Letters From a Secret Admirer

Chapters

The Plot Thickens
Things Change
A Slight Misunderstanding
Things Go Downhill
A Letter and a Plan
Maybe It'll Be Alright

The Plot Thickens

Several Days Later

Twilight Sparkle was not a morning pony. Yet, everyday without fail, she forced herself up right at seven so she could go out grab the newspaper and her mail, come back in and go through them with a cup of coffee. It was torture, but it was routine and had to be done.

She set her mail down on the table. Still somewhat braindead, she shuffled over to her coffee pot and poured herself a cup. Why do I do this to myself? She asked herself that every day, and every day she could only tell herself it was her routine so it had to be done.

She yawned, levitated her mail towards her and shuffled through it. Bill, magazine, bill, bill, my subscription to Science Monthly, bill, anonymous letter, bill, maga- She stopped, her thoughts fading off into oblivion. Levitating the letter back up to her, she could only stare blankly at the letter, a sense of wariness overcoming her.

Another one of these? She floated the letter towards the trash, but thought again. I guess I really should read it. If somepony went to the time to write it, I can't just throw it away. With that, the letter was torn from its envelope, and hung before Twilight's eyes.

Dearest Twilight Sparkle,
Firstly, I would like to sincerely apologize for my previous letter. I must say that it was a far cry from anything that you so deserve, and I only truly realized once it was too late. I fear I was caught up in my thoughts as I wrote and I was not able to properly convey the message I desired to. I hope you can forget that letter, as I have tried to, and focus on this one.

It is difficult to write this to you, and yet I must. Twilight Sparkle, I fear I have fallen for you. I am in awe of you and all you do. Your magic is incredible, more powerful than any I have seen before in my time. And yet with all this power you are still so modest, it is stunning. You are truly one of a kind. Everypony I have spoke to would agree that you are the smartest pony in the entire town, and yet you deny it. All those amazing features in a mare who is beautiful as well. I guess it’s no surprise I’ve fallen for you. Forgive me for sending this letter, I could hold in how I felt no longer, but couldn’t work up the nerves to tell you.
An Admirer

Twilight simply sat in complete shock at the letter. Her mind refusing to process what she had just read, not knowing what to do with the information. And so her mind did what it always defaulted to in the mornings. It made her drink more coffee.

Rainbow Dash sat on a cloud once again, high above the ground with a pair of binoculars in hoof. She frowned as she watched Twilight just sit there at her table, sipping coffee and staring into space. Darn it! Why is she just sitting there! I could’ve sworn she was blushing while she was reading it. Dash let out a sigh. I hope I haven't spent all that time practicing for nothing.

A change in the kitchen broke Dash from her thoughts. The unicorn was blushing furiously with her coffee set down on the table while still levitating the letter.

I knew it! I knew this one would work! Dash threw her hoof in the air, accompanying it with a mental celebration. She turned back to the library, still dancing inside her head. Twilight looked shakily around her kitchen and then vanished in the blink of an eye. Dash's eyes scanned the kitchen. Dash watched the room like a hawk to see if Twilight would reappear. When she didn't, Dash frowned. I wonder where she went.

With a flash of light and a loud pop, Twilight materialized in her room. Unfortunately for her, teleporting with her mind still on the letter wasn't the smartest thing she'd ever done. She squealed as she fell the four feet from the air to her bed, letting out a yelp as she bounced off and came crashing to the floor, waking Spike.

“Twilight?” he groaned, groggy from sleep. “What are you doing?” He let out a huge yawn and looked at the clock. He scratched his back as he stood.

“Oh, sorry for waking you Spike." She smiled guiltily. "Everything's fine, I just mis-teleported.” She got to her hooves and moved over to her desk. Note to self: don't teleport when flustered. Blushing from both the letter and embarrassment from the failed spell, she turned her back to Spike and set the letter on the desk.

Having decided that it wasn't worth going back to sleep, Spike shuffled over to join Twilight at the desk, looking curiously at the letter. “Whatcha got there?”

Even more blood rushed to Twilight’s face as she panicked at the question. “What? Where?! I haven't g-got anything!" she stammered as she flailed her hooves to cover up the letter.

Spike stared at her deadpan before shaking his head. He shrugged and sighed. “Whatever Twilight, If it’s something private I don’t want to know.” With that, he turned and left the room.

Twilight became more red than she thought was possible as she yelled after him. “Spike! I-I-It’s nothing of the sort!” She stuttered as he went down the stairs.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah, whatever Twilight. I’m gonna go grab some breakfast.” he retorted.

“But Spike, it really isn’t!” She called out the door after the dragon, but received no reply. Grumbling under her breath, she returned her attention to the letter. Who would ever send me an anonymous love letter? She looked over the letter again, checking to see if she'd missed a return address or anything of the sort, but her search brought no results.

Well, whoever this pony is they sure are flattering. They make me out to be some amazing pony. She looked carefully down at the letter, still thinking. Either way, it’s kinda nice to know that somepony likes me.

She took the letter and placed inside a drawer in her desk. She smiled as she put it away and that smile stayed with her the whole day.

The Next Evening

Dash sat down at her desk with great gusto. She had a fresh stack of paper, a copious supply of ink and a set of nice quills which she “procured” from the quill shop. She still felt kinda guilty about the quills, but she shrugged it off. It's not like I won't pay for them, I just don't get paid til Friday and bits don't grow on trees. With that settled, she cracked her neck, took a deep breath in and began to write.

“Dear Twilight.” She mumbled, voice somewhat muffled by the quill in her mouth. She often spoke aloud to help her think, whether she was reading or writing, everything just seemed to flow better when she spoke it to herself. The words flowed smoothly, but she couldn’t help but feel something was off. She'd followed all the book's advice. She had been formal, kind, and flattering. She had used all the correct grammar and punctuation, but something still felt wrong.

Once again, Dash put herself in Twilight's place and imagined getting the letter, Dash groaned as she realized the problem. “Of course you idiot!” she chastised herself, “It’s not personal enough! If you're writing a love letter you have to be all sweet and personal, Dash."

Dash grabbed the paper, still damp with ink, crumpled it up and chucked it at her trash can. It bounced off the side and went in. A quick victory celebration later and she was back to work.

“Alright, if I was Twilight Sparkle and I got a random love letter, what would I want it to say?” She closed her eyes and focused on what would make her, and by extent Twilight, happy. A soft smile found its way to her face and her muscles relaxed ever so slightly. She knew what to write, and she knew Twilight would adore it. "I can't wait to see the look on her face when she reads this one!" Dash cackled.

She grabbed the next piece of paper and began to write, not with haste, but with a patience and calmness nearly no one had seen Rainbow ever exude. She smiled as she wrote, enjoying the flow of the words onto the paper. What seemed like no time at all later, she looked down over her completely finished letter. It was short and sweet, but Dash felt it said so much more.

Dear Twilight
You are like a lighthouse on a dark stormy night. A beacon that calls me towards you, one that promises safety soon, but warns of danger. There is a dark sea between us, fraught with sharp rocks and vicious creatures. All I want is to reach that promising land, and you lead my way. I heed your call and try to come close, but the rocks scrape at me and the the creatures nip at my hooves and so I must stay in the darkness far from you, always yearning for the light, and its warm embrace.
An Admirer

“Perfect!” Dash grinned. “It’s short and sweet, this is the one!” With that, she folded up the letter, placed it in it’s envelope and sealed it away. With a yawn, she headed off to bed, the last of her business for the day finished. The last thought that went through her head before sleep claimed was that Twilight's blush would be the cutest thing when she read that letter. That night, she dreamed of Twilight Sparkle, rough seas, and soft sands.

The Next Morning

Spike yawned as he walked down the stairs, his stomach begging to be fed. He glanced out the window and stared in shock at the sun well on its way to the its zenith. How can it be this late without Twilight waking me up? As he reached the bottom of the stairs he stopped dead in his tracks. Something has to be wrong, she'd never let me sleep in this late. He slowly made his way to the kitchen, shaking slightly. Did somepony break in? Did they hurt Twi? What if she's been ponynapped! I'll have to get everypony together and then we'll go an fin-

He opened the door and looked in. Well, that was a little too easy. There Twilight sat at the table, her jaw agape, her eyes slightly glazed over, staring at a letter on the table. Deciding to make the best of the situation, he headed to the cupboards and grabbed a couple gems.

“I’ll see you later Twi!” he said while munching on his breakfast. “I’m gonna see what the Cutie Mark Crusaders are doing. They, uhh... Asked for my help the other day.” He waited a moment for a reply, but getting none he smiled. “Cool, see you later.” With that he left the unicorn still staring at the letter.

Twilight’s brain had left her. Her eyes scanned the letter over and over again, desperately hoping that if they took in the information enough times, it would somehow help her think again. Only when the lower half of her body had lost feeling did something finally click in her mind. In an instant, it analyzed all of the information the eyes had given it, and produced the correct reaction.

Twilight blushed furiously. Another letter from her secret admirer, but this one was so much more than any other. It was amateurish, but sweet and surprisingly eloquent. But it was the thought behind it that really got moved Twilight.

Somepony out there had real feelings for her. Somepony, has to have feeling for me if they wrote this, right? She asked herself, but found no answer forthcoming. This mysterious pony really wanted to try a relationship, but they were afraid of unknown dangers and so they had to send these letters instead. It was flattering, not to mention romantic, to say the least.

She rose to her hooves to go leave this one with the last letter. Halfway up the stairs, an errant thought made it’s way through her mind. I wonder who he is? She paused, taking a good minute to contemplate it.

What stallion would like me? She continued up the stairs, unable to put the question out of her mind. I have to find out who's sending these letters, or it'll drive me crazy. She finally told herself. Tomorrow, I camp out the mailbox and see who it is when they leave it there. There was no return address so they have to be delivering it personally.

Smiling at her plan, she put the letter safely in the drawer with the others and went to begin her day's work. "Spike!" she called, but frowned when she got no reply. She tried again, this time yelling a little louder. "Spike! Come on! It's time to start the day's work." Still no Spike. Huh, I guess he must be out. He shouldn't do that without letting me know where he's going. I'll tell him off later. And with that, Twilight began to sort the library.

Things Change

The Next Night

Rainbow Dash whistled a tune as she trotted over to her desk. She glowed with smug success from that day's letter. The look on Twilight’s face was priceless! Dash would give good bits to see the cute way Twilight's mouth just hung open as she read it over and over again.

With a contented sigh, she plopped down at her desk and pulled out some paper, ink, and quills, preparing for her night’s work. Who would've guessed that I'd actually like writing. Chuckling, Dash fiddled with a quill, not quite ready to work yet. She instead gazed out her window at the setting sun.

Dash didn't often watch the sunset, she preferred sleeping. It was almost never worth the sleep it took away. Sleep was important. Sunsets weren't. She only ever saw them when she was up doing something else, like planning a prank, hanging out with her friends, or writing a letter to Twilight.

She snorted. Heh, it's twilight and I'm working on my letters to Twilight. How ionic. She frowned. No, it's not ionic... Is it iconic? No that doesn't seem right either. Why can I never think of the right word? Rainbow Dash glowered out the window, silently cursing words and her inability to use them.

Shaking off her sour thoughts, Dash turned her attention toward the paper that laid before her. Alrighty! Time to get writing. Quill in mouth, she bent down ready to place her thoughts on the page. There was only one problem. Dash's mind was blank.

Okay brain, it's time to go! Her brain gave her no ideas. Come on, you've been doing this for a while now, just do what you always do, she prompted. Still her mind gave her nothing romantic to write. Fine. I'll just get some inspiration. She opened the bottom drawer of her desk and pulled out one of the books she'd gotten from Canterlot. She stared at the cover of the book and its mocking title, Romance for Foals.

No, she decided, putting the book away and shutting the drawer. I'm not going to use that. I've done well enough the last couple of times. I just need to clear my head. With that, she was off, quickly zipping through her home and out into the brisk night air, papers flying around the room in her wake.

A soft wind blew in from the Everfree, carrying the sounds of the forest with it. Dash's body relaxed as she flew, letting the stress roll off her and into the night air. She reveled in the peace of the sky and the beauty of the night. She cut through the air without thought, resting her mind and allowing herself to do nothing but enjoy the moment. She flew with neither aim nor goal, simply flying for the sake of flight. Time lost its meaning, her world becoming wind, wings, and wonder.

She landed on a cloud floating along slowly through the evening air. She walked over to the edge and laid down, looking over the sleeping village below her. There in the distance lay Sweet Apple Acres, Fluttershy’s cottage, and the Everfree Forest. She thought fondly of her friends and her eyes moved on. There was Carousel Boutique, one light still on even at such a late hour. Dash shook her head, a wry grin on her face. She shifted so she could see the rest of town, bringing Sugarcube Corner and the library into view. Her gaze lingered on the dark silhouette of Twilight's home.

There on the balcony sat Twilight Sparkle, looking through her telescope and up towards the stars. She had nothing with her, no paper or quill to take notes, nor a star map to guide her. It was her, the telescope, and the stars.

Twilight moved her telescope aside and stared up at the night sky. Curious, Rainbow looked up and she let out a gasp of her own. She never really paid that much attention to the stars, but tonight they were incredible. Millions of twinkling lights all laid out, covering the sky. The moon shone down from above, bright and full, illuminating the night.

Twilight was bathed in the moonlight, a picture of beauty. Her body was calm and relaxed and her breathing soft. She seemed to glow in the soft light, capturing every iota of Dash's attention. The pegasus couldn't look away. Twilight was stunning. Dash leapt from her cloud, silently gliding through the still air. She alighted with no noise upon a branch just above the balcony. She had a clear view of the two most beautiful things in Ponyville: the sky and Twilight.

Twilight eyes glimmered, reflecting and absorbing the light from the heavens. They were full of wonder and awe. As Dash watched, a look of pure joy spread across her face. Twilight's eyes were wide, taking in every aspect of the sky that she could. Dash looked up.

Through the sky streaked comets, like cuts in the fabric of the sky letting through the light of something beyond. Dash's jaw fell. Dash had seen nothing of equal beauty in her entire life. The two friends watched the night, basking in one of natures great beauties for hours on end.

As all things must, it came to an end. With a yawn, Twilight rose to her hooves, picked the telescope up in her magic, and retired to her room. As soon as Twilight was inside, Dash was off. Words filled her mind as she soared, and she was itching to get to her desk. Dash knew exactly what would be in her next letter to Twilight.

The Next Morning

The sun crept its way over the horizon, its light flooding over Equestria to signal the start of a new day. But Twilight Sparkle was already up. The night before, she had settled down to sleep, but hadn't been able to quite drift off. Questions about her admirer plagued her thoughts. Eventually she had gone out to stargaze, hoping to clear her thoughts. She'd watched the northern lights until she'd come up with a plan.

Alright. It’s time to watch the mail! It wasn't her most creative plan, but sometimes simplicity was the best choice. Whoever is sending these letters has to be hoof delivering them. Without a return address, they wouldn't come through the mail.

Satisfied that she'd see her admirer that morning, she lifted her coffee mug to her mouth with her magic, only to be met with none of the wonderful nectar. Twilight’s pupils shrunk. Coffee was an integral part of her plan. Without it she would never have enough energy to watch for the mail. What with the early start and the insomnia from the previous night, she was sure she’d fall asleep.

And so the unicorn found herself in a conundrum. She could either stay in her observation post, struggling to stay awake, or she could go back inside, get coffee, and hope in that time the letter wouldn’t arrive. It’s only a bit past sunrise, she reasoned with herself. Surely they won’t come by this early.

Having decided that it was safe, Twilight quickly teleported inside and made her coffee. Glad that she never drank it with sugar or cream, she quickly returned outside. Oh Celestia, please let it not be there. she prayed as she approached the mailbox. Opening it as if it were rigged to explode, Twilight peered in.

One magically mangled then magically fixed mailbox later, Twilight Sparkle once again sat at her kitchen table with a cup of coffee and an unopened letter before her. Twilight projected her anger onto this letter. What are the chances that the moment I go in to get coffee, the letter shows up?!’ Her eyes tried to bore holes in the offending piece of paper. I mean come on! she grumbled. She tore open the envelope, and began to read.

Dear Twilight Sparkle,

You are my night sky. You are my stars, constant and ever present, steadying me with your light. You are my moon, captivating and stunning, always constant, always beautiful. You are my comet, amazing me with all you do. You are my north star, always there to guide me when I feel lost. You are my night sky, and I am trapped on the ground, always yearning to reach you and yet never able. You are my night sky and I hope that the dawn will never come.

An Admirer

Twilight's heart fluttered, her legs shook, and her mouth hung slightly open. She was blushing heavily as she carefully rose to her hooves, not sure if her body would support her. She walked slowly through her home, not focusing on anything she passed. Up the stairs she went, opening the door to her room.

She placed the letter down on her desk with the others. She walked over to her bed and let herself collapse onto it. Her thoughts ran wild through the letters and through her feelings. They begged one question.

Have I fallen for this pony? she asked herself, fearful of the answer. I don't know who they are. I know nothing about them. I should be flattered, but it's something more than that. I feel more than I should when I read these letters. I feel warm inside like I do when I'm with my friends, and yet it's more intimate.

She cast a glance over to where the letters sat, feeling the warmth inside her. If I find the pony who sent these, what will I do? Twilight Sparkle didn't know.

A Slight Misunderstanding

That Night

Twilight Sparkle was a very focused pony. She had to be; her life demanded it. Whether it was learning a new spell, reading a new book, organizing the library, or conducting an experiment; things went wrong when she didn't focus. Today, Twilight Sparkle couldn't focus. Needless to say, it hadn't been the best day for her.

No matter what she did, all day the question had haunted her. What will I do? This wasn't the first time a question had been caught in her mind, but this one was annoyingly unsolvable. She couldn't do the research to find out what would happen, nor could she simply apply the knowledge within one of her books. No, the answer to this question was inside her, and in her own heart, Twilight Sparkle was as blind as a bat.

She grumbled as she trudged her way up the stairs, making her way to the bathroom. Though the sun was still fairly high in the sky, she had decided to turn in early. She'd had enough close calls as it was. That's the last time I'm ever working with chemicals with something else on my mind. She looked up at her mane, thankful it hadn't been burned off.

She turned on the shower, waited until it was steaming, and hopped in. She let out a coo of pleasure as the cascade of water made its way down her tense body. She stood there, enjoying the warmth as it relaxed her muscles. With a satisfied sigh, she grabbed her shampoo and proceeded to wash her mane.

Finished with maintaining her hygiene, Twilight stayed in the shower pondering the question that had vexed her all day. What am I going to do? She closed her eyes, enjoying the feeling of the water coursing down her back. I have feelings for this pony, but I don't know anything about them. For all I know they could be some lunatic. She frowned, struggling not to get stressed again.

I just don't know what to do... Twilight's mind churned, bringing an idea to the front of her mind. But Rarity might! Why didn't I think of that before? Rarity knows romance. She'll be able to help me no problem. The water shut off and Twilight got out of the shower. I'll go and see her tomorrow with the lettersand she'll help me figure everything out. A plan in place, Twilight dried off and retired to bed, eager for the next day to arrive.

The sound of a quill scratching on paper filled the room as Rainbow Dash worked. Over the course of the last week she had become accustomed to that sound, she'd even come to find it rather relaxing. She did not write with the fever that she once had, now writing in a nice flow as the words came to her mind. A dictionary and thesaurus sat beside her, ready to be used whenever she couldn't quite find the words. She smiled softly as she wrote, making sure she found just the right words to weave into the letter. She thought through her work carefully, more so than she had for any of the other letters.

Every now and then, she cast a glance out her window toward the night sky. The moon and the stars resting there were inspiration enough as she wrote. The words came easily, more naturally than ever before. If Rainbow Dash didn't know otherwise, she would've said she actually did like Twilight. With a flourish of the quill, she signed the letter.

Dearest Twilight Sparkle,
If I had a greater gift of words, I would craft from all that is in my heart and head a poem like no other for you. No, not an epic nor a sonnet, for neither can capture the truth of my feelings. No, the feelings and thoughts I have will not be communicated by simple words, and yet I must try.
I often wake in fear of you being nothing but a dream, for how can any one pony like you be real? Somepony so good, and so pure. Should I wake one day to find this to be true, I do not know what would become of me.

You are kind. From the first day I met you, I knew there was more compassion and caring inside you than I have ever possessed, and yet when I am with you, I strive to find that kindness in myself, for it is what you deserve.
You are honest, both to yourself and to others, a trait that is more rare and more valuable than the largest of diamonds.
You are generous, willingly giving others the most valuable things you posses. You give us your time and your presence, both blessings that we don't deserve.
You are happy, which in itself is difficult, but much more so when it is not only your own happiness you consider, but that of others.
You are loyal to others when they need you the most, even putting their needs above yourself, and yet you are always loyal to what you believe in.
Each of these traits is admirable on it’s own, worthy of endless praise. And yet, in you I find them all. Never before have I seen that, and it makes you the most beautiful and incredible mare in the world, and I am blessed, more so than I deserve, to have met you.

An Admirer

The world seemed to fall away from Dash as she read through the letter. Something wasn't right with it. It wasn't quite the same. As she read it over, it was like she was separate from her body, but could still experience what it felt. Why was it when she'd thought through the letter more, it seemed worse. She felt the fluttering in her stomach, her heartbeat and breathing speeding up. She felt the blush spread across her face and she felt the warmth from her heart spread throughout her. She felt all the tell-tale signs, and blanched.

Rainbow Dash felt like she was going to be sick. She slowly rose to her hooves and tried to make her way to her room. Her legs shook and she didn't trust her wings to support her. Don't think about it, she pleaded with herself. Come on Dash, just don't think about it. If you don't think about it, it'll all go away. You're just tired. If you go to sleep, you'll be fine when you wake up. With those thoughts, Rainbow Dash clambered into her bed and tried to shut off her thoughts. It was a long night with very little sleep.

The town was buzzing, parents running errands while their foals were in school, ponies heading to the market or ponies just out enjoying the lovely day. The air was full with the sounds of spring and it was impossible to be in a bad mood.

Twilight made her way through the town, heading to Sugarcube Corner. It would be good to see Pinkie Pie, not to mention she could use something to stop her stomach from growling. That's what you get for not having a decent breakfast. she scolded herself.

As was to be expected for that time of the day, Sugarcube Corner was fairly packed. Acknowledging a wave from Mrs. Cake who was manning the counter, she hopped in line. One cupcake instead of a balanced breakfast won't hurt me as long as I don't make it a common occurrence, she reasoned.

“Hello Mrs. Cake.” Twilight smiled when she reached the front of the line. “Could I have a vanilla cupcake please?”

“Sure dearie!” Mrs. Cake replied, taking a cupcake from the display case. “That’ll be two bits.”

Giving her the money, Twilight asked, “Where's Pinkie?”

“I haven't seen her this morning, though if I had to guess I’d say to check the market.”

“Thanks Mrs. Cake, have a nice day!” With that Twilight departed, munching her cupcake on her way to the Carousel Boutique. I wonder why Pinkie’s at the market? Twilight pondered. Maybe I'll see her. I have to head through the market anyway.

She entered the market and looked around as she walked, hoping to see her bright friend somewhere. Finally she spotted a flash of pink inside Quills and Sofas. Why would Pinkie be in there? Curious, Twilight peered in through the window, trying not to catch her friend’s eye. Pinkie had just finished paying, smiling happily with her purchases in a small bag.

“Hey Pinkie!” chirped Twilight as Pinkie left the store. Pinkie did a double take as she heard Twilight’s voice.

“Oh, h-hey Twilight,” she said in an entirely un-Pinkie-like way. She gulped nervously and looked as if she’d stolen from the Princess herself. “HowareyoudoinggoodtohearIgottagobye.” In an instant, Pinkie pie was gone, leaving a very confused Twilight in her wake.

That was weird.Twilight stared after Pinkie. And more so than usual for Pinkie. I wonder why she was in Quills and Sofas. An expression of comprehension slowly dawned on her face. No... It couldn’t be, she told herself, reasoning that it was too out of character.

There's no way Pinkie could ever write something like the letters. she thought, trying to quell her curiosity.

Don't be so quick to judge. It would explain why she was so panicked when she saw you. One half of her said, making a good point

But it’s Pinkie! She’s never even talked about relationships with anypony, let alone one of her best friends. She tried to tell herself.

But doesn’t that just help her case? She doesn’t ever talk about relationships so of course she wouldn’t just come out and tell you. You’re just denying it because you never considered it could be a mare!

Th- b-ut- I-I... Twilight stuttered, shocked by her own accusation. I guess I didn’t consider it, but that doesn’t mean it’s her! she justified.

And what if it is? she asked herself. Either way, she's obviously freaked out about something. As a good friend you should make sure everything is alright.

I guess I should make sure, just in case. she finally decided.

With that, Twilight set out after Pinkie. As she ran through town, she couldn’t help but imagine Pinkie writing the letters. Could Pinkie really be so eloquent? I know she shows flashes of her brilliance. Maybe she’s a different pony under the crazy party mare.

She cast a quick spell to determine Pinkie’s location. She was at the library. If she's running from me, why would she go to the library?

A teleport later, Twilight was in the library. At the sound of her sudden appearance, Pinkie turned slowly around. They were in Twilight's room and Pinkie was at the desk. She must've been trying to get the letters. When she saw me, she must've figured I knew that it was her and panicked. She wants to get rid of the letters so that maybe I'll forget. Pinkie glanced towards the door, trying to figure out if she had enough time to escape.

“Pinkie, don’t worry.” That got Pinkie’s attention, bringing her focus back to Twilight. “It’s okay.”

“Really Twilight?” She asked, eyes wide in shock. “Are you sure?”

“Yes Pinkie, I am.” Twilight smiled softly. “It took me a bit to figure out that it was you, and at first I wasn’t sure how I felt about it, but now I’ve accepted it. I think I'm okay with it.”

Pinkies face split into a huge grin. “Oh, Twilight! You have no idea how happy that makes me. I thought for sure you’d be angry.”

Twilight shook her head. “I’m not that kind of mare Pinkie. I accept you for who you are. Plus how could I ever be angry at you. Not after how romantic those letters were.”

“Oh, Twilight.” Pinkie cooed before it hit her, “Wait a minute, romantic?” She asked.

Twilight frowned. “Yes, the letters you wrote me were some of the most romantic things I’ve ever read!”

Pinkie giggled, “Oh Twilight, you’re such a silly filly. I didn’t send you any letters!”

“What!” Twilight screeched, “But what were you talking about then? Why were you in Quills and Sofas if you didn’t need more quills to write with? And why did you freak out at the market when I saw you?”

Pinkie looked anywhere but at Twilight. “Do I have to tell you?” she pleaded.

“Yes.” Twilight’s voice was full of danger, making Pinkie gulp.

“Fine. I was at Quills and Sofas because I needed to get new quills. Not because I was writing you love letters with them, but because I 'borrowed’ yours for a prank and they kinda got destroyed.”

Twilight could only stare at Pinkie, a flat expression on her face. "Get out."

Nodding quickly, Pinkie obeyed, vanishing in an instant. Groaning, Twilight facehoofed. It was going to be a long day.

Things Go Downhill

Twilight sat in a chair, thinking over what she'd said to Pinkie. I was so quick to accept her and to say I'd try a relationship with her. Was that because she's my friend, or because I thought she wrote the letters. Twilight sighed and took a sip of her coffee. It could've been a mixture of both. I guess I just have to decide when I know who sent them. There really is no other way to tell... Twilight frowned, unhappy with such a vague plan, but accepted it as the only option.

A knock at the door broke her from her thoughts. "Who is it?" she called, not wanting to get up.

The cheery sound of Derpy's voice answered, "It's the mailmare! I have a letter for you Twilight."

Twilight shot to her hooves, making her way to the door quickly. A smiling pegasus greeted her there. "A letter?" Twilight asked. "Who from?" She hoped she knew the answer.

"Ya a friend asked me to deliver it to you, but I can't say who it's from. They want it to be a surprise." Derpy rummaged through her bag and pulled out a letter, handing it over to Twilight. Saying a quick goodbye, Derpy left and Twilight shut the door behind her as she returned to the kitchen.

I wonder why they didn't just send this one in the morning like the others. A quick flash of her horn, and the letter was out of the envelope and Twilight delved in. Her eyes widened as she read. There is no way I'm reading this right, she told herself. They used the Elements of Harmony. But so few ponies know anything about the Elements beside the fact that they saved the world. The pony who sent these knows about the elements, and the way the talk about me... It's like we're friends. The only ponies who fit both of those would be the princesses and... she gulped. my friends.

It couldn't be the princesses, that'd just be too... Twilight shivered, unable to finish the thought. Which means it has to be one of my friends. Twilight felt like she had been hit by a brick, the revelation like a physical blow to her stomach. One of my friends felt this way about me and I didn't see it? What kind of a friend does that make me? How could I not tell one of my closest friends had a massive crush on me? Am I just that oblivious?

Twilight could only sit in stunned silence for what seemed like the tenth time that week. When her brain could once again work, she asked the only logical question. Which one of them is it? Twilight shook her head, trying to think clearly. I know it isn't Pinkie Pie, so that leaves Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy. One of them wrote the letters. One of them has a crush on me.

Twilight thanked Celestia she hadn't managed to get to Carousel Boutique that morning. How awkward would it be if she'd gone to Rarity asking for help finding out who sent her the letters, only to find out that it was Rarity who'd sent them. Twilight let out a sigh of relief that that hadn't come to pass.

Wait a minute... Twilight thought, levitating the letter up to get a closer look. I don't think it could be Rarity anyway. This doesn't look like horn writing at all. Horn writing was always neater than mouth or hoof writing, one of the benefits of magic. Twilight was very glad she didn't have to take all her notes or write everything she did by mouth. Her tongue would get blisters. She shook off that unpleasant thought and returned to the task at hoof.

Rarity would never use mouth writing for something like this. For something as important as a love letter, she'd want it to be as neat as possible, and that comes with magic. Twilight mentally crossed Rarity off her list. That leaves Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy.

Twilight began to pace. Movement had always helped her think, and think she did. Derpy said a friend asked her to deliver the letter to me. All the girls are good friends with her, so that doesn't really help... Twilight brain chugged and churned through all of the information it had on the letters, at last giving her something to go off of. But if it came in the mail every morning at the same time I got my mail before, then whoever the sender is has to be before me in the mail route. She didn't get the letter off in time this morning, so they had to find Derpy to send me the letter. Twilight smiled triumphantly.

Applejack is after me in the mail route, and she's probably working right now. There's no way she could have gotten it to me in the mornings at that time, or talked to Derpy today to give the letter to her. It can't be Applejack. My secret admirer is either Fluttershy or Rainbow Dash.

Twilight thought about her two friends. They were opposites in almost every way, and one of them was her admirer. Twilight could picture Fluttershy writing the letters. It almost made sense. She was so shy that of course she couldn't tell Twilight in person. She would be too cautious to put her name on the letters. Fluttershy fit perfectly.

On the other hoof there was Dash. Twilight just couldn't see the pegasus writing a secret love letter, let alone a love letter. Dash was more of a pony who would just fly in and sweep you off your hooves. She'd say she liked you and then ask you on a date, and that would be that.

Fluttershy fit so perfectly that Twilight was almost ready to teleport over to her friends house and ask her on a date. There was only one problem. Twilight knew what Fluttershy's mouth writing looked like.

Rainbow Dash flew around her house in a panic, a recently finished letter in her hoof. "Where is it!" she yelled as she tore open the drawers in her kitchen, rummaged around, and then slammed them shut when she didn't find what she wanted. She moved through her home like one of the tornados she rarely created, leaving debris and wreckage wherever she went.

"Where did I put those envelopes!" Needless to say, Rainbow Dash was not in a good mood. She'd gotten little to no sleep the night before, and as a result hadn't been able to get the letter for Twilight off in time, plus she was late to work. Normally, that wouldn't have been such a big problem, but her mind just wasn't in the right place. Every time she wasn't actively thinking about something, her mind would just wander off to her feelings last night. She kept denying it, but the realization was slowly creeping up on her.

Dash zipped out of her bedroom, her frustration reaching critical levels. She'd had enough. She icily stomped over to her desk and put the letter down. She needed to blow off some steam, and if she had the letter with her, there'd be nothing left of it afterward. She turned to leave, just as a glimpse of white under the dictionary caught her eye. She stopped, staring at the offending corner.

All was still for a moment as she stared until finally, she sighed, letting her body relax. "Of course it's here. It was here the whole time," she grumbled, swiping the envelope and carefully putting the letter inside.

She began to walk towards the door, but paused. She looked down at the letter again. "What am I doing?" she asked herself. She slowly walked towards her living room, set the letter down on the table, and threw herself down on the couch. She watched the letter as if it held the answer's to the universe.

"I can't avoid this forever, can I?" she asked no one in particular. She groaned and rubbed her forehead with a hoof. "Of all the times I had to fall for somepony..." She stared up at her ceiling in defeat. "Pfft," she snorted. "A week ago and I would've been complaining about who I fell for." She sat there in silence, letting that fact sink in.

"There really is no hope for me anymore, is there." Her words had a sense of finality in them. "I've fallen for Twi." She had accepted the fact, and she felt an unexpected warmth spread through her. "I've fallen for Twi," she said again, letting the sound of the words assure her it wasn't a dream.

Rainbow Dash reached over to the letter, pulled it out of it's envelope, and tore it to shreds. She sat down at her desk and quickly wrote up another letter, the shortest of them all.

Dearest Twilight Sparkle,
Tomorrow. 4 P.M. The park north of town.
An Admirer

She smiled at the simple letter and placed it in the envelope. She made her way to the door. "All I have to do is deliver this letter, and the prank will be over!" She sighed, adding in her head, And maybe Twilight and I can have something between us. Smiling widely she opened the door.

There was Twilight Sparkle, a letter in her hoof. Her face was sheer horror, pain, and betrayal. She'd heard what Dash had said. The smile fell from Dash's face instantly. Tears began to fall from Twilight's eyes and in an instant she was gone with a flash, leaving only the letter behind.

Author's Note

This chapter was edited by the awesome Prof Yana. Without him, this chapter wouldn't be here.

A Letter and a Plan

Letters From a Secret Admirer

By Subsolar Drift

Chapter 1

Rainbow Dash sat in front of freshly formed cloud desk strewn with crumpled papers stained with ink. Her eyes sagged, heavy from the late hour. Her mind protested the work, sending her thoughts off in different directions to distract her. At that moment she was staring at her desk. Even though she was a pegasus, she still at times wondered about how condensed water vapor supported things. She knew it shouldn't be able to hold anything. Maybe it's enchanted. she reasoned.

Shaking her head, she returned to her work looking over what she had written. She remembered where she had been and returned to her work at a frantic pace, scribbling things out here or circling something there, making sure everything was perfect. She worked quickly, hoping she could soon get some much needed sleep. The last week had been so chaotic she could almost hear Discord's laughter from his statue in Canterlot. But before she could sleep, she had to finalize her plan and put the Mare Do Well fiasco behind her.

The sound of her quill scratching at the paper filled the room as she worked until finally, several minutes later, it stopped. She brought herself to her hooves and picked up the finished paper. She looked it over with reverence and triumph. “It’s finally done!” She laughed, her voice cracking slightly, dry from lack of use. Rainbow didn't need to talk often at home due to the lack of neighbors. It was a benefit of living in cloud home, but it was quite often too quiet which led to Rainbow Dash talking to herself.

“My greatest creation," she cackled, slightly loopy from the late hour but happy nonetheless. "My magnum opium—”

She frowned, her words not sounding quite as she thought they should. “Opium? No, that's not right..." She thought for a moment rubbing her temple with a hoof. "Orphen? Open? I know it begins with an O..." She sighed in frustration.

"Ahh, whatever.” She shrugged, deciding it wasn't important. Returning to her laughter, she continued. “I've made my Sonic Rainboom of plans!” Taking full advantage of the moment, she let loose her evil laugh. She'd spent many hours perfecting it, as a good pranker must, and used it whenever she had the opportunity.

“This will show them they can't make a fool out of Rainbow Dash!” She cried, turning around to let the room bask in the glory that was Rainbow Dash. Her laughter cut short when she saw Tank looking at her with a deadpan expression, as if Dash talking to herself and laughing like a mad mare was a common occurrence .

“What?” She asked the tortoise, blushing slightly and pretending to look like she'd known he was there the whole time.. Pausing a moment before speaking again, she sighed “No, I’m not really that mad at them. I was being really braggy... Is that a word? Braggy?” She shook her head again, getting back to the conversation with her pet. “Not important. Anyways, I’m fine with what they did, I just can’t miss this perfect opportunity to prank them! I wouldn't be Rainbow 'Danger' Dash if I let this chance go!"

The tortoise just continued to stare. “Oh, come on. It’s nothing that harsh. It's just a few harmless pranks.” she groaned. At that, the tortoise seemed satisfied and slowly turned to leave.

Rainbow Dash flapped back to her desk, scattering loose papers around the room, and looked over the plan once more. She gave it one final check to ensure that everything would be perfect. A yawn interrupted her work and she glanced over to the clock. Deciding that she was just about done and whatever wasn't finished could be finalized tomorrow, she shut out the lights and retired to her room.

That night, Rainbow Dash slept easily, dreaming of pranks with apple monsters, exploding cakes, mane dye in shampoo bottles, a fake dragon costume tied to a bear, and a simple letter.

Two Days Later

High above Ponyville the clouds drifted calmly through the sky, nopony paying them any heed. Why would they? They're just clouds. That was what Rainbow Dash counted on as she laid comfortably on one of the many that spotted the sky. She grinned, full of nervous excitement, as she trained her binoculars on the front of Twilight Sparkle’s house.

Her plan was coming together marvelously. She had ordered all the various supplies she would need to prank her friends and had written the letter for Twilight. Now all she had to do was wait.

For all of fifteen seconds, Rainbow Dash managed to stay still until at last her body twitched, demanding to be moved and expend the excess energy it had. Dash silently cursed the three espressos she had needed to function so early in the morning. Dash was not a morning pony.

She shifted her position and tried to settle down again to focus on her friends home. Her mind began to drift as she monitored the library for any changes, imagining what would happen when the unicorn woke up.

After returning to the land of the living, Twilight would come out of her house for the the morning paper and check her mail. There she would find a letter addressed to her. Curious, she would doubtless open and read it, falling right into Rainbow’s trap. The romantic letter from a secret admirer would be completely out of the blue, and just like a cat her curiosity would be her downfall. The question of who sent the letter would eat away at her, keeping her from her precious study and books until she finally set them aside to try and discover who the sender was. She would keep getting letters for a while until one day they would just stop. Twilight would never find out who sent them and would end up frustrated and disappointed, just like Dash had been when Mare-Do-Well had stolen her spotlight.

Dash's brow furrowed. I guess I'm more bitter than I thought. she realized. Whatever, it's not like it'll hurt her. She won't find who sent the letters and that'll be that. She'll forget it and move on. Dash's stomach churned slightly. She attributed it to her nerves and shook it off.

At last, the door she had been so closely monitoring opened. Out came Twilight in her bathrobe, making Dash chuckle a little. She really wears that outside? Dash struggled to stifle her laughter just in case Twilight could hear it. Just as planned, the unicorn grabbed the newspaper and opened up the mailbox, taking its contents and heading back inside. Phase one complete. Dash checked a box on her mental plan, and flew to another cloud she had set up. Begin phase two.

Here, she had a perfect view of Twilight’s kitchen. Everyday without fail, she came into her kitchen, sat down with a cup of coffee, read the news, and checked her mail. Sure enough, in came Twilight who took a seat and began to sort through her mail. Dash’s hoof tapped impatiently. Come on! Your mail can't be that interesting. Dash once again cursed the espressos she had drank that morning. Note to self: Don't have more than one espresso over the course of an hour.

At long last, Twilight got to Dash's letter. The pegasus watched with baited breath as the envelope was opened and Twilight levitated out the letter. She began to read and Dash watched her face carefully. There was only one thing expressed there. Confusion.

After several seconds regarding the letter, Twilight's confusion turned to amusement. She shook her head, smiling, and the letter flew into the pile of read mail. Dash watched, dumbfounded.

What? Dash's brain protested, unable to process the information it was receiving. W-what!? W-why did she just throw it aside? Slowly, the gears in her mind began to churn. Was something wrong with it? Is that why she just laughed it off? Dash closed her eyes and put herself in Twilight's horseshoes.

She looked really confused when she read the letter. If I were an egghead, what would confuse me? Nothing came to her mind. Was it something I said in the letter? Dash thought back through what she had written.

Dear Twilight Sparkle,

I think that you're amazing! You're cool, super smart, and a hero of Equestria. Your incredible and one of a kind. I've been wanting to tell you this for a long time, but I can never work up the nerve when I'm around you. I couldn't even put my name on this. You don't get enough credit for the pony you are, and I wanted to change that. Keep doing what you do, because it is awesome.

Anonymous

Oh, ponyfeathers! Dash facehoofed in embarrassment. It sounds like a fan letter, not a love letter! Why did I assume I knew what to put in a love letter? I've never done this before! I should've looked over what I'd written more carefully! She berated herself.

Don’t you remember? Her memory sighed. You were too busy thinking about how great it would be to get back at the others. You didn't think about what you would put in the letter, you just wrote it!

Dash groaned. Why can I never focus when I need to?

Well, you were really hungry when writing those letters, and you were too busy focusing on finding somewhere to get some pineapple instead of making the letters good. Her memory chimed in. You've been craving pineapple a lot lately. It added, making her mouth water.

Dash's stomach gurgled. You had to make me think about pineapple, didn't you? She growled at herself.

Alright, I'll just have to put in more effort and focus into the next one. She paused for a moment before adding an afterthought. And eat before I write it. She still felt unsatisfied.

It'd be nice to know what I should put in it a love letter. Dash considered, staring off into the distance for a moment. That's it! I'll do what Twilight would do and check out a book on love letters! She spread her wings and was ready to take off towards the library below her before she caught herself.

Wait... I can't use the Ponyville library. But if I go to Canterlot I'm sure I can find a book there that'll have what I need. Plus I can get some pineapple while I'm there! Seeing no problems in this plan, she once again began to celebrate.

My next letter is sure to be a success! She licked her lips. My revenge is so close I can almost taste it! She laughed as she took to the air and angled towards Canterlot. Or maybe that's just me imagining the pineapple!

Later that evening, Dash stared at the stacks of books in front of her. She gulped at the three piles, all at least ten books high. She sighed. The things I do for pranks. She groaned inside her head, having already been told to be quiet on multiple occasions. She grabbed the first book on the pile and set to work for what she knew would be a long night.

Author's Note

Well, here it is! My entry into the TwiDash Group's contest.

Maybe It'll Be Alright

Twilight Sparkle laid curled up in her bed, eyes wet, nose runny, and feeling horrible. The door to her room was locked, and Spike had been told not to disturb her. Twilight Sparkle was in for a good long cry.

Eventually, the sobs wracking her body stopped long enough for her to catch her breath. I should've seen it coming, she told herself again and again. Why would Rainbow Dash ever be interested in me, let alone write me love letters? The sobs returned in full force.
Twilight cursed herself for falling for the letters so easily. She should've known nopony saw her that way. She wasn't beautiful like Rarity or Fluttershy, or strong like Applejack or Rainbow Dash. She wasn't even funny like Pinkie Pie. She was just an egghead, good for magic and books, nothing else.

Twilight curled up in a ball, trying to hold herself together. She ignored the concerned calls of Spike, and slowly shut out the world, piece by piece.

Rainbow Dash had screwed up big time. This was worse than when she'd done a Sonic Rainboom over Ponyville and broken nearly all the glass in the town. This was worse than when she'd pranked the Princess. This was worse than when she'd been rude and insensitive. The look on Twilight's face was imprinted in Dash's mind and it broke her heart.

Dash looked down at the letter Twilight had dropped and looked over it again.

Dearest Admirer,
I've found myself quite flattered by the letters I've received. I can't help but wonder about the wonderful pony who must've sent them. Would you like to talk over some coffee and a slice of pineapple upsidedown cake?
Twilight Sparkle

Dash felt hot tears rolling down her face again. She didn't bother to wipe them away, just letting them fall down off the cloud where she laid. "Nice work Dash," she spat. "You did everything perfectly, just like always." She let out a bitter, harsh laugh. "The prank went off without a hitch. Twilight fell for you, and what did ya do? You broke her heart." The tears flowed faster. "T-that was w-what you were aiming for, r-right?" She struggled to keep from breaking into full blown sobs. "W-well, mission accomplished."

She buried her face in the cloud, muffling her sobs. She beat her hoofs against the cloud, trying to get out her anger, but all she felt was emptiness. After a long time, the tears stopped, and she sat up. Her eyes were bloodshot and she stared blankly at the sky. The sun was beginning to sink low in the sky.

Rainbow gave a tired flap of her wings and lifted into the air, making her way slowly back to her home. The inside was a wreck, but Dash paid it no heed. She moved sluggishly through the halls and into her bedroom. She collapsed onto her bed. She was tired but restless, sleep not finding her. She could still see the betrayal on Twilight's face.

Rainbow Dash was furious at herself. How had she let that happen to Twilight? If Dash felt so bad, how would Twilight be feeling. You made her feel that way, Dash berated herself. It's your fault in the first place she's hurting. If you hadn't been so stupid, none of this would've happened.

Dash sat up, wiping the tears from her eyes. It's my fault Twilight's hurting, I need to make this right. I need to show Twilight that it was more than just a prank. That I really did feel something for her. Her mind made up, Dash took to the sky and quickly made her way to the Ponyville library.

Deciding to take the safe route, she landed by the front door and knocked. A muffled voice responded and Dash heard the sounds of footsteps making their way to the door. A moment later Spike greeted her.

"Rainbow Dash! I'm glad you're here," Spike panted, relief clear on his face. "Something really upset Twilight, she's in her room and she won't come out." Spike wrung his hands, shaking as he spoke. "She won't talk to me, but maybe she'll talk to you. "

"Sure thing Spike. You stay down here though. I think this is something that Twilight and I need to talk about alone." With that she made her way up the stairs. The tension in the air was palpable. Dash's stomach churned with guilt.

Finally she got to the door and knocked. She heard a muffled reply but no movement. She knocked again. "Spike, I just need some time a-alone." Twilight mumbled.

"Twilight?" Dash said quietly. The other side of the door fell silent. "Twilight, will you please let me in to talk to you?" Still no sounds came from her room. "Twilight, I know how you feel. You're hurt, you feel like you've been betrayed, but let me exp-" Dash was cut off by the door opening swiftly. Dash was yanked inside unceremoniously.

Twilight sat on her bed and glowered at Dash. If looks could kill, Dash would be a goner. She opened her mouth to speak before Twilight cut her off. "Let you explain?" she asked. "Let you explain!? What are you going to explain? How you pranked me? How you manipulated my emotions through letters. How you lied in every one of them, just to make me feel a certain way? Is that what you're going to explain?!" Tears began to make there way down her cheeks as she spoke, making her voice crack.

The room fell quiet once again, Dash trying to figure out how to respond to Twilight. Finally, she managed, "Yes." Twilight stared at Dash, dumbfounded by the simple reply. Seeing her moment, Dash continued. "Yeah, it all started out as a prank. I was angry over the whole Mare-Do-Well thing. I came up with a little prank I thought would be harmless." Twilight's eyebrow rose at this, but Dash continued. "I thought maybe I'd distract you from your books for a bit while you tried to figure out who was sending you the letters. I never guessed you'd get feelings for me."

"So that makes it alright?" Twilight couldn't hold herself back as she spat, "Because you didn't know what would happen?" Dash sighed and shook her head.

"No, you're right. That doesn't make it okay. Nothing can make that okay. I hurt you. It was cruel, mean, and something you didn't deserve." Twilight was quiet, thinking on Rainbow's words. "I explained why I pranked you, and I explained why I manipulated you, now let me explain why I said what I said in the letters."

The two mares looked each other in the eyes as Dash went on. "Every word I wrote in those letters was the truth. There was not a single lie among them." Confusion was apparent on Twilight's face but Dash continued before she could ask any questions. "When I was first writing the letters, I looked for things I could say about you. I looked for compliments and sweet things, everything you'd expect. It was something I hadn't really done before, but the more I wrote, the easier it became. Eventually, it became what you got in the letters. I didn't lie about any bit of that. I thought over what makes you incredible as a friend and as a pony, and I came to see a mare who anypony would be lucky to date.

"I fell for you while I wrote the letters, and I didn't even know. I only truly knew this morning. The letter I was going to give you was a letter arranging a time and place to meet. I wanted something real, not a prank, and I still do want it. You're incredible Twilight, and I am truly sorry for hurting you." Twilight was quiet as Dash spoke, taking in all her words. She sat in silence as she thought. Butterflies fluttered in Dash's stomach as she waited to see what Twilight would say.

The unicorn got up off her bed and moved over to where Dash stood. She stood in front of her friend for a moment, just looking into her eyes. Twilight slapped Dash, catching her off guard. A red welt quickly rising on her cheek. Twilight watched as Dash's eyes went through a gamut of emotion; shock, sadness, anger, and finally, acceptance.

With a sigh, Dash began to turn and said, "Well, I hope we can at least still be friends." She made her way to the door before it swung shut in front of her. Dash regarded the door as if it were a book in another language.

"That slap," Twilight said, walking over to Dash. "Was for the prank." In an instant she closed the space between them and pecked Dash on the lips. "That was for the letters," she finished, pulling Rainbow into her embrace. Warmth spread through both of them, healing up their wounded hearts.

Some Time Later

"Do you see that star there?"

"The one next to the Big Dipper?"

"Yeah, that one! That is the first star in Starswirl's Belt. That star and then the two make it up."

"Is it that one there, or that one there?

"It's that one there. You can tell because it's also pa- Ohhh wow! Did you see that shooting star?"

"Wasn't that a comet?"

"No, they're two entirely different things!"

"Huh. Never knew."

"..."

"It's beautiful out here."

"It really is. I'm glad I can share this with you."

"..."

"Do you know when I really first fell for you? It was a couple of nights before we got together. I remember I was writing you a letter, and I was stuck. I couldn't find the right phrasing or something. I decided some fresh air would be good for me, and I went for a fly. Everypony in town was asleep, except for you. You were out stargazing. I'd never really cared for it myself, but I looked up and tried to see what you saw. It was beautiful. I couldn't understand why I hadn't spent the time to care about it before. And then I looked back down at you, and there was something even more beautiful. And everything I felt about you changed. I finally understood beauty that night."

"Oh, Dash..."

"You are beauty."

Under the light of the moon, the two lovers kissed.

Author's Note

Well, that's that! I had a lot of fun writing this. Thanks to bats, Prof Yana, Cynical, and all the other people who helped me get this out on time. Thanks to all of you who read it!