It was days like this that Twilight wondered why she sometimes listened to her friends' advice. "I still think this is a bad idea, Starlight," she grumbled as she finished adjusting her mane into a bun.

Starlight only rolled her eyes as she helped her friend. "Oh come off it, Twilight. You need to get out of the castle more. You've been spending more and more time in here than usual ever since I got back from Canterlot."

Twilight winced at the reminder. She wasn't proud of how she had acted during Starlight's Friendship Mission to help Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. But that was beside the point. "But a blind date. Really?"

Starlight gave her a comforting look. "Look. We're all worried about you, Twilight. You've been working yourself hard lately. Even Spike thinks you're overworking yourself. So why not let yourself relax? Spend the night out with some pleasurable company." She winked and nudged the alicorn's shoulder. "And hey. You never know. You might meet somepony you really like. If you know what I mean."

Twilight blushed at the thought. It would be nice to just spend the night out on the town. When was the last time she had done that? Too long, she realized. "Okay, fine. You're right, Starlight. I really do need to relax." Her ears wilted. "But what if she doesn't like me? What if this whole thing blows up in my face?"

Starlight pulled her into a hug. "You can't think like that, Twilight. Maybe the two of you won't ever be anything but two ponies who tried, but found it couldn't work. But anypony who says you're not worth it is lying. We all know that. Even if it doesn't work out between you two, there's no reason the two of you can't be friends."

Twilight sniffed. Either she was more out of sorts than usual. Or Starlight was just that good with words. She didn't care as she hugged the unicorn tighter. "Thank you. I needed to hear that."

Starlight nodded as they pulled apart before she pushed Twilight toward the door. "Now go on! Go out there and sweep that lucky filly off her hooves! I won't take no for an answer."

Twilight giggled before she headed for the castle's Main Door.

***

As she was lead inside of C'est Magnifique, Twilight had to admit that it was a very pretty restaurant. One of the finer establishments in Ponyville if she had to guess, almost on par with the first-class establishments in Canterlot she remembered occasionally going to with her family as a filly.

A large tan-colored stallion lead her up a flight of stairs that lead into a long corridor, with an open door at the end. The room beyond seemed open to the night air. "Your date awaits, princess. She arrived several minutes ago."

Twilight fought the urge to flutter her wings. She still wasn't she used to ponies using her title like that. "Um. Does she know who I am?"

The stallion shook his head. "She does not. Only when to expect you, and that you are a mare. Your friends were very insistent on neither of you knowing who the other was before hoof."

Twilight fought the urge to roll her eyes. Of course, her friends had done that. But it made her wonder if they had conspired with other ponies to set this all up? If her date didn't know who she was, then it wasn't impossible.

The door lead out onto a balcony, the center of which held a table with two chairs, but one side hidden behind a screen, so the pony behind it couldn't see Twilight coming. A decorative arrangement of flowers was set to one side of the table, so it wouldn't obstruct their view once the screen had been removed. The balcony overlooked the central square of Ponyville, an airy open space, from which the quiet night streets spread out.

The waiter pulled Twilight's seat out for her, earning a blush from the alicorn as she sat down. The pony on the other side didn't seem to notice her until the stallion pulled the screen out of their way while also leaving their menus.

The earth pony blinked in shock, her lavender eyes a nice contrast to her light yellow coat and light red with green strip mane. "Oh, I am going to kill them," she hissed in annoyance, though not at Twilight, who blinked in surprise at the venom in the response.

"Excuse me?" Twilight asked as the waiter made himself scarce.

The mare blinked, before suddenly remembering who she was speaking to. "Not literally, Princess Twilight. But my friends said my date was an important pony. They just didn't say how important."

Twilight fidgeted in her seat, as the waiter brought them water. "Please. Don't call me princess. Just Twilight is fine. I don't want anypony to be nervous around me. Especially now..."

The mare took the hint and smiled. "Sour Sweet. Former Royal Guard at your service."

Twilight blinked in surprise at this, but before she could ask more, the waiter returned for their orders. Both mares already knew what they wanted it seemed, and the stallion left not long after. When he was far enough away, Twilight finally asked her question. "Former?"

Sour nodded, a faraway look in her eyes. "Honorably discharged six months ago. I never really recovered from Tirek's attack." She saw the worry in Twilight's face and smiled slightly. "Oh, I got my magic back, just like everypony else. Captain Armor tried all he could, but I was never the same after that, and it kept getting worse too. He finally had to order me to retire. It wasn't all bad. Got a great retirement package, and I was promoted to Colonel Sour Sweet."

Twilight's ears fell as she placed a hoof on Sour's own, earning a blush from the young pony. "I'm so sorry. That's not something I'd wish on my worst enemy."

Sour shook her head, her smile growing. "It's not your fault, princ- er, Twilight. I never blamed you or your friends for what happened. But I wanted to make a career out of it. Maybe I wouldn't have made it all the way to the top, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't have tried."

Twilight smiled. She could well believe that as well. This Sour Sweet was nothing like the girl from Crystal Prep that Sunset Shimmer had told her about. Just from the little bit, they had spent together, Twilight could see that. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all.

***

The meal passed mostly in silence. Neither mare quite knew what to say to the other. Several times, Twilight tried to strike up a conversation, but the words died in her throat and all that came out were a few mumbles, earning an eye roll from her date.

But for Sour though, it was even worse. Not only was she on an honest-to-goodness date. But with her captain's little sister! So what if was she no longer in the guard, she hadn't lost everything that had been drilled into her. And one of those was that you never made Twilight Sparkle upset, mad, or down in any way, or Captain Armor would have your hide.

If everything worked out, and that was still a big if, not hearing from the Prince Consort of the Crystal Empire was the best she could get out of this. Aside from a pleasant evening out with nice company. Even if she did find Twilight rather cute.

Twilight, though, seemed to catch on to what Sour was thinking, for her own expression fell. But what could she say? They still barely knew each other, and while the night had gone well so far, that still wasn't enough to say anything. No matter how much she wanted to. Twilight could see that being discharged from the Royal Guard still hung to Sour's shoulders. She wished there was something she could do to help.

Finally, the waiter brought them their check. Sour dug through her saddlebags, but Twilight held up a hoof, smiling. "Don't, Sour. I'll pay for both of us. My treat for a wonderful night."

Sour blinked in surprise, but the waiter shook his head. "There is no need for that princess. It's on the house."

Twilight frowned at him. "I don't think you understand, sir. I am paying for my friend and my wonderful dinner. And this is not a request."

The stallion looked like he wanted to argue, but the look Twilight was giving him made it clear that this was not up for debate, as she floated over the requisite number of bits. "Very well, your highness. My lady," he bowed slightly to Sour. "I hope you enjoyed your stay and will think of coming here again."

Sour couldn't contain her laughter as the waiter retreated. "Remind me to never get on your bad side, Twilight. That was awesome."

Twilight blushed, hiding behind a wing. "I hate having to do that. But every place I go to is like that. I have to make it a Royal Order basically for anypony to accept me paying for anything."

Sour only laughed some more. "Wish I could have that same effect. Would save me a lot of trouble."

The two shared a laugh, before Twilight looked up at the moon, finally seeing how late it was. She smiled in a way that made Sour's heart flutter. "So, Sour Sweet. Care to walk a girl home?"

Sour smiled as she stood up and took Twilight's proffered hoof in her own. "Twilight. I would be glad to."

***

Neither was sure how it started, but once it did, neither wanted it to stop.

"I can't believe Starlight Glimmer would ever do that! And to the princesses of all ponies," Sour snickered.

Twilight rolled her eyes. "I said the same thing. It worked out in the end. But I was so nervous."

Were they mad?" Sour asked as the Castle of Friendship loomed larger and larger.

Twilight nodded, her smile dropping. "In the beginning. But by the end, this whole mess had brought Celestia and Luna closer together than they had been for a long time. They were madder at me, in fact. They didn't say anything, but I could see the disappointment in their eyes."

Sour gave her a concerned look. "Why would they be mad at you? You didn't do anything."

Twilight shook her head. "That's the thing though. I did. I blatantly stuck my nose into Starlight's business when I had no right to. I didn't trust her enough. And that makes it even worse. I trust Starlight. More than she'll ever know. But I didn't trust her then. What kind of friend does that make me?"

Sour placed a comforting hoof on Twilight's shoulder, as they came to the base of the castle. "A friend who cares. That counts for something, and I think Starlight knows that too, Twilight."

Twilight smiled a little at that. "Thank you, Sour. And thank you for a wonderful night out. I really did enjoy it."

Sour's smile softened. "I did too, Twilight. I'm still going to rip the girls a new one when I see them next. But maybe not as much as I would have."

That earned a giggle from the princess. 'So. I guess I'll see you around?" She asked, with a hint of hope.

Sour shrugged. "Probably. I'm moving here to Ponyville soon. Don't tell anypony that though. I want it to be a surprise. Why?" She asked slyly.

Twilight fidgeted for a moment. "I think I'd like to see you again. If you don't mind that is?"

Sour smirked in a knowing way. "Why, Princess Twilight Sparkle. Are you asking little ol' me what I think you are?"

Twilight nodded hesitantly. "Would you care to go out with me again, Sour Sweet?"

Sour didn't waste any time and put a quick kiss on the alicorn's cheeks. "I would love to, Twilight," she purred before sauntering off with an extra sway in her step, leaving Twilight on the doorstep with a dopey grin on her face, not caring who might see her like this.

As she turned around to head inside, she giggled at what had just happened. She had made that confession on a whim, her heart running before her brain could catch up with it. But as she headed for the Main Library, Twilight Sparkle knew one thing was for sure.

It had totally been worth it in the end.

Author's Note

Alright. So I did take the name of the restaurant from Sparkle Date Me! by Wintermist. I couldn't think of a good name for a fancy restaurant in Ponyville. I think it works. These two stories aren't related though.

As for Twilight with Sour Sweet? Why not? It fits the theme of the contest to perfection. And I honestly haven't really seen anything with them even in Equestria Girls either. And I even have more planned out for these two. All the way in fact. Even have something that really ties them together in the end. But I won't show the art RMV-ART did for these two.