Dusk awoke late the next morning, his heart was still aflutter from the events that transpired the day before and wondered what to do for that day. He didn't want to take things too quickly with Fluttershy, so he decided to let her have some space. However, if she had asked him to do something 'no' was going to be the last thing he would say.
The park seems like a grand idea, he thought. There were a few marble tables out there, maybe someone brought a set out there. He was of course referring to chess, Celestia taught him early on as part of his mental training in the Everfree Forest. He had a set he crafted by hand, but he left it at home in fear that it might get damaged on his trek to town, but, other ponies would have brought their own to play with. So, he fixed himself some breakfast, cleaned himself up and headed out into the warm sunshine.
After strolling through town Dusk had reached the park, he was delighted to see so many ponies playing on the tables but worried he would be stuck simply spectating. Fortunately, an older gentlecolt sat with a well carved set waiting for some pony to come and challenge him.
"Lovely day we're having," Dusk greeted the player.
"Indeed, you interested in playing a game or two?" The older pony replied.
"If this seat isn't already taken," Dusk replied. The older pony gestured for him to take a seat, as he did he felt an introduction is in order. "My name is Dusk, hope to have a fun game here."
"People call me Kingpin, I suppose you can do the same." The gentlecolt replied.
Kingpin huh? Well this will be nothing if not interesting. Dusk thought with a grin appearing on his face.
The board had the black pieces facing the challenger, and today that challenger was Dusk, the two shook hooves and began their mental combat. Kingpin had started with the Italian, a basic opening used mostly at the novice level.
Really, and here I thought this was going to be interesting, Dusk thought, a little disappointed. The game took a sharp turn when Kingpin played a line called the Evan's Gambit, this pony knew what he was doing. Well, never mind, this just got exciting, Dusk thought as he calculated ten different potential lines ten moves in each with every turn.
An hour had passed and not a single piece had left the board, these two were as evenly matched as they come as each tried to formulate a plan to obtain victory. Suddenly, Dusk saw his shot, a move that would force his opponent to give up his rook or be checkmated immediately. He analyzed the move carefully, the plan was airtight, not a single act of recourse.
Upon picking up his queen to move it to the kill square, Dusk heard someone shouting in his direction, "Dusk, I need to talk to you!" He couldn't here exactly what was said, but her heard his name. This immediately broke his concentration, as he dropped his queen on the wrong square, which happened to hang it on the scope of his opponents bishop.
Kingpin chuckled, taking the queen without a sign of remorse. Dusk could only fell frustration, but nonetheless he tipped his king over, admitting defeat. "Well played my good man, but next time will not be so lucky, this I promise."
Kingpin simply laughed, "Looking forward to it, to be honest I thought you had me for a minute. That was one of my hardest fought games in over five years."
Dusk then turned to see the culprit responsible for ruining such an exciting game, thankfully he knew it wasn't Fluttershy, she wouldn't have said or even shouted at such a high volume. To his displeasure it was Twilight, and he had not forgotten about how she had interrogated him so ruthlessly.
"I'm sorry did I interrupt something?" Twilight asked. She obviously didn't understand the mindset of a chess player in a hard fought game. Dusk could still here Kingpin laughing as he reset the board and felt disappointment toward his performance.
"Yes, unfortunately," Dusk replied. He wasn't going to attempt to hide his frustration at the debacle that had unfolded before him in that moment.
"Oh, I'm sorry should I come back later?" She asked, he couldn't tell if there was sincerity in her voice then but lacked the focus to care.
"No, it's already done I just dropped my queen in his bishop's scope and just tipped my king in defeat," Dusk explained as he was assuming he was talking to a chess aficionado. Twilight just raised and eyebrow in confusion, she wasn't even sure he was speaking the same language she did.
"Never mind, so what did you say up on the hill? I was kind of focused on my game so I couldn't quite make out more than you saying my name." Dusk was annoyed but that wouldn't have been an excuse to be disrespectful to any pony, especially a close friend of Fluttershy who just happened to be his mentor's prized student.
"Come with me." she led him out of the park on a path that led back to town. "I talked to Fluttershy today, she was still very angry with me. I haven't seen her get that furious since that dragon incident last year, please don't ask about it. I wanted to know why she reacted the way she did yesterday. Then, I found out you two are officially a couple. Congrats, by the way."
"I don't wish to be crass, but I'm waiting for the question." Dusk stated impatiently.
"Okay, I may have crossed a line with my actions and I need to apologize," she admitted. "So, I'm sorry. I am so sorry for what I put you through. Can you forgive me?"
"I... I don't know. I need to talk to someone about this."
"If you need to talk to Fluttershy that's fine. I will be at the library if you want to talk." With that, Twilight left him on the path.
Dusk headed down the path toward the home of a certain yellow pegasus. All he could think about was the night before. But, not the questioning, the events that followed were more important in his mind. She tried to protect me. More than most have done in a long time. This thing with Twilight, I don't care about it, but I know Fluttershy does. I need to know what she thinks.
He turned down the path to her cottage. His heart feeling both lighter from the thought of seeing Fluttershy, and heavier for what he has to talk to her about. As he approached the cottage, he heard a beautiful singing.
"Ahhh, ah, ah, ahhh, ah, ah.
He followed the sounds behind the home to a large garden being tended by the singing beauty.
"Do you always sound so beautiful?" He asked.
Fluttershy's response was jumping three feet in the air and giving a small scream.
"Sorry! I didn't mean to scare you!"
"Oh, Dusk. I, uh, I didn't know you were coming."
"Do you want me to come back later? I can if you want."
"No! Please, it's nice to see you come visit me."
"Well, I still interrupted you. Were you working in your garden?"
"Oh, well I was. But I can take a break."
"Nonsense, I can help."
"You don't need to do that!"
"I know I don't, but I still want to."
"Well, okay then, if you're sure."
"Great, so what do you need me to do?"
The two spent the next few hours weeding, watering and picking. They each carried a basket of fruits and vegetables back to the cottage when a little green hummingbird flew in front of Dusk. Looking at him, with curiosity, causing the two to stop.
"Hummingway, please stop bothering him. He doesn't want to play." His caretaker stated.
"He's not bothering me, Fluttershy." Dusk lifted a fore hoof and the little bird perched on it. "Hey little guy."
Hummingway gave a happy chirp and moved up to his shoulder. "That's so cute, I think he likes you."
"I've always been fascinated by these little guys."
"Really? Do you want to take him home with you?" The little bird perked up a bit at the question.
"Are you sure that's alright?"
"Of course, I have plenty of animals here. And I love to see them find homes with nice ponies."
"Well, if you're sure." He looked down at his shoulder, "You want to live with me, Hummingway?"
The little bird nodded excitedly.
"Alright, then it's settled. Now let's get this stuff in the house."
The two put the baskets in the kitchen and sat on the couch. Hummingway decided to move on top of his new owner's head.
"Now I'm sure you didn't come all the way over here just to do some gardening."
"Oh right, I, uh, talked to Twilight earlier."
"You did? What did she say?"
"She asked for forgiveness. I couldn't give her an answer without talking to you first."
"Well... what do you think?"
"I think that you were furious at her when she talked to me."
"Dusk, she had no right to do that and I wasn't about to let her get away with it. I know what you've been through and I couldn't stand seeing you like that. It's just not fair to you, after what you've been through. Personally, I can't forgive her yet for doing that. But I am not you, so I won't tell you what to do. Nothing will change between us, no matter what you decide."
"Well, I think I have enough weighing on my mind. I need to talk to her, but first there has been something I need to know."
"What is that?"
"What was up with Rarity? It went from 'hello my name is' to 'what are you doing tonight'."
"Oh, uh, she wanted to tell you that herself. Sorry," her eyes turned toward the floor.
"Hey that's fine. I guess I have more things to do today, I better get started then. As much as I hate the idea of leaving."
"Oh stop, you're welcome to come visit whenever you want." She smiled.
"I'm going to hold you to that. Do you have anything for Hummingway before I go?"
"Oh, I don't think so. He's pretty low maintenance in terms of care. Just make sure he gets enough food everyday and he'll be fine."
"Thanks," he gave her a kiss on the cheek before getting off the couch and walking out the door. "I will see you soon, if not today then tomorrow."
"Bye Dusk." She sighed.
Dusk walked down the path with his new little friend nesting in his mane. "Getting comfortable are ya?" The little bird hummed in approval. "I have a feeling this is the start of a great friendship."
The two made their way through the town getting occasional glances and snickers. Dusk walked into the library to see a familiar unicorn reading a book on a couch by the window.
"Ah Dusk," Twilight greeted, "judging by the little bird on your head I see you visited Fluttershy."
"Yes I did, and I have an answer to your question. I have too much on my mind to make room for a grudge. I forgive you, but if you do it again, it's not me you are answering to."
"Who would that be?" She asked hesitantly.
"Fluttershy, she still is upset about what you did. I don't even want to think about what might happen if it happens again."
"I am well aware. And I can't say just how sorry I am. I just let my desire for knowledge get to me." She looked down in shame for her actions.
"We make mistakes to learn from them. Now I need to go talk to Rarity, good day Ms. Sparkle." He began to take his leave.
"Wait why do you need to talk to her?"
"That's something I'm still trying to figure out. Good day." He left the library, Hummingway picked up on his negative feelings and flew off his head. Hovering in front of him with a look of concern. "Don't worry little guy, that was just the after affects of a negative meeting a little while ago. Water under the bridge now, I promise."
The little bird nestled back into Dusk's mane. Dusk continued down the road, shoot, I should have asked where to find her! Wait, you can figure this out. She owns a shop, or rather a boutique. So I just need to find a fancy clothing shop. As if fate was listening to his thoughts, a shop with a very well crafted purple dome stood further down the road. I'm going to bet that's it. He walked through the door and heard a familiar voice.
"Welcome to Carousel Boutique where everything is chic, unique and magni- oh Dusk how can I help you?" Rarity greeted.
"I need to ask you a question."
"Well, can I ask you one first?"
"I suppose."
"How are you and Fluttershy doing?" Her words perplexed him.
"So, Fluttershy told you?"
"Well, yes."
In that case, very well. I wanted to ask about that day."
"I assume you mean the part where I asked if you would accompany me to dinner?"
"Indeed, don't get me wrong I'm very flattered but at the same time a little confused."
"Well, it was a little test."
"You were testing me?"
"Well, not testing you per se, but rather testing a theory."
"Can I ask what this theory was?"
"That you and Fluttershy liked each other. And I mean like like each other."
"How could you have thought that."
"There were a couple of little tells. The fact that you two came late, the way you kept glancing at her and how she couldn't help staring at you. I knew that there was something between you two."
"So how did asking me out prove this?"
"Because I know you would have respectfully declined. The shock on your faces was pretty self-explanatory as well."
"But, what if I accepted your offer, not fully understanding the romantic intent?"
"Fluttershy would have shown up instead of myself. Which would give you the alone time to let your feelings out."
"That would have been, nice. Huh, well, I guess you know what you're doing. I just ask that you don't try that again."
"Darling, you already have her. What would the point be?"
"Valid point."
"Just remember, if you hurt her, there will be consequences." Rarity threatened.
"I wouldn't dream of it. Now, I need to get my little friend fed today. Good day to you Rarity."
"To you as well, if you ever need a nice tuxedo for a date, don't hesitate on coming in."
"Of course," Dusk bowed and took his leave. These tasks were a lot easier than I imagined, I wonder if this whole trial is just being over exaggerated in my mind. "Now let's go visit the flower stands, you must be hungry." Hummingway gave an excited chirp and flew off his head.
The unicorn left the boutique feeling much better. Until he took about ten steps from the door, when a cyan blur had collided with his head and rendered him unconscious.