The Alter Accords

Chapter Seventeen: Is it a Date or Disaster?

Novo had been on cloud nine since he confronted, there was only a few apologies exchanged then a lot of lip locking. It didn’t even bother him that his brothers had come back and were making comments in his head. Velox was still in a slump and Lego was happy teaching him about their mind so Novo was left to his own self for a few days of which him and Dash were constantly with each other.

True they were both over doing it a tad bit but considering everything that he went through he thought he deserved this and honestly if Rainbow was anything like Velox was currently when he was avoiding her then he wanted to make it up to her as well.

It was during one of those moments when they were spending time together that the Rarity and the most notorious group of three fillies caught them locking lips.

“EWW!” The Cutie Mark Crusaders all managed to exclaim at once which caused the two to refrain from any more PDA at the moment.

Rarity walked up and smiled at the two as she flipped a lock of her mane from her face. “I know you told us that you two made up Rainbow Dash but I must say I didn’t think you two would be that open with it.”

“Rainbow Dash do you really like that stallion? I mean he can’t even fly!” It was the voice of the small Pegasus filly that asked it.

From the deep orange coat and the magenta mane and purple eyes he knew this to be Scootaloo. “Oh come on Squirt, he is a lot cooler then you think, I personally have seen him do some awesome things, plus, he can fly…sorta.”

The noogie that Dash gave her was adorable as she closed her eyes and scrunched up her nose. “But he doesn’t have wings.”

“Aww come on Scoots, Novo and his brothers are cool ponies, Ah mean Velox is cooler then Novo but ah’m sure that they are all cool.” Bloom told her friend and inwardly he could feel a flinch at the accent from Velox before the mental sound of him locking himself in his room was heard.

Levitating a few of his metal balls out of his bags he smiled as the girls all watched what he was doing out of the corners of their eyes even as they continued talking. “I think Apple Bloom is right Scootaloo, I hear some of the things my sister and her friends talk about him…them about. They are all good things too.”

The voice of Sweetie Belle, Rarity’s little sister, an almost little copy of her sister except with a mane of pink and lavender that ended in curls that seemed to be more natural than the ones her sister had as well as her innocent green eyes. He smiled as he started to combine the balls and stretch them out making the form he was doing hallow as he molded it to size.

“Ya kid listen to your friends, he is a pretty awesome pony even if he doesn’t have wings. Of course-” Dash flexed her wings out and he knew she was about to boast as he put his plan into action setting the object behind Dash now and had it copy her movements. “-he isn’t as awesome as me, but then again no pony is, am I right?” Her eyes were closed so she had no idea that both the CMC and Rarity were open mouthed at what they were seeing going on behind her. “What why are you girls so quiet?” Opening her eyes she seen they were gaping at something and of course mistook what they were gaping at. “I know I am awesome but you guys don’t have to-”

“Rainbow Dash, look behind you.” Said the fan girl of Dash’s as she was wide eyed and pointing her hoof at what she was seeing.

Doing as she said the prismatic mare came face to face with a monochrome copy of her that was mimicking her exact movements. “What the hay?!” She said in shock and took to the air in a hover only to be copied by the metal Dash as it took to the air, albeit assisted with a green glow.

Seeing the green glow she turned to the one responsible and glared at him only for Novo to start chuckling. “What?”

Setting down he knew she wouldn’t accept that obviously fake innocence of his as she turned to inspect the metal Dash that was copying her. “Not bad, not bad, but you forgot my, oh wait no you didn’t.” she was about to say cutie mark as she turned to the side only to see it there as well only in gray scale.

“That is so cool!” All three of the fillies said at once causing Dash to turn back towards them.

Of course this is what Novo was waiting for as he started to make the metal Pegasus stick out her tongue pull down her eyelid and other foalish stunts. “See you three, he is cool.” Dash of course was wondering why the three were laughing at her for as Novo had such a good grip on fluid transmutation that the metal moving wasn’t making a sound. “What do I have something on my coat?” This was it, he couldn’t stop himself and had metal Dash come over and point to her coat. “Oh thanks I-” she got not further as she was looking down where the hoof was pointing it came up and tapped her nose.

The CMC and Novo burst out laughing as she got caught with one of the oldest tricks in the book; even Rarity was giving a chuckle. “I-I can’t believe you-you haha.”

The blush on Dash’s cheeks was really bright but she just smiled him even as he was holding his sides. “Ya, ya, laugh it up, I just didn’t except that kind of lame trick from somepony as awesome looking as myself.” She said pointing to the metal copy. “You realize that this means I will get you back right?”

He was getting his laughter under control as he nodded with a grin. “So worth it.” Coming up to her and nuzzling her, he gave a whisper to her that he thought was just low enough for only her to hear. “But then again, you always are worth it.”

Her blush skyrocketed as her wings extended out fully as the three foals were sticking out their tongues and pointing their hoofs to them in a gagging motion, while Rarity was fanning herself with tears in her eyes. “Oh that was just lovely.”

Quickly pulling his head back he was wide eyed and blushing up a storm. “You heard that?”

“Everypony heard that gag inducing line.” Scootaloo said making another gagging motion. “Rainbow Dash you’re not going to be suckered by that cheesy line right?”

The eyes were on the prismatic maned mare as she was still blushing fiercely and luckily too young to know what those extended wings of hers meant. “I, well, um.” She gave a gulp as she was looking around at them all.

Deciding to bite the bit for her Novo came to the rescue. “Ya that was a cheesy line, I mean even cool pony’s can say things like that and be awesome. But I suppose I am not at Dash’s level of cool yet since you all thought it was cheesy.”

“Heck right you aren’t.” The tiny winged Pegasus said crossing her forelegs against her barrel.

Rainbow had recovered enough of herself to respond with her usual confidence. “In all honesty though it’s not fair to compare another pony to me that is just asking for them to fall short am I right squirt?” Giving her a hug which got her giggling and nodding Novo watched as Dash gave him a grateful look and a smile. “Anyways I was just going to grab something from my cloud house and come back, I will be right back.” However she was stopped by Rarity with a single word of ‘wings’.

Looking back at her still stiff appendages she looked irritated at that. “I got it Dash.” The green unicorn told her as metal Dash morphed and flattened into a metal disk, though some excess came off in some metal balls that went back into his pack.

Stepping onto it he heard Scootaloo again say. “Oh come on you can’t seriously think I believe that you can…”

She was cut off as he jaw dropped as he rose with the disk heading up to the cloud house as he distinctly heard Dash say. “Cool right?”

“Sooo cool.” Came the response from the filly.

Rainbow Dash watched as Novo ascended to her home in the clouds. Normally she wouldn’t have her home where it was today but a resident of Ponyville asked if she could move it there for a few days to cool down their home with some shade. Dash was just smiling as her biggest fan watched her coltfriend disappear into the cloud home from the bottom.

“Hey Dash?” The Squirt said no longer bouncing on her hooves.

Seeing her start to nudge the ground with a hoof the tomcolt of a mare just smiled. “What is it Squirt?”

Dash watched as the small filly looked first at her then at the cloud house where Novo had vanished. “Is he your special somepony?”

The question got the entire groups attention as Rainbow suddenly found four pairs of eyes looking at her, to which she didn’t flinch. “I would like to think so.”

“What do ya mean think?” The bow wearing filly asked in a curious tone.

“Well…” This part however she didn’t want to voice the real reason behind it out loud instead making an excuse. “Cause we haven’t even gone on a date. Not really sure where we should go too.”

They all seemed to buy it as Rarity smirked and came over to her touching her mane. “Well darling if you are going to go anytime soon you and I really should do up your mane, some makeup is a must, maybe even find you a wonderful dress to wear that-”

“Whoa whoa whoa, slow down there Rarity. I don’t think I am cut out for a dress even makeup is abit much. I mean I might take you up on helping with my mane but till everything is sorted out there shouldn’t be any plans right?” Honestly she disliked even dressing up at all and was considering making it some kind of picnic instead to some restaurant or another.

Rarity wasn’t done with what she was saying; Dash could see it in her eyes. Luckily what she was going to say was cut off with Novo shouting down at them that he had her saddle bags. He stepped off the disk even as it started to turn back into balls of metal as he floated her backs over to her settling them where they needed to be.

She went to nuzzle him gently closing her eyes and smiling when he returned the gesture. “Thanks Novo.”

She felt his breath at her ear as he whispered something to her. “No problem My Spectrum.”

She knew she was the only one that heard that as there was no awwing or gagging sounds, though it didn’t help her blush any less at the nickname as the stiffness returned to her wings and they had just gone down too. “R-right. Well I need to get to work, I hate they called me in for a meeting but…when I get back you think maybe we can do something?”

She watched as he rubbed his chin with his hoof as he was thinking. “Sure, you will be getting back what in two days?” She gave him a nod and smiled. “Then how about a date when you get back?”

Her eyes widen as she heard that not expecting it so soon and she also knew that it was heard as a girly Rarity squeal of joy came with it. “S-sure, you pick the place ok?” Placing a quick kiss to his lips she turned and started to gallop off as her stiff wings wouldn’t allow her to fly.

“See you then.” She heard him call out to her.

Her heart was beating quickly; she wasn’t ready for a date so soon, she wanted to be a better fillyfriend to him first before that time. ‘What am I going to do? I haven’t made what I did right yet, I have to think of something. I mean we could merge after the date but what if he wouldn’t want to, plus it is embarrassing and I couldn’t exactly say I wanted to. I mean the two times we did do it, first time was kinda spontaneous and the second was…well not as spontaneous but still from the heat of the moment.’

Feeling her wings get back in order she took off from her run and a rainboom later was zipping to Cloudsdale from her meeting. All the while contemplating what she could and couldn’t do for and after that date to prove she was a good fillyfriend.

Novo watched as Dash galloped off; smiling inwardly as he knew the stiff wings she had made it so she couldn’t fly. “So darling.” He heard the pure white mare beside him say. “Tell us, where do you plan to take our flier hmm?”

Blinking at her he chuckled. “Honestly a picnic by the lake. Originally I had made those plans when I was still one pony but they should still do I think.”

He watched the prim mare tap her chin in thought as she finally nodded to herself. “Hmm yes the simplistic approach would work best on Rainbow Dash, she isn’t one for fancy restaurants and the like, but doesn’t mean you shouldn’t count them out.”

“Ya Rainbow Dash wouldn’t be caught anywhere near one of those stuck up places.” The Fanfilly said in agreement with the mare of the group.

Bloom looked up in thought as she spoke aloud. “Ah don’t know, Ah mean ah am not much of a fancy pony either but ah would like it if my special somepony took me somewhere nice.”

Sweetie Belle seemed to agree with her but Novo was asked something by his brother and had to let it out. “Hey Bloom, do you mind if I ask you abit of a personal question?”

Bloom seemed to smile and nod. “Sure.”

He sighed and had to ask as his brother watched from inside his mind. “Is Applejack avoiding Velox? Well all of us really but Velox in particular?”

The filly, whom was before happy to talk to him, suddenly had a sudden sad look on her face. “Ah don’t know, ah asked her before when ah seen her run away when Lego came for buckin’ but she seemed not to want to talk about it.”

Novo felt the waves of sadness rolling off his brother in his mind as he walked back into his mind chamber and locked it, in reality though he just ruffled the filly’s mane and smiled. “It is alright Bloom, I technically lied to a lot of ponies so I understand if she hates us.”

“Surely you don’t believe that Novo?” Rarity asked him and he could hear the concern in her voice. “Sure she might have been upset but she does care for him and you all.”

“It’s ok Rarity we kinda have it figured out already.” He told her before sighing gently. “She is the most honest mare the three of us know, if she is avoiding us it means that if she seen us she would honestly say what was on her mind, which no doubt is not pleasant judging by how much she goes out to avoid us.” Putting on his best smile to hide his sadness he turned to them. “Anyways I should be going, got to drop by Quills and Sofas to pick up some writing essentials, I still have reports to give the Princesses after all.”

The farm house door was being practically bashed in with the harsh knocking that AJ felt was inappropriate for a social call as the voice outside her home was calling out to her. “Applejack come out here, we need to talk.”

She had finished up bucking early today so she had been taking a nice nap when the banging started and she wasn’t happy about it at all. “What is it Rarity?” she said with a tad harsher then she meant. “Sorry ‘bout that, ya just caught me when ah was nappin’ is all.” As Rarity came in she took note of three missing fillies she knew that Rarity was supposed to watch today. “Where are the crusaders?”

The look the purple maned mare gave her was one of disappointment and she didn’t know why. “I sent them to the clubhouse so you and I could have a discussion.” The orange farmer was about to ask about what when Rarity told her. “It is about your treatment of Velox and his brothers.”

By instinct alone AJ felt herself back up as her eyes widened in shock. “I-I don’t rightly know what your t-talkin’ ‘bout.”

“Really?” Rarity asked as she let one thin eyebrow rise up. “Well not only have I heard from Novo, but Apple Bloom as well about how you are avoiding the Pegasus and his brothers. Lego still works here; whenever one of them drops by or he comes to work you are nowhere to be seen. When one of them comes even close you run away and avoid him.”

“T-that is because-” Though she never got to say what it was as Rarity stomped her hoof down in outrage.

“So you admit it!” Rarity rarely got truly upset about things like this and Applejack knew it, sure she may throw a hissy fit about some fashion disaster or another but not this unless it was really important. “Do you know how lucky you are? You have a stallion that is not only willing to sacrifice himself for others like a noble knight that he is, but one that is absolutely in love with you. Do you know how he is feeling right now? How all the brothers are feeling right now?” The cowpony couldn’t even move or say anything from the shock of Rarity talking to her like this. “They think you hate them. I could see how bad it was for Novo to come to that thought but imagine what Velox is feeling inside their mind.”

AJ continued to back up now as Rarity came forward. “They think ah what?”

She felt the hooficured limp poke her in as she couldn’t back up anymore thanks to the couch that she had backed up into. “They think you hate them. Then again I can easily see how they think that with you doing everything in your power to never see them again. You have no clue how lucky you are to even have his love in the first place. Honestly if you don’t want to see them again the least you should do is tell them so. Maybe then they can grieve for their brother’s broken heart as well as their lost friendship and being to try to find some happiness like m-” Applejack saw the look of shock in her friends eyes as they widen even though she had no clue what she was going to say, obviously though, it was going to be something upsetting if it caused that kind of reaction. “I-I am sorry, I have to go.”

Applejack just watched as the pony ran out of the farm house as she just sat her rear down on the floor. “But, why would he think ah hate him, it should be him that hates me.”

Rarity had made it back to her boutique and was in her private room crying into her fainting couch at what had just happened. ‘I can’t believe myself. I only meant to go over there to talk some sense into that pony and ended up nearly revealing my own insecurities.’ Part of her mind started to say that she was in the right for wanting a pony that was clearly wrong for the other when she shook her head. ‘No, I mustn’t think like that, Velox and Applejack were wonderful together.’ That same jealous part of her mind whispered to her that she had just said ‘were’ as in past tense. ‘I mean still are, she just needs to pony up and fix this. Velox and his brothers have been looking for her obviously so it is not for lack of him trying.’ That whisper started again but she crushed it right away. ‘I would not make a better marefriend then Applejack for him no matter how well I would treat him.’ However this time when the whispers came she couldn’t stop herself form thinking of the idea. ‘True, if she doesn’t want him what IS to stop me from trying…?’

Pinkie was laughing up a storm at Novo right now, and why shouldn’t she? Twilight had somehow managed to convince him to change for her while he was hooked up to more wires then Frankenpony’s Monster.

“Remind me again why exactly I am doing this?” He couldn’t help but ask as Twilight had notes already being taken down for his base readings.

She looked up from the readings with a smile. “Well I figure if I can get readings on all you and your brother’s forms and while you are changing, I might figure out how you’re doing what you do, understanding the how helps to figure out the why a lot of the times.”

Novo figured she was just doing this to learn something new but honestly if she could figure it out it worked for them as well. “Fine, let me know when you are done taking in those readings and PINKIE IT’S NOT THAT FUNNY!”

Pinkie was still laughing but she did manage to get out her words. “Y-you look l-like an electronic m-mummy. W-who dares to d-disturb my t-t-t-t-Drop the bass….TOMB!”

He could feel his right eye twitching as she explained why she was laughing even as Twilight told him he could change. “By the way Twilight, Velox won’t be showing up.”

As he began to glow he heard her ask him. “Oh why is that?”

His body shining with a white light as the horn was pulled inside his head as his body grew and gained much mass and muscles. “It is because he is heartbroken.” Lego said as the light vanished revealing his red coat.

“Heartbroken? Did something happen between him and Applejack?” Pinkie asked no longer laughing and looking at him with concern.

Shaking his head as Twilight was getting the readings from his change and his form. “No and that is the problem. She seems like she is trying her hardest to avoid us completely.”

Pinkie just tilted her head and smiled. “That doesn’t sound like her, I am sure she has just been busy and hasn’t had time.”

“Apple Bloom already confirmed to us yesterday that she has been avoiding us.” Lego told her without much emotion even as Twilight caught up in her experiments was tuning out the conversation and asking him to change again. “Alright Twilight, last change as Novo doesn’t want to be too exhausted as he has to go to Rarity to get fitted as well as make some reservations.”

Twilight just nodded her head while staring intently at her machines ignoring the stallion and his sigh as he seen how absorbed she was. ‘Just ignore it, let her get her find and if she gets anything for us then all the better, just have to keep telling myself that.’

Lego started to glow as he heard Pinkie start to speak again. “Fitted for what? Also what are the reservations for?”

There were a few seconds of a pause as Lego didn’t answer but Novo instead. “Well my plans were originally to take Dash to a picnic for a date but…something the Cutie Mark Crusaders said made me change my mind.” Novo told her as he shook off the transformation. “So I need something alright to wear and I need to make the reservations.”

Pinkie was tilting her head when he told her his plans and he somehow knew exactly what was going through her mind. “But Dash really isn’t a fancy pony; I think she would be a lot happier with just a picnic.”

He nodded and smiled to her. “I think so too but there is another reason I am putting this together. Dash doesn’t have much confidence in her appearance so I want to show her that she can be as lovely as anypony else. I am going to make our first date something for her to remember.”

Novo had his eyes nowhere in particular just staring off into space as he was gathering his thoughts till he felt something press against him and turned to see Pinkie hugging him. “That sounds lovely and I hope everything goes well.”

He returned the hug as he heard Twilight talking. “OK I guess I have enough data for now, if Velox is ever ok enough to come out come see me again so I can take readings for him as well.”

Giving a nod to her he waved towards Pinkie as he went to get everything set up for his date. ‘Ok need to go set up the reservations as well as needing to talk to-.’

The fitting for Rarity had not been so bad; she was surprisingly professional and told him that his suit would be ready in time for his date. She had offered to give it to him though he refused a few times till she brought up how it was so make up for how she treated him in the Crystal Empire, not completely of course but just a tad bit. After she said that he couldn’t refuse and just accepted it politely.

Truthfully Novo and Lego agreed they could see she really meant her apology and was tempted to completely forgive her but there was just a small hesitation from them and they decided they would wait for Velox to agree before they did. For now she was no longer on the avoid list. Rarity did try to ask him about his plans for Dash however he just smiled and told her that it was a surprise.

Overall he was happy. He had sent the letter off via dragon fire, he had talking to the technicians and he had made the reservations. Dash would get back tomorrow and he would tell her that the date was the next day and where it would be. She of course would be disappointed but he would send her to Rarity, whom he hoped wouldn’t be too bad about things, and then he would take her to the restaurant and show her that not a single mare there was more beautiful than her. He was smiling so much that he didn’t even care as it was starting to rain as he headed to his home.

A figure in a robe was heading into a shop out of the rain. Normally anypony would wonder why anypony would go into this antique shop but the robed pony came here based on a tip. The dinging of a bell that rang for all who entered announced to the shop owner that he had a customer on this dreary day.

“Hello there, what can I do for you; we have some interesting curios as well as some lovely vases.” The glasses wearing pony said only to be caught off guard when the pony just pointed to something behind him, particularly a glass case on display behind him. “Oh that, that is called the Alicorn Amulet and it’s a very power item indeed, said to instill in the wearing power beyond imagining, however such a thing comes at a cost to the-.” The customer must have assumed he meant price as they dropped a large sack of bits before him. “Well now, that will certainly cover it.” Truth was it more then covered it since it was a cursed item and he couldn’t for the life of him sell it to anypony who knew about it. “Will that be gift wrapped or will you be wearing it out?” He saw the massive smile in the dark of the hood that signaled that they were pleased to hear his words.

Rainbow Dash was not currently enjoying herself. She got back from a long boring meeting for all the weather managers in the area, barely had time to relax when she ran into Novo and he told her the plans for their date at Le Pâturage. Now she was in Rarity’s shop the day of the date and she was doing her best to get the mare ‘presentable’.

“Rarity do I really need all this makeup?” Dash complained and whined at the same time, though the latter she would never admit. “I mean sure it’s a fancy-smancy place, but I don’t think anypony expects me to look good no matter what you do.” The truth actually made her feel depressed and mumble the next part. “I mean I will never look as good as the other mares, they have shape to them, I am just pure muscle, no bounce to my flank and look at my mane no matter what you do it will always look like a tomcolt manecut.”

“Nonsense dear, why when I am done with you I suspect that Novo won’t be able to keep his eyes off you.” The proper socialite told her as she was currently spritzing her mane while levitating a brush to help lay her mane to a wonderful style for what was to come. “Plus I have already made your dress; I modeled it after your gala dress only less formal.” When her mane was done she started to pull out the makeup. “Now hold still, I am not going to add too much, only enough to enhance your natural beauty.”

The rainbow maned flyer just gave a puff of air at the last part. “Rarity if you only put enough to enhance my natural beauty then I will still be plain as there is nothing to enhance.”

Rarity didn’t say a word and Dash took that as it meant she was concentrating on applying the makeup mostly around her eyes as well as a touch here and there to her cheeks and to her lips. “There we go; now let us get you in your dress so you can look at the effect all together.”

The dress even to Dash’s eyes was a work of art. It was of the same style and colors for the skirt as her gala dress only half as long letting it be more for casual wear and showing off her fetlocks for her hind legs as well as the fact the material was different, being a touch see through as if looking through water as well as giving a wonderful sparkling when looking through it. The necklace for the grapes had been replaced with a necklace with seven crystals each of a different color of the rainbow, while her shoes replaced grapes at least for coloration bringing a lovely deep purple as her shoes instead of the gold they once were. Finally there was a ribbon that Rarity explained would be braided into her mane separating each of the colors as it came through them and ending up tying up her mane with a clasp at the end, the ribbon being a pure white to match the white gold clasp at the end.

“Rarity, I think that might be too nice looking for me to wear.” The now nervous mare said rubbing at the ground while thinking of all the ponies looking at her and commenting that the dress was too good for her, even Novo’s face came to mind.

The dress was grabbed in a light blue aura as Rarity brought it over and started to help her friend get dressed. “Rainbow Dash, trust me, this is what I do, now lift your hooves up so I can get these on you.”

It took a little while to get her fully dressed and her mane braided with the ribbon and clasp at the end. However even Dash had to admit when looking into the mirror that she didn’t look half bad, though not good enough to be all made up like she was. She turned from side to side looking at the dress and gave a smile seeing the effect it had on light going through it.

“I take it you like it dear?” Rarity said to which even Dash could tell she wanted a complement.

Her response was giving the white fashionista a quick hug. “Thanks Rarity, it must have been tough even making me look half this nice.”

Rarity sighed and looked at her. “Dear you really need to open your eyes, you may not have the same kind of beauty you see others having but you have your own, you need to learn to recognize it.”

“Yeah, yeah, anyway I guess we just wait for Novo to show up now right?” As soon as she was done saying that there was a knock on the door which the hostess of the boutique went to answer. “Hmm I wish I had Wonderbolt tickets.” Seeing no tickets appear either she tapped her hoof against the floor. “Darn.”

Dash could hear Rarity talking to somepony and when the voice responded she knew who it was and was instantly nervous. That was when she took him in and she could feel her cheeks blushing as she did so as well as her wings rising. He was dress rather simply in a black tux with a forest green bow tie both in a rather new style that could no doubt be Rarity’s influence. However that isn’t what set it apart. What did is that it somehow seemed to be made of crystal as it was sparkling and shining whenever the light hit it just right giving it almost a glow.

The athlete would be the first to admit, with his mane groomed and showing up in a suit like that it did him well. “That’s…wow.” She then looked to see that his own eyes were wide as he seemed to be staring at her, making her grow somewhat self conscious. “I know I am not much to look at but Rarity did her-.”

“Lovely.” His voice cut her off as she just stared at him blankly. “You are the loveliest mare I have ever seen.”

The blush from before that she had gotten from taking in his appearance became one of embarrassment as she couldn’t stop the goofy grin that seemed to hop up onto her face. “N-no need to exaggerate I know I am not the best looking mare out there.”

She had turned her head away from him as she spoke so didn’t see him come up till she felt him nuzzle her. “To me you are.”

Rainbow couldn’t help but give a giggle and nuzzle him back. “That was so cheesy I think we should get some nachos for it.”

When she pulled back she noticed he had a smile on his face and winked at her. “Why do we need nachos when you already ate up the cheese?” She just rolled her eyes as he started to walk with her to the door. “Shall we?”

While she was nervous about the dinner she felt that she was no longer nervous with how she looked. “Ya, I am.”

On the way they talked about what she did while she was gone having to go to the weather office in Cloudsdale and how they had to give the report on how they had been managing the weather as well as submit the next three months for weather in advanced so there wasn’t any scheduling conflicts.

“Ouch, I am glad my job is protecting you six then, so much less paperwork.” They both laughed at that.

Dash smiled and continued on that thought. “Hey if you want we can do each other’s job for a week and see how it goes.”

She watched as he shook his head. “No wings remember, and I don’t feel like using my disk all that much, besides with how often you take a nap I feel like I would forget to wake up at the right times.”

They got to the restaurant just as they were finishing up laughing from that one as Novo asked if they had their table available. “I am sorry sir but I see no reservation under your name, are you sure you made one?”

She could see him blink and tilt his head. “I am sure; I talked with Maitre D, the owner, about a reservation two days ago.”

They both watched as the pony behind the counter looked over the list again and shook his head. “I am sorry I see no such mention in here. If you would like, you can wait for a table.”

“Guess we don’t have a choice, sorry about this Dash.” She could tell that he felt awful about this and nuzzled him to make him feel better.

It was nearly an hour before Maitre D, a fancy unicorn pony in a full tux, came out looking to have been finishing up his shift and did a double take when he seen them. “Ahh friend Novo what are you doing here? I thought you had ze reservation.”

Dash felt alittle insulted as here was the pony that was supposed to write down the reservation itself asking them why they weren’t inside. “It’s cause someponies don’t keep their-.”

“It’s alright Dash.” Rainbow was a little miffed that he interrupted her but she forgave him as she was about to say something mean to the pony before them. “Seems there was a mix up D, my reservation wasn’t on the list for tonight and we have been waiting for a table to open up.”

Frowning, the pony from Prance looked at them and then back to the entrance of his restaurant. “Follow moi.” They did so and he looked towards the pony overseeing the reservations. “Excuse moi I need to check somezing.” The pony who had told them they didn’t have a reservation was looking at his boss then back to them quickly before paling and backing away making Dash more than a bit suspicious. After a few moments a frowning D looked to them and bowed his head. “It seems somepony has removed your name from ze list, though zere was only one pony on zis duty tonight and I will see that he is surely punished for zis.” Glaring at the pony he turned to them picking up a few menus. “If you would follow moi we can get you seated at once.”

The inside of the restaurant was very nicely done up, with a soft traditional string band playing soft music in the background and even a small dance area for couples to slow dance in. there were tables with white cloth covering them and padded seats as well as read faux-leather booths that had a privacy curtain though it was see through to discourage any naughty shenanigans

Seems the table that he had reserved was still available to them, a nice private booth. “Thank you D, sorry for the trouble it caused you.”

Dash felt the same way as Novo did tossing in her own apology as he waved his hoof. “No no no, zis is my fault for not training my staff properly. As such I will stick around a bit longer to make sure nothing goes wrong, in fact I will be sitting over there.”

The athlete smiled and nodded. “Thank you D, you are a good guy.”

D just smiled and went his own way as a waiter brought out some bread sticks and asked them for what they wanted to drink. “I will have a hard Lemonade.”

“And I will have some hard cider.” Rainbow Dash said as she looked over the menu. “Sweet Apple Acres if you can.”

The waiter left and she scooted over in the booth next to Novo resting her head against him. “Besides the hour wait this is a rather nice place.”

She felt his head rest atop of hers and she couldn’t help but smile. “I wanted to make our first date one to remember. Next time we can go on a picnic or something, but I wanted you to remember this one above all the others that we will go on in the future.”

Not sure how long they were like that, she only knew it was till the waiter came back with their drinks that she realized she didn’t know what to order. “Umm, I can’t read any of this.”

Most of it was in Prench and she didn’t speak that, somepony like Rarity might, maybe an egghead like Twilight but she didn’t. “I think you will like the Barigoule of Spring Vegetables, its crisp spring veggies paired with a flavorful vanilla broth.”

That sounded really good to her and with a growl from her stomach she had to agree. “Sure sounds great.”

“And for you sir?” The waiter asked in a way that almost made Dash wonder if he was in a hurry.

“The Trout Meunière Amandine if you would.” The mare was surprised with how well he pronounced the dish almost like he knew the language.

As the waiter left she had to ask. “How do you know what any of this is?” pointing her hoof to the menu.

“Oh, I may or may not be able to speak and read most languages cause of my travels. For some reason I can pick them up rather easy and learn them quick enough that it’s never really bothered me to be somewhere else. Or rather it would be Lego who learned them since we were all one at the time.”

Dash was impressed; she didn’t know that, though she supposed it made sense. “What was your dish, you seemed to know what mine was so what does yours have in it?”

He smiled and chuckled. “It is fried trout in a brown butter sauce. Sorry I know meat kinda upsets you, but it looked great.”

True while normally it would upset her she didn’t want to ruin the date and she did promise to be a better fillyfriend so she would ignore the meat eating if she had to. “Its fine, like I said I understand other Pegasus eating fish so it’s not as bad as beef or pork would be.”

She seen him smile and told herself that it would be worth it every time to see him happy like that, though that smile did vanish when he took a sip of his drink while she took a nice long gulp of the cider so when she asked he shrugged. “Nothing, just not as good as I thought it would be.”

When she offered to share her own cider with him she waved his hoof off and took another sip of his drink. “Tell me about some of the places you have seen, I remember hearing abit about it when you came to talk to the school as Velox, though you were one pony then right?” He gave a nod though didn’t seem unhappy about being reminded of that.

He was finishing up telling her about Germaneigh when the waiter came back with their food, and Dash’s nose was in heaven with how good it smelt. Tasting the veggies they were perfectly done and the vanilla had her taste buds swimming.

‘No doubt the fancy smancy place was worth it for something like this, though the real reason it is worth it is cause of him.’ As she thought about him she looked to see him sighing and pushing his plate away with a sigh. “What’s wrong?”

“It’s nothing just for some reason I am no longer feeling that hungry is all, guess the tension of the day and leading up to the date took that from me.” He was lying; she knew it because she had been hearing his stomach give various growls as he was talking about his journey.

She was about to call him on it when D had silently came up. “Is everything ok?”

Novo waved his hoof saying nothing, but Dash wouldn’t have it. “He says he isn’t hungry but I have been hearing his stomach growling while we were talking.”

D just looked to the dish and used his magic to levitate a piece of the fish up with a fork before gasping. “WHAT IS ZIS?!”

This caused many of the other customers as well as Dash herself to look at him with shock at his rage. He started to bark a few loud things towards the back and the kitchen staff was before them in a hurry.

“Which one of you were on ze fish duty today?” Two ponies paled though all of the staff pointed to one in particular. “What is zis?”

The paling earth pony was just looking at the dish and puffed out his chest. “It is undercooked fish sir.”

“Explain, explain to moi right now why it is that you served ZIS to our patrons. Zis would send him to ze hospital.” All of the ponies were now watching the confrontation even if they didn’t want to admit it.

The chef for all his professionalism suddenly sneered and looked towards Novo. “I will not serve this mutant changeling any food that our patrons pay for; he will get what he deserves though I suppose undercooked fish is a step up from trash, so he should consider himself lucky.”

D just snatched the chef’s hat off of his head making the pony look at him with shock. “Get out, you are fired!” The former chef just spit in the direction of Novo as he left, with D looking towards the other chef’s. “Let zis be a lesson to you all. Our patrons are all equal, Pony, Changeling, Griffon, Minotaur, it doesn’t matter. Zis will not happy again or I will make sure you end up like your former co-verker. Do I may my-self clear?”

All of the chef’s nodded and stood up straight. “Yes Maitre D!”

After he dismissed them to go cook a proper dish D turned towards them both. “I am so sorry about zis. I will make sure it never happens again. As such tonight your meals are on ze house.”

Dash had been feeling good since that horseapple of chef got what was coming to him. “Thanks D, one last thing though.” Novo looked to her as she seemed to be up to something. “Can you check his drink too?”

Novo gave her a look that said she wished she wouldn’t but D was already using a spare straw to dip into the drink to taste. “Zis is mostly water…what did you order?”

Sighing he told him. “It was supposed to be a Hard Lemonade. I didn’t really want to make a big ruckus.”

Dash was about to ask him why when she seen him glance towards her and she knew, he didn’t want to ruin the date. “I see I will go mix it myself one moment.”

Novo turned to her now and she could see he felt horrible. “I am sorry my Spectrum. I wanted to make this date special and memorable but it seems it is just a disaster.”

At the use of that special name he gave to her she felt her heart flutter and felt as bad as he did before moving close to nuzzle him. “Hey it is not your fault; it’s the fault of ponies that have a grudge when they shouldn’t.” Before he could respond she leaned up to give him a tender kiss. “Now why don’t you help me with this till yours gets here. I may have a bite of that fish if it is as good as this.” Not that she actually would enjoy that bite though.

They were heading outside with Novo chuckling and Dash blushing up a storm. “I thought you said you didn’t like fish.”

She ended up eating more than half of the fish without realizing it, complementing how tasty the dish was the whole time. “Well if it is prepared like that I suppose it is good, anyways where are we heading?”

All he did was wink as they continued to walk to the outskirts of Ponyville. When they got there she noticed a single pony that was waiting for them though she was told to wait on the top of the hill where there was a blanket for them both. She watched as the two of them talk before the pony in a work apron ran off to somewhere she couldn’t see from this point of the hill.

“Sorry about that, but it should be starting in a moment.” He told her simply and she was about to ask what he was talking about when she heard it. A distinct whistling sound punctuated with a loud boom in the sky.

Fireworks and a lot of them too and every hue she could imagine. Being the showboating mare that she was she loved fireworks and their display, looking up in awe of it all. They came in different patterns too, some in regular bursts, some that popped multiple times as if they were sizzling, and even a few that took the shapes of things, like feathers or horns, even a wing or two.

The finally was awesome though to her as she had watched the entire thing in silence, something she rarely ever did, as the end was something familiar but different. A firework version of her rainboom with her cutie mark at the center of it. “With you always flying at the speeds you do, I don’t think you have ever truly seen how lovely what you do is and even if this is a pale imitation I wanted you to see it.”

As she heard that she felt her eyes going wide, and tears forming in them for some reason. ‘He took to a place he wanted me to remember, telling me I was the loveliest mare he had seen. He was willing to try to hide how terrible they were treating him if it meant I had that memory, and he set up this show all for me.’ She couldn’t stop herself from tackling him down and nuzzling him while she let out tears of joy.

Seems he mistook what was happening though. “Oh um sorry did I mess up, hmm was the cloud not the right size or-.”

He was silenced with a fierce kiss that Dash knew left her breathless and judging from his panting when she broke it did the same. “No you big goof, it was perfect. Just no pony has ever done anything like this for me ever.”

She buried her head in his neck as she felt him kiss her forehead. “That is a shame my Spectrum. You are one of the most loyal, most selfless, most gorgeous mares I know and deserve to have all the stars in the sky if I could get them for you. However, it is all for one reason above all the others.” She looked up at him when he was silent for a moment; it seemed he was waiting for that to look into her rose colored eyes with his gray ones. “It is cause I love you.”

Her eyes grew wider as tears came again into them, she never moved but the Love Line between them appeared brightly as she slowly closed the gap to kiss him and whisper her own feelings. “I love you too.” She knew she meant it more than any other time before too.

Author's Notes:

Another single chapter of which I am sorry for. Writer's block is a b***h some....wait was I just censored? BRAIN EXPLAIN!

Sorry under new management.

Excuse me?

The Brain works for me now.

*Gasp* Conscience what are you doing here?

I am here to make life less fun for you.

CURSE YOU CONSCIENCE!!!!!