//------------------------------//
// A Proposition 
// Story: Anthology Of Shipping 
// by MattTOB 
//------------------------------//

Pancakes and roasted carrots. That was the breakfast that the Princess of Friendship and the Princess of Love had on the first day of their extended get-together. Shining Armor was currently looking over the Crystal Empire with Sunburst's help, Starlight and Trixie were watching the School of Friendship, Spike was visiting Gabby in Griffonstone, and Discord was off on a Breezie-watching expedition with Fluttershy, so they had an entire week to visit with each other.

So naturally, they sat in silence as they ate their late breakfast.

Eventually, Twilight looked up from her food. "I've just had a thought."

Cadance, who was nibbling on a carrot, glanced towards her friend. "What is it, Twilight?"

"You're the Princess of Love, right? So would that mean that your magic can tell you somepony's ideal match?"

Cadance thought for a moment. "Well, I do have a spell that can show how a relationship between any two ponies would likely play out, based on personalities and past experience. But a spell that outright predicts the ideal relationship is too out-there."

"I see," Twilight said, a hint of dejection lacing her voice.

Then she latched onto the first thing Cadance said. "Wait, you have a relationship-simulating spell?"

Cadance nodded, though clarified, "It's still a work in progress, and it burns through far too much magic for me to use it often."

Twilight's horn gave off an excited spark as she nearly leapt onto the table, eager at the prospect of spell-managing. "Well, why didn't you say so sooner? I'd be happy to help you refine and power it!"

Cadance raised an eyebrow. "What, exactly, brought up this line of thought?"

The purple alicorn blushed, then began to beat around the bush, "W-well, I was thinking, what with Spike and Gabby being pen-pals, and Rainbow Dash and Applejack starting to get closer..."

Cadance eyed her friend skeptically.

Twilight sighed. "I've been feeling lonely lately," she admitted.

A look of sympathy crossed the former foal sitter's face. "Oh my, I didn't realize. Sure, I'll help you."

Twilight could hardly hold a squeal of excitement. "Oh, thank you, Cadance!"

The pink Alicorn chuckled to herself.





After two hours of planning, testing, and fine-tuning, they finally reached a point they felt comfortable at.

"Alright, I think we've got it," Twilight looked over the manuscript that contained the written spell. "Now all that's left is to test it."

Cadance sighed in relief, thankful that they were most likely done. "Now, who exactly did you want to test this with? Besides yourself, of course."

Twilight thought. "I'm not sure..."

"Well," the Princess of Love offered, "who's the first pony that pops into mind when you think of potential romantic relationships?"

Twilight looked off for a moment before muttering, "Flash Sentry..."

Cadance let a devilish smirk dance on her lips. "This world's, or the other's?"

Twilight's face reddened. "Come on, I thought we got past this; I like the PERSONALITY, not the LOOKS!"

Cadance winked. "So this world's, got it."

Her horn lit up with her light-blue magic, and a cloud of magic began to coagulate above them. Twilight lit her horn as well, funneling magic to help power Cadance's spell. Eventually, the magic cloud began swirling, and a gap in the center opened up, revealing a vision to them.

And with that, the madness began.