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// A dance for the ages 
// Story: A New Year surprise 
// by Maverick Huntress 
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	"Another New Year, another night alone. I'm stuck here waiting for my date, who I know will never show up.. I just guess I'll have another drink... here's a toast to me- the stupidest stallion in all of Equestria. A stallion stupid enough to fall in love with Sunny Skies, the mare of my dreams. Stupid enough to think that I was worth her attention. And stupid enough to believe that she felt the same way." I let out another depressed sigh for what seems to be the hundredth time tonight before I attempt drowning my sorrows my sorrows in what may very well be my twelfth drink, though I stopped counting when I had to go to the bathroom. The alcoholic beverage burns but it beats the feeling of a shattered heart. I continue to drink until the glass is empty, my magic a bit unsteady as I place the glass cup back on the bar's counter. I let out a disgusting belch before my head makes contact with the hard-wood surface, my brain barely noticing the pain that jolted through my horn.
I hear hoofsteps coming from my right and my eyes lazily drift upward before landing upon the sight a grey-coated unicorn with a black mane, my glass now encased in his magical grip as he cleans it with a rag. "I ain't one to pry, and I know it ain't my business, but you gotta be the saddest-looking sap to ever walk through my doors. What gives?"
"I have, or had, a date that was suppose to come here nearly two hour ago. We planned to dance and drink the rest of the year away, but it looks like it'll be just another night alone with no other company except a bottle at my side once again." I answer after a moment of silence, though I can tell from the bartender's sigh that he has heard a similar story before.
I feeling a tingling sensation on the end of my fur as a grey aura encases my head, forcing me to look at the stallion face-to-face. "Look pal, I know that 'she was the one' and that you were 'destined to be together' but life ain't some fairy-tale where everything happens to turn out right in the end. Its time to move on to greener pastures, even if they don't seem to appetizing at the moment. Trust me, I've been there."
My head slumps to the bar once again, my neck unwilling to keep my over-inflated head upright. A mild grunt of pain escapes my booze-covered muzzle as I reach out with my magic for another drink, though I find myself gripping nothing but air. I let out a unhappy whinny at the lack of alcohol and I hear the sound of shattering glass in return. This causes my head to shoot upward, my eyes open wide as my mind tries to figure out what could cause the bartender to do such a thing. I notice the grey unicorn to be staring at something behind me, his green eyes frozen in place. I furrow my brows in confusion.
"Hey, whats the matter?" I ask with a hint of annoyance, but instead of a reply I find myself being encased in somepony's magic once more and forcefully turned a hundred-and-eighty degrees on my stool. "Take a look for yourself." I merely grumble to myself for a moment before my eyes focus on what has grabbed everypony's attention. Said thing is none other a stunning pegasus wearing a golden dress, her pink mane flat and straight as it cascades down her neck like waterfall. A white sheet of fabrics matching her coat perfect descends along her flanks but stops just before her hooves, which are clad in gold and make a hypnotizing 'clickedy-clack' sound as she walks across the dance floor. I find myself unable to tear myself away from the light pink orbs that are her eyes as she approaches me, a sly smile on her face. 
I can feel my mouth opening and closing as I try to find the right words, hundreds of them flying through my mind at the speed of sound. Seconds past and I am finally able to speak without sounding like a complete idiot."S-skies!? Y-you look amazing!" I mentally preform a hoof-pump as I see my date blush. The mare, however, stops blushing moments later and looks at the ground, her head hung  low. "I'm sorry for taking so long. I meant to come earlier at the time you said but things got in the way and... Well, I guess its better to ask for forgiveness then permission at this point right?"
The look she gives me is unbeatable, and I can't help but forgive the poor mare. After all, I've been in the same situation before. Sunny must have noticed my expression changing and smiles, causing me to throw my front hooves around her and grin madly. "Don't worry, I forgive you. As for time, we've got nearly ten minutes left till the begging of next year. I've had more then enough drinks for both of us so why don't we spend the rest of this year dancing?"
I fell the warmth of her body as she nuzzles me, something I can't even begin to describe. "Alright then, sounds like plan. However, I have to admit something before we can start." Her breathing slows for a moment as her head shifts upward, the faint feeling of her breath on my ear present as she whispers into it. "I don't know how to dance."
I nearly burst out laughing at the confession, surprised at just how ridiculous it sounded, but I manage to suppress it into a private giggle as my Sunny Skies, the mare of my dreams, does the same. Hearing her laugh is the enjoyable sound in the world, as I would do anything to make he do so. We end up laughing for a good minute before we finally stop and break contact, only so that she could catch a break me nearly crushing her. I order us two drinks and the bartender gives me a bewildered look, as if he thought things like this only happened in fairy-tales. When he gets us our beverages, I flash him a grin before following the lovely pegasus onto the dance floor.
I take the lead and Sunny quickly follows suit, though the way she moves in unison with me shows that this isn't the first time she's danced. I don't think about it anymore as I don't care, and one hardly lives in Canterlot without learning how to dance. Regardless, we spend the last few minutes of the year embracing the each other  An idea forms in my head as notice that clock shows that only half a minute remains before the new year arrives and this one ends, though I contemplate on going though on it for a very short amount of time as I never actually kissed a mare. Full-on, I mean. I've kissed a couple on the cheek, but I figured that its now or never.
I push myself away from Skies for a just couple of seconds, her expression changing from enjoyment to sudden surprise as my horn lit up. I had to concentrate a good amount of magic into the spell, but once it stabilized I saw that my date had turned into a swirling vortex. I drew her closer to me and I cut the spell right before the clock hit midnight, Lady Luck appearing to be on my side tonight as our snouts made direct contact at the perfect time. I kissed that mare as if my life depended and poured in all my passion and love I had for her into it. Time seemed to slow as we kissed, and I was glad for I never wanted this to end.