//------------------------------// // Not the only chapter // Story: The Next Step // by TheKing2001 //------------------------------// I slammed my head against the wall of the apartment I shared with Pinkie. I glared at the calendar that we had in our room. A big red circle was around April fifteenth. The day she asked me out and I had to do something special. I smiled at the memory of that day. Seems like it had just happened yesterday, four years go by faster than you think. Those four years have been the best years of my life. Countless vacations to the areas we always wanted to go to. I think my favorite was when I surprised her with a trip to Greece. We both loved Greek mythology and had absolutely loved Greece. If she was my only friend here, I'd suggest we move there but I wasn't about to abandon our friends. I smiled at the picture my head was near. It was a picture of me and Pinkie on Lake Michigan, standing in front of the famed lighthouse. Pinkie insisted on taking a picture in front of a landmark at every new place we visited: The Pantheon in Rome, the Acropolis in Greece, the Statue of Liberty, the Grand Canyon to name a few. I lost track of time, staring at those pictures. A hand slipping around my waist made me jump slightly. "Good times," Pinkie whispered in my ear. "I loved the site where we saw Olympia. Rainbow didn't understand why a bunch of rocks was exciting to us when we video called her, but it was absolutely beautiful." I gave her a quick peck on the cheek. "They were, weren't they? These four years have been without a doubt the best four years of my life," I smiled at her as we admired the wall full of pictures. Our friends had their own full time jobs now. Applejack at the farm, Rainbow was a pilot with the air force, Rarity worked in Manehatten at her boutique and Fluttershy traveled often to poor countries, volunteering with the Red Cross. Applejack was probably the only friend we saw the most these days. Oh and can't forget Lyra and Bon Bon. I forgot me and Pinkie had been their bridesmaids for a second there. I was Bon Bons, she was Lyra's. Derpy had a daughter now, a very inquisitive baby named Dinky. I still wanted to fight the father for running off on them but Derpy begged me not to. Pinkie quickly nuzzled me and I smiled at the gesture. I returned the gesture and sighed happily. I've never been so in love till the day she asked me out. "I've made dinner, if you're hungry," Pinkie mumbled into my red and golden locks of hair. I hated how Pinkie took it upon herself to constantly make dinner. I had a job with the Canterlot Police Department and she took over the Sugarcube Corner after Mr and Mrs. Cake retired. I'd have expected them to give the shop to Poundcake and Pumpkin Cake but i guess they are still a bit young to run a whole shop on their own. I gave her a tired smile. "Yeah, I'm down for some dinner", I mumbled as we went downstairs. We quickly sat the table and I sighed. "Long day?" She asked as she passed me the water. "Yeah, got a rough case right now. It's really messing with me," I grumbled as I poured a glass and took a sip. Pinkie reached across the table and held my hand. "You're a smart detective. You've only been there for two years and they've already promoted you that high. You'll figure it out, I have faith in you," Pinkie smiled at me. "Thanks, Pinkie," I said gratefully as we ate our dinner, occasionally talking and making jokes. Afterwards, we did the dishes together. We tried to do everything together, dishes cleaning the house stuff like that. I kept thinking about how to make our anniversary special all night. I moved closer to Pinkie in our bed and wrapped an arm over her. "I love you," I mumbled into her beautiful pink hair. "I love you too," Pinkie mumbled back. Soft snoring came from her side and I laughed softly. Suddenly, I knew what I was going to do. I was going to propose. I needed permission first. ------------------------------------------------------------- I pulled my squad car into the place where Maud and Limestone lived with Marble. I glanced over at my partner in the passenger seat. "I'll be right back, gotta take care of something," I said. He waved his hand and started playing a game on his phone. "Take your time." I stepped out and walked up to the front door. I knocked loudly. Downside of being a police officer, you learn to pound on doors. The door swung open and Limestone glared at me. "What on earth do you want?" She demanded. I rolled my eyes. "I need to ask you a question." "Do I need a lawyer?" I rolled my eyes again. "No, you don't need a lawyer. It's regarding Pinkie." She opened the door more. "Oh. You should have started off with that." "Clearly," I grumbled as I stepped inside and shut the door. "Maud and Marble here too?" "Marble! Maud! Get down here now! Sunset is here." Does this women know the concept of asking nicely? I swear she's louder than Pinkie sometimes. I sat down on the couch and listened to them coming down the stairs and sitting on the couch. "You don't have to yell," Maud intoned in her typical monotone voice. Marble nodded shyly. Other than Pinkie, she always was my favorite. Don't get me wrong, I love Maud and Limestone too but Marble is just so different and sweet it's hard not to love her. Getting off track, I'm here for a reason. "Okay, so you three know I've been dating Pinkie for a while now," I began and the three nodded. I took a deep breath. "I'd like your threes permission to marry her. I know I'm supposed to ask the parents but-" Maud cut me off. "But with our parents gone, we're the only three you can ask," she pointed out. I wasn't expecting her to be so outright like that and based on her sisters depressed expressions, nor were they. I gave a quick nod. "I wasn't gonna put it like that, but yes. You three are the most important people in her life, maybe even more so than me. It's only right to ask your guys opinions and permission." "Give us a minute," Limestone growled as the three went to the hallway and huddled together. "Alright Pie team minus one, what do we think?" "Let her," Maud mumbled. Marble gave a smile. "Mhm," she agreed. "What if she is just doing this to steal Pinkie away from us and move far away?" Limestone asked quietly. Marble comfortingly placed a hand on her back and started rubbing. "Thanks, Marble." "Their whole life is here. Sunset is a police officer, Pinkie runs a bakery/coffee shop. They wouldn't just up and leave because they got married," Maud pointed out. "I know you're worried, considering ma and pa, but we won't be losing anyone else in this family." "She's right", Marble mumbled and Limestone stared at her in shock. Marble rarely spoke to anyone except Pinkie. "I support it," Limestone finally said after thinking. The three sisters looked back to me and walked back. "We say yes," Limestone told me. "Under one condition, I come with to help you buy the ring." I was taken back by that, I was gonna have Marble come with but sure. "Sure, Marble can come too," I agreed. "Maud too if she and Marble want." "Sure," Limestone agreed. I stood up and hugged each one. Marble always gave the warmest of hugs. Not too hard, not too loose. I'd never tell Pinkie that. Limestone grunted and rolled her eyes as she hugged me back and Maud hugged me with one arm. I quickly went back to my police and sat in. "How did it go?" Flash Sentry asked. I smiled as I pulled back onto the road. "Went perfectly fine." "Good, I'm happy for you Sunset. I get to come to the wedding, right?" I rolled my eyes. "Of course, you idiot." ------------------------------------------------------------- I walked through the mall with Limestone to the jeweler. I had to make this quick because I was technically still on duty at this point. "We have to hurry, I'm still on duty," I told Limestone and she rolled her eyes. "It shouldn't take long," she reassured me. She expertly weaved her way through the mall till we reached our destination. "Why do you know the way here by heart?" I asked and she blushed. "No reason. I totally don't come here and look at rings, hoping one day I'll get married," she gruffly snapped at me. I raised an eyebrow but decided not to press it. She lead me up and down each case. Pretty much every ring I suggested she turned down, much to my frustration. "She would like this one," I pointed out. "Not too out there, but still enough to be noticed and pretty." It had a light blue diamond in the center. Limestone nodded. "She would like that one a lot," she admitted. "You know, I expected this to go a lot worse with you," I admitted. "Marble was my first choice to bring along." "Do you want to get slapped?" "Do you want to get arrested?" I shot back with a smirk. Limestone paused and smirked back. "It would be a fun story to tell the one friend I have, that I slapped my sisters cop fiancee the day she picked out the ring." I rolled my eyes. "And what one friend is that?" "The piece of limestone on my windowsill." "Do all the pie sisters have a rock pet?" I asked and she scoffed. "Pinkie doesn't, she has a stuffed gator. But Marble does have a small piece of marble in her room that she sometimes talks to when she thinks no one is around to hear her." "Oh. Interesting," I mumbled. A young girl in a uniform behind the counter came up to us. "Hello, I'm Amethyst. Find anything you like?" She asked and I snapped my fingers. "I know you, you're Derpys adopted daughter. Been a while." Amethyst gave me a big smile. "Hey, Sunset. Been a while. How ya been?" "Good, how about you?" I asked as I admired the ring I had my eye on. Amethyst leaned against the counter with a smirk. "Pretty good, what can I get ya?" She asked, glancing at Limestone. "I plan on proposing to Pinkie so I need a ring. Preferably that one," I said as I pointed to the one Limestone and I agreed on. She gave a gasp and hugged me over the counter. "Congrats! I'm very happy for you two," Amethyst gushed and I smirked. "Thanks." Amethyst pulled out a random piece of paper. "We need to go over the finger size and everything, shouldn't be too long," she reassured me. We quickly went over all of it and I could see Limestone looking at rings out the corner of my eye. "She come here often?" I jerked my head to Limestone and Amethyst nodded with a sigh. "Never buys anything, just looks." "Why?" "Probably because she's lonely?" Amethyst gave a shrug as she signed the paper. "The ring will be here in three weeks to a month. I'll give you a call when it's in stock." "Thanks, Amethyst." She waved a hand dismissively. "Not a problem at all, good luck with Pinkie." I nodded gratefully as I left the store with Limestone. I was a bit nervous but oh well, it's far too late to go back now. ------------------------------------------------------------- I finally figured out how I was going to do this. The fair was coming up and they needed police officers to work it for security so I volunteered. I got a free ticket for one guest since I volunteered and the best part was it fell on fhe fifteenth. I think it's fairly obvious who I picked to give it to. "But you're going to be working and not with me," Pinkie pouted as I buttoned up my shirt. Instead of being in plain clothes like i usually did at work, I was going in uniform like the rest of the other officers working the detail. I tied my tie and rolled my eyes. "I'm not working the whole time, it makes sense to have you there already so I can just find you in the crowd and boom, perfect date for our anniversary," I replied as I straightened my collar. "Okay.... that does work out. And I can win all the stuffed animals!" I gave a chuckle at that as I slid my gun into the holster. "Yes, yes you can. And knowing you, you'll somehow do it." "You're gosh darn right!" Pinkie exclaimed. She planted a kiss on my cheek and I smiled. She frowned slightly and stepped in front of me. She tugged on my tie and straightened it. "There," she said with a bright smile. "It was lopsided a tad bit." It looked fine to me, but I've learned better than to question Pinkie Pie. I grabbed her hand and lead her out room and outside. "Are we really walking?" She whined and I rolled my eyes. "It's literally three blocks away," I pointed out. "Let's just walk." "Okay."