Twilight’s Love Volume One: It Begins

It was like any other Friday night in Ponyville for Twilight and her friends. They occupied their favorite table at the Golden Cider Trough Pub. As always, they started their drinks and laughs together, but one by one some stallion would ask somepony to dance, then another, then another until they were all dancing or sitting at another table talking with some other pony.

That is, all but Twilight.

Twilight was nursing her glass of wine slowly; she didn’t want to get too distracted and have her Friday night cry start before she got home. She’d always hope that her one dream would come true and she could laugh and dance and leave with the pony of her dreams. But time after time, it wasn’t to be. But she continued to come on these Friday nights so she could interact with her friends…

But most of the time it hurt.

Twilight looked out at the gathering, watching her friends and what they were doing. Then she let her attention go back to her glass. Somehow, this was the hardest part of now having close friends.

‘Perhaps, when I get another glass of wine,’ thought Twilight, ‘I’ll go sit with Mini, Bon-Bon and Lyra.’

Rarity was in the corner sitting with the artist Claude Ponet. They were laughing and holding hooves.

Fluttershy was sitting with AJ’s cousin Red Delicious. They were talking low and blushing.

Pinkie Pie had left earlier with Davenport, the pony from the Quill and Sofa shop.

AJ was on the dance floor. There were several stallions vying for her attention. From her smile, she was well aware of this.

Rainbow Dash was making time with Dr. Time-Turner Hooves. After several drinks, some dancing and small talk, Rainbow was sure Time-Turner was going to be one lucky stallion this evening:

“So Time-Turner, let me go to the ‘Little Filly’s Room’ and then we can blow this haysicle stand. We can have a few drinks at your place and talk about, whatever pops up,” said Rainbow with a look in her eyes and a hoof on his hind leg, almost to his crotch which told Time-Turner he was hearing what he wanted to hear.

But just as Rainbow was returning from the bathroom, a messenger pony walked up to Time-Turner’s table and levitated a note to him.

As Rainbow got back to the table, Time-Turner was getting up, he looked sheepish.

“I’m sorry Rainbow,” apologized the stallion, “there’s an emergency and I’m needed right away. Can I get a ‘rain check’ on those drinks?”

Rainbow, extremely disappointed, just nodded her head.

Time-Turner kissed her on the cheek and left.

Rainbow cursed under her breath and was about to leave. To get this aroused and then to be left cold meant another evening with a bottle of whisky and ‘rosy hoof’. She was about to head to the door when she noticed Twilight hadn’t moved from the same spot as when they started.

‘Come to think about it,’ thought Rainbow, ‘I don’t remember Twi ever talking, dancing and most certainly never leaving with anypony. Maybe she’ll go and sit with Minuet, Bon-Bon and Lyra but that’s all.’

Rainbow looked at the door, then back to her friend. A friend she couldn’t think of any time she wasn’t there when Rainbow needed her. Twilight was looking at her wineglass. Was that a tear Rainbow saw rolling down Twilight’s cheek?

It was decided; Rainbow’s ‘pity party’ could wait. She had to check on Twilight.

As Rainbow approached the table, Twilight looked up and smiled, in fact her entire face brightened up.

“I thought you were with Time-Turner,” said Twilight.

“He got called away,” replied Rainbow with a chuckle, “just when it was about to be his lucky day.”

Twilight blushed and appeared to be a bit disappointed then looked back at her glass.

“What’s eatin’ ya?” asked Rainbow, “we come here almost every week and I can’t think of once when you’ve talked or danced or left with any stallion.”

Twilight blushed even more. Then a thought hit Rainbow.

“You’ve never been with a stallion, have you?”

Twilight, still looking at her wineglass, weakly shook her head to say she hadn’t.

“Is that all?” asked Rainbow. “You afraid of the first time? It really isn’t that bad, and it’s worth it in the end.”

Twilight looked up at her friend.

“That’s not it.”

“Then what?” asked Rainbow sitting down across from her friend, “I’ve seen several stallions come by to talk to you almost every night. But they don’t stay long, even Fluttershy ‘gets lucky’. Are you afraid of getting involved?”

“No,” said Twilight, her eyes becoming misty.

“Then tell me what it is,” pleaded Rainbow, “you’re my best friend. I want to help.”

Rainbow reached out a hoof and placed it on Twilight’s.

Twilight looked at Rainbow’s hoof then into the crimson eyes of the Pegasus. Twilight was deciding if she really wanted to let Rainbow know the truth. How would she react to the truth? If she reacted negatively then all her hopes…

No…

Her world would be crushed.

Twilight decided she had to share at least some of it or she'd never know.

Twilight’s horn glowed for a moment, a book appeared in front of her, and she pushed it to Rainbow.

“This is currently my favorite book.” Said Twilight.

The cover had two mares seated at a café table; they were drinking wine and laughing. It was surprising to Rainbow that Twilight’s favorite book was a paperback. What wasn’t surprising was Rainbow didn’t recognize the title or author. She did notice there were several places pages that were folded in to mark passages.

Rainbow drew back her hoof and took the book. It was counter to her nature but she reasoned this could have her answer so she opened the book to one of the marked passages and started to read.

It was a shock to Rainbow, it wasn’t the type of book she thought Twilight would own, much less read. It was what ponies would call a ‘Trashy Love Novel’.

More surprisingly the passage was about a mare having passionate love made to her. It described in extreme detail what her lover was doing to her. To tell the truth, it was getting Rainbow more than a little aroused.

Then she realized something; she turned back a page before the marked section and reread the passage.

The mare’s lover was another mare.

Rainbow looked back at Twilight, there were tears in Twilight‘s eyes.

“Are you saying you’re a mare-lover?” asked Rainbow.

Twilight looked away to hide the tears which were flowing, she nodded her head weakly.

“Is that all? It’s nothing to be ashamed of,” said Rainbow. “Listen, I’ve heard it said there are at least ten mares for every one stallion in Equestria. With those statistics, there’s no reason a single mare can’t seek out the company of another mare.

Look at your friends Bon-Bon and Lyra Heartstrings over there in the corner. Everypony knows they’ve been a couple since they graduated school.

And there’re plenty of mares here every night by themselves. Just go and strike up a conversation. You’ll find out fast enough if they’re interested or not. I could even help make some introductions if you’re unsure at first. I know for certain Sea Swirl and Candy Mane share your tastes. I’m not the best judge of it but I think they’re a couple of fairly attractive mares.”

“I do appreciate what you’re saying Rainbow,” said Twilight, “but it isn’t that easy.”

“What then?” asked Rainbow, starting to get frustrated.

“I’m in love with a pony who I know isn’t a mare-lover, I’ve been in love with her for a long time now,” said Twilight, “you know the old saying;

There’s nothing sadder than unrequited love.”

“Un-re-what’d love?” asked Rainbow.

“Unrequited, it’s when a pony loves another pony and the pony doesn’t know it or doesn’t care,” said Twilight.

“That stinks,” said Rainbow, “tell me who she is and I’ll have words with her.”

“No Rainbow,” said Twilight looking back at her glass, “she has no idea and I’ve never tried to let her know how I feel. Plus I have no idea how she’d react.”

“Hey,” said Rainbow, “an open-minded single mare probably wouldn’t care if she was being approached by another mare. Heck, with the mare to stallion ratio, she might be happy that somepony was interested in her.”

Twilight got a ‘far away’ look on her face.

“Sometimes I lay awake at night just thinking of her. I start wishing I could hold her hoof in public, kiss her without caring what pony might be around. A pony I’d want to take back to the library and we’d do the things in the book.

Those nights I just cry myself to sleep.”

Twilight started to have tears flow, she looked deep into Rainbow’s eyes and she started to reach a hoof out to Rainbow.

“I truly, truly love y...

Uh, her.”

Twilight cleared her throat as she thought what to say next.

“Until now, my family and Princess Celestia are the only other ponies I’ve told.”

“Do they know who the pony is?”

“Yes.”

“What do they suggest?”

“Princess Celestia says to tell her and that way I’ll know if there is any chance or if I should move on.”

Rainbow thought about it while Twilight went back to looking at her glass.

“Listen Twi, it isn’t going to get any easier or better until you approach this mare and tell her.

Promise me you’ll say something to her tomorrow. I’ll drop by later in the evening to see what happened. I’ll be there for you,” Rainbow stopped and got that roguish smile of hers.

“That is unless I’ll be interrupting anything.”

“I... I don’t know,” stammered Twilight.

“Promise me this. As your best friend, do this for me.”

Twilight thought a moment. There was no way she could do this.

What if she failed? What if she was laughed at? Or worse, what if the mare became angry and never talked to her again? She’d never be able to face anypony in Ponyville again. She might as well pack up and move to Saddle Arabia or Tim-Buck-Too.

Twilight looked at Rainbow.

“I…” said Twilight, about to tell Rainbow she couldn’t promise.

Twilight got the strangest feeling as if this decision was the most important decision of her life.

Then something clicked; circumstances might have given her this one and only chance. A chance at a life with the love and happiness she’d always hoped for. Or at least the knowledge it was only just a dream and she’d have to take the princess’ advice and move on.

Twilight knew she could never go back on a promise to her friends, especially to her best friend Rainbow Dash. This was the motivation she’d been looking for.

She realized this was stepping way outside of her Comfort Zone. But she reflected that her Comfort Zone was filled with tears, lonely nights and yearning for love.

Where was the comfort in that Comfort Zone?

The Comfort Zone be damned, she had to try at least once.

Twilight drank down her glass of wine and nodded her head.

“I… I promise Rainbow,” said Twilight weakly, she looked up at Rainbow and smiled a bit.

“That’s my girl,” said Rainbow.

Rainbow gave Twilight a hug and left.

Twilight watched as Rainbow left the pub; she let out a deep sigh. But she then broke out in a cold sweat as she realized what she’d just promised.

But her fear was quickly checked and became a thrill of what might happen. A happiness she longed for. A happiness she deserved.

“I’ll do it,” Twilight said out loud to herself.

Twilight got up, ordered another glass of wine and was soon sitting with and laughing with Minuet, Lyra and Bon-Bon.

She smiled knowing if nothing else, she wouldn’t be crying herself to sleep this Friday night.