After the terrible disaster that was Sweetie Bell's cooking, the four had decided to let Apple Bloom prepare the dinner. The meal passed without incident, and Stardash enjoyed one of the best meals of mashed potatoes and gravy, macaroni and cheese, and freshly baked apple pie he ever had tasted. While praising Apple Bloom's cooking onpenly, the colt was quietly thanking the heavens that Apple Bloom had prepared the food instead of Sweetie Bell.
"Well, that was certainly a wonderful meal!" Stardash noted, picking up the plates in his hooves, and washing them in the sink. "You really outdid yourself with this one, Apple Bloom!"
"Thank y'all so much, sugah." Apple Bloom replied, smiling happily at the colt, before staring at her other two friends darkly. "An' now, I'd love ta give y'all a real treat- some of mah family's homemade apple cider!"
"You brought some with you, Apple Bloom?" Scootaloo asked in surprise. "Sweet! I'd love to have some!"
"Yeah, I haven't had any since last cider season." Sweetie added. "And both Rarity and and my mom are all out."
"Here, let me go and pour y'all a glass..." The earth pony hurried back into the lighthouse kitchen, and poured each of them a cup of the cider from the large canteen she had brought. But into Sweetie Bell and Scootlaoo's glasses she slipped a pouch of white powder, a medicine Granny Smith used to take for her bowel problems.
While Stardash and I are going on our date, my two dear friends'll be going another way! Apple Bloom's grin grew into an evil smile. Sorry girls, but all's fair in love and war!
"Here ya are, girls and guy!" The teenager smiled, and brought the tray with the four drinks in to the other three ponies. "Y'all drink up, heyah?"
"Awesome, this looks great!" Scootaloo declared, downing her glass quickly. "Mmmm, this really tastes great, too!"
But as Scootaloo glanced over at her earth pony friend, she noticed the grin on her friend's face. Waiting for Apple Bloom to turn her head for a second, the unicorn used her magic to quickly switch their two glasses.
"Yum, this stuff is delicious!" Sweetie Bell added, hiding her own smile. "It was very thoughtful of you to share it."
The four continued to talk for several minutes before two looks of horror crossed Apple Bloom and Scootaloo's faces.
"Excuse me." The both declared in unison, hopping up from the table really fast. "But we really need to go right now!"
The two fillies raced out the door, a confused look on Apple Bloom's face. But when she saw the look Sweetie Bell gave her, the earth pony knew she had been betrayed.
You'll pay for this next time, Sweetie Bell! The teenage filly thought to herself, glaring as she raced Scootaloo to the bathroom. you won't win the next colt so easily!
"Huh, wonder where they had to go in such a hurry." Stardash asked, confused. "We didn't even get the dishes washed yet."
"Oh, I'm sure they just had to stretch their legs a little." Sweetie Bell smiled. "You know, got a sudden case of the runs."
"Oh. Well anyway, I think I'm going up to the tower." The colt sighed. "You know, to get some fresh night air."
"Oh, that sounds nice." Sweetie smiled, following up. "I think I'll come with you."
The two made trotted up to the top of the lighthouse, and stared out at the rolling dark waves of the ocean. The cool night air blew across thier faces, and through their manes, and they stared up at the starry night sky, gazing though a darkness broken only by the swinging beam of the beacon's light.
"It's so wonderful up here.. with the endless sky above you, and the endless sea below you." The colt declared with a sigh. "It really makes you feel like your such a small pony in a really big world, doesn't it?"
"It doesn't matter how little of a pony I am." The filly replied smoothly. moving a little closer to the colt. "As long as I have enough wonderful friends near me."
"I understand the feeling... friends are the most wonderful things a pony can have." Stardash looked skyward. "Don't you wish that friends were like the stars? spearing out all out around you so far and wide, you can't even begin to count them."
"I don't know about that," Sweetie replied, moving so close to the colt, he could feel her warm breath on his coat. "but I do know the stars are very beautiful tonight."
"Not as beautiful as you, my little pony." He replied, as she leaned her head against his shoulder. "Not as beautiful as you."
The two teenagers nuzzled each other, staring out at the sea for several hours, before trotting back down into the lighthouse keeper's quarters to spend a wonderful night together. But far below, in the lighthouse's privy, two other very angry and jealous fillies were plotting their revenge.
"Ohhh, Sweetie Bell!" Scootaloo growled. "I swear when this stuff wears off tomorrow, I'm kicking your sorry flank from here to Fillydelphia!"
"Not if ah get my hooves on her first!" Apple Bloom growled from the stall next to hers. "Y'all cain have what ever's left when ah get done."