As he began to walk he couldn't help but still feel the heaviness from his talk even after they had tried their best. Though he did feel a bit of relief knowing that Derpy now had knowledge of some of his darker fragments of memories. Granted he has been regaining whole memories for a good minute now but most were of when he was younger, which he couldn't complain about since it seemed that his adult life wasn't all that great.

He remembered how he and his used to always play games together, though his brother was a lot more social than he was. So eventually his brother started to hang with his friends and he stayed playing the games. But he also remembered that was just how he was back then.

Then there were the times when his mom had started to teach him how to cook and how he even eventually taught her a few things he picked up by himself. He really couldn't remember his father all too much but he really didn't feel as if he was sad about it. Though he did remember his neighbor who always came and hung out with him and even played games with him.

He couldn't help but remember how that neighbor had always brought a smile to everyone he met. Which was why when he was diagnosed and eventually killed by cancer, the whole town seemed to grow darker. It did get better but things just hadn't been the same, but despite how painful it must have been even on his deathbed he could still make you laugh.

In a way, Pinkie actually reminded him of that neighbor which only made his friendship with the crazy mare stronger. Though he did miss that neighbor deeply he couldn't exactly remember his name. From what he could remember it was Robin something or the other.

These memories of his time growing up did give him a sense of peace as he didn't feel like a stranger to himself anymore or at least not as much as he did when he first woke up. But he quickly came out of memory lane, or at least the pieces he could see, as the Community Center came into view. Though it was still pretty early he could see a huge line at the door.

"Psstt, Brandon this way!" He heard and as he turned his head he saw Rarity in some kind of get up waving him into an alley.

"Rarity, what are you doing?" He asked as he went into the alley.

"Trying to get all the bachelors in without anypony noticing. Now follow me, darling, before anypony follows!" Rarity said walking further into the alley making him follow.

"So are we just gonna sneak around back or something?" He asked.

"It's more of the something, you see as you know the Community Center acts like a tornado shelter. It has a basement with an underground passage just in case the building itself was compromised. While this passage usually is only restricted for emergencies the mayor agreed to let me take the bachelors through so not to make a scene at the front door." Rarity explained.

"So how many have shown up so far?" He asked though they stopped at a basement doorway in the middle of the alley. "Also, this can't be safe if this is supposed to be an emergency exit."

"First you're the last one to show up, though that's because Spike can become easily distracted sometimes. As for the door, it's enchanted to move around." Rarity answered opening said door before walking in.

"Guess that makes sense in a way." Though he couldn't help but wonder how complex the spell must have been since that would mean not only the door being moved but the tunnel as well.

He climbed his way down the stairs and followed Rarity though they only made a little small talk. Though he had grown to like Rarity, he and she weren't that close of friends. But he was always grateful for her generosity since she was the only fashion pony who makes his winter clothes.

"What are these final preparations though?" He finally asked.

"I know it must have been inconvenient especially with what Spike told me. I really do hate to be the one that ruins a romantic moment, but I just needed you all here to run through the events one last time." At that, he gave a slight glare to the unicorn. "Also I needed help making and setting the refreshments out."

"Should have said that first, you know." He grumbled as they finally reached the end of what seemed like a never-ending hallway.

As they came into the basement and then made their way upstairs he saw the other stallions standing around chatting. Rarity then started to give them instructions on what she wanted each group to do. He had been put on making lemon aid with three others, and as they were doing it he couldn't help but go over every event for tonight.

First would be the meet and greet which allowed both mares and stallions to meet the bachelors, though the programs made sure to let them know what each bachelor was into. That part of the night allowed the bidders to pick who they wanted to bid on and to eat, also it let ponies place bids ahead of the main event.

Then came a special performance by Saphire Shores who would do her latest hits from her new album. This would allow the bachelors to get backstage and relax for a moment. After the little concert was when the main event started of course.

Rarity would give a little introduction speech and then have the bachelors come out one at a time and went over their likes and dislikes, and general descriptions. Then of course auction that stallion off which he and the others kept making a joke about how she was pimping them off. Though her get up may have had something to do with those jokes.

"Mmmm, this lemon aid is absolutely divine darlings! Not too sweet or sour!" Rarity said as she took a sip.

"That was Lemon Grabs doing, so all thanks go to him." One of the others said and they all nodded in agreement.

"Well, either way, you all are doing a magnificent job! We'll be doing a quick run through in about fifteen, so please have a glass yourselves and relax a bit." As she left they each got a glass and started to make some small talk.

He actually felt pretty good so far about everything and even liked finally hanging out with other guys for a change. Since his selection of male friends was limited and all, not that he didn't like to hang with Spike and Big Mac but it felt nice to talk to other guys. They asked him some standard questions, and some he didn't really answer.

Though it wasn't long before Rarity called them up for the final run through, and since he was the main event of the main event he was last in line. Rarity had each stallion pose differently while she talked about them and made a few jokes about each of them. The poses she had them do was to show off something special each stallion had, like their muscles or their charm.

It wasn't long before the final run-through was finished and they all went to sit down for a bit before the doors were opened. Though Rarity made sure to go around reminding all of them that when they did open the doors that they had to be attentive and even flirty. As since there were open donations and also it may help start a bidding war.

"Alright everypony, it's almost six thirty and you know what that means!" Rarity said through the microphone making them all stand up aligning themselves in rows on either side of the doors.

As Rarity unlocked the doors and opened them she greeted the line of ponies, and even some other creatures, and invited them in. When the line started to move inside all the bachelors bowed and welcomed them. Soon the party was started and with a quartet band playing classical music in the background, though he wondered how long they were there.

He soon started to mingle with the crowd a bit and tried his best to be flirty but he came off as more corny than anything. But it did seem to make a few mares laugh and even flirt back, and the more comfortable he felt the bigger the crowd he seemed to draw. Though Rarity had hidden his wings with a spell he couldn't help but to accidentally bump into somepony's.

Granted some of them took it as him flirting since every now and again his wings would brush up against the side of their flanks, and since his wings were hidden at the moment they thought it was his hands. Soon though he saw Lyra and Derpy, but Rarity made it clear that they couldn't act like a herd during the event since that might drive away some bidders.

"Hey, you looking really good and I can see some stares from a lot of the mares and from what I've been hearing you've apparently been grabbing some flanks," Lyra said walking over. "Might even put a bid in my self you know, and before I forget Luna sent a message and she won't be back until tomorrow."

"Alright thanks for the message, now can I get you any refreshment madame?" He asked bowing courteously making her give a slight giggle.

"Oh, well since you asked so nicely and all!" Lyra said putting a hoof on his chest in a flirty way, and at first, he thought that she blew it but as he looked around he could see some jealous looks.

"As you wish," He said before heading to the table and getting her something to drink, which after that they went their ways.

After that, quite a few of the mares came over and talked to him and he decided to just drop the fake flirty stuff since it wasn't working for him. He just started to relax and be himself which made things a lot easier for him. It certainly made him get a few laughs in a good way with some of his bad jokes.

It wasn't long before Rarity told everpony that the concert was going to start in ten minutes and reminded them about the open donations. Though as he started to make his way towards the stage area, he decided to talk to a mare who seemed to have been staring at him all night. As he approached the mare he could see a slight blush form, and as he looked at the mare she was an earth pony with a golden mane and a light purple coat.

"How are you enjoying yourself so far?" He asked giving the mare a little smile.

"It's been fun, and I'm sorry for staring and just not coming up to you to talk but you seemed a little busy." The mare answered.

"Well, I'm not busy right now but first may I know your name?" He asked making the mare give a cute little squeak.

"I'm so sorry, I'm Golden Lox! Though I already know who you are, and I know you have to get going soon but I'm glad to at least give you my name." Golden said making him remember a few fairy tales from his world.

"The pleasure has been all mine, and I look forward to seeing if you win a date." He gave the mare a wink making her blush again before he again started his way to the stage, but out of the corner of his eye, he could have sworn he saw Bon Bon.

Quickly shaking his head after turning to make sure he figured it was somepony else and went to sit at the stairs before the show started. Though as he looked out at the crowd he couldn't believe how many ponies were there. But he narrowed in on Applejack who was walking towards him.

"Hey Aj, you look very nice tonight," He said making the mare blush a little before talking.

"Listen, Brandon, about me avoiding..." He raised his hand to stop her.

"Can this wait until after the auction?" He couldn't help but ask not really feeling like going down that rabbit hole again.

"No, it can't because I wanted you to now that I aim to win tonight." Applejack said making him give her a crazy look since he wasn't expecting that, after all this time he thought she honestly didn't have feelings for him.

"Applejack why are you saying this now after all this time?" He asked as he felt his feelings start to get all mixed up about the situation, had Bon Bon been right and all the attention he got made her jealous?

"Because this was my plan that I came up with after I thought about how I felt. I really am sorry I didn't tell you sooner and made you think I didn't like you like that, but I wanted to at least try to win you tonight. I know you must be all mixed up right now and this probably ruined your mojo or whatever, but I do intend to win." Applejack said giving a blush and putting a hoof on his hand, and before he could say anything else she left.

At that, the other bachelors seemed to be making their way to the backstage and he realized that the concert was about to start. He shook off his shock and he couldn't help but give a huge smile as he walked backstage. Soon Saphire and her dancers were on stage performing, and they had a great view.

It wasn't long before she had finished her set and made her way backstage, and as she passed by she brushed by him giving him a little wink and mouthed she'll be biding to. Though his attention was drawn back to the stage when Rarity began to speak. The speech was pretty much your typical thank you for coming and now here's the main event speech.

As she started to call each stallion up and the stallion took up the poses she began to tell the audience about them like in rehearsal. The first stallion ended up with a final bid of two hundred and thirty-five bits. As the night continued, most stallions getting between a hundred to two hundred bits each, there were a few who got more or less of course.

"...and now ladies and gentlecolts it's time for the main event! Remember this is your last chance to win a date, now please put your hooves together for Brandon!" At that, he took the stage and posed like how Rarity told him to as the spell on his wings went away making the crowd oh and aw at the sight of them. "Now let me tell you a little about our one and only human!

He is looking for a mare tonight, so sorry for all those stallions out there! But he has been here in Equestria for just under a year now and let me tell you if you couldn't tell by now he leaves quite the impression just by looking at him!" He changed poses spreading his wings out to their fullest.

Rarity went into a few other details of course since that's what he expected, but what he didn't expect was when he felt a tug on his shirt and vest making them fall apart at the seems. This caught him by surprise a bit but he managed to keep his cool and flexed a little showing what muscle he had. But he couldn't help but be a little mad at Rarity for pulling this stunt.

"Now before we start, like before we had a few silent bids and we'll start from the highest bid from the sheet! Which let's see here..." Rarity looked at the sheet her eyes going a little wide and gained a little twinkle. "The highest bid so far is from number seventy-two who made a bid of three hundred and eighty bits! So does anypony want to let's say go for three ninety?"

It didn't take long before hooves were raised and the bits kept getting higher and higher it seemed, which did surprise him since he didn't think he made that much of an impression. Though since he was a unique creature could have something to do with it. Soon the bidding slowed down as mares were knocked out as the bid was now at seven hundred even.

"Seven hundred going once! Going twice!" Before Rarity could bang the gavel the last time a last-second bid came in.

"One thousand bits!" At that everypony was frozen with shock and confusion as to who said it until one of the helpers called out the number of the pony.

"Number twelve with the thousand bits!" The helper called out.

"A-all right, going once, twice, and gone!" Rarity said, though a little too excitedly. "And that concludes the annual Bachelor Auction! All winners please remain behind to pay your bits, and to allow the bachelors to meet their dates! In which time you can make an arrangement for said date."

At that, the room slowly emptied leaving the ponies who won along with a few stragglers, which he saw included Applejack and the rest of the six. As he looked he also saw Bon Bon walking out the door with her head hung low, but he couldn't see Lyra or Derpy anywhere.

"They said they were gonna head home and meet ya there." Applejack said as he walked up to the six friends, though as he looked at her number he knew she wasn't the one who won. "Yeah, I got dropped out a little earlier than what I thought I would."

"Huh, then I wonder who number twelve is?" Twilight asked as she looked around the room.

"That would be me," They all turned to see a dark blue mare with a red and white mane and tail, she was a unicorn who he couldn't help but think she was a little pretty. "My name is Sparkly Fountain, though my friends just call me Sparks and it looks like I'll be your date." The mare said giving him a wink.

Author's Notes:

Hope you enjoyed and remember to smile, smile, smile!