//------------------------------// // Rain // Story: Of Butterflies and Biceps // by Pump It Up //------------------------------// It was a nice sunny day out in Ponyville. At the park, Bulk happily trotted over to a nice tree with shade and carefully placed his picnic basket on the green grass. He looked inside the basket to make sure that he did not forget the food or, most importantly, the box. "Come on Bulk, get it together; you have done this before," he mumbled to himself. "I'm sure she'll approve of this and I'm also sure that it will turn out great. I have been waiting for this moment for years." He nervously waited for his date to arrive. He wanted everything to be as perfect as possible when he finally did ask the big question. A question he had asked once before but ready to do so again. "Do it for her and do it for your daughter that needs a mother figure," he continued to mumble. After a few more minutes of waiting, the mare he was expecting finally showed up, like an angel from heaven. Her angelic voice, her glorious yellow fur, her impressive pink mane. Everything about her screamed "beautiful yet delicate," but it also did scream the one word he desperately wanted in a mare: "motherly." "Oh, I am so sorry I am late. Angel was being a little stubborn with his dinner," she said as she landed next to the big muscular pony. "I see we're having a picnic this time?" "If you don't mind, of course." Bulk smiled as he offered the shy pegasus some of the food in the basket. "Well, hopefully your daughter's friends won't interrupt us again like last time." "Uh...yeah." he nervously chuckled. "Don't worry, I doubled her allowance so she and her friends can go crusading at the carnival today." Fluttershy smiled. "Well, their intentions were noble at least." With that, Bulk started to unpack all the food from the basket but was extra careful to keep his second surprise hidden...for now. *** "Oh goodness, I am stuffed," commented the mare as she finished the last muffin. She gently rubbed her full stomach. "That was really good. I really mean it." "I am glad you liked it." He smiled with relief. "But I do have one more item in the basket," he said slyly. "Oh? What is it?" Fluttershy said, intrigued. "Just go in and look for yourself." The mare nervously walked up to the basket and peeked inside to find an unexpected surprise: a jewelry box. "Bulk? What's this?!" She carefully took the box out of the basket. Bulk came up and grabbed it, then slowly went down to his knees, much to the timid pegasus' utter shock. "B-B-Bulk?!" she stammered. "Fluttershy..." he happily began as he opened the box, to reveal a gold band inside. "...will you..." He gulped. "Will you ma-" His statement was immediately interrupted by the loud crash of thunder in the sky and the heavy downpour of rain that fell from the sky. All the ponies in the park ran for cover, and the couple was no exception: they both sprinted to a nearby gazebo to take shelter at. "Damn..." muttered Bulk to himself in frustration. He wanted the day to be just as special as last time. He sadly looked out at the storm filled landscape. He sadly turned to his marefriend and sighed. "Look...I'm sorry ab-" He was once again interrupted by a loving yet unexpected kiss on the lips. He felt all of his worries melt away then and there. Fluttershy gently broke the kiss with a smile. "Why of course I'll marry you, you silly pony." she smiled. Bulk smiled back, but had trouble telling whether or not the water coming out of his eyes were either tears of joy or raindrops from the storm still raging outside. At this moment in time, he could not care either way.