“Ya son of a no good, low-down yeller-bellied sap-sucker…”

“Missed me, seed fer brains!”

“Ah’ll show ya seed fer brains, ya buckin’ wet behind th’ ears lil’…”

A loud crash followed by more yells and uproarious laughter is what woke Skyward out of a sound sleep. Leaping out of the bed she was in she grabbed her sword and shield and teleported out of the cabin-wagon; she had opted to sleep within Trouble Shoes’ home once again, not comfortable about being under Braeburn’s roof.

She appeared outside, sword raised, shield up…

But when she saw what was going on, she rolled her eyes and sheathed her sword, shaking her unruly mane out of her eyes and letting out an annoyed snort, her ears slanting back as she yawned mightily.

Granted it was morning—the sun was up, but only just—she estimated it had to be about 7am in the morning or so. Trouble Shoes, Braeburn, and Big Boot were rough-housing close to the houses, shoving at one another, using their fore and rear hooves to psych the other stallion out, trying to catch and pin the other, and trying to get one another to give up.

Skyward rolled her eyes and turned to go back inside, shaking her head. “Tch, colts,” she muttered to herself, but she turned her head to watch Trouble Shoes. The big stallion had caught Braeburn and was shoving at him, trying to force him to back up, but the amber maned stallion was giving back as good as he could get; he wasn’t making it easy for the bigger stallion to push him.

Big Boot suddenly rushed in from the side—Trouble Shoes saw him coming and leaped backwards, letting Big Boot crash right into Braeburn with a yell and they went down with shouts, curses and male laughter, Trouble Shoes guffawing at them.

“Next time ya might wanna watch where yer aimin’, Big Boot, ya speared yerself an Apple,” he called out, only to earn a rude gesture from the stallion in question.

“Tch-ha! Save that fer yer wife!” Braeburn roared, and all three stallions howled with laughter.

Skyward yawned hugely and shook her head, pushing her mane out of her muzzle and rubbed her eyes as she went back inside the cabin-wagon, ‘lifting’ her sword and shield and putting them aside as she climbed back into the big bed and curled up in a ball under the sheets. It had been a long night—she hadn’t partied so hard like that in a long time. She lay there, drowsing for a little bit, then muttered a ripe Haylian oath about boisterous stallions as she pulled the pillow over her head, trying to block out the males’ raucous noises.

About two minutes later Trouble Shoes poked his head inside—the other two stallions were still ‘horsing’ around but he had seen a flash of blue out of the corner of his eye and he had looked up to see Skyward shake her head and walk back inside, still looking sleepy-eyed and holding her sheathed sword and shield in her magic. Wanting to check on her, he poked his head inside; and when he saw her pull the pillow over her head, he knew they needed to be quieter, they had likely awakened her and she had come outside to investigate the noise.

He’d let her have the bed, but she’d conjured a soft looking cloud for him to sleep on, and even cast a spell on him so he could sleep on a cloud without falling through it. The spell was similar to the one used on non-pegasi who visited the Citadel of Gales, where some, if not all of Hayrule’s pegasi population lived.

He walked over and he saw her head move under the pillow…he settled back on his haunches and tugged the blanket over her slim form he could just barely see under the sheets. He bit his lower lip, hoping he didn’t need to dive into the river…again…

He had to retreat to the river or douse himself from the rain barrel a few times last night—considering Skyward had danced with the other mares during a few country dances, and she even had danced with him a few times. The firelight had shimmered off her blue steel colored coat, lending her the hue of a warm, sensual violet. Her mane and tail had also reflected the flames, turning royal blue to a deep purple and the indigo to black…

Aside from her eyes, she looked amazing, her colors shifting back and forth between shades of blue and violet…

And at one point, she had even ‘grasped’ the flames in her magic and proceeded to perform a dance that had definitely sent him running for the river to cool himself off at one point, thankfully unseen. The dance was one he had never seen before anywhere in Equestria—but it involved her using the flames akin to veils, and even though she had been wearing a tunic and her cloak…

The movements she had been making had been more than enough to send desire crashing into him like a runaway train. He’d sat in the river for a good ten minutes, letting the chill of the water calm him down.

“Sky? Hey, Sky…ya awake?”

“Mmm…”

She pulled her head out from under the pillow, looking sleepily up at him, one royal blue eye gazing up at him tiredly—because the rest of her long, sleek mane was obscuring her face and muzzle.

Gently, he nuzzled her and tucked the blanket more securely around her. “G’wan back to sleep, sugarcube. Sorry if we woke ya—we’ll be quieter.”

Skyward blinked sleepily at him, nodding her head as she pulled her head out from under the pillow and curled up, closing her eyes to go back to sleep…but not before she nudged him with her muzzle prior to curling up and closing her eyes.

He brushed her royal blue and indigo mane out of her face, and nuzzled her cheek, taking in her scent as he looked down at her, taking in the sight beautiful mare who was sleeping in his bed. She smelled like spring rain and sweet, fresh grass—and of course, her own voluptuous feminine scent—something he couldn’t quite place, but something that made him melt emotionally and left an aching, pulsing need elsewhere physically. His heart skipped a beat when she rolled over and nudged him with her muzzle, before she had curled back up neat as you please and fell back asleep.

He went back outside and shut the door, and turned around…

To see Braeburn and Big Boot smirking at him. Braeburn grinned at him and shoved him with one hoof.

“Ya took yer sweet time in there, Trouble…”

Big Boot chortled. “Ah dunno, Braeburn, think we should we leave those two alone?”

“Pfft—ya do that, it’s jest goin’ t’ get noisier ‘round here, Ah reckon,” Braeburn replied with a shit-eating grin on his muzzle.

Trouble Shoes rolled his eyes, fighting a vicious blush forming on his muzzle, but he sharply waved a hoof at the two snickering males. “Shhh! Shut it; Ah don’ wanna wake Sky up; she’s goin’ t’ be right riled at us an’ Ah know neither o’ ya want her pissed off at ya.”

Muttering agreement—an angry mare, especially an angry, sleep deprived mare, was not somepony any wise stallion wanted mad at him—the three stallions moved further away from the houses to continue their rough-housing.

About two hours later Skyward came out of the cabin-wagon, feeling much more refreshed and wearing only a tunic, not feeling as if she needed her cloak. She went inside Braeburn’s house—Twilight Sparkle and Spike were there, munching away at plates of apple fritter flapjacks. There were apple fritter flapjacks, with pear jam, praline and caramel syrup, fresh honey, a bowl of fresh apples mixed with walnuts, biscuits and grass sausage gravy, sliced cheese and toast, orange juice as well as cider, milk, and hot tea.

“Morning, Skyward! How’d you sleep?” the purple unicorn mare asked.

“Well enough until three noisy stallions decided they wished to be colts instead earlier,” Skyward said with a shake of her head, and Spike laughed.

“Oh yeah. They woke up Applejack too and she ran right out of the house and threw apple cores at ‘em until they ran off somewhere.”

Skyward snorted into her orange juice and started coughing and laughing at the same time, shaking her head even as Spike offered her a napkin.

“Goddess—Goddesses…I wouldst hath paid Bits to see that,” she gasped as she wiped her eyes and muzzle, thanking Spike for his thoughtfulness, then ‘reached’ for some flapjacks, drizzling honey over them and dishing up some sliced up apples mixed with walnuts and honey.

Twilight chortled as she ‘refilled’ Skyward’s glass. “It was pretty funny. Sooo…you wanna come see the rest of the rodeo with us?”

Skyward bit her lip, pushing her food around on her plate. Even though she did want to see the rest of the rodeo—she honestly wanted to spend more time with Trouble Shoes, before they had to return to Ponyville…

After that…would she ever get to see him again?

A purple hoof landed on her own, and Skyward looked up to see Twilight Sparkle’s understanding smile and gentle look.

“Why don’t you finish eating and then go find Trouble Shoes?”

“…Is it that obvious?” Skyward asked ruefully, blushing a little bit, and Spike snorted. “Does Celestia raise the sun every day?”

“Spike!” the purple unicorn mare gently scolded, and Skyward chuckled softly. “It is all right, Twilight. The day may soon come when some dragon or….somepony will turn his head…if it hasn’t already,” she said with an amused smirk as she finished her meal and took her plates to the sink to clean them.

When finished, she went back to the cabin-wagon, and found her belongings. She regarded her armor, looking to see if it needed cleaning. Finding none of it, she decided to wear it today—and she stepped out of the cabin-wagon, turning to take a look at it before she walked forward, heading off to see if she could find Trouble Shoes.

“Skyward! Skyward, wait up!”

Skyward turned around and looked at Spike, cocking an eyebrow. “Aye? What is thine wish, Spike?”

The young purple dragon fidgeted, before he spoke. “I really hope things work out for you and Trouble Shoes. I mean, you deserve to find a special somepony. I kinda noticed last year during Hearts and Hooves Day—well…you seemed…”

The Haylian mare chuckled softly. “Seeing other couples together and one being alone can drive home the dagger of loneliness further than intended, Spike. Love ‘tis a double-edged sword; joy on one side, sorrow the other. One prays that thou will never know the bite of sorrow.”

The young purple dragon sighed. “…I think I might be already. I mean…Rarity—she’s a pony. She’ll age and die long before I become an adult. And yet…I still love her. So much. I know, I know—as a dragon I’m still just a baby and yet…”

Skyward gently put a hooftip to the young dragon’s mouth. “Then take thine chance, Spike. See if the Twin Thrones may yet hath an answer to thine problem if thou wish to take her as thine lifemate. If anypony wouldst know the answer, t’would be them. Twilight Sparkle as well—talk with her, she is your closest friend as it were. Thou shouldst also speak to Rarity, and make thine heart known on the matter. Thou can only see what she says.”

“And what about you? I mean…”

“It must also be Trouble Shoes’ decision, Spike. Thou canst force a mare to love thou...and the same goes the other way ‘round for stallions. A sacred bond like that must be forged as one, not from either end with only one goal in mind. If he dost not want me…”

Skyward drew in a slow, shaky breath, clearly in pain from saying those words, but she shook her head. “Then one must accept it as best one can and move onward. ‘Tis all one can do. I hath done it before, one can do so again.”

“But that’s why I’m praying this works out for you, Skyward. You’re going through a lot, more than anypony should have to. And I’m thinking you don’t just need friends…you need him too. A ‘rock in the storm’ when you need it. Somepony’s shoulder to cry on, not just Rarity’s or Applejack’s, or any other pony’s, ya know?”

Skyward bowed her head, allowing a single tear to slide free from one of her eyes. “…’Tis mine hope it works out as well, Spike…but it too, must be his choice. Love must come from willing hearts; else it means nothing. Remember that.”

The bluesteel unicorn mare brushed at her muzzle—she had braided her mane as usual, leaving her mane-pin, tunic and cloak in her satchel, carefully tucked away.

“Seize the day, Spike, and the night as well. Time waits for nopony, or dragon in thy case. Believe me…one knows that better than anypony.”

With those words, the bluesteel Haylian mare cantered off in search of the stallion who held her heart. Spike watched her go, clasping his claws and biting his lower lip. Skyward was like a second mother to him nowadays, watching over him and spending time with him whenever Twilight was doing things without him and even teaching him how to use his claws and fire offensively and defensively, and sometimes slipping him treats when Twilight wasn’t looking even when she nagged after him to eat his brussels sprouts.

“He better make the right choice or I’ll roast him,” Spike muttered, and Twilight sighed from behind him, getting his attention. “Better save some for me and the girls,” she said over her shoulder, earning a startled look from the young purple dragon.

“Huh? Twilight?”

The purple unicorn mare snorted at him, giving him a smirk. “You honestly don’t think we wouldn’t go after him if he broke Skyward’s heart? C’mon. Now…what were you saying about Rarity?”

Meanwhile, Skyward wandered into Appleloosa proper, biting her lower lip. Should she go to the rodeo ring to look for him? It seemed like the right place to be. She entered the rodeo grounds and flicked her tail, glancing around at the bustling area.

She noticed that Applejack and several other Earth Ponies were stacking big haybales in the center ring. She paused to watch the feat, gasping when she thought the huge stack was going to fall over, but it didn’t. Applejack’s kicks were sure and deft, throwing the bales high into the air and getting them to land on the topmost bale to create a literal tower of golden hay.

“There ya are! Ah’ve been lookin’ fer ya, Sky; Ah thought ya were still sleepin’.”

Skyward turned around, a smile already forming on her muzzle as she turned to face Trouble Shoes.

“One was, for a time—but hunger proved the stronger sooner or later. And I missed thou, as well…”

She ducked her head, biting the inside of her cheek—why the hay had she said that? Goddesses, she may as well sing to the damn world how she felt about him…

“Ah missed ya too, sugarcube.”

Skyward looked back up at him, surprised…and more than pleased. Trouble Shoes was smiling down at her, and his muzzle was very close to her own—practically almost touching. Gasps and yells got their attention and they looked over to see the tall stack of hay bales swaying dangerously. The stack was incredibly high by now, and the wind was up a little, causing the top part of the stack to move back and forth…

“Git ready t’ run, Sky; iffen that stack falls…”

The Haylian mare backed up with him, knowing the rest of the crowd was going to do the same…

But, the swaying stopped, and everypony breathed a sigh of relief.

“Blessed Sun and Moon—that, wast far too close for comfort,” Skyward muttered, blowing out a breath and the big stallion next to her nodded.

“Ah agree. Let’s git outta here fer now. Besides, Ah wanna spend time with ya until ya’ll hafta leave.”

Skyward sighed, her ears drooping as she looked up at him. “One shalt miss thou sorely when we depart from Appleloosa.”

The huge nut-brown stallion looked down at her, his eyes gentle, yet sad. “Ah’m goin’ t’ miss ya dearly, Skyward. Ah’m jest hopin’ ya wan’ t’ see me again.”

The Haylian mare blinked at him in confusion. “Of course one wants to see thou again. Why wouldst I not wish to?”

“Well…Ah’ll admit Ah’m not much t’ look at fer one. M’ clumsier than a drunken donkey most of t’ time an’ well…”

Skyward couldn’t believe what the buck she was hearing and snorted; before she knew what she was doing, she reached over, taking his muzzle in her hooves and making him look her in the eyes.

“Enough of that. Thou art nothing of the sort, Trouble Shoes, and I’ll not hear another word of that nonsense. Thou art a gentle, compassionate, handsome and kind stallion, who puts nobleponies in Canterlot to shame with not only thine manners but ye also speak from thine heart. Ye never say things thou dost not mean. Thine cutie mark is not bad luck in the least. According to Apple Bloom and her friends, thou art talented at making other ponies laugh. Trust one, one knows well what bad luck is, and hath seen it firsthoof—thou art certainly not bad luck incarnate, one can assure thee of this. Also, thou not only knows how to take a joke, but deliver laughter where ‘tis sorely needed. How many other stallions can do what thou can do? None other than thou—thou art a blessing, and still yet thou dost not see it…ah!”

The Haylian mare let out a squeak when the Clydesdale-esque stallion suddenly tugged her into a hug, pressing her close to his large form. Skyward relaxed and rested her head against his neck, nuzzling his withers as best she could. She was smaller than he was, considerably, but it didn’t matter to her. She felt his muzzle against her withers, nuzzling into her mane, and she relished in the feeling, snuggling into him unconsciously.

“Aw, Sky. Ah wish ya weren’t leavin’.”

Skyward pulled back a bit, gently smiling at him. “One wishes that too. Yet, one still has work to do in Ponyville. Yet, I wilt make time to visit thee…wilt that suffice? Mayhap eventually, once mine work is finished…one could be allowed to live here…”

The big stallion’s eyes sparkled at her. “Ah’d lahke that, Sky. Hay, Ah’d ask ya t’ move in with me iffen ya wanted to.”

The Haylian mare blushed. “If that is what thou wants, one has no objections. But keep in mind, one must complete mine own work before one can even consider staying here permanently.”

“Ah know, ‘m jest lettin’ ya know. Lemme go ask some of the boys iffen they don’ mind a unicorn comin’ ‘long fer the circuit next season. Besides, yer a hay of a cook, sugarcube, an’ Luna knows we don’ ‘ave a decent cook right about now.”

“Well, we canst have that now can we?”

The big stallion guffawed, giving her a wink as he trotted off to go talk with the other rodeo clowns. Skyward watched him leave, a foolish smile on her face. Resolution welled in her soul—she would win her battles; she would pass her trials.

This was where she wanted to stay, after the end of her destiny fulfilled. By his side, Goddesses willing…

“Skyward! Skyward, where th’ hay are ya?”

“Applejack?”

The orange farmpony rounded the corner—with Twilight Sparkle, Spike, Pinkie Pie and Rarity following her, and Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash doing the same from the air. The blond maned and tailed mare skidded to a halt in front of the armored Haylian mare.

“There ya are! Hoo, we’ve been lookin’ fer ya all over after Twi said ya were here!”

“Applejack, why were thou looking for me?”

"We were lookin' fer ya because we were wonderin' if ya had Apple Bloom an' her friends wit' ya since they're ol' pals with Trouble Shoes."

Skyward shook her head. "No, t'was just he and I, why dost thou ask, Applejack?"

Normally Applejack would've started making a few playful jabs about her being alone with the rodeo clown star, but the orange farmpony frowned deeply and looked around. "Ah don' see 'em anyplace, and Ah'm gittin right worried. Last I checked they were with Cousin Braeburn."

"Hath thee asked him?"

"Yeah, an' he says he never saw 'em either."

Skyward swallowed hard, the pieces of apples she had eaten suddenly feeling like she had rocks in her gut. "When was the last time ye saw them?"

"Just fifteen minutes ago, when Ah sent them off t' Braeburn, why?"

A horrible thought sparked in Twilight's sharp mind and she gasped. "You don't think they were..."

The mares exchanged horrified glances, and Skyward's eyes narrowed to slits. "Spread out and see if they were merely lost in the crowd. If not, meet back here. We shalt have to inform the sheriff."

"Inform the sheriff 'bout what, sugarcube?"

Skyward fought down a blush when she heard Trouble Shoes' voice behind her and turned to face him. The other mares, despite the frightening situation smirked, giggled, snickered or grinned at her behind their hooves and Rainbow Dash even winked at the embarrassed Haylian mare: they'd ALL heard that little endearment. Resisting the urge to flip them a rude gesture, she chose to address the stallion instead.

"Trouble Shoes, hath thou seen Apple Bloom and her friends? Braeburn said he never saw them after Applejack told them to find him since she competes again soon."

The rodeo entertaining star shook his head, consternation on his face as well--the three fillies meant a lot to him too. "Come t' think o' it, Ah haven't seen 'em since th' clown show started. Ah saw 'em go off t'wards th' apple fritter stand 'afore th' show began, but after that, Ah thought they went back to their sister."

Skyward grabbed her helm out of her bag and shoved it over her head. "I do not want to ruin the rodeo for everypony...but if they art missing..."

Twilight held up a hoof before Rarity could faint or do something dramatic as was her wont to do; even if she was in full right for it this time. "Listen, let's not panic just yet. We need to keep this quiet for the time being. Rarity, you and Pinkie Pie go and look through the crowds, see if you can find them. Rainbow Dash, you and Fluttershy search from the air, and Applejack, Spike and I will take the other side of the show. Skyward, can you and Trouble Shoes search around this area and alert Sheriff Silverstar we have three missing fillies?"

"If the stallion wilt listen to me, aye, Twilight, I wilt do just that."

"Ah'll make sure he listens t' ya, Skyward. C'mon, th' hay bale event's almost over--Ah'll give ya a hoof."

The two ponies approached the sheriff and once Skyward explained what had happened, Sheriff Silverstar frowned deeply. "Now are ya sure they jest didn' get lost in the crowd?"

Skyward slammed a hoof against the packed earth. "Sheriff, please. If we hath not found them by the time the next event ends I beseech thee have thy men look for them! They have been foalnapped before, and I've no wish to see their kith and kin go through such anguish anew!"

Trouble Shoes, true to his word, threw in his two bits to back Skyward up. "Sheriff, Braeburn Apple hisself said he didn' see hide nor hair of ‘em when they were s'pposed t' go find 'im. That wuz when Applejack sent them over 'bout fifteen minutes before th' clown show started, cuz she's up next in th' lariat competition."

Sheriff Silverstar rubbed his chin, glancing between the armored mare and the huge rodeo stallion. And he knew that they were both serious--hay, Braeburn had come back with the tale about the unicorn in front of him whooping an entire pack of Diamond Dogs almost single hoofed. "All right. I'll get my boys a-lookin' fer em. Iffen they haven't been found by th' time the lariat contest is over Ah'll make an announcement that they're missin'."

Skyward gave him a curt nod and turned to leave, worry in her eyes. Trouble Shoes put a hoof on her back and she looked up at him. "One is worried, Trouble Shoes. This makes not once, but twice now, that they hath been foalnapped..."

Trouble Shoes gently shook his head at her. "Now don' go puttin' th' cart afore th' pony, Skyward. Ah ain't sayin' I don' trust yer instinct, but let's hold out some hope they ain't, okay?"

"I pray I am proven wrong this time. I truly am."

However, when the mares met back at the meeting spot, plus Trouble Shoes, there was no sign of the fillies. Seeing the worried looks and the weeping Rarity, Sheriff Silverstar entered the ring and cleared his throat.

"LISSEN UP, EVERYPONY! HAS ANYPONY SEEN THREE YOUNG FILLIES BY TH' NAMES O' APPLE BLOOM, SWEETIE BELLE, AND SCOOTALOO?"

Murmurs abounded throughout the crowd, and one of the rodeo clowns spoke up. "Whut's this all 'bout, Sheriff?"

"We got three missin' fillies on our hooves is what's goin' on, Jingle Spur! If anypony's seen 'em now's the chance t' speak up! Has anypony seen these fillies?"

Shouted negatives and shaking of heads was the responses he was getting and the sheriff grimaced--he was hoping they had been wrong but if nopony had seen them...

"We're goin' t' 'ave t' put th' rodeo on hold until those fillies are found! Ya'll spread out an' look fer 'em! Th’ Nettle family might be involved in this, due t’ the fact somepony found ember nettle a coupla days back when that boar went plumb loco, so if anypony sees 'em, give a shout!"

Disregarding the angry muttering and shouts and groups of ponies already bolting off to go look for the fillies, Skyward had already taken off down the main road, darting behind shops and houses, eyes scanning the ground for tracks or any signs. Trouble Shoes followed her closely, keeping pace easily with the swift Haylian mare.

"So what's yer plan?"

"If they were foalnapped they had to have left some sort of clue behind. Though since we art dealing with ponies and not Diamond Dogs..."

Skyward had trotted over to the apple fritter stand and was already nosing around, Trouble Shoes following her like a loyal dog of sorts. He pushed around some of the barrels of flour, sugar and honey that was close by...

"Skyward! Ah found somethin'!"

The Haylian mare ran over to him and he held out a small rose-colored ribbon...a piece of it. It was covered in honey—which made it easy to stick to anything it landed on.

"Apple Bloom's hair ribbon..."

"That's not all. Look..."

Glancing down the side alleyway near the fritter stand, Skyward saw another piece of the ribbon lying there, and she smiled. "She learned her lessons well. I shalt have to forge her a piece of armor as she requested."

"Say what? Armor?"

Skyward laughed softly as she began following the pieces of ribbon, picking them up in her magic. "Little Apple Bloom and her friends always loved playing with mine armor; pretending they were soldiers. I did not hath the heart to scold them, and they told me they wanted to learn more of what I learned when I was their age. So, one taught them a few things...how to leave a trail without being noticed, for example..."

Skyward held up another ribbon piece, which was covered in fritter batter to weigh it down so it wouldn't blow away. "Which is exactly what she did."

"Yeah, but th' trail leads out t' the flatlands, and that's where th' ribbon pieces end. They could've gone anywhere, sugarcube."

"Ye know these lands better than I. Tis' time ye take point, Trouble Shoes."

"Me? I ain't no guardspony; I'm jest a rodeo clown, I ain't no warrior like ya are."

Skyward walked over to him and put an armored hoof gently on his cheek, turning his muzzle towards hers. "Ye are also friend to those three fillies. Please. They are counting on thee as well. I cannot do this alone."

Trouble Shoes looked into Skyward's eyes, heaved a sigh and nodded. "All right. But we gotta be careful; Ah wuzn't kiddin' 'bout them Nettles bein' bad news."

"Then what do we need to arm ourselves with? Unlike Diamond Dogs, I cannot kill them, I can only subdue, unless threatened. And if not the sheriff, the Twin Princesses have ultimate authority o'er their fates."

"Hm. Ah hate t' say it but yer gonna need a disguise. That there armor's gonna give us away fer whut Ah got in mind."

"What would thou have me do then, Trouble Shoes?"

The stallion bit his lower lip, folding his ears back. He knew how she was; she being a proud warrior, what he had in mind might not sit well with her to begin with. "...Promise ya ain't gonna git mad at me?"

"Trouble Shoes, please, if there is anypony I am angry with, 'tis those Nettles if they art the culprits. Please, time is running out, what wouldst thou have me do?"

"Yer gonna hafta wear a dress. See, this here is th' plan. Ah think Ah might know where th' Nettles are hidin' out; since Ah was once an ‘outlaw’, Ah know the best hidin’ places ‘round these parts. Problem is, Ah know th' Sheriff. He's gonna go in there, and he's good at ambushes but not rescues. Iffen we pose as travelers..."

Skyward’s eyes narrowed in a predatory manner; and strangely it excited the Clydesdale-esque stallion in front of her. "Then they shalt take us right to their camp."

"Exactly. Ya might wanna leave ya armor here. Ah don' want ya losing it. Any way t' hide that there sword and shield ya got?"

"Easily. But thou shalt have to find a dress that fits me, and quick. Find me at Farmer Braeburn's home when thou do."

Trouble Shoes blushed, but he quickly ran off to do as she asked. Skyward ran back to Braeburn's house and once inside, wrote a letter to the girls, pinned it under a lamp to keep it from flying off, and began removing her armor. She undid the warrior braid she had and began brushing out her mane and mumbled a curse under her breath.

A dress. Bloody bucking hay. Rarity did have some nice dresses she longed to wear, never mind the one she had gotten for Hearth’s Warming, but...goddesses in the heavens no, she would not. Not again. Not after that incident. However, three lives hung in the balance now, and she knew she would have to wear one of them.

"Come on, Skyward. Mare up now; thou hast faced monsters, demons, and even a dragon...it is only a dress!"

She facehooved and cursed when she smacked herself with her hoofcovers and yanked them off, hissing Haylian oaths under her breath. "Gah! Fine, if I must wear a dress..."

She spotted Rarity's saddlebags in the corner and bit her lip; but walked over and began riffling through them. "Then I'll look the bloody part."

She grumbled as she began painstakingly applying eyeshadow and lip gloss- shaking her head a little.

"I guess those lessons with Princess Zelda really paid off," she muttered as she inspected herself in the mirror. She wore a soft glistening silver eyeshadow, and the gloss made her lips look more inviting. But was it enough?

"Skyward? Ah have th' dress ya asked fer!"

She grabbed it with her magic and pulled it in through an open window. "Pray give me one moment...how in the hay does anypony bother with this thing...ow! Blasted corset strings..."

Trouble Shoes fought laughter, but he couldn't help but grin. The door opened and she came out, ears flat and looking embarrassed. "...I likely do not look my best to be sure."

The nut-brown stallion raised an eyebrow, unable to do much but stare open mouthed. The dress he had gotten her was a light summer dress, colored a soft sky blue and trimmed in white. It draped around her hindquarters and her legs, giving the impression she was wearing a piece of the cloudless sky. Her mane was loose, and so was her tail...and she was wearing light makeup as well. She tucked her tail and turned around, biting her lip hard enough to draw blood. Goddesses, it was just like Midsummer Festival again...

"...I knew it. The eyeshadow wast too much. I shalt remove it."

"Now wait a minute, ya look jest...WHOA!" Trouble Shoes had snapped out of his shock seeing her look so downhearted and he ran after her, but true to his cutie mark he had tripped on the porch lip and went pinwheeling inside the house. Skyward yelped and tried to get out of the way, but he landed on top of her and both of them slammed into the wall, a pot landing on his head and a ladle catching on Skyward's horn.

He was lying on top of her and she was below him, but able to look up at him. She gazed up at him, unable to break his piercing yet gentle gaze. Though he could be likely fierce and downright savage in battle as shown when he had faced off against Braeburn a couple of days ago, surprisingly enough he was gentle and relaxed around her. Was it just a gesture of friendship...probably so. Yet, why did she find him so intriguing? She could feel a broad chest against her own, expanding and contracting as he breathed, his scent rife in her nose…

Her blood rushed through her veins like fiery wind, scorching and warming at the same time, and she swallowed hard to moisten her dry throat. Like a mouse caught in a hawk's gaze he had her pinned, and she felt very much the prey instead of the defending predator.

For Trouble Shoes, it was about the same, and being this close to her…especially with the feeling of her lustrous coat and sleek body against his caused his blood to heat and rush southwards, and he took a slow breath to control his rapid heartbeat.

His mind was hazed by her closeness, her mesmerizing royal blue eyes looking into his own, the silky touch of her sleek bluesteel colored coat against his completely intoxicating his senses.

Feeling that hard muscle against her, all his shape powerful, muscled and strong, stirred primal emotions in her she didn't know she had. She was increasingly made aware of his sturdy form against her, each movement precise and no more, defined and well formed.

"Are ya okay?" He removed the ladle handle gently from her horn with one hoof, and she nodded. His voice was gentle, soothing, a warm, deep bass that calmed as well as excited, rippling and flowing like a calm river, warm as the comforting heat from a hearthfire.

"A-aye. I am fine. Look...the eyeshadow was likely too much...I must have looked hideous..."

Trouble Shoes instantly shook his head at her. "Now don't ya start that again. Ya look prettier than a summer sky. Hasn't anypony seen how ya look in a dress?"

"...Not really, nay."

Tears welled in her eyes before she could stop them and she turned her head, anger welling in her soul at showing weakness. But instead, he gently nuzzled her cheek, brushing away the tear. "Cain't see why they'd pass up a mare like you, sugarcube. Yer so purty, so gentle an' kind. Sure ya got that armor, but tha's jest part o' who ya are. Yer tough as nails, but yer loyal and carin' where it counts."

"...why are ye being so nice? Ye barely know me."

He smiled down at her, gently flicking a strand of her royal blue and indigo mane out of her face. "Ah might not have known ya fer long, but Ah know 'nuff t' see with mah own eyes yer a mare worth keepin'."

Skyward looked up at him, her eyes big, vulnerable, and soft. She sucked in a breath, her chest heaving as she did so, and his eyes darkened to the hue of pine needles. She blushed furiously as she licked her lips, trying to form words, and Trouble Shoes felt heat rush through him like a flood of lava, and his need stir fiercely within, threatening to overwhelm his senses. Damn, he wanted her, and wanted her bad...the thought of tasting those soft lips almost shattered what little resolve he had left.

Though he was lying on top of her, strangely she found his weight comforting and sensual, instead of oppressive and unwanted.

Her mane drifted into her face, stirred by his breath as he gazed down at her. She moved her head slightly, trying to brush it from her face. The light from the sun outside played over her, cloaking her in shadows and illuminating her elsewhere, veiling, revealing, concealing, exposing nuances and delicate hues from her velvety bluesteel coat. Bracing himself with one hoof, Trouble Shoes gently lifted the other hoof and carefully brushed the stray strands from her visage...her deep blue eyes half closed and her lips parted as she took breath into her lungs.

For some reason, she found that she didn't want him to move....and he found that he was not inclined to get off of her.

A long, low whistle filled their hearing, and both ponies’ heads snapped to the side…

The source of the whistle was Rainbow Dash. But all six mares were there, all of them grinning or snickering at her.

“Did we interrupt something?”

“Pardon us for interrupting your romantic little escapade, darling!”

And that was the stone removed from the dam---a dam holding back a flood of anger and embarrassment as the Haylian mare’s eyes narrowed into a deadly glare, and her horn erupted in a blaze of silver fire…