Love Letters

Chapter Nine:

The water fell softer, at least, although it still hurt. Fluttershy cried for a full thirty minutes before Twilight could calm her down, please stop crying, the unicorn wanted to say, practice what you preach, she kept thinking. The animals didn't make any noise, particularly the birds; they didn't know any sad songs. The pegasus had indeed sustained an injury, she lied about how she had gotten to the river bank; a bit sized bruise, burnished and shining, sat on her rump, she could have been killed! Twilight didn't really want to go with Fluttershy, she wanted to respect her mate, but the yellow mare insisted, she wanted to prove that she trusted Twilight. Angel, as accepting as he was, didn't like the two locking doors in Fluttershy's house while together alone, but submitted.

When Fluttershy had stopped crying Twilight grabbed the bottle of shampoo, lathered a hoofull of creamy liquid and began rubbing it into the back of the yellow pony. The mare attempted to spread her splendid wings only to be constricted by the bath-side wall, Twilight pulled the fresh shampoo through the feathers from back to tip. The unicorn herself didn't bother washing her dirty cannons, most of the mud came out with the warm water from the shower; the varnished pegasus' coat was dull and entangled in itself. The shower head was aimed at Twilight and she received the majority of the rain, some water pooled behind the purple pony, the bath being slightly too small for comfort and to allow flow. The unicorn, through bad judgement, found the shampoo clumped in messy splotches and attempted to spread it to Fluttershy's legs and chest, avoiding the belly and rump.

''Who was your first, um, if you don't mind me asking.'' Fluttershy said, taking the purple mare completely at a loss.

''First, uhh, what? First coltfriend?''

''Yes, first friend-friend.''

''Um, well... I never really had any coltfriends or friends at all until I moved to Ponyville. You're my first, um, relationship, well... not my first kiss.''

''What do you mean?''

''I got dared by a group of fillies that always made fun of me to go up and kiss a colt called Horse Shoe in magic school, I was around fifteen at the time. I went up to him and, like an idiot, tried to explain the whole thing to him! He stopped me and said I didn't know when to talk and when not to talk and he just kissed me, and it was a long kiss too! He was such a gentlecolt, he didn't push for tongue, he wasn't all awkward about it, and he didn't even go and tell his 'buddies'. After, he told me I was really cute but not his type, I just stood there with my mouth wide open!'' The pegasus gave a single laugh, perhaps too tired to give any more. Twilight was still scrubbing away at the fur, having moved onto the yellow mare's belly. Should I have told her that he actually asked me out but I just couldn't answer? Am I too close? I'm practically hugging her, would she like some space? I guess I should ask her the same question.... or is that a little personal? I guess she does trust me...... ''Who was your first coltfriend?''

Fluttershy drew a heavy breath and leaned back on the unicorn, folding back her wings and letting the water hit her face, ''My first coltfriend was a pegasus, I was about seven, he had been my only friend since my first day of school, I was very shy just in case you were wondering. We didn't know much about relationships at that time and we just thought it meant we would spend more time together, which was impossible because we were never apart. When I turned ten I went to an all mare's flight school and he moved to Canterlot, there was nothing either of us could have done. I had a few others; they all ended up with me crying. My first fillyfriend-'' Oh? ''Was my sixth, her name was Headstrong, I was flying home from school one day and she caught up with me and asked me out.''

''She just asked you out? Just like that?''

''We were fillies, so we weren't looking for relationships; we thought that because it was an all mare's school that there wasn't a problem with mare-mare relationships. We went out for about two months before both our parents found out, nopony else found out, not because it was a secret, we were just private about the whole thing, I guess. She changed so much around me; she was really loving and tender. She was very different from what she acted like in school. She never let anypony say anything about me or us, it was just her..... umm.....''

''Nature?''

''Yes, thank you, she was like Rainbow Dash, except she was more of a bully. When our parents found out they made a big deal about it, they tried to keep it as much as a secret as possible, after that Headstrong moved away. It was the only time I had ever seen her cry.''

The purple mare finished lathering and had washed away all the shampoo and dirt, leaving Fluttershy's pristine yellow coat glimmering. Twilight once again grabbed the bottle and squeezed a small pile into her hoof, lathered up the slippery goo and began running her hooves down the yellow mare's mane. Oooo, I don't want to ask, I really shouldn't, and it would be so nosey...... oooooo...... ''W-..... was it important to you?'' Fluttershy didn't respond, she grabbed the librarians hoof from pulling at her mane, put it to her nose, inhaled with relish and sandwiched the purple appendage between her cheek and shoulder.

''You give really good massages, as good as Aloe's, your hooves also smell really nice....'' The pegasus trailed off; maybe she was delirious from the heat of the water building up in the enclosed space. Twilight could feel herself nodding into a watery sleep, she liked the compliments but they were hardly more important than the span's health.

''It looks like the heat is getting to you, would you like me to open a window or something?''

''No.... no, I'm okay...... Yes, it was important to me, it was more important than any of my other relationships, I guess it was because of how much she loved me, she truly was a different pony outside of school, it also showed me that I preferred mares. Oh, um, actually, now that I think about it, Dash moved about a month after that. I never found out where or why, I don't think she told me, we were friends but we weren't as close as she makes us out to have been.''

''I'm sure she won't mind you asking, uhh, I haven't seen Rainbow around that much over the last week.'' The unicorn said, trying to change the topic as nonchalantly as possible.

Fluttershy let go of Twilight's hoof, the smile she had been clothing herself in dropped away, the purple pony rinsed her lover's mane of suds leaving it a challenge of its former glory. Did she catch my feeling there? Ooo I really hope she didn't, I don't mean to be jealous! I just.... I just am.... The two lay there, the unicorn having grown aches and resting back against the rear of the bath to relieve them, the silence washed over Twilight. Is she not saying anything because of everything that happened today, perhaps? I should really say something, just to thin the air, but I don't know what to say! After a lull of untold length the yellow pony rose from her fluffy purple bean bag, without word, and turned off the shower. The purple mare mimicked the pegasus, but also pulled a towel for both from the heated towel rack; both ponies dried themselves independent of the other. Twilight magicked the door open and a multitude of eves dropping animals scurried down the hall to the living room. The moist air rushed out of the steaming bathroom, pulling a crisp, cold breeze to replace it. Fluttershy shivered from the sudden cold and sidestepped toward the unicorn, intertwining the purple pony's tail and her own as the two strolled down the hallway and lay on the couch in the sitting room, Fluttershy atop Twilight. ''I think that you're more important than Headstrong,'' Said the pegasus, examining a bird perched on her hoof, ''I've known you for so much longer, and I'm older now so I can appreciate everything a relationship has to offer.''

The purple pony stared blankly at the coffee table, hopping from one thought to the next, is that table made of mahogany? That's impressive; I wonder how much of the tree they used? Could it fit inside the trunk? Inside twenty years of rings? I'm sure they disproved that a few years ago. Fluttershy is saying something...... that's because you didn't have a relationship with Headstrong...... yeah, five years...... I just can't bring myself to believe you Fluttershy.... what is wrong with me? It's- what if you're only saying that to make me feel better? What if it's only chasing me that you loved? This isn't something that's going to be sorted out by us sitting here loving each other, I need to talk about this... ''So what wa-'' Twilight coughed heavily, ''What was that letter you got from the Canterlot Aviary?''

''It was just a thank you letter for taking some birds into care while they upgraded some of the habitats. I was paid quite a bit, should be enough to keep me going until my grant arrives in December.'' Twilight tried to think of a response but couldn't, bubbles built up behind her tongue and her neck jerked spasmodically, she wanted to get away from the yellow pegasus, she needed to get away from the pegasus. Just for five minutes, not more than an hour, that's all.....

''Are you okay? Do you want me to get you anything?'' Said Twilight, desperately looking for a place to make escape.

''I'm okay, thank you for asking, but I'm comfortable.'' Snuggling deeper into the plush purple belly.

''Oh, okay, that's good.....''

''Is something wrong, Twilight?'' Aw shoot.

''Um, no, nothing's wrong, I'm just a little stressed about the last two days and I'm thinking of heading home for some, uhhh..... tea..... and a bit of rest....''

''Well, would you like to stay over tonight? I wouldn't mind, of course.'' I feel so stupid, stupid, stupid!

''Oh, no, it's okay...... umm..... and Spike will be worried if I don't tell him where I am.'' Twilight stumbled over her words, Fluttershy regained her infant smile. Slowly the animal keeper got up and walked over to the door. The pegasus turned around and waited for the purple pony, a lively, but glazed, happiness in her eyes. Twilight quickly made her way to the door and turned herself invisible, startling the yellow mare.

''Twilight? W- where are you?'' Twilight kissed her lover who went crimson cheeked,

''I'm here, I just want a more, uh, peaceful walk home.'' The unicorn truthfully told.

''Oh, okay. Goodbye, Twilight, safe journey home.''

''Thanks Fluttershy.''

Fluttershy gingerly closed the door behind Twilight, after she had confirmed the purple mare was outside, the latch clicked gingerly into place, I hate myself right now. The unicorn galloped down the path leading to the main path and stomped the ground furiously, kicking up a small cloud of dirt. I hate this town! Love is forever, how am I going to make it last that long if I've become a jerk three days in?!

To avoid attracting any attention, Twilight started walking along the path. The river had been washed clean, two unicorns stood overlooking the water with puzzled expressions, they were discussing how to get the fish to stop dancing around the absent hearts, okay maybe that spell is a little more complicated than the others. The mare wasn't the jealous type, the smiles around her made her feel warm, she smiled herself. The more the other ponies laughed the more the purple pony cursed her shield, how she wished to start a conversation with some pony she never talked with and make a new friend, but the unicorn watched with a sharpened eye, they don't want me to be their friends any more. A few ponies noticed the spectre, luckily, nopony investigated past a swipe at hollow air.

Twilight was approaching the library when she seen a large metal box outside the front door, a red, oversized present. The purple pony investigated the capsule, it had two compartments. The first, closest to the door of the library, had a book in it, Misty's Marvellous Misunderstanding: A Mare's Muse, the second had two pieces of paper with both different book titles and handwriting styles. What in the world? After grabbing the contents of the box, the unicorn opened the door to the library and seen Spike dusting the bookshelves, ''Spike? Why is there a big box outside?'' The dragon turned around slowly, still trying to concentrate on his work,

''Oh, hey Twilight, you-'' Freezing,

''Uh, Spike?''

''GHOST TWILIGHT!'' Falling to his knees, Spike held his hands in prayer, ''I'm sorry for whatever I did to you, uhh, uhh, I'm sorry I used the quills to scratch the dirt from between my scales!'' Every time.....

''No Spike, I just used my vanish spell.''

''Oh, uhh, yeah...'' Said Spike, squinting into empty space, ''Um, why?''

''It doesn't matter, do you know why there's a large box outside the library? There was a book inside it, I think was Thunderlane's.''

''M- m- m-..... mmmmmmmm...... Mare's Muse?'' The dragon chuckled and went back to dusting, ''What a girl.'' Twilight returned herself to regular transparency.

''He is not a girl, it's a good book, and I think you should read it.''

''No way, it's one of those ewwey gooey romance novels and I'm not buying into it.''

'Ugh, I'm not even going to bother.'' Exclaimed the purple mare, pulling up a chair and slouching into it.

Spike turned from the shelves, raised an eyebrow and touched an angry look, ''Is something up, Twilight? You're not yourself, like, usually you aren't all grouchy and stuff.'' Grouchy? You think I'm grouchy? I could show you grouchy if I wanted to, Spike.

''Am I jealous?''

''Uhhh, I don't know what you mean.''

''Am I the type of pony who is normally jealous?'' The dragon shrugged, a confused look on his face,

''No, not that I know of, and I've known you all my life.''

''When I was over at Fluttershy's she was talking about her past relationships and when she said that they were important to her I-'' Twilight grabbed her 'I', I can't just say nothing is wrong now, darn it, why do I always tell Spike everything? ''I got really jealous, and I don't even know why, I just thought that..... oh I don't know, they had their chance? But that's such a stupid reason, am I too needy? And after I got so uncomfortable about it that I made up the most stupid excuse about being tired or something so I could leave.''

''So? Just say you're jealous, you've never been in a relationship, you're not gonna be perfect.''

''Exactly! What if I become a massive, jealous dragon?'' Twilight's scaly assistant stared, thoroughly displeased, ''Sorry.''

''Well I don't know, what if you already are?'' Spike had turned back around to the bookcase and had not looked at the mare again, Twilight gasped,

''W- I, Spike! You're supposed to be helping me by giving me support. Not confirming my fears!''

''You've been complaining ever since this whole thing started, you're not the only one that has to deal with pre- p- pre-justice, ya know?'' Scoffed the visibly trembling dragon.

''Ugh! I'm- I.'' The purple pony coughed a few times and looked directly at the dragon who had moved on to the next bookcase, ''Why do you keep shaking?'' Spike didn't answer, Twilight seen him clench and retract his hand in angry, jagged jerking motions, Does he really think so strongly about this? Or does he think he can talk back to me because I've changed my preferences and he thinks I'm going to hit him or something? If he keeps this up I might just.

''That box is supposed to be a drop box for the library, I'm guessing it's so ponies don't have to talk to uh- us or something.''

The mare drew another breath, not realising she had stopped breathing altogether, ''Why should I think any better? At least Applejack will be coming home tomorrow, it'll be good to see her.'' The purple pony picked up a duster and started dusting the long row of shelves on the other side of the library, sneezing a few times from not being accustomed to the decent layer of dust on the wooden shelving, ''Sorry I've been complaining a lot lately, I'm not even going to make an excuse about it.''

''It's cool, Twilight, I guess I just get a little stressed to, it happens to everypony, you know?''

''Thank you Spike.'' Said the pony, after another tight pause. An hour of meticulous, and slightly chatty dusting had the library sheen and pristine.