"For the last time, Macintosh really isn't right for me!" Twilight argued, as she, her mom, and Cadence walked around the market. All throughout lunch, Velvet and Cadence hadn't stopped talking about how happy Big Mac could probably make her and how cute their kids would be ("Your brains and his muscles would make the perfect children!"). And, of course, how hot he was.
"Are you sure, honey?" Twilight Velvet inquired. "Have you even given him a chance? I really think you should. You know, when I first met your father, I insisted to my friends that it would never work out between us, and how we were far too different to have a serious relationship, and now we have been happily married for twenty-seven amazing years, and have three wonderful children."
"Yeah, Twilight," Cadence chimed in. "I think you should at least go on one date with him. He could always surprise you."
"Please, just drop it," Twilight pleaded. "I already know things wouldn't work out between us, I just know it. Besides, I heard he was interested in some athlete he met when she came to town for a marathon, a few months ago, and he's going to ask her out next time she's in Ponyville."
"Oh, really?" Cadence smirked. "And just why do you know so much about his love life? Do you have a bad case of unrequited love, Twily?"
"No, he's just my gir-best friend's brother, and she tells me everything," Twilight replied. 'Why didn't I just tell them the truth?' Twilight asked herself. 'This could be all over in five seconds, yet I keep putting it off. If only they walked on me in bed with AJ instead of her family!'
"Fine, fine, we'll stop pestering you about sexy apple farmers," Velevet said, oblivious to the irony of her statement. "But don't think you're off the hook about guys. We'll keep teasing you about this for the rest of our trip, and pointing out the hotties."
"Like him!" Cadence gasped, pointing at Thunderlane, who was chatting with Rainbow Dash. "Just look at that mohawk! He's such a sexy rebel!"
"Oh, no..." Twilight muttered.
"What's the matter, dear?" her mother inquired. "What's wrong with him? Is he your ex?"
"No!" Twilight snapped. "Nothing like that! It's just... we had sort of an... awkward moment a few weeks ago. He probably doesn't want to talk to me."
"Details, Twily," said Cadence.
"Well..." Twilight began. "The girls and I were having a night out, and I had too much to drink, and I kind of..."
"Yes?" Cadence and Velvet asked, together, leaning toward Twilight.
"I kinda threw up on him, a little. A lot, actually."
"Oh, dear..." Velvet said, blushing. "That is certainly a way to leave an impression."
"I've already apologized to him," Twilight continued. "But, I still think it's a bit weird between us."
"Well, let's go fix that!" Cadence announced, marching towards Thunderlane, dragging her sister in law behind her, ignoring the poor girl's pleas not to.
"Hello!" Cadence loudly greeted, before noticing Rainbow Dash. "And hello to you, Rainbow. How are you doing?"
"I've been great!" Rainbow Dash beamed. "I take it Twi's showing you and Twilight Senior around town."
"Of course she is. We really regret not coming here sooner; it's such a lovely place," Cadence replied. She turned to Thunderlane, "Anyway, Twilight here was telling me all about you, handsome. She said something about an accident that occurred between the two of you a few weeks ago."
"Look," Thunderlane said. "I know you're just using that as an excuse to get the two of us to talk to each other, and maybe hook up, and I'm just going to stop you right there. Twilight's a cute girl, very sweet, too, and we've already discussed what happened, and I've already forgiven her. She was drunk, shit happens. Besides, I just got out of a relationship, and I'm not just going to rush into another one."
Cadence's face fell. "You... You won't even go on one date with her?" Thunderlane shook his head, shrugging apologetically. "Oh, damn. Well, it was worth a shot."
Rainbow Dash snorted with laughter. "Oh, this is golden! I take it that you and Twilight's mom have been trying to set her up since you got here?" Cadence nodded in response. "Ha! Oh, man! Twi, you really should-"
"Dash, may I have a word with you?" Twilight interrupted. Rainbow merely shrugged, before following Twilight away from Cadence.
"What's up?" Rainbow asked.
Twilight bit her lip, nervously. "I... I haven't quite worked up the courage to tell them about my relationship with Applejack."
Rainbow Dash crossed her arms. "Why not?"
"It's just..." Twilight paused. "I've never had a serious relationship before this. You know how much of a wreck I used to be. I never really went on dates when I was in school, except for the one my parents set up with one of their friends' sons, and even then I mostly ignored him, and only made polite conversation, and never went on a second date with him, so I never really introduced my parents to a someone I was romantically involved with. I've never even had to bring it up, before, and I guess I really don't know how to tell them."
"Look," Dash said, placing her hands on Twilight's shoulders. "I know they aren't going to judge you for dating a chick, and I'm positive they'll love Applejack. I mean, Cadence already loves her, so you don't have to worry about that. Why don't you try telling them the way you told me and the rest of the girls?"
"Dash," Twilight said, frowning. "I was plastered when I told you guys. I'm not telling my family that I have a girlfriend while I'm out of my mind, drunk."
"Oh, yeah!" Rainbow Dash said, remembering the incident. "That was pretty funny! So, how about telling them the same way you told Applejack's family?"
"Uh, th-they sort of, um..."
"Sort of what?"
"Walked in on us after a night of intimacy..." Twilight flushed.
Rainbow burst into laughter. "Oh my God!" the prismatic haired girl guffawed. "No freaking way! That is priceless!"
"This is serious!" Twilight exclaimed. "I just... I don't think I can tell them without Applejack with me. It would make things much easier. Except, she's busy for at least the next few days, and by then my mom and Cadence could have tried to set me up with half the guys in town, and I can't make up an excuse for all of them!"
"So, you would feel better with AJ by your side," Rainbow said, rubbing her chin, thoughtfully. "I have a plan! You just keep doing what you're doing with them for the rest of the day. Trust me, this plan is bulletproof."
"You better be right, Dash," Twilight said, turning, and walking back towards her sister in law. "Sorry about that, Cadence. Rainbow and I needed to have some private girl talk for a minute."
"That's okay, Twily," Cadence replied, smiling. "Come, we shouldn't keep your mom waiting any longer."
The two of the returned to Twilight Velvet. "I'll take the fact that the two of them aren't currently chatting together as a sign that he was a no," the older woman stated, receiving nods in return. "Oh, damn. Guess that means he won't be turning my darling little girl into some punk rock hooligan."
"Yeah, about that," Sparkle cut in. "He isn't like that. He listens to classical music, wears a pink apron while cooking, has a degree in meteorology, and is very over protective of his little brother."
"You're not making this loss any easier by telling me he's good with kids, dear," her mother replied.
"Come on," the younger Twilight replied. "There's still plenty of things to see in Ponyville to distract you from the guys who won't date me."
...
Meanwhile, across town...
"It sucks that Rarity kicked us out of the house," Spike said. Him, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo were all hanging out at the park, bored out of their minds, with nothing else to do.
"Yeah," Sweetie Belle replied, kicking at a patch of dirt. "It's a shame, too. She wouldn't even let me show you guys that thing I found under her bed. Something about it being 'inappropriate', and 'not something you talk about with your friends', and 'you're too young for that sort of thing' and 'you shouldn't have invaded my privacy by rooting around under my bed; it's rude'. Sisters are stupid, sometimes."
"Yeah," sighed Apple Bloom. "Speakin' of sisters, Spike, if ours get married, wouldn't that make us brother and sister?"
"What!?" Spike gasped. "What brought this on? Isn't it too early to be thinking about that? I mean, they've only been dating for a few months, now, and it's not like either of them like rushing into things."
"Well," Apple Bloom continued. "Ah mean they really do seem to be in love. And they haven't had any problems so far. Ah think they'll really go through with it."
Scootaloo interjected. "Hold on a sec, Bloom. Remember Rainbow Dash's last girlfriend?" The other three nodded in unison. "Well, everything between them started out like this, then everything went downhill real fast."
"Well, they weren't friends before they dated, like AJ and Twilight are," Apple Bloom said. "Her and Rainbow only started dating after a drunken hookup at the bar. It's not like that's a good way to start a relationship."
"Yeah," Sweetie chimed in. "And that Lightning Dust lady was a real b-word, anyway."
"Look," said Spike. "I think it's safe to say that there's a decent possibility of Applejack and Twilight getting married. Until then, if it happens, I'm not thinking about it, and I don't think they are, either."
"You're just jealous that your sister has a girlfriend, and you don't," Scootaloo said, smirking.
"Sh-shut up!" Spike retorted, blushing. "It's not like any of you guys have someone!"
"Please!" Scootaloo retorted. "I could get anyone in our class to be my boyfriend or girlfriend. I just don't want to, since most of them probably couldn't handle my awesomeness."
"I dunno," Sweetie Belle said, staring at her feet. "Silver Spoon's kind of cute."
The other three stared at her, incredulously. "What?" they asked in unison.
"What?" Sweetie responded, pretending like she didn't know what she just said.
"Never mind," Spike said. "Let's just go bother Rumble, and see if he has any ideas on what to do."