"I'll see you tomorrow, Pinkie Pie," Twilight Sparkle told her friend as she stepped out of Sugarcube Corner one starry spring night. "Thanks for the party!" Pinkie had thrown a bash that day, celebrating the two-and-a-half anniversary of Twilight's moving to Ponyville.

"You're totally welcome!" Pinkie chirped with a wave. "See you tomorrow!" Twilight grinned.

"Bye, Pinkie," she replied.

Twilight was lost in her thoughts as she walked back to Golden Oaks Library.

It sure was nice of Pinkie to throw me a party. Hey, that reminds me: where is the Summer Sun Celebration gonna be held this year? I hope it's somewhere near Ponyville. Wait, why didn't I know this earlier? Stupid, stupid, Twilight! Calm down, Twilight. You've been preoccupied with your friends. Wait, that doesn't sound right. You've been hanging out with your friends. That's better. Preoccupied sounds like-

"Aah!" She screamed as something barreled into her. Twilight went sprawling onto the road.

"My hoof," she groaned as she stood up, her vision hazy. "What happened?"

"I'm so sorry!" Somepony apologized. "I was just out for my night run, and it was dark, and I didn't see you! I'm really sorry!" Twilight's vision cleared and she could make out the shape of a stallion.

"It's alright," Twilight replied. "It was my fault, too. I wasn't paying attention to my surroundings. I'm Twilight Sparkle. What's your name?"

"I'm Comet Tail," he replied. "You said something about your hoof? Is it alright?" Twilight looked down at her hooves.

"Oh, yeah, the sting's gone away now. I feel fine."

"That's good." Comet Tail sounded relieved.

"So," Twilight started as they began to walk. "Why were you out running?"

"I do that every night," Comet Tail responded. "I like running at night because the stars are usually out. If I'm lucky, I might see a meteor or two."

"Do you like astronomy?" Twilight asked. "I do."

"It's sorta a past time," Comet Tail answered. "Running is my main thing. My friends tell me I'm really fast."

"My friend Rainbow Dash likes racing, but she's a Pegasus. Hey Comet Tail, do you think it's possible for you to run as fast as the average Pegasus can fly?"

"I'm not sure. I really don't know the physics and stuff and calculations to find that stuff out."

"Or you could just have a race with a Pegasus," Twilight pointed out. Comet Tail chuckled.

"Why didn't you say that in the first place?"

"Because I just thought of it," Twilight replied. Spotting the cozy glow of light from inside Golden Oaks, she added, "This is my house."

"I'll see you around, Twilight. It's just Twilight, right?" Twilight nodded in reply.

"Yes. I'll see you around, too."

"Bye," Comet Tail said. Twilight waved as he began to walk away, then broke into a gallop. Twilight stood in the doorway for a minute, leaning on the frame with a little smile on her face.

"Who was that?" Spike asked from inside. Twilight turned.

"Comet Tail," she responded. "He crashed into me while he was running."

"That's nice, Twilight," Spike said before opening his mouth in a loud yawn.

"Looks like somepony's tired from all t," Twilight remarked. "Why don't we go to bed?" Spike didn't reply; he was sound asleep.

After Twilight tucked him in, she opened up the Ponyville Directory the mayor had given her a couple weeks ago. First, she flipped to the page her own picture, just to see it, then she flipped backward, towards the beginning of the directory. Twilight scanned the rows of pictures until she found Comet Tail.

I've seen him before!, she thought. Comet Tail wasn't some random pony that she had new never seen before. Twilight remembered standing next to him right before Applejack had left for the rodeo several months ago. He had a yellow coat and a bluish grey mane, which, to Twilight, almost seemed like a paled version of her own mane. Why didn't I recognize his voice?

Deciding it wasn't important, Twilight shrugged it off.

"I'm going to bed," she murmured. She climbed into her cozy loft and stared up at the stars before drifting off to dream land.

~

When Twilight woke up, she was greeted by Spike's singing. Not the best sound in the world.

"Spike!" She called, irritated, pulling her pillow over her ears. "Can you please stop?"

"Sure!" Spike called. He quieted down and began to whistle instead. Twilight rolled her eyes.

I wonder if Comet Tail likes to sing, she thought. It was immediately followed by, That was random. Twilight threw the pillow up in the air. It landed on her head.

After fluffing the pillow and folding her sheets neatly, Twilight trotted downstairs for breakfast. A new thought entered her mind.

I wonder, does Comet Tail prefers pancakes or waffles?

"Argh!" She exclaimed aloud. Why was Comet Tail bothering her with weird questions like that?

"Are you okay, Twilight?" Spike asked. An image of Comet Tail popped into Twilight's mind. Twilight shook her head.

"Nope," she responded, sitting down on a chair. "Comet Tail won't leave me alone!" Spike cocked his head.

"Twilight, Comet Tail isn't in this room."

"I feel weird, Spike," Twilight replied. "I don't know what it is. My stomach is all fluttery, and my head feels light." Spike rolled his eyes.

"Twilight, that's called being in love. You've been there before, right?" Twilight shook her head, dumbfounded. She had a crush on Comet Tail?

"But I barely know him," she said.

"Hey, don't fight it, Twilight. Go ask him out."

"WHAT!?" Twilight screeched, turning on Spike. "IF I DO HAVE A CRUSH ON HIM, I CAN'T DO THAT!"

"Well, why not?" Spike asked, unfazed by her rage.

"Because, because-" Twilight struggled for a reason.

"Because I don't know the first thing about having a date!" Was the reason she finally came up with. Spike rolled his eyes.

"Twilight, Rarity probably knows all about dating. Maybe. I'm sure she can help us!" Twilight smiled and placed Spike on her back.

"You're right, Spike. Let's go talk to Rarity!"

~

"Twilight, the first rule of dating is this: the stallion must always be the pony to ask the mare out, never the other way around." Rarity stared expectantly at Twilight. "You're just going to have to wait for him to come to you."

"But, Rarity, I don't-" Twilight was cut short by Rarity's Tsk, Tsk.

"I'd love to know how it goes, darling! So go out there and talk to him!" Rarity set down a purple flower in Twilight's mane and gently pushed her out the door.

"Oh, and Twilight!" She added. "The second rule of dating: always be yourself!" With a wave she shut the door. Twilight and Spike looked at each other.

"Now what?" Twilight asked. "I don't know where he lives."

"You know," Spike remarked as the began walking back to the library, "you're being surprisingly calm about all this. Having your first crush and all." Twilight glanced up.

"You think so, Spike?" Before Spike could reply, the pair heard a voice with a slight country accent yell, "Hi Twilight!" Twilight beamed as Comet Tail raced over.

"Hi, Comet Tail!" She replied cheerfully. "This is my assistant, Spike. Have you met him?" Comet Tail shook his head.

"Nice to meet you, Spike!" He said. Spike extended a claw, and the two shook.

"Nice to meet you, too," Spike replied. "Twilight's been talking about you all morning."

"Spike!" Twilight snapped, trying to stop a blush rising to her cheeks. To Comet Tail, she said, "Just about how you almost trampled me. And he's exaggerating; I only talked about it for a couple minutes." Comet Tail chuckled.

"I'm really sorry about that, Twilight."

"I know you are," Twilight replied. "It's all good." Comet Tail nodded.

"So, Twilight," he began. Twilight felt Spike nudge her leg. "Do you want to, I dunno, maybe, um, go get a milkshake or something?" Twilight's eyes widened in surprise.

"Oh, sure!" She replied excitedly. Spike yawned loudly.

"Well, Twilight, I'm suddenly feeling a bit tired. I think I'm going to go lie down until I'm all rested up." Spike stretched his arms and yawned again, then took off in the direction of the library. Twilight and Comet Tail looked at each other.

"Let's go, then," Twilight said. Comet Tail nodded.

"You like to read, right, Twilight?"

"Yeah, I..."

The two ponies chatted on their way to Sugarcube Corner.

~

"This is bad, Shoeshine!" Cherry Berry set down her binoculars and turned to stare at her best friend. "I didn't realize he already had a new fillyfriend!"

"I've never seen them together before," Shoeshine told her. "Maybe it's just a one time thing."

"I should have gotten back together with him sooner!" Cherry Berry wailed. "I waited-"

"Shh!" Shoeshine put a hoof to Cherry Berry's mouth. "They're talking about you." Cherry Berry immediately hushed and listened in.

"...She was my ex fillyfriend," Comet Tail was saying. "Cherry Berry's a nice pony, but she got all weird and clingy, and nopony wants to have a fillyfriend like that, do they?"

"I don't think so," Twilight replied. "I've never had a coltfriend before, and I guess it would work the same way?" Cherry Berry stopped listening when it was clear she wasn't the subject of conversation anymore.

"I'm gonna go down there," Cherry Berry decided. "Shoeshine, you intervene if anything goes horribly wrong."

"What exactly are you doing?" Shoeshine asked, but Cherry Berry had already left the ledge they had been sitting on.

"Hello, Mr. Cake," Cherry Berry greeted him in her usual nasal voice. "Can I have a cherry milkshake please?"

"Of course, Cherry Berry," Mr. Cake replied. "That will be two bits."

After Cherry Berry had paid and gotten her milkshake, she stalked over to where Twilight and Comet Tail were talking.

"Hello, Comet Tail," she said. "I see you've found a new fillyfriend." She watched in satisfaction as Twilight blushed.

"I'm not is fillyfriend," she replied in a notably quieter voice. Cherry Berry laughed.

"So maybe you're not. I just want to warn you that Comet Tail has a had at least seven other fillyfriends. That's why I dumped him, right, Comet Tail?" She smirked as he stared at her in shock. "Twilight, do me a favor and don't be another mare heartbroken by Comet Tail." She pretended to shoot a dirty look at Comet Tail. "I still haven't forgiven you."

"Twilight, that isn't true, I swear," Comet Tail burst out. "I-"

"Why do you think he runs?" Cherry Berry asked, slurping down her milkshake. "He's just trying to runaway from his problems. You haven't even let go of me yet, have you, Comet Tail? We can get back together. Twilight, I'm sparing you a broken heart by sacrificing my own." She smiled pleasantly at Twilight. "I suggest you run along and forget all about Comet Tail."

~

Twilight didn't know what to think. Comet Tail had told her one thing, then Cherry Berry a had waltzed in and told her another.

"Twilight, please believe me!" Comet Tail begged. "I've never dated anypony except Cherry Berry before. Her logic doesn't even make sense! She says she dumped me but she wants to get back with me?"

"To save Twilight from a broken heart," Cherry Berry interjected. "Now come on, Comet Tail, you have to sit through a stand up comedy routine! I tried it out on Bon Bon, and she said it was really good. I know you'll love it!" She began to pull Comet Tail away. Twilight stood up.

"Stop, Cherry Berry!" She ordered in a loud voice. "Even if he is the fillyfooler you claim he is, nopony should be forced into a relationship." Cherry Berry shrank back under Twilight's intense gaze. Shoeshine suddenly burst in.

"Cherry Berry, we should go," she said.

"Yeah!" Cherry Berry exclaimed. She scarmbled out of Sugarcube Corner, right behind Shoeshine.

"I will get Comet Tail back!" She shouted. "Just you wait and see, Twilight Sparkle!" Then she disappeared down the road.

"What was that about?" A pale green Earth Pony asked from the other side of Sugarcube Corner.

"Nothing, Blueberry Cake," Comet Tail replied. "Cherry Berry was just a little jealous."

"How about we go outside?" Twilight suggested.

"Alright," Comet Tail agreed. Twilight followed him right outside Sugarcube Corner.

"That was fun, until Cherry Berry came," she commented. "Wanna do it again sometime?"

"Sure," Comet Tail replied. Twilight stared at his face.

"Are your cheeks red?" She asked.

"What? No!" Comet Tail went cross-eyed trying to look down at his cheeks. Twilight laughed.

"Are you free tomorrow?" She asked. "We could have a picnic."

"Alright." Comet Tail nodded. This time, Twilight was the pony who blushed.

"See you then," she said as they parted ways.

Author's Note

Okay, wow. If you don't like the ship, don't down vote, okay? Thanks. Anyway, does anybody think this should be tagged Comedy? I kinda felt a comedy vibe as I was writing, but I'm not entirely sure. Also, it's funny how the ratings for this are half and half; last time I checked it was 5-5, now it's 11-10. :D