As the train to Appleloosa left the station, Yona stepped hoof into the town for the first time in her life.

And almost instantly felt a dizzy spell come across her.

“...Oh no.”

All that extra fur which kept her warm in the cold mountains of Yakyakistan was now cooking her alive in Appleloosa. She didn’t think that the weather could get this hot at the end of autumn, and the shady areas being sparse didn’t help either.

Still, she traveled there on a mission, and no amount of sweltering heat would stop her.

…Though it wouldn’t hurt to do this quickly…

Thankfully for Yona’s sanity, she found what she was looking for in relatively short time. It helped that buffalo were more distinct from ponies. And since the yak also stood out, it wasn’t hard for Little Strongheart to notice.

“Little…Strongheart!” Yona panted, stepping in the middle of the Appleloosan streets. “Yona…found you!”

“Oh, hey Yona-” Little Strongheart paused, seeing Yona already drenched in sweat. “Woah, are you alright?”

“Y-Yona not used to heat…”

Little Strongheart cringed and quickly nodded in understanding. “Yeah, let’s get you somewhere cooler…”

The buffalo quickly escorted the yak to the apple orchard, where there was plenty of shade and fresh apples to cool off with.

“Aaahhh…! Much better!” Yona sighed in bliss as her entire body relaxed underneath the trees.

“No problem,” Little Strongheart smiled, offering Yona an apple, freshly bucked from the tree. “So, what made you come all the way to Appleloosa, anyway? And to talk to me, no less?”

Yona took a big bite out of the apple. “Well, Yona saw buffalo and pony at Crystal Empire, and Yona curious what it was like for buffalo to be dating pony, too!”

“Wha-you mean like dating advice?” Little Strongheart immediately got flustered. “...Wait, ‘too’?”

“Mmhm! Yona with Sandbar!” Yona said, beaming with pride. “He really cute pony!”

“Ahhh, I see. Well, I think Braeburn’s pretty cute too, but there’s more to it than that…” Little Strongheart giggled.

“Like what?”

“Well, he’s really sweet, for starters,” Little Strongheart said, her eyes already had a glimpse of a sparkle in them. “Always putting others before himself. He’s also so enthusiastic, putting everything he has into everything he does!”

Yona listened intently, nodding along as Little Strongheart passionately talked about how wonderful Braeburn is.

“Oh, and he’s so charming, too! I don’t even know what it is exactly, but it’s just so easy for everyone to like him! I mean, I know he’s friendly and cute and all, but it’s like everyone wants to be with him!” Little Strongheart shrugged, before putting a hoof to her chin. “Especially the stallions…”

Yona tilted her head. “Strongheart jealous?”

Little Strongheart immediately started waving her hooves. “No no no no no, nothing like that! If anything, it makes me happy that he’s with me! It’s just something I’ve noticed when we go out together.”

“Heehee, Braeburn sound like very nice pony,” Yona giggled.

“So, what do you see in Sandbar? Aside from being cute, I mean.”

Now it was Yona’s turn to start gushing. “Oooh, Sandbar really smart and nice! He very relaxed and calm. He always make friends comfortable and show them lots of neat pony things. But most importantly, Sandbar make Yona happy to be Yona!”

“Sounds like we both got somepony we love lots,” Little Strongheart smiled.

“Mmhm! Little Strongheart with Braeburn reminded Yona of Yona with Sandbar! Yona think we all have lots in common.”

“Well, it’s hard to argue with that. I think we’re gonna be great friends, Yona,” Little Strongheart said, offering her a hoof to shake.

Yona grabbed on and shook with vigor, a sparkle in her eyes. “Good! Cause Yona have idea for Yona and Little Strongheart and special someponies,”

“Oh yeah? What’s that?”

“Couples get together for orgy at end of month!”

The proposition made Little Strongheart’s cheeks go red. Not that it was an unexpected proposition. “Ooh, that does sound pretty nice…you thinking we swap partners? Or maybe go for each other?”

“Yeah! But buffalo and pony need to be strong, because yaks like to smash!” Yona declared, pounding her hooves together.

“Well, I don’t wanna brag, but I’ve got some pretty good stamina…” Little Strongheart smirked, stretching out her legs. “I’m more worried that you might not have what it takes to keep up…” she teased.

“Oh, Yona will prove yaks have best stamina!” she huffed, standing up. Though as soon as she stepped out into the sun, the sweltering heat hit her thick fur, and she quietly retracted back into the shade.

“...Yona will prove later.”

For the Princess of Friendship, a knock at the door of her castle meant she needed to solve a friendship problem in most cases.

This was not most cases.

“Um…Hello, Feather Bangs! Can I help you with something?” Twilight asked the stallion who was already striking a seductive pose upon opening the door.

“Heh, not exactly.” Feather Bangs clicked his tongue, flipped his hair, and winked in that order. “I was wondering how I could help you.”

Twilight stared blankly, her jaw hanging slightly agape. “...I don’t follow.”

Feather repeated the same flirty motions. “Well, you spend a lot of time doing things for others, when’s the last time someone did something for you?”

Feather Bangs’s question actually gave Twilight a reason to stop and think for a moment.

“I know you’re a princess…” Feather Bangs stepped forward, grasping onto Twilight’s forehoof and lifting it up, almost ready to kiss it. “…but I wanna treat you like a queen.”

Twilight stifled a snorting laugh, deciding to indulge him. “Really? And what would treating me like a queen look like?”

“Well,” Another hair flip from Feather as he practically laid down in front of her. “I’d worship your hooves, feed you grapes, tend to those tender wings of yours…”

Admittedly, that didn’t sound like a half-bad proposition. She had been feeling a tad overworked lately, and a long full-body massage sounded pretty good…

Still, those things felt more suited for Rarity than her.

“And?”

Feather Bangs’s ears immediately perked up, confused. “Huh? W-What do you mean ‘and’?”

“Well, what you’ve offered does sound lovely, Feather Bangs, but does it really seem like something I’d like?”

Feather Bangs staggered back, almost offended. “Are you…are you saying you wouldn’t?”

“Nooooot exactly?” Twilight thought on how to break it to him without breaking his heart. “I’m saying that your offer is a bit…much. It’s a lot to offer before you really know someone.”

“I mean, that’s kind of the point,” Feather Bangs shrugged. “I’m doing this because I’m trying to get to know everyone better! Plus, it’s not like you’re a total stranger to me, I feel like I know you at least a little bit.”

Twilight was starting to understand Feather Bangs’s situation, and given his pick-up lines earlier, it wasn’t too hard to figure out his goal. “Hmm…I think the problem is you’re trying to rush things.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, if you really wanna get to know someone better, then you have to take things slowly. A long-lasting relationship takes a lot of time, and a lot of care,” Twilight explained.

“Um…alright?” Feather Bangs slowly nodded along, though a look of confusion and slight disappointment still lingered on his face.

Twilight playfully rolled her eyes and smiled. “I’m guessing you heard about all those other couples that hooked up during these things, but those didn’t just happen overnight. You can’t just throw yourself at the first pony you see and expect them to instantly reciprocate for quick lovemaking...At least not until the end of the month.” Twilight quietly mouthed the last part to herself.

Not catching what Twilight muttered, Feather Bangs tilted his head and squinted.

“I know it’s all exciting, but you have plenty of time, Feather Bangs. Lavish gifts and big proposals may work on a few girls, but it’s being able to bond with someone else that makes the relationship special. Why don’t you try taking things slowly? Something nice and simple.”

“Slowly, huh?” The gears started to turn in Feather Bangs’s head until he struck upon an epiphany. “I think I might need a little more help on that. Are there some books in your library that you could recommend? …And maybe I could give you a hoof massage as thanks?”

“Well, I can certainly help you get some books,” Twilight giggled, stepping aside to let Feather Bangs into the castle. “We’ll see what happens after that.”

As Feather Bangs confidently strolled down the hallways, Twilight heard Spike barely keeping his laughter in.

“Sheesh, what dating sim have you been playing recently?”

“Zip it, Spike,” Twilight snickered.

Author's Note

Seems Yona just can't take the heat.