Chapters "Augggh."
Twilight groaned. Another sleepless night, caused by the same reason.
Why couldn't she stay out of her head? Over and over, the exact obnoxious, infectious giggle, the constant repeat of words being chanted...
Cross my heart and hope to fly... Stick a cupcake in my eye... Cross my heart... hope to fly...
Again and again, never ceasing. Compared to other nights, it seemed amplified compared to other nights, perhaps by the taunting of the next day's activities. Finally, abandoning all hope of rest, Twilight heaved herself up, and lumbered across the room. Using her magick, she levitated a quill, parchment, and ink flask to her writing table. Forming the first words in elegant script, she began to write a heartfelt letter to the pink party pony who had stolen her heart.
My Dearest Pinkie, I've wanted to tell you my feelings for a long time. I only realized my feelings for you a little while ago, after the wedding of my brother. After I left, my heart began to ache. Ache for what, I did not know. Until I saw how happy Rarity was with Big Mac, Applejack and Caramel... I was jealous of them. After observing them for a little while, I saw how perfectly they matched up. Both alike in their owns ways. Problem was, I had nopony like that for me here. Or anywhere, really. Slowly I started to slip into depression, never letting myself think that there could be somepony for me. Until I started to investigate the instance that my match maybe wasn't my perfect half... but my polar opposite. As I came to my senses, I knew that it was you. Still tentative, I've not pursued my feelings until they've swelled so much that I can't contain them any longer.
Pinkie Pie, I love you.
Love,
Twilight Sparkle
Crossing the room back to her bed, the letter was dropped on her nightstand. Somehow, it seemed that just the act of writing that letter had put her mind, and heart, at ease. Slipping under the covers, she snuggled her head into her star-printed pillow, and let out a large yawn. Within seconds she was asleep and dreaming of tomorrow.
Spike snored on.
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"Ahhhh."
A satisfied sigh escaped Twilight's lips. She had gotten her first good night's sleep in weeks, maybe months. She lifted the soft covers off of herself, and bounced out of bed. Trotting over to the dresser, she opened a drawer, and hoofed out a brush. She was still slightly groggy, ad knew that her magick didn't work well when she was in this state. Brushing her hair with slow, deliberate strokes, wanting to look as presentable as possible. A few minutes passed, and she decided that this was the best her hair was going to look. Besides, at this rate, she was going to rip all of it out! She was still not fully awake, she went into the bathroom and ran her face under the faucet.
"Mhmm~ That's better. Now, if Spike would just fix breakfast, everything would be positively perfect." So, she slipped on her saddlebags, and quickly went downstairs.
Downstairs, a delicious smell wafted through the air. In the kitchen, she found Spike fixing hay waffles with a raspberry drizzle. Powdered sugar was lightly dusted on top. Twilight's mouth watered at the sight.
"Oh, Spike! Those look delicious!" She lifted a fork to her mouth. "Ooh, and they taste even better then they look. You really outdid yourself this time."
Polishing off her plate, she was tempted to ask for seconds. However, a quick glance at the clock soon abolished that hope. If she didn't get moving at that second, she was going to be late for her very special date!
"I'm sorry to leave so soon Spike, but I've got to meet Pinkie at Sugarcube Corner." She started to run out the door. "Bye Spike! Take care of the Library for me!" Spike started to say something, but all that was left was a cloud of dust.
"Oh Twilight..." He started to clean up her mess, then stopped, and listened. "Phew, she's finally gone. And you know what that means..." He walked over to the freezer. "Oh, my delicious love, my life was a rocky road before you."A spoon was soon found, and loaded up with some of the creamy dairy. "Mhmmm."
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Right as Pinkie got up, she rubbed the sleep from her eyes. Another peaceful night, another glorious dream. Of a certain reclusive unicorn... Getting up to brush her teeth, she laid out her day's plans in her mind.
Ok, so first I'm gonna have a cupcake for energy... And then make some more to replace my breakfast supply, boy am I running low, and then have a Red Bull for energy, paired with another cupcake... Oh, right, I'm getting low on those too... and this afternoon, I have only one plan.
Pinkie gasped out loud. "I'M GOING TO BAKE CUPCAKES WITH TWILIGHT! Heehee." She bounced around gleefully, forgetting to rinse off the toothpaste bubbles from around her mouth. "I'm gonna bake cupcakes with-" Another loud gasp interrupted her happy-go-lucky chanting. "Omigosh, I haven't figured out what cupcakes to bake! Oh no oh no oh no." Hurriedly she rinsed off her face and zoomed downstairs.
Quickly choosing a cookbook from her collection, more specifically, The Romantic's Cookbook, she flipped to the section on pastries. Turning pages rapidly, Pinkie decided that all the cupcakes were wrong, wrong, WRONG. She needed something that described the relationship she wanted with Twilight. Yes, she was usually outgoing, but a few bad relationship mishaps had left Pinkie very shy when it came to love.
She stomped her hoof down on a page. These ones! They were red and white with little motifs on them, like kissy lips or XOXO. Perfect! In fact they were almost... naughty. But she didn't want that with Twilight! Nuh-uh. Pinkie shook her head in agreement to her thoughts. This, however, led to the thoughts of what relationship she wanted with the librarian... Definitely one with lots of snuggling and kissing. Not too much though. She also wanted a majority to be having fun, whether that was baking or watching the stars or babysitting.
A little nagged at the corner of her mind though. What... What if I'm not ready for this? I'm still a kid inside... No. Pinkie stood in defiance on her stool. She was mature enough for a relationship, and she wanted one! Her mind was soon brought back to the task at hand. Quickly glancing at the list of ingredients, she went into the pantry to fetch the items. But not without a little daydreaming in between...
As Twilight ran to Sugarcube Corner, she went over her mental checklist of the things in her saddlebag.
Several cookbooks specifically about cupcakes, five to be exact... Check. A disposable apron if an explosion happens like last time... Check. Oven mitt for a horn... Check. And... Twilight's cheeks grew slightly rosy. My... my letter to Pinkie.
That morning, she had decided she'd had enough. She, Twilight Sparkle, was going to tell the pony she loved her feelings. It was stupid of her to be scared about being turned down. In the past few months they'd faced off way more scarier things then rejection! Nightmare Moon? Check! Discord? Check! Hydra? Check! And even the Changeling Queen for pony's sake! And besides, she was a big girl. If Pinkie did reject her, she could suck it up.
Skidding to a halt, her nose lightly bumped the gingerbread door of Sugarcube Corner. You can do this Twilight Silently she chanted to herself. You can do it. Just bake the cupcakes, give her the letter, and... It was astonishing. She, the most organized pony in Ponyville, didn't know what to do after she got Pinkie's reaction. Scolding herself, and having second thoughts, she began to turn around.
"Hiya, Twi!"
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All the ingredients were on the counter. Flour, eggs, chocolate, milk, vanilla extract. Oh, and... Pinkie giggled lightly to herself. Sugar, spice, and everything nice! Funny how something like that would go into those slightly naughty looking cupcakes... Sitting herself on the ground, hoof to chin, she pondered why. Pinkie maybe didn't seem like it, but she could be very zen at times. Oh, and slightly organized too!
Bump Pinkie giggled, a light, sweet noise. "Oh, silly Twilight! She must have run into the door again." Again she laughed. "She needs to keep her head out of the clouds! Oh, I hope it doesn't hurt having your head in clouds..." She trotted over to the door, a slightly worried expression on her face that disappeared when she opened the door.
"Hiya Twi!"
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She stifled another laugh, as she saw it amusing how she was addressing Twilight's backside. "Silly filly, why are you leaving? The fun hasn't even started yet! Come on in!" Quickly she grabbed hold of Twilight's tail and zoomed her inside with herself. "These cupcakes aren't gonna bake themselves!"
"Oh, Pinkie, I brought some books we could pick our cupcakes from." Magenta magick levitated several cookbooks, five to be exact, out of her purple saddlebags. "I was hoping for something simple, you know what happened last time we tried something complicated. That was a complete fias-" Pinkie's look stopped her sentence.
Her hair was flat, and- well, her hair wasn't exactly flat, but it was less poofy then usual. She was wearing her puppy dog eyes, and was mustering up the most adorable puppy whimpers she could. "I-I was hopwing we couwld make dees." Apparently she was trying to talk adorable too, like a 2-year old foal, or the like. "Da-da ones on page fwiftween." Her hoof pointed to the picture.
As Twilight trotted over to the counter, she saw the cupcakes Pinkie was pointing at. They were red and white, with different chocolate emotes on top. The theme seemed romantic, the colors naughty. But... but even Pinkie couldn't be naive enough to ignore the obvious! Could... could she... No. Twilight was firm. She wasn't going to give herself false hope. She just had to wait it out until the perfect time.
She sighed. "Oh, alright, Pinks. If you really want." She shook her head, amazed at how easily she was complying.
Pinkie's mane frizzed back to life. "Yayyayyayyayyayyayyayyay!!!! Oh, and I like the new nickname! It's different. Pinks." Pinkie liked the way it sounded.
Twilight stood shocked. Had she really called Pinkie her private pet name... out loud? She shook her head and laughed. "Let's get these cupcakes started, eh, Pinks?" Inwardly she cursed for saying it again.
"Okey-dokey-lokie! So take that flour and the measuring cup. No, the one furthest right. Mhmm, that one! Okey, now fill it to the brim, and dump it in the bowl." This went on for quite a while, Pinkie instructing, Twilight doing. "Okey, now, put 'em in the oven!" In preparation, Twilight put on her horn oven mitt, causing Pinkie to roll about laughing.
"What? What's so funny? I'm just being safe!" Twilight always got a little cross when ponies laughed at her when she was being cautious.
"It-It's just that-" Pinkie had to pause for breath. "It makes your horn look all limp, like... like a NOODLE!" She burst out laughing again.
"Hmmph. Let's get these in the oven shall we?" Using her magick, the tray of sweet, candy-filled sweets landed on a grill inside the oven. "There we go. Now-" As she was turning around to start the ganache, her tail tipped over a bag of flour.
Right onto Pinkie.
"Omigosh! I'm so sorry! It-it was an accident!" A wet rag started to wipe the flour off of Pinkie, but it just turned it all into a runny mixture.
"Twilight, you coulda just said you wanted a flour war. Those are really fun!"
"A WHAT ?!"
"A flour war! You throw flour at the other pony, until one gives up! Or you run out of flour. That happened to me once. The cakes weren't very happy." She looked at the floor, a hoof snaking behind her back.
Slowly, a measuring cup full of flour was raised above Pinkie's head. With a sly grin, the contents were thrown at Twilight's face. Mouth open, Twilight stood in shock. Pinkie had a natural Pinkie response. She fell over and laughed.
"AHAHAHA. You should've seen the look on YOUR FACE!" She shouted gleefully. "I'm never going to stop laughing!" But, alas this statement was not true.
She whipped up. "Hey! I'm gonna get you back for that!" This was said because Twilight had accepted Pinkie's challenge of a flour war. "EPIC FLOUR WAR, GO!!!!"
Hoof-fulls and hoof-fulls of flour flew through the air, covering each from head to toe in a blanket of cream. Even after they both looked like two snowponies, they kept happily throwing, and ducking from, cups of flour.
"You'll never get me to surrender, Pinks!"
"Nor I, Twi! I'm the world champion! I can beat ALL YO ASSES!"
Ding!
The two pastel ponies froze, turned, and watched each other through slitted eyes.
"Truce, Pinks, if you want the cupcakes to come out alive!" Watching her carefully, Twilight stalkedd through the kitchen slowly, opened the oven door, levitated the cupcakes out, set them on top of the fridge and threw another cup of flour.
"Sneaky sneaky my little geeky!"
Numerous more bagfuls of flour was tossed and dumped on the floor, until both ponies fell down laughing from pure exhaustion. Both were panting, and in Twilight's case, who didn't exercise much, wheezing.
"L-let's finish those cupcakes." Heaving themselves up, they stole down the pan, and set it on the counter.
Pinkie was in the top left corner of the kitchen, stirring up some chocolate ganache to freeze into shapes to put on top of the cupcakes. While she was doing this, Twilight was in the opposite corner, whipping up red and white buttercream frosting. Looking back and forth, she licked the spoon she was stirring with.
"Mhmm. That smells good, silly filly! Where'd ya learn to make frosting that well?"
"Bahaha!" Twilight jumped back in fear. "How-how did you get over here so fast?!" It was a rhetorical question.
"So, how'd ya learn to make that frosting? You nearly destroyed the kitchen last time you were here!" Pinkie dipped her head to the side, a quizzical, yet playful expression on her face.
"Oh, I've been taking lessons from Spike. Oh, and it's finished now. Shall we frost?"
Both trotting over to the only counter not completely drenched in flour, they swirled the red and white frostings together, created a classic, elegant look. They weren't quite finished yet, though, as the chocolate still had toharden into the molds Pinkie had put them into.
"Hey, Pinks, would you mind if I used the filly's room while we wait for the chocolate?"
Pinkie nodded, and pointed down the hallway where it was. As Twilight passed the front door, her tail accidentally swung into her saddlebags, making them tip over, and spill their contents. In her rush, Twilight took no notice, and walked on. Pinkie, however, did. While she was scooping the contents back inside, she saw an envelope. An envelope addressed to... her. Lifted it gently out of the pile, she noticed it was definitely Twilight's hoofwriting. Sliding a hoof under the flap, she started to unseal it, but stopped herself. This was an intrusion of privacy! But, it couldn't be all bad, though, since it was addressed to her... Right? She finished opening the envelope, lifted out the letter, and started to read.
**AUTHOR'S NOTE**
** While this may have the same title as my old chapter, due to the many people disliking it, I've redone it, and I hope you appreciate this version more. The ideas for this chapter have come from the wonderful Fox-sama. Thanks!**
Sky blue eyes began to read the letter.
My dearest Pinkie,
The eyes widened. Skimming across the letter, and pausing at all the parts that made her heart skip a beat, Pinkie reached the final line.
Pinkie Pie, I love you.
Pinkie Pie, I love you... I love you... Love... you... The words were echoing inside a cotton-candy maned head. even though the meaning was clear, she was still in shock, making it hard to grasp the full meaning. I love you...
A short gasp was heard. This was why Twilight had give her that nickname - Pinks. The party pony could hear her heart in her ears. Ba-bump. Ba-bump. Ba-bump. It was racing faster and faster, as if attempting to run a marathon. Hurriedly, she stood up, wanting to go to Twilight to admit her love. However, a little voice stopped her.
But... but what if it turns out badly? Like... A silent tear was shed. Like with Pokey?
Squeak. "Oh no! Put it back in, put it back in!" Pink hooves rushed to stuff the letter back into the envelope, and then into the purple saddlebag.
"Pinks! Ready to taste some cup- What are you doing?!" With Pinkie speed, Twilight rushed over to her stuff, and levitated out the letter. "How much did you read?!"
"Oh, um... all of it?" By now, Pinkie was pinned up against the wall, gulping loudly. "I-I'm sorry! When you were going to the bathroom, you knocked over your bag! So, I was trying to be nice and put it all back for you! Then, I saw a letter addressed to me! Since it was mine, I thought it would be okay to do so, and we're here now!"
"Well... so... umm..." The librarian was stammering, looking at Pinkie for an answer. "D-do you... like me back?" She swallowed loudly, nervous.
Pinkie sat still, staring straight at the purple pony. "I... I..." She couldn't get the words out. She was afraid to love. Too nervous to admit her feelings. Slowly, her head drooped in shame as she realized the fact. "T-Twilight... I..." Again, she tried, and failed. Looking up, she tried to convey her emotions through her eyes to the other pony.
Tears began running down purple furry cheeks. "Ok, Pinkie. I see how it is. I-I'll just leave you alone now." Sobs were racking the unicorn's body despite her efforts to hold them in. Pinkie now knew the other pony had assumed the worst. The purple pony soon put her matching saddlebags across her back, and then began to back away. A bubblegum pink hoof tried to get her to stay, pulling her to the floor so they could talk. This attempt also didn't succeed. "I... I have to go." Reddish magic was sparking on the tip of her horn, but never reaching the required magic levels to achieve a teleportation spell. After a minute of trying and not succeeding, Twilight decided on an easier method of escaping. Running full force, the unicorn was heading back to the Library.
Sitting in shock, Pinkie finally realized what happened. "WAIT!" She began to run out the door after the unicorn. "TWILIGHT! I'M SORRY!"
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Pinkie Pie was panting. She was running as fast as she could, trying to catch up to her friend. This time, the pink pony was determined to tell Twilight her feelings. No matter how embarrassing, or odd they were. And... Pinkie gulped... Why se was so afraid to love.
She was going to tell Twilight about Pokey Pierce.
Nearing the door, a canter slowed to a trot. Sweat began to bead on a pink forehead. What if Twilight made fun of her? It really was a stupid reason why she was afraid. And besides, she's probably too upset to even talk to me. At that moment, Pinkie almost turned tail. Shifting, she suddenly stopped. No. Twilight was a better friend then that! The [arty pony would insist on seeing her and talking it out. Nothing would make her leave until it happened.
"Twlight? Are you there, Twilight? It's Pinkie! I have something really really important to talk about with you!" An ear was pressed against the door. There was shuffling inside. The knocking intensified. "Twilight! You're going to want to hear this! I-it involves us!" At that moment, the door swung open.
On the other side was the purple unicorn, her face flushed with wet tears streaks running down them. Normally purple eyes were now tinted red, swollen with matted eyelashes. Soft sobs were still being admitted by the pony. "What?! What do you want?! Isn't it enough that you rejected me?! WHY CAN'T YOU JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!"
Wow. This is really hitting her hard. I must be the first pony she's ever really, truly loved.. "Listen, Twi, I-I have something to say. May I come in?" She rubbed the back of her head with a hoof. "Oh, and... and I'm sorry. But just hear me out! I promise it'll make everything better! Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye!" After the gestures were made, the eye poked, Twilight stepped aside, trying to compose herself.
"Ya, whatever. Come on in." The words were mumbled, muffled. "I'll be right back." She shuffled to the bathroom, a washcloth and hairbrush closely following.
"Oh, ok. I... I guess I'll stay right here!" With fake cheerfulness, Pinkie plopped herself down on a chair. You can do it Pinkie. Just explain it all, and tell her you love her. Not hard at all, right? Even her normally peppy pep talk couldn't cheer her up.
"So... sorry for my over reaction. It was just painful, y'know, going through my first rejection." A nervous laugh was uttered. "Okay, so what did you want to tell me? Spike won't disturb us. He's busy helping Rarity at the Boutique. He's just never going to see that it won't work out will he?" They both shared a chuckle.
You can do it Pinkie. Deep breath... in... and out... Okay, so- "I love you!" Well, I could have done that with more grace. Pinkie laughed in spite of herself.
"You what ? And you let me believe you didn't?!" Slowly, Twilight raised herself up, hyperventilating.
"Wait, wait, I have a reason why! I didn't tell you! It's a good reason, I promise! J-just listen!" To be honest this Twilight was scaring Pinkie.
"It better be." She sat down again in the wooden chair.
"Well... I, uh, used to have this boyfriend, Pokey Pierce. Before him-"
"Pokey? Isn't he, like, married now to that pegasus- Flitter, I think her name is? Don't they have a foal together? Omigosh, were you two having an aff-" A hoof was promptly stuffed into her mouth, shutting Twilight up.
"As I was saying, before Pokey, I'd dated many other colts. Like Big Mac. It only lasted for a week, though." She gave a sheepish grin. "I even got drunk once and tried to seduce Mr. Cake."
"Pinkie! How could you?" Twilight gasped loudly, a hoof to her chest.
"Hey! Mrs. Cake has cheated on him many times! Don't tell me you haven't seen the looks she's given Blues!" Twilight nodded in response; she had seen those alluring looks given by the mare.
Pinkie continued her tale of romance. "It didn't matter anyway, he rejected me. The next morning, hungover, I decided to go buy a calla lily from Roseluck. And was it delicious! On my way back here I ran into Pokey He apologized, but I insisted it was my fault, but he kept saying it was his. So, we agreed to meet up at Sugarcube Corner the next day for treats. When I got home I realized it was a date."
"Oh, wow, you must have been so excited! I know I would have been." Stars twinkled in her purple eyes as she dreamed of romances. All traces of resentment and sadness was now gone.
"Of course I was! I woke up extra extra early so I could style my mane and tail. I bet you know how that went." They both laughed. It was a common fact that her poofy mess of a mane was untameable.
"When it was noon, I went downstairs to start my shift, and he was there! I was super excited, and kinda nervous because I still wasn't sure if I looked alright. I mean, he was an hour early! When I went to serve his table, he saw it was me, and admitted her couldn't wait to see my big beautiful blue eyes." Unconsciously she batted her eyelashes. Twilight almost swooned. "After I brought a tray of cupcakes, in fact the same recipe we baked today, we sat and chatted."
Twilight interrupted again. By now, it was obvious she was a hopeless romantic. "About what? Your love? The future?"
"Well, everything! He's just about as much of a party animal as I am. I-it was nice, being with somepony who could understand me."
"But Pinkie! We're you're friends! We understand you too." She had a hurt look on her face.
"I know, but sometimes you don't. He's just really got me." The pink pony hugged her. "But thank you."
"What was your first date like? Where did you go?"
Pinkie's eyes sparkled. "Oh, we went to the most magnificent place! It was... the amusement park."
"Huh?" This confused Twilight. "You'd never been to one, had you?"
She shook her head. "Nuh-uh. I never knew such a place existed! When I told Pokey he just laughed at me."
"What was your favorite ride? Mine's the merry-go-round." It was true. Twilight loved all the carousel animals. Especially the ponies. They just looked so regal and majestic, like her mentor.
Pinkie started to chuckle. "Twilight, I'm never going to finish if you keep interrupting!"
"Sorry."
"Well, I loved the roller coaster. I went on like eight times. He got off after the four. Just couldn't handle it, I guess." She rubbed her foreleg with a hoof. "An-and then we went on the Ferris wheel. When we got to the top, it stopped. I'd never been up that high without jumping, and I was scared! He held me in his arms... and... and..." Pinkie flushed. "Pokey kissed me."
"Omigosh! What was it like? Sweet? Short? Passionate? Hot? I've read about kisses in books, but I've never got to experience one!" Twilight was bouncing on her hooves around the room, eyes big.
"It-it was short and sweet, I guess. I just don't like to think about it." The normally happy-go-lucky pony turned away.
Twilight stopped, and put a hoof around her shoulders, nuzzling the party pony. "I'm sorry Whatever he did was pretty harsh, right?" In her chest Pinkie nodded. Feeling tears begin to run down her cheeks, she sucked in a breath to steady herself. Sitting up, she tried to explain.
"We were together for a little while, at least three months. This was my longest relationship. Before this, my record was a week. I thought we were going to work." A crystal tear matted her pink fur.
"You know, you don't have to tell me if you don't want to."
"No, I have to. So I can apologize for not saying that I loved you earlier. And so you know why I didn't."
"Ok. Just continue when you're ready."
After a few more deep breaths, the sugary voice started to talk again. "It was our anniversary. On the way to lunch, he was stopped by a pegasus filly in the middle of the road. She threw her hooves around his neck, and they... they kissed!"
"Wow. Harsh."
"I know, right!? Well, he introduced her as Flitter, and that she was pregnant. With his foal. Then, he continued on to tell me that he was leaving me for her, and that he'd been having an affair. Then he started away." Her tone began to et angrier. "Before he left, he turned and told me that he'd fallen out of love with me a long time ago."
"Wait, so he broke up with you on your anniversary, but he couldn't have enough courage to tell you he was bored with you for awhile?!" At Pinkie's look she grinned sheepishly. "Heh. Sorry."
"No, no, it's alright. You couldn't have stopped it. And besides, you're right." She began to shed wet tears.
Twilight sauntered over and hugged Pinkie with a delicate touch. "Hey, Pinkie, I know how must that must have been for you, but... Do you want to give this a chance? Us?" A hopeful look and tone was used by the unicorn.
Pinkie smiled upwards. "I'd love to, Twi." Stretching her neck, she kissed Twilight.
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