As Twilight's worried, anti-social demeanor carried over into her love life, so too did Rainbow Dash's laid-back, practically apathetic personality. Getting a date was literally the last thing on her mind, even though she was expected to find one not just for the sake of her friend, but by the command of the Goddess of the Sun. But at the moment, Rainbow Dash had more important things on her mind.

Like going around Ponyville on a cloud, soaking unsuspecting pedestrians.

The trick was to pump out as much rain as possible onto them, while still scooting out of the way before they looked up and saw you.

She was getting pretty good at it, too; she'd nailed four ponies in five minutes, a new personal record. Then, she saw Applejack trotting down the street, and she knew what she had to do.

Wait for it . . . wait for it . . . wait for it . . . NOW!

With a boom of thunder, many gallons of water tumbled down onto an unsuspecting Applejack.

Rainbow Dash jumped behind the cloud, and started gently flapping her wings so it would innocently drift away. The perfect escape.

"AH KNOW YOU'RE UP THERE, RAINBOW DASH! NOW COME ON DOWN RIGHT NOW AFORE I HAVE TA GET A ROPE AND DRAG YA DOWN!"

Abashed, Rainbow Dash pulled away and drifted down to Earth. "Ah oughta hogtie ya to the barn for a day, just ta teach you a lesson," Applejack sighed, with the tone of voice that told Rainbow that she didn't actually plan on doing it.

"Yeah, yeah," Rainbow said nonchalantly. "Hey, by the way, have you seen Twilight? I have to return a book."

"Last ah heard she was a, Rarity's, gettin' fitted for a new dress," said Applejack.

"Why does she need a new dress?"

"Ah heard she has a date tonight."

"She has a WHAT?" Rainbow exclaimed, drawing the confused stares of several other ponies.

"You heard me," said Applejack, grinning.

"How in the world does Twilight Sparkle have a date? Did she brainwash somepony?"

"Apparently, she was willing to date Twilight completely of her own free will."

"She? So it's a mare? I never figured . . . Hmm. Well, who's the lucky gal?"

"Some performer type, ah heard."

"So, I'm a cellist, you see. Trained in Canterlot. I perform there a lot, you see, for parties and such."

"Wow!" Twilight exclaimed. "That sounds really interesting, playing for so many important ponies. You're way up in high society!"

Octavia laughed as she opened the door to the restaurant. "You make it sound so glamorous. It's not that great being a musician. You struggle to get by. You're the important one, at any rate. Student of Princess Celestia herself!"

Twilgiht blushed. Octavia continued, "And you're so knowledgeable! There's not many ponies who know about all ten of Bethoofen's symphonies!"

"I . . . like history," Twilight said quietly. She felt rather lucky; the odds of finding this intelligent, kind pony, out of all the ponies in Ponyville . . . why, they were staggering, to say the least!

And she's not too hard on the eyes, either, a less-sophisticated part of her brain added.

All in all, not a bad first date.

And it was, indeed, a good dinner, despite the fact that Twilight made the classic blunder of ordering spaghetti. (Fortunately, Octavia was unfazed by the slurping noises.)

The two talked a great deal. A very great deal. So great, in fact, that they were annoying the other diners.

"-so, the new pony is taking his cello out of the room, and he raises his bow, and it hits the chandelier! Crash! Hot wax everywhere!"

Twilgiht burst out laughing, causing a nearby couple to wince. An angry unicorn trotted over at the table.

"Um, ladies? You're disturbing the other patrons. I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you to leave."

"But we haven't had desert!" exclaimed Octavia.

"Nonetheless, I think it would be best if you left. You can pay as you leave."

Annoyed, the two mares got up and left.

"Well, that's just too bad," said Twilight as they headed away from the restaurant. "What a fussbudget!" (Fussbudget was not a word Twilight normally used.) "To mess up my very first date!" She stopped up a short and covered her mouth with a hoof.

"This is your first date, ever?" Octavia asked incredulously as they trudged down the dark street.

"Yup," Twilight said, shyly. "Am I doing okay?"

"Well, I'd say so," said Octavia, grinning. "It's the most fun I've had in ages! Especially since . . ." Her face fell. "I just got out of a relationship. And we really liked each other, we just . . . couldn't make it work. The break-up was kinda . . . messy."

"But that's in the past!" she said suddenly. "I'd prefer to be in the here and now, with this incredibly smart, and might I add, cute pony. And to think she's a rookie at the dating game!"

Twilight blushed again. Was that a symptom of romance?

"It's a pity about desert, though," Octavia sighed.

"Oh, I know!" exclaimed Twilight. "We should head over to Sugarcube Corner. Have you ever been there?"

Octavia shook her head.

"It's this great sweets shop . . . they do cakes and candy- you'll love it!"

It was, fortunately, open- Twilight had never been there after dark, and she'd been a bit worried that it would be closed.

Mr. Cake looked rather surpised to see Twilight and Octavia, but Twilight was distracted by a larger issue.

"Oh hey Twilight!" Pinkie exclaimed, bursting out of thin air. "I heard you had a date tonight- is this your date? She looks kinda serious- but she's probably really smart, too! And she's pretty! What's her name? Hang on . . . I know this. Oh! Octavia! You're Octavia! And you were going out with that pony-"

"Mm-hmm." Twilight burst in, trying to stem Pinkie's flood of words before it drowned them all. "Octavia, this is Pinkie Pie . . . she's one of my best friends."

"We've met," said Octavia, extending a hoof.

"Oh yeah!" said Pinkie, shaking Octav's hoof enthusiastically. "You were at that Grand Galloping Gala! You played Pony Pokey for us! That was great!"

"It was the height of my musical career," said Octavia drily.

"Yup!" said Pinkie. "But anyway, Twi and me have been buddies since we were itty-bitty fillies! Well, not really, but it sure feels that way! We're bestest buds! In fact, my bestest bud and her date desrve free cupcakes! Hang on, I was making some earlier . . . I'll go get 'em!" And with that, she dashed into the kitchen.

"So, ah, she's your friend," said Octavia, raising an eyebrow.

"Um yeah," said Twilight, grinning apologetically. "Forgive her . . . she's really nice once you get to know her, but she's kinda . . . energetic."

Octavia said nothing. They both took seats at a table. Twilight tapped her hoof on the table restlessly, waiting for the cupcakes.

Mrs. Cake came out with two milkshakes. Twilight tried to refuse, but Mrs. Cake just smiled and said, "For you, dearie, it's on the house."

Leaning in close, she whispered, "Looks like you and Pinkie have moved on already. I'm glad there aren't any bad feelings between you two."

Now the term "whisper" is only used because that's what it was supposed to be; in terms of actual volume, it was probably audible in the next building over.

As Mrs. Cake left, Octavia looked at Twilight and raised both eybrows. "I thought you said this was your first date?"

"No no no-" Twilight spluttered. "We weren't- I was asking Pinkie- and she kissed- and they saw- it's a long story," she finished weakly.

"Well, we've got plenty of time," said Octavia. Twilight was a bit puzzled. Octavia hadn't acted this way through dinner- was this a side of her Twilight hadn't seen?

Just then, Pinkie burst in, bearing two enormous platters of cupcakes. "Here you go! Lots of cupcake for my best friend and her date!"

"I- I don't think we can eat all these, Pinkie," said Twilight.

"Oh! Well no problem! Here, I'll help!"

Pinkie started cramming cupcakes into her mouth, sending a fine mist of frosting in all direction. Octavia glared at Twilight.

"Twilight, perhaps I-" Octavia was cut off by the sound of music drifting in through the window.

"What in the- ?" Her mouth dropped as she listened to the mournful pop song.

"Why, I'd recognize that dreadful song anywhere! Celestia above! It's Vinyl!"

"Vinyl?" Twilight murmured as she looked out the window. A white unicorn with a blue mane was holding up a boombox outside.

"Ugh! How did she even know I was here?" said Octavia angrily, getting up fro her seat.

"I'll go talk to her," she sighed, and headed for the door.

"Whash going on?" asked Pinkie, her mouth full of cupcakes.

"I think that's her ex-girlfriend," said Twilight uncertainly.

"Well, she sure made a mistake, breaking up with Octavia," said Pinkie, after swallowing. "She's cute, Twi. You're lucky! Has it been a good date?"

"Um . . . about that. I think you're kinda . . . putting her off," said Twilight.

Pinkie tilted her head.

"Just, maybe try dialling it back a bit?" Twilight asked.

"Like not be so bubbly? Like be-" Pinkie frowned and slumped- "calm and serious, like she is? Okie dokie lokie, Twilight, if that's what you want!"

"Thank you," Twilight sighed. "I'm gonna go check on her," she said, getting up.

But what she saw when she opened the door was . . . surprising, to say the least.

Rainbow Dash would've used the term "making out", but Twilight, having never attended high school, did not know such neologisms.

But there they were, Octavia and Vinyl, locked in embrace, kissing quite passionately.

"Um . . . Octavia?" Twilight asked uncertainly. The gray earth pony briefly looked away from her ex, and called, "I'm sorry, Twilight. Vinyl and I were talking, and we decided that maybe our relationship has more life in it than we thought. We're getting back together."

"And what about me?" Twilight called indignantly.

"Make out with your pink friend! It's not like you haven't done it already!" She and Vinyl turned to leave. "Oh, and thanks for dinner!"

And Twilight watched as they walked away.

"Well, what was that all about?" asked Pinkie.

My romance writing will improve eventually, I swear. And yes, I know Vinyl and Octavia is cliched by this point. Whatever.

Also, I know Octavia stands up, so it's technically a bass, but everybody already calls it a cello, and cellos are more awesome.