"Twilight! I guess I should congratulate you," Cheerilee says.

Twilight chokes on her drink. She's been avoiding Cheerilee lately, afraid that somehow the pink mare would know what Twilight had been imagining. But they are at a party, and ponies are crowded everywhere around them, and Cheerilee somehow got right up next to Twilight without being noticed.

"Uh, thanks? For...?" Twilight asks.

"Winter Wrap Up! On time again. Two for two," Cheerilee says.

"Right, of course. Well, you shouldn't congratulate me, you ponies did all the work."

"Ha, I heard the speech. You don't have to repeat it." Cheerilee bumps into Twilight, but doesn't seem to notice. Her pink face is flushed red, and she's swaying on her hooves.

"Oh. I hope I didn't overdo it," Twilight says.

"No, no, I thought it was nice. Now the mayor, she overdid it," Cheerilee says, her eyes wandering. "Oh! Excuse me." She turns to trot away.

Twilight just raises an eyebrow and cautiously sips at her drink.

"Nice dress!" Cheerilee yells back at Twilight as she walks off.

Well, that was weird.

Twilight watches the fuchsia mare wobble away, but quickly loses track of her in the crowd. Ponyville's town square is packed with ponies. Long lines of hanging lanterns are crisscrossed between every building, and food carts are lined up on every side. Somewhere near the town hall a band is struggling to be heard over the crowd.

Twilight focuses on her drink again. She's happy to just stand alone for a moment. She's been fielding compliments and shaking hooves for hours.

"Twilight! I've been looking for you all night!" Rarity walks up next to her.

"Well, you found me. Enjoying the festival?"

"Of course, it's just smashing this year, isn't it?

"Yeah, I guess it is." Twilight smiles.

"How is the dress working out? Is it comfortable? It's not riding up at all, is it? I was so worried about that."

Twilight checks herself out. She's wearing a light, simple dress with the same colors as her Team Leader vest. Nothing seems wrong to her.

"It feels nice. And everyone keeps telling me it looks nice, so it looks like you've done it again."

"Oh, darling I knew it would be perfect for you." Rarity edges in closer to Twilight, glancing around them. "Now, what about that other thing?"

"The other thing?"

"Yes, the other thing."

"You mean finding a stallion, or Pinkie's birthday?"

"Silly, I meant finding us some acceptable suitors."

"Right. That. I've been keeping my eyes open and –"

A passing couple almost bumps into them, pushed over by the crowd. They apologize and keep walking.

"Should we really be talking about this here?" Twilight asks.

"Well, I'm sorry we didn't really get a chance before, I've been so busy," Rarity looks around, thinking. "Let's go sit at one of those picnic tables."

They thread their way past dozens of partying ponies. They come to a particularly thick part of the crowd but Rarity finds her way through easily. The crowd parts to make way for her. Most of them are ogling her dress, or just Rarity in general. On top of making Twilight's outfit, she's put together a stunning new piece for herself. Even Twilight keeps finding herself ogling Rarity a bit.

"Hey, wait!" Twilight says.

"Yes?" Rarity looks back over her shoulder.

"This is the line for Applejack's cart. Shouldn't we go say hello?" Twilight says.

Both ponies stand on hooftip, craning their necks. They can just barely see Applejack's hat bobbing somewhere far off at the end of a line of ponies. The line is more like a blob, stretching out halfway across the square, cutting the festival in two.

"She looks busy," Rarity says.

"Guess we'll catch up later," Twilight says.

They continue, making it to the edge of the square. Small tables with rough cushions are set up, all occupied. Rarity scans them and quickly picks out a table with a pair of younger stallions, both laughing as they chew some kind of baked apple treat. Rarity approaches them and tosses her hair, beaming.

The colts freeze and stare at her. One of them hangs his mouth open, crumbs falling out.

"Would you mind terribly?" Rarity says to them.

They both stammer sounds sort of like words and get up, offering their cushions to Rarity and Twilight. Rarity motions for Twilight to sit as she settles down herself. There's no cushions left for the two colts, but they hover nearby, smiling at Rarity.

"Thank you!" she says, shooing them off.

Twilight sits and lets out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. "I thought you were going to make me talk to them," she says.

"Them?! Oh heavens no, Twilight, please! We can do far better than that. They're hardly more than colts, anyway."

"That's what I was thinking," Twilight says. "They seemed to like you, though."

"Oh, well who doesn't? But enough about me. Have you thought about what you're looking for tonight?"

"Umm, I've thought about it, yes."

"And?" Rarity says, sweeping some crumbs off the table with magic.

"I don't know, nice? Smart? Someone I can talk to?"

"Very reasonable. What about color? Hair? Size?"

"Does that matter? I can't really picture an ideal date. Physically, I mean," Twilight lies.

"Well what do you picture when you imagine a stallion? When you're, ahem... alone?"

"Uhhh..." Twilight's mind flashes back to her fantasies and sees Rarity in bed next to Fluttershy, just staring.

"Never mind. What about that one?" Rarity points to a blue stallion with music notes on his flank.

"He's alright, I guess." Twilight barely looks at the pony Rarity is talking about.

"Oh! How about him over there?" Rarity says, pointing to a blue unicorn with a two-tone white-and-silver mane.

"He looks nice," Twilight says with a smile. Her eyes are scanning the wavy locks of his hair.

"My, my, that one is simply dashing." Rarity checks out a unicorn with a chocolate-brown coat.

Twilight looks over at the pony Rarity is talking about. She barely gives him a second glance before casting her eyes down to the table.

"Is this really how you find love? Just randomly picking ponies based on how they look? On one particular night?" she asks.

"Twilight, trust me. It's not at all as bad as it might look at first. You just have to find somepony who looks like he might be appealing to you. Then you get to know him through dates. If it works out, wonderful. If not, you try again," Rarity says, still checking out stallions in the crowd.

"Do you even know their names?" Twilight asks.

Pinkie Pie lands on their table with a thud, puffy tail bouncing around.

"Names? I know everyone's name because I know, like, everypony! Who do you need to know?" she says.

"Where did you...?" Rarity says.

"Come from?" Twilight says.

"Up there! Duh!" Pinkie looks up, not climbing down from the table. Rarity and Twilight look up and see only lanterns hanging from a line, and the stars above. They both shrug, knowing better than to pursue the question.

"So, who is it?" Pinkie asks, raising an eyebrow at Twilight.

"Wha– Uh, who?" Twilight stammers.

"You were asking about a name," Pinkie says, leaning in close.

"That's quite alright, Pinkie, we can find out," Rarity says. Twilight just grins, her eyes uneasy. Pinkie looks back and forth at both her friends.

"Are you keeping secrets from me again?" She glares.

"No! No no no, haha, of course not!" Rarity says, forcing a smile.

"I'm looking for a stallion to date," Twilight admits.

"Ooohhhh neat!" Pinkie's glare disappears instantly. "Who are you looking at?"

"We were just talking about that one." Rarity points again at the brown unicorn.

"What, him? I wouldn't go out with him, he's kinda bad at smooching," Pinkie says.

"What?" Rarity and Twilight both say.

"Not nearly as good as him over there, he's fun!" Pinkie waves at the blue unicorn. He smiles and waves back.

"Did you...?" Twilight asks. Rarity just stares, aghast.

"Maaaaaaybe." Pinkie smiles innocently.

"I beg your pardon?" Rarity says.

"When did you – ?" Twilight starts to say, but is interrupted by Pinkie.

"Oh, all the time! Sometimes at big, fun parties, you just gotta smooch somepony, right?"

"Pinkie Pie, a lady does not just – smooch!" Rarity spits the last word out with some effort.

"Silly! I'm not a lady, I'm a pony." Pinkie playfully taps Rarity's foreleg.

Rarity starts to say something, but pauses, looking puzzled.

"Pinkie, who do you think I should date?" Twilight asks.

"Whoever you want, Twilight. Just find someone you like."

"But I don't really know any stallions."

"Then just find someone who looks good for smoochin'!"

"S... smooching?" Fluttershy glides down to their table, landing softly next to Rarity.

"Yeah, smoochin'! You know, like this!" Pinkie grabs Fluttershy's face and plants a loud, wet kiss on her cheek. Fluttershy squeals and hides under her own hair.

"Oh, um, thank you Pinkie Pie," Fluttershy says. "You mean kissing. I like kissing."

"You too?" Twilight stares at the yellow pegasus in shock.

"Well, I would like kissing, I'm sure. But I've never tried it before."

Pinkie shoots a hurt look at Fluttershy.

"Not really," Fluttershy adds.

"That wasn't really? I can kiss you for really!" Pinkie reaches out to grab Fluttershy again.

"Oh, um... no, that's okay..." Fluttershy tries to shrink further under her bangs.

"Pinkie, leave the poor thing alone," Rarity says.

Rainbow Dash lands next to Pinkie Pie, shaking the table with the impact. Earlier, Twilight had been a little shocked at how drunk Cheerilee looked, but Rainbow Dash is putting her to shame.

"Are you gonna kiss Fluttershy? This is gonna be awesome! Do it!" Dash yells.

"Do it?" Pinkie asks.

"Rainbow Dash, are you... drunk?" Rarity says with disgust.

"DOOO IIIIIT!" Rainbow Dash yells, pumping a foreleg in the air.

"Um... ponies are watching..." Fluttershy squirms out of Pinkie's hooves. Most of the crowd around them is, in fact, watching by now.

"Well, this is a reliable way to get male attention." Rarity frowns.

"I dunno," Pinkie says, putting a hoof to her chin.

"DO IT DO IT DO IT!" Dash yells, stomping her hooves on the table.

"Hmmmmmm – Okay!" Pinkie dives for Fluttershy, who squeals again.

"Girls!" Twilight yells. Her friends freeze. Pinkie is hanging over the edge of the table, while Fluttershy is mostly hiding under it, her rump and back legs sticking out. Rarity pulls Fluttershy out from her hiding place, brushing off her coat.

"Thanks Twilight..." Fluttershy says.

"I still need to find a date," Twilight says to the whole table.

"Oh, a date? Are you in love with somepony?" Fluttershy asks.

"Not yet," Twilight says.

"Then why are you going on a date?" Fluttershy asks, looking very confused.

"She's looking to get laid!" Rainbow Dash says.

"Oh..." Fluttershy blushes a deep shade of crimson and looks at the ground. Rarity rolls her eyes.

"Wow, Twilight, you're kind of crazy! You're doing it all backwards!" Pinkie says, spinning her head upside down.

"Backwards?" Twilight asks.

"Yeah! You should date somepony you have special feelings for! If you don't have special feelings for anyone yet, why are you trying to go on a date?" Pinkie explains.

"Well, I do have – it's complicated. I just want to try it," Twilight says.

"Who you got lined up?" Rainbow Dash asks.

"Nopony yet. We were looking," Rarity says.

"What about Big Mac? He's hot. I was jus' lookin' for him," Dash says, slurring her words.

"Yeah, Big Mac! AJ can hook you up!" Pinkie says, her previous advice apparently forgotten.

"Ugh, Macintosh? If he's anything like his sister, I should think not," Rarity says.

"Whass wrong with AJ?" Rainbow Dash sways towards Rarity.

"Nothing, but Twilight needs somepony with class, sophistication," Rarity says.

"Um, maybe Rarity is right," Fluttershy says.

"I don't know. He seems nice, I guess." Twilight flashes back to her fantasy again. She had been very puzzled about Applejack's brother showing up there. It seemed out of place. But, even she has to admit...

"He's big and handsome. I bet he's good at smoochin'!" Pinkie says, finishing Twilight's thought for her.

"He's too quiet. Twilight needs someone she can converse with. And besides..." Rarity says.

"Yeah. That." Rainbow Dash rolls her eyes.

Twilight cocks an eyebrow and is surprised to see Fluttershy doing the same. She's about to ask what that means when Rainbow Dash drunkenly rambles on.

"Guess I'll have to find some other colt for her. You know, since you can't find a stallion to save your life." Rainbow Dash grins right at Rarity.

"Ridiculous! Gentlecolts are constantly clamoring for my affections. Why, this very evening I've been asked out several times. I could find Twilight and myself a pair of dates in a moment!" Rarity says, stamping a hoof.

"Then do it!" Dash yells, wobbling on her hooves again.

"Very well, I shall!" Rarity says.

"I hope they like paper!" Pinkie says, grinning.

"What?" everyone says.

"Because Twilight is such a bookworm! Wait, what?" Pinkie says. Everyone pauses, looking at her. After a moment of staring, Rainbow Dash snorts and laughs quietly.

"That was terrible," Twilight says.

"Indeed," Rarity says.

"It doesn't even make any sense," Fluttershy says.

"Hmm, almost right. I'll keep working on that one," Pinkie mutters.

"Ugh, I'm getting food." Twilight gets up.

"Going to Applejack's cart? I bet Big Mac is there!" Dash says.

"You should go smooch him RIGHT NOW!" Pinkie says, hopping on the table.

Twilight heaves a groaning sigh. "Yes, I'm probably going to Applejack's cart. No, I'm not going to smooch him right now." She rolls her eyes, walking away through the crowd.

"I'm coming too. I'm... hungry." Fluttershy lifts off and joins Twilight.

"Hurry back!" Rarity says as Pinkie and Rainbow Dash take the empty spots on the ground.

Twilight and Fluttershy are standing in a thinning crowd of ponies, all waiting in line for the Sweet Apple Acres stall. The two are finally near enough to hear Applejack as she takes orders and money. They haven't spoken a word.

Twilight is pondering what Pinkie said. She thinks she understands what Rarity's been saying, but she can't help but wonder if she's doing this right. Rarity's books always made love sound like an instant thing, something that just happens when you meet the right pony. Twilight felt something like that when she met Luna at the Solstice.

That was love, or at least an early form of it. Infatuation? More than just a crush. They hadn't talked much, but Twilight had stared at the Moon Goddess all night, aching to be nearer to her. The night had gone by in a blur, Twilight scheming every possible excuse to stay later and later, looking for any kind of opening.

And now here she is, trying to force herself to feel excited about dating regular old Ponyville ponies. How can they compare? Luna is everything Twilight had never thought to dream of.

Should I just wait for that love-at-first-sight feeling to strike again? Is that the only way to feel love?

"Twilight?" Fluttershy says for the third time.

"Huh?" Twilight says, coming back to reality.

"Sorry. You were thinking about something. Sorry to interrupt," Fluttershy says.

"It's fine. What is it?" Twilight says.

"Why are you looking for a date? If you don't mind me asking, that is."

"It's a long story."

"We've been standing in line a long time."

"It's kind of private."

"...You mind me asking, then." Fluttershy shrinks away from Twilight.

"I don't mean like that, it's just – I'll tell you later."

"Okay." The yellow pegasus looks better and stands upright again. "You don't like Applejack's brother... that way. Do you?" she asks.

"I don't really know him. He seems nice. Do you know him?"

"Oh, he is nice. He's very kind and quiet and gentle."

"So you've talked with him?"

"No."

Twilight just stares at Fluttershy. The pegasus avoids eye contact, swinging one hoof through the grass. Before Twilight can say anything, they are at the front of the line.

"Hey there! I was wonderin' when you guys were gonna come support my business," Applejack says. She looks a little tired, but happy. The cart is mostly empty now, and two ponies Twilight doesn't immediately recognize are taking orders from other customers.

"It doesn't look like you need the help. What's left?" Twilight asks.

"Not much... just a few fritters and cakes. And regular old apples, of course," Applejack says. Twilight looks at the few small apple cakes left and feels her stomach rumble.

"I'll have one of those. Fluttershy?" She turns to her friend.

"Umm... Applejack, why isn't your brother here?" Fluttershy asks.

"The big lug got sick. Bad timing, too," Applejack says.

Twilight remembers that she hadn't seen Mac helping with Winter Wrap Up the day before. She takes another look at the ponies working the stand – one is a mare with green pigtails, and the other is a yellow stallion with a vest and hat. Twilight recognizes him now, but can't remember from where.

"At least you have other helpers," she says.

"Yeah, we was real lucky havin' some cousins in town with Big Mac down for the count," Applejack says.

"Maybe I can make your brother some soup tomorrow... if he isn't feeling better," Fluttershy says.

"Great idea! I'll come by and pick it up. Been forever since I stopped by your cottage," Applejack says.

"Oh... Well I thought maybe I should come to your farm and check him out... I mean, look at him... I mean, check on him. Because he's sick." Fluttershy looks away.

"That'd work too. Drop on by anytime," Applejack says.

"Are your cousins enjoying the festival?" Twilight asks.

"Well, they been mostly working. Hey, why don't you two show these two around? They could use a break, and we're slowin down here," Applejack says. Twilight and Fluttershy nod, and Twilight reaches for some bits tucked into a pocket on her dress.

"Oh, none of that now, that cake's on the house. You just show my cousins a good time now, y'hear?" Applejack says.

"Of course. Thanks, Applejack." Twilight levitates her snack along with her as she and Fluttershy leave the line to wait by the cart. Her mouth waters and she tucks into the cake right away, ignoring everything around her for a moment. She moans at how delicious it is, feeling the food drop into her growling stomach. After the first few bites, something occurs to her.

"You didn't order anything?" she asks Fluttershy.

"No, I'm fine," Fluttershy says.

Twilight just looks at her, not sure why the yellow pegasus stood in line all that time. She finishes the cake, just in time to have her mouth full when Applejack forces her cousins out from behind the stand.

"You both done fine work. No need to keep you cooped up here all night," she yells at them, then turns to Twilight. "You might not remember Apple Fritter, you two met back when you first moved here. But you sure as hay should remember Braeburn."

Applejack's cousins greet them loudly, bowing a little. Fluttershy mutters something back and Twilight struggles to choke down her food as quickly as possible, nodding at them.

"And these two are Twilight Sparkle and Fluttershy. They're good friends of the family. Now go have fun already!" Applejack says, returning to her duties selling food.

"Well ain't you just the cutest little filly ever!" The mare steps up to Fluttershy. "How do you get your mane like that?"

Fluttershy blushes and mutters something Twilight can't hear, leading them away from the cart, out into the festival. Twilight falls in behind them, Braeburn at her side.

"Well howdy there, filly. Been a long while since we last met," Braeburn says to her. At the sound of his voice something clicks in her head.

"Hey! I remember you! You're from –"

"Aaaaaaaaaaappleloosa!" he says loudly. This draws some stares from ponies nearby.

"Yes, that. What brings you to town?"

"Just here for a few days to see my cousin's spring planting techniques. Figured I could lend a hand, too, seein' as Mac's down and out."

"I hope he's alright."

"Aw, he's fine, just a stomach bug or two. Big guy'll shrug it right off. So what do you do here in Ponyville?"

"Me? I'm just the librarian."

"Is that right? You must be a different Twilight Sparkle then what I'm thinkin', cause the way AJ tells it she's more'n a little famous. And way more than just a librarian."

"Haha no – I mean, yes, that is me," Twilight says. "Wait, Applejack talks about me?"

"In every letter!"

"Huh." Twilight chews on that one. Why shouldn't Applejack talk about her? Twilight is constantly reporting the details of all her friends' lives to the Princess, after all.

"Anyway, can't thank you and your friends enough for helpin' us sort out that mess with the buffalo," Braeburn says.

"It was nothing. How's everything going out there?"

"Just swell. Orchards growin', new crops startin' all the time, more ponies moving in. Why we just might start a new settlement even further west. Course, then Appleloosa won't be the farthest western border of Equestria."

"You're going to move even farther out?" she says. Twilight remembers the train ride to Appleloosa taking almost a day, and she can't fathom why anyone would want to be farther from the heart of Equestria.

"Well, not me personally. I'd kinda like to. Striking new ground, being on the frontier, it's excitin' stuff. But I can't just pull up stakes and move again," he says, bowing his head a little as they walk.

"What's further west than Appleloosa?" Twilight asks.

"Don't rightly know. But we sure as hay are gonna find out."

Twilight thinks back to an atlas she read a few months ago. There wasn't much about the lands outside Equestria. She realizes with just a bit of horror how little she can recall on the subject, and fights the urge to excuse herself and rush home for some studying.

"Course, it'll be other ponies doing the finding out. Like I was sayin', I got a stake in Appleloosa. I love the place, and it wouldn't do to just pick up and move all over again. But I gotta say, I'm a little sore about missin' all the excitement. Explorin', mappin', meetin' new animals," Braeburn continues.

"I never thought about it like that. All kinds of stuff we don't know, just out there," Twilight says, her imagination suddenly soaring, begging her to go read a few books to fuel it.

"Exactly. Hey, a proper hoedown!" Braeburn rears a little and kicks his forelegs in excitement. They've come nearer to the band, and ponies are dancing in the grass in front of Ponyville's town hall. Twilight winces, her flights of fancy disappearing. She tries to make eye contact with Fluttershy, but her friend is, against all odds, deeply involved in conversation with Apple Fritter.

"Think the most famous unicorn in Ponyville would honor little ole' me with a dance?" Braeburn says.

"Well, I don't know if – wait, you mean me, don't you?" Twilight panics just a little.

"Yes, you, come on!" He stomps a little to the music, grinning.

Twilight is about to protest, but nothing comes to mind. Why shouldn't she dance? She does it all the time with her friends. It's a normal, fun thing ponies do, and she's trying to learn about normal things ponies do, after all...

"Ain't no need to be so nervous. It's just dancin'. It's fun!" he says, smiling at her.

"Nervous? Who said I was nervous?" Twilight says, laughing a little nervously.

"Well yer just standin' there hemmin' and hawin'. You're either scared or you don't much like my looks," he says, grinning.

"Well I'm not nervous," she says.

"Then I guess you just aren't into dashing young stallions," he says, still grinning.

"Oh, I love them. I wish one would ask me to dance," she says with a smiling eye roll.

"Ha! Sure you wouldn't be too scared to accept?"

She tries to fake a glare at him but can't hold it; she's smiling too much.

Scared, he says. I'll show him!

She is a little nervous, of course, but this is a golden opportunity.

"I'm more into modest guys," she says, extending a foreleg out to him. "But I guess you'll do."

He flashes her a quite dashing smile, like he expected this all along. He takes her hoof, and leads her out into the chaos of the dance floor.

Before long, they're surrounded. Everywhere she looks, it's faces of ponies, some she knows from around town, and some she doesn't recognize. All of them are happy, flailing and jumping and stepping to the beat. Braeburn is hopping around, stomping his hooves in some kind of square dance pattern, his hat bouncing on his head, not a care in the world.

Twilight sways back and forth, shuffling her hooves a little, the timeless dance of the overly self-conscious. She glances around her, surprised to see nopony looking at her. Every last one of them is lost in their own dancing, with their partner or their friends or even just alone, eyes closed and heart soaring.

Except Braeburn. He's looking right at her, grinning so widely he rivals Pinkie Pie.

"C'mon Twilight! Live it up! This ain't a mild west dance! Yeeeeehaw!" he yells, jumping around.

Twilight smiles, and her hooves start moving more rapidly all on their own. She starts shaking her head from side to side, and before long her rump is doing the same.

"Aw yeah, that's more like it!" Braeburn says, grabbing his hat and flapping it around in the air.

Twilight dances. She tries to think about this – she'd often wondered before how it was so easy when it was just her with friends, but so difficult in public. She starts to analyze it in her head, to puzzle it out, but then it just... goes. It goes away, the constant monologue in her head dies down, and suddenly she's just dancing.

Her heart pounds, and the only thing in her mind is the anticipation of the next beat. She hops and steps and hops and steps, smiling the whole time, her mane and tail darting back and forth. She's hemmed in on all sides by dancing ponies, and she hardly notices. Braeburn is stomping his hooves in front of her, his mane tossing with each stomp. It's orange, like Applejack, with lighter highlights, and the hair looks thick and rough. Twilight wonders if it actually feels rough or just looks that way.

The music picks up and ponies all around her are cheering, howling, screaming in glee. Twilight feels a rough bump on her flank and turns to see Rainbow Dash darting around, jumping and spinning, using her wings to add a whole new dimension to dancing. Rainbow Dash comes up to her again and hugs Twilight. She yells something that Twilight can't hear at all. She's so happy. She starts to dance next to Twilight, then recognizes Braeburn. They both have a moment of pure joy and she hugs him too, almost knocking him over, before spinning off into the crowd.

Pinkie Pie bounces past in Rainbow's wake, sees them, and re-enacts Dash's performance almost exactly.

"Wheeeeeee!" she yells, jumping away, hugging random ponies.

"Come on!" Braeburn nods towards Pinkie Pie and takes off galloping, following her. Twilight freezes, but only for a moment, too afraid of dancing alone to think it through. She runs after him.

She immediately bumps into someone. She yells "Sorry!" as she runs by, dodging a pony shaking his legs in the air. Braeburn is ahead of her, and she's just keeping up. She can barely make out Pinkie and Rainbow Dash ahead of him, tearing a path through the dance.

They run through the crowd together, weaving and dodging and tripping over everyone else there. Groups of friends are bunched together in little dancing circles, and Braeburn plows straight through every one. Twilight's heart is pounding, she feels herself sweating all over as they run after her friends.

"Excuse us!" she yells, almost knocking a mare over.

"Sorry!" she yells, not looking back, smiling.

"Woooooooo!" Braeburn yells, jumping over a stallion that ducked at his approach.

Finally he stops, right in front of the steps of town hall. The band is in front of them, ponies drumming and wailing and fiddling their hearts out. Pinkie and Dash are dancing together, and they cheer when they see Twilight and Braeburn.

Twilight stares at the band in disbelief. They're right there. She could reach up and touch one of the guitarists. She's never done anything like this before. The music is deafening, she can feel the speakers vibrating her whole body, sound waves pulsing through her. Pinkie Pie crashes into her, hugging her again. She screams something right into Twilight's ear and Twilight has no idea what it is. Pinkie quickly lets go and goes back to dancing, pumping her hooves in the air and whooping.

Twilight feels like her chest is filled with helium, like she's just going to float up into the clouds with all the pegasus ponies. Her mouth aches from smiling so much. She keeps dancing, her eyes watering enough to make tears when she blinks. Braeburn moves closer to her, grabbing her arms with his, and they spin around each other on their hind legs, laughing and smiling and jumping.

"So they don't sing at all?" Twilight asks, sipping a cup of water.

"Not even a peep. We used to call 'em mute birds, but then the fillies and colts started calling them dancing birds, and that stuck," Braeburn says.

"Huh. You know, The Audobarn Society's Guide To Equestrian Birds doesn't say anything about that. There's a just a picture and a sentence or two about plumage."

"Naw, Sand Shrikes are the dancin-est little birds you'll ever see. They do it every spring, just going' nuts all over the town. Course, when they aren't busy stickin' scorpions on cactus spines, that is."

"Eww," Twilight says.

They're sitting in the grass on the edge of what was the dance floor – the band is packing up, and ponies are drifting off in small groups, the noise slowly dying down. Twilight's not sure when Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie left or where they went. Her limbs ache, and she can smell sweat from herself and dozens of others soaked into her dress.

"Wait, really? They impale scorpions?" she asks.

"Mmm-hmm. That's how they eat 'em."

Twilight pictures this for a moment. "That's a fascinating adaptation," she says.

"A fasci-what now?" Braeburn says.

Twilight is about to change the subject when Rarity walks up to them, Fluttershy in tow.

"Twilight! And Braeburn! So good to see you again. Together," Rarity says, shooting Twilight a saucy smile.

"Well, howdy! More of my cousin's friends. Rarity, right?" Braeburn bows a little at each mare, doffing his hat. Fluttershy and Rarity curtsy back at him.

"I'm terribly sorry to interrupt," another look at Twilight, "but Applejack asked me to keep a lookout for you, Braeburn. She said she wanted you to help pack up her cart."

"Oh, shoot! Lost track of time. I better get over there." He gets up, turning to Twilight. "Sorry I gotta run off on you like this. Thanks for showin' me such a good time."

"It's okay." She pauses, looking him right in the eye, smiling. "I had fun, too."

"I'm glad," he says. Neither of them moves, each just looking at the other.

Rarity clears her throat loudly.

"Right, the cart. Y'all have a good night!" he says, trotting away. Twilight stands up, brushing grass off her dress with magic. Rarity is just staring at her, grinning.

"What?" Twilight asks.

"Did you have a good time with Braeburn?" Rarity asks.

"...We saw you dancing. You looked very... happy," Fluttershy says.

Twilight looks back and forth between them. Rarity is grinning at her, Fluttershy is trying not to grin.

"What? We were dancing. Just dancing. Fun! Normal, regular party fun," Twilight says.

"Is he... attached?" Rarity asks.

"Attached? To wha– oh. Ohhhhhhhh." Twilight fidgets with her hooves. "I didn't ask."

Rarity sighs. "Ah, Twilight, you have so much to learn. Lucky for you that I'm around," she says, levitating a comb from some fold of her dress. She walks up to Twilight and begins brushing her mane. Twilight is about to ask why, but she realizes that her hair was probably a mess from all the dancing. Instead, she just sighs.

"I'm seeing Applejack tomorrow. I could ask her about it then," Fluttershy offers.

"Perfect! Who would've thought? Fluttershy, a good wingmare!" Rarity says.

"No, that's okay. I mean, he's Applejack's family. Wouldn't that be kind of, I don't know, weird?" Twilight asks.

"It might be. It might not be. We'll find out when Fluttershy asks," Rarity says.

"Why don't I just talk to Applejack about it?" Twilight says.

"Oh, no!" Fluttershy and Rarity say in unison.

"That's so... brave," Fluttershy says.

"Perhaps not the best choice of words. But indeed, far too direct," Rarity says.

"Never mind. Fluttershy, you don't have to ask. Really, it's fine. We were just dancing," Twilight says.

Both her friends cock an eyebrow at her.

"Really! Just forget it, he lives in Appleloosa and he's Applejack's cousin and I don't have those kinds of feelings for him anyway," Twilight says.

"...oh," Fluttershy says.

"If you say so," Rarity says, in her most disingenuous tone possible. "I suppose it's for the best, actually, since you'll be busy tomorrow night."

"I will?" Twilight asks.

"Of course! We'll be going on our first double date!"

Twilight splutters, making some noises that sound almost like words.

"Oh relax, it's just a fun, casual thing. The most handsome pony approached me earlier and asked if I was available tomorrow, and I set the whole thing up right there. And don't worry – his friend sounds quite dashing as well. A real stallion for you, Twilight."

"Do you know them?" Twilight asks.

"Well, no, but we'll get to know them tomorrow, that's the whole point. There! Fabulous again!" Rarity puts her comb away, marveling at her work.

"I hope you two have fun on your... date," Fluttershy says, struggling with the last word.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, dear, I should have asked if he could bring another friend for you," Rarity says.

"Oh, no! No, that's okay. I'm fine," Fluttershy says.

Twilight almost asks Fluttershy if she's ever dated anyone, but holds back. It's late, and she needs to get home to check on Spike. She makes a mental note to corner the shy pegasus some other time.

"But, um... Rarity?" Fluttershy says.

"Yes?"

"Can I stay at the Boutique tonight? It's a long walk home for me, and it's so dark..."

"Of course, dear. I'm missing my beauty sleep as well." Rarity stifles a dainty yawn. "I suppose this is goodnight, Twilight. Make sure you come by nice and early tomorrow so we can get ready!"

They quickly say their goodbyes and Twilight watches her two friends walk off. She can see them entering Rarity's boutique. But there's only one bed! Whatever shall we do? Fluttershy nuzzles Rarity suddenly. Oh Rarity, she says, breathing heavily, it's fine. I'd love to share a bed with you. Well why didn't you just say so, darling? And then they're kissing, hesitantly, Fluttershy blushing, Rarity tenderly stroking her friend's hair, and then they're in bed rolling around together and...

Twilight shakes her head, and it's just her standing alone at a fading party. She can still see Rarity and Fluttershy walking away together, chatting about something. She looks up at the moon, wondering if Luna knows just what Twilight sees in her head sometimes, wondering if the Princess would want to know. Twilight shakes her head again, smiling as she turns and trots home to the library.