What am I going to do? What if Rarity was right all along and this was just some passing infatuation? Could I have mistaken a mere crush for something deeper? I've been leading Applejack on! And we were so happy! Our anniversary was wonderful. No, no, this has to be something more than just a crush. A crush couldn't possibly last this long. Applejack and I have been having a wonderful time with each other. It can't just end like that.
But then again, I just don't feel like I used to. All the sensations I had when I was with her, I could feel them in my bones. Where did that feeling go!?
But we by a love so much refin'd,
That ourselves know not what it is,
—A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning,
John Donne
Mrs. Cake eyed the confection that sat on the counter. It could be most charitably described as a lump which appeared to be comprised of anything and everything involving chocolate and sugar... It somehow managed to be gooey and crunchy at the same time. She reached out and slowly began to rotate the plate. The item didn't get any more comprehensible. Chocolate and sugary goo oozed out of what appeared to be some sort of fried tangle of dough. There was only one pony who could be responsible for this.
“Um, Pinkie? What is this?”
“That's the ultimate s'more!” Pinkie declared as she bounced out from behind the counter. “I came up with the idea last night and I just had to do it!”
“Yes, but what is it?” Mrs. Cake asked.
“Well, first you get a funnel cake and put a layer of marshmallow fluff on it!” Pinkie pantomimed the action. “Then you put a couple of chocolate bars on it, and cover them with a layer of graham crackers!”
“I do think I see a few graham crackers in there...”
“Yup! It gives it some texture so it isn't so goopy!” Pinke said, nodding enthusiastically. “Then you add marshmallows and chocolate marshmallow fudge! And you take another funnel cake with marshmallow fluff topping and put it on top! Then you bake it at 275 for about ten minutes to melt the chocolate and make the funnel cakes nice and crispy.”
“That sounds quite...”
“Delicious!? I know! That's why I made it.” Pinkie twirled. “But first you have to drizzle some chocolate syrup on top!” She pulled a bottle out of her mane and began to garnish the giant lump of sugar. “Here! Try some. Maybe we can sell it in the shop!” Pinkie stabbed the confection with a fork and tore off a chunk, holding it out to Mrs. Cake.
Mrs. Cake stared apprehensively at the forkful of tooth-rot, shrugged, and popped it into her mouth. “Hmmm... that's actually rather tasty!”
“Does that mean we can sell them!?”
“Perhaps. I'll have to discuss it with my husband, though.” She narrowed her eyes at the s'more. “And we'll have to work on the presentation. Right now it's a little too gloopy.”
“Too gloopy!?” Pinkie Pie crossed her forelegs and sniffed. “What's wrong with gloopy? You know what else is gloopy? Pudding! And everypony likes pudding! Hmmmm, maybe I should try putting pudding in the s'more.”
“Well, I suppose I'll let you experiment then,” Mrs. Cake said. “Just make sure you write down your recipes so you don't forget them.”
“Yes, Ma'am!” Pinkie saluted so hard she almost knocked herself into a counter. “You want to help me with it? You could help me get the marshmallow fluff off the spoon and onto the funnel cakes! And out of my mane.” Pinkie flicked her tail up, revealing a massive blob of marshmallow stuck to it.
“Oh.” Mrs. Cake took a step back from the sticky blob. “Um, as much as I would love to help you, I have to... um...”
“Dear!” Mr. Cake poked his head into the kitchen. Pumpkin sat on his head, chewing on his ear. Pound was buzzing back and forth on a short leash that was wrapped around Mr. Cake's hoof. “Twilight is here. She wants to talk to you.”
“Awwww.” Pinkie's sugar-caked ears drooped slightly. But not too much. “I guess I'm on my own then.”
Mrs. Cake tried to not look too relieved. “I guess you are. Try not to make a—” She gave the kitchen one final overview. “Try not to make more of a mess.”
“Roger!” Pinkie nodded emphatically. The tip of her mane landed square in a patch of marshmallow on the floor. As she brought her head back up, her mane stretched like a rubber band. Then it snapped free. “Whoa!” She stumbled backward and crashed into the counter, making each and every one of the bowls that sat on it start wobbling.
Mrs. Cake spun around and trotted out of the kitchen. The door closed behind her just in time to muffle the inevitable crash. She winced at the sound of half a dozen sticky-goop-filled bowls hitting the floor. She shook off the dread of cleaning it up. She could make Pinkie do that. She turned to Twilight, who was standing just in the door. She seemed inordinately interested in the floor.
“Twilight! Come in!” Mrs. Cake waved her in, and Twilight moved mechanically forward. “Lyra mentioned that you wanted to talk to me about something?”
Twilight only nodded.
“Are you alright? Is something bothering you?”
Twilight took a deep breath, and spoke in a low voice. “It's a long story...”
Pinkie poked her nose out of the kitchen. Twilight visiting Sugarcube Corner and not stopping in the kitchen to say hello? That could only mean one thing: hijinks! Or at least it would if Twilight was the type of pony who ever took part in hijinks on her own. Twilight wasn't big on hijinks unless somepony else put her up to it. But why wouldn't she want Pinkie to know she was there?
All Pinkie could think of was that Twilight didn't want to risk a hug. That was sensible, given the layers of ingredients that Pinkie was coated in. But then again Twilight could have just taken a shower afterward, or else just used her magic sparkly thing to keep Pinkie away. It wasn't like she hadn't done that before. It was quite the conundrum.
“Of course!” She zipped back into the kitchen and began to flip through the “kittens wearing silly hats” calendar that hung above the stove. “Or not. Guess it's not my birthday.” She tapped her chin with a sugary hoof. Then she smacked herself in the forehead. “Duh!”
“Almost... almost...” Rarity squinted at the bow she had just pinned onto the dress. “Not quite.” She nudged it a bit and smiled. “There we go! Perfectly straight!” She took a step back and admired her work. She had spent the morning on the train to and from Canterlot to pick up the specialized fabric she needed to make a new hem. An unfortunate sewing machine malfunction had mutilated the last bit of it she had in the shop. Fortunately, she had made up almost all the lost time on the hat. Through some immaculate stroke of luck, one of her rejected designs from the previous week had matched the dress perfectly. Replace the rubies with emeralds, and it fit as if it had been made specifically to go with the dress.
She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. There was more than enough time to make a pot of tea before they arrived to pick it up. But first she needed a bit of fresh air. She sauntered over to the window and gently swung it open. Then the bush below the window erupted in a flurry of leaves, sugar, and pink hair.
“Hey Rarity!”
“Gah!” Rarity jumped backward, very nearly toppling her mannequin over. “Pinkie!” she gasped, clutching her chest. “Don't do that! Why are you in my bush, anyway? Were you waiting for me to open the window so you could jump through?”
“Well, last time I came through the window without waiting for you to open it, you got really mad, and I had to pay for a new window!” Pinkie said matter-of-factly. She rested her hooves on the windowsill and leaned in. “So I figured I'd let you open it!”
“Why couldn't you just use the door!?” Rarity thrust a hoof at it. “Do you have some sort of aversion to entering the boutique in the proper fashion?”
“I was going to come through the door, but there was a giant 'closed' sign on it!”
“Pinkie, I returned at half past noon!” Rarity said with a groan. “The boutique has been open all afternoon!”
“Really?”
“Yes! I—” Rarity paused, as Pinkie had vanished from the window. Rarity turned, and saw Pinkie zipping around to the front of the boutique. The pink shape in the front window stopped in front of the door, then turned around and zipped back to the window.
“So, I guess it is open,” Pinkie said. “Guess I should check the front door more often. So can I come in?”
“Why didn't you use the door? You were just there!”
“Because I was already over here! Duh!”
“But you weren't! You were... nevermind.” Rarity shook her head. She had gotten this far without a headache, and there was no reason to give herself one by trying to track Pinkie's train of thought. That thing had gone off the rails a long time ago. “Why are you poking your head in my window, anyway?”
“Because I thought the door was closed, remember?”
Rarity's eye twitched so hard that the twinge covered half her face. “Yes, but why did you visit my boutique?”
“I was bored,” Pinkie said. “And I just finished cleaning the kitchen, so I had to get out of there.”
“So you came... here?” Rarity asked with a hint of annoyance. “Wouldn't... anywhere else have been preferable? Why my boutique?”
“Because you're here!” Pinkie said.
“But why did you want to talk to me?” Rarity said through gritted teeth.
“I, uh... Good question. Let me think for a second.” Pinkie knew the info was in her head somewhere. She just had to dig it out. Time to visit her office again. She closed her eyes, and a door materialized in front of her. It was heavy wood, and old fashioned, with a frosted glass window. Printed on the window was “Pinkie Pie: Private Eye!” She wasn't a private eye, of course, but it seemed like the kind of thing you should put on your office door to make it look cooler. She opened it and stepped inside.
Her imaginary secretary sat at the desk, shifting through several stacks of paper, occasionally pausing to pound them with a gigantic red stamp. As Pinkie imagined the door slamming shut, she also imagined the secretary looking up.
“What can I do for you?” She asked.
“What did I need to talk to Rarity about again?” Pinkie asked.
“Really? Can't you ever remember why you visit Rarity?” The secretary rolled her eyes. “Twilight was acting weird, remember? Find out why!”
“Oh, right,” Pinkie said. “Thanks. By the way, you should really consider letting your hair down. A bun doesn't look good on me. I mean you.”
“I tried, but it gets too poofy.”
“Maybe you should borrow Rarity's straightener,” Pinkie said, and returned to reality.
“Pinkie, are you alright?” Rarity looked quite concerned.
“Yeah, I'm fine!” Pinkie chirped. “Not sure if Twilight is, though. She showed up at Sugarcube Corner and didn't even say 'Hello'! Or 'Hi'! Or any other traditional greeting! Twilight always says something!”
“So you're coming to see me because you think I might have some idea what's going on? You think it's something that has to do with Applejack, don't you?” Rarity said as she retrieved a broom and dustpan from her closet. “I can't think of any other reason why you'd come to me.”
“No! Well, maybe. I don't know! That's why I'm here.” She grinned. “So, do you think that it is something with Applejack?”
“To be perfectly honest, I have absolutely no idea. Do you have any reason to think that it's a relationship issue? Just because she's going out with Applejack hardly means that the relationship is the cause of all of her problems.” She swept up the leaves that Pinkie had dropped in through the window. “Just last week she nearly had a nervous breakdown when Bon Bon said she could work the register.”
“Well, yeah, but who was it that helped her get over that!?”
Rarity pondered the question for a moment. “Yes, she went to Applejack. Which of course begs the question of why she wouldn't go to Applejack now.” Rarity sighed. It always felt weird when Pinkie Pie had a stroke of legitimate brilliance. “It seems that you're right. If the issue wasn't something to do with romance, she'd probably have gone to Applejack.”
“Unless Applejack doesn't know anything about it either!” Pinkie suggested. “Like if Twilight wanted to know about baking!”
Rarity rolled her eyes. “Pinkie, Applejack knows all about baking! And even if she didn't, she'd ask you about it!”
“Oh, right.” Pinkie tapped her chin. “She would usually go to her friends first.”
“Precisely. Which means that she must be seeking advice about a subject none of us have the capacity to advise her on,” Rarity said. “Although if it is a relationship issue it's rather odd that she never came to visit me! I have been advising her from the very start, and thought that my advice to her had been quite useful!”
Pinkie cocked her head. “But you haven't even gone on a date in months!”
“That has nothing to do with anything!” Rarity barked, feeling a blush burning her cheeks. “I've been occupied by my business lately, that is all! Besides, I know both Applejack and Twilight well enough that my advice can be just as much, if not more useful than anypony else's! There is no reason at all that she should not come to me!”
“Hmmm....” Pinkie squinted to make herself look deep in thought. “Maybe she didn't think you were helpful?”
“N-not helpful!” Rarity sputtered. She grabbed Pinkie by the shoulders and shook her, rustling the leaves of the bush. “Why would she ever think that I was not helpful!?”
“I dunno, maybe because her thingamabob with Applejack has lasted months longer than any relationship you've been in?” Pinkie leaned on the windowsill, sticking nearly her entire upper body into the room. “Or maybe some of the other advice you gave her didn't work. Or maybe something horrible is going on that she doesn't want to tell any of us about. Or—”
“Pinkie, just stop,” Rarity interrupted, shoving Pinkie back out the window. “I understand that at this point I may not exactly have vast experience, but every single piece of advice I have given her is completely relevant to her needs! While I'm sure she has her reasons, I can assure you that it not due to the quality of my advice!” She glared hard at Pinkie, who was unfazed. “Now if you don't mind, I'm going to go make myself some tea, and then take a nap. As for you, I suggest you go clean that... gunk out of your mane. Leave it in there any longer and it might be permanent.” She flicked her tail at Pinkie and stomped into the kitchen.
Pinkie watched her slam the door. “Or she might have just seen that the boutique was closed.”
“So now I'm not sure what to do,” Twilight wailed. “If Rarity was right, and all those feelings can come and go, what if they're gone? I can't just leave Applejack like that! But I don't want to keep leading her on, either. What am I supposed to do!?”
“First of all, have a cookie.” Mrs. Cake put a plate on the table. Pinkie had vacated the premises, so they had taken their conversation into the kitchen, at the small table in the back corner, which was seemingly the only place in the entire room that Pinkie hadn't coated in sugar.
“A cookie?” Twilight wrinkled her nose at the plate. “What kind?”
“Peanut butter chocolate chip.”
Twilight sighed, and stuffed one into her mouth. “Now what?” she tried to say. The cookie turned it into “Mnw wmt?”
“Now, you stop worrying, because you're going to be just fine,” Mrs. Cake said, gently patting Twilight on the head. For a second, Twilight felt like she had shrunk back into a filly. She resisted the urge to check to make sure her cutie mark was still there. “Just to make sure I've got it, you're worried that your crush on Applejack has run its course, right?”
Twilight nodded sullenly.
“Well, it probably has. But—”
Twilight nearly choked on her cookie. “What!?”
“But,” Mrs. Cake smiled warmly, and Twilight felt the pang of fear draining out of her, “Fortunately, a real relationship is so much more than just a silly little crush. I've seen the way you and Applejack act around each other. The two of you have something much better, and much stronger than just a crush. In fact, if you were still just infatuated with her, I'd be a bit worried about you two.”
“R-really?” Twilight said, and took a swig of the milk Mrs. Cake had set out.
“Well, I'm sure you've probably come across it somewhere before, but I've heard it said that getting a crush on somepony, it's like a spark.”
“A spark?”
Mrs. Cake nodded. “It's bright and sudden, but most of the time they burn out quickly. Some catch and flare up, but it doesn't always last long. A few flames and then it goes out. But sometimes, it starts a real fire. The flames might not last long, but the embers go on smoldering for a long time.”
“So... Applejack and I are like a couple of burning logs?”
“Well, yes. Sort of,” Mrs. Cake said. “When two ponies have been together for a while, things change a bit. They get used to each other and don't have all those little tingles and they aren't nervous when they talk to each other and they aren't stumbling around worried about what their very special somepony is thinking.”
“I am worried!” Twilight gasped.
“Well, yes,” Mrs. Cake admitted.
“I'm not just worried, I'm having a crisis! I'm—”
“Twilight, eat a cookie.”
Twilight stopped and shoved another cookie into her mouth. She began to chew reluctantly, then began to munch on it in earnest.
“Now then, there's no need to be so dramatic. You might be worried about how things will go, but that's natural.”
“You just said it wasn't natural,” Twilight muttered through a mouthful of cookie.
Mrs. Cake shook her head. “Yes and no. Think for a moment. What are you worried about? What's the worst that could happen?”
“My feelings for Applejack are gone, and I either break up with her and ruin our friendship forever, or I try to make it work anyway and she ends up miserable because I tried to force it.”
“So the worst case scenario is that you make Applejack sad?”
Twilight nodded sullenly.
Mrs. Cake smiled. “I'm quite sure you still love her just as much as you ever did.”
“Really?”
“Of course.” Mrs. Cake nodded. “Maybe even more! If you didn't, you wouldn't be so worried about hurting her. Think about how it felt when you first got together? What worried you then?”
Twilight sighed as the realization struck her. “I was afraid of looking like an idiot in front of her. That was it.” She groaned. “That was why I always felt so... flustered around her. I was just nervous because I was afraid that I might screw things up. And now I finally got comfortable with her and that freaked me out! I got worried because I didn't have any reason to be worried!” Twilight banged her head on the table. She looked up to see Mrs. Cake stifling a giggle. “I know, I know. Have a cookie.”
“You just don't know how much the two of you have matured in the past year,” Mrs. Cake said. “You've outgrown the anxiety and you don't see your relationship as a novelty anymore. And you shouldn't. If you were still giggling over each other like a couple of schoolfillies after a year, you'd be in trouble. Of course a kiss isn’t going to feel the same! But you don’t need that feeling, because you have something better. A real long-term relationship has to be built on something more than infatuation. And I'm quite sure that you have it.”
Twilight nodded solemnly. “Yes. I still love her more than anypony else, and there's nopony else I'd rather be with! If I don't get butterflies in my stomach any more, it doesn't matter as long as we care about each other.”
“That's the spirit!” Mrs. Cake clapped her hooves. “I knew that you were scared that the flames were dying out, but the embers are still burning!” She suddenly leaned towards Twilight and waggled one eyebrow. “That's where the fire burns hottest, you know.”
“I, uh... I see.” Twilight leaned back. She had never seen Mrs. Cake make such a...suggestive expression. But despite that, she could already feel herself beginning to relax. “Thank you. I really needed that. It's just... it's all new to me, you know?”
“It was all new to Carrot and I when we first started going out,” Mrs. Cake said. “It was hard, but we figured it out. And I'm sure that somepony as smart as you can figure it out too. You just have to remember one thing.”
“Right.” Twilight’s ears perked up.
“Love isn't a feeling; it's something you do. The way you feel doesn't really have anything to do with how much you love somepony. You just... love them, whether or not they make your heart beat faster.”
Twilight nodded. Speaking of feelings, right now she had one in the pit of her stomach. The same weight she had felt all those years ago, sitting in magic class when she had finally got it. All the theories, all the studying, it had clicked. All the pieces had come together. Everything fit.
“I'll remember that,” she said.
“Good.” Mrs. Cake said with a sage nod. “Why don't you pack up the rest of these cookies for Spike? I'm sure he'd appreciate it.”
Twilight took a sip of milk. “I'm sure he would.”
Rainbow Dash followed Applejack from tree to tree, towing a cloud behind her. Apple trees could be really finicky if they didn't have just the right amount of water. Or at least that's what Applejack had told her. Rainbow Dash didn't really know much about it. She probably should have, given how often she had listened to Applejack go on and on about them, but she tended to tune out whenever Applejack started one of her spiels. Fortunately, Applejack wasn't talking about apples at the moment, so Rainbow Dash was at least half-listening.
“So did Twilight do a decent job with the apples?” Rainbow Dash asked. She wasn't very interested in the answer, but she felt obligated to ask.
“Yeah, she did just fine.” Applejack tapped on one of the trees with her hoof. “Give this one three hops.”
“Roger!” Rainbow Dash pushed the cloud over the three and bounced on it three times. “So she didn't try to use a spell and create like a monster made of apples or anything?”
“Nah, Twilight did fine,” Applejack said.
“Then why are you even telling me about this?” Rainbow Dash snorted.
“It's not the apple-sorting, it's what happened after,” Applejack said, rolling her eyes at Rainbow's obvious impatience. “She was gettin' ready to head home, when she... uh...” Applejack immediately doubted the wisdom of bringing it up, but it was too late.
“When she what?” Rainbow Dash peered over the edge of her cloud. “Don't leave me hanging!”
Applejack sighed. “She kissed me?”
“That's it? Lame. You've been going out with her for like forever! What's the big deal if she kisses you?”
“Well, that's cause... ” Applejack muttered as she started toward the next tree. She knew that she could probably just drop the conversation there, but something in the back of her mind forced her to keep going. Sometimes she didn't like being the element of Honesty. “...it wasn't just a kiss.”
“Really?” Rainbow Dash asked. “What else was it?” She shoved the cloud down so it was just above Applejack's head. “You can't just say that and leave it!”
“It's nothing like that! It was just a really big kiss.” She tapped on another tree trunk. “Like I was just gonna give her a little goodnight kiss, and next thing I know I'm layin' in a pile of hay and she's on top of me and her tongue is halfway down my throat.”
“Then what?” Rainbow Dash hung her head over the cloud and put her upside down face inches from Applejack's. “Don't worry, I won't tell Apple Bloom about it!”
“Then she got off me and went home!”
“What?” Rainbow Dash squawked. “Most ponies would be worried if they didn't get to that after so long!” She crossed her forelegs and sat on the cloud. “I thought it was going to be something juicier!”
“You mean to tell me that you expected Twilight to get all touchy-feely? Not all ponies are that... physical in a relationship. Besides, it's not just that she did that, it's that today she didn't want to talk about it. I mean, she didn't seem too anxious about it, but something's obviously on her mind. She said it was something I couldn't really help with and she wanted to talk it over with somepony else.”
“So you think you're the problem?”
“Well, who else would it be? If it wasn't me, why wouldn't she tell me about it?”
“Really? This again?” Rainbow Dash sighed. “Applejack, pretty much all the issues you two have have been Twilight freaking out about something that turns out to actually not be a big deal. She probably just realized she was going nuts and wanted to check with somepony else before bugging you about it.”
“I sure hope you're right,” Applejack said. “This one only needs a little water.”
Rainbow Dash nodded and bounced once on the cloud. “I'm sure it's nothing. Next time you see her she'll probably tell you that nothing is wrong. If you don't stop worrying about it you'll turn into her!”
“Well, they do say that when you've been together a while you start resemblin' each other.”
“Right! You don't wanna turn into an egghead, do you?” Rainbow Dash knocked on Applejack's head. “Don't worry about Twilight. She'll figure everything out.”
“Yeah, you're right. I got other things to deal with.” She nodded towards the next patch of trees. “Come on. These trees look like they really need some water.”
Fluttershy trotted along, a pet food recipe book balanced on her back. She had forgotten that she even had it; if Owlowiscious hadn't stopped by to leave a note on her door, she never would have remembered that she had checked it out. Naturally, she had made a beeline to the library. She'd rather not have to pay the overdue book fee. Not because she couldn't spare the bits; she had more than enough lying around for that.
She just wanted to avoid the awkwardness. Spike being Spike, he'd probably waive it. That was all well and good, but she just wouldn't feel comfortable getting a favor like that. She'd insist on paying it, and he would wave her off and eventually hide the jar where he kept the fees. That meant she'd have to borrow a catsuit from Rainbow Dash and sneak into the library to put the bits into the jar. It was a huge hassle. Much easier to turn the book in on time.
She knocked on the library door and waited. A moment later, Spike opened the door.
“Hey, Fluttershy. What's up?”
“I just came by to drop off this book.” She gave it to Spike. “I wouldn't want to be late.”
“Oh, it's no problem.” Spike waved Fluttershy into the library. “I'd never charge you!”
“Why not?” Fluttershy asked as she followed him inside.
“Because I know if you're late, it's because you just forgot and not because you're trying to game the system or anything. Now if Rainbow Dash was late, I'd have to charge her, or she'd never bring anything back.” He opened the book and stamped the card. “Have anything else you wanted to pick up?”
“No, that's it. Thanks for having Owlowiscious leave that note. I might have forgotten otherwise.”
“No problem. I'm just glad to hear that it's working. I really gotta cut down on the number of late books. Keeping track of all the fees is a pain. See you later.” He disappeared behind the shelves, but almost immediately emerged. “Oh, and if you see Twilight, can you tell her that dinner is almost ready? I've got an alfalfa casserole in the oven for her.”
“Oh, okay.” She nodded. “Bye.”
She trotted out the door, and immediately bonked heads with Twilight. The two ponies stumbled away from each other, rubbing their foreheads. Twilight’s saddlebag tumbled to the ground.
“I'm so sorry, Twilight!” Fluttershy gasped. “Are you alright!?”
“I'm fine!” Twilight said with a smile. “I'm feeling great!”
“Oh, that's good.”
“It sure is!”
“So, I guess you're having a good day?” Fluttershy asked. Twilight looked unusually exuberant.
“Well, it didn't start off that way, but now it is,” Twilight said, as she picked up her saddlebag.
“Really? What do you mean?”
“I thought I was having relationship issues. Again.” Twilight sighed. “Turns out it was just me being a worrywart.”
“That's wonderful! Not you being a worrywart, I mean. It's wonderful that things are going well.”
“Thanks,” Twilight said with a chuckle. “I know what you mean.”
Fluttershy nodded, and noticed the edge of what looked like a magazine poking out of Twilight's saddlebag. “What's that?”
“Huh? Oh, that's nothing.” Twilight shoved it into the bag. “Well, not nothing. It's just... something I'm looking into. We can talk about it at lunch tomorrow, okay? Is twelve-thirty still a good time?”
“Oh, alright. That's fine. Uh, speaking of which, Spike wanted me to tell you that your dinner is almost ready.”
“Ah, okay. I guess I better get going then.” Twilight hurried inside. “See you tomorrow!”
“Bye.” Fluttershy waved as Twilight closed the door. Then she began to think. She could have sworn that that magazine in Twilight's bag was a... No, it couldn't be. She shrugged. Twilight had said they'd talk about it tomorrow. She could wait for a day. No reason to worry about it now; at the moment she needed to get home. Angel would be getting hungry.
Twilight locked the door to her room. Normally, this chunk of time would be set aside for studying, and only a disaster of the highest caliber had even the remotest possibility of pushing it aside. Today, she would make an exception. She needed to think. An idea had popped into her head, and she couldn't dismiss it, not without giving it due consideration. That was why she had been late for dinner; she had to pick up some reference information, and it wasn't the kind of thing she could find in the library.
Two books sat on her bed. One of them was her personal financial records for the past year, the ones that listed how much money she had stored up in her savings. The other book was a DeBuck's Jewelry Catalog. She took a deep breath and opened it. Hopefully something in the book would be within her price range.
I have at least one idea about what Twilight's got planned...
Bummm, bum ba-dum... Bummm, bum ba-dum...
Good chapter! I really liked Mrs. Cake's attitude and Twilight learning to recognize her overreactions before they get out of control. Yay, maturity!
My gut reaction to the ending is "oh god Twilight no, don't do it it's too soon". I feel like she's got her relationship checklist and is trying to check off Get Engaged because it's the next item, not that she's actually decided it's the right time for her and Applejack to get married. I mean, engagements can last as long as you want so it's not like they need to have everything planned out before the proposal, but I think they should at least test the waters, talk about how they feel about marriage and what they want out of it, maybe throw around some logistical brainstorming (where will we live, where will we go for holidays, etc). Especially since they each have kids who need them and need a stable home life, even if they're not strictly "their" kids or dependents. I got the impression they haven't talked about marriage with each other at all before this.
Dun Dun Duuuuuuuuuuuun!
A magazine huh?!?!
What, Twilight picking up a pony De Beer's catalog to buy a diamond? I have absolutely no idea what she could have planned. And I also have a cutie mark in sarcasm. I like that this conflict of Twilight's was handled in a reasonable manner. I think it would have been too much overreaction in the story otherwise, and it does show that Twilight has grown as a character a little bit. (That's also a nifty trick you used: having the character say exactly how they've grown over the course of the story. )
Still thoroughly enjoying the story.
edit: Wow! This is now the third-longest story I've read on the site. Crazy.
Horay twilight's not going to dump applejack.
2977043 Oh, don't worry, I have plans for how Twilight is going to handle the matter.
2977297 Normally I wouldn't cheat like that, but Twilight is self-aware enough that I think it's in-character for her.
Also, I'm as surprised as anyone that the story is so long. I honestly didn't think it would be this long when I started writing it.
Twilight plus jewelry catalog, I think I see where this could be going.
do I hear wedding bells???
Hrm. I think I'd have been more pleased to find out she was trying to learn about screwin' from a porno. I get the distinct impression that Twi's doing this wrong.
But hell, what do I know.
This speech. I was expecting it to show up sometime. Although one wonders why Twilight thought to talk to Mrs Cake instead of her old babysitter and sister-in-law, who, as it happens, is also married...
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Whattya mean they both have kids? If you're referencing Applebloom and Spike, Spike's starting to leave the nest - he's now in charge of the library and such.
Applebloom still has Granny Smith and Big Macintosh to take care of her, and I have no doubt that if Applejack moved out she'd be by the farm everyday to do her work.
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And who also happens to live in a completely different country. That could be a bit of a problem.
But seriously, I had considered bringing Cadance in, but there were a few reasons I decided against it at this point:
1. Lyra doesn't know Cadance, so she couldn't refer Twilight to her
2. I wanted a face-to-face conversation, which meant I either had to use a pony who lives in Ponyville, or else come up with an excuse for why Cadance is around.
3. While Cadance is associated with love, she and Shining Armor are still pretty much newlyweds at this point. At best they've only been together for a year or two at this point. I thought it would be better for Twilight to get the advice from a character who's been in a long-term relationship and has already experienced most of the difficulties.
So yeah, I thought Mrs. Cake just made more sense, given the circumstances. And it gave me a chance to talk about the Ultimate S'more, so there's that.
Calm down! She just wants to make her a jewel cake! D: ... Right?
/becauseit'swaytoosoontobegettingmarrieddamnitTwilight
2977838
... They're newlyweds who have only been together for two years? Fastest marriage ever...?
Although with the ending of this chapter, I have to wonder if Twilight is thinking about challenging that record...?
I sincerely hope Equestria doesn't have a blood diamond problem.
Also, this story makes me smile every time it updates.
Brilliant, absolutely brilliant. She can't go on a rant if she's too busy chewing. Good to see another problem solved before getting blown out of proportion again.
Whew, I thought that whole thing with the magazine was going in a totally different, and very much weirder, direction. Glad to see this didn't turn into a clopfic.
Qeue the singing angels and light from above - Twilight finally has her head on straight, lol. Nice chapter, looking forward to more
.........Twilight, you're not gonna do what I think you're gonna do are you?
...Because I am totally on board with it!
But yeah this was a nice chapter, I'm just glad someone cut off the worry train this time before it nearly got out of control....again.
Ultimate smore eh? I'll have to try that out sometim- ERMAGERD TWERLERTS GERNA PRERPERSE!
.... OR she's just going to slip back into her 'gotta give my marefriend tons of presents' phase.
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That profile picture. Just. watisthisgoingoninmyheadomigodwatwatwat
It's not just me, right? I'm not a pervert for assuming the magazine was a Playmare... Right..?
Man you should submit that ultimate s'more idea to Epic Meal Time.
*Music plays*
All may single fillies, All may single fillies.
If ya like it then ya shudda put earring on it!
I'm so sorry.
2978524 Yep. That picture has earned me more comments... I wish I knew where I got it from though. I started using it as a profile pic such a long time ago that I've long forgotten the source. It's impossible to not smile when you see uber-cute Twilight!
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*Continues staring at the picture, his slackened face occasionally twitching. A thin line of saliva almost escapes from his lips*
vuuuuuuuuuuuhhhhhhhh...........
I've got a bad feeling about this -- after all, since when has Twilight been good with handling these big relationship issues/changes? -- but I do hope things work out for her and AJ.
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I, uh, did kinda think the same thing for a moment. Once I got my mind out of the gutter, I remembered that not even oblivious Twilight Sparkle would discuss something like that with Fluttershy over lunch.
Probably.
Now, here's something interesting; Twilight can use a diamond finding spell at any point in her backyard, practically, to find a diamond the size of her head.
I have the strange feeling that diamonds are as worthless in Equestria as they should be on our planet. The thing is the DeBeer's corporation... artificially... inflated...the price... with monopolies and...
Becoming synonomous with engagement rings.
Huh.
Anyway, if Twilight was looking for an engagement ring I sincerely hope you address this by having her choose an expensive alloy, the gold/silver hybrid electrum leaps to mind: Not only does it have curious scientific properties, but the rarity, level of skill into creating it and its magical properties are well-documented.
It'd give you a chance to write a sappy line about how pure their romance is and how it could shoo off any toxic doubt (Electrum dust purported to be able to unpoison wells.)
But, that's me telling you information. I want to read your writing.
So-
Please, tell me s'more.
...
Sorry.
Twilight... You're not going to propose to her... are you?
If you are, I have another book that I think you might find more use of. Scrap the jewelry book, take a look in Karma Sutra instead, it should liven up your relationship a bit :3
There's no way she's actually gonna do it so soon, right? It seems awfully fast. But in the interest of time, it'd have to come relatively soon, right?
I love this story sooooooooooo much. It just gives me happy feelings inside
I've learned a valuable lesson today
Any worrisome problem can easily be fixed with 3 words...have a cookie.
Mrs Cake is definitely the best mare in town to be asking about relationship problems, and honestly I don't know why it doesn't happen in more stories. She knows how to handle Twilight, that's for certain:
Twilight, eat a cookie.
Why?
Because you turn into a neurotic ball of anxiety and self-doubt when you're hungry.
Fine.
Better?
Better!
I do think Twilight is missing the most important step in the proposal process - actually talking to Applejack about it. I think surprise proposals are a terrible idea. The cost of a ring really shouldn't factor into anything, especially since it's mostly wasted money.
Somehow I have a feeling it's not going to be quite as simple as Twilight just plain proposing to AJ. I'm not sure what else she might be planning, but maybe, uhh... maybe, hmm... Well maybe she is just thinking of proposing, plain and straightforward. But maybe she's putting it on her schedule six months in advance or something.
I wonder what kind of engagement jewelry earth ponies wear, though. Giant hoof-rings? Or bracelets, I suppose. Maybe Twilight will pick out a fancy ornament for AJ's hat. It seems kinda silly for ponies to spend much money on jewelry, though, since they clearly don't wear them all the time, like we do when people get married.
i think diamonds have been so over done people really need to go with a different stone like an emerald or a ruby i would like the instead of a diamond but i'm a guy so what do i know
Heh, the cookie thing was a good idea. Prevent Twilight from ranting, and maybe you can actually get through to her. Score one for Mrs. Cake.
As for Twilight's apparent plan... well, it does seem a bit soon. It keeps the story moving forward, though, and will presumably create new conflicts for most if not all of the major characters. Plus, y'know, it's a well-written pony wedding. Gotta love those, right? So yeah, I'm all for it.
Good chapter and I'm excited for the wedding(if there is one).
2983613 I've seen a lot of writers use horn rings as formal objects for unicorns, and earrings for non-unicorns. Personally, I'm a fan of ear-rings, because it seems more likely for ponies, as they have such prominent ears. Of course, a necklace or a bracelet would also make sense. Ultimately, since most ponies we've seen do a lot of manual labor, I imagine they reserve even wedding jewelry for more formal occasions.
I really thought you were going to do the cupcake metaphor from Romance Reports but with cookies there.
I have to say, I was getting kind of bored with this story, felt that it was going too much in circles and stuff, but you've rekindled my interest. Looking forward to the next chapter.
3020044>>3020490 So I don't risk spoiling you, all I'm going to say is
1. I'm glad you're enjoying it so far.
2. I look forward to seeing what you think of future developments.
3021926 oh well there goes the theory of the crush she just was afraid to lose a friend
aaaand i catched up, loving the story some things in here made me remember some things of my past, and im happy that things went right for Twilight and Applejack not everyone gets that lucky
also is somepony thinking about buying an engagement jewel?
2982538 Someone please turn that into a thing. Animation, a comic heck even a meme, just please do something with it.
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I'm not sure what you mean by "fastest marriage ever" (I think he mean't they'd been married for a year or two), but anyways, I knew someone who was engaged within three weeks of meeting someone for the first time. And they're married now. So yeah. Just a fun fact.
I can't imagine what's the ends implying "cough marriage"
3477228 Five bits says Applejack looks at her with this face and says no
Commence read.
Crazy "Ultimate S'more". Sounds rather interesting.
You would know well before a year has past.
To bad we didn't get to see it.
Again, Hedonic Treadmill.
Are you sure you want to know?
That.... actually does. maybe tone down the amount of marshmallow a bit, but overall, that does sound good.
That does sound good, just, work on making it look like something other then a pile of sugary mess.
Story... stop that.
Overkill Pinkie. Don't spoil it.
1. not questioning how since, it's Pinkie. But.. mane =\= tail.
Well, didn't see it coming, but not surprised at it.
wait, how did Lyra talk to her first? Oh right, Twilight had to work after talking to Lyra.
"I'm over thinking things again."
And poor Pinkie.... not all of Equestria revolves around you.
that fast? can't buy it. Day trip sure, but there and back before noon?
Window repair ponies. he biggest business in Ponyville.
At least she knows when to stop thinking about Pinkie.
No, something is very, very VERY wrong with her..... in the most glorious way possible.
Yeah in the last year... this is Twilight, she had to have had tons of breakdowns we never saw.
I'm more shocked she went on a date period....
Good point. Blunt but... legit.
And was waiting for that one.
Very Very nicely done scene.
Cookies make everything better.
To bad she wasn't drinking milk to wash down the cookie.
But, you also are in serious need of some SSRI's for your massive anxiety issues.
Did... did.. did she just find out how to take care of Twi's panic attacks? Shove cookies in her mouth so she shuts up while you explain why she's being unreasonable and paranoid?
You did not just ask that did you? 1. This is Ponyville.. do you really want to think of what the worst is? 2.It's Twilight. She WILL find the 'worst case.' no matter how unlikely it is.
Oh.... OHHHHH I see what you did there.... very very nice.
And all the little sly, cold mean something sexual bits are just serving to make the utter and total lack of addressing that elephant in the room even bigger.
Wha... I.. I don't.. I think I see what you are going for but.. still what?
See, why couldn't she have been drinking the milk earilier?
Also nice bit but.. just.. to quick. Twi's whole issue here was just.. not well done. it comes out of nowhere, we barely see it from her POV, don't really get in her head about it. It just, pops up, one quick talk, and done. I mean, it does logically make sense but, just, doesn't feel right. Especially after a whole year.
Or when anyone goes off on her spiels. But, he now we know why.
Someone write that side story. NOW! Another oddity in the year skip, think of all the great Twi freakouts we missed.
Not what it likely should have been, or at least led to thoughts of. Also, nice implied threat RD.
Like what? See that's all it would really take, just, a few lines that at least acknowledge sex exists, even if neither of them are read for it.
Still odd it took a YEAR before they even got to the 'using tongue' stage.
^This^
Me too RD.
See, this was really all it needed. Making it clear, if in an oblique way, that it does exist. But Twi just isn't up for that yet. Though still feels odd they've gone at it a year and not even talked about that yet. But, see this is good here, more or less all I was asking for. (Would like a little more, but, not being greedy.)
You mean more then just the one nearly a year ago? Why we no get hear about those?
More or less.
Hmmmmmm, and what might that be about?
Well, that was fast. Yeah yeah, year but.. it doesn't feel like it.
Yeah know where this is going but, again, it feels fast. I know the time skip was meant to make it make sense, and it might but, no enough given how little really changed. And, when it took them a YEAR to get to the point of even an open mouth kiss. Followed by Twi freaking out about not loving AJ anymore. Then, within a day thinking about marriage? I mean, it does kind of make sense. She has the talk, realizes how she feels but.. hard to get that when we don't see the revelation. plus, the fact that the freakout seemed to be happening way to late. A whole year and just now?
Yeah, really not liking the way the Time Skip happened, it just, throws the whole flow off the story. Maybe, instead of one large time skip, a few smaller ones. Skipping a month or so to where some other problem shows up. Like, have the "I don't love her anymore!?" bit pop up a month or so later, as things are just winding down. Just... yeah it's not bad bad. But, really could have been executed better.
i honestly thought that the magazine was some kind of pony cosmo kind of thing, with the cover being like "top ten things to turn your mare on" "fifteen positions she is dying for you to try." that would have been funnier i think.
I love how she stops Twilight's panicking with cookies