She had never quite seen the point of it all. Romance she meant. Reproduction she could see the point of - after all, without it, how could new foals be born? - But romance?
She had read a lot of books as a filly, and a lot of them talked about romance, the feeling of butterflies in the stomach, the steadily increased and quickened heartbeat - she didn't quite believed them. Not everything in books was right after all and, to be totally honest, she was too lost in her total life of reading books and learning magic and studying to found someone, either a him, or a her, to get a romance going, or even a fling, or something brief with whomever.
That was why she was so shocked when she identified the feelings roaming inside her...as love. She had been feeling a little bit off for a couple of months now, and it wasn't until a letter from her sister in law she had realised it. It was true, she was in love. Yeah, she knew what it was ,theoretically... but to actually feel it, love, the joy of being with someone, even more so than with her other friends...
And with Rainbow of all people...
Rainbow Dash...well, Rainbow Dash wasn't the most emotive of mares and neither was Twilight, she tried to assess the situation logically.
She, the party "A", liked party "B", Rainbow. In order for "A" and "B" to get together she had to find a way to tell her about her feelings and hope to be reciprocated.
The options were varied....she could simply go up to her and tell her "Hey Rainbow, I think I'm in love with you". That was one option, or she could do a whole game of hide and seek with clues....that could work, assuming Rainbow didn't lose interest in the middle of the game. She could write her a love letter, using words nobody ever used anymore, or even try some slang, and have Spike sent it....who knew? Something could work.
But those were all stupid ideas, she thought it best to do that using an analogy, using metaphors and euphemisms. Like the hazelnut one, she had thought of (or, well, stolen from an old book, one she had read ages ago, but who would know those weren't her original thoughts?)
She hesitated at knocking in the door, she had hesitated at coming in at all, she once again reminded herself that even if they weren't going to date (though she hoped they would, even if for a short while), they were still friends. A logical, obvious part of her brain knew that, but, unfortunately, love had a way to turn logic off in people. Twilight didn't appreciate that one bit about love, but it was part of the package and she couldn't exactly pick which things she would have in her experience.
Hesitation over, spell to walk on clouds applied, she touched the soft surface. almost going through it. She felt the wetness and though she knew she wouldn't fall, she still rumbled, unsure on her hooves.
She waited, her impatience (and anxiety) growing by the minute. Why wasn't Rainbow answering her? Had something happened? Was her love not a true love? What was wrong?
She tried her calming technique, breathing deeply and expiring, but that could only do so much, and she was sure that if Rainbow hadn't conveniently opened the door at that exact moment, her mane wet as if she had just gotten off a shower, Twilight would have fallen over in frustration.
As it were Rainbow barely had time to tell her to come in before Twilight entered and sat down, breathing a sigh of relief. Rainbow turned, slowly looked at the other mare, and, knowing nothing good ever came from a frustrated Twilight, she sat down, opposite to her and waited to hear what the other mare wanted.
Even if she couldn't help, she had long learned a listening ear was often good enough for helping. The words Twilight said weren't those she was expecting though.
Just to make sure she had heard correctly she used the expression of confusion of "excuse me?"
"Hazelnuts"
Her suspicions confirmed, Rainbow got to wonder what the heck hazelnuts had to do with anything at all or Twilight's state. True, she enjoyed the occasional hazelnut treat, but was that why Twilight was in that state? That didn't make any sense.
"It's like that....hazelnuts!"
Rainbow felt the urge to face hoof but, knowing that wouldn't bring her closer to understanding the other mare, she simply gave out a shrug and a "huh?"
"Because it has layers you see...?"
Hazelnuts did have layers but the teeth grinding bugged eye twilight wasn't making much sense. She felt an urge to smack some sense into her, an urge she avoided.
Instead she tried calming her down, with a hug.
Rainbow hated the contact, it just felt....girly and full of fluff, and those weren't things she was, but her friend needed her, and it was clear from her reactions she had to do something. Twilight sniffed Rainbow's coat, it smelled of damp fur and clouds, and she quite enjoyed the smell of it.
After a few awkward minutes they split up, Twilight calm enough to explain her metaphor.
"I like you, like you'd eat a hazelnut. in layers, I like not only as the exterior shell, the so called friendship aspect, but also the crunchy inside, the love part, which everyone likes, but is protected by another layer, do you get me?!
Rainbow got it, and she didn't know exactly how to answer the love declaration....run away, kiss, something in the middle?
Whatever decision she took she had to make it quick.
She went for the one which suited the situation better.
One which both of them enjoyed.
