For Her Favor

“Come now, what was Twilight thinking? I mean come on, beige!? Such a boring, drab color, it doesn’t go with this coat at all, and it certainly didn’t go with my original coat either,” said a sun yellow unicorn with a lemon tart cutie mark, her exasperation apparent from her tone.

This was met with an equally apathetic groan from her companion, a black-coated pegasus with a crimson mane.

“Well, you may not appreciate proper color coordination, but that does not mean the rest of us don’t. Also your accessory was simple, some black-framed glasses, nopony could mess that up. I’m just fortunate I was able to apply a proper Dye-Changing Spell on such short notice,” the prissy unicorn mare continued.

Again her worries were met with a complete disregard from the other pony, before finally the pegasus spoke up, her patience ground into nothing, “Alright already! Geez Rares! Yes I’m so happy you were able to turn your shawl green okay! There, happy!?”

“Emerald,” Rarity corrected.

“Whatever,” replied Rainbow.

Waiting for her companion’s ranting to end; Rarity looked around to make sure no other pony had heard anything that Rainbow had said. “Also please remember DJ… ugh McAwesome…fly, okay I’m sorry, but really Dash? That’s the name you picked?” Rarity gave a deadpan look, raising her eyebrow.

Rainbow herself delivered a look of complete innocence, and seemed utterly confused by her friend’s questioning of her choice in name. “What, of course that’s the name I picked, it’s got awesome right there in it, so it’s perfect for me, and at least I’m not named after some desert or something.”

“Rainbow, I mean DJ, my coat is yellow, my cutie mark is a lemon tart, and my mane is white and styled like a swirl, so I think I picked a perfectly appropriate name.”

“Yeah, yeah whatever Lemon Twirl,” said the pegasus with great sarcasm.

“That’s Lemon Swirl, my dear!” The unicorn quickly corrected, putting extra emphasis on the second half.

“Fine, Lemon Swirl, at least I picked out a name that just screams radical,” said Rainbow, as she took to the sky to strike a dramatic pose. Rarity could only simply roll her eyes as she continued to walk down the road toward their destination.

After a few minutes, the two incognito ponies found themselves just outside The Café Ecurie. It was a quaint little Prench café, nothing entirely ostentatious, though by Ponyville standards it was rather unique from the other local eateries. Rarity thought about how this would have been the perfect place for her first date with Fluttershy, and her relief over Dr. Flummox’s taste in venues struggled against her anger at having been beaten to the punch.

Rainbow Dash on the other hoof fought against the powerful urge to groan at the prospect of having to suffer through another date she knew would end in failure.

Please, Fluttershy doesn’t care for all that fancy gunk, if I took her out on a date it’d be somewhere not lame, like a Wonderolts show, or at the least to the park where I could do some tricks or something, heck the park would even have some animals for her to go nuts over… if she doesn’t get too distracted by my awesomeness of course.

Rainbow Dash continued to fly during her impromptu dream date scenario, oblivious to all that surrounded her. Rarity, however, was quick to see that they were approaching the door where she saw their quarry. Despite having taken on disguises, Rarity immediately leaped into the air and shoved Rainbow Dash behind some bushes a couple of yards from the entrance; quickly pouncing behind them herself.

“Geez! What’s your problem Rari…?” Rainbow Dash attempted to ask, before being cut off by a yellow hoof being shoved into her mouth in an attempt to silence her.

“Ssshhhh, from here on out do please try and refrain from using our real names,” replied Rarity flatly. She then took to observing Fluttershy and her date from over the top of the bush.

“OK fine Lemon Swirl, so tell me, what’s the plan,” said Rainbow Dash as she tried to look over the bush with Rarity, who still had a hoof holding her head.

“Well fortunately this place does not require a reservation so after those two head inside, we’ll just follow soon after and get ourselves a table that’s not too close, but will still allow us a decent view,” Rarity explained.

Rainbow nodded her head, “Okay, cool, sounds like a plan,”

“Umm are you two alright?” Said another voice, this one belonging to neither of the other two ponies, which caused them to jump and turn around to see a brown earth pony stallion giving them a curious look.

Rarity and Rainbow Dash then looked to one another before realizing just how compromising their position would look to any other pony. The two of them were hiding in some shrubbery, and Rarity still had one hoof behind Rainbow Dash’s head, and the other on her muzzle. While Rarity attempted to explain their compromising situation, Rainbow Dash simply sighed and covered her face in her hooves.

…

Fluttershy and Flo were escorted to their table by the hostess pony. After the having been seated, the waitress took their drink orders, and then left them to look over their menus.

Flo was the first to break their silence, “So Fluttershy, let me just say again how happy I am you agreed to this date, though I must say I was surprised by your pick.”

“Oh, it’s my pleasure, umm Flo, and yes this is just perfect, I just hope it wasn’t too much, we could have picked a much more practical place,” replied Futtershy.

“Oh no, no I gave you the option of picking, so you shouldn’t have to worry, I’m perfectly fine with this, it’s just that I didn’t picture you the type to be into something so fancy,” Flo said, as she looked over the top of her menu.

“Oh well, a friend of mine brought me here once, and I just fell in love with the food here, the carrot soufflé is just wonderful,” said Fluttershy, as she seemed to beam simply recalling the dish.

“Hmm carrot soufflé you say? Makes sense you’d like carrots, what with all those rabbits you take care of,” replied the doctor as she folded her menu as the waiter returned.

He asked Fluttershy for her order first, “Oh I think I’ll try something new this evening, how about the onion and leek soup.”

“Ah an excellent choice miss, and for you Madame?” Said the waiter in a Prench accent.

“Hmm I think I’ll take my lovely friend’s advice and go with the carrot soufflé,” said Flo, wearing a confidant smile.

“Yes, another excellent selection, we will have those out here momentarily, now would either of you lovely fillies care for one of our exquisite wines?” asked the waiter.

Fluttershy considered it for a moment, but decided drinking on the first date might not be the best decision, “Oh no thank you, I’m fine.”

“None for me either, thanks,” added Flo.

The waiter then took their menus and left them to each others company.

After a brief moment of quiet it was Fluttershy who broke the silence. “So you mentioned my rabbits, I have several other kinds of animals at my cottage too.”

This seemed to peek the other mare’s interest. “Oh do tell,” she said with a slight smile.

“Um, well I have so many kinds of birds from blue jays, canaries, and exotic flamingos as well as your standard chickens. I also have otters, and squirrels, and badgers, bats, and just so many other kinds of animals,” Fluttershy spoke in an almost singsong voice, her giddiness proving difficult to suppress.

Flo could only smile at how happy her date was when it came to talking about animals, a feeling she herself could sympathize with.

Fluttershy continued, deciding to turn the conversation in a more personal direction, “So Flo, since you brought up animals I was wanting to ask you a question. You see, I enjoy taking care of all the creatures that come to my cottage, and while there are things I can do like fix a sprained leg, or know what certain herbs can do for certain illnesses, I’m afraid my knowledge on animal medicine is… limited,” said Fluttershy as she looked down to the ground, her ears slightly drooping.

“Nuh uh uh, nope, stop right,” Flo interjected.

“Huh, what?”  Blurted out Fluttershy, her attention pulled away from the floor?

“That right there, Fluttershy I must say that for somepony with no traditional training, you’re probably one of the best animal caretakers I’ve seen, heck I’m sure most ponies in town come to you first a lot of the times before myself.”

“Oh I’m sorry about that, I usually try and refer them to you, but ponies just keep coming to me and…”

“Fluttershy, see that’s what I’m talking about, to be honest I’m glad you’re modest, but I also think you sell yourself short. Like I was trying to say, for a pony who doesn’t have any formal training, you’re quite a natural when it comes to raising and taking care of animals,” said Flo in an attempt to boost Fluttershy’s confidence.

Her cheeks betrayed her as Fluttershy seemed genuinely flattered by her date’s words, and mustering up some courage, she managed to work out, “thank you Flo, that’s a very nice complement, especially coming from you. You see taking care of animals, well it’s my special talent, but I don’t have the skills or experience of somepony like you, though I wish I did.”

Flo pondered on those words, but it was not long before she looked like she had been struck with an idea, “Well… have you considered furthering your education?”

Fluttershy seemed completely caught off guard by that question, and replied, “Umm, well no, not exactly, I mean I’m just a simple pony from Ponyville, I’m not some brilliant prodigy or anything like that.”

“Honey, the way you work with some of those animals, everything from beavers, cockatrices, and even dragons, I’d say you have a true natural gift, and going to refine your skills at a veterinary school would only allow you to help your animal friends more.”

“Well, that sounds great, but do you think I can do it,” Fluttershy asked somberly as she returned her gaze back to the floor.

“Fluttershy,” said Flo kindly, yet in a manner to gain Fluttershy’s attention. Fluttershy then lifted her head and looked towards her date, who looked back to her and returned a confidant smirk that reminded Fluttershy of a certain fast-flying friend, “I know you can.”

…

Unbeknown to the two ponies, just a few feet away at a table on the opposite corner sat two other ponies also on a date. Well on a date to watch their date. Rarity and Rainbow had ordered their food, and were now trying their best to nonchalantly observe their prey across the room. Rarity had brought her opera glasses, but she knew it would rather odd to have them out, so she kept them stowed away for the time being. Since she sat in the seat that faced the opposite direction of where Fluttershy and her date were seated, she had to rely on Rainbow Dash to provide updates. Sadly, this led to complications.

“Now what are they doing?” Asked a clearly annoyed Rarity, unable to turn and see for herself.

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes before saying, “The same thing they were doing the last time you asked me, talking, that’s all they’ve done is talk.”

“Yes, yes, but about what?” Asked Rarity.

“How in the hay am I supposed to know that? I don’t have supersonic hearing you know!” Replied Rainbow, her voice rising in frustration.

“Shh now Rainbow remember, we are in a nice restaurant, there’s no need to raise your voice, also we have to keep a low profile,” said Rarity in a hushed voice.

“Alright fine.”

“Good, now tell me, what is Fluttershy’s demeanor like?”

“Her what now?”

“Her demeanor darling, you know. Does it look like she has been smitten? Has her coat taken on the rosy hue of a mare bursting with excitement? What of her smile, is it glowing or shimmering?”

Again, Rainbow could only roll her eyes; she then breathed a heavy sigh before attempting to humor her friend. “She looks like normal Fluttershy, her eyes aren’t sparkling or whatever, her posture is the same as normal, she keeps looking at the ground, but again that’s normal, and now she’s… smiling?”

It was then that Rainbow’s interest seemed finally piqued, she then tried to get a closer look at Fluttershy, while trying her best to make it not look like that was what she was doing.

“Well, come on what is it Rainbow Dash? She’s smiling, but what kind of smile?” Asked Rarity, her tone filling with nervousness.

“I can’t quite see without leaning to far, wait that’s it! Rarity lean into the table.” Commanded Rainbow.

Despite the obvious confusion on her face, Rarity obeyed and leaned in towards Rainbow Dash, who then took the unicorn’s head with her hoof, and brought it even closer. Rainbow then brought her own head forward towards Rarity’s, but her eyes were not on Rarity, whereas were now glued to Dash in shock. Rainbow tilted her head so as to see around Rarity’s mane and get a closer look at Fluttershy.

“Huh, I’ve never seen her look like that, whatever that pony said to her has got her in a good mood,” Rainbow said into Rarity’s ear.

“Are you certain?” Asked Rarity in whisper, still not fully adjusted to having Rainbow Dash’s muzzle this close to her own.

“Yeah, trust me, when you’ve known Fluttershy as long as I have you tend to know how she ticks, and the only things that make her that happy are animals and singing.”

“Ahem, um madams I have brought you your salads, I hope I’m not interrupting anything,” asked the voice of their waiter, having returned at the most inopportune times.

Rainbow Dash and Rarity quickly realized how their position must have looked and quickly broke apart, and returned to sitting in each of their seats, both wearing fake smiles and giving awkward laughs.

Rarity was the first to speak, “Oh no my fine gentlecolt, why my good friend here just wished to tell me the most salacious bit of gossip is all, so that’s what we were doing of course. Nothing else, nope nothing.” Rarity then proceeded to look absolutely anywhere but at the waiter. Rainbow Dash simply nodded, still wearing her fake grin.

The waiter did not press the issue any further, merely bowed while handing each of them their salad, and the proceeded to walk off.

“Phew, that was close,” said Dash once the waiter was out of earshot, she then proceeded to eat her salad.

Rarity, however, was distracted, and her heart was still beating fast. Her thoughts turned to Rainbow Dash, and the episode they just had. Then there was still Fluttershy, the pony she had been interested in for some time now, the pony who with every subsequent date she felt her slipping further away. For now she found herself trapped, on a date she knew she should not be on, working with a pony she was not sure she could trust. She then turned her attention to her salad, making an effort to put a dent in it.

…

“So enough about me, say something about yourself Flo,” asked Fluttershy casually.

“Hmm well, not much to say really, I’m originally from Fillydelphia, whole family still lives there. Mom was a housewife, dad was a doctor, and my older brothers both went on to become doctors too. Then you have me, the youngest child, only filly, and chose to be a veterinarian in a one horse town. Needless to say, they were less than enthusiastic about the field I chose to pursue, well dad didn’t anyway.”

Surprised with how casually Flo had told her all this, Fluttershy replied, “Oh how awful, I’m so sorry to hear that.”

Flo gave a dismissive hoof before responding, “Oh don’t be, while it was a bit emotionally exhausting at first, my dad eventually turned around.”

“Oh, well that’s at least good to hear, what made him change his mind though?” Asked Fluttershy.

“I got his face and told him that I was going to live my life and be what I wanted to be, needless to say he listened, there was a lot of yelling, but that’s just how he and I are, we’re both pretty chill, but when we reach our boiling points, boy do we explode. But when all is said and done, we were able to come to terms with one another, and he eventually became cool with it. Ultimately, I think sometimes just plain honesty works best, even if it’s completely blunt.”

Fluttershy was left speechless, not sure what to say. She always thought Dr. Flummox was a strong pony, but she never knew just how strong she was. Fluttershy was able to empathize with her, having grown up to become something much different than what her parents, and especially herself, had expected. For a native of Cloudsdale to pursue a life of animal care in a town mostly of earth ponies was certainly odd. Fluttershy remembered her balloon ride over to Ponyville for the first, her chest felt as if it would burst from a mixture of extreme excitement and fear. She remembered feeling lost in the new town, full of so many ponies, before she finally found, just on the outskirts of town the cottage she had managed to secure.

However, the thing she remembered most from that day was opening the door to her empty cottage, and lying there in the middle of the floor asleep, in her typical messy fashion, was Rainbow Dash. Fluttershy quickly learned that she would not be alone, not ever. Wherever she went she had a friend would always be there for her, even if she was sometime loud and pushy.

“Oh I can understand, sometimes change can be scary, especially when you’re alone, but I’ve found that when you have others there to help you along you,” said Fluttershy as memories of all her recent adventures came to mind, where she and her friends had grown together.

Flo nodded her head, “Agreed and I suppose you have it made when you’re friends and you are the Elements of Harmony and all.”

Fluttershy blushed, as she usually got embarrassed whenever other ponies brought up the subject of her recent notoriety. While most of the Canterlot nobility had little recollection of her and friend’s accomplishments, the residents of Ponyville were always buzzing with talk of whatever recent endeavor or shenanigan Fluttershy and her friends got into.

Giving a nervous laugh Fluttershy responded, “Well yes I guess that’s true.”

“But like I was saying Fluttershy, one thing I learned was that in life you should not be afraid to go after something that makes you happy, if you want to study and go to a vet school I see no reason why should pursue that, especially someone as smart and talented as yourself.”

By this point Fluttershy’s coat had taken on a color similar to that of a strawberry, she suddenly became vastly more interested in her glass of water before finally looking to her date and quietly letting in a miniscule voice, “thank you very much, but you don’t have to say all of that just to be nice to me.”

Flo was quick to reply, “Good, because I mean every word of it,” she then gave Fluttershy a confidant smile, which only made the pegasus blush even more.

…

“Oh no, oh no, oh no no no…” said Rainbow Dash.

“What!? What is it darling?” asked Rarity.

“Fluttershy, she just started blushing, and she’s giving those eyes she gets whenever she really seems to like a pony,” answered Dash.

“Oh I was afraid this may occur, as excellent as it is that Fluttershy is making progress in picking suitable… well suitors, it seems she may have gotten a little, too good at it now.”

Rarity then quickly turned her head and pulled her miniature opera glasses she had tucked safely inside her mane when she excused herself to the powder room earlier in the dinner. She looked over to Fluttershy’s table and could see that Fluttershy was indeed blushing, and smiling, a most deadly combination.

Rarity then fully turned her body around and actually sat up and leaned on the back of her chair to try and get better look at Fluttershy’s table, something that certainly had begun to snag a few passing glances from various tables.

“Umm Lemon Swirl, what are you doing?” asked Rainbow Dash, her voice sounding much rougher than usual, though still failing to capture her attention.

“Trying to see what is going on over there,” replied Rarity casually.

“Well, I hate to break that up, but the problem is that you’re kinda umm, drawing some attention,” Rainbow Dash’s voice got gradually quieter before finally ending in a whisper.

Indeed, a couple of ponies were now beginning to notice the odd yellow unicorn with her opera glasses. However, Rarity seemed unfazed by their glances, “Just a moment McAwesome, I just need to see if I can read Fluttershy’s lips.”

Unfortunately, Rarity never got the chance to, as her chair finally leaned over a bit too far, toppling over with her along with it. The resulting crash then only garnered more attention from most of the patrons now, all looking to discover the cause of the commotion.  Rarity, horrified, could only lay in the floor, desperately hoping she was either dreaming or on the verge of death, while Rainbow Dash merely banged her head on the table. It was at that moment that Rarity glanced up to see that a pony was offering her a hoof to help her get back up, and to her horror that pony was Fluttershy.

“Oh dear, are you alright?” she asked sweetly, and to Rarity it reminded her of a song.

Of course Rarity was quickly snapped back to reality, and did her best to remain calm and walk off this embarrassing misstep.

“Oh, umm yes my dear, quite alright in fact, I umm was just…” Rarity frantically looked around to find something to serve as a decent excuse, before she noticed a chandelier situated in the middle of the restaurant, “Admiring the décor,” Rarity continued, pointing her hoof towards the fixture in question.

Fluttershy gave the strangely familiar unicorn a questioning glance and raised eyebrow. “It is a very nice chandelier, well I’m glad you’re alright, well umm bye,” she replied before heading back to her own table, leaving Rarity there to try and fumble through a response.

“Oh umm thank you again, and I love your mane by the way,” she added, wishing desperately to say more, but refrained from doing so, knowing that it would have made her seem somehow even more strange. Rarity then sighed and turned around and sat at her own table, looking up to see a visibly angry Rainbow Dash, her new black coat made look all the more intimidating.

“What?” Asked Rarity.

“What in the hay was that?” Rainbow replied, fighting back her natural affinity for drawing attention, as many of the ponies had just now begun paying attention to their own tables.

“Alright so I fell, I was merely trying to see what had Fluttershy all a flitter, when I simply leaned a tad too far,” said Rarity, with her snout raised, she then suddenly became very interested in her entre, which the waiter must have brought to the table at some point during Rarity’s mishap.

“Yeah, way to stick to ‘laying low’,” spat Rainbow Dash, using her now patented air quotes, this time with her wings.

I swear if she does that annoying air quoting nonsense one more time, I cannot be held responsible for what I do.

As Rarity continued to try and care about her food, her mind went over all that had happened so far in the evening. There had been Rainbow Dash’s face getting a little too close to hers, but perhaps worse was the fact that Rarity didn’t mind it as much as she thought she should. On top of that, from what Rainbow and herself could tell, Fluttershy was actually enjoying herself, which made her feel terrible and then she felt guilty about feeling terrible, which only compounded her feeling terrible. Finally, the cherry on top of this dreadful date night infiltration sundae was her mortifying fall, only to then be helped by Fluttershy herself. Rarity lamented that such a prime moment for romance had to be avoided, also there was the fact that Fluttershy would not have known it was her thanks to her magical disguise. One thing Rarity knew for certain…

This had not been her night.

…

“And here is your bill Madame,” said the waiter to Flo, who took it graciously.

“Thank you my good stallion,” she said, as she returned the check with some money as the waiter went to go settle everything. “Oh and keep the change,” she added as she rose from the table and addressed Fluttershy, “You ready to go?”

Fluttershy responded with an affirming nod. So the two ponies walked towards the door.

“Ah man their leaving now,” grunted Rainbow Dash, “Quick get the waiter’s attention,” she ordered Rarity

“Like we haven’t been doing that all night or anything,” replied Rarity under her breath, as she managed to signal one of the wait staff over.

…

Once outside the restaurant, Flo and Fluttershy walked, having no clear destination in mind. The night had taken a turn for the chilly, and Fluttershy tightened the shawl wrapped around her, remembering the pendant attached to it. Fortunately, nothing had happened so far in the night that seemed strange so she was glad she was finding it unnecessary to use. So far this date with Flo had been the best one she had yet. The mare was nice, complemented her, and even encouraged her to pursue a dream she more or less put on hold.

“So this date has been… nice, and I hope I haven’t been too quiet or boring,” said Fluttershy, as she struggled to find the word that best suited tonight.

“Oh no, not at all, I enjoyed talking to you Fluttershy, and I’m glad you’re going to consider my suggestion for going to school and learning more, Equestria would be sorely wanting to lose a potential talent like yours,” said Flo in her friendly voice, which was as sweet as could be.

Fluttershy could only blush at her complements, feeling not entirely deserving of them. Also Fluttershy found herself experiencing a familiar feeling she had felt throughout the night: guilt.

Indeed, now that the dinner was over, and the date was beginning to wind down, Fluttershy had to admit to herself once again that her feelings for Flo were no different than what they had been for Meadow Song, or for her friends like Twilight or Applejack. The fact that Flo was so nice to her made the pangs of guilt even worse. Without meaning to, Fluttershy began to cry and she had stopped walking. Flo turned to see what was wrong, surprised by Fluttershy’s sudden change in mood.

“Fluttershy? What’s wrong hon?” she asked with genuine befuddlement.

Between her mixture of hiccups and cries, Fluttershy could only get out two words, “I’m sorry.”

This did little to alleviate Flo of her confusion, “Sorry? Sorry about what? I thought the date was kinda going pretty swell.”

“That’s just it! It has been going well, and you’re such a nice pony, but I just don’t think… I like you like that, and I’m sorry I wasted your time like this,” said Fluttershy as she gained enough composure to include more words in with her crying.

“Wait, is this what has you so worked up? Fluttershy, honey, I think we just need to clear the air here for a moment and you need to get some things straightened out,” she then put her forehooves on Fluttershy’s shoulder in an attempt to calm her down.

Once Fluttershy had stopped crying completely and looked up to her she continued, “Look I’ll admit I asked you out on a date because I was interested in you. You’re kind, you’re pretty, heck you’re a former beauty model, but I also found you interesting because we’re both in similar lines of work, but we don’t often see too much of each other so I figured this would be a good time to get to know one another better.”

Flo then offered a handkerchief to Fluttershy, who took it gladly and wiped her nose with it, Flo waiting until she was done before continuing on. “So yeah I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t entertained the thought that maybe we could umm… become more,” the blush on her coat was only rivaled by the one on Fluttershy’s by that point, “but listen my number one priority tonight was to have a nice night and maybe make a new friend. I don’t want you to think you owe me anything for tonight.”

“A friend? But I thought this was a date?” Fluttershy asked.

“Well yes it is a date, but dating is more than just a fast track to hot passion and romance, friends can go out on dates, and for many ponies who eventually become an item, they started out as friends.”

“They, they do?” Fluttershy asked again in the most innocent of ways.

By this point Flo could only chuckle at Fluttershy’s innocence, not in a patronizing way, just more a humorously adorable sort of way.

Flo then answered, “Yes, now I know you’re sort of new to this whole dating business, so let me give you some advice, as a friend, just because you’re going out on date with somepony doesn’t mean you owe them anything. Fluttershy, if you go out with another stallion, or a mare, and they try and make you feel obligated to do something because you “owe” them for taking you out, then hon I’ll tell you right now you need to ditch that date pronto.”

Fluttershy nodded her head.

“So yeah, I had a feeling that maybe you weren’t into me like that, and I promise Fluttershy that’s fine, I’m a big pony I can handle it. But we did have fun tonight right?”

“Oh yes, of course, I had a great time tonight,” Fluttershy answered, looking genuinely happy for the first time since leaving the restaurant.

“Then I say mission accomplished, so I say let’s get you home.”

The two then made off towards Fluttershy’s cottage, close together as friends. Once the space previously occupied by the two ponies was completely clear a rustling came from a nearby bush as Rarity and Rainbow Dash emerged, both having abandoned their disguises and were now back to their original appearances.

Rarity had sad look on her face, while Rainbow Dash could barely hide her grin as she addressed the other pony, “Oh yes I agree, mission accomplished, Fluttershy doesn’t even like her like that, so I’m still in this.”

Rarity then only slumped as she looked down at the ground, her feelings of guilt beginning to almost physically weigh her down.

“What’s the matter with you Rares?” Dash asked.

Rarity then thought about what she had heard Flutterhy say, and how Flo had told her that friendship was a good place for lovers to start out, then add to the fact that Rarity sill felt terrible about continuing this whole endeavor, the sum total made her feel terrible.

“It’s nothing dear, I’m just rather exhausted so I think I’ll just head home for the night, it’s not like we’ll need to follow them any longer since we know nothing is going to come of this evening for anypony.” She then made her trek of solitude back towards Carousel Boutique.

“Oh okay, well guess I’ll see you later I suppose, I have something special to plan for tomorrow,” Dash then flew off by herself to her cloud mansion for another night of just herself and her tortoise.

Of course, not everypony had such a quiet evening…

…

“Ha! I win agin!” declared Applejack, in her voice of triumph.

It had been a somewhat rowdy evening at Sweet Apple Acres as Applejack and her family, along with Twilight Sparkle, played a marathon of every board game guaranteed to bring out the blood lust in anypony. Monopony, Risk: Equestria, Charades, Rummy, Apples to Apples. After hours of battle, only Applejack and Twilight had remained, Big Macintosh being the final one to admit defeat to sleep. Twilight and Applejack had moved on to a taking turns with their individual favorite two-player games: checkers for Applejack, and chess for Twilight.

“I don’t get it, how can you be so good at this?” asked a clearly confused Twilight, having lost to AJ at checkers now for a record four times in a row.

“What, can’t accept that there’s a game of strategy you can’t beat me at Twi?” asked Applejack in a playfully mocking manner.

“Yeah, well we’ll see who has the last laugh after this game,” said Twilight with an evil smirk as she began to set up the chess board for another go.

Applejack then took a quick glance at the clock before turning back to Twilight, “Well no word from Fluttershy, so I’m hoping that means the date went alright, figure we should check in on her?”

“I don’t think that’s necessary, we can check in on her tomorrow, now stop stalling and let’s go, I’m letting you play white so you can make the first move.”

Applejack then put a sly smile on her face, “Hmm, oh I’ll be making the first move, but I don’t think it’ll necessarily be’n chess,” said Applejack as she leaned forward and cleared the table of the chess board, undeterred by all the pieces falling to the floor.

Twilight, quickly realizing where this was going, mirrored Applejack’s grin before replying, “Hmm, so I suppose this means I’m in check?”

“Twi, don’t kill the mood," deadpanned Applejack as she took the other mare's nuzzle into her hooves.