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Taken In

by Speedy Quill

Chapter 18: The Practice Date

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The Practice Date

It took me a few days to get back to a normal routine. The revelation about Starswirl had hit me hard. Once I had sorted my thoughts a little more, I went to Celestia. I found her in her study. She gave me a sympathetic smile as I entered.

“I’m glad you came. I feel we should talk.”

“That’s why I’m here.”

I sat down across from her and sighed.

“When did you figure it out?”

“About thirty years in. I didn’t speak to him for months. And I didn’t forgive him for another century.”

“And Luna?”

“She knows. I’m sure she knows. But the pain is too great for her to acknowledge the truth. So she chooses to believe Starswirl. It’s easier than recognizing your life was stolen away.”

“I’m so sorry. I can’t even begin-“

“It’s centuries past Shade. I’ve moved on. Luna has moved on as best as she can. And Starswirl won’t have any remorse. His plan saved us from a civil war. And it began a great era of peace. He did the right thing.”

“Just not in the best way.”

She nodded in agreement.

“My grudge puts yours to shame, huh? I held that against him for a century. You only made it four years.”

I glanced at her from the corner of my eye. She had a small smile. I finally broke and began to smile too.

“So I hear you’re going on a date tonight!”

“A practice date. Rarity is helping me out.”

“I’m sure she’ll be a great help to you. I wish I had some advice to give, but my dinner experience is with foreign dignitaries and not potential partners.”

“She’s not a potential partner. It’s just two friends having dinner.”

“Of course.”

“Don’t you start with me too. I’ve already had to deal with Cadance’s sense of humor recently. I don’t need anymore before tonight.”

“Well you’d better go get ready. Because honestly, you smell like the library. Not a great scent. Oh! I guess I did have some advice for you after all!”

__________________________


I stood outside the restaurant that Rarity had listed in her note. There were quite a few ponies inside, most of them very..posh. I was going to stick out like a sore thumb.

“Shade!”

I spun around to find Rarity behind me. Her mane almost glowed and she had the lightest amount of makeup to accentuate her cheeks.

“Wow! You look great!”

“That’s sweet of you to say. But look at you! Your mane and tail have been brushed and your coat looks marvelous. And you don’t smell like the library like you did when I last saw you!”

Thank you, Celestia.

“Your mane looks lovely tonight.”

“Now stop it. We haven’t even gotten in the restaurant yet.”

She led the way inside, her confidence apparent. I followed behind, hoping my anxiety wasn’t too obvious.
Rarity gave her name to the pony at the front and he beamed from ear to ear.

“Ah! Miss Rarity. We are so glad to have you with us this evening. You requested a table for two?”

“Yes for me and my friend.”

She motioned to me and the pony stared for a moment. He didn’t look scared, but he didn’t look happy either. And his smile began to look forced a bit.

“Of course! Let me show you to your table immediately!”

He led the way through a sea of tables until we came to an empty one near the back. I could feel eyes glancing towards me as we walked the entire length of the room.
Rarity waited for me to catch up and I smiled nervously as I arrived. The pony walked away without another word, leaving the two of us together. I walked behind Rarity and pulled out her chair. She seemed pleasantly surprised.

“My! You’re already a gentleman! Did you read about that somewhere?”

“I actually did. And I think it’s a small service to give seeing as you’ve been nice enough to take dinner with me.”

“Well you’re off to a great start.”

I took my own seat and looked at the menu. Ouch. Expensive. I must have visibly winced, because Rarity smiled at me.

“I’ve got you taken care of tonight darling. I know you don’t exactly have a paying job right now.”

“Thanks. Celestia does pay me though. Enough for my needs anyways.”

“That’s very generous of her.”

“So.. Where do we start?”

“The appetizer.”

“Oh. I guess that makes sense.”

She giggled.

“Not the actual appetizer. Let me explain. It’s a rather crude comparison, but a mare looks at a stallion like a meal.”

Made perfect sense to me after seeing Cadance stare at Shining Armor.

“There are three parts to the meal; the appetizer, the main course, and dessert.”

“Okay. So what’s the appetizer?”

“The appetizer is meant to introduce you to the type of meal you should expect. It’s your first taste. So naturally, the appetizer is your first impression.”

“Oh!”

“You should compliment her immediately upon seeing her. You did that tonight without any problem!”

“Doing good so far.”

“You should walk into a restaurant like you’ve been there before. Even if you haven’t. It shows confidence.”

“I feel I’m lacking in that department.”

“Confidence can take time. We’ll come back to that. You already have the next step down as well; chivalry.”

“You mean the seat thing?”

“Yes! It was a fantastic move. I instantly thought you were a gentleman.”

“Thanks.”

“The appetizer is over quickly. A mare moves onto her main course as soon as possible.”

“Main course?”

“The conversation. It’s the most important part of the evening. Is it light and sweet? Heavy and rich? Perfectly even and satisfying? Her opinion of the main course will dictate the rest of the evening.”

“So what would be considered ‘good conversation’?”

“Always start by asking about her. Make her the centerpiece. She’s why you’re here in the first place. If possible, trade questions with her. You ask her something, she’ll ask you something else. That’s the best way for a conversation to go. Now you’re sharing information about each other. She’s chewing on the main course.”

“Okay.”

“If she’s satisfied with the main course, then she’ll want dessert.”

“And exactly what is dessert?”

“To know if you’re both interested in each other. If it’s easy enough to tell that you both are, she’ll be interested in another meal.”

“So..a second date?”

“Exactly!”

“Okay. I think I’ve got the basics. Is there anything else I should know?”

“Yes! The seasoning!”

“Seasoning?”

“That is to say, your best feature. It should be sprinkled over the entire meal, making small appearances where possible. Of course it depends on the feature.”

“My best feature? What exactly would that be?”

“Your best physical feature dear. Something that catches her eye. It could be the very reason you got the date to begin with.”

A pony approached the table with a basket of bread and butter. Rarity ordered for both of us and the pony left us in peace. She smiled as she turned back to me.

“Do you know what your best feature is?”

“I have no idea.”

“Really? I would think it’s obvious.”

“If it’s so obvious, tell me.”

“Your eyes.”

“Say again?”

“Your eyes Shade. Amongst all the dark tones of your body, you have these startlingly blue eyes.”

I looked down. My eyes were still very changeling. Yes, they’d adapted somewhat. But they didn’t look normal.

“What’s wrong darling?”

“My eyes aren’t normal.”

“That’s precisely why they’re your greatest strength! There are many ponies who have amazing eyes. Eye color can really draw somepony in. But yours have that unique changeling aspect to them. It gives you several shades of blue to them that is simply entrancing.”

I chuckled.

“It sounds like I’ve got you hooked.”

“It’s no joke Shade. I can admit that I find your eyes to be the most beautiful eyes I’ve ever seen on a pony.”

I could feel myself begin to blush. She continued.

“Yes, perhaps you still have several changeling qualities about you. But that is where your strength lies! Your unique body structure, your eyes, your coloring.. Honestly, do you not have any mares coming up to you?”

“You mean besides the princesses? No. I don’t get out much.”

“By all means, start going for walks through the city. You’ll get noticed.”

“Thanks for the tip.”

She picked up a slice of bread and began buttering it.

“Let’s step back for a moment and examine your confidence issue.”

I sighed.

“Great.”

“Why do you think you’re unworthy of a mare’s affections?”

Wow. She wasn’t holding back.

“Well... Honestly Rarity have you looked at me? I don’t exactly look normal.”

“Was I not saying just a minute ago that your unique qualities are your greatest strength?”

“Yes. But come on! Ponies look at me and wonder what in Tartarus I could be. I’m some weird hybrid of two species that doesn’t fit on either side. You didn’t see how many were staring on our way to the table.”

“So what if they stare? How many years have you dealt with ponies staring? Even in Ponyville there was still a pony or two that never got accustomed to your looks. So why is it such an issue now if ponies are staring at you again?”

“Because... Because...”

“Well?”

“Because I’m with you!”

“I beg your pardon?”

“You walked in here like you owned the place. And then here comes this weird..creature following you like a sad shadow. And ponies are staring at me, wondering why something so ugly is following a gorgeous mare around.”

I felt the hoof connect with my cheek before I had registered seeing her lean forward.

“I never want to hear you talk about yourself like that again. That will be the last time. Ever!”

I rubbed my cheek, still in shock. She sat back in her chair again.

“If you believe ponies are thinking that of you, prove..them..wrong. You can’t care what everypony thinks. You hold your head high knowing that you are perfect in your own right and that there is nothing wrong with you.”

I was staring at her. I couldn’t help it.

“Now I will tell you again, you have unique characteristics that make you shine! And your eyes are the main event. Those blue eyes..”

She’d noticed me staring. She didn’t say anything. She just stared back. I don’t know what I was doing, but I felt like I was trying to communicate with my eyes alone. And I wasn’t very sure what I was trying to say. Rarity snapped out of it after several seconds. I saw a small shiver run through her body.

“Any mare with an ounce of sense would want to get to know you. You’re more interesting than most, if not all, the stallions in Canterlot.”

She shook her head and smiled.

“That’s my two bits for the night. Now let’s see how much you remember.”

“What do you mean?”

“We’ve already gone through the appetizer. I’m onto the main course now. Can you satisfy my appetite?”

I swallowed hard. I hadn’t expected to actually roleplay a date.. Maybe that was the point. She wanted me to act natural. Okay. You can do this.. I hope.

“How has business been for you?”

“It’s going rather well actually. My Manehattan shop is picking up sales with the approaching fashion show. What about you? How have your studies been?”

“They’ve been going well! I’m reading through the library again. I want to make sure I haven’t missed anything.“

I stared my into her eyes. Wow. The lighting in here really made them sparkle. There was a small smile on her face. I cleared my throat.

“Have you been able to do anything fun lately?”

“A bit of a general question, but a good basis. Yes! While I’ve been working on my line for the fashion show, I’ve been meddling with a side project. It’s accessories for stallions. I don’t often focus on the male accessories as much as the clothing. A true designer should be well rounded. Do you have any new hobbies?”

“I’m actually working on my cooking.”

“Cooking! That’s a marvelous talent to have!”

“Yeah. I’ve been taking lessons from Butter Whisk. He’s one of the chefs up at the castle.”

“That’s sounds like fun! I imagine you’ll be getting fat from sweets in no time.”

“Actually I’m more into sandwiches than I am sweets. Though I do indulge in the triple chocolate cake every few days or so.”

“That sounds divine.”

“You should come and try it sometime!”

Our food arrived and we began to eat. It was good! I didn’t remeber exactly what Rarity called it, but I liked the taste.

“You know, I always found you a bit intimidating.”

She looked up at me in confusion.

“Me? Intimidating? Why on earth would you think that?”

“Because of how beautiful you are.”

“You’ve complimented my beauty several times tonight. I’m beginning to think you’re just stroking my ego.”

“I mean it! I couldn’t believe it when you started being nice to me. A pony that looks like you, being nice to a changeling? It caught me off guard.”

“Why shouldn’t I have been nice to you? You were perfectly charming.”

“Charming. Why do ponies keep using that word with me.”

“Oh? Who else has called you charming?”

“Celestia.”

“Well that makes me doubly right. I have the princess to back me up.”

“She said that charm is natural.”

“Oh most definitely! I’ve never met a stallion that actually learned to be charming.”

“Do you go out with other stallions often?”

“With my businesses I don’t really have the time to date.”

“I thought that might be the case.That’s a shame. You’re a lovely dinner date.”

“Thank you. You are as well.”

“I’m glad to hear it.”

“Shade?”

“Yes Rarity?”

“You do realize you haven’t stopped looking at me for five minutes?”

I looked down at my plate.

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. It told me you were paying attention. Not every stallion does that.”

She giggled.

“Though it is okay to break eye contact every once in a while.”

I looked back up at her.

“Thanks for the advice tonight. It’s really helpful.”

“I’m just glad to see you’re wanting to put yourself out there.”

“Might I be able to ask you a more..sensitive question?”

She raised her eyebrows. I took a deep breath and spoke in a softer tone.

“What’s the standard amount of dates before..”

I couldn’t finish the question. But she had gotten it. Was she blushing a bit?

“Well... I suppose it’s different with every couple. It depends on the chemistry between the ponies. It could be the first date. It could be the tenth or twentieth date. It all just depends.”

“Okay. I just didn’t want to be caught off guard if something was expected.”

“I understand. That would be an awkward situation if you weren’t prepared for it.”

“Would it be too much to ask how long you usually take?”

“What? To let a stallion-“

She was blushing more.

“That’s a bit personal.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. I’m just trying get a better understanding of the whole..thing.”

“Yes. I suppose it’s a new concept for you.”

“I got advice from Cadance on the matter as well. I’m just trying to get a pool of information for reference. Books can only tell you so much.”

“I understand. It’s just a subject that a lady usually wouldn’t go into detail. With a stallion.”

“I understand. Forget I asked.”

“I’m afraid I might not be a good source for your pool anyways. I’ve had..limited experience.”

“I guess that’s not so surprising to me. You’re a lady. I wouldn’t expect you to be throwing yourself at every stallion that crosses your path.”

“Thank you. I don’t. I guess I have a more traditional sense of love compared to today’s views.”

“That’s what scares me so much. It’s become kind of..casual.”

“And you feel that you can’t handle being casual.”

“Exactly! It’s such a touchy area that I don’t think I could go around offering myself to multiple ponies.”

“And that’s perfectly alright Shade. If you would feel more comfortable waiting to find the right mare, then there’s no shame in that.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

The check came and Rarity paid for the meal. We stood and walked out into the night air. A cold breeze blew by and she pressed her side against mine.

“My stars! When did it get so cold?”

I didn’t answer. I was too busy trying not to blush from having her near me like this. The warmth I felt from her body against mine was overwhelming! I had never felt anything like it before.
I think she realized how close she was and stepped away. But the warmth stayed.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to-“

“It’s okay... Thank you.”

“For what?”

“I’ve.. I’ve never felt that close to anypony before. It was nice.”

She smiled softly and stepped closer again. She slowly leaned against me and let out a small sigh.

“I haven't been this close to a stallion in a long time. I think it’s nice too.”

I escorted her back to the train station. We stayed close the entire way. She was about to step on the train when she turned and kissed me on the cheek.

“Thank you for tonight Shade. I really needed it.”

She hopped on the train as it began to pull away. I stayed on the platform until she was long gone. I just stood there, frozen from the warmth of her kiss.

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