I looked in the mirror as I attempted to get the bolo tie adjusted just right. I wore my best shirt, the best pair of pants I had with me, and even had a fine polish on my boots now, thanks to some of the guards loaning me some items.

I had shaved, too, something I had not done in over five years. No longer a big, bushy beard. I was sporting my old look: a proper horseshoe mustache, though I had kept a little patch of goatee to round off the look. I knew it would be a surprise but, well, I wanted to look my finest.

“Come on, Shane, you look like a damn slob!” I said to the guy in the mirror out loud.

Before I could go any farther with my self admonishment, there was a knock on the door. I really was thankful to Celestia and Luna for giving me the same room I stayed in before, just for the night. It was nice to have a place that felt familiar.

Walking over to the door, curious as to why Cortland had not peeked in and asked if I wanted to talk to someone, I found myself instead looking at a big unicorn stallion in a full set guard armor. Like, a full set!

“Captain Swords. And to what do I owe the honor?” I asked with a genuine smile. It was nice to see the guy once more. I counted him as a friend of mine, even if we had not spent a lot of time together aside from the press conferences and my early first days here. He had always been a stand up guy with me, and that counted for a lot.

He cleared his throat and looked a bit... awkward. I also noted Cort was not present at the door. In fact, no guard was. They were all further down the hall trying to look like they were not sneakily observing and eavesdropping on what we were doing.

“Shane, I-I, well,” he paused, and I tilted my head slightly before he continued. “I came by to thank you in pony. You protected somepony I love a great deal, when I was not able to be there to do it myself. For that, I owe you a debt.”

I could see how hard this was for him and shook my head softly. “No need, Captain—”

He cut me off, a softer look now on his face. “Cross, it is the name my friends call me.”

I nodded back to him. “Cross, you don’t owe me anything, but I will be honest, I am not sure who we are talking about here.”

That made him grin a bit. “My wife,” then I looked up behind him as a mare stepped into view. One I knew very well. She had a little unicorn hiding behind her leg, and an even smaller earth pony foal sitting on her back, but I knew her well.

“Dusty?” I looked at her smirk, then back to the captain, back to her, and I blinked. “Your wife... is Dusty Shelf?” I muttered, starting to grow a smile.

“That she is, Shane, the little one on her back is Burnished Spear, and that little filly hiding behind her mother is Bright Spark.”

I smiled even warmer now. “They are adorable,” then looking to Dusty, “Why didn’t you tell me?”

She chuckled and flicked an ear. “Orders, Shane, but I am free to say now. It is a pleasure to meet you. My name is Agent Dusty Shelf.”

All right, that made my eyebrow lift and I looked at her. “Agent…” I repeated in question. She gave me a nod, as did the captain.

“So, you were spying on me? When Blueba—” I stopped myself there, little ones were paying rapt attention to me. “—the prince did what he did, he had... no clue?”

She shook her head. “No, I really do clean rooms and work as staff here. I am, however, also part of Celestia’s Division Three. It was just my job to keep a eye on things, and report anything I learned about you. Just as I told you when we first met,” she stepped forward next to her husband and put a hoof out, setting it on my arm. “Shane, you did a brave, foolish, wonderful thing. Thank you for that, from both of us, thank you.”

I ran my hand through my hair. “Yeah, I do that a lot it seems. Shawna used to call it the 'hold my beer and watch this' moments.”

The captain chuckled a bit, then the little one on the mare's back blurted out, “Holbeer!” making me break out in a laugh.

A small voice then spoke out. “Momma, what does that mean?”

I just could not stop smiling now, as I squatted down and glanced at the two adults, who gave a nod. “Well now, Bright Spark,” I had the little blue filly's full attention. She didn’t have her cutie mark, so guessing I would put her around eight or nine.

“That means when someone does something foolish, that they know they shouldn't do, or don’t even bother to think about if they should do it.”

Peaking around her mother's hind leg, she looked at me for some time, before nodding slowly. “Like when my friends all dared each other to jump off the bridge into the water.”

I gave a warm, deep laugh. “Exactly like that,” standing up straight again. Looking them each in the eyes, I nodded to them. “I just did what was right.”

They glanced at each other. I tried to read what that glance meant, but no joy there.

Cross gave me a soft grunt. “Still, you did what the rest of us could only dream of doing, Shane, and I will repay you for that.”

I returned him a nod and extended my hand out. “Your friendship is payment in full.”

A hard look settled in his eyes as he slapped his hoof into my hand and shook firmly. “You have that, human, until Thanatos takes us both.”

Dusty looked so proud, but I just kept my focus locked with the stallion's. I had acquired new friend, one as loyal as the rest, and I would return that feeling in spades.

---

I found myself fidgeting and trying to keep from sweating... too much. It had been agreed ahead of time that Golden and Cortland would ‘double date’ with us, but on their own, to keep an eye on me and Applejack. Not that she needed that, but, why take chances?

“Shane, will you relax? It's only Applejack!”

I glanced down at Golden who was in what I would call a summer dress as she stood next to Cort, who donned on a dress shirt of some kind, minus the pants, as was what was custom among the ponies who wore clothing at all.

I exhaled softly. “Golden, I ain’t done this in, well, longer than you have been alive.”

She rolled her eyes with minor annoyance. “So? Just enjoy the time alone with her! It’s dinner, not your wedding night.”

I huffed and turned away, mostly to hide the light pink that crept into my cheeks at her words. Right about that time, the door to the little anteroom we were waiting in opened and I looked up. I genuinely found myself having forgotten how to breath.

Standing there was, well, I knew it was Applejack, and sure, I was having a little miniature struggle in my head. What with? The whole ‘she is a pony’ thing, but… you just can’t work with someone as long as we had been and not see just how gorgeous she was right now.

She was in a flowing summer dress of soft greens and antique whites, her mane done in a braid but her tail loose and flowing. Her hooves were polished up and black as can be, and I would have to be blind to not spot the subtle hints on makeup and mascara. Nothing fancy or garish, but clearly done in that rustic cowgirl going out on the town way.

I could not help it. I stuttered, “W-wow, Applejack, you look... Wow.”

The pink shooting up in her cheeks and ears likely matched the ones on my cheeks as we both looked away. She spoke in soft volume. “Rarity came up early for the ceremony tomorrow. Soon as she found out about us goin' out tonight, well… you don’t think she overdid it?”

All right, look, I am a human, she is a pony. However, she is also a woman, and I will be god damned if I am going to let her think she is anything less than perfect. I walked over and looked into her deep green cores, slowly kneeling down in front of her.

“Applejack, I-I think you are about the most beautiful gal I have set eyes on.” I just hoped Shawna would forgive me for saying that to this mare. In the back of my head I was pretty darn sure she would have smiled and approved of my uplifting AJ’s self esteem.

She looked back at me, the blush still vivid on her face as she flicked both ears upright. “Ah... ain’t never seen you dressed up before, an' what happened to yer beard?”

I smiled some. “Well, I figured if I am going to be escorting a noble, I should do my best to look one hundred percent. Plus, I was growing tired of the itching all the time.”

She grinned back at me and we both just shared a moment of quiet before I stood up and glanced at the other two. I took note of the warm smile on Golden’s muzzle, and the sly smirk on Cort’s. Applejack happened to be looking away, so I flipped him the bird. He gave a chuckle, while Golden simply looked confused. I guess I should get around to explaining that gesture to the rest of the ponies and not just Cortland and Big Macintosh.

“How about we get going? I was given directions to a place that Pinkie Pie suggested, said it has the best food in Canterlot.” Sure, it helped to have reviewed the episode on my tablet just a few nights ago. The one where she and Rarity helped save the restaurant we were going to.

Applejack glanced up at me curiously. “Is that the same one the map dun sent them to? What was it called, uh...“ she tapped her hoof on the floor in contemplation. “The Tasty Treat, that was it!”

Golden looked up at me with wide-eyes. “You got us a reservation at the Tasty Treat? You know how hard it is to get in there?! They have a line around the block... for lunch!”

I winked at the two mares. “Called a little favor in with a certain pink friend of mine.”

This made Applejack glare up at me. “And just what did that cost you?”

I shrugged some and coughed. “I had to promise to let her throw me a ‘Congratulations, you are a citizen of Equestria’ party... and I have to stay the whole time... and enjoy myself.”

They all three chuckled in response, before Cort said, “Well, how about we take a walk rather than the carriage?”

I glanced down at AJ once more, who was now standing at my side and looking up at me with a bright, warm smile. “You okay to walk in that?”

She gave a firm nod. “Sure can!”

I looked back to Cortland and Golden again. “Well then, lead the way.”

---

I won’t lie, the whole walk I kept glancing down at that orange mare. The battle inside raged on, she was a pony, but she was my friend, but she was a pony, but she was so much more. She must have seen me deep in thought and came to a stop. I blinked and looked around, then back at her. “Applejack, you doing all right?”

She gestured. “Cortland Apple, you and Golden go on. We will catch up in a moment.”

They gave a nod, and then I turned and followed her into a small park. Really, it was small. A postage stamp of one, though it was still nicer than most parks I had seen growing up.

“What’s up, AJ?” I asked, masking a bit of concern in my voice.

She patted the bench seat with her hoof. I sat down on it, not very well, but I could sit and it put me more close to her head height.

“Shane, Twilight explained some things to me. Stuff about yer home, about the world ya grew up in.” I started to open my mouth to speak, but she cut me off. “Hush, you let me get this out!” I looked into her eyes. She was being serious, so, I simply nodded for her to continue.

“Ah get it, okay? Ah won’t ever push. You are my friend. Heck, one of my best friends. Truth of it is, ah like you, Shane, in a way ah ain’t liked a stallion before,” holding up her hoof to keep me from talking again. “But, ah get it. You might never return them feelin's and ah can live with that. What ah can’t live with is you beating yerself up inside all the darn time,” she stopped again, looking me right in the eyes. “Okay?”

I breathed out slowly and darted my eyes away for a moment, then back to her stare. “Applejack, quite frankly, yeah, there is all that. But there is more... a lot more. You know some of it. Shawna, I…”

Her hoof set on my knee gently. “Ya still love her. How could ya not?”

I gave a slow nod and looked away again, embarrassed. “I like you, AJ, but... it is... complicated.”

She leaned up and touched her nose to my shoulder and nudged. “Then let’s just take things one day at a time. Friends, going out to dinner, no pressure, alright?”

I found her eyes again and saw the smile on her face, it was genuine. She wasn’t sad right now, like I thought she was. “I would do anything to not hurt you, Applejack.”

Her look grew soft. “Ah know, Shane, ah know. Now, let’s go eat, ah am hungry as a hog at a flapjack convention.”

I stood up and reached out, touching her chin. “I... meant what I said, AJ, you look... incredible tonight.”

Deep inside, I really did grow warm seeing her blush, which brought a smile to curl my lips.

---

Dinner was absolutely fantastic, I can say that without a single reservation. I had not expected much but, boy, was I surprised! Now, I am not knocking Applejack’s cooking, but the spices, the warm burn and heat of the curry, the way the vegetables were cooked so perfect, I forgot it was all vegetarian. We had all ate our fill and then some. Cort and Golden had ended up joining us at the same table, and the conversation was as great as the food.

Cortland had given me a few looks here and there and I had silently told him to shut up. This of course made him chuckle and had the mares wondering what we were up to. Golden had made a comment—with AJ agreeing with her—that when the two of us were together, we acted like foals. You know, I can live with that.

The walk back to the castle, I almost expected something to happen the whole time. Nothing did, much to my surprise. It was quiet, tranquil, and honestly, well-nigh perfect. We had taken the long route, and most ponies seemed to smile and dip their heads to us. Sure, you could see a few snooty ones, but, for the most part, it seemed the ones here in Canterlot were a good sort for city folk.

I walked Applejack to the door to her room and knelt down, touching her chin again, and I smiled. “Thank you, Lady Apple, for letting me escort you to dinner,” I addressed jokingly, knowing the formal stuff would drive her up the wall.

She didn’t scowl, she didn’t huff. She just looked at me for a moment, then in a sudden rush, leaned up and planted a kiss right on the cheek! Letting out a giggle that was half a snort, she spun and ran into her room, the door closing fast.

I stood up but I stayed there, staring at the door blankly, and gently rubbing my cheek with my fingertips. Right at that moment, I felt the same as I had the first time when Shawna had kissed me on the cheek. Turning, I was lighter than air as I walked down the hall, missing the five mares peeking out of a door and already making a break for AJ’s room. I didn’t catch the smirk on a few guards' faces. Hell, I don’t even remember the walk back to my room.

The whole time I just kept touching my cheek and muttering with a stupid grin on my face. “She kissed me.” For that moment, all the memories, the stress, the social crap... none of it mattered.

I fell asleep that night with the smile still wide, from ear to ear. That voice inside complaining about her being a pony, an animal, and this being against god’s wishes, it was doing the wise thing for once and keeping quiet.