Fallen Eagle

Chapter 22: The Grand Galloping Gala Part 2

Holy crap guys. FOURTEEN reviews for Chapter 21? I had a feeling that chapter would be liked by a few readers, but I didn't expect it to be one of the most popular chapters of the story. I want to thank you guys so much; I enjoy writing this story, but without all of your love and support, I don't know if we would have made it this far. Chapter 21 was so much fun to write though and I just want to add a tid-bit of trivia: This Chapter, Chapter 22, is where Fallen Eagle was born. EVERY word, EVERY scene you see in this chapter, this is where it all started.

Oh and how FREAKIN' AWESOME was that Season 5 premiere?

I think it's time to reply to some reviews, don't you? ;)

MLP Brony Fifer: Nice to see a review from you bro. Good to see a little humor as well.

RenaTamer: Yes it is, especially against that arrogant a-hole Blueblood. Well now, don't go saying he has to be a monster; Cougar has a very interesting speech for the poor reptile. And as for the song, Danger Zone is absolutely badass, evidenced by the opening to Top Gun. However, Mighty Wings is SO perfect for the Wonderbolts, I couldn't pass it up. Danger Zone will be used somewhere in the Future of the story, just keep your eyes peeled.

OBSERVER01: Ya gotta do, what ya gotta do.

XxSkullCandyxX: Thank you Skull Candy! I give the a-hole credit, he did try to be nicer, but some people/ponies are just born to be jerks. And you try fighting off a pissed dragon that went through insta-puberty in three seconds, I think he'd be able to beat the crap even out of Celestia. And the snooty ponies don't care what he's done. He could resurrect Celestia and they'd still deem him an animal.

Megatronious: Oh, you'll see a chapter soon enough about that. Or you could read Dishonorable if you need a refresher.

KillerWoW: Good to see you again! 1) Loved writing for them. I love their adventures so much. 2) Just trying to make them more 3-Dimensional than stock. 3) The mare he loves with all his heart is in danger and is injured, he's going to protect her.

UpgraderIsAwesome489: Why thank y- AUUUUUGGGHH PINKAMENA!

litestardt: Rarity is in trouble, everypony better be ready to get out his way. Yeah Danger Zone is badass, but Mighty Wings (to me at least) makes more sense. But don't worry, Danger Zone will make an appearance.

uss71832: Okay, the only times you will ever see me brag are when I'm talking about NASCAR or music. I know which music is good and which music sucks, and I ALWAYS put the best music in my stories. Danger Zone, sometime in the future, Whisky in the Bottle, no plans.

Dixie Darlin: I like her as kind of like a kinky matchmaker. Do you really expect the Princess of Love to be all polite and full of positive advice? Roleplaying with my friend Sassymouse really helped me shape Cadence's character. The Crusaders are always adorable, though picking the cutest is impossible, okay Applebloom, no Sweetie Belle, ugh.

GetToTheCocainum: Captivating? Thanks for the compliment. Does anyone else though find it weird how we haven't really seen (or maybe just not heard) Blueblood since the Season 1 finale and we've already passed the Season 5 premiere?

Gardenfairy: A good soundtrack doesn't just mean popular songs. The songs have to help compliment and tell the story as well as visuals or in this case, words.

Caleb200888: You dream you're in Cougar's place? Never heard of that before. And you want at least 40 chapters? That's the minimum I want too, and by the way things are going, we'll surpass that easy.

And just in case I didn't make it clear enough, Spike is the same size he was in Secret to my Excess when he FIRST started growing and could still form coherent sentences and was about the same height as Twilight, maybe just a smidge taller.

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(Cougar's POV. Castle Ballroom)

I couldn't believe my eyes, and I don't think anypony else could believe their own eyes. Seeing a dragon grow about 3 feet in seconds and bitch-slap a unicorn was a sight nopony expected to see tonight. "SPIKE, PLEASE COME BACK!" Twilight begged loudly as she ran out the same door Spike had. Luna and I exchanged quick glances with each other and our other friends, still frozen and processing what had just happened.

"Should uh, should we go after them?" I asked Luna. The midnight blue alicorn looked down at her hooves, unsure of what to say. A few Canterlot nobles began to murmur amongst themselves, probably saying nasty things about Spike, especially since he called Twilight his mom. Even though I knew judging someone or jumping to conclusions on what they were talking about was wrong, I think I had a pretty good case considering the ponies I had met here. Finally, Rainbow Dash blasted into the air and hovered above every member of our group.

"Come on, they're our friends!" She exclaimed, "they need us!" She added.

"Yeah, Spike's no monster!" Applejack agreed, kicking up her front legs and galloping away as Rainbow flew above her, still leaving a few of us glued to our spots. Luna shook her head quickly and nudged me with her muzzle in my arm.

"Let's go Cougar, our friends are in need of help," she ordered and got me to start running with the rest of the group. I reached down and helped Rarity to her feet, quickly brushing off her dress and making sure she was okay.

"Vinyl, entertain the crowd while we're gone!" I shouted while the wave of ponies following me grew bigger by the moment. The cool night air hit me like a ton of bricks as the stuffy air of the ballroom gave way, leaving my shirtless torso with pleasant goosebumps decorating my skin.

"SPIKE! TWILIGHT!" We all called out for our friends. Luna's magic beam from her horn lit up, igniting the moon even brighter so as to help light our way to find Twilight and Spike. "Is there anywhere in the garden that would make a suitable hiding spot?" I asked Celestia as she used her horn as a flashlight with Glock following her close by.

"None that I can think of Cougar; this garden is a large area. Spike could be hiding anywhere, if he's still here at all," she replied fearfully for the reptile. I recalled Applejack telling me the story of Spike growing to be a full-sized dragon in less than 24 hours a few years back due to his greed acting up from his birthday presents. Yet, this wasn't an act of greed, it was an act of selflessness and heroics, so why did he grow three feet?

"Any sign guys?" Shining Armor asked as Cadence, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Flash Sentry and Soarin took to the skies. The rest of us were kept on the ground in case Spike and Twilight were together.

"Nope, I can't see much in the dark," Rainbow squinted her eyes, scanning the gardens for either of her friends, "even with Princess Luna's brighter moon," she added.

"I can't find anything either Dashie," Soarin added, darting his head back and forth. The Wonderbolt duo traded spots several times, scanning each area the other looked at in case they missed something.

"Oh, poor Spike, he must be terrified," Fluttershy held her head in her hooves.

"Terrified?" I questioned, confused. The yellow pegasus landed next to me and Celestia and walked with us.

"Well of course, Spike was so crushed when he realized that he nearly destroyed Ponyville when his greed overtook him, and now that he's injured a pony, ugh, I can't even imagine what's going through his mind," the yellow pegasus shuddered.

"If you ask me, Blueblood deserved it," Discord piped up, speaking his mind. All of us wanted to say nopony deserves to get injured, no matter what they do, but we all silently agreed with the draconequus since Blueblood slapped and shoved Rarity.

"Are you alright Rarity?" Checkered Flag asked the still shaking unicorn seamstress, offering her a hoof to comfort her to which she politely declined.

"Oh of course, though still shaken up," she replied, "but my concern is for Spikey-Wikey," she suppressed a tear to Checkered, "he's no monster for saving me; he's too sweet and innocent to intentionally hurt a pony for no reason."

"Oh man, Ah hope this doesn't get to the tabloids," Applebloom bit her hoof while checking some bushes.

"I know, that would really suck for Spike," Scootaloo agreed.

"Ponies would get the wrong idea and demand he be thrown in the dungeon!" Sweetie Belle finished the thought all the Crusaders shared.

"Which is why we have to keep looking for my brother!" Cadence snapped, "so be quiet so we can hear if they respond!" she ordered all of us to shut the hell up. Bending down to try and see if I could identify any tracks belonging to said dragon, the mentions of familial names kept resonating throughout my brain, pestering me to ask Luna a question I've wanted to for some time.

"Hey Luna," I tapped Luna's shoulder.

"Did you find any sign of them Cougar?" The alicorn stopped mid-step to ask me. Shaking my head and standing back up on my feet and urged her to keep walking instead of stopping.

"Spike called Twilight Mom and Cadence just called him her brother," I began before turning my voice's volume down to a whisper, "did Twilight officially adopt Spike as her son?" I asked. Luna blinked her turquoise eyes several times, thinking about my question.

"No, Princess Twilight never did; she was and still is his caregiver, but she only hatched him when she was around five or six and my sister never made her go through signing any adoption papers," Luna explained, "why do you ask?" We had rounded another corner of the garden.

"Well, I think maybe she should. I mean she treats him like a little brother and he treats her like a big sister or even a mom," I replied. Right as Luna opened her mouth to say something else, Cheerilee silenced us all.

"Shh, does anypony else hear that?" the maroon pony's ear twitched. Being unable to move my ears, I still found that to be very odd seeing now everypony's ears twitching up and down, listening harder for the noise the school teacher had heard. Putting a hand to my left ear, I cocked my head to the side, trying to amplify sound that entered my ear. We all stood or hovered in one spot, listening to the gentle quietness of the night. A night so quiet, the cliche of a twig snapping would give anyone a heart attack. Finally, a faint sound entered my ears, the sound of muffled crying and rustling.

"Eeyup," Big Mac replied to his marefriend's question. Suddenly, Cadence, Celestia and Luna's horns glowed together and a mixture of their aura colors shot around the gardens.

"Over there!" Cadence exclaimed and touched back down next to Shining Armor. Her hoof was pointed in the direction of a big oak tree that was sitting behind a hedge bush. Taking the front before anyone else, Rarity darted ahead as fast as she could to find her two closest friends with Checkered Flag easily following right behind her. To get her there faster, I picked up Applebloom and ran with her in my arms around the hedge bush with Applejack right by my side and everypony else on my trail. Rounding the corner, I about slammed into Checkered Flag as he and Rarity had both stopped immediately after the bend.

"What's going on? I can't see!" Pinkie Pie whispered and jumped up and down behind the moderately sized crowd. Soarin, Flash and Rainbow slowly lowered themselves and softly touched down on the grass, utterly speechless at the heart wrenching scene in front of us. I cautiously set Applebloom down next to her big sister whom had removed her cowgirl hat and set it on the ground.

Not even a breath from any of us could be heard as we studied the scene that was presented before us. The scene was so sad, even Celestia and Luna's manes and tails stopped freely blowing, instead drooping down in sadness. Sitting at the base of the tree was a crying Spike with his hands covering his eyes. Small amounts of dried blood from where he clawed Blueblood still stuck to his claws. Twilight was sitting next to the larger dragon, her forelegs wrapped around his torso in a loving hug as she shed her own tears. "Sp-Spike, please stop crying," Twilight's voice begged in a croak. Spike breathed out a sob in reply, not removing his hands from his eyes.

"N-no," he cried, "I'm a monster, I tried to k-kill another p-pony," he sobbed.

"You were j-just defending R-Rarity like the n-noble dragon you are Spike," Twilight looked up with her tear filled eyes, placing her hoof on Spike's arm.

"I'm a monster Mom!" Spike cried again, "I deserve to be b-banished to T-Tartarus f-for wh-what I-I did," Spike replied in a choke. He finally took his hands away from his tear stained eyes and cheeks, looking down at the purple alicorn. Twilight sniffled and pressed harder on his arm, not enough to hurt him, but enough to get his attention. Still, none of us said or did anything. We still didn't know if these two had any clue we had arrived. All we could do was just sit and watch, and try not to cry ourselves, even me. I stole quick glances from Applejack to Luna, and everypony's eyes were big and wet and their lower lips were quivering, and shockingly, even Discord's.

"N-no!" Twilight exclaimed, "I-I d-don't care what anyp-pony says!" she countered, "you're my son, my baby dragon! And I love you Spike! I-I'm proud of the dragon you've become that I hatched so long ago," the tears were now streaming down Twilight's cheeks like a waterfall. "I should've told you that a long time ago, you're my little Spike!" she rubbed her cheek against his, "and you always will be!" Oh my God, this is one of the saddest yet most touching moments I've seen in my life. My eyes began to water themselves as I used my thumb to wipe the salty drops away before they escaped.

At last, one of us couldn't take it anymore. Fluttershy burst into tears loudly, collapsing onto her knees and burying her face into the ground. Naturally, this caused the purple alicorn and the purple dragon to snap their heads this way, tears still flowing from their eyes. "Twily," Shining Armor whispered out.

"NO! GET AWAY!" Spike shouted, inducing more tears from his tear ducts. "I DON'T WANT TO HURT ANYPONY ELSE!" He cried. He began to struggle to try and get away, but thanks to Twilight's quick thinking, she gently restrained him with her magic. I didn't think Spike would intentionally hurt anyone, but he might accidentally hurt one of us with his claws flailing around. Celestia cleared her throat and tenderly walked over to the frightened dragon.

"Spike, can you please talk to me?" The white alicorn asked him. Twilight still never left Spike's side, her magic restraining him down, but she clung to him. Celesita's golden aura appeared around Spike's claws, gently clenching them down so he wouldn't accidentally scratch her or Twilight.

"Princess, get away from me," Spike begged, "I don't want to hurt you or my mom!" he kept attempting to break free and run away, but neither Twilight or Celestia's magic would allow that to happen.

"I trust that you won't Spike." the sun princess softly replied as she got closer to the purple duo. "Twilight Sparkle, please remove yourself from Spike. I promise nothing will happen to him," she swore. Twilight shook her head back and forth, squeezing Spike harder, refusing to let him go.

"No, I can't let him go!" She fought, "he needs his mother!" she buried her head into Spike's chest.

"Twilight," Celestia softly repeated, "please, let us help you help him," the alicorn requested. By this time, Spike had calmed down a little, but he was still struggling. We all continued to hold our breath as Celestia touched her horn to Twilight's. The magenta aura from Twilight's magic dissipated from Spike as she looked into her mentor's eyes and nodded. "I don't blame your son for what he did Twilight, nopony here does," Celestia helped Twilight to her feet. Flash, Shining and Luna were soon on their way and helped get Twilight away from Spike and Celestia.

"It's gonna be okay Twily," Shining promised while holding his sister close. He held her back, keeping her from lunging back at Spike and holding him while Luna and Celestia enveloped the dragon within their own magic.

"Spike," Luna began, "we are going to release you from our magic now, but we just want to help," she explained.

"Yes, we don't think you have a problem with hurting other ponies," Celestia agreed, "but we just want to talk." Looking frantically back to Twilight, I saw Spike begging his mom for comfort in his frightening situation.

"Mom," Spike choked out from within the sisters' magical grasps.

"Spike," Twilight reached a hoof out to him, "let them help; let us talk to you and help you through this," she begged softly. "Why do you think you're a monster?" she asked. At long last, the purple dragon calmed down. His arms and legs hanging with the rest of his body in mid-air.

"Are you calm now brother?" Cadence questioned. Spike looked over, eyes still tear filled and nodded at all of us. Luna and Celestia gently set him on the ground and deactivated their detainment spell, leaving him to run if he wanted, but he didn't. Instead, the reptile slumped down with his back against the tree, hands folded over his knees as the moonlight glistened off his wet eyes.

"Spike," Celestia kneeled down next to him, "I want to let you know that while I do not condone violence," she placed a hoof on his head, causing him to flinch, "I am not angry, nor am I upset that you struck Blueblood."

"Wh-why? I let my anger control me Princess," Spike sniffled in response, "I hit a pony and then strangled him while slamming him against a wall. That should guarantee me a cell in the dungeon for life, especially because I assaulted a royal!" he exclaimed.

"Yes, you did assault a royal," Luna agreed.

"A royal pain in the rump. Prince Blueblood is far from how a royal should act," Celestia continued, "just because he is our nephew does not grant him permission to do whatever he pleases."

"I-I'm afraid I might hurt somepony else close to me," Spike admitted.

"Come on Spike," Flash spoke up, surprising us all, "you helped save the Crystal Empire, right Cadence and Shining Armor?" The leaders of the Crystal Empire nodded in compliance with the pegasus.

"Twily raised you since she hatched you," Shining added, "you were always one of the nicest little guys I'd ever met, albeit a little sarcastic to everypony," Shining muttered, forcing Cadence to elbow his ribs. Rarity stepped forward, trotting slowly to Spike.

"Why on Earth do you think you'll hurt somepony else Spikey-Wikey?" she questioned gently.

"LOOK AT ME!" Spike shouted, unintentionally I think since he was still stressed and scared at the same time. He raised his claws in front of his face, both limbs shaking. Rarity held her ground, waiting to hear Spike's explanation. "My greed is taking me over again! Thank Celestia I didn't hurt anypony physically the last time I grew, but who knows if now I enjoy getting aggressive and asserting dominance over everyone around me." He continued to hold up his claws that had dried blood so we could see his evidence, "only monsters have claws, and I've used them to cause harm!"

"You are not anything like a violent creature Spike," Celestia softly rubbed her hoof atop his hand.

"Most dragons are violent by nature princess, and I couldn't live with myself if I did anything to harm my friends. And if I hurt Rarity or Twilight, no!" he couldn't bear the thought of bringing harm to his crush or his mother. "Princess, say if you let me go and everything is all fine and dandy, what if somepony tries to hurt Fluttershy or my mother and I stop them, but then my animal instincts gain control of my thinking and I start to enjoy hurting others and then I start hurting my friends for fun?" Spike asked Celestia. Silence met the group once again, save for the sounds of crickets chirping or the sounds of Vinyl entertaining the crowd back in the ballroom, as no one could think of anything to respond. "That's what I thought," Spike exclaimed, "just take me away where I won't be able to hurt my friends princess, please!" Spike begged.

"Alright that's enough Spike!" Rainbow Dash snarled and pushed her way through the crowd. I almost jumped along with Applebloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo at her outburst, but we all kept from jumping and stood still. Both Luna and Celestia jerked their heads towards the sound of Rainbow Dash's voice as she briskly trotted up to the dragon with a glare in her eyes. "Look buddy, you need to stop all your negative thinking and you're gonna stop right now!" she demanded.

"Rainbow!" Rarity scolded, "Spike is going through emotional turmoil right now; he doesn't need you yelling at him!" she gritted her teeth. Ignoring the seamstress, Rainbow turned back to dragon.

"Listen Spike," Rainbow said again, "I know you won't hurt any of us physically or even emotionally," the pegasus assured him.

"Wh-what makes you say that Rainbow?" Spike whined.

"Would a monster care for his friend's pets all day long and make sure nothing bad happened to them?" I heard Rainbow reference the time Spike had to petsit for his friends when they went off to the Crystal Empire for the Olympics or whatever.

"N-no I guess not," the dragon still couldn't stop the tears from flowing. Pinkie Pie hopped onto the backs of several ponies and hopped her way to the front, eventually bouncing off my head.

"OW!" I rubbed my head that I'm sure will have a knot now. The pink party mare caught her breath as she shoved Rainbow Dash out of the way.

"And would a scarifying monster like you claim to be bake us yummylicious treats and make us tea for snacks?!" She outstretched her forelegs, "'cause if that does make you a monster, then you'd be the scariest-" Twilight's magic zipped Pinkie's mouth shut before she could say something stupid and moved her next to Rainbow Dash. 'Clever girls,' I thought to myself and rubbed my chin. This was turning into sort of a reverse intervention where everyone reminded Spike of just how much of a kind dragon he is. I smiled as Applejack finally trotted up to him for her turn.

"Spike, look at me lil partner," she placed her booted hoof under his chin and slowly made him look up. "Ah know fer a fact that monsters don't go 'n proclaim to help somepony for the rest 'o his life," she rewarded him with one of her soft smiles that made me grow warm, what? My thoughts were interrupted when Fluttershy stopped her silent crying and walked slowly up to the ever growing group around the dragon.

"A good friend like you Spike who risked his life to save Rarity from Diamond Dogs could never be a bloodthirsty monster," she smiled and patted his head, earning her a slight moan from the reptile. Now, everyone around the dragon that was close friends with him began to hug him, save for the Crusaders who still stuck by me.

"Do we even need to mention how many lives you saved at the Equestria Games from the ice cloud?" Shining Armor and Cadence joined the hug.

"And a monster wouldn't help his mother adjust to living in a new town and help her make new friends," Celestia hugged him as well.

"Agreed sister, nor would a monster risk his life to make sure his mother was okay," Luna squeezed herself in on the hug. Suddenly, the Crusaders all galloped their way over and joined in the dog-pile hug as well. Everyone then turned their heads towards Rarity as she had not yet given another example of his friendly nature.

"Spikey?" she finally exclaimed and looked at him in the eyes. "Remember when you broke that spell that turned me insane and forced me to keep changing everything? A monster would have continued to let me go crazier and crazier until all of Equestria had been changed to 'my' liking," she air-quoted. "I am honored to call you one of my best friends," she snuggled up under his chin right next to Twilight.

"And I could never be prouder than you Spike of helping me overcome my overzealous behavior during my tardy episode," she hugged him tighter. "Or when you helped us escape that comic book." Myself, Discord, Checkered Flag, Rumble, Featherweight, Pipsqueak, Flash Sentry, Caramel, Cheese Sandwich, Soarin, Big Mac, Cheerilee and Glock still stood where we originally stopped, having nothing else to add since everyone else pretty much did it for us.

"G-guys, I-I don't know what to say," Spike smiled and embraced the hug.

"Cougar, y'all have anythin' to add?" Applejack called me on the spot. I froze, surprised that they wanted me to add something to help Spike realize he was a true friend and not a monster that he thought. My eyes darted around, looking for inspiration to give Spike a reason to see we were right and he had just been over stressing the entire issue. At last, I started speaking and just literally began pulling words out of thin air.

"Spike," I began and slowly walked towards him, "a true monster knowingly and intentionally causes or inflicts harm on another creature for their own selfish and personal gains, feeling no remorse or guilt for their actions. You selflessly protected a mare you," I couldn't think of the right word to say instead of love to not scare Rarity. "Admire," the word rolled off my tongue as I stopped in front of the dog-pile hug, "from a real monster who dared to lay a hoof on her. Are you a monster? No fucking way Spike," I cursed, "you are a HERO," I emphasized, "and I am honored to know you," I stuck my hand out to shake his own.

"Woah," Glock whistled at my little spur of the moment speech.

"O-okay guys," Spike gulped, taking in everything everyone had told him, "maybe I'm not a monster." Everyone cheered, even Discord at his revelation. "But I still harmed a pony, shouldn't I at least be punished?" He asked as everyone released him and stood up. Luna and Celestia both looked at each other before shaking their heads.

"Absolutely not Spike," Celestia smiled, "I shall decree it to be protection and you shan't receive any punishment," she bowed her head.

"She's right Spike," Twilight wrapped her foreleg around him in another hug, "you don't need to be punished for doing the right thing," she nuzzled him. "My baby boy," Twilight added, forcing an embarrassed groan to emit from Spike's mouth.

"Well I think I do," Spike asserted, "I want you to take away my comics for a week for using violence mom, and I won't take no for an answer," he put his foot down.

"Very mature," Cadence noted, "maybe this particular growth spurt is for the better and not like your greed spurt," she contemplated.

"Fine," Twilight giggled, "no comics for a week young dragon, but I will still make you your gems after the Gala," she swore.

"Thanks mom," Spike returned the hug. As we all regrouped and began to head back to the ballroom, I was still curious about the growing thing.

"So, how long before he shrinks back down to normal size like last time?" I asked. Twilight put a hoof to her chin and looked her son up and down a few times.

"I don't know Cougar, this time was different," she replied, "maybe I should talk to Zecora tomorrow and see what she says about it. She knows more than I do when it comes to dragons," Twilight explained. Rarity cleared her throat and stepped in front of Twilight and Spike. The dragon blushed, still feeling his attraction to Rarity even after growing.

"Spike, I never properly thanked you for coming to my defense," she said. The dragon in question nervously looked down at his feet, scratching the back of his head.

"Oh, you're welcome Rarity, it was my honor as a noble dragon," he said, finally looking eye to eye with her. Then, something happened that shocked everyone around us except the white unicorn in front of Spike. Rarity softly cupped Spike's cheek with her hooves, making him blush in embarrassment and confusion. She then leaned forward and gently planted her lips on his own with her eyes closed. Twilight gasped, Spike squeaked and Pinkie Pie and Cadence squealed.

Nobody said a word as Rarity gave Spike a very special thank you for saving her; no one wanted to ruin the moment. Rarity departed her lips from Spike's leaving the dragon in an awe-struck state as the greatest moment in his life was over. "Just for you Spikey-Wikey," Rarity giggled at his dream state.

"Rari-wha-elwen kissed me," Spike babbled. Twilight lightly patted his cheek to get him back down to Earth.

"IT'S SO ADORABLE!" Pinkie squealed and grabbed Cheese Sandwich in a tight hug.

"Way to go dude!" Soarin congratulated the dragon.

"Spike, are you okay?" Rarity giggled yet again as we all waited for the dragon to form a coherent sentence. He shook his head from side to side and blushed a deep red, forcing a small chuckle to escape my throat.

"Y-yeah, I'm fine Rarity," Spike tried to sound cool, but still stuttered a few times. I then felt a tapping on my shin from a tiny hoof. Looking down, I saw Sweetie Belle trying to get my attention.

"What's up Sweetie Belle?" I bent down to her eye level. She motioned for me to lean closer, so I bent my head down so my ear was right next to her muzzle. I'll admit her furry muzzle and whispering voice tickled my ear, but I listened intently to what the filly had to say. When she was done, she nodded with an adorable smile and put on her begging eyes. "I think that can be arranged," I petted her mane.

"What's goin' on with Sweetie Belle Cougar?" Applejack asked me, getting close enough to bump my shoulder as I stood up.

"She was hoping that the next song Vinyl and I play would be a slower one considering we should all take a breather," I replied, softly brushing where her shoulder bumped mine.

"Yay! Come on Cheese, let's slow things down a bit!" Pinkie Pie grabbed her date and drug him back through the gardens.

"Spike, would you care to lead me in a dance?" Rarity batted her eyelashes at the dragon. Starting to babble again, Spike couldn't comprehend what was going on until Cadence lightly stamped on his foot.

"Of course milady, right this way!" Spike squeaked out and Rarity softly grasped his arm, helping him lead her back to the ballroom. The Crusaders grabbed their dates and ran quickly with Pinkie Pie, nearly tripping over their shoes that they wore for only one night a year.

"Since we are confessing feelings," Luna cleared her throat as I saw her foreleg intertwined with Checkered Flag's. "Tia, I must tell you a secret I've been hiding from you," she admitted.

"Maybe we should give ya some space Princesses?" AJ suggested and tried to push me and everyone else away.

"No, it's fine Applejack," Celestia softly replied. "What have you been hiding from me little sister? The fact that you have a secret doughnut stash in the castle kitchen or the fact that you've been dating Checkered Flag secretly in his dreams for several months?" She asked cooly. Luna and Checkered Flag's eyes grew to the size of saucers and they began to hyperventilate.

"But, what, how, did, you, I?" Luna tried to ask how her older sister knew while Checkered Flag couldn't speak, fearful for what would happen to him and more importantly to his secret marefriend. Everyone else froze too, interested in what was about to happen, though Applejack and I were still close.

"Oh stop it Luna," Celestia teased her sister, "the messenger pony always delivered letters during the day and delivered them straight to me," she explained.

"YOU READ MY PRIVATE MAIL?!" Luna shouted, "Newpony!" she growled.

"No, they were always addressed, "To the most beautiful Princess of the Night, Luna." And the return address was Checkered Flag's personal estate," Celestia revealed.

"Eh, sorry Moon Pie," Checkered Flag grinned uncomfortably.

"That and whenever you entered his dream, I could still hear you talking to him," the white alicorn teased. "And don't worry Lulu, I approve of your relationship," Celestia hugged her sister. I always knew Luna was worrying too much about Celesita's reaction.

"Y-you are your highness?" Checkered Flag asked in astonishment, "but I'm not royalty or even an alicorn," he pointed out, "just a regular Earth Pony."

"While that may be true Checkered Flag, I know you are a good stallion with a heart of gold and you love my sister with all your heart. You are the perfect match and make my sister happy; that's all I want," Celestia explained to Checkered Flag.

"Thank you sister!" Luna hugged Celestia tightly.

"Told ya Shiny," we heard Cadence taunt her husband who then dropped a few bits into her hoof. "Now come on, I think it's time for that slow song!" the Princess of Love announced to all of us.

"Yes, come now Cougar," Luna motioned to me and Applejack, "continue to make this the best Gala ever for all of us!"

---

(In the Ballroom. 3rd person POV)

As the sounds of numerous shoes clacked against the spectacular marble flooring of the castle ballroom, eyes of the Canterlot nobles bore into the crowd that included the four alicorn princesses while Vinyl continued to play her keyboard. She fell down on top of said keyboard, breathless, with her tongue hanging out. "Sorry folks," she wheezed, "but that's every song I know how to play on the keyboard," she apologized.

"Rarity, are you doing better?" Fancypants instantly questioned his friend as his wife looked her over with the dragon still attached to her foreleg.

"Much since I had a noble dragon and friend to protect me," Rarity replied happily.

"Well that's good then, you seem okay," Fleur helped straighten out Rarity's mane.

"Oh thank Celestia," Vinyl exclaimed when Cougar parted from his friends and hopped back up onstage. The stuffiness of the ballroom hit his body full force, but the pilot brushed it aside and grabbed the microphone.

"Hey good evening everypony," Cougar announced, "again."

"Oh joy, the animal is back," another pony insulted the human. Fleur reared her back legs and kicked the snooty pony in the sides. The mare yelped in pain and grabbed her side that now housed a dark blue bruise.

"Thank you Fleur," Cougar winked at the pony whom bowed in response, "now sorry for that brief interruption, but I think it's time we lay back a little and slow things down a bit, don't you think?" he questioned and switched to a new song on his phone. Yet, before he could press the orange play button, he had one other important thing to say. "Before we begin, I'd suggest everypony grab their own special somepony; things are about to get a little sappy," his eye winked at the crowd. Almost immediately, every stallion in the crowd slowly offered their hoof to their dates that they had brought, except in the case of Lyra and Bon Bon.

"May I have this dance my Princess of the Night?" Checkered Flag asked his marefriend respectfully. Blushing, Luna nodded and accepted his hoof, both of them stepping onto their hind legs. Meanwhile, since she didn't have a date for the Gala, Celestia stepped away from the crowd and decided to have a small drink while everypony else enjoyed a dance. However, before she reached the makeshift bar she felt a tapping on her side and the sound of somepony clearing their throat.

"Yes?" Celestia asked and turned around to find her most faithful guard Glock standing at attention.

"W-would it be alright if I asked you for a dance, your highness?" Glock gulped, offering his golden plated hoof to the Princess he'd guarded for so many years. Taken aback, the white alicorn looked from Glock's blue eyes to his hoof several times, trying to understand what was happening. After a brief moment of not saying anything, Glock pulled his hoof away from the princess, a pained look in his eye. "I-I'm sorry for acting inappropriately your highness, please forgive me," he apologized and tried to trot away. However, Celestia shot a beam from her horn at him, stopping the guard in his tracks.

"No, please don't go Glock," Celestia requested. "I was just surprised you asked me for a dance," she warmly smiled.

"I don't know what came over me Princess, I know it's not appropriate for guards to be-" he couldn't finish his sentence.

"Glock, you've guarded me for so many years and treated me as a pony instead of royalty or like many other guards who are only in it for the paycheck. I'd be honored to share a dance with you," she softly planted her lips on his cheek, inciting a red blush to appear on his face. "However, is this just a spur of the moment question, or have you been harboring feelings for me for some time?" Celestia questioned.

"I'll answer," Glock began, catching his breath, "after the dance, if that's fine your highness," Glock bargained.

"It's a deal Glock, and please," she took his hoof, leading him back to the dance floor, "call me Celestia," she winked. The pegasus guard looked back behind him to see Remington and Bat Fang, their mouths practically hanging down to the floor at their fellow guard's lucky break. Back up on stage, Cougar smiled as he saw numerous couples ready to dance to the slow song he had chosen. Yet, just as his thumb was about to press down on the orange and white play button, he spotted somepony in the crowd who didn't have somepony to dance with.

The human didn't know why, but he felt bad for the mare, and he also felt a slight twinge in his chest as she smiled and waved at him, her emerald green eyes staring right back at him. "Hey Vinyl, take the helm, I've got something to do," Cougar tossed the phone to Vinyl whom caught it in her magic.

"You want me to do more by myself Coug? Come on bro!" Vinyl exclaimed before Cougar could hop off the stage. "I don't mind going solo, but I thought this was gonna be more of a duo," she hissed, covering the microphone with her hoof. Cougar looked behind him to check on the crowd before turning back to the white unicorn.

"Look, you don't have to do anything except press that play button and then relax, okay?" Cougar explained, "just push play and grab a drink until the song is over," he added. Vinyl Scratch breathed a sigh of relief and smiled.

"Good Cougar," she replied, "because I really need a drink, just let me know when you're ready," she winked.

"Glad we're on the same page," he gave her a thumbs up before putting his jacket back on over his torso and buttoning it back up. Weaving through the crowd, Cougar made his way towards Applejack as she looked happy at her little sister getting ready to dance with Featherweight, but sad that she didn't have a date to dance with. The orange mare took her cowgirl hat off her head and ran a hoof through her golden mane, sighing tiredly.

"Welp, guess Ah'll just go 'n get a drink," she took one look at the stage, hoping to see Cougar getting his guitar back on over his muscular chest. However, she froze when all she saw was Vinyl Scratch holding his phone within her magic; Cougar was nowhere to be found.

"Hey AJ," the mare's ears twitched as her name was called. Turning her emerald eyes around, Applejack found Cougar standing with his jacket buttoned back up and a shy smile on his face. All she could do was blink in response, wondering why he wasn't up on stage ready to perform. He said nothing else, instead Cougar cracked his knuckles a few times, trying to break the ice.

"Not that Ah don't mind talkin' ta ya Cougar," Applejack began, putting her hat back on her head, "but shouldn't ya be up there helpin' Vinyl?" She asked. The human cleared his throat before extending his arm and hand out to her.

"Well, I saw you didn't have anyone to dance with and I was wondering if you'd like to share a dance with me?" He asked as cooly as he could. Cougar's hand shook slightly as he awaited an answer from his best friend in Equestria. He was silently praying that she didn't think it was a sick joke or that he was creeping her out. However, he did get a shock when her face contorted into a smile and she raised her hoof and softly planted it in his palm.

"Ah'd be happy ta share a dance with the man that saved my life," she rewarded him with another smile.

---

(Cougar's POV)

When AJ's hoof touched my hand, my world froze. Her smile warmed my chest and made me feel, safe and welcomed, even after close to half a year here in pony land. Why? Why do I feel at so much peace around only her? I've hung out with Rainbow a few times, and Luna plenty of other times, but I've never felt like this around them. Fearing that I would worry Applejack for not immediately responding, I gently curled my fingers around her hoof and with my other hand, caressed her waist as she stood on her hind legs. She was just below my chin on her legs. The last time we stood like this was when she...

"Just relax Cougar, it's only me," she assured me when she felt my trembling hand.

"S-sorry, I just still never danced with a girl before, human included," I attempted to crack a joke.

"Well, since yer my friend 'n all, Ah promise not ta bite," she joked right back, easing some of the air around us, "too much," she chuckled, causing me to lose breath for a brief second. "Would ya look at that?" AJ motioned her head to our left and we saw Glock removing his helmet and putting it off to the side while he and Celestia held each other's hooves. Just about every other pony and the one draconequus in the room held the same expression as Applejack and myself at Celestia preparing to dance with a guard. I pictured the Queen of England dancing with one of her personal guards wearing those furry hats for a second.

"Eh, if an Earth Pony champion like Checkered Flag can land Luna, I'm sure a pegasus royal guard like Glock landing Celestia shouldn't be a surprise," I whispered into Applejack's ear. The mare turned her head, forcing me to move my head back as our noses brushed against one another's.

"S-sorry Cougar," she apologized, backing her head away to give me some more space. I could've sworn she had the faintest pink blush on her cheeks.

"Don't uh sweat it," I replied, blinking and not looking at her but at Vinyl back up on stage. She gestured to me with her hoof, asking if everything was set to go. Giving her a nod, I turned back to Applejack, making sure my grip on her waist didn't slip; I didn't want to drop her on the floor. Back up on stage, Vinyl re-connected my phone to her sound system and pressed play on the one song I thought was perfect for Spike and Rarity, yet it also held meaningful and beautiful lyrics and instrumentals. A perfect slow song that encompassed someone comforting the one they loved over a tough or hurtful period in their lives.

Right as the first few notes of a soft keyboard melody hit the airwaves from the speakers surrounding the ballroom, just about every couple moved in perfect synchronization, the stallions leading the mares per the norm.

---

(3rd Person POV)

I can tell by the look in your eyes
You've been hurtin
You know I'll never let you down oh, no
And I'll try anything to keep it workin

"Oh Spike," Rarity cooed as the taller dragon gracefully moved on his feet without missing a beat and without stepping on Rarity's hooves, "I didn't know you could dance so well!" the seamstress exclaimed, eliciting a pleasant smile from the reptile. "And I do like your deeper voice," she added.

"Well, I did dance with Sweetie Belle at Shining Armor and Cadence's wedding," he explained, "but it wasn't anything like this," Spike chuckled, making sure his grip on Rarity was not too loose nor too tight. As Spike shifted their position around in a circle, Rarity pursed her lips, unable to find the courage to ask Spike an important question that she feared would offend the dragon. "Is everything okay Rarity?" Spike asked the mare, "I'm not gripping too hard am I?"

You gave me time to find out
What my heart was lookin for
And what I'm feelin inside

"No, everything is quite alright," Rarity quickly covered, "you really know how to make a mare feel cared for," she complimented.

"I know how to make my friends feel cared for," Spike corrected seriously. "Rarity, I know it's weird for me to be saying this, but if there's something on your mind, you can tell me," he let go of her hoof and softly stroked her mane.

"Spike, would you have reacted the same way you did to Blueblood had it been Rainbow Dash, Applejack or any of our other friends instead of myself that he struck?" Rarity finally blurted out. The dragon ceased dancing with Rarity, stopping them in the middle of the dance floor. Thankfully, the other couples were able to maneuver around the stalled pair to continue their evening.

"O-of course Rarity," Spike sputtered, "I love all of my friends and my mom deeply; I would've done my part to save any one of them," he promised. Rarity bumped her hoof into Spike's palm, insisting he continue dancing.

"Listen Spike, after this dance, I think we should have a little talk about us and this crush you've had on me for so long," the seamstress said both in a lighthearted yet serious tone of voice. Sweat began to emit from beneath the dragon's purple scales. "But uh don't worry, you're not in any trouble and I am certainly not mad Spikey-Wikey," Rarity softly laid her head on his shoulder.

In your eyes
I want to see your love again
In your eyes
I never want this feeling to end

---

"You look beautiful tonight Moon Pie," Checkered Flag complimented his marefriend as he attempted to lead her in a dance. It wasn't particularly easy since Luna was an alicorn and taller than Checkered. Said alicorn attempted to hide a blush by looking away from her longtime coltfriend.

"And you look quite handsome as well Checkered," Luna sighed, laying her head atop his black and white short mane. "I'm so glad to be rid of hiding our relationship and lying to my sister Checkered."

"I know how you feel Luna," the stallion nuzzled her neck, "it was hard trying to come up with reasons to other mares why I couldn't enter a steady relationship with them. And I'm sure you saw that article in the Equestrian Enquirer about me uh, playing for the same team right?" The light grey racing champion muttered. Luna's turquoise eyes faintly turned red with anger at the memory of seeing that headline at one of the magazine stands in Canterlot.

"Yes, oh I wanted to track down that author and show him the error of his ways," she growled at Checkered Flag. "I've wanted to ban tabloids like that for many years, but Tia believes everypony has the right to say what's on their mind."

"Even after that article about her cake addiction?" Checkered questioned.

"Believe me Checkered, it shocked me as well, but that's why everypony loves her," Luna said with a hint of sadness, "she respects everypony's rights, especially that of freedom of speech." The stallion lowered his hoof onto her back and hugged her lovingly.

It took some time to find the light
But now I realize
I can see the heaven in your eyes

"Luna, I know things between you and most of the populous is still a little strained," he said warmly, "but you're making great progress and your sister is helping show how kind and loving you are. At least I know how loving you can be Luna," he nuzzled her neck again.

"I'm not jealous or anything of that nature anymore, I just wish some ponies still weren't afraid of me Checkered. I want to atone for my past mistakes and give back to the kingdom," she explained.

"Just keep doing what you're doing Moon Pie," Checkered cooed, lightly brushing his lips across her cheek, "and I have faith that everypony outside our circle of friends will eventually come around and see the loving and especially beautiful mare I know you are," he connected his lips to her.

"Checkered Flag, I am so grateful you invited me to your race in the Crystal Empire; I never would have met the stallion who is the stars to my moon," Luna rubbed her cheek against his.

Can't you see I'm finding it hard to let go oooh
All the heartaches we've been through
I never really thought I'd see this love grow
But you helped me see
Now I know what my heart's been lookin for
And what I'm feeling inside

In your eyes
I want to see your love again
In your eyes
I never want this feeling to end
It took some time to find the light
But now I realize
I can see the heaven in your eyes

---

"So Glock, what caused you to ask me to dance?" Celestia questioned her personal guard. Glock had his hooves on Celestia's shoulders since she was so much taller than him, leaving her on all four hooves. "You don't have to be so nervous around me," she comforted as the guard had tiny beads of sweat dripping down his forehead and he couldn't look straight at her eyes. "You guard me every day and you stand roughly this close," she added.

"F-forgive me Celestia," the nervous guard apologized with a gulp, "but it's much different standing off to your side to guard you rather than standing in front of you, this close," he sheepishly explained. The princess of the sun giggled and patted his mane.

We've been livin on the edge
Where only the strong survive

"And why is it so hard to let loose a little and talk like friends?" She questioned kindly, allowing Glock to spin her around. "I wouldn't mind just talking to you even while you're on the clock and guarding myself."

"Well Princess, I could tell you, but then I'd be afraid of getting beheaded or tossed in the dungeon," Glock admitted. Celestia gasped, startling Glock enough to make him stop dancing with her.

"Captain Glock, what in Equestria's name would make you think I would punish you that harshly for telling me the truth?" She questioned, slightly hurt. "I have no ill will towards you, nor will I think of you any different." The guard took a deep breath before looking into Celestia's eyes. He blinked several times and licked his bottom lip.

"It's hard to stand this close to you Celestia because A) You're my boss and I'm afraid of doing something to offend you and B) I haven't always um been good standing this close to beautiful mares," he mumbled the last part, but he was loud enough so she could hear him. A slight blush crept across Celestia's cheek as Glock revealed that she was beautiful to him. Sure, she's heard that too many times to count, but coming from somepony she knew for over ten years, she felt her cheeks burning up.

"H-how long have you thought this of me Glock?" was all Celestia could ask. Wanting to keep as much attention away from the duo, Glock continued to dance with the leader of Equestria.

"I've always known of your beauty since I was a colt Celestia," he replied, "but when I was a colt, it was just polite to tell mares that, yet when I joined the corps and you greeted us new recruits on the first day of boot camp, I really noticed just how beautiful you were," Glock explained.

"Yes, I remember greeting your batch of recruits that day and that you were gunning for becoming my personal guard. You were very handsome in your boot camp uniform if I recall," Celestia flirted.

"Well you didn't hear the other recruits when you left," Glock rubbed the back of his head, "myself and Remington were the only ones not talking dirty about your uh, hindquarters," the guard tiptoed around the last word, still fearful of offending his princess. Instead, Celestia's muzzle curled into a smile and she snickered.

"I get compliments about my flank when guards think I can't hear them, it's quite comical actually," she snickered. She then thought of an idea that would be considered evil to anypony else, but she wanted to have a little fun with the guard admitting his feelings to her. "What do you think of it Glock?" she blurted.

"Ex-excuse me Celestia?"

"What do you think of my flank Glock?" she said in her same teasing tone, "don't be shy, you can be honest with me." The poor guard nearly froze on spot, but since he was given permission from Celestia, he didn't feel as scared.

"I-I think it's the nicest flank in all of Equestria your highness," Glock clenched his eyes shut, ready for any form of punishment to come his way. Instead however, when he opened his eyes, Glock found Celestia smiling at him.

"Captain Glock, would you like to join me for breakfast tomorrow morning?" the princess asked kindly.

We've been livin on the edge
And it's something that we just can't hide
Oh this feeling inside

"But uh, I always escort you to breakfast Princess Celestia," Glock breathed a sigh of relief. Celestia chuckled and pressed her lips against Glock's cheek.

"I meant would you like to eat with me silly," Celestia flirted with him yet again.

"Duh, uh, yes!" Glock squeaked out, drawing out another giggle from Celestia.

---

(Cougar's POV)

Dear God, why can't I look Applejack in the eye? Every time I tried, I felt lightheaded for a second or two before I looked away somewhere else. Through these brief glances away from the mare willing to dance with me, I could somewhat see Twilight dancing with Flash Sentry, yet she was staring intently towards Spike and Rarity as they talked and danced at the same time.

"Is everythin' okay Cowboy?" Applejack's southern drawl cut into my thinking. "Ya seem jumpier than a jackrabbit on a hot tin roof," she pointed out. I turned my gaze from Twilight and Flash Sentry back to the orange mare. And once again, the instant I looked back at her eyes, my head felt light and my heart seemed ready to jump out of my chest like a chestburster from Alien.

"Sure, everything is smooth right now," I gulped, "just a little stuffy in here you know?" I sort of made up. I really thought it was getting stuffy in here, but I couldn't understand what other reason there could be why I felt a little sick.

"Yeah, Ah guess it is a little stuffy in here, what with so many ponies in here at once," she agreed, scanning her emerald orbs around the room.

In your eyes
I want to see your love again
In your eyes
I never want this feeling to end
It took some time to find the light
But now I realize

Sniffing the air a bit to get a true sense of how stuffy it was, a certain scent wafted its way into my nostrils. 'Cinnamon and apples...' My mind thought as I tightened my grip on Applejack's waist. "Ya know, I never did take ya fer a dancer Cougar," she complimented, "guess that's proof ya like ta keep ta yerself, 'n that's fine," she placated me. "Which is also weird since ya told me ya didn't really go ta yer high school dances," she pondered.

"Eh, I've seen enough movies to know how to slow dance, at least to good songs," I replied, trying to ignore the scent emitting from her natural odor from her body combined with body wash and shampoo.

"Ah'll agree ta that, ya do have great taste in music, though Ah wouldn't mind hearin' some country now 'n again," she admitted, looking at me with pleading eyes. 'S-stop looking at me like that, please,' I thought. "Ya do like country music right?" She asked. I licked my lower lip and clicked my tongue.

"Well of course, and you're welcome to listen to my iPad or my phone anytime you want Applejack; I don't mind at all," I replied.

"Or maybe we could listen to either 'o them together?" She suggested with her same puppy dog eyes before leaning her head closer and softly resting it on my chest.

"Whatever you want, Applejack," I managed to breath out. 'Come on, would it kill you to compliment your friend a bit?' My mind berated me. Breathing in through my nose again to take in her scent, I said to Applejack, "you smell good." Oh God, someone just kill me now, please. That was the best compliment I could muster? Idiots like me shouldn't be allowed to procreate. Well, at least I wouldn't have to worry about that possibility in this dimension or whatever I was in. The orange mare picked her head up from my chest with a sheepish smile and a blush.

I can see the heaven in your eyes
Oh yeah, I can see the heaven in your eyes
Oh yeah, I can see the heaven in your eyes
I can see the heaven in your eyes

"Thank ya Cougar, ya look real good in that there tux," she complimented me right back.

"You look great in that dress too," I quickly, yet cooly replied, "and I really like the way you do your mane," I added.

"Smooth Cougar, ya flatterer," she teased me.

Heaven in your eyes oh
Heaven in your eyes
I can see the heaven, heaven in your eyes
Heaven in your eyes

As the song finally ended and the sounds of applause from hooves clacking against the marble flooring, I felt my hands moving up and gingerly caressing the side of Applejack's face, her face feeling warm and flush to my touch. My mouth opened and closed several times, trying form the right and coherent words to say to her, but I couldn't. "Cougar?" Applejack whispered softly as she looked straight up at me, her head moving closer to mine. I couldn't breath as a choke caught itself inside my throat, disabling my voice box and my ability to breathe for a second or three.

"I gotta go!" I blurted, nimbly drawing my hand back to my side and turning around to jog away from Applejack. "Thanks for the dance!" I nervously called as I got away from the mare. I didn't dare to look back at her for fear of what her facial expression read. I needed to talk to the one pony that could help me with this. But first, I needed to get out of the stuffy ballroom and find a quick spot to catch my breath.

"Cougar, what a wonderful song you selected!" I looked up to see Luna and Checkered Flag standing in front of me, "I knew you were the perfect choice to host this year's Grand Galloping Gala, I must speak to Tia about making you and Vinyl Scratch the permanent Gala hosts!" she complimented me. Still catching my breath, I couldn't say a word to either Luna or her date.

"Hey buddy, you okay?" Checkered asked with genuine concern.

"Yeah, I'm, fine," I held a hand up and wheezed.

"Wheezing does not sound fine, do you require a drink of water?" a glass of water appeared in front of me thanks to Luna's magic. I shook my head and stood up at attention.

"No, I just need to talk to-" I started before Shining Armor and Cadence found the three of us. Both the pink alicorn and the white unicorn looked happy after dancing together seeing as how Cadence had her left wing draped over Shining Armor's back. In fact, Luna was doing the same thing to Checkered Flag.

"Cougar, great song for a slow dance, you have a keen ear for these things," Cadence congratulated.

"Cadence! I really need to talk to you, please it's important!" I blurted out to the alicorn, catching all four ponies off guard. The pink alicorn turned to her husband, puzzled and then turned back to me, darting her eyes around.

"Um sure, what's on your mind Cougar?" She questioned, taking her wing off of Shining's back.

"Actually, I was hoping to talk alone if that's at all possible?" I shrugged, mentally hoping she'd agree.

"That's, fine by me, no problem!" She exclaimed with a grin, "we'll be right back Shining, auntie Luna, Checkered Flag," she waved with her hoof and escorted me to an empty hallway. I will admit it felt great to get out of that hot room and into a cooler part of the castle, allowing me to think a little more clearly. Double checking to make sure no one was spying on us, Cadence asked, "so, what's on your mind Cougar?"

"Cadence, I need to know if I'm going crazy or not, can you help?" I asked, leaning my back against the wall, trapping myself between said wall and the pink alicorn.

"Going crazy? I'm not quite sure what you mean by that, you seem like a reasonably sane creature to me," she replied. Sighing and twiddling my thumbs together, I rocked back and forth agains the wall.

"Look, you're the Princess of Love right?" I asked.

"Yes I am," she replied with a knowing smirk, "are you-" she began to ask before I covered her muzzle with my hand, ceasing her ability to talk but keeping her nose clear so she could still breathe.

"I don't know what the fuck is going on with me. It's just that, every time now I look at Applejack, I lose my train of thought. And every time we talk, I get a little choked up and my chest tightens. Whenever we're close and whenever we're apart, I can't breathe and my hands tremble and I feel like I'm gonna puke. Other times, I feel happy around her and I really, really care for her. Earlier today, I gave her a massage on her back and shoulders and it felt good making her feel better, what the fuck is going on with me Cadence?" I begged her.

"Cougar, I think you know the answer to your questions," was her response.

"I believe I know, I just don't want to know that I'm right," I said, unable to look at her anymore. I soon felt a hoof gently nudging my chin, softly forcing me to look up into Cadence's purple eyes.

"Why did you come to me again Cougar?" a motherly smile carved on her face as she listened to my explanations. Blinking several times, I mustered up my reply to her.

"I was hoping you would say I'm just suffering from heat stroke or mild insanity," I replied with a slight choke in my voice.

"But we both know that's not it Cougar, right?" she asked me, peering her face closer to mine. "I won't say it for you; you need to realize it on your own sweetie," she talked to me like her son or a little kid.

"No," I refused, "no, no, no! I can't be Cadence, I can't be in love with Applejack!" I exclaimed in a whisper.

"Search your feelings Cougar and you'll know it's true," she blinked at me.

"But she's, and I'm, oh God I'm sick!" I punched the wall as hard as I could, a small crack appearing in the surface, though my hand soon throbbed in pain.

"Listen to me Cougar," she touched her horn to my hand, "I've felt your feelings all night long and I know that they are 100% true. You shouldn't bottle up your feelings, especially for somepony you love; it's not healthy," she cooed.

"Cadence, there's no way in hell I can tell her, she'll freak and kick my ass off her farm and never want to see me again!" I retorted. "I don't want to ruin our friendship, I've done that too many times in the past," I recalled my episode a few weeks ago.

"If she's truly your friend, then she'll understand. And she wouldn't freak out over it, she may be surprised, but she'll continue to be your friend," Cadence assured me.

---

(With Applejack. 3rd Person POV)

Applejack felt sad when Cougar bolted from their dance spot when the song concluded. "Ya stupid idiot!" Applejack angrily scolded herself, her cowgirl boots scraping against the floor hard. "Why'd ya have ta get that close 'n freak him out?" She berated. The mare was just trying to be friendly with her human companion, but her flirtatious side took over, freaking him out. "At least Ah didn't say anythin' stupid," Applejack muttered, weaving in and out of the crowd, seeing her big brother and Cheerilee warmly embracing each other after dancing.

Applejack always knew things happened for a reason. Coincidences and accidents didn't just happen. So there had to be a reason why her flirtatious side had awakened when Cougar danced with her, right? Searching for answers, the farming mare decided she needed to talk to the one pony that knew more about flirting than any other. "Hey Princess Celestia, have ya seen Rarity anywhere?" Applejack asked the princess whom was busy chatting with her personal guard, Glock.

"I think I saw her take Spike back outside to talk, is there a special reason why you needed to see her?" Celestia kindly questioned.

"Nah, just some answers Ah need," the mare responded before trotting back towards the door leading to the gardens for the third time that evening. Her thoughts kept drifting back to how comfortable and safe she felt, laying her head on Cougar's chest and having his arms wrapped around her torso. Sure she felt that way around her friends and family, but she never felt this comfortable or safe with her friends. The orange pony felt like Rainbow did as she soared through the clouds, like everything was okay and nothing would hurt either of them. As she exited the ballroom however, Applejack came across a certain purple alicorn peering around a hedge.

"Spikey, I'm flattered that you feel this way about me, and I am ever so grateful that you saved me from that wretched stallion, but I need some time to think long and hard about our friendship," Applejack heard Rarity talking from behind the hedge.

"Twilight, what in the wide, wide world 'o Equestria are ya doin'?" Applejack asked the alicorn in a whisper so as not to disturb Spike and Rarity's talk. Twilight jumped nearly three feet in the air at the sudden outburst from her country friend. "Yer not spyin' on Spike 'n Rarity are ya? You know that's a violation 'o privacy!" she scolded her friend.

"No, of course I'm not spying," Twilight blushed in embarrassment, "think of it as uh, a scientific observation, from behind a bush," she explained and turned her head back to her son and Rarity.

"I understand Rarity," Spike replied, mustering up the biggest smile he could.

"And don't think it's because of the species difference, that doesn't bother me one bit," she soothed the dragon's worry, "it's just we've been friends for half a decade and I consider you one of if not my best friend ever. And I would absolutely hate to begin a relationship and have it fall apart and ruin our friendship forever. I just need to think this over before we rush into things, you understand right?" The white unicorn asked the purple dragon. Said dragon took her hoof in his hand and kissed it.

"Rarity, for you, I'd wait for all eternity," he replied with a cheesy grin.

"I knew you'd understand Spikey-Wikey," Rarity blushed, "now before we wrap up the Gala," she kissed him lovingly on the lips again, "there's another treat for you," she tickled his chin with her hoof.

"Good, she didn't break his heart," Twilight wiped her brow.

"Ya know, Ah do not approve 'o this," Applejack told her friend.

"They're coming this way, pretend to talk to me!" Twilight motioned to Applejack.

"But we are talkin' Twi," Applejack corrected.

"Oh, hello Twilight and Applejack!" Rarity greeted when she and Spike rounded the corner of the hedge.

"Spike, Rarity, what brings you out to the gardens?" Twilight tried to cover her tracks, "how about that song huh? Pretty good I'd say."

"Yeah, I liked it, Cougar's got a great taste for music," Spike agreed with his mom.

"So, what brings you two out here?" Rarity repeated Twilight's question. Twilight didn't have a straight answer, but Applejack did. She took off her cowgirl hat and rested it on her back.

"Ah was hopin' ta find ya Rarity, Ah got somethin' important Ah need ta discuss 'n you were the right mare fer the job," she explained. Spike nodded, understanding the privacy needed from both Rarity and Applejack and grabbed his mother's foreleg.

"Come on Mom, let's go get a drink," he suggested.

"We'll catch up later girls!" Twilight bid farewell, leavin Rarity and Applejack alone in the gardens. Rarity spotted a bench near the doorway and patted the seat, wanting AJ to sit down.

"Alright Applejack, what can I help you with?" Rarity kindly asked.

"Ah didn't know who else ta turn to, maybe Cadence, but uh you were the first mare on my list," Applejack responded.

"List for what exactly dear?" Rarity cocked her head to the side. Applejack gulped, rubbing the back of her neck. She filled her mouth up with a huge gulp of air before letting it all out like a slow leaking balloon.

"Ah'm gonna cut ta the chase Rare," Applejack used her nickname for Rarity, "Ah have, feelings fer Cougar." Rarity's blue eyes blinked, not believing what Applejack just admitted straight to her face.

"Feelings as in?" She had to be sure.

"As in romantic feelings like in those romance novels 'o yers," Applejack delineated. Applejack had no clue what the seamstress' reaction would be. Whether it be one of hilarity, disgust, happiness, confusion or anger, the orange mare didn't know which it would be. She wasn't prepared for Rarity to squeal in delight so loudly that the windows around the ballroom threatened to break, nor did she expect Rarity to clap her hooves together at about a million miles per hour.

"This is simply extraordinary! Applejack, this is one of the most incredibly romantic things I've ever heard of!" Rarity gushed, "the only human to somehow appear in Equestria, and who should fall for him but a simple farm mare that took him in when no one else would or could!" Applejack wanted to say something else, but Rarity persisted to keep on talking. "Tell me, when did these feelings surface Applejack?" Rarity begged for the juicy scoop.

"Well uh, 'bout the time he saved us from them timberwolves," she admitted. "'N how he cares fer everypony over himself or how happy he makes Applebloom when he spends time with her. He takes her mind off not gettin' her cutie mark better than anypony Ah've ever seen. Ah guess that's what I've wanted in a stallion over the years."

"I do also sense a little Foalance Nightingale syndrome what with you taking him in on your farm," Rarity replied.

"Maybe," Applejack sputtered, "but Ah've been keepin' these feelin's bottled up, 'n it pains me that Ah haven't told him yet. 'Specially after our dance. Ah've never felt more at peace 'n happy than with Cougar just now, like we were the only creatures in Equestria."

"And why not darling? Haven't you both spent plenty of time together enough to tell him?" Rarity questioned.

"No. He's from a whole different dimension or however that fancy space-time thingy works," Applejack threw a hoof in the air angrily, "Ah can't just waltz up ta him one day and tell him Ah love him, can't Ah?" The mare asked in case she was wrong.

"Absolutely not!" Rarity exclaimed.

"But ya just asked if Ah ever had enough alone time with him ta tell him," Applejack said, confused as tartarus.

"Yes, but only if you've actually gone to dinner alone several times or if you've built up to it. I can't believe I'm actually saying this Applejack, but you've got to IGNORE my romance novels. He won't just sweep you off your feet and you'll both live happily forever after," Rarity explained, "it's like buying fish from the pet store and putting them in a bowl in your home. If you just dump them in the water right away, they'll die relatively quickly. However, if you put their bags of water inside the bowl, and allow them to adjust to the water temperature of said bowl, they'll live a lot longer, am I getting through to you?" the seamstress double checked.

"Crystal clear Rarity," Applejack gulped. "But Ah do have strong feelin's fer him Rarity, Ah just wish Ah could tell him," she said sadly, looking into the window of the ballroom only to still find no Cougar.

"And you can dear. You've just got to let him know you are interested. Invite him to do things for just two ponies or spend more time alone with him. Have him warm up to you even more and when you feel the time is right, tell him."

"But what if-" Applejack protested before Rarity covered her muzzle.

"Applejack stop doubting yourself please. If Cougar doesn't return your feelings, for one it's his loss and two: If he is one of your best friends as you claim, simply telling him you love him shouldn't tarnish anything. Sure it might make things a tad awkward for a short time. But if your friendship is true and pure, nothing will end it," Rarity smiled.

"Thanks Rare, Ah owe ya one," Applejack hugged her friend.

"Anytime darling. Now the Gala is wrapping up; we should get back to our friends," the two friends hopped up from the bench and trotted back inside.

End Chapter 22

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Phew, longest chapter I've ever written and it was all for you guys! So, how was that moment between Spike and Twilight and how they called each other son and mom? And now Cougar and Applejack admit they have feelings for each other but are too scared to tell one another. When will they gather the courage? It's getting closer every day guys.

Also, there is a poll on my profile page about what Cougar should go as for Nightmare Night. That chapter is about two or three chapters away so you have plenty of time to vote.

Next time, we dip a bit into the Season 5 premier.

I do not own Heaven in your eyes by Loverboy

Major props to Sassymouse for the Twilight spying on Spike joke. If you haven't subscribed to her story Dashing and Soaring, I don't know what you're waiting for!