//------------------------------// // Chapter One: The Best Idea Ever // Story: Nice Catch // by Night Princess //------------------------------// Princess Luna couldn't sleep. It was several days after the huge royal wedding of Cadance and Shining Armor, and the sun was shining. Luna usually slept during the day with the curtains drawn, but today her mind was focusing on six certain mares and sleep was impossible. These ponies included Twilight Sparkle, who helped the citizens of Ponyville accept her. Fluttershy, who had so kindly offered voice lessons. Applejack, who suggested loosening up by having "fun" with the ponies. Pinkie Pie, who gave her the idea that the ponies enjoyed being scared. Rarity, who gave her a head-to-toe makeover to help her look more royal. And Rainbow Dash, who. . . Well, she was friends with the others so Luna included her as well.  These ponies has also defeated the dreaded Nightmare Moon, Luna's alter ego, as her sister Celestia called her. Not to mention the fact that they also conquered Discord and the queen of the Changelings, Chrysalis. These ponies deserved to be celebrities! Their amazing deeds could not just go unnoticed. "They have done so much for me," Luna said out loud. "What can I do to thank them?" It had to be something big. Something they would remember for the rest of their lives.  She didn't know then too well, but she did know which elements of harmony they represented. And that had to reveal a lot of their personalities. Like Rainbow Dash, for instance. She was the element of Loyalty, so she must be kind, friendly, and sensitive, always willing to help her friends. What would a pony like that want? Luna knew they all valued friendships, but they already had plenty of those. Other mares were important in all of their lives, and they had enough friends for a lifetime. But all their friends were mares. Then Luna had an idea. "Stallions! My gift to them will be six, charming stallions to court, and maybe even marry someday!" She giggled foalishly. She had always had a desire to find the perfect match for ponies, and now she had an excuse to do it! "Of course I wouldn't tell them who their stallions were until the dates," she rattled on to herself. "That's part of the fun!" She quickly wrote a letter to Twilight Sparkle explaining her plan. Surely Princess Celestia's student would love this idea, and maybe give her a few tips on what kind of stallion her friends would prefer. Oh, this was one of the best ideas Luna ever had. Now, to choose the lucky stallions. ### "Don't move, Spike," the purple unicorn warned. "This has to be perfect."  The baby dragon stood still as a statue as Twilight Sparkle aimed her horn at him. A burst of magic exploded from her horn and landed on Spike. Change was beginning to occur when the dragon let out an enormous belch and a letter, surrounded by fire, fell out.  "Spike!" Twilight groaned. "Look what you did!" The five mares watching burst into laughter. Spike's unexpected burp had interrupted Twilight's spell, an attempt to transform him into an elephant for a few minutes. But instead of turning completely into an elephant, Spike now had a large trunk attached to his face.  "I think ya got somethin' on yer face, sugarcube," Applejack laughed.  "Something? It looks like his nose turned some kind of freak snake." Rainbow Dash, who had no experience with exotic creatures like elephants, was rolling on the floor.  Fluttershy tried to suppressed a giggle. "It's an elephant trunk, Dashie. Not a snake." "You look so funny, Spike! Can you do me next, Twilight?" Pinkie Pie bounced around the room. "Don't let them insult you, Spikey-Wikey. I suppose with some glitter and eye shadow it wouldn't look too bad..." Rarity bit her lip, trying not to laugh. "How long do I have to stay like this?" Spike complained, picking up the letter he received with his new trunk.  "Maybe an hour or two," Twilight Sparkle responded. "Let's see what the letter says, shall we?" She took the letter from her assistant and examined it. "It's from Princess Luna! She says,  'Dear Friends, You have all been so kind to me as I joined Equestria once again. All of you have done so much, so I now wish to return the favor.'" "We're getting presents?" Pinkue squealed. "'I have found six young stallions I believe you may be acquainted with, and I am now setting up dates for each one of you. Since my sister told me that all of you are currently available, I am quite sure that this idea of mine will end well. I hope that you will find this as good of an idea as I have, and that you enjoy your dates.  Sincerely, Princess Luna.'" The ponies stood in silence until Pinkie Pie asked, "So she's helping us make new friends?" Twilight shook her head. "No, she's giving us...coltfriends." "Well, I believe this may be a delightful opportunity to get to know the other sex," Rarity said confidently. "Most of us-" she eyed Rainbow Dash. "-have never even had a crush on a colt." "It's mighty nice of the Princess," Applejack admitted. "But couldn't we just decline?" "No. Luna is happy that she's thanking us for what we've done for her, and if we refuse then she'll be insulted." Twilight sighed. "I don't like this idea any more than you do, but we have to at least try it. For Luna." "For Luna." The ponies agreed.  ### The schedules for the dates were written beneath Luna's explanation: Pinkie Pie's date was first, then Fluttershy's, then Rarity's, Applejack's, Rainbow Dash's, and finally Twilight's.  With less than a week until the first date, Rarity quickly began to make dresses. "Something stunning yet casual," she told them.  The rest of the mane six rushed to their homes to prepare for their date, and wondering who they would be set up with. Would they end up falling in love? Or would it all be a complete disaster? Each one had no idea what to think.