Desire and Deep Water

The next several days drift by as you turn up at Twilight’s home day after day; because she asked you to, of course. She and Spike had worked out a schedule for the coming week, visiting one of her friends after another with you, sometimes coupled with visits elsewhere around town.

One day, you’re relaxing on the fields outside of Ponyville with Twilight, watching pegasi dart around the clouds. Rainbow Dash (who you recognised because, heck, who doesn‘t?) was the most impressive flyer every time, as Twilight and her dragon friend would agree.

A few days later, you’re messing around in a clothing boutique with her, trying on one piece of clothing after another, and ultimately turning down the lot, much to Rarity’s frustration. You never saw the point of these shops, especially since living naked is the norm for most of the town, and not just you.

“I was born naked,” you declare to the owner, “So I’m gonna die naked!”

“And all shrivelled up, by the sound of things, dear.” Rarity fires back without skipping a beat. It takes a good ten minutes for Spike to stop laughing.

Another few days pass, and you’re enjoying a cool afternoon cider under some apple trees, along with Spike, Twilight, her friends in the Apple family, and a… thing. Looked like a cross between an ape, a shaved weasel and a diamond dog. You’re polite enough not to ask.

It’s true what the townsfolk say about Sweet Apple Acres; it really has the best sunsets. Of course, it’s nothing compared to the beautiful Twilight sitting alongside you. You wonder if she’d find that phrase romantic or corny?

The next trip is into town, meeting her at the Sugar Cube Corner where another one of her friends worked. Oddly, she arrived without her number-one assistant this time.

“Spike’s taking care of some things in the library today,” she explains as she takes a seat on the same outside table as you. You don’t follow her up on the vague explanation; it’s nice to have some alone time with her for once.

After polite small-talk, you both order milkshakes. The small, plump and cheerful owner to trots off and returns a few minutes later. “Pinkie’s been kind enough to cover the cost of these for you two dears,” she says with a smile, “she’s inside on baking duty if you’d like to pop in and say thanks!”

“We’ll be sure to thank her before we leave, Mrs. Cake.” Twilight replies. It’s hard not to return a smile in an establishment so bright and happy.

As the owner trots away to deal with other customers, you turn to Twilight, who directs her milkshake’s straw between her lips. You watch as she has a few slow sips, sucking the smooth, cool liquid through the straw and letting it slide down her throat as she swallows periodically.

Why the heck are you staring at her doing this, of all things?

Her eyes flick up and meet yours in a sideward glance/. She caught you staring.

“And here I thought you’d be happy with drinking your own.” she smiles with a perfectly visible blush. Before you can organise your embarrassed stuttering into words, she lifts the straw from your milkshake with her magic, and places it in her own. She seems to have recovered quite a bit from a few days ago.

She moves her drink closer to you, the straws pointing at you and her respectively. You shuffle your seat closer to hers, placing a hoof on the side of the glass while Twilight does the same. Taking a deep breath to calm yourself, you lean forwards with her, sipping the same drink together.

Her face is so close to yours. Her breath drifts across your face in-between sips, causing your heart to pound viciously inside your ribcage, like it’s trying to burst right out. Her free foreleg slowly curls around your torso. You mimic her actions in return; it’s the only thing you can think of doing. You try to control yourself, doing what you can to hide any signs of nervousness. Twilight’s probably picked up on it by now; she’s a smart mare.

The drink finishes way too soon - maybe you sipped it too fast out of tension? - but it doesn’t really matter to you nor her. Not because there’s another milkshake within hoof’s reach, but because Twilight’s face is still mere inches away from yours, her bright violet eyes half-lidded and dazed.

You take a chance, like you do every time you dive into your lake. With your own eyes shut, you lean into her face. Her snout brushes against yours for a brief moment, and through a sheer magical force of will, you finally push yourself forward into a gentle, tender kiss.

Her lips are warm against yours, the tingling scent of berries teasing you from within. Your heart races at a brisk, yet steady pace, happy to be alive with each beat. Happy to share the moment with Twilight Sparkle herself. As swiftly as your heart pounds, your thoughts rush, your nerves quiver, the rest of the world stands still, waiting just for you and her. All of the worries that built over the weeks melt away, and among the rabble of thoughts that swirl in your head, one particular thought stands out among them all.

You’re in love.

Your lips depart from hers, breaking the kiss and returning the world around you back to its normal pace. Your foreleg remains wrapped around her waist, as hers is with your own. She looks dizzy with exhilaration, unable to string together a sentence worthy of describing what just happened between you and her. Needless to say, you feel the same.

Once the second milkshake had gone down (shared, of course), you both set off, but not before quickly entering the shop and introducing yourself to the pink pony who pre-paid for your drinks. You don’t really recognise her, but she seems to recognise you with gusto.

The rest of the day is such a wonderful blur, walking around the market, checking the stalls and eventually watching the sun go down together, holding hooves. Once the moon rises, painting the world in its silvery light, you kindly offer to walk Twilight home. Outside the library, moths flutter around a nearby street lamp, and stars speckle the clear night sky. Before saying goodbye, she gifts you with a nuzzle and a peck on the cheek.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, right?” you ask as she opens her front door.

“Of course. The usual time.”

The walk home was dizzying, to say the least. With Twilight Sparkle gone for the night, your mind is free to reorder, free to try and make sense of what happened today.

Are you two dating now? Since when? It’s all so sudden…

She has the most adorable smile.

Is there some unspoken rule to follow now that you’re boyfriend and girlfriend? Are you boyfriend and girlfriend? You don’t know…

Her eyes, they‘re always so cheerful and bright.

How long has she liked of you like that? How long was she hiding it?

Oh for royalty's sake, you can‘t stop thinking about her…

Before you know it, you’re outside the front door of your shack. All of your daydreaming made the time slip by. Letting yourself in, you make yourself a snack, have a quick wash, and then make a beeline for your bed. The sooner you’re asleep, the sooner tomorrow can arrive, and the sooner you can see her again.

*******

POOF!

A bright green flash of light disturbs you from your sleep. A rolled-up piece of parchment lands on your bed seemingly from out of nowhere. That’s odd; you recall Spike sending letters off every once in a while from your visits, but you didn’t know they could focus on just anypony.

You unroll it with your hooves, and read the hastily scribbled message.

Get to the lake.

No introduction. No signature. Not that you needed one to know who sent it.

You check the weather outside, wincing from the sunlight as you open the curtains. It’s noon. You must’ve slept in.

Pulling yourself out of bed, you quickly check yourself once over in the bathroom mirror (if you’re about to see who you think you are there, you may as well look halfway presentable) and head out of the door.