The atmosphere around the bar had shifted somewhat as the night went on. Enough alcohol had been consumed by the various clientele that a large portion now either struggled to stay conscious, were unconscious, or had already decided to depart for the evening. Fizzlepop and her friends sat around their same table, mulling over their thoughts and munching on their cupcakes.
Morningstar decided to finally break the prolonged silence. "Where the heck did the second round of cupcakes come from anyway?"
The rest of the table shrugged.
Fluttershy looked around the table. "Did anypony see where Pinkie's cupcake tray went? I was going to make sure she got it back."
The rest of the table shrugged.
Fizzlepop finished off what she decided might be her favorite one of Pinkie's creations yet. If she had to guess it was a very appealing mixture of chocolate, caramel, and coffee. Whatever it actually was, she could feel it giving her the slight buzz of energy she needed as she was finishing it off. "This town is weird," she declared.
The rest of the table shrugged, but with a little more enthusiasm.
"Though no decision has been reached, do you feel better about what you have beseeched?" Zecora asked as she debated finishing her drink.
Fizzlepop shrugged. "I'll admit, I was probably panicking a little when I first gathered you all here. I'm sorry about that, but I'd still like to thank you all as well. Even if we haven't come up with anything solid, I'm feeling better about it."
Her friends gave her warm smiles, which made Fizzlepop smile back. It was Fluttershy that responded. "I'm sure you'll be fine. If nothing else you are great at adapting and coming up with plans on the spot. If you just keep the ring on you, I'm sure the right moment will come up."
"Thank you Fluttershy. Thanks to all of you actually. I'm sure getting dragged out this late..."
"Literally for me," Morningstar cut in.
"... was probably very inconvenient. I'll make it up to you, I promise." Fizzlepop looked at their tired expressions with apprehension, but the smiles upon them were still genuine.
"Do not worry my good friend, I'm sure we all will get something out of this in the end." Zecora smirked as she shot back the last of her drink.
"Yeah, I'm sure I owe you for something at some point anyway. About half a pot of coffee and I'm sure I'll manage tomorrow. Or should I say, in a few hours." There was a slight chuckle as the occupants of the table acknowledged that the late hour had come around to being early. "So, are you gonna be ok boss? I know you don't like going into battle without a plan."
"It's fine Morningstar. Talking with you all I think has made me realize that setting up the perfect moment probably isn't the best idea. Even the best plans fall apart at some point. But it also reminded me that I'm good at improvising." She smiled to them. "So if... when I ask her, I'll be sure to send word to you all as soon as I can. You deserve at least to know your efforts tonight weren't wasted."
"It seems our time is coming to an end, unless another has some words to lend?" Zecora asked the table again, not that anypony felt there was much more to say.
Fluttershy mulled over a thought for a moment before deciding to speak up. "We've been trying to help you make a special moment, but have you thought about the special moments you've already had?"
"Literally every day," Fizzlepop declared without hesitation. "I still can't believe how lucky I was after what I've done in my life. But what were you thinking of specifically?" Fizzlepop asked this, her interest rekindled.
Fluttershy seemed to be considering how to respond. "Well, it's like... I know when you realized you were in love with Twilight." They both shared a knowing smile at that. "But I'm sure there are other moments you've had with her. Maybe one of them could give you some idea on how you might want to propose to her?"
"Hmmm, moments like what? Our first date? When we first became a couple? Unfortunately, most of our milestones involve either lounging in our room reading together, or fighting ancient evils from beyond time and space. I don't think either of those scenarios would work. At one point I entertained the idea of hollowing out a book to use as a surprise ring case. But I realized that if there was anything that could make Twilight leave me, it would probably be intentionally damaging a book."
Fluttershy considered for a few moments. "Do you maybe remember the first time you started to have feelings for Twilight? Like, I ummmm....." She paused for another few moments, color coming to her cheeks. "I decided that if I ever did work up the courage to be the one to ask Rainbow, I'd try to find a way to do it where we first met. Because, well, that's probably the first time I started to have feelings for her. Although I haven't told her that quite yet." Her cheeks were burning red, but she still smiled encouragingly to her friend.
"The first time I realized I liked Twilight... that would have to have been when we started dating. She's the one who helped me realize I felt that way about her after all." Fizzlepop said this, though her face scrunched in thought.
"Not when you realized it, that's not what I'm saying. When do you think you first started feeling that way? Like for me, it took me much longer to realize I was in love with Rainbow than it should have. That's even more obvious in retrospect since I've had time to realize just how long I've had feelings for her."
Thinking about her earliest memories of Twilight made Fizzlepop wince. The rest of the table gave her a minute. "My emotions back then were all anger and contempt. It was literally all I felt, because I forced myself to feel that way. After that I was confused for a long time, so finding a moment like that in amongst all the confusion isn't going to be something I can just do right now."
"Fatigue and spirits may also cloud your vision, time and rest may help you come to a better decision. I think it is time for us all to have some time and peace, after all this we could all use a little... release." Fizzlepop decided not to mention where Zecora's eyes flicked when she paused.
Morningstar gave a little chuckle at the words, having not noticed the pause. "Yeah, I feel sorry for those new recruits. It's going to be a long day for everypony I guess."
Fluttershy blushed as she began to get up from the table. "Yeah, I need to get back home. I think I owe Rainbow a lot of snuggles after tonight."
Fizzlepop stood up after her, giving her a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "Sorry, I didn't mean to pull you away quite that abruptly. I'm sure she'll forgive you, especially if you just blame it on me. And I think she'll manage to forgive me eventually, since I got her that gig speaking at her old flight schools graduation."
Fluttershy giggled. "Yeah, she's been really looking forward to that. It's going to be fun."
Fizzlepop chuckled at that, then paused. "You decided to go with her too, right?" Fluttershy nodded to her question. "The two of you went to flight school together didn't you? You actually met her there if I recall."
Fluttershy seemed to suddenly freeze up. Fizzlepop's questioning look tilted and her eyebrow quirked as she looked over her friend. "I'vegottagogetDashieuntiedsorrythanksbye!!!" And with that a blur of yellow and pink sent the door of the bar flying across town as it made its way away from the establishment at breakneck pace.
Morningstar came to stand next to Fizzlepop as they both watched the vaguely pony shaped cloud of loose fur and feathers slowly float to the ground. "Rarity is going to be a very busy mare in the near future," Fizzlepop stated with a shrug.
Morningstar grunted in affirmation. "Yeah, and that makes it pretty much all my friends at this point." He let out a low groan of frustration. "Just as long as all you happy couples don't go rubbing your happiness in all us single ponies faces."
Fizzlepop turned to him, and he was curious as she gave him a head tilt of contemplation before responding. "I don't think you'll have anything to worry about. Have a great rest of your night, I'm gonna go settle up with Punch."
Morningstar was curious about this as his commanding officer made her way to the bar. The clearing of a throat that was somehow in rhythm caught his attention and made him turn. The look in the cyan eyes surprisingly close to his own made his knees buckle slightly beneath him.
"After such a lovely and interesting conversation, I have had some deep rumination. That such a night with such a friend, does not need to come to an end. So unless a stallion of such a great pedigree, would send a mare alone into the Everfree, then perhaps you can show me to the quarters of your station, and perhaps this night can end in some....relaxation.
Morningstar felt his mouth go dry. "I..I thought after we first met that you really didn't like me all that much."
Zecora smiled a smile that made Morningstar blush. "First impressions can be overcome, now if there are no objections let us go have some fun."
Berrytwist and Berrypunch watched the two leave together. Fizzlepop was sliding her bit bag back into her hoodie as she decided to comment on the situation. "Honestly, probably a better turn out. He really is ruthless when he hasn't slept enough. Probably better for him to just stay up at this point." Berrypunch snickered at the words. "What did you do?"
"Nothing, nothing at all. I just happen to know that Zecora has some zebra brew of some kind that will perk anypony up like no coffee ever could. Seriously, if you're not black out drunk, it'll keep you awake for three days. She sells it to me so I can use it to wake up the harder sleeping drunks around here." She snickered more. "I also happen to know that she took four extra bottles of it with her."
"Well, he does have a certain love for Zebra culture." Fizzlepop considered this for a few moments. She shrugged in acceptance. "Looks like I'm not the only one who's going to enjoy the next week."
Berrypunch disappeared under the bar for a moment. Upon returning she presented an expensive looking bottle to Fizzlepop. "Congrats, in all seriousness."
Fizzlepop paused before reaching out. "Shouldn't I wait until I actually ask her to start accepting gifts though?"
Berrypunch motioned it to her again. "Something tells me you're gonna be fine. Enjoy your vacation, you and Twilight. You both deserve it."
Fizzlepop nodded, and accepted the gesture of kindness.