Depression had never felt so depressing to Twilight Sparkle. She had seriously screwed up. How could she ever fix this? She lay curled up in her bed. How could she have been so stupid? Pick-Up-Lines! She’d even said one to Spike. How humiliating. She was pretty sure Spike and Pinkie were the only ones left unaffected by her… advances?
She groaned. She’d never be able to unsee her friend’s devastated faces. Twilight had never been in a relationship before – colt, or otherwise. She had no idea what to do. She’d never experienced anything like this before. She looked out the window. The sun was going down, Luna would be up soon to bring up the moon. Twilight contemplated writing to Celestia. Surely she could help.
As Twilight thought about this, she sat up, tapping her chin with a hoof. “Twilight!”
Twilight jumped. “Pinkie?!” Pinkie Pie fell from the ceiling, landing on her head on Twilight’s floor.
She fell on her back, jumped to her hooves and bounced happily towards Twilight. “Twilight, your ‘I-haven’t-seen-you-all-day-but-now-I’ve-found-you-but-who-cares-let’s-party-anyway’ party is starting! You don’t want to miss it, do you?”
Twilight frowned. She didn’t really feel like partying, but she also didn’t want to offend Pinkie, who luckily had been immune to her corny pick-up lines.
“Are… is anypony else coming?”
“Nope! Just me, you and Spike! Why? Usually I invite everypony in Ponyville, but I decided it would be just the three of us tonight!” Oh, thank Celestia!
“Yeah, I’ll come.” Twilight said, pretending to smile. Perhaps a Pinkie Pie Party could take her mind off the current situation.
“Well, come on then silly!” She bounced down the steps, Twilight in tow.
“So… is it going to be a typical ‘crazy fun Pinkie Pie party’?” Twilight asked.
“Huh? Oh no, because of the twins Mr. and Mrs. Cake have put down a ‘party curfew’ so I can’t do any late night partying, so this will just be a party in my room! But who cares – it’s a party!”
“Yeah, a party.” Twilight said quietly. Pinkie stopped.
“Is something wrong, Twilight?”
“Huh? Oh no.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, Pinkie.”
“Really really super-duper sure?”
“Yes, Pinkie.”
The two trotted (and bounced,) down the steps and out of Twilight’s library. Pinkie turned around. “Twilight, what’s wrong? Pinkie Pie can always tell when somepony is sad!”
Twilight sighed. “Oh, it’s nothing Pinkie.” She gave the party pony a reassuring smile. “Just a, well, a misunderstanding happened, and so I’m feeling a little down.”
“Well, this party’ll fix you right up! Nopony parties Pinkie style and doesn’t smile!”
I hope so. Twilight thought as they continued down the now dark street. The moon was out now. Twilight wondered if Luna had any advice. Twilight felt hesitant asking Celestia. Hadn’t she come here in the first place to learn these lessons herself?
Either way, she had no idea if she even could fix this, advice or no.
~~
The party went okay. Well, as far as Pinkie and Spike were concerned it had gone great. It wasn’t too loud, and there wasn’t much real hard-core ‘partying’, but that was perfectly fine with Twilight.
The cake had been good though. One problem, though. It tasted delicious. But that wasn’t the problem. It had light blue frosting with rainbow sprinkles.
Twilight had come here to try and forget her problem until tomorrow and now everything reminded her of the others! White and purple streamers, pink and yellow cupcakes, orange balloons!
What the heck!
It was like Pinkie was psychic.
Well, not to say she isn’t, but…
Other than the constant reminders of her heartbroken friends, Twilight could honestly say she had a good time.
Several cups of punch later, she was having an even better time, having almost forgotten her troubles.
And after midnight, she had completely forgotten.
“It told you!” Pinkie laughed. “I told you a Pinkie Pie party – even if it isn’t a super Pinkie Pie party, it will party your troubles right away!”
And then Twilight remembered again. Once again she questioned herself as to whether or not Pinkie Pie could read minds.
“Um, Pinkie?” Twilight tapped the party ponies shoulder.
“Yes, Twilight?” Pinkie grinned.
“I’m… feeling sick,” she grabbed Spike in her magic and yanked him over. “Hey! What the-!”
“And Spike is feeling sleepy! I think it’d be best if we left, don’tcha think Spike?”
Before the baby dragon could reply Twilight interrupted, “Yep! Sleepy! Sorry, Pinkie to cut this short, but we should get some rest.”
Pinkie blinked, “But the party isn’t over!”
“I know, but…. but…. Spike! You can stay and party with Pinkie,” She levitated Spike off of her and tossed him at Pinkie’s hooves.
“Ow! Twilight, what gives?” the annoyed dragon sat up, rubbing the back of his head.
“Sorry, Spike, I just…” Twilight turned away. “I’m sorry you two. I’m just not feeling well today.”
Spike walked up to Twilight and hopped back up on her back. “You know, I’m kinda tired too.”
Twilight gave Pinkie an apologetic look. “Sorry.”
“That’s okay, Twilight. I’ll just get another party ready for NEXT week. And this time it will be during the day so we can invite lots of ponies and be as loud as we want!”
“That sounds great, Pinkie. Goodnight.”
“G’night Pinkie,” Spike yawned.
“Goodnight, Twilight, goodnight Spike!” Pinkie waved, and then pounced on Twilight giving both her and Spike a hug that would crush ribs. The two returned the hug and then repeated their goodnights, before Twilight trudged home, Spike nodding off on her back.
Twilight Sparkle looked up at the dark sky, it was a cloudless night and a full moon shone brightly, as she walked, she thought about how she could apologize to her friends. She knew it would take more than an apology to fix her mistakes, but apology was the first step on the road to friendship recovery.
She entered the library, giving Owlowiscious a smile as she passed him. “Hey, Owlowiscious”
“Who?”
Twilight carried Spike up to their room and gently placed him in his bed, tucking him in.
She then trotted downstairs and paced, trying to decide what she could do to bring her friends back together.
She once again thought about asking Celestia… No.
Maybe Luna?
No, that would be even more awkward.
It was going to be a long night.
~~
It was a glorious morning in Ponyville, for most ponies anyway.
For four others however, it was not so glorious.
You are not in love with Twilight Sparkle.
You are not in love with Twilight Sparkle.
You are not in love with Twilight Sparkle.
The sound of a quill scratching against parchment was the only sound that could be heard in Carousel Boutique.
You are not in Love with Twilight Sparkle.
Rarity’s face was buried in the cushions of her couch, her magic holding up the parchment and scraping the quill across its surface.
You are not in love with Twilight Sparkle.
This sentence had been scratched onto the parchment more times than she could care to count.
The quill stopped when it reached the end of the paper. The parchment rolled itself up, then was tossed into a wastebasket to join other parchment rolls that the same fate had befallen.
Rarity pulled her sticky face out of the cushion, her expression impassive and one ear flat against her head. Makeup had run down her face, strands of hair sticking to her sticky cheeks which still had traces of the pie Applejack had thrown at her.
She hadn’t bothered washing up after arriving home, she hadn’t really cared. She didn’t remember falling asleep, just that she had plopped down on her couch and sobbed. She must’ve fallen asleep then.
She pulled herself up off of the soft, warm cushions and made her way slowly to the bathroom, shoulders aching and head low. She pushed the door open and trudged in, looking at herself in the mirror.
“Ugh… Rarity, you are a mess.” She turned the sink on and levitated a wash rag under the warm water, then proceeded to wash her face. It felt nice. She pulled the rag away and dried herself off with a towel. She looked at the mirror again.
If felt good to be clean. Although she needed to put on more mascara and eyeshadow.
Maybe later, right now she wanted to lay down some more. She collapsed back down onto her couch, turning the cushion around so she was on the non-sticky side, and no sooner had she relaxed and closed her eyes was there a knock on the door. “Oh, buck some apples.” She muttered under her breath and pulled herself back up. She trotted up to the door, forgetting her lack of makeup and opened it.
“Yes, what do you…” Rarity stopped dead.
“…Twilight.”
She sheepish looking lavender unicorn lowered her eyes. She looked tired, as though she had been up all night.
“Rarity.”
There was a long, seemingly endless pause.
“May I, uh, may I come in?” Twilight asked, feeling as though she had no right at all to ask such a thing.
“…Of course.”
Rarity didn’t know whether to grit her teeth or just cry. She stepped out of the way, and allowed her friend in, gently closing the door behind the purple unicorn.
If anypony else were in the room, they probably would have been able to see the tension line between the two.
Twilight took a deep breath and turned to face Rarity. She silently egged herself on, Come on Twilight, you can do this! You spent all night rehearsing this, you have to say it. Now say it!
“RarityI’msorryIwassuchaneggheadIknowthingswillneverbethesamecanyoupleaseforgivemeplease?”
Twilight had thrown herself at Rarity’s hooves, begging like a school filly.
Rarity looked down at her, mouth open. “What?”
“Rarity, I’m sorry! I really am, I was stupid, and I played with your feelings. It doesn’t matter that it was an accident, I ruined our friendship. I’m so sorry!”
Rarity stared.
“Please,” Twilight begged, “I don’t mean to I swear! I never meant for this to happen, I just wanted to… I don’t know! I don’t have feelings for you, but please don’t let this ruin our friendship!”
“Twilight, I’m… I need some time to think. Give me some time. I…”
Twilight got back to her hooves. “I’m sorry Rarity, I really am.”
Rarity looked at her. “I just need time.”
Twilight hesitated – she’d never been in a situation like this. What was she to do?
“Could I… do chores?” In a moment of ‘Pinkie-ness’ she zoomed off and reappeared in a second, wearing a maid outfit with a broom and a bucket of water.
Despite her earlier depression, Rarity was quite amused.
“Well, I do have some work that needs getting done…”
“Wonderful! I’ll get started right away!”
Rarity was very amused. “I need Opal’s litter box cleaned, I need the floor swept and mopped, I need the kitchen cleaned and the fridge cleaned out, I also need to do some laundry, and let’s not forget Opal’s bath!”
“Perfect! I’ll get it all done!”
“And while you’re at it, would you mind making me some tea?”
“Not at all!”
And so Rarity settled down on the couch, sipping her tea as she got a front row seat to Twilight in a little maid suit cleaning her floor. Twilight had the broom in her front hooves, and was standing on two-legs, while her magic held various dusters and spray-bottles that were cleaning areas throughout the room.
“Twilight, I think you missed a spot right here.” Rarity pointed to the spot right under the couch with a hoof.
“Oh! Coming,” she hurried over and wielding a mop leaned down and crawled underneath the sofa, her hindquarters the only thing not underneath. Rarity admired the view, quickly looking away when Twilight pulled herself out from under the sofa, covered in dust. “I think I got it,” she informed. “Now, to give Opal her bath!”
About half an hour later, Twilight trotted down the steps, and she was a mess!
Opalescence had obviously put up a fight; Twilight had been splashed with water, and was covered in scratches. She walked up to Rarity. “I did everything you asked, is there anything else you need?”
“No, no, dear. You’ve done quite enough.”
“Are you sure?”
Rarity nodded, “Darling, you’re a mess! How about I get you a bath started?”
“Well... Okay,” Twilight followed Rarity into the bathroom. Once the tub was filled with warm, hot water, Rarity filled it with bubbles and moved out of the way to allow Twilight in.
Twilight magically teleported the maid outfit away, and crawled into the tub, sighing in content. She was a bit startled when Rarity stepped into the tub with her.
Rarity noticed her look, and elaborated: “I’m actually quite filthy from, uh, last night.”
“Oh,” Twilight’s ears flattened, remembering the brawl that had occurred in her library. “Of course…”
Awkward silence. “So… am I forgiven?”
Rarity seemed not to have heard her, “Twilight dear, you should style your mane more often, it’s so pretty, yet you never do anything with it.”
“I kind of like how it is, besides, I’d rather not have to spend time out of my day to style it… So, am I-“
“Dear, what’s that on your hoof?”
Twilight looked down at the scratch on her hoof, grimacing. “Opalescence scratched me,”
“Oh you poor thing!” Rarity moved over to Twilight and gently held up the purple hoof in her own white one. She gently kissed the wound, and looked up at Twilight seductively. “Perhaps when we’re done I can put some medicine on it, hm?”
“Um… sure.” Was all Twilight could say.
“Here, let me wash your mane,” Rarity offered, levitated over a bottle of shampoo.
Twilight didn’t argue and allowed Rarity to pour a bucket of water over her mane and squirt a bit of the shampoo in, then she begun to massage it into her hair.
“So… we can forget yesterday ever happ-“ Before she could finish Rarity had dumped another bucket of water over the purple unicorns head washing the shampoo out of her mane.
“Ah! My eyes!” Twilight cried as the unwelcome soap invaded her eyeballs.
“Whoops, silly me!” Rarity dunked Twilight’s head under the water, holding her there for a few seconds before allowing her back up.
Twilight coughed and sputtered. “Rarity! What- are you trying to kill me?!”
“Why of course not, dear!” Rarity gasped dramatically. “I was helping you get the shampoo out of your eyes! That stuff can be some a bother sometimes, can’t it?”
Twilight rubbed a red eye, and grumbled to herself. Rarity hugged her tightly. “I’m ever so sorry, Twily.”
“It’s okay, Rarity,” Twilight tried in vain to pull herself out of Rarity’s grip. Rarity finally let Twilight go and hauled herself out of the tub.
“Did you even wash yourself?” Twilight asked.
“Yes.” Rarity answered, and begun drying herself off.
Twilight couldn’t help but notice how slowly she was doing it. Twilight pulled herself out of the bath and levitated a towel over to herself. Rarity noticed and immediately stole the towel out of Twilight’s magical grip. “Here! Let me help you,” Rarity started.
“Uh, okay?” Twilight was more confused than ever. “So, I’m forgiven-“ Once again, she was interrupted, this time by the towel wrapping around her face and rubbing back and forth in an effort to dry her off.
Twilight’s shoulders slumped. Somehow she knew what was going on.
When the annoying piece of fabric was pulled away from Twilight’s head and draped across her back, Twilight turned to the still dripping wet Rarity. “Done?”
“Mhmm,” Rarity answered, giving Twilight a sideways glance, the white unicorn’s lips pulled into a slight smile.
Twilight watched Rarity slowly turn her back towards her and she started to finish drying herself, paying close attention to certain areas.
“You’re trying to seduce me, aren’t you?” Twilight said blankly.
“What?! Well I never!” Rarity defended. Twilight stared.
“Yes.”
Twilight sighed. “Look, Rarity. I’m sorry, I really, truly am. Please, just… I’m trying to fix our relationship, but I can’t when you’re doing… this.”
Rarity lowered her eyes. “I see.”
“You don’t have to forgive me right now, I understand. But please don’t do… that,” she referred to the towel still embedded between Rarity’s legs.
Rarity’s ears lowered. “I, forgive me Twilight. I’m sorry, and I had no business trying to gain your affections that way…”
“No, forgive me… or not. I guess,” Twilight sighed. “Bye,” she said quietly and walked out, head low.
~~
Okay, Rarity’s was a disaster. Twilight sighed, stroking the place between her (Still a bit stingy) eyes, and tried to think of whom to go to next that wouldn’t be too hard.
“…Fluttershy.”
~~~~~~~
Oh dear sweet Celestia, what have I gotten myself into....
Special thanks to crimsongraph for proofreading.