Paladin was glad the restaurant was at least well lit. It would have been odd to be in a romantic setting with Rainbow Dash when he was Twilight's coltfriend. Walking in, he noticed an official looking stallion behind a podium with a guestbook wearing a black bow tie. Hearing Paladin and Rainbow enter, he looked up from the guestbook changing his attitude from bored to professional, as any good maître d’hôtel* should. "Welcome to Canterlot Cuisine. How may I be of service?" He asked the approaching ponies.

"Uh, table for two, please." Paladin asked uncertain as to how to act in a restaurant like this.

"Very well sir, follow me." The maître d’hôtel said grabbing two menus and walking to the main dining area. Following him to their table, Paladin looked around the restaurant. The walls were a bright white, interrupted by expensive-looking paintings framed in decorative patterns. Two large windows offered a beautiful view of the plaza to his right, with matching windows across the room for a view of a small courtyard with a single massive oak tree surrounded by colorful flowers. The floor was a royal blue to match the walls with their regal look and the tables had plain black tablecloths to allow the rest of the room to pop out rather than mix with one another.

After a moment the maître d’hôtel motioned his hoof to the table next to him and Paladin and Rainbow sat down across from another. Handing both ponies a menu, the maître d’hôtel said, "Your server will be here shortly." And with that, he left the way he came, leaving the two to enjoy their lunch. Paladin decides to try his hoof at small talk to try to break the silence.

"Wow, this place looks incredible." He said with slightly forced enthusiasm, rich wasn't his preferred style of... anything really. Rainbow looked around the restaurant herself, taking in what Paladin had seen earlier.

"Yeah, it does look pretty cool." Rainbow commented a little awkwardly, not used to extravagant herself. "But why would they have an empty stage during lunch hours?" Rainbow asked. Paladin looked over to where Rainbow was looking and saw that behind the wall where the maître d’hôtel was behind the podium was a small stage rather than the kitchen, like he thought.

"Huh. I don't know... maybe they're on break?" Paladin offered.

"I think you might be wrong." Rainbow said with a smile.

"Wha-" Paladin said looking back over to the stage as ponies with instruments began walking on stage. 'Cool, lunch and a show... kinda.' Paladin thought to himself as they began to unpack their instruments. One gray pony with a pitch black mane and red bowtie began to take out a cello. 'No way, Octavia plays here?!' Paladin thought excitedly. Of all the background ponies, Octavia was his favorite. All through middle school, David was in band. He loved to play and compose music, even though he wasn't taking it in high school because his mom couldn't afford to put him through it after his dad passed away. He made his own music on his laptop though, using an Adobe program he bought. He had made a song that was classical cello with more modern dubstep mixing in flawless harmony. He had named it 'Octavian Symphony' in honor of the cellist.

"Hey, do you know somepony up there?" Rainbow asked. Paladin was dragged back to reality by her question.

"Huh? Oh, yeah. That pony with the cello is kinda popular." Paladin said looking back to Rainbow, who looked a little irritated. "Uh, you ok Dash?" Paladin asked.

Rainbow calmed back down, "Yeah, I'm totally fine." she said with a small smile.

Paladin knew something was bothering her. That was the same way she acted at the fountain, minus the jump and scream. "Dash, are you sure everything’s okay? You seem... different today." Paladin said careful not to try to upset her.

Rainbow looked everywhere but him as she responded, "Yeah. I'm sure."

'Bull. You will tell me what's wrong before lunch ends.' Paladin thought to himself. He disliked it when friends were down about something; it made him feel like it was his job to cheer them up somehow. He was going to try to press one more time when a red unicorn with a bleach white mane wearing a black bowtie walked up.

"Hello, I am Red Dawn and I will be your server today. Are you ready to order?" He asked, looking from Paladin to Rainbow. Paladin looked down at his menu and saw they had a fruit salad that was somewhat cheap... kinda.

"I'll have the fruit salad." He said. Red Dawn wrote down on the notepad in a soft red glow.

Rainbow looked down at her menu with a thoughtful look. "I'll have the grilled eggplant sandwich." She said. Red Dawn scribbles down on his notepad once more.

"Very well. Your food will be out shortly." He said and cantered off to attend to another table. Paladin decided to attempt goading Rainbow to speak her mind when soft classical music slowly and gracefully began to fill the room, pleasing Paladins ears and soul as the notes flawlessly fill the air.

After a silent minute of listening to music, he remembered his goal. He looked at Rainbow and opened his mouth to speak... until he noticed she had looked out the window deep in thought. Off put by her very out-of-character behavior, he sat and watched her, looking for any body language that would give away what was running through her head. Her face balanced on her hoof showed she was upset about something. Her thousand-yard stare meant she was thinking of what could be that she could change. At least, that's what he gathered. His body-to-thought ratio was not something to brag about.

"Hey, Rainbow." Paladin said softly. She was startled out of her thoughts and took a moment to focus on Paladin. "Look, I know something’s wrong. You can tell me." Paladin said with a smile at the end.

"Nothing’s wrong, really." Rainbow said quickly. Paladin gave her a 'don't bullshit me' look until she eventually gave in. "I... uh...ugggghh!" Rainbow said in frustration and looked down at the table. "Fine. I... like... somepony." She said looking away at saying 'somepony', "But... he's in a relationship already. And... it just... irks me when I see him and her together. What can I do?" Rainbow looked at him in confusion and defeat, at a complete lost as to what she could do.

"Well... it would help if you could tell me if I know him." Paladin offered to help him make a better judgment. Rainbow looked flustered at this, and couldn't help but let some red creep into her cheeks.

"Uh..." Rainbow stammered off, rubbing the back of her neck while avoiding eye contact. Paladin thought for a moment: in a relationship? Now that he thought back on it, he hadn't seen Rainbow sense his afternoon with Twilight... does she... no, she couldn't... did she?

Paladin looked at her for a moment. "Rainbow... am I the pony you like...?" Paladin asked.

Rainbow looked at him with a sheepish grin. "Yes?" She offered weakly. Paladin knew in the back of his head that this was a possibility but was still surprised that it had come to light.

"Well..." He started, remembering what he had planned in case this situation ever came (he has a LOT of free time),"I think he would be glad she had the courage and trust to tell him, and I would try my best to be happy that he's happy, and continue to be a great friend with him." Paladin finished with a warm smile.

Rainbow smiled, "Thanks." she said.

Paladin grinned. "Sure thing, Dashie." He said. At that moment, Red Dawn walked over carrying their food in his telepathic grip. After that, Paladin and Rainbow Dash were able to enjoy lunch together as though nothing had changed, glad that they were able to have something like this not stand in the way of their friendship, as classical music floated gracefully through the air.

West Canterlot Plaza

Dusk and Applejack had found a nice, tasty fast food stand to have lunch, on account that Dusk was buying and didn't bring a whole lot of money with him. As they munched down on their veggie burgers (and Dusk felt a small part of him die inside from the lack of glorious, heavenly meat), Dusk felt a small amount of shame come across him. "Sorry I couldn't take ya ta a more... romantic... restaurant." Dusk said.

Applejack giggled, "Shucks Sugercube, lunch with ya is enough fer me." she said giving Dusk a warm smile.

Dusk smiled. "Thanks AJ. Means a lot." The two finished their lunch quickly, sharing some laughs at how Dusk had scared Applejack like he did at the stall. Once lunch was concluded they walked around town for a bit, doing what most couples do: walk around enjoying each other’s company. After a while the two had eventually wandered to a park near devoid of ponies. They had sat down on a bench, hoof in hoof, enjoying the settings of one of Equestrias' richest cities.

Applejack turned to Dusk, "Ya know, I believe we have unfinished business." Applejack said with a sly smile.

Dusk looked over to her with the same sly smile. "Where did we leave off? I think ya need ta remind me." Dusk said leaning in. Applejack leaned in too, meeting his lips with a soft touch. Slowly, Dusk advanced the passion, moving their lips in time to their raising heart rates. Applejack felt Dusks tongue softly brush her lips, pleading for entrance. Applejack spread her lips and explored as much of Dusk as she could while he did the same. Dusk put a foreleg around her waist, sliding her in closer, their bodies pressing against each other. Applejack breathed a moan of pleasure into Dusk, and Dusk pulled back slightly to look into Applejacks deep green eyes. He could feel butterflies fly free in his stomach and Applejacks’ heart beat rapidly in time with his own.

"AJ?" Dusk said, not looking away.

"Yeah, Sugercube?" Applejack asked a little dreamy.

"I love you." Dusk said.

Applejacks cheeks turned bright red, "Ah love you too." She replied, kissing him again.

Dusk closed his eyes and lost himself in Applejack once more.