//------------------------------//
// Pre-dating Butterflies 
// Story: A Draconic Sparkle Love 
// by Mystic Sunrise 
//------------------------------//

Pearl wasn't convinced that this was a good idea, but she was rapidly running out of ideas, and she couldn't take waiting any longer. Things were happening too damn predictably now.

Princess Cadance seemed to guess her thoughts, for her smile softened as she enjoyed the afternoon tea they were sharing at the Rose Garden Cafe. "Pearl. While I enjoy an afternoon tea as much as the next alicorn, I doubt you called me out here just for this." She giggled. "Your poker face is terrible."

Pearl grumbled into her coffee, fighting back an eye twitch. Damn it. She thought she had gotten better at that. Apparently not. "No. I need help, and you're the only pony I can think of that can help."

Cadance smirked. "Love trouble?" Pearl nodded. "Then the first question is. Does Twilight know how you feel about her? And don't insult me by pretending otherwise. I've seen how you look at her flank."

Pearl blushed. Damn it all. Was this a Princess of Love thing, or was she that transparent? "No, she doesn't. I've loved her ever since we got back from the Blight. Before that in fact. Stupid time dilation."

Cadance nodded. Very rarely did Twilight or Pearl ever talk about their journey to the Scar of the Destroyer, a haunted look coming to their eyes anytime somepony asked them about it. "I assume it was the age difference before this?"

Pearl nodded. "Yeah. Alicorn or not, I sure as hell wasn't going to try anything at that age. Even I knew better than that. So here I am."

Cadance giggled. "A wise choice, Pearl. I can't say how Twilight feels. But I know she loves you. Never think that she doesn't. Flurry Heart at least thinks you two should get together." She rolled her eyes. "She won't stop gushing over you two."

Pearl rolled her eyes as well. "I blame her spending so much time with Kohaku. His most annoying habits are starting to rub off on her I think."

Cadance still wasn't sure how she felt about that. While she trusted Kohaku to keep his paws to himself (and there would be hell to pay if he didn't), it still made her uneasy to see them together with Sweetie Belle, though even that was starting to become rare. 

Pearl shook her head, trying to stay on track. "So what am I supposed to do? I've never had to worry about this before now, and now it won't leave me alone."

Cadance's smile softened as she took Pearl's hooves in her own. "All I can say, Pearl, is to follow your heart. You will never know if you do nothing. And that is far worse than doing nothing. Too many ponies make that mistake. You never know. It could lead to something beautiful for the both of you."

Pearl giggled, taking another sip of her drink. This had been the easy part of this. Now came the hard part. A part she had dreaded for years.





Twilight looked up with a smile as Pearl returned to the library. "I assume from you all but prancing in means that your tea with Cadance went well then?"

Pearl nodded. "Yeah. I think Sweetie Belle might be in for a shock though. I saw Kohaku go into Carousel Boutique, and he didn't look like his usual self."

Twilight frowned. She had noticed the gulf between the two beginning to widen for several weeks now. "Did you say anything to him on the way in?"

Pearl shook her head as she took a seat at the table. "No. Kohaku didn't even see me, and he had the look of someone on a mission." She rolled her eyes. "You know what he's like when he's in that kind of mood. I can't take hiding my Dragon Form forever."

Twilight chuckled. "Indeed. I'm sure he will be back to his normal self soon enough. And you will soon no longer have to. He is almost old enough now that dragons will no longer be a threat to him." Her brows rose. "Did you learn what you wanted from Cadance? I doubt it was just a simple tea break."

Pearl nodded. "Yeah. Love trouble is kinda her thing. I can't take this anymore. Eternity is too damn long to be alone. For either of us."

Twilight's ears twitched. She had seen the looks Pearl had given her, the number of nights she had stayed over at the castle, the times they had fallen asleep together recently. It began to click as she walked over and looked Pearl in the eyes. "How long?"

Pearl's ears fell. "Since we got back from the Blight. Before that maybe, I'm not sure. Damn time dilation and all that nonsense. Time doesn't mean a thing to us now, but I can't wait any longer. Another century won't change how I feel about you, Twilight."

Twilight made a mental note to ask about part of that later, but for now, focused on what was important as she smiled. "Pearl Rose. Are you asking me what I think you are?"

Pearl smiled widely, fighting down the butterflies in her stomach. "Twilight Sparkle. Will you go out with me?"

Twilight didn't respond for a moment. Her head was saying she needed time to think about this, to process the very idea. In her heart though, she already knew the answer as she took Pearl's hooves in her own and smiled gently. "Pearl. I would be honored to."

Pearl squeed as she threw her hooves around her fellow alicorn, Twilight returning the hug a moment later.