On Sunday, Dashie finally got her cast off. The only problem was that she tried to fly the se one she came out, and she had cast-trophy. It's like atrophy, but it's not permanent; anyways, she has to go to physical therapy for the next three days.

    Three days? Wow, ponies heal quickly. As a human, it could take weeks or months to regenerate muscle fully. I'm glad I was transformed when I was transported [or this would be another Human-in-Equestria fic. I hate those]. Well, at least I could be a weather-pony for a little longer.

    Monday came around, and I asked Raindrop everything I could about pony marriage at work. He explained the concept, most or which was the same as human marriage. You find the right ring (necklace) and just ask. Then, there's a ceremony, and you get married. That's it.

    Now I just actually have to do it.

    I wondered sometimes during the next few days whether I was rushing into this, but I thought I wasn't.  Plus, Friday night really gave a second wind to my courage.

    On Wednesday, Dashie finished up her physical therapy, and was just as strong and fast as ever. I was glad the event hadn't crippled her. She took her job back, and we were back to our usual schedule. On Thursday. I applied at the weather facility in central Cloudsdale as a weather-pony.

    Things just in general went great, and I had the job all set up so I could start tomorrow. I had a good life,  but I wanted it to be great. I had a huge savings account by this point (after all, rent dosen't increase per pony in a house), and I decided to get something done. I had to.

    I can't believe I'm writing in this thing about two dates in a row. But, anyway, Friday I got prepared. I had everything ready: reservations to Tapestry Grill (our first date), the same suit I wore on the first date, and I had Rarity style my hair. I prepared everything by six, and I was at Ditzy's house in a carriage in ten minutes.

    I knocked on the door: I hoped she would stick with our arrangement. We hadn't actually set Friday as our next date, bu I thought she would know.

    Apparently she did. And, really, if I didn't know better, I'd say she was dressed for the occasion. She was wearing an off-white evening dress, which hung loosely from her as though it were water. It was the mos beautiful I'd seen her.

    "I- oh," I stammered, trying to get out a compliment, but the words didn't come. She smiled.

    "I know," she said, walking past me. I was blushing. She really had stunned me. Was it that, or just the anxiousness I was feeling? I turned, stumbled, and climbed into the carriage.

    It really was sentimental. We sat down, and in a few seconds, Ditzy was already talking.

    "How was Rainbow Dash?"

    "Oh, uh, she just got home from physical therapy on Wednesday," I said, turning towards her. "I'm kinda worried about her."

    "What," Ditzy asked seriously, "does physical therapy hurt?"

    "Oh, no, no, it's just..." I shook my head. I would deal with it later. "...Nothing, never mind."

    We sat and talked about all kinds of things, before we reached the grill. We continued our conversation into the restaurant.

    I remember, we just sat down and I was saying, "... Yeah. But seriously, you have to stop living on random food other ponies give you."

    "It's not like I never make money," she replied, "I just -" She stopped. "Oh," she murmured, surprised. "This is my favorite song." She looked at me. "Star, did you..."

    I smiled. She blushed and looked at me. "Thanks," she said quietly.

    The main course came in about a minute. When the plate was set down in front of Ditzy, she gasped. I stopped dead, hardly daring to breathe. She moved the plate to the left, and two tears fell on the table.

    Had I done something wrong?

    No. She looked up at me, one hoof on her mouth, smiling. Tears were streaming down her cheeks. I acted quickly. I took the necklace from the table, and stood.

    The restaurant had gone dead silent, except for 'Moonbeams' playing softly in the background. I smiled, and looked up at Ditzy. "Ditzy Doo," I began. She gasped a bit. "We haven't known each other long," I continued. "But I've come to know you, and love you, more than anypony else." Her face had turned a deep red.

    "Will you marry me?"

     The question hung dead in the air, as there was a moment of terrible silence. I needed a decision.

    "Yes."

    The answer had arrived in a split second, and everypony at every other table clapped, or stomped their - whatever. I was too happy to care. She stood, and leaned in, placing her hooves on hy shoulders. We kissed. I felt the greatest I ever had in my life.

    The wedding was in a month. I couldn't wait. I dropped Ditzy off at home, late, as we had been talking and hugging for quite a while afterwards. I took the chariot home tonight, feeling too excited to fly.

    When I reached home, however, a terrible sound greeted me: Dashie was in her room, sobbing faintly. I grew worried instantly. I sped upstairs, and opened the cloud door quickly. I saw Dashie, sitting upright in her bed, crying into the covers.

    I rushed over to comfort her. I didnt know what was wrong, but her first action told me.

    "Get away!" she yelled, pushing me off. I was shocked.

    "What's wrong?"

    "Sh- I-" she sobbed. "I know what you did!"

    "I - what?"

    Then I understood. She knew I was engaged before I told her. How? More importantly, why wasn't she happy for me? A tear fell out of my eye. What was wrong?

    "I saw you - buying a - a necklace!" she cried.

    "Wait, Dashie, why don't you -" I sat down again on the bed, tears once more staining my face. I thought - I didn't know she wouldnt like my decision. I didn't want to see her unhappy. "Do you really hate Ditzy that much?"

    "It's not Ditzy!" she cried, leaning on me. Apparently, it wasn't me either. "It's not her."

    "What -"

    A sob. "My - I never - my parents were divorced," she cried, leaning on my chest. I put my hoof on her back. "Sh - they weren't happy," she said, "and that hurt." I knew what she was talking about. My mom got really depressed after my dad died. It hurt me in more ways than it did her.

    "I just - just don't want that to happen to you."

    Silence.

    She embraced me, sobbing into my body. I sighed, leaning back. "It won't happen," I siad softly. "She really loves me, and I really love her."

    She looked up into my eyes, hers red and filled with tears. "More than me?"

    I looked back. How could I answer? "Two kinds of love," I said, embracing her. "Two kinds of love." Next Chapter: Chapter Twenty - Plans Estimated time remaining: 30 Minutes