My Little Pony-Friendship is Magic

The Romancing Quest

By Doctor Scraps

Disclaimer: My Little Pony- Friendship is Magic is property of Hasbro and all affiliated parties involved, and the author claims no rights to any characters, settings, or events. This story was written for entertainment purposes only.

A/N: Seeing some responses from the last chapter, I would like to say that at the current moment, there are no plans for any dedicated shipping in this story. That said, there might be the occasional yuri-esque situation if the plot dictates. Thank you, and enjoy.

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Chapter 4

...

Down on the Sweet Apple Acres farm, the harvest was finally coming to an end, and now came the collective task of all available farmhands for the yearly put-away. If there was one thing the Apple Family liked more than seeing their acreage bustling with harvest, was seeing it nice and tidy during the off season. No basket left astray, no plow unhitched.

Applejack was busying herself stowing the baskets away in the storage shed out back, sweating from the heat, and the exertion of a hard days work. She sighed with self satisfaction of a job well done when she finally crammed the last one in and wedged the door shut. It was then she was very aware of three sets of eyes watching her from a nearby hay bale.

"Well, howdy there, Cutie Mark Crusaders." She said cheerily, wiping her brow and adjusting her hat. "Come to give the farm some help?"

"Actually, Sis…" Applebloom said, Sweetie Bell and Scootaloo watching Applejack with wide eyed interest. "We were wonderin' if maybe we could make an inqueery."

"Well, sure sugarplum. What's got yer brain itchin'?" Applejack trotted over and took a load off, glad to take a break.

Scootaloo piped up. "We've been seeing Miss Twilight going around town with all these boys. She never hangs out with boys."

"Is she getting married?" Sweetie Bell asked.

"Ah…Well…" Applejack swallowed, raking her brain for an easy answer. "Y'see…Girls…There comes a time, in a young mares life when…Bein' with yer gal pals ain't enough." The Crusaders tilted their heads, blinking their big, pleading eyes. "Y'know…Miss Twilight is at that age where she don't think boys're icky any longer."

"Yuck." Scootaloo stuck her tongue out.

"Now, now, one day you'll understand what I mean." Applejack ruffled Scootaloo's mane. "It's all a part o' growin' up, just like yer Cutie Marks."

"But Twilight was looking so miserable some times. I don't think she was liking it all that well." Applebloom said. The other two nodded.

"Ah, right, well, we can all just blame Miss Rarity for that, but don't you go blabbin' to her I said that." Applejack said, looking to Sweetie Bell.

Sweetie Bell sat up and crossed her chest. "Cross my heart, hope to die, with a nice hot piece of apple pie!"

"Good. Now…Just between us girls…" Applejack huddled them close. "It ain't easy findin' that one colt you wanna always hang out with. You gotta go through a whole buncha bad apples before you find one that's fit fer eatin'. Those one's ya saw?"

"Those were bad apples?" Scootaloo asked.

Applejack nodded. "But you gotta through them before ya find the nice shiny red one."

Applebloom got quiet for a minute, before the light bulb in her head went off. "Maybe we could help! We'll find her a nice pony she can play with, and maybe we'll get our Match-Maker Cutie Marks!"

"Yea!" Scootaloo and Sweetie Bell were almost immediately on board. If it meant getting their Cutie Marks, it wasn't hard to convince them. They were already bound to leap off and get a plan into action, when Applejack snagged Applebloom by the tail.

"Now hold on there, young'ns!" She dragged them back to the hay bale. "Now, Miss Twilight ain't fond of people pokin' their noses into her affairs. Now I want you three to swear you won't go botherin' her."

Applebloom pouted at her big sister, but still sat up and put a hoof into the air. "I solemnly swear we won't go buggin' Miss Twilight." Scootaloo and Sweetie Bell looked at each other, then to Applebloom curiously, who shot them a glare. They immediately mimicked her pose, hooves in the air.

"Well, alright then. You three go play safe, and remember what we talked about." Applejack nodded and scuttled them off so she could get back to work.

…

"But Applebloom, I thought we weren't going to bug Miss Twilight." Sweetie Bell asked as the trio trotted their way across Ponyville to Twilights treehouse. "Applejack will be mighty angry that we lied."

"But we didn't lie!" Applebloom's said with an air of confidence. "We promised we wouldn't bug Twilight about her boy problem. We're gonna help her with her boy problem!"

"But…Won't that count as the same thing?" Scootaloo asked.

"Not if they don't know it was us. We'll be real sneaky about it! Like Ninjas!" Applebloom said.

"Ooh, Ninjas! Cool!" Scootaloo giggled. "…Can we just work on getting a Ninja Cutie Mark instead?"

…

The bell on the door to the Ponyville bookseller chimed, catching the attention of a blue Pegasus who was flopped over onto a bench, appearing to be feigning death, her mouth agape and tongue lolled out, legs scrunched up in the air like a cockroaches, her brightly multi-colored mane spread out in all directions.

"I wasn't in there that long." Twilight Sparkle nudged Rainbow Dash, as the Pegasus rolled onto her side and popping herself up on her elbow.

"Sheesh, you said you would just be a minute." Rainbow Dash huffed. "What's a minute in Canterlot? A half hour?"

"Well, I found what I was looking for, so I thought I'd look around a little longer." Twilights horn glowed as her book satchel slipped open, the newly acquired tome floating out. Rainbow Dash cocked her head to get a better look at the title, reading it aloud.

"…Unlocking your inner Celestia…A Mares guide to beauty, love, and being seductive without being…" She trailed off, narrowing her gaze at Twilight. "You spent bits on this."

Twilight turned his nose up, tucking the book away. "I don't have any other books on the subject, this one came highly recommended."

Rainbow dash sat up and spread her arms out, gathering Twilights attention her way. "Twi, what do you mean? You have all the reference you need right here! Me! Rainbow Dash! Your compadre! I can teach you all there is to know about dating and stuff!"

Twilight was incredulous at best. However, Rainbow Dash's tips couldn't be any more outlandish that Rarity's. She sighed with a smile and sat down on the bench beside Rainbow. "Very well, Master Dash, teach me the ways of love."

"I'm glad you asked." Rainbow Dash's ego was soaring. Being called Master Dash helped her along. "Firstly, be glad you're a filly. Love is our game. Boys will jump and fly through hoops of fire for a mare he likes. And all you have to do is sit back, and give him a smile and a pat on the head if he pleases you."

"That easy huh?" Twilight giggled. "But what if no one's begging for my attention?"

"Easy peasy! That's another benefit of being a girl. A guy can't be aggressive, because it makes him look like a bully. However, a girl can be aggressive and just walk up on a guy and go…" Rainbow Dash pointed in front of her while looking at Twilight with a grin "hey! You, me, tonight at the Dance Club, bring a saddle, pony!"

"I….Um…..I…I-I don't own a saddle…" A soft, trembling whisper answered Rainbow Dash. She looked at where she was pointing, seeing a very startled and blushing Fluttershy. Coincidentally, Rainbow Dash took notice that maybe she was speaking with a bit too much bravado, as she had quite a few eyes in the market square staring at her calling Fluttershy out on a date.

"See? I told you." A lady Pegasus nudged her companion as they trotted away, everyone else following their lead. Rainbow Dash felt her brain go into a hard shutdown and her face redden, miraculously at a loss for words. Fluttershy trotted over by Twilight, her head bowed timidly.

"…Should I still get a saddle?" She asked, blushing delicately.

…

Back at Twilights house, the Cutie Mark Crusaders began phase one of their operation- Intel gathering. If Twilight was on the dating scene, then they needed to get a feel for her personality without going to her directly and asking a lot of questions that would make them seem all the more suspicious in their intentions. She was neat, tidy, loved books, and was a great public organizer. That was the extent of their knowledge of Twilight Sparkle as a pony, despite Sweetie Belles insistence that Twilight was "also really really nice" counted along that list.

There was one obstacle in their path…Spike.

"How are we gonna get past the dragon?" Scootaloo asked as they formed a huddle in the bushes outside the tree house. "He's not gonna just let us in and start snooping around, you know."

"None to worry, Crusaders." Applebloom grinned with certainty. "If it's one thing I know about Spike, is that he likes to run his mouth more than like an auctioneer selling off a few hundred heads of livestock." She quickly turned her head to Sweetie Belle. "Sweetie Belle, you're gonna have to keep him busy while we sneak in and have a rustlin' about inside."

"Me?" Sweetie Belle cowered back some. "Why does it gotta be me? What am I gonna talk to him about?"

…

"…Well, y'know…" Spike puffed up his chest proudly, leaning in the doorway as Sweetie Belle stood on the step, smiling as best she could. "I had wanted to do a full beard, and see if Rarity liked it like that. I always figured she might have a fancy for more distinguished gentlemen."

"Oh yes, she adores handsome gentlemen!" Sweetie Belle leaned slightly to glance inside, barely catching a glimpse of Applebloom sneaking around in the background and Scootaloo rummaging a book case. "So tell me, Spike, how do you keep your scales so shiny?"

"Oh, that's a secret for most Dragons, but just between you and me? I get up real early, and find the fattest frog I can find." Spike droned on, indulging Sweetie Belles faux-interest. She just nodded, wearing the biggest, cheesiest smile she could muster. Eventually, she spied Applebloom waving what looked to be a scrap of paper over her head in a silent but enthusiastic manner before disappearing towards the window they had snuck in.

"And that's my morning regimen." Spinke concluded, folding his arms and nodding.

"That's fantastic! Hey, listen, I have to run, but I will definitely talk to Rarity about what she thinks about beards." Sweetie Belle glanced aside, waiting to see two little figures dart into the bushes. "So when I hear her opinion of beards, and then I will…tell you how she feels…about beards…and then you can grow a beard…and…IGOTTAGOBYE!" Spike blinked as he found himself staring at a foal-shaped cloud where Sweetie Belle had been.

"Huh…Musta had to use the bathroom. Oh, well, back to work…" Spike closed the door. "…Hey, I thought I put these books away…"

…

"Oh gosh, you guys, what took you so long?" Sweetie Belle panted for breath when she arrived at the rendezvous spot.

"Sorry, Sweetie Belle…Scoot here almost tripped and crashed out the window." Applebloom nudged Scootaloo.

"I got my hoof caught! Give me a break! So whatcha find?" Scootaloo turned her interest to the piece of paper Applebloom grasped.

"Is that it…? Is that all you found?" Sweetie Belle sighed exasperatedly.

"This is all we need girls. Behold, a list o' names of people Twilight wants to date! I found it under her big journal thing. Now lessee…" The three crowded around, eyes following the list of names.

"I don't even know half these ponies. Are you sure this is the right list and not her Winter-Wrap-Up roll call sheet from last winter?" Scootaloo picked it up and looked it all over, her interest sparked by the scribbling on the back. "Ooh, what's this…" She read aloud, "Weird…'Can my enemy be my friend?'…"

"Tarnation…?" Applebloom peaked. "Trixie…? Ain't that that no good snakewater salespony that came through some time back? Why would Twilight wanna go with a phonypony like that?"

"Hey, Applebloom! Look, your brothers name is here!" Sweetie Belle pointed out the name "Big Mac" next to the scribble of 'A friend can also be a lover?'.

Applebloom squealed. "Twilight likes Big Macintosh! Omigosh! This is it!"

"What is it?" Scootaloo asked, the suspense killing her.

"We'll set up Twilight with ma big brother! It's perfect! "

"B-but…" Sweetie Belle lowered her head, looking sheepish. "…But Twilight so small…and Big Mac is….so big…"

"Where is your mind, Sweetie Belle?" Scootaloo looked her friend over with concern.

…

Once Rainbow Dash had regained her composure after the embarrassing incident from before, she had finally gotten around to showing Twilight what she had dragged her out for in the first place- with Fluttershy as the polite tagalong. On the northern outskirt of Ponyville, an area of acreage was being developed, Pegasus moving in a flurry of activity, in the process of erecting large hoops and ramps, and strange spiraling structures that Twilight wasn't sure what purpose they served.

"They're building an amusement park on Old Mr. Seesaws property?" She asked. Rainbow dash shook her head, unable to contain her excitement as she hurried over to a posted notice tacked to a pole, thrusting her hoof at it. It read "Future Site of the Wonderbolts Summer Training Facility." Twilight read aloud.

"Isn't it awesome?" Rainbow Dash fluttered her wings and squealing. "The Wonderbolts are gonna be in Ponyville all Summer! Every Summer! This is my chance, you guys! This is THE chance! The Wonderbolts, in my own backyard!"

"Oh…I hope they won't be too noisy…The surrounding woods is a home to a lot of little woodlands families…" Fluttershy said in a worried tone, already fearing the poor bunnies and squirrels, suffering sore ears from the loud sounds of the famous Pegasus flying group.

"Wha…?" Rainbow Dash deflated some. "This is my big chance to get into the Wonderbolts, and you're worried about the animals?"

"Sorry…" Fluttershy flattened her ears.

"Well, I'm happy for you, Rainbow Dash. Maybe all your hard work will finally get some recognition huh?" Twilight smiled reassuringly, giving Rainbow back a little bit of her excitement.

"No sweat, Twilight! I'll really show them what I got! I've been working on a new routine ever since the Young Flyers Competition, and it is fool proof and made of 20% awesome!"

"Only 20%?" Twilight asked, cocking a brow. "What's the other 80%?"

Before Rainbow Dash could answer, all three looked up as the sound of flapping wings became evident, giving Rainbow just a fraction of a second to dive out of the way before a grey and blond mailmare crashed between the three.

"Mailtime!" Derpy Hooves announced as she galloped back to onto her hooves, swaying some before Rainbow caught her and straightened her up. The walleyed mare fished around in her little satchel and produced a letter, "Letter for Mr. Spackle?"

"Umm…You mean, Sparkle?" Twilight asked, trying to sound pleasant.

"I'unno!" Derpy shrugged, laughing a bit before handing it over to Twilight, and scooting off into the sky.

"Dimwitted filly…She's gonna hurt someone one day." Rainbow growled. "So what is it, Twilight?"

Twilight's horn glowed as she opened the envelope and unfolded the paper within. "…Dear Miss Twilight…I have taken notice of you, but you probably have no taken notice of me…If you would, it would honor me greatly if you would accompany me to a social gathering tonight at the Sugercube Bakery after sunset…Sincerely, a Secret Admirer?" Twilight blinked.

"Sounds creepy. I'd throw it away or somethin'." Rainbow Dash said, but then she noticed a look of utter delight in Twilights eyes.

"I have a secret admirer?" Twilight asked, though it wasn't directed to anypony in particular. "I have a secret admirer!"

"Oh you can't be serious…" Rainbow Dash hung her head and narrowed her eyes.

"No, I think she is, Rainbow Dash." Fluttershy said, nodding her head.

…

"Hey, Big Brother!" Applejack came trotting up the trail to where the big red stallion known as Big Macintosh was hauling a wagon of equipment back to the storage shed. "Mail call!"

Big Mac brought the wagon to a hault, shrugging himself out of the harness and taking a load off and stretching his legs. "Probably nothing of too much import." He said lazily as Applejack fished some letters out of her saddlebag.

"Ptooe…Lessee…Bill…Irrigation notice…Now where was it…Ah here it is, ya got a letter from…Ah-non-ee-moose. Aninnymouse?" Applejack screwed her eyes, trying to make out the word she had never seen before on the simple white envelope.

"An anonymous letter, for me?" Big Mac pulled it over to him and ripped the letter open with his teeth, easing back against the wagon as he read silently to himself.

'Dear Mr Macintosh.

I wish I could have delivered this invitation in person, however I found myself too shy to carry through, however I hope you will accept. I am attending a small social gathering at the Sugarcube Bakery tonight, and I hope I will be able to make your acquaintance…

Sincerely, a secret admirer'

"Well, what is it? Who's this Aninny Mouse and why is he sendin' letters?" Applejack asked.

Big Mac tucked the letter away and began hitching himself back up to his wagon. "T'ain't polite to inquire on another ponies correspondence, li'l sis." He said simply, bending down to snag a thistle to chew on as he carried on.

"Oh well fine, party pooper. I gotta get these over to Granny." Applejack huffed and started the other way.

That handwritin' was awful familiar… Big Mac thought to himself. I wonder what all this is about?

…

To Be Continued.