An idea entered my head late at night. So many things have been going on, including the fact that my third date with Ditzy was tonight. The past week had been great, and I was actually thinking of getting a job as a weather-pony even after Dashie had healed on Sunday.

    I wondered about my future, and whether I would have a great life. My dreams had never been huge, and it remained even after my transformation. My dream for this, my new life, was simply a good job and a good family.

    I just needed work on the family part.

    Don't get me wrong, I really did (and still do) love Dashie as a daughter ever since I found her, but something was missing. I realized that the marriage between Raindrop and Lemon Yellow made me see: I wanted what they had.

    I thought about everything, and I saw that all I wanted... was Ditzy.

    This came suddenly and profoundly, like a lighting bolt from a deep black cloud. I was amazed that I even thought it, because it seemed like it wasn't supposed to happen - but it also felt so right.

    I would give it a few weeks, hoping that we would continue our every-Friday thing, and I knew by last time that she showed an intrest in me. This gave me a hope, and it made me feel like what I planned on doing would succed. I knew then that I had to go through with this idea.

    In two weeks, I would propose to Ditzy.

    I woke up well-rested, and did everything I usually did in the morning, while tonight was still heavy in my mind. I finished Dashie's job list as quickly as I could, so that I could come back and begin getting ready. I was really happy for tonight, but I was also really nervous about my idea.

    I didn't tell anybody. At least not today. My anxiousness depleted slightly after I saw Raindrop at work, with Lemon Yellow waiting below. They were both grinning eat-to-ear, and Raindrop barely paid attention to anyone else, only to her. I wanted that.

    I took great care to dress that night, actually buying a vest right after work, because I knew Ditzy had seen my other vest before. I dressed in a new, actually very good-looking outfit, and styled my mane as well as I could without Rarity's help.

    I didn't look bad. I looked great, actually. That definitely helped lower my anxiousness. I took a carriage over to Ditzy's, taking my time as it was still light out. I touched down in front of Ditzy's house, trying to gather myself. I didn't even have to knock.

    The door swung open, and Ditzy was stepped out from behind it. It seemed that every time we went out, she was wearing a more and more beautiful dress. This time, she was wearing a pale yellow sundress that matched her eyes and mane. She lit up the dark room behind her as she stepped into the dying daylight.

    I took her hoof in mine, and led her to the carriage. Tonight, we were heading for Pathway Palace, a semi-fancy restaurant on the road between Ponyville and Canterlot. It wouldn't take us long to get there.

    "You look beautiful tonight," I commented. I was telling the truth: her dress was perfect for her.

    "Thanks," she replied, giggling. "I've never seen that vest before."

    "Actually, I got it just for tonight," I responded, trying my best not to be awkwards. I wasn't in the same mood tonight as I had been the other two: the decision I wanted to make was still hanging in my mind.

    We arrived in a few minutes. I helped her off the carriage, and we walked side-by-side into the restaurant. It was dimly lit, and decorated with white marble and old Canterlot armor and family crests. The ceiling was twelve feet high, which was much more for a pony than a human.

    This would set the mood perfectly for tonight - seriousness. I would try to figure out what she thought of me. I looked over to her. She was looking up and around in awe at the decorations. 'Tonight wouldn't be so different,' I thought, 'because it's worked so well before. No, it would be better.'

    We were seated quickly; there were few ponies in the restaurant, talking quietly and eating slowly. I didn't recognize any. She spoke first. "You're being quiet tonight," she said.

    "Am I?" I replied, looking back at her. "I am! Oh, n- I-"

    She laughed. "I kind of like it," she said quietly. I blushed a bit, and looked down at the menu. I thought Ditzy was being quiet, too; maybe she had something on her mind like me.

    We conversed quietly, and I was surprised at how sophisticated she could be. In some subjects, she knew a lot more than I did. We talked about the strangest things, one blending into another in the strangest ways. Many questions were left unanswered, but it didn't matter; we were just having a great conversation.

    The date went really well, and I brought Ditzy back to her home only just after midnight. I left the carriage (I actually told him to leave), and I returned to Ditzy, who was standing on her doorstep. She spoke before I did.

    "Would you like an after-dinner drink?"

    I was confused. I didn't know there was alcohol in Equestria at all. Hmm.

    Weeeeell, it turns out I was right. We had apple cider, which I assumed was the strongest drink in Equestria. I wouldnt be surprised if Celestia had a personal stash, though.

    We were sitting on the cloud couch, talking for the better part of an hour, before we reached an odd point in our conversation. It was about love. She had been talking about how she had had a crush on someone in her flying school.

    "Have you ever liked someone a lot, Star?" she asked.

    "Not until two-" Oh. Heh.

    She looked at me. "Did you... do you mean us?" she said.

    Us?

    I blushed deeply. I swallowed, trying to keep control. "Y-yes, I do."

    She blushed, too, and a small moment of silence followed. Then she leaned in and we kissed, deeply and romantically. I could tell she hadn't before, but neither had I, and we worked together well. My head felt like bursting with happiness, with the joy and innocence of a first love.

    My eyes closed, and I moved back, until we were leaning together comfortably. We stopped for a second, and I brushed her hair out of her eyes. They had focused slightly, but not much, still giving her a sweet, innocent air. I leaned in again, and we kissed for what felt like hours, but it was in reality only about four minutes. I didn't want it to end.

    It did, though, eventually, and we stared at each other. I smiled, and she smiled back. What was next? What did I do?

    I'll tell you what I did. I got up, and left quietly. It didn't seem cold, or awkward, though; it felt expected, but also like it would happen again. I flew to the house and fell asleep peacefully with this feeling. Next Chapter: Chapter Nineteen - Sooner Estimated time remaining: 35 Minutes