The Shortcut

“You are serious about this, aren't you?”

Twilight nodded, her gaze lowered to the blanket she was kneeling on. They were outside; Twilight had wanted more privacy for this conversation than Sugarcube Corner offered, and the library... it just didn’t feel right to have them all come to her.

“Well, that is... quite remarkable, to say the least. I could think of no shortage of things I would want to wish for, if I could...” Rarity's pupils grew large, her eyes sparkling. “Mmmh... though, I suppose you have quite different ideas.”

“So, what'cha gonna wish for, huh? Super magic powers? Alicorn wings? Or...” She gave a snicker. “How about super reading powers?”

“Making herself into an alicorn would hardly be appropriate, now would it, Rainbow Dash? And she has quite remarkable magical abilities already, I'd say.”

“Wings...” Twilight whispered, for the moment distracted entirely from her preexisting train of thought. Strangely enough, all three of Rainbow's ideas actually sounded like reasonable choices, albeit not quite in the way they were suggested. If she was going to wish for wings, it would certainly be pegasus wings.

“Well, I'm not sure if the last one is possible, but from what I understand, it might be. Just 'magic powers' is too vague, I’d have to specify a skill. Alicorn wings would be possible, but...” She left the sentence unfinished.

“Do you have other ideas, then?”

Twilight shook her head. “Well, some,” she corrected herself momentarily. “But I haven’t made up my mind yet. It only happened yesterday, and I...” She threw Fluttershy a quick glance. “I want to take my time with the decision. It's really important. I... also wanted to tell you that it is possible to wish something for somepony else, so if one of you has something she really wants – like, really wants - then I could get that for you. It only works if I can make myself care enough about it, but if it's important to any one of you, then I'm sure I would...” She paused, blushing.

“Giving up your wish for your friends?” Pinkie rolled herself around from where she was lying it the grass. “That would be sooooo nice of you, Twilight. But... if I take something from you which would make you happy, it means it can't make you happy anymore, and if it can't make you happy anymore, it means you're less happy than you'd be otherwise, and 'less happy' is really similar to 'unhappy', and I can't make one of my friends unhappy. Nuh-uh. I don't want it.”

Rarity opened her mouth to say something, but then stopped. A shadow hushed over her face. Eventually, she bit her lip and lowered her gaze.

“There's something... else.” Twilight's heart cramped together while she spoke, but she forced herself to go on. “I... I probably should've come out with that sooner, but I...” She paused. This was even more difficult than she had imagined. How was she supposed to say it? A painful stitch hit her breast. Was this maybe the wrong way altogether? Should she do something like this in a private conversation? Was she going to embarrass Fluttershy in front of the others? But doing it privately would be even harder. “I'm...” She took a deep breath, her heart beating quickly. “Fluttershy... I'm-”

Rarity gasped. The cup she'd been levitating dropped onto the earth, spilling its content. “You have a crush on Fluttershy? Oh my stars!”

Twilight closed her mouth, internally sighing in relief. Now it was out. Whatever happened next, at least her confession was made.

But then... why was nopony else saying anything? Twilight blinked, her gaze shifting among her friends, careful to avoid a certain pegasus. Oh, apparently they were waiting for a confirmation from her.

“Oh, uhm... yeah, I do. Well, I mean I don't think it's just a crush, I've had it for almost a year, but...”

A silence followed.

”Well, that is... quite unexpected, I must say. Fluttershy, dear, don't you want to respond?”

Twilight forced herself to look at her friend in question. From what she could tell, Fluttershy was just as surprised at the others - and it was rather obvious that she didn't feel the same way about her - but at least she didn't look disgusted.

“I, uhm... I'm n-not sure what to say...”

“You don't have to say anything,” Twilight quickly answered, hoping to get past this subject as quickly as possible. “I'm not bringing it up get an answer for you, I just... you know, with what I just told you...”

Rainbow gasped. “So it's because of your wish. You want to make Fluttershy fall in love with you?”

Silence.

Applejack rolled her eyes. ”Quick thinkin' there, partner.”

“Well, I most certainly hope that was not your intention, Twilight.”

“No, of course not.” Twilight's head felt hot, and she couldn't bring herself to look any of her friends in the eyes. “I won't do anything to any of you without your permission. That was the first thing I decided. I just... I just thought that, if you don’t know everything, I’m not being honest with you. That’s all.”

“But why not?”

Everypony's heads turned to Pinkie Pie.

“What? I mean, the 'asking first' part makes sense, but why shouldn't she make the wish? If Twilight loves Fluttershy, and Fluttershy doesn't love Twilight back, and Twilight has a free wish, then, duh, she needs to wish for Fluttershy to love her back. That way, everypony will be happy!”

“It don't work like that, Pinkie.”

“It doesn't? But Twilight never said that, did she?

“It does,” Twilight replied automatically. “Or, well... it would. I asked about it – the sphere said it would be indistinguishable from falling in love naturally. But... well.”

“But what?”

“Pinkie, dear, you cannot force two ponies together. That's not the natural order of things, not to mention it's unethical.”

“But It wouldn't be forcing them if Fluttershy agrees to it...”

Rarity shook her head. “Unless Fluttershy develops feelings herself, it is forced, even if it doesn't happen against her will.”

“Suresies, so the feeling is forced.” Pinkie shrugged. “Why does it matter? As long as everypony’s happy...”

“Because...” Rarity seemed to fight with her words, taking several seconds before she continued. “Because a mare wants to be in control of her own emotions. If Fluttershy would just fall in love because this... sphere thing made her, then it wouldn't feel right for either her or Twilight.”

At that, a smile hushed over Twilight's face. As much as she would be opposed to manipulation of her own mind, it was still a rather ridiculous claim that doing it to Fluttershy would feel inherently wrong to her. If Fluttershy was happy, and Twilight hadn't done anything without her agreement, then she wouldn't care one bit why Fluttershy returned her affections. Why should she be the one to judge what was or wasn't right for Fluttershy? Of course, if Fluttershy didn’t want it, then Twilight would be the last pony to blame her.

“Okay, but...” Pinkie frowned. “Shouldn't they decide that, rather than you?”

“Oh, most certainly. Twilight, Fluttershy, what do you think?”

Twilight winced. She had not intended to say any of that out loud, but now it seemed like she had to.

“Well... I want Fluttershy to be happy. If... if anything we do would cause her to be unhappy, no matter what, then I'm against it. I...” She bit her lip, but did the honest thing and added, “I wouldn't want it if I was her.”

“Very well.” Rarity seemed to disapprove of her position, but she didn’t comment. “Fluttershy?”

Twilight closed her eyes, preparing herself for the inevitable disappointment. As much as she chided herself for it, she couldn't deny that a part of her had been hoping for this exact possibility all along. If Fluttershy truly wanted to, then she would probably have her wish... and this door was now going to be closed, most likely forever.

But Fluttershy didn't say no.

“I don't know. Sorry. I need time to think about it.”

Rarity's eyes twitched. “My dear, you can't truly be considering-”

“Now, hold on there, Rares. If Fluttershy says she needs time, then I'm pretty dang sure that's not yer business. Ya don't wanna step between her and Twilight, just because yer ideas of how a proper romance is supposed to work doesn't match up, do ya?”

”I... no, of course not. I'm sorry, Twilight. Interfering with your future relationship is most certainly not my place.”

Twilight shook her head. “It's fine. I can totally understand your position – again, I wouldn't want to do it if I was her. But it's her decision, not mine.”

“I still don't see the problem.” Pinkie said, visibly unimpressed by Rarity's arguments. “If it was me, I'd say yes in a gipsy.” She giggled, her serious attitude disappeared, and she plopped back down onto the ground. “But, I guess, Fluttershy can decide for herself.”

“How did you even know she's into mares?” Rainbow asked bluntly.

Rarity coughed. “A blind pony on a cane could see that.”

“What? But we went to flightcamp together, and she never showed interest in me-”

“And just because she dun fancied you,” Applejack said sarcastically, “means she ain't into mares, huh?”

“Uh...” Rainbow's cheeks turned pink. “... yeah, okay, maybe not.”

“As fabulous as your mane might be, Rainbow Dash, I'm afraid you're not the kind of pony Fluttershy would be attracted to.”

“No?” Rainbow's ears drooped. “What kind then?”

“Well...” Rarity threw quick look at Fluttershy, who was hiding her face behind a strand of hair and an adorable blush. “Somepony more... calm.”

“You mean like Twilight?”

“Very subtle of you.” Rarity huffed. “But yes, if you must know it, Twilight could probably be a suitable choice for her – but just because a pony is somepony else's type doesn't make it right to... well, I believe we've been over that now, haven't we?”

“And Twi?”

“What about her?”

“Did ya know she was into mares, too?”

Rarity sighed. “Try to imagine Twilight with a stallion, Rainbow Dash.”

“Okay.”

“Well?”

“... ... ... oh yeah, I see what you mean.”

Twilight giggled, another blush creeping onto her face, but it was one of joyful embarrassment rather than shame. Reaching forward, she grabbed the can Rarity had been occupying thus far, pouring herself a cup.

”I think that's all I wanted to tell you guys... and I’ll send a letter to the princess, too. Just remember to come by the library if you want the wish for something - or even just if you have an idea. I'm open for everything.”