There were so many ways this could go wrong, and Twilight was intelligent enough to know every single one of them.

This wasn’t a good idea. In fact, it was a terrible idea. It was one thing that she was going to meet Cadance in the hopes of confessing a long-time attraction to the woman who was over ten years her senior, not to mention the ex-girlfriend of her brother and her former babysitter. Adding in that she was going into her old high school to meet with said woman –who was now the principal, as if to make matters worse- only added to the mountain of potential issues that were very, very likely to arise.

Not to mention she didn’t even know if Cadance even liked her back. There was also that.

As Twilight pulled into the parking lot, about ten minutes before her scheduled appointment… “God help me, did I really make an appointment for this? What is wrong with me?” she breathed, finding her demure body absolutely trembling from head to toe as the nerves really began to take hold. This was a reprehensibly awful idea. There actually weren’t words to describe how bad of an idea this was. Cadance surely wouldn’t reciprocate, their friendship would be ruined forever, the whole thing would be beyond the realms of normal awkwardness. “Twilight, you thoroughgoing idiot!”

But she was here. Pitiful trembling thing that she was, Twilight was indeed here and desired to actually release the long-held burden from her shoulders. But what would she even say? If she were honest, she wanted to run in and beg Cadance to stick her tongue down her throat and let the fiery kiss turn into a bout of magnificent lovemaking right there on the desk. Another part of her, the one that remained terrified, wanted to just go back home and forget she had even wanted to try.

“Come on, come on, remember!” Of course she had made a speech. How else would she hope to get through this? It’s not like she had the genuine courage to achieve this. “Alright, deep breaths, girl,” she whispered. “Now, one last time.”

She closed her eyes and let the speech that had become a mantra flow through her thoughts like water: “Cadance, I wanted to talk with you because I need to confess something to you. Ever since I was little, I thought you were the most beautiful person in the world, and in my childish mind, I found myself enamored by you. I kept telling myself that I’d someday grow up and marry you because you were always so kind and beautiful, and genuinely wonderful in every way. Even when I started growing up and realized that it would never happen, I never really let go of that silly thought and it continued to stick around. I found it even harder to ignore when I was here at Crystal Prep because I was around you all the time, and all I found myself thinking was of how you were still the most beautiful woman in the world. I know it’s the norm, but when I was dating my boyfriend I still found myself wanting to be with you instead- especially after I kissed you. Once I felt your lips against mine it was over because that’s when I knew I liked girls. In particular, I liked you. No, I love you. And I still love you, Cadance, and I want to be with you. I know it’s different and strange especially since we’re so different and you’re older than I am, but please- if you feel the same, please just tell me. I can’t just sit here and not know anymore.

It was rehearsed, pristine and perfect. At least, as perfect as Twilight could figure out. Maybe a confession of love wasn’t the best plan, but it was all she could think of. Now, she’d have to say it out loud- to Cadance.

The reality began to set in when she entered the hallways of her old school. It fell upon her bones, dragging her down and making her feet feel like they were entrapped within boots of steel. Her heart was beginning to hammer in her chest madly, virulently; she half-wondered if her ribs would not be able to withstand the pressure and would crack as the rattling organ inside reeled madly within its prison. It was horrible, and she hadn’t even made it to Cadance yet!

When she found Cadance’s office and alerted the secretary of her arrival, all of her youthful senses had gone into overdrive: terror was stark, nausea was so potent that she wondered if she might vomit, beads of sweat were starting to dribble down her chest and soak through her shirt. And you deliberately didn’t wear a bra or underwear, you fool! What were you thinking?!

“Miss? You can go on in,” the older woman said, rousing Twilight from her desperate monologue and back into the world. She was actually having to do this.

“Th- thank you,” Twilight said, trying to stop her voice from squeaking. I’m going to die. I’m going to have a heart attack and die. She put a hand on the door and took a breath that rattled. Now or never.

Twilight opened the door and found herself greeted by a sight she hadn’t expected to see in the slightest: Cadance was there at her desk, her face speaking to emotions of distress and grief. Eyes watery, face tight as she bit her lip. What was wrong? “Cadance? Are you alright?” For a split second, Twilight’s concerns about love and romance were put aside.

Grief turned to shock on the beautiful woman’s face in a heartbeat. “Twilight!” was her cry, eyes swiftly turning red now held wide. “What- what are you doing here? It’s still school hours, shouldn’t you be back at Canter-”

“Early day,” Twilight answered. “We did rehearsals today, that’s all. I’ve been free for a while.” Guide the conversation to it. Go on, now.

“Well- well that’s great! Twilight, you didn’t have to make an appointment with the office to see me, you know that!” Cadance replied. “What’s the matter, what can I help you with?”

Twilight tried to recall her well-memorized speech and failed in spectacular fashion. Oh DAMN you, how can you screw it up at a time like this? This is crunch time, time to be clutch! Start talking, you lovestruck freak! “I- I don’t-”

Whatever had upset Cadance had been pushed to the wayside completely, the perfect creature leaning forward in concern. “Twilight, are you OK? Are you in trouble?”

Talk. For the love of God, talk. “Cadance, I’m… I’m really sorry, but…”

Cadance appeared sympathetic. Twilight, it’s alright. Did they say no or did your nerves just give out? It’s going to be OK, either way-”

Oh my gosh, she actually thought I was meaning someone else. “No, it’s- it’s not that, I promise,” Twilight forced out, sounding more like glass being shattered than any semblance of fortitude. “I- I, umm…” Oh come ON.

Twilight felt the temperature of the room change, and in a way she hadn’t at all expected. The place was not frigid. In fact, the coolness had lessened if she were to be honest. Cadance was now rigid in her seat, eyes held in an emotion she couldn’t quite name. But if Twilight were certain, and she felt that she was… Cadance’s gaze was poring over all her body, to include the sweat-soaked shirt and skirt that adorned the young girl’s form.

Cadance was undressing her with her eyes.

She had to do it. Now, before she could lose her nerve again. “I don’t know how to start,” Twilight said, more ashamed she had lost her prepared speech than she could say in words. It had been her key to success.

A gentle presence against her hand and Twilight felt a thrill as Cadance took her hand and squeezed it. “Take your time, I’m listening,” she said warmly.

“Umm… Cadance, did I ever tell you why me and my ex broke up?” THAT’S what you start with?!

Cadance’s expression instantly fell flat. Of course it had, what other reaction was there to have? “Only a little bit, why?”

Salvage this. “Well, it just sort of happened,” she began, “and it did, it really did. But… well, on my birthday. I said I thought he was going to kiss me, and- he did, but it wasn’t all- all that great.”

“OK…”

You’re losing her. You have to keep pushing forward, come on now. “We kept going for a little while, and he got jealous about something, and we talked it out. I just didn’t- didn’t find him that attractive anymore, and I admitted I didn’t like how he felt when we kissed.” How could you possibly say all of this worse?

“Alright. And why is that?” Cadance sounded almost bored, the thought nearly pushing Twilight to tears.

The young girl forced herself to look into the eyes of the resplendent woman she loved and say her peace. “Well- whenever we did, he just- kept coming up short. To- to the kiss I had with you. And I realized that I liked kissing you more. And I wanted to kiss you again.” Almost there now…

Cadance’s eyes were as wide as saucers. There was nothing in this angelic creature’s mind that could have prepared her for such a statement. Twilight, the nerdy little girl with hardly an ounce of social skill within her, the child she had once babysat, had just said she wanted to kiss Cadance- again. “Twilight..?”

Now. Do it now! “I- I have a crush.” Words failed her and she struggled to recover what would be a monumental fumble. “I have a crush on you, Cadance. I think you’re really attractive and I want to go out with you. You're the most beautiful woman I've ever met, and I can't help it.”

Cadance seemed like she could hardly believe what she was hearing. She had barely moved, hardly even reacted. “Twilight, I…”

“I know it’s crazy, and you’d probably get in trouble if we started dating,” Twilight said in her continued plunge to failure, “but I kept dreaming about kissing you one more time. And maybe… doing more. I just wanted to say in case you felt the same way.” There it was. All out in the open, where nothing could retrieve it. She had actually done it- horribly, painfully, but she had done it.

The young girl regarded Cadance and saw, if only for a moment, a subtle change come over her. Small, miniscule, but distinct. A decision had been made.

“Twilight,” Cadance said at last, “listen to me very carefully. I feel the same way. I think you’re beautiful and wonderful and I enjoyed kissing you, too.”

Oh my God. Twilight could hardly believe she had heard that. “Really?!” She practically leapt out of her seat in delight from the sound of those melodious words ringing in her ears- only for the feeling to flit away just as quickly. “But…”

Cadance was struggling now too, rising from her seat behind the desk and starting to pace. A stricken expression on her face, a pained one, growing in strength. “But Twilight, it’s too risky,” Cadance said, speaking to the exact reality that Twilight so deeply feared –and knew- she would have to face regardless. “I think you’re gorgeous and sweet and wonderful, I really do.”

But Twilight had to try. Even if it was just for one more time, one last, briefest meeting of lips that she so desperately wanted- no, needed, hungered for with an overwhelming might that seemed to chew away at her insides. “Cadance, please, just- just one-”

Cadance was in absolute freefall now, simultaneously trying to both be near and oh so far away from the young girl she had just confessed her attraction to. “I want to, Twilight, oh heaven help me I want to, to feel you against me and- and all of it, but I just am scared that- what if we get caught, or- or something goes wrong or someone starts asking-”

Twilight at last couldn’t take it any longer, unable to bear being near such perfect majesty and beauty for which she so deeply longed to feel against her own flesh. “Oh will you just shut up and kiss me?!”

And then Twilight found her happiness in the most wonderful, passionate, beautiful kiss she would ever know in her entire life.

“… Twilight? Twilight, are you there?”

The cloud of old memory that had so thoroughly enwrapped her brain was disappearing now, pushed away by the breath of the here and now as word and thought took form where the reminiscent haze had dwelled. Where was she now, with all the years and memory that had passed by before her eyes?

“Ms. Sparkle, wake up there!” The voice was firm, but not cruel in its calls to her consciousness, and the effort was enough to gain the woman’s attention away from days gone by and back to the day before her. Twilight turned around and saw Vice Principal Luna standing there at the door the small closet of an office, the smile on the older woman’s face one of humor and mild concern rather than consternation. “Earth to Twilight.”

“Luna! Sorry, I guess I dozed off for a minute,” Twilight said, rising from her overly comfortable seat and giving herself a small shake to hopefully cast aside the deepening slumber that had nearly entrapped her. “Sorry about that. What can I do for you?”

“Staff meeting, Miss Twilight,” Luna replied. “Tia just wants to do a quick overview for the exam period once Thanksgiving ends. She was hoping for you and Dr. Mendel to make an appearance in case your opinions were needed.”

“Of course, I’ll be right there,” Twilight replied, reaching for a small folder of papers she kept for such matters and began rifling through to ensure the materials she wanted were present. “Lead the way. Teacher’s lounge, I’m guessing?”

“As always.”

Twilight nodded and made to follow her superior, but pausing as she heard a gentle series of Thrums! come across her desk as her phone received a text. She knew that pattern

One quick press of the screen was enough to reveal its contents: Just in case I forgot to say it this morning- I love you!

Cadance loved her. Even after all these years. Twilight gave a smile as she let the faintest strain of memory flow through her mind, even if only for a heartbeat. The years they had shared together, despite all the shortcomings they held together, had been good.

Better than good, if she was honest.

Author's Note

Guess who's back, bitches?

Yeah, it got a sequel. I had an idea.

Others are coming. Trust.

Keep reading, if you want.