More than just words

Twilight paced about in the library... Whatdoidowhatdoidowhatdoido?!?!?!
Her emotions were coursing through her body and mind at breakneck speed, causing her mind do go into a state of utmost panic and confusion. She was rummaging through the library like a hurricane, trying to find a book that could help her understand what was going on inside of her. Reaching a crescendo of chaos, she finally collapsed on the floor, mountainous heaps of books scattered around her.

Ok Twilight, calm down, calm down. I am sure there is a reasonable explanation to all of this. There is no use in going insane again over something you do not understand. Now, think, calmly, what is the best method of action to take here? Books, for once, are not going to be able to help you with this. It is clear that nopony has had the nerve to publish a book on something as controversial as interspecies relationships. Maybe Celestia can help? I’m sure she has dealt with things like this before... Wait, no. That will be far too awkward. That would be like going to your Schoolteacher for help with your dating life...

As Twilight’s mind continued to ramble on and on, she failed to notice a shy pegasus entering the library. The timid, pink-maned pegasus tried to get her friend’s attention.

“Excuse me...” she whispered.
“Excuse me.”
“Um, Twilight.”
“Excuse me.”
“EXCUSE ME.” She raised her voice in slight desperation.

“WHAT?!” Twilight snapped, before realizing that she just screamed at Fluttershy.

“Oh, sorry, didn’t mean to interrupt... I’ll just be going then.” The shy pegasus looked as if someone just broke her.

“No, wait! Don’t go. I’m sorry Fluttershy; I didn’t mean to scream at you.”

“That is quite all right...”

“Fluttershy, I was wondering if you could help me with something.”

“What is it Twilight, is something wrong?”

“No, well, um, yes. You see, um, how do I put this... Ithinkifellinlovebutdon’tknowwhattodoandnowspikewrotemepoetryandI’mconfusedandbooksdon’thelpandican’tspeaktoCelestia...”

“Wow, calm down Twilight, I’m here for you.”

“You’re right, I’m losing my mind here...”

“Now, please, slowly, tell me what is wrong.”

“Ok, uh, where do I start...? I guess the beginning is as good a place as any.”
Twilight took a deep breath, collected her thoughts, and began.
“You see, today was re-shelving day, but for the first time in Celestia knows how long, I decided it was time to give my private collection a good re-shelving, while Spike worked downstairs on the main library. Now, as I was working, I came across a little notebook that I have never seen before. Curious, I opened it and began reading. It ended up being poetry that Spike wrote proclaiming his love to me. Almost instantly, I realized I that I have always loved Spike, maybe even more than just as a friend or adopted sibling... Now, I immediately called him up to our bedroom and told him that I found his poetry, and that I loved him back. But, then something unexpected happened... He kissed me.”

“Oh my...”

“Yes, he kissed me. But right after, I kind of freaked out. What do I do, I mean, is it even possible for a pony and a dragon to fall in love and to have a romantic relationship? I mean, is that normal? It CAN’T be normal... What do I do Fluttershy?! I can’t just go off and fall in love with a dragon, can I? A dragon that I RAISED no less! I cannot take advantage of his affection for me either!” Twilight was on the verge of a complete breakdown, “What am I supposed to do?!”

“Ok, calm down Twilight. Um, well... I cannot say I know how to help you... Romance is not exactly, um, oh how do I say it, I’m not exactly, um, experienced in this kind of thing... Even less, um, something as, complex, as what you are dealing with. But, I do think I know of somepony who might be able to help you Twilight...”

“Who is that?”

“Zecora.”

“Zecora?”
Twilight would never have thought of her, “How would she be able to help?”

“Well, um, she is the only Zebra in Equestria, and, she um, has had a similar situation to yours...”

“She fell in love with her dragon assistant?” Twilight asked, dripping with sarcasm...

“No, but, she um, knows about interspecies relationships...”

“Oh... I guess that makes sense.”

“So, um, I guess you should go talk to her, if that is all right.”

“Yea, sure, um, let me just, um, clean up this, mess. And I guess I should clean myself up a bit too. I kind of look a bit, frazzled.”

“Yea, I think that is a good idea. But, I, um, kind of came to ask for a book.”

“Oh, yea, of course, sure. What book do you need?”

“Do you have anything on, um, bunny reproduction?” Fluttershy’s cheeks flushed red, and her name has never been so appropriate.

“Uh, yea, sure... But, why, if I may ask, would you need such a book?”

“Well, um, Angel bunny has found himself a special friend, and, um, now I have 24 little bunnies to take care of... It’s getting a bit overwhelming.”

Twilight couldn’t help but let out a giggle. “Sure Fluttershy. I’ll just sort out this mess, and when I find the right book, I’ll bring it to you on my way to Zecora’s.”

“Ok, see you later Twilight.”

Twilight got to sorting through her books, trying her best to get it back to a respectable state. Luckily she was quite efficient in doing so, even if her mind troubled her still. It didn’t take her too long to sort through everything, and find the appropriate book for Fluttershy.
She decided a bath was in order since she had spent the whole day sweating this entire situation. She just plain reeked of stress. She opened the warm water tap, and thought it appropriate to light some beeswax candles and add a few drops of aroma therapy oil to her bath. As the sweet scent of beeswax and the intoxicating aroma of patchouli and lavender filled her senses, she felt relaxation slowly creeping in. She opened the cold water tap, and let the bath reach the perfect temperature.
Lowering her body into the water, relaxing warmth flowed over her. She felt the muscles around her neck ease, and she let out a satisfied breath. For the first time since Spike kissed her, she felt at peace within herself. She cleaned the sweat out of her coat, and rubbed coconut oil unto her mane. She scrubbed down her entire body with her magic, and massaged her hooves till she was in a state of relaxed ecstasy. She relaxed for another while in the tub, before deciding it was time to get ready to head over to Zecora’s place. She had a few hours of daylight left, but she wasn’t going to risk getting stuck in the Everfree forest at night...
She drained the tub, and scrubbed herself down with a towel using her magic. Once she was satisfactorily dried, she combed her mane into her usual style.

After a few other preparations, she put on her saddlebag and put the book that she had to take to Fluttershy in the one side, and the notebook with Spike’s poetry in the other. She closed up the library, and began her journey towards Fluttershy’s home on the edge of the Everfree forest.
After reaching Fluttershy’s and dropping off the book, she made her way into the Everfree forest, careful to avoid any poison joke and whatever other hazards she might encounter along the way. It didn’t take her long to reach Zecora’s house, it not being very deep into the forest.

Knocking on the door, she heard Zecora trot up towards the door. Zecora opened the door, and pleasantly surprised by the visit, welcomed her.

“What errand brings you here, Twilight my dear?”

“I kind of need your help with an unusual situation I found myself in, Zecora.”

“And what might that be? Twilight in distress I would not like to see.”

“I think I may have fallen in love with Spike, and I am pretty sure he has been in love with me for quite some time himself. I found this notebook of his this morning...” Twilight went on to explain the situation from the beginning, up to the point that she ended up coming to Zecora for help. After this, she gave the notebook for Zecora to read.

“That Spike is in love with you my dear, to me that is quite clear.
That his love to you is valid I am certain, but how you are going to react we must ascertain.
If you are to enter a relationship with him, you cannot just leave him at a whim.
Some ponies do not accept interspecies love, and that you must be aware of.”

“I do not care what other ponies think. I have been going crazy all day trying to figure out whether it is even possible for me, a pony, to love Spike, a dragon, and I have come to the conclusion that I can and DO love Spike. I will not leave him just because other ponies don’t like the idea of me being with him. I am more concerned of taking advantage of Spikes affection. I do not want to delude myself into doing something that might hurt him.”

“Twilight, you must not be shortsighted, nothing hurts more than love unrequited.
You must not fear for Spike’s pain, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.”

Twilight pondered this for a moment, and realized that Zecora was right. She needed to see Spike and tell him that she will not abandon him. She must tell him that she has accepted his love, and has accepted her own love towards him.

“Thank you Zecora, you truly helped me a lot today. But right now, I feel that I must be on my way.” Twilight let out a giggle at her rhyme of her own. The Zebra’s way of speaking had a way of rubbing off.

“Not a problem my dear friend, a helping hoof I was glad to lend.”

Twilight trotted out of Zecora’s place with a spring in her step. As she made her way back to the library, she felt glad to finally realize that there was nothing wrong with her feelings towards Spike.