Chapter 1 - Impossible Dilemma
Author's Note
So yeah, here's the first chapter of the sequel to Impossible Chance I never thought I'd write. If you haven't read the first story you should go do that now. Here's a convenient shortcut! This chapter overlaps with the original story but you really need to read the prequel first in my opinion. If you've already read it feel free to skip past this convenient spoiler barrier.
Ok, enjoy the story!
Chapter 1 - Impossible Dilemma
"It’s you Rarity.”
The carriage shuddered as the train began to slow down on its final approach to Ponyville station. A train whistle sounded in the distance but Rarity could barely hear it over the deafening silence that filled the Royal Carriage. Rarity was trying and failing to understand Twilight Sparkle's quiet, terrified admission.
“I’m what Twilight?”
“The mare I fancy. It’s you Rarity.”
Rarity's mind tried to put those words into context but after several hours on the train but all she could do was spit out a single foolish question. The least important question she could ask at this time but she was certain it was an improvement of standing there in silence.
“I see. How long Twilight?”
Twilight's whispered response was brimming with sorrow. “Since the day we met.”
Rarity stared at her friend completely dumbfounded, trying to grasp the enormous weight that had just be laid on her shoulders. One of her dear friends was interested in her romantically for as long as they had known each other? Rarity could barely comprehend how this had even come to pass, let along how this had stayed secret all this time. Sadly, Rarity failed to notice the increasing distress on Twilight's face until it was too late.
“I'm sorry,” came the whisper to Rarity's ears. Then with a flash of light and a pop, Twilight Sparkle was gone.
The train came to a stop a couple minutes later with a rumbling boom. Rarity immediately gathered up her bags and waited for the royal guard to open the carriage. The guard trotted in and looked around with a confused look on his face.
"Lady Belle, where is Princess Twilight?"
She quickly came up with an excuse. "She had to teleport to her castle to take care of an urgent problem. She wanted me to convey her appreciation for your hard work on this journey."
It was a small lie but one Rarity knew Twilight would appreciate. The guard straightened up and smiled politely. "Thank you. Have a nice evening ma'am."
With a polite nod in response, she walked out of the station and towards home through the quiet evening. She was extremely grateful nopony knew she was arriving since she needed quiet time to think before going to face Twilight.
Rarity found the cold empty hallways of the Castle of Friendship unusually intimidating as she walked towards Twilight's bedroom. It had taken several hours of careful consideration for Rarity to come to a decision: She couldn't possibly date Twilight Sparkle. Instead, she would support her friend and help her find the confidence to seek a new romantic partner. With that perfectly logical response in hoof, Rarity had been filled with confidence when she left her boutique but every step through the lonely hallways filled her with trepidation.
She slowly opened the door of Twilight's bedroom and peeked inside to see if her friend was here. In the dim light, she could see the shadowy form of an Alicorn laying on the bed with her head on her hooves. Rarity felt a pang of empathy in her heart when she saw the tears glittering on her cheeks while she stared blindly into space. She steeled herself as she quietly walked to the middle of the bedroom before speaking.
“Have you been here ever since we arrived Twilight? It’s been several hours.”
The frozen form on the bed inhaled sharply and nodded silently. Twilight didn't even turn her head to look in Rarity's direction. Rarity took in a deep breath to calm her nerves and began to speak the words she had planned to bring this to an end as gently as she could.
“I’m truly sorry I couldn’t come sooner Twilight,” Rarity said. “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.”
Rarity took a breath and was about to continue when the form on the bed interrupted with a shuddering sob before speaking.
“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.”
The pure misery in her voice cut Rarity's heart in two. She had never suspected Twilight was harboring such horrid thoughts about herself. She could not let such an awful statement stand and she stomped her hoof on the floor angrily.
“Princess Twilight Sparkle!” she scolded. “Don't you ever dare put horrible words like that in my mouth. I never said that and I never will!”
Twilight wilted visibly on the bed and Rarity could barely make out the tiny whispered “sorry” from the bed. Now she could continue from where she left off but her earlier confidence was wavering.
“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.”
Memories flooded through Rarity's mind causing her to falter even as she tried to work her way towards letting Twilight down. Horrible, boorish treatment at what should have been the best night ever. Another stallion not even sparing her a second glance while drooling over Applejack. A handful of shallow, meaningless dinner dates that meant nothing to her. Her planned words were abandoned as she tried to regain her footing.
“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.”
Rarity paused as she thought again about her attempts at forming a meaningful relationship. In all the hours she had spent deciding what to do to help Twilight she hadn't really considered her own happiness. The realization slipped out of her mouth almost against her will.
“Maybe I've been looking for love in the wrong places.”
Rarity saw Twilight finally turn her head and look straight at her. Her friend was still barely illuminated by the moonlight but she clearly heard a sharp intake of breath from her friend. The script she had carefully planned in her head was completely meaningless now. She took one hesitant step towards Twilight, then another and asked a simple question of her depressed friend.
“Do you really think I'm beautiful Twilight?”
Her friend's response nearly took her breath away. There was not a word of lie or hesitation in Twilight's response.
“Rarity, you are far and away the most gorgeous mare I have ever laid eyes on.”
Rarity's heart skipped a beat and she paused her nervous walk to put a hoof over her heart. She couldn't recall the last time she had been the subject of such an honest, heartfelt compliment.
“Oh my Twilight you are a flatterer,” she whispered. “So it's just physical attraction then?”
“NO!” Twilight exclaimed with sudden passion. To say Rarity was surprised by that emphatic response would be an understatement. She began walking towards her friend again while Twilight seemed to collapse in on herself.
“Well maybe at first,” came the quiet admission from her friend. The words that came next were simultaneously beautiful and troubling.
“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 . . .”
Rarity stepped into a patch of moonlight and watched with amusement as Twilight's train of thought faltered. Those sorrow filled purple eyes observed her every step with such care and desire. Rarity was conflicted by the simple and pure expression on her friend's face was and how much Twilight put herself down to give a compliment. She stopped walking a couple steps away from the bed and met those purple eyes with her blue.
“It makes me sad to see you think so little of yourself,” Rarity said sadly. “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.”
Even as she went fully against her original intent, Rarity watched with a small amount of satisfaction while Twilight tried to process what she just said.
“R-really? Why?” Twilight stuttered cutely, her face beginning to blush.
Rarity actually had to consider her answer for a moment and she struggled to put a proper answer together.
“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.”
Twilight's confused purple eyes widened as she realized what was being offered. Her voice was filled with fear as she finally asked the all important question.
“Rarity, w-w-would you like to go on a date with me?”
Rarity threw all her caution to the wind and stepped up to her friend. She 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.
They held the hug for a short time while Rarity considered the consequences of her actions. She had never had a romantic thought about a mare in her life and she didn't feel any different about Twilight. Yet here she was accepting a date with a mare who had a massive crush on her. She released the hug and on an impulse gave Twilight a light kiss on the cheek, smelling a slight hint of lavender and roses in her friend's fur.
“Come by my shop tomorrow morning for tea so we can chat like we used to,” she whispered in Twilight's ear. “Dreams are only impossible if we never give them a chance. Sweet dreams.”
Rarity walked out of the room without looking back, fighting back panic and worry about her questionable choice. The moment Rarity pulled Twilight’s bedroom door closed with her magic she ceased her relaxed walk and began quickly trotting down the hall. Already she was questioning the wisdom of her choice to give Twilight a chance, but she was going to do her best to be honest with her friend.
In truth, this was the only solution Rarity could come up with that made sense given the circumstances. She hadn't had any luck with stallions over the past years and she had nothing to loose by trying to date Twilight at this point. At the very least she might be able to help her friend through this horrible self-loathing she had carefully hidden away.
As she trotted out of the castle and into the moonlight she yawned as exhaustion from the long day began to overtake her. There was nothing more she could do tonight to sort out her dilemma. Rarity was hoping that if there was no hope for a long-term relationship the revelation wouldn't destroy Twilight. So much of Equestria's safety was tied up in their friendship, and the consequences of a failed relationships loomed large in her mind. Rarity looked up at the star-filled sky and sighed sadly at the injustice of the situation.
“Why did you have to fall for me out of all the ponies in Equestria, Twilight Sparkle?” she whispered to herself.
The sky had no answers for her as she resumed her walk home and to her waiting bed. Rarity feared sleep would not come easily on this night but she had to try.
Author's Note #2
I was surprised by the requests for a follow up to Impossible Chance. I guess the first one hit a nerve so I spent a while contemplating where to start and where I thought the story should go. Having gone with a limited third person POV for the first story, I realized it would be very useful to contrast Rarity's viewpoint with Twilight's from the prequel. Her offer of a chance isn't quite as clearly thought out as it appeared on the surface.
Seriously though, I have no idea how frequently this will update. Still, I do have plans of a sort but it depends on how long it takes me to get them written. 
We will be breaking new ground in Chapter 2 when it arrives.
Thanks for reading!
