//------------------------------//
// Alone Together 
// Story: TimberTwi Tales: First Impressions 
// by CapNTilfy 
//------------------------------//

"Keep it together," Twilight told herself as she continued down the forest path. "Deep breaths. You are not a monster." She passed a tree, then saw Timber out of the corner of her eye.

The two yelped, startling each other.

"Oh! Hi," Twilight said awkwardly. "What are you doing here?"

Timber hesitated for a moment, still slightly off-guard. "Looking for you," he said while making finger guns.

"Oh," Twilight said as she felt heat rise to her face. She had to come up with something so word wouldn't get out about Midnight. "I just... went on a nature walk and got a little lost," she said with a shrug.

"Let me show you the way," Timber said as he pointed his thumb in a certain direction. "I'm kind of an expert at these woods. I've lived here my whole life."

"That must've been nice, growing up at a camp."

"Yeah, though it has its downsides. When I was younger I wished we'd sell this place so we could live in a town like normal people."

Your wish will come true soon enough.

Timber barely ignored the thought.

"Really," Twilight asked skeptically, putting her hands on her hips.

"I was ten. I really wanted to hang out at the mall."

The two shared a laugh.

"I've never told that to anyone," Timber said as he walked up to Twilight, heat rising to his face. He noticed Twilight was blushing as well. "You must be special."

A moment of silence fell between the two as they awkwardly avoided eye contact.

"And not because you have a tree branch in your hair," Timber said as he plucked a small twig from Twilight's hair.

Twilight gasped and pawed at her hair. "How long has that been in there?"

"Not long," Timber said with a grin. "Just the whole time we've been talking."

Twilight nudged Timber's back with her elbow. "Well why didn't you say something," she asked with a laugh.

"Because you looked cute. I-I mean, you are cute!" Timber blushed furiously as his mind struggled to come up with the right words to say. After a moment, he simply sighed and shrugged. "Yeah," he said softly. "You're cute."

Twilight stood still as her heart raced. Rarity was right... he did like her! "T-Thanks," she said shakily, then laughed awkwardly.

Definitely cute, Timber thought with a smile as he watched a flustered Twilight stumble with her words.

Twilight took a deep breath, then exhaled, composing herself.

"It must be nice, living in the suburbs," Timber said.

"It's... okay."

"Nothing special?"

Twilight shrugged. "Eh."

"So what year are you?"

"I'm a Junior. What about you?"

Timber grinned sheepishly as he put a hand behind his head. "I graduated from Everton High this year."

"Oh. Congratulations!"

Timber laughed softly. "Thanks. You know, you're really smart. Are you in the advanced classes?"

Twilight scoffed. "Of course I am... though I wasn't always a student at Canterlot High."

"Oh?"

"I transferred from Crystal Prep Academy a few weeks ago."

Timber blinked, stunned. "The ultra-competitive school?"

Twilight nodded. "It was a real hostile environment. Fights were breaking out, everyone was at each other's throats... It was terrible."

"Wow," Timber said in awe. "How'd you make it out alive?"

Twilight smiled. "I was lucky enough to have a friend there."

"That's cool."

"Do you have any friends?"

Timber heaved a sigh. "Not really... I've been spending most of my time here."

Twilight put a hand on Timber's shoulder. "Speaking as a former shut-in, I think you should get out more. It's not healthy to spend so much time alone."

"Yeah..."

"What about family?"

Timber paused, and dread began to well up inside him. "...Gloriosa's all I have," he said softly.

"What about your parents?"

There it was. The question Timber knew was coming. He shuddered as a lump formed in his throat.

"...Timber?"

"That's... not something I'm comfortable talking about."

Silence fell, save for the breeze.

"...Oh," Twilight said quietly after what seemed like an eternity. She clutched her arm with her hand. "I'm sorry," she said as a pang of shame hit her.

"I-It's okay," Timber said as reassuringly as possible. "You didn't know." Another long pause caused further awkward silence until he sighed again. "We should be out of the forest soon."

"Okay."

As the two continued their walk in silence, Twilight frowned. Why did she have to ask about Timber's parents? She should have known it was going to be a sensitive subject! She walked up to him, and stretched out her arm... then withdrew it as she bit her lip.

The lump in Timber's throat had disappeared, but countless bittersweet memories of his parents had surfaced. Laughing and playing with them. Spending quality time with them. A tear fell, and he shook his head. He didn't want this silence to go on.

"Twilight?"

"...Yes?"

"What's your family like?"

Twilight smiled warmly and her mood brightened. "My parents are amazing people. My mom's a bit of a thrill seeker." She giggled. "She loves rollercoasters, skydiving, paragliding... she's a risk taker."

"Wow," Timber said in awe. "Sounds like there's never a dull moment in her life."

Twilight nodded. "She also writes adventure books."

Timber grinned. "Are you saying your mother is A.K. Yearling?"

Twilight barked a laugh. "No, my mom's not that famous... but she does write the Pierced Jacket series."

Timber nearly keeled over. "Y-Your mom is Twilight Velvet," he all but shouted, scaring away several birds.

Twilight blushed and nodded.

"I love the adventures of those guys from Camp Halfbreed! I have all the books," Timber gushed. "What about your dad? What's he like?"

Twilight smiled and rolled her eyes. "Oh, he's just your typical dad. Caring, loving, terrible puns..."

Twilight and Timber shared a laugh.

Timber sighed happily. "Hey... thanks. I needed that mood booster."

Twilight felt heat rise to her face. "N-No problem. Maybe you'll meet them sometime." Upon realizing what she just said, she buried her head in her hands in embarrassment.

Timber laughed, then noticed an opening. "Twilight... we're almost out."

Twilight lifted her head with a smile as the friendly conversation continued, and they exited the forest.