//------------------------------// // Chapter 42: Everything is Finally Settling... // Story: A Shadow Brought to Light // by k12314 //------------------------------// CHAPTER 42 "... So please, for the love of Celestia, don't pull that stunt ever again!" I finished my fifteen minute lecture, and the Cutie Mark Crusaders seemed to understand well enough, they all nodded, and left the Boutique, probably to go play or something. "My my... You handled that quite well, Shadow." Rarity leaned on the door frame, and smiled. "You're quite the fatherly type. That makes me wonder... Do you have any plans for Pinkie past marriage?" I blushed, and rubbed the back of my head. "Uh... Well- I guess we want to- I mean we... Yes." I looked away, a dumb grin on my face. Rarity let out a small giggle, and motioned for me to follow her down the stairs. "It's OK, Shadow. If you don't want to tell me anything, you don't have to. Although I must say, Pinkie is quite the lucky one to have gotten a hold of you." I shrugged. "I guess. I still think she could do better." Rarity shook her head, and stared right into my eyes. "Don't say that, Shadow. You two are perfect for each other. I've never seen a happier couple in all of my days... Now, I want you to listen to me, and listen very carefully, do you understand?" "OK..." I was a little intimidated by her stare, to be completely honest. "You are not as bad as you think you are. I'm sick of you putting yourself down. You're a great pony, as I, and everypony else, keep telling you. Stop feeling like you're less than others, because you're not. Sure, you made some mistakes, but everypony does. You're trying to fix those mistakes, and that alone is quite valiant of you. You want to better yourself for Pinkie. That seems like true love to me. She shouldn't be with anypony but you, Shadow. I'm sure of it." I smiled, and I wiped away a tear I felt trying to escape from my eye. "Thanks, Rarity. I don't know what it is with me, I just can't help but feel like I'm a lowlife all the time. I guess it's just from being alone all the time for so long, it messed with my head." I knocked my hoof on the side of my head for emphasis, which got a small giggle out of Rarity. "Oh, I see why Pinkie chose you. You're a goofy one." I furrowed my brow, and put on a fake angry face. "Hey! I'm not goofy!" We both looked at each other for a moment, before we both almost fell over laughing. It felt good to have moments like this with my friends, where we can just laugh together, and have a good time. Speaking of having a good time... "Maybe I should take Pinks out on a date today. We could probably go to the park or something... Hm..." "Hey, Rarity?" She managed to stifle her leftover giggles, and shook her head a bit. "Ahem... Yes, Shadow?" "Where do you think I should take Pinks on a date? I'm thinking the park, but..." Rarity put her hoof on her chin. "Well... It can't be a place where she'd have to sit still for too long, that'd be a disaster... Maybe you could take her to a movie? She sits still for those." I nodded. "That's a good idea. I haven't been to the movies in a while... I think the last one I saw was a karate movie. Man was that good... I wonder what kind of movies she likes?" Rarity let out a little chuckle. "You're not going to believe this, but she loves romance movies." I stared at her for a few moments. I thought I'd misheard her. "Wait. Did I hear you right? Romance movies? That's... Pretty darn surprising." "I know, Darling. I think it's because she always wanted romance, but she could never have it, because nopony ever asked her out. I think they though they couldn't keep up with her. But you came along and gave her the romance she wanted so badly. She hasn't been to a movie ever since you came along." "Huh. Well, I bet she'll love to go see a good romance flick with me. I like romantic novels, so this can't be that different, can it?" Rarity's eyes lit up. "You like romance novels? Oh that's wonderful! I'm beginning to understand why we get along so well!" I chuckled a bit, and opened the door, ready to head out. "Well, thanks Rarity, I'll stop by and see you again sometime, alright?" She waved goodbye. "Of course, Darling. I'll see you another time, then!" "Bye." I stepped out of the Boutique, and headed off for Sugarcube Corner. "Well, now that everything seems to have sorted out, it's time to spend quality time with Pinks. Thank you Celestia..." Luckily, I didn't even have to walk all the way back to the Corner, because in a matter of seconds, Pinks slammed into me, knocking me to the ground with her on top of me, pinning me down. She had a gigantic grin on her face. "Shadow! I was just looking for you and then I saw you and though I'd come and ask you something so is it OK if I ask you I mean I know how sometimes you get a little annoyed with questions so I wanted to know if it was OK to ask you-" I stuffed my hoof in her mouth to silence her. "Sheesh, I get it. Heh, alright, so what is it that you wanted to ask me?" I took my hoof out of her mouth, and she didn't speak for a moment, as if she were actually thinking of what to say. "Well, I was wondering if you wanted to go out on a date with me." I stared at her blankly. "Seriously?" Her hair drooped a bit, and her smile became sad. "You don't wanna?" She stepped off of me. I stood up, and shook my head. "No... I'm just surprised, because I was going to ask you the same thing! Ha!" Her smile became even wider than it was before, and she jumped up next to me, and wrapped her foreleg around mine. "Well, where're we going?" I headed off towards the local theater, which I thankfully remembered the location of. "We're gonna see a romance movie." "Oh, trying to get me in a loving mood, are you? What're you planning?" I had to resist the urge to facehoof. "Uh... I was really just thinking we go see the movie, and let it play out from there." Pinks shrugged. "Sounds good to me. Onwards!" she jumped onto my back. "Hi ho Shadow!" We both fell over, partially because of the terrible balance between us, and partially because of my uncontrollable laughter. "You know, I think I'll have to get Twilight to send a letter of thanks to Celestia for me, for letting me meet this amazing mare."