A Sparkling Romance

Twilight was well through the entire book in an hour, rereading several passages to memorize them. Her sometimes aggravated groans after skipping a page annoyed Spike, who after the first 20 minutes of Twilight's intense reading session, took his small bed in his arms, and dragged it downstairs. Twilight seemed to take particular interest in the chapter entitled "A Step-By-Step on The Tiers". Meanwhile, in his Cloud Manor, Aqua seemed to be on the same page as the unicorn.

"Love is like a rose..." Aqua read to himself.

"Blooming both day and night..." Twilight read the next line in her library.

"And when it opens completely up..." Aqua continued.

"It's such a beautiful sight." the two ponies finished simultaneously. Twilight slammed the book instantly, with a nervous look on her face. She levitated the book onto her bookshelf, and quickly ran down the stairs into the kitchen, reaching for a cup. She filled the cup with water, and in her hurry, Spike clapped his hands over his ears to block out Twilight's mini-panic. Twilight gulped down the water, and she then walked over to her mirror.

"Keep it together, Twilight Sparkle. You've haven't met this stallion for over 30 seconds, you don't know if it's real or not." Twilight said to herself in the mirror, with somewhat bloodshot eyes. Twilight then walked out of her library, and headed to the fountain near town. Back at his Cloud Manor, Aqua was looking at himself in the mirror.

"What is wrong with you? You've never acted this way. Come to your senses and act through this rationally!" Aqua told himself. He then walked out of his Cloud Manor, stretching his wings and slowly flying from it, passing by Rainbow Dash, who was shaking nervously.

"Hello Rainbow Dash. Perhaps you could talk to me about something?" Aqua asked.

"I'd love to catch up from Flight School, but I'm super super busy!" Rainbow said.

"Busy? I've never seen you busy with much in Flight School." Aqua replied.

"Whatever. I really need Pinkie's help! I'm trying to get tickets for the Wonderbolts!" Rainbow explained.

"Well...good luck with that, Rainbow Dash. I suppose we will catch up later." Aqua finished, flying away. Rainbow started flying into her own Cloud house, running to her wardrobe.

"Tickets--Canterlot--stuck up minty unicorn who wishes she had hands!" Rainbow studdered, taking out her hoodie, and then took off to put it on. Aqua minded her loud rant and descended to the ground, and walked over to the town fountain. Aqua sat on his haunches, listening to the sound of the trinkle of water. He then sighed to himself. Aqua's ears drooped as he shifted his back hooves around. His ears suddenly perked up as he himself heard a feminine sigh of depression. The two ponies soon noticed each other as they turned their heads to see each other. Twilight let out a surprised gasp as Aqua's eyes widened in surprise.

"Hi there," Aqua said, a bit nervously, "Twilight Sparkle, is it?"

"Y-Yeah. Hello, Aqua." Twilight replied. The nervousness was so evident in her eyes, it was readable from any pony. Aqua slid slightly closer to Twilight, and Twilight soon slid to him. The two didn't quite know it, but they seemed to like to be in each other's company, despite the obvious feelings between them. Twilight softly whimpered to herself, quiet enough for Aqua not to hear, as she moved closer. The two ponies were basically sitting right next to each other, and Aqua began to smile slightly. Twilight grinned back, as she moved her front hoof closer to Aqua. He then moved his hoof closer to Twilight's, and before they knew it, they were almost holding hooves. The energy between both of them was dangerously high. Twilight swayed a bit, her eyes shifting back and forth.

I bet he doesn't like me. Oh, what if he doesn't feel the same way? I must be a fool to be this close to him. It must be so awkward for him.

Dear Celestia, she's so nervous. I want to help her not worry, but what can I do? We've just met, but we feel so...awkward together.

"A-Aqua, do you feel something inside you?" Twilight asked.

"What do you mean?" Aqua replied.

"It's like I can feel this...emotion. I've never felt it before." Twilight confessed.

"Wow. I've had the same feeling...for somepony." Aqua said. Twilight felt her heart race, but she was scared also. She groaned, unable to bear the nervousness.

"Are you ok?" Aqua asked the purple mare.

"I-I think I just have a stomach ache." Twilight said softly, and Aqua slowly put his hoof around her shoulders. Twilight then shifted her eyes. All she could do was put her own hoof around his shoulder. Aqua slowly got up from the fountain, helping Twilight up as well.

"Do you need me to help you?" Aqua asked.

"N-No. I think I'm ok." Twilight said weakly. She started walking, but stopped suddenly.

"Do you wanna...talk later?" she asked.

"Sure, Twilight." Aqua answered, offering a smile. Twilight returned his smile, and walked away. As soon as she was out of his eyesight, Aqua flew home. And as soon as Twilight could no longer hear his wings flapping, she took off, full power, straight to Fluttershy's cottage.

"Eat your soup, Angel. It'll make you big and strong." Fluttershy told her bunny as he contentedly drank from his bowl, reaching for a carrot piece in the soup to gnaw on. Fluttershy heard the pounding of Twilight's hoof on her door, and she shrunk in fear for a second, then trotted to the door.

"H-Hello?" Fluttershy asked, only to hear an even more shaky voice speak to her.

"F-Fluttershy? C-Can we talk?" Twilight asked. The butterscotch mare opened the door, and Twilight soon walked into the cottage. Fluttershy eyed her with concern.

"Are you ok, Twilight? D-Did something happen to you? Did you forget to write to Princess Celestia?" Fluttershy asked.

"N-No, it's not that. It's just...well...I'm kinda nervous about something." Twilight said, resting on a nearby couch.

"Oh no, you look sick. Do you need soup too?" Fluttershy asked, and Angel soon looked up at the purple unicorn. He grabbed a nearby carrot and scurried up the couch.

"Alright, if it's not too much trouble for you, Fluttershy. I don't wanna be a bother." Twilight said. Angel scurried up to Twilight's shoulder, and offered her a carrot.

"Thank you, Angel." Twilight thanked the little bunny, levitating the carrot to her as she chewed on it.

"Not at all. You've always been there for me, and been sensitive to my problems. I can't always spill my problems to Rainbow Dash." Fluttershy confessed.

"Thanks, Fluttershy." Twilight said, petting Angel on the head. Fluttershy soon returned with twin bowls of soup, and she set each down on the table. The two mares began to sip their soup as Fluttershy broke the silence.

"What did you want to talk about, Twilight? If you don't mind me asked?" Fluttershy asked.

"You know that stallion we all met this morning?" Twilight asked, drinking her soup, bit by bit.

"That stallion named Aqua? Yes?" Fluttershy answered.

"I feel so...weird around him. I can barely speak, and I think he feels the same way, like he's nervous around me." Twilight said.

"Oh my..." Fluttershy said.

"Like while I was at the library, I felt like somepony was saying the same thing as me, or thinking the same as me, and I could sense it." Twilight continued.

"Uh huh." Fluttershy said.

"And just 5 minutes ago, I was at the fountain, and he came there, and we started getting close to each other, and we just got so nervous. I had to make an excuse that I was sick just to get out of there." Twilight said, letting her head hit the table.

"I just don't know what to do." Twilight said with a soft whimper. Fluttershy put her arm around Twilight's shoulder to comfort her.

"Twilight, you just have butterflies flying around in your tummy." Fluttershy said.

"What do you mean?" Twilight asked, raising her head as her eyes, and a bit of the table was stained with tears.

"You know; that feeling you get when you're super close to that special somepony you love. Sometimes you get that feeling when you don't know it, and sometimes it's just so powerful inside you that you can't stand it. Maybe your brain's telling you something, and you just don't know how to react. You also probably don't know how Aqua will react and that worries you way too much." Fluttershy explained.

"Fluttershy, how do you know so much?" Twilight asked.

"Umm...well...I did have a special somepony back in Flight School. He was the silent type, shy, caring, and a real love-bug. But when I fell into Ponyville, he never found me, and I just got so wrapped up with the animals I forgot about him." Fluttershy said with a soft whimper. Twilight put her hooves around Fluttershy, and the two ponies hugged.

"You'll find him, I know you will." Twilight said to calm her down.

"Thank you, Twilight. And I know you and Aqua will fall in love." Fluttershy said. The two mares broke the embrace, and looked at each other, their eyes red and tear-stained. Twilight gave Fluttershy a pat on the back to comfort her.

"Thanks for everything, Fluttershy. You're a really great friend." Twilight said to the yellow pegasus, and she returned it with a squeak. Twilight then walked out of the door happily.

"We helped somepony, Angel. We probably brought two ponies together." Fluttershy said to Angel, who climbed up onto her and rested on her head. Fluttershy sat on the floor and hugged the little bunny. Twilight soon walked over to the Boutique, in hopes of looking for Rarity. She then knocked on the door of the Boutique, only to be greeted by the loud shrill voice of the manager.

"DON'T COME IN!! IT'S A SATURDAY! THE BOUTIQUE IS CLOSED!!!" the voice rang out, making Twilight step back as the windows shook a bit.

"Rarity! It's me--Twilight!!" Twilight yelled, banging her hooves harder on the door. The door opened slowly, and Rarity saw Twilight with her puffy red eyes.

"GOODNESS DEAR!! Who in the name of holy Celestia did that to you?!" Rarity asked in a high voice as she touched the outer rim of Twilight's eye, trying to see if she had bruises. She led Twilight into the Boutique.

"Do you need make-up, something to cover that up? Or for that ROUGH STALLION who beat you to get his FLANK HANDED to him?!" Rarity asked quickly, only to get shushed by Twilight's hoof.

"Rarity, calm down, for Heaven's sake! Nopony beat me up!! I'm just really upset, and I thought you could help me." Twilight said, snapping Rarity to focus.

"Ohh, of course dear. You can ask me anything, deary. I'm always here for you." Rarity said, leading Twilight into an elegant couch. She then levitated a few boxes of tissues, and readjusted the pillows.

"Now, what in Equestria could be bothering you so harshly, my dear? Is it an overdue friendship letter? Or is it something about dear old Spikey-Wikey? Or is a diamond issue?" Rarity asked.

"No, it's not that, Rarity." Twilight said.

"Not diamonds, hmm? Is it a ruby problem then?" Rarity asked.

"This isn't about gems, Rarity! This is about boy troubles! I thought you, of all mares, would know the ins and outs of stallions. You're always raving about those 'lovely, suited callers'." Twilight said.

"Oh yes, yes, yes. I do know much about them, my dear. Is it about that lovely dashing Aqua Blue fellow we all met today?" Rarity asked.

"How'd you know that?!" Twilight asked in disbelief.

"Oh Twilight, I saw your face when you met him. I knew you two would get smitten for one another." Rarity replied with a light chuckle.

"You certainly are the wise one of us all, Rarity. Now can we talk about it or what?" Twilight asked.

"Of course, dear." Rarity said.

"It's just that when I met him, just seeing him got me all flustered, so I took this the only way I knew how." Twilight said.

"You scooped him up like that?" Rarity asked.

"What, no! With books!" Twilight said. Rarity facehooved.

"I read one of those 'How To' books on romance, and I could tell, I could hear Aqua's voice, reading the same sentence I was reading, at the same time, and I felt like we had the same thoughts. So I went to the fountain to clear my head, and I see Aqua sitting there too. So we started moving closer to each other, almost holding each other's hooves, and I got so nervous, I felt like I was going to puke!" Twilight said.

"Uh huh, go on, deary." Rarity said.

"So I was just so nervous I made an excuse that I was sick so I could leave. I feel like he's nervous too, but doesn't want to show it. I keep thinking, I'm going to mess this thing up, and he'll think I'm horrible, and Princess Celestia will probably banish me for messing up a relationship, and I'll end up in the Everfree Forest, and then--" Twilight panicked, getting stopped by Rarity.

"Twilight, Twilight! Phew, dear me, you're getting so worked up over a little love. First of all, Celestia wouldn't banish you just because something in your personal life was messed up. Celestia has bigger matters...like moving the Sun, and sustaining our planet's climate, or keeping us from flying off into space. Secondly, just because you're nervous doesn't mean he doesn't like you; I'm very certain he must love you as much as you do to him. You're probably having butterflies in your tummy." Rarity explained.

"You sound just like Fluttershy." Twilight deadpanned.

"You just have that feeling inside when you love somepony. It happens to everypony." Rarity said, putting a hoof around Twilight's shoulder.

"You're right, Rarity." Twilight said, standing up, levitating a few tissues, dabbing her eyes.

"Of course I'm right, darling. Like you said, I know much about this type of thing." Rarity said. Suddenly, the door opened, and a red stallion poked his head through.

"Excuse me?" the red stallion asked.

"THE STORE IS CLOSED TODAY!!!" Rarity roared, throwing a teapot at the door with her magic, scaring the stallion away. Twilight stared at Rarity, somewhat frightened, when she teleported right out of the Boutique. Rarity then walked up the stairs up to her bedroom, to attend to her more...personal buisness. Twilight reappeared out of the Boutique when she caught a blue streak in the sky, and she instantly knew it was Aqua.

"This time, You're gonna do it right, Twilight Sparkle!" Twilight told herself, as she sprinted towards where the blue streak was going. She then bolted past Pinkie Pie, who was wearing her black hoodie.

"Twily, where ya going?!" Pinkie asked.

"I'm going to find Aqua!" Twilight yelled in the distance.

"Have fun!" Pinkie said as she trotted quickly to Rainbow's house, up a ladder that she placed out of nowhere, and ran into Rainbow's bedroom using her "running on air" technique.

"HI DASHIE!!" Pinkie screamed near Rainbow Dash making her fall to the floor.

"OW!! Pinkie, how did you--OMIGOSH!!" Rainbow Dash yelled as she grabbed Pinkie and hurled her onto her back.

"What are you doing, Dashie? Are we Mexican-Wrestling?" Pinkie asked.

"Pinkie, how did you even get here?!" Rainbow asked.

"I used my Cloud-Walking technique, plus, I'm a ninja!!" Pinkie chirped happily, jumping off Dash's back, standing on the cloud.

"Whatever, Pinks. Let's just get to Canterlot now," Rainbow stressed, looking at her wristwatch, " It is 11:30 A.M., and the Wonderbolts play at Cloudsdale at 9:30 P.M., so we only have 10 hours to get the tickets! RUN!!" Rainbow Dash yelled as she took the nearest exit out of her Cloud Home, out the window, and she flew to the ground. Pinkie Pie followed suit, performing a ninja move as she jumped and rolled out of the window, striking a pose and landed perfectly on the ground, and assumed a ninja stance. Rainbow rolled her eyes and assumed her own ninja pose.

"C'mon Dashie! Say it!" Pinkie begged, with puppy dog eyes.

"Fine, only cuz you can pull off the ninja look." Dash said.

"1...2...3...NINJA PONIES!!!" the two mares shouted as they ran off at top speeds.

"Ok, here's the plan: We take a quick trip through the Whitetail Forest to the Train Station that goes at top speed, then when we arrive at Canterlot, we run to the Royal Castle, and we break into the Royal Vault! Any questions?" Rainbow said.

"Can we have cupcakes on the train?" Pinkie asked.

"Cupcake, muffins, pop-tarts, whatever!" Rainbow Dash said quickly. The two mares soon got to the bridge of Ponyville, Rainbow Dash quickly flew low to the ground while Pinkie Pie grabbed the nearest vine and swung onto the treetops, jumping from each of them, all while letting out a gorilla yell.

"We're making great time! As long as we don't get side-tracked we'll be fi--" Rainbow said before being interrupted by a black fly entering her throat. Rainbow then coughed roughly as she swallowed the fly. She then got ravaged by tree branches bumping into her, and she finally flew up above the trees and joined Pinkie Pie. After about 5 minutes of traveling, the two mares finally reached the middle of the woods, when a sharp gust of wind blew both mares into the ground.

"Oww. That's gonna hurt in the morning." Rainbow Dash said, shaking the leaves off of her, while Pinkie simply made the leaves into a Hawaiian Skirt.

"Look Dashie, I'm tropical!" Pinkie blabbered as she sway back and forth like a Hooves Dancer. Rainbow Dash surpressed a giggle at the pink mare's overall optimism to life and everything that hits her. The two mares then saw the exit to the woods after a brief run, but the only thing blocking it was a river with a small shrub residing close to it. Rainbow Dash paid no mind to the shrub as she trotted closer to the river, when the shrub sprouted eyes and a mouth, and began talking.

"Ring ring." the shrub said, as Rainbow stared at it.

"Hello, Dummy Police. Yes, there's a strange dummy lurking around my home. Ok yes. Thank you. Goodbye." the shrub said.

"Wha...?" Rainbow said as she stared at the shrub, dumbfounded. A short silence ensued as she broke the silence.

"We need to cross the river. The train station's over there." Rainbow said, pointing to the station.

"You can't cross this river, it's impossible. Look. The current is so fast, it'll turn your flank inside out for real, doofus. And the water's so acidic, it'll burn your boat in half. It's like orange juice, it's gross. There's a bridge, but it's a trap, and the water's jammin' with electric eels. So weird. Anyway, that's it, there's no other way around, you dummy." the shrub said to Rainbow Dash, who surveyed the river, and looked down at the shrub.

"I could just fly over the river." Rainbow said smugly.

"Listen to what I'm telling you, there's no way!" the shrub answered. Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie soon stared at the shrub, and more silence ensued.

"Ugly mares." the shrub said. Rainbow Dash then dashed right into the shrub with her teeth, ripping the shrub out of the ground and throwing it into the river. She then picked up Pinkie Pie and flew over the river.

"MY WAY!" Rainbow yelled at the shrub. The two mares watched as the shrub sunk to the bottom of the river, cringing as they saw electricity crackling out of the river. As soon as the bubbles stopped coming up to the surface, Rainbow turned to Pinkie.

"Circle of life, Pinks." Rainbow said simply, and the two mares quickly ran to the Train Station. Rainbow Dash banged softly on the podium next to the train. The attendant soon looked up to see the two ponies in their hoodies.

"Where are you two going?" the attendant asked.

"We're going to Canterlot. How long will it be?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"With the current speed of the train going 55 an hour, we should arrive in Canterlot at about 12:40 P.M." the attendant said.

"How much are tickets for two?" Rainbow asked.

"You're the Elements of Harmony, right?" he asked.

"Yeah?" Rainbow answered.

"It's free, go on ahead." the attendant said. The two mares then happily went inside the train to their cabin. Rainbow Dash rested her body on the nearest bed, and Pinkie bounced excitedly over to her bed. As she slept, Rainbow Dash's face turned into a wide grin, for she knew that her plan was going to succeed easily, unaware of the possible consequences of stealing Wonderbolt tickets from a heavily guarded Canterlot Vault.