Twilight and Cadence Ship Equestriaby Mani-RoarChaptersChapter 1 Ships LandingChapter 2 Ship No More ForeverChapter 3 Come Ship With MeChapter 1 Ships LandingBig Mac leaned over until Fluttershy could feel his warm breath on her muzzle. “Nope?” Big Mac blushed, afraid that Fluttershy would be unwelcoming toward his sudden advance. “Oh, no it’s ok. I mean, anything you want to do is fine.” Fluttershy shifted her weight, trying to get comfortable with her back against the soft dewy grass. “Eeyup?” Big Mac nested his muzzle against Fluttershy’s cheek. The majority of his weight was placed on his front hooves as he tried not to smother her with his formidable hulk of a stallion body. “Oh… my… I just, I… I…” Fluttershy paused to exhale a tiny squeak when Big Mac ran his tongue along the back side of her ear. No longer able to contain her inhibitions she… “Twilight? Twilight are you down here?” “Spike!” Twilight quickly rolled up the scroll she had been writing on and set the quill back into the ink. “Oh there you are Twilight.” Spike started to open the door to the room Twilight was in but she sprung up and slammed it shut with her hooves before he could see inside. The door caught Spike’s leg. “Ouch, Twilight that hurts.” Twilight locked the door as soon as Spike managed to retract his bruised leg. “Sorry, I’m sorry Spike. Are you ok?” Spike rubbed his thigh a little. “Yeah I’m fine, I guess. Why did you close the door on me?” “Sorry, sorry, it’s just you’re not allowed in here.” Twilight started hyperventilating. “Why would I not be allowed in the library basement?” Spike was getting more irritated with Twilight. She turned and looked at the shelves full of scrolls stacked all the way to the ceiling. All of them written by her. She felt a tinge of embarrassment as her mind raced to find an excuse to give Spike. She made sure that her most recent scroll was properly tied and placed in its proper cataloged location before attempting to open the basement door. “I’m coming out.” She exited the basement and shut the door behind her before Spike could get a good look at the room. “What are you keeping in there that’s such a big secret I’m not even allowed in?” Spike was beginning to feel just a little betrayed. “Nothing, nothing. It’s nothing really. Nothing at all, nope, not in there. Just an ordinary room, that’s right.” Twilight was possibly tied with Applejack for the worst liar in Equestria. Spike folded his arms and tapped his foot, waiting for Twilight to drop the obvious pretense. Twilight sighed, realizing she would have to come up with something better. I wonder if Star Swirl the Bearded ever had this problem she wondered. That’s when the idea struck her. “Oh um, actually there is a secret in that room. You see, now that we have this huge library castle thingy, princess Celestia has decided to move part of the Star Swirl the Bearded wing of the Canterlot library to my library for safe keeping. You see, Star Swirl wrote a lot of really powerful magic and only a princess is allowed to look at and read the scrolls. So yeah, that’s why I couldn't let you in. Sorry for not telling you sooner.” Twilight smiled nervously and let out an uncomfortable chortle. “Oh that’s all? Pssh, who cares about dusty old spells? One less room for me to clean am I right?” Twilight felt as if a huge weight had been removed from her shoulders. “Thank goodness.” “What did you say Twilight? “Nothing. Wait, didn’t you have something you needed to tell me?” “Oh, yeah. Her royal honor princess Cadence is at the front door. Apparently you were supposed to meet her at the train station for her visit. I’ll go tell her to come back later if you’re busy?” Spike started to run up the staircase but Twilight levitated him and pulled him back toward her with her magic. “Oh my gosh, I completely forgot. She’s supposed to oversee the additions to the Crystal Empire wing of the new library. Spike, you said she’s at the door, did you even let her in?” “Nah I told her I’d be right back in a second as soon as I found you.” Twilight’s head drooped, afraid of the answer to her next question. “And how long have you been looking for me?” “About 20 minutes.” Spike remained completely matter of fact. “You left Cadence outside for 20 minutes?” Twilight kicked out her back legs in frustration. “Well yeah, I hadn’t found you yet, duh.” Spike threw his hands up. Twilight shot Spike a dirty look and then ran up the stairs at full trot. **** Cadence and her small entourage of three royal guards were waiting patiently at the front door of Twilight’s library castle. The guards remained at attention but Cadence had given up on looking official. She was sitting casually propped up against the wall as she inspected the quality of her recent hoofacure for about the 27th time. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed that a certain amber colored guard of her’s had a suspicious grin on his face. “Hey Flash,” A crooked grin appeared on Cadence’s face. Flash Sentry broke out of his trance and looked over to his princess. “Yes Ma’am?” Flash clicked his hooves and reset his stance of attention. “You seem particularly pleased to be on this side of Equestria, Lieutenant” Cadence went back to examining her hooves as if she were bored. “Always pleased to do my duty wherever it takes me, Ma’am,” Flash had a hard time suppressing his cheesy smile. “Hmmm, I dunno about that, lieutenant. I’d almost say that there’s something special about this place to you?” The other two guards shot sideways glances at Flash. He was lucky that he was the ranking officer in the entourage. A superior would surely rip into him for this, possible even in front of the princess. “I’m sure I have no idea what you’re talking about ma’am,” Flash was unable to control the giant smile on his face. “Uh huh.” The double doors to the castle burst open so fast they slammed against the wall with a loud thud. If Cadence had been sitting any closer to the entrance, she probably would have been smacked in the face by hard crystal. The open entrance revealed Twilight standing on her hind legs with her front hooves stretched out from shoving the doors. She looked like she was having a panic attack. “Cadence!” I’m so sorry, I just found out you were here. I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m so sorry. Have you really been waiting all this time?” Twilight offered Cadence her hoof and helped her stand up. “Don’t worry about it Twilight, I’m sure you’ve been really busy today.” Cadence brushed her right side off and flipped her hair back into place. “That’s still no excuse. Here, come on in, Spike will bring us some tea.” Twilight looked over to Spike expectantly. “Aw man, I just finished cataloging ‘R’ and was about to take a nap.” Spike folded his arms in protest. Twilight shot him a dirty glance. “So yeah, Spike should be back with that tea any second, won’t you Spike? You helpful, punctual dragon you.” “Sigh, fine,” Spike meandered off toward the kitchen. When Twilight turned to address Cadence again, her eye caught a certain golden armored stallion trying not to make direct eye contact with her. “Oh, um, your guards are probably tired from the trip, we can probably arrange, um, lodging for them this evening. There are a lot of extra rooms in the castle.” Twilight fussed with her mane a bit. Cadence grew an evil smile that reminded Twilight of the time Chrysalis impersonated her. “Oh that’s so kind of you princess Twilight. Was there any particular room you had in mind?” Twilight’s face turned bright red. Cadence grinned and put her hoof over her mouth as if she had just said something really naughty. “Lets just go inside,” Twilight turned and led the entourage down the castle halls. She leaned over toward Cadence so that nopony else could hear her. “How come he never says anything to me?” Twilight’s whisper voice was a little obvious. “It’s protocol, he’s not allowed to address a princess unless he’s addressed first.” Cadence’s low speaking voice was much more subtle than Twilight’s. “So that means you’re going to have to start the conversations, don’t be such a little chicken filly.” Twilight frowned at Cadence. Chicken filly is what she always called her when Cadence wanted to annoy Twilight. They continued walking down the hall and were nearly at the throne room of the castle. “Well, are you gonna talk to him or what?” Cadence darted her eye’s in Flash’s direction. “What? You mean right now?” Twilight lowered her head a little bit. “Yes right now, cause I know you won’t do it if I let you wait till later.” Cadence bumped against Twilight which caught her off guard and caused her to stop walking for a second. By the time she started walking again, her stride was right next to Flash Sentry. “Hey Flash, how are, uh, things?” Twilight made a face that she hoped looked like a smile. “Hello princess Twilight. I’ve been well. Thank you for asking.” Flash bit his lower lip. “We really have to stop bumping into each other like this.” “Not this time princess, I saw you coming and got out of the way.” Twilight let out such a dorky laugh that it made her blush. “Yeah, I guess that’s true. Um, you know, you don’t have to call me princess all the time.” Twilight was finally starting to smile a little more naturally around Flash. “Oh but I do princess Twilight, I could get in big trouble for breaking protocol like that.” “Even if you’re off duty?” Twilight gasped a little at the realization that she may have inadvertently asked him to spend off duty time with her. Flash stopped his stride and looked at her surprised. Twilight stopped with him. “Well, I suppose that would be an exception wouldn't it, princess?” Flash took off his sentry helmet and held it under his hoof. Twilight struggled to find something else to say. “Do you like books?” Twilight felt so stupid. What kind of basic line is that? she thought. “I love books.” Twilight’s hope returned with Flash’s response. “Do you like reading them?” 0 for 2 Sparkle. Twilight wasn't feeling very pleased with her conversation skills. “Alone or with somepony?” Flash cocked his eyebrow a little bit. Twilight felt as if she would melt into the floor. “Well I usually read alone, but with somepony sounds much better.” Twilight smiled at Flash and lowered her ears, “Would you like me to show you some our library’s best titles? Uh, as soon as Cadence dismisses you for the evening, of course.” Twilight quickly looked away. “Oh of course. No doubt; not till after, princess.” Flash looked away as well. “Lieutenant Flash Sentry, you’re dismissed. Get out of my sight.” Twilight and Flash looked over at Cadence when she spoke. They hadn't noticed that the others had been waiting and watching their conversation. Flash tossed his helmet back on and saluted Cadence. “Yes ma’am, thank you ma’am.” Flash looked over to Twilight who was messing with her mane again. “Well princess, shall we?” Flash Sentry extended his hoof to Twilight. Twilight turned her head away with playful contempt. “You promised to call me Twilight off duty.” She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. “Sorry, my bad. Ahem… Shall we, Twilight?” Something about hearing Flash say her first name out loud made Twilight feel giddy. She took his outstretched hoof into hers. I wish that this moment would last If only. “Princess Twilight, princess Cadence, I've brought tea for everypony.” Spike came barreling into the hallway with a large tray of hot tea and cups. He tried to slip in between Twilight and Flash but when Twilight grabbed Flash’s hoof, it closed off his gap. He slammed into their hooves like a cruel game of red rover and fell backwards. His momentum caused the kettle of hot tea to splash all over Flash Sentry and the cups to shatter on the ground. “Ahh! That’s hot!” Flash reeled back from the burn of the tea. “Flash!” Twilight looked mortified that Flash had taken hot tea to the face. “Sorry Flash, I didn't know Twilight was gonna stick her hoof out.” Spike rubbed his bruised forehead from the fall. “I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry, Let me clean you up. I’ll go get a towel from kitchen.” Twilight ran down the hallway and ducked through a door. “Twilight, the kitchen is the other way.” Spike’s advice was too late as she had already gone out of earshot. “Come on Flash, follow me to the kitchen so that I can get you a towel, and maybe some burn cream.” Spike motioned for Flash to follow him. “But what about Twilight?” Flash tried to wipe some of the excess tea off of himself. “Don’t worry Flash, I’ll go calm down Twilight. You let Spike take care of you.” Cadence walked off in the direction that Twilight went and her other two guards followed her. Flash walked off to the kitchen with Spike. A few seconds later, Twilight returned to the empty hallway with a towel and an ice pack. “Where did everypony go?” Frustrated, Twilight laid down and started crying into the spilled tea, “Why am I so stupid?” She held her face in her hooves and continued to sob. End Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Ship No More Forever*Knock knock knock* "Twilight, are you still in there?" Spike repeatedly rattled on the door to Twilight's room. "Go away Spike." Twilight's pillow muffled the sound of her reply. "You can't just avoid everypony all day." Spike gave the door a few more pounds for posterity. "Watch me." Twilight pulled a second pillow over her head so that her face was shoved into both of them. "He probably hates me now anyway." "He doesn't hate you Twilight." Spike gave up on the knocking and placed both of his claws against the door. Twilight finally stuck her head out of the pillows. "What do you know, Spike?" Spike put his back against the door and slunk down into a sitting position. "Well, next to you, not much I guess. But I do know a lot about you. I know that you're the most kind and sincere pony I've ever known. I know that not everypony sees that in you right away, but those that do are lucky to know you. You'd do anything for your friends." Spike curled into a sitting ball and held his knees with his arms. "And I know that if a little spilled tea is enough to make Flash think twice about spending time with you, then he doesn't deserve to spend time with you anyway." The door gently opened behind Spike. He looked up to see Twilight smile at him and wipe the remnants of her tears away. She embraced him with a hug and kissed him on the forehead. "Thank you Spike. You always know just what to say." Spike squirmed a little in her arms. "Aw shucks, don't get all embarrassing on me." Twilight released Spike from her grip. "I will when you stop saying sweet things." Twilight used her magic to fix her mane a little bit. "So where is Cadence? I should probably go make sure she has everything she needs before I go speak to Flash." Spike shot Twilight a sideways glance. "What? I really will go speak to Flash. I'm not afraid." "If you say so Twilight." Spike threw his hands up in an unconvinced fashion. "Ugh, just tell me where Cadence is Mr. Doubting dragon." "Oh she's down in the basement." Spike calmly pointed behind him. It took a second for the information to sink in for Twilight. "Well in that case I'd better... she's what!" Twilight froze in place. She felt as if her heart had plummeted into her stomach and her lungs had jumped up and caught in her throat. It took a moment for her to be able to speak again. "Spike, did you say the basement? Please tell me you're joking, ha ha, this is a funny joke right?" Twilight's irises shrank and went out of focus. Her forced smile looked like that of a maniac. "Nope, she's definitely in the basement. Are you ok?" Twilight's mood swings always made Spike nervous. "Why would you let her in the basement? I said nopony was allowed down there!" Twilight looked like she might burst into flames. "You said only a princess could read the scrolls in the new Star Swirl the bearded wing. Cadence said she was looking for one of his spells and she is a princess after all, so I lead her down there." Twilight was pacing now. "Oh no, oh no, oh no, no, no, no." Twilight broke her pace and ran off toward the stairs. "I have to stop her before it's too late." Spike was left staring down the hallway terribly confused. "So, that was a bad thing?" **** Twilight stood silently in the doorway of the castle basement. She was staring at one of her greatest fears. Another pony was reading one of her works of fiction. Cadence was right in the middle of the floor, plopped down on her stomach with a scroll wide open. Twilight felt completely exposed. All of her deepest and dirtiest secrets, penetrated by foreign eyes. She must think I'm so twisted, sick, demented, perverted. What scroll is she reading? What part is she at? Oh Celestia, she's turning to look at me. I can't look at her. Twilight turned away from Cadence, her face redder than Big Mac. "Twilight, did you write these?" This is it Sparkle, time to face the music. I have no excuse. "Y-yes, I did. I wrote all of them." Twilight waited for the judgement to fall. "These are so good. So much detail... gritty detail." Cadence blushed a little bit. Twilight felt as if she had just gotten away with murder. "Y-you like them?" Twilight finally allowed herself to look at cadence. "Of course I like them, why wouldn't I?" The realization dawned on Cadence. "Aw, you thought I was gonna judge you didn't you?" Cadence giggled. "Well, yeah a little, I mean, no I guess not." Cadence walked over to Twilight and put her hoof around her. She used her other hoof to give Twilight a soft noogie. "Geez Twilight, how dare you have a sex drive, you little monster." Twilight giggled and pulled away from Cadence's noogie. "Stop it." Twilight tried to regain her composure. "Aw, my little Twilie's all grown up now and writing dirty fictions about her friends and neighbors." "Well when you put it that way..." Twilight trailed off, feeling embarrassed again. "So, which story were you reading anyway?" "Oh, this one's about me and Shining Armor." Twilight gasped as the horrible feeling she had upstairs suddenly returned. "He he he, your face is priceless right now." Cadence was enjoying torturing Twilight. "I can't believe you picked that one, out of all the stories you could have read." Twilight smacked her hoof to her face. "I can't believe you wrote it. How much time do you spend thinking about me and your brother being together? Six hours, ten hours a day?" "I do not think about that all day! I just wanted to tell a good story." Twilight felt genuinely guilty. Cadence decided to back off a little bit. "Look, it's not a big deal. I didn't mean anything by it." Twilight was unable to bring herself to answer so Cadence went on. "So what does motivate you to write all of these? This is quite an impressive body of work. Something must have brought it on." “Well. I’m not completely sure. It’s just…” Twilight had never stopped to think about why she wrote so many fictions about other ponies. It was just something she liked doing. “I’m supposed to be the princess of friendship, so I want ponies to be happy and together. I find myself taking mental notes about how certain ponies act around each other and what their personalities are like. Then I try to determine who would be the perfect romantic match for whom. As I think about it, I start to imagine what it would take to spark the romance between the two ponies and how they would discover that they truly belonged together. I just get so excited that I start writing the whole scenario down like a novel and well…” Twilight motioned to the massive collection of scrolls. “Eventually, this happened.” “Wow Twilight, that’s so… dedicated of you. Have you ever told any of these ponies about who you think they should be matched with?” Twilight waved her hooves wildly. “Oh no, no, no. I’m way too shy to say anything to anypony. What if they don’t feel the same way? What if I ruin it? If only there was some way I could just spark the feelings I know they truly have for each other.” That’s when it hit Twilight. It was like a realization brought down from heaven itself. “Twilight, what are thinking right now? That’s your evil scheming face. I don’t like your evil scheming face.” Twilight’s luscious, evil smile was fixated directly on Cadence. “You.” Twilight pointed her hoof out to Cadence. “Me?” Cadence was beginning to get a little anxious. “Yes, you. How have I never thought of this before? Your magic can bring the love of two ponies together. It’s perfect.” “Whoa whoa, hold on Twilight, what I do is way different than this.” Twilight took exception to Cadence’s dismissal. “How is it any different?” “My magic is very dangerous. It involves a pony’s inner emotions and feelings. It messes with the very psyche on an individual. I never use it lightly.” Cadence backed away from Twilight a little. “I’m not saying you should use it lightly.” Twilight moved closer to Cadence. “Also, I only use it on existing couples, I never make anypony fall in love. That would be like mind control, slavery even.” Cadence backed all the way into the scroll shelf. “Not if the two ponies truly belong together. Not if it’s what they truly want.” Twilight moved in and corned Cadence by the scroll shelf. “Twilight, do you realize what you are suggesting? If we are wrong, if we make a mistake, it could be devastating for real ponies in real life, not just fiction.” “That’s why we collect as much data as possible, track statistics and make charts. Just like we did for you and Shining armor when you were in High school, remember?” Twilight leaned her face in right next to Cadence’s. “Y-yes, I remember. I guess that did work out pretty well.” Cadence looked away from Twilight’s intense stare. “Exactly!” Twilight was suddenly giddy. “I’m the princess of friendship and you’re the princess of love. Who could possibly be more qualified to bring the perfect couples together?” Twilight jumped in the air with joy. Cadence’s apprehensive expression was suddenly replaced by a thick scowl. “Look, Twilight. I appreciate your sentiment, but what you are asking crosses a big line. I cannot condone the use of magic to force other ponies to act how we want. Even if we think we are sure that they want it. Celestia would never approve.” Twilight tucked her tail in between her legs. “But…” Cadence move in on Twilight causing her to back up instead. “It’s not going to happen Twilight, do you understand me? Never ever, never, never!” End Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Come Ship With Me“I can’t believe I agreed to even entertain this idea.” Cadence picked a few leaves out of her mane. She and Twilight were crouched behind the bushes beside the road to Sweet Apple Acres. Twilight looked at Cadence anxiously and put her hoof to her mouth. “Shhhh, They’ll be here any second. I don’t want them to hear us.” Twilight crouched lower wearing her Daring Do safari hat. She pulled her vintage Daring Do binoculars up to her eyes and stared down the road through a small gap in the bushes. She made absolute care that nopony could see her from the road. Cadence just sort of sat there half covered by the foliage. “Twilight, I would tell you to get out more, but it looks like we may need to hide you from society after all.” “Howdy y’all.” Twilight and Cadence both jumped at the sound of Applejack. Twilight turned and eyed her with the binoculars. Applejack looked like a giant titan pony through the magnifying lenses. “What’re y’all princesses doin’ hidin’ by the road? Birdwatchin’? “ Applejack was pulling a large cart stacked to the brim with pies. “Applejack, get down, you’re going to give us away.” Twilight motioned downward with her hooves. “Seen by whom? Y’all in trouble or something? You must have messed up pretty bad to get two princesses in trouble.” Twilight reach out and grabbed Applejack by the neck. In true wrestler fashion, she pulled Applejack under the brush with them. “What in tarnation you do that for?” Applejack tossed Twilight’s arm aside and sat up in the brush. "I'm all for playful rough housing but maybe a little warnin' next time?" "Sorry, it's just that they're almost here." Twilight motioned for Applejack to be quiet. "Who's almost..." "Shhhhh" "Who's almost here?" Applejack lowered her voice to a whisper. She had a tired and annoyed expression on her face which was just about the same as Cadence's expression. "Look," Twilight handed Applejack the binoculars. AJ peared down the road through them. She saw a dainty yellow pony singing to herself as she walked. "It's Fluttershy, y'all are hidin' from Fluttershy." Applejack looked at Twilight like she looked at Applebloom when her chores went undone. "Now look over there." Twilight pointed down the other side of the fork in the road. Their bush was right at the intersection where the roads met. Applejack gave a quick look down there with the binoculars. "That's Big Mac comin' up from the school house." Applejack looked up from the bulky spectacles unimpressed. "So what's the plan? Twilight takes out Fluttershy while Cadence and I sneak around and take down Big Mac?" Applejack rolled her eyes. "Very funny," Twilight scrunched her face in contempt. Cadence finally cracked a smile. "I dunno Twilight. I kinda like that plan. Are you sure you can take Fluttershy by yourself?" Cadence and AJ snickered. "I reckon I know all of Big Mac's best moved. I can probably counter him by myself if you wanna give Twilight a helpin' hoof." Now AJ and Cadence were rolling in the grass with giggles. Twilight folder her arms with a frown. “Oh hardy-har you two. Now be quiet they’re almost here.” Twilight went back to vigilantly inspecting the road with her large spectacles. “I still have no idea what this is about.” Applejack politely return to a hushed speaking volume. Cadence rolled her eyes and also spoke very quietly. “Twilight is trying to make me regret my life decisions.” Even though Cadence was hesitant about the whole ordeal, she tucked herself further behind the bush to make sure she was hidden. “I’m trying to prove a point to Cadence.” “What point? That this road is well traveled by ponies we know? Doesn’t seem like a hard case to make.” Applejack looked over to her delivery cart. She was suddenly worried about being late for her delivery to Sugar Cube Corner. Big Mac reached the intersection first. He turned and saw Fluttershy a few paces away, so he waited for her to reach him. "H-hello Big Mac. Nice to see you again." Fluttershy looked away from from Mac so that only her right eye, covered by her hair, was facing him. "Eeyup" "Everyday, Fluttershy comes home from the market right at the same time Big Mac comes home from volunteering at the schoolhouse. They always meet right here at this intersection." Twilight pointed to the ground with confidence. "I didn't know that. Twilight, how come you know my brother's schedule better than I do?" "Is this supposed to convince me that they are 'destined' to be together? I'm failing to see the sparks fly." Cadence gestured toward the awkward duo. "Wait, what in the hay do you mean by 'destined to be together?'" Applejack gave a confused look to Twilight. "Just shush and watch the magic happen, or rather not happen." The three of them watched intently from their snooping spot. "So um, have you been looking over your music for the Pony Tones?" Fluttershy fixed her gaze on the ground. "Eeyup" Big Mac hadn't moved since he stopped at the intersection. He kept his eyes fixed at the top of Fluttershy's hair. "I think the Billy Colt ballad is really pretty. I can't wait to hear how it sounds with everypony together." "Eeyup" Fluttershy looked like she was about to panic. Cadence was starting to get a little restless. "Why doesn't she just ask him to come over to her place for a drink or something?" "Hey, that's my brother you're talkin' about." Applejack gave Cadence a little nudge. "Oh right, cause he should totally wait for a nicer mare to come along in his life." Cadence shot back at AJ. "Point taken." Twilight looked at Cadence like she had just won an award. "See, I told you. It's so obvious that they like each other." "I never said you were wrong about that. I just don't think we should take such extreme measures." "Extreme measures?" Applejack looked confused again. "Oh, um, I'm glad to hear you like it too. I helped Rarity arrange it." Fluttershy shuffled her hoof in the dirt, not sure what to do with herself. "I wish I was brave enough to sing with you guys on stage. I just... something makes me panic in front of other ponies. I don't know if I'll ever find the courage." "Nope" Fluttershy's face showed a flash of devastation before she hid behind her hair again. "Oh yeah, you're probably right. I never will get the courage." Tears started to form in Fluttershy's eyes. Big Mac finally broke his stance with a mild gasp. "N-nope, uh y-yep, uh, uh..." Big Mac was playing with his hooves in the sand now. "You don't have to explain yourself Big Mac. It's ok, I know the truth." Big Mac firmly planted his hoof into the dirt and whinnied a quick snort. Fluttershy flinched at his sudden movement. "You have a beautiful voice, Fluttershy." Cadence and Twilight stared with their mouths gaped open. Fluttershy stopped shifting nervously and froze in place. “Did Big Mac just talk? Like talk, talk?” Cadence nudged Twilight. “This is fascinating, I’m going to have to record the time and date.” Twilight pulled a note pad and quill from under her Daring Do safari hat. “Why are y’all actin’ like Big Mac never says anything but ‘eeyup’ and ‘nope?’” Twilight and Cadence both looked at Applejack. “He talks… sometimes.” Big Mac wasn’t sure what to do now that he had blurted out his compliment. He and Fluttershy avoided eye contact with each other. “This is getting ridiculous. Will one of them just say something?” Cadence shifted her position like she was trying to get comfortable. “Fluttershy I can understand, but I didn’t realize my brother was such a yellow bellied scaredy colt when it came to talkin’ to mares.” Applejack tipped her hat to punctuate her accusation. “I dunno Applejack, I think he might want even more yellow on him than that.” Cadence looked at AJ out of the corner of her eye. “Cadence! What kinda language is that for a Princess?” Applejack looked disappointed. Cadence giggled and put her hoof over her mouth like she had been a bad girl. “Come on Cadence, what more evidence do you need?" Twilight continued to scribble in her notebook. “Evidence of what exactly?” Applejack’s ears perked up. “Evidence that Fluttershy and Big Mac are perfect for each other. If Cadence would just cast her love spell, they would stop beating around the bush and get on with it.” Twilight’s face suddenly turned red as she thought about her last sentence. “I mean… they would become a couple at last.” “Oh no you don’t. Y’all better not be bewitchin’ my brother with some hocus pocus mind control love spell.” Applejack’s expression went from confusion to furious. “We had enough of that garbage last time Applebloom and her friends tried to play matchmaker.” “But Applejack, you have to admit there’s something between them. Are you telling me you’ve never noticed the way they interact with each other?” Twilight tilted her head and readied her writing quill. “Well, I do reckon that Big Mac gets distracted from work whenever Fluttershy comes by. And I have noticed Fluttershy brings him up in conversation a lot more than she used to.” Applejack tapped her front hooves together a few times. “See? It’s not just a filly crush… or a filly’s perception of an adult crush that’s not a filly crush.” Cadence’s horn glowed pink. “I dunno know Twilight. I reckon you could be right, but using magic? Shouldn’t they just, let it happen if it’s supposed to happen?” Applejack and Twilight failed to notice the flash of pink light that briefly flew from Cadence’s horn. “Have you been paying attention? Big Mac and Fluttershy are so stubborn and shy, respectively, neither of them is ever gonna act on it and they’ll never know how happy they could be. Is that what you want AJ? Don’t you want your brother to be happy?” Twilight’s overzealous and wide eyed face was right in front of Applejack’s. “Well, yes, of course I want him to be happy… I just…” Big Mac and Fluttershy jolted as if they had been stung by a bee at the same time. They turned and looked at each other in the eye for the first time in the whole conversation. Big Mac smiled like he was satisfied form a hard day’s work. Fluttershy smiled back like she had just rescued the cutest kitten. “Um Big Mac, do you want to come over to my cottage and catch up on… well… everything that’s ever happened to either of us?” For once, Fluttershy didn’t look like she was afraid of the response. “Eeyup” Big Mac pointed down the path that led to Fluttershy’s house. There was less than an inch of space between them as the headed down the path. “Did that just happen?” Twilight suspended her binoculars over her eyes while trying to furiously write with her quill. “Hah, ain’t never gonna happen my hoof. Looks like Fluttershy went and grew herself a spine. Hot diggity.” Applejack clasped her hooves together. “I know, it’s almost like it came out of nowhere.” Twilight looked at Cadence just in time to catch her wink. Twilight smiled knowingly back at her and giggled a little. “Guess you won’t be needing your hoodoo-voodoo magic spell after all.” Applejack shot a smug look to Cadence and Twilight. The two of them exchanged nervous looks. “Nope, we won’t need that at all, no sir, not even a little bit, heh heh.” Twilight turned to Cadence who looked away from her. “Now she better not play with his heart none or I swear to Celestia I will tie her up and drag her around Sweet Apple Acres.” Applejack got suddenly serious again. “Play with his heart? Applejack, you’re talking about the element of kindness.” Twilight was raised her eyebrows. “I know, I know, I’m just sayin’.” Twilight’s mind was racing with excitement. All of the potential couples and romances were running through her head. The thought of making her fiction writings a reality was giving her a rush of adrenaline as strong as the time she fought Tirek. She grinned deviously. Oh this is perfect. This so perfect and it’s only the beginning.
Chapter 1 Ships LandingBig Mac leaned over until Fluttershy could feel his warm breath on her muzzle. “Nope?” Big Mac blushed, afraid that Fluttershy would be unwelcoming toward his sudden advance. “Oh, no it’s ok. I mean, anything you want to do is fine.” Fluttershy shifted her weight, trying to get comfortable with her back against the soft dewy grass. “Eeyup?” Big Mac nested his muzzle against Fluttershy’s cheek. The majority of his weight was placed on his front hooves as he tried not to smother her with his formidable hulk of a stallion body. “Oh… my… I just, I… I…” Fluttershy paused to exhale a tiny squeak when Big Mac ran his tongue along the back side of her ear. No longer able to contain her inhibitions she… “Twilight? Twilight are you down here?” “Spike!” Twilight quickly rolled up the scroll she had been writing on and set the quill back into the ink. “Oh there you are Twilight.” Spike started to open the door to the room Twilight was in but she sprung up and slammed it shut with her hooves before he could see inside. The door caught Spike’s leg. “Ouch, Twilight that hurts.” Twilight locked the door as soon as Spike managed to retract his bruised leg. “Sorry, I’m sorry Spike. Are you ok?” Spike rubbed his thigh a little. “Yeah I’m fine, I guess. Why did you close the door on me?” “Sorry, sorry, it’s just you’re not allowed in here.” Twilight started hyperventilating. “Why would I not be allowed in the library basement?” Spike was getting more irritated with Twilight. She turned and looked at the shelves full of scrolls stacked all the way to the ceiling. All of them written by her. She felt a tinge of embarrassment as her mind raced to find an excuse to give Spike. She made sure that her most recent scroll was properly tied and placed in its proper cataloged location before attempting to open the basement door. “I’m coming out.” She exited the basement and shut the door behind her before Spike could get a good look at the room. “What are you keeping in there that’s such a big secret I’m not even allowed in?” Spike was beginning to feel just a little betrayed. “Nothing, nothing. It’s nothing really. Nothing at all, nope, not in there. Just an ordinary room, that’s right.” Twilight was possibly tied with Applejack for the worst liar in Equestria. Spike folded his arms and tapped his foot, waiting for Twilight to drop the obvious pretense. Twilight sighed, realizing she would have to come up with something better. I wonder if Star Swirl the Bearded ever had this problem she wondered. That’s when the idea struck her. “Oh um, actually there is a secret in that room. You see, now that we have this huge library castle thingy, princess Celestia has decided to move part of the Star Swirl the Bearded wing of the Canterlot library to my library for safe keeping. You see, Star Swirl wrote a lot of really powerful magic and only a princess is allowed to look at and read the scrolls. So yeah, that’s why I couldn't let you in. Sorry for not telling you sooner.” Twilight smiled nervously and let out an uncomfortable chortle. “Oh that’s all? Pssh, who cares about dusty old spells? One less room for me to clean am I right?” Twilight felt as if a huge weight had been removed from her shoulders. “Thank goodness.” “What did you say Twilight? “Nothing. Wait, didn’t you have something you needed to tell me?” “Oh, yeah. Her royal honor princess Cadence is at the front door. Apparently you were supposed to meet her at the train station for her visit. I’ll go tell her to come back later if you’re busy?” Spike started to run up the staircase but Twilight levitated him and pulled him back toward her with her magic. “Oh my gosh, I completely forgot. She’s supposed to oversee the additions to the Crystal Empire wing of the new library. Spike, you said she’s at the door, did you even let her in?” “Nah I told her I’d be right back in a second as soon as I found you.” Twilight’s head drooped, afraid of the answer to her next question. “And how long have you been looking for me?” “About 20 minutes.” Spike remained completely matter of fact. “You left Cadence outside for 20 minutes?” Twilight kicked out her back legs in frustration. “Well yeah, I hadn’t found you yet, duh.” Spike threw his hands up. Twilight shot Spike a dirty look and then ran up the stairs at full trot. **** Cadence and her small entourage of three royal guards were waiting patiently at the front door of Twilight’s library castle. The guards remained at attention but Cadence had given up on looking official. She was sitting casually propped up against the wall as she inspected the quality of her recent hoofacure for about the 27th time. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed that a certain amber colored guard of her’s had a suspicious grin on his face. “Hey Flash,” A crooked grin appeared on Cadence’s face. Flash Sentry broke out of his trance and looked over to his princess. “Yes Ma’am?” Flash clicked his hooves and reset his stance of attention. “You seem particularly pleased to be on this side of Equestria, Lieutenant” Cadence went back to examining her hooves as if she were bored. “Always pleased to do my duty wherever it takes me, Ma’am,” Flash had a hard time suppressing his cheesy smile. “Hmmm, I dunno about that, lieutenant. I’d almost say that there’s something special about this place to you?” The other two guards shot sideways glances at Flash. He was lucky that he was the ranking officer in the entourage. A superior would surely rip into him for this, possible even in front of the princess. “I’m sure I have no idea what you’re talking about ma’am,” Flash was unable to control the giant smile on his face. “Uh huh.” The double doors to the castle burst open so fast they slammed against the wall with a loud thud. If Cadence had been sitting any closer to the entrance, she probably would have been smacked in the face by hard crystal. The open entrance revealed Twilight standing on her hind legs with her front hooves stretched out from shoving the doors. She looked like she was having a panic attack. “Cadence!” I’m so sorry, I just found out you were here. I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m so sorry. Have you really been waiting all this time?” Twilight offered Cadence her hoof and helped her stand up. “Don’t worry about it Twilight, I’m sure you’ve been really busy today.” Cadence brushed her right side off and flipped her hair back into place. “That’s still no excuse. Here, come on in, Spike will bring us some tea.” Twilight looked over to Spike expectantly. “Aw man, I just finished cataloging ‘R’ and was about to take a nap.” Spike folded his arms in protest. Twilight shot him a dirty glance. “So yeah, Spike should be back with that tea any second, won’t you Spike? You helpful, punctual dragon you.” “Sigh, fine,” Spike meandered off toward the kitchen. When Twilight turned to address Cadence again, her eye caught a certain golden armored stallion trying not to make direct eye contact with her. “Oh, um, your guards are probably tired from the trip, we can probably arrange, um, lodging for them this evening. There are a lot of extra rooms in the castle.” Twilight fussed with her mane a bit. Cadence grew an evil smile that reminded Twilight of the time Chrysalis impersonated her. “Oh that’s so kind of you princess Twilight. Was there any particular room you had in mind?” Twilight’s face turned bright red. Cadence grinned and put her hoof over her mouth as if she had just said something really naughty. “Lets just go inside,” Twilight turned and led the entourage down the castle halls. She leaned over toward Cadence so that nopony else could hear her. “How come he never says anything to me?” Twilight’s whisper voice was a little obvious. “It’s protocol, he’s not allowed to address a princess unless he’s addressed first.” Cadence’s low speaking voice was much more subtle than Twilight’s. “So that means you’re going to have to start the conversations, don’t be such a little chicken filly.” Twilight frowned at Cadence. Chicken filly is what she always called her when Cadence wanted to annoy Twilight. They continued walking down the hall and were nearly at the throne room of the castle. “Well, are you gonna talk to him or what?” Cadence darted her eye’s in Flash’s direction. “What? You mean right now?” Twilight lowered her head a little bit. “Yes right now, cause I know you won’t do it if I let you wait till later.” Cadence bumped against Twilight which caught her off guard and caused her to stop walking for a second. By the time she started walking again, her stride was right next to Flash Sentry. “Hey Flash, how are, uh, things?” Twilight made a face that she hoped looked like a smile. “Hello princess Twilight. I’ve been well. Thank you for asking.” Flash bit his lower lip. “We really have to stop bumping into each other like this.” “Not this time princess, I saw you coming and got out of the way.” Twilight let out such a dorky laugh that it made her blush. “Yeah, I guess that’s true. Um, you know, you don’t have to call me princess all the time.” Twilight was finally starting to smile a little more naturally around Flash. “Oh but I do princess Twilight, I could get in big trouble for breaking protocol like that.” “Even if you’re off duty?” Twilight gasped a little at the realization that she may have inadvertently asked him to spend off duty time with her. Flash stopped his stride and looked at her surprised. Twilight stopped with him. “Well, I suppose that would be an exception wouldn't it, princess?” Flash took off his sentry helmet and held it under his hoof. Twilight struggled to find something else to say. “Do you like books?” Twilight felt so stupid. What kind of basic line is that? she thought. “I love books.” Twilight’s hope returned with Flash’s response. “Do you like reading them?” 0 for 2 Sparkle. Twilight wasn't feeling very pleased with her conversation skills. “Alone or with somepony?” Flash cocked his eyebrow a little bit. Twilight felt as if she would melt into the floor. “Well I usually read alone, but with somepony sounds much better.” Twilight smiled at Flash and lowered her ears, “Would you like me to show you some our library’s best titles? Uh, as soon as Cadence dismisses you for the evening, of course.” Twilight quickly looked away. “Oh of course. No doubt; not till after, princess.” Flash looked away as well. “Lieutenant Flash Sentry, you’re dismissed. Get out of my sight.” Twilight and Flash looked over at Cadence when she spoke. They hadn't noticed that the others had been waiting and watching their conversation. Flash tossed his helmet back on and saluted Cadence. “Yes ma’am, thank you ma’am.” Flash looked over to Twilight who was messing with her mane again. “Well princess, shall we?” Flash Sentry extended his hoof to Twilight. Twilight turned her head away with playful contempt. “You promised to call me Twilight off duty.” She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. “Sorry, my bad. Ahem… Shall we, Twilight?” Something about hearing Flash say her first name out loud made Twilight feel giddy. She took his outstretched hoof into hers. I wish that this moment would last If only. “Princess Twilight, princess Cadence, I've brought tea for everypony.” Spike came barreling into the hallway with a large tray of hot tea and cups. He tried to slip in between Twilight and Flash but when Twilight grabbed Flash’s hoof, it closed off his gap. He slammed into their hooves like a cruel game of red rover and fell backwards. His momentum caused the kettle of hot tea to splash all over Flash Sentry and the cups to shatter on the ground. “Ahh! That’s hot!” Flash reeled back from the burn of the tea. “Flash!” Twilight looked mortified that Flash had taken hot tea to the face. “Sorry Flash, I didn't know Twilight was gonna stick her hoof out.” Spike rubbed his bruised forehead from the fall. “I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry, Let me clean you up. I’ll go get a towel from kitchen.” Twilight ran down the hallway and ducked through a door. “Twilight, the kitchen is the other way.” Spike’s advice was too late as she had already gone out of earshot. “Come on Flash, follow me to the kitchen so that I can get you a towel, and maybe some burn cream.” Spike motioned for Flash to follow him. “But what about Twilight?” Flash tried to wipe some of the excess tea off of himself. “Don’t worry Flash, I’ll go calm down Twilight. You let Spike take care of you.” Cadence walked off in the direction that Twilight went and her other two guards followed her. Flash walked off to the kitchen with Spike. A few seconds later, Twilight returned to the empty hallway with a towel and an ice pack. “Where did everypony go?” Frustrated, Twilight laid down and started crying into the spilled tea, “Why am I so stupid?” She held her face in her hooves and continued to sob. End Chapter 1
Chapter 2 Ship No More Forever*Knock knock knock* "Twilight, are you still in there?" Spike repeatedly rattled on the door to Twilight's room. "Go away Spike." Twilight's pillow muffled the sound of her reply. "You can't just avoid everypony all day." Spike gave the door a few more pounds for posterity. "Watch me." Twilight pulled a second pillow over her head so that her face was shoved into both of them. "He probably hates me now anyway." "He doesn't hate you Twilight." Spike gave up on the knocking and placed both of his claws against the door. Twilight finally stuck her head out of the pillows. "What do you know, Spike?" Spike put his back against the door and slunk down into a sitting position. "Well, next to you, not much I guess. But I do know a lot about you. I know that you're the most kind and sincere pony I've ever known. I know that not everypony sees that in you right away, but those that do are lucky to know you. You'd do anything for your friends." Spike curled into a sitting ball and held his knees with his arms. "And I know that if a little spilled tea is enough to make Flash think twice about spending time with you, then he doesn't deserve to spend time with you anyway." The door gently opened behind Spike. He looked up to see Twilight smile at him and wipe the remnants of her tears away. She embraced him with a hug and kissed him on the forehead. "Thank you Spike. You always know just what to say." Spike squirmed a little in her arms. "Aw shucks, don't get all embarrassing on me." Twilight released Spike from her grip. "I will when you stop saying sweet things." Twilight used her magic to fix her mane a little bit. "So where is Cadence? I should probably go make sure she has everything she needs before I go speak to Flash." Spike shot Twilight a sideways glance. "What? I really will go speak to Flash. I'm not afraid." "If you say so Twilight." Spike threw his hands up in an unconvinced fashion. "Ugh, just tell me where Cadence is Mr. Doubting dragon." "Oh she's down in the basement." Spike calmly pointed behind him. It took a second for the information to sink in for Twilight. "Well in that case I'd better... she's what!" Twilight froze in place. She felt as if her heart had plummeted into her stomach and her lungs had jumped up and caught in her throat. It took a moment for her to be able to speak again. "Spike, did you say the basement? Please tell me you're joking, ha ha, this is a funny joke right?" Twilight's irises shrank and went out of focus. Her forced smile looked like that of a maniac. "Nope, she's definitely in the basement. Are you ok?" Twilight's mood swings always made Spike nervous. "Why would you let her in the basement? I said nopony was allowed down there!" Twilight looked like she might burst into flames. "You said only a princess could read the scrolls in the new Star Swirl the bearded wing. Cadence said she was looking for one of his spells and she is a princess after all, so I lead her down there." Twilight was pacing now. "Oh no, oh no, oh no, no, no, no." Twilight broke her pace and ran off toward the stairs. "I have to stop her before it's too late." Spike was left staring down the hallway terribly confused. "So, that was a bad thing?" **** Twilight stood silently in the doorway of the castle basement. She was staring at one of her greatest fears. Another pony was reading one of her works of fiction. Cadence was right in the middle of the floor, plopped down on her stomach with a scroll wide open. Twilight felt completely exposed. All of her deepest and dirtiest secrets, penetrated by foreign eyes. She must think I'm so twisted, sick, demented, perverted. What scroll is she reading? What part is she at? Oh Celestia, she's turning to look at me. I can't look at her. Twilight turned away from Cadence, her face redder than Big Mac. "Twilight, did you write these?" This is it Sparkle, time to face the music. I have no excuse. "Y-yes, I did. I wrote all of them." Twilight waited for the judgement to fall. "These are so good. So much detail... gritty detail." Cadence blushed a little bit. Twilight felt as if she had just gotten away with murder. "Y-you like them?" Twilight finally allowed herself to look at cadence. "Of course I like them, why wouldn't I?" The realization dawned on Cadence. "Aw, you thought I was gonna judge you didn't you?" Cadence giggled. "Well, yeah a little, I mean, no I guess not." Cadence walked over to Twilight and put her hoof around her. She used her other hoof to give Twilight a soft noogie. "Geez Twilight, how dare you have a sex drive, you little monster." Twilight giggled and pulled away from Cadence's noogie. "Stop it." Twilight tried to regain her composure. "Aw, my little Twilie's all grown up now and writing dirty fictions about her friends and neighbors." "Well when you put it that way..." Twilight trailed off, feeling embarrassed again. "So, which story were you reading anyway?" "Oh, this one's about me and Shining Armor." Twilight gasped as the horrible feeling she had upstairs suddenly returned. "He he he, your face is priceless right now." Cadence was enjoying torturing Twilight. "I can't believe you picked that one, out of all the stories you could have read." Twilight smacked her hoof to her face. "I can't believe you wrote it. How much time do you spend thinking about me and your brother being together? Six hours, ten hours a day?" "I do not think about that all day! I just wanted to tell a good story." Twilight felt genuinely guilty. Cadence decided to back off a little bit. "Look, it's not a big deal. I didn't mean anything by it." Twilight was unable to bring herself to answer so Cadence went on. "So what does motivate you to write all of these? This is quite an impressive body of work. Something must have brought it on." “Well. I’m not completely sure. It’s just…” Twilight had never stopped to think about why she wrote so many fictions about other ponies. It was just something she liked doing. “I’m supposed to be the princess of friendship, so I want ponies to be happy and together. I find myself taking mental notes about how certain ponies act around each other and what their personalities are like. Then I try to determine who would be the perfect romantic match for whom. As I think about it, I start to imagine what it would take to spark the romance between the two ponies and how they would discover that they truly belonged together. I just get so excited that I start writing the whole scenario down like a novel and well…” Twilight motioned to the massive collection of scrolls. “Eventually, this happened.” “Wow Twilight, that’s so… dedicated of you. Have you ever told any of these ponies about who you think they should be matched with?” Twilight waved her hooves wildly. “Oh no, no, no. I’m way too shy to say anything to anypony. What if they don’t feel the same way? What if I ruin it? If only there was some way I could just spark the feelings I know they truly have for each other.” That’s when it hit Twilight. It was like a realization brought down from heaven itself. “Twilight, what are thinking right now? That’s your evil scheming face. I don’t like your evil scheming face.” Twilight’s luscious, evil smile was fixated directly on Cadence. “You.” Twilight pointed her hoof out to Cadence. “Me?” Cadence was beginning to get a little anxious. “Yes, you. How have I never thought of this before? Your magic can bring the love of two ponies together. It’s perfect.” “Whoa whoa, hold on Twilight, what I do is way different than this.” Twilight took exception to Cadence’s dismissal. “How is it any different?” “My magic is very dangerous. It involves a pony’s inner emotions and feelings. It messes with the very psyche on an individual. I never use it lightly.” Cadence backed away from Twilight a little. “I’m not saying you should use it lightly.” Twilight moved closer to Cadence. “Also, I only use it on existing couples, I never make anypony fall in love. That would be like mind control, slavery even.” Cadence backed all the way into the scroll shelf. “Not if the two ponies truly belong together. Not if it’s what they truly want.” Twilight moved in and corned Cadence by the scroll shelf. “Twilight, do you realize what you are suggesting? If we are wrong, if we make a mistake, it could be devastating for real ponies in real life, not just fiction.” “That’s why we collect as much data as possible, track statistics and make charts. Just like we did for you and Shining armor when you were in High school, remember?” Twilight leaned her face in right next to Cadence’s. “Y-yes, I remember. I guess that did work out pretty well.” Cadence looked away from Twilight’s intense stare. “Exactly!” Twilight was suddenly giddy. “I’m the princess of friendship and you’re the princess of love. Who could possibly be more qualified to bring the perfect couples together?” Twilight jumped in the air with joy. Cadence’s apprehensive expression was suddenly replaced by a thick scowl. “Look, Twilight. I appreciate your sentiment, but what you are asking crosses a big line. I cannot condone the use of magic to force other ponies to act how we want. Even if we think we are sure that they want it. Celestia would never approve.” Twilight tucked her tail in between her legs. “But…” Cadence move in on Twilight causing her to back up instead. “It’s not going to happen Twilight, do you understand me? Never ever, never, never!” End Chapter 2
Chapter 3 Come Ship With Me“I can’t believe I agreed to even entertain this idea.” Cadence picked a few leaves out of her mane. She and Twilight were crouched behind the bushes beside the road to Sweet Apple Acres. Twilight looked at Cadence anxiously and put her hoof to her mouth. “Shhhh, They’ll be here any second. I don’t want them to hear us.” Twilight crouched lower wearing her Daring Do safari hat. She pulled her vintage Daring Do binoculars up to her eyes and stared down the road through a small gap in the bushes. She made absolute care that nopony could see her from the road. Cadence just sort of sat there half covered by the foliage. “Twilight, I would tell you to get out more, but it looks like we may need to hide you from society after all.” “Howdy y’all.” Twilight and Cadence both jumped at the sound of Applejack. Twilight turned and eyed her with the binoculars. Applejack looked like a giant titan pony through the magnifying lenses. “What’re y’all princesses doin’ hidin’ by the road? Birdwatchin’? “ Applejack was pulling a large cart stacked to the brim with pies. “Applejack, get down, you’re going to give us away.” Twilight motioned downward with her hooves. “Seen by whom? Y’all in trouble or something? You must have messed up pretty bad to get two princesses in trouble.” Twilight reach out and grabbed Applejack by the neck. In true wrestler fashion, she pulled Applejack under the brush with them. “What in tarnation you do that for?” Applejack tossed Twilight’s arm aside and sat up in the brush. "I'm all for playful rough housing but maybe a little warnin' next time?" "Sorry, it's just that they're almost here." Twilight motioned for Applejack to be quiet. "Who's almost..." "Shhhhh" "Who's almost here?" Applejack lowered her voice to a whisper. She had a tired and annoyed expression on her face which was just about the same as Cadence's expression. "Look," Twilight handed Applejack the binoculars. AJ peared down the road through them. She saw a dainty yellow pony singing to herself as she walked. "It's Fluttershy, y'all are hidin' from Fluttershy." Applejack looked at Twilight like she looked at Applebloom when her chores went undone. "Now look over there." Twilight pointed down the other side of the fork in the road. Their bush was right at the intersection where the roads met. Applejack gave a quick look down there with the binoculars. "That's Big Mac comin' up from the school house." Applejack looked up from the bulky spectacles unimpressed. "So what's the plan? Twilight takes out Fluttershy while Cadence and I sneak around and take down Big Mac?" Applejack rolled her eyes. "Very funny," Twilight scrunched her face in contempt. Cadence finally cracked a smile. "I dunno Twilight. I kinda like that plan. Are you sure you can take Fluttershy by yourself?" Cadence and AJ snickered. "I reckon I know all of Big Mac's best moved. I can probably counter him by myself if you wanna give Twilight a helpin' hoof." Now AJ and Cadence were rolling in the grass with giggles. Twilight folder her arms with a frown. “Oh hardy-har you two. Now be quiet they’re almost here.” Twilight went back to vigilantly inspecting the road with her large spectacles. “I still have no idea what this is about.” Applejack politely return to a hushed speaking volume. Cadence rolled her eyes and also spoke very quietly. “Twilight is trying to make me regret my life decisions.” Even though Cadence was hesitant about the whole ordeal, she tucked herself further behind the bush to make sure she was hidden. “I’m trying to prove a point to Cadence.” “What point? That this road is well traveled by ponies we know? Doesn’t seem like a hard case to make.” Applejack looked over to her delivery cart. She was suddenly worried about being late for her delivery to Sugar Cube Corner. Big Mac reached the intersection first. He turned and saw Fluttershy a few paces away, so he waited for her to reach him. "H-hello Big Mac. Nice to see you again." Fluttershy looked away from from Mac so that only her right eye, covered by her hair, was facing him. "Eeyup" "Everyday, Fluttershy comes home from the market right at the same time Big Mac comes home from volunteering at the schoolhouse. They always meet right here at this intersection." Twilight pointed to the ground with confidence. "I didn't know that. Twilight, how come you know my brother's schedule better than I do?" "Is this supposed to convince me that they are 'destined' to be together? I'm failing to see the sparks fly." Cadence gestured toward the awkward duo. "Wait, what in the hay do you mean by 'destined to be together?'" Applejack gave a confused look to Twilight. "Just shush and watch the magic happen, or rather not happen." The three of them watched intently from their snooping spot. "So um, have you been looking over your music for the Pony Tones?" Fluttershy fixed her gaze on the ground. "Eeyup" Big Mac hadn't moved since he stopped at the intersection. He kept his eyes fixed at the top of Fluttershy's hair. "I think the Billy Colt ballad is really pretty. I can't wait to hear how it sounds with everypony together." "Eeyup" Fluttershy looked like she was about to panic. Cadence was starting to get a little restless. "Why doesn't she just ask him to come over to her place for a drink or something?" "Hey, that's my brother you're talkin' about." Applejack gave Cadence a little nudge. "Oh right, cause he should totally wait for a nicer mare to come along in his life." Cadence shot back at AJ. "Point taken." Twilight looked at Cadence like she had just won an award. "See, I told you. It's so obvious that they like each other." "I never said you were wrong about that. I just don't think we should take such extreme measures." "Extreme measures?" Applejack looked confused again. "Oh, um, I'm glad to hear you like it too. I helped Rarity arrange it." Fluttershy shuffled her hoof in the dirt, not sure what to do with herself. "I wish I was brave enough to sing with you guys on stage. I just... something makes me panic in front of other ponies. I don't know if I'll ever find the courage." "Nope" Fluttershy's face showed a flash of devastation before she hid behind her hair again. "Oh yeah, you're probably right. I never will get the courage." Tears started to form in Fluttershy's eyes. Big Mac finally broke his stance with a mild gasp. "N-nope, uh y-yep, uh, uh..." Big Mac was playing with his hooves in the sand now. "You don't have to explain yourself Big Mac. It's ok, I know the truth." Big Mac firmly planted his hoof into the dirt and whinnied a quick snort. Fluttershy flinched at his sudden movement. "You have a beautiful voice, Fluttershy." Cadence and Twilight stared with their mouths gaped open. Fluttershy stopped shifting nervously and froze in place. “Did Big Mac just talk? Like talk, talk?” Cadence nudged Twilight. “This is fascinating, I’m going to have to record the time and date.” Twilight pulled a note pad and quill from under her Daring Do safari hat. “Why are y’all actin’ like Big Mac never says anything but ‘eeyup’ and ‘nope?’” Twilight and Cadence both looked at Applejack. “He talks… sometimes.” Big Mac wasn’t sure what to do now that he had blurted out his compliment. He and Fluttershy avoided eye contact with each other. “This is getting ridiculous. Will one of them just say something?” Cadence shifted her position like she was trying to get comfortable. “Fluttershy I can understand, but I didn’t realize my brother was such a yellow bellied scaredy colt when it came to talkin’ to mares.” Applejack tipped her hat to punctuate her accusation. “I dunno Applejack, I think he might want even more yellow on him than that.” Cadence looked at AJ out of the corner of her eye. “Cadence! What kinda language is that for a Princess?” Applejack looked disappointed. Cadence giggled and put her hoof over her mouth like she had been a bad girl. “Come on Cadence, what more evidence do you need?" Twilight continued to scribble in her notebook. “Evidence of what exactly?” Applejack’s ears perked up. “Evidence that Fluttershy and Big Mac are perfect for each other. If Cadence would just cast her love spell, they would stop beating around the bush and get on with it.” Twilight’s face suddenly turned red as she thought about her last sentence. “I mean… they would become a couple at last.” “Oh no you don’t. Y’all better not be bewitchin’ my brother with some hocus pocus mind control love spell.” Applejack’s expression went from confusion to furious. “We had enough of that garbage last time Applebloom and her friends tried to play matchmaker.” “But Applejack, you have to admit there’s something between them. Are you telling me you’ve never noticed the way they interact with each other?” Twilight tilted her head and readied her writing quill. “Well, I do reckon that Big Mac gets distracted from work whenever Fluttershy comes by. And I have noticed Fluttershy brings him up in conversation a lot more than she used to.” Applejack tapped her front hooves together a few times. “See? It’s not just a filly crush… or a filly’s perception of an adult crush that’s not a filly crush.” Cadence’s horn glowed pink. “I dunno know Twilight. I reckon you could be right, but using magic? Shouldn’t they just, let it happen if it’s supposed to happen?” Applejack and Twilight failed to notice the flash of pink light that briefly flew from Cadence’s horn. “Have you been paying attention? Big Mac and Fluttershy are so stubborn and shy, respectively, neither of them is ever gonna act on it and they’ll never know how happy they could be. Is that what you want AJ? Don’t you want your brother to be happy?” Twilight’s overzealous and wide eyed face was right in front of Applejack’s. “Well, yes, of course I want him to be happy… I just…” Big Mac and Fluttershy jolted as if they had been stung by a bee at the same time. They turned and looked at each other in the eye for the first time in the whole conversation. Big Mac smiled like he was satisfied form a hard day’s work. Fluttershy smiled back like she had just rescued the cutest kitten. “Um Big Mac, do you want to come over to my cottage and catch up on… well… everything that’s ever happened to either of us?” For once, Fluttershy didn’t look like she was afraid of the response. “Eeyup” Big Mac pointed down the path that led to Fluttershy’s house. There was less than an inch of space between them as the headed down the path. “Did that just happen?” Twilight suspended her binoculars over her eyes while trying to furiously write with her quill. “Hah, ain’t never gonna happen my hoof. Looks like Fluttershy went and grew herself a spine. Hot diggity.” Applejack clasped her hooves together. “I know, it’s almost like it came out of nowhere.” Twilight looked at Cadence just in time to catch her wink. Twilight smiled knowingly back at her and giggled a little. “Guess you won’t be needing your hoodoo-voodoo magic spell after all.” Applejack shot a smug look to Cadence and Twilight. The two of them exchanged nervous looks. “Nope, we won’t need that at all, no sir, not even a little bit, heh heh.” Twilight turned to Cadence who looked away from her. “Now she better not play with his heart none or I swear to Celestia I will tie her up and drag her around Sweet Apple Acres.” Applejack got suddenly serious again. “Play with his heart? Applejack, you’re talking about the element of kindness.” Twilight was raised her eyebrows. “I know, I know, I’m just sayin’.” Twilight’s mind was racing with excitement. All of the potential couples and romances were running through her head. The thought of making her fiction writings a reality was giving her a rush of adrenaline as strong as the time she fought Tirek. She grinned deviously. Oh this is perfect. This so perfect and it’s only the beginning.
