Applejack...

Perhaps this was too soon. Maybe I misread something. Either way, if I've said or done anything to put you off, I'm sorry. I paid for the meal, so don't worry about it.

For what it's worth, I hope you find the one you're looking for.

Talk to you later,
Thunderlane

"WHY THA' GOTDANG-" Applejack reined in her outrage, remembering she was in a public place but that didn't stop her from crunching up the note and throwing it into the nearby trashcans where unfinished food, used napkins and such went for those who ate in instead of taking their food to go.

"Is everything okay?" Applejack looked to see the waitress, looking concerned and she took a deep breath.

"It ain't you or th' food, it's... didja see mah date leave?" Applejack asked.

"Eeyeah, the poor guy looked real down," the waitress nodded, "He gave me a good tip after he paid and left, although I think I heard him mutter he was gonna take a walk, clear his head..."

"Then he ain't goin' home! How long ago did he leave?" asked AJ.

"Mmm, about... five minutes or more? I think he went that way" The waitress pointed to the left of the doors, and she barely caught a 'thanks' from Applejack who rushed out the door.

Night had fallen and that made searching for Thunderlane harder. Just because she knew he hadn't headed straight for his home didn't mean Applejack knew where he could have gone to 'clear his head'. Although she acknowledged she'd been a pretty lousy date tonight, Applejack was still quite ornery that Thunderlane had clocked out without so much as a word. Honest and goodhearted as Applejack was, she still had her pride and by the Pale One she was going to give that stallion a piece of her mind.

Taking a moment to compose her self, Applejack considered what she knew: Thunderlane hadn't gone him because he wanted to clear his head. The direction the waitress had pointed out supported that since it didn't lead towards Thunderlane's residence.

With nothing else to fall back on, Applejack ventured the same direction Thunderlane had apparently taken and soon realized she was going towards the Ponyville Lake Reservoir. Getting closer, her ears perked at the unmistakable sound of skipping rocks. She knew that sound well because when she was younger she used to go skip rocks whenever things were bothering her and she wanted to be alone.

Despite the fall of night, the moon provided a gentle and visible spectrum to see just fine, and getting closer she soon saw the rock skipper was Thunderlane. Her irritation riled up and nearly spurred her to go out there and give Thunderlane a stern talking to, but something held her back. It was the way Thunderlane was picking up rocks with his wing, winding up, and throwing the rocks with surprising skill that the next one made seven fine skips across the surface of the lake.

Noticing a bush nearby, Applejack carefully crept closer to hide behind it so as to get a closer look. Upon doing so, she focused her eyes and saw that Thunderlane appeared to be deep in thought and low in heart. It was the look of a stallion who'd been told bad news, like he'd been turned down a great opportunity he'd been working so hard for, and to have lost the opportunity had broken something inside.

It dulled Applejack's annoyance and softened her heart with sympathy, that she almost stepped out to reveal herself, only to pause when she saw Thunderlane step back from the lake, close his eyes and begin humming as he began to slowly walk along the lake edge...

Despite the distance, Applejack was able to see Thunderlane peer back towards the lake, seeing his eyes full of bitterest disappointment before he hanged his head in sorrow before he ambled on back towards Ponyville, presumably going home.

Applejack fell to her own knees and hanged her own head in shame as she now truly realized how much she'd hurt Thunderlane, and felt her heart hurt. His words had been melancholy and yet strangely beautiful. She now understood that Thunderlane truly did want to be more than friends and instead of recognizing that she'd let her own anxiety and insecurity hold her back and send all the wrong signals.

She was half-surprised by the tear that trailed down her cheek, but now she knew, Ah've gotta fix this...

The next morning, Thunderlane stood with the other knights, watching the recruits for the Harmony Guard train and spar. Firestorm was being a tough but fair taskmaster, determined to whip these "creampuffs" into a "proud and respectable force to be reckoned with and could be counted on". His friends kept glancing at Thunderlane, who was trying to focus on the recruits but his gaze kept drifting downwards in gloom.

"Should we say something?" "He's lookin' really down!" "Eeyup." "Perhaps we ought to do something to cheer him up." "Maybe a guys' night out-"

Belay that.

All the knights except for Thunderlane heard Midnight's thought in their heads and they discretely looked towards him as the alicorn prince kept his gaze on the recruits training but his thoughts reached them.

Thunderlane's business is his own in this situation. Besides, we're not the ones who need to reach out to him.

Sunburst, Cheese Sandwich, Macintosh, Blueblood, and Soarin all shared troubled look but nodded when they noticed Spike coming their way, holding a letter. He kept quiet, not wanting to interupt the training going on, and walked over to Thunderlane, who noticed Spike approaching him.

"Hi Thunderlane, got a letter for you," Spike held it out to him, and Thunderlane accepted. "Later guys, Twilight needs me for a lesson plan with Starlight."

As Spike hurried off, Thunderlane opened the letter to read it and was surprised to see it was from Applejack:

Howdy Thunderlane,

Listen, I want to apologize for what a lousy date I was before, and I was hoping, if you're willing to give me another chance... maybe we could have a first date do-over. if you're up for it, just show up at the Spa at 4 o'clock, and I give you an Apple Family Promise that I won't ignore you or be inattentive. you will have my full and complete attention. Don't worry about the rest of the date, I've taken care of everything, with a little help from some friends.

I hope you'll accept my invitation and give me another chance, Thunderlane. If not, I understand.

Your friend (though hopefully something more),
Applejack

P.S.
Fairy Tail helped me write this, I had trouble looking for the right words. I ended up putting my hoof in my mouth trying to sort this out otherwise

Thunderlane hadn't known what to expect when he went to see Applejack at the Spa, but he certainly never expected her to pay for the premium package. Indeed, she went the full nine yards and got them a series of the very best of the best that the Spa had to offer.

First, they got full body massages, with Thunderlane getting the pegasus package that delicately and tenderly massaged his wings as well. After that was a mud bath.

As they each relaxed in the warm mud, rich with minerals, Thunderlane gazed over at Applejack and said, "Y'know, you didn't have to-"

"Yes, Ah did an' don'choo say otherwise," Applejack said firmly as she looked over to him, that familiar stubborn look on her face unable to conceal the guilt she felt. "Ah ruined our first date because Ah couldn' keep mah attention on th' amazin' stallion who wants t' offer me his heart, so Ah'm gonna make this the... th' best do-over first date in th' history o' first dates! Ya hear?"

Thunderlane couldn't help but snort a chuckle before he replied, "Okay, okay, I hear."

"Now jus' enjoy th' pamperin', Thunderlane," Applejack sighed as she let herself relax again. A moment passed before she said, "Yknow... this reminds me of th' time we got into a mud fight. Remember that?"

"I... Oh! Yeah, I do remember that," Thunderlane eyes lit up in nostalgia. "Mac invited me over to Sweet Apple Acres and I brought Rumble with me. I hadn't met Flitter and Cloud Chaser yet, so I didn't have anypony to sit for Rumble at the time."

"Yeah... we'd already met but tha' was when Apple Bloom an' Rumble met an' we let `em play t'gether," Applejack reminisced, "We took our eyes off `em for a minute an' they ran off t' play wit' the pigs in a big ol' mud puddle from th' rain th' day before!"

"We went to get them out of the mud and clean them up... but then they threw mud at us!" Thunderlane laughed, "We were like 'This - MEANS - WAR!!' and jumped into the mud with them!"

"It was a war! An' somehow we got th' whole barnyard a mess!" Applejack laughed, making that adorable snort again. "Granny Smith was not happy, but she couldn't help laughin' either!"

They shared a warm and nostalgic laugh before they looked at each other again and smiled, enjoying each other's company, but before they could say much more, Aloe and Lotus came in, announcing it was time for the next treatment. After getting cleaned up from the mud in the showers, they went to the sauna, where they let the steam work on their pores.

Since they were alone, they resumed talking as Applejack asked, "Any good mem'ries from those times ya spent in Cloudsdale as a colt, Thunder?"

"Oh, plenty," Thunderlane shrugged, "Because my... my parents worked in the Weather Factory, I sometimes had to spend time with Rainbow Dash and her folks. Heh, good parents Bow Hothoof and Windy Whistles, but... a little overenthusiastic in showing parental support for their daughter."

"Whattya mean?" Applejack leaned forward, curious.

"Well, back then, since my parents worked a lot, Dash's parents were often my foalsitters. They became like a second mom and dad for me, and Rainbow is probably the closest thing I've ever had to a sister."

"Heheh, explains why you two gitalong so well," Applejack smirked.

"Haha, yeah. Anyway, when we were foals, Dash's parents often took us to participate junior flying competitions and races," explained Thunderlane. "Back then, even though she'd done the Sonic Rainboom, Rainbow was still developing as a flier. The first few races we took part in, she didn't do as well as she'd hoped. Didn't place first, second or even third. Instead, she got participation awards. So did I, but I wasn't as competitive as her.

"But no matter what place she got, Dash's folks cheered their hearts out for her. I mean, painting rainbows on their faces, taking photos, holding up a poster board with Dash's face on it, it was kind of embarrassing. But... looking back, I think it was probably the sweetest, nicest thing I'd ever seen parents do for their kid. Don't get me wrong, my parents worked a lot but they loved me and were great to me too. I just... I wish..."

Thunderlane's eyes started to well up with tears, when he felt somepony lean against him and he saw it was Applejack, looking sympathetic yet smiling at him, "Ah think yer folks would be mighty proud of th' stallion you've grown up t' be, sugarcube."

The bashfulness gave way to a touched smile, and Thunderlane leaned into Applejack and even rested the side of his head onto the top of hers and he gently said, "Thanks, AJ..."

After the sauna, they had a nice refreshing drink of a specially blend of fruit juice rich with nutrients and after they had an herbal bath while getting their scalps massaged, and then they had a second body massage to work out any remaining knots in their muscles while their manes and tails got touched up with slight trims and brushing, and Thunderlane even got his wings preened by a pegasus spa pony.

Applejack sighed in content as her hind legs were soon freed of a stubborn muscle ache that had been bothering her for a while after an applebucking mishap she'd rather forget while Thunderlane was glad to be rid of a broken feather in his left wing that he'd been having trouble getting out on his own but had been too self-conscious to ask his brother or even Flitter or Cloud Chaser to help him with.

As they enjoyed their second massage, feeling their aches and stress gently rubbed away, Thunderlane peered over at Applejack, seeing how serene she was and how lovely she looked in this moment. Out of nowhere, a thought crossed his mind so suddenly, he found himself asking, "Applejack... do you like how our lives have turned out?"

Applejack looked over to him, "Whattya mean, haystack?"

"Well... how different would our lives be? How different would we be if..." Thunderlane hesitated a moment before saying, "if we'd never helped find the Elements of Harmony? You represent Honesty and then later I found out that I represent Trust. We've had experiences that helped us find an understanding about our Elements a little better. But where and who would we be if we'd never gotten involved in all of that?"

"Huh. Y'know, Ah never rightly did consider that," Applejack gave it a think before saying, "Ah think Ah'd just be workin' a little more peacefully at Sweet Apple Acres, but one way or another Ah think we'd still be involved because our friends are involved. Th' girls, th' boys, all th' problems we've overcome an' taken care of, th' ponies an' other creatures we've all helped.

"Do Ah wish Ah'd never become th' Element o' Honesty? No, Thunderlane, Ah don' think so. Ah'm proud o' who Ah am an' Ah'm mighty glad Ah can help others th' ways we do, even before Twi n' Night's castle showed up wit' tha' map sendin' us t' diff'ernt places here n' there t' help friendship problems an' such. We've all helped t' make things better in some way or other, an' that's th' truth.

"...Do you wish you'd never gotten involved in all this, Thunderlane?" Applejack asked, and Thunderlane gave it a think of his own.

It took him a long moment before he furrowed his brows and gave Applejack a smile, "No, Applejack, I don't think I do either. I mean, sure, there are times I could have done without the harrowing dangers and crazy situations we've gotten into. But that's mostly because I'm afraid of what would become of Rumble if anything ever happened to me.

"Even so, you're right! We've done and accomplished and helped so much and so many. Besides, if not us then who? Not everyone is cut out to be a hero or brave or determined enough to face and overcome the odds. Then I look at you and our friends and think 'I'm glad it's us and not someone who's only out for his own interests' and it comforts me in a way.

"So no, AJ. I don't regret becoming part of this whole Harmony thing, and... it makes me glad that you don't either."

In that moment, Applejack and Thunderlane shared a tender smile as they gazed into each other's eyes.

Emerging from the Spa, Applejack and Thunderlane both felt truly fresh as a daisy. Thunderlane felt far better today than he did yesterday when he'd been getting spa treatments by himself while AJ had been preoccupied with helping the Spa Ponies with their steam room problem. This time however, he truly felt refreshed.

"Boy howdy, izzit jus' me, or do y'all feel like a million bits as well?" Applejack smiled at her date as Thunderlane took a deep inhale through his nose... and sniffed some telltale smells that told him something was ahoof.

"Do you smell... cotton candy?" Thunderlane asked as he took some more sniffs, "And there's also... popcorn... carrot-dogs..."

His chain of sniffs was cut short when his ears perked and Thunderlane looked down the street to see ponies going that way and some balloons and streamers set up around the corner of said, where they were congregating.

"What's going over there?" he wondered aloud.
"Dunno, let's go see," Applejack suggested and she led the way without waiting for Thunderlane's reply.

He raised a brow but followed and when they rounded the corner, he gasped! Before him, the street had turned into festive environment, with balloons tied to the lampposts, streamers hanging between the lampposts, confetti was lightly falling from above, which apparently came from a few pegasi sitting on small puffs of cloud and gently sprinkling the colorful flecks of paper onto the goings-on below, and lining the streets were foodstands with all kinds of treats and fried foods and drinks, games like throwing balls at stacked bottles, skee-ball and even arcade games, merchants selling simple wares like hooficrafts, toys, and there were ponies street-performing.

Such as a team of acrobats, there was a puppet show going on, and he could see Cheese Sandwich playing a one-pony band while Party Favor was making amazing balloon art, such as a bounce-house made up of balloons, a long and surprisingly majestic balloon dragon, and he let a balloon phoenix go and it popped, bursting into bright orange and red confetti and golden glitter as a baby phoenix stuffy floated down into the hooves of a filly who happily hugged it, there was Trixie doing a magic show with Starlight and Sunburst's assistance, several stallions were playing tug-o-war against Big Macintosh by himself and they still couldn't make him budge as he stood there, holding the rope in his mouth, looking a tad bored and almost-unaware he was even engaging a tug-o-war though his amused brow signaled he was done being a good sport and one yank pulled all of his opponents forward into a kiddie-pool full of styrofoam pellets.

"Wha- What is this?!" Thunderlane was flabbergasted as Applejack hid a knowing smirk when Pinkie Pie popped up out of nowhere (as she does).

"Hiya, Thundy! Happy Random Fest...!" Pinkie blew a roll-up noisemaker into Thunderlane's face, startling him a moment before Pinkie threw a soda-drink hat onto Thunderlane's head and put a pair of comically oversized sunglasses onto Applejack's face and blew confetti poppers in front of them.
"It's a new holiday Cheese and Party and I came up with, where Ponyville has a random festival event as a holiday, but it can be held any time of the year!"

Thunderlane then noticed how shifty-eyed Applejack seemed, and how fidgety her hoof was, pressing at the dirt and he smirked, "AJ... did you have anything to do with this?"

"Wha- Me?! Naw, Thunder, Ah'm a farmer, not a party pony," Applejack responded with a forced chuckle, "but... be a cryin' shame t' let all this fun go t' waste, now would it?"

"Heheh, c'mon, I'll win you some prizes!" Thunderlane took Applejack's hoof and they charged the fest!

They did a little bit of everything: They played games, such as the Ring Toss, where Thunderlane won a large Ursa Major stuffed animal for Applejack, and though she appreciated it she noticed how a little pair of foals looked longingly at it and she let them have it, which suited Thunder just fine because it was yet another example of how Applejack wasn't just honest, she could be as kind as Fluttershy and as generous as Rarity.
They moved to the 'Ring the Bell' game where the player had to buck the button hard enough to send the weight up to ring the bell. Thunderlane tried it first but he only made it go up 6/7ths the way, which was still pretty darn good for a pegasus. When Applejack gave it a go, she, of course, got the bell to ring, thanks to all those years of apple-bucking. She won a Medal with a Golden Hoofprint on it.
Then they went to catch Trixie's magic show, where Thunderlane got chosen to be sawed in half. Applejack laughed a little nervously when Thunderlane waved at her while his hind hooves wiggled in the other box.
After that, Party Favor came over and blew up and made some balloon sculptures for each of them, forming a balloon kite for Applejack and a balloon bluebird for Thunderlane.
When Thunderlane's belly grumbled to be filled, Applejack led the way to Doughnut Joe's doughnut stand, but she only let Thunderlane have one doughnut, saying they needed to save room for later though she ordered some Apple Family cider from Granny Smith to wash down their doughnuts with something truly refreshing and delicious.

They played more games, won a few more prizes, caught a couple more performances, but then the sun was starting to set. It was then Applejack said, "An' now, fer th' last part of our do-over date!"

She led Thunderlane to Sweet Apple Acres, guiding him around the tree-covered hills, until they came upon a rise that had the perfect view of the orchard, cast into the radiant setting sun... and waiting for them was a large picnic basket!

Thunderlane gave Applejack a knowing smile, "What's this?"

"Wha' kinda date wold this be without a proper dinner?" Applejack smiled as she stepped over to the basket and said, "Help me set up?"

"Sure thing, ma'am," Thunderlane said with a light drawl and he helped Applejack lay out the picnic blanket.

The basket contained a full spread that carried the unmistakable delicious smell of home styled cooking, what with a salad, grilled cheese sandwiches, a thermos filled with still-warm tomato soup, a pitcher of chilled apple juice, paper plates but with glasses to drink their juice, and apple muffins for desert. It wasn't fancy or anything, but it was still special. More down-to-earth, more warm and loving.

"And this was just sitting out here all by its lonesome?" Thunderlane gave Applejack a knowing smirk after they'd finished setting up the spread, and Applejack giggled sheepishly.

"well, Granny Smith n' Faerie Tail were kind enough t' make this for us," she admitted when both their bellies grumbled impatiently and Thunderlane chuckled.

"Heh, Midnight was right! You do have an appetite like a full-grown stallion," Thunderlane poked teasingly at Applejack's tummy, which made her blush, "Welp, no point standing here and letting all these good eats go to waste."

"Eeyup, as they say in Prance, Bawn appateet!" Applejack settled onto the picnic blanket with Thunderlane, who inwardly chuckled at Applejack's butchering the Prench word.

They were silent the first few minutes to enjoy the meal, but then Applejack spoke, "So Thunder, how's things goin' wit' those knights n' tha' Guard Midnight's gettin' trained?"

Thunderlane thought about it for a moment before he answered, "Well, I tell ya, AJ, I wouldn't wanna be one of those recruits right now. The pony Midnight got to train the Harmony Guard, Firestorm? He's a real taskmaster but I can't deny that he's fair. Still a little harsh, but fair all the same. At first, you might think he's being a jerk but he wants to whip these guys into shape, make them a force that is strong, confident and able to do the job they've all signed up for."

"Whudda `bout you guys? Ah remember talkin' to Mac," Applejack prodded, "Said Midnight's being tough on y'all too."

"As he should be," Thunderlane nodded, "Midnight's been teaching us how to wield our swords and their powers, how to conduct ourselves, how to think on our hooves and outside the box. He's not as tough on us as Firestorm is to the recruits but he still pushes us hard. We can take it though, AJ, we're big colts."

"Heheh, well, asides knightin' an' soldierin' an' such, what else ya got goin' on, Thunderlane?" asked Applejack. "Ah mean, where do you see yerself in th' future?"

"Hmm, well..." Thunderlane gave it another thought, "I guess I'd like to help make the Silverbolts as big as the Wonderbolts one day. We have several squads but we're still not on par with the Wonderbolts in skill and numbers. I still work part-time over at the Weather Office for some extra cash and Soarin has really improved the operation there ever since he took up the management position.

"And, well..." Thunderlane blushed a little, "I hope to see my little brother Rumble grow up happy and living his life as well as he can, and to... well, to start my own family one day."

Applejack smiled, because she had the same wishes for her little sister and for herself: To see Apple Bloom a happy and successful mare in her own right, and to find the right stallion to help her have foals. The only question was, Could Thunderlane be the one...?

"AJ? Hellooooo, earth to Applejack~" Thunderlane's voice finally breached Applejack's reverie, startling her, muttering things like 'Huh, wuzzat' and Thunderlane chuckled, "I said, what about you, Applejack? What sort of dreams or goals to you hope to achieve in the future?"

"Hmm," Applejack thought about it herself. She reminisced of when she was a filly and went to live with her Aunt and Uncle Orange in Manehatten because back then she'd thought she wanted more out of life than being a farmer... only for destiny (acting through an unwitting Rainbow Dash) to guide her back home with a beautiful rainbow and she found for herself in absolute certainty that Sweet Apple Acres was her home and her destiny.
"Well... you know me, Thunder. Ah thought Ah was meant fer bigger things than bein' a farmer, but turns out Ah was always and always will be right where Ah belong. Ah love who Ah am, Ah love Sweet Apple Acres, an' Ah love muh family.

"Even so, Ah'd like to make somethin' of myself tha's bigger than jus' being a farmer but still honors everything Ah live an' breathe for. Y'know what Ah'm saying?"

"I think I do, sure," Thunderlane gestured her to keep going.

"Well, recently... Ah've been thinkin' of ways t' make Sweet Apple Acres th' most famous an' successful apple orchard in all of Equestria," explained Applejack, "but then it came to me - Why settle fer jus' Equestria? What if... we made our operation international? Do business wit' other farms an' such beyond Equestria's borders!"

Thunderlane gave a low whistle, indicating that he was impressed by Applejack's ambition, "That's a mighty tall order, AJ. Even Cloudsdale doesn't take their weather business outside of Equestria. Not a lot of other creatures and nations are able to control their weather like we pegasi do so they're left to the whims and mercy of random and wild weather."

"Ah think we could do it," Applejack said confidently, "If'n th' whole Apple Family worked together, we could more easily ship our goods `round Equestria easy enough. Shipping what we got t' offer outside of Equestria would be th' real challenge.

"Th' real trick would be reliable communication."

Thunderlane hmm'd in response to that, starting to get an idea and already planning to pitch it to Midnight and Soarin the next time they got down to Silverbolt business. He then asked, "Well, Applejack, you, me, our friends, we've all been kinda here and there around Equestria... but is there anywhere else in the world you ever thought you'd like to visit?"

"Huh... y'know, Ah never really thought about it," Applejack said before giving it a think, "Sweet Apple Acres demands so much work, tender lovin' care, not t' mention carin' fer mah family. Back when Ah thought Ah wanted t' be a bigshot or somethin' in Manehatten, Ah guess Ah thought about... seein' th' world, goin' t' faraway places... When Ah think about it now though, Ah don' think Ah would take such a trip. Unless..."

Applejack gave Thunderlane a bashful smile and he smiled back, "Unless... you took that trip with somepony special?"

The blushing nod Applejack gave him made Thunderlane resist the urge to fan his wings to release excess heat. Wing-boners could be so embarrassing, even around ponies other than pegasi.
"Well... I'd like to take a trip like that, one day, AJ. Especially, if I got to share it with you..."

Applejack looked at Thunderlane with a subtle wonder while he gave her a look of hopeful encouragement. But there was something else, which they saw in each other's eyes.

Something worthwhile.

The evening was still warm when the two arrived at Applejack's doorstep. Thunderlane, being the gentlecolt he was, insisted on seeing Applejack home safely, and as wonderful as this do-over first date had been, there was the unmistakable disappointment that it was just about over.

Applejack stood before her door but then turned to Thunderlane and barely concealing her anxiety as she asked, "So, uh... didja have a good time, Thunderlane?"

Thunderlane smiled, "Applejack... this has been the best do-over first date in the history of do-over first dates."

They shared a soft laugh and Thunderlane then said with a hopeful look, "I hope we can do it again soon."

Applejack raised her brow at Thunderlane, and he froze, hoping he hadn't just made a mistake by making some kind of assumption... only for Applejack to lean forward and give Thunderlane a soft and warm kiss on his cheek and then giving him a loving smile as she opened her door and said, "Real soon, haystack.

"Good night, Thunderlane."

Thunderlane stood there, stupefied so that his response was, "Ahpaaahjahhh..."

Applejack giggled and waved as she closed the door behind her, the sound snapping Thunderlane out of it... as his lips pulled back in a smile so big and happy and just a little goofy as he crouched down... and launched himself skyward with a triumphantly happy, "WHOOOOO-HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!"

Hidden behind the curtains, Applejack watched Thunderlane fly around the airspace above Sweet Apple Acres, happy as a yearling before he zoomed off into the darkening night, leaving a contrail of hearts beating like echoes of thunder, and she felt her heart swell as she whispered to herself, "Real soon indeed..."

Disclaimer: "Perfect for Me"