"Should I wear a dress? Or what about just going without one? Spike! Are your even listening!?" Twilight asked as she held a red dress up to him.

"Twilight, you look fine." Spike said. "It's just a date."

"Just a date? Just a date!?" She yelled.

His eyes widened before he quickly got into his vest of pillows and pot helmet.

"W-What I meant to say was... Uh, a formal date!" He said quickly. "Is it a formal date?"

"I don't know..." She said quietly. "So," she lifted the dress again. "Should I wear the dress or not?"

he face-clawed before taking the red piece of fabric from her.

"I take that as a no?" She said quietly.

He shut the doors to her closet before handing her a brush and mirror, afterwards, he crawled into his small bed. Claw on the pillow, ready to throw it if the time came.

She took the mirror in her magic before putting the brush to her mane.

With a few good brushes, along with untying a knot, her mane was exactly the same as before. Her mane hung down her neck, her bangs hid the base of her horn and each hair was exactly in place.

She looked in the mirror before sighing. She set the mirror down on her bed before getting her purse.

She took one last glance at Spike before heading downstairs and into town.

The cool night air was relaxing against her coat. The moonlight illuminating her features beautifully. Her lavender coat almost glowing in the light.

After a brisk trot, she found Big Macintosh waiting outside of Le marestro's.

She stopped and stared at him for a second, he did too.

His mane had been brushed evenly, he was wearing a tuxedo slightly small for him, a red bowtie was around his neck. And in his mouth was a single rose.

"Oh, I didn't know you dressed up." She said. "I would have too if I had-"

"I got this for ya,Twilight." He took the rose out of his mouth and gently placed it in her mane.

She blushed at the gesture and gave him a smile which he returned.

They both turned to the entrance, a young stallion standing patiently by the doors.

"Do you have an invitation?" He asked.

"Eeyup. Macintosh and a Miss, Sparkle." Big Mac replied.

"Very well, your table is this way." He extended a hoof towards the inside.

He went in first holding the door open, for them. After they entered, he led them to their table.

It was in the near middle of the room. A small table, white cloth, a candle in the middle.

Once seated her went off to get the menu's. Twilight looked around while Big Mac sat patiently.

The room was an average sized one-story room. A few chandeliers hung from the ceiling. The floors were a white marble, a few walls had some fake vines, another had a Murielle of a country side.

"Your menu's, sir and madam." The stallion said. "What would you care to drink?"

"Water." They both replied.

"Good. I'll give you two a few minutes to find something to eat." He gave a smile before going to another table.

Big mac picked up his menu, after a few seconds, he put it down.

Twilight also put hers down, already decided on what she was going to get.

"So, quite the restaurant for a first date." Twilight said.

"Thought ah'd try a change of pace. That and your friend Rarity came by, insisting ah take ya here."

"She would." Twilight rolled her eyes.

The waiter came back with the water.

"And what would you two care to eat?"

"Ah'll take the fruit salad and Caesar salad." Big Mac replied.

"I'll just have the Potato soup with a side of collard greens." Twilight said handing him the menu's.

"They'll be here in just a minute." He took a bow before walking away.

They were left in silence again, both of them not knowing what to say.

"Big Mac, I was thinking about the whole... You know. Telling the town." She sighed.

"What bout' it?" He asked.

"I-I guess I'm afraid." She shrugged. "Afraid of what the others will think of me."

"Ain't nothin' to be scared bout'. Not as long as ya have your friends and family there." He smiled. "Specially when ya folks will be there."

"There actually coming!?" She whispered. "Thank you... You don't know how much that means."

"Ah'm sure ah can't. Well what do ya know, it was minute." He smiled.

The waiter from before came back, carrying a plate with two salads and a plate with soup and collard greens.

Before he got to the table, he tripped and lost his grip on them. He stared at the soup in horror as it landed on Twilight. Big Mac stared in horror for a different reason.

"I-I am so sorry! I'll run and get some... P-Paper towels..." The colt broke off as he saw Twilight's hoof flash black, with holes going through it. "Changeling!" He yelled.

Twilight's eyes widened in panic, she looked down at her hoof and put it underneath the table cloth.

The restaurant's occupants were staring at the three of them now.

"Should ya be gettin' the towels?" Big Mac asked raising himself out of his chair, glaring down as he towered over the scrawny colt.

"B-But shes-"

"Ma'h date. And if ya don't get somethn' to clean this mess up. Ah might go and have to sue for faulty faculty." He leaned down, his eyes narrowed. "Now git'."

The colt gulped, looking between him and her. He nodded and ran to the kitchen.

"Why don't ya go and wash up?" Big Mac said, wrapping a hoof around her shoulder as he led her to the mare's bathroom.

"Thank you." She whispered.

He gave a smile in return.

She opened the door with her magic, leaving Big Macintosh to guard the door.

It was a simple one room bathroom. One stall, one sink, one mirror and a tray of soaps shaped like seashells.

"This isn't good." She bit her lip as she inspected her hoof.

The soup was scolding. It was absorbed through her shell and bits of the root vegetable were stuck in some of the holes.

She went over tot he sink and ran some cold water over it. It helped and washed the bits of food out.

Her hoof was once again enveloped in lavender flames. Now she was looking at a furred, lavender hoof.

She opened the door and came out, Big Macintosh beside her.

The colt from earlier was wiping the chairs and floor clean.

"I think we'd like our checks now." She said.

He jumped and knocked over a chair as he backed away.

"I know what you are!" He yelled, grabbing the restaurants attention again. "I know your a changeling! I saw your hoof when I spilled the soup on it! It was black, and I even saw the holes! I know what you are! Bug! Leech! Parasite!"

There were murmurs from around the room, the customers and staff alike looking at them.

"Excuse me," a large olive green pony came up. He was wearing a ink blue business suit, a small name tag in gold was on his breast. "I'm so sorry for my... Ex-employee's outburst. You may consider the food on the house. You have my deepest apologies."

"Thank ya kindly." Big Mac nodded before shooting a glare at the now, fired colt.

They both left, drowning out the yelling from the colt and the owner.

"Some first date, huh?" Twilight asked.

"Some horrible first date. Ah found a fly in ma'h fruit salad." He joked.

"Yeah... The thing about telling the town. I think I'm going to decide to do it tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?" Big Mac parroted. "Are ya sure that's a good idea?"

"Considering he saw my hoof, yes. It's only going to get worse if I drag it out. I'm doing it tomorrow. Good night."

"Good night." He said back.

He gave her a quick nuzzle on the cheek and she teleported back to her home.

Neither of them knowing of what lay's ahead in the morning.

Author's Notes:

I'm horrible with restaurant names. It seems to be the hardest thing to write about this.