"Say, would you like to... I dunno..." Rainbow Dash pointed at the table where her friends sat. "Hang out?"
"Hmmm?" Sharp Quill glanced over. He instantly bore a bashful smile. "Oh, I dunno."
"It's okay." Rainbow winked. "I'll keep Pinkie from shoving sweets down your mouth."
"It's not Pinkie whom I'm afraid of."
"Oh?"
"I mean, don't get me wrong, I like being in the presence of Rarity, but I just somehow know she is going to try and trap me into fitting another outfit for her."
"Hah!" Rainbow Dash chuckled. "I know what you mean. She does that to me all the time."
Sharp Quill exhaled. "Then I guess we've got something in common."
"Heheheh—wait." Rainbow blinked. "Does..." She squinted at the stallion. "Does she only make you stuff other than suits?"
"Erm..." Sharp Quill bit his lip, squirming slightly. "Well..."
Just then, the door to Sugarcube Corner opened with a jingle. Three bodies trotted in. Rainbow had barely looked over when she heard a drawling voice that sent her heart skipping.
"Afternoon, y'all!" Applejack waved, followed by two other shapes—one huge and the other tiny. "Pinkie Pie! Oh! Rarity! Twilight! Rainbow! Fancy meetin' y'all here!"
"Miss Applejack," Sharp Quill remarked, bowing slightly.
"Oh, howdy there..." Applejack blinked. "...you." Clearing her throat, she turned and smirked at the rest of the ponies filling the eatery. "Anyways, I've been asked by somepony very kind to gather y'all's attention. So if ya dun mind takin' a gander at the center of the room here. Oh, howdy, Mr. and Mrs. Cake! I hope y'all dun mind the intrusion!"
"Uhhh... intrusion?" Mrs. Cake smiled innocently. "Nothing of the sort!"
"Applejack, what in heaven's name is going on here?" Rarity remarked.
"Keep yer shawl on, Rares," Applejack said, backtrotting until she stood besides Sharp Quill and Rainbow Dash. "This here ain't about me."
"Uh... for realsies, though," Rainbow muttered aside. "What's going on, AJ?"
"Shhhh..." Applejack took her hat off with a proud smile, gazing into the center of the room. "Just ya wait and see, sugarcube."
Rainbow Dash and Sharp Quill exchanged curious glances. At the sound of a meek voice wheezing, they looked Fluttershy's way.
"Uhm... hey, everypony. I... erm..." Fluttershy was blushing furiously. With all eyes resting upon her, she pawed at the rug in the center of the room and hid daintily behind a lock of hair. "I... I-I know you're probably wanting to eat your baked goods in quiet. And it certainly is a n-nice day. So, if you don't want to look at us, then I-I guess... uhm... I can't blame you... or..."
Big Macintosh smiled, resting a gentle hoof on her shoulder.
The mare gulped. Almost instantly, she relaxed with a drooping sigh. "Right. Right." She smiled up at the stallion, then gazed happily at the tables of observing ponies. "Well, Big Macintosh and I have... s-something we wish to show you."
"Huh..." Sharp Quill rubbed his scalp. "I don't get it—"
"Shhhhh!" Rainbow Dash hissed, clasping her front hooves together. She was suddenly leaning forward, her ears twitching.
Fluttershy turned towards Big Macintosh. Big Macintosh turned towards Fluttershy. With the grace of melting snow, the two ponies leaned into one another. This gesture culminated with Big Macintosh's head above Fluttershy's. In the meantime, Fluttershy lovingly tilted her head up, lovingly brushing her soft mane against the bottom of the stallion's throat.
"Mmmmmmm...!" Rainbow could hear Rarity inhaling from the far side of the bakery. She glanced over to see the unicorn biting her lip, clasping a pair of hooves before a pair of teary eyes. "Ohmygoodness! Ohmygoodness, yes, darling!" she squeaked.
"Oh wow wow wow wow!" Pinkie Pie somersaulted out of her chair, skidding to a stop on her knees as she beamed. "Lookit! Lookit!"
"Thatta boy, Macky," Applejack said, her voice low and soft. "Couldn't have made a better catch in all the world."
"Awwwwwwwww..." Twilight Sparkle's cheeks turned rosy. She pointed over her stack of books. "Is that what I think it is?"
"They're in love they're in love they're in love!" Pinkie hollered, bouncing joyfully around them. Behind a nearby corner, Mr. and Mrs. Cake smiled, leaning against each other as they drank the sight in.
Rainbow Dash exhaled, her wings drooping behind her while a dumb smile lingered on her face. "Heh... way to go, Flutters," she murmured.
At last, the couple leaned apart. Fluttershy sniffled, smiling sweetly. Meanwhile, Big Mac's scarlet coat doubled in intensity.
"Uhm... thank you, everypony," Fluttershy stammered. "Yes, we... uhm... we're special someponies, now. We just wanted to share that with you."
"Eeeeeeeeeeyup."
The crowd let loose a good chuckle.
Rarity nearly tripped in climbing out of her seat. She trotted swiftly over to Fluttershy, her eyes tearing. "Oh darling, I am so... so proud of you!" She sniffled, leaning in to nuzzle Fluttershy's cheek. Then, with a bright grin, she gestured at the big stallion. "And behold, what a specimen!"
Fluttershy giggled. "Heeheehee... Oh Rarity..."
"What are y'all else standin' around for?!" Applejack cackled, slapping her hat back on her head. "Gather 'round and congratulate 'em! Ain't everyday my brother shares his feelings like this! This is more 'once-in-a-lifetime' than the gul-durn-gala!"
The bakery broke into laughter. Ponies stepped away from their tables, closing in to shake Fluttershy's and Big Mac's hooves, sharing compliments and smiles. Pinkie Pie couldn't stop hugging the two of them, and it took Twilight a teleportation spell or two just to get in close enough to give her own congratulations.
From afar, Fluttershy's eyes sliced through the crowd, and they came into contact with Rainbow Dash. She shuddered, giving a cheekish smile before returning her attention to the nearby ponies.
Rainbow Dash smiled, folding her arms as a proud breath rolled through her.
"Wow... that's pretty awesome," Sharp Quill remarked.
"Mmmm..." Rainbow's voice cracked. "You said it."
Sharp Quill turned to look at the front entrance. "Whoops!" He chuckled. "Guess this is a really weird scene to step in on, huh?"
"Hmm?" Rainbow followed his line of sight. Her heart froze.
"... ... ..." Zecora stood at the front door, an empty pair of saddlebags hugging her flank. The zebra's muzzle hung open, and her blue eyes were wide as saucers.
"Oh no," Rainbow exhaled, her ears folding back.
"What?" Sharp Quill blinked quizzically. "What's the matter?"
Zecora bit her lip to the point of bleeding. Clenching her eyes shut, the shaman turned tail and galloped swiftly out the door.
"Ah jeez... ah jeez ah jeez!" Rainbow Dash flapped her wings.
"Is something wrong?" Sharp Quill remarked.
"Dude. Sorry, I... erm..." Rainbow clenched her teeth. "It was nice talking to you and all, but... s-sorry, I gotta go!" FWOOSH! She rocketed out the eatery.
Sharp Quill pointed at the crowd. "But... but your friend here..." He craned his neck. "Rainbow?!?"
The mare was gone.