"And that," Spike concluded his 17 page presentation, "is how we propose to usher in the dawn of a new golden age for all of Equestria."
Twilight considered his proposal. It was really quite good. There was just one problem.
"And all of this," she thought out loud, "is contingent on me being able to coach Bonbon into asking somepony out on a date?"
"Exactly," Spike agreed.
"Alright Spike," Twilight nodded with determination. "I've never actually asked a stallion out before, but I'm confidant this is something I can figure out."
"Great! Uhh, how?"
"You forget," she chuckled. "My sister-in-law is the Alicorn of Love."
"Oh yeah," Spike facepalmed. "Why didn't I think of that? Of course Cadance would know how to ask somepony out."
"Spike, take a letter!"
Ambient happily cantered along the road leading out of town with a saddlebag full of groceries on his sides. He regretted eating at home so much - he wasn't the greatest cook in the world - but his research project was very important and eating out took so much time. Perhaps after he'd won the Princess's endorsement he could ask that nice candy maker to join him for a late afternoon lunch sometime. She seemed really sweet. Not sweet like an 90% cocoa blend chocolate, more like a 45% blend. And to be fair, personally he much preferred the 90% blend of a rich, super-dark. Chocolate really should have a bit of a snap when biting pieces off rather than a squish when biting into it. But while delicious, his usual dark chocolate blend wasn't especially sweet, given that it contained far more cocoa products than sugar. That was what made it dark, after all.
"Huh," he mumbled with sudden realization. "Bonbon is about 45% sweeter than the chocolate I like. Or 100% sweeter, if you do the math multiplicatively rather than additively. Such a nice mare, we share a common interest in chocolate, and she is so very sweet. I do so enjoy our walks through the park together, and our talks, and how the light shines beautifully through her luxurious mane and how she laughs gaily while we feed the ducks. Such a sweet mare. I wonder if perhaps she might be receptive, were I to ask her out on a proper date. Maybe after an appropriately long period of getting to genuinely know each other, we might even fall in love, settle down and have a pair of beautiful foals together and raise them in a long and fulfilling lifetime full of joy and love and happiness."
"Yes, I think I shall give that possibility a fair and honest attempt without pushing it too hard, because pushing it too hard might not be healthy. These things can't be forced, after all, and a mare as charming and sweet as Bonbon really deserves a stallion willing to take the time to court her properly. Although come to think of it, I really can't invest that sort of time and attention while I'm working on this research project. I suppose I should at least wait until I've earned Princess Twilight's preliminary approval before I begin to romantically pursue the lovely and delightful Miss Bonbon as she so richly deserves. So that's what I'll do."
His heart filled with joy at his future prospects, Ambient skipped merrily on his way home, oblivious to the purple alicorn in the bushes, spying on him through an infrared telescope.
"Target acquired."