//------------------------------// // Data collection // Story: Flutterheart // by lilinuyasha //------------------------------// “So what attracted you to Trey?” Twilight began, still angry at herself for forgetting some paper as a distraction. “Well...he’s very sweet...and he actually took the time to get to know me even though I was so shy...he invites me to things...and stuff...” she said, choosing her words carefully. She didn’t want to let on that Twilight hadn’t been doing a good job of that either. “He’s just a really nice colt.” she said, nuzzling her head into his chest. Twilight took note of that sign of affection. She’d never seen her do that to anypony other than her animals. “Alright. When did you know you were attracted to him?” “Well...I thought he was interesting at the first party we met at...since then, my love him for him just...grew. I don’t know exactly when I fell in love with him, all I know is that I’m glad I did.” she started, as Trey rubbed her back. “Uh huh...and are you satisfied with Trey?” “Satisfied?” “Yes. Are you happy with him?” “Oh, yes, I’m much more than happy. I don’t think I could be happy without him.” she smiled at Trey. She wished Twilight would just leave already. She wanted to get more time with him by herself. “And just a few more questions...what has Trey done to make you feel wanted?” “Well...” she started, looking into Trey’s eyes. “I don’t think he’s done anything to make me feel unwanted. Everything he does, from the way he talks to me, touches me, compliments me...looks at me, even. It just seems...natural. Like he genuinely wants me in his life.” “And I do.” said Trey, smiling at her. They’d hardly been looking at Twilight, lost in their own little world. Twilight recognized this and sped things up, getting their attention again. “Alright, and last question...would you say you two are good lovers?” “Oh yes. He loves me and I love him very much.” she said. “That’s not what I meant.” she said. Trey immediately understood where she was going. “What did you mean?” “Twilight, I don’t think that’s something we can discuss.” Trey said, trying to end the conversation. “What’s she asking?” asked Fluttershy. “Have you...been good lovers?” “Oh, yes. We love each other a lot.” she smiled. “That’s not what I mean...” “Twilight, let’s not go there.” said Trey, a little more forecefully. She ignored his statement. “I don’t understand...” said Fluttershy. “Have you two...done it?” “Done what?” asked Fluttershy. Twilight facehoofed. Trey warned her again. “Have you two had sex?” she asked. A large, brooding silence hung over the room as Fluttershy stared at her, tears starting to come to her face. Trey stared at Twilight, angry. “I mean, I read about the sexual revolution...and you guys have been together for a while now...by studies, you guys should have...” “Twilight.” said Trey, as Fluttershy covered her face with her hooves, hiding her tears. “You need to leave. I’ll discuss that with you later.” he said, giving her a menacing stare. Twilight then realized the error of that question. Fluttershy couldn’t handle stuff like that...why did she even ask that? “I’m...I’m sorry.” she said, before hanging her head low, trotting out the door back home. Trey slammed the door behind her, sighing heavily as Fluttershy let out her sobs of frustration, getting lost in memories. Trey took his seat beside her on the couch again. “Fluttershy? It’s going to be ok.” he said, putting an arm around her to comfort her. “DON’T TOUCH ME!” she screamed at him. Trey reeled back in a slight surprise, removing his arm quickly. He sat beside her on couch in silence. “Flutterheart...” he said. “I’m sorry, Trey.” she managed to say between sobs. “I didn’t mean to.” “I know. I know exactly why you did it, too. She should have known better than to ask that. I’ll be letting her have a piece of my mind later.” “You don’t have to do that...I don’t want her to get upset...” “Fluttershy, she upset you. I’m just going to lay it out with her. Nopony upsets my filly and gets away with it. Are you going to be ok?” She nodded, still crying. “Just stay here...” she said, putting one hoof out to him. Trey took it with his and kissed it. She threw herself upon him, hugging him, burying her head deep in his chest while he stroked her softly, shushing her, rocking back and forth. *** “Oh...hey Trey. Yeah, about earlier...” began Twilight as she opened her library door. “That’s exactly what we’re here to talk about.” said Trey. “I told you we’d discuss this later.” “Come on in...” she said. She took a seat, offering the couch to him. He said nothing, but began his tirade standing up. “Listen. There were multiple problems with what you said. First off, why would you think asking ponies about their private lives was a good idea?” “It was a research paper.” “Bullshit, Twilight. You’re one of the smartest bookworms in the town and you’re writing a report without taking notes on what’s said? That’s what gave it away for me. But the bigger question is, why would you think asking somepony, who’s had that kind of a past, would be a good idea at all?” “I didn’t mean for it to happen like that. I honestly wasn’t thinking.” “That’s a little out of character for you, Twilight. You’re always thinking. There must have been some ulterior motive. Honestly, I think you’re trying to sabotage our relationship.” he said, taking a seat on the couch. “No, not at all.” said Twilight, fearing her answer. How did Trey reach that conclusion? “And let me give you something personal about myself. First off, before I say that, let me say that all the reading you’ve been doing on love won’t give you any practical knowledge. It’s something learned on the field, not read. You reading about the sexual revolution doesn’t matter. Sure, many of the colts and fillies these days are having sex more and more often, outside of wedlock. You know what? I’ve struggled my entire life trying to make sure I wasn’t like them. Not all colts are the same, Twilight.” “I never said they were...” “Shh. So here. This is what you need to know about me. I’m erotophobic.” “You’re scared of sex?” she asked, shocked. She’d never heard of a male who’d been scared of sex...he certainly did defy expectations. “Not necessarily scared. There’s some fear, yes, but it’s really more strong negative opinions about it. I have absolutely no interest in sex.” “What is this...I don’t even...” “And you know what else? I’m basiexic.” Twilight raised an eyebrow. Out of all the reading she’d done, she’d never heard that word before. “What’s that?” “Strong sexual arousal by kissing. So let me lay this out psychologically for you. I don’t like sex. Multiple reasons, I’ll get into those later. But since I don’t like sex, I have to have some other way to release myself, so to speak. Kissing is what turns me on. Personally, I think a kiss means much more than sex. So, I prefer kissing over sex. Yadda yadda yadda. Point proved?” “Yes.” she said. She didn’t expect that from him. He seemed so...confident in himself...why wasn’t he confident in having a sex life? “How do you know you don’t like sex if you’ve never had it?” she asked, trying to trip him up. “Because...well...I have had it. That’s how I know.” “You...what?” So he WAS typical? He...he didn’t make sense to her anymore. “I’ve always been against sex before marriage. Part of the way I was raised. Well, back in Canterlot, first year in college, I got my first fillyfriend. After about 6 months, I decided to make love to her. Even then, it wasn’t great.” “Probably just because she didn’t know what she was doing.” “Neither of us did. That’s not the point. Point is, shortly afterward, after about 2 weeks, she broke up with me. I decided to release my inhibitions about sex, and foolishly made love to her thinking we’d last longer. After that, I was so grief stricken. We were both virgins, and since I was raised to know better than that, I felt terrible. Worst part was, I feel like I took something from her that wasn’t mine to take.” Twilight raised an eyebrow. Most colts never felt bad about taking somepony’s virginity. It was almost like a trophy for them. “You...felt bad about it?” “Yes. Strange I know, since all colts are the same and consider virginity trophies of sorts. Certainly there’s not one single colt in all of Equestria that may feel bad. Certainly not, Twilight. The books say we’re all the same. Must be right, hm?” “I...don’t know what to say really. I don’t understand why you’re erotophobic...you did have sex. If you were so scared of it, why did you do it?” “Because I decided to put away my fear for her. I thought my fear would go away. After she left me, I was so overcome with grief that I settled back into my old mindset. Besides...sex is just so...invasive. I don’t like being invasive.” “You...I...what?” “I know. Hard to imagine there might be an exception to the social rules, right, Twilight? I think you should think about that before boldly making accusations. Besides...” he said, hopping up off the couch towards the door. “Fluttershy was invaded once. I’m not going to let it happen again. See you later, Twilight.” he said, walking out the door. He was seething with rage. He’d never been that angry at anypony other than himself before, but...he felt she deserved it. He trotted back home, getting ready for Fluttershy to visit yet again. Twilight sat in her chair, dumbfounded. There was an...exception? There were no exceptions in math, why was there an exception in love? “Sounds like he let you have it.” Twilight turned to face Spike, who poked his head from the kitchen. “Guess you heard that, huh?” “Oh yeah. Why can’t you just leave him alone about her, Twilight? What did he ever do to you?” ‘He stole my heart...’ she said silently to herself. “Nothing. I just got too curious for my own good. Asked all the wrong questions.” “I think you need to leave them alone. Just stop looking for love and it will find you.” “But what about the rules? They’re breaking every one of them!” “All’s fair in love and war, Twilight.” “Where did you hear that?” “It’s an old saying. Just take a step back and let them love each other. They’re not hurting anypony.” “He’s hurting me.” she said. She immediately covered her mouth with her hoof, realizing what she said. Spike raised an eyebrow. “So THAT’S what’s really going on.” he said.