//------------------------------// // Chapter Six: A Delightful Date // Story: A Brush With Fate // by RadBunny //------------------------------// “You asked him on a date.” “Sister, please.” “You asked him on a date, he said yes and complimented you.” “Cellyyyyyyyy.” “He complimented you in what sounds like an absolutely adoring way, and you smacked him with a brush! Again!” “I was flustered!” “You hit your date with a brush!” “I was throwing the pillow at him! I didn’t realize the brush was also in my magic until…” Celestia was now unable to hold back her laughter, soft giggles escaping her mouth as Luna pouted fiercely at the raspberry pastry in front of her. “H-here, d-dear sister. I h-had these made on a whim!” Celestia gasped, levitating over a large box. Luna took a rebellious bite of the pastry, then opening the box and glaring at Celestia, who was now nearly falling out her chair with mirth. Staring at her were a dozen sturdily-sewn and crafted hairbrush plushies. “T-those won’t hurt him! S-so you can smack t-to your-” *SPLAT!* Luna grinned in victory as the cream pie plastered Celestia’s upper torso, the extra-laden dessert slathering her sister from chest, to neck, to the top of her head. “I…may have deserved that,” Celestia grumbled as Luna took another, victorious helping of pancakes. “Thank you for the gift, Sister. I shall use them in lieu of the wooden ones.” “I’m sure Steel Heart would appreciate that. His pillow armor thankfully spared his poor head. I won’t tease you anymore since you do have your first date in a rather long time. Now I think you need to go to bed. You’ve got a date tomorrow!” “I can only imagine what he’s going to say…” Steel stood at attention; Luna barely able to look at him without breaking out into giggles. He had reported to her study an hour or two early, as they had planned…. But clearly his armor had the effect the stallion hoped for. His head and barrel were completely wrapped in pillows, and a shield of similar construction was firmly attached to his left forelimb. “I just wanted to make sure,” he finally said with a grin, Luna now in silent stitches as she gasped for breath. She managed to clear her head enough to teleport them to the Bay, a lovely picnic basket and blanket set out amid some trees. It was only then that Luna hugged her sides in laughter as Steel continued to stand at pillow-covered-attention. Seeing her so relaxed, that I can make her laugh, it’s…I like that. It was such a simple thing. Nothing as dramatic as a pink arrow to the heart or starry-eyes in Luna’s presence. Instead, just a warm glow at seeing the Alicorn happy, her eyes sparkling with mirth and life. It was something that had drawn Steel’s attention from when they had first met. It had grown from a curiosity, to an understanding. And now? Such a thing could grow more. She wanted it to grow more. It was a lot to process in a day, but when such affectionate feelings were already present, just ignored, it was a bit easier to shift such thinking. Especially when she’s a friend, even if we don’t know that much about each other just yet. But I hope to change that. Luna finally got herself under control and sat in front of Steel as she wiped tears from her eyes. “Steel, you look ridiculously fantastic,” she managed to say, now levitating off the helmet as her eyes softened. “But could you remove it for a moment? There’s something I’d like to address before anything else.” He did so, curious as to where this was going. Luna trotted forwards, actually looking genuinely upset for a brief second. “May I give you a hug?” Steel blinked at the request, not ever having recalled hearing such a thing from…anyone. “I…of course.” As Luna wrapped the guard up in her forelimbs, Steel felt her shiver slightly. “I really am sorry about smacking you with that brush. The thought of causing you any harm is extremely upsetting. I just-I wanted to say I was so very sorry.” Gladly returning the gesture, Steel let himself relax for a few moments and enjoy the affectionate embrace. The fact Luna leaned into him ever so slightly made the stallion’s heart skip a beat, especially as her hug tightened. The simple things. “Well, apology accepted, and no hard feelings. I’d just prefer to avoid any future brush-related incidents,” Steel finally said, Luna reluctantly releasing her hold on him as her normally dark cheeks lightened up slightly. Downside of your color scheme, Luna. I can totally tell when you even have the slightest blush. Still very cute. And it’s nice that I can let that thought linger. “I can certainly promise that any such things will not be intentional. My sister gave me plushie brushes just in case.” Luna remarked, then gestured to the stallion as she averted her gaze briefly. “You have a comfy shoulder indeed.” “Comfy? Is that a new adjective to describe me now?” Steel teased, hoping he wasn’t pushing his luck too far. Judging by the quiet blush from Luna, he hadn’t crossed any lines. The stallion decided on a slightly different gesture, reaching down to gently hold one of Luna’s hooves for a brief moment. “I just tease out of jest, but don’t want to push my luck too far,” he admitted, then letting her hoof down. Luna stared, but then her shoulders relaxed as a relaxed smile flitted onto her features. “You aren’t acting out of turn, Steel. It has been ages since anyone has bothered to be so relaxed around me. I…rather enjoy having someone else to tease other than my sister, and vice versa,” she mused, then levitating a picnic basket over. “Since it was I who asked you on this date, I put together a few ideas, if you’d like? Perhaps a snack and then exploring some nearby ruins?” the Princess asked, clopping her front hooves together nervously. She’s nervous around me. The Princess of the Night, who oversees the entire dream realm…is nervous around me. That’s one of the most flattering things ever, and rather telling. “That sounds rather nice, but if I may ask, did you cheat and ask a certain bubbly Pegasus guard about a hobby of mine?” Steel asked with a grin, Luna pouting with a nod. “Your usual patrol partner was the only one I could think to ask. I wanted to solve that today though, if I’m being honest.” “Oh?” Luna nodded, the pair munching on some light pastries and vegetables as the moon cast a soft shadow over the rippling waters in the distance. “I don’t know much about you, Steel Heart. My efforts to plan a date for today made that abundantly clear. And I’d most certainly like to know more about you.” “Me?” A simple nod was the alicorns answer, Steel’s brow furrowing. “I mean, you know my file.” “Steeeeel.” The stallion couldn’t help but laugh, the pitiful whine from Luna coupled with her adorable pout was too much. “I get it, I get it. Well, growing up in Manehatten was tricky, especially with a father into politics. He was none too pleased when I wanted to go into the guard, but my mother fully supported me, as did my siblings.” “Sisters?” “Two younger sisters and a brother, one older brother. They’re all doing their separate things after the…well, incident with the fire.” “Ah, sorry, I-” Steel shrugged, waving a hoof dismissively. “It’s fine, really. I wouldn’t mind telling you the specifics later, but it’s not exactly happy first-date material.” Luna nodded, relaxing slightly at his reassurances. “I have to say, I was surprised to see you at the theatre,” she admitted, deciding on a different topic of conversation. “I enjoy such things. Musicals, stories that tug at your heart; it’s a shame some creatures look down on other for enjoying such things.” “What about Opera?” Steel wagged his head back and forth at that, letting out a hum in thought. “While it isn’t my favorite, I can appreciate the talent and art form itself, your…self?” he asked, voice drifting off on seeing an excited grin on the Lunar Princess’s features. “I take it you enjoy it?” “Very much so; it’s rather invigorating to find another who enjoys it, or at least appreciates the art. My sister can’t stand it,” Luna admitted. “Well, perhaps that can be a future date?” Steel suggested, the bright blush on his cheeks making his face burn as Luna giggled. “Barely into the first date, and already planning a second? The boldness, Steel!” Luna teased, the stallion grumbling to himself. “But yes, I very much like that idea.” The extremely cheesy and dopey grin on the stallion’s face was enough to make Luna smile for some time as they finished their meal, then meandering down to the ruins for a bit of exploration. “Soooo the ancient tribe got literally washed away?” “Oh yes, it was quite the event. They were all fine of course, unicorn spells and all, but they were quite surprised,” Luna explained as they looked at a pictograph on a worn, mossy stone wall. “And they returned here to record the history for the next decade or so?” “Exactly. I just find such things interesting, the creators long gone, but their history…remains.” Luna’s voice hitched at the last few words, Steel’s ears perking up as he looked over in concern. He had vague idea of what was bothering her, but held his tongue. “I will tell you, Steel,” Luna whispered, “Just, not yet.” “I’ll be right here,” he replied, then humming. “Well, maybe not like, right here, next to you, but figuratively. Maybe a few hallways over.” Luna was starting to giggle. “Or a few rooms. Hopefully no more than a day’s journey, but I suppose portals are a thing. It would be a pain to walk.” Now that Luna was gasping for breath, even though it was such a silly and stupid joke, Steel relented, her pent-up stress reaction another indicator of how heavy her thoughts were weighing on her. “T-that shouldn’t have been so funny,” Luna admitted with a gentle smile. “But thank you.” “Well, it really wasn’t that funny, but I thought you could use a laugh,” Steel replied, his words being rewarded with a gentle nudge on the shoulder. “I could. Such melancholy has no place on a date, least of all with you,” the Princess added, a familiar dopey grin returning to Steel’s features. “I’m just glad I can help make you smile.” Such a sincere response pulled another blush onto Luna’s cheeks, the Princess letting out a frustrated huff. “Must you be so sincerely adorable?” Steel stood at attention proudly, nodding once. “Yup!” As a soft chime echoed around them, Luna frowned at the alarm. “I was hoping for longer,” she muttered. “Well, we can continue from here on our next date?” Steel suggested. “That is, if you’d like to go on another one?” Luna blinked, trotting over to give a brief nuzzle against Steel’s cheek, then backing away with a smile. “Of course, Steel. I’d love another date.” She let out a happy sigh as Steel trotted forwards to give her a hug, the Alicorn leaning into the gesture. Of course, Luna gave her previous answer for the next ten consecutive dates, much to a certain stallion’s joy.