//------------------------------// // Chapter 1-Bumping Into Love // Story: Twilight's Love Story: Part One // by Derpyforever //------------------------------// The sun branches its long arms of light to hug the land in its warmth. However, the sparkling structures of the Crystal Empire obstructed the pathway for the land to feel the love of the sun. Despite the sun’s best efforts, the ground will always feel cold and lonesome even with its pony friends that tend to the earth’s needs in return for a safe home. Yet even then, the homes the ponies build get in the way and deny the compassionate feelings the two want to share. The ponies do not mean for this to happen. After all, they need shelter to raise their families and live a satisfying life. It is a place of peace for them. Well, except for the group of ponies who could not be any farther from being at ease. It has been quite some time since the Princess of Friendship, Twilight Sparkle, has disappeared into the portal shaped as a mirror. Nopony spoke, nopony slept. Princess Celestia and Princess Cadance watched as Twilight’s best friends all impatiently wiggled around. “Aunt Tia,” Cadance’s voice was low, though it more than likely would not have mattered, a draconequus could have blown through and the five ponies would not have noticed, “If… When Twilight gets back, will we include her onto the Royal Family? I… I am worried what she will think of everything involved.” “Twilight is my star pupil and has had to face many challenges before,” Celestia spoke words of silk to her niece, calming her nerves, “I must admit, I am a little nervous how she will react, but I have full faith she will not be hindered by such secrets.” “I understand,” Cadance nodded her head, taking off her crown, “I am just scared for her. It is not everyday you learn about yourself.” “Cadance,” Celestia placed a soft hoof on one of Cadance’s, “There is no need to worry. It will be a shock, but she is a mighty mare, she will recover from the news… when it is time to tell her.” Cadance brought her hoof away, raising a suspicious eyebrow towards Celestia, “You are not going to tell her now? She deserves to know.” “Now is not the time. She has many troubles as it is and needs time to settle into her new role,” Celestia took a breath, quick but steady, “It will have to come later, for now she has an adventure to recollect and recover.” “Twilight,” Fluttershy, normally teased for her weak wings, shot up into the air at such a quick speed, it made Rainbow jump. “You’re back and you’ve got your crown,” Rarity, along with the others, briskly ran to the purple alicorn’s side as Spike and Twilight wobbly walked back through the portal on her hind leg before she landed back on all fours, “You have no idea how worried we have all been.” “I was worried too,” Twilight smiled and hugged all her friends as they gathered around, “I thought I might be stuck there for another thirty moons.” “Sunset Shimmer,” Celestia stood up and look down to her pupil, “Is she alright?” “I think she’s gonna be fine,” Twilight nodded gently and gave a reassuring smile to Celestia, “I left her in good hands.” “Uh, what are hands,” Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow. “Oh, I have a quite a story to tell you guys,” Twilight smirked. After saying their farewells to Celestia when she departed for home, the group of ponies listened to Twilight as she told them of her adventures in the mirror world. Reliving the adventure through words, she told them of all the friends she made and the weird creature she had become. How she first felt foreign to the world before she became like friend that has always been there, and helping another become just the same. “That’s amazing, Twilight,” Rainbow smirked, “So this other me, would you say she just as awesome as I am?” “Yes,” Twilight shot Rainbow with a sly grin, “And twice as annoying.” The others laughed when Rainbow expression went from smug to sour in mere seconds. Twilight stuck her tongue out at Rainbow, therefore not paying attention to where she was going and colliding with another soft body. “Oh! Pardon me, Princess,” the guardspony helped Twilight off the smooth, frigid floor and accorded her an affable smile, “We have to stop bumping into each other like this.” Twilight sensed her face had become flushed for her speech was flustered. This was not the first time the two had run into each other. A few days before, Twilight had bumped into the same guard when she arrived at the Crystal Castle, “Y-Yes, I should pay, um, more attention to where I-I’m going.” “Tis my fault, your highness,” the guard bowed in a respect, “I am a guard. I must always be on alert. Well, I’ll be on my way. I hope I wasn’t a distraction from your day.” ‘If only he knew,’ Twilight thought, her already glowing cheeks becoming an even more vibrant color. She did not attempt to speak again in fear of becoming more embarrassed than she already was, thus responding with an unsure nod. Her eyes were almost glued to him when he passed by her, walking with long but silent strides past the group and back onto patrol as he turned a corner “Who was that,” Twilight voice had come out shaky, her eyes still on the spot the guard had disappeared from. “He’s one of our new guardspony from the Guardspony Exchange program we have with Canterlot. His name,” Cadance paused for a moment, tapping her chin in thought, “I believe it’s Flash Sentry. Quite a few guards were sent here from Celestia, so I could be wrong.” “You might want to double check, deary,” Rarity snickered, a devious expression aimed at Twilight, “That name might be pretty important to her.” “W-what,” Twilight defensively stood off against Rarity, glaring daggers at her, “It’s not important! It could be he just…” “Totally reminds you of a guy you met in the other world who played guitar, was in a band, and helped prove you didn't destroy all the decorations for a big dance, so you could still run for princess of the big dance, and then asked you to dance at that dance,” Pinkie gasped for sweet relief of air, then grinned as she turned her head, “That’s right, I’m back!” “Pinkie, who are you talking to,” Rainbow and the others stared at Pinkie with significant concern when she seemingly spoke to the wall. “Oh, just to some special ponies that mean a lot to us for being so awesome,” Pinkie beamed, happily hopping back into the group. “U-Us…” “How did you know that,” Twilight gaped at the pink pony, her eyes wide in astonishment. “Just a hunch!” “So you admit it! This Flash Sentry has caught your fancy,” Rarity gleefully cheered and humiliatingly hugged the alicorn, “Princess Twilight Sparkle has an eye on a handsome suitor!” “Don’t call him handsome,” Twilight snarled and pushed her away. Only moments later when she realized her snappy attitude did she laughed awkwardly, “I-I mean. I don’t care about this… what’s his name again? I’m just really tired and would like to rest, come on Spike.” “Hey! Wait up,” Spike called after Twilight, his tiny legs trying their best to readjust to only being on two while keeping up with the purple pony zooming down the hall. “I better go after her, make sure she’s fine,” Cadance turned to the others and presented a small bow as a farewell. Afterwards, Cadance departed in the direction of Twilight. “That mare needs to get her priorities straight,” Applejack chuckled, her country accent livening up the room after the spontaneous outbreak from Twilight “It really is such a tragedy,” Rarity sighed shaking her head, “Romance refusing to blossom. I will not let this rose wilt! I propose we find a way to bring these two together.” “And how do you suppose we do that,” Rainbow interjected, landing down on the hard tile. “I have an idea…” “Well, we obliviously can not let Twilight know what we are up to. She would more than likely lock herself up inside her library, never coming out again.” “Ha! Come on, Rarity,” Applejack laughed, “She wouldn’t do that. I agree though, we can’t let her know what we are up to. We should also make sure she wouldn’t realize who he was until the perfect moment.” “Valid point,” Rarity nodded in agreement, “It would be a wise decision to have Twilight associate herself with his personality rather his physical being. It will help Twilight feel more comfortable breaking the ice.” “I have an idea…” “We should have some sort of party,” Pinkie chortled and bounced at her own idea, “It would be super duper fun! Aaaaand we can keep an eye on Twilight at the same time. And I can have cake! Oh oh, and mayb-” “I have an idea!” The four turned their attention at Fluttershy, the normally soft-spoken pegasus had suddenly yelled in annoyance at the others. “Well, why didn’t ya say something?! Spill it,” Applejack said. “Well, um, I volunteered to manage the upcoming New Year Party. I was thinking, if you guys think it’s a good idea, if I made it a costume party,” Fluttershy said, her words barely peeping out past her lips, “Twilight wouldn’t be able to recognize him and we’d be able to keep an eye on her in case she needs help.” “That is a splendid idea, darling,” Rarity’s muzzle lit up in excitement, “It is exactly the kind of event we need! Outstanding thinking, Fluttershy!” “Thank you,” Fluttershy blushed and hid behind her mane from the praise. “So, it’s settled then! We must prepare for the occasion! I, Rarity, the most excellent matchmaker Equestria has ever seen, with all my pow-” “Get on with it, everypony isn’t here to listen to you boast,” Pinkie intervened, rolling her eyes towards the ceiling “If anything, they’re here for my not so subtle outbursts.” “Pinkie… Who are you talking about,” Rainbow raised an eyebrow. Pinkie smiled, her bubbling personality returned, “Oh, don’t mind me, just being a little comedic relief as always.” “... Call me crazy, but I have a serious case of deja vu,” Rainbow turned to the other three who only responded with a confused shrug. “It happens,” Pinkie giggled, “Now come on, let’s get to working.” The others were in a bit discombobulated, but shook it off, following the hopping pony. They still have a mission… they only hope that nothing goes wrong. (To Be Continued)