Friendship is Magic; Love is Confusing
Part Two of Two
Pinkie Pie was grinning from ear to ear as she bounced excitedly in her room within Sugarcube Corner. Twilight Sparkle was taking her on a date. She had never been on a real date before, but it sounded super fun, especially since it was Twilight and she was such a great pony. Pinkie just couldn't wait.
Suddenly, Pinkie decided she was hungry. Her head bouncing from side to side, she left her room and went downstairs. She saw some tasty looking pink cupcakes resting on a tray on a table. She threw three of them in her mouth all at once and gulped them down with a smile. They were super delicious. Pinkie's whole body quivered as she enjoyed the amazing flavor.
"Enjoying yourself, Pinkie?" Mrs. Cake, who was standing nearby, asked with an awkward laugh as she watched the pink pony. Pinkie glanced at her.
"Yep, yep! These are super tasty!" Pinkie cheered, bouncing toward her caretaker.
"That's nice, dearie..." said the older mare. "But you really should know to ask before you--"
"Oh! Oh! did you know?" Pinkie suddenly started, cutting Mrs. Cake off. "I'm so excited. Guess what's happening tonight?"
"I... er... I don't know, Pinkie." Mrs. Cake forced a smile. "What is happening tonight? Another par--"
"I'm going on a date!" Pinkie announced gleefully.
Mrs. Cake stared ahead in disbelief upon hearing this. "Wha... Really? You... on a date, Pinkie...?"
"Yeah! Isn't that like the best thing ever?" Pinkie said with excess excitement.
"Oh... well..." Mrs. Cake seemed to be at something of a loss for words. "Just who would--"
"I've never been on a date before," said Pinkie, cutting the other pony off again. "What's it like?"
"Oh... well... it's been a while since Mr. Cake and I were young..." said Mrs. Cake with a fond smile on her face. "But it was really great... Those first few dates were kind of awkward and we were both more than a little nervous, but that's what made it so fun and romantic. It didn't take very long before I knew I was completely in love."
Pinkie smiled and giggled. It sounded wonderful to her. Pinkie had always wanted to experience real, deep love. If it could be with a super amazing pony like Twilight Sparkle, that really would be the best ever. "This is going to be so awesome..." she giggled happily to herself.
"Well, I'm very happy for you, Pinkie..." said Mrs. Cake fondly, nodding at the young mare. "I hope everything goes just as well for you as it did for me."
"Thanks!" Pinkie replied, nodding energetically.
"So..." Mrs. Cake tentatively started. "Who is this nice pony who asked you out?"
"Oh," said Pinkie, smiling. "It's Twilight!"
Mrs. Cake was completely taken aback. "Twilight? Y-you mean your friend Twilight Sparkle?" she asked, her smile becoming forced again.
"Yup! That's right! She's like the coolest pony ever!" said Pinkie with a big smile. "I'm so excited."
"Ah... um... that's nice, dearie..." Mrs. Cake looked down, clearly unsure how to react to this.
Pinkie bobbed her head up and down a bit then looked up. "Yup! I think I'm going to go have fun until it's time to meet Twilight."
"Alright, Pinkie..." said Mrs. Cake, still at something of a loss. "You do that..."
Pinkie nodded and grabbed some more cupcakes. She stuffed them in her mouth as she began to bounce away.
"Pinkie.... you know those are supposed to be for the customers...." Mrs. Cake said through a deep sigh.
"Sorry, Mrs. Cake, but I'm hungry..." Pinkie said while still chewing. "And these are just too good to resist!"
Pinkie merrily bounced away as the older mare sighed yet again, shaking her head. The pink pony emerged from the cake shop and looked around. She tilted her head, pondering just how to spend the time remaining until her date. It was then that she happened to see Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy walking down the street, talking to each other. Giddily, she jumped toward them.
"Hi, hi!" Pinkie called out loudly. A startled Fluttershy let out a scream and backed up rapidly into a wall. Even Rainbow Dash seemed taken aback by the suddenness of Pinkie's appearance.
"Oh... uh... Pinkie Pie..." Dash said, collecting herself. "You really probably shouldn't do that..."
"Ah... it's just Pinkie..." Fluttershy said, taking a step forward and opening her eyes. "I... er..."
"So how are you guys doing? I'm doing great myself. I'm really happy. I have super awesome stuff planned for tonight that makes me super excited," said Pinkie rapidly while the others stared.
"That's... uh... very nice, Pinkie..." said Fluttershy in a kind voice, looking away.
"You aren't planning another party, are you, Pinkie?" asked Dash, rolling her eyes.
"Nope! Guess again!" Pinkie giggled.
"You've got some great prank planned?" Dash asked with a snicker.
Pinkie tilted her head and paused for a moment. She then loudly shouted, "Nope!" Fluttershy squirmed again at the sudden outburst.
"I really have no idea then..." Dash said, shrugging. Fluttershy gave a nod in agreement.
"I'm going on a date!" Pinkie Pie cheerfully announced while her friends stared in disbelief.
"Uh... r-really?" Fluttershy asked, looking entirely unsure how to react.
"Who would ask you out on a--" Rainbow Dash started with some laughter. She cut herself off as her eyes flew wide open. "No..." she said in a slow voice. "It can't be..."
"It isn't with Twilight Sparkle... is it?" Fluttershy asked quietly, looking nervous.
"Oh wow, Fluttershy! you're an amazing guesser!" Pinkie gleefully started. "How did you know?"
"Um... she kind of asked me too..." Fluttershy said, looking away.
"Whoa really?" Dash suddenly started. "That nerd... Just who didn't she ask?"
"Wait... you mean... you too?" Fluttershy looked at the other pegasus, surprised to hear this.
"Yeah..." said Dash with a hard laugh. "Funniest thing I heard all day."
"Twilight really asked you guys too?" Pinkie asked, her spirits falling more than her persisting smile let on. "Does that mean this is some kind of group date?"
"I don't think so..." said Fluttershy in a mild voice. "I turned Twilight down...." She averted her eyes and added, "I'm actually surprised you'd say yes..."
"I still can't believe that pony was even serious..." Dash shook her head vigorously.
Pinkie's smile fell a little. "But Twilight is a really great pony... Why would you guys refuse her like that?" she asked slowly.
"She's a really nice friend..." said Fluttershy looking down. "But dating usually means something more than just that.... and I really don't think Twilight understood that..."
"You don't think?" Dash snorted and started laugh some more. "You did see that ridiculous book she was hauling around, right? That unicorn is so lost..."
"Yeah... " Fluttershy said in a tentative voice. "I gave her a very thorough explanation about that too... but apparently it wasn't enough..." The meek pegasus sighed.
"I'm not surprised!" Dash continued to chuckle at Twilight's expense. "That pony has her head so stuck in those books of hers you can read the words off her face!"
Fluttershy gave her own mild giggle. "Dash..." she eventually said, shaking her head in disapproval. "That's not nice..."
Pinkie stared at her friends, not sure what to think. Twilight had asked them out before her? Now they were being kind of mean to Twilight. It didn't really connect to her and it made her feel bad. Yet she supposed that it didn't really matter. She was going on a date with Twilight and it was going to be super fun. That was the important part. She wasn't about to let these mean ponies bring her down.
"Hmmph!" Pinkie stepped forward, causing the other two to look at her again. "Well, me and Twilight are going to have a super fun time together! Then you'll be sorry it wasn't you instead!"
"Alright, Pinkie..." said Dash, still trying to hold off laughter. "Be sure to tell us about it..."
"Yeah..." said Fluttershy, nodding.
"I will!" Pinkie said with intensity. "And you'll be so jealous!"
"Heh... you two really just might be perfect for each other..." said Dash with a persisting chuckle.
"That's right!" said Pinkie with a firm nod.
"Well... h-have fun then..." Fluttershy spoke in a quiet voice.
"I will... " Pinkie said with determination, bouncing ahead. "You'll see!"
Pinkie Pie continued bouncing away from the pegasi, still able to hear Dash laughing at her. She blocked it out as she moved ahead. After a few minutes of bouncing along, she found something to take her mind off the whole conversation. A whole bunch of tasty, juicy apples were sitting there right there in her sights. She suddenly felt hungry again. Eagerly she bounded ahead, coming to a halt before the basket of apples. She grabbed one and popped it into her mouth whole, eating it messily.
"Uhmm..." started somepony nearby, giving a loud cough. Pinkie looked up to see Applejack standing there next to the apples, a stern look on her face.
"Oh! Hi, Applejack! Didn't see you there," she cheerfully greeted the other earth pony.
"You do intend to pay for that, don't ya, Pinkie Pie?" asked Applejack, glaring at the other.
"Pay for what?" asked Pinkie, looking around.
"The apple you just ate!" Applejack shouted out, raising her hoof at the other pony.
"What apple?" asked Pinkie, tilting her head, looking for an apple.
"The one already in your stomach," Applejack coldly replied with a huff.
"Aw, come on... what's one apple between friends?" Pinkie cheerfully replied, snickering.
"Fine... " Applejack relented, still in a stern voice. "Just make sure ya don't make this a habit."
Pinkie just stared at her friend. Then her eyes shot open and she began to speak about something entirely different. "Oh, hey, Applejack! You'll never guess what happened to me today!"
Applejack rolled her eyes. She then gave a long, heavy sigh. "What happened then, Pinkie Pie?" she asked.
"Twilight Sparkle asked me out on a date!" the pink pony cheered, clapping her hooves together excitedly.
"She didn't..." Applejack muttered, her eyes narrowing.
"Yep! She did. I bet you're jealous! I have a date with Twilight Sparkle!" Pinkie excitedly spoke, smiling.
"Hate to break it to you, but that silly pony asked me too..." Applejack said shaking her head.
Pinkie's smile momentarily fell again, shocked to hear this. She looked down. "Really?" she asked.
Applejack just nodded. "For such a smart pony Twilight can sure be a might bit stupid at times..."
Pinkie gasped. "That's mean!" she said, shocked to hear Applejack say something like that.
"Pinkie..." said Applejack. "I ain't trying to be mean about nothin'. It's just that pony don't always get it. She spent far too long all too herself in Canterlot. The princess sent her to learn about the world and she still has a lot of learnin' to do..."
"Whatever, meanie!" Pinkie childishly responded, shutting out what the other was saying.
"And Twilight really ain't gettin' nothin' out of you leadin' her along," said Applejack, shaking her head. "I told her to give this up... but apparently that pony weren't in a listenin' mood!"
"Meanie!" Pinkie repeated, pointing her hoof in accusation.
Applejack was now clearly frustrated with Pinkie's antics. She narrowed her eyes and frowned. "Believe me, Pinkie. I can show ya mean if that's what you want. This ain't it."
"Hmmph!" Pinkie huffed. "I'm not listening to somepony so mean!"
"Fine," said Applejack coldly. "Then why don't you mosey right along. I got actual customers I should be attendin' to..." the apple farmer turned her head.
"Fine with me!" Pinkie started, jumping away from Applejack's store. "Meanie!" she called back one more time before darting speedily off.
Pinkie was still a little mad as she continued to bounce away. She thought it was because of Applejack's grumpy attitude; however, it was something else she kept returning to in her head that was getting to her even more than that. Twilight had asked three other ponies out before asking Pinkie. For some reason, that made her kind of sad. Twilight had asked her out, but she was beginning to question just how special she was to the unicorn.
She needed something to keep happy. She was still going out with Twilight. Twilight was still fun. The two of them were bound to have a super great time anyway. Nothing else mattered. Pinkie was just having a hard time believing that. She needed a distraction. She needed something to help her get excited about the date again. Looking around, she suddenly spotted Carousel Boutique. That was it! She'd get some super cute clothes from Rarity to wear on the date! It would take her mind off everything, not to mention it was sure to impress Twilight.
The bounce restored to her step, Pinkie quickly moved toward the familiar dress shop. Approaching the building, she threw the door open suddenly and jumped inside. Rarity, standing nearby, stared at her a moment before speaking.
"Oh, hello there, Pinkie Pie," she said in a quiet voice. "Have you come to play around today?"
"Nope!" said Pinkie with a firm nod. "Today, I am here as a customer!"
"Really?!" Rarity spoke in disbelief. "Y-you don't say?"
"Yep!" Pinkie chimed.
"Well... wonderful!" said Rarity, smiling and nodding. "You wish for me to fashion you a fabulous dress then?"
"No... I don't have time for all that..." said Pinkie, shaking her head. "I'm looking for something already made. Something super cute that's bound to impress, but is not too formal..."
"Oh," said Rarity, nodding as she considered the words. She still didn't seem to believe this serious request was coming from Pinkie Pie. "And this dress is something for you then, Pinkie?"
"It sure is!" Pinkie assured cheerfully.
"I believe I have something in mind that would be just perfect for you!" said Rarity, a creative spark appearing in her eyes. A moment later she darted off.
"Great!" Pinkie eagerly called after her.
"And here we are, darling!" Rarity said, returning almost too quickly with a cute pink dress.
"Oh, awesome!" Pinkie smiled fully. "I just know this is going to be perfect."
"Of course! Nothing short of perfection is ever acceptable to an artist such as I," the unicorn responded with energy as she moved toward the other pony with her chosen clothes. "But if you don't mind me asking, just what's the occasion?"
"I'm going on a date!" Pinkie squealed. Rarity blinked several times, looking even more completely shocked than before.
"You don't say?" The unicorn laughed mildly. "I must say I am pleasantly surprised. I never really saw you as the dating sort of pony, Pinkie Pie."
"I've never gone on a date before," said Pinkie, tilting her head. "That's part of why I'm excited."
"Part?" Rarity started. "What might be the other part then?"
"The other part is the pony I'm going with!" Pinkie nodded excitedly.
"Oh, is it somepony I know per chance?" Rarity questioned with curiosity.
"Yep!" said Pinkie, giving a playful jump. "Twilight Sparkle!"
"Oh..." the excitement left Rarity's voice entirely as she hung her head and sighed. She even dropped the dress she was still holding up. "So this is all about that then?"
"All about what?" Pinkie was deeply confused.
"Twilight asked you out and you accepted?" the unicorn asked in a very low voice.
"That's right," said Pinkie, a smile still worn on her face.
"I suppose you're both on the same page then..." Rarity said, shaking her head. "I want you to listen to me, Pinkie Pie. Going out with a friend to do something fun is fine and completely harmless. But when you start to call it dating... there are different connotations and expectations... I'm not sure you and Twilight understand that..."
"I think I understand that just fine," said Pinkie after thinking it over for a moment. "Dating is all about love!"
"Yes," said Rarity, nodding. "That is exactly right. Now ask yourself, Pinkie. Do you truly love Twilight Sparkle?"
"Of course I do, silly!" Pinkie replied without even thinking about it.
Rarity sighed. "Right. She is a very close friend to you, of course you love her. But, Pinkie Pie, there are different types of love in this world..."
"I know that!" Pinkie closed her eyes and nodded several times. "There's love shared between families, love shared between friends and then there's the kind of love Mr. and Mrs. Cake have for each other."
"Exactly!" Rarity responded. "And Pinkie, in most cases dating typically does entail that third kind."
"Yeah," said the earth pony, unfazed by what the other was saying. "I know."
"You simply can't mean to say that you actually do like Twilight like that?" Rarity asked, suddenly taken aback.
"Well, I don't think so... not yet at least," said Pinkie after thinking it over. "But I really want to feel something like that. And I already like Twilight a whole lot. That's why I said yes when she asked me! I'd like to have that kind of love with Twilight."
Rarity was silent for a while. Eventually she spoke very slowly. "My word...! You honestly have your heart wide open for Twilight then...?"
Pinkie just nodded. "Yep!"
"Oh..." Rarity started in a very heavy voice. "This is... this is bad..."
"What's bad?" Pinkie found herself once more confused.
"This might a touch difficult to hear, Pinkie," Rarity said slowly, looking rather nervous. "But I do fear you and Twilight may be going into this date with entirely different expectations...."
"Expectations?" Pinkie questioned, not following what the other was saying. "What do you mean?"
"You seem to have a reasonable understanding," said Rarity shaking her head. She sighed. "Twilight, on the other hand, truly doesn't have a clue."
"Huh?" Pinkie just blinked.
"Twilight doesn't understand what it means to date somepony," said Rarity, finding a steady voice. "She's just blindly following the words dictated to her in some book she's found."
"But she still asked me out. That means--" Pinkie started, still smiling happily, unconcerned by what Rarity was saying.
"She asked me out too," Rarity cut the other off to say.
"What? Seriously?" Pinkie questioned, her smile falling. This made four...
"She doesn't care in the slightest who it is, Pinkie. She doesn't understand that that should be the most important part," said Rarity shaking her head. "She has simply been asking everypony she possibly can, hoping somepony would say yes. You were the only one who did just that."
"I don't believe that," Pinkie replied firmly, shaking her head in denial.
"Do trust me on this, Pinkie. I've been asked out on numerous dates over the years. I know the sorts of things that should be there, and it was all lacking with that pony." Rarity's voice became heavy.
"But..." Pinkie started but wasn't entirely sure what to say.
"To put it in the most simple terms I can, Pinkie, Twilight has no special feelings for you and is not at all interested in developing any," said the unicorn, steadily. "She's just using you for the sake of some experiment on dating because she doesn't know any better."
Pinkie blinked several times before this set in. Then suddenly it did just that. All at once, her mane and tail deflated, becoming perfectly straight and flat. Her smile flipped on itself, becoming a deep frown. Her whole body all at once seemed to become very heavy as a wave of negativity seemed to overtake her all at once.
"Wow... Pinkie... what happened to your..." Rarity stared in shock, lifting a hoof to Pinkie's mane.
Pinkie turned around and began to trudge off without a word to the unicorn, a dour expression locked on her face.
"I-I'm sorry..." Rarity called out to the other, clearly concerned. "I truly shouldn't have been so needlessly blunt..."
Pinkie gave no response and didn't even turn around as she left the shop and the unicorn behind, slamming the door shut as she did. She trotted very slowly through town, her mind completely numb. In that state, she didn't recognize any of the faces she passed by. If anypony called out to her, she didn't hear it. She was locked in her own dark place and nopony was going to get through to her.
Slowly, she found her way back to Sugarcube Corner, slamming its door shut behind her as well. While moving toward the stairs, she crossed the tray of cupcakes from before. She grabbed the tray and slid its entire contents into her mouth. The taste was sweet, but it left Pinkie bitter. Even so many cupcakes could do nothing to ease her pain. She threw the metal tray to the ground, causing a huge bang as the metal hit the floor. Mrs. Cake came rushing toward her.
"Is something the matter, dearie?" she asked as she approached Pinkie, fear clear in her voice.
Pinkie Pie just turned her head and scowled at her caretaker, who promptly backed up into a nearby wall. Traversing the stares, the pink pony returned to her room. She slammed the door and locked it behind her. She threw herself on her bed and let the thoughts spin in her head.
She had been so genuinely happy. She was a pony in love with the idea of love. Twilight was one of her most favorite ponies ever. Being asked out by Twilight had filled her with so much joy and hope. Now, in just a matter of hours, that had all been crushed. To crash down from such an incredible height to such a horrible low was unbearably painful for her. She hated it. It made her feel so very alone.
Time passed slowly as Pinkie sunk gradually deeper and deeper into her world of misery. She began to feel alienated from everypony she knew. She didn't need her friends. She could survive without them. She could find new friends. She didn't need Twilight's love. She could find a much better lover than her! She just needed to look. Quickly she twisted her head all around, looking at every corner of her room.
She stood up and moved toward a potted plant sitting on a table nearby. "You love me, don't you, Mr. Plantington?" she asked, her voice dark and heavy.
"Of course, Pinkie," Mr. Plantington replied in a suave voice. "I love you more than that pony Twilight Sparkle ever could..."
Pinkie nodded, satisfied. "Yeah. Who needs that pony when I have you." She stepped forward and began hugging the plant.
"Oh Pinkie Pie, you are the most wonderful pony in all of Ponyville," Mr. Plantington said as Pinkie hugged him, "I love you so much."
"Mr. Plantington..." Pinkie said through a romantic sigh.
"Pinkie!" a voice suddenly called from the door. Pinkie recognized it immediately as Mrs. Cake.
"I'm busy!" she called back in a curt voice, snarling a little.
"Pinkie..." Mrs. Cake said. "I don't know what happened... but your friend Twilight Sparkle is here for you now... she's waiting...."
"Tell her to go away!" Pinkie shouted harshly. "We're through! I don't need her anymore!" Pinkie hugged the potted plant some more. "I've already moved on to better things!"
Mrs. Cake didn't reply. Instead, after a few moments, Twilight herself suddenly teleported into her room. She stared at Pinkie very confused for a moment.
"Pinkie, what in Equestria are you doing?" she asked as she stared at the earth pony still hugging the plant.
"Go away! I don't want to see you!" Pinkie shouted, glaring at the pony as she hugged the plant some more. "I'm perfectly happy with Mr. Plantington!"
"That's right!" said Mr. Plantington. "My love is more than enough for Pinkie Pie! You're not needed here!"
"Pinkie... this is getting really weird..." said Twilight, staring in fear and confusion at her friend and the plant. "Come on... you're worrying Mrs. Cake..."
"No!" called Pinkie angrily while wearing a scowl.
"You don't want to go out with me anymore?" Twilight asked, concern in her expression.
"What are you talking about?!" Pinkie shouted. "You never wanted to go out with me at all!"
"Pinkie..." Twilight hung her head. "If I didn't want to, why would I have asked?"
"Because you're a big stupid meanie!" Pinkie harshly answered. "I don't matter to you. I bet you don't even really like me..."
"Pinkie..." Twilight spoke in a strong voice. "Of course I like you. You're my friend..."
"Then why did you ask everypony else before me?" Pinkie questioned. "Not that that matters! You weren't actually interested in any of us!"
"Pinkie Pie..." Twilight started, staring at her friend. "I did something wrong didn't I? I'm sorry. I really do still want to do this if you will--"
"Liar!" Pinkie shouted. "You don't even understand what dating somepony leads to, do you?"
"Leads to?" Twilight started, her face suddenly becoming very flush. She looked down. "Yeah... I know about that..." she said with an intense nervousness.
"And you're saying you can actually see me and you like that?" Pinkie asked, staring at the unicorn very scrupulously.
"Oh... um..." Twilight spoke apprehensively, giving a loud cough as she fidgeted. "I... er... I'm still not sure how comfortable I am with that kind of stuff... I-I mean..."
Pinkie shook her head, feeling once again hurt. Rarity was right! This pony couldn't see the two of them actually in love after all; she had just said it herself. "You're horrible, Twilight!"
"Pinkie...? What do you..." Twilight was completely confused.
Pinkie wouldn't hear it. She didn't care anymore. She just wanted to be away from this mean pony. She moved toward the door and opened it quickly. Then she just began to run. She ran past Mrs. Cake and away from Sugarcube Corner. She ran and ran and didn't stop running. She couldn't stop. Ponyville flew by quickly as she sped down its streets. In no time at all, she was at the very edges of town.
The Everfree forest was in sight. There she was sure she could be alone. She slowed down as she approached the forest. She stood still at it's edge for a moment, not sure what she was waiting for. She then took a very reluctant step forward.
"Pinkie Pie, wait!" a voice called after her. It was Twilight Sparkle. The unicorn had chased after her. Pinkie Pie really wasn't sure why.
"Why are you here?!" she screamed, taking another step toward the forest.
"What do you mean, why? I'm seriously scared here," said Twilight, coming near the other. "I don't know what's gotten you like this, but please... just come back to us..."
"You honestly mean to say you don't know?" Pinkie started in utter disbelief.
"That's right, Pinkie. I don't know," said Twilight in a soft voice.
"We're not friends anymore!" Pinkie said taking several steps forward, not wanting to hear it. "Just leave me alone!"
"Fine!" Twilight shouted out, suddenly looking incredibly vulnerable. "We can do those things... right now if you want... I'll let you do anything you want to me if it's so important...." Some tears left her eyes. "Just please come back to us... come back to me..."
Pinkie just stared at the other pony. She tilted her head in curiosity, studying Twilight. Her tears, her red face, her vulnerable posture, her shivering body... Pinkie didn't get any of it. She appeared to be a very odd combination of flustered, distressed and defeated. Pinkie stared at her confounded for almost an entire minute. Then, suddenly, it connected.
"You didn't take it like that..." she said, shaking her head, thinking back to Twilight's answer to her question about what dating leads to. "You did, didn't you?" She looked down and shook her head even more. "Rarity was right. You really are clueless..."
"What... what are you waiting for?" Twilight asked, gulping, looking so very timid. "I'm ready. If it's so important... We can... right here..."
"When I asked if you knew what dating lead to, I wasn't talking about the physical things, Twilight," said Pinkie, not believing she had to say. Just what kind of pony did Twilight think she was?
"You weren't?" Twilight started, shocked. "But--!"
"Of course not!" Pinkie exclaimed. "I was talking about the emotional things it leads to..." Pinkie looked down. "I was asking if you could see us actually being in love... and when you said you weren't comfortable with it..."
"Pinkie..." Twilight's eyes widened upon hearing this. She spoke in a very heavy voice, "is that... is that right?"
"Yeah," said Pinkie, offering a soft nod.
"I see..." Twilight said, her face somehow becoming even redder.. "I'm sorry I didn't understand... I really shouldn't have jumped to conclusions like that based on what I read..."
"Yeah." Pinkie's voice was still cold. Twilight had caused her a lot of pain. "You shouldn't have."
"I didn't mean to hurt you..." said Twilight in a soft voice, glancing downward.
"Didn't you?" Pinkie accused in a harsh voice. "You still asked me out on a date just for the sake of some stupid experiment!"
Twilight's eyes widened as she stood silent for a moment. Eventually, in a quiet voice she spoke. "This is really stupid, isn't it?" She paused a moment and sighed. "I didn't even want to do it at first... but I became curious and I didn't even stop to think about what I was really doing..."
"Saying it doesn't change anything, you know?" said Pinkie tersely, not feeling much sympathy for the other pony. "What you did was just terrible, Twilight Sparkle!"
"I've learned lots of things just by reading books and conducting analytical experiments based on them," Twilight spoke in a heavy voice. "But that isn't always right approach... especially when it involves the most sensitive feelings of the people I care about most." Twilight shook her head and took a step forward. "Rainbow Dash was right to laugh in my face. This was just stupid... and callous of me... I hope you'll be able to forgive me."
"It's kind of too late for all that," said Pinkie slowly. Part of her wanted to forgive Twilight. Part of her just couldn't. Not after all this.
"Please, Pinkie..." the unicorn suddenly sounded desperate. More tears left her eyes. "When you said you weren't my friend anymore, I realized just how important you are to me... I was honestly willing to give you anything you wanted... and even now... I..." Twilight trailed off and took a step forward, still crying. "You're irreplaceable to me, Pinkie. Please... just come back with me..."
"Do you honestly, truly mean that deep in your heart, Twilight Sparkle?" Pinkie asked, staring at her friend, gravely serious.
"Of course I do," said Twilight firmly. She stared at Pinkie with hopeful eyes. "I swear it."
"Really?" Pinkie started. Twilight was beginning to seem sincere, but Pinkie still wasn't sure she could trust her.
"C-cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye." Twilight gave a soft nod and the appropriate hand gestures. Pinkie's expression evened out and a small smile even appeared. The Pinkie Pie swear just couldn't be made lightly. Finally she was convinced.
Pinkie then suddenly felt an electric wave surge throughout her body, spreading to every inch. All at once she leapt into the air. Her mane suddenly exploded out into its usual pink puffiness. A smile then appeared on her face once more.
"Okay. We can be friends again then," said Pinkie nodding and bouncing toward Twilight. The unicorn smiled brightly, even if she looked a little shocked by the sudden transformation.
"Pinkie Pie... I'm so glad..." she said stepping forward to bring the other into a deep hug.
Pinkie was alarmed by how warm Twilight was on that cool night. She could still see a few tears in the unicorn's eyes. She felt touched deep down. All of it made her feel kind of funny. She hugged Twilight back, smiling fondly as she did.
"Let's go back," the unicorn suggested after a few moments, bringing the hug to an end. "Mrs. Cake is still worried..."
"Wait..." said Pinkie in a quiet voice. "There's still something...."
"Yeah?" Twilight spoke, looking her friend in the eyes.
"It's about the date." Pinkie widened her smile.
"Forget it," said Twilight. "It was silly of me to even ask. Especially with how it ended up hurting you."
"Alright," said the earth pony, nodding. After a few seconds, she spoke again. "So... Twilight...?"
"Yeah?" Twilight started, not sure what to expect.
"Will you go out with me?" Pinkie asked in a direct voice, not breaking eye contact.
Twilight seemed taken aback at first. She didn't respond for about half a minute. Then she just smiled. "I'd absolutely love to."
"You would?" Pinkie asked with glee in her voice.
"Of course," said Twilight. "You're kind of silly and sometimes really confusing. But it's always fun having you around. With you there, I'm always able to find it in me to smile. You mean so much to me; of course I'd go out with you."
The strange feelings continued to run through Pinkie's body as she stepped toward Twilight. She wondered then if perhaps her feelings for this pony already ran deeper than she had thought. She looked Twilight in the eye. All at once, she could just feel her answer. In the emotional extremes of that night, it had become crystal clear to her. The strong feelings inside her now were just not something she could deny.
"Twilight...?" Pinkie spoke, getting even closer to the other pony, who seemed to tense up once more.
"Yes, Pinkie?" the unicorn questioned, her voice gentle.
"My heart just fluttered really fast in my chest six times in a row," said Pinkie in a very serious voice.
"Oh? Is that one of your Pinkie Sense things?" Twilight gave a soft laugh as she looked at the other pony.
"Yeah." Pinkie just nodded quietly.
"So what's this one mean?" asked Twilight, a faint blush appearing on her face.
"It means I love you," said Pinkie simply. She knew it to be true, too. Even without an actual date, she could tell. She loved Twilight so much already. That's why all of this had been so painful for her.
"I-I... see..." Twilight said, looking at first unsure of what to say. An entire array of emotions proceeded to cross Twilight's face before she seemed to settle on a solemn content. The unicorn smiled and closed her eyes, dropping her guard entirely "The offer still stands. For being such a jerk to you... you can do whatever you want to me..."
Pinkie smiled fondly. She didn't waste a second. She took the last few steps forward and pressed her lips to Twilight's. The other pony kissed her back very softly and tentatively at first, but gradually growing more passionate. It wasn't a very long kiss, but for Pinkie Pie it was ultimately satisfying. When it was over, she felt like she could just sing. For once in her life, she resisted that urge.
"Did you like that?" Pinkie asked, as she stepped back and looked at Twilight.
"Yeah..." the other pony said, blushing cutely. "It was nice."
"It's already pretty late," said Pinkie looking up at the now darkened sky. "How about we save our first real date for tomorrow?"
"Okay..." said Twilight, still looking really shy.
"Let's go back," Pinkie suggested with a nod.
"Yeah...." The unicorn simply smiled a fond smile.
The two of them began to walk back toward Ponyville. They moved slowly and with little distance between them. Pinkie had to say it felt really nice.
"I remembered!" she said suddenly, perking up.
"Remembered? Remembered what?" asked Twilight, curious.
"You remember earlier today when we played that game where i had you guess what I as thinking of and you guessed a bunch of stuff and it was all wrong then I told you it was a pony and you guessed a bunch of ponies and I said they were all wrong and then you just asked what I was thinking of and then I told you I forgot?" Pinkie said all at once, not stopping for breath.
"Yeah... I remember..." said Twilight, giving a pleasant laugh at Pinkie's familiar behavior.
"Well, I remembered what pony I was thinking about!" said Pinkie cheerfully.
"Oh?" Twilight started.
"It was you, Twilight Sparkle!" said Pinkie cheerfully. "My favorite pony ever."
"I see..." said the unicorn. "How exactly did you forget then? I mean you were right there talking to me..."
"I forgot," Pinkie said after thinking about it a moment.
Twilight just laughed loudly and shook her head. Pinkie smiled and gave a single joyful bounce ahead before falling back and matching pace with Twilight. The two of them continued back slowly, nearly flank to flank.
-------------------------------------------------------
"It's great to have you back." Twilight wore a smile as she greeted the familiar face she hadn't seen in days. Spike had returned from Canterlot. Twilight was happy to see him again.
"Yeah," said Spike. "It's always good to go back, but I do start to miss you guys after a while."
"We all missed you too, Spike," said Twilight, nodding cheerfully.
"So what did I miss? Anything important?" the young dragon asked as he took a seat in the library.
"Maybe a few small things...." Twilight coughed and looked downward. It had been two days now since Pinkie had confessed to her. They had indeed gone out the next night, and though it was kind of a silly time, it had been fun. Though not as intense as the emotional night before, Twilight had definitely felt her affection for Pinkie grow. She was certainly intending to keep pursuing it.
"Well," said Spike, nodding. "You got any scrolls for me to send to Princess Celestia?"
"Er..." Twilight started. "There is one...."
"Cool. I'll send that for you right away," said Spike readily.
"Well... okay..." said Twilight, blushing as she retrieved an already prepared scroll. She handed it to the dragon.
"Let's see..." Spike said with a laugh as he began to unfurl it.
"Wait... no... this one's private..." Twilight spoke, her face becoming a deep red.
"Oh, I gotta see this..." the dragon mischievously started, fully opening the scroll all at once. Twilight almost ripped it to pieces, but stopped herself. Hiding things from Spike wasn't going to help her any.
"Fine... you can read it..." she said with a defeated sigh, looking away.
"Dear Princess Celesita," Spike started to read the letter. "Today I learned about something different from friendship. It's something that comes from the same wonderful place, but is deeper and just as beautiful. That's right, today I began to understand love. It's something very special. It's something surprising that comes from where you'd least expect it. It's something that is just all around confusing sometimes. Yet at it's heart, it's just tender and fulfilling when it's finally allowed to connect. Like friendship, it's something I hope to explore even more in the future. Your faithful student, Twilight Sparkle."
Spike put down the letter slowly. Twilight stared at her dragon companion with an awkward smile, waiting for a response.
"What did I just read?" Spike exclaimed suddenly, in shock, feigning like it made him sick.
"Just send it..." Twilight said, hanging her head, feeling a little ashamed.
"If you insist..." Spike said, rolling the scroll back up and then breathing his fire onto it, sending it to the princess. "But seriously, since when are you some swooning, starry-eyed romantic?"
"I-I..." Twilight started. A sudden knock on the door then cut her off. Twilight nodded and then went to go answer it. She found Rarity standing there at the door. "Ah, Rarity..."
"Hello, Twilight," the other unicorn spoke, a worried look on her face as she steeped in. "I was in the area and I just thought I'd..."
"Rarity...." Spike swooned romantically, stars appearing in his eyes as he gazed upon the unicorn. Twilight had to giggle at the obvious irony.
"Oh, hello Spike," Rarity said, nodding to the dragon. "Welcome back..."
"You're here because of what happened the other day, aren't you?" asked Twilight, smiling at her friend's concern.
"That transparent, I suppose...?" Rarity hung her head. "I wonder if it isn't Pinkie Pie I should be checking up on instead..."
"We're both fine." Twilight smiled. "More than fine, actually. Everything ended up really good for us both."
"Really? You don't say...?" Rarity questioned, obviously surprised to hear this.
"Yeah..." said Twilight. "You gave me some good advice back there... I was just too stubborn to listen to it completely..." She smiled and nodded. "But sometimes mistakes can bring things out in the open that wouldn't have been there otherwise."
"I must say I'm now curious," said Rarity, taken aback by this response. "You mean to say this whole mess actually worked itself out?"
"More than work itself out...." said Twilight, smiling timidly. "Things between me and Pinkie... they're better than they were before..."
"You don't say?" Rarity started, completely shocked.
"Wait..." Spike spoke up, seeming to have finally associated the letter he had just sent with the conversation at hand. "You and Pinkie Pie?!" he exclaimed.
Twilight forced a smile and a laugh, not sure how to say it exactly. Suddenly then she didn't have to. The door flung wildly open and a certain pink pony popped into the room with a cheerful grin.
"Twilight!" Pinkie Pie called out happily. She looked around. "And Spike and Rarity too!"
"Oh, hello there, Pinkie Pie..." said Rarity, nodding. She looked at Pinkie and then back to Twilight. After a moment's pause, she continued. "I must say I'm surprised... but I suppose I really am happy things worked out so well for you..."
"Thanks a bunch!" said Pinkie bouncing forward. "So, Twilight. You ready for another date tonight?"
"Yeah," said Twilight, smiling affectionately. "I'm looking forward to it."
"This is really serious..." Spike commented in disbelief. "Not some elaborate Pinkie Pie prank?"
"Of course not, silly," Pinkie Pie started with a giggled. "Rainbow Dash and Applejack didn't believe me either..."
"It really is just a little unbelievable..." Rarity admitted, looking downward. "But if you're both happy, that's what matters, I suppose."
"Yeah," said Twilight in agreement. "Right, Spike?"
The dragon seemed unable to articulate any sort of response. Twilight smiled. She could see this as being something that might take some time to get used to for her friends, especially if it did develop into something even deeper. Still, she was happy and Pinkie was happy. That was more than enough for her.