Bittersweet Trails

by Dimondium

Rating: teen
Tags: Romance, Tragedy, Shining Armor, Princess Celestia, Pinkie Pie, Sex, Twilight Sparkle, Main 6, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Sad
Length: 28631

ANOTHER sadfic.

The annual Falling Snowflake Festival is coming up, but the problem? Such an event is created for romance, and Twilight Sparkle has nopony to go with.

Until her dear...'friend' Pinkie Pie shows up, she has no idea, too. An idea springs in the unicorn's head, one that, honestly, has been in her head for quite some time, to win over a marefriend once and for all.

Unbeknownst to her, she has little time...
Additional, made up tags:[Partially Cliche], [Sad As Fuck], [Bonds of Friendship]

Published 2012-04-30 17:14:02 UTC
Last updated 2012-07-13 02:33:51 UTC

Chapter 1: Mind Games

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?

Chapter 2: What?!

It was a rather noisy affair, and that was just how Pinkie liked it.

She gazed with wonder-filled eyes at the area in front of her, taking in the crowds of ponies making their way into temporary, low-set tents for fun events. The very light blanket of snow was almost like a cloud beneath her hooves, and the chill of the air was only just cold enough to perk her up, but not quite enough to make her shiver.

Pinkie Pie turned to the unicorn beside her, and beamed. "Wow, Twilight!" she said. "This is the best party I've ever seen from you! How'd you do it?"

Twilight resisted the impulse to correct her on the 'party' bit, and smiled back. "Oh, it's nothing really." she told the pink mare. "Just a little thought and organization. But I have to ask...where's that pony you were talking about bringing?"

Pinkie's expression quickly became ambivalent. "He, uh...kinda' bailed. He said something about...a family reunion! Yeah, that's it!"

Twilight frowned. "This doesn't bode well, Pinkie. You do know why this festival exists, right?" she asked.

"Kinda'." The earth pony shrugged.

The lavender mare simply raised a hoof towards the ongoing festival. "Take a look."

Pinkie did indeed take another look. Upon closer expecting, there seemed to be ponies traveling in whole packs-twos, fours, and sixes even. The pairs seemed to be most occurrent, though there seemed to be no real purpose to them.

It was only when she caught sight of a certain two mares that she began furrowing her brow, as if in deep concentration of thought. "Is that...Dashie? And Applejack? Ooh, they're here too!"

Twilight immediately hushed the pink pony with a hoof to the lips, and the pink pony simply stared out from behind it.

As the two mares watched, the pegasus lightly punched the farmpony on the shoulder, appearing to be laughing. The orange mare appeared to say a few words, and the rainbow maned flier immediately stopped.

"Hey, what are they..." Pinkie's eyes widened. "...doing..."

"I know, I know." said Twilight, smiling slightly. "I found it hard to believe myself. Believe it or not, they started dating just three days ago."

"So that's where those 2 were!" said Pinkie, watching as the two ponies pulled away from each other. A quick glance over from Rainbow caused the pegasus to jolt at the sight of the two. She did a double take, before pointing at Twilight, and mouthing, Her?!

Or perhaps it was 'You?!'. I never was that good at long distance lip reading...

"Do you see now, Pinkie?" asked Twilight. "That's why I asked if you'd brought somepony. It's more or less crucial to the night."

"Yep!" chirped Pinkie. "But that doesn't mean we still can't have fun! Come on, let's see what fun stuff there is!"

As the pink pony quickly pulled her into the crowded festival grounds, the lavender mare began to protest. "Pinkie, these events are strictly for..."

As faces of startled ponies flashed past her, a thought made her stop mid-sentence. If she wants to begin the whole plan by herself, fine. Let her.

Twilight finally felt herself come to a halt, and took in her surroundings. A gentle canopy of bright pink rested above the two ponies, and the unicorn was beginning to suppose that Pinkie had chosen this tent merely because it resembled her own hue.

"Welcome to the Beautiful Br-" A voice from behind her cut off almost as soon as it started. "Twilight? is that you?"

Twilight Sparkle turned to face the exclaimer, before nearly giving a start herself. The white unicorn in front of her had nearly a perfect 'o' of an expression, and an eyebrow raised so high as if it were trying to leave its place on her face.

The scholar looked hurriedly around, making sure that the pink mare was thoroughly occupied. As she seemed to be marveling at a large selection of colorful beads and strings, Twilight found it safe to continue. "Rarity," she said, leaning closer to the white unicorn. "I appreciate your volunteer work here, and I know that you're supposed to generally keep minimal interaction with other ponies, but if you could make a small exception-"

"Oh, I understand completely, Twilight!" interrupted the fashionesta. "Leave it to me, all right? I believe I have it under control."

Twilight Sparkle smiled at the eager violet maned pony in front of her. "Thank you, Rarity. This means a lot to me."

"Right then, you know the routine, dear."

'If you'll step this way and sit right down on this couch, I'll be with you momentarily! I'll just take your 'special somepony', and have them pick out what they think suits you best!' The unicorn followed the incredibly utopian introduction speech that was drilled into her head, by taking a seat on a small couch lined with red cushioning. It felt nice and soft, and it closely resembled the one that the white mare would often faint into when she was suitably surprised.

It was only a few seconds before she froze, cocking an ear to the world outside. It was completely silent, except for a few hushed cries. What is going on?

Twilight strained her hearing, attempting to hear over the rather distracting chatter of Pinkie Pie. A soft, dignified accent spoke out among the silence. It couldn't have been Rarity, because not only was she going through the general routine with Pinkie, but her voice never sounded quite so...motherly.

"Excuse me, miss, but would you have happened to have seen a certain 'Twilight Sparkle'?"

The purple unicorn rose from the couch, now intrigued. She trotted to the entrance of the tent just as soon as the other, unknown pony gave a response. "Why, I think a pink blur dragged her into the tent right there."

Twilight gasped as she peeked around the corner of the makeshift entrance. There was a tall, slender figure that she knew all too well. If the golden tiara nor the flowing semi-translucent mane was indication enough, it was definitely the royal stature that gave it away.

Her heart filled with warmth. "Princess Celestia!" she cried, stepping out from the pink canvas to perform a quick bow. "What are you doing here at my humble little festival?"

"Ah, hello, my faithful student." said Celestia. Her face remained strangely expressionless. "I'm afraid I am not here on very good news. You are needed in Canterlot immediately."

Almost as if on cue, both Rarity and Pinkie popped out silently behind her. Applejack and Rainbow Dash, who were off to the rear of the princess, each gave the other an uneasy glance.

"What? Why?" asked the purple unicorn. "Is it something that can wait?"

"Absolutely not, Twilight." commanded the alicorn. "I'm afraid it is of grave importance. You are needed as a replacement for your brother, as Captain of the Royal Guard."

Twilight could feel her heart pounding harder as she swallowed nervously. "Is he sick? Is there not another pony more suited to the job?"

"I've looked at your medical records, Twilight, and you're in perfect physical condition, at least by average standards." The princess sighed, as the unicorn noted that she seemed to look every bit of her multi-century age. "There are ponies more suited to the job, but your brother specifically asked for you to take his place, as you are the only one who could come anywhere close to performing a shield of the magnitude that he has done."

"But...I'll be back, right? And...he's OK?"

Princess Celestia sighed, taking her student's gaze and averting herself from it. She gazed into the distance, refusing to meet the scholar's eyes. Perhaps this was so because of the few tears that pervaded her expression, as she wished not for her most faithful student to see her teacher sorrowful.

"I'm afraid you only have one day to say your goodbyes, Twilight Sparkle..." whispered the princess. "You will not be returning to Ponyville for a long time..."

"What?" cried the unicorn, abruptly leaping back. She felt tears welling up in the corner of her eyes, gently prickling her with bits of heat. "Surely we can work something out! I have my friends to be with, and I'm learning every day, and it's just-"

"Perhaps it is time you learned the most important lesson of friendship, Twilight..." said Celestia, turning to face the lavender mare. "While friendship lasts a lifetime...that isn't to say that you'll stay with them forever, either."

"But me and Pinkie-"

"And I'm afraid there is no easy way to say this, Twilight Sparkle, and I send my deepest condolences. But...there is no hope for your brother recovering."

"What?!"

"I'm sorry, Twilight..." said the princess. "...but Shining Armor...

...was killed in action yesterday..."

Words could not describe the thoughts that ran through the purple mare's head as the final words sank in. "No...no...no..." It was as if she were a broken record, doomed to repeat the same message for eternity. "No...I...he..."

The strain of two shocking events in a row were too much for her to take. The unicorn felt her knees buckle, and her eyes slowly rolling back into her head. The vague, distant shouts of concerned ponies calling her name were just about as clear as a memory from decades past.

As she fell backwards, she vaguely felt her fall cushioned by a sudden...thing. She didn't really care what it was, but as she slipped slowly into the welcoming arms of unconsciousness, she realized one thing...

...it smelled like mint.

Chapter 3: Comfort

A/N: Perspective change. You likey? Well too bad. Since this story revolves around Twilight and her inner thoughts, this seems the best choice.

Enjoy. The perspective is now 1st person, from Twi's accented view, or 'more inflected on the intellectual side'.

I awoke with a large start, screaming at the top of my lungs. "BIG BROTHER!"

I froze, listening to my own voice rebound off of my surroundings. Shortly afterwards, the splitting pain of a headache hit me, and I groaned. There was definitely something going on, but what? Why had I awoke in such a fright?

A gentle snort from beside me brought my senses into focus, and I immediately took stock of my surroundings.

I was in a bed, a pink one. The sheets around me were spread...dare I say, lovingly? The surroundings were unfamiliar nonetheless, and I couldn't recall a thing from the previous day. The floor was carpeted with a deep pink color, and a small dresser sat besides me. The room was furnished with many, many festival-like items that it didn't even seem worthwhile taking inventory of them all.

I turned to face the sound of the snort, and my heart skipped a beat.

Slumbering in what seemed to be perfect peace, was the ever cheerful Pinkie Pie. A slight smile graced her expression even as she slept, and as I watched, a grin of my own coming to my face, she gently mumbled in her sleep.

"Twilight...I...we...fun...chocolate truffles...with me?"

I couldn't help but to smile even wider, though my grin was still slight. One could never guess what Pinkie was up to, especially in her dreams. Each time I tried, my mind just broke into two before sinking into my stomach.

I suppose that's why my heart always spoke up first, with words that could only be summed up with 'love'.

I froze as I remembered just why I'd woken up. The festival, Pinkie, Shining Armor having...'transcended'...fainting...

I found myself almost hyperventilating as I realized the implications. I hurriedly brought myself to my hooves, and did the one thing that I always did when I was nervous: paced. I turned this way and that, trying to reassure myself of the most inevitable outcomes being dispelled. My brother couldn't be dead, no way. I haven't seen any proof of such, or heard why.

...then again, it was the princess who told me...

I found myself fretting over the possible departure to Canterlot, and the resulting loss of my friends. I was so busy trying not to cry that I hardly even noticed when a voice, high and clear, carried across the room.

"Gooood morning, Twilight! Did the bedbugs bite much?"

I turned to face the bed, finding that Pinkie Pie now sat straight up, already beaming with an energy that I could envy, especially since she just woke up.

I snorted, trying to keep my voice under control. "Bedbugs, no. Sudden discovery that your own brother is most likely dead, and you'll have to leave Ponyville? Yes."

I watched as she stared, before she collapsed into a rather strange fit of giggling. "You're funny, Twilight." she said.

I leapt into her face, nearly shouting now. "I'm not joking, Pinkie! You think this is funny?"

It was now that her gaze softened, and the smile slowly faded back to where it had come from. "You had a nightmare, didn't you?" Her voice was as soft and tender as I would expect my own mother's to be.

I stopped. Nightmare? Was it possible? The whole thing was just so traumatizing, that I noticed that I was shaking all over. Worse, it had taken grasp of my mind, and twisted it about twenty times each way. I didn't know whether to cry, whimper, or shout. I did manage a simple "I guess", however.

It was enough. Pinkie just nodded, and said "Okey Dokey Lokey."

"Okey Dokey what?"

She smiled in response to this. "Okey Dokey 'I'm going to make your nightmare go away' Lokey."

Before I could respond to this rather vague-and seemingly impossible-suggestion, Pinkie reached out, placing her forehooves around my neck, before gently drawing me closer into an embrace. I went to resist, but then I realized something.

While I'd always wanted to admit my affection to her, it was only now that I truly cherished the secret. As she held the hug, I felt my worries slipping away one by one, leaving a certain fluttering in my chest. If she were to know my feelings, this mere moment would likely not exist, as we would both be so scrupulously careful as to not cross another line.

With this in mind, I half-returned the embrace, laying my head upon her chest, of which she pulled me to. It was a strange feeling then, but I could call it 'contentment'' if I tried.

Eventually, she relinquished her grip, and I had to pull away. I felt much better, and when she asked if it was gone, I was able to say 'mostly'.

I didn't have the heart to tell her what the two of us did in the dream, the one thing that made it less frightening. But when she drew me back in once more, I wasn't complaining. Not in the least.

I was not able to shake the nightmare from my mind quite yet, but I reassured her that I had. While I would love to have spent an eternity locked in her soft, warm grasp, I had other things to do.

I rose, and I suddenly noticed a gentle roaring. How it got beyond me is a wonder, but I had to ask-"It's raining?"

Pinkie giggle-snorted in response. "Of course it is! That's why you spent the night here, remember? Rainbow said there was a huuuuuge storm scheduled to clear the leftover rain clouds, and it's still going!"

Huh. I didn't remember that.

"I found you wandering outside..." she continued. "You looked all cold and wet, so I took you in. I guess you were tired, because once I got you dried off, you just went to the first bed you saw and fell asleep reeeeallly quick!"

I had done that before-the bed thing, that is. "Sure sounds like me, Pinkie."

A short silence followed, as the soothing sound of the rain pierced the room. I looked around, awkwardly scratching my head.

I managed to pop a question. "So...how did your big blowout party go?"

I could tell this was a nice subject for her, as her eyes lit up almost as soon as I finished. "It was super-duper-ultra fantastic, Twilight! Thanks for helping me plan it!"

"Oh. No problem." My cheeks flamed from within, and I turned aside, hoping that no blush was visibly seen.

Another brief interval followed, which was broken by Pinkie hopping out of the sheets, and coming to all four hooves on the floor. She cheerfully bounced around the bed, coming to my side before brushing past. I shivered as her tail gently made contact with my thigh-such a light touch always sent shivers down my spine.

I didn't quite know what she was up to when she stopped, and pulled out a small beaded necklace from what appeared to be a tiny box, until she spoke. "I made this for you at the festival."

The festival? Was it real? Had she simply falsely convinced me that it wasn't real? She must have. It would be the only reason for me have woken up in Sugarcube Corner.

I leapt forward, smacking the beads out of her hooves. Perhaps if they were gone, the events would go with them. In the moment, I found myself with a rising voice, trembling more and more with each second. "No! It isn't real! None of this is, no, it isn't! He's still here, and so am I!"

Pinkie gazed in horror at the beads scattered on the floor, before looking back to me. "Twilight..." she said. "You...you broke it..."

I held a hoof in front of my face, and noted that I was, once again, shaking. Had I gone completely mad? Was I being driven insane by my own manic machinations, by my greatest fears? Or was it just the stress of holding myself back from her?

"Pinkie, I..." I found it difficult to get the words out. "...I'm sorry. I just don't feel like myself lately."

"No, no, no! This is all wrong!" exclaimed the pink mare that I found myself slightly scared of at the moment. "Now how am I supposed to tell you?"

I frowned. "Tell me what?"

"Ooh, I know! I'll just say it!"

What Pinkie Pie did next surprised me so much, I nearly leapt out of my own skin.

She walked up to me, and placed a hoof on the side of my face. She leaned in close,and I felt a little pressed for space. "I was going to say this at the festival, but...now's as good a time as any. Well, it's more of a question, but...yeah. Ooh, wait! I have a poem for it-"

I pushed her back. "Pinkie." I grunted.

Apparently, that was enough. She shrugged, and recited whatever poem she had it was. It seemed to be a rather impromptu spin-off...

"Roses are-sometimes-red,
Violets are-mostly-blue.
I was just wondering,
If I could go out with you."

Woah, woah, woah. Back that train up about a trillion miles. Is this not just a little too convenient? The fact that I've been specifically dreaming about this for weeks, and that she just asked, completely free of any anxiety or planning? Is it just another prank-

"I know, I know...it seems like a joke, doesn't it?"

Well, she certainly read my mind.

"Twilight, I..." She dropped her gaze and turned aside, as though she could hide behind her mane. "...I know when I'm joking, and...when I actually feel a certain way...a warm, fuzzy way..."

Well don't I feel like a big jerk?

"...but if you could just give me a chance..." she looked up, smiling as she always did. However, the slightest coloring of her cheeks confirmed it-she was being completely genuine about her...question.

All that was left was for me to answer.

"YES!" I froze. Too forward?

In an attempt to fix my social faux pas, I found myself stuttering. " I mean..u-uh...sure?"

Pinkie giggled, swiping a hoof at my mane. "You're so cute when you blush."

Well, if I wasn't before, I sure was now. Regardless, she continued. "How about we meet back here at...say...4:00 tomorrow? We can go ice-skating, and it'll be super-duper fun!"

Apparently, she forgot something. I frowned as I told her, "Pinkie, I can't skate. How does that work?"

"No problem!" she said, nonchalantly waving a hoof. "I'll teach you! Sounds like a plan?"

I grinned, finally seizing upon the opportunity. It was finally coming true, my most wonderful dream that even lingered during the daytime. "Sure thing. I'd be glad to learn from such an 'expert'..."

Then it hit me. "Um, Pinkie, it's still raining pretty hard. I'm pretty sure even an umbrella would have trouble holding back rain of this caliber..."

Pinkie Pie then smiled one of the most heart-melting smiles that she ever had-some sixth sense in me thought that she knew just what to do, and when. No Pinkie sense was visible, but it sure seemed to be working. "No problem, Twily!"-Oh Celestia, I have a nickname now...and to make it worse, it's my brother's-"I know what we can do! You still got that nightmare in your head?"

I could take a hint. "Oh, yes Pinkie, I do!" I said, being sure to over-stretch the anxiety. "It's so horrible and voraciously evil! Help me!"

"Vo-ra-whaaaaaat?"

I sighed. For such a seemingly psychic pony, she could be relatively shut-in...

Perhaps that was for the better.

"Incredibly, Pinkie. Incredibly."

She shrugged. "Then just say it. Now come to Auntie Pinkie Pie, and we'll see about that-"

I didn't hesitate. I immediately stepped into her waiting embrace, though this time I was able to hug her back-it no longer crossed any lines, in any case. Rather, it only reinforced them. "You really need to spend more time in silence, Pinkie..." I told her, snuggling further into the cotton candy-like mane that she beheld.

"Two hundred and sixty seven..." It was almost infinitely inaudible, but the number that she spoke was still heard, even from my place below her that I spent, squeezing her oddly soft, and pleasurably warm body.

It was strange, to say the least. "What?"

"Oh, nothing, nothing..." The speed at which she dismissed it was a little worrying. But who cared, anyways? She was Pinkie.

And that's exactly why I loved her.

A/N: "What happened to chapter 2? Was it pointless? Did any of it happen? Is this-"

Calm down, reader, and use the foreshadowing available to you. Note that fauxshadowing is my natural talent...kekekeke.

Chapter 4: Ice (Nice), Baby.

I could only stare in amazement.

I knew Pinkie to be many things. A baker, a party planner, a partier, even sometimes a musician. But a professional-like ice skater?

I have to say I didn't quite see that coming.

I'd been watching her do twirl upon twirl, and pattern upon pirouette for a few minutes, and it was clear-she had definitely been holding something back at Winter Wrap Up. The level of finesse and precision that she maneuvered the ice with was rivaling the grace of a ballerina dancer; sometimes even surpassing said dancer. I watched as she came into a final spin, spreading her forehooves wide and lifting one of her hind legs at an approximate right angle, even going higher than that.

I shuddered, and turned away. While I knew her poofy tail would likely cover any undesired areas, the fact that such a provocative pose could be struck in such a sport, was, in a way, revolting in itself. No matter who did it. Even if she did it, I would refuse to look. I did have standards, after all.

"Come on, Twilight!" she called as I still had my gaze averted. "The water is fine! I mean, the water-ice, because the water is actually ice, but...it's still fine!

As much as I would have liked to, I couldn't. Clothed in a light green sweater, and a set of skates being next to me, I was perfectly content staying on the snowbank. It was a little cold on my rump, but it was certainly better than falling flat onto it. A simple shake of the head told Pinkie my thoughts.

"Awww, are you afraid you'll fall?" she asked, bringing her to a stop right in front of me. "I promise you won't!"

Those eyes that she stared at me with didn't bear falsehood, they only said 'trust me'. I, frankly, was a little afraid of falling so repeatedly-I wasn't a fan of sore muscles. Regardless, I decided to give it a chance. It couldn't be any worse than last time, right?

I sighed, climbing to my hooves. As I did this, Pinkie Pie jumped for joy, and I sighed yet again, as if to stress my reluctance.

Within a few seconds, I had my skates on, and I was staring at the ice. It seemed so...thin, and brittle. How was I supposed to place all my trust in a thin sheet of solidified ice?

"Ooh, great! You know rule number 1!" Pinkie's voice pierced my thoughts, and I snapped my head up to her voice. There were rules?

"Rule number one of skatin': always check the ice!" With this, she quickly brought a hoof crashing down onto the thin surface. The blade shore through it, but instead of the ice fracturing, and taking her with it to the abysmal depths of water below, the blade of the skate simply became lodged midway.

"It's a safe spot," she explained, tugging at the entrapped skate. "Thick enough to do twirls and jumps on if you're careful!"

I watched as she tugged over and over, a few beads of sweat appearing on her forehead despite the biting cold. "I think it's..." Another tug. "...stuck!"

I couldn't help but to chuckle. "Biting off more than you can chew, Pinkie?"

"Not really!" In an instant, she had quickly slipped out of the skate that held her low to the ice, and apparently the other one on her front legs. She now reared up onto her hind legs, taking balance on the two skates she had left.

Pinkie beckoned me forward with a warm smile. "Come on, give it a try! I'll catch you if you fall."

I knew I couldn't stay on the snow forever, so I did it- I took a hesitant step forward, placing a skate on the surface of the frozen lake.

Seeing as I didn't immediately fall on my flank, it was good thus far.

It was only when I took the second step did I find things going wrong. My weight shifted forward by accident, sending me skidding forward. In an attempt to right myself, I brought my rear hooves onto the ice as well, but they served only as another point of balance to mess up.

I found myself flailing around desperately, seeking to regain my balance, to make it back to the snowbank, anything. On complete chance, my front hooves were grabbed by a force I couldn't see, most likely because my eyes were closed tight by now.

I felt the ice below me become a lot more stable, though it still felt relatively frictionless. I finally managed to open my eyes,and look towards what saved me from certain glutei-pain.

Pinkie had actually kept her word. It was her who held me up, mere inches from the ice. She was balanced rather precariously on one leg now, with not even the slightest bit of strain or worry.

"Gotcha'!" she giggled. I went to reply, but found myself speechless. My brain only allowed a quick nod before I stared back down towards the ice, mortified at how close I was to smashing my face in.

"I guess we started a little quick...here, I'll help you!" I looked back up towards Pinkie, arching an eyebrow. If I couldn't keep my balance, how could I move?

"Come on now, lean forward. I'll help you! It's as easy as pie! Well, not pie, more like a nice cake..." I ignored Pinkie Pie as she rambled endlessly on-you could never silence her if she truly wanted to talk. I leaned against her, still clutching her hooves tightly with my own as best as I could manage. I could feel her breathing patterns as she helped me to an upright position.

With a sudden realization, I felt my heart pump more fiercely, and I became light-headed, though more in a pleasant way. I wasn't placing my trust in the ice at all-all of it was placed in Pinkie. The mere fact that I trusted her enough to save me from the ice alone, as I didn't even trust myself, said a lot. I'd trust any of the girls, but only Pinkie I would trust with my whole heart.

I found that I'd realized what was missing from all of my previous relationships-trust. I'd never quite put anything into any other pony, because they weren't quite as-

"Nice job, Twilight!" Pinkie's sudden cry startled me out of my revelation, and I realized that I was standing straight up, also balanced on my own two hooves. Though I still clenched tightly to her, I was maintaining balance.

The amount of trust placed into this very moment was simply amazing. I felt something overtake me, and I...

"Now, we're gonna' work on moving forwar-" I silenced her words with a quick movement, meeting her lips with my own.

That was the first time that I'd kissed another pony romantically for real, and...I found it hard to describe. I almost knew naturally what to do, and I was strangely aware of everything that Pinkie did as well. We stayed locked together for a few seconds, and she pulled back.

I tasted mint as I spoke in a tone totally unlike any before: "How's that for moving forward?"

The only response I received was a pink blur that sent me flying backwards, skidding to a stop with my head resting on the snowbank. I hardly noticed it, however, as the energetic ball of energy that everypony called 'Pinkie Pie' was already on top of me, entrapping me in another kiss.

Moments passed, in which she used ever increasing fervor that made my head spin. It was lucky that I was already flat on my back, else I might have fallen back on it regardless. It was a game of dancing tongues, and unspoken passion.

If someone had to win, though, it would probably be Pinkie.

It was maybe a full minute before we broke off. All I could do was gaze at her, and for once, she did the exact same thing. No talking, no nothing. I felt not enough courage to speak myself, as my cheeks were burning enough to fry an egg. I lay there panting as I tried to regain part of the breath that I'd somehow lost, yet she seemed fine. The only sign that she was in any way similar to how I was, was a small glint in her eyes.

"Are you thinking what I'm thinking, Twily?"

"...I don't...think so."

"I'm thinkin' hot chocolate!"

I smiled. Typical Pinkie Pie-on one subject matter one second, and on one entirely different the next. Regardless, hot chocolate sounded nice on such a cold day.

We simply grabbed our skates and went, as if it had never happened.

"...and then I said, 'tomato! How dare you!'"

I shook my head, smiling. "We've already established how 'crazy' your vegetation can be, Pinkie."

Pinkie took another sip of her hot chocolate, coming up with a simple grin. "This is fun, isn't it?"

"Quite." I snickered at how posh I sounded, almost like an aristocratic stallion. Regardless, it had been fun. Me and Pinkie had spent the past twenty minutes simply sitting by a small fire in the library, sharing a blanket and drinking hot chocolate. It was really a quaint afternoon that I'd hardly pictured, but...books give you false impressions on many things, apparently.

I drained the last of my cup, savoring every last drop of the drink. It brought a warm, soothing sensation to my throat, and it felt nice.

As I set the mug aside, I felt Pinkie set hers aside, too. She shifted around in the blanket, bringing herself closer to me. I smiled, glad that instead of preferring to ramble, she just wanted to, dare I say, snuggle.

It was no sooner that I'd contendedly drawn a hoof around her that there came a knocking at the door. Who could it be?

Pinkie, however, had no questions whatsoever. Instead, she quickly disentangled herself from my grasp, bouncing towards the door. "I got it!"

I shook my head, looking towards the floor. While it was nice that Pinkie Pie liked to help me with certain things, she tried to do it with everything. She seemed to be forgetting that I wasn't a foal.

"OmigoshomigoshomiGOSH! How you been, big sis'? It's been like, for-ev-er!"

I whipped my head around as she said this. Big sister? And what were they doing here?

As Pinkie stepped aside, and quickly bounded back to my side, rambling on in delight, I was able to take stock of the mare that soon entered.

She had a coat of gray fur, and carried herself with a certain aloof pride not unlike the walk of the higher class. A flat, monochromatic dark-gray mane floated down her neck, only adding to a strange sense of uniformity. Upon her back lay a large string instrument, of which I knew not of its caliber. Judging from the size, it might have been either a cello or a double bass.

A small, pink bowtie completed the gray pony, slightly outlining her lavender-like eyes, almost as light as my own coat.

"Twilight, this is Octavia, who is the bestest sister ever!" Pinkie 'explained', still bouncing in circles around me. "And sis', this is Twily, but everypony else calls her Twilight! She's my-"

"I know." Octavia spoke, dryly cutting off a certain whirlwind of excitement. The air became incredibly heavy with silence afterwards, and I found myself reaching out to Pinkie's supposed sister.

"Well, as Pinkie so elegantly explained, I'm Twilight Sparkle," I said, cautiously extending a hoof. "It's nice to meet you."

The supposed cellist reached out her own hoof, grabbing my own as if it were a deadly fly trap. "Hmm." A single shake was all she gave before quickly extricating herself from my attempted hoofshake.

Always the conversationalist, Pinkie was the one to break the silence. "So what brings you here, Octy? I didn't even have time to throw you a party!"

"You very well know why, Pinkamena." A cold glare in my direction made me pointedly more uncomfortable, and I made the mistake of shrinking back. "I mean...look at her."

"I'm sorry, um..." My voice had a raspy tinge to it. "What is this all about?"

Octavia tossed her hair. "I'll be blunt as possible, though that won't be too easy. Sit down and listen a bit.

"Pinkie's, as you have seen, my sister. We're related by blood, as hard as it may seem to believe. Me being upright and on the fast track, her...elsewhere."

Well wasn't she a caring sister, with oodles of extraneous empathy?

"I, as a young pony, didn't know anything of what life could be, until she threw 'that' party on our quaint rock farm. It was only slightly enjoyable, but hey, I guess they aren't my thing. But her and that gathering helped kickstart me in my music career. I mean, who wants to farm rocks?"

I assume she's implying that even rock farmers don't want to farm rocks.

"As we were in the awkward stage of...dare I say puberty, I noticed her going out with all these stallions, all these mares...and every single time she would come back, crying. I took it upon myself from that point on to comfort her, and find her the right pony. She just didn't know who would break her heart, and who wouldn't. So I decided to do the job myself. It's the least I could do. I mean, she only began my life."

Ah, there's that compassion.

"Ever since, I'd noticed she's never had a spout of premature heartbreak. It's amazing, really-she seems so perky every time I see her. I thought she'd given up entirely on relationships..."

Another cold glare brought me back to my senses. "...and then I get the wonderful, wonderful news of you." The pure contempt in her voice was not masked in the least, and such an act of intimidation was totally out of left field.

"Sis', it's fine this time! Twilight and I have been friends for-"

Pinkie's hurried protests seemed only to make it worse. Immediately, Octavia cut her off. "That may be fine in perfect-dandy world-"

"This is Ponyville, silly!"

"-...but it isn't with me. You know how this goes, Pinkie. The routine."

I was still in confusion as Pinkie Pie simply hung her head. "Fine. But if you pull Night Deuce again..."

"Relax. I've got this." Her sibling finally took a seat, facing me. For once, instead of glaring at me like I was one of the worst scum-bags on the planet, she instead looked at me with a certain interest that piqued my own.

"So tell me, Miss Sparkle..." she began, tossing her hair back once more-it seemed a rather compulsory habit. "One of the first things I noticed when I walked in was how utterly clean the place was. Are you an organized type of pony?"

How somepony couldn't draw conclusions from the obvious evidence, I had no idea. Regardless, I doubt she'd heard of my organization-related breakdown, so I answered anyways. "You could say that."

She only shook her head in reply. "Either this is perfect, or an utter disaster..." Octavia muttered. She cleared her throat, before looking me straight in the eyes, and beginning again.

"There's a few key things I'm going to say right now. Say the first thing that comes to your mind. Ready?"

Uncertainly, I nodded. This was getting weird.

"Princess."

That one was easy. "Celestia."

"Date."

That was certainly random. A date could be a fruit, or an event. I decided to go with my first choice- "Fruit."

"Beautiful."

I didn't know what I was thinking, or rather, I wasn't. The words were out of my mouth far before I could stop them. "Pinkie Pie."

If it stunned her, the cellist made no visible note of it. All she said was "That's two words", before she continued.

"Romantic."

Oh Celestia, romance? I knew nothing of the sorts! While I'd read books on the subject matter, I wish I'd had time to open a book. But as Octavia's interested gaze slowly became sullen and hostile, I was forced to blurt out the first word I was thinking of: "Candles."

Candles? What the buck was I thinking?

"Bits."

"Pieces."

Octavia nodded, rising from her haunches and nodded towards Pinkie, who had simply watched in silence.

Almost immediately, her eyes lit up. She seemed failed for words as her jaw flapped open and shut multiple times. "Y-you mean..."

"Hang on there, Pinkie." The cellist quickly withdrew a small sheet of paper, handing it to Pinkie before quickly turning away. "I'm sorry..."

In an instant, she was gone. Out the door and around the corner.

I looked to Pinkie. "That was moderately strange, wasn't it?"

She said nothing, only staring at the paper even more. I could have sworn I saw tears in her eyes as a heavy, dark silence wreaked its mark on the room. "...Pinkie?"

Her eyes shot up from the paper, and she beamed, all smiles once more. "Oh, it's nothing! I'm just so surprised that my sister accepted you!"

"Accepted...?"

Pinkie took the hint, and took her place at my side once more, snuggling her neck across the back of mine before continuing once more. "Well, as great as a sister Octavia can be, she's a little overprotective. She was just making sure you wouldn't leave me."

I found myself wishing that I had a sister, and one equally as thoughtful as Pinkie's own. "Well, that's nice." I wrapped a hoof around her, pulling her closer to myself and finally taking the time to warm up to her. Even if I for some reason had wanted to leave her, this moment would have changed my mind entirely.

Quite a few minutes were spent in silence, trading both hugs and nuzzles between the two of us. If this constituted a romantic evening, I was very much enjoying it so far. The warmth of the pony I loved right next to me, and the fire's own right in front of us...

The air was so calm, and the area so undisturbed as to be completely quiet. I could feel the gentle rising and falling motion of Pinkie Pie's breathing against my body, occasionally a hair or two being ruffled on my coat thereafter.

By the time my eyes drifted slowly closed, the time whence I began delicately yawning, I hardly was aware of anything. I was slowly slipping into a state that I could call dreamlike, almost entranced. I heard a few things said by her, but they had little impact on my half- muddled mind. Gentle assurances of love and quiet self-discussion of plans came to mind.

The only thing that left an impression was a number, spoken so differently from the rest that if it were not tinged with a strange level of emotion, unclear whether it was joyful or not, I would hardly remember it.

It was the last thing that I heard before slowly drifting into a sound, dreamless sleep of which I'd not had since...well, yesterday.

"Two sixty six...”

Chapter 6: Compromise

I so wasn’t holding this until you guys said to continue it. /Applelie

In the following days to come, the nightmares only worsened.

No longer did I simply fight off my deepest-seated fears, such as an Ursa Major stomping into town, or the untimely passing of my brother.

Instead, I had to deal with her.

I spent long, fitful nights seeing her tearful face, knowing she wanted nothing to do with me. Knowing that I'd reacted as I had. The sound of her sobs would endlessly reverberate in my ears, until I awoke in a cold sweat, screaming as though touched by a ghost.

The days were no better. I knew very well that she was taking special care to avoid me, and I made no such action to force contact with her. It hurt, but the fact that seeing her again might be for the worst kept me going the way that I was.

Well, I saw her once. She only spoke briefly, though unusually chipper: "Oh, don't worry! I just need some time to myself anyways!" Before I could get any elaboration, she'd turned quickly around and walked away, ignoring my questions.

I felt even worse after that.

It was a long three days, indeed. Long, lonely days of attempted categorization, only to end up in a sad, withdrawn heap in a corner. Not crying, or anything. Just...numbly aching. Yearning. I'd had a taste of what might have been, and now it was most likely 'what won't be, ever, for sure'.

Somewhere along the way, I knew I had to talk to somepony, to at least vent, if you will. Optionally, I wanted to see if I could patch things up with her, which is what I wanted most. Spike wanted nothing to do with it as soon as I mentioned the venting part, though I suppose the point is that you don't tell them that you actually are.

The next few days were spent racking my brain, thinking of who I might trust with this...secret.

I'll be honest, I've never spoken a word about my...'orientation' to anypony, and I like to keep it that way. Some ponies end up making jokes about the preferences that we don't necessarily choose, whether you're in the control group or not. Granted, colts will be colts, but those colts can be pretty immature if you give them a stick to grasp at.

Plus, the fact that another two ponies who were best friends had found love was a stick that was roughly one googol of meters long. Or, a lá scientific notation, one quadrillion to a power of ten thousand.

I first thought of telling Fluttershy. She was kind and understanding, and perhaps she might even help me and Pinkie resolve our differences. But then the fact that my telling of such a well-kept secret to such an anxious pony could lead to disaster. Not through publicity, necessarily, but through worrying about whether one might let it slip or not.

The next pony that came to mind was Applejack. She was in a relationship of her own, and being the honest pony that she was, she would speak her exact thoughts, and I'd know immediately whether she'd be able to help or not. But she'd had her share of snide comments and jeers, and prejudice might get in the way of her thinking. Plus, something told me that how she worked was much different than I did.

For some reason, I thought of Rainbow, but then I immediately shook my figurative head. Provided, she too was in a relationship, with Applejack, she obviously knew very little about such matters, perhaps even less than me. Consulting her might have me dangling off a cliff, with a smiling manticore leering over me.

The thought made me shudder.

Then it came, and the final choice was clear. A pony who already knew about it, and who had apparently sworn to secrecy, as she hadn't said a word since. Without another thought, I quietly set out from the library, to one Carousel Boutique.

"So, Twilight, you've come seeking romantic counseling? Well, you've come to the right place!"

Shifting my hindquarters around on the red velvet cushion that they resided on, I took a sip of some generously provided Green Herb tea, nodding assent.

The pony across from me leaned excitedly across the low-set table that hardly separated us, beaming so widely that her grin nearly cracked. "I still can't believe that you managed to overcome your nature, and find a nice pony to settle down with! It couldn't have been hard for you, right? Pinkie must have absolutely fallen for a beautiful mare like yourself!"

"Uh-huh, sure. Let's go with that." My voice sounded unusually sardonic and snide as I spoke, which caused Rarity to move back to her seat, her grin fading.

"Right then," she began after a quiet period that seemed both a blessing and a blight. "So what's the trouble in paradise? I can't imagine anything-"

"She painted the library pink."

Her shocked expression looked almost like a paragon of what I imagined my face had looked like at the moment of discovery. "She painted a tree pink?!”

"Yup." Not much more could be said, really.

"What a dreadful disaster! At least, she could have made it green?" With a cold glare from me, she immediately hopped back on track. "So did anything else happen at all? It might be a barrier, sure, if you didn't wish it to be so, but that's no reason to get so worked up!"

"Well..." My gaze fell, and I could feel my breathing fluctuate slightly, becoming more ragged as all sorts of memories returned at once. The pain in my heart became so unbearable, that my speech was even affected by it. I had to fight back the horrible memory of her tears, and doing so, I almost cried myself. "I, uh...she knocked, and...she cried, and...I...I..."

With a sympathetic gaze, Rarity made a little gesture with her hoof, cutting me off in the nicest manner that she possibly could have. "Come now, darling, relax, and have a sip of tea."

I did so, managing just barely to lift the cup to my lips, taking in some of the calming liquid.

As the gentle shaking that had inexplicably built up in my body died down, she took a sip from her own cup, before leaning forward, forehooves crossed on the table as she continued. "Now, how about we start from the beginning? I know it's tough, but I have to know what happened."

I set off on an explanation, the best that I could possibly muster. A few intervals occurred in which I apparently got out of hand, in which Rarity would gently stop me, allowing me to calm down slightly before I continued. Throughout the rest, she nodded, making slight sounds of understanding, her gaze not once leaving me.

I knew I'd made the right choice with her. She was such a good listener, unlike many.

I finally dragged through to the end, managing to ignore the quavering of my voice as I finished.

It was quiet for a few seconds, as Rarity just nodded, taking on a thinking expression so intense that I feared that she may have been stumped. That she might say we weren't compatible, and it wasn't meant to be because of conflicts such as this.

My paranoid assumptions were proved wrong as she finally spoke again: "It seems like you two need to compromise a little."

"Compromise? On what?" What on earth was she talking about? I'd given my heart to this pony, and hoped to give my soul to her as well! She'd done the same on that one skating day, so what could we compromise on?

"On each other, of course!" Taking a hint from my confused cock of the head, she continued with a rolling of the eyes. "Twilight, she obviously wants to help you with something, to make you happier than you are. Your reaction to her was showing the exact opposite of what she wanted, or simply, the fact that you weren't happy. Granted, she should be careful when, ahem, performing deeds like that, but neither of you should have exploded like that!"

I could feel my brain screaming at me furiously, my heart beating rapidly in agitation, and a hoof reaching up to make contact with the rumored land of Forehead-ia as my mouth slowly expressed my disappointment in myself.

"Oh my Celestia..."

"Indeed, Twilight Sparkle." With a habitual sweeping of her mane, Rarity reclined back to a sitting position. "The point is, you need to make her feel like she's making you happy."

"But she does! I love her to d-"

"I'm sure you do, Twilight." Her voice took a sudden turn towards dull force, a serious tone that she hardly ever used. "But if you want this to work, you're going to have to come up with something."

"But..." My mind was a complete blank as I managed to babble out what she'd probably expected. "I don't even know any ideas whatsoever!

The white unicorn had already risen, and now she looked down at me with bemusement. "Twilight. I'd expect better from a pony who can memorize dozens of constellations."
It's nothing too complicated, really. Just let her talk to you-" she stopped, apparently thinking it over. She mumbled 'Celestia help you...' under her breath before continuing. "-let her throw a party, whatever! As long as she thinks you're happy with what she's doing, she'll be happy as well, and your relationship will build on that, strengthening the love that you already share!"

"But what-"

"Twilight, I may be good, but I'm not a guru. Each relationship is different. I'm afraid you have to go it alone from here on out." Rarity suddenly perked up, before rushing from the small sitting room that we'd talked in. "I'll see you later, Twilight!" she called back. "I have a very important, top-secret ensemble to finish, and I'm afraid it slipped my mind when you came around!"

I sighed, looking to the floor.

Great. Now I was completely alone in this. The only thing that had changed from that was me discovering exactly how I'd bucked up, and how I might fix it, provided I could cook up anything along the lines that she mentioned...

Then it hit me harder than a sack of bricks dropped from the top of Ghastly Gorge. The idea carried me so quickly out the door, that I probably pulled off a Sonic Rainboom on the way.

I was going to fix this, make things right. If only for me, or for her.

If only for love.

Sorry for being so cheesy. But I think I actually have the start of a recurring plot, and some actual place to shoot for. I’ll admit, the goal I’ve had has been a little hazy. But I know exactly where I’m going now.

Oh, and you can’t trust me in the comments, but you can trust me here. You can trust me when, if you check the comments, somepony already guessed it (halfway). To find the comment, I have a cryptic haiku set for you!

‘In a land of day,
And a time when I did rhyme
This is the end name.

Hate and dislike are
Both one with this type of thing
Assumption is slain.

In a world where
two-two together is key,
This is not story.

In places of cache,
Some say that they do geo,
This is not the case.

Torture is a thing,
A living being that we all
Hide from, in disdain.’

Good luck!

Chapter 7: Pretty Twinkles

It was a simple sight. One that made me so reluctant, that I just wanted to turn and run. Run away from what lay ahead, from my feelings, from everything.

It was the door to Sugarcube Corner.

It would be just so easy to tuck tail, and bolt. Because I believe that if I go in there, I'll only make things worse for both of us. I'll blow up our relationship twice over, potentially severing our friendship as well.

It only takes a quick glance sidelong to regain my courage, however. I knew why I was there, and I intended full well to go in. The door reads 'closed', but considering Pinkie, she's likely in there. A knock would do justice. I raise my hoof, take a deep breath, and prepare to knock.

Then I hear it. It's just the tiniest, most inaudible sound that could catch my ear.

It is, unmistakably, the gentle weeping of Pinkie Pie.

I freeze, all of the bravado leaving my body from a single sound. My heart flutters, and my hoof drops back down to the ground despairingly. There could be no way in Hay now that I could do it. I'd made her like this. Was I stupid enough to believe she'd take me back?

On an impulse, I slowly approach the door instead, gazing through the tiny heart-shaped peephole that was inset within the wood. It's minuscule indeed, and the Doppler Effect leads me to believe that what I heard could have simply been the distorted sound of a different pony's crying instead.

But no. From what I can see, Pinkie's head is slouched over the counter which so often separates customer from baker. I'm unable to discern any part of her face, as she's facing downwards, muzzle pressed into the glass through both weights of gravity and despair. The gentle shaking of her entire body is hardly noticeable, but coupled with the occasional sniffle or whimper, I know it's not a phantom image.

I don't think. I hardly even realize that I suddenly burst through the door to the bakery, until I'm already in. Already, my mouth is shaping words before I can back them up, though only one actually comes out. "Pinkie!"

Her head snaps up, and I can see the conflict in her eyes. In the brief millisecond that they meet, I can see so many emotions, I'd swear I stumbled into a veritable mixing pot. Hate, hurt, questioning, fear, anxiety, disparity.

All of those stared at me in the most ugly manner possible, before she suddenly turned her back to me, as speechless as I found myself.

"No."

I was confused, until I realized that her Pinkie sense must have told her why I was there. I silently cursed that sense that had more than once saved quite a few ponies from flowerpots, before gathering what little courage I could muster to continue. "Pinkie, I...just want to talk. About us."

That certainly got her going, though not exactly as I might have liked. "OK!" she said, turning around and nearly instantly assuming an obviously fake smile. "You're a pony who likes to yell a lot, who likes to hurt my feelings, and I'm a pony who wants you to go away!" I stared, dumbfounded, as the plastic grin on her face remained. "Is that good enough, Twily?"

"I'm-"

"Oh, my mistake!" Her voice remained no less 'cheerful', but the little creaks and wavers of a pony recently-and still-upset still assaulted my ears. "I guess I should be more perfect for ya', right?"

Any hope that I had to repair things between us more or less vanished after that sentence. And to make things worse, she continued, going so far as to step out from behind the counter to get in my face. "I knew my sister was right all along, that no matter how much I trusted a pony, they would always tear my heart into itty bitty pieces! You only prove that!"

Woah, woah, woah, wait. Was that what this was about? Trust? The very foundation of which I built our relationship upon? Did the incident even matter? Was it just one big, elaborately composed test between her and her sister? Was that what the sheet of paper was those few nights ago?

By Celestia, if that's so...she's clever.

"Pinkie, I'm sorry, really!" The courage that suddenly drove me on was invisible, perhaps brought on by but a simple moment of pondering. "I was a jerk, and I promise not to be one again. I've learned!"

"Prove it."

My gaze dropped, and I shifted back slightly, even at the opportunity which so broadly presented itself to me. Could I really do this? Could I really pull her out of her heartbreak with the pieces of paper that I still levitated discretely behind my back?

I shied back, but at the same time bringing the papers into her reach. With the strongest voice I could manage, which came more as a soft whisper, and the least embarrasment I could muster, which ended up setting my face ablaze, I gave my explanation as she took the papers:

"Th-...they're 'love coupons'..."

The silence that followed only gave me an opportunity to start a staring-death-match with the floor, the air only punctuated by the slight shuffling of the coupons. And honestly, who thought they would work? They were so...cheesy, in retrospect.

"Huh?"

The sudden question made me glance up towards Pinkie, who stared back in utter confusion. I sighed, moving to her side to examine them, so far as to explain. And then, through the most uncontrollable force, I managed a giggle, before I explained to her:

"Pinkie, they're...upside down."

"Oh, I knew that." Pinkie quickly flipped the parchments around, before reading over one with a speed I could only hope to attain.

After the longest 10 seconds of my life, she looked up from the coupon, and I could see her gaze soften. It was a tiny thing, just the smallest drawing of the eyebrows, and the tiniest regretful frown, but I still saw it.

"Good for one 'special' activity with your 'special somepony', any time, anywhere...expires only when I stop loving you...or in other words...never..." Her voice was tinged with the sweetest kind of tenderness that I'd ever heard as she slowly glanced back to it, and then back to me. "T-...Twily..."

I couldn't have stopped the sheepish grin that spread my cheeks wide if I tried. The warm, glowing sense of relief, and...pure affection for the mare who stood in front of me, her lips trembling ever so slightly...were no exception.

The second that we held gazes turned into more, which seemed to be hours in my view. It was a rarity to have her be this silent, and yet...I almost wanted her to be talking.

Finally, Pinkie decided to close the gap. I found myself nearly bowled over by an energetic tackle hug, and...crying? "Twilight, I'm so, so, so sorry! I didn't mean to be all rude, I didn't mean to hurt you, I didn't mean to do some things so bad in the first place, and I'm sorry! I'm sorry, sorry, sorry!"

Her? Sorry? What had she done? Had I not been the pony who'd gone off my rocker over a simple mistake? My apology sounded foreign to my own ears,despite being earnest to the fullest. "Pinkie, I'm sorry too. I should have reacted less...stupidly, and I hope you can forgive me."

"Silly Twilight!" Pinkie pulled back, smiling at me with an expression that was still adorned with the most pure tears of apology that could be mustered. "I'd never hold anything against a pony who can be as cute and adorable as you are now!"

I made no response to this heart-warming compliment, but to reach out a hoof and gently wipe the tears from her now cheerful expression.

I've found myself staring into Pinkie Pie's eyes more than once. Those bright, glimmering cyan globules of happiness could captivate my attention from mere milliseconds, to glorious seconds. But the perceived eternity that passed sent my mind into a corkscrew, passing all direct control to my heart. And even it nearly short-circuited as Pinkie gently nuzzled into the crook of my neck, pressing up in the most...

...OK, even I can't find another word for it, cute fashion possible, and I could have sworn I heard her purr.

I was content to simply stand there forever, but forever is a pretty long time, and she knew that too.

With a smile, she stepped back, grabbing one of the papers that had, in fact, worked quite a bit. She waggled both her eyebrows and the coupon in perfect sync, and asked: "Can I use this now?"

I shrugged. "I don't see why no-"

There are many, many ways to effectively silence a pony in the middle of their sentence. Shoving a hoof in front of their mouth, stuffing their cheeks with food, clamping their muzzle shut, slapping them with a book, zipping their mouths shut with magic, even though a simple 'be quiet' might work.

But I have to admit...of any of the ways Pinkie might have interrupted me...

...none were quite as nice as that one, all consuming, heart-lifting, soul-stoking, love-filled, tender, sugar-scented, and loving kiss.

What? Oh, all right. I suppose I'm gushing just a little bit. But hey, if there's another, better way to end an apology, I'd love to hear it.

But I think I'd stick with this one, anyways.

The night sky has always fascinated me, no matter how much I found out about it. The infinitesimal amount of stars, the limitless planets and nebulae wherein, and the blackness that encompasses our tiny speck of a world.

I have to admit, I often felt lonely thinking about such matters.

It was a clear night tonight, with hardly a cloud in the sky to obscure the beautiful constellations of above. Rainbow Dash did her job exceptionally well today, which seems to be the result of luck smiling upon me, as well as one certain apology was. My trusty telescope's ready as ever, with only a slight malfunction to the focus knob. I twist it slightly forward, peering through the eyepiece. Perfect. I can see the Orion Nebula clearer than day.

The crickets chirping around me add a natural orchestra to what would normally be a perfect silence. Somehow, it seems better than an eerie lack of sound. But all together, it's a very peaceful scene. Silence, or not.

A slight adjustment of about 3.9 degrees west brings me just about centered on the moon. A thing of beauty, and illuminator of the night. Some ponies even say that a full moon is one of the main elements of romance, because the 'full' moon is remnant of 2 halves coming together to form a whole.

Likely story, but it hardly seems to contain any relevance to my observation of the sky.

"Hey, Twilight! Whatcha' lookin' at?"

...then again..."Not much, Pinkie," I reply. I don't even have to turn my head, because I knew she was right behind me. "Just looking at the entire universe."

"Woah, cool!" I felt her hoof on my shoulder, as a long silence followed. I turned to see her gazing at the sky, a frown of concentration on her face as she did so. Eventually, she glanced back down. "I don't get it."

I stifled a giggle, pointing her towards the telescope. "It sort of helps if you can actually see what you're looking at up close..."

"Ohhhh!" Without another second's hesitation, Pinkie bounced over to the telescope, moving it-rather erratically, I might add-around the night sky.

I chuckled, shaking my head. Obviously, she'd never been stargazing before. I turned my head, whistling a slight tune as I waited for her to realize that she wasn't going to get anywhere by nearly swiveling the thing to death.

"Hey, Twily!" I smiled. That was faster than I thought possible, by a lot. I turned, only to find a giant eye staring me in the face.

On reflex, I jumped back, letting a shriek leave my mouth before I could stop it. Sure enough, the sound of Pinkie's laughter followed. "You're funny, Twily! But am I doing it right?"

I managed to brush my indignation away, and quickly thought over how to explain such a concept to such a pony as Pinkie Pie. "Well, first...you have to at least point the telescope at your desired target, right? I'm hardly a star, Pinkie."

The eye disappeared from the lens, and Pinkie appeared to the side of it, her expression completely deadpan as she spoke. "But...you're my star..."

I found myself caught completely unaware, a possible forest fire developing on the insides of my cheeks. Pinkie only stared on, as innocent as any pony could be at such a moment. She...she was serious.

"I,uh...." Let colts be colts, and fillies be fillies, right? "Well, you don't need a telescope to see...'your star', right?"

"That's right! So I don't need one for the others, right?"

"Well..."

"Cool!" Completely hurdling what would have been my response, Pinkie flopped onto her back, her gaze already settled on the sky in peaceful bliss.

I shrugged. It looked fun, anyways.

Shortly after joining her, the silence set in once more. Peaceful, soothing-

"Twilight?" Well, for a little bit anyways. "Have you noticed anything about me lately?"

Other than the facts that she's extremely emotionally prone, seems to be more reluctant about everything, and has thrown parties at one tenth of the rate that she normally does? "Not really."

"Oh." A silence followed, punctuated only by the crickets' rhythmic chirping, once more giving me the impression that I was alone. Of course, having a talkative pink pony right next to you is never quiet for too long.

"It's just that, I...I feel...different." It took all of my self-restraint not to hurriedly bring a hoof to my mouth, and gasp, 'shocker!'. Something told me it was best to stay silent as Pinkie continued.

"I...the party in me is less fun than it used to be. I could throw a party no problem, and probably with a click of the hooves. But, ever since I've been with you...I...it's not as fun anymore. Is there something...wrong with me?"

The words "Pinkie", and "something wrong with"...well, I couldn't even begin to explain the irony. But explaining the irony would not be a wise thing to do at that moment, because she sounded like she was in one of 'those' moods again.

I shifted uncomfortably from my place on the floor, propping myself up against the nearby balcony railing. "Well, Pinkie, we all have to grow up in three stages. Physically, like...height-wise and things like that...mentally, or in essentiality, your maturity level, and emotionally."

"So, you mean...I still haven't grown up?"

Ouch. That was the wrong thing to say entirely. Wrong, wrong, wrong. "No, no, no!" I hurried to assure her. "I...well, can you see that star? The big, bluish one?" I said, pointing to the aforementioned twinkle in the sky.

"Yeah, I guess."

"Well, each star has a lifespan. As it grows, exhausting its lifespan, it changes color and expands, changing its appearance and effects on the planetary system around it." A confused glance from Pinkie told me I needed to go further.

"It's kind of like you. You're going to change, and so will your effects on others. But you'll still be Pinkie, right?"

"Yep!"

I was, quite frankly, glad to have shaken that 'mood' from her. Pinkie was a strange pony, mostly talkative...but when she got philosophical...oh Celestia.

And yet, I found myself continuing. "And do you see that star? The one just a bit to the left of the moon?"

"Eeeeeeeeee-yep!"

"It reminds me of you, too." I smiled, scooting closer to her until we both nearly shared viewpoints, and nearly touched ears. "It's beautiful in its own way, it's young and radiant, and even after it burns out, it'll have left a permanent mark on the whole galaxy."

That certainly got the result I'd been striving for. Instead of merely agreeing, Pinkie Pie turned on her side, before snuggling up to me, one arm across my chest, and another behind my shoulders, coming together to pull herself closer to me. "Oh yeah?" she whispered, sending tingles of breath across the nape of my neck, which in turn sent chills down my spine. "Well, you're like that star over there. You're pretty, and unique. But you have a few things on that star, you know."

"I do?" This was becoming pleasantly surprising.

"Yeah, you do, silly. You're smart. Cute. D'awsome. And you're mine." Each word was punctuated by a gentle poke to the chest. "That's the best thing about you."

I couldn't have agreed more.

We spent a few more minutes like that. Just lying there in an eternal hug, me staring at the stars, and her mumbling to herself to almost no end. I still don't know why she likes to talk so much. But I supposed that it was just Pinkie. And 'just Pinkie' was the exact pony I'd come to know and love.

It was a good half an hour before I'd finally realized that Pinkie had fallen asleep next to me.

Two staggering, only-fueled-by-how-adorable-that-she-looked-when-she-slept minutes later, I managed to lower Pinkie into bed, gently pulling the sheets up to her chin, tucking the sides in with a care that a mother herself might rival.

"Snug as a bug..." Perhaps two weeks ago, those words in conjunction might send my face into a state of 'ew', or elicit a 'that's logically impossible', something along those lines. But now...with the sight of her, my lifelong dream mare-friend, tucked so warmly and safely into my bed, the most beautiful smile of contentment upon her lips...well, if my brain turned to mush just a little bit, it couldn't be helped. After all, 'love turns the most rational of ponies into babbling idiots', no?

Seeing such a sight only made me realize how tired I was myself. I managed to clamber into bed, pulling the sheets over me with only a simple thought. Magic had its advantages, after all. Barely suppressing a yawn, I pressed into my pillow, snuggled into a familiar pink pony's figure, and prepared for sleep...

"Twilight..." Came the gentle whisper from next to me. So, she wasn't asleep?

"Hmm?"

"Thanks for making my life so great...love you..."

What else could I say to that? "I love you too, Pinkie."

"Makes me sort of sad that there's only 240 left..."

Huh? Numbers again. It would probably be best to leave it be. Perhaps she's just counting the days to the next Running of The Leaves. It seems likely. Or maybe...

Scratch that thought. I'm tired.

And so, without another hesitation, I squeezed Pinkie close, and prepared for the plunge into dreamland...

Hopefully nightmare free that time around.

(Mature) Chapter 8: Publicity

Bittersweet Trails Chapter 8 (Publicity)
A/N: I cannot stress enough to read my comment under this chapter first.

I knew this day would have to had come.

As me and Pinkie's secret relationship pressed on, for up to months on end, I began to question why we kept it from everypony. It began to seem rather trivial to have to refrain from holding hooves in public, or to avoid the gossip-circle for fear that they might discover that a morning at the breakfast table was spent with a pair of blushing ponies.

Regardless, we did have some fun times. I'd progressively learned how to skate from her, we'd gone water-skiing, even. And whenever I needed a hug, she was happy to give it to me, be it long or short.

I wished she could have hugged me at this moment, though.

I glanced nervously around, at the faces of my friends, expectantly looking at me. The exception to this was Pinkie, who stood besides me. I could feel my legs quivering, and my heart racing as I prepared to speak. My mouth felt excessively dry, and swallowing did no good.

"Sugarcube? Ya' gonna say anything?" Applejack's words weren't the kindest...but she had a point. I had, after all, called for the whole event, and more recently, attention. Pinkie had been ecstatic about the whole thing, saying she had a 'super-duper-special-fun-awesome-cool' present for me if I followed through, and that it would make me feel 'really-super-warm and good'. It wasn't like anything could feel better than her hugs, but...it was worth a shot.

"I-I...uh..." My friends' entire perception on me could just be about to be changed! How could I be calm? At all?

I took a few deep breaths, trying to calm the rampaging beasts that ran free in my stomach. I could feel Pinkie put a hoof around me, and gently hear her whisper: "You can do it."

As my most recent breath came out, my mouth disengaged, and whether I liked it or not, I was talking. "Me and Pinkie Pie are in a relationship, and we have been for exactly 238 days!"

Silence. Uncomfortable silence. Stares.

And then, what I'd feared most. What I had dreaded, and the exact reason I had been half-reluctant to even follow through with the event. They laughed. It started with a snicker, from none other than Rainbow. Then a snort, and then the sudden uproar of all 4 of them bursting into laughter.

I couldn't believe it. I felt sick to my stomach, and tears gathered in my eyes. "Stop it!" I shouted at my 'friends'. "I'm serious! It isn't funny!"

That quieted them nearly instantly. I could see Rainbow still smiling as she spoke up. I braced myself for the insults, the jives, and then:

"Cool your jets, Twilight."

Well. That wasn't as bad as I thought. Regardless, I still felt hurt. "Cool my jets? These are my emotions that you're laughing at!"

"Twi'..." began Applejack, frowning towards Rainbow before glancing back at me, her eyebrows still lowered. "Ah hate to say it, but Rainbow's actually right for once. Ya'll need ta' cool your jets. We ain't laughin' at ya'-"

"Sure sounds like it."

She raised an eyebrow calmly before continuing. "...but we're laughin' because typical you decided ta' turn it into this big ol' deal, thinkin' it was like you'd discovered the secret to life."

I raised my hoof in indignation to reply, but I stopped. Was...was it really such a big deal? "So..." I began, a lot more subdued, I might add. "You...don't think less of me?"

"Darling, anything but!" It was Rarity this time, who I could swear winked as she said so. "We're friends with you because you're you! We don't care whether it's stallions, mares, or even books that you like! Though, Celestia forbid that, hopefully..."

"Plus, uh, Twilight..." began Rainbow. "We, uh...we kinda' knew. All this really did was make Rarity and Fluttershy laugh a little bit. It's not like it's something big."

"It isn't?" I sort of was speaking a very, very long-term commitment here.

"I, um...I think it's sort of big...you know, because...it's a big commitment and all...but you can have your own opinions, too..."

Fluttershy agreed with me at least.

Despite this moment of slightly vain pride, I smiled. "Thanks, girls," I said, taking in all of the now cheerful faces around me. "I didn't know how you might have reacted."

"Twi', we've kicked evil butt before together," Dash pointed out. "If you think we're gonna leave because you prefer smoochin' ladies to lads, that's just plain stupid, no offense."

"None taken."

"Soooo..." Rarity's eyes wandered as she drawled out the word. "Is...that it, darling? Pinkie, did you have a party to go with it, or-"

"Nope!" Glad to finally have a chance to speak, Pinkie lept forward. "That's the old me! I only throw parties for weddings, birthdays, relationships, reunions-"

"Pinkie."

"-graduations, welcomings, goodbyes-"

"Pinkie."

"-friends, conflict resolutions, bachelor parties, bachelorette parties, bake sales, really big apologies, crocodilian gatherings-"

"PINKIE!"

"...aaand receptions now!" she finally finished.

"So..."

"Nah," Pinkie said, throwing a hoof nonchalantly in the air. "Not for 'telling ponies what they already knew'."

"I see." Rarity rose, turning for the door. "Twilight, I'd love to stick around, but I have quite a lot of work to do. I'll be seeing you two around, then!"

The others nodded assent, mumbling their goodbyes and chatting on the way out. I could have tried to listen to the chatter, but I was a little busy looking back at the whole situation. I did have a tendency to blow things out of proportion, but...I honestly thought I'd assumed correctly this time.

By the time I was finished processing this, I recognized that the library was once more empty. And me and Pinkie were alone.

I sighed in relief. "What a pleasant happening, right?"

"Yep!" Pinkie chirped, giggling a little bit afterwards. "Though I knew it would happen. I already told the girls weeks ago."

"Wha-?"

She didn't seem to want me asking questions, so she jammed a hoof in my mouth. I got it out quickly, but by then, she was talking already. "But you were really brave about it for such a book-headed pony. But the fact that you do so much for me is sweet. And that's why I have my gift today!"

The gift. I'd been burning with curiosity. What could she give me that nopony else had given me? She'd said that it was special, and that only she could do it.

"Gift?"

"Welll, I know we're like really far on, but..." Her voice dropped there, taking a more...serious tone, if anything. It was a hard tone to read. "...do I need this? It's something reaaaalllllyy special, and I wanna know if I can give it to you or not."

The piece of paper that she procured from her mane looked oddly familiar. I grabbed it, looking it over.

'The bearer of this coupon receives: one free 'special activity'-'

Oh. A love coupon? She still had those? Well, they did have no expiry date. I nodded, awaiting her response as I poofed the sheet of paper back where it belonged; blank and renewed with a simple spell.

Pinkie sighed, and I could see her shuffling her hooves awkwardly. "OK, good, so...we're clear there, now if only I can work up the courage..."

"Pinkie, you're almost literally killing me with the suspense. Just get on with it." For such a hyper pony, she was being hyper-reluctant about it.

"But it's a really special thing, Twily! If it's too soon for us-"

I had to spell this out? Really? "Pinkie, we're at least 9 months into our relationship. Nothing is too soon."

"So-"

"Just...for Celestia's sake, give it to-"

Oh, she gave me it alright.

Starts getting teen up to 16+ right here...you're in for a ride here, by the way...generally NSFW, but not quite clop...

Right as my voice began to escalate, it happened. A quick blur, and my vision was filled with pink as her muzzle met mine, in a way all too familiar. I relaxed almost instantly, allowing her passage into my mouth that I knew she seeked. So, it was just a kiss, huh?

I could feel a hoof around my neck pulling me closer as we did a familiar tongue dance. I don't know why, but I felt both safe and vulnerable. Safe because I was with my marefriend, in the closest way possible. Vulnerable, because I was with my marefriend in the closest way possible. So I suppose it was just both.

This continued for perhaps a minute or two, with only slight moments that our lips parted to gain a much needed breath, punctuated only by a slight smacking sound as we simultaneously parted, and then once more introduced our lips to each other.

I could feel the one hoof that she chose to keep free wandering, occasionally brushing my relentless hair out of the way, or trailing down my neck to my back, and then slowly teasing its way back up.

It was a way to slow time for me, to leave me perception-less as we shared our innermost selves in an, indeed, very intimate way.

Suddenly, I could feel a shift in the pleasant, loving mood. A slightly more forceful pressing of the lips, a quickening of the tongue's movement. I could feel just the gentlest push slowly moving me backwards, and I felt no other choice but to allow it, and attempt to return the passion that the pink pony now gave to me.

All of a sudden, the perceived world around me changed orientation. I found myself lowered onto a hard surface, but no, not the floor. It was too high, plus the one hoof that remained could still touch the floor. It must have been the circular desk where I normally performed my calligraphic duties. My brain was too hazy to want to comprehend such, however. All it wanted was her.

The heat in my face grew, and my breath became harder and harder to come by. Shorter, more rapid breaths through my nose did the trick, though I was nearly panting by then, as was she.

Finally, the kiss was broken. Pinkie was still heavily out of breath, and her mouth remained slightly open as a deep red blush adorned her features. Her cyan eyes were half-lidded, and just the tiniest smile was visible as she spoke from her position above me.

"This...is going...to be...so fun..."

Oh, goodie. As if it wasn't already.

Pinkie Pie leaned in again, but not towards my awaiting lips. Instead, she arrived just at the side of my neck, to the side of her first target.

The first gentle peck was electric, sending shivers down my entire body. The second carefully placed kiss made me shudder again, that time even drawing a moan that arose unconsciously to me. Pinkie sure knew how to work a mare. Then again, she was one, so if she didn't make me feel...as excellent as I did then, perhaps that might be a mystery in its own.

From a third, to a fourth, to a fifth, the tangent was unclear, but I didn't care. Now free to use both of her hooves, Pinkie set about the work of a master. Both hooves alternately trailed up and down the sides of my body, just barely tingling my coat but enough to draw out blissful gasps. The occasional contact with the very spot that my cutie mark resided in sent a warm, yet nearly overpowering tingle through my body, from hoof to horn.

Suddenly, all contact was removed from me, and my own ears could finally catch how...oh Celestia, I'll just say it, aroused that I sounded. My breath came in short,semi- pant-like intervals, with my chest rising deeply each time. As contact was removed, I found myself instinctively reaching out for her. Trying to bring her back, the good feelings, anything.

Damnit, Pinkie, quit being a tease! Don't turn the light on and then leave the room!

"Sorry!" Pinkie's breathless apology seemed the least bit apologetic that it could be. "I just...can't help...saying that you're...so fun to play with!"

'I don't give a buck! Just finish the session first!' Well, that's what I might have said, if I could have spoken coherently. Instead, all that I managed was "Ohhh..."

"I see that my Twily...wants-"

Nope. Enough games. You're doing this, whether you want to or not. Whether I want it or-wait, I do.

Without another hesitation, I grabbed her by the scruff of her neck, pulling her in for another kiss, but the word 'kiss' was much too mild. My lips actively attacked hers, and my hooves pulled her in with all of the strength I could muster. She wasn't going to get away this time. Not if I could help it.

*cough Mature and what can be considered clop below here cough*

...OK, who am I kidding. This is clop. Blatantly NSFW. Intentions pure, but undeniably clop.

If you managed to stomach this much, but don't care for...uh, love scenes, and want to skip, just control-f 'M-o-p-b-o-y', minus the dashes.

If not, enjoy!

I had to admit it, she'd driven me crazy with lustful greed. But by Celestia, I didn't care. I just wanted to close the gap.

And that's what she did.

Despite my death-hold, Pinkie managed to pull back from my fervent kiss. And then, gently and ever so slippery, ever so slowly, she leaned forward.

And then I felt it.

I felt the most electrifying, ecstatic...indescribable feeling as Pinkie's lips once more made contact with me, but not with my own lips. Instead, they closed ever so gently around the tip of my most sensitive body part, of the most important part, of the most talented part, and the very spot that had me crying out in reflex:

My horn.

My eyes were shut tight now as I could feel her gently teasing around the tip, perfectly balancing my surprised yelps and impassioned moans. My muscles strained to the breaking point as she finally closed her mouth around my magical center point, gently teasing the sides with her tongue before gently moving just millimeters down its length, and back up.

The tiniest grinding of her teeth against the sides, only did more to stir my magical reserves, awakened by the intense and localized pleasure. I was completely lost by now, my moans of delight echoing through the empty library so frequently, that there was hardly any space for echoes at all. They sounded foreign to me, even if they were my own, as they slowly rose in both pitch and frequency.

I found myself groaning the first words with any relative coherency that I had in 15 minutes. "Pinkie! Pinkie, I...oh!"

This served only as encouragement to her. I could swear she paused for the slightest second, as if smiling inwardly to herself, before finally, and slowly, descending down its entire ridged length.

That was near it. The shivers that now racked my body at rhythmic intervals became ever the more quicker. I could feel 'it' building-an intense concentration of magic that, when stimulated sufficiently...

It's best to save it for a little later, though.

All I needed was just a few more minutes' coaxing, or something really over the top. Pinkie, being her, opted for the second one.

As she never once moved her head, I could feel her shifting around on her hind legs through my heightened senses. And then, with the tiniest giggle, I felt what I least expected at all, in the area I'd not once paid notice to.

When she had leaned me over the desk, one leg splayed to the side and in full contact with the floor, the other stretched to the side of me, she had left a very...intimate and private part wide open. It was this...area that I felt her brush against with one of her free forehooves.

Well, that certainly was over the top. And from left field. But honestly, I wasn't thinking at the moment. And so, the words that I grunted would make history in our (now very much so) intimate relationship:

"Do...it..."

Not one to shy back from a request from her marefriend, Pinkie responded immediately, and I mean immediately. I was able to concentrate on two sensations exploding into sync at once, from the two most sensitive parts of my being.

My horn, being stimulated to its extreme lengths and being forced to hold back through other means, had increased the receptiveness of my senses so as to waste some of the over-excited energy. It was this sense amplification that had hyper-stimulated my 'special place' that rest between my haunches, and thus left it twice as receptive as normal, and already greased rather thoroughly with naturally produced lubricant.

Thus allowing easier access to the inside.

It was quite a duo. Between the gentle, teasing flicks of my horn with Pinkie's tongue, and the entirely contrasted, rapidly thrusting of Pinkie's hoof inside my general thigh-area, the dual waves of pleasure and pure ecstasy were too much to handle.

My moans had reached fever pitch, becoming so high as to be heavily resemblent of a series of high pitched whines. As if to take shape of something, my mouth was an 'O' shape, repeating the word that sounded like the letter. Pinkie's other hoof was...well, Celestia knew where, but she sounded no different than me. Perhaps because her voice was higher by nature regardless.

I could feel the dual waves coalescing, into one big wave that needed to be released. And due to two separate natures of stimulation, it would have to go out two different ways.

My vocalizations reacted only after the rest of me did. I felt my hooves drawing themselves in as much as possible, turning into a compact fetal position. Senses now fully awakened, I could feel every detail, and every detail felt...wonderful. The cool press of the wood on my fur, the very closeness that we now shared.

A gift? Why, this was so much more. This was a sharing of one's deepest self, something border-line spiritual, something so personal. If anything, it was a privilege.

Privilege or present, it felt no less perfect as I finally approached my dual peaks. With only seconds away, I acted on instinct. I couldn't hold it any longer. "P-Pinkie, I'm gonna...I'm gonna..."

And finally...I did.

Everything happened in one explosion of built up tension. The pressure that had slowly been compacted at the base of my forehead finally made its way slowly up the tip, before...

...everything went silent.

When I say that, I don't mean that I decided that I was bored, and just got up, without making a single sound where previously it had been the opposite.
To be more accurate would be saying that I lost the ability of worldly senses, remaining only intact from the pure, burning hot waves of excellence that engulfed me as I finally reached climax. I was vaguely aware that I was thrashing around, and I could feel...well, it was a weird sensation.

I could vaguely feel pressure from where I lay, but...that was it. The only force that had any effect on me was gravity, if it makes any sense.

(Mopboy)
Suddenly, everything rushed back in a flash.

I was no longer...'deaf', but...there appeared to be nothing to hear but my own exhausted panting. In, out, in out. My chest burned fiercely, but the rest of me glowed with a warmth that entirely shut out the pain when I made to concentrate upon it.

I felt a heavy weight over my entire body, which was warm, soft, and yielding. My brain was muddy, but it was pretty clear as to what...er, who it was.

But neither of us spoke for a few minutes. Honestly, I don't think I could have at the moment if I tried. The physical exhaustion was starting to set in. Instead, we sleepily traded the occasional kiss, all the while just holding each other close while slowly regaining our respiratory ability.

"Twily...?" Pinkie finally began.

"Yes, Pinkie?"

"Did we...just..."

I smiled weakly, gazing into her eyes the best that my weary self could. "We did," I whispered. "We...we did."

She nodded slowly before returning her head to my chest, lying it sidelong and sighing. "And it was..."

"Do I need to say it?"

"Nah. Just saying...it was great."

Well. That was that. But...

I found myself feeling closer to Pinkie than I had during our entire relationship. It was something hard to explain, but...it was like we were physically, yet emotionally closer. Was that it? Or was it just the afterglow of an act older than Celestia's reign itself?

No. It was both. I found myself with my hooves around her waist, but not just because she was warm or soft. It was because we'd done it. We had seen each other through but one of the most intimate acts that a couple could perform. An act of pure love.

I already knew this, but...I supposed that's why it was called 'making love'.

Some top pony psychologists also state that seeing another pony's 'other side', the one that nopony else sees, makes one feel as though it's more 'special', and a bonding experience.

What do I think, though? I say buck the scientists, and buck community conceptions. I loved her. Did I really need to think about it more?

Regardless, I came to attention once more to...recap, if you will. My mane stuck to my face with a thin layer of sweat, and my joints had a certain weariness to them, though that was to be expected. Pinkie had made the most from the least, and OK, maybe I never had much of a tolerance.

"So, Twilight..." Pinkie said, interrupting my train of thought. "I...what was with the magic stuff? That...that was really good, but...that's new..."

Magic? I had no recall of directly using any powers, but I had a suspicion. I asked her specifically what I had done, and she absently frowned.

"Weeelll...I knew something was different when I started seeing lights, and then...Twi', you picked us both up, like we were flying for a bit. You stopped, and then here we were."

Huh. It was certainly something I'd have to explore more later. A smile did creep back onto my face.

And I would do it with her, certainly.

"Alright, Pinkie," I said. "Time to get up. I still have some work to do."

Silence. I could still feel her breathing steadily. Her heartbeat was slow and steady. But I knew she could hear me. "Pinkie, come on. I'd love to pillow-talk or cuddle or whatever, but I have to categorize the biography section."

Nothing. "Pinkie...?"

"Oh, sorry. I'm just...thinking." She sounded unusually distant as she spoke. "About...time..."

"Speaking of which, Pinkie...you've been counting backwards ever since we first started dating. What's that about?"

"I, uh...well, I have about-"

Oh, duh! I roll my eyes as I remember the last number she said-9. 9 days away is my birthday! "Pinkie, were you counting the days to my birthday?"

"I-...yeah! I wanted it to be...a...surprise..." Her voice started fading away at this, to which I frowned. I figured she might be more excited, right?

"Twilight Sparkle-"

Immediately, the warning bells in my head began ringing furiously. Pinkie had not once, EVER called me by my full name. It was either 'Twilight', 'Twily', 'Twi'', or even 'my sweet little twinkie'. But to use my full name...

"-I just can't hide it from you anymore. I...I just love you too much." Pinkie's voice is incredibly off kilter, and she's shaking on top of me, despite seconds ago us having shared a delightful bit of conversation. I was seriously worried now.

"Twilight, I...I..."

"What is it, Pinkie?" Why wouldn't she tell me? Our relationship was a 'no secrets' one, so why would she be so reluctant about spilling one now? Would it be guilt?

It was definitely some form of sadness. Pinkie burst into tears, squeezing me so tight that I thought I might pass out from asphyxiation. She sobbed, and sobbed, and sobbed, all the while making a pit in the bottom of my stomach grow bigger and bigger.

And then, through the worrying wails that pierced my ears, word by word, she spoke.

"It's also your birthday, but...it's...it's the time that the doctors think I 'have left', all right? That's what that paper that my sister gave to me said all that time ago, and I didn't wanna' tell you! But I have to! I didn't want you to worry, OK?!"

My brain decided that was enough. That I couldn't handle reality. So I felt myself drift into the blackness of unconsciousness, as my eyes rolled back in my head.

The last two things I felt were my own tears upon my cheeks, and my heart being torn properly, thoroughly, and certainly in twain.

Chapter 9-Past to Present

"Ah, yes. Pinkie Pie. She's down the hallway to your right, third door on the left. I've been notified that you might show up, so she is open to you right now."

"Thank you."

I found myself following the nurse's instructions in an almost dream-like manner, focusing more intensely than necessary to get the job done. Hoof over hoof over hoof over hoof...

The door to room 355 approached sooner than I expected. Without a moment's hesitation, I pushed my way in, taking care not to accidentally crush the two things that I floated behind me inside the narrow doorway.

My gaze remained pointed straight at the floor though, my throat tense and dry. I didn't trust myself to speak.

"Twilight, I'm...so sorry. I'm...I'm so, so sorry for not telling you sooner..."

By now, I had to fight back tears at the sound of my marefriend's voice, one that used to be so cheerful, and filled with hope. Now, it was broken. Wavering, unsure, desolate.

And that was just the tip of the iceberg.

"Pinkie..." My voice found itself, but I felt anything but talkative. If I'd thought she was sad, I was about to burst into tears. "Why? Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because...I wanted to spend time with you. Without you being so...-"

"YOU WANTED TO SPEND TIME WITH ME?!" I couldn't help it, but I was yelling. From nothing to everything. "I...WE HAD PLENTY OF TIME, PINKIE! BUT YOU NEVER EVEN BOTHERED TO TELL ME!"

I couldn't bring myself to even look at her as my gaze dropped once more, filling with hot tears. I hardly even noticed the memories as they flashed by...

"More tea, Ms. Sparkle?"

I couldn't help to giggle at Pinkie's game such as this one, but I played along as she hoofed over the kettle. "Much obliged, Madam Pinkie."

We only lasted about five more seconds before she began snorting uproariously in laughter, before finally breaking out in full, leaving a high melodic sound to grace my ears.
It wasn't long before I doubled up as well, falling to my stomach in a fit of giggles. Pinkie even went as far as to roll around in the picnic blanket, wrapping it quickly around her and sending the few dishes that there were flying.

My world momentarily turned this way and that as I felt Pinkie first roll over me, and continue. By the time she finally stopped, and my vision cleared, I found myself staring up at Pinkie, who only giggled even more. "Whoopsie! Hehe, s-sorry, Twilight!"

My attempts to move were thwarted, as I quickly realized that I, too, was trapped in the fluffy blanket, forming a comfortable (but nearly inescapable) cocoon around me. I could feel Pinkie's own weight on top of me as she also squirmed around, though evidently having loads more fun than I. With a smile, Pinkie tossed her head, flicking the tip of her mane out of her face. "Isn't this fun, though?"

I squirmed again, not particularly disliking being so close to her, but rather the inability to move. Only the very tips of my hind legs, my tail, and my head stuck out, with Pinkie much the same. The thought came to use magic, but I had no idea how to even imagine getting out of this, so I gave up struggling. "Well, it...certainly is...unique."

"Yeah!" agreed Pinkie, as excitedly as ever. "Do you feel all squirmy and good, too? Because I do right now, and each time I move it comes back, and it feels great!"

Before I could even ask what she was even talking about, she leaned down and pressed her muzzle to mine, offering a kiss which I so graciously accepted. I felt her squirming just a little bit this way and that, her hind legs kicking gently as she eagerly intertwined her lips with mine.

By the time she pulled back, her face was a blazing red that I almost never saw from her. "I...wow!" she gasped. "That...that felt great! This is so super fun! We should do this all the time!"

I frowned. "We should get trapped in a picnic blanket by rolling around, and then kiss?" I shrugged, smiling. "Sounds all right to me." After all, Pinkie was Pinkie, and if she wanted it, I'd be more than happy to indulge her.

"YAY!" Almost instantly, I felt her weight shift as she pulled the cocoon around, so that I no longer felt her weight, but now I was weighing upon her. "Now do me, do me!"

I smiled. I couldn't ignore a cheerful puffball of energy like that, especially the one I called Pinkie. And so it was me that leaned down, only to nearly get attacked by her anyways. I felt my face color slightly as she explored my mouth twice as eagerly, making (admittedly) one of the cutest gasping sounds I'd ever heard in between each breath.

I sighed, my eyes closing tight as the tears finally spilled from my eyes relentlessly, but mostly silently.

Pinkie was thinking about that night too, apparently. "You remember, right...?" she asked. "We spent that night together. You fell asleep, and I had to wriggle out and carry you back..."

I wanted to smile, but I couldn't. "Yes. I-...I do."

"But Twily...the thing that's important...we may have had our fights, and...great times like that. We've had our trot on the bittersweet trails of each others' lives, but...you have to remember the good."

At her words, I was finally able to glance up, and gaze at those brilliant light blue eyes. Those eyes that tore me to pieces as they were filled to the brim with tears. The owner, however wore a smile as wide as possible.

"We...we had each other, Twily..." she said, reaching out and grabbing one of my hooves. It shook slightly. "...and having the best pony ever be with me for so long...to share kisses with..."

"...to experience it all with..." I don't know why, or how, but my voice picked up her call, and continued it. It wasn't steady, and it cracked fiercely, but it still continued onwards.

"...to share hugs with..." Pinkie continued as well, gently pulling me into a hug as she mentioned, before choking back a sudden sob. It was a blow to the heart that I definitely did not want to take.

"...to nuzzle with..." I buried my muzzle against her cheek, almost collapsing into body-wracking sobs as I gently pressed into her warm, soft coat. My tears did not cease, and neither did hers, as our deepest sadness mingled both internally and externally.

Pinkie finally released the hug, giving me a look at her now wavering smile. "...and somepony to say 'I love you' to. I..." she paused, attempting to smile wider. "...I love you, Twily..."

That was it for me. I felt myself lurch, bringing my sadness over the edge and spilling down twice as furiously over my cheeks. "I...I love you too, P-Pinkie..."

And that was it. I cried. I sobbed. I doubled over in animalistic cries of anguish.

That was it. Pinkie, the pony I held nearest and dearest next to my own family and friends, held no chance against fate. I could do nothing, she could do nothing. My worries for her only doubled. What of her family? How would they take it? Would it hurt for her? Why wouldn't she tell me exactly what was wrong with her?

I couldn't help but to double back upon my own fears. Who would hold me on lonely nights? Who would brighten my day up? Who would share my affection with their own?

Who?

I was allowed to stay with Pinkie until she fell asleep. The time spent was no less upsetting. It took me at least an hour to stop crying, and even then, my heart refused to mend. I clung tightly to her, afraid that I might never see her again, dried tears still lingering on my face. I could tell she was trying to act happy for my sake, but...it didn't work.

I hardly remembered the items I had brought in, but she managed to bring them up. One was a photo of that night, on decision of Pinkie herself to keep that night with us forever. Of course, it was taken before we decided to get wrapped up in a blanket.

The other was nothing more than a simple gift for Pinkie: roses. She said they were her favorite, and while I felt a bit...inadequate just giving her flowers, that didn't really matter as she said, because "Anything from the best pony is the best gift."

I knew I had to do something. I spent the entire night after I was escorted out researching on any possible solutions.

I found only one.

I stood by Pinkie's bedside, having teleported in undetected. The hospital was smart, but I was smarter.

She shifted constantly in her sleep, frowning and squirming. Her eyes still were rimmed from crying. I reached out hesitantly, as if to wake her, but stopped. No. That wasn't why I was here.

I had to relent though. I took one last look at the pony I knew and loved.

The pink mane that I so often snuggled into during nights by the fire...the hooves that so often grasped me for both comfort and affection...the tail that warned so many others of impending danger.

I couldn't let Equestria lose such a good, innocent pony.

I set my mind to concentrate fiercely on one thing, and one thing only besides myself: her.

My horn began glowing fiercely, as was the plan. A gentle pink glow surrounded her, and I was aware of one forming around me as well.

The air around me began to stir, and I felt a fierce tingling overtake me. As was part of the plan, I knew I had one thing to do before I carried on. I projected only one thought, and one thought only that I knew she would hear.

'I love you.'

As I felt my conscious being slipping, I could not deny such a fact if I wanted. The tears upon my cheek were a very near reminder.

I soon blacked out, my legs slowly folding under me, with only one thought on my mind, to be possibly my last. The last thing that might ever come to my mind as I slumped against the side of her essential deathbed.

She was safe now.

Chapter Pinkie

Optimal music choice.

A/N: Here's my commentary on reading this chapter with that music.

OH GOD THE TEARS MAKE THEM FUCKING STOP. PINKIE. QUIT IT. YOU MAKE ME SO FUCKING SAD. NO, DAMNIT. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.

Right then, continue, music or not. I'll leave a break for you to start without this.

My name is Pinkie Pie, and I'm the happiest pony in Ponyville!

...or at least, I...I used to be. Now, that title can go to Roseluck, or maybe Dinky.

I just haven't been able to smile all that much recently ever since Twily left me. Well, she...she didn't leave, exactly. She's still here, and she's still alive. She definitely wouldn't leave me, since we both love each other that much. But the doctor ponies say she's in a 'ko-muh', or as they explained it to me, 'a very, very long nap'.

I just hope she wakes up soon.

I sit by her every day in the hospital, just holding her hoof and talking to her about my day so far. I like to think that she can hear me, because I hope that she wakes up like, really soon.

If she doesn't, I...I...

I just don't know.

I...I've known Twily for soooo long, and I always really liked her. Like, how sweet her voice is, how adorable she is when she's all smarty-pantsy, how cute her mane is.

And ever since I saw Twilight when she touched down in Ponyville, I knew I wanted to be with her. My Pinkie Sense told me, and I was just so happy. But getting her to like me was hard.

And even then, it was hard getting through her...things. Especially that day when she fainted at the festival from the necklace I made her. She seemed to forget it, and think that her brother died, and that made me worried. Even for Twily, that was weird.

And even now, as I'm talking to myself, I only have one thing to say:

CELESTIA, PLEASE! DON'T TAKE MY TWILY! I LOVE HER SO, SO MUCH! I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'D DO WITHOUT HER! I WANNA TALK TO HER, HUG HER, AND DO SWEET FUN STUFF TOGETHER! WHY DID YOU TAKE HER?! WHYYY...

...

T-Twily. You...you c-can hear me, right?

I...I heard you in my sleep. I heard you s-say that you loved me. But...y-you didn't have to do it! I...that's just...why, Twilight? W-why...?

The doctors, they...they say you 'suffer from both magical overload...and from chronic menatosis'. I don't know what that means, but...but I recognize the second one. It's...it's what you...

Why did you take it? Twily, why? I know you're a nice pony, b-but...going that far for me...

...you're breaking my heart, Twilight.

Why?

...

You have to promise me something, Twilight. Even if you can't hear me, all right?

You have to fight it.

You have to fight the komuh, the magicky stuff, and my own thingy, so we can be together again! You have to!

Please, Twily. For me?

Please.

Pleeeeeee-eee-eeease....

...

Sorry I keep getting all sad and crying. I know you don't like me like this. But I miss you so, so much. My heart's all achy and breaky because you're gone.

And my parties. I don't have them anymore. I...I just can't. I told everypony that unless you come back, I can't party. And it's true. Because after I met you, you became the party in my heart. And now my party-hearty is gone.

...

Our friends miss you too, Twilight. They keep stopping by. If you can hear me, then...I bet you heard Rainbow's half-poem (sweet, it's the gesture really), or Rarity trying to form a sentence...it breaks my heart twice over, Twily, to see this stuff. I know that it isn't your fault, and I don't blame you...

...but I still wish you'd come back.

...

It's a nice day today, Twilight, and I'm sure you'd love it too. I...I can see some birds, and everypony seems to be having a perfectly good time.

It's the kind of day that me and you would enjoy.

Remember the day at the park? The picnic? That was such a fun day.

But it was nothing compared to the book day.

Remember, Twilight? You were sitting and reading a book, and I came up and gave your tasty earsie a little nip. The look on your face was great, and then from there you started getting all cute and shy. Kind of like how I liked being wrapped in the fluffy blanket cocoon, not being able to move, but still being all cozy and with you. Sharing cozy little kisses this way and that, wiggling like two ponies in a blanket. But I guess we were two ponies in a blanket, right?

But nothing will ever compare to that day, Twilight. Nothing...

The ice.

You were so silly and fun, and I had lots of fun trying to get you to skate. When I caught you, and our eyes met, I...

...I'd never loved a pony more, Twily.

I'm serious, so please don't laugh. I...I just can't explain it. I knew I loved you for who you were, and the whole wobbliness of yours just...

...I loved it.

And that spark when we kissed. Just...plain amazing, super duper wow! It felt like a fireworks show going off in me! Not like the others aren't, but that one was special! Our first kiss (on ice, too)! I don't know how we ignored that at the time, because it was great.

My life changed, Twily. For the best. I had you. I thought that might be all I never needed. If we were together, no matter what, I would be happy.

...

I'm crying again, Twilight, and my voice is all waverley. But you know why?

It's because I'm just so happy now.

We loved each other, and I haven't stopped loving you. I know you still love me, and that will last five-ever.

Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye, that IS a Pinkie Promise.

I won't stop loving you either.

...

I...I just hope love is enough to bring you back. I love you oh so much, and you'd make me so happy if you came back.

I...I also had a question to ask you when that day hit 0, like it did today. It was a special question, but...you only get to hear it if you wake up. It was about us. Just us two. And...what we could do from now on.

...it was a big one. It was one that if you said 'yes', we'd have the biggest party ever. And it would be the happiest day of my life, and...hopefully yours, too.

...

Twily. C-can you still hear me?

I...I love you. Always, always, always. Please. Come back.

...

Oh, Celestia. I'm sorry for yelling at you. We're good, right?

...

Twily.

One last thing.

I love you as much as it's possible. But if you come back, I promise to love you even more. I'll wipe these tears away, and...and we'll be together.

We will be, right?

...

We're together now, marefriend and marefriend, and that's great. It may be only physically (as you say), but I can still hug you.

...you look tired, Twily. Your eyes are just gently closed, like a worn out foal. I...are you having a good sleep? I hope you are. Life can be tiring.

Just remember, there are ponies waiting for you. Ponies who care for you, who love you. You can take all the time you need, my...Twily, my sweet princess...

But please, Twily...

...come back.

Chapter 10: Awakening

The sensation of me returning to consciousness was very confusing in itself.

My mind immediately slingshotted into action, frantically seeking answers to one question: Was Pinkie okay? I'd been as sure as I could have been, but there was always the chance...

The first that I noticed was just a gentle pressure on my left hoof. It felt a lot like somepony was holding it with two of their own.

Beyond that, I heard speech. Very dim speech, but I still heard it.

"...and then, we...we could be so happy together, Twily. Just please...wake up..."

My heart raced a million miles a minute. I knew that voice anywhere. But...why was I hearing it? Was I dead...?

I slowly wrenched my eyes upwards, with the most immense effort I'd ever given. My vision refused to clear, but a gasp soon filled my hearing. "TWILY!"

I grunted as a wall of force slammed into me, nearly knocking all the air out of my lungs. But I still couldn't help but to smile, as the ramblings confirmed my suspicions. "Oh my gosh, Twilight! You're back and I missed you so, so much, and-"

"Pinkie..." That was all I could get out. But it spoke words enough, it said everything. It conveyed all of my pure joy, all of my...I...everything.

The feeling was plain amazing. I didn't know what to feel. Affection wrestled with confusion, which took a left hook to a strange sense of grief, which gave a full buck to the face of the emotion 'relief'. My vision, luckily, had had time to sharpen during all of it. It was an emotions jamboree, but my brain had none of it. Instead, my mouth moved slower than I thought, forming words that would finally give me some answers: "How...long...?"

Pinkie was incredibly eager to speak, and so she let fly a torrent of words that I hardly caught. "Oh my gosh it was like eight days and we were so worried and I stayed with you as much as I could and I was scared you wouldn't wake up and I missed you and I LOVE YOU!"

Somewhere around the word 'wake', I heard just the smallest change in her voice. It was just the tiniest dip, but next thing I know, a pair of pink arms were thrown around my neck, drawing me once more into a tight hug, punctuated by loud, gasping...sobs.

Pinkie was crying. A sound I almost never heard, and hated to hear. But why? Was there some sort of follow up to what I had done?

Evidently, she felt me tense up, and began to shakily stroke my mane the best she could. "N-no, Twily..." she managed. "I...it's just me. I don't know what to...you're back, that's all that matters. Please, don't worry."

Resisting the instinctual urge to ask how she knew-Pinkie, duh-I instead laid back weakly as she released me, smiling widely, and wiping at the few tears on her face.

She spoke again, her voice unusually soft and tender. "Twilight, please." I could swear she stared into my soul with that gaze. "Don't leave me like that. Like..." she punctuated the sentence with a sniffle. "...ever again. No matter what. OK?"

Pinkie, no. Not the-puppy eyes, darnit!

With that, my heart fluttered up, down, left, and right, before settling, allowing me to manage a weak nod. I didn't feel much energy present, though being in a rather catatonic stage for at least a week, it seemed acceptable.

"Good." Pinkie smiled a little, wiping at her eyes with a lone forehoof before continuing. "So how'd you do it?"

Oh Celestia. This. Regardless, she had the right to know...

With quite a bit of effort, I told her. About how I'd dug in my spell-books, even into the darkest recesses, which revealed the only solution: to switch the illness with another pony of target. About how ponies back in olden times had thought it one of the few 'cures', and that if anypony nowadays had known, they might have freaked, as it was that controversial.

What I didn't tell her was what I saw...

White. All around.

I felt weightless, and I heard a voice. Familiar, but distorted.

"You've done well for pony kind, Twilight. Your life may be scrambled through and through with bad...nightmares as you call them, but it was only me. Lul-"

"Hey! Don't say my name!" Another voice quickly interrupted, darker, but still...feminine, as the first seemed to be. "You know the rules!"

"Oh, all right." I heard what sounded like a sigh. "I suppose protocol is protocol. Onto another track, then...you and Ms. Pinkamena have been seen through trials of true adversity and difficulty by nopony but yourselves. This is greatly admirable."

"Indeed I would agree." Come on, where had I heard these voices? "I don't think I've ever seen a pony as diligent and true to her relationship as my-"

"Ahem."

"Sorry." For odd voices, they sure did argue a lot.

"Regardless. We did space these tests rather unevenly, though it was rather a tiny tweak. Should we have not interfered, not much would be different."

"But you did go so far as to almost give your own life to your love, and you won the fight as well. As such, I feel we can step back. Our work is done."

The white slowly began to fade through, until it reached a color of...

"Pink. Yes, I know what you're thinking. But pink is the color of love. Should it not make sense that you and Pinkie Pie happened upon each other?"

I could swear the silence was for a death stare, if it existed.

"...fine. You always had the worst sense of humor... Twilight Sparkle, you're an exemplar on friendship, but you have truly written the books on both love, and overcoming adversity. I think our little stress-tests are finished, yes, Mo-"

"Sister, stop it. You'll-oopsies! I seemed to have dropped the ball myself. Away you go, Twilight Sparkle, and enjoy your life!"

Pinkie could tell I was holding back a little, and she squinted, staring me in the eyes. I might have told her, but I still had no idea what it even meant. I'd woken up shortly after. Or...had I experienced it and then woken up, or had I had it directly after I slipped into my dormant state? And two beings who happened to be sis-

Realizing Pinkie was still staring at me, I stopped thinking, half-afraid that she might read my thoughts.

Eventually, she nodded. "Oki Dokey Lokey," she said, with just a tinge of reluctance. "I trust you, Twilight-and boy, fancy magic, huh?"

"Yeah...I guess..." I couldn't help but to shy just a little at the unexpected compliment.

"I'm gonna' go get a doctor, so we can see when you're allowed out, all right?" Without waiting for a response, she leaned over the bed once more, placing her lips to my forehead with a light touch, leaving just a peck behind. "Just sleep tight while I'm gone."

Sleep? No problem. As I turned in the sheets, making myself as comfortable as possible, the slight blush in my cheeks hardly bothered me.

And why would it?

"Twily. Twiiiily. Wake up."

The gentle whispering of my own nickname brought me halfway into the world, but it wasn't enough. I weakly implored with a hoof, reaching for the sound of the voice. Sure enough, I made contact with somepony, but I didn't feel quite up to looking. I knew who it was, though. "Pinkie...?"

There was a short silence, followed by a giggling that came from further away than I thought. And then the whisper became a low-spoken, deep, baritone voice. "I'm afraid I'm not Pinkie, LSBFF."

My eyes flung open as fast as I thought possible, and then some. 'LSBFF'? That was an acronym that only one pony knew besides me, standing for...

'Little Sister Best Friend Forever'...

As my eyes flung open to reveal the world around me, I was forced to squint, suddenly disoriented. It was still bright, but it only appeared to be so because of the hospital lights that blazed above me. It was dark outside, however, leading me to believe I'd slept longer than I intended to.

Despite all of this, I could see my BBBFF's face clearly. The grin that followed was inevitable, as was the hug that I hauled myself up for. "Shiny!"

...alright, so I had a nickname for him too. I just didn't use it as much. I mean...even I thought it was childish. He hugged me back anyways, though. "Twily! I'm so glad you're alright!"

As I dropped back down, I couldn't help but to frown just a little. "You're...still wearing your uniform. Did you sneak away just to..."

"What?" Shining looked half-mortified at my suggestion, and I almost instantly regretted even mentioning such a possibility. "You know I'd never abandon Canterlot, even if it's to check on my little sister."

I sighed, managing to raise a hoof to my forehead. "Sorry, but...how did you get to travel all the way down here?"

"Well...I heard that somepony had the sense to tell Celestia that her most faithful student...was, well...they described it as just 'mortally infected'. She told me, and..." He stopped, shaking his head and frowning. "...I feared for your life, kiddo. I was just about to start begging Celestia to let me see you, but then she said she had already appointed the Second Lieutenant to take over until I got back. And so...well, that's not important. How've you been?"

I shifted uncomfortably. Not that I wasn't glad that my brother was willing to drop everything to check that I was alright, but...where could I even start?

My gaze wandered unconsciously around the room, to which I found Pinkie just a little further back. She giggled silently, but she managed a nod.

I'd be darned if I knew what that nod meant, but I think I knew where to start.

"Well..." I began, trying to keep as level a voice as possible. "While you were gone, I did find my special somepony..."

That certainly lit his eyes up. He grinned in conjunction, and spoke. "Really? That's great! Do you mind telling me who's special enough for my little sister? What's his name?"

Whether the 'special enough' comment was meant to be a compliment or not, I wasn't sure. But the tiniest grin appeared on my face against my will, despite my words otherwise not matching whatsoever. "Well, they are a she..."

I couldn't help but to inwardly smile at Pinkie's expression, which appeared to be 'faked interest', when the huge smile in her eyes was evident. She'd slowly made her way next to my brother as he spoke, and he didn't really seem to particularly care.

Shining Armor was nearly completely unfazed, however, as the slightest pause only was allowed to have him digest the meaning of this statement. "Well, then who is she? Anything or anypony that makes my sister happy is alright with me."

With the biggest grin I could muster, I nodded just slightly, and Pinkie nodded in return. She stepped forwards, burying the top of her head under the crook of my neck and wrapping her hooves around me. I returned the rather unique 'nuzzle-hug', and grinned even wider, bringing just the tiniest coloring to my cheeks. "She's right here."

I have to say, that might have taken him by surprise, even if only by a little amount, because he blinked twice. "Pinkie Pie? That energetic little fluff-ball?" He then chuckled, a rich sound that could be the very definition of 'smooth'. "I'm sure you two make quite the couple."

"Yep! We do!" Pinkie spoke for the first time since I'd woken up, and she spoke a lot. "Since she's all cute and huggable, while being smart and excellent at kissy-time, she's just the best pony ever! I mean, sometimes I think about what it'd be like without her, but then I'm like, 'silly Pinkie! We'll always be together!' Oh, did I mention that she likes her ea-"

Luckily for me, my BBBFF noticed that my cheeks were growing redder and redder by the second, and cut Pinkie off before she could finish her sentence. "I'm...sure you do love her like she does you, then." After he did so, he leaned down next to her, and smiled gently.

The difference between this smile, and a normal gentle smile, however, was enormous. This one was one that only I could see in his expression. And it said about twice as many words as he ever could, with less as well. And this one said 'I'm being completely honest'.

He spoke directly to her this time. I had to strain just to hear him, because he lowered his voice as well. "Listen, I know you mean well and all, but just take care of her, all right?"

I began to protest. "Big brother-"

He pressed on, however, completely oblivious to me. "Because she's never really been all that steady on the whole 'relationship' thing-"

I snorted as the heat of indignity began to rise in me, but he pressed on still. "-but I trust you. Just make sure she's treated right."

Obviously, I wasn't going to get in a word edgewise while he was like this, so I just laid back with a groan that seemed to go unheard as Pinkie finally spoke back. "Oh, don't worry! I'd never do anything to make her upset, and I definitely won't let any hurty things come her way!"

"I'm sure you won't."

"Ahem." I cleared my throat, and the two ponies turned to me almost simultaneously. Funny. They completely ignored me before.

"Oh, right, I almost forgot, Twilight!" Shining said, slapping at his forehead in a 'stupid me' manner. "Princess Celestia also gave me a couple of days to stay, so we can spend a bit of time together after you get out! Isn't that great?"

Great? That didn't do it enough justice. A smile finally crossed my annoyed features as I drew him into a hug that, perhaps had he not been wearing his chestplate, might have crushed a rib or two. Borrowing a word from Rainbow's usual vocabulary, I spoke: "That's awesome!"

He patted my back. "I couldn't agree more. I mean, I hardly get to see you. But maybe you could show me around Ponyville a bit, huh?"

I chuckled. "If I can walk. Being entirely inactive for eight days-"

"Eight days?!" Shining Armor pulled back, his eyes now full of urgency. "You...I..." he sighed, placing a hoof on the railing to my bedside, only taking deep breaths for a few seconds. My brow lowered in concern at this sudden outburst, while Pinkie just looked confused.

"...big brother?" I ventured.

He looked back up, managing a weak grin. "Yeah, I'm fine." he said. "You...you nearly gave me another heart attack there! I had no idea it was that bad!"

"I did!"

He looked over to Pinkie, who had suddenly chirped into our conversation, with a glance that said, 'please explain before I make the wrong assumptions'.

Lucky for all of us, Pinkie Pie was a master of expressions. "Well, the thing is this!" she took a deep breath, and cleared her throat. "From the start!"

"Pinkie, wa-" I began, but it was too late. She was already rambling, and it was all I could do but to listen.

"When I was a filly, I remember my parents took me to the doctor once for my first checkup! I had no idea what he was saying, because I was a really, itty bitty twinkie Pinkie at the time. But later, when I grew up, my parents came up all sad, and said that I was sick, and I was like, 'But I'm not sneezing!'. They just shook their heads and walked away, and I think I heard my mom cry.

"When I was just a normal Pinkie, my sister came up and told me what they actually meant, something about not having much time. She said I did have a few years, so I was like, 'yay! More years to party!'. But eventually it sunk in, and I got all sad. But I knew what I had to do.

"So as me Pinkie, I went around as much as I could, making all the friends I could so that we could party while I could! And boy, that was fun!

"Then that chariot came from the sky, and I was like, "Ooh, a ride!". So I started walking up, but a pony jumped out and the chariot flew away, so I was like 'awwww'.

"And that's when I noticed the pony. She was beautiful, with her mane just the right way and her eyes sparkling. Heehee, get it? No? Oh, right! It was Twily! Get it now? Twilight SPARKLE?

"And so all the stuff that you probably heard of happened. And then this and that and...bleh, I'll tell you later, let's get to the good part!

"I finally have just a few days left, and I'm trying to hold it in, but I eventually tell her, and she like...falls over like Rarity. And she was all sad.

"So then I wake up one time in the hospital, and I feel fine! And then she's laying there, and I'm like, why is she asleep? But then...

"...I got it.

"Twily used a spell to take my sickness and give it to herself. She did it because she loved me that much, and she survived, as you see! Twily survived because she loved me, and I did too! So I...I owe her my life! And it's only all I can do but to spend the rest of my life with her!"

Well, if he hadn't been put off by Pinkie before, he certainly was now. "I'm sorry, but could you start like...way back over, like, how you two even got to this stage? Because I don't think I've heard 'all that stuff that happened'..."

Pinkie once more opened her mouth to interject, but I stopped her, and turned to my brother.

I smiled. "Let me tell you, and my way too. I have a feeling that Pinkie isn't the best choice."

He nodded, and I began the tale that had changed my life, for both better and worse:

"It was just a perfectly normal Falling Snowflake Festival..."

Chapter 11: 'Shut Up and Kiss Me'.

"Alright, so do you think you're ready?"

"As ready as I'll ever be, Pinkie."

"One...two...three!"

On sudden count of three, I leaned forward with as much effort as my body would let me, which was actually not that much. I made contact with the ground front hooves first, which was promising, until my knees suddenly buckled beneath me, unable to support my weight.

"Woah there, Twilight!" A pink hoof jutted under me, another wrapping around me and pulling up, saving my face from a devastating collision with the hard packed dirt beneath. "I thought you could walk!"

"...yeah, so did I." I sighed, rubbing my head in annoyance weakly. "I mean, out in a single day? I was just in a coma for over a week. Shouldn't I be allowed time to recover from possible atrophy?"

Pinkie shrugged. "I 'unno'." I felt her pull me forward, if only just a little gentler than usual. "Come on, the library's just right there. You gotta walk at least a teeny, stretch out your muscles!"

I did as she said, because it actually made sense-activity in a previously weakened area could definitely reactivate the reinforced flow of nutrients and oxygen, so that I might not fall over every step.

We reached the library soon enough, upon where she helped me to the nearest couch, where I collapsed almost instantly. She muttered something about how she had something to do, and she was off.

I shrugged silently, closing my eyes and sighing in relief. Great. I had more time to think.

By the time I opened my eyes, the realization came to me: I'd fallen asleep. So much for thinking.

Almost immediately, I was greeted by...well, who else would I expect? "Hi! Ditcha' sleep well? And why were you sleeping after being in a co-"

"I'm fine, thank you." I interjected coldly. The last thing I wanted right now was to deal with a headache. "And it is, ironically, tiring in itself being inactive for so long."

"I would imagine so, kiddo." A new voice spoke out, and I turned to face it.

"And hello to you too, Shining." I said. "Did Pinkie show you around Ponyville yet?"

"Show me?" he chuckled. "She dragged me around so fast, that I had to ask her to do it again so that I could understand what she was saying!"

Pinkie nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah, we had tons of fun! And now that you're up, we can have tons more!"

"I'm not exactly-"

"Oh, I know, I know!" Pinkie interrupted, waving a hoof nonchalantly. "You don't feel good, and I hope you get better. But I can guarantee that you will be so happy by the time I'm done!"

Well, if there was a pony I would trust to the job of making me happy, it was definitely Pinkie Pie. As for 'being done', I was confused, but whatever.

"So I thought we should talk!" she continued, widening her trademark smile a bit. I shrugged, and she continued. "So I've been thinking,-" Shocker. "-and the past just seems so...so...I dunno', weird, like in an overall sense and stuff. We go from bestest friends to marefriends, and I'm like, 'how does that even happen?'."

I chuckled. "Well, actually, Pinkie, that's how a lot of relationships get started."

My brother nodded assent to that. "It's pretty common for really good friends to find that they want something more." he said. I could swear he had to suppress a delightful chuckle of irony as he said it.

But I knew where he was getting at. "But that is how we started, right? We started small..." I paused. "...all right, so we faced an eternal princess' evil alter ego, and then we 'went' small."

"And then we 'went' bigger!" she chirped. "And, I..." she paused, closing her eyes momentarily.

I could hardly believe it. Not only was Pinkie passing up an opportunity to speak, not only were her cheeks coloring slightly, but she was taking deep breaths as well, usually only a sign of anxiety or sorrow. Even Shining Armor looked slightly worried at her sudden change in tone, and I found my own heart fluttering as well. I half expected to hear, 'we need to talk'.

Then again, I essentially had already heard it.

I was interrupted as she finally spoke up again. "...I think we can still go bigger."

Go bigger? In the sense she was speaking, that was quite literally impossible. Not to bring up the subject to myself, but...there seemed to be nothing that might bond us closer together.

I...I turned out to be very, very wrong indeed.

I caught sight of her reaching into her mane-yes, her mane, digging not as if to ease any knots, but as if to search for something. I remained wordless throughout, fascinated by this recent development.

And then she moved closer, having nodded quietly to herself. I pulled myself up, staring as she reached back into her mane. She moved to kneel, which seemed perfectly logical considering my elevation, until her hoof left her mane, another quickly coming to cover it.

"Y'see, I've been thinking, and even though it hasn't quite been a year, I...I think I definitely want to do this." Her hoof moved to uncover the other, moving slightly upwards while doing so.

And then the world stopped as she finally smiled at me the widest possible, the most anomalous twinkling in her eyes, and said the only words that could ever fully stop my heart, imagined only but in my deepest dreams:

"Twilight Sparkle, will you marry me?"

...

Never had there been a time when my cognitive senses utterly failed, but now was such a time.

Here she was, the mare of my dreams...a small box balanced precariously and inexplicably on her hoof, just the tiniest glint of light reflecting into my eyes...proposing to me.

No, buck the ring. I...

She was doing it. She was actually doing it. Out of the corner of my eye, I gathered my brother looked nearly as shocked as I.

...but there was no way that he was as happy as I was.

Throughout all the time we had been together, she was willing to share more, to intertwine her very life with my own? Pinkie...Pie?

I felt my eyes slowly welling up with inexplicable tears as time slowly returned to me. My heart, as I said, literally stopped before skipping a beat. I attempted to form words, but I just couldn't.

Just as much as I couldn't explain the feeling to myself as I might to anypony else, I couldn't bring myself to form any sort of words at all. It...I was just...

"Twily, are you-"

"YES!" OK, maybe I could. It was one word, but it was the only word I needed. The only word I needed to shroud my mind in ecstasy and affection, as I leaned forward and drew Pinkie into the biggest hug I had ever mustered. "Yes, yes, yes, and in case you need to clean your ears out, yes!"

My hug was returned with equal fervor, and my eyes were shut tight, the grin on my face rivaling her own, the tears leaking down my cheeks in pure, unadulterated happiness.

And it felt great.

We stayed locked in the hug, me not even bothering to lose my grip on her. I didn't want to.

Out of an instinct I couldn't quite put my hoof on, my eyes drifted open.

All I caught through my watery gaze was my brother, wearing the biggest smile I'd ever seen. Perhaps from sentimentality, or pride in his sister.

I knew why I was smiling, though.

As much as I hated it, Pinkie released herself from my embrace. "You have no idea how happy you've made me, Twily. And...and how long I-"

I silenced her with just a gentle hoof to the lips. "I know. It's how I feel too." I tilted my head slightly, widening my grin as wide as it was possible. "Now shut up and kiss me."

With only a giggle, she did. And as we met in the middle, there was only one thing I was, and something I had never been before.

I was truly in love.

And I couldn't be happier.

End of Story 1.

Chapter 5: Pink

Rated Teen for mild sensuality. Very brief, but it's there.

It was another one of those days.

Another one of those days where everything had already been said and done for, before you'd even woken up. One which promised nothing but relaxation.

It was to this day that I slowly awoke to. The ever familiar feeling of my purple sheets and the soft mattress below were comforting, warming.

"Good morning, my happy sappy smiley Twily..."

That whispering certainly wasn't unwelcome. I knew who it came from, but I didn't have to look, or even open my eyes. I smiled, whispering back. "And good morning to you, my pink prancing pony partner..."

There was no response from her, except a slight pressure as she slipped her hooves around me, gently pulling me closer. Even with my back to her, I took it upon myself to return the hug as much as possible, not able to hold in the flushing of my cheeks as she buried her face in my mane.

Pinkie stayed there for a while, and I was brought to reflect on what exactly had happened last night. I remembered falling asleep, and I remembered her waking me to get back to bed. It was a half-blur from there, and...well, almost nothing was clear. I could have made waffles while juggling five manticores at once, and not remembered a thing.

I was jolted out of my attempted recall by a gentle nibbling on my ear, which sent shivers down my spine. Evidently, she felt them. "Oooh, so you like it when I give your little ears a nip?"

As she continued gently sliding her teeth along the very edges of my-admittedly, extremely sensitive-ears, I made an attempt at speech. What I tried to say was 'Come on Pinkie, stop it!'. What came out, however, was an involuntary moan that sounded more like a mournful ghost of a dog begging for table scraps than a protest.

As Pinkie finally pulled away, I breathed a silent sigh of relief. That sigh seemed to be misinterpreted.

Perhaps not in an entirely bad way.

Instead I felt her shifting around, before I felt a gentle nuzzling across my neck. It felt well enough, and I began moving to return it.

Instead, Pinkie Pie pulled back from my attempted nuzzling and instead planted a gentle kiss in the crook of my neck, another slightly lower, and continuing like so. It was only when she passed the point of my shoulder that I realized her intentions.

Or rather, 'realized'. Pinkie did not, in fact, head further south at all. Instead, in a flash, she pulled herself free from the sheets, hopping around the bed before coming to my side, to which I finally opened my eyes at her coaxing. "Enough kissy-time!" she bubbled. "It's time to get going!"

Reluctantly, I began rising, but just as quickly, she shoved a hoof in my path, preventing me from sitting up. "Actually, on second thought, we might need to talk, Twily."

Talk? That was all she ever wanted to do anyways, but...her tone rather scared me at that moment. Either way, I half-nodded,and almost immediately, she plopped onto her haunches, so that we saw eye to eye before beginning.

"Twilight..." she began, hesitating. Hesitating. Something was definitely off. "Do you remember last night?"

The only response I could think of was a nod. Of course I did! I mean, first romantic kiss-check. First time ice skating with-I'll assume 'proper' help-check. First time meeting...well, regardless, check there.

"I don't think you really do, Twilight. Tell me the truth."

I was getting confused by now. "I'm pretty sure I'm being one hundred percent truthful. I remember each and every thing up until I fell asleep."

"Ohhhhh..." Pinkie's grin had faded half a minute ago, and now it deepened into what appeared to be a concerned frown. "Because, you kept tossing around, mumbling stuff. I felt you do it two nights ago, too, but that time you woke up screaming like somepony pulled your tail really hard."

So she did hear that?

"I thought you said your nightmares went away, Twilight," she half-stated, half-asked. "And now I'm worried."

"I-"

"Twilight, you need help."

I blinked, shaking my head. Was I hearing her correctly? Was she suggesting that I get psychiatric counseling for just a few bad dreams?

Pinkie noticed this, and shook her head smiling. "Not that kind of help, silly. The other kind."

"What other kind?" As usual, she was making no sense.

"The kind that only your friends can give you, duh!" With this, she quickly ducked out of sight. "And I've got just the thing!"

A fair amount of rustling was heard, and just as I leaned over to check if she was even doing anything, a small blur flew onto the bed with a quick "here it is!" following behind.

Why there was something of unknown origin under my bed was a mystery, but the object itself won over my curiosity, and I turned to examine it.

It was a small, slightly faded piece of colored felt; closer inspection revealing the shape of a small unicorn filly, horn and all. The white pelt coat was unusual compared to the strangely yarn-like blue hair. With a careful hoof prod, it felt fairly soft and yielding, and I finally came to a conclusion just as soon as Pinkie began to explain.

"It's a little itty bitty plushie pony that my granny knitted me when I was juuuuuuuussst about learning to walk!" She said, making a 'this big' sign by holding her hooves about 2 feet apart. "I was about that tall! Mrs. Sunshine always kept the bad dreams and monsters away, so maybe she can help you keep yours away!"

Right then and there, my heart began to swell-figuratively, of course-to probably twice its previous side. While in another pony's view 'Mrs. Sunshine' may have been just a worthless piece of plush, 'she' meant so much more to me.

The fact that Pinkie Pie was willing to give up one of her most cherished childhood objects, an object of such sentimental value...

I didn't know what to say. "Pinkie..."

Already, she was tugging me out of bed, and I was being dragged down the stairs. "Yeah, yeah, I know, thanks and all!" Her voice was unusually chipper to me as I struggled, trying to dig my hind legs into the wooden steps to slow my rapid descent. "But wait until you see this!"

As I managed to regain my orientation, recognizing the main foyer area, I had to-figuratively-stop, and blink. What I was seeing was just so unexpected, so strange, so...

Pink.

Yes, pink. Just...pink.

"I always heard you complaining about how boring the place was, so I painted it while you slept!"

Still stunned, I pressed a hoof to the now pastel-colored walls. It came back dry. Still in complete disbelief, I turned to Pinkie, who still bore a smile as wide as could be. How could she have misinterpreted me so badly? I meant to speak of the work itself, not the coloring of which the place was. And what would give a pony such motive to stay up all night for such a trivial job?

I tried to ask any of those, but questions of such complexity were yet beyond me. Instead, I just stammered out my feelings the best way I could: "You. Painted. A tree."

"Yep!" She apparently found nothing wrong with it.

Taking it as a hint to put my hoof down, to make her understand the severity of what she'd...apparently done, I took a step forward, my eyebrows reflexively lowering. "You do realize that the paint has most likely bound itself to the tree's own molecules, which are more organically separate and porous, thus likely staining the bark a permanent light pink?"

She shrugged now. "I guess. Is that bad?"

"Is that bad?!" My temper lashed out momentarily, as I failed to reign in my, quite honestly, misplaced frustration from the past few weeks. "Pinkie, now I'll not only have to strip off the top layer, not only will I have to literally carve out the parts that are now likely permanently pink, but I'll have to go through a huge chain of command just to see if I can even replace what you just did!"

Pinkie Pie was now wearing a most anomalous frown. "Sheesh, OK..." she muttered, kicking at the ground with her hooves. "I'm sorry, I just wanted to help..."

I sighed, closing my eyes. The amount of anger that I felt was so immense that I had to pause, taking deep breaths to keep from shouting. It was all I could do, really.

Eventually, I shook my head, opening my eyes. "I can stomach that," I said eventually, and I could. Maybe with a little effort. Or a lot. "Just...don't try to help like that ever again, OK?"

"Okey Dokey Lokey!" She was already back to bouncing around like her hyper self, as if trying to reach the ceiling to paint that, too.

Speaking of paint, the offending can sat nondescriptly in a corner, between two-surprisingly not pink-bookshelves. Sighing, I picked it up with a simple levitation spell. The first step would be to remove the offending-

Squoish!

Strange, squishing-thumping noises certainly weren't a usual thing, especially in a library. What in Celestia's name could have made that noise? It'd have to be significantly wet and heavy...

...my hooves felt wet...

Fearing the worst, I glanced down, expecting some sort of spontaneous marsh to have sprung up when I wasn't looking. Instead, there sat a vaguely bookish shaped object, surrounded by a lovely splatter of pink paint.

"Pinkie..." I grumbled, this time picking up the book. I ignored her response, figuring that she might realize that it was rather a grumble of frustration than a direct addressing. I managed to separate some of the paint from the cover, seeing if I could salvage even a little bit.

I couldn't have imagined the look on my own face if I tried. The cover was something all too familiar, something I'd used even all through fillyhood, in which I pretty much stuffed it full of memories. It was the one constant in my life besides reading.

"Pinkie." My own voice was terse, and my throat was taut as I called-strangely subdued-like-for her attention. She stopped, and looked at me expectantly. "Do you know how this happened? Do you know how this got completely submersed in paint?"

Her face fell immediately, the sign of a guilty conscience. However, she would not lie, either-she instead immediately set about apologizing. "Twilight, I'm like, really sorry that I ruined your book. I accidentally knocked it over, and it fell in, and I thought you wouldn't-"

"You thought I wouldn't notice?" By now, I was advancing on her against all of my better judgement. "Do you know what this is? Because this isn't just a book, it's a scrapbook. A house for all my precious foalhood memories. And now," I shook the book in her face. "It's ruined."

Pinkie was now slowly backing away from me, a slight quivering of her lips appearing before my eyes. I wanted to stop, but some sort of feeling pressed me forward. I...I just couldn't control it. "And on occasion, I like to relive those memories, as bitter-sweet as they may be. But now, I can't. My brother might as well be a memory, Spike might as well have simply appeared from nowhere, and I might as well not even have gone through FOAL-HOOD!"

The silence that followed was almost deafening, so much so that I could hear the very, very faint sounds of Pinkie trying not to cry; the gentle shuddering and shivering of a pony on the brink of sadness. I hardly saw such a thing, because my own eyes were obscured by burning hot tears. The need to defend something, anything, if only to do some justice to the paint incident...

...it had taken over me. I didn't want it.

But the words kept spilling from my mouth uncontrollably, ugly ones. Ones that I tried to catch, but miserably failed at. "And if you think that this is 'OK' to any degree...you're wrong, Pinkie."

She finally decided to speak up, though not how I hoped. Her voice warbled and creaked with barely restrained sadness. "Twilight, why are you being so mean?" Her tearful gaze was one so innocent, one so heartwarming that it almost pierced the veil of...malice that I seemed to possess.

Almost.

She reached out to hug me, but on complete impulse, one of my hooves shot out, pushing her back with a slight skidding sound. "Don't. Touch me."

It was the final straw for Pinkie Pie. The tears that had been welling up in her eyes finally came to fruition, slowly leaking out onto her cheeks, leaving the tiniest rivulets. Her shoulders began shaking in earnest, and a pitched, primal wail rose up in what could only be described in one word:

Crying.

If there'd been any time in which my heart could have broken, it would have been right then. Sitting there, watching my marefriend cry. Just...cry. Knowing that I'd done it myself, and out of pure hateful intent.

All of the fight went out of me in an instant. Seeing such a sight threw my aggression into reverse, and I tentatively reached out to her. "Pinkie, I...I'm sorry-"

The instant that my hoof met her shoulder, it was smacked away with surprising force. In an instant, she was surging forward, stopping just inches from my nose. She spoke loudly, though no less emotional. "You're perfectly clear, Twilight! You don't want me anymore! You...you don't have to apologize for your true feelings!"

"Pinkie, I acted irrationally, and-"

Quick as a flash, Pinkie shoved a hoof into-yes, into-my mouth, definitely intent on keeping me silent. In the brief second she had before I backed off, she continued. "I'm not gonna be with a pony who's gonna be such a meany-pants all the time! So I'm going. Maybe I'll consider it when you STOP BEING A JERKY-PONY!"

With the final few words leaving her lips in such a strangled cry, the pink mare was already sprinting for the door. In another brief moment, she was gone in a trail of tears.

She...was gone.

It was too much for me to process at once. The suddenness of it all, the repercussions, the emotions, the memories...and the possible loss of her.

I stared blankly at the book, which I still held with a magical grasp, and back to the door. And then I did what could only seem right at the moment.

I made my way to the nearest bookshelf, which was also free of blemishes as were the others, and gently rested my forehead against it. With a shuddering sigh, I finally allowed my tears to fall, slowly coursing down the length of my face. I hardly noticed the slight sound of footsteps as an all too familiar dragon entered the room.

"Twilight? Are you all right?" Spike's question did little to calm me, though in all honesty, it didn't seem as though it was meant to.

I rose my head, and gave the best unconvincing nod that I'd ever given. "I'm fine, Spike...j-just give me a little time, all right?"

"But, I heard yelling, and..." he trailed off, a hesitant claw raised in the air. "You sure? Sounded somethin' awful..."

"I'll be alright, Spike. I just need some time alone." I half-heartedly made a 'shoo' motion with a free hoof. "Key word 'alone'. Now go back to your nap."

I managed to tune out the sound of retreating footsteps as I leaned my head back up against the bookshelf, numb to all but myself.

Between the ache of my heart, the stress on my brain, and how I'd hardly even been awake for 5 whole minutes when this happened, and so suddenly...I did the one thing left to do.

My shoulders slipped down, my eyes shut tight, squeezing a few more tears out...

...and I finally cried in earnest.