Princess Cadance is ready to take another step with an important aspect of love: generous donations to the Crystal Empire's technically thousand-plus year old orphanage and animal shelter. If some lucky ponies find their soulmates through the event, all the better to go forward with it.

Some of her guards get yanked into the list of candidates, including Commander Flash Sentry. He is told that it's going to be a fun time, but he's not so sure. The situation turns even more serious when he finds out the identity of the mare that is essentially buying his time.
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"Luna, this is hardly appropriate."

"Nonsense, sister! You need a hobby, and testing the waters seems like a good starting point."

"But that's what the Royal pH testers are for."

"Wow... you really need to get out more."
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Rated "Teen" for slight alcohol reference.
Contrary to Cadance's desires, this is not a love story.