Of Cream puffs and Magicby Milky WayChapters"%i%" PhasesGood Enough"%i%" Crushed"%i%" Home"%i%" Princess"%i%" Phases"2" Phases NEW MOON The night was cloudless, but dark. The stars shown brightly as she gazed up from the hilltop. The night air had always helped clear Twilight mind and think. She just wished the moon was out. She used to think of how strange, how the small rock floating in space, reflecting the light of something so much greater, could be so important. Now she thought it was beautiful, the relationship the sun and moon shared, much like the sisters who were their physical embodiments. Or a certain pink pony who had grabbed hold of her thoughts and reflected off everything she did lately. She shouldn't have been so shocked, really, when she realized how Pinkie had started becoming the center of everything she revolved around. Even her latest experiment was full of the her. When Rarity had pointed it out, she had shook her head and said it was impossible. But that's what Pinkie was, wasn't it? Impossible. Twilight could still hear Rarity's voice as she watched Pinkie walk away. my, you are quiet taken with her, aren't you?She smiled at the moonless sky. She was, and she just had to tell her. Simple. WAXING MOON Or maybe it wasn't so simple. She had been trying to think of the best way to express her feelings to Pinkie, but every time she thought she would say it, a different set of words would come out. Now, she had a plan. She was on the hill again, looking at a beautiful half moon hanging among the stars. She had personally baked cupcakes and had two bottles of sarsaparilla chilling in a bucket full of ice. She had even talked to Dash and made sure the sky would be clear. Everything was perfect. Smiling at hearing a gasp, Twilight turned. Pinkie's eyes were large as she took in the scene before her. Her mouth was fell into a small o as she turned her gaze to Twilight. Pinkie took one step forward, then another, and then her hooves were wrapped around Twilight. She stood frozen, for just a moment, before smiling and wrapping her hooves around Pinkie. "Is this for real, Twily?" she whispered. Twilight pulled away. Any nervousness she had been feeling fell away. "Yes, Pinkie Pie." Taking Pinkie's hooves in her own and looking into her eyes, Twilight smiled. "Will you be my special somepony?" FULL MOON Twilight had never thought Pinkie could be the romantic type. She had quickly found that to be the wrong assumption. Now she was blindfolded, holding to Pinkie's tail as she was lead to a mysterious location. Pinkie instructed her to sit. She felt a tug, and the blindfold fell away. They were back on the hill, the full moon nearly looking close enough to touch. A red blanket was spread out. A bucket with a bottle of wine and two glasses sat to the side, next to a telescope. "Pinkie, you did this all yourself?" Twilight asked. "Yeah, do you like it? I remembered you said you liked this wine, and that comet you were talking about is passing by and I thought you would wanna watch it so—umph" Twilight caught Pinkie in a kiss, pressing her lips together. The slow movements sped up, as all the urban cry and passion the two felt poured out. Twilight pushed, finding Pinkie fell easily. Panting, they broke. "I really, really like it. Thank you." Giggling, Pinkie reached up and pulled Twilight down with her. WANING MOON Twilight wasn't sure how it had happened, or why, but it had. A crescent moon, just a few slivers away from becoming a new moon, provided very little light. The tears streaming down Pinkie's cheeks glistened. Pinkie could barely see, but she knew Twilight was there. Twilight wasn't fairing much better. She couldn't bring herself to look at Pinkie, so she looked at the ground. "Hey, Twily." "Listen, Pinkie." They spoke, then stopped, at the same time. "You first," Twilight said. She looked up, seeing everything she hadn't wanted to see. Pinkie sighed. "I am so sorry, Twilight. I shouldn't have said that." "And I shouldn't have said or done what I did, either. I know you're...insecure about actually being needed. And I do need you. You're the most important pony in my life." Twilight took a few steps toward her, almost reaching out to for a hug, but stopping herself. "I know. I know it's silly, but I get scared when you start spending a lot of time with other ponies. I shouldn't have accused you of...what I did. Especially with Princess Celestia. I just...I can't loose you." Pinkie closed the gap between them, so they were mere centimeters apart. Slowly, they leaned their foreheads together. "We sure are smart, huh?" Pinkie asked. Twilight lifted her head, smiling at Pinkie. "We were smart enough to work it out." She leaned in, planting a soft, lingering kiss on Pinkie's lips that was happily returned. "I love you." Good EnoughI love you. There are reasons I don't say it. That I just let you go about your day as if nothing is different. Like that night never happened. Because I know you. And I know what you need. You don't need someone who says horrible things about you. I know you remember it. You never seem to forget anything, except you're own birthday. I don't even know how a pony could forget their own birthday, but you did. You're so amazingly selfless, always throwing parties and giving gifts, just to see a smile. While I, a pony who should be the epitome of kindness, reduced you to tears with my words. I should have never said such horrible things to you. You aren't frivolous. Your parties always have meaning. They have meaning because they show what a wonderful pony you are. They show the only thing you want out of life is to make others happy. To see them smile. They show that you need someone who can make you smile. You don't need someone who flinches at the vaguest hint of negativity. You, who can turn any situation around with a joke and a grin. You, who can defuse a tense situation with a few clever lyrics and a catchy tune. You, who faces fear with a laugh. Where I scream and run away, you giggle and leap forward, and I can tell you know that it will turn out fine. It always does. You need someone who can speak up. Who can be heard. You need someone who, when hearing laughter directed at you instead of with you, will say what needs to be said. Some one who will tell ponies who say mean things how mean it is. But most importantly, you need someone who is good enough for you. A pony who can help you with party after party with a smile on her face. A pony who can spend the entire day running with you, and then the entire night playing. You need some pony who is perfect for you. You need someone who isn't me. "%i%" Crushed"5" Crushed I was a strange feeling. I wasn’t sure how to categorize it or why it was there. But there it was all he same. I researched for two days, until Rarity showed up, saying about how I had been in the library for too long. I explained my problem to Rarity. I was surprised when she nearly giggled by the end. Then she took my hoof, and explained what was wrong. I had a crush. I thought that was absurd, until I started paying attention. I would notice I looked for her everywhere I went. I listened to her over others, I smiled when I thought of her. She would tell a joke and I would laugh. I would see her bouncing down the street, and she would smile at me, and there was no way I could keep my smile from my phase. Then I started seeing things while I was out that she would like, and I wanted to get for her. A pink fuzzy pillow. A new set of chocolate. A bracelet with a cupcake on it. If I was doing nothing, I would wonder what it was she was doing. If she was working at the bakery, or maybe out with one of her other friends. I started doing things I had no interest in doing, things I normally wouldn’t do at all, except they interested her. Going to clown shows, and even clubs in Canterlot. By the time I started making my days schedule around her, rather chaotic, one, I realized I had a problem. I went back to Rarity, because I didn’t know what to do about it. This crush had started controlling my life. I didn’t mind, really, because it took me closer to her. It let me spend more time with her. But I had changed everything around her, and I was afraid of what the next phase would be. What she said terrified me. But now I’m here, and she is here, and I’m going to do it. "Pinkie, will you go on a date with me?" "%i%" Home"1" Home Pinkie sighed as the wagon Mac was pulling bumped along the country dirt road. That Apple family had kindly offered to take her back to her parents rock farm. She knew, with the help of the fellow farming family, her parents farm could be saved. She just wished she could have been there more before something like this demanded she return. She had only returned to the farm three times since leaving. It wasn't that she hadn't wanted to go home, she simply hadn't found the time. Between working with the Cakes, making friends, and truly coming into marehood, she had been very busy over the last ten years. Of course, she exchanged letters with her family on a regular basis, but that wasn't the same. She should have made the time to return. She had time to visit Dash at the Wonderbolt's Academy. She had time to go to Canterlot with Twilight. She had time to travel all across Equestria. She had the time to go home. She just hadn't done it. The first time she had gone, she had spent nearly the whole month of December at her old farm, after being gone for nearly a year. She was young and had missed her family. Then she had gotten a colt friend. Then she really started having a life in Ponyville. Then was given her first party-throwing job. The second time she had gone home had been nearly three years later. She had stayed two weeks, just catching up with her family and meeting the colts her sisters were dating. She had talked to her parents and been reassured that she was doing the right thing with her life and her mark. The last time she had gone home, it had been for just barely a week. She loved her farm, and her family, but she always missed Ponyville more when she was away. Now though, now she was going home again. Now she was going to save her parents farm. Now she was going to really spend time with her aging parents. Now, things would be different. This was her fourth time coming home. And this time she was going to make it really mean something. "%i%" Princess"3" Princess Twilight sat at the table, waiting for the meeting to begin. The other three Princesses were there as well, Luna across from her, Cadance on her left, and Celestia at the head. She had already tried to ask what this was about, but each time she had been shushed, so she took a sip of her tea. Finally, Celestia turned her gaze to her. "Twilight," she said, a small smile on her lips, "how do you like being a Princess?" Twilight smiled, looking up at her mentor. "I love it, Princess. I'm honored that you would make me--" "Oh, 'twasn't my sisters decision, Twilight Sparkle." Luna looked very grim. Cadance scowled. "Luna, we are supposed to take things slowly with Twily." Twilight looked between the three Princesses. "What are you talking about?" "Twilight," Celestia said. "This is your naming ceremony. But first, we must explain what it means to be a Princess in this realm." With a nod from Celestia, Cadance wrapped a hoof around Twilight. "See, Twily, I'm the Princess of Love. Luna is the Princess of the Night, and Celestia is the Princess of the Day. You must choose your name. What you want to be Princess of." Twilight's brow furrowed in confusion. "That still doesn't explain what Luna said." "That is because it is not so simple." Luna fixed Twilight with an unreadable expression. "To be the Fourth Child of the Goddess is large step. Long ago, before even the three tribes, the Noble Alicorn stood tall and proud. But out numbers have fallen, so that now it's only mine sister and I." "The Goddess chose us from foal hood to be eternal. And now, she has chosen you, Twilight. There are two important questions you must answer." Twilight swallowed, nodding. "Okay." "First, eternity is a long time. Do you want to live forever?" "No," she hook her head. "I couldn't stand leaving everyone I love behind, for all eternity." Celestia smiled. "No more than I expected. Second, Twilight. What are you the Princess of?" Twilight sat for a moment. "Friendship. It's the magic of friendship that got me here, after all." "Very well. Now, the ceremony. We must all touch horns." The four Alicorns leaned across the table and, after a little jostling, found a position for all of their horns to touch. A blinding light flashed, and Twilight felt a jolt of electricity shoot through her body. The light died and the others pulled away. "I feel...the same." "Yeah, it doesn't feel any different. But watch, Twily, you'll start picking up on a lot of friendship feelings. Except those directed at you. I'll help you get used to it." Welcome, my fourth child. Though the voice sounded in her head, she was comforted by it. "Thank you," she whispered.
"%i%" Phases"2" Phases NEW MOON The night was cloudless, but dark. The stars shown brightly as she gazed up from the hilltop. The night air had always helped clear Twilight mind and think. She just wished the moon was out. She used to think of how strange, how the small rock floating in space, reflecting the light of something so much greater, could be so important. Now she thought it was beautiful, the relationship the sun and moon shared, much like the sisters who were their physical embodiments. Or a certain pink pony who had grabbed hold of her thoughts and reflected off everything she did lately. She shouldn't have been so shocked, really, when she realized how Pinkie had started becoming the center of everything she revolved around. Even her latest experiment was full of the her. When Rarity had pointed it out, she had shook her head and said it was impossible. But that's what Pinkie was, wasn't it? Impossible. Twilight could still hear Rarity's voice as she watched Pinkie walk away. my, you are quiet taken with her, aren't you?She smiled at the moonless sky. She was, and she just had to tell her. Simple. WAXING MOON Or maybe it wasn't so simple. She had been trying to think of the best way to express her feelings to Pinkie, but every time she thought she would say it, a different set of words would come out. Now, she had a plan. She was on the hill again, looking at a beautiful half moon hanging among the stars. She had personally baked cupcakes and had two bottles of sarsaparilla chilling in a bucket full of ice. She had even talked to Dash and made sure the sky would be clear. Everything was perfect. Smiling at hearing a gasp, Twilight turned. Pinkie's eyes were large as she took in the scene before her. Her mouth was fell into a small o as she turned her gaze to Twilight. Pinkie took one step forward, then another, and then her hooves were wrapped around Twilight. She stood frozen, for just a moment, before smiling and wrapping her hooves around Pinkie. "Is this for real, Twily?" she whispered. Twilight pulled away. Any nervousness she had been feeling fell away. "Yes, Pinkie Pie." Taking Pinkie's hooves in her own and looking into her eyes, Twilight smiled. "Will you be my special somepony?" FULL MOON Twilight had never thought Pinkie could be the romantic type. She had quickly found that to be the wrong assumption. Now she was blindfolded, holding to Pinkie's tail as she was lead to a mysterious location. Pinkie instructed her to sit. She felt a tug, and the blindfold fell away. They were back on the hill, the full moon nearly looking close enough to touch. A red blanket was spread out. A bucket with a bottle of wine and two glasses sat to the side, next to a telescope. "Pinkie, you did this all yourself?" Twilight asked. "Yeah, do you like it? I remembered you said you liked this wine, and that comet you were talking about is passing by and I thought you would wanna watch it so—umph" Twilight caught Pinkie in a kiss, pressing her lips together. The slow movements sped up, as all the urban cry and passion the two felt poured out. Twilight pushed, finding Pinkie fell easily. Panting, they broke. "I really, really like it. Thank you." Giggling, Pinkie reached up and pulled Twilight down with her. WANING MOON Twilight wasn't sure how it had happened, or why, but it had. A crescent moon, just a few slivers away from becoming a new moon, provided very little light. The tears streaming down Pinkie's cheeks glistened. Pinkie could barely see, but she knew Twilight was there. Twilight wasn't fairing much better. She couldn't bring herself to look at Pinkie, so she looked at the ground. "Hey, Twily." "Listen, Pinkie." They spoke, then stopped, at the same time. "You first," Twilight said. She looked up, seeing everything she hadn't wanted to see. Pinkie sighed. "I am so sorry, Twilight. I shouldn't have said that." "And I shouldn't have said or done what I did, either. I know you're...insecure about actually being needed. And I do need you. You're the most important pony in my life." Twilight took a few steps toward her, almost reaching out to for a hug, but stopping herself. "I know. I know it's silly, but I get scared when you start spending a lot of time with other ponies. I shouldn't have accused you of...what I did. Especially with Princess Celestia. I just...I can't loose you." Pinkie closed the gap between them, so they were mere centimeters apart. Slowly, they leaned their foreheads together. "We sure are smart, huh?" Pinkie asked. Twilight lifted her head, smiling at Pinkie. "We were smart enough to work it out." She leaned in, planting a soft, lingering kiss on Pinkie's lips that was happily returned. "I love you."
Good EnoughI love you. There are reasons I don't say it. That I just let you go about your day as if nothing is different. Like that night never happened. Because I know you. And I know what you need. You don't need someone who says horrible things about you. I know you remember it. You never seem to forget anything, except you're own birthday. I don't even know how a pony could forget their own birthday, but you did. You're so amazingly selfless, always throwing parties and giving gifts, just to see a smile. While I, a pony who should be the epitome of kindness, reduced you to tears with my words. I should have never said such horrible things to you. You aren't frivolous. Your parties always have meaning. They have meaning because they show what a wonderful pony you are. They show the only thing you want out of life is to make others happy. To see them smile. They show that you need someone who can make you smile. You don't need someone who flinches at the vaguest hint of negativity. You, who can turn any situation around with a joke and a grin. You, who can defuse a tense situation with a few clever lyrics and a catchy tune. You, who faces fear with a laugh. Where I scream and run away, you giggle and leap forward, and I can tell you know that it will turn out fine. It always does. You need someone who can speak up. Who can be heard. You need someone who, when hearing laughter directed at you instead of with you, will say what needs to be said. Some one who will tell ponies who say mean things how mean it is. But most importantly, you need someone who is good enough for you. A pony who can help you with party after party with a smile on her face. A pony who can spend the entire day running with you, and then the entire night playing. You need some pony who is perfect for you. You need someone who isn't me.
"%i%" Crushed"5" Crushed I was a strange feeling. I wasn’t sure how to categorize it or why it was there. But there it was all he same. I researched for two days, until Rarity showed up, saying about how I had been in the library for too long. I explained my problem to Rarity. I was surprised when she nearly giggled by the end. Then she took my hoof, and explained what was wrong. I had a crush. I thought that was absurd, until I started paying attention. I would notice I looked for her everywhere I went. I listened to her over others, I smiled when I thought of her. She would tell a joke and I would laugh. I would see her bouncing down the street, and she would smile at me, and there was no way I could keep my smile from my phase. Then I started seeing things while I was out that she would like, and I wanted to get for her. A pink fuzzy pillow. A new set of chocolate. A bracelet with a cupcake on it. If I was doing nothing, I would wonder what it was she was doing. If she was working at the bakery, or maybe out with one of her other friends. I started doing things I had no interest in doing, things I normally wouldn’t do at all, except they interested her. Going to clown shows, and even clubs in Canterlot. By the time I started making my days schedule around her, rather chaotic, one, I realized I had a problem. I went back to Rarity, because I didn’t know what to do about it. This crush had started controlling my life. I didn’t mind, really, because it took me closer to her. It let me spend more time with her. But I had changed everything around her, and I was afraid of what the next phase would be. What she said terrified me. But now I’m here, and she is here, and I’m going to do it. "Pinkie, will you go on a date with me?"
"%i%" Home"1" Home Pinkie sighed as the wagon Mac was pulling bumped along the country dirt road. That Apple family had kindly offered to take her back to her parents rock farm. She knew, with the help of the fellow farming family, her parents farm could be saved. She just wished she could have been there more before something like this demanded she return. She had only returned to the farm three times since leaving. It wasn't that she hadn't wanted to go home, she simply hadn't found the time. Between working with the Cakes, making friends, and truly coming into marehood, she had been very busy over the last ten years. Of course, she exchanged letters with her family on a regular basis, but that wasn't the same. She should have made the time to return. She had time to visit Dash at the Wonderbolt's Academy. She had time to go to Canterlot with Twilight. She had time to travel all across Equestria. She had the time to go home. She just hadn't done it. The first time she had gone, she had spent nearly the whole month of December at her old farm, after being gone for nearly a year. She was young and had missed her family. Then she had gotten a colt friend. Then she really started having a life in Ponyville. Then was given her first party-throwing job. The second time she had gone home had been nearly three years later. She had stayed two weeks, just catching up with her family and meeting the colts her sisters were dating. She had talked to her parents and been reassured that she was doing the right thing with her life and her mark. The last time she had gone home, it had been for just barely a week. She loved her farm, and her family, but she always missed Ponyville more when she was away. Now though, now she was going home again. Now she was going to save her parents farm. Now she was going to really spend time with her aging parents. Now, things would be different. This was her fourth time coming home. And this time she was going to make it really mean something.
"%i%" Princess"3" Princess Twilight sat at the table, waiting for the meeting to begin. The other three Princesses were there as well, Luna across from her, Cadance on her left, and Celestia at the head. She had already tried to ask what this was about, but each time she had been shushed, so she took a sip of her tea. Finally, Celestia turned her gaze to her. "Twilight," she said, a small smile on her lips, "how do you like being a Princess?" Twilight smiled, looking up at her mentor. "I love it, Princess. I'm honored that you would make me--" "Oh, 'twasn't my sisters decision, Twilight Sparkle." Luna looked very grim. Cadance scowled. "Luna, we are supposed to take things slowly with Twily." Twilight looked between the three Princesses. "What are you talking about?" "Twilight," Celestia said. "This is your naming ceremony. But first, we must explain what it means to be a Princess in this realm." With a nod from Celestia, Cadance wrapped a hoof around Twilight. "See, Twily, I'm the Princess of Love. Luna is the Princess of the Night, and Celestia is the Princess of the Day. You must choose your name. What you want to be Princess of." Twilight's brow furrowed in confusion. "That still doesn't explain what Luna said." "That is because it is not so simple." Luna fixed Twilight with an unreadable expression. "To be the Fourth Child of the Goddess is large step. Long ago, before even the three tribes, the Noble Alicorn stood tall and proud. But out numbers have fallen, so that now it's only mine sister and I." "The Goddess chose us from foal hood to be eternal. And now, she has chosen you, Twilight. There are two important questions you must answer." Twilight swallowed, nodding. "Okay." "First, eternity is a long time. Do you want to live forever?" "No," she hook her head. "I couldn't stand leaving everyone I love behind, for all eternity." Celestia smiled. "No more than I expected. Second, Twilight. What are you the Princess of?" Twilight sat for a moment. "Friendship. It's the magic of friendship that got me here, after all." "Very well. Now, the ceremony. We must all touch horns." The four Alicorns leaned across the table and, after a little jostling, found a position for all of their horns to touch. A blinding light flashed, and Twilight felt a jolt of electricity shoot through her body. The light died and the others pulled away. "I feel...the same." "Yeah, it doesn't feel any different. But watch, Twily, you'll start picking up on a lot of friendship feelings. Except those directed at you. I'll help you get used to it." Welcome, my fourth child. Though the voice sounded in her head, she was comforted by it. "Thank you," she whispered.
