Epilogue, hearts and hooves day
"Maybe if we did something with his mane?"
"He's a stallion, not a mare, besides, what would we do with it?"
"Is it the suit?"
"No...I don't think so"
"How about we change his tie"
"I think red makes a nice contrast"
"Perhaps some cologne"
"I don't know..."
"Do you two really care that much?" Blaze asked his aunts. It was the night of hearts and hooves day and Blaze was getting ready for his date with Sweet cream. Or more rather his aunts where getting him ready. He'd spent the last three hours having his mane and tail combed, getting his tie immaculately straight, trying what felt like a hundred different colognes and listening to Luna and Celestia debate whether or not he needed a rose in his jacket.
"Of course!" Luna said, readjusting his tie for the millionth time.
"We want our nephew to look good for his first real date" chimed in Celestia.
"How come you two are here and not my mother?" Blaze asked "she would never miss out on an opportunity like this"
"Your mother was the one who invited us over" Luna said, placing a red rose in his suits jacket pocket.
"she thought that after fifteen years of not getting to spend any time with you we should get to spend some quality time with you" Celestia said, taking his hoof firmly in hers and spraying another cologne on his wrist. Blaze coughed.
"And straighten out the jacket..." Luna pulled his jacket straight and the two royal sisters stepped back to admire their work, looks of delight on their faces.
"Perfect!"
"Wonderful"
"Excellent"
"I think we've out done ourselves this time"
"He's just so handsome!"
"What do you think?" Luna summoned a body sized mirror from out of nowhere and Blaze stared at the unfamiliar reflection. Before him stood a handsome pegausi stallion, his mane had been expertly combed and its flames seemed to burn brighter than usual. The suit the stallion wore was tailor fitted and seemed to fit him expertly, making his shoulders seem broader and his wings had been expertly groomed, any loose feathers where gone and the feathers themselves seemed to glow a snow white.
"Is that really me?" Blaze lifted one hoof in the air, the reflection did the same.
"Somepony get the camera!" Luna shouted. Nova came in from the kitchen with a camera around his neck, Rarity by his side.
"Blaze!" his mother squeaked "you look so much older" Rarity trotted up and gave the suit a look over "Tailor fitted? Your aunts certainly didn't skip on any expense" Luna and Celestia nodded modestly.
"You look like a grown stallion Blaze" Nova said, a smile on his face, he raised the camera "ok everypony, let's get a good shot now" Luna, Celestia and Rarity all grouped around Blaze with smiles on their faces. Blaze managed a smile, but the knot in his stomach tightened. There was a flash and spots filled his vision. "Excellent, now get out there and get the girl Blaze"
Blaze nodded and made his way out of the living room, down the hall and out the front door, and then he stopped and stared, his mouth agape. "What do you think?" Luna asked from behind him, amusement in her voice. Out on the cobbled road was a royal chariot, its chassis a golden hue. It was pulled by a pair of white pegausi in golden armour, who stood to attention.
"...i didn't really expect this" he managed.
"well go on, Sweet creams waiting" Luna nudged at his flank and Blaze promptly walked out into the street and stepped onto the chariot, the pegausi pulling it reared as one and galloped forward. Blaze reached out and grabbed the chariots railing before he fell off, and then they were in the sky. Down below Luna, Celestia, Rarity and Nova watched the chariot shrink into the night sky.
"Go on kid" Nova said "go get her"
"I think we did pretty well" Luna said, feeling a sense of satisfaction
"Yeah, you didn't do too badly" Nova said begrudgingly, he nudged at her shoulder "not bad Lulu"
"You haven't called me that in years" Luna said with a smile. Nova smiled back.
≤ΘΘΘ≥
The chariot came to a gliding stopped, and Blaze leapt off and made his way to the door of Fluttershies home. He paused for a moment, swallowed the lump in his throat and knocked on the door. There was a hushed conversation and then the door opened to show Fluttershy, her cheeks red with happiness.
"Good even Miss Fluttershy" Blaze said, giving a practised bow "is your daughter home?"
"Oh, yes she is" Fluttershy said, stepping aside. Blaze looked past her and saw a mare standing at the foot of the staircase, he felt his heart begin to beat faster in his chest. Sweet cream was wearing a dress of green, which contrasted perfectly with her yellow skin. Her blue eyes seemed to shine with happiness and a flush crept up her neck, around which was a small silver necklace with a pair of emerald wings, Blaze felt a blush of his own work its way up his neck. "I wore that dress to the grand galloping gala years ago, your mother gave it a touch up for me" Blaze nodded mutely, words had failed him.
"good evening Blaze" Sweet cream said, moving from the staircase "i'm looking forward to the rest of the evening" Blaze nodded and offered her his hoof, which Sweet cream took without a moment of hesitation. When she saw the chariot she gasped, and Blaze felt a smile on his lips. "I...i..."
"The night is still young Sweet cream, come on, we've got a reservation at the cherry orchard" and without another word he guided her down to the chariot, helping her on board.
"Have a wonderful night!" Fluttershy called to them as the chariot took to the air, before she swiftly shrunk down to the size of an ant.
≤ΘΘΘ≥
"We have a reservation, Starflight, table for two" Blaze said, feeling confidence in every word.
"Ah, of course" the waiter said, a smile on his face. Outside a crowd had begun to gather around the chariot, staring at it and in turn at the pair of ponies who had stepped off it "please come with me" Blaze and Sweet cream followed behind him, they went through the restaurant and out of a pair of glass double doors onto a terrace. From the terrace there was a stone balcony, that struck out over the river. On the balcony was a small table with a burning candle in the centre, with a nod Blaze thanked the waiter and pulled out Sweet creams seat for her.
They both settled into the situation the found themselves in, enjoying each other's company as the night progressed. The food arrived, a special hearts and hooves day meal that consisted of soup, steak, and to finish a heart shaped box of chocolates. Blaze didn't really taste the food, or the bottle of champagne that came with the meal, even though he was still technically too young to drink, he suspected his father was involved at some point here. He didn't notice anything, except for the angel he shared the table with. At the end of the meal, after he'd paid and tipped the waiter and he and Sweet cream took a walk along the edge of the river. They walked through the moonlight, past the town and out into the open fields surrounding ponyville. They stopped under a great oak, whose branches stretched over them like the arms of a great giant.
"I had a really great night Blaze" Sweet cream said, her beautiful eyes reflected the light of the moon "i'm...i'm sorry for what i did"
"It wasn't your fault, it was mine" he said. He drew her close and simply hugged her tight against him, wishing the world could just hold still for a moment and let him savour the feel of Sweet cream against him. Sweet cream pulled away, stared into his eyes, and then she kissed him. Blaze felt himself begin to melt, a shivering sensation ran up and down his spine. He returned her kiss with one of his own; he drank her in, letting her scent of cream wash over him.
"Blaze, there's...there's something i want to give you" Sweet cream gave him a shy look.
"What is it?" Blaze asked, he could feel another flush run up his neck.
One of Sweet creams wings stretched out and undid one of the clasps on her dress, it fell away to reveal one of her shoulders, Blaze got what she meant. He drew her in for another kiss, and over head the stars and the moon shone bright in the night sky, lighting up the world below them and the pair of young lovers.