apple and Scoots. But if you want to watch it, I guess we could do that too?" Sweetie shook her head.
"No. I know you not really a big fan of the romantic stuff and if it was to much for Apple Bloom then I really don't think that you'd like it all that much." She took another sip from her straw only then realizing that she had finished her vanilla milkshake. Button soon finished his milkshake and smiled.
"Ready for that walk Sweetie Belle?" Button pushed his milkshake aside. "I know this really neat place in the park I wanted to show you." His smile got bigger as he got up. "It's kind of a family secret."
"A family secret?" Sweetie asked as she got up with him.
"Yeah." He took her hoof and hurried out the door.
"They're such a cute couple." Pumpkin sighed.
"You really should stop reading those romance books sis they're starting to mess with your head."
"Drop it Bird Brain, I'll read what I want." She stuck her tongue out playfully as she grabbed the cups, and watched the two of them hurry off to the Ponyville park. Button took her around the corner and they came into the park through a small clearing in the bushes. He led her around several trees and bushes before arriving at the gravel path that went all throughout the Ponyville park.
"So, where's this family secret?" Sweetie Belle asked. "Cause I've been all over this park, dozens of times, and I've never really seen anything out of the ordinary."
“That’s because it’s really, really well hidden," Button said as he and Sweetie Belle walked down the gravel path of the park. The lights were just starting to come on, as they passed. The sun began to sink beneath the horizon painting the world in a lavender light. The sky to the east was slowly starting to darken and the night birds began to sing.
“This is nice.” Sweetie Belle’s hair blew back in the breeze.
“Yeah.” Button looked sighed as the evening breeze spun the propeller of his signature cap. He cast a glance at her as they walked down the path as her coat caught the last beams of sunlight. He blushed and turned his sight back to the path. “So uh, that movie you watched, do you think that it’s out on NetFlanks?” he asked.
“I mean maybe.” She gave him a sideways glance as the setting sun’s lavender light shone around him. Making him stand out in starker contrast to the greens of the park plants. She blushed, but didn’t turn away. He had a lot more muscle now that he was a young stallion than when they were just kids. And he had grown into a remarkably well fit earth pony despite his near obsession with video games.
“Well I mean after I show you my newest finds. What to watch it again with me. I mean if you liked it then it must have something to it right.” He looked over at her and they locked eyes for a couple of seconds, making her whole face turn slightly redder as the blush grew. The both slowed to a stop for a moment and moved closer to each other. A moment before their lips touched an owl hooted from somewhere in the park, and startled them both out of their small hypnosis. The both pulled back embarrassed. Sweetie rubbed her foreleg and Button rubbed the back of his head.
“Well, I wouldn’t mind seeing it again, especially if it’s with you.” She smiled. “What changed your mind; you didn’t seem that interested about it at the Sugar Cube Corner.”
“You seemed to like it, why shouldn’t we do it you know, and besides, I’ve never seen it. Maybe I’ll like it to. Never know if you never try,” he answered. “And besides even if I don’t like it you do, that should be enough right?” The found a small bench for two overlooking the small pond in the middle of the lake. He sat down. She sat down in his lap. Not a difficult thing for her to do given how lithe she was.
She wasn’t a fitness filly like her friend Scootaloo, she had no real muscles or abs, but she was constantly watching her figure, and while not exactly fit she didn't look sickly either. She leaned her head back her mane flowing over his shoulder. He wrapped a hoof around her and held her close as they watched the light dance on the water of the pond. Both of them blushing. Sweetie gulped steeling her nerves she turned her head to kiss him. Just as he was doing the same. The result was a short, impromptu, slightly awkward, but not unpleasant kiss on the lips. They pulled back quickly faces flush.
"I-ah-um-I'm sorry I didn't mean-" Sweetie began only to be cut off as Button guided her gaze back to him with a hoof and went in for another kiss. It was no less awkward neither of them having any experience when it came to something like this. She felt her heart flutter in her chest skipping a beat and then racing to make up for that missed beat. She could even feel his heart beat as she leaned back against him. After several seconds their brains were reminded that kissing was not the same as breathing. The two pulled back gasping for air. The blushes on their faces red as a tomato now. In the low light of dusk as the moon began to rise in the sky.
"I'm glad that you passed me that note in class today." He put both hooves around her. "I've been trying to work up the nerve to ask you out for a long time."
"Why didn't you?" she asked resting up against him. She placed her hooves over his.
"I mean, we were friends. We have been since we were in grammar school." He leaned down slightly to nuzzle her cheek. "I didn't know if I asked you and you said no, if that would make it hard for us to be even friends. I was comfortable with us being friends and I didn't want to risk that on the off chance of having this. I don't know if I would have no matter how much I wanted this." He kissed her on the cheek. "And trust me I really wanted this."
"I do too," she admitted.
"Honestly I was tempted to ask Rumble if he and his fillyfriend, if they'd give me a shot at a double date like they did for Featherweight." Button looked out into the pond the stars began to come out. "Until you passed me your note, so what made you change your mind?"
"Well." She said. "I just wanted to know if maybe, what we had was more." She looked him in the eyes. The soft night breeze blowing his propeller and his short spiky mane. The star light gleamed in his eyes.
"And?" he asked nervously. "Is it?"
"What do you think?"
"It is." He held her closer to him. She smiled and leaned over giving his cheek a small kiss. "You smell nice." He said as they sat there in the park over looking the pond.
"I borrowed some of rarity's perfume." She blushed as he noticed the pomegranate and vanilla aroma. "Do you like it?" she asked.
"Yeah it smells really good on you." He nuzzled her softly.
"This is a really nice secret spot." Sweetie looked over the pond.
"This isn't it. I just wanted to know for sure that you wanted us to be a thing." Button helped her back to her hooves as the two of them stood back up on the path. "What I'm about to show you is a special place for my family. You have to Pinkie Pie Promise to not tell anypony." Sweetie Belle nodded and preformed the solemn ritual. When she finished Button nodded. "Okay come on." He walked with her side by side down the path. After a few minutes Button moved off of the path. Sweetie followed after him. Button brought her to the base of a tree. "Here we are." He said proudly.
"Here?" Sweetie asked tilting her head. "A tree in the park?"
"The Family tree in the park." Button smiled. "My grand parents were founding members of Ponyville. And it was the Apple family's idea, so each of the founding families planted a tree and this one is ours." He smiled proudly as he looked up at it. "And there's another thing too." He walked around to the other side Sweetie followed him. Carved into the tree were several hearts with letters caved into them. 'B+SI" was at the top under it was 'G+CH', and under that was 'G+M'.
"Who are these?"
"My grandparents." Button pointed to the top. "Banjo and Soldering Iron." He moved down to the middle one. "My parents Cream Heart and Gadget." Then the one on the bottom. "My brother Gibson and Melody." He smiled and pulled out a small pocket knife. and carved a heart into the tree. "And now." He carved 'BM+SB'. "Me and you."
"That's so romantic." She smiled and hugged him.
"Now come on let's head back over to my place to see if that movie is on NetFlanks yet."
The two of them made their way out of the park and back to Button Mash's place that he shared with is brother. Button lay down on the couch, and Sweetie lay down next to him. He hugged her and pulled her close to him as she floated the remote up, and after a few minutes they found the movie. It was nearly midnight when it finished. Button picked Sweetie up and carried her to his bed the two cuddled up to each other as they drifted to sleep for the first time as a couple.
***
"And then we went to his place. after everything was finished." Sweetie said sitting on the couch in the CMC club house. "And tonight we're going to hang out at the arcade. And I've got Rarity's permission to crash at his place for the rest of the week." She squeaked with excitement.
"So," Scootaloo said with a mischievous smile. "Is he looking for a ring right now, or are you two going shopping for it later on today?" Sweetie's face became bright red. Before she could say anything Apple Bloom joined into the teasing.
"Oh come on Scoots that's a bit much I mean she's only moving in with him and sleeping with him in his bed." Sweetie grabbed a pillow on the couch and tossed it at her two friends.
"That's not funny it was a very sweet and innocent night!" Her blush only getting brighter.
"Sure Sweetie, whatever you say." Scootaloo sat next to her and put a hoof over her friends shoulder. "It was all just teasing in good fun. But seriously. When he puts a ring on it we want to be the first to know."
"Yeah, sure." Sweetie nodded. "So which of you two are going next?" She asked looking between the other two Crusaders. Scootaloo and Apple Bloom just looked between each other.
"Well," Scootaloo began with a shrug. "I mean I've been thinking about what Featherweight and I would enjoy doing together, and I'm still drawing up blanks. So unless the two of you are up with a serious brain storm session. I suggest that Apple Bloom give her colt a try."
"Well I mean I did have a really good idea about what Tender Taps and I could do this weekend." Apple Bloom said with a small blush.
"What?" the other two asked.
"I'll tell you two all about it when we get back to Ponyville cross my heart and hope to fly stick a cupcake in my eye. But first I need to go and ask Tender Taps out on the date. I'll see you girls on Monday when I get back, if he says yes."
"He'll say yes." Scoots smirked. "If he wasn't so shy I'm sure he'd have already asked you out." The farm pony blushed a little bit as she headed out of the CMC club house. She galloped to the Ponyville dance hall, where she knew her friend would likely be practicing for his next recital.
AppleTaps or is it TenderBloom
Apple Bloom sighed as she put a tan hat on, she then took it off and looked through her bows again, before again trying the hat on. Sweetie Belle had just told her and Scootaloo about her date, with Button. Apparently she just got back from spending the morning at his place. Apple Bloom had expected that to happen, they'd been friends for years now. Heck they were already a couple in everything but name at that point anyways. She, however, wasn't sure what to expect. Her and Tender Taps had been friends for a while, but it wasn't like she knew him like Sweetie knew Button.
"Ah for Pete's sake." She took her hat off and started pacing looking back at herself in the mirror. "This is ridiculous." She grabbed her hat. "I'm wearing this, that's final," she declared then looked back at her mirror, and hesitated. "No, hat come on now Apple Bloom you ain't no foal that needs to get others to dress you up. You look good. I look good in my hat." She nodded to herself in the mirror and headed out of the house. The smell of the apple blossoms were coming in from the orchard. She was set to meet up with Tender Taps in town, and that was alright by her. She wasn't interested in Pound and Pumpkin trying to play match maker with her and him so she opted to meet him at the train station. They were going to go clubbing in Canterlot for the night. She'd even managed to scored them a good hotel so if they got to wasted they could sleep it off.
Her mind started wandering as she walked down the road to the train station. He'd been a shy pony when she'd met him and he still kind of was, but he'd mostly gotten over that when she'd helped him earn his cutie mark. They'd been a couple of other times. He'd even taught her to dance a bit. At least she wouldn't wipe out the entire dance floor anymore. She felt her cheeks getting a little flush as she thought about it. He'd taught her a couple of slow dances along with his more energetic dances. Well she'd be using everything she'd learned about dancing she knew quite a few clubs, and a couple of more quite places for them to visit if they weren't to wasted before then.
She didn't even notice that she was at the train station until she heard her name being called. "Apple Bloom hey what's up?" Tender Taps waved from one of the tables at the hey fry cart. "What's up?" He smiled as she walked over to him. "Nice hat."
"Thanks." Apple Bloom smiled and sat down. "I hope I didn't keep you waiting for to long I couldn't figure out whether I should go with the hat or one of my ribbons."
"Hat definitely." Tender passed her a thing of fries. "And nope I only managed to make the order and sit down before I saw you coming up the platform."
"That's good, I was afraid that I'd have kept you waiting while I tried to figure it out." She sighed and took a hoofful of fries. "This date thing has me a little frazzled.
"It's all good it's our first date, I thought that I was going to be late so I hurried here." He ate a couple of his hey fries. "So, are you finally going to tell me where we're heading. I'm still in the dark here."
"Yeah. We're heading out to Canterlot to go clubbing." She smiled. "I also found us a couple of places that you'd like to go dancing at. The first place we're hitting is the Royal Waltz." She smiled as his eyes widened. "And the last place is the Lower Canterlot Dance Hall. Mostly because their open later than even most of the clubs."
"Wait won't we have to catch the last train?"
"Nope, also already taken care of I got us a hotel room." If she noticed his small blush she didn't say anything. "Was there anything else that you were thinking about doing while were in Canterlot?"
"Well I mean if we're going to be there the whole weekend, could we see one of the weekly recitals? We'd miss it today but we could catch it tomorrow." He finished his small thing of hay fries and reached for another only to be disappointed at the empty bag.
"Sure." Apple Bloom smiled. "Say Ahh." When he opened his mouth she put a couple of hay fries in form him. His orange coat was barely able to cover his blush as he chewed and swallowed her gifted fries. He was about to say something but whatever it was it was drowned out by the loud call of the train whistle. "Alright it's here let's hurry up. Next stop, First Date all aboard!" Apple Bloom cheered with a bit of a blush at her own silliness as she made her way on to the train. Tender Taps followed close behind her.
The two of them sat side by side as the train rolled along the tracks heading to Canterlot. Apple Bloom was capitalizing on the time they were spending close together, and was resting her head on his shoulder. Tender Taps softly stroked her mane as she got a couple of hours of extra sleep before their long night would begin. Tender Taps tried to steal a couple of hours of sleep but his stomach was in knots. He took a deep breath and let it out, and just occupied himself with stroking his napping fillyfriends mane.
The train ride was an uneventful one. While he didn't get any actual sleep, by the time the train arrived at the Canterlot station he was fully revived and ready for their night of partying, dancing, drinking, and fun. Apple Bloom woke up with the whistle with a small yawn she gave him a gentle nuzzle before heading to the platform.
"Alright ready for a night of fun?"
"You better believe it." Tender Taps nodded. "You said that the first stop was the Royal Waltz right?"
"Yeah. I just need to find a map to it."
"No need." He smiled. "I've known where the Royal Waltz was since I got my cutie mark. I've been there several times with the other colts of the dance class." He led her off of the platform, and down the cobble streets of Canterlot. "Where are we heading after that?"
"The Wub," Apple Bloom said with a smile. "Vinyl Scratch is going to be there tonight, and she's going to be throwing a party that would make Pinkie and Cheese Sandwich jealous. Then there's the Zebra's Stripes, and the Neon Lantern," she answered as he lead her down the streets. "But I mean we'll probably have time for a good supper before then, and if were going to more than one club we're going to need a good meal so we're not black out drunk before the night even begins."
"Do you have any places that you were planning on getting food at?" Tender Taps asked as they neared the first stop of the date.
"No not really. I mean I know that there was a place that Rarity and Pinkie Pie helped, Tasty Treat. I was thinking that maybe we could go there."
"That doesn't sound like a bad idea." He stopped, "Well here we are the Royal Waltz. The only bar in Canterlot that uses both the tradition and the contemporary." He smiled looking at a very ornately decorated building in front of them.
"Uh, is there a dress code for this place?" Apple Bloom asked unsure. "I didn't read that there was."
"No there's not a dress code, it's fine." He smiled leading her into the club. "But yeah it does look like there'd be one doesn't it?" The inside of the building had tiles all around the perimeter with steps heading down to the dance floor. There was a constant beat coming from the speakers of a Techno-waltz. On the opposite side was a full liquor bar. The bartender smiled and waived them over.
"Hey there Taps. I wasn't expecting to see you back so soon." The stallion smiled, and gave Apple Bloom a look over. "So this is the mare that the others keep teasing you about. Finally worked up the nerve to go out with her good for you."
"Well she asked me out." The bar tender laughed.
"Well you need something to cure that indecisiveness, and I got a cure to get your colt some gumption." He started mixing therm a drink. "First drink of the night is one the house." After mixing a couple of things he filled two triangle drinking glasses and gave each of them an orange slice on the side.
"First drink of my first date," Apple Bloom toasted and took a gulp. "Wooooooo!" She shook her head. "That's a lot stronger than Apple Cider."
"Yep. It's this bar's signature drink." Tender Taps started drinking the mixed liquor and occasionally licking the orange slice until he finished and ate the orange slice. By that time Apple Bloom had finished hers, though all her other sips had been exactly that only sips. "Thanks for the drinks." He smiled to the bartender before turning back to Apple Bloom. "Do you want to dance?"
"Yeah!" She nodded eagerly, as Tender Taps swept her off the stool and spinning her into the waltzing position. "Woah," she said as she was spun into the normal waltzing position. She'd gotten better since she first tried dancing with others. She and Tender Taps had spent many of their afternoons practicing the ballroom dances, and while she wouldn't be a dancer, she wasn't knocking out her dance partners anymore either. She let him take the lead as she was guided by him to the dance floor. "You sure know how to sweep a mare off her hooves don't ya?" she asked leaning against his shoulder.
"Well that's what's my cutie mark is for after all." He slowed his pace down as they got to the middle of the dance floor. A couple of other groups started arriving as they danced, and by the time they left they had had a couple of extra drinks, and had worked up a bit of sweat. As they walked out of their first stop of the night the sun was already beginning to set on the horizon. "I'll let you take the lead this time. I don't know how to get to the restaurant that you were wanting to go to."
"Not a problem." Apple Bloom leaned against him. She wasn't drunk, not close, she just loved physical contact while she was our clubbing, and with him right now. She was feeling extra touchy today. She smiled as she slowly lead him down the streets, until they arrived at the Tasty Treat. The warm light of the restaurant, shinning out into the late fall Canterlot night, was just as inviting to the two of them as the exotic and rich smell of the spices that made this restaurant famous through out Canterlot.
As they Tender Taps opened the door the two of them were greeted with the warm glow and comfortable feel of the cozy restaurant. "My aren't you two a cute couple." Saffron ushered them in. The restaurant looked like it had just finished the dinner rush. "We have a table for you right over her." The took a seat on the plush cushions Tender Taps sitting against the wall and Apple Bloom sitting next to him. She handed them the menu.
"Actually could we get the Rare Pie Special?" Apple Bloom asked with a sheepish smile.
"You know Rarity and Pinkie Pie?" Saffron asked with a raised eye brow.
"Yeah." Apple Bloom nodded. "Apple Jack's my sister. I was told about this place by her. And I was just wondering if we could have the special."
"Of course. I'm happy to help." She smiled. "I'll be back in just a bit." She headed to the kitchen leaving the two of them. Apple Bloom returned to resting her up against Tender Taps. He nuzzled her.
"So how's the date going so far?" he asked as he supported her.
"It's been going wonderfully," she answered. "I didn't think that there'd be a place like that last one." She said. "And I never can under stand how slow dancing works up such a sweat." A few minutes later they were brought a large meal.
"Here you two go." Saffron smiled as she put it down a tray down on the table it had ten bowls on it, with beans, vegetables, rices, and sauces. with flat bread in the middle. She put to large glasses of water on the table. "Just let me know if there's anything else that you'll want." She left and the two of them began eating, and after finishing they paid their bill and headed out.
They arrived at The Wub, at a little after 9. After only ten minutes standing in the line they were let in. They grabbed a quick drink from the dive bar. Inside Vinyl Scratch was DJing at her best. The strobe lights were flashing all around the dance floor that was constantly changing colors. The clubbing ponies on the dance floor were jumping up and down to the beat that DJ Pon-3 was giving them. After having their beer the two of them joined the jumping, dancing, cheering crowd. They left there with smiles on their faces as they headed further into Canterlot's club district. Stopping at every club along the way.
The two of them arrived at the Zebra's Stripes at 11. When they got through the line they found that this bar used a lot of loud traditional Zebra music Mixed with a heavy beat and base. Instead of the multicolored lights used at The Wub, the Zebra's Stripes used White lights and a pitch black room. Smoke machines were on the dance floor covering it in a mist. After grabbing a Boukha cocktail from the bartender they stayed on the dance floor until half an hour after Midnight.
From there they made their way to the final stop of the night. The Neon Lantern lived up to it's name even the rope to hold back the line were glowing in neon colors. When the made it into the building it was awash with neon oranges and pinks. The bar was lined with neon greens and blues. And the dance floor was pulsating with every bright color in the spectrum. They grabbed something a bit lighter at the bar already filling just a bit tipsy and joined the dance floor. Cheering and jumping with the rest of the Club's patrons, and party ponies. It was 2 in the morning when they left the Neon Lantern and headed to their hotel.
With their hearts still racing they arrived at their hotel. Heading up to their room they turned on the lights and lay down on the bed. "That was amazing." Apple Bloom smiled. "I haven't had so much fun clubbing in a long time." She took her hat off and tossed it on to the bedside table. Looking over to Tender Taps was smiling and nodding. "Well, what'd you think?" She asked.
"I think it was great." He grabbed her and rolled her on top of him wrapping both fore hooves around her he leaned up and gave the surprised mare a kiss. After a second Apple Bloom got into it, and returned the gesture, rolling onto her back and with him now on to of her he pulled away. "Good first date?" He asked looking down at the blushing mare.
"Yeah, but who said you could stop now?" She grabbed her hat and placed it on his head. She pulled him down into a quick kiss, her hooves going down his back.
***
"And anyways we made out for at least a good hour, after that. He's was just so amazing." Apple Bloom sighed contently recalling the events of her date to her two friends. Scootaloo was looking at Apple Bloom with a bit of shook. Sweetie Belle's whole face was red. She couldn't believe that her friend had told her all of that, and she felt conflicted about weather she'd heard to much or if she wanted to hear more.
"Great." Scootaloo said after a pause that lasted just a second to long. "Sweetie Belle is moving in with Button Mash, and in nine months Apple Bloom's going to be a mom and Tender Taps a dad. I thought the plan was that we were just suppose to date the colts to see if we like, were into them or not.
"Get your head out of the gutter, Scootaloo!" Apple Bloom threw the first pillow that she could find at her pegasus friend. "He and I just made out. That's all nothing more. We were tipsy and excited. Not drunk and dumb." She crossed her hooves slightly indignant. "We did a lot of kissing, a lot of feeling. Then we fell asleep. We weren't even hung over when we woke up we just did a lot of cuddling. It was nice. And I think me and him work like Zap Apples and Jam." She smiled.
"Well hurry up and ask him to move in with you and you can cuddle all the time. Just like Sweetie Belle and Button do." Scootaloo playfully threw the pillow back at her friend.
"Well what about you Scootaloo?" Sweetie Belle asked. "When are you going to ask Featherweight out on a date?"
"Yeah Scoot's it's easy for you to give us all this joshing about what we do with our colt friends, don't you think it's about time that you see if you and Featherweight will make a good match?"
"Well I was thinking about just that. And I'm going to ask him out on a date this week." She leaned back in her chair opposite her two friends. "I'm just not sure if we're going to work out or not. I mean. Ehh. I don't even know what he's into."
"Well he's the editor of the Ponyville Paper isn't he?"
"Yeah but I mean I don't even read the newspaper. I don't know."
"I'm sure you will think of something." She shrugged. "I just don't know if we have anything in common or not. You two will help me brain storm ideas tomorrow right."
"Sure we'll help you." Sweetie Belle nodded
"Yeah Scoot's we'll give you a helping hoof."
"Great thanks girls see you tomorrow then."
ScootaWeight or is it FeatherLoo
Scootaloo sat at the Sugar Cube Corner looking out of place as she sat against the wall watching the door for Featherweight to arrive. "Are you ready to make an order?" Pumpkin said popping into the seat from across from her. Scootaloo looked away from the front door to the filly.
"No not yet, sorry I'm on a date and I don't really know what my date would want, and it looks like it's going to be a bust to be honest." She sighed.
"No don't say that," Pumpkin jumped up catching Scootaloo by surprise. "I'm sure that their just running late, who is it?" she asked.
"Featherweight," she answered turning her gaze back to the door. "I mean maybe I miss read the signals."
"Oh Feather, no he's totally into you, but it's going to take him a while to get here." She pulled out a planner. Scootaloo raised an eyebrow looking back to the filly. "Let's see. According to Aunty Pinky's Planner, Featherweight likes strawberry milkshakes, he's also got editorial meetings on Saturdays."
"Well that explains why he's a little late." Scootaloo nodded. "Does it say when he gets out?"
"Well," she flipped through the planner. "Yes, he's out now but it's on the other side of town." Scootaloo nodded.
"Okay, I'll go ahead and order then. Two strawberry milkshakes." Pumpkin nodded and hurried off back to the kitchen. A few minutes later Featherweight came running into Sugarcube Corner, panting from his sprint to get there. "Hey, over here." Scootaloo waved him over.
"I'm sorry I didn't mean to keep you waiting." Featherweight hurried over to her just as Pound Cake brought over their two strawberry milkshakes. "The editorial meeting for the Ponyville Paper went longer than expected."
"No problem. I wasn't waiting for to long." She took her milkshake and passed him his. "What were you all talking about that put you over?" she asked trying. He took a long sip of his milkshake before looking back up to her.
"Well some of our articles are going to be source checked to see if we qualify for a ponitzer prize." He took another sip from his milkshake.
"Uh neat, isn't that the big one that they do at Canterlot?" He nodded. "Cool, what is it for?"
"Oh well it's nothing, just a few articles that I did on my free time." Scootaloo took a sip from her milkshake and waved with her hoof for him to continue. "Well basically there was the article that I did on the Palace of the Two Sisters, and the one I did on timberwolves, mostly they'll be for journalistic photography." Scootaloo raised an eyebrow swallowing she wiped her mouth.
"You mean that you went out into the Everfree and got pictures of the ruined palace, and timberwolves? Wow, that's kind of cool?" Featherweight's eyes lit up at that and his cheeks became almost as red as their milkshakes.
"Yeah really you think so?" he asked with a grin.
"Uh, yeah. I mean it's like there are a lot of ponies in Ponyville that will even go into the Everfree, let alone to the ruins, or to take pictures of timberwolves."
"Well it's all in a days work." He smiled then jumped a second. "Oh right I almost forgot." He pulled out two tickets. "You weren't sure what you wanted to do, so I thought about it and got these I hope you don't mind." He put the two tickets on the table for her to see. Scootaloo's eyes widened at the two Wonderbolt tickets.
"Really you got these? I thought that they were sold out."
"Yeah the public passes sold out pretty fast. But these are VIP tickets." He smiled as Scootaloo picked up one of the tickets.
"VIP, how'd you get them?"
"Well I'm in the press, and Rainbow Dash and Soarin were more than happy to help me out with getting you one," Featherweight said. "But we need to get to the stage in a couple of hours." Scootaloo nodded and in one go finished the rest of her milkshake.
"Well then let's get going!" The two headed out.
"They forgot to pay." Pound said as they rushed out.
"It's fine put it on my tap they look so cute!" Pumpkin shushed her brother.
"Aunt Pinkie's right you are a meddler."
***
The two of them barely made it to the stage that had been set up between Ponyville and Cloudsdale. Scootaloo was panting as she leaned against her scooter's handle bars. "Are you okay?" Featherweight asked putting a hoof on her shoulder.
"Yeah. I haven't pushed myself that hard since I tried to get the Cutie Mark Crusaders to the Crystal Empire," she answered. "Though I really thought I was in better shape than that."
"Are you kidding you were doing at least 80." Featherweight offered her a shoulder to lean on as she got off her scooter and using him to hold herself up the two of them made their way to the VIP line. They flashed their tickets and headed in.
"Awww. Stairs. I don't think I have it in me to go up stairs."
"It's all good." Featherweight manuvered to get underneath her and hefted her up.
"Woah-hey."
"Do you want to walk up the stairs or not?" Featherweight smiled over his shoulder at her.
"Onwards and upwards." She pointed to the top. "But as soon as we get there put me down okay?"
"Yeah, okay." He smiled heading up the stairs without to much of an issue.
"You're actually pretty strong Featherweight," Scootaloo said sounding surprised; that the once stick legged colt was not just able to lift her, and carry her on his back, but to actually do it while taking her up several flights of stairs. Then again he hadn't been small or stick legged for a long time. He was still a bit thinner than colts his age but he was also a good bit taller too. She looked away actually feeling a growing blush.
When they got to the top floor. Featherweight got down and let her get down. "There you go." He smiled as she got down. Scootaloo noticed the small blush that he had as well.
"Thanks." She said sitting down in the private room. The show was just beginning to start. "Hey mind if I ask you a question?" she asked, as he sat down next to her. She cast him a wary glance and he nodded.
"Sure. Shoot."
"When Rumble took us out clubbing a couple of weeks ago. Well was it date? Are you into me?" She looked away from the Wonderbolt show, and gave him her undivided attention. He shifted nervously in his seat as he locked eyes with her. His blush quickly growing across his face.
"I mean I wanted it to be a date I just didn't have the nerve to ask you." He gulped. "So no it wasn't really a date. And yeah, I'm into you." She smiled and turned her attention back to the show. But leaned up against him.
"You should have worked up the gumption to ask me. It would have made the night a bit funner." she said. "Balls in your court." She nuzzled up against him a bit as she watched as Rainbow Dash and Soarin lead the Wonderbolts in a series of high flying routines. She knew each one by heart. She'd seen her honorary sister and brother-in-law preform them thousands of times at practice. Still she grinned like a filly with each maneuver. Her grin grew into a smile as Featherweight put a wing around her.
"Your turn." he whispered in her ear as they watched the show. The show ended after several hours and ponies began to trail out of the arena. They waited there in the private viewing room alone for sometime until the arena was empty before Scootaloo got up.
"Say want to go out on the field and help me with some stunts?" She smiled to him and grabbed her scooter.
"Are we allowed down there?" To answer him she shrugged.
"I mean they're done using it, but if you want to ask for permission. I don't think Sis would say no." Featherweight nodded and stood up. Scootaloo headed down the stairs. "I was thinking if you don't mind pulling me and my scooter to help me get up to speed. I bet that I could score some serious air time, and pull of tricks that are normally a royal pain in the ass to do."
"So I just need to drag you behind me on your scooter?" he asked as they made their way down the now mostly abandoned halls of the stadium. "I mean sure I can do that." They made their way toward the offices of the Wonderbolt team. The laughing and joking of the team got louder and louder as they got close to the door. Scootaloo opened the door and headed in Featherweight following close behind her, though not as confident as she was, not even the press was normally allowed in places like this.
"Hey Scoot. Who's the colt you got?" one of the Wonderbolts asked.
"He's Featherweight. We're on a date, and we're just here to get premission to use the track," she answered. The room broke out into small whoops and cheers as when she mentioned the date.
"Your sis's in the showers, getting a scrub down from Soarin. I'm sure she wouldn't mind." A different Wonderbolt tossed her a key ring. "When you're done you and him can come in and use the showers before you head off. Have fun."
"Thanks, Jet Stream." Scootaloo caught the keys and headed back out. "It sounds like the team liked the idea of me dating." She cast a glance to Featherweight. "So what do you like about me?" she asked.
"Well I mean your fun, exciting. You never stay down, and you really help ponies. What's not to like." Featherweight's cheeks were red again with a strong blush. Scootaloo's own cheeks were turning red too.
"Thanks." She stopped for a second as she unlocked the door heading to the track. "Say after this Featherweight want go to my place, have a beer, maybe watch some shows?" She opened the door and natural sunlight filled the hall that the two of them were standing in. Scootaloo could have swore that it looked like Featherweight had a halo around him. The two of them head out onto the tracks, and Scootaloo got on her scooter. Featherweight came back with a harness and rope.
"Think these'll work for what we need?" He asked showing her.
"Yeah, those should do the trick." The two of them took some time getting him rigged up to her scooter, and then she got on. "Ready when you are Feather." She pulled her goggles over her eyes.
"Three." He flared out his wings. "Two." He kicked back some dirt. "One." He bolted as hard as he could, with his wings pounding for as much lift as he could get. Scootaloo's cheers behind him driving him to go faster as he approached the ramp of dirt. At the last second he pulled up, and pulled the rope releasing it from his harness. Scootaloo went flying past him just a few seconds later.
"Yeah!" She cheered doing a 720 and backflip as she hit her zenith. She reached for the clouds that seemed to be just barely out of reach. She didn't even notice several flashes as Featherweight took several pictures of her in the air. She dove down her wings beating hard as she hit the ramp going down momentum carried her around the track. She did several other tricks for each subsequent ramp of dirt. She smiled as she skid to a stop in front of her stallion. "What did you think?" she asked with a smirk.
"I think that that was front page news." Featherweight smiled and showed her the pictures. "Those were some of the best stunts I've ever seen you do."
"I'm just getting warmed up. Get the harness back on and I'll show you some real tricks." She couldn't remember the last time her heart raced to do tricks like it was now. They spent the next three two hours doing tricks, and the sun was starting to set in the sky as they headed back inside. Scootaloo locking the door behind them before heading back to the showers. "Thanks for that." She leaned up against him. "That was more fun than I've head in a long time."
The showers were empty when they arrived the Wonderbolts had already headed home or to after parties. The two of them made their way into the locker room. "So which way to the stallion's showers."
"Stallion showers, the Wonderbolts use a Co-Ed showers." Scootaloo gave him a playful smile. "Besides, I'll need help with my back, and I can help you with yours." To his credit Featherweight's blush was barely noticeable now, and her returned the same playful smile.
"Sure." He put a wing around her and the two walked to the shower. Scootaloo turned on the water. It came out in a deluge, already warm and quickly becoming steaming. They both sighed contently as the hot water ran over the two of them. She smiled and turn around and put her hooves around his body putting her lips to his. He was was taken a bit by surprise, but quickly composed himself and returned the gesture. He could feel her heart racing as she pushed herself up against him. With a smile she pulled back.
"Well why stop there?" she asked her coy smile only growing.
"How far do you want to take this?" Feather asked all nervousness now replaced by excitement.
"Let's start with all the way and see how things evolve from there. What do y-" He pulled her up against himself, his wings wrapping around her. It was the best and most exhilarating shower she'd ever had. After they finished they lay on the floor of the shower. The hot water washed over them for minutes.
After a quarter hour Featherweight stood up off of Scootaloo. He gave her a small kiss. "Are you ready to head home?" he asked her.
"Y-yeah." She smiled at him a soft glow on her face. "Though after that I'm not sure I'll be able to use my scooter. Or even use me legs for a while." He smiled down at her before helping her onto his back, and heading outside. She took a deep breath in closing her eyes contently. The next thing she knew she was being laid down on a fluffy white cloud. He flew it up and then headed back to Ponyville.
"Wake up." Scootaloo opened her eyes again. "We're at your place." She looked over the cloud they were on was level with her bedroom window.
"Can you stay here with me tonight?" she asked sleepily. "Sleep with me out here on this cloud?"
"Sure." He smiled laying down next to her. She pulled herself as close to him as she could resting her cheek against his shoulder. She closed her eyes as his wings wrapped around her like a blanket. In minutes she was asleep. Her soft breathing being the lullaby that lulled Featherweight to sleep only moments later.
Two Years Later
Scootaloo walked down the streets of Ponyville. Riding on her back was her first born. Born only nine months after she and Featherweight had their first date, and five months after they were married. The cute colt had her mane, and a darker beige than his dad. The colt babbled as they made their way slowly down the street. Scootaloo smiled as she felt the small hooves of her second one kicking inside her. She moved along the street, arriving a few minutes later to the old CMC club house that had been converted nearly a year ago to a play house for the new foals.
"Hello Scootaloo." Sweetie smiled and waved as Scootaloo walked up the ramp. Even after having twins she still had the body of a model. Not that Scootaloo was jealous, after she had given birth Gust she quickly lost weight back to her athletic figure. Still she was impressed at how well Sweetie looked. The sound of laughing filled the air as the two of three of them walked back into the CMC club house.
"Howdy Scoots, how're you and Gusty doing?" Apple bloom asked as she watched her daughter Fuji Apple playing with with Smash Monitor and Sweet Note. Apple Bloom was pregnant again like her, and it looked like she was going to be having twins. The hospital said they wer both going to be colts. Scootaloo put her son down and the foal made his way over to his friends.
"We're doing good." Scootaloo smiled and sit down on the couch watching with a smile as Gust and Smash began playing with the blocks. She put a hoof on her bulging womb. "Featherweights doing good too. With our daughter on the way he's kind of panicking, not as bad as with Gust but still."
From the couch she watched her son play with Sweetie Belle's colt. Smash and his sister Sweet both had the coat of their father, and purple a purple stripe going through their brown manes. Fuji Apple played with dolls with Sweet as the colts played with their blocks. Fuji had a coat color that was somewhere between Apple Bloom and Tender Taps. And her mane looked like Scootaloo's when she was a filly.
"Can you blame him for panicking over Gusty." Sweetie Belle sat next to her on the couch. "You somehow managed to take our plan to see if we could get Coltfriends to mean 'to see if we could get laid up and hitched'." She smiled at her friend. "I don't know where you got that idea from."
"Well you know me I'm just naturally competitive, and you and Apple Bloom were clearly escalating." She gave a playful smile at her two friends. "And besides we all got married at the same time, and if I recall you both were just one month behind me when it came to having your foals."
"Well I mean Tender and I were already kind of leaving with each other and his bucking was a serous help on the farm." Apple Bloom conceded. "And let's face it we all kind of Figure Sweetie and Button would be the first one's to have a foal."
"Well we certainly tried." Sweetie laughed, then looking at the foals playing she sighed. "You know Cutie Mark Crusaders Love Crusaders was probably our best Crusade and my favorite."
"Yeah." Apple Bloom nodded.
"Ditto." Scootaloo smiled.