"Alright, what's this?" Gilda asked, pointing at the engine.

"One of the spark plugs," Twilight answered. "They provide the spark the ignites the fuel, causing the combustion that drives the pistons, and thus the engine."

"Right." Gilda moved to another part. "This?"

"Alternator. Once the engine starts running, it provides the electricity to keep it running."

"Good," Gilda said with a smile. "Now let's switch it up. Point out the serpentine belt."

Twilight pointed at the long rubber belt that ran through several wheels.

"A/C motor."

"That one," Twilight said as she pointed at one wheel.

"Right. Intake manifold?"

Twilight shifted, leaning in close and studying the engine. Her eyes narrowed behind her glasses as she mumbled to herself. Finally she pointed.

"This, right?"

"Yeah." Gilda's eyes narrowed as she grinned. "Now find the butfer."

Twilight's brow furrowed as she leaned in closer.

"I don't think we've talked about that yet. What's it look like?"

While Twilight was distracted by the engine, a look of disappointment crossed Gilda's face. At the question, however, the look vanished as she turned her attention to Twilight's bent over backside.

"Well..." Gilda said slowly. "It's small, round, and firm."

"I don't see anything like that," Twilight said as she continued to look the engine over. "What does it do?"

"It's not so much what it does, as what I can do with it."

That... seemed like a very strange statement. Turning her head, she looked over to Gilda, raising an eyebrow. Twilight could see the mischief on Gilda's face, and knew she was up to something.

"Okay, I'll bite," Twilight said. "What can you do with a butfer?"

A full grin formed as Gilda pulled her hand back, and swung it down. Her hand struck Twilight on the jean covered butt, creating an audible -- but painless -- smack.

Twilight jumped at the impact, letting out a yelp of surprise. Standing up, she turned to face Gilda fully. A bright blush formed across Twilight's cheeks as she grabbed her backside, covering it with her hands. As she looked at Gilda and her unrepentant grin, something finally clicked in place for Twilight.

"Really? You just wanted an excuse to smack my butt?"

"Yes," Gilda answered, still grinning. "Would been a lot easier to if you had simply asked what it was."

Twilight let out a sigh and rolled her eyes. Even if she wanted to, she could not be mad at Gilda. Admittedly, she was not entirely use to the flirtatious physical contact, but she did kind of enjoy it. The occasional touch, the looks. Plus, no one else was around to see, so there was no worry about being embarrassed in front of others.

In fact, some part of Twilight Sparkle wondered what it would feel like if Gilda smacked her bottom harder, or if she had not been wearing anything.

"You are such a perv," she joked instead.

Moving closer, Gilda wrapped an arm around Twilight, pulling her close. Eyes narrowing, she leaned in.

"You know you like it," Gilda declared before kissing her.

As their lips touched, Twilight closed her eyes and leaned into it. She pressed her body against Gilda's, feeling the warmth and the firm muscles. She wrapped her arms around the larger girl, letting her fingers tease the edge of Gilda's jean (Twilight did not quite have the courage to grab her butt... yet).

The kiss slowly broke, the two of them slowly pulling apart.

"Think that's enough car stuff for today," Gilda said as she took a step back. "Next time I need to do some engine work, we can go over those."

Twilight gave a nod, looking at the engine of Gilda's car. Her learning about automotive matters had been Gilda's idea, the main reason being so as to make sure mechanics would not be able to cheat Twilight when she had her own car. It also gave them an excuse to bond over something that Gilda liked, and Twilight got to learn about something new.

The two of them had been having a lot of fun together.

Which brought to mind something that Twilight wanted to tell Gilda.

"Gilda, are you doing anything Saturday?"

"I was thinking of heading down to the fight club. See if there's anyone new, maybe enter a match." Gilda raised an eyebrow. "Wanna come and watch?"

A flush blush spread across Twilight's face as she imagined watching Gilda fight in the ring again. Her muscles tense and ready. Body dripping with sweat. Maybe her shirt and bra gets torn in the process, exposing the small, perky...

Twilight gave a shake of her head.

Focus Twily. Focus!

"Actually," she said, "I was thinking you could come over to my place instead? You could come to dinner, and meet Shining and my parents."

All of the joy and humor, the teasing, disappeared from Gilda's face, her eyes narrowing and lips pressing tight into a line. Stepping further back from Twilight, she turned away.

"I'll pass."

Twilight's own brow furrowed as she looked at the back of the other girl.

"I'm sure mom could make your favorite if you want. Just tell me what it is."

"I said no."

The edge of anger caused Twilight to jump slightly. The silence the followed felt heavy and awkward. Taking a deep breath, Twilight walked over to Gilda and placed a hand on her shoulder, giving a gentle squeeze. She could feel the muscles tense under her touch.

"Gilda? What's wrong?"

Several seconds (three and three quarters to be precise) passed in silence, the tension seeming to grow thicker.

"I'm not stupid," Gilda stated, catching Twilight off-guard. "I know what people think of me. Some tomboy chick from the wrong side of town. Nothing but some dumb, petty thug." She turned enough to look over her shoulder. "A bad girl. Not the type a proper and well-off family would want their children to hang out with, much less date."

Twilight's lips pressed thin as she thought about what Gilda had said. Admittedly, she had thought similar of Gilda herself. Although in her defense, it was in an underground fight club where Gilda was about to get into the ring and fight someone for money. It had also been that "bad girl" thing that Twilight had found herself suddenly and unexpectedly attracted to. She was tall, muscular, and confident, with a bit of danger to her. It had not been something that Twilight had expected to find attractive, but she did.

But since then, she had seen and gotten to know Gilda as a full person. Someone who likes cars, loves her grandfather, is willing to do hard things to keep her home, and actually cares what some people -- like Twilight -- think of her. Someone who can act -- and be -- pretty tough, but also very sweet, sensitive, and kind. Someone who -- while she may not be willing to say "love" -- Twilight cared about very much.

Reaching out, Twilight took a hold of Gilda's hand.

"I'm sure they'll like you," she said. "They've met all my friends and liked them. Even Rainbow Dash."

"Right," Gilda said. "They liked your friends. Girls you hang out with. Not someone their precious little girl is dating." She let out a snort. "It's bad enough you're dating a girl, but why can't you be with a nice, sophisticated girl. One that comes from a well-off family or something. Not some punk girl from the wrong side."

"My family's not like that," Twilight said.

Gilda let out a huff, rolling her eyes.

"Yeah. They never are, until they are."

Twilight let out a sigh, feeling herself getting frustrated. She wanted to argue the point. She knew her parents and big brother, known them her whole life, in fact. She was aware that they were not perfect, they were just human after all, but they were not too bad. While they wanted Twilight to fulfill her potential, they also wanted her to be happy.

Except arguing really would not change things, would it?

Twilight took a deep breath.

"Okay," she said. "I'm not going to force you, but I would like you to meet them." Moving closer, she pressed herself against Gilda. "If you change your mind, just let me know, and we'll work it out, okay?"

Gilda looked down at Twilight, golden eyes studying the other girl. Finally she let out a groan and rolled her eyes.

"Why do you have to be so cute and understanding?" she growled out. "Fine. I'll meet your family, Saturday." She huffed. "But our next date is going to be something loud and obnoxious. Like a night club. Or a demolition derby. I'll figure it out later."

"That's fine," Twilight chuckled, moving to hug Gilda tight.

Gilda returned the hug, leaning down to kiss the top of Twilight's head.