Ponyville, 1003 C.R.

For everypony else in Ponyville, it seemed like just a normal fall day, the same as all the other days that passed by during the week. As usual, the pegasus weather patrol were flying overhead, patrolling and tending to the clouds in the sky under the watchful eye of Rainbow Dash’s chosen successor, Cloudchaser. Applejack and Big Macintosh were stationed at their apple stand, working quickly to sell their family’s namesake recently-harvested fruits to the line that had assembled in front of them. The Cakes and Pinkie Pie were busy in preparing delicious pastries to sell, while Bon-Bon worked at making sweets to the sweet melody of Lyra’s nearby lyre and Octavia’s distant cello- a sweet melody interrupted in many places by the distant yet loud wubs made by a certain DJ-PON3’s deck.

Just a normal, picturesque Ponyville day, and so long as there was no Nightmare Moon, Tirek, or Ursa Minors around, everypony was planning on keeping it that way.

For Princess Twilight Sparkle, however, it was not an ordinary day.

It was Friday.

Later that night, Princess Luna would meet her at the Castle of Friendship and the two best friends would stargaze together as they had planned every week.

But during the day, that day in particular, Twilight had a completely different activity planned as she walked down the street, the cover of a spellbook peeking out from her saddlebags and a soft whistling tune coming from her lips. Soon enough, her destination came into view.

The Carousel Boutique.

Friday was special for Twilight. While at night, she spent time with Luna to stargaze, during the day she went over to the boutique to spend time with her other best friend Rarity. Because Fridays meant little work for the two of them, work that they finished quickly, Rarity was more than willing to do something fun with any of their friends. In Twilight’s case, that something fun was teaching Rarity magic, specifically spells that would help her in the fashion industry.

Twilight entered through the front door as soon as she approached it, the sound of the overhead bell signaling her presence to the building’s inhabitants. Sure enough, Rarity almost immediately appeared from her workroom, her head held high.

“Welcome to the Carousel Boutique, where everything is ch- Oh! Twilight, darling, how are you?” The unicorn smiled, dropping her professional air in the face of her good friend.

“I’m fine, Rarity.” Twilight levitated the spellbook out of her saddlebags, showing the fashionista the needle and spool of red thread that adorned the thick, brown cover “I found some new fashion-related spells you might like. If you’re not busy, do you want to read about them?”

“Of course, darling.” Rarity walked past Twilight to the door, allowing the alicorn to catch a small whiff of her perfume, and changed the sign from ‘open’ to ‘closed’, “There! Now then,” Rarity turned and walked further in the boutique with Twilight following, “why don’t you make yourself comfortable in the living room and I’ll make us some tea.”

“Sure.”

The alicorn went to where they normally had their lessons, and sat down on the couch as usual, placing the book on the coffee table. After a few minutes, Rarity returned with a tray that held a teapot and two small cups.

When she saw Twilight, however, she frowned at the couch she was sitting on, “Oh no no no, that won’t do at all, darling.”

“What?” Twilight looked around her, “What’s wrong?”

“After a long morning of sitting on a hard chair, doing paperwork, that couch doesn’t do you justice.” Rarity placed the tea-set on the coffee-table, gesturing to the spot just in front of the fireplace, “By all means, sit here.”

Two plush, red cushions had been set out in front of the fireplace.

Two cushions, right next to each other.

Twilight gulped.

“Hm?” Rarity turned to her, concerned, “Is something wrong, darling?”

“Uh, no.” Twilight shook her head, “Nothing’s wrong.” To prove her point- to the both of them- she forced herself to stand up and walk around the table to the cushions. Once there, she gently laid herself down on one of them, feeling its wool surface come into contact with her chest and belly.

Rarity worked quickly laying a few logs in the fireplace before lighting them with a spark of magic. Once the fire was burning nicely, the unicorn trotted over and laid down on the other cushion, really close to Twilight. The smell of her perfume hit Twilight’s nostrils again, stronger than it was a minute ago.

Twilight tried hard- really hard- not turn and look at Rarity. She knew that if she did, she might not be able to stop looking at her.

“Um, okay, great,” She cleared her throat, reaching behind her with her magic and levitating the book in front of her, opening it to the chapter index, “so what would you like to see first?”

To Twilight’s inner surprise, satisfaction, and horror, Rarity actually scooted over to look at the index, their sides very, very close to touching. She hummed, thoughtfully, unaware that Twilight’s face was close to going the way of a chameleon- a red chameleon that would match the cushion beneath her.

Snap out of it, Sparkle! Twilight berated herself, She’s not even touching you, and yet you’re becoming one of AJ’s Red Delicious apples. Besides, it’s not even intimate, you’ve seen Pinkie and Fluttershy sit together like this at slumber parties sometimes!

She knew she couldn’t help it, though, not with how she much she truly valued Rarity’s friendship and company.

“I think I’d like...this one. The ‘Hearts and Hooves Special’.” Rarity finally said, after a minute, pointing the edge of her hoof at the page number.

“Right.” Thankful for the distraction from her thoughts- and feelings- Twilight channeled her inner bookworm and archmage, expertly flipping through the pages until they arrived at the spell that Rarity had chosen. When they got there, Twilight cocked an eyebrow at the text, “What the-? This looks like the formula for a love potion.”

Don’t blush, Twilight. Do. Not. Blush.

“Yes, but it says that’s it’s for casting on finished dresses and suits.” Rarity squinted at the text, “I can’t read this script very well, though. What does it do?”

Twilight read over the words, and felt more at ease when she discovered the true purpose of the spell, “It’s an illusion spell of sorts, combined with a completionist spell. It says here that if you cast it on a plain, undecorated dress, it will automatically morph the dress into a beautifully-finished product that....that..."

The blush came.

“What?” Rarity noticed the blush, and quickly became curious, “What happens?”

Twilight looked at her, “It automatically completes the outfit to match the design preferences of the wearer’s special somepony.”

Now Rarity blushed, and Twilight had to stop herself from thinking that it looked quite lovely in contrast with her white coat, “Oh my…But, um, what if the wearer doesn’t have a special somepony?”

Twilight read a bit more, “It doesn’t really say, but I’m gonna go out on a limb and say that it doesn’t work in that case.”

Rarity sighed, the blush leaving her face at those words, “That...might be useful on Hearts and Hooves Day, but not for normal dressmaking.” She looked at the fire, “I still have plenty of clients who are single, or who claim to be single, at least.” She finally shook her head, “Might we look at another one, perhaps?”

Twilight nodded, smiling, “Sure! This whole book is full of spells.” She flipped back to the index, “Your choice.”

Rarity tapped her chin, then pointed at another spell, “This one.”

“Okay then…”

…….

It was dark by the time they decided to call it quits. Admittedly, neither of them wanted to put the book down, but Twilight didn’t think it would be fair to Luna if she missed their stargazing session. Therefore, at nine-o’clock, Rarity took the tea-set to the kitchen and politely showed Twilight to the door.

“Well, Twilight,” Rarity smiled, “thank you for another lovely afternoon.”

“You’re welcome, Rarity.” Twilight bowed her head in a thankful gesture, “Um, thank you for reading them with me.”

“You know as well as I do how much I love learning about these kinds of spells.” Rarity giggled, “In fact, it’s always a delight to have you over.”

“Yeah…” Twilight nodded, smiling and thinking about the time they had just spent together, “Well, I guess I’ll see you later.”

“Likewise, darling."

Twilight started to walk away, towards home, but stopped.

You know how you feel about her. Why are you keeping it from her?

Because she's my friend. I don't-

Yes, she’s your friend, but don’t you want to try for higher? She’s standing right there, take a chance!

I don’t-

Just do it! You might get lucky!

“Rarity?” Twilight turned around, quickly.

“Yes, Twilight?” Rarity asked.

Twilight opened her mouth.

Take a risk!

“You know, I was kinda wondering…”

Take a risk!

“Yes?” Rarity asked, curious.

She’s your friend.

Your best friend.

A one-of-a-kind friend.

You don’t want to lose her….

“...if..." Twilight suddenly trailed off.

Don’t...

Don’t take a risk.

“Uh, s-same time next week?” Twilight wanted to kick herself senseless, “I mean, are you busy next Friday or something?”

“No, I don’t believe I am.” Rarity’s eyes looked thoughtful for a long moment, though Twilight’s imagination let her believe that what she saw was disappointment- disappointment in her cowardice.

Stupid brain!

“Oh, okay, good.” Twilight turned and smiled at Rarity the best she could over her shoulder, “I’ll see you later then, Rarity. Goodnight!”

Rarity smiled, “Goodnight, Twilight. Tell Luna I said hello.”

“I will.”

With that, Rarity went back inside and softly closed the door behind her with a click. Twilight watched her walk back inside before facing forward and starting the journey towards the Castle of Friendship. She had a lot of preparation to do for Luna’s arrival, including setting up all the instruments they had planned on using that night.

That wasn’t why the smile dropped from her face, though.

Stupid! Why can’t I just...? Why can’t I just come out and say it!? HOW HARD IS IT!?

Twilight stopped in the middle of the street and turned back in the direction of Carousel Boutique, her brow furrowing, I mean, how hard can it possibly be to just look her in the eyes and say, ‘Rarity-’

She stopped. Her mind stopped.

It didn't just stop, either: It ground to a screeching halt.

Rarity, I-

Twilight felt a tear roll down her cheek. An ashamed, self-scorning tear.

I..I can’t even think it….

Her head drooping low, Twilight turned and started walking home again, her cheerful energy from earlier that morning completely gone.

Maybe...tomorrow…? Or then again, She sighed in resignation, maybe not…

Unbeknownst to her, four pairs of eyes looked out at her from a dark alleyway. Having seen her utter failure to reveal long-held feelings a few minutes before, the owners of said eyes couldn’t help but feel sorry for their alicorn best friend. Unfortunately, they really had no idea on how to help her without doing damage.

That didn’t mean they still couldn't be there to support their friends, always....

With a collective sigh and that wordless promise on their minds, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie waited until Twilight left before exiting the alleyway. Then, with silent ‘goodnights’ to one another, they dispersed to their own homes to rest for the next day.

Another Friday in Ponyville had come to an end.

Author's Note

Geez, it feels like centuries since I've published anything. I don't know why, my hype for MLP in general has really degraded lately and yet the ideas for stories on family and romance keep coming through my head. It's like they're giving me enthusiasm and inspiration to make up for the lack thereof....

Anyway, thanks to good ole' Monochromatic, Raritwi has since become my #1 OTP for G4 MLP and I've been wanting to write my own fic for this pairing for FOREVER. I've had several ideas over the past few months, and I've finally decided to publish the first one. Chapter One is still in the works, but it should be coming, so I hope you enjoy.