//------------------------------// // Date Night // Story: Anima Mea Tenebre // by Nixus //------------------------------// All was seemingly quiet in Ponyville as Moe scanned the streets for any sign of the baby dragon. The stalls were being vacated; the shopkeepers packing up and eager to be getting home as the sun began its descent. The trail had gone cold nearly five minutes after Moe had begun tracking him. He was beginning to wonder if the dragon had simply disappeared off the face of the earth. “Where could he be?” Moe asked himself as let out a frustrated growl. He was running out of time. He knew Spike wasn’t one to run away from home, but if the sun set then it would be even harder for Moe to find him. A groan escaped him as he realised how small his window of opportunity was becoming. “How can it be so hard to find the only dragon in Ponyville?” he complained aloud, kicking a loose pebble on the street and sending it flying into a familiar cat. Opalescence hissed as the nut sized pebble caught her in the rump. She fell gracelessly, tumbling from her perch on top of a stand into a heap of garbage. Moe chuckled at the cat’s misfortune as he stepped over to the cat and picked her out of the trash. “Sorry about that Opal. I guess I’ll have to watch my aim when I kick things from now on.” His chuckle grew even louder as the cat crossed its forepaws and turned its head in an indignant fashion. He set her down on the ground and attempted to brush some of the debris still lodged in the cat’s fur. The cat hissed, claws extending as she batted at Moe’s hand. Moe rolled his eyes at the cat’s obvious temper tantrum before he simply grabbed her. Opal let out a annoyed yowl as Moe picked her up. He struggled to keep his grip as she wriggled and contorted her body. The air began to fill with the sounds of her protests and Moe was beginning to fear the attention it might cause. “Come on Opal, I said I was sorry,” Moe said as the cat’s claws dug into the leather of his gloves. He sighed as he let the cat go and watched as it dropped to the ground on all fours. With a small ‘hmph’, the cat turned its head again, obviously displeased with him. He tried extending his hand again, only retracting it as the spoiled cat hissed at him. Moe gave a mock frown as he realized what he had to do, and got to one knee to bring his face close to the cat. It was a risky gamble, but it was better to face the wrath of the cat now than later. “Opal...” He whispered with a slight tune, causing her to look at him. “If I give you a few scratches, will you see it in your kind heart to forgive me?” The cat paused, unsure of what he meant. Moe brought his hand above the cat’s head and waited for Opalesence to give him the go ahead. The cat narrowed its eyes, slightly extending its body towards his hand in cautious anticipation. Moe’s fingers met the cat’s fur and he went about scratching the top of the cat’s head. Opal tensed up, but then let out a purr of content as she leaned farther up. “See, Opal? That’s the benefit of hands,” Moe said calmly. “Hooves can’t get those little itchy spots, can they?” His hands went from her head and traveled to the base of her chin. Opal let out a hearty purr as her eyes went half lidded. “You’ve lived such a hard life haven’t you?” The cat meowed in agreement, pressing against his hand. “Eh Opal? You’ve never been pampered like this before?” The cat purred in agreement, rubbing against his shin. Moe ran his hand over the persian’s arching back, taking care not to apply too much pressure. He chuckled as he picked a few seeds from her tail and flicked them away. “What’re you doing here though? I thought you never left the Boutique.” “OPAL!” he heard a shrill voice cry followed by two others. He sighed, knowing full well who they belonged to. A new smile crept along his face as he patted the cat’s head. “You run off now little princess,” he said as he stood up. “I’ll distract them. Just try to clean up before you head back. I doubt you want them giving you a bath.” The cat nodded before shooting off into an alleyway. Moe turned in time to see three familiar fillies trotting down the street looking around frantically. Sweetie Bell was at the forefront of the trio with a small outfit draped over her back that appeared as though it had gone through a whirlwind of razors. Applebloom and Scootaloo were close behind, each covered in a multitude of scratches, no doubt caused by whatever venture they had pursued. “So is there a reason you three are searching for Opalescence?” Moe said as he approached them. “Please tell me it’s not because you three are looking for your cutiemarks again.” The silence in the air was the only answer Moe needed as he shook his head. Of course that’s why, you idiot! He shouted at himself mentally. What else do these three do besides obsess iver those things? “Moving on...” Moe said quietly. “Have you guys seen Spike?” You really think they’re gonna know where he went off too? If we can’t find him, then what are the chances they’re going- “Yeah, he ran into us down that way!” Scootaloo exclaimed as she pointed her hoof behind her. I stand corrected... “He wanted to know if he could use our clubhouse for a bit,” Sweetie Belle said as she tossed the ruined outfit into an alley, obviously attempting to hide the evidence of her crime. Moe chuckled at the display as he relaxed, the tension easing out of his body with the knowledge of Spike’s location. “He seemed kind of sad though...” she added, her voice filling with concern. Both Applebloom and Scootaloo nodded in agreement, their worry turning towards Spike. All three were obviously concerned about the tiny dragon. “Do you know why, Moe?” “Well...” Moe hesitated as he attempted to formulate a condensed and easy to understand sentence. After a minute of both struggling to do so as well as avoiding the widening eyes of the three fillies. Something about the three together seemed to overpower him. It was as if the their innocent expressions were forcing him to speak. He was just thankful he had never made any promises to keep Spike’s crush a secret. “I don’t know if you three know, but Spike has a crush on Rarity.” “Well, Duhhh!” Scootaloo said rolling her eyes, while Applebloom giggled. Moe, however, was more concerned the rigidness that took Sweetie Belle as she kicked at the ground. Scootaloo, however, wasn’t finished speaking. “I mean come on! It so obvious!” “Ah gotta agree with Scootaloo,” Appleboom giggled. “Spike ain’t the most subtle about who he likes. Ain’t that right, Sweetie?” “Well... uh yeah... I guess?” she replied quietly. Moe chuckled under his breath as he watched the three. They all had affection for Spike, a little more so on the friendship side of things, but it was possible that those feelings would change with time. His smile never faded as he remembered when his perception of girls had changed soon after he had entered his pre-teen years. He wondered how long it would be before these three would take the next step. However, to him it looked like Sweetie Belle was the going to be the first one to do so, probably because of Rarity and her books. He debated internally. It was certainly plausible, but Moe didn’t have the time to venture further. The only problem now was what to do with the three crusaders in front of him. He couldn’t just leave them out with the sun about to set. He sighed as he knew what his only option was. “You should come with me, it’s almost night, and I’d feel better if I knew where you three were.” He waited silently for them to shout their trademark slogan... yet, no sound came from them. He waited a few seconds more but the silence still persisted. A quick frown passed over his face as he stared at them. “Well, aren’t you going to do it?” “Do what?” the three asked in unison. “You know, the whole Crusader shout?” “Why?” Scootaloo asked, confused by the seemingly random question. “It’s not like we’ll get our cutiemarkes from just helping Spike.” “Umm… Moving on...” Moe, said in an attempt to hasten the search and defuse the awkwardness of his previous inquiry. “I need you to show me where Spike is. I’ll explain on the way.” ***** The entire walk to the Crusaders clubhouse was surprisingly quick. The moon had barely begun to peek out over the horizon by the time Moe and the Crusaders reached the tree house. No doubt, Luna was working her wonders with her magic this night as far as Moe could tell. Had he not been so pressed to find Spike, he would have stopped and admired the scenic beauty of the night. Though he had not met her yet, Moe could tell that Luna had an artist’s touch when it came to her domain. He had never seen the moon’s light so vividly shine through the branches, nor watched as the fireflies seemed to dance in the air. He could not help but understand why Luna had grown jealous millennia ago. It would have been maddening knowing that despite all the effort put into it, no one might have taken the time to appreciate just how the stars shone on the dark canvas of the night sky. To think that one pony is in charge of all of this… “Moe?” “Hmm,” Moe looked down to see Sweetie Belle trotting briskly beside him. Applebloom and Scootaloo were already at the base of the tree that the clubhouse sat on, waiting patiently for him and Sweetie Belle to catch up. He could see some light glowing from tree house window, emanating from between the cracks between the drawn curtains. “It looks like he’s still inside.” “Do think he’s all right?” Sweetie Belle asked quietly. There it was again, the tinge of concern mixed with something else he couldn’t quite place his finger on. “I don’t know Sweetie,” Moe replied. He knew exactly what Spike was going through. Rejection was never an easy thing to deal with, especially in Spike’s case. Even if Moe didn’t know the full details or extent of Spike’s crush, having them reject you was world shattering. “He’s liked Rarity for a long time. It’s only natural that he’d be hurt.” “I don’t understand why though.” “What do you mean?” “Rarity’s only ever used him. She only ever appreciates the help he gives her.” Sweetie Belle said, a depressed tone overtaking her voice. “He’s always giving her presents, but she never pays any attention to him.” “You’re saying she doesn’t appreciate him?” “No, she likes him,” Sweetie Belle said casting her gaze to the ground. “She just doesn’t see him as anything else than her ‘precious little spikey wikey.” Her face seemed lined with a number of emotions and it only took Moe a second to deduce the reason as she continued ranting. “He never looks at anypony else, it’s always ‘Rarity this’ or ‘Rarity that’.” “Love is a weird thing Sweetie,” Moe said calmly. “It makes us do things we normally wouldn’t do. It makes us blind to what’s right in front of us.” Moe placed a little bit of emphasis on the last part. He hoped Sweetie Belle might have taken the hint, but her disappointed expression told him otherwise. “Spike isn’t an exception. He goes out of his way for Rarity because he thinks that’s the only way he can get her to like him. What he doesn’t realise,” Moe patted Sweetie’s head and gave her a reassuring smile, “is that there are more ponies out there who like him just as much.” {Sweetie did a double take.} “Wait! What do you mean?” Sweetie Belle asked confused. Moe chuckled at the sight of her as he reached the clubhouse. “You’ll understand in a few years.” he said as he walked up the steps to the tree house. He turned slightly, half-facing the three fillies. “I’ll go talk some sense into Spike, you three wait here.” “Okay,” Scootaloo said with disinterested wave of her hoof. As Moe closed the door, both her and Applebloom turned to the unicorn. “What was that all about?” “What do you mean?” “What did you and Moe talk about?” Scootaloo clarified. Sweetie Belle looked at the two uneasily, then shrugged her shoulders in response, causing Scootaloo to groan. The three stood still in silence for a moment as if they could sense they were forgetting something. “Wait a second...” “WE FORGOT ABOUT OPAL!” ****** Moe cringed as he heard the muffled shout of the three through the cracks of the door. Judging by their absence when he peered out, they had obviously forgotten about what he told them less than five seconds ago. He sighed in defeat, knowing that the three were too far out for him to catch. Either way, he assumed that they were going after the cat that had no doubt gone home. “Rarity...” Moe turned as the Spike’s voice turned into a whisper. The drake was sat facing the far corner of the clubhouse, arms wrapped around his legs in an upright foetal position. Small trails of liquid sadness seemed to trail down the dragon’s cheeks, rolling from his slightly red eyes. Moe had never seen anything so broken. It was as if someone had taken all the life out of the dragon and the Spike in front of him was only a husk of what once was. Tentatively, Moe reached towards the dragon. “Spike?” he murmured quietly. The dragon turned his head, eyes slowly meeting Moe’s. The dragon said nothing, keeping silent as Moe sat down facing the Dragon’s back. He let the baby dragon collect himself for minute, waiting patiently as he wiped his eyes. “You okay?” “Yea,” Spike said, weakly turning around. Once he was facing Moe, he regarded him with an almost quizzical expression. “What happened to you?” “Huh, what do you mean?” Moe patted himself down attempting to find out what was obviously different about his appearance. To his relief, nothing appeared out of order; a few fresh stains on his otherwise semi-clean uniform jacket said differently. “What happened to your face?” Spike said with a slight grin. Moe paused for a second unsure of what Spike was referring to. After about a minute of him rubbing his face, the dragon finally revealed the source of humor. “You’ve got this weird red mark on your forehead,” he stated pointing to his own face. “It makes you look kind of dumb.” “I wonder what it is,” Moe said as they both chuckled. He searched around the clubhouse for a few seconds trying to find something to reflect his appearance. By chance, he was able to find a shiny scrap of metal left over from what he could imagine was the CMC’s previous escapade. However, when he looked into the reflective surface, he was barely able to repress a snort. A number of small rings surrounded a central dot in the middle of his forehead, almost in a perfect replica of a target. He tried to remember what could have left such an imprint. Fortunately, he only had to recall what had happened earlier. “Looks like you got me good with that door when you bolted from Rarity’s.” “Right...” Spike said as his smirk died and he reverted back to its depressed tone. “Sorry about that...” Moe cursed under his breath as he watched the dragon start to withdraw. He sat down, rubbing his hand over the mark on his head as an awkward silence hung over the two. “Listen Spike, about Rarity...” “I don’t understand,” Spike interrupted with a moan. Moe bit back his words as he gave the dragon space to vent. “I’ve always liked Rarity, but why doesn’t she like me back?” “There’s no real answer for that Spike,” Moe said in a flat tone. “You can’t force someone to like you. It takes time and work.” “But I have been working at it,” Spike complained. Moe’s face remained neutral as Spike blew a puff of smoke out of his nose.” I’ve been helping her ever since Twilight and I came to Ponyville!” “Spike, it doesn’t work that way,” Moe said, calmly hoping his words would reach the dragon. He inched closer, trying his best to ease into the dragon’s space. “Sometimes, no matter how hard you try, it just won’t work out. It’s more complicated than you think.” “But why?” Spike sniffed before he rubbed his nose with the back of his hand. Moe sighed as he positioned himself next to Spike. “Is it because I’m a dragon?” “No, I don’t think it’s that Spike,” Moe said gently. He wasn’t sure what Rarity’s reasoning was, but he definitely knew she wouldn’t be so shallow as to reject him based solely on his species. “I think the age difference is just too great. You’ll always be a child in her eyes.” Both of them let out a small sigh as Moe paused in between sentences. “Her little ‘Spikey-Wikey.’” “I always hated that nickname,” Spike said in a low tone. He closed his eyes as a few more tears ran from them. Moe could tell Spike was trying his best to put up a front for him, but his resolve was crumbling faster than he could manage. “I thought she was perfect, like a princess, and I would be her knight in shining scales.” The disappointment and uncertainty hit its peak as Spike held his head in his hands. “Now I don’t know what to think.” “That’s the difference between a crush and true love,” Moe said in a blank tone. “When you love someone, you accept them for who they are. You care for them despite every little thing they do that annoys you.” Memories came flooding back as he spoke, both images of the past and the feeling of pain flashed through his mind. “A crush just emphasizes the qualities you like. It doesn’t show you what they might be like on the inside.” “I don’t think I can see any other mare like I did Rarity though,” Spike replied. “She was everything I ever wanted. There’s no one else like her.” “Tastes change Spike,” Moe said with a smile. Spike looked at him, a confused look crossing his face as Moe continued. “You can’t let one bad experience keep you from seeking out somepony who makes you happy. You have to move past it, let go of it and keep searching. Sure rejections and breakups suck, but they’re a natural part of dating. A few mouldy biscuits doesn’t mean the package is garbage.” He gave a pat on Spike’s shoulder. “You’ll find someone eventually.” “That’s a weird analogy Moe,” Spike chuckled as he wiped his eye. His voice became concerned as he got up and dusted himself off. “Do you really think there might be somepony out there for me?” “I can assure you of it Spike,” Moe said confidently. He then leaned in close and whispered into Spike’s ear. “If I remember correctly, Rarity does have a sister.” “You mean Sweetie Belle?” Spike said in disbelief. “But she’s just a filly! She’s nothing like Rarity.” “And you’re a baby dragon,” Moe replied. A look of realisation crossed Spike’s face. “While her personality isn’t at all like Rarity’s, I can tell you that she is going to be quite the looker when she becomes a mare.” Moe grinned as Spike’s face started to knit in concentration as they both imagined an older Sweetie Belle. “You didn’t hear this from me, but I think she’s starting to see you differently.” Moe leaned back, laughing quietly as Spike began to blush. “Just food for thought.” “I think I need to go home and think about this,” Spike said, still trying to process the information. “Man this stuff is tiring.” “Tell me about it.” Moe yawned as both he and Spike got up and left the clubhouse. “Come on, let’s get you home. ***** Moe sighed in relief as he neared the boutique. The hunt for Spike had taken up most of the evening and now the moon had taken over the sky, overshadowing what was left of the day. All in all, Moe felt pretty good despite the events of the day. Sam was fine despite being cooped up in the hospital for the next week or so. He had gotten most of the shopping done and even helped Spike with his mare troubles, promising to meet up with Spike if he ever needed help. The relief faded quickly as he thought about what he had said to the small dragon. You can’t let one bad experience keep you from seeking out somepony who makes you happy. You have to move past it, let go of it and keep searching. The thought persisted in his mind as he reached the door. Did he of all people really believe that? He, who had given up ever finding someone to direct his affections towards. He, who had simply resigned himself to giving others advice while he stood in the shadows. A small frown lined his face as he grabbed the knob. What right did he have to give anyone advice like that when even he himself didn’t listen to it? I am such a hypocrite. His mind told him as he entered the Boutique. It was true; there was no other excuse he could use. He had to move on or else he’d never truly be happy. A slight pain burned in his chest, prompting him to graze the spot lightly. I can’t let it affect me anymore... “Moe? Darling, is that you?” Rarity’s voice called from upstairs. For some odd reason it was strangely comforting and set his addled nerves at ease. He took a breath before calling back to her. “Hey Rarity, it’s me.” He took a few steps up the stairs, hands gripping the railing gently. The boutique seemed strangely dark considering the time of night. No lights were on and Moe couldn’t help but feel a sense of foreboding as he reached the top of the stairs. He stopped as he noticed the door to the unicorn’s room was shut tight. “Rarity, are you ok in there?” he asked in a hushed whisper. “Oh Moe! It is you!” she replied almost happily through the door. Moe sighed in relief as he realised she was alright. “I’ve left you something in your room. Can you go and try it on?” “Uh sure.” Obviously she had made some sort of outfit for him to try on. This was in fact a clothing shop he was living in. But what did she leave for him? “What is it exactly?” “Just try it on dear,” Rarity replied. “I’m sure you’ll look fabulous in it!” “I wonder what it is?” Moe asked himself out loud, walking to the guest room which had been furnished for him. A brown package, tied up with a thin white cord, had been deposited the extravagant bed Rarity had forced Moe to accept. As he undid the cord, he sucked in a breath as the contents were revealed. Beneath the brown paper was a suit unlike anything he had ever seen. Made of black silk with seemingly invisible streaks of silver stitching in the borders, the suit seemed to pop out as Moe held it up. He could not help but admire just how the jacket seemed to stand out against the light. A black vest and a white shirt with a silken dark red tie accompanied the blazer, providing a nice addition to the ensemble. It was masterfully crafted, unique in almost every way. Quickly, he shed his school uniform and placed it at the foot of his bed. Standing in only his boxers, he hesitated before grabbing the black pants and putting them on. He shuddered as feeling of the soft silk brushed against his leg. The pants fit him perfectly, not terribly tight, but not loose enough that they would fall off of him. He moved his legs in small circles, slowly letting them grow larger to see the range of movement they provided. He went for the undershirt next, putting his arms through the sleeves, but stopped as the door to his room opened. He almost had to stop his jaw from dropping at the sight of her. A beautiful black dress adorned her body. Its slim fit accentuating every curve of her body. A split parted near her hind legs, drawing Moe’s eye to end where it covered her cutie mark. Her normally curled mane had been straightened and combed slightly over her left eye, like a violet curtain drawn to the left side of her face and held in place by a rose. “Well how does it f-” Rarity stopped as she saw Moe half-naked. Under any normal circumstances, she would have averted her eyes, embarrassed as though she had just accidentally barged in on a changing customer. Yet she could not tear her eyes away from him. It wasn’t the fact that the undershirt clung to his chest, highlighting the toned muscles of his body. No, that was something that would thankfully be burned into her mind forever. A physique unlike anything she had seen, moulded by what could have only been an intense regimen of training. It was the horrific scar burned into his right pectoral that caught her attention, a dragon rising from a fiery inferno of reddened skin. She had seen a few burn wounds in her time as a fashionista, the odd client who wished to keep eyes off a scar from past accidents. The only difference with this burn mark was the obvious fact it was a deliberate modification, like an extreme form of a tattoo one burned into their skin. She could hardly imagine how much pain such a process might have caused and what might have possessed him to do it. Fortunately for her, Moe didn’t seem to notice her gaze as he buttoned up the shirt. “Are you feeling alright, Rarity?” Moe questioned. As he put on the jacket, Rarity couldn’t help but admire her work, taking in how well the suit seemed to fit him. However, the ability to knot his tie was beginning to test Moe’s patience. It was not long before Rarity simply decided to waltz over and take matters into her own hooves. Moe gave no resistance as she took the tie in her magic, only offering an embarrassed smile. “I’ve never been fond of ties...” “It can be rather tricky,” Rarity replied as her magic weaved the tie into a half-windsor. It took only a minute, but Rarity couldn’t help but smile as she tightened the tie. “There we are,” she whispered as she took in the complete outfit on Moe. “I must say, you look rather dashing.” “And you look quite beautiful in that dress,” Moe complemented with honest enthusiasm. Rarity blushed at the compliment. Moe only continued to stand idly by, taking the chance to drink in the sight in front of him while adding his own thought. “This suit must have taken forever to make.” “Oh no dear,” Rarity reassured him with a wave of her hoof. “It only took a few minutes to fashion this pair.” “You continue to amaze me each and every day, Ms. Rarity,” Moe said with a bow. Rarity giggled at the display as Moe placed on hand on his hip. “So, what is the occasion?” “Nothing special,” Rarity replied. “Just a little dinner between two good friends.” “Did Coppa have anything to do with this?” Moe questioned with an enthused smile. Rarity only gave a slight nod of her head, affirming an answer he already knew. “I guess I’ll have to thank him for this.” He gave the one last check to his suit, adjusting the lappels properly and giving Rarity a slight nod. “Shall we go then? You may have to lead the way. I’m not familiar with the restaurant scene around here.” “Of course,” Rarity said as she stepped out of the room. “Let’s be off.” ***** “So tell me something, Moe,” Rarity said as she finished off the last of her salad. The night was going surprisingly well and Moe had never felt as relaxed as he did now. She had taken him to some ‘Prench’ restaurant named Le Paradis. A comfortable place, it sported a small interior and the patio where they were seated. A few small candles illuminated the table, casting light on their meals. He couldn’t help but admire the way Rarity’s eyes seemed to drink in the light as she spoke. “What did you and Spike talk about?” Moe paused, taking a break from the spiced stuffed peppers on his plate. His brow creased as he thought about it. “Not much was actually said. I told him to take rejection in stride. Look hard enough and eventually you’ll find somepony.” He chose to leave his comment about Sweetie in the dark. Better to keep that part a secret and deal with it when the time came. No doubt Rarity wouldn’t appreciate him trying to set up her sister with the dragon. That was a conflict he would prefer not to enter. “I still feel terrible about the whole ordeal,” Rarity said solemnly, casting her gaze at her salad. Moe slowly moved his hand onto her hoof, causing her to look up with saddened eyes. “These kinds of things happen, Rarity,” Moe said calmly, not moving his hand from her hoof. “The best thing you can do is to simply reaffirm your friendship and move on.” “I suppose so.” Uncertainty tinged her voice as the regret in her heart elevated slightly. Moe gave her a reassuring smile, which made her heart flutter slightly. She couldn’t help but lean slightly closer in order to gaze deeper into the green pools which were his eyes. Moe seemed to mimic her actions, his body leaning closer onto the table. “Madame, would you care for more wine?” The fake french accent of their waiter interrupted the moment, causing Rarity to freeze. Moe seemed to back up as the moment spoiled. They both looked down at their empty wine glasses, glaring at them like a pair of naughty children. Rarity nodded, and let the waiter fill her glass while Moe declined the offer. “I think I’ll stick with water, thank you.” He took a sip of water instead as the waiter nodded. Rarity took a sip of her wine as the waiter left to attend the other tables. Her face seemed to wrinkle as the liquid touched her tongue. Moe let out a chuckle as he saw her face. “Is the wine that bad?” “The flavour could use a little work,” Rarity stated bluntly as she gestured for Moe to try it. The elf declined with a shake of his head. “What’s wrong Moe? Do you not like wine?” He shook his head giving her a grin. “No, I like wine, I just have no taste when it comes to alcohol.” “What do you mean?” “I literally cannot taste alcohol,” Moe said as Rarity stared at him like he had grown a second head. Moe pointed to his mouth as he continued. “It comes from my father’s side of the family.” “Your father? What is he like if you don’t mind me inquiring?” “That’s a difficult thing to say,” Moe said jokingly. He pondered the question for a moment, searching for an appropriate title to describe his father. “I guess you could say he is rather eccentric.” “How so?” “He just is,” Moe said bluntly as he set his water down. “What else can you expect from a man who likes to be referred to as...” Moe paused as he gathered his breath, recounting the exact title. “Professor of the Mystical Arts department at Particus Academy: Doctor Theophrastus Phillipus Bombastis Van Honenheim.” “I must say, that is quite the mouthful,” Rarity giggled as Moe grinned. Then the idea popped into her head. “Forgive me for asking, but I’d assume by his personality that your name is equally as long?” “Mozart,” Moe said quieter than anything Fluttershy could possibly manage. Yet the quiet atmosphere of the restaurant allowed her to hear it quite clearly. “I’d rather not say the entire thing. But yes, you’d be correct in assuming that it is rather long winded.” It was then that Rarity noticed something catching his eye causing him to chuckle. “What is it Moe?” Rarity inquired as she looked inside. Moe wiped his face before replying. “That pair right there,” Moe said gesturing to a couple sitting at a table. A stallion dressed in an ill fitting top hat and suit jacket was leaning over the table and giving the mare across from him a quick peck on the lips. She gave Moe a questioning look as his face fell. “You don’t see it” “They seem perfectly normal Moe. The stallion’s suit may be a little loose but he and his mare seem to be enjoying themselves. He might even take her home at this rate.” “I never said they weren’t,” Moe said calmly as he took a sip of water. He put the glass on the table as he rested his chin on his hands. “But I think you’re overlooking his ‘date’?” Rarity’s head snapped around locking her gaze on the couple again. It took her less than ten seconds to realise what he meant. It was nearly invisible, disguised by the ‘mare’s’ slender body, but a dress could only hide so much. “Oh my...” she whispered as she saw the slight bulge of an adam’s apple accompanied by the rise of the other differentiating feature that separated male’s from female’s. Rarity struggled to keep her composure as a snort of laughter escaped her. Moe in the meantime only let out the slightest of laughs as he finished the last of his meal and called for a waiter. Throwing the appropriate amount of bits on the table, as well as a nice tip for the waiter, he got up from the table. “Shall I escort the lady home?” Moe asked politely, extending his hand. Rarity took it and followed his brisk pace outside. When they had cleared the vicinity of the restaurant, the two burst out laughing like there was no tomorrow. Rarity was leaning against Moe, snorting as she imagined the Stallion’s reaction when he figured out his date’s gender. She looked up to see Moe staring at her, tears of laughter in his own eyes. Something clicked in their minds as they stared into each other’s eyes. Rarity couldn’t help but crane her neck upward, tilting her head to the side. She closed her eyes as Moe followed suit, allowing her to stand on her hind legs and rest against his chest. She could hear her heart pounding in her chest as well as Moe’s own as their breath began to mingle. Then, when they were only a few inches apart, ready to meet in the light of the night, a voice cried out in joy. “I LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT HER! HER SMILE, HER LAUGH, HER LIPS, EVEN HER ADAM’S APP...” A prompt scream followed by the sound of a body hitting the pavement echoed throughout the night, dashing the serenity of the scene. Rarity and Moe stood still, their faces coloured a deep crimson as their second intimate moment was ruined. Rarity dropped from her position clearing her throat as the two avoided looking at each other like a pair of embarrassed children. “Well, that was certainly a nice evening don’t you think?” Moe said as he cleared his throat. Rarity nodded, a small but excited grin plastered on her face. The two seemed to make quick progress heading to the boutique, remaining quiet along the way. Upon reaching the doorway, Moe paused and cast a furtive glance to Rarity. “Uhh, if you aren’t busy sometime soon...” His nervousness betrayed his intention as he blurted out the rest of his sentence. “Maybe you’d like to do this again sometime?” “I’d love nothing else,” Rarity said as she leaned up and gave Moe a quick peck on the cheek. Moe stood there stunned as Rarity gave him a playful wink. She trotted up the stairs, hurrying towards her room as Moe was left at the front of the house. He might have heard something akin to a fan girl squeal come from Rarity’s room, but in all honesty, he could have cared less in his cationic state. Eventually, he managed to regain a hold of his senses as his pulse slowed. He jumped in the air, fists held high in a victory pose before entering the boutique and closing the door gently. She said yes! This is perfect, he thought as he went up the stairs and plopped onto his bed, not bothering to remove his suit. He sighed, closing his eyes as his head rested on the pillow. I doubt anything could ruin this for me.