“I HAVE RETURNED!” a low bellow sounded from the foyer. Twilight’s head shot up at the sound, jumping up from her chair in the library. She went into a gallop through the hallway, but quickly stopped with a look of realization. She moved to a trot, clutching her belly with her wing.
She met up with the orange Pegasus in the hall, the two meeting in a tight embrace. “You’re home sooner than I expected.” Twilight started, pulling back and looking the stallion in the eye. “Did you use that trick you learned for your wings?”
“I did, indeed.” he confirmed, the two turning to head to their bedroom. “I need to practice at making it happen sometimes, after all. Besides, tomorrow is Hearts and Hooves Day. I am not missing that!”
Twilight smiled, putting her wing around him. “Well, don’t overdo it, okay?” Boltsinger nodded as the two sat on the bed. “I’ve got a surprise for you tomorrow. You’re going to love it!”
“Ooh! I can’t wait!” he said, moving the blankets and sliding in with a yawn. “Good night…”
Twilight smiled at the stallion, patting her belly and joining him. “Good night, Bolt.”
Boltsinger woke up the following morning to a loud knock at the door. He looked around, seeing Twilight still in bed, and smiled. The knocking continued, and Boltsinger headed for the source. He decided to cut out the middle-mare, opting to step out to the balcony, spreading his wings and flying down to the front door. There, he saw somepony he most assuredly didn’t expect pounding at the door, until he let out a defeated sigh. He was a white-coated Pegasus stallion with a long, messy black mane and tail and green eyes. His Cutie Mark consisted of a yellow lightning bolt striking through a vaguely heart-shaped storm cloud, and he had a bouquet of flowers in a rainbow arrangement tucked under his wing.
“You’re… Soarin, right?” Boltsinger asked, pointing to the pony. “One of the Wonderbolts?”
Soarin jumped, looking at Boltsinger with a hint of surprise. “Yeah, that’s me. Who’re you?”
Boltsinger motioned to himself, confused. “I’m Boltsinger.” he pointed to the enormous Castle of Friendship behind the white stallion. “I live in the castle right there.” He walked over to the Wonderbolt. “So, what’s with the flowers? Looking for somepony special?”
Soarin turned away, just a hint of red lining his muzzle. “Well… yeah… How’d you know?”
Boltsinger smiled, sitting next to him. “Well, it’s Hearts and Hooves Day, and I happen to be friends with a Wonderbolt mare that lives here in Ponyville.” he explained, moving a wing to open the door. “How about you come in and have some breakfast, and we can talk about it a bit further? I need to make something for my wife, anyway.”
Soarin opened his mouth to protest, but found himself interrupted by his growling stomach. “What’re you making…?”
Boltsinger smirked. “Apple pancakes.” Soarin’s stomach growled louder. “Granny Smith let me in on the recipe.” As the door opened completely, the white blur that was Soarin was already inside. “Nopony can resist Granny Smith’s recipe.” He followed his unexpected guest in, making for the kitchen.
As the smell of pancakes wafted into the dining room, Soarin’s mouth watered immensely. Boltsinger placed the flapjacks in front of the Wonderbolt, a number of apples poking out as he drizzled syrup on top, finally adding just a touch of whipped cream. “You’re my test subject. Tell me what you think.”
Soarin looked at the meal, licking his lips expectantly for a moment. “Are you sure? You don’t even know me!”
“I’ve heard about you from Rainbow Dash.” Boltsinger informed him, quickly going back into the kitchen and coming out with another plate. “Besides, what kind of Pegasus would I be if I didn’t welcome a Wonderbolt?”
At the mention of Rainbow Dash, Soarin stopped eating, his face turning red again. His muzzle showed a goofy grin as he looked at the flowers he brought, giving off a dopey laugh. “Yeah… Wait, you heard about me from Rainbow Dash?”
Boltsinger nodded, putting a few extra fixings on a second plate, finally adding a glass of juice. “Yeah, she talks about all of the other Wonderbolts. You all sound like some pretty awesome ponies.”
Soarin’s face sank. “Oh… yeah. The ‘Bolts are all pretty cool ponies. She ever… talk about me outside of all that?”
Boltsinger brought a hoof to his muzzle, puzzling for a moment. “Nnope. Mostly she talks about Spitfire. Your name does come up sometimes, though.” He smiled slyly, casting a knowing look at the embarrassed stallion. “I see, now… You know, you could have just gone straight to her house and given her the flowers.” Soarin’s head recoiled from the statement. “But… I’m not sure what she’d think of flowers overall. If I know Rainbow, she’d probably brush it off as some ‘frou frou’ thing for Hearts and Hooves Day.”
“I never said these were for her!” he yelled, hiding the flowers behind him. “I just wanted some… advice!”
“Oh? What kind of advice?” Boltsinger inquired, leaning closer. “And why would you go to the Princess of Friendship, one of Rainbow Dash’s closest friends, for it?”
Soarin’s eyes darted back and forth. “I… uh… I gotta go! Thanks for the meal!” He gobbled up the rest of his food and rocketed out the door as Twilight appeared in the hallway, looking confusedly at the fleeing Pegasus.
“Was that… Soarin?” she asked, looking into the dining room.
“Eeyup!” the orange stallion replied, lifting up the tray he had prepared and bringing it forth. “Happy Hearts and Hooves Day, Twilight! I was gonna bring it up to you in bed, but… I got a little distracted by the lovestruck pony that just fled to save face.”
Twilight tilted her head, floating the tray over. “Lovestruck?” she repeated, sitting at the table and inhaling sharply, her face melting with anticipation. “Are these Granny Smith style?” Boltsinger nodded profusely, finally dishing up his own helping. She gave him a peck on the cheek and floated a fork in from the kitchen. “Well, thank you. But that doesn’t explain why a Wonderbolt was here. And what do you mean by ‘lovestruck’?”
“Oh, he’s just trying to woo Rainbow Dash.” Boltsinger stated as Twilight took a drink of her juice.
Boltsinger found himself covered in juice a moment later, Twilight having performed a flawless spit take. “Trying to what Rainbow Dash? Why?”
“I dunno. I just met him today.” the stallion continued. He reached for a napkin, wiping his face off. “I kinda wonder why he came here first, though. Her house isn’t exactly hard to find.”
Twilight lifted up a morsel of her meal, tapping her nose with it as she stewed. “I suppose it makes sense for him to like her… But this still feels a bit sudden. Why was he running away from you?”
Boltsinger thought back on his conversation with the white Pegasus, considering what had gone on in detail. “I think it’s because I more or less figured him out.” He explained the conversation in as much detail as he could while his wife finished her meal. “And then he ran away, and you came in. So, what do you think? We gonna track him down?”
Twilight nodded. “Yup.”
“Should I apologize to him for making him freak out?” he queried.
Twilight nodded again. “Yup.”
“Should we tell Rainbow about all this?” he continued, getting up and taking the dishes to the kitchen.
Twilight shook her head, slowly getting up and following him. “Nope.”
Boltsinger nodded in agreement, setting up one more plate of breakfast as Twilight wrote a note for the dragon that would receive the pancakes. “You know, you do a surprisingly good Big Mac impression when you feel like it. Just need to extend them a bit at the beginning.”
Twilight gave her husband a playful glare, nudging him with her elbow. “Everyone’s a critic….” She looked forward, her face saying that she was ready to go. “Now, let’s go find that flustered flyer!”
“Right!” Boltsinger agreed, slapping his muzzle with his wings and taking off towards town.
Twilight stood there as the stallion’s turbulence blew her mane and tail forward, blinking a few times before continuing her steady walk. “He could have waited for me…” she grumbled, finally hunching over and taking to the air.
Twilight and Boltsinger came to a landing next to Sugar Cube Corner, heading inside to find the stallion they sought happily munching on a two-layer cake at a table. The two ponies came up on either side of the Wonderbolt, taking a seat.
“I told you he’d be in Sugar Cube Corner.” Boltsinger began, leaning against the table and putting his wing on Soarin’s back. “A hungry pony will generally go to the tastiest-looking place.”
Twilight nodded, putting her own wing over her husband’s. “You were right. He was definitely here.”
Soarin looked back and forth between the two, showing some confusion, and at the same time, embarrassment. “Uh… What are you two doing here?”
Boltsinger put his hoof on the table, looking Soarin in the eye. “I wanted to apologize for giving you the third degree back at the castle. And bring you the pony you were looking for, there.”
Soarin tilted his head. “Oh… Well, uh… Apology accepted.”
Twilight leaned forward a bit, looking at the pony they had come to see. “So, what did you want advice on?”
Soarin lowered his head, looking at the cake in front of him. “Well, your friend was pretty much spot-on.” He admitted. “I wanna get to know Rainbow Dash outside of the ‘Bolts, but I don’t know how to approach her.”
Twilight and Boltsinger looked at each other, giggling. “Is that all?!” The Princess wondered, standing up. “Approaching Rainbow Dash is easy!” She pulled the blue-maned stallion to his hooves. “Here, we’ll demonstrate. Bolt, you be Rainbow Dash.”
Boltsinger smiled, taking a cocky stance and flaring his wings confidently. “Oh yeah!” He exclaimed, doing his best Rainbow Dash voice.
Twilight laughed at the impression, turning to Soarin. “Okay, so here’s how you approach ‘Rainbow Dash’.” She turned to her fellow role-player, trotting up normally. “Hi, Rainbow Dash.”
“Hey, Twi.” Boltsinger replied in his impression, acting as cool as possible.
Twilight came up to Soarin, putting her wing on his back. “You see? Easy.” She lifted the Wonderbolt with her magic, placing him in front of Boltsinger. “Now you try. Just… try to imagine him as Rainbow Dash. I know it’s hard, but you can do it.”
Boltsinger gave Twilight a dirty look. “Everyone’s a critic… I think I do a great Rainbow Dash!”
Twilight adjusted her husband’s wings ever-so-slightly with her magic. “Your wings are off by 0.23 degrees, and your eyes don’t look as fierce.”
“Ah. Thank you.” He said, adjusting his performance accordingly.
“Okay, Soarin, just think of Rainbow when you look at him.” She instructed, pushing the white Pegasus along with her wing. “You’ve got this!”
Soarin took a look at Boltsinger, an image of the mare in question taking his place. He stepped forward shakily, swallowing a lump that had formed in his throat. “Uh… Hey! R-R-R-Rainbow Dash!”
“Hey Soarin.” The image greeted. “What’s with the stutter? You sick or something?”
“No! I’m fine!” He retorted, taking another shaky step. The image he saw stepped towards him, flipping her mane and fluttering her wings. Soarin felt his heart rate increase faster than the adrenaline of a daring flight maneuver. His wings instantly stood at attention, sending him airborne with the force of their ascent.
The image’s head recoiled. “Uh, Soarin?” it began, a deep baritone voice coming out of it. “Maaaaaaaaaaaybe don’t imagine that hard.”
Soarin snapped out of his trance, shaking his head to find Twilight and Boltsinger gawking at the sight before them. “What?” He looked around the room, seeing his rigid wings behind him. “Oh… Sorry…”
Boltsinger burst out laughing, coming up beside his fellow stallion and slapping him on the back with his hoof. “It’s okay, I understand what you’re going through!” He sat Soarin back down next to his cake. “Clearly, you need to get a little practice in before meeting her so… casually. Why don’t you come over every now and then? We can work on your… I wanna say ‘conversational skills’.” He looked over to Twilight. “What do you think, dear?”
Twilight nodded agreeably. “That sounds like a great idea. You’re welcome to come over anytime you need advice.”
Soarin looked between the two ponies, taken aback by their welcoming attitude, even if she did already know the Princess. “Wow, really?” Boltsinger smiled and nodded. “Thanks! But… uh… can you not tell Rainbow Dash about all this?”
“Tell me about what?” a raspy voice came from the entrance. Soarin and Boltsinger looked at the source of the voice, a cyan Pegasus mare with a rainbow-colored mane, hot pink eyes, and a Cutie Mark of a multicolored lightning bolt erupting from a cloud stood in the doorway, tilting her head in confusion. “Some kinda Wonderbolt emergency?”
Soarin’s jaw dropped. He scooped up what remained of his cake, making for the exit. “It’s nothing! Gotta go!” He sped out of the building in a black and white blur, the turbulence blowing back Rainbow Dash’s mane.
Rainbow Dash blinked, walking over to Twilight. “What’s with him?”
Boltsinger nonchalantly walked past his flight coach, patting her on the back with his wing. “It’s nothing. He just needed to talk to a friend.”
Rainbow directed her attention to Boltsinger, the confusion in her eyes still very much apparent. “And since when are you two so buddy-buddy?”
“Since I met him. He’s a pretty cool pony.” the stallion retorted, maintaining his relaxed smile.
Rainbow Dash pursed her lips, leaning towards him with an intense expression. “He’s a great flyer, but he’s a major goofball…” she told him, only just barely easing up. “I wouldn’t call him ‘cool’, but he’s not a bad guy.”
Boltsinger nodded, hopping over Rainbow and standing next to Twilight. “Exactly. Goofballs gotta stick together, you know?” He sat down at the table, coiling his tail around him.
As Rainbow Dash headed to the counter, Twilight sat next to Boltsinger, her eyes drifting towards the foals playing in the corner of the room. Her breathing became slow and steady, leaning against the table as she watched the Cake twins. Her heart raced, and her mind matched its pace. She felt a wing on hers, snapping her attention away from the little filly and colt.
“Hey, you okay?” Boltsinger asked, his concern evident in his gaze. “You looked a little distracted, there.”
“Oh, yeah…” she answered, returning her gaze to the foals. “I’ve just got a lot on my mind.” She quickly spun around to face him again, her mane moving with the momentum and framing her head as she flashed a brilliant smile. “Hey, how about we do something fun in town? It’s Hearts and Hooves Day, after all!”
Boltsinger beamed in return. “Sounds great! What do you have in mind?” The two ponies stood up, heading out of the sweet shop. Twilight went on about several ideas as they went, giving the stallion a mental tour of Ponyville.
Twilight and Boltsinger came in through the front door of the castle, a large barrel floating above the Princess in her magenta magical field. They were laughing and chatting about what they had seen in the antique store. Boltsinger didn’t understand much of the nuances as Twilight did, but he appreciated her appreciation and enthusiasm, and had seen several fascinating things of his own. Twilight had brightened up considerably from the mood she had displayed at Sugar Cube Corner, but the Pegasus could tell there was something eating at the back of her mind.
“So, you said you had a big surprise for me today.” he started as the two rounded the hall towards the library. “Care to elaborate?”
Twilight’s ears turned in his direction, folding them back and placing the barrel to the side. She brought her hoof up to her heart, taking a deep breath and extending her foreleg out upon the exhale. “So, have you noticed anything different about me, lately?”
Boltsinger cast his wife a serious look. “Of course I have.” he confirmed. “You’ve been moving slower. And don’t think I didn’t notice you staring at the Cake twins this morning.” The two sat on the sofa, getting comfortable. “Plus there was everything at the antique store. There were a few things you were lingering on.”
“So, what can you piece together about that?” she lead on.
Boltsinger took a deep breath of his own. “Are you… wanting a foal? ‘Cause that would be moving just a little fast, don’t you think?”
She slowly shook her head. “It would be moving a little quick, you’re right. But, do you remember that vacation we took last month?”
The stallion’s head leaned back, his face bringing out the goofiest of smiles. “Yeah… that was a great vacation…”
Twilight giggled, tickling him under his ear with her wing. She retracted her wing and turned around, leaning back into him. “Well… while it may be moving a little fast… some steps, you just stumble upon…” She took his forelegs with hers, bringing his hooves down onto her belly. Boltsinger’s eyes widened dramatically, feeling a new warmth from within. “Surprise!”