Spike sighed a little bit as he flopped down on the bench just outside of the school, sitting in the small garden area near the gymnasium. He picked a few stray sesame seeds from his teeth as he rifled through his bag. He had to ask his mom to get him some different bread. The seeds in the whole grain stuff were annoying.

He’d spent the first part of his lunch looking for his friends, but surprisingly he wasn’t able to find any of them. Not in line, not at the tables, not anywhere. So, all by his lonesome, he’d eaten a sandwich and some chips and then decided to go outside and enjoy the relatively nice sunshine on the cool, fall day.

Briefly, he thought about ringing his friends and seeing where they were, but a part of him felt like he’d just be bothering them if he did that. It was a rather ridiculous thought to have, he realized, but at the same time, he just didn’t like to feel like he was bothering others. He’d briefly thought about ringing up his mother or his aunt just to have someone to shoot the breeze with, but again, he reasoned that they were both probably very busy at the moment. Hmmm, maybe he could try getting in touch with Derpy, see if she needed any help setting up the meeting tomorrow? Nah, she’d probably already have everything planned out, what with how enthusiastic she was about the whole thing...

His thoughts were interrupted when he saw someone else running towards him, from the direction of the track field, a young unicorn mare. She was mint green, with a slightly messy mane, pulling her backpack along by one of its straps. A piece of buttered toast hung from her muzzle with her teeth clenched around it. She skidded to a stop in front of the bench, her green cheeks red from exertion. She yanked the toast out of her mouth and sighed. “Well… no success this time,” she muttered. She glanced over at Spike. “Hey, was there anyone walking around here recently?” she asked.

Spike glanced around with a tilt of his head. “Uh, no, just me,” he said.

“Aww, dammit!” she groaned, tossing her backpack onto the bench next to him, hard enough to make the dragon jump. “Urf, well there goes my lunch break. And all for nothing…” she grumbled, shoving the rest of her toast in her mouth.

Spike frowned, tilting his head. “What do you mean all for nothing? What were you trying to do?”

“Was trying to get a girlfriend,” she said.

“Girlfriend?” He blinked again and then looked at the toast crumbs falling from her mouth and being carried off by the wind. “Wait, don’t tell me. Running full tilt, toast in the mouth. You were trying to pull a cliched anime trope, weren’t you?”

“Well, with the rotten luck I typically have dating, I figured it was worth a shot!” she plopped down on the bench, huffing a bit as she shoved the rest of the toast into her mouth, chewing it noisily. “Name’s Lyra by the way. Lyra Heartstrings.”

“Spike,” he said with a nod, offering her his hand.

“No last name?” she asked.

“Not really a dragon thing,” he said. Which was true. While dragons did have families, they typically did not use surnames to identify themselves. Of course, the real reason was he didn’t need her asking questions about why he had the same last name as Celestia and Luna.

She didn’t press the issue. Instead, she shrugged and leaned back. “Alrighty then. Nice to meet you, Spike.”

“You too, Lyra.” He nodded to her and the two of them sat in silence for a few minutes. Lyra was looking at her phone and he just stared off into space for a moment. “So,” he said after a moment, wanting to do something about the boredom that was settling over him. “Toast in the mouth? Really? You know that only works in the shows when they’re late for school, right?”

She smirked and glanced up. “Sometimes I just feel like doing something stupid,” she said with another shrug. “I figured it was worth a try.”

“You know what a better way to get a girlfriend would be?” he asked with a smirk. “Actually talking to a mare, instead of trying to get the mystical anime gods to do things for you.”

“Okay, if I thought talking to a mare would work, I would have done it already.” She paused and then looked over at him. “Did it work for you.”

“Did… what work for me?”

“Talking to someone. I mean, I assume you have a marefriend if you’re gonna be giving out advice like that.”

“Er… well…” he cleared his throat. “I have several friends who also happen to be mares, yeah.” He paused as a thought donned on him. “Actually all my friends seem to be mares.” The scales on his face paled a tone as his eyes dilated, and he muttered, “Oh my gosh I have no guy friends.” He noticed the mare was giving him a crooked smile and snapped out of his momentary existential crisis. “A-Anyways, they're really close friends, but I don’t think that I can call any of them my marefriend.”

She smirked. “Alrighty then. I think I’ll stick to my own ideas then. If you’re gonna give me relationship advice, maybe you should have some experience yourself, right?”

“I guess that’s technically true, but I don’t think I actually have to BE in a relationship to tell you that it’s probably better for you to try and talk to a mare if you’re interested in them.”

She sighed. “This feels like a weird conversation to have with someone I’ve just met.”

“Hey, you started it.”

“How did I start it?” she asked. “You were the one who asked about the whole toast thing.”

“And you were the one who decided to TRY the toast thing.”

“Shut up, I was lonely and tired, okay?”

“And so you made yourself late in the hopes of getting a date.”

“Exactly, got it in one. Freaking genius over here.”

He rolled his eyes. “At least I can talk to girls.”

“Ouch, low blow,” she muttered. “You always this big bucket of sunshine?”

The two of them sank into silence again, the sound of a strong wind being the only noise between the two of them. Neither of them wanted to continue this line of conversation. About five minutes passed before Lyra attempted a different topic. “So, how’d you get into the school?”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“I mean, it’s a pretty prestigious place. I know Celestia tries to keep the tuition fees and stuff down, but at the same time, there are certain criteria ponies gotta reach to get in. So how’d you get in?”

“Eh,” he shrugged. “Good grades, I guess.”

“You guess?”

He nodded. “Yeah, that’s about the size of it. What about you?”

“Musician’s scholarship,” she said with a smile. “Almost my entire curriculum is music related. Music theory, musical studies, musical history, genre classes, you know, that sort of stuff.”

“Really? I can’t remember seeing you in the school chorus or at any of the band performances either.”

She shrugged a bit and glanced away. “Y-yeah… haven’t really taken any performance classes yet.”

“Why’s that?” he asked. “I thought that was a prerequisite for the music program here.”

“Well yeah, obviously, but you don’t exactly have to take em right away.”

“But you do have to take them.” He smiled.

“Y… yeah…”

He frowned. “You okay?”

“Yeah, fine, how are you?” she asked, giving him a crooked smile.

“Is there something wrong with performing in public?”

There was silence for a long while. Lyra sighed and leaned back, her head rolling back behind her an impressive distance. Spike was sure that he heard her neck pop after a moment. “I don’t like being in front of a bunch of ponies, alright?”

“Oh, not a fan of crowds, okay,” Spike said with a nod. “But then… why music? I mean, it kinda goes claw in claw with performing, doesn’t it?”

“Common misconception!” she said, holding up her finger. “You are perfectly capable of being a musician without giving live performances or even appearing in front of a crowd, especially in this day and age, when home recording and production means are readily available, even to someone on a tight budget. I could make a living writing music or lyrics, or by just creating tracks and releasing them from the comfort of my own room.

“Oh… so you’re afraid of crowds?”

“I’m not AFRAID of them,” Lyra huffed. “Just… don’t like em. Specially don’t like being the center of attention.” She shook her head. “What about you? I mean, you got good grades and such, but you got any idea what you’re going to do for a major here?”

He shrugged. “Not right now. I’m just knocking out my general studies requirements right now. I figured I’d wait until I didn’t have any more of those to distract me and then I’ll figure out what I wanna do with the rest of my time.”

“So absolutely nothing in mind then?”

“I’ve thought about a few things. Computer science, digital art. Only thing I really know is that I wanna do something with computers, but that’s about it.”

The two of them continued to chat for a moment longer until some soft footfalls approached and they both glanced up, half expecting to see a teacher, but instead, they saw another mare approaching. A tall, cream colored earth mare with a dark pink and dark blue, swirly mane was approaching them. Spike smiled, recognizing her. It was Bonbon. He’d done a couple of projects with her for a few of his classes. She was a sweet mare, but very much no-nonsense and down to earth. While she was a touch on the chubbier side, Spike could tell from the way that she carried her arms and legs that she wasn’t fat. No, that was muscle sitting under all that pretty fur. She might have worked as a candy maker, but he’d seen her competing in local dead-lifting competitions before. He was pretty sure she could bend him, or anyone else she wanted to, into a pretzel.

“Hey there,” she greeted with a light nod to each of them, mane flowing in the breeze. “Room for one more on that bench?”

Spike smiled and slid a little bit further against the edge, nodding. “Sure, plenty of room.” He set his bag on the ground in front of him. “Right Lyra?” He blinked when he didn’t get a response. “Lyra?”

“Uh…” the minty unicorn muttered, just staring up at the mare, mouth open slightly.

Rolling his eyes, spike gently grabbed her her tail, at the mid point between the dock and the tip, and carefully tugged her along the smooth surface of the bench, until she was sitting in its center. She grabbed her pack as she slid as well, pulling it out of the way. “S-sure,” she said with a nod. “Sit right down if you want!”

“Thanks,” Bonbon said with a nod and a smile, sitting down and grunting, taking out a small sandwich and putting some headphones over her ears, leaning back and bobbing her head as she ate.

Lyra continued to stare at her, that same dopey expression on her face.

Spike gave a light grin. “Well?”

“W-well what?” Lyra asked, twisting her head around to glance at him. She had a light blush covering her cheeks and her ears were flicking up and down lightly as she looked around.

“Talk to her,” Spike prompted.

“N-no, she’s listening to music, that’s rude.”

“She won’t mind. Sides, I saw how you were looking at her. You’re attracted to her, aren’t you?”

Her blush grew deeper, almost totally overtaking the green in her fur. “M-maybe I have a thing for bigger, stronger girls,” she muttered. “Maybe I’ve seen her around a few times.”

“You’ve never talked to her though?”

“No!” she hissed, glowering at him some more. This one was actually strong enough to make Spike do a double take. “Quit reminding me that I’m a failure as a pony.”

“I never said that,” Spike said quickly. “Okay, so you have trouble talking to her… or anyone really, maybe you just gotta take that first step?”

“I wouldn’t know what to say!” she said.

“Well… hello would be a good start.”

“You know, your sarcasm isn’t appreciated.”

“I’m being serious. Just say hi, and ask her how she is.”

“But what if-”

“Lyra, if you keep asking ‘what if’, then you’re never gonna get any closer to getting in a relationship if you really want one. I mean, you wanna know how to get a girlfriend? This, right here. Sit on a bench and talk with her for a bit.” He motioned to her. “She’s right there, and you didn’t even have to throw yourself at her with toast in your mouth.”

“Urgh… fine, but if I make myself look like a fool, it’s on your head.”

Spike nodded. “Fine, but please, just talk to her, okay?”

“Fine, fine, fine,” she growled, twisting back towards the Earth mare, still enjoying her sandwich. Taking a deep breath, she reached up and gently tapped the other girl on her arm.

Blinking, Bonbon set her sandwich down in her lap and removed her headphones, hanging them around her neck as she offered Lyra a light smile. “Hey there,” she greeted.

“Uh… Hi,” Lyra said, screwing on a nervous smile. “How… are you?”

“I’m doing pretty good,” Bonbon said, either ignoring or oblivious to Lyra’s nervousness.

“So uh… you like to eat?” she asked, glancing at the sandwich.

Bonbon raised a brow, but nodded. “Yeah, I do.”

“N-no I mean… do you like to eat with other ponies?”

“When I can yeah.”

“Oh, so you’ve got a bunch of friends already. N-Never mind,” she said, slowly turning away.

Spike crossed his arms and glared at her. “You’re giving up too easily,” he hissed.

“I can’t do this, she already thinks I’m a weirdo.”

“You just gotta get a little bit further on,” he encouraged. “Come on, it isn’t like you’ve driven her away or anything.”

“Scuse me, but I’m right here,” Bonbon said, ear flicking lightly.

Lyra winced and cursed a little bit before slowly turning around. “Uh, yeah, s-sorry about that, I just…”

“What are you doing after school?” she asked.

Lyra blinked. “Huh?”

“After school. You got anything going on?”

“Uh… um…”

“I know a place we could go to if you were interested. Get some coffee and maybe something to snack on?”

“A-are you sure?”

“Well yeah. I mean, you are interested, right?”

“YES!” Lyra practically shouted. “I-I mean yes, I mean, well, I mean, I don’t know what I mean, I mean…”

Spike put a hand on her shoulder and leaned forward. “My friend here would be delighted to go,” he said with a small smile. “She’ll meet you at the school doors after the last bell, alright?”

“Awesome, sounds great.” She popped the last of her sandwich into her mouth and offered her hand to the unicorn after chewing thoughtfully. “I’m-”

“Bonbon, right?” Lyra asked, quickly taking her hand and shaking it softly.

The earth mare tilted her head. “Have we met before?”

“N-no, no, but… uh, I-I’ve seen you around before. Heard your name from a few other ponies.”

“Oh.” She smiled a little bit. “Well, seems you have me at a disadvantage. What’s your name?”

“Lyra. Lyra Heartstrings.”

“Heartstrings,” she mused. “Isn’t that the name of that big string instrument company in town?” she asked.

“Family business,” she said with a nod. “My mom runs it.”

“Thought the name sounded familiar. Well, it’s nice to meet you, Lyra. See you after school?”

“Y-yeah! That sounds awesome, thank you.” She gave the other mare a wide, bright smile and nodded enthusiastically a few times as Bonbon slowly got up, adjusting her skirt, and started to walk off, back towards the gym entrance.

Just then, a particularly strong gust blew by, making Spike and Lyra wince as it buffeted against their sides. When it struck Bonbon's back however, it unceremoniously blew up the back of her uniform skirt, eliciting a “ACK!” out of the mare as it exposed her knickers. She was either a bit large in the barge or wore a size or two too small, because the striped undergarments hugged up into her crack so tightly that the lower half of her creamy cheeks were visible. Lyra's jaw almost unhinged with the sight she got, Spike's own cheeks flushed behind her, and the mare quietly whispered to herself, “Thank you gods of anime for this gift.”

Bonbon shoved down the back of her skirt and looked over her shoulder, only to find Lyra staring dramatically into a book she'd swiftly taken out. Spike joined her with a hand to his chin, also examining the fine piece of literature. Bonbon was confused by this, but figuring neither of them saw her panties, she shrugged and continued on her way. Once she was totally out of sight, Lyra let out a yelp of joy and shot up, literally jumping for joy! “Haha! I did it! I managed to ask a mare out! And not just any mare, but one of the cutest in the school!”

Spike smiled a little bit. “Toldja all you had to do was talk to her.”

“I owe you big for this, man,” she said, turning around and grabbing Spike, hefting him up and squeezing his palm, making him wince. “Thank you so much for this.”

“H-hey, no reason to thank me, I just thought you could use a hand is all.”

“Damn right I could have. I’m a mess, after all.” She laughed. Spike wasn’t sure if she was making a joke or a plea for help, though it didn’t really matter when she yanked him into a powerful hug. “Best wingman ever! Hope the rest of the school day goes by quickly!”

“Er, yeah, no problem.” He returned the hug with a few small pats to her back. “Let me know how the date goes, alright?”

“Yeah I… wait, date? It’s a date?”

“Er… well, I guess you don’t have to call it that, but two mares going off to talk over coffee? Most would say that’s a pretty respectable first date, right?”

“OH MY GOD, IT’S A DATE!” she yelled in his face. “I gotta go and get ready!” She twisted and dashed back towards the school. “ThanksagainI’llletyouknowhowitgoesokaythanksbye!” she called back to him, waving.

“Uh… okay…” Spike frowned. “I really hope I didn’t just set those two up for disappointment,” he muttered. “Heh, me, a wingman.” He shook his head. “All I did was nudge her into talking to the girl for goodness’ sake.” He blinked a little bit as his phone hummed and vibrated in his pocket a few times. He reached into his pocket and pulled it out, checking his messages. Rarity had sent a few quick messages. He tilted his head and scrolled through them quickly.

“Spike, need your help!”

“It’s urgent!”

Spike frowned and quickly sent a message back. “What’s wrong?”

“A friend of mine needs help and we need another perspective.”

“Sure, I can help. Where are you?”

“We’re in the hall near the library. Think we can talk before the next class?”

“Sure. Be there in a sec.”

“Thanks Spike. You’re a darling.”

Spike smiled and felt a light blush coming to his face. He sent back a you're welcome to her before pocketing his phone, shouldering his bag and heading off to go and meet with her, wondering what her and her friend would want help with.