Bittersweet Trails

Paper...check.

Quill...check.

Ink...check.

Twilight sighed as she sluggishly dragged herself through her mental checklist. Lack of anything to do afterwards...check.

The unicorn's head fell onto the place of which her scrolls sat neatly stacked, placed almost like puzzle pieces against the edges of the table. Still there sat nothing, as the slightly yellowed parchment seemed to glare mockingly at her, its nonexistent gaze saying, Ha. Ha. You can't even make a simple checklist. So much for beating 'Moody Mondays'.

"Shut up..." grumbled Twilight, before blinking, and shaking her head vigorously. Come on Twilight, you can do this. Don't let the monotony of things lately drive you crazy...

With this sentiment in mind, the unicorn levitated her favorite quill, gently dipping it into the pitch black depths of her ink well. With a quick mental flourish, the feathered writing utensil beginning to spell out a few choice events.

"Help Pinkie Pie organize her latest blow-out party...check. Make sure that all books are realigned according to the Hoovey Decimal System...check. Check again, check. Again."

Twilight Sparkle frowned. Little redundant, isn't it? With a shrug, she continued. "Begin thinking about preparations for the Falling Snowflake Festival...check."

The scholar frowned. "Might want to double check what previous ponies have done...after all, I don't want to make any drastic changes, right?"

She paused. "Who am I talking to?"

With a self-deprecating sigh and shake of the head, she trotted over to a small brown book, taking it from the place where it belonged. She opened to the first page, gaze intently focused on the words within...let's see what it's all about again, shall we?

'The Falling Snowflake Festival is the successor to The Running of The Leaves, but instead of bringing in Winter, celebrates it. It was first organized by Princess Celestia when she noticed a problem in the seasonal gap.

Due to the impending, biting cold of the precursory blizzard, of which required every pony indoors for safety, many ponies felt alone, and as a general accompaniment, downtrodden. They were often left separated from their families, loved ones, and fiancés. The pegasi, however, were generally above the snow and icy-cold breezes.

So annually, as soon as Winter spread its wings, Her Highness decreed that all would gather together so that no pony who attended would have to be alone on that night.

When asked for her other motives, Celestia had only this to say: "...after all, we're all ponies united, are we not? [Why] not have a night to celebrate unity of a different kind?"

The festival now occurs immediately after the precursory blizzard, typically on December 4th.'

Twilight frowned, flipping to the next page. "That's it?" she muttered. "Well wasn't that helpful? Anyways..."

After carefully replacing the small book onto the bookshelf, the purple mare took her place once more before the scroll, writing out one final item.

"Find a date for the festival..."

The lavender pony's heart sank as she inaudibly whispered 2 words:

"...not check."

Well, that's not unusual for you anyways... thought Twilight, taking a moment to rest her chin on the table before her. You probably couldn't charm a snake with a flute...and magic...and a snake charming tutor...and Fluttershy as your assistant...

She rolled her eyes before continuing her inner monologue. Finding a suitable pony to go with is hard enough, but the worst part...you won't even be able to attend your own event without them!

The unicorn groaned, smacking her forehead. Get ahold of yourself! You have a whole week! It can't be any trouble, right?

A frown graced her expression as she thought on. Rainbow might actually be right for once, situationally at least. You're an egghead, at least in perspective. Who in their right mind would even-

Her rather persistent groveling was pierced by one of the most cheerful voices to ever exist in Equestria: "Heya, Twilight! Whatcha' doing?"

Twilight reluctantly turned to face the source of the voice. "Pinkie, how did you-?"

"That's easy!" exclaimed the pink mare, giggling. "The door was open, and I was like, 'Oooh, what's she doing? Did a big explosion shove the door open?' So I went to check, but nope! No explosion!"

The lavender mare raised an eyebrow at Pinkie Pie as she stood straight, as though in pride over...whatever she'd just said.

"Oh! Right!" said Pinkie, tossing her head from side to side, doing a quick double take. "Twilight, do you know what day it is?"

"It's 'I want to mope in peace' day, right?"

"No, silly! It's 'the day before the day before the day before the day before the day before the day before the biggest festival of the year!'"

Twilight sighed, getting up from her rather cozy position, and now turning her body in full to face her friend. The pink mare was nearly hopping on the spot, and her eyes sparkled with such anticipation that it almost made the purple pony wince.

"What's wrong, Twilight?" asked Pinkie, frowning.

Huh. Apparently I did wince..."It's...nothing, Pinkie."

Though the party pony was oblivious to many things, there was one thing that no matter what a pony did, they couldn't convince her otherwise on it. This thing happened to be another pony's feelings.

Throughout her foalhood, Pinkie had lived a very dull life, until that moment when a giant rainbow tore into the vicinity. The thing that she gained then was not only her own emotions, but the ability to tell others', otherwise known as 'empathy'.

It was now that the pink pony gazed at Twilight, her gaze narrowing in concentration. The scholar stared back, the sense of unease and queasiness in her stomach slowly growing.

Something about the stare made her want to tell Pinkie everything, to finally let out all of her true feelings, and though she couldn't figure out why, she felt like something was strangely alluring in those eyes. Those strangely deep cyan eyes, seemingly without a discernible end...

"I get it. You're upset because you can't find somepony to go with you to the festival, and you feel like nopony would want to go. You feel like a headegg, and you're strangely looking into my eyes. Either that, or there's a bug on my face. EEK! GET IT OFF, GET IT OFF!"

Twilight blinked. Pinkie's deduction was almost perfect, aside from the 'headegg' bit. "How did you know that?"

Pinkie managed to calm down and stop swatting at her face.
"Easy! You looked sad, and..." A pink hoof pointed over her shoulder. "...I also saw the list."

Oh. Duh.The lavender pony simply stared at the pink pony, as a rare mutual silence fell between them.

It was then that a scaly purple and green dragon entered the room, taking stock of the situation. "...another staring contest, Pinkie?" he groaned. "We all know you're champ, now quit rubbin' it in!"

He frowned as both the party pony and the scholar remained locked in a peculiar gaze, before shrugging. "Whatever."

As the sound of footsteps receded, Twilight found the motivation to speak once more. Obviously, the chatterbox was waiting for her to say something first before she herself set off into a long winded detailing of an everyday event. "...so have you-"

She was interrupted as Pinkie spoke up, too- "Twilight, do you wanna'..." She trailed off, going so far as to frown. Pinkie Pie's eyes darted to the side, shrugging. "No, no, you first." she insisted.

Pinkie wanting somepony else to go first? Well color me surprised! "I have been thinking, and I wanted to ask-"

"Doyouwanna-"

"Pinkie!" said Twilight Sparkle. "Obviously, this isn't working. How about we both go at the same time?"

Pinkie went so far as to frown. "But...then it ruins the moment!"

Twilight frowned. "What moment?" she asked. "There's nothing to ruin, except the order of speech, which you've pretty much steamrolled into ob-"

"Doyouwannagowithme?"

The unicorn stopped as the pink pony quickly rambled what sounded like a question, but was largely incomprehensible. "I'm sorry, what was that?"

Pinkie Pie shrank back, before seeming to toughen up, and once more take a stand. "I asked if you wanted to go with me...you know, as friends." she said. "I already have somepony to go with, but it really wouldn't be the same without you."

The lavender mare blinked once, twice, and for really good measure, thrice. She opened her mouth, but no words were able to come out, and her maw soon flapped closed.

No way. She...she can't be serious. No way in Celestia, she's Pinkie. She's just pulling your leg, big time.

Are you kidding yourself? Did you see how nervous she was when she asked? Even if she only wants to go as friends, that attitude is NOT 'joking'. You just might have a chance if she takes it seriously enough.

Besides, you know you've been waiting for this for a time. Your one chance.

It's the strangest thing...

...the way I first fell for her.

At first, I had no intentions for her whatsoever. She was Pinkie. A goofy, nonsensical friend. That was fine. But everything soon began to change as the dust settled from our desperate battle against Discord.

I began noticing the little things. The way her hair bounced elegantly...the way that she cheerfully bounced...

...the incredible depth of those blue eyes.

I knew there was more to her. I wanted to learn, I wanted to discover. But somewhere along the way, my intentions changed. I don't know when, where, why, or how. But I do know what they became.

It came to me, quite literally, in a dream.

Me and Pinkie Pie were at Sugarcube Corner, and we were just chatting like there was no tomorrow. Parties, sweets, books, friends...
It was so vivid and convincing, I didn't even know I was still asleep.

Dream Pinkie suddenly leapt over the counter, but it didn't frighten me a bit.

Surprisingly, neither did the kiss.

My dream self didn't push her away, nor did my dream self stand, stunned. In fact, I actually leaned forward, and returned it with all I had.

Considering I've never kissed a pony intimately before, it was sort of a novel, dreamlike experience. I liked it. Of course, anything I imagined was purely a construction of my mind, but it certainly was something to behold.

Regardless. I became at war with myself.

The mere thought that I was a filly-fooler-I'd read books on the subject, and I was hardly familiar with the subject nonetheless-was just one big self fabricated web of lies to me. I simply thought that my mind had decided to create a new scenario, and tested how I might react. In contrast, I've had feelings for colts many times in the past, but the relationships never really worked out, either.

It might have had something to do with the lack of kissing. Who knows. Perhaps it may be just a whole overdose of naivety...

I then began questioning the logic of such a relationship; Pinkie was one of my best friends, and she had stayed that way. The mere thought that we would ever end up together was hogwash to me, because friends were what we were. But sadly, my brain betrayed me.

...and also my eyes.

I found myself staring at her...OK, I'll just say it, sexy body before I could stop myself more and more. My heart became increasingly jumpy around her, as if anticipating that kiss of which the dream seemingly foretold.

Which, theoretically, would taste like mint.

But that's beside the point. Her eyes, to this day, are the worst of it. Looking into those innocent, guilt free eyes only fills myself with some doubt of my own. I sure as hay can't tell Pinkie that I love her. Because 2 things will surely happen.

The purity of our friendship will be tainted...

...as will her innocence.

...

Damn the consequences. Damn her innocence, no offense. I've held myself away from my love too long. I'm going in.

With a sense of caution, of course. Take it slow, Twilight.

"Twilight? Are you all right?"

The sound of the pink pony's childlike voice was enough to snap Twilight Sparkle out of her stupor. She gazed at the earth pony, merely observing.

"Yes, I'm all right." she assured Pinkie. "More than, in fact."

"Good!" chirped Pinkie. "Well, obviously your brain isn't working today, so I'll-"

This time it was Twilight who interrupted. It was a simple word that she spoke, one that hardly meant anything without context. But her body language said enough, as it was determined. Shoulders held high, eyes staring defiantly at her target, she spoke.

It was something she'd longed to say for a while. It was a chance, an opportunity, and she seized it with one word:

"Yes."

A/N: The next chapter is going to take a decisive amount of time. I have every chapter after the next one, I just don't actually have the next one-only an idea. So be very, very patient. Mmk?