//------------------------------// // Chapter 10: The Date // Story: Spring's Song // by 71NYL-5CR4TCH //------------------------------// Rainstorm walked along the dirt path through Ponyville square, small clouds of dust forming around each hoof as they made impact with the dried soil beneath him. Why do I even bother with the showers? Thoughts seemed to rage through Rainstorm's conscience like a swarm of ravenous bees, striking him with stinging doubts and blistering fears. I've never felt so stressed in my entire life! It's bucking awful!...and I don't even get it! Since when am I ever stressed about seeing Pumpkin for Celestia's sake?! Rainstorm looked up from the dirt path he had been following and his own inner monologue to find that he had arrived at his destination, Sugar Cube Corner. He had been to this ginger bread bakery so many times he considered a second home, yet now his very hoof shook at the thought of knocking on the door. I don't even normally knock! he realized. Finally with an unsteady hoof he pounded on the thick wooden door a few times before allowing it to rest back again. I've never been this nervous before, and I can't for the life of me understand why making this a date changes... Everything... "Oh..." he quietly said aloud The door swung open to the sight of a bouncy pink mare grinning ear to ear, "OH! You're here you're here you're here!! Pumpkins still getting ready but she should be down in a minute oh I can't believe it's her first date! Oh and I simply couldn't think of a better colt for her to go with! Buuuttt just so you know, IF YOU HURT HER DEATH IS A MERCY YOU WILL NOT BE GRANTED." Rainstorm realed back not only in the sudden change of tone but also by the fact that small fires were now actually raging in Pinkie's eye sockets. And the changes begin... "Rainstorm? Are you here?" Pumpkin called from up the stairs. "Yay!! She's ready! Picture time!" Pinkie squealed, quickly reverting completely back to normal and sprinting off to another part of the house. Rainstorm blinked, quickly checked to make sure he hadn't pissed himself, then turned to the stair well. When there she stood. Pumpkins eyes glistened like small pools of flawless, crystal water, shimmering in the low light of her home. Her fur was still damp, neatly groomed and brushed, radiating warm yellow light. Her luscious, orange mane had been straightened, it poofy bounce now compressed and made into a neat bun, still glistening from the water that had yet to dry from her shower. Her face though, the gorgeous face which Rainstrom counted himself lucky to have even seen, let alone kissed, remained perfect, unchanged and exposed. Rainstorm sighed at the gorgeous mare before him and smiled as he readied himself to hear her angelic voice call... "Why did you just look at your crotch?" "..." "..." "...what?" "When I came down the stairs, you were looking at your crotch, then you looked at me, why?" Pumpkin inquired with a raised eyebrow. "...I...have no response for this question." Rainstorm remained stone faced, while maintaining unfaltering eye contact "That...may be for the best..." Pumpkin squinted. "So now that we have that formality out of the way, time for a date!" "Right! So...where would you like to go?" "I'm uh...up for anywhere I guess?" "Cornerside cafe?" "Always a good choice." "Hey you two! Smile!!" A blinding flash of light coupled with the sound of a shattering bulb worked as an effective flashbang grenade for the two conversing ponies being photographed, and craftfully captured the image of rapid pupil dilation and utter confusion. "PINKIE WHAT THE BUCK?!" Pumpkin cried out, bringing her hooves to her eyes in pain. "I'M BLIND!" Rainstorm added. "Oooh, this is a good one! Here, let me get a few more!" "NO!" replied the now handicapped pair. ""Hmmph, party poopers. Pinkie grumbled while packing away her antique camera. "Can you see yet?" Pumpkin asked, feeling around for her companion. "I think so...nope, wait, that's my cornea melting...at least that's pretty..." Pumpkin snickered, "Your cornea melting is pretty?" "What? Oh no that last part was because I could see you again." Rainstorm added with a sincere smile. "Dear god I could dip nachos in that much cheese..." Pumpkin rolled her eyes but then blushed and smiled, "but thank you...you don't look to bad yourself." Pumpkin managed with a giggle. "What? I didn't do anything special." Rainstorm replied, looking over himself. "Eh, at least you got that bandage off your head and you smell nice." "I'll take it!" Rainstorm declared triumphantly, "Come on, we should get going, the sun is starting to set." "I want her back by midnight, you hear me?!" Pinkie called from another room in the house. "You got it Pinks!" "Good Boy!" Pumpkin and Rainstorm walked out of Sugar Cube Corner together and began to make their way to the Cornerside Cafe. The sun hung low in the sky, igniting the clouds with a gorgeous red glow, setting the horizon ablaze. Above, the deep blue blended into a dark violet, revealing the first of the night stars and the humble moon, beginning it's nightly parade. Celestia's craft burned along the meeting of earth and heavens, beginning to dip into the cold night, to slumber till the next day. Pumpkin and Rainstorm arrived at the cafe and were seated in the patio by a rather snooty waiter with an admittedly impressive moustache. "And what may I get mademoiselle et monsieur pour votre dinner?" He asked with a thoroughly thick French accent. "I'll take a daisy sandwich and a glass of water please." Pumpkin asked politely. "And I would like the Apple Pecan sorbet, please." Rainstorm added. "Anything to drink for monsieur?" "Oh, uh, earl grey tea, please." "But of course! I will retournee avec votre dinner, dans une minute." The waiter spoke, before dipping away. "So I didn't know you drank tea." Pumpkin mentioned. "Oh, yeah, it really helps me relax or think straight." Rainstorm added with a shrug. "Which are you having trouble with now?" Pumpkin asked with a sly grin. "A bit of both to be perfectly honest." Rainstorm answered. "Say, what accent was he speaking in?" "What? French of course." "French, as in, from France?" "...yes...French things are from France..." Pumpkin replied slowly, raising an eyebrow "So...uh...where exactly is France?" "Well...it's uh...it's...um..." "I mean, there's Equestria....and we speak Equestrian...and then there's the Griffon-Lands...but they speak Equestrian too...so where did this whole 'French' thing come about from?" "Well maybe the..." "Monsieur, Mademoiselle, your dinners and beverages." The waiter presented the corresponding meals and ducked away. "That was fast..." Pumpkin commented. "Mmm, this looks good! Let's dig in!" "HEY PUMPKIN!" A voice called from just outside the cafe patio. "Oh god no..." Pumpkin moaned bringing her hoof to her face. "What's up?! And look who's here!" "Please go away, Starling." Pumpkin uttered in a monotone voice. Rainstorm raised from his parfait, confused. 'I thought Starling was her friend?' "Did you finally work up the lady balls to ask him out? Is this finally a date?!" 'What? 'Finally'? I thought she just now...How long has she...liked me? "Go away, Starling." Pumpkin muttered through her own hoof. "Oh my god it is!! I swear you can finally stop bitching about this 'friendzone' crap that you were so pissed about." 'She...never just wanted me as a friend?' "If you say one more word..." Pumpkin glared at her friend with enough intensity to burn through lava, going alas unnoticed by her blathering friend. "Ugh I seriously thought you were going to explode if this didn't happen soon." Was this all she ever wanted? A colt friend? If that's all she saw then...what if this doesn't work? Rainstorm swallowed and allowed his face to fall. "STARLING. LEAVE. NOW."Pumpkin emphasized her last word by slamming her hoof down on the table. "Alright alright, sheesh..." Starling trotted away, happy for the new couple, and blissfully ignorant. "Sorry about that, she can be kind of...nosy." Pumpkin sighed, "So, how's your parfait?" "Um...Pumpkin?" Rainstorm stared at his parfait. "Yeah?" She replied, diving back into her daisy sandwich. "How long have you liked me?" "I've always liked you, Rainstorm." She answered through a full mouth. "No. I mean liked me...like, you were interested..." "Oh...I don't know...a long time I guess...why?" Pumpkin swallowed as she noticed the stone expression on Rainstorm's face. "Were we ever just friends? To you?" Rainstorm now looked up, "Was I ever just a friend?" "I...I mean, yeah, but...why? What's wrong?" Pumpkins face started to grow more concerned, "I mean is this about what Starling said? Because, I mean, she likes to exaggerate and..." "Pumpkin...have you only been hanging around me because you thought I would be a good coltfriend?" Rainstorm interrupted. "What? No, I-" "I mean, what if this doesn't work?" Rainstorm's voice cracked, "What if we don't...work?" "I...I...I don't..." Pumpkin realized his concern. It'd all be over she thought. I'd lose my best friend he realized. I'd lose who'se closest to me she grasped. and we'd have nothing left but hurt... they understood. Pumpkin looked at Rainstorm and he stared back. "There's nothing to fall back on for me is there? I...I never had a friend...just someone who was interested...but never brave enough." Rainstorm thought aloud, coldly. "But...It wasn't...I wasn't...that isn't..." Pumpkin began shake, tears forming in the corners of her eyes, "I...I wanted to...but that doesn't mean I wasn't...we weren't..." she struggled, trying to find the right words, but none seem to come "I...I thought...you had grown to like me through our time together...but...I'm just a crush aren't I?" Rainstorm began to tremble, holding back tears of his own. "Just somebody you pretended to be friends with to get closer to..." And if it doesn't work then it all comes crashing down... "Rainstorm...you're...not, I mean...I did I just...Oh!" And with a jerk, Pumpkin stood from her chair, sprinting from the cafe. It'll all comes crashing down...the love I've always had...for her... "...PUMPKIN, WAIT!"