>Date Night in Hollow Shades.
>Your best friend Echo set you up on a blind date with some mare that just moved back to Hollow Shades.
>You know absolutely nothing about her.
>Just that she'll be sitting at table seventeen of the Batty Moon, Hollow Shade's most premiere restaurant.
>Looking in a mirror, you tidy your mane up, but it seems to just form back into its usual shape.
>You sigh and adjust your tie.
>No, maybe that's too formal.
>You remove the tie and unbutton the top two buttons of your dress shirt.
>Girls love a casual, yet formal, stallion.
>You nod and squint at the mirror.
"You are one cold, hard, ladykiller, Aux."
>As you get ready to leave your home, you pick up a bouquet of flowers that Echo picked up for you.
>It was a variety, from tulips to daisies to chrysanthemums.
>Hopefully, this new mare would like them.

>Screeches fill your house as a youthful mare with a dark turquoise mane runs from room to room.
>"Echo! Where'd I put my dress?!"
>You bring a hoof to your face and sigh softly.
"You're wearing it, Speck."
>She looks down and blushes.
>"Oh."
>She darts out of the livingroom in which you sit and returns momentarily.
>On top of her head is a wide-brimmed hat with a feather sticking out of it.
>A disgusted look crosses your face.
"Please tell me you aren't wearing that."
>She closes her eyes and sticks her nose up in the air.
>"I am."
>You squint at her.
"Take it off."
>"Nope."
"Speck, please. I can understand him screwing this date up, but you?"
>She sits down and places her hooves over her ears.
>Her screeches sound through the house again.
>"I can't hear you!"
>You stop talking.
>The clocks in your house show that it is currently six-fifteen.
"You should get going, Speck."
>Her screeches change from annoyance to joy as she trots out of your house.
>Aux was going to owe you big time.

>You look all around the restaurant.
>It's so fancy and posh.
>Your mouth hangs half-way open in an overly excited smile.
>Tonight is already perfect.
>"Miss?"
>You look at the hostess.
>"Do you have a reservation?"
>You nod and continue to smile.
>"Name?"
"Echo."
>She looks down a list.
>"Table seventeen for two, right this way."
>You trot behind her as she leads you to your table.
>As you trot, you look at what everyp0ny else is eating.
>All of it looks so fancy and rich.
>"Can I start you off with anything?"
>You shake your head.
"No thank you. I'm waiting for my blind date to get here."
>You kick your hind hooves around under the table and continue looking around with a smile on your face.
>You made sure to wear your lucky dress and your lucky hat.
>Nothing could go wrong tonight.

>You're late!
>You're late for your very important date!
>Sprinting through Hollow Shades and past dozens of other bat p0nies, you skid to a halt in front of the Batty Moon.
>A quick glance at the local clocktower reveals that it is currently six-thirty-one.
>You were supposed to be here at six-thirty sharp.
>The night could still be salvaged, right?
>Oh, you hope so.
>You trot into the restaurant.
>The hostess scoffs at you with disgust.
>You nervously try to button the top two buttons on your shirt, but they slip out of your grip.
"I'm here for a reservation for two? The name is Echo?"
>She rolls her eyes and points you to table seventeen.
>You look over to see a young mare with dull orange eyes smiling and bouncing in her seat.
>Wow.
>She's kind of cute.
>You walk over to the table.
"Is this seat taken?"
>She shakes her head and smiles.
>You climb up into the chair as you take a seat.
>After some difficulty, of course.
>You managed to slip and fall out of it, which elicited a giggle from the mare at the table.
>"I, uh... I got you these."
>You hand her the bouquet of flowers.
>Luckily, you managed to not destroy them when you ran over here.

>Well, he's definitely kind of cute.
>In a dorky, awkward kind of way.
>You extend a hoof across the table.
"I'm Speck.
>He reaches for your hoof, but knocks a pepper shaker off of the table as he does so.
>"I-I'm Aux..."
>He leans over to pick the shaker up and clean his spill up.
>One of the waiters comes over with menus.
>"What can I get you to drink?"
>You open your mouth to speak, but Aux beats you to the punch.
>"A g-glass of blood and a mango juice."
>He drinks blood?
>Interesting.
>You've never really had a meal with a blood-drinker before.
>It grossed you out a little bit, but not enough to really say anything.
>"So what brought you back to Hollow Shades?"
>His slight stutter was gone.
"Well. I guess I was getting a little homesick? Swinging from town to town drove me a little batty."
>You put extra emphasis on "swinging."
>He raises an eyebrow.
>"O-okay."
>The waiter returns with your drinks.
>You reach for the mango juice.
>Aux does too.
>You stare at each other.
>The waiter stares at the two of you.
>"Is there something wrong?"
>Aux pulls his hoof away and starts looking away.
>"N-no."
>You nod.
"I accidentally ordered blood. I meant to ask for a banana milkshake, but I got a little tongue twisted. I'm sorry."
>The waiter nods with a smile and takes the blood away.
"You know, you could have asked me what I wanted to drink, instead off assuming I drank blood."
>He blushes and hides his face.
>"I'm s-so sorry."
>You roll your eyes.
"It's alright, it was a simple mistake.
>You reach for his hooves and pull them away from his face.
>He continues to look away.

>Good going, Aux.
>You almost screwed the night up again.
>But you can't help it.
>She's so cute and you really want to impress her.
>"So what do you do for a living?"
>You tap your hooves together and smile sheepishly.
"I'm a night guard."
>She lets a short gasp of excitement out.
>"I've always wanted to be a night guard! What's it like?"
"W-well. It's kinda dangerous..."
>"Tell me more!"
>You swallow hard and sip at your juice.
"I've b-been involved in numerous s-secret raids on the diamond d-dogs."
>Stop being so nervous, Aux.
>There's a cute mare sitting across from you and she's genuinely interested in what you have to say.
"I get to guard Princess Luna herself, sometimes."
>The waiter returns with Speck's milkshake.
>She takes it and immediately starts blowing bubbles into it.
>"May I take your orders?"
>You haven't even looked at the menu.
>Opening it as quickly as possible and scanning down the list of items, you decide on a carrot-apple tart.
>But of course, something went wrong.
>You look over at the waiter, ready to order, but notice that he is sopping wet.
>And your glass of juice is on the floor.
>Speck giggles to herself, you blush, and the waiter fumes.
>"I'm going to have to ask the two of you to leave."

>Aux walks beside you with his head hung low as the two of you walk through town.
>The moon hangs high in the sky and illuminates your path.
>You hum a soft melody, but your company seems to be trapped in his own thoughts.
"Aux?"
>He perks up a little and looks at you.
>"Y-yeah?"
>You blush and look away as you make eye contact with him.
"Wanna do something fun?"
>He sighs and looks away.
>"N-not really."
>You shake your head and roll your eyes.
>You weren't going to let some stupid dinner ruin the night.
"Okay, that's fine."
>Maybe some coffee and a game at your place would cheer him up.
>You know just the game, too.

>You arrive at her house.
>She stands on her doorstep beside you.
>She unlocks and opens her door, stepping inside.
>"Wanna come in for some hot coffee?"
>Her words are accompanied by a wink and a flick of her tail.
"N-no thanks. I'm a little full from dinner. Doubt I could eat much more."
>You smile and laugh awkwardly.
"I'll s-see you later."
>She shoots you a deadpan stare.
>"Sure thing."
>As you head back to your house, you hold your head high and smile.
>The night went well.

>One week later.
>You sit on your couch as you read a short novel.
>One of the characters reminds you a little of Speck.
>You remember standing on her doorstep.
>She asked if you wanted hot coffee and winked at you.
>Slowly looking up from the book, your eyes close and your teeth clench together.
>Only just now realizing what she meant, one short sentence escapes your lips.
"Luna, dammit."