"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
The next morning, Twilight realized she hadn't planned for the picnic. At all.
"Spike!" She cried frantically, waking him up. "Am I supposed to bring any food? Or should I leave that to him?" Spike turned over onto his side.
"Just bring stuff, Twilight. Don't have a freak out aria. Don't sing." Twilight stopped running frantically around.
"I won't sing a freak out aria," she said, equally to herself and to Spike. Twilight inhaled, then exhaled. "You're right, Spike. I won't freak out. I'll just bring along some food. Can you take a list?" Spike groaned.
"It's bad enough you woke me up right before I found out where the party was being held, do I have to help plan your wedding, too?" Twilight blushed.
"Alright, fine. I'll do it myself. You just go right back to your party. Or something."
As soon as Spike had begun to snore, Twilight trotted down to the library. For once, she didn't need a book to help her with a picnic; she had had enough of those with her friends.
She opened the refrigerator and pulled out some fruit- bananas, orange, and apples. Twilight found a woven basket and placed the fruits inside.
"Is that it?" She asked herself. "Or should I bring sandwiches?"
In the end, Twilight ended up bringing six apples, four oranges, seven bananas, two daffodil sandwiches, and a pitcher of water, magically enchanted so that not a single drop would spill.
As Twilight rechecked her food supply, there was a knock at the door.
"Who is it?" She asked. The door swung open to reveal Rarity, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash.
"Hey, Twilight!" Rainbow exclaimed, doing a loop-de-loop as she sped inside. "Are you getting ready for that mushy gushy picnic?"
"It's not mushy gushy, Rainbow Dash," Rarity pointed out. "Twilight is simply eating lunch with Comet Tail." Rainbow rolled her eyes.
"Are you excited, Twilight?" Fluttershy asked curiously. Twilight nodded.
"Are you nervous?" Fluttershy asked. Twilight shook her head.
"It the second... what would we call it, Rarity?"
"It's a date, Twilight. Not a meet up, or a brunch, but a date," Rarity confirmed.
"Yeah, so it's my second date," Twilight told Fluttershy. "So I'm not really nervous."
"We just came to help you get ready," Rainbow explained. "So, what can we do?" Twilight rubbed her chin thoughtfully.
"Well, you can look over my food choices. I'm assuming Comet Tail's bringing food too, so I only packed a little."
"Twilight, does he know you're allergic to pepper?" Fluttershy asked. Twilight nodded in confirmation.
"Surprisingly enough, that came up in conversation yesterday." She giggled. "Funny choice of topic, isn't it?"
"Very," Rarity agreed. "Now, you're leaving when? Noon?"
"Yeah," Twilight replied. "And right now it's seven, so I have five hours." The three other mares exchanged glances.
"What is it?" Twilight asked.
"Twi, I think you might've overslept," Rainbow said. Pointing at the clock on the wall, she added, "It's 10:30." Twilight gasped.
"I overslept? But that means Spike has no business being still asleep! I have to-" Twilight was stopped by Rainbow's teeth clamping firmly on her tail.
"Hold it, Twilight," she said. "Let him sleep."
"We'll wake him up," Fluttershy promised. Twilight nodded.
"Okay. Anything else we need to do?"
"No, dear," Rarity replied. "Everything is fine."
~
Cherry Berry stood just outside Golden Oaks, listening to everything the mares had said.
"Dang it!" She muttered. "That cheesy 'sleep powder' didn't work well enough! It only made her sleep in three hours!" She scuffed the ground with her hoof.
"Uh, Cherry Berry?" Shoeshine asked. "Why are we doing this? I mean, I think Comet Tail has made it pretty clear that he'd rather be with Twilight, sorry to say." Cherry Berry sighed nd beckoned Shoeshine farther away from the library.
"Because," she explained. "I'm the only pony good enough for Comet Tail. If I can't have him" -Cherry Berry narrowed her eyes- "then no one will!" Shoeshine smiled weakly.
"Now," Cherry Berry continued, "do you have any pepper spray?
~
Twilight could appreciate a day like today. The sun was shining, but birds weren't noisily chirping everywhere. She stood just outside of Sugarcube Corner, basket in tow, waiting for Comet Tail to show up.
"Hi, Twilight!" Comet Tail greeted her. Twilight was relieved to see he had brought food along too.
"Hi, Comet Tail!" Twilight replied. "So, where are we headed?"
"I know a spot," Comet Tail offered. "I pass it a lot during my runs."
"Sounds good, then," Twilight replied. "Lead the way!" She eagerly followed Comet Tail across town.
"Here it is!" Comet Tail announced. It was a small hill just outside of Sweet Apple Acres.
"It has a great view!" Twilight remarked when the reached the top.
"I know," Comet Tail agreed. "I always figured it would be a great place to watch a meteor shower."
"I bet it would," Twilight agreed, looking around. "So, what did you bring?" Comet Tail opened up his basket and pulled out some cupcakes, several sandwiches, and a watermelon. Twilight licked her lips.
"That watermelon looks delicious." Comet Tail laughed at the comment.
"Doesn't it?" He replied. "I'll let you have some after you show me your stuff."
"Fine." Twilight levitated her apples, oranges, bananas, and sandwiches out of the basket. "Nutritious and delicious!"
"Definitely," Comet Tail commented. "So, you want a slice of watermelon?"
"Yes, please!" Twilight answered. Comet Tail brought out a cutting knife. Twilight watched him slice the melon in half, then into smaller pieces. Twilight's favorite fruit of all time was watermelon. It was so sweet and juicy and-
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" Twilight whipped around to see Shoeshine skittering towards them on roller blades. "HEEEEEELP MEEEEEEEEE!" Twilight and Comet Tail immediately galloped after her. Twilight wasn't too surprised that Comet Tail easily outran her.
"It's alright!" He shouted as he gained on Shoeshine, who was still shrieking. Twilight watched as Comet Tail put a hoof out to stop Shoeshine.
What am I doing?Twilight asked herself inside her head. She teleported herself over to Comet Tail's side.
"Are you alright, Shoeshine?" She asked. Shoeshine sniffed.
"I think so. I was trying out these roller blades- I guess I'm not very good." Shoeshine buried her head in her sky blue hooves.
"Don't worry, Shoeshine," Comet Tail told her. "You're safe now." Shoeshine nodded.
"Thanks, Twilight. Thanks, Comet Tail."
"Anytime," Twilight replied cheerfully. "Do you need any help getting those blades off?" When Shoeshine nodded, Twilight and Comet Tail used their magic to pull them off Shoeshine's hooves.
"Thanks, guys," she said, standing up. "See you around!" Without another word, she cantered off.
"That was nice," Twilight commented. Comet Tail nodded.
"Hey, wanna race?" He asked. Twilight nodded.
"You'll win, though," she admitted. Comet Tail snorted.
"Remind me to tell you my technique when we're finished. Ready?" Twilight nodded and crouched down next to Comet Tail.
"Set..." Twilight suddenly remembered the Running of the Leaves.
"Go!" Twilight shot forward, running as fast as she could and not bothering to pace herself. Almost immediately, Comet Tail was in front of her. Twilight pushed herself forward, feeling unusually competitive.
Of course, it didn't make a difference. Comet Tail still beat her.
"What was the technique you mentioned?" Twilight asked as she picked up her slice of watermelon.
"Oh yeah! So, when I'm not racing, I use my magic to boost my speed," Comet Tail explained. Twilight nodded l, encouraging him to go on, and took a bite of her watermelon slice.
Immediately, Twilight's throat closed. She couldn't breathe!
That was pepper! She thought frantically, trying to breathe.
"Twilight? Twilight!" Twilight heard Comet Tail calling her name. She felt numb and helpless. Twilight's vision began to darken. There was no one to help her...
~
When Twilight blinked her eyes open, nine worried faces stared at her.
"Twilight! You're awake!" Applejack exclaimed in relief. Twilight stared at the faces around her.
"What happened?" She asked, but it came out in a croak.
"You had a severe allergic reaction," Nurse Redheart explained. "Comet Tail got you to Applejack and her family. You're lucky to be alive." Twilight jerked her head. She had just realized that Comet Tail was standing next to Spike and Fluttershy.
"Was that some sort of sick joke?" She spat, then coughed. "What, you thought I was gonna just have a coughing fit? You thought it would be funny? You almost killed me!" Comet Tail flattened his ears.
"Twilight, I promise, I don't know how the pepper got onto my food," he said. "Please, believe me."
"Oh, like somepony else was trying to kill me!" Twilight retorted.
"Twilight, calm down," Fluttershy murmured. "I'm sure it was just a misunderstanding."
"Chill, Twi," Rainbow Dash added. "We'll get to the bottom of this." She shot daggers at Comet Tail.
~
"She's in the hospital, Cherry Berry," Shoeshine said gravely as she entered her best friend's house. Cherry Berry looked up from the book she was reading.
"Oh, really? Shame." She turned her attention back to the book. Shoeshine was disgusted.
"Thanks to you, Twilight Sparkle almost died! I, I can't believe I agreed to distract them! This is insane, Cherry Berry! And you don't even care!"
"Hey, I do care, Shoeshine," Cherry Berry snapped. "Tell her I said I pity her, okay?" Shoeshine stomped her hoof in disbelief and utter disgust.
"You are a despicable pony, Cherry Berry! Get over Comet Tail!" She stormed out and slammed the door.
~
"Twilight." Nurse Snowheart entered the room. "There's another pony here to see you."
"Who is it?" Twilight asked. She was shocked as Shoeshine entered the room. "Shoeshine? What do you need? What are you doing here?" Shoeshine looked down at her hooves.
"Twilight, I am so sorry!" She blurted out. "Cherry Berry was my best friend so I agreed to distract you and Comet Tail while she sprinkled pepper on Comet Tail's food so you'd think he was trying to hurt you, but she didn't realize how serious your allergy was and Comet Tail didn't do it and please forgive me!" She begged. Twilight, her friends, Spike, Nurse Redheart, and Comet Tail stared at her in shock.
"I forgive you, Shoeshine," Twilight said quietly. "I..."
"Cherry Berry is insane," Comet Tail snapped. "I cannot believe I ever dated that monster." Shoeshine hung her head.
"I hope you feel better, Twilight," she murmured before walking out. Twilight turned to Comet Tail.
"Comet, I'm sorry for blaming you," she said. "I shouldn't have assumed the worst. Please, forgive me?"
"Of course, Twilight," Comet Tail responded. The two of them nuzzled.
"So sweet!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed. Everypony giggled.
Author's Note
I hadn't planned on writing this chapter, but it seemed like a good idea.
Pinkie Pie gets one line. At the end. Seems legit.
I totally had no idea Twilight would end up in the hospital when I began to write this. The storyline changed a lot.
