The glow of the setting sun cast a deep hue across the skies over Canterlot. From the warm red and orange of the afternoon, to the soft and calming blues of the coming night. It was a wonder if anyone was not around just to see the beautiful scenery before them. One stallion certainly thought so as he walked through the streets, admiring the sunset that eased his tensions. For Caster Forge, it was truly something to behold.

Normally during this time he would’ve found himself at home, relaxing from a hard day’s work. But tonight was a special occasion. It was the night of the Canterlot Istallion Festival, where the wealthy and poor would join in fun and celebration. Although that did sound exciting, Caster had different reasons for going. Only yesterday had his first student, Princess Anima Memoriae, finally been able to use her wings properly and fully. And to celebrate, she thought it best that she and he go out to spend time together as good friends, with the festival being the main event.

At first, Caster was a bit nervous, having failed in so many dates in the past along with his conflicting feelings for Anima. But after some time talking with Fancy and Fleur, he came to realize that his fears didn’t mean anything. He was going to take the initiative and be himself so that he could see what might be between them. Ever since then Caster had gained an abundance of confidence and he made it known as he approached his destination.

The suit he chose for tonight was the same one he wore on the day they met. Not only because it was his best suit, but also because it was special to Caster. In one of his arms he held a bouquet of tulips, daisies, and other assorted flowers. Earlier he had paid a visit to Anima’s friend, Spring Sunglow, and told her of their date and planned to give her some flowers as a gift. Upon hearing that, she grabbed her best floral arrangements and sold them off to him at no charge, wishing them both the best of luck.

Soon, Caster found himself before Anima’s front door, so lost in his confident stride that he hadn’t noticed the time it took him. But that didn’t matter to him for he was here now, at the moment of truth. And after taking a moment to fix his normally styled mane, Caster rang the doorbell, listening to the chime with eager anticipation. It was only a minute or so before the doors opened to a sight that left him speechless.

Standing before him was Anima Memoriae, more beautiful than he had remembered. She wore a deep red dress, which hugged the frame of her body and hung from her shoulders and ended just above her matching ballroom dancing shoes. Anima’s mane had been styled the same as well, it being the most comfortable for her. The makeup she had chosen was simple, a shade of crimson lipstick and a light touch of pink blush to her cheeks. But the two most noticeable features of all were the golden crown that lied upon her head and the necklace he had made for her, their gems shining in the light of the rising moon. It was all so much to take in at once that Caster almost didn’t hear Anima giggling as he snapped back into attention.

“I take it you’ve seen something you like?” she asked, adjusting her glasses letting out another giggle.

“Heh, heh, sorry about that. You look really beautiful tonight, Anima, and the crown certainly was a nice touch,” Caster replied, admiring her image.

“Thank you, I try my best. I thought it would be appropriate to wear, I haven’t really worn it in public since the coronation after all,” Anima said, blushing from his generous words.

“Well I can imagine that after tonight, you might be wearing it more often,” Caster stated.

“Perhaps. But I must say you look quite dashing yourself, Cast,” Anima said, taking a moment to observe his appearance.

“Funny, that’s what my family said right before I left,” he said, making both of them laugh.

“I can imagine,” she said, noticing the flowers. “Are those for me?”

“They certainly are,” Caster said handing them over to her. “A wonderful Princess deserves a wonderful gift after all.”

“You didn’t have to go that far for me, but thank you, Caster,” Anima said, taking a whiff of the flowers before placing them in the kitchen with her magic. “So, do you want to head over to the festival now? We could stay here a few minutes if you like.”

“I think we should go now. More time to enjoy all the attractions after all,” he said, holding out his arm to her. “Shall we?”

“I’d like nothing better,” she said, wrapping her arm around his and locking the door behind her.

With excitement coursing through their spirits, Anima and Caster went off to the festival, certain that this would be a night that both of them would remember.

===============================================================

The cold breeze blew through the streets of Canterlot, creating a light chill to all who stayed outside. But it did not bother Princess Anima Memoriae or Caster Forge as they stayed close to one another. Nearby were a few other ponies as well, either rich or poor, and a few had dates as well. Yet no matter who they were, they all had the same destination as everyone headed towards the Canterlot Square. Anima, for her part, was more giddy than she ever thought possible. Not only for the festival itself but also because she would be spending it with the stallion she adored with all her heart. And she could tell that he was looking forward to tonight as well, given the wide smile he currently wore. And so she snuggled into him a bit more, as they approached their destination.

A few strings of light bulbs were hung from above the streets and were surrounded in small paper lanterns. They all gathered from several different streets and joined together in the center of Canterlot Square. The entire area looked like it had been hit by a blast from the past with its authenticity. Banners of various shapes, colors, and sizes were set up across the buildings. Poles were set up all around with pinwheel fireworks creating harmless yet beautiful sparks that enlightened the mood. They had multiple colors such as red, blue, green, any color that they could imagine. And of course the authentic music provided by the nearby band created an alluring atmosphere that brought many ponies here.

Speaking of the entertainment, the Square was chock-full of it wherever you looked. Several clowns, jugglers, and performers went around and dazzled their audiences. Game stands were set up where ponies took part in playing to earn a prize, such as ring toss, bottle throw, and ring the bell. Some of the surrounding restaurants had transformed to play their part and serve gourmet Istallion food. And all around, the patrons of the festival wore outrageous costumes and getups to fit the theme. Both Caster and Anima only had one thing to say about what they saw.

“Wow, this looks like fun,” they said, chuckling when they realized their perfectly timed statement.

Nevertheless they went over to a kiosk that stood in front of a set of gates leading into the festival. Inside the kiosk was an Earth Pony stallion with red fur, blue eyes, and a yellow mane and tail that was slicked back. Almost immediately he took notice of Caster and Anima, particularly the latter as he tried making himself look presentable.

“Princess Anima, what an unexpected surprise to see you at such an event as this,” he said, lightly bowing for her.

“Like I’d miss out on this. It already looks so exciting from here,” she said, trying to look past him.

“Well I can assure that both you and your, escort, will have a lovely time,” the red stallion said, taking note of how Anima was still holding Caster’s arm.

“I have no doubt we will,” Caster said, already having a few ideas in mind. “So is there supposed to be an entrance fee?”

“Yes: ten bits for one adult and five for children. However that is not all you need to take part in the festival,” the pony said.

“What do you mean?” Caster asked.

“It was traditional for anypony attending the festival to wear masks, so as to not be judged for what they might have done before or during carnevale,” he responded, directing their attention to the different kinds of masks on the wall behind him. “No matter who or what you were before, tonight everyone is equal.”

“Well isn’t that quaint,” Anima said, admiring all the differently styled masks. “Oh but there’s just so many of them, I can’t decide.”

“If you would like, I can pick a few for you. In fact I believe I know just the masks that the both of you would like,” the blonde-maned pony said, already getting a good idea on what would work.

“I think that would be wonderful, sir. Go ahead,” Caster replied, intrigued by what the vendor had in mind.

The stallion then spent a few moments browsing the large selection of masks. Some were small, only covering part of one’s face. Others had crazy features like feathers and covered the entire face. But soon, he found what he was looking for and went back to the two ponies. In his hands he held a small mask meant to cover the upper part of the face. It was white with gold edges and had blue and gold designs embroidered into it.

“I think this would look marvelous on you, your highness. Definitely something worthy of a Princess,” he said, handing it over to her.

“It’s beautiful, thank you,” Anima said, removing her glasses and casting a temporary sight spell before putting on her mask.

“No problem, it’s what I’m here for after all. As for the young gentlecolt, it should be something simple, yet bold,” the red pony said, studying Caster’s features.

Soon he was back at the wall, looking for another mask that would work. In no time at all, the vendor came back with a mask about the same size as Anima’s. However this one was much more different, for one side of it was black while the other had a steel gray tone. Along with that were different designs on either side.

“The contrasting colors create a nice blend that work well with your own natural colors,” the blonde-maned stallion stated, holding up the mask.

“Whoa, now that is a pretty awesome mask,” Caster said, taking hold of it and trying it on. “How do we look?”

“Absolutely stunning, Mr. Forge. You both look like you’d be the main attraction of the festival,” he replied, seeing his choice had worked.

“Considering all that’s happened to us lately, I wouldn’t be surprised,” Anima’s said, knowing they would catch the attention of many guests.

“Indeed,” Caster said, before his eyes caught sight of a small red and black cape draped across a ponyquin. “Excuse me, sir, how much is that cape thing over there?”

“Oh ho, I see you have excellent taste, Mr. Forge,” the vendor said, bringing the cape over to him “It’s only fifteen bits.”

“I’ll take it,” Caster said, enthusiastically as he took out a small sack from his coat and pulled out enough bits for both the cape and their entrance fee.

“Really, Caster?” Anima’s pondered, rolling her eyes with a smile.

“Hey it’s a festival, and everypony else is getting in costume. Just be glad I didn’t go overboard with it,” he said, letting the cape drape from only his left shoulder.

“True, well anyway I believe we should get moving,” Anima said, taking hold of Caster’s arm again. “Don’t want to waste our night standing around after all.”

“You got that right,” Caster said, as he led his date past the gates and into the festival.

The entire place was in an uproar of excitement. Ponies played games of all varieties, foals chased each other and played harmless pranks on one another, and many stallions and mares danced to the music that continued to play. Though some of the bystander’s attention was drawn to the sight of Princess Anima, or more precisely, her arriving with Caster Forge. Many of the ponies had heard of their friendship but didn’t think that it would go this far. But they didn’t mind as both ponies deserved to be together after all they’ve been through. Some of them even went over to greet them with either a bow, a handshake, or simply a few words of encouragement. Eventually Anima and Caster were left alone to do whatever they pleased.

“So, Anima, what did you want to do first?” Caster asked, up for anything.

“How about we try a few of the games here. I’d really love to earn a prize or two,” Anima stated, eyeing a few game stalls nearby.

“Well then, game on I suppose,” he said, with a cheeky grin.

Taking his arm with her hands, Anima pulled Caster with her, over to what looked like a shooting range with multiple targets in the back. Needless to say, Caster was quite surprised.

“Huh, never thought you would be interested in something like this,” he said, watching as other players kept shooting targets.

“With what Princess Luna’s had me doing lately, you’d be surprised,” Anima said, bringing out a small bag of bits. “Just watch and learn.”

And Caster did exactly that as he stood by while Anima paid for a try. The operator then handed her a small BB gun with a few pellets while the other players backed away to give her some space.

“I guess being a Princess has its perks,” Anima said to herself, with a silly smile.

Shaking those thoughts from her head, she prepared the toy gun as the game operator started up the moving targets. With the sound of a bell going off, Anima started shooting at all the targets. Everyone around her, including Caster, looked on with slack jawed expressions as she decimated the game. No matter what the target was, be it rotating or moving at incredible speeds, Anima managed to hit nearly every single one. Not all of them were bullseyes, but everyone was still impressed. Soon Anima had run out of ammo just before the bell went off again.

“I must say, that’s some mighty fine shooting there, your highness,” the stallion operator said, looking out at the targets. “You’ve certainly earned yourself a grand prize. Go ahead and pick one.”

“Hmm, I’ll take… oh, that one!” Anima said, pointing to a large pink poodle plushie that hung from the ceiling.

Seeing where she was pointing, the vendor grabbed the stuffed toy dog and handed it off to her. Immediately, Anima hugged it tightly as she adored its cuteness. She then looked out at the ponies who stared in disbelief at what they had witnessed.

“H-how? How did you do that?” Caster asked, trying to shake away some of his shock.

“Princess Luna’s been teaching some defensive and offensive magic spells. As a result I’ve been getting more precise in my aim and timing. Though if you thought that was impressive, you should see me when I use my magic,” Anima replied, lighting up her horn slightly.

“For the sake of keeping the festival intact, I’d hold off on that. But still, that was amazing Anima, way to go!” Caster said, applauding her along with everyone else around him.

“Why thank you, I try my best,” she said, before taking hold of his arm once more. “Come on, Cast, let’s go try out some more games!”

For the next hour or so, Caster and Anima played various assortments of the games that had been set up. From ring the bell to bottle toss, they simple enjoyed themselves and laughed and played to their hearts content. Along the way they had both earned a few prizes, ranging from small nick knacks to toys and plushies. Soon Anima and Caster had played enough to satisfy their excitement and had earned enough toys to fill up a shelf. Night had soon fallen upon the festival, letting the stars from above shine down on the patrons.

“Well, I think this may be enough for tonight,” Caster stated, holding a bag full of prizes.

“Probably, don’t want to go too far after all. Need to save some bits for dinner after all,” Anima said, still holding the plush poodle and staying close to Caster.

“I doubt we’ll be able to get anything fancy but at least we’ll be able to eat something,” he said, looking through his depleted bag of bits.

“That’s all right, as long as we are together, I’m fine with whatever we find, sugarcube,” Anima said, sweetly.

“Aww, thanks, honeypie,” Caster said, bringing her closer to him.

The two of them walked around for a little while, taking in the sights and wanting to find something else to do. Their attention soon found an answer in the form of a large crowd gathering nearby. Wanting to see what was up, Caster and Anima went through the crowds who politely moved aside for the Princess’ convenience. When they got to the front, they were quite surprised by what they saw. Before them was a large stage that held three ponies on it. On the left was a stallion who stepped down as he admitted defeat. On the other side was another stallion, a Unicorn, with blue fur, a wavy yellow mane, and yellow eyes, who stood on the stage triumphantly and held a fake rapier up to the cheering crowd. And at the center of the stage was a Pegasus mare with green eyes, pink fur and a brown curly mane, who spoke into a microphone.

“And that’s another one, mares and gentlecolts!” the mare declared. “Is there truly nopony here who can take on tonight’s fencing champion? Is there no mare or stallion brave and confident enough to defeat this stallion and take home our collective winnings? As you all know, every participant must pay ten bits to try and if they lose, all their money goes into the grand prize winnings. And now, thanks to our latest contestant, the grand prize for tonight has been raised to five hundred bits! So, who is willing to add to the prize money and can earn it back along with extra!?”

Many of the ponies stood around, debating to themselves on whether they should risk it. However, one stallion in particular showed no hesitation as he smiled at the opportunity.

“Anima, would you mind holding this for me? I’ve got some bits to win,” he said, handing her the bag of prizes.

“Ooh, think you’ve got what it takes to beat him, don’t you?” Anima questioned, knowing his skills as a fencer.

“You’ll see,” Caster said, in a sing song tone as he stepped onto the stage.

“Well look here, we got ourselves a contender!” the pink mare proclaimed, in earnest delight. “Now then, good sir, just place ten bits into the bag and we can begin.”

“Let’s raise it to fifteen,” he said, dropping the last of his bits into the large bag and grabbing a fake sword from a barrel full of them.

“Well, well, seems somepony is confident in their abilities. But will it be enough to take on our champion?” she said, as the aforementioned pony readied himself.

“Doesn’t matter, it’s just even more bits for me,” the stallion said, with a haughty laugh.

“Don’t go counting up your bits just yet, the night is still young after all,” Caster stated.

“Now for the rules,” the mare announced, grabbing their attention. “Our contender must strike his opponent three times in a row. However, should our reigning champion land a blow on him, he loses and his money gets added to the prize. Are both of our contestants ready?”

“Ready as I’ll ever be,” Caster said, raising his fake sword.

“Ready to earn some more bits,” the blue stallion said, doing the same.

“And… BEGIN!!” the brown-maned pony proclaimed, as she stepped back.

With that the two stallions began their duel. Their blades clashed over and over as they blocked or dodged each other’s attacks. Caster managed it all with practiced ease as he barely made an effort at first. Soon enough he managed to land a blow on his opponent to which the crowd cheered at. The stallion wasn’t too worried though, most of his competitors usually managed to land at least one blow. But it made no difference to him as he always came out on top.

It wasn’t long before he and Caster were at it again, this time with more force. The blue pony’s attack struck with greater speed and power as Caster continued to block them. While the stallion was quick with his blade, Caster made sure to be even more so with his body and kept up dodging and parrying his opponent’s blows. After a couple of seconds, he ducked down from a swipe attack and thrust his sword at his opponent, effectively hitting his stomach. A great majority of the audience gasped in surprise, seeing someone land a second strike so quickly. Already the blonde-maned pony was starting to get nervous, but that feeling was soon replaced with anger for being made a fool of in front of everyone.

And so, in a mad dash, the stallion started attacking with blows so quick that the audience could barely keep up. Unfortunately for him, his emotions were getting the better of him as Caster easily parried his reckless strikes. The third match waged on for a few minutes, with tension rising from all who witnessed the ordeal. Caster then went on the offensive, confusing the stallion with quick strikes that were getting increasingly closer to hitting him. And before anyone could blink, Caster managed to disarm the blue pony and brought the other rapier into his grasp. With no other way out, the stallion raised his arms in defeat. The audience then erupted in applauses and cheers to the new champion who had surprised everyone with his victory.

“Incredible! After so many defeats, a new champion has risen and proved himself one of the greatest fencer’s Equestria has seen yet!” the brown-maned mare declared, just as excited as the rest. “And so I humbly present the prize money to this evening’s winner… What was your name again?”

“Caster, Caster Forge,” he replied, earning a collective gasp from the audience.

“Oh my, I didn’t realize we had a celebrity among us tonight. On behalf of all of us here at the festival, I congratulate you on your victory and hope you enjoy the rest of your evening, Sir Caster Forge,” she said, handing him the large sack of bits as the audience clapped in approval.

===============================================================

With the excitement of the event over and done with, Caster and Anima went off to enjoy the rest of the festival. After a bit of walking they found themselves in front of one of the many restaurants surrounding the Canterlot Square. A waiter greeted them happily and led them to a table outside and away from the other patrons. It had a red and white checkered table cloth, a vase of flowers in the center, and two small candles beside it. As they sat down, the waiter handed them each a menu and left for them to make their choices.

“That was really impressive, Caster. For a second there, I didn’t think you’d be able to pull it off,” Anima said, after teleporting their prizes back to her room in Canterlot Castle.

“Well sometimes I can even surprise myself. Besides I’m sure that fifteen bit bet certainly helped out,” Caster said, giving her a sly wink at his implications.

“Your lucky mark sure does come in handy it seems,” Anima said, trying to stifle a giggle.

“Only in situations like these, of course,” he retorted, knowing his mark’s limits.

“Regardless, it helped us get enough bits for dinner. And let me tell you I am starving!” Anima proclaimed, her eyes eagerly darting over the items on the menu.

“I can tell,” Caster said, doing the same.

The two of them soon decided on what they wanted just as the waiter returned with two glasses of water.

“So, have you decided on what you would like this evening?” he asked, in an Istallion accent.

“Yes, could we get a small plate of Artichoke Bruschetta to start off? And for dinner we would both like an order of Kale and Asparagus Lasagna with caramelized carrots and onions please,” Caster said, handing the menus back.

“Very well then. Would I be able to interest you both in some wine from our selection as well?” the waiter asked.

“Sure, just give me a moment,” Caster replied, grabbing the small wine menu on the table and searching through its contents with an awkward expression. “Hmm. Sorry, I’m kind of clueless when it comes to different kinds of wine. Do you have any with low alcoholic percentage and are still bold in taste?”

“As a matter of fact, sire, I believe I know just the selection for you two. I’ll be right back with your drinks and make sure the chefs get your order,” he said, taking the menus.

“Thank you very much, sir,” Caster said, as the waiter went back inside the restaurant. “So, Anima, have you been enjoying yourself tonight?”

“Absolutely, it’s all just been so much fun! Both the games and the entertainment to,” she said, watching a nearby juggler.

“Good, I’m glad you’re having fun. My favorite student always deserves the best, especially after all you’ve been through,” he said, remembering all of her past struggles.

“Well I’ve only managed to get here tonight because of you. But yes, we’ve both been through a lot and we certainly deserve to spend this time together,” Anima said, gently taking hold of Caster’s hand.

“Exactly,” he said, holding her hand as well. “And now that this challenge is over, there’s so many other possibilities for you. Who knows, perhaps you’ll be able to solve some conflicts with your own powers and authority.”

“Yeah. Cause a Princess of Memories certainly sounds like she’s got a lot in store for her,” she said, giving him her own sly wink.

“Perhaps you’ll help bickering nations see how prosperous their lives were before they started fighting,” Caster stated, already imagining her in action.

“Or maybe I can continue helping those across Equestria who’ve forgotten who they once were,” Anima retorted, seeing herself helping others whenever possible.

Caster and Anima continued talking about what her position would have her doing in the future. They would even chat about some possibilities for Caster as well, what his talents could be used for. As they talked on about their duties, the waiter came back, holding a tray with two empty glasses and a bottle of red wine. The stallion gave each of them a glass and handed off the wine bottle, which Caster eagerly took.

“There you go, Ponysons Paddock Shiraz, rich in flavor yet will make sure you don’t lose your footing. I will be back soon with your order’s, sir, your highness,” the waiter stated.

“Thank you, sire, we look forward to it,” Caster said, as the stallion went off.

It took some effort but Caster eventually managed to open the bottle. He gave it a moment to breath before pouring some of its contents into Anima glass and then his.

“Let us have a toast, to Anima Memoriae, the Princess of Memory,” Caster said, raising his glass. “May she light our darkest pasts and brighten our futures.”

“And to Sir Caster Forge,” Anima replied, returning the gesture. “May he protect those he cherishes and guard those who fight.”

With that they clinked their glasses together and drank, savoring both the moment and the exquisite beverage. The two of them began talking more about Anima’s classes as well as Caster’s time at his forge. Their meals soon arrived and they took a moment to enjoy their food. Anima and Caster continued to talk, both about their personal lives as well as their friend’s.

“And so I was finally able to beat Glitch after all those tries!” Caster said, finishing his story and trying to quell his laughter.

“Ha, ha, I can’t believe it took you fifty times to actually win,” Anima stated, suppressing her own fit of giggles.

“Well when you’re playing Super Smash Pony’s against a pro, you’ll definitely have your flank handed to you more than once,” he replied, taking a bite of a carrot.

“Your friend’s certainly do have some impressive talents,” Anima said, wiping some tomato sauce from her mouth.

“Yes they do, and it’s what makes them all so fun to have around,” Caster said, thinking of all the good times they had.

“I know what you mean. Already I’m missing Cloud Heart, she was always the crazy, fun one of our group. I still find it hard to believe she went off with my brother to join his show,” Anima said, hoping she was doing fine.

“I guess some ponies find a new calling in life. But if you ask me, I’d say she had another reason for going with Turbo,” Caster said, giving Anima a suggestive wink.

“Oh, I saw it too. I just never thought she would go through with it so soon,” she said, glad that Cloud took a chance.

“Well whatever happens, I just hope they’re happy together,” Caster said.

“Same here, they deserve to be with one another,” Anima replied, giving Caster a warm smile.

Both of them just sat there in silence, drinking their wine and picking over what was left of their food. The waiter came back with the check and Caster managed to pay it off with his winnings. And throughout their moment of peace the two of them kept taking occasional glances at each other. Anima truly was enjoying the time they had spent. It was not only fun, but it served to increase the feelings she had for Caster. He seemed almost completely different tonight, as if a wave of confidence had carried off his doubts. But whatever it was, Anima loved it as she stared at him dreamily.

For Caster, he had never felt so relaxed in his life. By giving himself a chance to be how he wanted to be, he found that Anima didn’t seem to mind it, quite the opposite in fact. Her reassurances let him feel at peace and see how much fun they could have without worrying about what could go wrong. Already Caster was beginning to see how much he really cared about her, even believing that it might be something more. He wanted to do something else to show how much this all meant to him, even if he wouldn’t say it all out loud.

The sudden sound of cheering and music brought Caster out of his thoughts as he turned to see what was going on. His attention was then drawn to the center of Canterlot Square where many couples were dancing along to the band that played their merry tune. It surprised Caster at first, having been so focused on his thoughts that he had forgotten all about the rest of the festival. But either way, he was glad because now he knew just what to do to top off the festival for them. So with an extra helping of wine, Caster stood up and approached Anima.

“Anima, may I have this dance?” he asked, extending his hand towards her.

“I’d be honored, Caster,” she remarked, taking hold of it.

With butterflies in their stomachs, Anima and Caster made their way into the dancing crowd. They kept walking until they found a space to start. So Caster took hold of Anima’s right hand with his left and then placed the other on her waist while she held her dress above her feet. And with a skip to the beat, they started dancing along with everyone else. Like a leaf carried by the wind, Caster and Anima danced across the crowd with ease and grace. The latter was most surprised to see how well Caster could dance. At first she thought he just wanted to do it for fun and they would go through some awkward dancing. But Anima found that was not the case as Caster kept in time with her own steps.

“Wow, Cast, where’d you learn to dance like this?” she asked, being twirled in the process.

“Oh well that’s easy. Fencing is basically a dance in its own way. They’re both all about staying light on your feet and keeping an eye on your surroundings,” Caster said, never once taking his eyes off of his partner. “Once you realize that, you’ll find yourself dancing on par with even a Princess.”

“Well, Princess Luna was the one that taught me. But even so, you’ve really outdone yourself, Caster,” Anima stated.

“I could say the same for you, Anima,” he replied, as he spun her around with one hand.

The mask did very little to hide the growing blush on Anima’s cheeks. But she didn’t mind, for it made her happy to know her lessons with both Caster and Princess Luna had paid off. Sooner than they hoped, however, the music came to a stop as the many ponies halted and cheered for the band. Some of them started to leave while the band prepared its next melody.

While she wasn’t exactly disappointed with the dancing, Anima had thought there would be more upbeat music to really get her moving. She realized her date felt the same way when she saw Caster fly onto the stadium and approached the band. He whispered something to a few of the members and occasionally directed their attention towards Anima. They all nodded in agreement as Caster stepped down from the stage and walked back across the mostly empty dance floor to Anima.

“Mares and Gentlecolts, for our next song we’ll be going with something a little more intense,” a stallion spoke, catching everypony’s attention. “And this has been specially requested for two very lucky ponies tonight. To Sir Caster Forge and Princess Anima Memoriae, have fun. And everypony may feel free to join in as well.”

Once Caster and Anima were ready, the music started up. They kept each other close as they danced all across the open floor. While it may have been mellow at first, they both knew it would pick up soon. The bystanders watched in awe as the two masked ponies danced along with the beat. Despite knowing who they were, everyone thought that they were completely different ponies with how they acted with each other.

And as expected, the music did indeed pick up as Anima and Caster showed off some more advanced moves. Some of the other couples followed suit and danced around the two ponies, while the rest of the crowd clapped to the music. The sparks from the large pinwheels lit up the dance floor as the ponies created several circles with Caster and Anima in the center. They both danced with a flurry of passion, letting their instincts take over. At one point they even separated, creating their own circle in the center as they span and twirled around each other.

The music continued to grow in intensity and fervor as everyone did so as well. Occasionally they would all trade partners before returning soon after. Some of the ponies even jumped into the air and would do a quick spin before landing. Yet no matter what they were doing, everyone’s attention was centered on Anima and Caster. The span, separated, rejoined, anything they could think of in an incredible display that left them all speechless. As the music was reaching its crescendo, the two of them stayed together as they span around several times. And soon the spectacle came to an end as Caster brought Anima into a dip and everyone around them cheered and applauded their performance.

“Gotta say, nice moves you’ve got there, Anima,” a mare said, from the stage.

Recognizing that voice, Anima turned to see who it was. Sure enough it was Skull Candy, with her guitar, who had appeared on stage. Also with her was the rest of her band, all of them Pegasi like her. There was Drummer Jack, who had light blue fur, blue-gray eyes, and a messy black and blue mane and tail, setting up his drums. Then they saw Stevey Rhythm, a cacophony of different green colors for his fur, eyes, and spikey mane and tail, who was currently tuning his bass guitar. And then there was Ivory Dancer, who was preparing her keyboard. All of them were wearing either white dresses or tuxedos.

“Greetings folks, it’s nice to see everypony getting into the swing of things and we haven’t even performed yet,” Skull exclaimed, making everyone around them laugh. “But still it’s great to be here tonight. When my friend, Princess Anima Memoriae, told me she was coming to the festival, I just had to play here tonight. Even more so when I heard she was taking her close friend, Sir Caster Forge, with her for a date. It really was fun watching you two dance.”

Everyone turned to Caster and Anima who were taking a bow as they were applauding them.

“You two have been through a lot and accomplished so much in these last five months. If you guys hadn’t met, I doubt we’d see you both as you are now. So to celebrate, my band and I have whipped up a new song that I think you’ll all enjoy. It’s a bit slow for our tastes but we think it’s worth it for tonight. This one is for Caster and Anima so everypony, give them some space,” Skull stated, getting her guitar ready.

As the crowd dispersed, the two ponies in the center started to blush. It was just so sudden to have something like their own song thrust upon them. Caster seemed the most nervous having never done a slow dance before. But when Anima took hold of his hand once more, he looked into her shining green eyes and saw her warming smile. Though the mask hid a good portion of her face, it could not hide her radiant beauty nor her calming presence. It relaxed Caster enough that he was able take hold of Anima again just as the music played.

Everyone surrounding the dance floor watched as both Princess and blacksmith danced together in each other’s arms. The melody was smooth and Skull’s voice matched it beautifully as she and her band saw their friend’s enjoying themselves. The two ponies danced the same way when they first took to the dance floor, though this time at a much slower pace. And the entire time, Anima kept her head rested on Caster’s chest while he rested his chin on her head.

The world seemed to fade around them as Caster and Anima danced to the song that was practically made for them. While Anima was content to have a song that fit the stallion she loved, Caster was still slowly coming around. The night had been so perfect, so wonderful, he didn’t even know what he was afraid of in the first place. He was himself tonight and both he and Anima enjoyed who he was deep down. Caring, fun, and always making sure his friends were enjoying themselves. If this is who he could really be when Anima was around, then he never wanted to leave her. Caster started to believe that perhaps this truly was love that he was feeling. He wanted to tell her about how he felt but still could not find the courage to speak up. So he decided to give himself some time to work up the nerve and let all the romance of the night settle down to make things easier.

Before Caster knew it, the song had ended as he and Anima waved to the applauding crowd around them as well as Skull Candy’s band. Feeling a bit exhausted, the two ponies excused themselves as they made their way off the dance floor and soon, out of the festival. With the night slowly drawing to a close, Caster and Anima took their time to just walk around the city and admire the scenery. Though Anima’s gaze seemed to be drawn mostly to the stars above. They were so tantalizingly close and yet so far away at the same time. To her, they were the most amazing objects that she could describe without end. And Caster took notice of this as he thought of something to end the night with.

“Anima, would you like to get a better view of the stars?” he asked, catching her attention.

“Yes, absolutely!” she said, wrapping her arm around his in delight. “Do you know any good spots?”

“I do know of one, actually. However, I must ask that you keep it a secret. Nopony else knows about this place, not even my friends or family. And it’s a place your wings can’t take you yet, so I would have to carry you along the way. You up for it?” Caster said, waiting for a response.

“Of course, you’re already making it sound so exciting. And I promise I won’t tell anypony about it. Wouldn’t do me any good to rat out on one of my friends anyway,” Anima said, readying herself for what was to come.

“Good,” Caster stated, before picking her up in his arms and spreading his wings. “Close your eyes and hold on tight.”

Immediately, Anima wrapped her arms around Caster’s neck as she felt the sudden gust of wind from the launch into the air. The cold wind beat against her fur with every passing second, chilling her tired body. All the while she kept her eyes closed, only imagining how far or high they must have been going. Though she was scared at first, Anima knew that Caster wouldn’t drop her and she only snuggled into him more at the thought. And then, almost as quickly as it began, their little trip came to a halt before Anima felt them moving down slightly.

“You can let go now,” Caster said, as Anima slipped from his grasp and felt something soft below her. “Now, open your eyes.”

Slowly, but surely, she opened her eyes to see where Caster had brought her to. Her eyes then immediately widened when she got her answer. Before her stood practically the whole of Equestra, land stretching as far as the eye could see. Below her, Anima saw the City of Canterlot, the lights of the festival merely a glow from the height she stood at. Taking in more of her surroundings, she saw that she was standing in a large circle of healthy grass with a few flowers sprouting up, despite the thick layer of snow surrounding the two ponies. And at the center of it all was a large, full grown, ash tree. It was truly a sight that nearly left Anima speechless.

“W-what is this place?” she asked, turning to Caster.

“We are at the very top of Canterlot Mountain, a small haven I didn’t even think existed,” he said, walking to the tree.

“But how did you find this place? Nopony would ever come up here,” Anima said, following him.

“Not unless they’re confused and full of grief. Like I was many years ago,” Caster remarked, sitting down against the trunk with remorse.

“What are you talking about, Caster?” Anima asked, sitting down next to him.

“It was the day I got my lucky mark. I was so torn apart when I was told the truth about it. I didn’t really understand it too well at the time and so I ran away. I was scared from when that changeling kidnapped me that I wanted to just get away from the world, where I could feel safe and secure. It didn’t matter where I went, I just kept on flying, higher and higher, until I found this place. I sat here and cried for hours, thinking I would be hunted by changelings for the rest of my life. Eventually I returned home, realizing my friends, family, and of course the guards at times, would be able to protect me. Since then I’ve always come here for when I need to think over my problems or just need to relax,” Caster said, performing the latter.

“Wow, I-I’m sorry, Caster. I had no idea you went through so much pain,” Anima stated, sliding up next to him to comfort him.

“It’s all right, it happened years ago. I’ve had my fair share of trials but I’ve managed to get through them. And it’s all because I had the courage to face them head on. And if I hadn’t, I probably wouldn’t have met you: my closest friend in all of Equestria,” he replied, holding Anima close. “If it wasn’t for you, I probably wouldn’t be the stallion I am tonight.”

“Aww, I feel so special,” she said, resting her head on his shoulder.

And so the two of them sat together and watched the stars and the moon gliding across the heavens. At times they would point out constellations and various stars or planets. But most of their time was spent listening to the soft wind that brushed through the leaves of the tree. For Anima, this was truly the best part of their date. No fancy attractions, no other ponies to disturb them, just her and Caster sitting together and enjoying each other’s company. It was all Anima ever wanted and nothing could replace the feeling.

Unfortunately the feeling could not last forever. Anima let out a yawn after she had finished tracing the Orion constellation. Caster let out his own as well, stretching out his limbs in the process.

“I think it’s time we head home. It’s getting late and we wouldn’t want your parents to worry about you,” Caster said, standing up along with Anima.

“Yeah, I’m really tuckered out. Besides I want to be able to try out my new room at the castle tomorrow,” she said.

“Well then, I say we take a glide down. You in?” Caster asked, as they approached the ledge of the mountain.

“I’m always up to try out my wings,” Anima proclaimed, spreading her wings in the process.

In an instant, both of them leapt off the ground and into the air. They then dove downwards to the city below, flying at a steady pace. Caster and Anima took their time to simply enjoy the flight down, letting the wind travel across their fur and manes. They would fly around each other, performing a couple of loops and spins just for fun. At one point, Caster folded his wings and fell a few feet, surprising Anima in the process. Though he quickly made himself airborne again, earning both a chuckle and a punch to the arm for his shenanigans. But they both enjoyed it all the same, wanting their time together to be as memorable as possible.

Eventually, they decided to give it a rest as Caster flew Anima back to her home. Once they had landed outside her front door, Anima took out her house key and used it to open the door slowly. The lights inside were off, signifying that her parent’s had gone to sleep. So she turned her attention back to Caster one last time as she thought of something she had been waiting to do all night.

“Thank you, Caster, for spending this time with me tonight. It really meant a lot to me,” Anima said, giving him a sweet smile.

“It was no trouble at all, Anima. I enjoyed the time we spent together and I’m glad I could make it fun for the both of us,” Caster said, feeling confident the night had gone so well.

“Yes, it truly was magical,” she stated, slowly approaching him.

“Eh heh, yes well I suppose I must be going, have a lot of work tomorrow after all,” he replied nervously, noticing both her quickly approaching and her smile which had grown more sultry.

“Oh but, Caster, you’re forgetting something important,” Anima said, standing only a few inches away from him. “A gift for all of your efforts.”

“Well thank you, Anima, but tonight was more than eno-.”

Whatever Caster had to say was completely forgotten as Anima moved up and pressed her lips against his. The sensation was unlike anything Caster had experienced as his eyes grew wide in surprise. Anima, for her part, savored the moment as well as the feel of Caster’s lips. She had waited too long to do this and now she could enjoy their first kiss with all her heart. Caster quickly came to terms with what was happening as his eyes drooped shut and he wrapped his arms around Anima. The two ponies stayed their ground, mashing their lips together in a tender and loving embrace.

The need for air soon crept up on them as they separated, letting out small gasps. While Anima simply smiled from doing what she had dreamed of, Caster stood there with a dazed look and crimson blush on his cheeks. Expecting this, Anima giggled and gave him another kiss, a simple peck, on the lips and slowly slipped back into her home.

“Goodnight, Sugarcube,” she said, winking at him before closing her door.

“Goodnight, Honeypie,” Caster said, with a drunken look of pure happiness etched on him.

Not really conscious of his actions at the moment, Caster flapped his wings and flew home backwards. All the while replaying that moment over and over. His first kiss… with his first real love.

Author's Notes:

Put on your best outfit and break out the band music, because it's date night! It's time to see Anima and Caster go on their first official date. And afterwards, will things finally start to blossom between them? Read and find out for yourself.

This story also serves as an early birthday present for my ex-girlfriend, Alayna. I won't be able to be around on her actual birthday so I thought this would make up for it. I hope everyone enjoys it, this is my first time writing an 'actual' date scene so forgive me if it all sounds a bit weird to you.

And special thanks to my friend, lonesomepine on deviantArt for teaching me to create music links in text.

Edit: Apparently I forgot to add Anima's necklace.

Edit 2: Let's take part in this magical date once more.