Back at Gleaming and Barbara’s Canterlot apartment, they prepared for whatever Prince Tempo had planned for the guard and her dragon friend. Though Gleaming didn’t seem too excited about it, it didn’t stop Barbara from making up the lack of excitement in her friend.
“Oh, it’s a date!” Barbara squeed as she turned to Gleam with a look of glee and utter bliss upon her face due to the recent news.
“No, it’s not! I’m sure when he said ‘go out’, he meant ‘go out’, not ‘go out’!” Gleaming yelled back to her friend in a vain attempt to ward off her inquiries.
“Shut it and listen to me Gleam. He. Is. Into. You.” Barbara replied while giving Gleam the most serious stare down she had ever seen.
“Look. You heard what he said. I’m just a pal in his eyes.” Gleam said with a hint of disappointment in her voice.
“Well that could change tonight” Barbara said urging on as she grabbed something out of the large, wooden chest near Gleaming’s bed.
“If it is a date, why are you coming with me? Don’t you think you’ll be somewhat of a third wheel?” Gleam asking her friend a somewhat important question.
“Don’t worry, I’m not trying to steal your man from you or anything. I’m coming to help you.” Barbara said as she continues to rummage through the chest. “Just hold on. I’m looking for my xylophone.”
.
.
.
The loud and exaggerated groan coming from the mare could have been heard from here to the Griffon Kingdom.
(Meanwhile, in a Manehatten based xylophone orchestra)
“Okay everypony…and a one, and a two, and a one two thr-“ the conductor began
Suddenly what sounded like a xylophone based groan could be faintly heard across the entire orchestra, and was travelling away fast.
“Sir, what was that odd sound?” One of the xylophone players questioned, unsure of the sudden eruption of sound.
“I…I don’t know. It felt like a disturbance.” The conductor replied, also unsure of what had just happened.
(Back at Gleaming’s apartment)
“What? It’s a conversation starter.” Barbara said as she strapped the instrument onto her back.
“Fine. I’ll do this if only to prove you wrong” Gleam said as she began off in a huff, but Barbara could have sworn that her friend’s blush had returned once again.
<Transition>
Outside the vast and beautiful gardens of Canterlot Castle, a young guardsmare and her dragon friend came prepared for the mare’s “date” with a certain prince. But as they came up to the meeting spot, the mare began to face an uncertainty with going through with her “date”.
“Mm…maybe we should just call it off and go home.” The uncertainty undoubtedly noticeable in Gleam’s voice as she approached the gardens intensifying with each step she took.
“No! No backing out now.” Barbara said, pushing her friend further towards the entrance to the sun-lit gardens. But soon after, none other than Tempo himself appeared from the gardens to meet up with both Gleam and Barbara.
“Hello Gleam. And I see you brought Barbara.” Tempo says in a voice that could melt butter (and puts the author in a coma due to how amazing it sounds, but moving on).
“It’s okay right.” Gleam asked with a sheepish smile plastered across her face.
“Only if it’s okay that I brought…Ignatus along.” Tempo said, carefully reaching out his forehoof to perch the large phoenix that had descended from what ponies would have thought was the heavens.
“Hey there hot stuff.” Barbara says as she begins to flutter her eyes and dawn a blush of her own. Ignatus begins to spell out his own greeting with the flame of his tail, ending up with “Hey” in response, intensifying Barbara’s blush to an intense red.
“Please. Take these as tokens of esteem” Tempo says as her gives a large bag to Barbara, and bouquet of flowers to Gleam.
“Oh, you didn’t have to, Tempo…” Gleam responded awkwardly to the gifts from the prince.
“Nonsense. Now Barbara, in the bag is enough gems to last you a month.” Tempo says kneeling to Barbara’s eye level.
“Sweet Celestia! Gems!” The little dragon beamed as she looked into the bag.
“And for you milady. A bouquet of white roses to match that wondrous coat of yours.” Tempo continued explaining his gifts.
“Oh…uh…they’re…” Gleam stuttered repeatedly as her eyes glossed over and a smile crept upon her face.
“There is a surprise at the center.” Tempo said reassuringly.
“How many licks do you think it will take to get to the center of this, Barb?” Gleam asked her friend jokingly. But as she reached into the center, she emerges with a brand new crystal shield, twice the size of the bouquet, but who cares…new shield!
“Wow! A crystal shield! How’d you know I was all about shields?” Gleam quizzed the prince.
“I pay attention to things I see you all about” Tempo responded, looking Gleam in the eyes as he does. “Come the amazement has just begun!” Tempo finishes as he leads Gleam and Barbara to Ignatus in preparation for a ride.
As the ride continues on, Barbara whispers “Tell Tempo you think he’s hot” to which Gleam immediately responds “What? No!”
“Oh, Gleaming!” The prince exclaims, scooting closer to Gleam as he does.
“Yeah, what’s up?” Gleam asked Tempo.
“I thought we might have a race to the meadows. You up for it?” Tempo asked with a hint of determination and playfulness gracing his voice.
“Good, I’m gonna kick your flank…not that I’m thinking of flanks…” Gleam responded quite awkwardly, preparing for the race.
Tempo rides off with Ignatus, leaving Gleam and Barbara in their dust. “Okay Barb, you know what to do.” Gleam said to her friend.
“Are you kidding me? I’m a baby dragon, I can’t carry you and your flank honey.” Barbara answered defensively, which was met by Gleam’s unsettling glare. “…Fine…hop on…” Barbara muttered begrudgingly.
<One race to the meadow later>
“Well…that was a pretty good race.” Both the prince and Gleam said before falling to the ground gasping for breath.
“You know, I don’t see why you two are breathless, we did all the running.” Barbara snarled to the pair before passing out.
After getting up from the flowerbed they rested upon, Prince Tempo dived into what seemed like a sinkhole beneath the flowers, only emerging after a short time holding what looked like a crystal skull.
“Sorry. I saw this shimmering skull down there. It reminded me of you. The way your eyes sparkle.” Tempo said as he stared into Gleam’s shimmering eyes as she did the same with him.
“Gleam. There is something I’d like to tell you.” Tempo said before turning away to begin what he wanted to say.
♪I feel like nothing was real until I met you.♪
♪I feel like we connect, and I really get you.♪
♪If I said, "You're a beautiful mare," would it upset you?♪
♪Because the way you look tonight, silhouetted, I'll never forget it.♪
♪Oh, Gleaming.♪
♪Your fist has touched my heart.♪
♪Oh, Gleaming.♪
♪I won't let anything in this world keep us apart.♪
♪I won't let anything in this world keep us apart.♪
“Wow! That was the stupidest thing ever.” Gleaming said before once again falling back into the flowerbed along with the prince, laughing as they did.
“I’ll see you back at the apartment.” Barbara said before taking her leave with a wink in her friend’s direction. “Let’s hope he doesn’t try anything funny on the first date…”