Riddle Me This

by Zaphod

Rating: everyone
Tags: Twilight Sparkle, Main 6, Slice of Life, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Romance, Rarity
Length: 13534

Twilight Sparkle received a strange note in the mail. There was no doubt that it was Rarity who had penned the curvy script gracing the letter, but the riddle that lay tauntingly alongside her greeting was quite the mystery. Twilight loved mysteries.

First place winner of the RariLight Creation Contest #2!

A day before the town-wide Hearts and Hooves Day party, Twilight Sparkle received a strange note in the mail. There was no doubt that it was Rarity who had penned the curvy script gracing the letter, but the riddle that lay tauntingly alongside her greeting was quite the mystery.

And Twilight loved solving a good mystery.

Cover art belongs to Grandifloru!

Thanks to Azusa for proofreading.

Published 2014-03-07 20:20:05 UTC
Last updated 2014-03-12 13:46:40 UTC

Chapter 1

Twilight Sparkle set down her quill next to the marked up scroll on the table before her, letting loose a long groan. “Ugh! No, no, no!” She balled up the piece of paper in her magical aura and deftly tossed it in the wastebasket near the door.

“Jeez, Twi,” Spike quipped as he entered from the kitchen. Held securely in his claws was a plate of freshly-made cucumber sandwiches, which he quickly placed on the coffee table in the reading area. “Never thought I’d see the day when you have trouble on a writing project!” Grabbing a sandwich from the plate, Spike plopped himself longways on one of the reading couches. Twilight could practically hear his lips curl up into a smirk.

His recent growth spurt had definitely not dulled the dragon’s snark in the slightest. Though he stood a head taller than Twilight when fully upright, Spike had not yet lost his biting wit. He only used it playfully and never in a derogatory manner, so it was a trait Twilight doubted he would ever outgrow.

She crushed another piece of paper, lobbing it at Spike’s head with a playful scoff. “Very funny. Give me a scientific article to read and summarize, and I can have it done in the blink of an eye. Poetry is hard!”

The lanky dragon rolled his eyes exaggeratedly. “Come on,” he muttered before taking a voracious bite. “You muft have thomthing by now! Lef’s hear what you got.”

“Well, the session wasn’t a total loss.” In truth, there was one of her attempts that had not met the same fate as the others. Twilight levitated a single sheet in front of her nose, wondering what exactly had survived her meticulous standards. A brilliant blush danced under unsure eyes as she quickly reread the short passage to herself, clearing her throat nervously. “I’m no Shakescolt, though, so promise me that you won’t laugh!”

Spike swallowed the bits of sandwich in his mouth after a pause. “What’s the deal with you today? It’s not like you to be this embarrassed over something.” A wicked grin crossed his face as he shook his head knowingly. “I wonder if this has anything to do with what happened a couple of weeks ago…”

Before he could laugh, Twilight was an inch from his nose and doing her best impression of Fluttershy’s stare. “I thought we had agreed to never speak about that. Ever.”

Spike closed his eyes, snickering as the memory rushed back to him. “I still don’t know how you ended up with your muzzle in th—”

“Never!”

“And how I had to go get Rarity to come over and—”

“Spike!” Twilight shrieked, her face growing hotter by the second. She let her gaze sink ashamedly. “Dear Celestia, I couldn’t even look her in the eye for days after that…”

“Alright, alright,” Spike relented, throwing his arms in the air. “Fine! I promise I won’t laugh or anything. Sheesh, just don’t leave me hanging after all this.”

The alicorn nodded, backing off from her assistant and levitating the sheet before her eyes once more. “Here goes…

Her mane shines like grapes in my favourite jam,
Her voice reminds me of a harpsichord.
I think she’s divine,
I wish she was mine,
That mare who helped us beat Discord!”

“...”

“...”

The silence was deafening. Twilight was certain the air in the room had turned to molasses, drowning any and all attempts to alleviate the tension. Why wasn’t Spike saying something? Surely anything would be better than the cold, crushing silence.

Spike could have heard her thoughts, or karma may have simply decided to smite her wishful thinking. Either way, the next sound she heard was decidedly not one she wanted.

“Pffft!”

Fuming, her eyes narrowed to slits and her wings flared aggressively as she watched the dragon feebly try to contain his mirth. A hoof lashed out, smacking his scaled arm. “You promised me you wouldn’t! You promised!”

“I’m sor — heh heh — I’m sorry! It’s just…” He wiped away an incoming tear before it could leave his eye and anger the mare even further. “It sounds like something a lovesick schoolfilly would write!”

“It’s not that bad,” she muttered, looking over the limerick again. “Is it?”

“Twilight, you rhymed harpsichord with Discord.”

Twilight ruffled her feathers, huffed, and balled up the paper, condemning it to the fate of all the others. It wasn’t fair! “Stupid poetry! Stupid rhyme scheme! Stupid iambic pentameter!”

Spike gave his friend a pat on the back. “Don’t beat yourself up over it, Twi. I’m sure lots of ponies struggled with poetic writing on their first try.” He stood, grabbing the plate to bring back to the kitchen. “I think it’s good that you’re not giving up, no matter how awful your attempts have been so far!”

“Oh, you’re just the worst!” Twilight shot back, sticking her tongue at him foalishly. Much as she wanted to deny it, Spike had a point. Despite spending hours reading a couple reference guides and trying her hoof at it herself, she had made very little progress in recreating the beautiful and creative passages for her own. She shook her head and snatched the remaining sandwich in her aura. It wouldn’t do her any good to continue on an empty stomach, after all.

It’s not like I was trying very hard to hide my intention with that poem, she thought as she idly chewed the cucumbers. No doubt that Spike suspects what’s going on.

“So what’s up with the fascination with poetry all of the sudden?” Spike’s questioning voice wafted from the kitchen, but Twilight could hear the telltale tone that he knew the answer already. “Imagine that; it’s just in time for Hearts and Hooves Day, too.”

“Speaking of that, Spike,” Twilight chirped idly with a sly smirk. “Word around town is that you’ve been spending some time with a certain little appleseed. Would there happen to be something you wish to tell me?” She cackled to herself as she heard him yelp alongside a sharp crash from something hitting the floor. No way he could deny it further after a reaction like that!

“You heard about that, huh?” The dragon poked his head in sheepishly, rubbing a claw behind his head. “I guess the cat’s out of the bag. I’ve been hanging out with the Crusaders lately, and, uh...” He paused for a moment, unsure of how to phrase it. “Mostly with Apple Bloom, though. I’m really happy whenever she’s around, and she’s got the cutest little laugh. When the light catches her mane just right…” Twilight giggled to herself. It really was adorable the way his eyes sparkled when he talked about his new crush. “We’re having our first date at Pinkie Pie’s all-day Hearts and Hooves party tomorrow.”

Twilight let a knowing smile play across her lips. “I have a feeling you two will have a great time. No more feelings for Rarity, though?”

Spike shrugged, moving back into the depths of the kitchen to finish washing the dishes. “I’ve moved on. As much as I felt my feelings for her were real back then…” Twilight noted the pause carefully. Perhaps, she reasoned, he still felt some minor pain over letting her go. “I realised that I was mostly interested in her looks, and that’s not fair to either of us. She deserves someone more refined.” It could be her ears playing tricks, but Twilight was certain she could hear him smile through his words. “Someone who can treat her like a lady, but isn’t afraid to be playful at the same time. Somepony who could treat her to the finer things in life, like wine, ballroom dancing, moonlit walks…”

Spike walked out, drying his hands on small towel. He smirked as he passed Twilight and headed toward the staircase, failing to resist one more lighthearted jab. “And poetry. Especially poetry.”

Thunk-thunk-thunk-thunk!

Twilight wasn’t sure if those were the sounds of Spike’s heavy footfalls on the wooden staircase or if her heart was threatening to beat out of her chest. She had an inkling that Spike had known for a while, but to hear it straight from his mouth made it all the more real.

She probably would have sat there, mortified, had there not been a knocking at the front door of the library. “It’s open,” she called weakly, struggling to compose herself quickly for her company. She realised she need not have worried about appearances as the local mailmare, Ditzy Doo, came trotting through the door with a smile on her face, no doubt out on her morning delivery rounds.

“Letter for Miss Twilight Sparkle!” Ditzy called, nosing her way into her saddlebag to retrieve a single ivory envelope. Even from her seat a few feet away, Twilight could just make out Rarity’s curly script.

With a newfound enthusiasm, Twilight levitated the envelope from the mailmare gently. Surely a personal letter would be just the thing to get her mind off of her abysmal attempts at prose. “Thank you, Ditzy! I hope you’re having a great day. Please tell your daughter I said hello!”

“Thank you very much! And I will!” Ditzy gave a friendly wave as she floated back through the front door, bumping into the end table only slightly on her way out.

Twilight wasted no time in tearing the end of the envelope, coaxing the letter hidden within onto her waiting hooves. As she suspected, it was indeed from her best friend Rarity, eloquently penned onto the page with meticulous care and thought. Twilight wondered if Rarity ever made a mistake while writing her letters, for she had never seen a single hint of a scratched out phrase or a hastily changed letter’.

My dearest Twilight Sparkle,

I do so apologize for making myself scarce as of late. With the upcoming holiday, I’ve been positively swamped with custom orders of matching ensembles and the occasional dress adjustment for some dedicated customers.

It’s a bit discouraging that I haven’t seen you around the Boutique lately. I hope you haven’t forgotten us little ponies as you take on more responsibilities as a princess! Oh hoh hoh, I jest, of course. I can always make time for you, dear, but only if you find the time to visit! :raritywink:

Twilight squinted as she read that last section. Surely she had caught Rarity scribbling out a mistake in the letter, or that it was just a smudge on the paper, but sure enough, her friend had drawn a tiny picture of herself winking at the reader. Astonished, Twilight muttered, “How does she get so precise with her hornwriting!?”

Down to business, though. I’d like for us to play a little game, if you’re willing. It’s taken me several days and a few helping hooves along the way, but I’m confident you’ll enjoy this little activity. I’ve composed several letters containing riddles, the first of which you hold in your hooves as we speak. These riddles shall lead you around our fair little town, and I hope that by the end of it, we’ll both walk away better for our efforts.

And it’s as simple as that, darling. I just know you’ll be able to do it with that big, beautiful brain of yours. You may use any resources and friends you have available to you, and if you should find yourself struggling terribly, don’t hesitate to drop by for a chat and maybe I can… nudge you in the right direction, so to speak. Happy hunting!

Time is on your side for this clue,
but wait too long and my tone may change completely.
Answer me one question:
‘What object is it perfectly okay to date?’

Twilight stared at the final clue. “What object is it perfectly okay to date?” She didn’t know of any objects she felt romantically attracted to, let alone those that she would date! What kind of game was Rarity playing at? “Well, poetry be darned. If Rarity wants to throw down a riddle challenge….”

She rolled up the scroll, a determined look on her face. A grin spread from ear to ear at the prospect of proving her ingenuity to her crush.

“Then it’s just as well that I love a good challenge.”

Author's Note

Feels kind of odd writing my first author's note on a story, just as it feels odd to break out of the streak of oneshots into a chaptered story!

First and foremost, be sure to leave a favourite and a like if you enjoyed. There will be more to this story, and I will be updating it periodically as the end of the contest draws near. Comments are also appreciated; I'd really love to know what you liked or didn't like! This was my first shipfic featuring Rarity as one of the shipped ponies, and although she hasn't made an appearance yet, rest assured that she will be front and center before long. Any feedback on how the characters felt and sounded at first glance is very much appreciated and will help me!

Secondly, this story was written for the RariLight contest. The group is linked in the description. If you enjoyed this, check the group out for more shippings of dresspone and magicpone!

Finally, and most importantly, thank you very much for reading. I hope you feel your time wasn't wasted. ^_^

Chapter 2

With a quick shout to Spike upstairs, Twilight shut the library’s front door behind her, breathing deep the scent of the brisk air outside. With a smile plastered across her face and a newfound pep in her step, Twilight merrily trotted her way into town, holding her head high and interminably proud of herself. It had taken but a few moments of study for her to decipher Rarity’s first riddle. Time? Hah! The answer surely had to be the antique clock store on the outskirts of Ponyville’s marketplace. Twilight herself had spent an afternoon or two chatting with the owner, Time Turner, about the minutia of clockwork design.

The second line of the riddle was straightforward, too. Many of the clocks stood quietly counting each second with a muffled tick - tick - tick, but Turner kept a few grandfather clocks, with their deep booming chimes and a couple of cuckoo clocks that twittered every hour on the hour.

Twilight pushed open the shop’s door assuredly, confident that she had reached the destination of the first riddle. A tiny bell rang to signal her arrival, and the chestnut stallion entered the main shop after a few seconds. “Good day, Time Turner!”

“And a fine day to you, Princess,” he replied with a warm smile, bowing low. “Are you here to browse today? Or perhaps you’re eager for another lecture on some possible applications of clockworks for our transportation system?” His eyes lit up at the thought of giving another lesson on the subject. “Oh, I’ve been writing up notes since our last talk, and I think you’ll really appreciate what I’ve come up with!” Time Turner turned and took a step towards the back room.

Twilight lay a hoof on his shoulder, shaking her head to stop his retreat. “Not today, I’m afraid, Turner. And please, we’ve talked about this before. It’s just Twilight when I’m here for leisure.”

“Of course, of course. Apologies, Twilight. Pardon me for my enthusiasm,” he said, folding his ears flat in embarrassment. “Hardly anypony appreciates the beauty of design these days.”

Twilight smiled reassuringly. “Another day, I promise. But today, I’m actually here on behalf of Rarity!” She closed her eyes, beaming widely at the thought of continuing the riddle chain.

“Oh? Is Miss Rarity expecting an order of clocks? I don’t recall her placing one, but my memory does get fuzzy on occasion.”

“Huh?” Twilight blanched. “Erm… no, not that I’m aware of. I meant Rarity’s riddle. You know, Time is on your side for this clue, but wait too long and my tone might change completely? You’ve got the only clock store in town! It’s practically a no-brainer! Didn’t Rarity ask for your help in setting up the riddle?”

There was a short pause as the stallion shook his head. “I’m sorry,” Time Turner said with a slight frown. “I don’t believe I’ve spoken with Miss Rarity in months, let alone helped her set up a riddle. Besides,” he continued, gesturing to the myriad clocks and timers hung on every wall of the building, “the second part of the riddle doesn’t make much sense to me. Even the timepieces that make noises don’t change their tones; the cuckoo repeats its same chirp several times, and the grandfather clock repeats one single low tone when it chimes.”

Twilight furrowed her brow, hopes sinking upon realizing he was right. She was silly to think the clue would be so incredibly straightforward.“Drat, and I was so excited to have solved the clue right away! Well, thanks for your help anyway, Turner. Maybe we can schedule an appointment for this weekend and you can tell me your thoughts on clockwork transportation?”

“It would be a pleasure. If you see Pinkie Pie around, let her know I said hello. She certainly had many questions earlier when she bounced in, yammering about her new job ringing the clock tower’s bell!” Twilight froze in her tracks, a hoof already reaching toward the door. A switch had suddenly been flipped in her mind, and she cursed herself for not realizing it sooner! As if on cue, a series of tones rang out, loud enough to be heard across the town. “Speaking of, it sounds like lunch time. I hope your riddle hunt goes smoothly, Twilight. Take care!”

Twilight offered a quick wave, already in the process of dashing out the door to her next destination. She rounded the corner, spotting her destination. If she weren’t galloping full kilter right now, she would be kicking herself. Gah! It was so mind-blowingly obvious! Hay, the clock tower was practically the first thing she saw out her window in the morning!

She stumbled briefly against a rock she hadn’t noticed, releasing a quick flare of magic to right herself. The last thing she needed now was to have victory snatched from her by a twisted ankle! Twilight slowed as she neared the towering structure, determined not to be tripped up again.

“Well, here it is,” Twilight muttered to herself, trotting up alongside a cart filled to the brim with hay. She craned her neck to see the roof. “The clock tower.” The structure itself was a longstanding landmark in Ponyville, constructed a scant three years after the town was founded. But what did the rest of the riddle have to do with this place? Twilight had pondered it, but couldn’t think of any item that she, or anypony else for that matter, would want to date!

Maybe she could ask Pinkie Pie as the mare leaned precariously over the edge of the bell tower, waving cheerfully at her visitor down below. “Hiiiiii, Twiliiiight!”

Before she could react, Pinkie leaped clear of the tower, plummeting toward the ground below. “Pinkie, no!” Her reaction was instant, pumping enough magic through her horn to slow the fall.

“Eeeheehee, stooop!” Pinkie giggled, writhing in the purple aura. “It-it tickles! Aahaha!” Twilight slowed her friend’s descent quickly, levitating the mare to the ground. She breathed a sigh of relief, sitting down beside her friend.

“Pinkie!” Twilight yelped once her heartbeat had stabilized. “What in Equestria were you thinking?! You could have broken a leg from a fall that high!”

Pinkie patted the princess on the head, letting her giggle peter out. “Silly Twily, I was perfectly safe the whole time! Chicky-check it out!” She hopped over to the cart, pushing the hay to the side. A deep bed of pillows had been set up beneath the yellow strands. She grinned, proud of thinking ahead for her stunt. “See? I set this up before I climbed the tower so I could go ‘Wheeeeee!’ and jump into a super soft pillow bed once I was done!”

Twilight shook her head in disbelief. “That doesn’t make it safe to from that height, Pinkie! And what’s with the hay, anyway? Why not just bring a cart full of pillows?”

Pinkie’s expression darkened. “You never know when they might be watching, Twilight. It never hurts to be too careful about walking around with a pillow cart.”

Twilight opened her mouth to question why exactly her friend’s tone had become deadly serious, or who ‘they’ were, or why they were pursuing ponies pulling pillow platters, but thought better of it. “Never mind. I don’t want to know.” She levitated the riddle scroll from her saddlebag, taking another look at the ending passage. “What I do want to know is how to solve this riddle!”

“Ooh! I love puzzles!” Pinkie bounded to the alicorn’s side, brushing against her friend’s wings. “Whatcha got there?”

“Well...” Twilight blushed, suddenly aware of the implications of her carrying around a letter from her crush. “I’m playing a game with Rarity. She’s set up a riddle chain and I have to solve them all! I figured that this part about time meant the clock tower, but I still have no idea about the end. ‘An object that’s okay to date’? Have you ever heard something so silly?”

“Oh my gosh, that’s pretty silly! And trust me, I know lots of silly sounding items!”

“Do you have any ideas?” Twilight raised an eyebrow at her friend.

“I’ve got lots of ideas!” Pinkie laughed, hopping around her friend as she rattled off anything and everything that came to mind. “I’m pondering whether we want pink or purple streamers for the party tomorrow. I’m debating if I should make some extra drinks on the side for Gummy so he doesn’t go swimming in the punch again. I’m weighing whether to go with sequins or frills on my party dress! I’ve had the niggling thought that Rarity’s been looking forward to the party and she’s waiting for a certain silly princess to ask her out!”

Twilight huffed, quickly losing track of Pinkie’s speech as her words became faster and faster, melding together before too long. “Pinkie! I meant ideas about the riddle! … Wait, what was that about Rarity?”

“Hmmmmmm,” Pinkie hummed, sticking her tongue out to think. “I know about fruits named dates! Maybe the riddle wants you to look at it from a different direction!”

“A different… direction?” Twilight raised a hoof to her lip. “So… maybe she doesn’t mean a literal romantic date, but a different kind of date?”

“Bullseye, buckaroo! Sometimes you gotta look at things—” Pinkie performed a hoofstand. “—from a different angle!”

“And, bear with me here,” Twilight looked at the tower, putting the pieces together in her mind. “If it’s related to the clock tower, then it’s related to time. Maybe it means something with date and time!”

“Soooooo?”

Twilight was so close, she could feel it! “So what object can you date that has to do with time? That’s easy: a calendar!”

“Dingdingding!! Fillies and gentlecolts, we have a winner!” Pinkie wasted no time in smothering Twilight in the largest bear hug she could muster. “I knew a super smarty pants like you would get it in no time!”

Twilight laughed between choked gasps for air. “Yes, Pinkie, I did it! Please don’t crush my lungs before I even find the next riddle!”

“Speaking of which, have I got a surprise for you!” She released her death grip on the alicorn’s middle, gently tugging her toward the nearby hay cart. A quick fumble between the pillows led to Pinkie fishing out a bound scroll similar to the one currently hovering next to Twilight. “Ta-da! You passed the first riddle, and the court jester Pinkie Pie is here to bestow her reward upon the fair princess!”

“Pinkie Pie,” Twilight snorted, seizing the new scroll with a weary smile. “You are so random. But thank you for sticking around. I think I’ll need all the help I can get with these riddles.”

“Well, don’t keep me in suspense, Twi-Twi!” Pinkie said, trying to nose the scroll open and sate her curiosity. “I Pinkie promised Rarity not to read it at all until you solved the riddle! What does it say; what does it say!?”

A single nod was her only answer as Twilight unfurled the scroll, smoothing the edges down with her magic. “A-hem!”

Well done, Twilight! If you’re reading this, then you’ve conquered another step of our game! No doubt that Pinkie has held up her end of the bargain, so give her my thanks since I’m sure that she’s nearby.

I’ll keep this brief since I’m sure you’re eager to get to your next riddle, but remember what I said: my door is always open for you should you decide to swing by for a visit. I do so miss those quiet summer afternoons where you would pop by and we would have a simple talk over tea. They meant more to me than all of Equestria.

Fame may be fleeting, but friendships hold fast
Love may endure ‘til we breathe our last.
The strongest stallion cannot hold me long even in fair weather,
And yet through it all, I’m lighter than a feather.

Chapter 3

Meanwhile, on the opposite end of Ponyville, a certain unicorn mare tried her best to distract herself from her predicament. She paced the carpeted floor of her workshop, muttering out loud.

“Silly. Ridiculous. What was I thinking?”

Rarity knew she was prone to overreacting on occasion, but if any situation called for it then certainly it was this one! “If I wasn’t obvious enough before this whole riddle game, then there’s no doubt that she’ll suspect something now. I might as well have stamped each of those letters with ‘Rarity is attracted to you, darling!’ in bright rainbow ink!”

She heard a guffaw from atop her couch, courtesy of Ponyville’s resident apple farmer. Of course Rarity hadn’t forgotten Applejack was visiting. And she certainly wasn’t just about to jump out of her fur. Don’t joke about such nonsense. “Land sakes, Rarity, you’re more wound up than I’ve ever seen ya. I don’t know why you’re so worried in the first place.” She snorted as she hopped off the comforter. “You and I both know that when it comes to romance, Twi’s about as attentive as Granny Smith during one of her naps.”

“That’s not a much better thought, you know,” Rarity grumbled. She picked up a stray bolt of cloth with her magic, smoothing and folding the edges meticulously. She tried to keep her voice from shaking as she gave a fragile laugh.“I would almost wish for a rejection more than being kept in the dark forever.”

“Hey now.” Applejack laid a comforting hoof on Rarity’s shoulder. “Don’t you start talkin’ yourself down. Twilight’s one of your best friends, and that’s a fact. I just think you’re fretting over nothing, sugarcube. I’m sorry for laughing at ya.”

Rarity set the fabric down, taking a deep breath through her nose to steady herself. “I know you didn’t mean for it to sound like that, darling. And I do so appreciate you taking the time to talk with me about my feelings.” She leaned in to give Applejack a firm embrace. “It means a lot, and you always know just what to say.”

Applejack returned the sentiment with a warm smile. “I want both of you to be happy, sugar. It’s as simple as that. If being together is what makes you happy, then of course I’ll help in any way I can!”

“You make it sound so simple.”

“Why does it have to be complicated?” Applejack shrugged, taking a step back. “If you fancy her and she’s got a thing for you, then there’s nothing else to it. Now I might have been a little more direct in telling her than with this whole riddle scheme, but what’s done is done.” She smirked, tipping her hat back onto her head. “Ya gotta see it through to the end.”

Rarity nodded in agreement. She levitated the nearby saddlebags onto her friend’s back. “I do indeed. I’ll let you get back to your market stand, Applejack. Celestia knows I probably kept you twice as I inteded with my babbling. Sorry for wasting your lunch break.”

The earth pony dismissed the thought with a gentle wave of a hoof. “Ain’t nothin’, Rarity. I’ve told you that I’ll always lend an ear to a friend in need.” She made her way to the door, looking over her shoulder before leaving. “If I see Twilight in town, maybe I’ll give her a little nudge to come have a chat with ya.”

Rarity waved goodbye, waiting for the door to shut completely before releasing a heavy sigh to the now-empty workshop. It was only after Applejack left that she noticed how silent the Boutique was today; Sweetie Belle and her friends had already left to go play outside, and the shop was closed to let her finish a few straggling last-minute dress orders for tomorrow. And, of course, to let her worry about the Twilight situation without fear of interruption.

She found where she had left off in her plans and brought the appropriate fabric to her sewing machine. It wouldn’t reflect well on her business if she didn’t get her orders done, after all. I wonder what Twilight’s up to, Rarity mused as she put on her red rimmed pair of glasses.

Pinkie Pie skipped alongside her alicorn friend as the duo departed the clock tower. Normally, the silence between them would have bothered her to no end—when ponies were silent, they weren’t laughing, after all!—but she knew it was a good silence she shared with Twilight today. It had to be!

“Um, Pinkie?”

There’s no way the pony next to her could be sad, anyway. Not after one of her best friends had sent her on a super fun scavenger hunt! Well, it wasn’t actually a scavenger hunt, but it was still super fun!

“Pinkie Pie? Hello?”

And if that wasn’t fun enough on its own, Twilight was playing this game with Rarity, her super secret, Pinkie-Pie-swear-on-my-grave-I-won’t-tell-anyone crush! All it would take is to get the two of them to the Hearts and Hooves Day party tomorrow, a drink or two, a subtle bump from an anonymous somepony in the crowd so that Twilight falls into Rarity’s hooves, and as the two gaze into each others’ eyes they realise what they’d been missing this entire time and they’ll smooch and excuse themselves and before you know it they’d be snug as two bugs in a rug! It was brilliant, brilliant, brilliant!

“Sometimes, I swear I might as well be talking to a brick wall.”

“You do that too?!” Pinkie gasped. “I thought I was the only one! I think I caught Mr. Cake calling me cuckoo one time, but he’s just never tried talking to a wall before.”

“I, uh…” Twilight sputtered, at a loss for words. “I don’t think talking to a wall will get me anywhere, least of all to the answer to this riddle.”

“You’d be surprised at the things they’ve seen! Don’t knock it til you’ve tried it!”

Twilight held her tongue. Not literally of course, but boy would that be something funny to see! Pinkie giggled to herself at the very thought of somepony holding their tongue with their hooves. Twilight had grown quiet again, so Pinkie was about to write it off as another thinky moment, but… at the same time, it didn’t seem quite the same as before.

“What is Rarity playing at?” Twilight asked. It was definitely a question, but it sounded more like Twilight was asking herself.

“Huh?” Pinkie raised an eyebrow. That didn’t sound like the kind of thinking that helped solve riddles. “What do you mean?”

“Well, I was just thinking that this riddle is a little different than the last one,” Twilight replied. She levitated the sheet in front of them, pointing to the first two lines with a hoof. “Last time, the riddle made a cryptic allusion to time and that’s what I went on. This time, though, it’s talking about fame and friendship. I don’t think that gives me any hints about a location.” She paused at the fleeting thought. “And the second line… I don’t even know what to think about that one.”

“Well, uh,” Pinkie stumbled for the right words. “Maybe not everything she wrote was about solving the riddle, you know? Looking at things from a different… direction?”

“Pinkie Pie, it sounds like you know a little more than you’re letting on.” Twilight spoke clearly, facing her friend full on. “What do you know about this whole riddle business?”

“Oh, would you look at the time!” Pinkie snapped her head back toward the clock tower in the distance, squinting as she read the clock’s face. “I have to be back at Sugarcube Corner to handle the lunch shift in three minutes! Gotta go Twilight, good luck on the riddles! See ya!” Oh no, oh no, this was not good!

“But I...” Twilight trailed off, watching the poofy pink tail disappear around a corner. “Hmph! It can never just be easy, can it?” She took another look at the sheet of paper in her grasp. The line about love stood out in particular; something about it niggled at the back of her mind. Aside from the rhyme with the first line, it didn’t quite seem to point her toward a destination of any kind. In fact, it almost seemed like a side note to the rest of the stanza’s flow.

But what did that mean? Rarity was a certifiably romantic pony and Twilight had been subject to more than one session of her babbling on about a fleeting fancy for a trendy celebrity or a ‘adorable’ little debutante. Nothing ever came of those chats, of course, and Rarity had forgotten about them before the week’s end, so was it too much to say it was just her way of slipping in a romanticized line to fit the tone? Unless, Twilight’s hopeful side murmured in the depths of her mind, she’s hinting about an attraction to you, smarty pants. That’s logical, isn’t it?

She blushed lightly, thankful that nopony else was around to see her. Sure, there were a few pieces of evidence to support that particularly uplifting thought, she reasoned. The first letter was friendly enough, though Rarity had made it extra apparent that she would appreciate a visit in the near future. She even noted Twilight’s ‘big, beautiful brain!’ The last line of that riddle had been a reference to a different kind of date, but perhaps Rarity had anticipated her misunderstanding the context to allude to some other line of thought. Then that mention of love in the second riddle...

Twilight shook her head, chasing the thoughts away before she got delusional. I could very easily be looking way too far into this. Much as I’d like it to be true, there’s no telling if she meant for it to sound that way. Of course, if it is true, there’s no way I can let this chance slip by like just another of her crushes!

That was all the convincing she needed. There was one pony and one pony only who could answer the questions burning in her mind, and Twilight was nothing if not determined for answers. “There’s no sense in going around in circles on my own. I think it’s about time that I take you up on that offer, Rarity.”

“Piece by piece, snip by snip,” Rarity lilted under her breath, fluffing the frills of the neckline hanging on the dressform before her. “Hmm hmm haa, da da daa.”

She heard the front door burst open, nearly knocking the poor bell above off its hook. A panicked voice rang into her workshop. “Rarity, we’ve got a problem!”

She sighed resignedly. At least she had made good progress on her last order. With any luck, she could complete it before sundown. She trotted into the living area with a wide smile. “Pinkie Pie. So good to see you, dear. Whatever is the matter?”

“Weeeellll, you remember how you gave that riddle to pass along to Twilight after she solved it? And I Pinkie promised I wouldn’t spill the beans and I would let her figure it out herself?”

Rarity nodded, unsure of what her pink friend was trying to imply.

Pinkie bit her lip nervously. “I didn’t break my promise, but I still did something wrong because Twilight got all suspicious and asked if I knew anything about the riddles and my cover was blown so I booked it outta there! She’s probably on her way here right now!”

Oh. Oh dear. That order might not be done by sundown after all. “Are you sure? She went through those even faster than I anticipated! I thought it would take her all day to work out all three riddles!”

“I don’t think she’s finished them all yet, silly!” Pinkie snorted. “I only just gave her my riddle, remember? Mine was number two! Twilight’s just super duper smart, and she put the pieces together like a jigsaw puzzle!”

Rarity frowned. This wasn’t at all how she pictured the game proceeding. “Then why do you think she’s heading here now? If what you say is true, she hasn’t finished them all so she doesn’t know the reason I set them up!”

“She was talking to herself just after I ran away. I hid behind the corner of a building just in case she tried to catch me with her magic! She mentioned something about ‘taking your offer.’” Pinkie bolted over to a window, loosened the latch, and lifted the pane. “Speaking of which, I’ve gotta skedaddle! If Twilight catches me here instead of at work like I said, she’s gonna be super hurt that I was fibbing!”

Rarity shooed her out the window. “All right, make haste, dear. I won’t speak a word of your discreet visit.” The earth pony waved goodbye before delightfully hopping down the lane toward Sugarcube Corner. Rarity firmly shut the window before turning to pace the room fretfully. “I suppose I called this on myself, didn’t I? Telling her to visit again and again in the letters, and yet I’m still surprised when she’s on her way over.”

She should be happy that Twilight was coming. This was a good thing, right? It was a chance to finally rendezvous with her crush for a while. So why did it feel like an entire apple had just dropped into her stomach? Why did the whole thought of coming clean make her ears bristle and her mouth go dry?

She was not ready for the knocking that came at the door. She was not yet ready to have this discussion. The riddles were supposed to buy her enough time to get her thoughts straight, but now everything was topsy-turvy. But what could she do? Her guest was waiting at the door and she was out of time.

Deep breaths, Rarity, she told herself. Everything will be… all right.

She opened the door.

Chapter 4

Twilight let a small grin break through her frown as she saw the clear sky above and felt the sun warm her fur pleasantly. The rainy season might have been good for the farmers whose crops circled the town, but there was just something in the way a cloudless day seemed to brighten Ponyville’s mood. She waved to another townspony that passed by, happy for the fact that even the ponies rushing around on last minute shopping trips were in such good spirits. Applejack, too, wore a mighty smile as she stood in the middle of the market, operating her stall.

“Hey, Twilight!” Applejack beckoned her over to the apple stand. An idea struck Twilight as she trotted toward her friend. Applejack would be willing to help her out with her problem! She was nothing if not dependably, and it was worth a shot at the very least. Twilight gave a halfhearted wave as she reached the stand. “Is something wrong, hon? What’s eating at ya?”

“Oh, it’s just this darned riddle business!” Twilight huffed as she stamped a hoof. “Just when I think I might finally get some answers about them from Pinkie Pie, she runs off like a bat out of Tartarus! I’m practically back to square one.”

Applejack nodded. “Rarity mentioned it to me when I saw her earlier. She’s probably been getting just as worked up about it as you have. Truth be told, Twi, I think you’re both a pair of silly ponies, fussing over something like this.”

Twilight bit her lip, glancing away. As much as she didn’t want to admit it, she knew her friend was right. If somepony had asked her last year why she was so invested in playing along with Rarity’s game, she might have replied with something about natural curiosity or learning about cryptic puzzles. But there was more to it now, and she knew that sooner or later that truth would come to light. “If I’m completely honest with myself, Applejack, I’ve been playing along for somewhat selfish reasons.”

“Selfish? You, sugarcube? Come now, you’re being too hard on yourself.”

“It’s true!” Twilight knew it would be okay to confide her secret in a friend, but the thought of it still made her hesitate. “I… I’ve been playing along because I want something from this whole game and I don’t even know if I can have it!”

“I don’t think I follow, Twi,” the farmer replied as she lifted a bag of red delicious to a waiting customer. She turned back to her friend, raising an eyebrow. “What is it you’re looking for outta this whole deal?”

The moment had arrived. She could either come clean to Applejack and let her secret be known, or she could walk away now and try to work through it herself. A younger Twilight may have been tempted by the second option, but that wasn’t the case anymore. Her life in Ponyville over the past few years had taught her well.

“I’m,” she faltered for a moment before setting her face. “I’ve been researching and learning how to write poetry, you know, and I was going to read her a poem at the party tomorrow. I just want to impress her so badly because I’ve had growing feelings for her and...and I don’t even know whether she feels the same! I thought this whole riddle thing would have helped but all it’s done is make me more confused about everything!”

Applejack sat on her haunches, stunned. The silence was only broken by a few panting breaths. She smirked as she watched Twilight try to regain her composure. “It’s kind of a funny thing watching an alicorn be embarrassed over something so natural. Makes me think that everything’s gonna turn out fine for y’all.”

“How can you be so sure?”

Applejack winked, laying a hoof on Twilight’s withers. “Just call it a hunch, sugarcube. If you want some good, honest advice, I think you should pay Rarity a visit. Let her know how you’ve been feeling.”

“Heh.” Twilight let out a dry laugh. She leaned into the hoof for comfort. “I was actually on my way over there to ask about the riddles. But Applejack… I don’t know if I’m ready to bring it up with her. If she doesn’t feel the same, I don’t want us to fall out because silly, stupid Twilight Sparkle couldn’t help loving her best friend.”

“Now that’s a load of horseapples if I’ve ever heard one. Do you really think Rarity of all ponies would up and abandon somepony like that? Especially if they’re her best friend?” Applejack gave her a tight squeeze and stepped back behind her stall. “Nobody ever found love without taking some chances, Twilight. You’ll never know for sure if you don’t step up and ask.”

“I’m—” Twilight paused. Now was not the time for doubt and indecision. She straightened up, steeling her resolve. “You’re right! I’ve gotta try not just for my own sake, but for hers as well!”

It was a warm, honest smile that graced Applejack’s muzzle. “That’s what I like to hear. Go on, sugarcube. She’s waiting for ya.”

Twilight nodded, turning to leave. She paused for a moment before looking back. “Thank you, Applejack. For everything.” A quick wave was all she spared before tearing down the road, making a beeline for her destination. It was time to clear the air once and for all.

Applejack watched as the departing princess moved out of sight. “Shoot, those two couldn’t be more lovestruck if they’d been fed a love poison. Speaking of which—”

“Before you say anything, I had nothing to do with it!”

Applejack snorted. It was just like her pegasus friend to eavesdrop on a conversation like that. “Didn’t say you did, featherbrain. Mind telling me why you were being all sneaky-like up in a cloud?”

Rainbow Dash swooped down, landing with a thud beside the stand. She ran a hoof through her mane. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Applebutt. And I better not hear about you lying and telling ponies I’m spying on them. Wouldn’t look good for me, you know?”

“Yeah, yeah,” Applejack muttered as she rolled her eyes. “Ain’t my fault you’re acting all suspicious, hiding in clouds, and listening to conversations. Remind me, what do you call spying again?”

“Har, har, har,” Rainbow deadpanned. She swiped an apple from the nearby basket, flipping a bit onto the counter. “Maybe I’ll start coming to you with my relationship problems too, AJ.” She bit into the succulent fruit. “You can get all cozy with me and tell me everything’s gonna be okay!”

“It weren’t like that!” Applejack huffed, red tinging her cheeks as she jokingly shoved the pegasus. “And what relationship problems are you talking about? Last I heard, you don’t even have a special somepony for Hearts and Hooves Day this year!”

Rainbow Dash laughed merrily, revelling in the blush spreading across her friend’s cheeks. “The day’s not over, Applejack!” She bumped her flank against the farmer’s, winking as she did so. “Who knows what could happen! Hay, maybe I was on my way right this moment to ask my favourite apple farmer if she wanted to go to the party with me.”

Applejack held back a chuckle. Two could play the embarrassment game. “Who? Granny Smith? She’ll be mighty pleased if some cute young thing like you asked her out.”

“Ew, Applejack! Come on!” Rainbow stuck her tongue out, miming a retch. “Your granny’s cool but I don’t shoot for ponies that old. I was thinking someone a little closer to my age.”

“...Apple Bloom?”

Rainbow smacked the stetson off her friend’s head with a wing. “You’re a pain in the flank, you know that?”

Guffawing, Applejack picked her hat off the ground. “All right featherbrain, I’ll give ya a shot. Let’s get some grub tomorrow night at the farmhouse and then head to the party. Sound good?”

“Awesome!” Rainbow hoof pumped before taking to the air again. “It’s a date!”

Applejack watched the rainbow trail zip across the sky with an amused smile, playing absentmindedly with the brim of her hat. “Yeah. It’s a date.”

Normally, Rarity didn’t put much faith in things like superstition. The idea that the universe would pay kindness for kindness or punish evildoers accordingly was foolish and irrational. But at that moment, she was thanking whatever guardian angel that was watching over her for this single stroke of good luck.

“Hi, Rarity.”

“Fluttershy!” Rarity wasn’t sure whether what she felt was relief that her confrontation with Twilight was delayed a while longer or if it was slight disappointment that rang in her chest. In either case, her unexpected visitor required her attention. “I must say I wasn’t expecting you over today. Do come in.”

She stepped aside, allowing the demure pegasus entrance. She closed the door behind them, showing her friend to the couch. “Would you like some tea? I can whip some up for the two of us.”

“Oh, um,” Fluttershy spoke softly, shaking her head. “No, thank you. I don’t plan on staying very long.”

Rarity glanced at the calendar, fidgeting with her mane. “It’s not our spa day, is it? I’m sorry if I’ve missed it, dear, but with the big rush before Hearts and Hooves Day and this business with the riddles I’ve just been so busy fretting about.” Again, Fluttershy shook her head. “Well, if it’s not that, is it something about the riddle I gave you?”

“Please, please don’t be mad, Rarity,” Fluttershy whispered as she nearly retreated into her mane. “I didn’t mean to upset you with it, but I don’t know if I can go through with this.”

Rarity recoiled. “Go through with it? Whatever do you mean, Fluttershy?”

Her guest glanced down at the floor. “When Twilight figures out the second riddle, she’s going to come looking for me, like you said. I can handle letting her solve it herself, but I’m worried she might press for more than that.”

Rarity remained silent. It was true that Twilight had questioned Pinkie Pie about the meaning behind the riddles, so it was reasonable to say she would try the same with Fluttershy. Now she could see where the problem lay. “You’re worried about giving the secret away if she decides to push you too hard.”

Finally, a nod from her friend. “It just means so much to you! I couldn’t forgive myself if I gave it away at the wrong time and ruined the whole plan! I really do want to help you, and I want everything to work out, but I’m just as likely to tell her what’s going on.”

“I don’t think you give yourself enough credit, Fluttershy,” Rarity reassured her with a kind smile. “And besides, Twilight is your friend too. If she knew you were uncomfortable with her questions, then she would back off right away. I’m sure she wouldn’t want to hurt your feelings.”

“You’re probably right,” Fluttershy admitted. “It still makes me nervous, though.”

“I wouldn’t worry yourself about it, dear. Why, if Twilight were to show up at my door right this moment, I’m confident that you would be perfectly fine.”

Rarity learned another thing about guardian angels that day. She learned that they absolutely cannot stand it when those they watch over tempt fate. So when she heard the knocking at her door for the third time that day and the telltale voice of Twilight Sparkle calling from outside, it was all she could do to not scream at the top of her lungs about how life was out to get her. No, this was a situation that called for poise, confidence, and most important of all, ladylike grace.

She promptly crouched behind her couch, eyeing the door warily.

“Um, Rarity?” Fluttershy peeked over the back of the sofa. “I think Twilight’s at the door. Aren’t you going to let her in?”

Well, that was the question, wasn’t it? Was Rarity going to let her in? Was she ready to take that step and open herself to Twilight at great risk to their friendship? These questions swirled relentlessly in her noggin, only clouding any chance of her sighting the answer. She stood without a word, plodding to the doorway with measured steps and a cursory glance to make sure the living room was respectably neat.

Somehow, Twilight looked even more radiant than she remembered. The alicorn shone in the midafternoon light and there was this indescribable aura of confidence that left Rarity floored. Did Twilight do something new with her mane today? Oh dear, she herself hadn’t spent much time pampering her coiffure this morning. Would Twilight notice? Please don’t let her notice…

“Rarity? Hello?” Twilight waved a hoof in front of her friend’s face. “Are you alright?”

She blinked. Oh, right. Twilight was still standing on her doorstep. “Yes, yes, of course. Come in, dear.” Lovely. Now she probably thinks I’m a spacey ditz. Any other way you’d like to embarrass yourself, miss Rarity? Maybe spill some tea onto her coat? Belch in her face, perhaps?

Twilight stepped over the threshold, noticing the additional pony on the sofa. “Hello, Fluttershy! I didn’t know you were coming to visit Rarity today, too.”

“Oh, yes. I just had a—” Fluttershy halted before she could reveal anything further. “—a problem that I needed Rarity’s help with. She knew just the way to help me out! So I’ll just be going now; no doubt that you two want to be left alone...” Her voice lost its conviction the more she spoke, and she attempted to sidle her way out the front door.

“Wait! It’s lucky that I found you here, actually,” Twilight said as she stopped the pegasus with a hoof. “After all, I have a hunch that you’re involved with all of this riddle business as well.”

With no interruption from her audience, Twilight motioned them all to sit. “The last two lines, just like the first time, are a word puzzle. That part was much easier to solve! Something that’s lighter than a feather, but can’t be held for very long could only be talking about breath!” She lifted the paper from a saddlebag pocket, unfurling it with a flick of magic. “The destination itself was the difficult part, and I was pretty stumped at the start of this one. ‘Fame and friendship’? That didn’t exactly hint at a location to me…” Twilight trailed off, a twinkle in her eye. “...That is, until I thought about it from a different angle. You see, Pinkie Pie gave off a little more information than she had intended before dashing off to work.”

Twilight tried without success to suppress a grand smile. Deductive reasoning was her forté and she was decidedly in the zone. “The hint she gave me about looking at the situation from another direction was vital, but perhaps not in the manner she intended. When I arrived to meet her at the clock tower, it turned out that she had the second riddle in her possession.” Twilight passed the paper to Fluttershy on her right. “So the logical next step was to suppose the next pony would be holding onto the riddle. Leaving a scroll at any location, even if it were hidden, runs the risk of somepony else finding it, or it being damaged by the environment.”

“Well done, Twilight,” Rarity applauded, clacking her hooves together merrily. “But I have to ask why you believe our dear friend Fluttershy is involved.” She grinned, leaning forward expectantly. Fluttershy shifted her wings uncomfortably. “I could have given the riddle to anypony I desired that was willing to help me. Why do you suspect her in particular?”

“And that’s where the beauty of the riddle comes into play,” Twilight answered excitedly. “You don’t strike me as somepony who would select assistants at random. So, there had to be a correlation between the riddles and the destination. And it got me thinking.” She put a hoof to her chin, resting it passively. “Since Pinkie was the destination for the first riddle, what did she have in common with the theme of time? And the answer was so obvious that it practically jumped out at me. Pinkie was with me during that whole debacle in the Canterlot Library when I was worried about the warning from future Twilight!”

To say Rarity and Fluttershy were impressed was an understatement. They were both well aware that their alicorn friend was incredibly intelligent, but Twilight had put all of this together in the span of a few hours with hardly any help!

“And it makes perfect sense; I’ve told all of our friends about that trip. In fact, pretty much all of us know the entirety of my friendship letters,” she continued, ready to drive the point home. “Therefore, I had but one conclusion! The riddle is referring to the lesson you two learned when Photo Finish was in town!” She closed her eyes, grinning ear to ear in success. “Quod Erat Demonstrandum. It explains itself!”

Twilight felt like she just given a mathematical proof as a Canterlot professor. She was proud of her deductions. Her presentation was so professional; so elegant. “Thank goodness,” Fluttershy sighed, reaching into her saddlebag. She pulled out a sealed scroll, identical to the first two Twilight had in her possession. “I was so worried about ruining the game. Please take it!”

“Ruining the game?” Twilight raised an eyebrow as she levitated the scroll over. “Did I miss something here?”

Rarity patted Fluttershy on the shoulder. “We were just having a mild discussion before you showed up, dear. Nothing to worry about. Congratulations on solving the riddle!”

Twilight nodded. “Speaking of which… Rarity, I’d like to talk with you, if that’s okay. I don’t mean to sound rude Fluttershy, but it’s really something I want to do one-on-one.”

“Oh, I don’t mind at all. I need to get back to the cottage to set up for dinner anyway.” Fluttershy stood, quickly hugging both of her friends goodbye. “Thank you for having me over, Rarity. I hope everything works out.”

The door snapped shut with a click, leaving the two remaining in silence.

Chapter 5

Twilight had a plan; she was sure of it. It was… it was… Oh, Celestia, what was it?! She had walked into the Carousel Boutique as the epitome of a mare on a mission but now she could practically feel the confidence draining out of her. She had to salvage this situation somehow. She cleared her throat. “Well, uh, here I am.” Smooth as silk, Twilight.

Rarity giggled airily. “Here you are indeed. There’s no need to be so nervous, Twilight. We’re both friends here.”

Twilight smiled sheepishly. “I’m that easy to read, huh?”

“I like to think I have a discerning eye for these types of things.” She winked and stood from the couch. “Would you like some tea, dear? It could help calm the jitters.”

“Yes, please. Green, if you have it.” She relaxed as Rarity moved to the kitchen. It was absurd. Twilight couldn’t remember a time she was left utterly incapable of speech quite like this one. It was one little question, so why was it so difficult?

“So,” she heard her friend say from the other room, “what’s on your mind?”

Come on, Twilight. Just say it. Say it! She gulped audibly. “I… I wanted to talk to you about the riddles, in truth.”

“I had a feeling that’s what this was all about. Just a moment and I’ll be out with the tea.”

Twilight tapped a hoof distractedly. What was she going to say? ‘Hey Rarity, those riddles were kind of ambiguous so I want to ask if you love me’? Make it about her own feelings and come clean to the mare?

“Here you go,” Rarity said, levitating the teacup until it was grasped in a lavender aura. “So. Pick my brain. What would you like to know?”

Maybe I’ll start simple and work my way up to the harder questions. “How long have you planned for this game?” Twilight asked. “Obviously you had to not only write them, but convince our friends to help you distribute them.”

“I’ve been tossing this idea around for a while now, but only just put it into motion this week. Believe it or not, I wrote all three riddles to completion in the span of a single day.” Rarity took a sip of her tea pensively. “As for asking for help, you know how Pinkie Pie is when it comes to games and fun. How could she say no?”

“And Fluttershy?”

“She did, admittedly, require a bit more effort. The reason she came to see me today was that she was deathly afraid of spilling the secret and disappointing me. Unnecessarily, mind you; I could never be angry at her, let alone for doing something for a friend.”

Twilight took a draught of her tea. The words sounded genuine, but something didn’t quite make sense. “Call me crazy, but that seems like a serious reaction for just giving up the fact that she had a riddle. This is more than just a game, isn’t it?”

“Perceptive as always.” Rarity’s smile tightened. “You’re right, of course; there’s more to it than that, but I’m afraid telling you would give away the prize. Sorry, Twilight.”

“Why lead me on like this, Rarity?” Twilight asked. “You’re my best friend, and that will never, ever change. I thought you could trust me enough to tell me what’s going on.” She paused. Her words turned to bile in her throat as she realized another problem. “But in the end, I’m no different. I’ve been hiding something from you for a while, too.”

“...” Twilight was about to apologize for being so curt when Rarity spoke up. “I think… that it’s time for you to read the third and final piece of our game.”

“Rarity, I don’t—”

She felt a hoof lay itself against her side. “Please. Everything will make sense then. I promise.”

Twilight gazed deep into the wide, pleading eyes of the mare next to her. If ever there was a time to trust her friend’s words, it was now. She gave a single nod. “Okay.”

Rarity held her tongue as Twilight broke the seal and unfurled the final riddle. She let her hoof fall from Twilight’s shoulder, resting it on her own lap. “All the cards are on the table now. The way forward is in your hooves, Twilight. Whatever you choose, just… please don’t hold it against me. If you could, please read it aloud.”

”Well, here we are at the end of our little game. I apologize if it feels like it went by far too quickly, but perhaps that’s a compliment to your brilliant problem solving skills. Admittedly, this letter will seem rather foolish if you haven’t solved the trio of riddles in one day. The downsides of waiting until the last minute, I suppose.

If you haven’t quite pieced it together by now, then I apologize again for being so vague with my clues. The truth is that there was more to this little plan than fun for its own sake. I have no doubt that you will have questions and since at the time of this writing, I don’t know if we have met face to face, I’ll do my best to clear the air, so to speak.

You see, I haven’t quite been feeling myself lately. Many nights I would lie awake, unable to find solace in dreamtime. My stomach twists and turns without hunger, and I’ve been feeling an overbearing amount of longing.”

Rarity couldn’t quite meet Twilight’s searching eyes as she looked up. A question seemed to be hanging on the tip of her tongue, but no query came. “Don’t stop now, darling. The point of the whole thing has yet to come.”

”It was a discomforting feeling, to say the least. But as the days went on, I began to realize the most peculiar thing. When I thought about finding a special somepony, the longing did not go away. In fact, as I mentally imagined the types of mares or stallions I would normally find captivating, I couldn’t bring myself to feel interested. ‘What is wrong with me?’ I would frequently ask myself. At times, the feeling was so miserable that I was too distracted to continue working on dress orders. Not even our group get-togethers could stave off the feeling.

So imagine my surprise when you visited me alone out of the blue one winter afternoon. I remember the day clearly: Snow had blanketed our quaint little town overnight and you appeared at my door in a knitted hat and scarf, looking for all the world like you had just gotten into a brawl with a particularly angry snowpony. ‘A snowball fight with Spike,’ you had said with a laugh. ‘In which both sides had unanimously agreed to a truce.’ But it turned out that he had gone off to play in the snow with my sister and her friends, so you were left on your own. To ease the boredom, you wanted me to join you for a quiet reading day in the library. I distinctly remember promises of hot cocoa and a warm fire helped sway my decision.

“I remember that day!” Twilight declared suddenly. “I still say Spike cheated during that snowball fight! I definitely saw him melt a snowball or two before they hit him!” She sighed, reminiscing on the day. “And then spending the whole afternoon with you only made it better. Much as I enjoy reading alone, sometimes you just want someone else there to share the journey.”

Rarity smiled, the day vivid in her memory. “I don’t know if you remember, dear, but you nodded off with your nose in some biography on Starswirl the Bearded.”

Twilight blushed. “I hope I didn’t snore.”

“Not at all. In fact, you barely made a peep even when I lifted a blanket over you or when Spike carried you upstairs that night.”

I was always confused how I ended up back in bed that day! Of course, I should have expected such a kind act from Rarity and Spike, Twilight thought with a grin. She turned her attention back to the letter, continuing where she left off.

And as we sat there that day, basking in the warm glow of the fireplace without a care in the world, swapping stories and poking jokes at one another, I came to the stark knowledge that I hadn’t felt the pang of longing for the entire day. Not once. Now, I may be dramatic at times, but I’m not blind to my own emotions. I recognized it as I was finally dozing off easily in my own bed for the first time in weeks. I had feelings for you, Twilight Sparkle.

Now, one might think that it was a passing fancy. A crush on a pony I knew and respected well enough to call her my best friend. There were days that even I doubted it myself, so I vowed to get a second opinion. Applejack may be many things that I would deem uncouth, but there is no doubt that she listened to me when I needed to get the secret off my chest. Of course, as you would imagine, she recommended time and again that I just go up to you and confess.

At times, I really wanted to do it. To run over to the library, throw caution to the wind and let you know how I truly felt. Most days, I was terrified. Silly the thought may be, I was worried that if you didn’t feel the same, I would drive something between our friendship. That the wonderful bond between us would end because silly, stupid Rarity couldn’t help falling for her best friend.

So consider this my way of telling you. I’m sorry if you feel like I’ve led you on, Twilight. I never meant for anyone to get hurt during this, but it was so much easier to get everything down on paper than to pony up and come clean. I’ve composed a final riddle—or maybe it’s more of a poem—with a very important question.

A long road behind us, but longer ahead,
if you’d answer one question for me:
My dearest, and most lovely Twilight Sparkle,
Would you be my special somepony?”

Twilight’s shoulders were shaking and her face was already wet with tears. She let the letter fall out of her hooves and onto the floor.

“Oh no,” Rarity whispered as panic set in. “No, no, Twilight please don’t cry. I’m sorry, I’m so sorry. I’ve made this difficult for you and now you’ll never look at me the same again! Celestia, what have I done?!”

She was about three seconds from bolting up the stairs and locking herself in her room when a most peculiar sound caught her attention. Surely her brain was playing tricks on her, because there was no way the giggles bubbling from the mare next to her were real. Rarity could only watch, stupefied, as the giggles grew into chortles, which exploded into full-blown gales of laughter. She was entirely unprepared for the purple princess to launch herself, wings outstretched, and catch her in an embrace.

“Please,” Twilight said as she caught her breath, mirthful tears still streaming down her face. “Please tell me this isn’t a joke, Rarity. That would be just about the cruelest thing you could do to me right now.”

“Er… no,” she admitted, hesitantly wrapping her arms around Twilight’s middle. “No, I was quite serious. That would have been quite the effort to prank you like that, were I to even degrade myself to such behaviour.” She pulled back slightly, searching Twilight’s face for any hint of displeasure. “You’re not angry or bothered by my confession at all?”

Twilight giggled like a schoolfilly, affectionately nuzzling Rarity’s cheek with her own wet muzzle. “Angry? How could I possibly be angry at you?”

“Well, the whole swearing my love for you suddenly is a good place to start.”

A hoof cupped Rarity’s cheek, keeping her attention fully focused on the mare in front of her. “I think you’re gonna be pleasantly surprised at my answer. You remember how I mentioned I was hiding a secret of my own?”

“Well, yes,” Rarity spoke slowly. “But what does that have to do with… Wait. You mean…?” Her eyes widened, sparkling with newfound hope. The energetic nods from Twilight cemented the feeling of utter joy that spread outward from her heart. “Oh, Twilight!”

Rarity couldn’t help it; she threw her arms around her love. She could never have imagined her plan would turn out this well! All those nights spent lying awake wondering when she’d find the one for her, and the bubbling spring of affection she felt whenever her friend was near; it was all so incredible that she couldn’t help the few tears that were rolling down her cheeks.

“Hey now,” Twilight murmured, stroking Rarity’s mane. “You told me not to cry, so the same goes for you! This has been the best day ever and I don’t want us to sully it with tears!”

The unicorn sniffled, levitating a tissue from the coffee table. “I’m sorry. I must look a terrible mess now.”

“You look beautiful to me.”

“Stop it. You’re just saying that.”

“I mean it,” Twilight insisted. “I don’t think there’s been a single day where I thought you weren’t absolutely breathtaking. I even wrote a poem—eep!” She covered her treacherous mouth with her hooves, but it was far too late for that.

“Oh ho? A poem dedicated to me?” Rarity fluttered her eyelashes. “Well now, you can’t leave me in suspense after saying that. Could you read it to me?”

“I, uh,” Twilight stammered, desperately racking her brain for a way out. Unable to properly think of one, she sighed. “Alright, but… just don’t laugh, okay?”

“I wouldn’t dream of it, darling.” Rarity sat back on the sofa, keeping her attention on Twilight. “Let’s hear it.”

“Her mane shines like grapes in my favourite jam,
Her voice reminds me of a harpsichord.
I think she’s divine,
I wish she was mine,
That mare who helped us beat Discord!”

“...”

“...” Somehow, I’m getting the faintest sense of deja vu, Twilight thought to herself, waiting anxiously for some kind of response. “Um, Rarity?”

“Pfffft!”

“Oh, come on! First Spike and now you?!” Twilight huffed, crossing her forelegs immaturely, “That’s it, I’m giving up on poetry forever.”

“Twilight, what in Celestia’s name persuaded you to rhyme the words ‘harpsichord’ and ‘Discord’?” Rarity let a few giggles pass despite her better wishes. “Nevermind. I’m sorry for laughing, dear. It was a lovely poem and I’m flattered you cared enough to write it for me.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Twilight grumbled.

Rarity giggled at the princess’ sour disposition. A devious plan came to mind as she leaned close, nibbling the tip of Twilight’s ear. The effect was instantaneous as Twilight lit up like a Hearth’s Warming tree, wings flying open. “Don’t be such a grump, dear. Now come, we’ve got work to do before tomorrow!”

“Tomorrow?” Twilight stood, watching Rarity head toward the staircase. Much to her chagrin, some rather naughty thoughts gave their say on the type of ‘work’ they would be doing. “What do we need to do before tomorrow?”

“Why, make you a one-of-a-kind stunning dress for the Hearts and Hooves Day party, of course!” Rarity glanced over her shoulder with a grin. “We’ll be the talk of the town when we show up in matching ensembles!”

“What?!” Twilight blushed, trotting after her new marefriend. Goodness, it felt great to call her that. “Rarity, you don’t have to do that for me!”

“Pish posh,” Rarity replied, waving off the suggestion. “I’m allowed to spoil you a little bit, Twilight. Now, I’ve already got some designs in mind, but the hard part will be the colours. What could bring out both of our coats? Perhaps a pale blue or…”

Her voice trailed off as she stepped into the workshop. Twilight smiled as she climbed the stairs carefully, sighing contentedly as the door swung closed behind her.

Epilogue

Twilight could hear the sound of music emanating from Sugarcube Corner as she and Rarity turned onto the road. Pinkie Pie had clearly gone all out for the Hearts and Hooves Day party, since the outside was decorated and a nearby sign gleefully invited any passing ponies inside. She turned to the mare walking in step beside her. They’d agreed to not go too overboard, but Rarity had certainly come through: the matching azure dresses were both form-fitting and flashy, with the collar and cuffs speckled with the occasional gem. Twilight was thankful that the dress cradled her wings comfortably.

Rarity paused with a hoof on the door. “Are you ready, Twilight? We don’t have to let everypony else know yet, though I’m sure a few of them already suspect it.”

Twilight smiled at the concern, wrapping a wing around her partner. “They’ll find out sooner or later. Tonight, let’s just have fun. You and me.”

“Well, well,” Rarity said, leaning into the embrace. “This is a big change from the Twilight Sparkle that flew into Ponyville so long ago.”

“What can I say?” Twilight replied with a wink. “Life is short and you are hot.”

“You totally got that from a book, didn’t you?”

A bubbly laugh was the only answer Rarity got as the duo entered the bakery. If the outside looked enticing, then the inside was downright splendid. Pinkie had apparently decided that red and white streamers were the way to go and the refreshments table looked like a veritable buffet. The pink mare herself was hopping from pony to pony, doing her best as the host to make sure everyone was enjoying themselves.

Spotting Rainbow Dash and Applejack sitting together at a table near the corner of the room, Twilight motioned to Rarity and the two weaved their way through the crowd. They were careful not to bump any of the ponies dancing, though she did wave to a few ponies she recognized, like Ditzy Doo and Time Turner, who were amiably chatting over by the punch bowl. As they neared the table, she realised the main reason they had chosen a corner table.

“Come on Applejack. Jusssst a shot or two.” Twilight could easy guess just how much the pegasus had knocked back based on the slurred words and the fact that Rainbow was practically hanging off of Applejack’s left foreleg.

“You know, hon, you’re not doing a great job of convincing me that coming to this party with ya was a good idea.” Applejack’s other hoof seemed to be permanently glued to her face in embarrassment.

“Oh, don’t be like that!” Rainbow gave a silly giggle that she would no doubt later swear never happened. “You were the one who got me buzzing on some Sweet Apple cider before the party!”

Applejack shook her head. “And I can’t tell ya how much I’m already regrettin’ it.” She tipped her hat to Rarity and Twilight as they approached. “I hope you gals are doin’ better than this drunken mess. You’d think for how big she talks that Rainbow could handle a bit of the hard stuff.”

“Hey!” Rainbow gave an indignant scoff. The already rosy shade on her cheeks flushed deeper. “I resemble that comment!”

“Oh, Applejack, do lighten up,” Rarity said as they both sat down at the table. “It’s Hearts and Hooves Day after all. Let Rainbow have her fun.”

“And you two!” Rainbow turned her attention to them, pointing a hoof slightly to Twilight’s left. “Did you two make with the smoochy smoochy yet?”

“Rainbow!” Applejack cried.

Twilight gave a sly grin, shuffling to Rarity’s side. “I guess you’ll never know, Rainbow. They say that a lady doesn’t kiss and tell.”

“I’m seeing a whole new side of Twilight now that y’all are together. I gotta say that I like it,” Applejack commented with a genuine smile.

“Speaking of together.” Rarity raised an eyebrow at the pair of ponies opposite them. “I notice that you two are particularly close today.”

Applejack laughed, shaking her head. “Yeah, Featherbrain here asked me to the party with her just after I met with Twilight yesterday.” She wrapped a hoof around the intoxicated pegasus. “Had I known I would be playing babysitter to a tipsy trickster, I might have rethought my answer a little more.”

“Again, totally your fault!” Rainbow leaned into the hug regardless. “Besides, I can tell you totally want my bod.”

Twilight turned her attention away from the bickering duo to check out the rest of the party. Many ponies were dancing to the music on the main floor, and she spotted Spike dancing merrily with Apple Bloom through the crowd. The two looked as if they were on top of the world, and she couldn’t help the wide smile that spread across her muzzle when the filly leaned close and pecked Spike on the cheek. Twilight had to stifle a laugh as Spike was struck immobile, a furious blush colouring his face. Ooh, she would have some juicy tidbits to tease him about tomorrow!

Twilight ignored the conversation still going at the table, instead letting her wings flare slightly as she tapped a hoof to the music. Rarity had obviously noticed as she felt a hoof tap her shoulder before a soft voice whispered in her ear, “Would you care to dance, dear?”

Twilight glanced at her marefriend, nodding eagerly. “I’d love to. I should warn you, though, I’m still not the best dancer. Spike laughed at me the other day for having four left hooves.”

Rarity giggled, gently pulling on a purple hoof. “I’ll take my chances. As Pinkie Pie would say, this song is my jam!” The two navigated the throng of ponies until they found an open bit of floor. Twilight bowed low, offering a hoof to her mare. Rarity smiled thankfully, laying her own hoof in Twilight’s. The two began moving in tandem, bopping to the rhythm of the dance track. “You know, there’s something a little odd about having a princess bow to me.”

“Sorry,” Twilight grinned sheepishly. “Still not totally used to this whole dating thing. I’ll get better, I promise!”

Rarity twirled the mare on the spot, loving the way Twilight’s eyes seemed to shine. “I find it quite adorable, dear. And don’t worry about experience,” she said, leaning close to nuzzle Twilight. “I’ll be with you every step of the way.”

Twilight blushed at the tender words. “I’ll be counting on it,” she replied earnestly, returning the gesture. Seems that I have more than one thing to get used to. But I know as long as we’re together, it’ll all be worth it.

Author's Note

~~~The End~~~

Thank you all from the bottom of my heart for reading all the way through! All of the likes, favourites and comments are greatly appreciated!

If you liked the story, remember to check out some of the other stories in the RariLight group if you haven't already! The contest is coming to a close soon and we've got a handful of great participants who I'm sure would appreciate feedback on their stories as well.

And as always, have a great day. :twilightsmile: