//------------------------------//
// Chapter 7: A Lovely Night 
// Story: The Story of 3 Hearts 
// by Flutterbat276 
//------------------------------//

We stayed for a bit and asked Tree Titan what the name of the village is, and he responded saying, "Forest, my friends." I looked around, sure enough, it was a forest. The zebra fillies ran in the grassy plains beside the forest. As they laughed, I remembered something.

"What's wrong Ditzy?" Doctor asked. I must've looked worried.

"Dinky. I need to check on her! And the TARDIS!" I responded, remembering the TARDIS door was never closed. We ran back to the TARDIS, and low and behold the door was open. The young deer was inside playing with Dinky.

"Dinky, why is she in here!?" I asked, a bit overly dramatic. Dinky explained everything, and then I looked at the mare in front of me. "I suppose I overreacted...just a smidge."

"Ya think?" the mare said, obviously aggravated. No pony dared speak after that. The mare, named Chord, sat down and ate a strange thing. I noticed it was some type of grass fries. This was more of a southern delicacy near the forests and mountains. You could say it's a back woods thing or something. I tried it once, and I didn't much care for it. We told Chord to leave the TARDIS and not tell any pony about what she saw, even though half the village saw the TARDIS already. I suggested to Doctor that we leave, seeing as how nothing was going on. He grabbed my hoof and asked me to go to one of the restaurants while we were there. I mean, since when can you enjoy deer and zebra food like this? I nodded and we headed off around evening.

"Burr," I said, shivering. "It's pretty chilly out here, isn't it Do-" I didn't finish when he wrapped his scarf around me. I blushed and gave him a peck on the cheek. I said thank you and kept walking. We made it to the restaurant down town and took a seat.

"Can I help you with anything?" said the deer waitress. Her mane was in a kind of bun, one that looped into a doughnut like shape. I glanced at Doctor as if I wanted him to go first. "Um...unsweetened tea, if you don't mind."

"And for you miss?"

"I suppose water is fine by me."

In the matter of minutes our drinks were out. Doctor whispered something to the waitress, and gave her a wrapped up napkin of some sort. I was curious and asked about the event.

"Oh, Ditzy. It's nothing! Just an old napkin I found on the floor."

I could tell he was lying, but I disregarded it and our date went on as usual. We had been there for a whole day, and I quite liked it.

Chord walked in and sat a table across the restaurant. She wasn't alone. She had what seemed to be her family with her. This wasn't an everyday family. I saw a slightly smaller colt, not too young, but one just around fourteen or so. He was a midnight blue and purple bat pony, his cutie mark was a paper with a mustache on it. The mother was similar, but turquoise with brown and blue hair. Her fangs showed outside of her mouth, glistening in the light of the setting sun. Her husband was a dark grey deer. His wings had brighter grey feathers and his mane was purple. The father had no cutie mark, but the mother did. Hers was a wheel zooming down a track with an atom symbol behind it.

Chord waved at us and I waved back. Next thing I knew, our food was out. A muffin with heart shaped fruit on it was in front of me, an English muffin for the Doctor. I smiled seeing the little details in the muffin and hugged Doctor. He blushed a bit and I giggled at that. I unwrapped the muffin and a small metal clank sound hit my ears. A ring had fallen onto the plate. I blushed red as a tomato, but was cut short by doctor putting a silver necklace around my neck. It was a basic ring but with a small muffin indention. Doctor explained it was a promise ring and I got a little down, but still happy I had a ring. My friends would freak out until I told them about the promise ring story.

After dinner we went to a mountain. By the time we were there, the sun had set and the moon glowed on us. Luna seemed to have set out this night perfectly! I saw Doctor take out another scarf from his saddle bag, and he put it on. It wouldn't have been surprising if he didn't grab the end of my scarf and tied it to his. We were looking on the horizon, basking in the moons glory when I felt something warm hit my shoulder. I blushed and Doctor laughed as he turned my head towards him. I felt a multitude of feelings that moment. Delight, anxiety, nervousness, fear, happiness, all those among other things.

He was just an inch from my face, then, it happened. Our first kiss, right there in the zebra lands. I heard zebra calls in the distance, deer moans and croaks behind us in the trees. The moment I dreamed of for years had finally come! It was wonderful, and I didn't want it to end.

Once we got to the TARDIS, I was so excited that I forgot the scarves were tied. He stuck close to me and we saw Titan by the TARDIS, wishing us farewell. He handed Doctor a bouquet, which I thought weird until he handed it back to me. Then Tree Titan winked at Doctor, then I understood perfectly. I smiled as Dinky opened the door. Titan nodded and waved, so did Chord and her family. We all smiled and then, we walked inside. The TARDIS cut on and we left.