Despite my best efforts, it took two weeks to get a pony from town to talk to me without screaming in terror. Sadly, this pony was Lotus who merely smiled, passed me a box of mane and coat care products, and told me not to be a stranger.
Even Pinkie had grown to find this irritating past day one, granted she never openly showed it. “Don’t worry Alley, they’ll come around,” she always said whenever she saw a door slam in my face.
Rarity’s solution seemed quite the opposite though…
*****
The fashionista pursed her lips as she placed fabrics near my coat. “It’s so hard to make something match and not make you seem intimidating. I’ve gone through countless designs to help present you with a gentler demeanor but I just haven’t had any luck seeing it work.” Between bolts of cloth whirling around us, I saw dozens of mannequins with bat wings attached to them, each with a different ensemble.
“Rare, aren’t you blowing this out of proportion,” I asked her nervously.
Rarity scoffed. “Not in the least, I know your next plan will be your proposal. Have you thought about how you’ll do it?”
“I talked to Fluttershy about pegasus traditions when proposing and she slammed the door in my face. It wasn’t an angry sort of slam, but more like she didn’t want to talk about it while looking bright red and stuttering a lot. Can you help me at all? I mean, I’ll need unicorn info as well so…”
“You’d rather hear it first hoof instead of out of a book so you can do things proper correct?” I simply nodded. “Well, when a stallion proposes to a unicorn he presents them with a gold ring. Nothing fancy, we save that for the wedding after all. I’m sure Twilight will be more interested in you playing by the books so that should satisfy her.” She bit her lip as she appraised a deep blue fabric. “I’m not an expert about pegasus proposals, especially since you don’t have feathers. What I’ve read and seen about it is weaving one of your secondary feathers with silver bands and some of your mane. If the pegasus accepts it then they wear it in their mane, showing that they’re spoken for and planning more than their engagement.”
“Well, that’s problematic since all I have in terms of feathers is well, absolutely nothing.”
“My thoughts exactly, didn’t Twilight get you books regarding mares a few months ago? You know, written by mares to help stallions.”
“Posey doesn’t talk about courtship, just dating and myths about enjoying a mare’s company. You know; the intimate kind of company.”
Rarity giggled. “You would’ve benefited from Lovestruck’s books more. She has a series of books dedicated to courtship of all sorts. She has essential chapters in every book about polygamy.”
I sighed as a bolt of blue cloth draped over my body. “I bet the library has them but there’s no way I could get to them without Twilight knowing what I’m up to and the bookstores still won’t open up for me.”
“I could introduce you to Lovestruck if you’d like. It isn’t like the jewelry store will let you purchase anything anyways.” She carefully examined the cloth and smiled. “How does that feel Alex?”
“It’s very nice, breathes and doesn’t seem to stick to my body like a second skin.”
Rarity giggled as she rolled the bolt of cloth back up and set it near the door to her workroom. “I think I’ll do a play on the royal guard formal attire. Now, would you like to meet Lovestruck or not?”
“Is she in town or will we be taking a trip somewhere?”
“Oh she lives in town, but getting past the door will be the hard part. If she can help you then I can help you with the stores.”
I smiled broadly, flashing my razor sharp canines. “What are we waiting for then, we’re burning daylight.”
*****
Per Rarity’s instruction, I held back from a quaint two-story house near the fringe of Ponyville. In this house dwelled a mare that specialized in helping lovers together in a completely different capacity than Princess Cadance. As Rarity knocked on the door I waited patiently, remembering to get a ring for Twilight.
The unicorn who opened the door had an off color white coat and glistening lime colored eyes. “Rarity, what brings you here? My next book won’t be ready for another four months.”
“Oh thank Celestia you’re here Lovestruck. I have a friend who could use your advice.”
Even from where I stood, I could see the unicorn give me a wary look. “It isn’t that bat is it?”
“Come now Lovestruck, isn’t your motto that you can help anypony find love?”
Lovestruck groaned and glared at me. “Well, what are you waiting for mister…”
“Alex,” I said as I approached.
“We’re working on a more pony-esque name for him,” explained Rarity.
Lovestruck blinked. “Wait, so you’re the human who lived in town?”
“Yes, but the problem at hoof is something I’d like to discuss.”
Lovestruck smiled. “Well, come in you two.”
As soon as I stepped into Lovestruck’s home, I was hit with a strong peppermint smell. The smell alone made my head spin.
“Sorry, I know it’s strong for you.” Lovestruck’s voice was soothing and felt like it guided me from the haze of the overpowering smell. “I mean, I’ve done a little homework on Nocturnes but I don’t have a ton of details. If I know Miss Sparkle half as well as I think I do, she has more overall information.”
“Well, I think we should just get down to business then Lovestruck. I want to propose to two ponies an-”
“The two who are always with you, Miss Dash and Miss Sparkle I mean.”
“Yeah, I mean I know Rarity’s probably read your books regularly but I have no clue with how to propose to them both. I mean, I’m a pegasus, but not exactly, you know.”
“Let’s see,” Lovestruck’s horn ignited in a soft pink hue and she summoned a book called Lovestruck’s Guide Volume IV: Feathered Love over to her side. “I know Miss Dash is from Cloudsdale originally so let’s see what they do specifically.” She cracked the book open and ran her hoof down the table of contents. “I’m sorry, but I’m not like Miss Sparkle who may have read my books thousands of times and memorized every word. A lot of this book in particular was gathered second hoof from pegasi all across Equestria. After my unicorn and earth pony books went so well they were more than willing to contribute. Hmmm let’s see, ah here’s what you want: modern Cloudsdale engagement traditions.” I stared at the book with Rarity looming over my shoulder we read in silence.
Of all pegasi, those of Cloudsdale have the most peculiar proposal habits. While most immediately seek out other pegasi, content to remain in the lofty heights of their home, some fall for mates closer to the ground. Proposing to a more earthbound Cloudsdale pegasus is difficult since she will be expecting a pegasus’ proposal. A good alternative is a small personal item that she can wear in her mane.
“Do you have something like that Alex,” Rarity asked as she finished reading.
“Wait a sec,” I said to her as I glanced at the bottom the page.
Cloudsdale Tips for Polygamy:
Most peculiar of all relations among ponies from Cloudsdale is their tendency to be interested in monogamy, becoming fiercely territorial over their mate. An earthbound mate interested in a pony born and raised in Cloudsdale and another mare should approach them at the same time and present their token to the other pony first. The pegasus’ territorial desires will find the great importance of stretching their boundaries as soon as they see their own token of affection. After this point, there is no concrete difference between regional customs and pegasi as a whole. Best of luck.
I gulped hard and glanced to Lovestruck. “So, ‘best of luck’ is all you can say?”
She shrugged as Rarity glanced over the end of the page. “I told you, I’m not a pegasus and I’m not from Cloudsdale. I just have my sources to work with and this information’s only a year old before you ask me. Good luck Alex, please tell me how Miss Dash takes it,” her eyes drifted to Rarity, “lest I pry it from the Gossip Queen herself.”
*****
Rarity smiled as she trotted ahead of me though the empty market. “We can try to gather the materials today or we can plan it out for tomorrow Alex.” She looked back and stopped. “What’s wrong?”
I heaved a sigh. “Nothing’s ever small with Dashie.”
“But you have to have some token or keepsake you could give her.”
I wracked my brain for something, anything at all that I could use. “I don’t know, can we get Twilight’s ring for now and I’ll keep thinking about Dash’s token.”
“No, I think you should-”
“We’re going now but I want you to please keep it at your boutique for now. You know, I want to surprise them and everything.”
“You’ll think of something for Rainbow? I know you don’t want to hurt her feelings.”
“More like I’ll have to sneak it out when I find it,” I said with a broad grin. It wasn’t like anything else in Equestria, the ignition key for my sports car, her absolute favorite.