//------------------------------// // Mutton // Story: Beef Fondue Under The Sunset // by Eggtaro //------------------------------// "You need my help with love problems?" Sunset asked, surprised at the sudden revelation from Beef. "I know nothing about love." she added quickly, albeit in a much lower volume. "What are you talking about?" Beef asked, taking a sip from his drink. "You used to date that Sentry guy, right?" "And what does that have to do with anything?" Sentry was a guy Sunset used to date back when she was still the infamous She-demon of Canterlot High. But that was because---at the time---she wanted to become more popular. She never had any real feelings for him. But the only people who knew about that detail were the Rainbooms and Sentry himself. Everyone else (Beef included), just thought they had a bad break-up. "You are way more experienced in this sort of thing." Beef said, shifting in his seat. "You can give me tips, suggestions, that sort of thing." "Tips on what?" Sunset asked, although she already knew the answer. "On how to get the girl, Sunset," Beef said, looking directly at her. "which, in this case, that girl is Rarity." Sunset bit her lip. Truth be told, she knew very little about dating and love. Sentry was the only guy she ever dated. Dating isn't even the word she'd use to describe their relationship. Minion would fit much better. "I can't really be of much help, Beef." Sunset said. "You'd be better off asking someone else about love advice." "Aww, come on!" Beef leaned forward, his elbows pressed against the surface, tilting the small table slightly. "You're the only person who I could turn to." "Why don't you ask Chicken Stock?" Sunset suggested, pulling her latte closer towards her, afraid it might slid off the table. "I'm sure he has way more experience than me." "I'm not too sure about that, but he did give me one piece of advice." Beef said, leaning back onto his chair. "He told me to forget about her." Sunset stared at him. "That's all?" "Yup," Beef nodded. "great piece of advice that was." he added sarcastically, rolling his eyes. "He was in love with her, too." Sunset's eye widened. "What happened?" "His heart got broken, that's what happened." Beef said, making a heart shape with his hands and separating them, mimicking a heart being torn into two. "He also told me that Rarity is way outta my league." "I'm sure he has good reason to say that." Rarity IS a bit...high-class, and have always wanted the best of the best: clothes, jewellery, shoes. Boyfriends too, perhaps. "Oh no, not you too!" Beef gave his forehead a smack with his hand. "Shouldn't you be giving me moral support?" "You're using it wrongly, Beef. Do you even know what 'moral support' means?" Beef shrugged. "It means you'd support me no matter what?" "Yes, but without making any contributions beyond the emotional or psychological value of the encouragement." "Please stop doing that, Sunset." Beef picked up the small fork that was resting on the side of Sunset's cupcake plate. "You're really starting to sound like your pen-pal." "Twilight?" Sunset asked, watching Beef make a small incision on her half-finished cupcake. "Yeah." Beef said, stabbing the small slice of cake with the fork. "Didn't you say that she was always correcting you whenever you made a mistake in the letters you send to each other?" He lifted the fork, guiding it towards his mouth. "You're starting to do that, too. But in conversations." Sunset gave Beef a sheepish grin. "R-really? I-I guess some part of her must have rubbed off on me." Sunset quickly glanced away, fidgeting with a strand of her hair. "A-Anyway! Who said you could eat my cupcake?" "Don't change the subject. Besides, I'm the one who's paying for this, remember? At least let me have a bite." Sunset watched as Beef slid the sliced cupcake into his mouth using the fork. He chewed on the cake and instantly grimaced. "Ugh---now I wish I didn't. This cupcake is insanely sweet." Sunset giggled. "It's not my fault you can't handle sweet things." Sunset was used to the sweetness found in the Cake's pastries and cakes (most of which, like the strawberry cupcake, was baked by Pinkie Pie). "Your sweetness levels are beyond that of a normal human, Sunset." Beef poured the rest of his drink down his throat, wanting to rid himself of the sweetness that was stuck on his tongue. "Anyway, enough about cupcakes and pen-pals," he leaned forward, with a serious look on his face. "Are you going to help me or not?" Sunset said nothing. If the problem was about something else, she would have no problems in agreeing to help him. But this particular problem was a bit...difficult. How does one teach another in the art of confessing and love if one does not have it? "I'm really not sure how can I be of much help, Beef." Sunset said. "I've already told you, I know nothing about love." Beef sighed. "Then is there anything you can tell me about Rarity?" Sunset raised an eyebrow. "You've met the rest of the Rainbooms before, haven't you?" she asked, curious. "Yeah, I mean, I know all of them. But I don't talk much with them, especially with Rarity." "Why her?" Beef hesitated for a moment. "Erm...well...cause...she's so...beautiful...and I'm just...plain...and I'm just...too shy to approach her." Sunset snorted with laughter. A few of the customers in the shop turned around to look in their direction. "You're too shy?" Sunset asked, laughing a little more. "You, of all people?" "Shut up!" Beef hissed. "I get shy too, okay?" Sunset covered her mouth with both her hands, trying her best to muffle her laughter. Beef covered his face with his own two hands, wishing that he could just disappear from the spot. Everyone in Sugar Cube Corner were now looking at them, curious as to what was going on. It took another two minutes before she finally calmed down. Sunset wiped away a tear from her eye, chuckling softly. "I'm s-sorry," she apologized. "It's just that..." "Just forget it, please." Beef groaned. "I sometimes wonder why I tell you about this stuff." "Well that's easy." Sunset said, smiling. "That's because we're best friends!" Beef rolled his eyes at her, smiling back. "Well, that's one thing. But wha..." his voice suddenly trailed off, and his eye widened. Beef gulped. "Beef?" Sunset waved her hand in front of him. "Beef, what's wrong?" "Ahwa...ahbaba...da..." Beef mumbled incomprehensibly, gawking at something behind Sunset. "What are you---" Sunset turned around to look behind her. "---looking at..." her voice trailed off. It wasn't something. It was someone. "Sunset, darling! What a surprise to see you here!" said a familiar voice. It was Rarity.