Barbara sighed with relief as she dusted the last book in the Castle of Friendship. She found Dusk with his nose in a thick novel.
"Dusk, I'm done with the cleaning. Can I lease please PLEASE go help Elusive now?" She whined. Dusk looked up.
"Huh? Oh… yeah, I guess so." He answered.
"YES!!!" Barbara fist-pumped the air, running off. The alicorn stallion rolled his eyes. She sure was always in a hurry to go see him, the poor girl was always working her tail off just to get him to notice her. Dusk would have to have a word with Elusive about that some day.
***
The door of the Carousel Boutique jingled as it opened. A little she-dragon walked in, panting from running to get here so fast.
"Elusive!! Elusive?" She called.
"A moment, darling."~ A familiar male voice sing-songed. Her heart always beat faster when she heard that voice. He called her darling! 'He calls everyone darling.' Her inner voice told her, but she ignored it.
"Now how may I help you today-- oh! Hello, Barbara! What brings you to the boutique this fine day?"
"You needed my help with the Canterlot line, right?" She asked, eagerly. Elusive scanned his thoughts for a moment.
"Ah, yes. Now I remember! This way, dear." Elusive brought her to the back where there was a little modelling stand. Butterscotch stood on the platform, wearing one of Elusive's vests.
"Hello Barbara." The shy stallion said softly.
"Hiya, Butterscotch, looking good!" She exclaimed. He blushed at the compliment.
"Barbara dear, please get my measuring tape."
"Whatever you say, Elusive." She replied dreamily. 'Please call me dear again.' She kept herself from actually swooning over the handsome unicorn, but with difficulty. The dragoness turned around and rooted around in Elusive's sewing kit, finding the tape with ease, holding it for him. A blue aura of magic grasped her claw holding the tape.
"Ahem." The unicorn cleared his throat. Barbara realized she was not letting go of the measuring tape and was lost in Elusive's eyes. She shook herself from her dreamlike state.
"Oh… hehe, sorry." She released her grip as the tape floated out of her claw.
"Thank you." He said. "You know my dear, I have to thank you for your assistance after a day of cleaning the castle. You didn't need to come over today, you must already be exhausted."
"Oh it was no trouble at all! I'm always happy to help a friend in need." Barbara said, her heart fluttering once again when he called her 'my dear'. She knew she was lying to herself. True, she would help any of her friends if they asked, but she particularly wanted to help Elusive, and was hoping so badly he'd measure her, she shivered with excitement at the thought.
Time passed as she watched the white stallion make small adjustments to Butterscotch's vest. She would do any favour he'd request of her. She could watch him for hours, but eventually it began to get dark, and Butterscotch took off the vest and headed home. It was just her and Elusive, and they cleaned up the shop in silence until it was completely dark and time for dinner. Dusk would surely be worried about her now.
"Oh shoot! I gotta get going, Dusk is gonna freak out!" Barbara exclaimed.
"Oh my, it is quite late. I'd best get you home." Barbara protested, but Elusive wasn't having any of it and knew it wasn't safe for her to be out alone. He walked her home.
"Oh, Barbara! Before I forget…" Elusive began.
"Yes?" Barbara's eyes lit up. Was this it? Could he be?
"Would you… that is to say… would you go with me to the Hearth's Warming Prance?"
Yes. YES. YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES!!!
"Oh Elusive I would LOVE to!!!!!!" Barbara said, hardly believing this was happening.
"Wonderful! I best be off, but can you come help at the shop on Tuesday?" Elusive asked.
"You don't have to ask me twice, Elusive!"
"Alright, see you then, my love!" He said, walking off. Barbara felt as though she would explode from all the joy. No, she felt like she would explode TWICE. Could you do that? Could you explode twice? She skipped through the main hall of the castle on her way to join Dusk Shine for their usual supper, and to tell him the news.