To readers who finished the former Chapter 8 before 29 January 2015,

This chapter comprises the revised first part of the old Chapter 8 (now chapters 10 and 11). It is not new to the story.

“... I’m sorry,” having relayed to the couple before her all of her findings thus far, Twilight finally reached her conclusion. Until that moment, Fluttershy and Sweetie Belle had been unsure what any of it meant. The apology now caught both of their attention, and they tensed. “Until I have more conclusive data ... the most I’m willing to help you with is ... a chaperoned courtship.” Twilight paused.

Fluttershy brightened. Sweetie looked confused but was encouraged by her fillyfriend’s reaction. “What ... exactly, is a ... sha-per-owned courtship?” Sweetie questioned.

“A chaperone,” Twilight explained, “is somepony who accompanies two ponies on their dates with them. For example, back when cutie-rash was rampant among Canterlot royalty due to sexual indiscretion, and even before the outbreak, concerned families protected their progeny from disease, not to mention their families’ reputations, through more restrictive courtship practices. ... Of course, that didn’t stop infidelity at the time, but, well ... I imagine there were bound to be some major aftereffects to the sudden loss of Princess Luna’s influence following her exile—that’s beside the point, I suppose.” Twilight stopped.

Sweetie still looked confused. “It means—” Twilight restarted. “Basically, what I mean to say is,” for all of her study Twilight struggled to convey what she meant to the young filly until Fluttershy finished for her.

“We can go on dates, but only if somepony comes with us to make sure nothing, um ... naughty happens.” Fluttershy smiled at Sweetie.

“Oh!” The foal’s understanding lit, and she smiled as well.

“Would ... you be accompanying us then, Twilight?” Fluttershy asked happily.

“Um ... yes. I mean, traditionally it would be somepony appointed by the younger filly’s family, and it seems a little embarrassing to sit in on two friends’ special time together, but ... if you can both handle it, then I can handle it ... I think ... for love’s sake, of course.” Twilight smiled sympathetically at the couple.

“This is just—oh, thank you, Twilight!” Fluttershy wrapped her foreleg around Sweetie, leaning closer to her and feeling her heart skip at the increasingly hopeful prospect for romance between them.

“Thank you so much, Twilight!” Sweetie echoed the pony next to her, around whom she didn’t hesitate to throw both her forelegs, eager always to be closer. Fluttershy responded by pulling Sweetie in more tightly and stroking her mane tenderly with her other hoof.

Smiling, Twilight sighed, glad and a little relieved to see the two content. “You’re both very welcome. It’s no marriage yet, but, despite how wonderful the library is, I imagine you’ll both be happy to get some time together outside like regular ponies. And there’s one other thing too.” Twilight composed herself with a more serious but still happy expression, and Fluttershy and Sweetie Belle’s attention focused on her as they hugged. “I’ll be continuing with my research at a more relaxed pace, hopefully paying a visit to the Crystal Kingdom library soon, and, if you’ll agree, I’d like to conduct some tests as well as continue to try and prepare you both for what might be, well ... a difficult road ahead.”

“What kind of tests are you thinking?” Fluttershy asked.

“I’m not sure yet, but maybe something along the lines of ... controlled simulations.”

“S—simulations?!” Sweetie Belle was so shocked she nearly let loose her embrace, but quickly tightened it again, disquieted by the thought. “Y-you mean ... like ... t-touching?”

Twilight looked confused then surprised and slightly nervous for a second as she realized what the filly was thinking. Fluttershy held back a snicker. “Oh! Oh, no-no-no! Simulations, not stimulations, Sweetie. ... I mean make-believe scenarios, er ... situations that might or might not ever actually happen in real life. Some relationship experts use role play, acting out a trouble situation. Hopefully I can do one better! I’d like to make scenarios that appear real with the help of some spells I’ve been studying for just this occasion.” Twilight beamed with a look of smug confidence.

“Trouble situations that seem real?” Fluttershy was concerned. “They won't be too scary, will they, Twilight?”

“Honestly,” Twilight became a bit anxious, “If everything works according to plan, they may seem scary, yes, but it will all be 100% safe, and I promise we'll start out easy. It’s not ready quite yet, though, and I’m going to need to catch up on some unrelated things first, since I’ve been so preoccupied with finding a way to help you both.”

“I can't thank you enough for taking so much time out of your busy schedule for us!” Fluttershy responded. “Please, don't worry too much about timing.”

Sweetie coughed nervously. “Um ... M-maybe before—I mean, thank you.” Sweetie remembered her manners. “Uh ... please don’t worry too much.” She didn’t want to pressure the kind princess any more than Fluttershy did, “but, Twilight ... it won’t take too long—will it?—before we know if we can ask for our families’ blessings and for the other princesses’ blessings like we talked about?” Sweetie often worried she might be the only pony focused on the ultimate goal. Waiting until she’d almost reached marehood wouldn’t be the worst outcome, but Sweetie’s craving for the attention a proper union would provide pressed at her constantly.

Twilight couldn’t help but sigh. She understood Sweetie’s concern, but she worried the filly held unrealistic expectations. Twilight’s main concern was neither that she would be unable to find answers quickly enough nor that they couldn’t receive the unanimous royal go ahead. Both would prove challenging, of course, maybe impossible, but what concerned Twilight most was the pressure Sweetie unwittingly placed on Fluttershy to be both a lover and a caretaker at once. For that matter, Fluttershy’s expectations for Sweetie Belle also seemed unreasonably high. This was why, Twilight had explained in far more verbose terms just minutes ago, she could only promise to keep researching and hope to prepare them.

The studious purple mare silently cursed her constant difficulty with balancing clarity and simplicity. Why was it so hard to form explanations her friends would easily understand? For now, she decided there were more pressing matters at hoof than re-explaining. “I’ll ... try to set the deadline sooner, but, for now—” Twilight hesitated. Even this felt like too much to promise, and, with so much riding on her, it seemed almost reckless, but she put herself in their horseshoes “—for now ... a year,” she finished nervously.

A moments’ silence passed between the three. Sweetie’s heart sank and, where before she’d only felt worried, ice began to settle. She turned to Fluttershy with a look that asked her to say something, anything to make the time be shorter.

Fluttershy caught the desperation on Sweetie’s face from the corner of her own anxious eye before looking up at Twilight. “I ... I know it’s not going to be easy for anypony. For you, Twilight, because you’re uncertain and busy, for you especially, Sweetie,” Fluttershy met Sweetie’s gaze and sorrow filled her to see the filly’s growing heartache, “because you feel so alone,” she ached with her, “and ... for me, I admit, because... I’ll worry about you both and wish very much that we could be ... together, finally, too, but—” she breathed and sighed softly “—I think ... Twilight is right to be cautious.”

Tears welled in Sweetie Belles eyes for a moment until she forced them back. Her hopes for intimacy in the near future fell apart as she heard the pegasus comply. Sweetie’s dream to make the pegasus happy sooner rather than later, to fulfill both of their desires, had been short-lived, proven impossible, yet she’d gotten her hopes up over the past week. Fluttershy wasn’t going to save her from the loneliness this time, and there was nothing she could do but accept defeat ... unless she asked Fluttershy to betray Twilight and abandon their friends, but she couldn’t allow herself to be so selfish.

“It’s ... alright. I-hm—” Sweetie swallowed a sob “—we’ll wait ... and ... m-maybe—“ her voice trembled “—maybe we’ll get lucky.” She didn’t sound hopeful. The little unicorn couldn’t afford to let herself hope any more, not after so many promises that other ponies close to her had failed to keep, at least, not without some sort of begging or manipulation on her part. “At least we can still, um, date.” The little filly forced a smile and tried to look at the positive.

“Yes, we can! That—that’ll be wonderful,” Fluttershy encouraged, though her tone was halfhearted as she doubted it would help Sweetie much in the long run. Fluttershy had experienced years of loneliness that Sweetie hadn't—was used to the ennui it brought about. She still remembered what it was like before she’d learned how to endure it, or, at least, escape from it.

It must be difficult for Sweetie, so young and without experience to aid in her defense, Fluttershy thought. She’d do her best to make the time go by quickly for both of them, of course. Even without the more profound connection, physical and spiritual, that they both wished for, they weren’t truly alone, after all, but, with Twilight so busy and only chaperoned dates allowed, it seemed it would be difficult.

Fluttershy warred with herself over whether or not to press Twilight. Though she wished for more, the most she could manage was to ask, “Twilight, will you be alright with letting us, rm ... if we, uhm ...” she hesitated more out of habit and modesty than out of embarrassment, “kiss on our dates?” If she hadn’t shared so much with Twilight over the past week, the shy pegasus might have stammered. It felt good, having grown to trust her so much. Still, in spite of the fact that she and Sweetie had regularly been given alone time to express their affections intimately, Fluttershy couldn't help being a little nervous.

Twilight nodded and blushed. “I hope I won't intrude so much that you won't have that chance ... I—” Twilight finally admitted what she'd both hesitated and rejoiced to accept about her findings “—I've speculated, based on my research ... that limited i-intimacy will be important for you both ... by which I mean, kissing and, as long as I can be there to chaperone, cuddling,” she clarified. “I did my best to make sure that was okay after the first time I left the two of you alone up here.” Twilight nodded to the loft in which they were gathered.

Fluttershy smiled wide before looking at Sweetie. Her gaze was fixed on the floor as she processed new information. The pegasus was pleased to see the foal's expression finally ease, and, though only a little, Sweetie smiled genuinely. Fluttershy nuzzled the filly for one short moment, and the filly looked up. The yellow pony gently pressed her snout against Sweetie’s, locked eyes with the little unicorn for a second, and proceeded to tilt her head and join their lips together.

Sweetie Belle nearly jumped back, surprised by the forward gesture directly in front of the princess. She didn’t have long to feel nervous as the kiss broke only a second later. It took Sweetie a moment still, despite just having heard it was allowed, to realize that kissing in front of another pony was alright at that moment.

Being careful all week had been hard for Fluttershy, but it had been agony for Sweetie who, at that moment, caught up to the fact that the situation had changed. Her breath caught for an instant, and her eyes widened a second time as she came to the sudden realization that, not only could Fluttershy kiss her, but she could kiss Fluttershy. Sweetie practically attacked Fluttershy’s lips. Many seconds later the two broke apart to breathe.

Despite how comfortable Fluttershy had become with Twilight, she regretted the decision to reciprocate tongue when she saw the purple unicorn looking away very uncomfortably. “I—I’m sorry, Twilight. ... That was uncalled for,” she apologized, though part of her believed it had been worth it to cheer up Sweetie Belle.

It had been only a day since their last kiss, but their love was young. Each craved the other to the point of obsession. Twilight had given them a couple minutes alone after each meeting from the first time Sweetie asked, but it couldn’t satisfy the couple. Despite her remorse for scandalizing their friend, Fluttershy wrapped a wing around Sweetie. The young filly clung to Fluttershy’s side, realizing she’d gone too far and burying her face in the pegasus’s soft yellow coat to hide her embarrassment before peeking out. “S-sorry, Twilight,” Sweetie echoed.

The flustered librarian let out a slightly manic laugh. “No-no.” Twilight sighed. “It’s alright, but ... maybe a little bit of warning next time would be nice. Although, I suppose that wouldn’t be good for romance, would it?” Twilight thought out loud. “Just, um ... don’t worry about it ... I guess.” Twilight coughed, and her eye twitched, looking at the couple. So much for her fear of being intrusive. Once again, the young lavender mare felt woefully inexperienced and wished, ever more intensely, that Cadence were there to help.

The couple's future looked increasingly promising, but increasingly perilous. What drove Twilight to keep going had to be more than pride in her ability to research and even more than pride in her ability to help her friends. If it weren’t for the word she’d given to Fluttershy and the deep care she had for her friend, Twilight would never have put herself in a position like this, one which challenged her very morality and, she feared, could threaten her position in good standing with her mentor.

The new princess questioned for the thousandth time what she was doing, what she was letting happen with Sweetie Belle. The stress was already beginning to wear on her. Twilight breathed deep and tried to relax before moving on to scheduling. Little did she know, she wasn't the only pony who felt pressured to make sure everything was alright.

Days of watching and pondering over the small white filly had passed uneventfully, but Applejack's uneasiness only grew. It was bad enough she didn't sleep as soundly, but, when apple bucking finally failed to take Applejack’s mind off of the matter, she sensed that keeping it to herself any longer wasn't right. Her conscience wouldn't stop bothering her until she confronted the issue head on.

“Hey, Apple Bloom,” Applejack called her sister from the edge of the south field.

The red-maned filly finished her drink and looked up from the water pump. Having just washed up after slopping the pigs, she shook the excess water from her hooves and face and met Applejack half-way. “What's up, Sis?”Apple Bloom didn't have to be related to see that Applejack looked nervous.

“Well, Ah—mm ... would ya mind ... walkin' with me 'n talkin' fer a bit?

The little Apple blinked, unsure of what to make of the request. She suspected this was going to be an uncomfortable conversation, but had no excuse to say no. “Alright. Sure ... Ah guess.”

Applejack nodded stiffly, and the pair started at a casual pace through the orchard. A minute of awkward silence was filled with the twitter of birds and the soft fall of hooves on soil.

The older sister cleared her voice. “Th' Sundowner blossoms sure are nice 'bout this time-a year,” Applejack attempted to break the silence.

Apple Bloom admired the flowering trees surrounding them. “Sure are,” the younger pony agreed.

“It sorta reminds me of when Ah was your age. So much happenin' in life an' so much, uh ... self discov'ry ...” the segue felt awkward. “If ye'r anything like I was, well ... ye'r at a time in life when a lot of other fillies yer age are probably getting' curious 'bout the birds n' the bees.”

Applejack looked down at her sister from the corner of her eye and saw the filly's eyes widen a bit before her brow furrowed. The little filly looked up curiously at the hat-wearing sister and slowed to a stop. Applejack stopped as well, and the two stood facing each other in the middle of the blossoming orchard. “Is that what this is about? Ya know Granny already taught me everythin' about matin' n' such, right?”

“W-well, yes an' no. ... Ya see, uh ... there's always more ta learn, even when ye'r fully grown. A’ course, ya know ya can talk to me about that, but ... but that's ... not really why Ah wanted to talk to ya now.” Applejack paused. “Would ya mind if we rested here fer a spell?” The young mare laid down on a thin bed of apple blossom petals covering the orchard soil, and Apple Bloom sat across from her, keeping eye-level.

Another pause.

“Well ... if it ain't that, then what do ya wanna talk about?” Apple Bloom pried.

Applejack looked down anxiously. “Well now ... Ah—Ah'd like it if ye'd just promise ta hear me out fer a second. ... What Ah've gotta say ... maybe ye'll be a bit sore at me, n' that's okay, but ... will ya promise me, sister to sister, t' at least listen t' everything Ah have to say?” Applejack supplicated, then added, “And would ya please hold yer temper n' any questions ya might have until Ah'm finished?”

Apple Bloom raised an eyebrow and thought a moment to herself, but, at her sister's earnest gaze, the purehearted filly's concern quickly outgrew her doubt. “Ya have mah word,” Apple Bloom promised sincerely.

“Thank ya, Sis.” Applejack breathed deep and exhaled. “Well,” she began, “last week when it was rainin' n' Ah brought you n' yer friends some hot cocoa ... ya remember that?”

Apple Bloom's eyes grew wide in realization and shock, and she nodded, but she held her tongue.

“Well, Ah heard part a’ what y'all were talkin' about. ... Y'see, Ah ...” the admission of her sneakiness came with a little difficulty for the honest pony, “pretended t—ta not evesdrop, but, really ... Ah heard the three of ya, Sweetie in perticular, talkin' ‘bout her bein' with another pony.”

Apple Bloom's shock turned to an incredulous scowl. She had to stop herself then from breaking the promise she'd just made and protesting.

Applejack looked back at her, remorseful, but only offered the following for an apology: “Ah did it because Ah love ya, little sis, n' it's what Mom used ta do. Though, Ah reckon Ah don't know fer sure how often, I caught her from time to time.”

The filly's outrage was quickly subdued, though she remained irked that AJ had played that card. She knew she'd have to forgive her because of it. For the time being, she hmphed and looked down with a pout.

“Now ... Ah know yer probably not gonna give me another chance to listen in on somethin' like that, now that ya know, but ... since Ah did listen in this time, Ah hope ye'll try 'n think of yerself as lucky—”

Apple Bloom raised an irritated eyebrow and forgot her promise. “W—” Applejack held up a hoof to stop the younger Apple.

“Lemme finish now—lucky, because ya won't be breakin' any promises if ya talk to me about somethin' that, Ah think ya know already, could seriously wind up hurtin' one a' yer best friends a lot unless she gets some help from somepony responsible.”

Apple Bloom's doubt-filled eyes, raised eyebrows, and tight-lips spoke silently for her.

“Ah'm not saying it has to be me, now, ner even that it should be me, but ... Ah'm willin' to listen. Ah care about Sweetie like she was our own sister, and, like Ah said, Ah don't think ye'd be breakin' her trust if ya let me in on what's happenin', since Ah already know, partly ... n' one last thing,” Applejack tried to impress the importance of what she was saying on her younger sibling. “Ah don't wanna be the pony who winds up bein' hated by the three most important foals in mah life, but ... if Ah can't find a way to make sure Sweetie's safe, then Ah'll be havin' a talk with some other adult ponies, and there's no sayin' whether they'll be as understandin' as Ah'm tryin' to be right now.”

Apple Bloom's ears folded back, angry, but mostly horrified by what that could mean for her friend and the special somepony she adored, whoever it was.

“Ah know that Sweetie loves this mare she's seein', n' she really believes that mare loves her, but it's not somethin' that oughta happen without somepony ta ... well ... keep an eye on things. And, if Granny Smith, n' Big Mac, n' Ah've taught ya any better, then y' oughta know by now that, if ya really care about Sweetie Belle, you should want her to be safe through all a' this too.” Applejack spoke with all the tenderness and firmness of an older sister and a concerned mother.

Apple Bloom was left to fight a losing battle against both reason and conscience. She clenched her teeth, unsure, frustrated, and, finally, she wilted in defeat.

Applejack watched closely, and, deciding she'd gotten through to the filly, she breathed a sigh of relief. “That's everything Ah have ta say. Now ya know ... and ... it's up to you to decide to tell me, to get Sweetie to tell me, er some other adult pony who Ah can talk to 'n know she's safe, er else Ah'll find somepony t' help her myself, whether it's Rarity, er Sweetie's mom n' dad, er maybe somepony else.”

Silence settled for a minute between the sisters despite Apple Bloom being free again to speak.

“... Are ya ... sure that Sweetie needs somepony uninvited gettin' involved with everythin'?” Apple Bloom asked.

Applejack gave a solemn nod. “Ah thought about it all week, n' Ah can't see any other way.”

“W-would ya promise t' keep it a secret too?” Apple Bloom tried to compromise, but felt she knew the answer.

Applejack was pained to see her sister struggle between helping protect her friend and keeping her confidence. “A-ah can't ... make that promise, Sugar-cube. If Ah ever thought there was harm bein' done, Ah'd have t’ do the right thing n' stop it by any means necessary ... fer Sweetie's sake.” Applejack thought for a second. “But,” the honest mare attempted her own compromise for Apple Bloom's sake, “Ah'll tell ya what. Ah'll give ya ... two days t' talk it over with Sweetie n' let the two of you decide together, if ya want, so at least ya can explain to her what Ah said before Ah’m fully part a' the situation ... n' who knows? Maybe she'll end up appreciatin' another pony's help, an' you could be the friend who offered it to her.”

Apple Bloom seemed ever so slightly encouraged by that thought. “W-would she hafta tell you who it is specific’ly? It seemed like she really wanted it to be a secret. She didn’t even tell me er Scoot,” Apple Bloom pled.

AJ sighed again. “Ah'm afraid she would hav'ta say who it is, yes, er else tell somepony else Ah trust, like Ah said before. There's just no other way to keep a proper eye on 'em.”

Apple Bloom sighed this time. “Ye'r right, but ... why does it feel so wrong at the same time?”

From downstairs, Sweetie heard Rarity call her. Company at that hour was uncommon, especially for Sweetie, as she, like most foals, was soon to get ready for bed.

Apple Bloom met her as she descended the stairs, and she excused herself for coming by so late. “Ah promise Ah won’t stick around too long, but ... do ya mind if Ah come up t’ yer room fer a sec, Sweetie Belle?” Apple Bloom’s gaze darted nervously toward Rarity who stood watching. Fortunately the yellow filly had come prepared with an excuse. “Ah’ve bin workin’ out this practice problem all afternoon, n’ Ah hoped that ya could help me check it b’fore the test tomorrow real quick.”

Apple Bloom pulled out a sheet that Sweetie recognized as last week’s math homework. After a moment’s confusion, Sweetie picked up the hint. “But ... Oh! I mean, sure, yeah. Come on upstairs.” The two fillies disappeared, leaving Rarity alone to finish wrapping up her day’s work.

Behind the closed bedroom door, Sweetie listened, first curious, then anxious, and finally stone-faced to the hushed news of Applejack’s ultimatum. Apple Bloom finished and waited quietly, but she couldn’t hold back her anxiety for more than half a minute. “Please, Sweetie Belle, ya know Ah’d never break a promise, right? I don’t like this, well, not as much as you, Ah reckon, but Ah really am sorry this is happenin’.”

Sweetie released a breath she’d been holding. “I don’t blame you, Apple Bloom. I can’t blame you, but, even if I could, I wouldn’t want to. It’s just ... things were going better with ... her, but now ... this.” Sweetie thought a moment longer in silence. “You said Applejack would be satisfied with another pony she trusts being involved, right?”

Apple Bloom nodded.

“Well, we have two days still, and ... I think I might be able to come up with somepony. ... Please, tell Applejack I’m sorry for worrying her, and that I’ll give her my decision soon.”

Apple Bloom looked at her friend with both relief that she had a plan and with pity for the pain it would cause. She knew as well as Sweetie what the risks were, thanks to discussions and speculations the Crusaders had made over the past week.

The yellow Apple embraced Sweetie Belle, and Sweetie hugged her in return.

“Ya really are like a sister t’ us, y’know?”

“I know. I feel the same. And thank you for coming all the way here to tell me.”

The two parted company for the evening smiling, but not without feeling stressed. Sweetie would have to let Fluttershy and Twilight know as early tomorrow as possible.

Author's Note

Last revised 31 January 2015
- for style

Revised 29 January 2015
- for style, flow, and voice
- split into 2 chapters, 10 & 11

Original Note:
Sorry for the delay. It's looking like the next few months will take my attention away from the story unfortunately. I don't know whether much slower writing means I should declare hiatus, but technically I'm still going, just slower, so I'll say no.

In other news, LOOK AT THE AWESOME COVER ART ZIPPYSQRL MADE!
Tell us what you think in the comments or on the source tumblr.