She Wants To Know What Love Isby Elric of MelniponyChaptersPrologueChapter 1: Twilight SparkleChapter 2: RarityChapter 3: Mrs. CakeChatper 4: Princess LunaChapter 5: CheerileeEpilogueBONUS: Princess CadancePrologueOn a rogue blue-green world, towards the center of a large continent, was a place where many types of terrain met. The mountains were close enough to make the sunrises over them particularly impressive – even if one didn't know the magical nature of the miniature star creating the beautiful colors. A large and dense forest thinned to nothing nearby. When the wind was right, it was possible to smell the swamp land that the amphibians loved; after all, it was a short walk away. In the middle of all this was an area of grassy hills and plains that made for good agriculture. In the middle of that was Ponyville. Ponyville was hardly deserving of the reputation it had in larger cities. After all it had (among other things) its own library. Despite it being a small facility, this particular library was gaining some notoriety among bibliophiles. The librarian was known for her extensive knowledge, her keen organizational skills, her ties to royalty, and for having taken part in saving the world. More than once. The librarian in question, one Twilight Sparkle, was a unicorn of considerable power. She was, at the moment, devoting a small fraction of that power to exercising her organizational skills and fighting entropy. Shelving books was so much easier with precision telekinesis than with mouth or hooves. She paused, puzzled by a volume with no identifying information at all on the cover or spine. She set it aside to examine after she had everything else in the proper place, which took approximately 45 seconds. The outside of the book still stubbornly refused to actually have any writing on it, which, by her way of thinking, was something of a sin. Books were supposed to be helpful, and so far this one wasn't. There was always the title page, of course; by definition, that had to tell her something. Except there was no title page. There was just a page full of writing – not printing. That obviously made it some sort of journal or diary, one of the nicer sort with good binding and a sturdy cover. Hoping that the text would offer some clues about the owner, she started reading. Lady Wintergreen had, once again, caused something of a stir in high society. She had rejected the advances of the prince himself, and being unable to tolerate the gossip that resulted, she fled Canterlot for her country estate. Yet even here she drew unwanted attention from stallions who held no interest for her. Some were drawn by her long, straight, flowing mane and tail. Some were struck by her alabaster coat. Others were attracted to her perfect eyes and clear voice. Just last week, Croissant, the baker in the nearby village, had offered to leave his wife Confection for her. Today she had turned away not one but two suitors, neither of whom had been brave enough to approach her by himself. She gathered that this Shears and his companion Escargot were such good friends that they would be happy no matter her choice. They didn't anticipate that her choice would be to have them shown the door by Orange Blossom, her hoofmaiden. None of them knew that there was only one stallion for her. They all imagined they could be the one to lay claim to her heart, despite it already belonging to another. She knew that she could only give her love to Orange Blossom's brother. Though he was but a simple farmer, no other would do. Passion Fruit was the one for her. Twilight closed the cover with a flick of magic. She looked up to see if one of her favorite patrons was still in the library, and soon saw that she was. “Twist? I think I have something that belongs to you.” Chapter 1: Twilight SparkleLady Wintergreen was appalled. “A love potion? I'll do no such thing!” Any other servant who made a suggestion of this sort would have been reprimanded for undue familiarity, but Orange Blossom had been her companion since foalhood. “Where did you come up with that idea?” “I got it from the old wise mare in the village, miss.” Orange Bloom looked down in apology. “And has this wise mare a name?” “She's called Sundown, miss.” Wintergreen had heard this name before. Sundown was, in fact, a unicorn of no small skill who had left Canterlot many years before. Some said she had been banished from the court, some said she was in self-imposed exile. Either way, she would be likely to have notions other than potions. Twist was a white-coated filly with a curly mane and glasses, and she was in the library fairly often. She liked to learn, loved reading, and in many ways reminded Twilight of herself at that age – except for Twist's dominant earth pony genes limiting her to subconscious magic in very specific areas. She didn't seem surprised at all by what Twilight had said, and she crossed the room without hesitation. She spoke quietly as soon as she was close enough to be heard. “I'm glad you found that, Mith Twilight. I've got something I want to talk about.” Though some ponies found it cute, Twist had been working to lose her lisp. Often the results were, in her own words, “success followed by a lapthe.” “What is it, Twist?” Twilight kept her own volume low in response. “Can we thpeak privately?” “Of course. Let me just ask Spike to handle things in case anypony needs to check anything out.” Once her able assistant had been informed that he was officially In Charge, Twilight moved towards the basement stairs, asking questions of other patrons as she and Twist passed. “Is that movie reference guide what you were looking for, Cherry Berry? Are you enjoying the novel so far, Flitter? Dreamer, did you see that we have the new Neil Hay-Grass Trotson in?” Each query was met with a pleased affirmative. The basement was surprisingly roomy given the clutter that occupied it. Twist saw more books, some equipment for book repair, bags of magically-enhanced tree food, all sorts of strange laboratory devices, and an unopened crate that was marked “Deluxe Mad Scientist Kit – Proudly Made in Cross-Forest”. That one was slightly worrying, but she had confidence that Twilight would only use it for good, not evil. Twilight gestured to her guest to take a seat, then took one as well. “What's on your mind?” Twist blushed and took a deep breath before she spoke. “I... I want to learn about romance. Like in the bookth. Like in the thtuff... stuff I've been writing.” “I hate to disappoint you, Twist, but I'm not exactly all that knowledgeable in that area myself.” “Maybe not, but I still knew I could talk to you.” Twilight's head tilted in confusion, so Twist clarified. “Ponies can talk to librarians about anything.” “Oh. Well, that makes sense. But why not ask your teacher, Miss Cheerilee?” “No! No, no, no. Thomepony... somepony might overhear.” “So I take it you're interested in someone in your class?” Twist wouldn't have been a very good poker player. “Maybe.” “Would it happen to be Snips or Snails?” Twilight had had a few run-ins with those two of Twist's classmates. “Pleathe!” Twist rolled her eyes. “Even when I dumb my converthation down, I can thtill run verbal ringth around Thnailth, and Thnipth ithn't much better.” Her lack of attention to her lisp showed just how emphatic she was on the subject. “Uh... what about your friend, the aspiring gourmet cook?” “He's a good friend and that's it. And even if he wathn't, he liketh Peachy Pie.” Twilight knew some fillies in Twist's class, as they were younger sisters of her own good friends, but her mental roster was rapidly running out of eligible colts. She reflected that this lack of information on her part might be another reason why Twist had approached her instead of Cheerilee. “Well, I guess I don't really need to know. As for romance itself, I can recommend some books...” Twist cut her off. “I've read them.” “And?” “The fiction is all thilly, even more than what you saw of my writing. The non-fiction is too clinical. The poetry doesn't give any tholid details.” “So what you're looking for is more along the lines of personal experiences.” “Precisely.” Twist gave a pleased smile, happy that Twilight had understood her needs, and proud of getting the word out without a hitch. “Therefore, we need ponies who not only have romantic experience, but are willing to contribute to the education of a young filly. There's only one thing to do in a situation like this.” “What's that?” “Let's make a list!” Chapter 2: RarityIt was perfect. Wintergreen was both pleased with herself for conceiving of the plan, and disappointed that she hadn't thought of it earlier. In years past, during visits to her estate, she had opened her home to the country ponies for special events. She would take advantage of the upcoming holiday and not only observe it, but plan the biggest celebration ever. She would invite all ponies within a pegaflight of her home. He was sure to be there. She would, of course, have to be attired appropriately. She would have to wear something new. She was still in no mood to return to Canterlot, and she hadn't the patience for a trip to Manehattan. The village seamstress Gemstone was said to be talented. Lady Wintergreen would visit her and commission something grand. Friday afternoon. As much as Twist enjoyed her time in school, she appreciated weekends like all foals do. And this one was especially anticipated, because it would begin her guidance from her new mentor, Twilight Sparkle. The bell rang, class was dismissed, and she wasted no time making her way to the library, eating up the distance with a cheerful trot. By the time Twist arrived, Twilight had already turned over responsibility to Spike and stepped outside. She knew the little dragon secretly felt more powerful in his role once she was out the door, and she also thought that it might be for the best if he didn't know where she and Twist were going. It could get... awkward. “Good afternoon, Twist! Are you ready?” “Yes, Mith Twilight!” Twist silently cursed her lisp and wished she could just be rid of it already. “Have you ever been to the boutique before?” “No, but my mom has bought a few things there.” The Carousel Boutique was close enough to the library that they didn't have time for much more conversation than that. The door opened with a pleasant jingle of bells, and Twist took in her unfamiliar surroundings. Elegant furniture, a comfortable temperature, a pleasant smell that seemed to be a mix of several kinds of flowers, and the beautiful white unicorn who owned the business. “Hello, Twilight. I see you brought the guest you promised to have with you.” “Rarity, this is Shimmy Shake's daughter, Twist. You may have seen her with Sweetie Belle, since they're in the same class.” “I know we've seen each other before, but I don't believe we've ever actually met. Welcome, dear. How can I help the two of you?” “Twist has her eye on a colt, and she wanted to know how to catch his attention, what to expect once she does, that sort of thing. And as much as I hate to admit it....” The rest of Twilight's sentence was lost in an unintelligble mumble. “What was that, dear?” More mumbling. “I'm sorry?” “I said she doesn't feel that books on the topic are very helpful!” Twilight clapped a hoof over her own mouth as if she had just yelled out an innovative compound obscenity. “Oh. Well, I think I can be of some help there. No stallion every completely outgrows being a colt, and in some ways, colts are all alike. Twilight, why don't you get comfy on the couch? Twist, dear, please stand here.” She led Twist over to a low platform that she was sometimes used for her customers to model their new purchases. “Colts are very visual creatures, so the first thing we're going to do is talk about enhancing the beauty you already have.” “You mean like getting rid of my glasses?” “Certainly not!” Rarity turned away for a moment and used her magic to ransack some nearby drawers. When she turned back, she was wearing glasses of her own. Her frames were red to Twist's purple, but there was still enough similarity to get the point across. “They draw attention to your eyes, which I can see are very pretty. Also, I know from your mother's bragging that you're quite intelligent, and they help you to look the part.” Twist smiled. “So you don't believe what they thay about fillies in glasses?” “It's nonsense. Colts do make passes at girls who wear glasses, and the ones who don't aren't worth your time. The only real idea I had concerning your look was relaxing your mane a bit.” “You think it should be straight?” “No, no. We'll just loosen up those curls a bit, have them flowing in no time, and do the same for your tail. Now this doesn't beat a trip to the spa, of course, but you can always do that later. May I?” She held up a bottle in her magical grip, waiting for her guest's approval. “I trutht you.” Twist sat back on her haunches, closed her eyes, and relaxed. Rarity was soon combing an unfamiliar but warm liquid through her mane. “Wonderful, dear! Now, remember what I said about some colts not being worth your time?” Rarity paused what she was doing so that Twist could nod without causing any tangles or other complications. “It's important to have standards. Standards for yourself, standards for your suitor, you see what I'm getting at. You can't let yourself get swept off your hooves by just any colt who comes along. He has to have charm. He has to have manners. He has to be thoughtful. He has to be able to eat normal food like a regular pony and not --” “Rarity!” Twilight had learned when it was time to interrupt her friend. “What? Oh, yes. Sorry about that. Where was I?” “You were talking about thtandards, but I think I have that part figured out. I have thomepony in mind. But what about after that, when you're actually in a relationship. What do you actually do?” “Well, you uh... that is... honestly, I can't say I know from personal experience.” “Rarity?” Twilight was far too shocked to really contribute to the conversation. “This is the other side of what I was talking about with standards: don't set them unrealistically high. Don't go chasing an ideal that doesn't exist. If you do, you'll make the same mistake I did. I spent my whole life waiting for a prince, only to find out that he... was a jerk. The stories all say that some day your prince will come, but don't wait around for him. Spend that time finding a colt who can love somepony other than himself.” “That's good advice, Mith Rarity. Thank you.” “You're very welcome, dear.” Twilight was starting to absorb the new information. “Rarity, the Gala was ages ago. What about since then?” “I've kept my ears up and my eyes open since then, darling. That's all I'll say for now. Twist, there's a mirror behind you; tell me what you think.” Twist gasped. She no longer had the tight, self-attacking coils she was used to seeing on her head, what she thought of has her “mane-spring”. Instead, she was looking at gently flowing rivulets like so many miniature waterfalls. “It's beautiful.” “You're beautiful, dear. And please take this bottle with you; I have more, after all. And while I may not have the exact perspective you're looking for right this moment, I still think I can be helpful. Feel free to come to me for advice or opinions.” “I will! Thank you!” Twist rose up on her hind legs to give Rarity a hug. Her excitement over her new look was more than enough to balance out any disappointment she may have had over not learning about relationships from an experienced point of view. Somepony was sure to help her learn what she wanted to know. After all, that was what Miss Twilight's list was for, wasn't it? Chapter 3: Mrs. CakeGiven the scope of the gathering Wintergreen had planned, she knew that at least one part of the preparations would exceed the capabilities of her staff. There was nothing for it; for her plan to work, she would have to resort to catering. It's not that she objected on general principle; she had specific concerns. Bringing in cooks and supplies from Canterlot would have been ruinously expensive even with her personal fortune, and she was less certain of what the locals could do. She knew the baker was talented, but she had to hope he had regained his dignity and would not throw himself at her again. Best to visit him first and get it over with, then. With any luck, Lady Wintergreen would only have to speak to his wife. Twist and her guide Twilight left the boutique. Their next destination would have been described as “the sweetest place in Ponyville” if there had ever been any need to advertise. Sugarcube Corner did fine business based on repeat customers and word-of-mouth; newcomers and visitors to town were drawn by both the building's resemblance to a gingerbread house and the wonderful smells that came from within. The pink earth pony mare behind the counter wasted no time in greeting her visitors. “Hi, Twist! We made good use of all that peppermint candy, and the Cakes are ready to buy more as soon as you feel like making a batch that size again. Hi, Twilight! I hope you're here to try my new invention! What I did was I made a lot of little miniature pies and I just kind of smooshed 'em all together in a regular-sized pie crust. I made sure to keep all the little pies as separate as I could so that they don't just all mix together into one weird flavor, and you can get as many as four or five flavors in a single slice! I was going to call it pie pie, but Mrs. Cake reminded me that lots of new recipes get named after the pony who created them, so we're going to sell it as Pie pie pie! Mr. Cake said maybe I should call it 'pie cubed', but that doesn't make sense because it's not a cube at all, it's closer to a cylinder. Or if you want to get technical (and I know you do, Twilight) it's actually a conic section because the outer surface has a slope and the radius changes according to --” “Pinkie!” “Yes?” “I'll be happy to try some. Is Mrs. Cake here? We were hoping she might have a moment to talk to Twist.” “She was with the twins the last I saw her, but I can see if she's free, or maybe babysit for a few minutes so she can come up front. Before I go, is it true what I've heard about you branching out, Twist?” “I've been experimenting with thpear... spearmint. I really like the results.” “Sounds yummy! Let me go check on Mrs. Cake, and I'll make sure that both of you get to try a slice of Pie pie pie before you leave.” Pinkie Pie disappeared into the back, and Twilight's eyes went out of focus for a moment as she wondered about her friend's familiarity with three-dimensional geometry; normally nopony talked about that sort of thing but Twilight herself! She didn't have long to think about it, though, because she distracted by the arrival of another earth pony mare. Mrs. Cake had a blue coat, and in contrast to Pinkie's frizzy explosion of a mane, hers looked more like soft-serve ice cream. “Hello, Twilight! Hello, Twist! Since the two of you are here together, I know it's not about business. But like I'm sure Pinkie told you, Twist, we'll be happy to buy another batch of candy any time you're ready.” Twist was pleased. “I can have thome done before the weekend is over!” Mrs. Cake led her visitors to a nearby table; there were no customers in the bakery right then, so they were able to sit down with no trouble. “Now, Twilight let me know what's on your mind, and I've been giving some thought to what I can tell you. The first thing to keep in mind is that Mr. Cake and I have been together a long, long time. Some of what was true for us may not apply to young ponies dating these days. Other things I could tell you may not make sense until you're married yourself. There's one lesson that never changes, though.” Twilight was intrigued, but she kept quiet and let Twist ask the obvious question: “What's that?” Mrs. Cake paused long enough to make eye contact with Twist before giving her answer. “Communication. It's absolutely necessary. Always listen to each other. Sometimes you might have to draw him out, because stallions aren't always good at expressing their feelings. Also, be as clear as you can when you want to tell him something: don't assume, don't play games, don't expect him to read your mind. I love Carrot, but he's not always good at knowing what I mean if I don't come right out and say it. Even the smartest stallions have trouble reading mares.” Twilight spoke up. “Sometimes the smartest stallions are the worst at understanding mares. According to several books that I've read, anyway.” Mrs. Cake nodded. “Exactly. Say what needs to be said, and encourage him to do the same. My husband and I communicate, and we've had many happy years together.” As she spoke, a door opened behind the counter; Mr. Cake had coincidentally left the back of the store in time to hear her last sentence. He trotted over without a word, kissed his wife on the cheek, and headed upstairs. “See what I mean?” The Pie pie pie was delicious, and Twist was especially happy to find peppermint flavor making up part of her slice. Twist and Twilight left Sugarcube Corner, and Twist mentioned that despite the tasty dessert she had just eaten, it might be a good idea to get home in time for dinner. Twilight understood, and told her that she hadn't planned any other visits for the day. The mare received a hug of thanks from the filly, and they went their separate ways. Chatper 4: Princess LunaWintergreen was a storm of emotions. She was grateful that Orange Blossom had confirmed her brother would attend, but somewhat resentful that she hadn't been told earlier. Good news should always be given immediately, she felt. And above all was the agitation and the fluttering heart that came from knowing that Passion Fruit would be in her home! She was eager for this to happen, but she was also afraid that he would turn her away. Why did Orange Blossom have to tell her as she was about to retire for the evening? How was she supposed to fall asleep now? Twist's only comfort was the fact that her grandfather was sitting beside her, so she wrapped her forelegs around him as tightly as she could. Their speed kept increasing, the blackouts were more frequent, and the images that were visible when they could see were strange and disturbing. And yet during all of this, their host and guide was sitting there singing to himself! Why wasn't the boat slowing down? Where were they going? How could all of this possibly fit inside the candy factory anyway? And how was it that the boat had enough seats for everypony still on the tour, but none for the foals and guardians who had already left? Had the factory owner somehow known what was going to happen? Darkness again, and then there was nothing beneath her fore-hooves. Light suddenly returned in the form of stars overhead shining through gaps in dark clouds. She was alone in the boat, which was somehow on a perfectly still pond instead of the mysterious subterranean waterway. The boat was no longer moving, but she hadn't felt it slowing down. She heard a regular series of light splashes behind her that were obviously coming closer. She turned but couldn't quite make out the dark figure that was approaching until clouds parted and moonlight began shining down. Casually strolling across the surface of the water was Luna, Princess of the Night. “I apologize for the intrusion, Twist. Based on what I saw, however, I imagine my presence is not entirely unwelcome.” Luna's voice was quiet and measured, nothing like the reports of her first visit to Ponyville. Twist found herself recalling things she had heard and read. It was nothing taught in the classroom, but there were stories that foals told each other, and hints in very old books. “If you're here, Princess Luna, then this is a dream.” Luna gave a small smile and stepped into the boat with hooves that were somehow dry. “You are as intelligent as Twilight Sparkle said you were.” She settled into the backwards-facing seat that the eccentric candy mogul had been sitting in just moments before. “Miss Twilight told you about me?” The filly could hardly believe her ears. “Not directly. She wrote a letter to my sister. Twilight was seeking royal wisdom, and I volunteered to offer what I could.” “You volunteered? I'm honored, Princess, but I don't understand why.” “Several reasons. I have what I believe to be a relevant perspective. Also, my talent as a dream walker makes it easier for me to make a personal appearance without needing to involve or inconvenience others. Finally, while my sister and I love all the ponies of Equestria, the foals of Ponyville are especially dear to me.” “Thank you, Princess. I hardly know what to say. I suppose that seems silly to someone like you.” Luna smiled again. “Say whatever you like, Twist. Haven't you noticed? In your dreams, everything sounds exactly as you intend it.” Twist's mouth dropped open in surprise. “Wait, is that true? Soup. Salad. Molasses! SASSY! This is wonderful, Princess!” The princess had to laugh at her new friend's joy and enthusiasm. “There are certain advantages to the dream world, yes. Sometimes pieces of a dream can even be taken with you back to the waking world, making the waking world better for you. For example, you will remember this conversation even if you forget everything else you have dreamed this night.” “Is it true what they say about dreams? Now that I know that I'm in one, I can do what I want?” Luna continued to be amused. “Try it out.” Twist closed her eyes in concentration. When she opened them, she was back in school. As usual, she was in the front row. None of the other students were present, but then neither was her teacher; Princess Luna was sitting behind Miss Cheerilee's desk. She was also wearing dark-framed glasses that matched her mane, even though Twist didn't recall imagining that detail. There were other unexpected touches as well: the chalkboard had “Miss Luna” written on it in large letters, and on the desk was a mug that read “THE HOMEWORK HAS BEEN DOUBLED.” Twist looked around. “It seems like it worked. Mostly, anyway.” Luna pushed her glasses down with a hoof and winked over the top of the frames. “The rest was me.” With that, she reached under the teacher's desk and brought out a globe of the moon, which she placed just to the side of the mug. “I'm going to tell you a story. You've probably heard a version of it before, so note-taking is optional.” Twist scooted her desk a little closer and propped her chin on her hooves. Luna took a deep breath, looked to the side, turned back, and removed her glasses. The playfulness was gone. “When I was much younger, there was no question in my mind that I was loved. Celestia and I freed Equestria from Discord's whims. We stopped Sombra's attempts at conquest, and although it was displaced in time, we were able to prevent the destruction of the Crystal Empire. We were celebrated. The love we had – the love I had – for the ponies of Equestria was returned.” Luna had let her gaze wander, but she brought her eyes back to Twist and saw that the filly was hanging on her every word. The princess kept her attention on her audience and continued speaking, although with her volume reduced somewhat. “Equestria was at peace. Peace brings contentment, which can bring forgetfulness. It can lead to taking things for granted. Today, ponies such as our mutual friend Twilight Sparkle are very appreciative of the night sky. They study it, they chart it, they love the night for what it is. Back then, the population was lower, and admirers were fewer. Much fewer. I felt... it seemed to me... that I was no longer loved. I grew resentful.” Mere seconds of silence seemed to drag on. Twist prompted the alicorn. “And then?” “Then I made the mistake of keeping it to myself. If I had spoken to my sister, I would have learned what I know now – that even then, there were paintings and poems inspired by the night. I was appreciated, even though I didn't realize it. The nature of ponies is to sleep at night, but I couldn't accept this simple fact. I was hurt when nopony intended to cause pain. And so I began listening to... others.” Twist whispered, “And that's when you became Nightmare Moon.” She was in awe. It was one thing to know the tale, but it was something completely different to hear it first-hoof. Luna nodded. “Imagine being a prisoner behind your own eyes, forced to observe as another uses your mouth to speak, uses your hooves to strike, uses your magic to attack all that you love. Being contained was a relief compared to that. A thousand years in what Twilight calls 'suspended animation'. I may have dreamed during that time. Not long after Nightmare Moon was freed from captivity, I was freed from the nightmare. Since then, I realized something I had not known before, which is the lesson I want to impart now.” Twist was enthralled, but managed to speak. “What is it, Princess?” “When you love and are loved by another, enjoy the things that you like, but learn to accept what you do not. Nopony is perfect. Despite what some might tell you, even my sister has her flaws. But I love her just the same. As I love even the ponies who always go indoors at sundown and are in bed soon after.” Twist rubbed her chin and mused about what she had just been told. “Learn to accept things you don't like about your special somepony... or anyone else you love.” “Exactly. It is a lesson I am still teaching myself.” “You shouldn't try to change somepony.” “Correct. Ponies can change themselves if they truly want to, but you cannot make another change for you.” The desks vanished and Twist trotted across the now empty floor of the classroom to give the princess a hug. “You don't need to change, Princess Luna. I love your night sky, and I've read some of Twilight's books about it. I also love that you came to me in my dream to help me.” The classroom itself began to fade into nothingness, as neither dreamer felt it was necessary any longer. Luna stroked a hoof through Twist's mane. “You are very welcome, little one. And thank you, too.” “What for?” “Listening to me, taking my lesson to heart, and reminding me that I am loved.” Twist blushed a little. “You're welcome, Princess. When will I see you again?” “I will be in Ponyville for Nightmare Night again, but I think I can arrange a visit sooner than that.” “I'd like that.” “So would I, Twist. So would I.” When Twist woke up and greeted her parents at breakfast, she discovered that for the first time, controlling her lisp was almost effortless. Author's Note This segment was longer than I anticipated it would be, but I guess Luna needed to tell her story... and so did I. Chapter 5: CheerileeThe handsome farmer was in front of her. If she missed this opportunity, how long would it be until she could once again be so close to him? His mere presence was intoxicating, but she had to do this. Lady Wintergreen gathered her wits and stepped forward to confess her love. It was the start of another school week, the cause of much moaning and groaning among colts and fillies alike. Twist didn't mind as much, though. She picked up on things quickly, she had a fantastic teacher, and being back in class meant she would be near him. Maybe today would finally be the day, now that she had a better notion of what a relationship entailed. She just might decide to talk to him after school, or even at lunch – and not about the day's lessons, either. As usual, Cheerilee began the first morning back with general discussion, mixed with some questions about what they had been covering recently. She knew it helped her students get their brains back in learning mode after the weekend and prodded their memories. Diamond Tiara, the resident spoiled daddy's girl in class, managed to once again work another not-so-subtle mention of her family's wealth into the conversation. Scootaloo the tomboy-fangirl compared the protagonist in their assigned reading to her idol, Rainbow Dash. Twist paid attention to her teacher and even answered questions posed to the class, but for the most part she tuned out her classmates. Only Cheerilee really noticed how preoccupied she was. Eventually, the morning ended. By the time Cheerilee finished announcing “Lunch time, everypony!” the class was half empty. In a quieter voice, she said, “Twist? If you have a moment, I'd like to talk to you about your independent study project.” Twist hadn't really expected that her teacher would know about her latest outside learning, but neither was she really surprised. She waited until the other students were gone, headed up to Cheerilee's desk, and asked, “Yes, Miss Cheerilee?” “Twist, I'm sure you know that Twilight Sparkle is a friend of mine, and I hope you don't mind that she told me how she's been trying to help you.” “I don't mind at all. I hope you don't mind that I didn't come to you first, Miss Cheerilee.” “Not at all; Twilight gave me your reason, and I understand. But I'm reasonably sure that nopony is listening to us right now, so I wanted to know if you would be interested in some more advice on the topic.” “Of course!” “Before I say anything, though, I'm curious. Just between us, who is it?” Twist told her, and Cheerilee looked thoughtful. “Makes sense. He's nice to everypony, his grades are almost as good as yours, he does some nice work on the school newspaper...” Twist jumped in. “And he's really cute.” She blushed a little when she realized she said it out loud. Cheerilee just smiled. “All of my students are cute. Anyway, there's one thing in particular that I think you should know, and I don't know if you've covered this yet. Some of the other girls in class noticed back on Hearts and Hooves Day that I'm alone, and while I do admit that disappoints me at times, it doesn't change how I feel about myself. Would I like to have a special somepony in my life? Yes. Do I need a special somepony in my life? No. That should be true for you as well.” Twist thought for a moment. “I think I see what you mean. I should find a special somepony because I want to, not because I feel like something's missing.” “Right as usual.” Cheerilee smiled wider, proud of her star student. “I'm not missing anything. I just like him.” “That settles that, then! You should run along and have lunch yourself, but I just want to say one more thing before you go.” “What's that?” “If I'm speaking as a teacher to her student, I should remind you to keep your studies up, and to never let this disrupt the classroom.” She lowered her voice again. “But since we're speaking as girls... good luck!” “Thanks!” Twist returned to her desk, got a good grip on her lunch bag with her mouth, and happily trotted outside. Not surprisingly, none of the other students were anywhere near the door of the classroom. She had a pretty good idea of where she wanted to go, though. She circled the schoolhouse to the cellar door. Just as she thought, he was sitting on a nearby bench. He often spent free time on the school paper, so it made sense he would be close to where it was housed. She walked up to the bench, gently set down the brown gag she was carrying, and asked a question she already knew the answer to. “Is anypony sitting here?” She got a polite head shake in return. She sat, opened her bag, and took a bite out of her sandwich. As she chewed, she did her best to clamp down on her nervousness. Time to do this, Twist. She swallowed. “Shady, has anypony ever told you that your mane makes you look a little like Prince Shining Armor?” EpilogueTwilight was taking a leisurely stroll to the new library. Several years ago, it had been diplomatically suggested that it wasn't exactly proper for someone of her stature to be housed in what was, essentially, a public building. The Mayor had even offered to spruce up the town hall and let her live there... until she realized the contradiction and withdrew the offer. Others wanted to build a mansion for her, but Twilight was having none of that. She was quite happy where she was, but she used her influence to direct funds, supplies, and ponypower to building a bigger, better library for Ponyville. As far as Twilight was concerned, everypony won. All she had to do was insist that they not name the facility after her. In time, the Harmony Library earned a reputation in Equestrian bibliophile circles for the beauty of the design, the size of the collection, and a staff that was competent, eager to help, and happy in their work. The little touches helped, too – like the door that was enchanted to open automatically when it was approached during open hours. Twilight stepped through with the same pride she always felt when she thought about how she had had a hoof in making it happen. The happy librarian found who she had been looking for at a large table near the center of the building, a light gray unicorn mare with a flowing white mane and tail. Her eyes were closed. She stood on her back hooves; her front left hoof was on a cracked, dusty, faded book, and her front right was on a blank tome of roughly the same size. Her horn gave off a pale glow that also surrounded the two volumes. When the glow faded and she opened her eyes again, she quickly flipped through both texts to confirm that the duplicate matched the original. It was only then that she looked up and noticed her visitor watching her work. “I apologize for ignoring you, Princess! I didn't realize that you were coming!” “How many times do I have to tell you, Alexandria? You're not just my head librarian, you're also a friend, and either one of those means you can just call me Twilight.” Alexandria dropped her front hooves back to the floor, but then immediately raised one again to rub the back of her mane, trying to make the awkward feelings go away. “Sorry, Twilight. You know how it is, growing up in Canterlot. Old habits die hard.” “Don't worry about it. Speaking of Canterlot, is that the latest shipment from there?” “No, no... I've already returned those books, as well as sent the new copies to Manehattan, Fillydelphia, and everypony else who requested them. This one is actually something that your sister-in-law located and sent along. This copy is going on the shelves, the original is going into the protected archives, and your copy is in my office. I've got something else for you there, too.” The two colleagues chatted about the ongoing business of the library while making their way to an out-of-the-way room. The door was marked “HEAD LIBRARIAN” and was almost always open. Inside were some low seats in the standard pony design, a very cluttered desk, and several sets of completely organized shelves. “Bear with me a moment, Twilight. I know more or less where it is.” “What is it?” Alexandria stopped, looked at the princess, and blinked in surprise. “I didn't tell you that, did I?” Twilight smiled. Sometimes it was almost like having a sister. “No, you didn't.” “It's a letter. It has your name on it, but it's just addressed to the Ponyville library. It's been a while since we got any of your mail, so maybe it's somepony who used to live here? Found it!” She floated an envelope out of a pile of other papers, and passed it over from her telekinetic grip to Twilight's. Twilight looked at the return address. “You're right. She graduated from school here in Ponyville and went off to study in Coltorado. Liked it so much she decided to stay.” She opened up the envelope and was puzzled to find another envelope inside. She continued speaking almost absent-mindedly. "We have her books on our shelves, you know. Well, you wouldn't know that; she writes under a pen name." The second envelope was opened as well. Twilight unfolded what was found inside and began to read. “A wedding invitation? Of course I'll be there! Oh, I'm so happy for you, Twist!” BONUS: Princess Cadance Dear Twist, I expect this letter comes as something of a surprise to you. I'm sure you already know that your town librarian is no ordinary pony; another important thing to know is that any friend of Twilight Sparkle's is a friend of mine. I've known her since she was a filly, back when we both lived in Canterlot. (Oh, and I married her brother not too long ago. He seems to think it's important for me to mention that. Stop reading over my shoulder, Shining!) So now you probably have an idea of how I heard about your situation. This may not be your only royal response, either – I've heard that Celestia was going to send something to you, but Luna volunteered instead. (You might even have that letter by the time you get this.) As to why I'm writing to you, let's just say I know a little bit about the topic at hoof. (I also like to help ponies, except for the ones who keep trying to read letters while I'm writing them. Bad things happen to those ponies, Shining.) It's very sensible of you to want to learn more about love and relationships before “leaping from the cloud”, as the pegasi say. I know you're fond of books just like Twilight and me, so I'm enclosing a short list of titles you might be interested in. The one at the top of the list is one of the most beautiful novels I've ever read; the next one down is an impressive work from a professor in Fillydelphia, even if it's a little dry at times. Since you'll no doubt have questions, please write back to me if there's anything I can help clear up for you. I'm also hoping you'll also write to me with updates – I want to hear how you win that colt's heart! And you definitely need to write to me if you ever plan to travel to the Crystal Empire. I'll arrange a place for you and your parents to stay, I'll make sure you get a tour of the palace, and we'll actually be able to meet unless something VERY unusual is going on. There is, however, one other thing you should keep in mind: books and questions can only teach you so much about love. Friendship and love are closely related, and just like Twilight had to be sent out of her comfortable routine in Canterlot to learn about friendship, you'll eventually have to put yourself forward to learn about love. Like the old earth pony saying advises us, sometimes you just have to water the crop and see what grows. I won't lie about rejection and pain: they can happen, but you should never let fear hold you back from what your heart wants. One last thing – I wrote “colt” because Twilight told me you were interested in one. If you ever find yourself feeling that way about a filly, that's fine. Love is love. Your new friend, Cadance ~~Mi Amore Cadenza~~ ~~Crystal Princess, Keeper of the Crystal Heart, Regis of the Crystal Empire~~ ~~Princess-by-Deed of Equestria, Steward of the Royal Equestrian Protectorate~~ I apologize. I said I was going to write a personal letter, and this is what they gave me. I swear, that's the last time I tell anypony I'm going to write a letter at all. Next time I'm just going to ask for a blank piece of paper and keep my mouth shut. Author's Note I reject the headcanon that ponies have last names like humans do. I decided that a "full name" would refer to a pony's parents, much like in actual breeding of horses and ponies in the real world. You can learn about Twist's father Tango in my story "Special Talents".
PrologueOn a rogue blue-green world, towards the center of a large continent, was a place where many types of terrain met. The mountains were close enough to make the sunrises over them particularly impressive – even if one didn't know the magical nature of the miniature star creating the beautiful colors. A large and dense forest thinned to nothing nearby. When the wind was right, it was possible to smell the swamp land that the amphibians loved; after all, it was a short walk away. In the middle of all this was an area of grassy hills and plains that made for good agriculture. In the middle of that was Ponyville. Ponyville was hardly deserving of the reputation it had in larger cities. After all it had (among other things) its own library. Despite it being a small facility, this particular library was gaining some notoriety among bibliophiles. The librarian was known for her extensive knowledge, her keen organizational skills, her ties to royalty, and for having taken part in saving the world. More than once. The librarian in question, one Twilight Sparkle, was a unicorn of considerable power. She was, at the moment, devoting a small fraction of that power to exercising her organizational skills and fighting entropy. Shelving books was so much easier with precision telekinesis than with mouth or hooves. She paused, puzzled by a volume with no identifying information at all on the cover or spine. She set it aside to examine after she had everything else in the proper place, which took approximately 45 seconds. The outside of the book still stubbornly refused to actually have any writing on it, which, by her way of thinking, was something of a sin. Books were supposed to be helpful, and so far this one wasn't. There was always the title page, of course; by definition, that had to tell her something. Except there was no title page. There was just a page full of writing – not printing. That obviously made it some sort of journal or diary, one of the nicer sort with good binding and a sturdy cover. Hoping that the text would offer some clues about the owner, she started reading. Lady Wintergreen had, once again, caused something of a stir in high society. She had rejected the advances of the prince himself, and being unable to tolerate the gossip that resulted, she fled Canterlot for her country estate. Yet even here she drew unwanted attention from stallions who held no interest for her. Some were drawn by her long, straight, flowing mane and tail. Some were struck by her alabaster coat. Others were attracted to her perfect eyes and clear voice. Just last week, Croissant, the baker in the nearby village, had offered to leave his wife Confection for her. Today she had turned away not one but two suitors, neither of whom had been brave enough to approach her by himself. She gathered that this Shears and his companion Escargot were such good friends that they would be happy no matter her choice. They didn't anticipate that her choice would be to have them shown the door by Orange Blossom, her hoofmaiden. None of them knew that there was only one stallion for her. They all imagined they could be the one to lay claim to her heart, despite it already belonging to another. She knew that she could only give her love to Orange Blossom's brother. Though he was but a simple farmer, no other would do. Passion Fruit was the one for her. Twilight closed the cover with a flick of magic. She looked up to see if one of her favorite patrons was still in the library, and soon saw that she was. “Twist? I think I have something that belongs to you.”
Chapter 1: Twilight SparkleLady Wintergreen was appalled. “A love potion? I'll do no such thing!” Any other servant who made a suggestion of this sort would have been reprimanded for undue familiarity, but Orange Blossom had been her companion since foalhood. “Where did you come up with that idea?” “I got it from the old wise mare in the village, miss.” Orange Bloom looked down in apology. “And has this wise mare a name?” “She's called Sundown, miss.” Wintergreen had heard this name before. Sundown was, in fact, a unicorn of no small skill who had left Canterlot many years before. Some said she had been banished from the court, some said she was in self-imposed exile. Either way, she would be likely to have notions other than potions. Twist was a white-coated filly with a curly mane and glasses, and she was in the library fairly often. She liked to learn, loved reading, and in many ways reminded Twilight of herself at that age – except for Twist's dominant earth pony genes limiting her to subconscious magic in very specific areas. She didn't seem surprised at all by what Twilight had said, and she crossed the room without hesitation. She spoke quietly as soon as she was close enough to be heard. “I'm glad you found that, Mith Twilight. I've got something I want to talk about.” Though some ponies found it cute, Twist had been working to lose her lisp. Often the results were, in her own words, “success followed by a lapthe.” “What is it, Twist?” Twilight kept her own volume low in response. “Can we thpeak privately?” “Of course. Let me just ask Spike to handle things in case anypony needs to check anything out.” Once her able assistant had been informed that he was officially In Charge, Twilight moved towards the basement stairs, asking questions of other patrons as she and Twist passed. “Is that movie reference guide what you were looking for, Cherry Berry? Are you enjoying the novel so far, Flitter? Dreamer, did you see that we have the new Neil Hay-Grass Trotson in?” Each query was met with a pleased affirmative. The basement was surprisingly roomy given the clutter that occupied it. Twist saw more books, some equipment for book repair, bags of magically-enhanced tree food, all sorts of strange laboratory devices, and an unopened crate that was marked “Deluxe Mad Scientist Kit – Proudly Made in Cross-Forest”. That one was slightly worrying, but she had confidence that Twilight would only use it for good, not evil. Twilight gestured to her guest to take a seat, then took one as well. “What's on your mind?” Twist blushed and took a deep breath before she spoke. “I... I want to learn about romance. Like in the bookth. Like in the thtuff... stuff I've been writing.” “I hate to disappoint you, Twist, but I'm not exactly all that knowledgeable in that area myself.” “Maybe not, but I still knew I could talk to you.” Twilight's head tilted in confusion, so Twist clarified. “Ponies can talk to librarians about anything.” “Oh. Well, that makes sense. But why not ask your teacher, Miss Cheerilee?” “No! No, no, no. Thomepony... somepony might overhear.” “So I take it you're interested in someone in your class?” Twist wouldn't have been a very good poker player. “Maybe.” “Would it happen to be Snips or Snails?” Twilight had had a few run-ins with those two of Twist's classmates. “Pleathe!” Twist rolled her eyes. “Even when I dumb my converthation down, I can thtill run verbal ringth around Thnailth, and Thnipth ithn't much better.” Her lack of attention to her lisp showed just how emphatic she was on the subject. “Uh... what about your friend, the aspiring gourmet cook?” “He's a good friend and that's it. And even if he wathn't, he liketh Peachy Pie.” Twilight knew some fillies in Twist's class, as they were younger sisters of her own good friends, but her mental roster was rapidly running out of eligible colts. She reflected that this lack of information on her part might be another reason why Twist had approached her instead of Cheerilee. “Well, I guess I don't really need to know. As for romance itself, I can recommend some books...” Twist cut her off. “I've read them.” “And?” “The fiction is all thilly, even more than what you saw of my writing. The non-fiction is too clinical. The poetry doesn't give any tholid details.” “So what you're looking for is more along the lines of personal experiences.” “Precisely.” Twist gave a pleased smile, happy that Twilight had understood her needs, and proud of getting the word out without a hitch. “Therefore, we need ponies who not only have romantic experience, but are willing to contribute to the education of a young filly. There's only one thing to do in a situation like this.” “What's that?” “Let's make a list!”
Chapter 2: RarityIt was perfect. Wintergreen was both pleased with herself for conceiving of the plan, and disappointed that she hadn't thought of it earlier. In years past, during visits to her estate, she had opened her home to the country ponies for special events. She would take advantage of the upcoming holiday and not only observe it, but plan the biggest celebration ever. She would invite all ponies within a pegaflight of her home. He was sure to be there. She would, of course, have to be attired appropriately. She would have to wear something new. She was still in no mood to return to Canterlot, and she hadn't the patience for a trip to Manehattan. The village seamstress Gemstone was said to be talented. Lady Wintergreen would visit her and commission something grand. Friday afternoon. As much as Twist enjoyed her time in school, she appreciated weekends like all foals do. And this one was especially anticipated, because it would begin her guidance from her new mentor, Twilight Sparkle. The bell rang, class was dismissed, and she wasted no time making her way to the library, eating up the distance with a cheerful trot. By the time Twist arrived, Twilight had already turned over responsibility to Spike and stepped outside. She knew the little dragon secretly felt more powerful in his role once she was out the door, and she also thought that it might be for the best if he didn't know where she and Twist were going. It could get... awkward. “Good afternoon, Twist! Are you ready?” “Yes, Mith Twilight!” Twist silently cursed her lisp and wished she could just be rid of it already. “Have you ever been to the boutique before?” “No, but my mom has bought a few things there.” The Carousel Boutique was close enough to the library that they didn't have time for much more conversation than that. The door opened with a pleasant jingle of bells, and Twist took in her unfamiliar surroundings. Elegant furniture, a comfortable temperature, a pleasant smell that seemed to be a mix of several kinds of flowers, and the beautiful white unicorn who owned the business. “Hello, Twilight. I see you brought the guest you promised to have with you.” “Rarity, this is Shimmy Shake's daughter, Twist. You may have seen her with Sweetie Belle, since they're in the same class.” “I know we've seen each other before, but I don't believe we've ever actually met. Welcome, dear. How can I help the two of you?” “Twist has her eye on a colt, and she wanted to know how to catch his attention, what to expect once she does, that sort of thing. And as much as I hate to admit it....” The rest of Twilight's sentence was lost in an unintelligble mumble. “What was that, dear?” More mumbling. “I'm sorry?” “I said she doesn't feel that books on the topic are very helpful!” Twilight clapped a hoof over her own mouth as if she had just yelled out an innovative compound obscenity. “Oh. Well, I think I can be of some help there. No stallion every completely outgrows being a colt, and in some ways, colts are all alike. Twilight, why don't you get comfy on the couch? Twist, dear, please stand here.” She led Twist over to a low platform that she was sometimes used for her customers to model their new purchases. “Colts are very visual creatures, so the first thing we're going to do is talk about enhancing the beauty you already have.” “You mean like getting rid of my glasses?” “Certainly not!” Rarity turned away for a moment and used her magic to ransack some nearby drawers. When she turned back, she was wearing glasses of her own. Her frames were red to Twist's purple, but there was still enough similarity to get the point across. “They draw attention to your eyes, which I can see are very pretty. Also, I know from your mother's bragging that you're quite intelligent, and they help you to look the part.” Twist smiled. “So you don't believe what they thay about fillies in glasses?” “It's nonsense. Colts do make passes at girls who wear glasses, and the ones who don't aren't worth your time. The only real idea I had concerning your look was relaxing your mane a bit.” “You think it should be straight?” “No, no. We'll just loosen up those curls a bit, have them flowing in no time, and do the same for your tail. Now this doesn't beat a trip to the spa, of course, but you can always do that later. May I?” She held up a bottle in her magical grip, waiting for her guest's approval. “I trutht you.” Twist sat back on her haunches, closed her eyes, and relaxed. Rarity was soon combing an unfamiliar but warm liquid through her mane. “Wonderful, dear! Now, remember what I said about some colts not being worth your time?” Rarity paused what she was doing so that Twist could nod without causing any tangles or other complications. “It's important to have standards. Standards for yourself, standards for your suitor, you see what I'm getting at. You can't let yourself get swept off your hooves by just any colt who comes along. He has to have charm. He has to have manners. He has to be thoughtful. He has to be able to eat normal food like a regular pony and not --” “Rarity!” Twilight had learned when it was time to interrupt her friend. “What? Oh, yes. Sorry about that. Where was I?” “You were talking about thtandards, but I think I have that part figured out. I have thomepony in mind. But what about after that, when you're actually in a relationship. What do you actually do?” “Well, you uh... that is... honestly, I can't say I know from personal experience.” “Rarity?” Twilight was far too shocked to really contribute to the conversation. “This is the other side of what I was talking about with standards: don't set them unrealistically high. Don't go chasing an ideal that doesn't exist. If you do, you'll make the same mistake I did. I spent my whole life waiting for a prince, only to find out that he... was a jerk. The stories all say that some day your prince will come, but don't wait around for him. Spend that time finding a colt who can love somepony other than himself.” “That's good advice, Mith Rarity. Thank you.” “You're very welcome, dear.” Twilight was starting to absorb the new information. “Rarity, the Gala was ages ago. What about since then?” “I've kept my ears up and my eyes open since then, darling. That's all I'll say for now. Twist, there's a mirror behind you; tell me what you think.” Twist gasped. She no longer had the tight, self-attacking coils she was used to seeing on her head, what she thought of has her “mane-spring”. Instead, she was looking at gently flowing rivulets like so many miniature waterfalls. “It's beautiful.” “You're beautiful, dear. And please take this bottle with you; I have more, after all. And while I may not have the exact perspective you're looking for right this moment, I still think I can be helpful. Feel free to come to me for advice or opinions.” “I will! Thank you!” Twist rose up on her hind legs to give Rarity a hug. Her excitement over her new look was more than enough to balance out any disappointment she may have had over not learning about relationships from an experienced point of view. Somepony was sure to help her learn what she wanted to know. After all, that was what Miss Twilight's list was for, wasn't it?
Chapter 3: Mrs. CakeGiven the scope of the gathering Wintergreen had planned, she knew that at least one part of the preparations would exceed the capabilities of her staff. There was nothing for it; for her plan to work, she would have to resort to catering. It's not that she objected on general principle; she had specific concerns. Bringing in cooks and supplies from Canterlot would have been ruinously expensive even with her personal fortune, and she was less certain of what the locals could do. She knew the baker was talented, but she had to hope he had regained his dignity and would not throw himself at her again. Best to visit him first and get it over with, then. With any luck, Lady Wintergreen would only have to speak to his wife. Twist and her guide Twilight left the boutique. Their next destination would have been described as “the sweetest place in Ponyville” if there had ever been any need to advertise. Sugarcube Corner did fine business based on repeat customers and word-of-mouth; newcomers and visitors to town were drawn by both the building's resemblance to a gingerbread house and the wonderful smells that came from within. The pink earth pony mare behind the counter wasted no time in greeting her visitors. “Hi, Twist! We made good use of all that peppermint candy, and the Cakes are ready to buy more as soon as you feel like making a batch that size again. Hi, Twilight! I hope you're here to try my new invention! What I did was I made a lot of little miniature pies and I just kind of smooshed 'em all together in a regular-sized pie crust. I made sure to keep all the little pies as separate as I could so that they don't just all mix together into one weird flavor, and you can get as many as four or five flavors in a single slice! I was going to call it pie pie, but Mrs. Cake reminded me that lots of new recipes get named after the pony who created them, so we're going to sell it as Pie pie pie! Mr. Cake said maybe I should call it 'pie cubed', but that doesn't make sense because it's not a cube at all, it's closer to a cylinder. Or if you want to get technical (and I know you do, Twilight) it's actually a conic section because the outer surface has a slope and the radius changes according to --” “Pinkie!” “Yes?” “I'll be happy to try some. Is Mrs. Cake here? We were hoping she might have a moment to talk to Twist.” “She was with the twins the last I saw her, but I can see if she's free, or maybe babysit for a few minutes so she can come up front. Before I go, is it true what I've heard about you branching out, Twist?” “I've been experimenting with thpear... spearmint. I really like the results.” “Sounds yummy! Let me go check on Mrs. Cake, and I'll make sure that both of you get to try a slice of Pie pie pie before you leave.” Pinkie Pie disappeared into the back, and Twilight's eyes went out of focus for a moment as she wondered about her friend's familiarity with three-dimensional geometry; normally nopony talked about that sort of thing but Twilight herself! She didn't have long to think about it, though, because she distracted by the arrival of another earth pony mare. Mrs. Cake had a blue coat, and in contrast to Pinkie's frizzy explosion of a mane, hers looked more like soft-serve ice cream. “Hello, Twilight! Hello, Twist! Since the two of you are here together, I know it's not about business. But like I'm sure Pinkie told you, Twist, we'll be happy to buy another batch of candy any time you're ready.” Twist was pleased. “I can have thome done before the weekend is over!” Mrs. Cake led her visitors to a nearby table; there were no customers in the bakery right then, so they were able to sit down with no trouble. “Now, Twilight let me know what's on your mind, and I've been giving some thought to what I can tell you. The first thing to keep in mind is that Mr. Cake and I have been together a long, long time. Some of what was true for us may not apply to young ponies dating these days. Other things I could tell you may not make sense until you're married yourself. There's one lesson that never changes, though.” Twilight was intrigued, but she kept quiet and let Twist ask the obvious question: “What's that?” Mrs. Cake paused long enough to make eye contact with Twist before giving her answer. “Communication. It's absolutely necessary. Always listen to each other. Sometimes you might have to draw him out, because stallions aren't always good at expressing their feelings. Also, be as clear as you can when you want to tell him something: don't assume, don't play games, don't expect him to read your mind. I love Carrot, but he's not always good at knowing what I mean if I don't come right out and say it. Even the smartest stallions have trouble reading mares.” Twilight spoke up. “Sometimes the smartest stallions are the worst at understanding mares. According to several books that I've read, anyway.” Mrs. Cake nodded. “Exactly. Say what needs to be said, and encourage him to do the same. My husband and I communicate, and we've had many happy years together.” As she spoke, a door opened behind the counter; Mr. Cake had coincidentally left the back of the store in time to hear her last sentence. He trotted over without a word, kissed his wife on the cheek, and headed upstairs. “See what I mean?” The Pie pie pie was delicious, and Twist was especially happy to find peppermint flavor making up part of her slice. Twist and Twilight left Sugarcube Corner, and Twist mentioned that despite the tasty dessert she had just eaten, it might be a good idea to get home in time for dinner. Twilight understood, and told her that she hadn't planned any other visits for the day. The mare received a hug of thanks from the filly, and they went their separate ways.
Chatper 4: Princess LunaWintergreen was a storm of emotions. She was grateful that Orange Blossom had confirmed her brother would attend, but somewhat resentful that she hadn't been told earlier. Good news should always be given immediately, she felt. And above all was the agitation and the fluttering heart that came from knowing that Passion Fruit would be in her home! She was eager for this to happen, but she was also afraid that he would turn her away. Why did Orange Blossom have to tell her as she was about to retire for the evening? How was she supposed to fall asleep now? Twist's only comfort was the fact that her grandfather was sitting beside her, so she wrapped her forelegs around him as tightly as she could. Their speed kept increasing, the blackouts were more frequent, and the images that were visible when they could see were strange and disturbing. And yet during all of this, their host and guide was sitting there singing to himself! Why wasn't the boat slowing down? Where were they going? How could all of this possibly fit inside the candy factory anyway? And how was it that the boat had enough seats for everypony still on the tour, but none for the foals and guardians who had already left? Had the factory owner somehow known what was going to happen? Darkness again, and then there was nothing beneath her fore-hooves. Light suddenly returned in the form of stars overhead shining through gaps in dark clouds. She was alone in the boat, which was somehow on a perfectly still pond instead of the mysterious subterranean waterway. The boat was no longer moving, but she hadn't felt it slowing down. She heard a regular series of light splashes behind her that were obviously coming closer. She turned but couldn't quite make out the dark figure that was approaching until clouds parted and moonlight began shining down. Casually strolling across the surface of the water was Luna, Princess of the Night. “I apologize for the intrusion, Twist. Based on what I saw, however, I imagine my presence is not entirely unwelcome.” Luna's voice was quiet and measured, nothing like the reports of her first visit to Ponyville. Twist found herself recalling things she had heard and read. It was nothing taught in the classroom, but there were stories that foals told each other, and hints in very old books. “If you're here, Princess Luna, then this is a dream.” Luna gave a small smile and stepped into the boat with hooves that were somehow dry. “You are as intelligent as Twilight Sparkle said you were.” She settled into the backwards-facing seat that the eccentric candy mogul had been sitting in just moments before. “Miss Twilight told you about me?” The filly could hardly believe her ears. “Not directly. She wrote a letter to my sister. Twilight was seeking royal wisdom, and I volunteered to offer what I could.” “You volunteered? I'm honored, Princess, but I don't understand why.” “Several reasons. I have what I believe to be a relevant perspective. Also, my talent as a dream walker makes it easier for me to make a personal appearance without needing to involve or inconvenience others. Finally, while my sister and I love all the ponies of Equestria, the foals of Ponyville are especially dear to me.” “Thank you, Princess. I hardly know what to say. I suppose that seems silly to someone like you.” Luna smiled again. “Say whatever you like, Twist. Haven't you noticed? In your dreams, everything sounds exactly as you intend it.” Twist's mouth dropped open in surprise. “Wait, is that true? Soup. Salad. Molasses! SASSY! This is wonderful, Princess!” The princess had to laugh at her new friend's joy and enthusiasm. “There are certain advantages to the dream world, yes. Sometimes pieces of a dream can even be taken with you back to the waking world, making the waking world better for you. For example, you will remember this conversation even if you forget everything else you have dreamed this night.” “Is it true what they say about dreams? Now that I know that I'm in one, I can do what I want?” Luna continued to be amused. “Try it out.” Twist closed her eyes in concentration. When she opened them, she was back in school. As usual, she was in the front row. None of the other students were present, but then neither was her teacher; Princess Luna was sitting behind Miss Cheerilee's desk. She was also wearing dark-framed glasses that matched her mane, even though Twist didn't recall imagining that detail. There were other unexpected touches as well: the chalkboard had “Miss Luna” written on it in large letters, and on the desk was a mug that read “THE HOMEWORK HAS BEEN DOUBLED.” Twist looked around. “It seems like it worked. Mostly, anyway.” Luna pushed her glasses down with a hoof and winked over the top of the frames. “The rest was me.” With that, she reached under the teacher's desk and brought out a globe of the moon, which she placed just to the side of the mug. “I'm going to tell you a story. You've probably heard a version of it before, so note-taking is optional.” Twist scooted her desk a little closer and propped her chin on her hooves. Luna took a deep breath, looked to the side, turned back, and removed her glasses. The playfulness was gone. “When I was much younger, there was no question in my mind that I was loved. Celestia and I freed Equestria from Discord's whims. We stopped Sombra's attempts at conquest, and although it was displaced in time, we were able to prevent the destruction of the Crystal Empire. We were celebrated. The love we had – the love I had – for the ponies of Equestria was returned.” Luna had let her gaze wander, but she brought her eyes back to Twist and saw that the filly was hanging on her every word. The princess kept her attention on her audience and continued speaking, although with her volume reduced somewhat. “Equestria was at peace. Peace brings contentment, which can bring forgetfulness. It can lead to taking things for granted. Today, ponies such as our mutual friend Twilight Sparkle are very appreciative of the night sky. They study it, they chart it, they love the night for what it is. Back then, the population was lower, and admirers were fewer. Much fewer. I felt... it seemed to me... that I was no longer loved. I grew resentful.” Mere seconds of silence seemed to drag on. Twist prompted the alicorn. “And then?” “Then I made the mistake of keeping it to myself. If I had spoken to my sister, I would have learned what I know now – that even then, there were paintings and poems inspired by the night. I was appreciated, even though I didn't realize it. The nature of ponies is to sleep at night, but I couldn't accept this simple fact. I was hurt when nopony intended to cause pain. And so I began listening to... others.” Twist whispered, “And that's when you became Nightmare Moon.” She was in awe. It was one thing to know the tale, but it was something completely different to hear it first-hoof. Luna nodded. “Imagine being a prisoner behind your own eyes, forced to observe as another uses your mouth to speak, uses your hooves to strike, uses your magic to attack all that you love. Being contained was a relief compared to that. A thousand years in what Twilight calls 'suspended animation'. I may have dreamed during that time. Not long after Nightmare Moon was freed from captivity, I was freed from the nightmare. Since then, I realized something I had not known before, which is the lesson I want to impart now.” Twist was enthralled, but managed to speak. “What is it, Princess?” “When you love and are loved by another, enjoy the things that you like, but learn to accept what you do not. Nopony is perfect. Despite what some might tell you, even my sister has her flaws. But I love her just the same. As I love even the ponies who always go indoors at sundown and are in bed soon after.” Twist rubbed her chin and mused about what she had just been told. “Learn to accept things you don't like about your special somepony... or anyone else you love.” “Exactly. It is a lesson I am still teaching myself.” “You shouldn't try to change somepony.” “Correct. Ponies can change themselves if they truly want to, but you cannot make another change for you.” The desks vanished and Twist trotted across the now empty floor of the classroom to give the princess a hug. “You don't need to change, Princess Luna. I love your night sky, and I've read some of Twilight's books about it. I also love that you came to me in my dream to help me.” The classroom itself began to fade into nothingness, as neither dreamer felt it was necessary any longer. Luna stroked a hoof through Twist's mane. “You are very welcome, little one. And thank you, too.” “What for?” “Listening to me, taking my lesson to heart, and reminding me that I am loved.” Twist blushed a little. “You're welcome, Princess. When will I see you again?” “I will be in Ponyville for Nightmare Night again, but I think I can arrange a visit sooner than that.” “I'd like that.” “So would I, Twist. So would I.” When Twist woke up and greeted her parents at breakfast, she discovered that for the first time, controlling her lisp was almost effortless. Author's Note This segment was longer than I anticipated it would be, but I guess Luna needed to tell her story... and so did I.
Chapter 5: CheerileeThe handsome farmer was in front of her. If she missed this opportunity, how long would it be until she could once again be so close to him? His mere presence was intoxicating, but she had to do this. Lady Wintergreen gathered her wits and stepped forward to confess her love. It was the start of another school week, the cause of much moaning and groaning among colts and fillies alike. Twist didn't mind as much, though. She picked up on things quickly, she had a fantastic teacher, and being back in class meant she would be near him. Maybe today would finally be the day, now that she had a better notion of what a relationship entailed. She just might decide to talk to him after school, or even at lunch – and not about the day's lessons, either. As usual, Cheerilee began the first morning back with general discussion, mixed with some questions about what they had been covering recently. She knew it helped her students get their brains back in learning mode after the weekend and prodded their memories. Diamond Tiara, the resident spoiled daddy's girl in class, managed to once again work another not-so-subtle mention of her family's wealth into the conversation. Scootaloo the tomboy-fangirl compared the protagonist in their assigned reading to her idol, Rainbow Dash. Twist paid attention to her teacher and even answered questions posed to the class, but for the most part she tuned out her classmates. Only Cheerilee really noticed how preoccupied she was. Eventually, the morning ended. By the time Cheerilee finished announcing “Lunch time, everypony!” the class was half empty. In a quieter voice, she said, “Twist? If you have a moment, I'd like to talk to you about your independent study project.” Twist hadn't really expected that her teacher would know about her latest outside learning, but neither was she really surprised. She waited until the other students were gone, headed up to Cheerilee's desk, and asked, “Yes, Miss Cheerilee?” “Twist, I'm sure you know that Twilight Sparkle is a friend of mine, and I hope you don't mind that she told me how she's been trying to help you.” “I don't mind at all. I hope you don't mind that I didn't come to you first, Miss Cheerilee.” “Not at all; Twilight gave me your reason, and I understand. But I'm reasonably sure that nopony is listening to us right now, so I wanted to know if you would be interested in some more advice on the topic.” “Of course!” “Before I say anything, though, I'm curious. Just between us, who is it?” Twist told her, and Cheerilee looked thoughtful. “Makes sense. He's nice to everypony, his grades are almost as good as yours, he does some nice work on the school newspaper...” Twist jumped in. “And he's really cute.” She blushed a little when she realized she said it out loud. Cheerilee just smiled. “All of my students are cute. Anyway, there's one thing in particular that I think you should know, and I don't know if you've covered this yet. Some of the other girls in class noticed back on Hearts and Hooves Day that I'm alone, and while I do admit that disappoints me at times, it doesn't change how I feel about myself. Would I like to have a special somepony in my life? Yes. Do I need a special somepony in my life? No. That should be true for you as well.” Twist thought for a moment. “I think I see what you mean. I should find a special somepony because I want to, not because I feel like something's missing.” “Right as usual.” Cheerilee smiled wider, proud of her star student. “I'm not missing anything. I just like him.” “That settles that, then! You should run along and have lunch yourself, but I just want to say one more thing before you go.” “What's that?” “If I'm speaking as a teacher to her student, I should remind you to keep your studies up, and to never let this disrupt the classroom.” She lowered her voice again. “But since we're speaking as girls... good luck!” “Thanks!” Twist returned to her desk, got a good grip on her lunch bag with her mouth, and happily trotted outside. Not surprisingly, none of the other students were anywhere near the door of the classroom. She had a pretty good idea of where she wanted to go, though. She circled the schoolhouse to the cellar door. Just as she thought, he was sitting on a nearby bench. He often spent free time on the school paper, so it made sense he would be close to where it was housed. She walked up to the bench, gently set down the brown gag she was carrying, and asked a question she already knew the answer to. “Is anypony sitting here?” She got a polite head shake in return. She sat, opened her bag, and took a bite out of her sandwich. As she chewed, she did her best to clamp down on her nervousness. Time to do this, Twist. She swallowed. “Shady, has anypony ever told you that your mane makes you look a little like Prince Shining Armor?”
EpilogueTwilight was taking a leisurely stroll to the new library. Several years ago, it had been diplomatically suggested that it wasn't exactly proper for someone of her stature to be housed in what was, essentially, a public building. The Mayor had even offered to spruce up the town hall and let her live there... until she realized the contradiction and withdrew the offer. Others wanted to build a mansion for her, but Twilight was having none of that. She was quite happy where she was, but she used her influence to direct funds, supplies, and ponypower to building a bigger, better library for Ponyville. As far as Twilight was concerned, everypony won. All she had to do was insist that they not name the facility after her. In time, the Harmony Library earned a reputation in Equestrian bibliophile circles for the beauty of the design, the size of the collection, and a staff that was competent, eager to help, and happy in their work. The little touches helped, too – like the door that was enchanted to open automatically when it was approached during open hours. Twilight stepped through with the same pride she always felt when she thought about how she had had a hoof in making it happen. The happy librarian found who she had been looking for at a large table near the center of the building, a light gray unicorn mare with a flowing white mane and tail. Her eyes were closed. She stood on her back hooves; her front left hoof was on a cracked, dusty, faded book, and her front right was on a blank tome of roughly the same size. Her horn gave off a pale glow that also surrounded the two volumes. When the glow faded and she opened her eyes again, she quickly flipped through both texts to confirm that the duplicate matched the original. It was only then that she looked up and noticed her visitor watching her work. “I apologize for ignoring you, Princess! I didn't realize that you were coming!” “How many times do I have to tell you, Alexandria? You're not just my head librarian, you're also a friend, and either one of those means you can just call me Twilight.” Alexandria dropped her front hooves back to the floor, but then immediately raised one again to rub the back of her mane, trying to make the awkward feelings go away. “Sorry, Twilight. You know how it is, growing up in Canterlot. Old habits die hard.” “Don't worry about it. Speaking of Canterlot, is that the latest shipment from there?” “No, no... I've already returned those books, as well as sent the new copies to Manehattan, Fillydelphia, and everypony else who requested them. This one is actually something that your sister-in-law located and sent along. This copy is going on the shelves, the original is going into the protected archives, and your copy is in my office. I've got something else for you there, too.” The two colleagues chatted about the ongoing business of the library while making their way to an out-of-the-way room. The door was marked “HEAD LIBRARIAN” and was almost always open. Inside were some low seats in the standard pony design, a very cluttered desk, and several sets of completely organized shelves. “Bear with me a moment, Twilight. I know more or less where it is.” “What is it?” Alexandria stopped, looked at the princess, and blinked in surprise. “I didn't tell you that, did I?” Twilight smiled. Sometimes it was almost like having a sister. “No, you didn't.” “It's a letter. It has your name on it, but it's just addressed to the Ponyville library. It's been a while since we got any of your mail, so maybe it's somepony who used to live here? Found it!” She floated an envelope out of a pile of other papers, and passed it over from her telekinetic grip to Twilight's. Twilight looked at the return address. “You're right. She graduated from school here in Ponyville and went off to study in Coltorado. Liked it so much she decided to stay.” She opened up the envelope and was puzzled to find another envelope inside. She continued speaking almost absent-mindedly. "We have her books on our shelves, you know. Well, you wouldn't know that; she writes under a pen name." The second envelope was opened as well. Twilight unfolded what was found inside and began to read. “A wedding invitation? Of course I'll be there! Oh, I'm so happy for you, Twist!”
BONUS: Princess Cadance Dear Twist, I expect this letter comes as something of a surprise to you. I'm sure you already know that your town librarian is no ordinary pony; another important thing to know is that any friend of Twilight Sparkle's is a friend of mine. I've known her since she was a filly, back when we both lived in Canterlot. (Oh, and I married her brother not too long ago. He seems to think it's important for me to mention that. Stop reading over my shoulder, Shining!) So now you probably have an idea of how I heard about your situation. This may not be your only royal response, either – I've heard that Celestia was going to send something to you, but Luna volunteered instead. (You might even have that letter by the time you get this.) As to why I'm writing to you, let's just say I know a little bit about the topic at hoof. (I also like to help ponies, except for the ones who keep trying to read letters while I'm writing them. Bad things happen to those ponies, Shining.) It's very sensible of you to want to learn more about love and relationships before “leaping from the cloud”, as the pegasi say. I know you're fond of books just like Twilight and me, so I'm enclosing a short list of titles you might be interested in. The one at the top of the list is one of the most beautiful novels I've ever read; the next one down is an impressive work from a professor in Fillydelphia, even if it's a little dry at times. Since you'll no doubt have questions, please write back to me if there's anything I can help clear up for you. I'm also hoping you'll also write to me with updates – I want to hear how you win that colt's heart! And you definitely need to write to me if you ever plan to travel to the Crystal Empire. I'll arrange a place for you and your parents to stay, I'll make sure you get a tour of the palace, and we'll actually be able to meet unless something VERY unusual is going on. There is, however, one other thing you should keep in mind: books and questions can only teach you so much about love. Friendship and love are closely related, and just like Twilight had to be sent out of her comfortable routine in Canterlot to learn about friendship, you'll eventually have to put yourself forward to learn about love. Like the old earth pony saying advises us, sometimes you just have to water the crop and see what grows. I won't lie about rejection and pain: they can happen, but you should never let fear hold you back from what your heart wants. One last thing – I wrote “colt” because Twilight told me you were interested in one. If you ever find yourself feeling that way about a filly, that's fine. Love is love. Your new friend, Cadance ~~Mi Amore Cadenza~~ ~~Crystal Princess, Keeper of the Crystal Heart, Regis of the Crystal Empire~~ ~~Princess-by-Deed of Equestria, Steward of the Royal Equestrian Protectorate~~ I apologize. I said I was going to write a personal letter, and this is what they gave me. I swear, that's the last time I tell anypony I'm going to write a letter at all. Next time I'm just going to ask for a blank piece of paper and keep my mouth shut. Author's Note I reject the headcanon that ponies have last names like humans do. I decided that a "full name" would refer to a pony's parents, much like in actual breeding of horses and ponies in the real world. You can learn about Twist's father Tango in my story "Special Talents".
