"Good afternoon, Lyra."

   Lyra's ears fluttered as she turned her head from her sheet of music towards the busy street. "Oh, h-hey Fluttershy," she said, wincing as she heard herself stutter.

   Fluttershy smiled. "I don't have too much time right now, but I promise I'll come back and stay a little later. I mean, if you want to. Sorry," she added softly, reaching into her saddlebag.

   Two coins clinked against the rest of the change in the small wicker basket. Lyra smiled as brightly as she could at the yellow mare as she turned to walk away. "Uh, have a g-nice day!" she called after the retreating pegasus, before laying a hoof across her face and groaning. Stupid. I'm really good at conversation, aren't I? she thought sarcastically.

   She looked back at her lyre, and the little music book lying next to it, before sighing and picking it up again with her magic. She concentrated with all she could on the music, and soon found herself getting back into the swing of things. But as the music came to her like instinct, her mind was allowed to wander.

   Fluttershy had come by her playing daily. That wasn't an exaggeration - no matter where she was playing in Ponyville, Fluttershy just happened to walk by, always throwing a bit or two into her hat or bowl or basket. It was that way that, five years ago, they'd become close friends.

   And it was that way that Lyra had fallen in love.

   Of course she wasn't a fillyfooler. Everypony knew she wasn't a fillyfooler. She'd been with stallions in school and after - almost got married once. But just this one pony, this one mare that she wouldn't ever have known had it not been for her street performances, gave her such a feeling that it was impossible to ignore it.

   It didn't seem odd to her, though. Not much. But just the thought of telling her gave her chills. There wasn't any way she could know whether her friend was... like that or not. She thought about asking, she thought about confessing, she thought about slipping a revealing question or comment in at lunch. But she never acted on these thoughts.

   She sighed again as the piece ended. It'd been enough for one day... hopefully Fluttershy's odd instinct would let her know where she was going. Maybe they'd miraculously meet up. Again.

   She was just finishing packing up her music when she heard her name called. "Lyra?"

   She turned around awkwardly, almost tripping over her own hooves. "Oh - um - Fluttershy? Th- y- you said you'd be back 'later'!"

   "This is... kinda later..." Fluttershy said quietly. "I mean, I only said anything in the first place because I didn't want to be rude. Sorry. I mean, uh -"

   Lyra giggled. "Aw, it's fine. I didn't mean anything. Come on," she said, grinning and picking up her lyre case. "Let's get dinner or something." Closest thing I'm ever gonna get to a date. Shut up, brain.

~<^>~

   "... Nah, it's not their fault. I just really hate modern music. I'm just struggling with modernity, I guess," Lyra finished, twirling her fork around in the air.

   Fluttershy smiled. "I was just asking. I really love your music, don't get me wrong, but... some things just..." Her face adopted a faraway look. "Some things... never mind. Sorry.

   Lyra chuckled. "'Shy, you apologize too much."

   "Do I? I'm sorry."

   Lyra looked up at her friend. "...Was that a joke?" Silence settled across the small table, mores than before. There weren't many other diners in the little family restaurant, so it was almost deadening. "B- heh- that was great!" she laughed, encouraging Fluttershy to laugh along with her. "Ahh... heh," she finished, still twirling her fork absentmindedly in the air.

   A sudden impulse came upon her. "Fluttershy, um, after we're finished, can I ask you a, um, personal question?"

   Fluttershy looked around the diner. "There's barely anypony here now... why don't you just ask?"

   Lyra flushed red. "I - uh - it's more private than that. I mean, I don't think..." she trailed off, leaving them again in silence.

   "Is it embarrassing?" Fluttershy asked quietly.

   Lyra look across the table at that smooth face with those soft features. Shy already looked embarrassed. If anypony would embarrass themself, it would be me. "...No."

~<^>~

   "... And I forgot to apologize that one time I walked by you playing without saying anything. I was dealing with a couple sick turtles, and... well, um, I'm sorry."

   It was easier, they found, to take the shortcut through the park at night. Less carriages and late traffic to deal with, and it made conversation quite a bit easier. The street lamps flickered on as the sun began to set.

   Lyra sighed. "It's okay."

   Fluttershy stopped walking, looking over at her friend worriedly. "Are - are you mad? Did I do something wrong?"

   "N-no, no, you didn't do anything!" Lyra said quickly, walking back alongside her nervously. "I just -" she paused. "I... I'm thinking."

   Fluttershy relaxed, and smiled, starting to walk again. Lyra followed, and soon the near-empty streets of Ponyville Park were filled with the sound of hoofstep on cobblestone. It was almost nine by then - it was getting darker. Lyra quickly lost herself in her thoughts, until Fluttershy's voice broke through them. "You said you wanted to ask me something, by the way?"

   Lyra stared for a moment into her eyes - two big, beautiful, always-smiling blue eyes - and choked on her words. "Uh- y- I- um-" she stuttered, feeling warmth on her cheeks.

   Suddenly, without a word of warning from her brain, her eyes closed slightly and head moved forwards quickly, catching her friend in a close kiss. Her eyes snapped open, and she practically begged her instinct to let her pull away.

   But soon, she felt an odd emotion rise up in her, catching her off-guard. She felt Fluttershy's warm lips on hers, sending courses of electricity down her spine. She felt Fluttershy's breath on her cheeks, sending a tingling through her chest. She raised a hoof to Fluttershy's cheek and felt her soft coat, a blush undoubtedly hidden beneath it.

   She felt love.

   Before her feelings could get too deep, her logic took over. Oh. Oh, no, no, no, no - She jerked her head away, putting a hoof over her mouth in shock at herself. Her mouth wouldn't allow her to form words: "Oh - y- I- mmf-" she stopped herself with her hoof, stepping back further. "I... I... I'm so sorry..."

   Fluttershy blushed terribly, her cheeks turning a dark maroon. She looked at the ground and the sky before back at the ground. "... How did you know?"

   "I - I - I'm so, so s-... what?" Lyra asked, frustrated tears beginning to form in her eyes.

   Fluttershy sniffled. "I... I... everypony close to me knew for years... but - but I didn't think they would tell anypony else..." she said, reaching a hoof up to her face and wiping her eyes. "I was going to tell you, really, I was... we've been friends for years now," she stammered. "But I never found the courage. It was hard enough with mom and dad and Rainbow Dash, but..." she paused, inhaling deeply. "I guess you knew anyways; I'm a - a fillyfooler. I said it."

   Lyra looked at her friend with wide eyes and took a nervous step closer. "Fluttershy, there's nothing wrong with... I didn't even kn-"

   "But you - you did know! Why else would you - would you -"

   "Fluttershy, I love you!" Lyra nearly shouted, closing her eyes tightly. The silence was deafening. Lyra could feel her eart begin to beat faster and faster. This was it. Take it or leave it.

   Fluttershy's mouth opened as if to speak, but all that came out was a repressed squeak. She took a deep breath and tried to control her emotions. "I'm - I'm sorry... I didn't mean to" - she sniffled - "I thought you were making fun of me," she said quickly. "I didn't mean to... I'm so confused," she said, sniffling again and approaching her friend.

   "Fluttershy," Lyra almost whispered, without breaking her stare. "I... I love you."

   Fluttershy stared back, with the same concentration, with the same passion, and Lyra was filled suddenly with the bliss of expectation. "... Do you remember five years ago?" she asked suddenly.

   Lyra's mouth went dry. She nodded slowly.

   Fluttershy took a step closer. "I... I was getting something. I was on an errand. But I kept getting... distracted," she continued, closing her eyes and shaking her head. "I heard your music."

   "Fluttershy, are you okay?" Lyra asked softly.

   "I remember seeing you for the first time," Fluttershy continued, a few tears falling down her cheeks. "You were..." she said, struggling with her words. "You were beautiful. You - you still are."

   Lyra's heart missed a beat. "'Shy... do you..."

   "I've had a... a crush on you for years now," Fluttershy said softly. Lyra caught her chance. An unbelievable, unrealistic, but definite chance. She leaned forwards slowly until their muzzles were touching. There were a few moments of silence as Lyra reached up and brushed Fluttershy's mane out of her face, trailing her hoof down her neck. "Why didn't we... why couldn't I tell you sooner?" Fluttershy asked herself, before she was interrupted by Lyra's lips on hers again.

   Lyra's heart had jumped from rock-bottom to sky-high. This never happens. Never. Not in real life. But here it was, happening to her and somepony she loved with all her heart. Somepony she'd been close to for years, but wanted to get closer.

   Fireworks went off in her mind as she heard Fluttershy squeak. She placed her other foreleg against her cheek, trying to keep a kiss while smiling. It couldn't get better than this.

   They broke off after a few minutes, Lyra still standing on her back legs, holding Fluttershy as well as she could. Fluttershy smiled, still blushing deeply. "Lyra, I... I love you too."

   Lyra grinned. "You wanna do that again?"

   Fluttershy looked left and right down the lonely park street. "That would be nice."