Knuckles made it back to fluttershy's cottage with her in his arms. He laid her down on the couch while her animals looked on with worry. He took a look at her injuries. Most of her injuries were fine but her back leg was very damaged. Knuckles started looking around for medical supplies. He felt a poke at his ankle. He looked down and saw a small bunny with a first aid kit. He reached down and grabbed it "thanks buddy" he said. He sat down next to fluttershy and began cleaning and dressing her wound. After a few minutes he stepped back and sat in a nearby chair. He noticed that her animals were still there staring at her. Knuckles got up "it's not healthy to sit and worry, how about something to eat" he said to the animals. They nodded and he went to feed them.

Later fluttershy started to open her eyes. She saw the bandages on her leg. She then saw knuckles sleeping in a chair "knuckles" she said. He woke up and saw her looking at him "oh you're awake" he said. Fluttershy looked back to her leg "did you bandage my leg" she asked. Knuckles nodded with pride "yes, I've had some experience with first aid" he said. Fluttershy smiled but knuckles frowned "i also wanted to apologize" he said. Fluttershy was confused "for what" she asked. Knuckles looked away from her slightly "for letting eggman capture you, it wouldn't have happened if I didn't drop my guard" he explained. Fluttershy smiled again "you have nothing to be sorry for, I let my guard down" she said.

Knuckles smiled sadly "well, I'm still sorry that you got so hurt" he said. She was happy that he cared about her that much "you don't have to worry about me" she said. he got up and sat next to her on the couch "i do, because I care about you" he said. Fluttershy smiled and gave knuckles a peck on the cheek "thank you" she said. After a few seconds she noticed what she did. Her cheeks glowed a dark red "i'm sorry I shouldn't have done that" she said while panicking. Knuckles seemed to have froze but after a few seconds he responded "no it's fine, don't worry about it" he said. After a few seconds of awkward silence knuckles got up "i think I hear your animals, they might need something" he said as he walked into another room. Fluttershy covered her face with a throw pillow "stupid fluttershy" she said to herself.

Tails and twilight were relaxing and talking at the library "so how were you able to contain that whole explosion" tails asked. Twilight smiled "well it wasn't easy, that spell can be very draining depending on the force acting on it" she said. Tails was very interested "so that's why you were so tired afterwards" he said. Twilight nodded "yes, even though I specialize in magic it's hard for me to keep it up for long periods of time" she said. Tails looked up at the ceiling "i really thought that was going to be the end" he said.

Twilight remembered something "oh yeah, you were going to say something before it blew up. What was it" she asked. Tails suddenly started acting nervous "oh nothing, I forgot. I'm going out for a walk" he said as he ran out the door. Twilight was confused but smiled at the way he was acting "he's cute" she said to herself. Spike walked in the room "did you just call tails...cute" he asked. Twilight jumped slightly but composed herself "um yes, don't you find him cute in a totally platonic way" she asked. Spike thought for a moment "i don't know, ask me later" he answered. Twilight breathed a sigh of relief.

Tails was walking around ponyville thinking about what he was about to say back then "do I really feel that way about her" he thought. It was difficult to figure out his true feelings. He accidentally bumped into someone "oh I'm sorry" he said. He then noticed that it was rarity "it's alright darling" she said. She turned to face him "you seemed very lost in thought, is it something I can help with" she asked. Tails blushed slightly "can I really trust her with this information" he thought. Part of him really wanted to get this off his chest "can you keep a secret" he asked quietly. Rarity tried to contain her excitement, she loved secrets "of course" she said. Tails started to walk "let's talk somewhere more private" he said. Rarity smiled and followed him.

They went to a park and sat on a bench with no one around. Tails sighed and turned to rarity "back when the egg emperor was self destructing, I thought I was going to die" he said. Rarity frowned "I'm sure we all did" she said. Tails nodded "before twilight saved us I was going to tell her something" he said. Rarity's interest was peaked "and what was that" she asked. Tails shrunk down in his seat "i was going to tell her that I...loved her" he said. Rarity gasped "do you really" she asked. Tails looked down "i hadn't realized until that moment" he said. Rarity's face lit up "that's great because tw-" she stopped herself. She couldn't betray twilight's trust. Tails tilted his head "why is it great" he asked. Rarity thought for a moment "it's great because...you came to me for advice" she said.

Tails nodded "so what should I do" he asked. Rarity laughed "isn't it obvious, take her on a date" she said. Tails' eyes widened "a date, but wouldn't it be weird to ask her on a date out of nowhere" he said. She waved a hoof dismissively "just ask her if she'd like to go out for a meal" she said. Tails was still internally panicking "but I don't even have any of this world currency" he said. Rarity giggled "i think I can spare you some bits, let's go by my boutique" she said. Tails rubbed the back of his neck "i don't know about that" he said. rarity started walking "nonsense, now come along" she said and tails followed her.

Once they got to the boutique rarity went upstairs and came down with a small bag of bits floating next to her. She handed it to him "thank you, how can I repay you" he asked. Rarity walked over to her couch "you and twilight having fun is payment enough for me" she said. Rarity sat on the couch "so we still need to talk about where you're taking her" she said patting the space next to her. Tails sat down "i don't know any good places around here" he said. They talked about his plan for a while that it was sunset when they finished.

Tails walked back into the library. Twilight looked up from her book "hi tails, where did you go" she asked. Tails walked over "i ran into rarity, so I hung out with her for a while" he said. Twilight nodded "oh okay, well it's good to see you" she said. Tails stretched and yawned "i might get to sleep a bit early tonight, it's been a long day" he said. Twilight got up "yeah I should probably do the same" she said as she walked towards the stairs. Tails laid down and thought about his plans for tomorrow. He smiled and drifted off to sleep.