The stallion on screen approaches the mare carefully. She remains silent, staring into the distance, a single tear running down her cheek. You remain transfixed on the movie screen, as you feel Rainbow lean her weight against you.
"I just. I can't keep lying to myself anymore," he says. "I need you. I need you like the plants need sunlight. I need you like the fish need water. I need you like the birds need the open sky to feel free and alive."
You reach down into your popcorn bucket and scramble a few kernels out of the bottom.
"Without you in my life, Fall, I feel dead inside."
"My god this is cheesy," you mutter.
Rainbow harshly shushes you as you watch the screen, shaking your head.
"Fall, what I'm trying to say is... I love you. And I can't take the idea of going on without you. But if you don't feel the same way... I'll go," he says.
Silence fills the theater as the music drops. The mare turns her head to him, and looks him deep into the eyes. Her expression is troubled as her eyes move to the ground. The stallion's face grows pale as he moves to the side.
"I see. I get it. I won't bother you anymore," he says, before turning away.
He walks away, each step dragging the other forward unwillingly, pain steeped into every muscle of his broken frame.
"Lance, no," she says aloud. "I love you too! And if you leave... I'll spend every evening wondering what it would have been like if I spent it with you."
The stallion pauses and turns his head to her, his body silhouetted by the setting sun.
"You... really mean it?" he asks.
"Duh," you whisper. "Everyone loves a happy ending."
Rainbow shushes you harder and bumps your elbow. Taking the hint, you shut your trap.
"Of course," she says. "I've known even longer than you have. I've loved you from the moment I laid eyes on you."
You bite your lip at the cheesy line, but look down to Rainbow, who has a single tear running down her face. Oh man, she must be really, really into this. You had no idea she was into romance movies. You always took her to be action and violence all the time. Or suspense filled thrillers, or something.
The stallion leans in, and the mare moves in closer. Their lips connect, and the music swells back in again as the two lovers passionately kiss. the movie fades to black as the credits began to roll on screen. Rainbow sniffs her nose and leans up.
"I take it you liked it?" you ask her.
"It was a stupid movie," she says. "Why couldn't they just figure it out sooner?"
You snicker and shake your head.
"That's what makes it entertaining, Dash. The chase. The thrill. Will they? Won't they? The writers do everything in their power to make it look as bleak as possible, then boom! Magic happy ending out of nowhere."
"Well, yeah," she says. "But it doesn't make it any easier."
With a smile, you bump her leg with yours.
"Well Rainbow Dash. Look at you. Who would have thought you'd be such a hopeless romantic?" you say. "Be careful. That's a one-way trip to tubs of ice-cream and candles."
"Hey, what's wrong with ice cream?" she says, somewhat hurt. "It's, like, my favorite food."
"Well, wanna get some then?" you ask, "It is almost dinner time."
"Nah," she says to herself, looking away. "I'd rather, er. Get that book from Twilight. Then, maybe grab dinner? After that... we'll see what happens."
You shrug your shoulders.
"Sounds fine to me. Honestly? I'm kinda doin' whatever you wanna do."
"Then let's get a move on," she says, rising from her seat. "We're losing daylight."
And once you exit the movie theater, you realize how right she is. The day is going by way quicker than you realized. Such is life when you wake up late. Nevertheless, that said, you haven't slept that well in quite a while. You hope that it wasn't the booze. If booze is what it'll take to help you sleep easier at night, you better take a serious look at the direction your life is heading.
"So, we're grabbing that new Daring Doo book, right?" you ask. "What number is this? Like, nine?"
"It depends on who you ask. Some ponies don't believe that some of the books are part of the series, or are just one-offs from the main story arc. Heh. Little do they know they're... well. That's a story for another day," she says with a smile.
You nod, not understanding, but trying your best impression at understanding.
"I'm going to have to borrow that book off you one of these days. You give it such a high recommendation, it's like you're personally invested in the story or something."
She smiles as the two of you walk along in Ponyville towards Twilight's Castle. Once the two of you reach it's gates, you give three hard knocks on the door. Soon, the door opens wide and a tiny dragon wearing a pink apron stands on the other side, staring up at you.
"Heya, Anon. Heya, Rainbow. What's up?" Spike asks.
"I'm here to get the Daring Doo book from Twilight. Mind if we come in?"
"No, not at all!" he says, motioning the two of you inside. "Twilight's just in the Library if you wanna-"
"This'll take just a sec," Dash says to you, before flying off in a blur of rainbow colors.
"Uh, alright."
You look down to the purple dragon, who looks back up at you, surprised. You give him a shrug of your shoulders, and he responds.
"Ponies, am I right?" you say to him.
"You can say that again," he says, turning back to the kitchen. "That's why I'm reading up on them. It's so hard to tell what they're thinking."
"Oh?" you ask. "What book?"
"Oh," he says, putting on a cool and suave voice. "Just a little something I snuck out of Twilight's private collection. 'Learning to Read Love: How to pick up clues that somepony likes you.' I just recently finished it and I've learned so much already! I can't wait to see if I can use some of the things I read about on R-"
Spike pauses mid-sentence, then freezes in place.
"Uh. I mean. Teaching... other ponies... the tricks?"
You do your best to let Spike think that his crush on Rarity isn't completely obvious.
"Really? Like what?" you ask.
"Oh, you know, little things. I could let you borrow it if you want. But, don't keep it too long. Twilight doesn't usually read it often, but she tends to keep pretty close inventory of the books she leaves under her bed, for some weird reason."
You place your hand on your mouth, trying to hold in a laugh.
"Sure thing, Spike. I'll come back and hit you up some time. Sound cool?" you say.
"Not a problem! It's the least I can do after what happened with Appleja-"
He pauses again. You feel as if the ground gave away under your feet.
"Anon, I'm so sorry," he says.
"You know?" you ask.
"Uhm," he says. "The word spread... fast?"
You nod to yourself. Of course. That makes sense. Elements of Harmony and all of that jazz. Of course they'd all talk to each other. This is their base of operations, so...
"It's alright, don't worry about it," you tell him.
With a poof, Dash is back beside you, catching her breath.
"Don't worry about what?" Rainbow asks, now with a saddlebag around her.
"Oh, nothing!" you and Spike say in unison.
She looks from you, to Spike, then back to you.
"Got the book?" you ask.
"Yep! So, how about dinner?" she asks.
"Sounds good to me," you say. "Thanks for the tip, Spike. I'll talk to you later."
Spike's face scrunches up as the two of you turn from him and head to the door.
Honestly, the book might not be a bad idea. If you knew something like that existed, you might have known not to waste your time fawning over Applejack for so long. However, what's done is done, and that's for another day.
As your stomach rumbles, you turn to your friend as you step outside and ask the most important question of the day.
"So, whatcha hungry for?"