"Indeed, it is..."

He saw the slowly setting sun.

"Would you like me to take you back to your home..?"

He hoped she would say something else...

~

"Well, um unless there's someplace else you'd like to show me? Or maybe we could get some dinner? I am quite famished."

She was, and it seemed like a legitimate excuse to stay out with him.

He did have to eat right? And so did she.

What a coincidence... She smiled to herself

~

"Oh. Yes, of course. I know of a place not far from here that is really nice yet not too expensive. I'll treat, ok..?"

He smiled at her. Maybe she would accept it.

~

"Oh what a gentlecolt. Alright then, and perhaps we can learn more about each other."

She was glad that he took the hint, but she was not expecting for him to treat.

It was nice to be with a mature Alicorn instead of the young colts back home.

It was a change of pace she could get used to.

But something was nagging at her in the back of her mind.

"You do realize he has emotional baggage that he seems he has yet to confront. Maybe he has different feelings about friendships and relationships than the normal pony would?"

"He is normal." She whispered under her breath

"OH MY PONY! You just said that out loud!! May be didn't notice?"

~

"That would be quite nice..."

He thought he heard her say something, but he didn't catch it and didn't want to ask her awkwardly if she said anything. He smiled at her and started moving towards the restaurant.

"I can even mark it on the map... If that is ok with you..."

~

"That would be delightful."

Whew! He hadn't heard her.

~

He made a mark on his map, then observed it.it wasn't too far from her house; in fact it was almost in between his shop and her house.

"This can't be a coincidence that she walked into my shop..."

It wasn't much of a walk, so they soon arrived.

It wasn't a big restaurant, but it did like nice. He asked for a table for two and they were immediately seated.

"Is Canterlot holding up to your expectations..?"

~

The restaurant was quaint and cozy.

A great place for new friends to eat and chat it seemed.

Plus it didn't seem too far from home because she had recognized her surroundings while he led her there.

"It has exceed them! My mother, when I was a filly, would tell me stories about how beautiful and perfect Canterlot was. How everything just seemed to fit and look perfect, but it's a different experience when you get to live here. I am very blessed that my mother sent me here."

It came back to her why her mother had sent her here, and she began to frown at the thought as she ended her sentence.

~

She frowned a bit. He noticed it. But he didn't want to question it. Maybe it would present itself later. He remembered she hadn't questioned his hard times. He thought it was good to 'return the favor.'

"Even after all my life here, I'm still liking a lot of it. I've heard stories that one needs to get out and explore Equestria, and many have added with a friend or companion, but here... It's such a nice place..."

"But I've always missed a close relationship... Maybe you, Sapphire, can help me there... You already seem interested enough, and I know I am..."