Princess Twilight Sparkle sat alone at her desk on the train in the royal carriage pretending to read a book. She was on her way back from the Griffonstone Friendship Summit. Princess Celestia had traveled back separately, leaving Twilight alone on the train with nothing but her thoughts. It was unfortunate because her thoughts were constantly dominated by dreams of a single mare. A stunning white unicorn she knew without a doubt would never return her feelings.
When Twilight had first traveled to Ponyville, Rarity immediately caught her eye. She was elegant and beautiful; the kind of mare Twilight could never hope to be. She was the kind of mare who wouldn’t have given Twilight a second glance in Canterlot. So of course when they quickly became friends Twilight had no idea what to do. As the months went by it became clear that Twilight had an impossible crush on the mare.
Twilight wasn't brave enough to even attempt to broach the subject with Rarity. She hadn’t even told her five best friends she preferred mares. Worst of all, Rarity was attracted to stallions. Rarity had never even indicated she was interested in mares. Every gathering with her friends she had gushed about Blueblood and then Trenderhoof. She always seemed to have an appreciative comment about the handsome stallions around them when they went out for lunch. Twilight simply nodded and moved on.
Twilight was a nerdy bookworm who didn't even understand friendship, let alone love. Oh sure she was the Princess of Friendship but in reality, she was just a former librarian and researcher hidden behind wings and a crown. What could she offer Rarity, a self-made pony with three successful boutiques? Rarity built her reputation in the fashion world through years of hard work. Twilight was just the princess that never even been asked to go on a date.
Before her ascension, she had been too nerdy, too bookish and too plain to attract the eyes of anypony. Now there was no way to know if she was just as undesirable or simply perceived by all as unattainable. At the end of the day, the reasons didn't matter. Either way, she was alone and that would never change.
She laid her head down on the desk and closed her eyes. There was a long train ride still ahead and sleep might clear her mind.
“This train will be departing Manehatten in five minutes. All aboard for Los Pegasus with stops in Canterlot and Ponyville!”
Twilight's eyes opened at the shout from the conductor but didn’t bother lifting her head. At least there weren't any dreams this time. Most nights she had horrible nightmares about trying to confess to Rarity. She had slept through the entire stopover in Manehatten and there was really no reason not to go back to sleep. She lay on her desk unmoving, staring at the wall waiting to drift off again.
“Darling, a desk is hardly an appropriate bed for a princess.”
Twilight's head shot up, startled by the familiar voice that dominated her thoughts. Rarity was standing at the door to the royal carriage levitating a number of bags in behind her. She carefully placed them in a corner and trotted over to one of the plush couches. Twilight couldn’t help but stare at her beautiful friend settled into the elegant space. She belonged here more than Twilight ever would. Twilight was half considering running, citing a last-minute meeting in Manhattan that she had nearly forgotten. Before she could formulate a coherent plan the train shook and with a loud clank, the train began to move.
“R-Rarity?” She gasped. “What are you doing here?”
“Princess Celestia gave me and the other girls passes to ride in the royal carriage months ago, remember? I'm delighted to see I’ll have your company for the rest of the journey.”
“S-S-same here. W-What brings you to Manhattan Rarity?”
Twilight silently cursed at her treacherous voice that was stuttering and making a fool out of her. Rarity only raised an eyebrow at the clumsy words before smiling, making Twilight’s heart nearly stop.
“You must be exhausted. I’ve never heard you stutter like that. I was just checking on my store here and delivering some new designs. Everything is going smoothly. I knew Coco Pommel was the right choice to manage this shop.”
“I agree. You deserve the success after all the work you’ve done.”
“I’m glad you feel that way. Now come over here and join me,” she said, patting the couch next to her with one hoof. “I can’t stand to see you so uncomfortable darling.”
Twilight’s heart skipped a beat and she froze. She looked into the beautiful blue eyes of her crush that were filled with amusement. She knew it was an innocent invitation. Rarity was genuine in her concern about everypony. Still, for a moment in her half-awake state, she almost walked over to give Rarity a kiss right on the lips before snuggling in next to her. Fortunately, she managed to pull herself back to reality before she trotted over and sat on the couch a respectful distance from her friend.
“Are you quite sure you are well Twilight?”
“I’m fine Rarity,” she answered quickly.
Rarity gazed at Twilight with a neutral look on her face. “Applejack may be the element of honesty but even I find that hard to believe. What has been bothering you? Other than our trip to the dragon lands with Spike we haven’t spent any time together in ages.”
It had indeed been a long time but that was mostly due to Twilight’s recent efforts to never be alone with her crush. The trip with Spike had been an unavoidable exception. Being cooped up inside their rock disguise with Rarity had been almost more than her heart could bear. Rarity’s scent was intoxicating and being cooped up with her warmth for hours had done nothing to cool her desire. She had nearly admitted her feelings several times on that trip but managed to stay silent and focus on helping Spike.
Twilight’s ears flattened against her head and she slumped down on the couch casting around in her mind for an excuse. “I’m sorry Rarity. I haven’t been spending as much time with any of my friends as I should. I’ll try to do better.”
“That sounds like an excellent idea darling.”
Twilight let out of a sigh of relief, thinking she had deflected Rarity’s curiosity. That relief faded quickly as Rarity continued speaking. Rarity’s voice was filled with worry.
“Of course, you still haven’t answered my first question. What is wrong Twilight? Why are you always so sad recently? Please, can you tell me anything?” she pleaded.
Twilight stared at the floor of the train, trapped with no reasonable way to escape as the train accelerated out of Manhattan. Twilight had nowhere to run, nowhere to hide and no grounds to refuse to answer. Her silent pain and frustration had been noticed by the very source. She couldn’t refuse the pony she secretly loved when she was begging for answers. All she could do was try to satisfy Rarity's concern.
“I’m lonely Rarity. I’m so lonely I can barely stand it.”
“You aren’t simply talking about friends are you Twilight.”
Twilight shook her head silently, scared to talk.
“Why a lovely princess like you should easily have her pick of stallions.”
“They have their pick of mares, Rarity. I’ve never been on their list.”
Rarity’s voice was horrified. “Never? Why that can't be right. I’m sure I can set you up on a date as soon as we get back to Ponyville. Is there a stallion in town that has caught your eye?”
It was exactly the solution Twilight knew Rarity would offer. For a moment she considered accepting. Maybe it would allow her to escape this conversation and move on. Only for a moment though. She had no interest in stallions and the last thing she wanted was for her generous friend to waste her time. She stared at the carriage floor, refusing to meet Rarity’s eyes. She quietly whispered her first secret.
“I’m not interested in stallions Rarity. Not that it matters. I’m even less likely to attract a mare’s eye.”
Twilight sat frozen staring at the ground. Rarity didn’t make a sound. Seconds seemed to take hours to pass as Twilight’s heart began to race. She couldn’t make herself move for fear she would look into the hardening hateful eyes of a pony who wouldn’t even want to be near her anymore. In reality, it was less than a minute before Rarity responded.
“Well I never would have guessed darling,” she said without any hint malice in her voice. “Why would you keep this secret? There’s nothing wrong with liking mares Twilight. So is there a mare in town you fancy or should I just see if anypony is interested?”
Twilight couldn’t bring herself to speak. One part of her was relieved Rarity was still her friend but another knew this was as far as it could go. As long as she didn’t ask she could spend time with Rarity. If she admitted her love for the white mare next to her, that would be the end of everything. She knew she would have to be content with staying friends.
“Please don’t Rarity,” Twilight begged. “I don’t think she likes mares and I don’t want to ruin our friendship by asking.”
Twilight shuddered as a hoof wrapped around her barrel. Rarity was hugging her. “If you insist Twilight I won’t push it. That said I firmly believe you would be happier if you told this mare how you feel. If she stops being your friend just because you have a crush on her, she obviously wasn’t a very good friend to being with. You also can’t move on with your life if you pining away. Besides, maybe she’ll feel the same way.”
“I – I’ll think about it.”
Rarity’s voice was more cheerful. “Wonderful. Now, why don’t you sit up and tell me about Griffonstone? How did your summit go?”
Twilight smiled weakly, grateful for the change in subject and sat up.
“It’s already improved so much when compared with what Dash and Pinkie told us . . .”
Twilight and Rarity spend the next six hours in lively discussion. The conversation never went back to Twilight’s lack of romantic relationships. They talked about family, about upcoming festivals, about life and responsibility. The sheer joy Twilight took from the conversation almost overwhelmed her. In the back of her mind, she knew this was doing nothing to decrease her love for the mare. Before she knew it, the train was slowing down as they approached Ponyville. She had made a decision. Her terror came roaring back but she took a deep breath.
“Rarity. I need to tell you something. If I don’t say something now, I probably never will.”
“Yes darling? What is it?”
Twilight’s heart was pounding and she looked out the window. She couldn’t bear to look at Rarity’s face as she admitted her last secret. “It’s you Rarity.”
“I’m what Twilight?”
“The mare I fancy. It’s you Rarity.”
Rarity’s voice was unreadable and flat when she responded. “I see. How long Twilight.”
“Since the day we met,” Twilight whispered.
This time the silence was oppressive and Twilight couldn’t bear it. Why had she said anything? She should have stayed silent instead of giving in to one brief moment of optimism.
“I’m sorry,” Twilight whispered.
Before Rarity could say anything there was a flash of light. When her eyesight cleared Rarity was standing alone in the Royal Carriage with her thoughts as the train pulled into the station.
Twilight lay on her bed unmoving and nearly immobile in the darkness. Tears were pouring silently down her cheeks. She was frozen with fear, her wings snapped tightly to her sides. A single thought flowed through her mind, over and over and over again as the minutes passed.
She’ll never talk to me again.
This was the unstoppable fear that had pinned her to the bed. She had ruined everything. Twilight knew in her soul she should have simply been content with what she had. But no, she had to be greedy. She had to want more. The room became dark around her as night fell. Soon there was only the light of the moon shining through the window.
She was so completely overwhelmed with her sorrow she missed the sound of her bedroom door being pushed open. She missed the sound of hooves moving quietly across the crystal floor of her bedroom. Twilight was completely unaware of anything until the voice she simultaneously loved and feared broke the silence.
“Have you been here ever since we arrived Twilight?” asked Rarity. “It’s been several hours.”
Twilight nodded silently in response, scared to speak and frozen with terror. She couldn’t bring herself to meet Rarity’s eyes.
Rarity sighed sadly. “I’m truly sorry I couldn’t come sooner Twilight. You caught me badly off guard on the train Twilight. I didn’t even suspect I was the one you had a crush on. I’m flattered Twilight, I really am.”
A single shuddering sob slipped out of Twilight’s mouth before she spoke. “I know Rarity but you aren’t even interested in mares, let alone nerdy bookworms. Why would a beautiful mare like you ever settle a thing like me? It’s ok Rarity, I don’t blame you. I’m sorry I burdened you with this.”
“Princess Twilight Sparkle!” Rarity growled, stomping her hoof on the floor. “Don’t you ever dare to put horrible words like that in my mouth! I never said that and I never will.”
Twilight felt infinitely small at that moment. “Sorry,” she whispered.
“As I was saying, you know as well as anypony that I’ve always been interested in stallions. I spent all my time dreaming of being swept off my hooves by a dashing suave gentlestallion. I spent the past hour thinking about how those dreams have worked out. Was Blueblood worth the trouble? Trenderhoof? Not in the slightest. Their behavior was simply atrocious. Since then I have simply focused on my business short of the occasional dinner outing.”
She paused for a moment. “Maybe I’ve been looking for love in the wrong places,” she finished quietly.
Against her will, Twilight turned to look at Rarity and felt her breath steal away. Her immaculate mane was illuminated by the moonlight coming through the window. Her face was hidden in the shadows but the darkness did nothing to hide her shapely body. A tiny fragment of hope hovered in Twilight’s heart but she was still terrified to speak as Rarity slowly moved closer.
“Do you really think I’m beautiful Twilight?” Rarity asked. Her expression was unreadable in the shadowed room.
Her hope growing, Twilight risked saying a few words. “Rarity, you are far and away the most gorgeous mare I have ever laid eyes on.”
“Oh my Twilight you are a flatterer,” she replied, pausing to put a hoof over her heart. “So it’s just physical attraction then?”
“NO!” Twilight said with sudden strength but she collapsed back in on herself. Rarity began slowly walking through the dark room. Moonlight danced across her white fur and purple mane with every step.
“Well maybe at first,” she admitted. “Spike isn’t the only one who was attracted to you on the first day we met. You were an impossible dream, a stunning mare that was forever beyond my reach. Yet by some miracle, we became friends and I discovered you were so much more. You’re intelligent, creative and . . .”
Twilight trailed off when Rarity stopped just out of reach where the moonlight finally revealed her face. Rarity’s expression was gentle and sad as she looked at Twilight’s tear stained face.
“It makes me sad to see you think so little of yourself. You are brilliant and humble even in the face of all you have done for me, our friends and Equestria. Even without everything, you have been a dear friend to me from the day we met. To be honest I don’t feel the same for you nor am I attracted to mares. However, I believe I can still give you a chance.”
Twilight’s heart stopped and her ears perked up. “R-really? Why?”
“Do you really think you’re the only one who’s lonely Twilight? After all my failed attempts to court stallions I barely know, how could I possibly turn down my best friend? If you’re interested that is.”
Rarity looked into Twilight’s eyes. Playful blue met confused purple. Their gazes connected for a moment as Twilight’s eyes widened with realization. She gathered her strength and just barely managed to ask a single question. The one question she had feared asking since the day she arrived in Ponyville.
“Rarity, w-w-would you like to go on a date with me?”
Taking two more steps, Rarity reared up and threw her hooves around Twilight’s neck in a big hug.
“I’d love to darling,” she whispered into Twilight’s ear.
Twilight leaned on Rarity not trusting her voice as the pain from years of uncertainty and longing began to fade. It was replaced with hope. Twilight was under no illusions that this was going to be an easy road. Rarity made no promises beyond giving her a chance. But maybe that was enough for now. Rarity released the hug and gave Twilight a light peck on the cheek. Then she whispered in Twilight’s ear.
“Come by my shop tomorrow morning for tea so we can chat like we used to. Dreams are only impossible if we never give them a chance. Sweet dreams.”
She trotted out of the room while Twilight watched, unable to speak as she tried to process what just happened. She put a hoof to her cheek where she had just been kissed and a smile spread across her face. A moment later a blanket was levitated over her back and with a content sigh she drifted off to sleep.
Author's Note
So there we go. My first attempt at a one-shot romantic story. Short stories are a challenge for me to write so I really do need to tackle them on occasion.
Hope you enjoyed it! Thanks for reading!
