Paladin gulped. While taking girls on dates was nothing new to him, he had never taken a girl on a date that mattered this much to him. Cliché as it is, it was true. He really, REALLY didn't want to mess this up. After a quick mental prep talk, he rose a slightly shaky hoof and knock softly on her door. After a moment, Twilight answers and smiles at him. "Well, good evening, Paladin. Please come in." She said, standing aside to give him room to enter.

Upon Twilights smile, Paladins nerves melt away and he smiles warmly at her. "Well, fancy seeing you here." Paladin said, Twilight giggling her ridiculously cute giggle.

"I only come here every now and again." Twilight responded, playful and happy at the same time. Paladin sat down on the couch and Twilight took the spot next to him.

"Where do you want to go for dinner?" Paladin asked, throwing a foreleg around Twilight, bringing her closer.

'You cruel creature you.' Hisses in his head.

'Wait, what the fire truck was that?' Paladin thought to himself, a scowl crossing his face for a split second. He looks at Twilight, hoping she didn't notice, and metaling sighing that she hadn't.

"Hmm... maybe Sugercube Corner?" Twilight said, looking at Paladin.

He smiled at the thought of Pinkie Pie freaking out at seeing two of her friends going out to dinner. "Yeah, that sounds good. When do you want to go?" Paladin asked, losing himself in those beautiful lavender eyes.

"Right after this." Twilight said locking lips with Paladin with intense passion.

'Heartache and pain.' Echoes about his head throughout the kiss.

'Damnit, that needs to stop.' Paladin noticeably sours and Twilight pulls back puzzled.

"Is everything all right, Paladin?" Twilight asks, concern clear on her face.

Paladin stutters, trying to catch himself, "Uh, yeah. Everything’s fine, just, weird thought. It's nothing." Paladin put on his best smile and Twilight looked relieved.

"Okay. Let's get going!" The purple mare said happily, trotting for the door. Paladin looked after her with a mix of emotions.

'No, stop it. She is too important to get hung up on some dragon-bear asshole.'Paladin thought, quickly following her. The walk to Sugercube Corner was more enjoyable, the cool summer night adding to Paladin's happiness. The stars were bright and welcoming of those under them, the tempeture was perfect, not too cold, but not hot. Crickets chirped their songs hidden in the brush, and ponies finished what business they had to attend to before the night grew too late. Pinkie was cleaning a counter when she heard the customary bell announcing the presence of guests. She bounded to the main counter, ready to help whoever needed it.

"Welcome to Sugercube Corner, how can I- OHMYGOSH, TWILIGHTANDPALADIN, AREYOUHEREONADATE?!?!!" Pinkie exploded onto the two ponies.

Paladin and Twilight both chuckled at her predicted reaction. "Yes, we would like a table for two please." Paladin said, smiling at Pinkie who was still squealing over the two.

"Yeah, one sec!" Pinkie said, disappearing and reappearing in the way only she could. After blinking a few times, the two noticed that the restaurant had dimmed romantically, a lone table in the middle of the room with a candle flickering lazily in the center. Soft music playing from a radio far in the corner, completing the sudden change quite nicely.

"Pinkie, how did you-' Twilight begins to ask when Pinkie interrupts.

"Right this way." Pinkie said with surprising calmness. Twilight turns to Paladin looking for an answer. Paladin just shrugs as he offers his hoof to her. Rolling her eyes and smiling, Twilight takes his hoof in her own and they make their way to the table, taking in the romantic setting. Sitting down across from each other, Pinkie asks, "What will you have tonight?" Still caught off guard from her calm tone, Twilight orders a slice of cheesecake while Paladin asks for a bowl of assorted fruits. "I will be back shortly." Pinkie said, winking at Paladin as she walked away.

"Any good books lately, Twi?" Paladin asked, knowing that something good would come up from his question.

'Haven't hurt anypony, YET.' Rolls around his head, painfully loud.

Paladin winces at the unexpected boom of guilt shooting through his head. Twilight had been explaining a wonderful novel about cross-dimensional, interspecies romance she had read when she saw the wince. "Hey, are you sure everything's okay?" Twilight asked determined to find out what caused his wince.

Paladin looked everywhere but her and stammered out his weak response, "Uh, yeah, everything's fine."

Twilight looked at him with much more care. "Paladin, I know something’s bothering you. You can tell me anything." Twilight said with the warmest smile Paladin had ever seen. He sighed in defeat and looked at his bowl, which Pinkie had just set down along with Twilights cheesecake.

"Yeah. Something’s bothering me. But..." Paladin trailed off, wondering how he could word his problems. Twilight waited patiently for him to formulate his thoughts. "It's... well..." Paladin looked for the best way to talk to her about his dilemma, "...it's...hard to explain..." he said slowly, avoiding her eyes.

Twilight smiled, "It's okay. You can tell me." she said in a voice so warm that Paladin felt much better.

"Well... when Dusk and I left our home in Neighvada... it wasn't on the best of terms. We had a bit of a falling out, you could say." Paladin said. "The reason I'm so bummed is that somepony from our hometown stopped by, and... I guess we aren't missed as much as I thought... it just kinda hurt, is all." Paladin said, wishing he could explain more clearly, wanting to yell out what was really wrong, knowing he couldn’t.

"Oh, I'm so sorry Paladin. I didn't know." Twilight said saddened that she had brought up a painful memory.

Paladin smiled at her. "You didn't know. It's okay." He offered. "Besides, our food looks really good." Paladin said, now content he got some of his guilt off his chest.

Twilight smiled at him, "Yeah, it does look good. Let's eat!"

Author's Note: Well, interesting start, eh? Let's head over to Sweet Apple Acres before we finish up here.

"Nice ta see ya again AJ." Dusk said as he walked up to the farmhouse.

Applejack, who had been bored out of her mind from having finished work early, almost jumped out of her chair at the sight of Dusk. "Hey there Sugercube! How ya been?" Applejack said, hugging Dusk as he approached.

Dusk hugged her back, "Today was a little weird, other than that, better since I saw you."

Applejack blushed slightly at his complement. "Thanks. What made yer day weird, if it's alright ta ask?" Applejack said, sounding close to Fluttershy status.

"It doesn’t matter. Just one of those days." Dusk said with a big smile. Applejack seemed to let it drop for the time being.

"Well, Ah've had those days. Any resone ya came on over here?" Applejack asked playfully.

"Well, I was in the neighborhood and thought I would stop by." Dusk said with a teasing smile.

Applejack chuckled at him. "If Ah recall correct, Ah owe ya a hoofwreastling match." Applejack said, sitting down in the same chair Big Mac had beat Dusk only yesterday.

A grin crossed Dusks face as he sat in the chair opposite her. "May the best pony win." He said.

"Oh, she will." Applejack said, her competiveness setting in.

"Best out of three?" Dusk asked, taking her hoof in his.

"Sure thing, Sugercube." Applejack said.

"Ready... GO!" Dusk said with a grunt. Applejack was much stronger than Dusk thought; she was putting up one hell of a fight. Applejack stared at Dusk with a mischievous grin and gave him a wink and blew a kiss at him. Dusk promptly lost his nerve and faltered just enough for her to gain the advantage and slam his hoof on the table. "Ha, that’s one - nothin'." Applejack said with a smirk.

"So, that’s how it's gunna be, huh?" Dusk said with a sly smile and placed his hoof in the starting position. Applejack placed her hoof in his again.

"Aaaaand... GO!" She said. Dusk noticeably flexed his muscles more than was needed and smiled in delight as Applejacks eyes, along with her focus, trailed up and down his foreleg rather than his hoof. Dusk than slammed her hoof on the table, wearing the largest grin anypony could imagine on his face. "One - one. How about a fair round ta see who's the best?" Dusk said, his grain never fading.

Applejack smiled sheepishly as she set her foreleg once more on the table. "Fine, Ah can do that." She said. Dusk took her hoof in his and readied himself. Applejack lowered her head and Dusk followed suit.

"Ready... set..." And then Applejack kissed him, loosening the tenseness in her foreleg, motioning with her hoof for Dusk to do the same. Dusk happily complied, letting his hoof rest on the table with hers, enjoying every blissful moment they shared. In the dim light of the setting sun, Dusk felt as close to anyone he ever had, reveling in the passion of Applejack and her lips against his.

After what felt like a long time (well, long enough for the sun to have set), they finally broke apart, panting slightly from their efforts. Dusk smiled warmly and Applejack returned his smile with her own.

"Would ya like ta come in fer dinner?" Applejack asked.

"I sure would... Sugercube." Dusk said, earning a laugh from Applejack as they headed inside.

Sugercube Corner

After Paladin's little confession, dinner had proceeded well. Twilight enjoyed her slice of cheesecake while Paladin his fruit and the evening passed surprisingly fast. Pinkie had taken their plates back to the kitchen soon after they had finished their food and when Paladin had asked for the check she smiled and said, "Dinner is on the house tonight."

Content and very thankful of Pinkie's generosity, the two left the gigantic sweethouse and began to walk back to the library. The walk was mostly in silence, both enjoying the company of the other and Ponyville at night, until Twilight spoke up.

"Uh, listen; I'm sorry about earlier tonight, when I asked what was wrong. I just-" Paladin put a gentle hoof to her lips.

"It's ok, Twi. You didn't know, and don't have to worry. I feel better having just talked to somepony about it. And even better that it was you." Paladin said with a smile that caused Twilight to blush.

"Thanks, Paladin." Twilight said. The two walked to the library in the peaceful silence once again, until they had reached the library. Paladin looked over to Twilight and leaned in to kiss her, as Twilight gladly returned.

After another moment that felt like forever, Paladin pulled back. "Goodnight." Paladin said, turning to walk back to his apartment.

"Goodnight." Twilight called after him. The walk back was another silent, peaceful journey, allowing Paladin to clear his head and enjoy the stars and reflect on tonight. He had felt guilty about having made such a strong connection with Twilight, and the unfortunate end that would eventually come about, but having talk to her about it made him feel better. And besides, tomorrow was another meeting with Celestia. And he had something important to tell her.