Love Letters

Chapter Three:

''Ten bits to have the wood in the door and chair refilled, two bits for lavender paint, two bits for Celestia white... Maybe five hundred bits for lost time...'' Rarity went about and swept up the pieces of shattered chair leg, being careful not to scratch the floor. ''Well I'm sure Twilight has the situation under to control, I just hated to leave; she seemed so... afraid, like Fluttershy had told her something terrible... Oh Rarity please, Fluttershy is an esteemed pony, any problem of hers can't be that bad.'' A bell rang behind the fashionista, ''Just a minute dearie.'' The unicorn magicked the chairs and glasses back into kitchen as fast as her horn could manage, she couldn't lose a sale now. ''Welcome to Carousel Boutique, where eve-''

Fluttershy's saddle bags were gone, all Rarity could catch a glimpse of was a long pink tail out the window. Knowing better, the unicorn decided not to give chase, and besi- *CHHUUCCTSHHHHHhhshshshhhshshhhh* ''I can fix it!''

''Sweetie Belle...''

Fluttershy, now two bits down, was wandering the market. She peered at the knick knacks just for the sake at looking at something unusual. A few ponies gave her quick strange looks; she didn't notice and didn't care. Everything the pegasus endured that day was not, ironically, in vain. Oh my gosh, it's amazing, I still can't believe it and yet it's happening. I get to have an evening with Twilight. With Twilight. With Twilight. With Twilight. The perky pony squealed in joy and repeated those two words, strolling through the market. Her smile was viral and she had everypony within thirty hoofs of her grinning. Her trance was broken by a small corner stall.

The door of the cottage swung open, Angel rushed without request to fetch a roll of tissue paper. Fearing the worst, the bunny put the paper in a small bowl and rushed to the front room of the cottage. Fluttershy patted her pet lightly in between the ears. ''No need Angel, but thank you for being concerned.'' Reassured the mare, being careful not the bend the brim on her new straw hat, as she stored it atop the high cupboard. ''Do you like it? It was only ten bits, it's perfect for when I go over to the library to have dinner with Twilight.'' The Pegasus sang her words, birds joined the choir, Angel was happier to be relieved of his duties for a day.

''Gasp, you're going on a date with Twilight?'' Choruses ceased, Fluttershy held her breath, animals braced for the tsunami of tears the pink pony from underneath the couch had surely wrought upon them.

The pegasus was the most prepared pony in Equestria, granted, the most surprised animal in the room, ''Pinkie Pie? Oh um, what ar-'' A clearing of throat, ''No Pinkie, me and Twilight are having dinner tonight in the library.''

''Well my front right hoof and left hind hoof went a-clacka-clacka, and that means somepony's in love, maybe it's front left and back right, you never know with me, I'm all left hooves.'' The party pony giggled at her own antics, although Fluttershy was concerned with how the earth pony was even under her couch, very concerned, she knew the infamous Pinkie scene was never wrong, she looked for leverage.

''Um- How do you know it's myself and Twilight? It could have been anypony.''

''Well I was hiding from Pumpkin Cake in Twilight's globe and I heard you two talking, it was only twenty minutes ago. Twilight was real sad so I wondered why Fluttershy was happy. I put on my detective hat and found you after you had bought that nifty hat of your own and my hooves started goin' clacka-clacka! Unless you're in love with the hat, I can understand that, it is a really nice hat.'' Pinkie was clopping her hooves together, laughing blissfully. Offended by her sarcasm, the yellow mare went full Fluttershy-offensive.

''I'm very disappointed at you for eavesdropping on myself and Twilight's conversation, Pinkie.'' The earth pony gasped half the air in the room up and jumped out from under her hiding place.

''Oh no, I'm sorry Fluttershy, I didn't mean to, I was only trying to hide, I'm gonna go say sorry to Twilight, but what if-'' If not for an open window the pink pony would have taken the rest of the air, ''What if I hurt Twilight and she never wants to speak to me again? Or worse! What if she never wants to speak to either of us again?! I have to make sure I never existed in Ponyville!'' Pinkie went about removing a plethora of emergency items from Fluttershy's cottage, the yellow mare took her chance while a flustered Pinkie was having particular difficulty dislodging an umbrella, from the celling lamp shade.

''I will forgive you, and make sure Twilight doesn't find out on one condition.''

''Tell me! Tell me tell me tell me tellme tellme telme telme temle temle teme teme-''

''You can't tell anyone about myself and Twilight's dinner tonight aaand-'' Fluttershy paused to be sure she had the pink pony's attention, ''And you have to forget the last thirty minutes.''

''I don't even remember why I'm here!''

Pinkie rushed behind one of the hanging paintings, ''Pound Cake? Com'on! I know a much better hiding place!'' Fluttershy let out an almighty breath.

''That was a close one wasn't it Angel.'' Said the relieved pegasus, the rabbit replied by pulling out and nibbling on a small carrot. ''Well, I'm going to have a nice long bath before I start your dinner, is that okay Angel?'' Angel was rocking back and forth, obviously pleased with munching on a carrot. ''Well um... okay, I'll go have my bath.''

Grabbing a soft blue towel, the yellow mare trotted into her bathroom and started filling the large tub with soapy water, stirring the mix every minute. Candles were lit and curtains closed. Nothing is going to ruin tonight, our dinner will be perfect. Once the bath was ready, she gently slid in, letting the warm water tickle every crevasse of her body, and something dawned on her. I have dinner with Twilight, tonight, and less than five hours to prepare. The pegasus slid down so that the water was just below her nose. All attempts to regain comfort had failed so the no-longer-perky pony leaned over the edge of the bath, grabbed the forty-five bit bottle of shampoo Rarity got her for her birthday last year, and twice over, made sure every hair that covered her body shined like Celestia's tiara.

Errands are to be, and will be, run. Twilight reminded herself. I have to go to the infirmary and null the restless unicorn's magic. Saddle bags found themselves emptied of quills and parchment. I might need to give the parents a book on caring for their foal. A small paperback copy of Unicorn foals to baby trolls! Raising your young! was levitated into the bags. What was I going to study tonight? Did Apple Jack want me to read up on land surveying? Twilight put on a search for the only two books on the matter the library had, all that she was found was Topography and subdivision. Twilight felt a strong thud against her temple; she magicked a glass of water over for herself to tend to the worst headache she had ever suffered. Great, Apple Jack is out of town for the next week, and with the only book I have that could help me with her request. Sorry AJ, you kind of brought this on yourself, I wont have time tonight anyway because Fluttershy is-.

Twilight felt her obligations stacking up, and her headache worsening. Shoot, I put off shopping until tomorrow and I have nothing to cook! Three seconds of frenziedly searching the shelves led the unicorn to an orange cookbook, one that took the library as residence before Twilight, its pages flicked themselves maniacally. What does Fluttershy even like? Minutes of probing through the mainly Mexicolt dishes taught Twilight to throw a book, it landed with a thud behind her. The purple pony considered all the times she had seen Fluttershy eat, which happened to be not much.

The only thing she'd seen the pegasus eat other than Pinkie Pie's party favours was a celery and cremé fraiche sandwich, So she likes what, mild tastes? Taking a dive, Twilight picked a book, and page, with her eyes closed. Perfect. Leak and cucumber soup: A Canterlot dish. The flavours didn't sound like they would go together, but against the unicorns better judgement she memorized the ingredients. It has to be good if it's in a cookbook. Twilight had always been a zesty pony herself, preferring oranges, grape fruit and other citrus fruits. The unicorn was out the door, trying to dig where the infirmary was out of her brain, and for that matter, the most efficient course to get everything done in time to wash, cook, and dress for the occasion.

Twilight was deep in concentration, trying to convert all the times to do her tasks from minutes into decimals of hours, the headache was bad before but it had begun to scream every twenty seconds or so. If it was possible, the mare's headache was screaming mom or mam or something else... Mam... Mam... ''Ma'am?'' Ma'am: Short for madam, a title of respect.

''Huh? Oh sorry, I was just, thinking, you know how things go.'' A visibly uncomfortable smile was plastered on the Twilight. The pony in front of her was a double of Sapphire Shores, but with a botched colour scheme. An ice-cream scoop cutie mark sat on rump. It was obvious the pony took pride in her appearance as she was wearing the same, but black, top hat Sapphire Shores would wear.

''Oh it's all right, I just seen you running after that yellow pegasus, I met with her earlier today. I was just closing up my stall, I have some errands. Your friend was a bit of an...'' An unsure look, ''Oddity... I was just wondering if she is okay.'' The pony's face was friendly; Twilight was too tied up on the pegasus she was asking about.

''Oh yeah, Fluttershy? She's fine, really fine. Not in the wrong way of course, my name is Twilight, what's yours?'' Luckily, the panic went noticed.

''My name is Ruby Scoop; it's a pleasure for you to meet me.'' The librarian shook Ruby's hoof. She had to get away; she couldn't bear any more chit-chat. Fear of more questions about Fluttershy, and the ice-cream pony's arrogance, caused Twilight's raging headache to rage further.

''Well, I have some work over at the infirmary, I really have to go, it was nice to meet you.''

''Oh! Are you a nur-'' The unicorn was gone, ''Some ponies now-a-days.'' Ruby Scoop laughed at her own remark.

Twilight, once out of ear shot, returned to the day's timetable. Okay, I'm in the market so it would be more efficient if I bought dinner first, I can get wine from Berry Punch on the way home from the infirmary, I just hope I can find my blue dress. Many of the kiosk owners were friendly, some, of course, were getting tired as the day went on. The unicorn's luck was booming, managing to grab the last few leaves of ground snow drop and the freshest cucumbers ever grown, a few handsome stallions even gave her discounts as well as comely looks. Once again, the mare was too lost in her own thoughts to return the smiles, I wonder if my blue dress is too dressy, or too casual. Ooooh, I wish I knew what Fluttershy was wearing, she's never been a flashy pony, apart from her work with Photo Finish. Her mind wandered far, the unicorn remembered one dress that her friend was particularly good looking in, a very plain, trailing green kirtle. It wasn't revealing or body hugging or sexy, it was simply beautiful, Twilight's 'It's lovely' was a little more than friendly, and not for the first time now that she thought about it. Twilight's headache cleared up until she was dragged back to reality by the approaching medical centre.

The standalone infirmary was gleaming, as far as the librarian could remember, nurse Red Heart had it white washed using left over money from an equipment grant. Twilight's entrance was less than grand, many ponies were waiting to be examined, pegasi with broken wings, mothers insisting that their foal's fall was more than a bump on the head, ponies with sick buckets adjacent them, other injuries that were indescribable. The grossed out mare trotted up to the main desk, ''Excuse me, my name is Twilight Sparkle, nurse R-'' A crash and loud screech rung down the hall ways, the nurse gave Twilight a terrified look.

The beds had become chess pieces, a pile of screaming fruit sat it the corner, a small pearl white filly sat on a mountain of florescent pillows. The king filly's horn lit up, the cowering nurse Red Heart's lower body became one large appendage, a tail, it could have even been called a flipper. The purple unicorn fought back with her own magic, a large aura engulfed the purple pony's horn, magic reverberated around the room. The jelly Twilight was standing in morphed back into hooves, the walls became their boring striped white and grey, everything else reverted back to normality. Knowing time was of the essence, the mare ran to the giggling filly and touched their horns together, a small spark promised that the filly's magic would be dunce for one week, to the second. Nurse Red Heart had already recovered from the nightmare and was distributing the pile of fillies to their beds. ''Thank Luna you came Twilight, I've seen my fair share of horrors but that was something else.'' The nurse laughed panickedly.

''It was my pleasure nurse Red Heart; I'm always looking for places to practice my fail safe spell.'' Beamed the purple pony.

''Everyday I envy you unicorns, the foal has only been here a week and it's caused hundreds of bits of damages.''

''You should have come to me personally, I would have given you this magic null spell.'' Pulling out a piece of paper, ''Do you have any unicorns on staff who you think could cast it?'' Enquired Twilight. The nurse was already shakily walking to the door,

''I would have come to you personally but- Doctor Stethoscope? You know how busy we can be.'' A green stallion answered, Twilight handed the parchment to the doctor.

''To the base of the horn?''

''Tip, could you clear up this headache? I've had it all day.'' Twilight felt a small tap behind her left ear. She waited a second, the green stallion was giving her a blank stare, the pounding started up again.

''It didn't work.''
The stallion raised an eyebrow, ''Well sorry I couldn't help, I have work to attend to.'' He gave a nod and left for his work.

''Doctor Stethoscope is our most magically trained surgeon on site, we won't have to bother you any more, thank you once again.'' Assured the nurse, now calming down.

''Once again, it was my pleasure. Can I ask who the parents are? I need to give them a book to help them with baby unicorns.''
Nurse Red Heart scoffed, ''Yes, she is waiting in the lobby, her name is Lyra Heartstrings as I can recall.''

''Yes?'' The mare in question was standing in the doorway, with a silly grin. Twilight had known of her relationship with the mare Bon-Bon, a cream coloured earth pony, only after it went public. The purple unicorn was not against it and even gave the couple books on coping with the stress. Altogether, their relationship was a scandal. Mayor Mare was, and still is, a good friend of Bon-Bons and was quick to stamp out any sparks of hate that the small town had lit. ''Nurse.'' The white pony coughed in answer, walking out the door, ''Twilight!'' A big warm hug, ''I can't thank you enough.''

''No, Lyra, I'm here to help.'' The unicorn was a little offended that she wasn't told about the foal earlier but curiosity took hold, ''Please tell me about the foal, I'd love to hear.'' Lyra actioned the mare to come and the two exited the infirmary, and were walking through Ponyville.

''Well Bon wanted a foal; she had told me it was her dream to be a mother, what could I say? I was thinking about it too. I'm sterile so Bon had to carry the baby.'' That was slightly casual. ''Mayor Mare organised a donor from Trottingham, who happened to be a unicorn, and that's why you were called here today.''

''I know of a spell that can join two parent's DNA despite species and gender, it's illegal to use it cross species but it's perfectly all right for two ponies to use it.''

''D-en what? Well don't get me started, the only unicorns that can do that spell are the snobs up in Canterlot. They all said 'Oooo, same sex couple? That's so uncouth! Oooo Celestia save us from these heathens!' '' The musician mocked, more bitter than Campari. ''What are you to do... Anyway, Bon gave birth a week ago, she's still weak so I went to check on the foal.'' The two reached a modest abode, Twilight remembered the weight in her bags and hooved the mint mare the book on parenting.

''I hope that can help, I was in a rush this morning and couldn't pick out anything better. Bon-Bon is also probably weak because her blood sugar levels are low, make sure she has enough glucose in her diet.''

''Are you kidding? You know her cutie mark is a load of sweets right?''
The purple pony had a little laugh, ''Just be sure, I have to go, I have dinner to prepare for tonight, good luck with the foal.''

''Isn't the stallion supposed to make dinner?''

''Well, I didn't say it was with another pony, and, um, yeah, stallion!'' Babbled out the unicorn, headache returning to full potency. Lyra took on a blank look for a good twenty seconds, then returned to a tired smile.

''Good evening Twilight, thank you once again.'' And walked inside her house.

That was so stupid Twilight, what if she knows now? Well of all ponies, Bon-Bon and Lyra are the best case scenario to find out. Only now had the unicorns brain started to tick over, Good evening... gosh its dark outside right now. The mare stopped right in her tracks, Oh. My. Gosh. Numbers started to fall into place; the unicorn was galloping like a mad mare. It was twenty minutes to Lyra's house; it will take fifteen to get wine from Berry Punch and thirty minutes to get back to the library. Ugh I still have to wash and get dressed and I'm so stupid!

A five year old bottle of Parvstela was collected from Berry Punch, with the obvious ''Don't drink too much, you're a feather weight.'' Warning, Berry had been slightly suspicious but smoke raising from her kitchen made enough time for Twilight to make her get away. The streets had become very brisk, What if Fluttershy really does love me? What will I say? I can't just push her away, if only it wasn't something so formal like dinner. Twilight returned to the library, the meal started with a large pot of water with some spices and flowers, it would take about half an hour to boil. A little cry about What have I gotten myself into? was had mid-shower. The soup wasn't too complicated, the unicorn even had some time to make small starters. A very under worn blue dress was found an put on, Twilight tried to restyle her mane twice, Am I really fussing this much? I just need to look nice, and i just need to tell Fluttershy 'We're friends, and I want to stay friends'. The mare redone her mane three more times before settling on her normal cut. The soup was setting in the oven, with a low heat, Twilight waited.