//------------------------------//
// How Does One Do This Thing Called, 'Dating'? 
// Story: Doctor Whooves's First Crush 
// by TheOneWithTheStetson916 
//------------------------------//

"Slow down!" The Doctor yelled, sprinting down the main street of Ponyville. The object of his pursuit-a cyan blue Pegasus-was well ahead of him, yet looked as though she wasn't even trying.
She was enjoying this. He just knew it. 
"You speed up!" she countered. 
The Doctor groaned. "Do you even know where you're going?" he called. That caused her to slow just a bit to give him a look. He was very familiar of these female ponies and their 'looks'.
"I've lived in Ponyville for years now. Of course I know where I'm going." she rebuked him. 
"Fine, but we seem to be taking a very roundabout way."
"Oh, quit whining. It's right here." the rainbow maned athlete said, rolling her eyes. She flared her wings, coming to a halt. 
"Whoa!" the Doctor exclaimed, skidding to a stop next to her, stumbling a bit after his full out run. He looked at the sign on the brightly colored, cheery looking shop. "Sugarcube Corner?" he asked. "Really? That's the name the owners chose? Sugarcube Corner?"
Rainbow Dash elbowed him. "What's so bad about it? Mr and Mrs Cake thought it'd be appropriate..."
"Mr and Mrs Cake?"
She nodded. "Yeah. What's so strange about that?"
The Doctor laughed. "Oh, you ponies. Anyway, are you sure she'll be here?"
Rainbow gave a small chuckle. "I'll bet you both my wings. She's always hanging around here, eating muffins."
"She likes muffins?" The Doctor asked. 
Rainbow's eyes widened slightly. "Likes them? She LOVES them! All she can talk about, mail and muffins. Why did you need to see her again?"
He cleared his throat. Maybe he'd buy her a muffin sometime. An extra large one. "No reason. Thank you for all your help, Rainbow Dash."
She grinned at him. "No problem-o. If anything drops on your head, or if you get injured in any way, I'll just be on that cloud over there. You know, in case you need quick transport to the hospital or anything."
Then, cackling loudly, she flew over to said cloud. The Doctor watched her go with mixed emotions. Could this slightly annoying Pegasus be right? Was his Ditzy really a havoc bringing wrecking ball? He had only met her once, and briefly at that. Was he making a mistake? Should he be safe, rather than sorry? My, being a pony must be having an effect on him. Normally, he would've just rushed right in and proceeded to woo her off her feet-or hooves. Since when did he, the Doctor, think things through? He took a steadying breath and began to walk up to the front stairs. 
Then, the door opened. And out stepped Miss Ditzy Doo. 
Her head was down as she crossed the threshold, so she didn't see him right away. He was preparing to say something, when she tripped over the top stair, sending her tumbling. Head over heels she went, vainly flapping her wings to try and right herself. But down she fell, until she reached the bottom stair. Luckily, she landed on something soft.
Namely, the Doctor. 
"Oof!" she squeaked, as her body connected with his. Her momentum knocked him over, and they both rolled, ending up with Ditzy on top of the Doctor. 
"Oh, jeez. I'm sorry, mister-"
"That's quite alright-"
They were both cut off as Ditzy raised herself up a bit on her forelegs, coming face to face with the brown pony. Their noses were almost touching. He could feel her breath on his cheek as their eyes met. 
Her eyes were straight for a full five seconds as they lay there. Then, she blinked, and the spell was broken.
"It's you!" she exclaimed, a smile breaking out on her face.
"Wha?" the Doctor said intelligently, mind reeling at their closeness, and the wild tumble they had just taken. 
"You!" she repeated. "The Doctor!"
"You remember my name?" he asked. He had been sure he'd have to introduce himself again. 
"Duh!" Ditzy said. "Oh, here, let me get off you..." 
She jumped to her feet, (The Doctor didn't miss the slight blush on her cheeks) and helped pull him to his.
"You're that pony that saved me from those bullies!" she continued. 
"Oh. Yes. Yes, that was me, wasn't it?" he stammered. His well thought out, brilliantly devised plan was crumbling before his eyes.
There was a moment of silence. Say something! he urged himself.
But no words came out. What was it about this pony that left him speechless?
"So..." she began, trailing off.
"So..." he repeated. 
This was just like in the films, or the books! That awkward moment between two characters right before one of them asked out the other.This was his chance. He opened his mouth, preparing something that would make him sound witty and charming and completely irresistible.
But no words came out.
You're just standing there like an idiot! he berated himself. It's just a girl. You've done much more difficult things than ask out a girl. Like saving the Earth and Equestria numerous times!
Why couldn't he do it?
"So, um, what brings you to Sugarcube Corner?" Ditzy asked, trying to keep the conversation going.
"Well, I was just..wandering. You know. Around." The Doctor said. Brilliant. 
"Hey, me too!" she said, with an adorable giggle. "Actually, I come here a lot. Alone, usually. This is one of my favorite spots to hang out."
Alone, usually. Bloody hell, she was asking him to ask her! You're losing your chance, old chap. 
"Ah." he said. "How-how long has this place been open?" 
Now you're steering the conversation away from something you want to talk about.
She seemed a bit disappointed as she answered, "Oh, a long time. Ever since my mother passed."
The Doctor's feelings of self frustration melted away, to be replaced by sympathy.
"Ah. I'm sorry. That must've been hard for you."
"It was. We were close."
Another awkward silence screamed at them. Curse his antisocial ways! 
"Well." Ditzy finally said, with an air of finality. "I'd better get going. Let you continue with your...wandering."
She was disappointed. She thought he didn't like her. No!
The grey Pegasus tuned and prepared to fly away. The Doctor took a look at her, at her beautiful light grey coat and bright yellow mane, at her fascinating eyes, and her bubble cutie mark, which probably had an interesting back story to it, and decided he couldn't let her go. Couldn't let her fly away. 
She was rising into the air when he blurted, "Wait!"
Ditzy turned to him, looking the tiniest of bits hopeful. 
"I-I-" 
He broke off again. She began to turn away.
"I think you're beautiful!" he cried. 
She stopped, in mid air. Froze.
Smooth, Doctor. he thought. But he had said it. And it was true. He couldn't back out now.
"You...what?" she asked, landing on the ground again. She faced him, confusion and curiosity in her mismatched gaze.
He took a breath. "I think you're beautiful. I know we've only met once, but, as brief as that was, I felt something. And I'm not one to be overpowered by my emotions, but...I think you're really funny, as well. And-and you stand up for yourself."
"Really?" she pressed. "You really think that? You weren't put up to this by...I dunno, Cherry Berry or something?"
He laughed a bit. "I can assure you, Cherry Berry wasn't part of this. Nor was any other pony. Well, if you exclude Twilight, but she was only really a consultant, of sorts. What I'm trying to say is, I really do like you, Ditzy."
He ended his little ramble there, waiting for her reaction. She was silent. Was she going to fly away? Tell him to bug off?
Ditzy took a few steps foreward. Maybe she was going to slap him! 
Quit being so dramatic. She was probably going to-
The grey Pegasus leaned towards him. 
And then, she kissed him on the cheek. 
If smiling at him made his hearts flutter,  her kissing him on the cheek made them feel like they were about to explode.
She stepped back from him. He could just imagine the look on his face. Probably something worth laughing at. 
But she only smiled at him gently. He bet she could hear his hearts. 
"Do-" He cleared his throat. "Do you want to go out sometime?"
She grinned. "Finally, you ask me. Yeah, I do."
"How about tomorrow night? Round seven maybe? We could see a movie, maybe grab a bite to eat? I'm thinking...muffins for dessert?"
Her entire face lit up at the mention of muffins. "Oh, yes, yes, yes! I'll see you at eight!"
Her wings flared, and she began to rise again. 
He smiled at her. "See you."
Ditzy left him with one last grin, the grin he'd see in his dreams that night, before whisking away. The Doctor watched her go, waiting until she was just a speck, before leaping into the air and letting out a whoop, waking Rainbow Dash, asleep on her nearby cloud.