Herr Regis

Review Responses:

Hi: I'm glad you like my pairing! The reason I chose Twilight Sparkle for Flam will become more apparent as time goes by, but overall they just seem compatible.

Beginners

The next morning at Flim and Flam's cottage, the atmosphere around their small round breakfast table was heavy. While they sat and ate, Flam noticed that his energetic and bubbly brother was starring at him. "What's gotten you smiling?" Flam raised an eyebrow at his brother, lightly concerned and feeling playful.

Flim shrugged, sitting back in his chair. "I'm just curious if my brother's asked out the mare he's been starring at for weeks."

Flam coughed, putting down his drink and wiping his lips. "I thought she wouldn't like me; I really had to work for that yes, too. Nevertheless brother of mine, I've got a date with the lovely Twilight Sparkle."

Flim punched his brother's shoulder, making Flam cringe from the stinging, brief pain he felt. "Wherever you bring her and whatever you do, it better be unique, you can't bring a princess to just any old place."

Flam shrugged, sitting back in his chair and rocking it slowly. "I'll think of something amazing. She was hesitant at first, so I'll have to use all of my tricks." Flam took a final sip of his drink, putting the cup on the table and spinning it around slowly, thinking. "How about you, in a few weeks you'll be a married stallion."

Flim smiled, standing up and beginning to wash his and his brother's dishes, the sound of running water filling the air. "I can't wait. Applejack is excited, too. I'm going to go and see her soon, maybe you could go and see..."

Flam waved his brother off, flushing with embarrassment and leaving Flim alone in the cottage. Flam realized that his brother was right, staring at the mare of his eye only increased Flam's shyness and made him feel inferior to her.

Flam never thought he'd want a companion. With his brother always at his side, and his fast paced life as a traveling salespony, Flam never realized that he had been getting older, and had never bothered to even smile at a mare who looked his way.

Now, the mare who wasn't looking his way was the one he liked. To his amazement, the most mind boggling mare he'd ever met was willing to let him date her, and that made his heart soar.

After thinking all morning, Flam got ready for his date. He went over to Twilight Sparkle's home, knocking on the door. Spike answered, looking just as tired and frustrated as he had previously. "Finally!" Spike cheered up at the sight of the stallion, surprising Flam. He took a cautious step back, starring at the dragon with a raised eyebrow.

"Am I late?" Flam followed after Spike, who had gone back into the home without another word; Spike had also left the door ajar.

Spike smirked, going up a flight of stairs. "You're early, Twilight's been bouncing off the walls all day, now you can finally get her out of here." Flam stayed at the base of the stairs, waiting. He was partially surprised to hear that she was excited to see him. After hearing two voices attempt to chat in whispers from behind a closed door, Twilight Sparkle appeared. "Hi, Flam."

The princess descended the stairs, taking his hoof as he guided her down the final steps. "You look radiant."

Twilight Sparkle had been looking over her shoulder, not listening. She turned around quickly, looking at him unknowingly. "Did you say something?"

Flam mentally frowned. He didn't think the compliment would sound the same a second time, so he restated it in a much more blunt way. "You're hot, Twilight." She blushed, looking away and smiling brightly. He swallowed, tugging at his collar. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that to a princess. I..."

"No! It's alright, Flam. I'm not a princess tonight, I'm just... Twilight Sparkle." The mare found her suitor's shyness and nervous demeanor attractive, as she felt and acted the same way at times. Flam smiled, offering her his hoof again. They walked out together, and soon found themselves in her hot air balloon.

"Come on, we're here." Flam motioned to step out of the basket, making the mare nearly fall over in shock. Flam was a unicorn, incapable of standing on clouds. Yet, there he stood, looking back at her happily. "How..."

"I'm not to shabby at magic myself. I thought, what a better place to bring a mare than high in the clouds, to watch the sunset and to have a picnic." Flam pulled out a basket he'd brought with him, opening it and laying out their meal.

"A picnic in the clouds? That's... that's very thoughtful of you." Twilight smiled, sitting down across from him.

"My brother and Applejack had a picnic as their first date, and they turned out marvelously. So, I figured there isn't a better way in the world to start a relationship." They both shied away from the word relationship, still afraid of being committed to one another and also full of doubt as to their own romantic abilities.

They sat and enjoyed themselves, talking throughout the date as they got to know each other's personalities. "Where did you learn magic like this, Flam? Flying spells aren't for beginners."

"I know. I didn't go to school for magic, but that didn't keep me from reading. I don't hold a candle to you, but I try."

Twilight Sparkle frowned. "That's probably a good thing, I get so wrapped up in studying, my whole life is going by without me. This is my first date."

Flam got up and sat next to her, and instinctually Twilight Sparkle pressed against his side. "I know how you feel, Twilight. You're always doing something, busy with work or family, you forget to treat yourself. This is my first date, too."

"Really?" Twilight Sparkle was truly taken aback. She'd expected a stallion with as much confidence and charisma as Flam would have a mare at his side every night, but apparently she'd been too quick to judge.

"Really, I'm just surprised somepony as gorgeous as you hasn't been swooped up yet, it's not everyday a stallion meets a mare that's pretty and smart." Twilight Sparkle blushed, allowing her head to rest against his neck. "Thanks, Flam."

"The sunset is really nice tonight." Flam was nearly in a trance, his heart was racing and he didn't know what else to say. He'd known this mare for months, and had only ever had a single date with her, but he felt a connection. She could stipulate. The princess felt comfortable and calm, Flam provided her with peace.

She kissed his cheek, pressing her lips against the creamy yellow of his face and then releasing, taking him into a big hug as they sat on the small, white, fluffy cloud. "This was wonderful."

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