A Late Delivery

[zathra]

Zathra trotted over to the park, where he had arranged to meet the delivery pony in charge of getting him the ore he needed. This was the fifth day it would be late. He called the delivery company and told them about his problem, and after about an hour of talking he finally managed to arrange meeting the delivery pony who had been suppose to have been bringing him his ore supply.

Zathra finally got to the park, there was a mare there. She was relaxing on a bench. That couldn't have been the delivery pony, could it have been? No, she looked to be sleeping, there was no was she was who he was here to meet, was she?

He sighed, he guessed there was really no harm in asking anyways, even if she wasn't, it wouldn't change anything. "Hello? Are you a delivery pony? Have you seen one around? They may have mentioned something about waiting for somepony"

[Mailstrom]

Mailstrom had been trotting for hours on end, her normal route around Ponyville was detoured randomly with the inclusion of sending two bags full of mail to Manehatten because the grey pegasus that usually helped had gotten her head stuck in a tree for some reason. Her hooves were aching even before she managed to get back to Ponyville, and she did not feel like doing the normal route right now, instead trotted over to Paddock Park and flopped onto one of the many benches there for a quick nap. She knew that she had to be in Paddock Park for something, but shrugged it off and went to sleep.

She had no idea how long she'd been asleep, must have been at the least an hour and a half, but her sleep was interrupted by somepony asking about the mail. She opened her eyes and looked up to see who had awoken her. Beside the bench was a stallion, unicorn same as her with a brown coat and coloured mane. He looked a little cute but it didn't show in her face as she yawned loudly.

"Yeah, i'm the mail pony, well one of them. I don't remember anything about meeting somepony so i can't help you there." She yawned. "And don't ask why i'm asleep, i just trotted all the way to Manehatten and back and my hooves ache. Now if you excuse me, i have round to do, unfortunately."

She grabbed her bag a bit too hastily and the contents of it came pouring down across the floor. He groaned irritably and began to pick them up, one of them was a package she needed to deliver to a blacksmith here in Ponyville. She hoped it wasn't broken otherwise she'd be in really big trouble from the customer and her boss.

[zathra]

Zathra sighed hearing that she wasn't the mail pony he was waiting for."Oh, alright, sorry about that" Zathra was about to take a seat but then the mail pony dropped her stuff and Zathra quickly got down to help her pick it up.

"Oh, here let me help you with those." Zathra picked up a few letters, making sure not to read any of the words, but then he picked up a package, and accidentally read the address. He looked at it for a moment, looking back up at the mail pony.

The address had been HIS address, was she actually the mail pony he was suppose to meet? "Um, this address here... it's my address. Are you sure your not here to meet with a pony? My name is Zathra, i'm the local blacksmith. I think this is the ore I've been waiting for"

[Mailstrom]

"It's cool, don't worry about the letters. This happens all the time when i'm tired so it's normal for me." She groaned, trying to keep herself from getting tired.

Most of the items fallen out were simply letters at could easily be brushed off to get rid of the dirt on them, but one of the packages had fallen with a loud clunk beside the other pony. She went to grab it when the other took it and began mumbling about how it was for him.

"H-Hey, that's not for you. Your name isn't..."She then heard him calling himself Zathra. ".....Zathra. Well how can i be sure it's you and not somepony pretending to be him. I'm gonna need proof of your identification before i can give this to you."

She grabbed the parcel out of Zathra's hooves, stuffing it back into her mailbag before looking at him. "My name's Mailstrom if you're so keen to know. Now can i see some proof please."

[zathra]

Zathra was a little annoyed that she pulled the package away, but she did have a point. "Identification? I don't have any on me.... but, since it's being delivered to me, i'd assume you'll be headed to my shop. I'll have some there."

Zathra was set on leaving the unicorn there to make her way to his shop. "Actually, mind if i follow you?I could carry that bag if you wanted, i've got nothing better to do." Zathra smiled, really just wanting something to do.

Zathra realized that she might think he was planning on stealing the bag. so he backed off. "Well, okay, maybe carrying the back isn't a good idea, but how can i help? I really need that package....it's ore, for my work. Is there any other way i can prove i'm Zathra Mailstrom?"

[Mailstrom]

"Well if you don't have any on you, i'll go to the blacksmith shop then. Maybe you'll find some identification there." She huffed, stretching out her legs to wake them up.

All of the letters were successfully placed back in her bag, with none of them messed up or ripped from being tipped out. At least one good thing had happened to her today. The stallion offered to carry her back, a nice jesture but she shook her head. "Sorry, i'd rather carry it, but thanks for the offer".

On her way to the Blacksmith, she had to take several detours to deliver different packages, which meant it took them longer to arrive. In fact, it was about half an hour later until the Smith's was in sight, and Mailstrom's hooves were hurting again. She looked to Zathra.

"Hey, you don't mind if i have a lie down while you get some identification do you? My hooves are starting to hurt." She asked.

[zathra]

Zathra didn't find the walking overly hard, but then again, he hadn't been walking around all day like Mailstrom had apparently done.

He followed her the whole way, not much in the way of talking happening. Zathra hadn't tried to talk to Mailstrom very much, but during the walk he did notice she was fairly good looking, which he then realized that he was paying more attention to mare's ever since getting his feelings for Twilight. He wasn't going to mention this to Mailstrom. He decided it was better to simply enjoy looking at mare's, feelings were complicated.

He snapped back into reality seeing that they had arrived, hoping Mailstrom hadn't seem him staring at her.

Zathra opened the door to his shop, leading Mail inside. "Alright Mailstrom, if you really want to, I've.... well, all my... furniture is upstairs, so if you want a place to relax, you'll have to come with me while i get some identification.

Zathra headed up stairs, opening up a drawer and looking though it, pulling out several pieces of paper and setting them on the top of the drawer. "Um, just, give me a minute, okay? My organizational skills kinda... well, suck. Make yourself at home i guess. I'll try to find it as soon as i can."

[Mailstrom]

Mailstrom nodded at the pony and flopped onto the sofa, closing her eyes. She was still tired since she'd spent of the time she set aside to sleep doing her route, even if she managed to do half of it. She still had half of Ponyville left, but would do that after resting up here.

"Thanks buddy, i owe you one." He sighed, wiggling her hind legs to get comfortable.

She tried to keep her eyes closed, but they kept on opening whenever her stomach grumbled. She hadn't eaten anything since breakfast and never carried any food on her, so it had been hours since she last ate. If her stomach was right, it had to be nearing dinner time. Hopefully the stallion would be kind enough to give her something to bite as she sat up.

"Hey, i don't mean to be a bother, but could I have something to eat? I'm starving." She asked. "I'll pay if need be, it's just that i haven't eaten since this morning and could really use something to eat."

[zathra]

Zathra continued searching through the papers, until finally finding what he was looking for. "Ah! Here it is!" He pulled out his blacksmiths licence.

"This works, right?" He put in on his table for her to look at, before going back and cleaning up the papers, which for him really just meant shoving them back in.

He turned back to the mare, hearing her question about food. He hadn't really thought about it, but he was pretty hungry himself. He thought about inviting her to join him for dinner, but he really didn't want her to take the invitation as a date, or did he? He gave her another look over, not realizing it. Look wise, she was attractive, but he didn't really know her personality wise. And then he realized he had been staring at her, blushing and quickly saying something to break the silence.

"Actually, i was going to make dinner in just a bit, why not join me?" He blushed even more, that HAD to be what he said didn't it? He looked at her nervously, he hoped she took that the right way.

[Mailstrom]

Mailstrom took the ID Zathra had placed on the table and examined it, holding up next to the unicorn to compare faces. Sure enough, it was the same stallion found on the licence. This stallion was telling the truth, he was Zathra and the addresse for the package.

"Alright, you check out. Guess you ARE Zathra. Sorry for doubting you." She placed the package on the table next to his licence. "It's the rules they mae us carry out, you know, to stop mail fraud."

Mail's ears perked up when she heard out an offer to share dinner with him. It was quite new to her hearing this, nopony had ever asked her to dinner, even if it was informal. She should say no out of nervousness, but she was extremely hungry and couldn't pass up the opportunity to eat.

"O-Ok, I guess I could stay for a while for some food. Thanks buddy." She said, managing a smile. "What are we having?"

[zathra]

Zathra smiled happily hearing her accept his offer, but he wanted to make sure Mailstrom knew i wasn't a date, or did he? Zathra thought about that for a bit. He did like the way she looked, but he didn't know her personality wise, maybe he should try it and see where it goes?

Zathra took a deep breath. "Well Mailstrom.... um, i didn't have anything planned yet... actually, why don't we um..m-maybe, go out? i-it doesn't have to be a d-date... u-unless you want it to be a date? E-either way, i'll pay for it, so, you chose where you t-think we should go..."

Zathra blushed heavily, but was impressed with himself for being able to ask that, smiling at Mailstrom.

[Mailstrom]

Mailstrom's stomach had been grumbling ever since the thought of food popped into her head, and as much as she prefered eating in her home by the food she cooked, the idea of being a guest for another pony and having the food cooked for her was not one she could lightly pass up.

However, when Zathra mentioned the idea of going out to eat, her ears perked right up and tail began to flicker. she'd never been asked out to eat by anypony, normally it was her that would ask a stallion or mare out to dinner.

"H-Huh?" She stuttered, her facial expression shown she was shocked.

"Nopony's ever asked me out to dinner before. you sure you want to go out to eat, because i don't mind cooking instead." She said.

Mailstrom got off the sofa and trotted over to Zathra and titled her head, looking into his eyes as if to search for a reason why he would offer. There was definitely a reason why he wanted to, and the mare was sure she'd find out as she gazed into his eyes almost forcibally.

"What are you hiding from me?"

[zathra]

Zathra looked back at Mailstrom. He was surprised to hear that she'd never been asked out, she definitely didn't seem lacking look wise, and she seemed nice enough, how could that be?

Zathra smiled at her, still feeling awkward, but the fact that she had never been asked out made him feel better. When he asked her out she looked so.... excited? Yeah, that sounded right, but why? Maybe she was really that happy to be asked out?

Zathra felt a strange burst of confidence, and gave her a much bigger smile."Well... if you'd rather just eat here, i'll cook. I just thought you would have rather go out. S-so, does this mean, y-you w-want this t-to be a date? B-because i think i'd like that, Mailstrom..."

[Mailstrom]

"D-Date?" Mailstrom squeaked, blushing heavily.

She couldn't help but turn her head away, hiding her blush with her messy mane. Did Zathra just ask her out on a date? He wanted it, he was confident. They'd met half an hour ago and he was already asking her out. This was new, and strange. She didn't know what to do, she could only just stand there trying to hide her blush.

She felt herself get light headed, and her body began to lower, as if she was scared. The problem was, she was scared. She'd always dreamed of having a stallion ask her on a date but now that it was happening, she had no idea what to say.

"I...I...." She began to squeak for a while.

"O-Ok..." She whispered finally.

[zathra]

Zathra watched Mailstrom's reaction. She was so.... shy.... was this how he acted? He watched the mare as she turned her head away, trying to hide her blush. It was cute seeing her act like like.

He noticed her starting to lower self. She looked like she was scared, and smiled hearing her okay. She was... just like him.... well, at least he'd assume that's how he would react given the exact same situation.

Zathra moved to her and nuzzled her gently, smiling at her. "Are you alright Mailstrom? D-did i ask t-to early? S-sorry, i'm new to d-dating..."

Zathra nuzzled her a little more, why was he nuzzling her? Where did this confidence come from? He decided he didn't care that much, but it was probably from going on the date with Twilight. He hopped this relationship didn't end the same way.