//------------------------------// // Happy Stallion's Day! // Story: One Bolt, Spreading Harmony // by Boltsinger //------------------------------// Another day of school, another tired evening. Twilight had been as busy as could be in the past week. She had finally gotten to deliver a long-awaited lesson with the help of her favorite stallion, but as soon as it was over, he left, saying something about somepony else needing him for something. She shrugged it off, trotting her way to the castle. Boltsinger was always like this these days. Always doing something for somepony in need. If it wasn't a lightning-induced mission of altruism, it was some venture he decided to help a friend with. As she crossed the threshold of her enormous abode, she lit her horn for her most oft-used spell. With her typical flash, she appeared in the library with a smile, taking to the air and perusing the available tomes. Many of which were notably missing. Twilight cocked a curious eyebrow, looking at the blank space on the many shelves. "That's strange… Why are there so many books--" An orange blur sped by the Alicorn, stopping next to another book. "Scootaloo?" "There it is!" The filly exclaimed, grabbing the book and holding it up. “Got it!” “Nice!” Came the baritone of Boltsinger from below. Twilight followed the sound to find the stallion in question sitting at her favorite study table, surrounded by books on various subjects. “Bring it over, please!” Scootaloo nodded, descending to the floor with her mother following close behind. “Need anything else?” Boltsinger shook his head. “Nnope!” He looked back at the gathered books, all organized into piles based on the subject matter within. “I think I’ll be busy for a while with all of this.” “Okay, then. I’m gonna go check on Nova!” She stated, giving each of her parents a quick hug before flying out of the room. Twilight waved a farewell to the flying filly, turning to her spouse with a smile. “So, what are you up to?” “Not much.” he replied, burying his face in the nearest open book. “Just doing some research on a few things.” Twilight’s eyes went wide. She scanned what spines she could see of the books. “Really? What are you studying?” Without raising his nose from the pages, Boltsinger pointed a wing at the stack closest to Twilight. "Well, Mrs. Cake wants to expand her repertoire in regards to cake decoration, so I figured I'd find some interesting designs for her to try." He pointed a hoof at the next pile over. "And Zecora needs some new botany textbooks. Goldenrod's already gone through all of the reading material at the hut." Finally, his other wing rose to point at the last pile. "And that? Well, those are joke books. Discord and I are needing some new material in case we have to do another comedic team-up. So I figured I'd nip that problem in the bud." His limbs returned to their default state, with his hooves holding him up while his wings turned the pages as the Princess' mouth went agape. "Plus, you know, figuring out a way to help Sparks." "And you need all of these books for just those three projects?" "Eeyup." "All at once?" "Eeyup." "And you have to do all three projects at the same time?" Boltsinger gave a momentary pause, rubbing his chin with his wing. "Hmm.. " He turned his attention to each of the towering piles of reading material, squinting his eyes. "Hmmmmmmmmmm…" He let a soft smile replace the scrunching of his face. "Eeyup!" "Have you done anything besides projects like this recently?" She wondered, standing next to him with a gingerly raised hoof. "Besides the usual stuff I do?" He guessed, earning a nod of confirmation from his dearly beloved. "Nnope." He turned back to his book, sinking his muzzle into it once again. Twilight's smile widened as she pulled up a chair of her own. "Would you like some help? I'm sure it'll go much faster with a second set of eyes." "It probably would, but I think I can handle it." He dismissed, patting her back with his wing. "You go ahead and relax. You've been pretty busy lately." "I've been busy?" She repeated, floating over the top books of each stack. "You've been devoting your time to helping everypony else so much that I haven't seen you relax in the last two weeks!" "Not too different from what you do." He retorted, turning the page. "But I don't spend all of my time--" She stopped herself mid-sentence, finding a stoically raised eyebrow on her husband's face. "Okay. I spend a lot of time studying. But you're always reminding me to take care of myself, so…" She lit her horn, putting markers in all of the gathered books and raising them into the air. "I'm returning the favor!" "Are you sure?" Boltsinger asked, hanging by his hooves from the book he'd been reading. "'Cause I can keep going!" An later, the castle library was sorted and clean, with Twilight and Boltsinger sitting on the couch facing each other. "So, exactly how much have you done for yourself lately?" The Princess wondered. "Hmm…" Boltsinger's wing came to his muzzle once more, trying to bring out the information he needed. After a moment, he lit up. "I haven't." "Really? Nothing at all?" "Well… I do still eat. Can't go hungry, after all." He affirmed. "Why do you ask?" Twilight breathed a small sigh, finding some familiarity in his restlessness. "I'm just concerned. Self-care is important, you know." The Pegasus nodded, putting his hoof on hers. "I know. I'm making sure everypony I love is taken care of." "Including you?" She reiterated. Bolrsinger's entire body stiffened for a moment, revealing a half-hearted smile as his ears fell flat and his eyes darted around to see everything but her. "I see." She got up from the couch, pulling him along with her with her hoof on his back. "Well, then, by order of the Princess, I insist that you take some time off to take care of yourself for a change." Boltsinger's expression slightly soured, his bottom lip tightening with uncertainty. "But… I really don't want to…" Twilight leaped ahead, turning around to look him in the eye. "Do it for me? Please?" She leaned in close, fluttering her eyelashes. Boltsinger's wings phwooped to attention on his back, forcing him to rear back a little. Of all of the ways she could have made her case, this was easily one of the most effective. He stewed for a moment, trying to devise some kind of defense, but found her charm and pleading to be insurmountable. "Okay… fine." He said, putting his hoof on her cheek. "I'll do something for me… for you." "Good." Twilight affirmed, planting a kiss on his cheek. "I'll get Spike so we can start making dinner. You just take some personal time and relax!" She trotted out of the library, giving him a farewell wave as she went. "Yeah…" He started, gingerly waving his wing as his rump hit the floor with a nervous laugh. "Relax…" Boltsinger trotted through the halls the next morning, forcing a smile onto his face. "Okay! Today I take some me time! Me time, me time, me time…" He stopped by a window, looking out at Ponyville. "What the heck do I do for me time? I mean, I'd go to the library, but Twilight locked it… Why would Twilight of all ponies lock the library?!" He began to pace across the hallway, rubbing his temples with his wings. "Why does this have to be so difficult? Can't I just get a second opinion?" He shot into the air with realization, turning his fake smile more genuine. "That's it! I'll ask around!" He gave wings a firm flap, sending himself speeding out of the open window. The first stop on the stallion’s flight was the closest. He landed at the school, trotting through the courtyard and looking around at the gathered students. It may have been the weekend, but that didn’t mean that the students weren’t still active. He waved to a few of the more familiar faces, noting a bit more aloofness from most of the student body. He paid them no mind, moving to one of his most visited destinations in the school. Past the line that extended into the main hall, Boltsinger made his way into Starlight’s office, where one student was offering her thanks to the room’s owner. “All right, who’s next?” “Do I count?” Boltsinger asked, stepping up beside the desk. “‘Cause I could sure use some help with something.” Starlight breathed a sigh, leaning on her desk and looking up at him. “Okay. What do you need help with?” “I need some ideas on something to do. Twilight told me to take some ‘me time’, but I have no clue what I wanna do.” "That's all?" She wondered, giving him a stoic look. "I know about your whole 'day off' thing, but why do you need my opinion?" "I just thought a second source of ideas might help." He admitted, scratching his mane. "Well, I hate to say it, but I don't have any ideas right now." She stood up from her chair, moving to the door. "I'm kinda busy today, anyway." Boltsinger nodded. "Yeah, I couldn't help but notice that." He thought for a moment, raising a hoof to her. "You wouldn't… maybe… need some help with all of this?" Starlight came to an immediate stop, looking nervously back at the Pegasus. “Help? Why would I need help? I’ve… uh… I’ve got Sunburst to help!” The orange stallion raised an eyebrow, lowering his hoof to the floor. "Um… Sunburst is at home. In fact, I'm pretty sure he's not even awake yet." “Oh, he probably just lost track of time reading last night!” She stated, lighting her horn. “I’ll go check on him now!” With her usual flash, Starlight vanished, returning moments later with the orange and white Unicorn next to her with crooked glasses, a messier than usual mane, a toothbrush hanging out of his mouth, and a distinct lack of his signature cloak. “You see? Here he is!” Sunburst looked around the office, letting the toothbrush drop from his slacking jaw. “Starlight…? Why am I here?” “Oh, you know why!” She retorted, pulling him into a hug. “You’re here to help me out so that Bolt can go have a nice, relaxing, personal day.” She brought her muzzle up to his ear. “Just play along.” Sunburst eyed his fellow stallion curiously as more whispers entered his ears. "I see…" When Starlight pulled away, he adjusted his glasses and cleared his throat. "That's right! I'll be here with you all day!" He got up on all fours, wincing a little as his rump scraped the desk. He shot a glance back at the source of the sensation, remembering his state of undress with a faint blush on his cheeks. "Right after I get changed…" Boltsinger raised a helpful hoof. "I can go grab it for you if you--" "You should go…" Starlight interjected, putting his hoof back on the floor as she considered her options. "... go… visit Pinkie Pie! I bet she would be able to come up with something for you!" A small, slightly frustrated grunt escaped the Pegasus' throat. "Okay… I guess I'll go visit Pinkie…" He headed back to the door, stepping through and calling for the next student to enter. "But, seriously." Sunburst said, looking hopefully at his special somepony. "Can I go get changed?" "Hi, Bolt!" Pinkie called from within the bakery as the stallion touched down. He chuckled to himself as he made his way inside. As expected for the weekend, Sugar Cube Corner was totally packed. The line to the counter was long, but shrinking as the pink pony and her cheesy cohort did their work. As he made it halfway through the room, the pair of party ponies leaned on the counter, simultaneously smiling at the stallion. "What can we do for you?" “Honestly? I don’t know.” He stated, rubbing his neck with his hoof. “Got any suggestions for something I could do today?” “Are ya hungry?” The mare suggested, presenting the Pegasus with a cupcake. “Nothing better to pass the time like a treat!” “One cupcake for all day?” He retorted, taking the cupcake happily. “It’s nice, but I think it’ll take a lot more than just one.” “How ‘bout a batch?” She continued. “Uh, Pinkie?” Cheese started, reaching for the cotton candy-colored mare. Pinkie crouched under the counter, rummaging for a box of treats. “~Oh, nothing brings a smile quite like a cupcaaaaaake…~” “Pinkie, we’re--” Cheese continued, finding himself cut off. “~Nothing in Equestria is easier to bake!~” “Um.” “~It’s true!~” “Well--” “~It’s true!~” “You see--” “~There’s just one thing that spreads the joy! The best sweet trick in my employ! A cupcake makes the world a better plaaaaa--~” “Pinkie!” The brunette stallion interjected, practically lifting himself into the air with his voice. “We’re out of cupcakes!” Pinkie poked her head back up. “We are?” She pulled out one of the many boxes under the counter, looking inside. "Hm! We are out of cupcakes! Lemme just make some more!" She gave the stallion a salute, speeding off toward the kitchen. Boltsinger looked at the most dairy-ing pony he knew, feeling his more inquisitive side take hold. "So it's just you two today? Where are Mr. and Mrs. Cake?" "They said something about putting the twins in daycare." The Earth Pony answered. "It's not like the three of us can't handle things, anyway, right?" “Three of you?” Boltsinger repeated, looking around for any other ponies. Finding little more than displays of sweets and hungry customers, he gave his friend a hopeful look, motioning to himself with his hoof. “Did you, maybe, mean me?" Cheese paid the Pegasus' hope no mind, as he was strapping a chef's hat onto both himself and a rubber chicken with a number 3 on its belly. "Okay, Boneless 3! Time to get to work!" Boltsinger's head drooped. "Oh…" He made an about-face, heading back toward the door as the oven sounded. “They’re reeeea-dyyyyy~!” The bubbly mare called, bringing in a cart full of fresh cupcakes. She placed a dozen of the sweets into a box, holding it up for all to see. "Bolt! Your cupcakes are…" She scanned the establishment, finding herself unable to find a distinct mixture of orange and blue in the crowd. "... done…" On Rarity's door, there was a note to explain her recent trip to Canterlot. At Sweet Apple Acres, Applejack was so busy getting ready for her next date that she didn’t even notice Boltsinger. Rainbow and Soarin were at Wonderbolt headquarters, practicing for their next tour. And at Fluttershy’s cottage, Angel stood watch at the door, sending him a fierce glare the moment he came into view. Whatever was going on there, Boltsinger had decided that he'd best not distract her. He trudged back through the castle halls, listening for any sign of anypony else as he made his way into the nearest bathroom. "Come on, Bolt, you just have to do something you enjoy! Take some time to take care of…" He took a hard look at what he saw in the mirror, letting his expression significantly sour at the sight. "... yourself…" He breathed a deep, loud sigh, jumping into the master bedroom to sprawl himself onto the couch, where he proceeded to begrudgingly drum on his knees. Time began to pass in such a way that Boltsinger couldn't really tell what was going on outside of his drumming. Things moved slowly, and all he could do was sit idly by, alone. Until a shade of lilac entered his periphery. "Hi, Bolt." Twilight greeted, walking over to the couch. Boltsinger drummed a moment more, ending his beat with a slight flourish as he laid his head on the couch's arm, sending her a deadpan stare. "... Hi." Twilight recoiled a ways, taking a single tentative step and lean forward with a hopeful spread of her wings. “So… How’d your day off go?” “It didn’t…” He stated, crossing his forelegs. “Why not?” She wondered, taking another step. “Couldn’t you find anything to do today?” “Nnope." "Really? Why not?" "Everyone was otherwise occupied." He explained, sitting up. "But that wasn't the point of taking a personal day." The Alicorn countered, fluttering to the seat next to him. "You were supposed to do things you liked, for yourself. Did you try going for a fly?" "Flying's not so interesting without someone by my side or on my back." He told her, stretching his wings. "It's nice, yeah, but I don't really care to do it by myself." "What about reading?" "You locked the library." "Oh… right." She rubbed her neck sheepishly. "I just didn't want you to get carried away with what you were doing yesterday…" She looked at him with a curious ear twitch. "Did you try the spa?" Boltsinger raised his eyebrow, trying his hardest to imitate Applejack. "Right… Of course you didn't." Twilight slumped over, letting out an exasperated sound as she leaned into her husband. "Why is it so hard for you to just take some time to take care of yourself?" Boltsinger took a deep breath, putting his hooves around her. "It's… Well… Would you go out of your way for somepony you don't like?" “What…?” The Princess sat up, looking to her spouse with a mixture of curiosity and concern. “What do you mean? How can you not like yourself after all this time?” “I just don’t.” He admitted, resting his head on his hoof. “I mean, I certainly like myself better than I used to. But that’s not saying much.” "So you're saying that after finally making friends, helping to save Equestria, reconciling with your family…" She lifted her pendant and pulled back her bangs, showing the ring that sat at the base of her horn. "... getting married, and gaining not one, but two amazing foals isn't enough to make you like the pony you are?" The stallion sent her a soft smile, pulling her close and nuzzling her nose. "I love you so much… And I love that you're strong enough to love somepony like me." He sat back against the couch. "I'm just… well, not that strong." "I hate when you say things like that…" She stated, turning away from him. "You're a lot stronger than you give yourself credit for." "You're probably right." He affirmed. He wrapped his hooves around her one more time, giving her a firm hug. "Thank you for worrying so much about me. I appreciate it, but I really am fine as-is." He gave her a kiss on the cheek, getting up from the couch. "I'm gonna head to bed. You wanna join me?" Twilight shook her head. "Go on ahead. I'll be a bit longer." Boltsinger shrugged, casually climbing under the covers as the Alicorn's gears began to turn once more. "I know just how F.I.N.E. you are, Bolt. And I'm gonna help you with that any way I can." The arrival of the next morning heralded a whirlwind of activity in the library. As soon as breakfast was done, Boltsinger dove right back into the research he'd been doing while Twilight took the seat across from him. Her studying started small, but grew over time, with the Princess dividing her attention between her work for the school and her sudden new project. The next day, Boltsinger delivered his findings to Mrs. Cake, Zecora, and Discord, but quickly found new dilemmas to intervene in. Somehow, some way, somepony always needed help with something, and Boltsinger was always the first on the scene. All the while, Twilight had moved from reading to writing, with Scootaloo and Spike at her sides. Finally, Friday evening came, and the Pegasus Prince once again trudged through the hall, this time with fatigue. As he passed the bedrooms occupied by Scootaloo and Spike, they each took a short peek, closing their doors as he looked their way. He went into Nova's room, giving him a kiss on the forehead, then went next door to flap wings a single time, landing on the bed and losing consciousness. The Pegasus stallion’s eyes slowly opened after another not-so-restful night. He had gone full-bore in the last few days, helping the students with some individual projects, helping Apple Bloom narrow down a list of potential dates for her big sister, and, of course, taking care of his favorite colt. Today was going to be no different. He moved to get up, positioning his forelegs under him po push himself, but found an extra weight on his chest. “Huh? What’s going…” He looked to the weight’s origin, seeing Nova’s bright face smiling at him. “Hey, little Prince.” He greeted, bringing his hoof up to rub his cheek. “What’re you doing up so early?” “Easy. I woke him up!” Another Alicorn answered, pulling at Boltsinger’s attention. Standing by the bed was Twilight, with Scootaloo hovering next to her and Spike on her back. “We didn’t want him to start crying before it was time, after all.” Boltsinger sat up, taking Nova in his forelegs as he looked at the other three in the room. “Time for what?” "Time to give you this!" Scootaloo declared, motioning above herself as Twilight floated a plate of apple cinnamon pancakes with pear jam and syrup into her hooves. She brought the plate forward, offering it to her adoptive father. "Happy Stallion's Day!" "Stallion's Day? Is that anything like Mare's Day?" He supposed, taking a whiff of the meal before him. "That's it exactly!" Twilight confirmed. "It's a day to celebrate the husbands and fathers in our lives, making sure they're happy and cared for!" "And for us, that's you!" Scootaloo added. Boltsinger raised his foreleg, releasing his colt and taking the breakfast plate in one fluid motion. "Holiday for stallions, huh? Why is it I haven't heard of it before?" Twilight froze for a moment, looking back at the assistant on her back. He gestured to himself momentarily, then looked at the inquisitive Pegasus. “Oh! Uh…” He pondered for a few seconds, lighting up with an idea. “I bet you were doing some lightning thing every other time! It does mess with your memories, you know!” Boltsinger began scratching his chin with his wing, squinting at Twilight and Spike as they smiled innocently. “Hmmmmmm…” Another hint of his breakfast’s scent wafted into his nose, causing a measure of drool to dribble out of his mouth. His attention slowly diverted towards the meal. “Well… I guess if there’s a holiday dedicated to it…” He managed to cut off his own words as he began eating, making a thumbs-up gesture with his wing to show his approval. A confident smile graced the mare's muzzle. "I'm glad you agree!" Within minutes, the meal was no more. Boltsinger proceeded to wipe his mouth, get up, and proceed toward the door, beckoning his family along. "So, since it's apparently 'Stallion's Day', I know exactly what to do!" "And what would that be?" Twilight queried, scooping Nova up in her wing and following suit. "Why, visit Shining Armor, of course!" He declared, spreading his wings excitedly. "Can't have this Stallion's Day to myself, after all!" Twilight dove in front of the Pegasus, putting her hoof up to stop him. "We can't!" Boltsinger cocked his head to the side. "Why not?" "I'm sure Cadence already has a big plan for him today!" She stated, giving him a nervous grin. "Besides, isn't there anything you want to do with us?" Boltsinger's wing returned to his mane as his brain went to work. "Let's see…" He looked around the hallway, hoping to find some hint to work with, only to find walls and little else. He blew a raspberry, sending an innocent smile at them. "I got nuthin’.” He thought a moment more, coming to a smirk and an idea. “Unless, of course, I’m allowed to use the library today.” Twilight winced at her husband’s remark, letting out a forceful, nervous laugh. “Well-- uh… Yes.” “Well, then, Daring Do it is.” He announced, trotting ahead with a joyful splay of his wings. The rest of the family smiled at the stallion, making ready to part ways as he looked back at them, beckoning with his wing. “Well, come on! We can’t read together if we don’t all go, can we?” After a couple of hours spent reading, much of it aloud for the sake of the littlest Prince, Scootaloo threw up her hooves. “Okay! I’m done! What’s next?” Twilight looked up from her book, giving the filly a mildly stern glare. "Shouldn't we leave it up to Bolt? It is Stallion's Day, after all." Scootaloo's ears lowered at the reminder, sending her shrinking into herself. "I don't mind if Scoot wants to do something different." The stallion in question stated. "I'm just glad to be doing stuff with my loved ones." "Really?" The Crusader asked, her eyes brightening. "Eeyup!" Scootaloo shot into the air, hovering face to face with Boltsinger. "Then can we go flying? All four of us?" Boltsinger chuckled, tussling his favorite filly's mane. "Sounds like fun." “YES!” She cheered, performing a loop that took her to the center of the room. “Come on! Let’s go--” “-- outside…” The quartet of ponies stood at the open door to the Castle of Friendship, looking out at a torrential downpour. "Oooooor not…" "What do you mean 'or not'?" Boltsinger replied, giving his daughter an excited look. "Well, it's raining." She told him, pointing her hoof outside. "Can't exactly fly in that kind of weather." "Maybe not." He affirmed. Scootaloo let out a disappointed sigh, turning to go back inside until a spray of water slapped her side. She winced from the sudden onslaught of cold, looking back to where it came from. There was Boltsinger, out in the rain with a goofy smile on his face. "But we can still do stuff outside!" He stepped toward them, narrowing his eyes. "Or are you afraid to get wet?" The adventurous foal met his gaze in kind, buzzing her wings in excitement. "Oh, you're on!" She leaped out the door, landing in a particularly large puddle and creating an enormous splash. The Pegasi began circling each other, stomping in puddles as hard as possible. Twilight sat in the doorway, looking fondly at the two of them with Nova held firmly in her foreleg. She took a look down at the colt, running her hoof through the calmer purple part of his mane. "This holiday's going pretty well, isn't it, sweetheart?" Nova babbled incoherently, seeming to acknowledge his mother's comment as he watched his daddy and big sister play outside. He clapped his hooves together with a giddy giggle, lighting his horn and enveloping himself and his mommy with a blue light. With a familiar flash, Twilight stood in the rain between Boltsinger and Scootaloo, with Nova rising from her grip and landing in the nearest puddle. The Princess rolled her eyes, quickly giving the baby a playful glare. "So you wanna play that way, do you?" She flared her wings, jumping forward to land ahead of him and let the splash hit him head-on. Nova reeled back, falling on his rump with a loud laugh. When he was finally able to open his eyes, his family stood over him, all smiling down. Twilight looked at the Pegasi with a smirk that indicated a plan, eliciting a laugh from everypony else. "Ready?" Boltsinger, Scootaloo, and a freshly-risen Nova nodded enthusiastically. "One… two… three!" On cue, the equine quartet jumped, landing with a force that sent a miniature tsunami out for a few feet in all directions. They simultaneously burst into laughter, falling to the ground to form a circle with their heads in the center as they gazed at the clouds above. Boltsinger let out a satisfied sigh, reaching for Nova and pulling him into a foal-sized Princely hug. "I love you all so much… Thank you." Upon hearing the stallion's words, Twilight and Scootaloo looked to each other with a soft smile, sharing in a triumphant hoof bump. “Did you have to go splashing in the rain for that long?” Spike asked, setting a plate full of hot cocoa on the dining room table, around which sat Twilight, Scootaloo, Boltsinger, and Nova, still dripping wet from their time outside. “I mean, I know it’s a ‘holiday’, but that’s kinda going overboard, don’t you think?” Twilight sat up straight, motioning to herself with her hoof. “I’ll have you know that I--” A sneeze forced its way out of the lilac pony, followed by a snort, a sniff and a tissue floated over. “Excuse me…” She blew her nose, wiping it off and righting her posture. “I was trying to say that I wasn’t planning on splashing around. It just happened to happen that way.” Spike shrugged, flying over to the youngest in the room and proceeding to towel him off. “Fine. But could you try not to be so good at it?" He looked to the doorway, which was covered in muddy hoofprints of varying sizes. "I just cleaned that floor this morning, you know." "Sorry, Spike." Boltsinger sheepishly replied. "Next time we'll fly in." A towel flew into his face, falling away to reveal a stoic Spike. "Or we could just not get muddy in the first place." "Good idea." The dragon deadpanned. He pulled the towel off of the colt’s head, causing the purple and blue mane to puff out almost unnaturally. “I guess I’ll go get the mop, then.” “You’re a lifesaver, Spike!” Boltsinger stated, raising his glass to the reptile. “Yeah, yeah, I know…” Spike mumbled, taking wing and vanishing behind the doorway. "So…" The stallion started, slowly turning to look at Twilight. "What's next?" "Whatever you want." She told him. "Today is all about you." "Does it have to be, though?" He wondered, resting his head on his hoof. "Scootaloo got to pick something for us to do. It's only fair that you get a choice." Twilight put a hoof over her heart, giving him a warm smile. "I really appreciate the sentiment, but Stallion's Day is for the stallions. And that means you." Boltsinger rolled his eyes, breathing a small sigh. "Okay, fine. Do you have any suggestions, then?" "Suggestions? What do you mean?" "What are some Stallion's Day traditions? You're the expert, after all." Twilight's smile stiffened considerably. "Traditions, huh? Well… um…" Her eyes darted around the room, searching for something to say. They fell upon Scootaloo, taking a sip of her cocoa. "Scootaloo got you a Stallion's Day card!" In an instant, hot chocolate sprayed out of the filly’s mouth, splattering against a sudden barrier created by the colt across from her. She snapped her gaze to Twilight, making her confusion plain as day. "I did?" Twilight nodded emphatically. "Oh, right! I did get you a Stallion's Day card! I just… uh… forgot where I put it!" She hopped out of her chair, running for the door. "I'll go look for it now!" As the Crusader made her exit, Boltsinger refocused his attention on Twilight. "So, are there any other Stallion's Day traditions I should know about?" Twilight scooted back in her chair a ways. "Um… Nope! It's a pretty recent holiday." "It is?" He scooted toward her. "How recent? I'd love to know the history." "Oh, it's not that interesting." "Isn't that for me to decide?" "It's really dull, though. You'd be bored to sleep." "This coming from somepony who recently read a five hundred page book about the invention of the modern highlighter and said it was the most fascinating read she'd had on weeks?" "It was fascinating!" She sat back, crossing her forelegs. "I owe a lot to the modern highlighter, and it was intriguing to learn how they came to be!" Boltsinger put his hooves up defensively. "Okay, okay, you have a point. But still. I'm interested to know this holiday's history." "Well… I can't remember." She dismissed. "So how about we go to the library and look it up?" He suggested, making ready to get up. "I'm sure you've got the book." Twilight's eyes widened, her horn lighting to send her teleporting in front of him, holding him back with her hooves. "You can't!" Boltsinger pushed the hooves away, looking in her eyes with a hint of intrigue. "Why not?" "Because… the library's a mess!" "That's never stopped us before." He stepped past her, moving to pick up Nova as a magenta aura surrounded him. "Please! Don't try to look it up!" She walked in front of him, looking pleadingly at him. "For me? Please?" Bpltsinger narrowed his eyes. It wasn't often she tries to stop him from doing research, even if it had happened more recently. "Are you afraid of what I'll find if I do?" "Well.. um…" She averted her eyes for a moment, trying to think of what to say. Finally, she let out a long sigh, releasing him from her spell and looking back at him. "Yes. Because you won't find anything." She turned away, hanging her head. "I made the whole thing up." She rubbed one foreleg with her hoof, chancing a glance back. "I just couldn't stand seeing you work so hard with no regard for yourself. You got wound up so tight that even my stressing seemed sane! So, Scootaloo, Spike, and I worked on something that would give you a reason to unwind for a day." "And you came up with a holiday for stallions in general so that I would think it was for everyone." He concluded. He moved to stand beside her, putting his wing around her affectionately. "Well, it worked. I feel better than I have in moons." Twilight lit up, raising her head to see him in full. "Really?" "Eeyup!" He confirmed. "And I can't wait for next year's Stallion's Day!" He put his free wing to his chin in the Hope's it might power his pondering. "But… Maybe we let every family have it next time? We could talk to Celestia about it sometime." Twilight's wing made its own way around him, pulling him in for a loving nuzzle. "That sounds great." "Great." He nuzzled back, moving back to the table. "By the way, I figured out you made it up a few hours ago." The Princess recoiled, nearly stumbling backwards. "How?!" Boltsinger smiled, pointing his wing in the direction he knew to be the castle entrance. "Who schedules a rainstorm on a holiday?"