“Princess Celestia, Philomena seems odd. Can I take her outside to have a look?” Fluttershy said.
“How astute, Fluttershy. You might take her out for a while.” Celestia sipped her tea, and nodded.
Fluttershy then took the cage with the sickly-looking bird outside. Soon afterwards, she came back with a cage and a pile of ashes. Mrs. Cake was just coming out of the kitchen and loudly gasped at the scene. “Wh—What have you done with the Princess’s pet bird?”
“There’s no need for alarm, Mrs. Cake. Philomena is a phoenix.” Twilight said.
“Phoenixes don’t truly perish, they simply reborn in fire after shedding their feathers.” Fluttershy quietly replied. “I was simply fearful that her flame might cause damage indoors, so I take her outside.”
“Look at that cheeky bird,” Rainbow Dash teased. “She want to scare ponies, but we aren’t falling for it.”
Celestia smiled. “Indeed, stop fooling around, Philomena.”
Immediately afterwards, a magnificent red and orange phoenix emerged from the pile of ashes, and gently perched herself on the table in front of the princess. Mr. and Mrs. Cake looked on with surprise and amazement.
“I must say I’m very impressed with you and your friends’ knowledge of the bestiary, Twilight. Normally, ponies panicked at the sight of a molting Philomena. She had scared countless poor royal maids over the years.” Celestia lightly chuckled.
“As the bearers of the Elements, it is our job to protect and maintain the harmony of the land. If we just panic out of ignorance, it would not do. Therefore we must learn and keep learning.” Twilight solemnly said.
“My faithful Twilight, you’ve grown very wise and mature. I almost couldn’t believe you’re still such a young mare.” Celestia said.
“You’re flattering me, princess. We merely do our best job for the safety and prosperity of Equestria.”
“But of course.” Celestia gazed at Twilight, but she immediately replaced the pensive look with a gentle smile. “I hadn’t foreseen before I sent you on this friendship mission, but in addition to your growth of character, you and your friends have been a very positive force to the community. The Mayor Mare told me that you and your friends funded a lot of town improvements with your own bits. At the risk of sounding… philistine, where do you get those bits from?”
“Princess, part o’ the bits were from the good apple harvest last year.” Applejack said.
“And the other parts came from a social enterprise I’ve set up.” Twilight said matter-of-factly. “It resells some of the locally made products to bigger cities, just like Mr. Rich’s father did. In fact, we also cooperate with Mr. Rich this time. The profits go into the continual running of the company and local welfare.”
“Um, princess, please don’t be unhappy with Twilight’s little side project, she just wanted to do good for the local community.” Fluttershy pled.
Celestia smilingly shook her head. “Why would I be unhappy, Fluttershy? I’m more than pleased that my student is a beneficial influence in Ponyville in addition to exceling her friendship mission.”
“Thank you very much, princess. I’m humbled by your praise.”
“And the Ponyville Mirror.” Celestia calmly elevated her cup of tea.
“Yes?” Twilight asked apprehensively.
“I’m rather surprised by your decision to venture into the press, Twilight. A newspaper, like other forms of media, involves much complicated relations, and it was an arduous task to both keep a distance and a close eye on the fine balances.”
Twilight remained expressionless. “Pardon my brazenness, princess. This is but the complication of rulership. We, as mere ponies, can only guide ourselves by what’s right and what’s just, then I believe rightness and justice shall come.”
Celestia momentarily narrowed her eyes, and then heartily chuckled. “You spoke too formally, much like my dear Luna. You should lighten up sometimes.”
“As your wish, your Highness.” Twilight wryly curtsied, earning a small laugh from the surrounding ponies.
“In any case, I do appreciate the commitment to truth you’ve shown. I shall grant you permission to run your little media enterprise outside of Ponyville.” Celestia smiled.
Twilight was somewhat shocked by the unexpected announcement and how forthwith her mentor was, but she immediately said. “Oh thank you, princess!”
“But.” Celestia immediately added. “I hope you understand that words are powerful. They can hurt as well as they can heal. Do not be reckless, my prized pupil, that’s the only thing I ask you for.”
“I shall remember this by heart.” Twilight again nodded and bowed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Celestia had bid her farewell to the ponies, as she was scheduled to hold a royal meeting with the ministers. She was truly sad to part with her dear student, and they exchanged a long glance just before Celestia stepped into the Royal Chariot. The mares then remained at the Sugarcube Corner for an afternoon gathering.
“See? This is why we can’t underestimate the Princess.” Rainbow Dash said. “She got an eye out of our every move!”
“The Princess is not our adversary, Rainbow.” Rarity said. “She’s still Twilight’s caring mentor. She also loved Twilight a lot, she even gave her blessing towards Twilight’s little projects despite her reservations.”
“What more could ya ask for?” Applejack smiled.
“By the way, where’s Spike and Pinkie?” Rarity asked with concern.
“Haven’t seen ‘em since we came back from Appleloosa.” Applejack shrugged.
Twilight sighed and sulked. “Spike’s mad at me since I’ve brought back Owlowicious. He’s probably anywhere but the library, because he couldn’t stand the sight of Owlowicious. ”
“Ah, sibling rivalry.” Rainbow Dash said. “Why do you go over the troubles of taking in the owl anyway?”
“Owlowicious is an intelligent and wise owl, I don’t have the heart not to take him in if it’s his wish to come to me.” Twilight then lowered her head. “But I do not foresee that, even with all my love and care for Spike, he’d still be unhappy with my decision.”
“Exactly because you have been spoilin’ him with yer attention, Twilight. He’s just a kiddo who thinks that your love will be thinned out by the newcomer.”
Twilight groaned. “This is not how it works at all. Silly, silly Spike.”
After a moment of silence, Rarity spoke up. “What about Pinkie then? Shouldn’t she be helping out the Cakes with their reception of the Princess?”
“Uh… She’s been actin’ strange after we came back I reckon.” Applejack said.
“Yeah, she ran out just a while after the Princess’s arrival. Who knows where she’s heading to.” Rainbow said.
Twilight knew the answer to that question, but she elected to just roll her eyes up at yet another incoming headache.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pinkie Pie looked at the ground in front of the Golden Oak Library, visibly disappointed. Just after they got off the train from Appleloosa, Pinkie Pie gathered up her courage to ask Spike if he could go to a private party in the upper floor of the Sugarcube Corner, and he agreed at the time. In truth, it was going to be just a party of two, with only Pinkie and Spike. She didn’t know if Rarity had taken actions yet, but if she hadn’t, she’s going to preempt her.
She had come to remind Spike that he had to go the next day. But for some reason, he’s not at the library. The lone occupant of the library was Twilight’s owl Owlowicious, who had looked at the pink pony curiously.
Was Spike trying to avoid her?
‘Ha ha, don’t be silly. Spike has no reason to avoid me at all!’
Pinkie reassured herself as she trotted back to the Sugarcube Corner, but without her usual bouncy gait.
When she was back to Sugarcube Corner, she found that all her friends and Princess Celestia had already gone. She sighed sadly and trotted upstairs towards her room.
That night, she sat on her bed and could not sleep at all. She was very excited but also a little bit scared. She was quite confident that Spike would remember his promise to come, and that he was probably just away on some businesses Twilight sent him to do.
Pinkie was quietly fearful that this was not the case, but she decided to bury her fear beneath her work and preparation. She examined her room, which had been configured into a quirky but romantic setting for a candlelight dinner.
She went over the list of food and gems meticulously and made sure that they were in the correct order. Then she climbed up and down the room to see if the dark wallpaper and the shiny gems stayed at their places. She inspected her specially made dinner table again, and checked if the mechanisms that sent up dishes of food work perfectly. She tested the nozzle of the novelty drinking fountain, shaped like a fire-breathing dragon. After all that, she went through all the items three more times to be sure.
When she was done, it was already morning. But she did not feel tired at all, as she was bursting with glee that she was going to spend quality time with Spike that evening. She gladly helped the Cakes to bake batches of cupcakes and other assorted desserts, while anxiously watching the time ticking by on the clock.
As the evening came, she awaited with joy at the shop front. Then she waited and waited, and her heart began to drop like a stone. She retreated into Sugarcube Corner and sat at one of the tables, in hope that her Spike was just late.
The moon rose high, and most of the ponies already went to sleep. Yet sat the hopeful pink pony, still grasping at the slim chance that the purple dragon would hurriedly show up. That’s until Mr. Cake came down to the ground floor rubbing his eyes, pleading Pinkie to go to sleep instead of sitting alone in the dark dessert place. Pinkie eventually accepted that Spike wasn’t going to come. She tried her best to not show her tears, and slowly trotted back to her room with shaky steps.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It was night already. Twilight knew something was wrong. Spike’s outing could not be this long. She knew that Spike would likely try to run away from his home, but she had made Spike swear on it, and thus she was falsely reassured by Spike’s promise.
Rather than blaming the purple dragon’s naiveté, she cursed at her own misjudgment and insensitivity. How could she allow this to happen even with her knowledge and foresight? She’s obviously not going to leave Owlowicious out of the picture, but she thought she had done enough to make the dragon think he’s not replaceable.
After consulting with the calm owl, Twilight concluded that Spike probably wandered towards the edge of the town. Twilight immediately set out to find Spike despite the darkness of the night. She half galloped and half teleported, until she reached a giant cave to the north of the town. She reached into the cave, and was shocked to find that the cave was delicately decorated with drapes of colorful cloths and studded gems, completely unlike a cave of a wild dragon.
Twilight trotted lightly, and what she saw surprised her even more. Instead of some other dragons, it was Red Fury, standing on piles of gems and rearranging the decoration of his cave home.
The red dragon noticed something moving in his periphery and turned, and found Twilight Sparkle staring at him in seeming disbelief.
“Oh…? What brings you to my new home, little pony?”
Twilight shook her head.
“Nothing, Red Fury, I just didn’t expect to see you here.”
“Haven’t your friend told you? I eventually decide to pick a place near Ponyville so that your friend can help me decorate my cave home easier.”
Red Fury laughed. Twilight also lightly chuckled. It seemed that Rarity’s penchant for glamorous decoration have latched onto the red dragon. But she was not here for meeting old friend, so she immediately asked.
“Red Fury, I must ask of you, have you ever seen Spike?”
The red dragon shook his head.
“No, I haven’t seen the little one. Is he missing?”
Twilight lowered her head, and slowly nodded.
Red Fury looked at her thoughtfully, then said.
“If the little one is not with us, then he’s with you ponies. He’s not going to wander this far off.”
Twilight’s eyes widened. She realized that she was so engrossed with the convenience of her foreknowledge, she had forgotten that it was ultimately her perceptiveness of other’s feelings that matters. She should have known that Spike would also miss her and probably stayed around Ponyville.
She began to regret her rashness. She should know that Spike was already troubled by his messy relationships, that a potential competitor at home would not help calm him down.
“… Thank you, Red Fury, you have made me realize something.”
Red Fury gazed at Twilight and harrumphed with a smirk.
Twilight then galloped out of the cave at full speed. She was already panting and sweating when she came back into the town. Raindrops started falling from the night sky, wetting her coat and mane. It was cold and windy, and she couldn’t help but start trembling a bit.
However, she was not going to be troubled by mere weather, and she immediately flared up her locating spell. It was much more difficult than finding a big herd of stampeding buffalos in a semi-desert, but perhaps due to their strong bond or Twilight’s own proficiency in magic, she still managed to sense something vague in the direction of Sweet Apple Acres.
‘Was he hiding in the barn?’ Twilight thought as she galloped in the rain. She didn’t even bother using a rain-blocking spell as she was too desperate to think of herself.
She was tousled when she arrived at the barn on Sweet Apple Acres. The Apples were already asleep, and Winona slept at the entrance to the barn. The dog was initially woken up by the appearance of a disheveled pony and growled, but she calmed down after she saw it was Applejack’s purple pony friend. However, as Twilight searched, Spike was nowhere to be found in the barn.
Twilight’s locating spell gave off a much stronger presence as she closed in on the source, however. It now pointed the mare towards the outskirt of the farm. Twilight bit her lips and rushed across the rain-soaked soil on the orchard, causing mud to splatter all over herself. At last, she arrived at a giant apple tree, on which a tree house perched.
“The Cutie Mark Crusaders’ Clubhouse…” Twilight muttered. “A good place to hide, I suppose.”
The clubhouse had been repaired by Applejack, and further refurbished by the Cutie Mark Crusaders’ efforts. It was a reasonable hiding place, with four walls and a roof, just lacking in comfortable bedding. But it’s much better than wandering outside considering the poor weather.
She trotted up the wooden planks used as stairs to the tree house, and push open the door. Then as she expected, the sleeping form of Spike was seen cuddling at a corner.
“S—Spike!” Twilight yelled, and then dashed forward towards the purple dragon.
Spike felt something wet and cold poking at his face, and groggily woke up. He couldn’t sleep well anyway, with only hardwood floor as his bed. He opened his eyes and loudly gasped, a completely bedraggled pony dripping with some liquid was looking wistfully at him, almost like a ghost.
He rubbed his eyes hard, and he realized it was just Twilight. A devastated Twilight, to be exact. Her coat was dirty with mud, her eyes was red and baggy from exertion, and she almost could not speak as she was panting so hard. Spike’s heart ached at the sight of the uncombed pony, but he soon remembered the reason he’s running away from the library and silently huffed.
Twilight opened her mouth. “I—”
“Clean off yourself first, I just borrowed this place from the Cutie Mark Crusaders for a night of sleep.” Spike said, trying his best to be expressionless.
“Sorry.” Twilight hurriedly casted a spell to clean off the trailing mud on her and the floor, and casted another to dry herself. “I’m so sorry, Spike.”
Spike looked at Twilight and remained silent.
Twilight gulped and said. “I was insensitive for introducing Owlowicious into the library when you have other troubles on your claws. I really apologize.”
“Then why exactly do you want that owl in our library?” Spike asked with a hurt voice.
Twilight’s expression was pained. “I… the meeting of Owlowicious and I was not a chance matter. I’m just trying to make it… so that things become what it should be.”
“Are you telling me that you meeting with Owlowicious is prophesized in some old book?” Spike asked with great suspicion.
Twilight was silent for a long time, then she muttered. “… Yes.”
“What?” Spike was shocked. Twilight was not the type of mare who would lie about things like that to him.
Twilight gritted her teeth. She could not tell the whole truth to the purple dragon. She could never do that. She could only gave him a heavily-veiled version of it. She slowly squeezed out her words with much difficulty, “Spike… Sometimes I do feel strongly about having to connect with someone in my life. Perhaps it has to do with magic of divination. In any case, this was also why I pinned down on Nightmare Moon’s return so quickly when I read about her in the books.”
Spike narrowed his eyes momentarily. The he looked to the ground and looked at the purple mare again. His angry façade seemed to have melted into one of sadness and dejection, and he simply said. “Twilight, do you not love me anymore?”
Twilight’s eyes shot wide. “No!”
She almost yelled, “Never! I said I would never abandon you from my own volition, remember? You’re always my one and only Spike. You’re irreplaceable, you know that?”
Twilight spoke so rapidly, she had to catch a breath before continuing. “Owlowicious would only add to our life, he would not take away my love for you. Love is not something that can be divided like a cake. There’s always plenty of love to give to each of my family and friends. Especially for you Spike.” She tried her best to squeeze out a smile.
Spike gulped. “Is it true, Twilight? Will you love me just as you did before?”
Twilight leapt forth and brought the purple dragon into her embrace. “Of course!”
However, she then awkwardly put down Spike and asked. “So… Um… About…”
“Owlowicious? I tell you what, Twi, I was never mad at him. Rivalry aside, he seems like a cool owl. I was actually just mad at you.” Spike said.
“Yay, hoora—Wait what?” Twilight was stunned.
“Ha ha ha! I got you, Twilight!” Spike laughed.
“Spike, you!” Twilight blushed and huffed. Spike was such a capricious dragon, angry at her at one time, then he could just turn and just tease her at another time.
“Twilight, I now realize that… I could never bring myself to leave you.” Spike lowered his head and said. “I feel so much joy looking at your happy face, and I feel so much sadness when I saw you so desperate. I’m sorry as well, as I let my jealousy get to my head. I’ll apologize to Owlowicious when we get home.”
“Yes, Spike.” Twilight smiled. “Let’s go home, shall we?”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Twilight slept soundly at her tree library, finally getting one heavy weight off her chest.
Suddenly, a loud and high-pitched screech reverberated across the entire library, sending the purple mare frantically out of her bed. She rushed down the stairs in darkness, almost tripping herself. She arrived at the almost pitch-dark ground floor. The dark night sky outside the windows was only slightly brightened up by the first glimmer of the rising sun.
She lit the lights up with her horn, then she saw Owlowicious, calmly perching on his small branch, and Spike, who was reeling on the floor and holding his head in his arms.
“What happened, Spike?” Twilight asked with concern.
“I—I, oh dear, Pinkie!” Spike half-shrieked.
“Pinkie what? Spike, calm down first, we can handle this.” Twilight said.
Spike inhaled deeply then exhaled. He then tried to organize his thoughts and said, “Twi, I promised Pinkie to go on a ‘private party’ when we came back from Appleloosa. I knew that it was actually a dinner date, and I agreed anyway. But I was too occupied with Owlowicious’s arrival. It… It was supposed to be yesterday evening.” His shoulders slid and he sighed.
“Oh dear, that’s bad.” Twilight knew that the pink mare did not take rejection well, like really not well.
“Spike, you have to go to Pinkie’s immediately once the sun’s up. It must be done by you and you alone.”
Spike gulped and nodded slowly. He had never felt so heavy and guilty, as he realized that he had hurt another pony deeply with his action.
“It’s time we bring these to a close, Spike. We soon have to go to the Grand Galloping Gala. We couldn’t have your troubled relationship unresolved even by then.” Twilight said with a deep sigh, “Remember, we need the Elements united as one to defeat evil, I also do not wish to see you and my dearest friends continue to be bothered deeply by indecision.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
With great anxiety and uneasiness, Spike walked towards Pinkie’s home and workplace, the Sugarcube Corner. The various shops in Ponyville began to open up in early morning, the marketplace gradually came alive. Ponies trotting by greeted the purple dragon, but Spike could only offer a placid smile and a nod at best.
He soon arrived at the curiously cake-shaped bakery. Upon pushing open the door, he was immediately greeted by a worried-looking Mrs. Cake.
“Oh Spike, thank goodness, I’m glad that you finally come. Pinkie had been locking herself in since this morning. We tried to talk to her but she just wouldn’t answer.” Mrs. Cake said.
“I… I’ll try to talk to her.” Spike said.
“Pinkie… She had been waiting for you the whole night. Poor girl was devastated when she realized you wouldn’t come.” Mrs. Cake looked to the side and shook her head. “Please, Spike, I beg of you. We see Pinkie almost as one of our own. Please don’t hurt her, she’s a very sensitive mare despite her appearance.”
“I will never hurt Pinkie even if my life is on stake.” Spike said.
“… Very well.” Mrs. Cake offered a sad smile.
Spike walked up the stairs slowly with dreadful steps, and found Pinkie sitting in a corner at a table and facing against a wall. The normally pink walls, balloons and streamers were replaced by a starry sky and studded gems, although some of the new wallpaper had detached, revealing the pink color beneath. Dishes of food and bowls of gems were just carelessly strewn across on the tables and on the floor.
‘Pinkie really put a lot of heart into this…” Spike thought, as he slowly walked towards the pink pony. Her puffed and bubbly mane was straightened like a deflated balloon, and she was lowly humming a wistful tune to a photo of himself.
I will always love you
I will always l—”
Pinkie couldn’t continue her song, as she broke down into tears again. Spike could not take it anymore, and he walked forward and said, “Pinkie, I’ve come.”
The pink pony stood up with shock, and turned her head towards Spike. Her eyes were red from crying, and she was completely disheveled. It, for some reason, reminded him of Twilight when she found him last night. A strong pang of guilt swelled in his heart.
“I… I’m sorry, Pinkie. I should have kept my promise.” Spike lowered his head.
Pinkie Pie rubbed her eyes and slowly said, “Spike, is this really you?”
Spike closed his eyes and said between his teeth. “Yes, I’m really Spike.”
“That’s great.” Pinkie Pie smiled thinly, “You don’t have be sorry. I didn’t make you Pinkie Promise me. And we’re just friends anyway, there is no reason for you to ignore all other things and go to my party.”
“No, Pinkie! I—I just for… I’m just too distracted by the introduction of the new owl in our home.” Spike hurriedly explained. “I was foolishly jealous and ran away from home, but when I noticed that I have missed your party, it was already too late.”
“Really, Spike, there’s no need to…” Pinkie Pie simply maintained her tenuous smile.
“I love you too, Pinkie!” Spike shouted.
“Huh?” Pinkie Pie froze mid-sentence.
“I knew your feelings for me already back when we spent the night in the buffalo camp. I actually enjoyed your company very much, and I slowly found out that I cared for you more than as a friend.”
Spike bit his lip and pressed on. “But I don’t have the courage to tell you because I’m also attracted to Rarity. Now, I must tell you, please Pinkie, don’t close your heart to me.”
Pinkie Pie just gazed at Spike with wide eyes. She began to cackle, and then burst into a full laugh.
Spike frowned. “Pinkie…”
“Oh don’t worry Spike.” Pinkie said mid-laugh. “I haven’t gone loco in the coco. I’m just laughing at how blind I was myself. I had prepared all these and planned to confess to you, but at the end it was you who say what I’ve meant to say all the time. Thank you, Spike, I… I feel much better now.”
“That’s good.” Spike said.
“But…” Pinkie Pie lowered her head, “What about you and Rarity?”
“Umm…” Spike couldn’t think of a response.
“It’s okay if you don’t want to make a deeper commitment just yet. I’m just glad that you didn’t miss our appointment because you don’t like me.” Pinkie Pie smiled. “Even if we have to share.”
“I see… Wait what?” Spike did a spit-take.
Pinkie Pie grinned, instead of replying, she sang,
“You gotta share
You gotta care
And there'll always be a way through!”
“That doesn’t seem to be completely applicable to our love lives.” Spike awkwardly replied. “What would other ponies say about us?”
“Who cares about other ponies?” Pinkie Pie exclaimed, “What we want to do is our own business!”
“But, um, Rarity?” Spike weakly offered.
“Do you mind?” Pinkie Pie asked back.
“Uh, well not exact—” Spike said.
“Then we’ll just go ask her, right now.” Pinkie Pie said, now with a puffed-up mane again. “Let’s go!”
“Hey wait, Pinkie!” Spike yelled to the galloping pink pony while trying to catch up.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The two swiftly arrived at the Carousel Boutique. Pinkie Pie leapt and almost crashed into the door, but she managed to brake in time and merely knocked.
A mare came to answer the door. But instead of the white mare they had been expecting, it was Trixie. She seemed to be helping out with Rarity’s sewing work while she was out.
“How may Trixie help you, Pinkie, Spike?” Trixie grinned gently.
‘Whoa, Twilight sure can change a pony.’ Spike thought.
“Oh hi Trixie! We just come to look for Rarity, do you have any idea where she might be?” Pinkie asked.
“Aha, you’ve come at a wrong time. Rarity went off to send Sweetie Belle to school this morning. She should have been back by now, but she isn’t. Perhaps she decided to take a detour somewhere?” Trixie tapped her chin and pondered.
“Okay then. Thank you for your help, Trixie!” Pinkie grinned.
“You’re welcome, Pinkie. Be sure to tell me when you are holding a big party.” Trixie smirked. “I’d love to perform some magic tricks again.”
“Sure do!” Pinkie Pie hollered from afar.
The duo then took to the road and went back to the town center. Spike looked up and asked Pinkie Pie. “So where’re we going? Would it be better if we just wait at her boutique?”
“Maybe you’re right.” Pinkie Pie said. “But I want to check out the library first, since Rarity might drop by... I don’t know, just call it a hunch of mine.” She grinned.
They trotted up to the tree library and simply walked in. Just as Pinkie expected, Rarity was chatting with Twilight at a table.
“Oh.” Twilight looked at the duo and observed the expression on the pink pony, then looked at Rarity. She then stood up and said, “I think I have to, um, check up on the Parasprites. Got to go!”
The three looked at the purple pony who dashed down to the basement, and looked at each other.
Pinkie Pie then didn’t waste any time, she trotted towards the white mare, who was looking at them curiously.
Despite the nervousness of Spike, Pinkie Pie said. “Rarity, perhaps it’s time that we lay things out and talk.”
“Very well, Pinkie, what is it that you want to say?” Rarity asked.
“We now know each other’s feelings. I’m here to ask you, can we both have Spike?” Pinkie said.
Spike was both embarrassed to the core and terrified of Rarity’s possible response to Pinkie Pie’s straight ball.
“… I don’t see why not.” Rarity shrugged and nodded.
“Huh?” Pinkie Pie and Spike said at the same time.
“Why does everypony assume that I’m some kind of prude?”
Rarity chuckled. “You did once joke about this possibility, Pinkie, didn’t you? I gave it some thought afterwards. Yes, I considered myself to be a lady, but I’m also pretty progressive in thinking. If you, Pinkie, and I both choose this, what’s the problem? It’s not like Spike forced us into this.”
“Um, but…” Spike said.
“I know what you’re worrying about. And to be honest, this is my only reservation as well.” Rarity sighed, “Twilight and I were actually discussing about this.”
“You did?” Pinkie asked amazedly.
“Yes. Why do you think I was so unfazed when you bring this up all of a sudden?” Rarity smiled mischievously. “There’re going to be a number of ponies who have second thoughts about this kind of romantic arrangement. So it’s probably better if we don’t show off our affection in the public overly, except in front of our friends.”
Pinkie Pie was disappointed, as she lowered her head and sighed.
“Don’t be defeated yet, Pinkie.” Rarity said. “Opinions can be shaped and changed. That’s what Fluttershy was doing with her newspaper, and that’s also what Twilight was eventually aiming for.”
“Are you saying that, we should give us our all to help Twilight out with her project, so that we can eventually go out in public without anyone give us evil eyes?”
“That’s the idea.” Rarity nodded.
“You mares, you’re all a bit crazy, you know that?” Spike’s eyes widened as he shook his head.
“Way too late to notice, Spike.” Rarity and Pinkie Pie both grinned.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Thank goodness.” Twilight closed her eyes and sighed in relief. At least the immediate danger of two Element-bearers falling out with each other was defused.
“Eh? What did you say, Twi?” Spike asked.
“Nothing. By the way, Spike,” Twilight said. “We need to send in our last friendship letter before we go to the Gala.”
“Oh right,” Spike scratched his head and prepared himself, “I’m ready.”
“This time, what about signing it with both our names? We both learnt a lot this time.” Twilight suggested. “I’ll write the draft and see if you have anything to add.”
Spike nodded, and Twilight promptly began,
“Dear Princess Celestia,
We have both learnt a valuable lesson about sharing love and sensitivity. Love is something that multiplies instead of thins out when shared. Love unshared can scarcely be called love; it has no taste. If we don’t share our love, it risks degenerating into obsession. We also learnt that we should not be preoccupied with our preconceptions, and learn to be perceptive to other’s feelings. The power of empathy is much more important than wit, bits or intellect in friendship.
Your faithful student and dragon,
Twilight Sparkle and Spike”
“As always, Twi. I couldn’t add to it at all, it’s perfect.” Spike grinned.
“Oh you, Spike!” Twilight flushed red. “Just go, you need your dance lessons now with the addition of the pink one.”
Spike awkwardly chuckled, to which Twilight merely laughed.