//------------------------------// // Non-Date // Story: Improbable // by Erynaster //------------------------------// 7:13 PM You check your pocket watch as you stand by the doorway to Twilight's castle. Never mind the fact that you're thirteen minutes late, because it would seem that your companion isn't ready yet. You sigh and lean against the castle wall, waiting for Twilight to finish getting ready. You wonder what's taking her so long. Is she nervous? This was her idea, after all. You take out your pocket watch again, flicking it open and closed idly. The sky outside is starting to darken, and you can feel the chill of the evening starting to creep in. The longer you wait, the cooler it's going to get, and you really don't want to stand out here any longer than necessary. "Twilight?" You call out, rapping gently at the door. "You ready yet?" From within the castle chambers, you can hear Twilight's voice call out to you in return. "In a minute! I'm almost ready." You smile. You take a deep breath, trying to quash the nerves that are starting to creep up on you. Despite the fact that you felt comfortable around Twilight, there was still an inkling of nervousness that you could only attribute to the nature of the evening. You knew that Twilight clearly meant for this to be something more for the two of you, and that was a fact that you could not deny nor hide from. Either way, you were happy to have a chance to spend time with your best friend. As you take a deep breath and steel yourself, you hear Twilight's voice call out from within the castle. "I'm coming, I'm coming!" She appears at the door a moment later, her eyes sparkling with excitement and a huge smile on her face. She's wearing a cozy-looking sweater, which you recognized as the one you had given her last Hearth's Warming Eve. "Anon, hello! How have you been?" Twilight's voice radiates warmth and joy as she greets you. You feel a sense of comfort and familiarity wash over you, as if nothing has changed between the two of you. Her voice is like a soothing balm to your soul, and you can't help but smile at the sound of it. "I've been alright, just adjusting to my new job at the printing press. It's been busy, but it pays the bills. How about you?" Twilight shrugs, grinning sheepishly. "Oh, same old, same old. I've been struggling with my research lately. I'm so far behind schedule," Twilight admits with a rueful smile. Despite the stress, there's a glimmer of determination in her eyes that you can't miss, one that you've always admired about her. For a moment, the two of you stand awkwardly, unsure of what to say next. You both know things have changed since Twilight made her intentions known to you, but it's understandable considering the complexity of your relationship now. You're still best friends, but there's an added level of romantic tension that hangs between you. The tension between you is palpable, but neither of you is willing to break it. Twilight paws at the ground nervously, looking at anywhere but your own two eyes. You clear your throat after a moment. "So... to the movies, then?" You inquire, smiling encouragingly at her. "Y-Yeah! Let's go." Twilight closes her eyes in concentration as her horn glows for a moment—and then suddenly, a flash of light. Before you know it, you're standing in front of the movie theatre, in the midst of a crowd of surprised ponies who were clearly not expecting your sudden arrival. You shake your head to clear your vision, staggering slightly. "Well, I'll never get used to that." You chuckle. Twilight giggles. "Yeah, teleportation spells take a while to get used to. The dizziness wears off after a moment, though." The two of you head inside the building, walking over to a nearby screen showing the films currently showing. "Have you heard of The Twisted Life of Maverick Magus? I hear it's pretty good." You peer curiously at the movie title, showcasing what appears to be a wizard surrounded by glowing energy. "Thoughts?" "Hmm..." Twilight tilts her head at you. "Well, the physics in that one are highly questionable. I doubt that it's scientifically accurate enough to what real magic is like." You roll your eyes, smiling lightly. "Well, how about this one? You indicate the next movie title, which had the words, Smile in the Dark emblazoned upon it in a bloody font. Twilight shudders. "I never could handle horror films." You nod. "Yeah, me neither." You walk over to the next screen, scanning the titles thoughtfully. "Hey! How about this one?" Twilight calls to you. You walk over to her, and she shows you the movie title. In bright pink and blue letters, the words, Worlds Apart can be read. Judging from the title and illustration alone, you can tell that it's a romance film. You give Twilight a look as if to say, "Really?" "W-What?" She flushes pink, eyes darting left and right. "I-I like romance films..." "I'm still learning new things about you, aren't I?" You say teasingly, ruffling her mane with a chuckle. Twilight bounces happily next to you as you make your way to the ticket booth. "Two tickets for Worlds Apart, please!" The mare doing the ticketing does a double-take at the sight of you, seemingly unable to process the sight of the Princess Twilight Sparkle on what would be construed as a "date" with Equestria's only human. Mouthing wordlessly, she hands you two slips of paper and gestures towards the door, which you and Twilight excitedly enter through. "That was... amazing." You and Twilight make your way to a nearby bench after the movie, your friend beaming with excitement. You chuckle, glad to see that Twilight enjoyed the film so much. Though you weren't as taken with it as she was, it was clear that the film had a major impact on her. "I'm glad you enjoyed it," You say, smiling. "It's not my usual cup of tea, but it was certainly well-executed." "Are you kidding me? That was, hands down, one of the best romance films in movie history. Period." Twilight gushes shakily. "I've never felt so emotional in my entire life!" You can't help but smile back, happy that Twilight had enjoyed the movie to such an extent. She had cried halfway through the film, clearly touched by the events on-screen. It was about a pony princess who fell in love with an alien, only to find her heart broken at the fact that her true love was in love with somepony else. Despite the basic premise, it had been well-executed. "I'm really glad you liked it, Twi. Though I'll admit, there are some parts of the story that I don't really understand." "Like what?" "Oh, I don't know..." You trail off, your stomach rumbling. "How about we go grab some dinner, first? We can talk about it then." "Sounds great! I'm famished." Twilight looks around, pointing at a nearby fast-food restaurant. "Let's try that place! I hear it's pretty good." The two of you scurry over to the front door, opening it just as a cool blast of air-conditioning washes over you. The restaurant is busy, with ponies chatting away and enjoying their meals. After deciding on what to order, you and Twilight make your way to the cashier and place a double order of hayburgers and fries. After handing the cashier the correct amount of bits, you take a seat in a corner booth, waiting for your food to be served. "You know, Anon, this is really nice. I'm glad we get to spend time together like this." Twilight blushes, her ears drooping low. "I-I mean... it's just, despite everything, you still agree to going out with me. I think it's sweet." You wave her off. "Think nothing of it. Anything for my best friend!" The blush on her face recedes at your words. "R-Right! Yes... you are my best friend, Anon. That's... that's right." She sighs, looking away from you with a look of disappointment evident on her face. "Hey, Twi? You okay?" You ask, noticing her crestfallen expression. "Something on your mind?" Twilight sighs. "I'm fine, Anon. Just... drop it, okay?" She pleads, still avoiding your gaze. "But Twili—" "Drop it." Twilight's voice suddenly grows stern, which shuts you up immediately. An awkward silence follows her words, which is only broken by the sound of a unicorn waiter clearing his throat as he approaches your table. "Your food, ma'am." He bows low, his head inclined towards Twilight. Twilight forces a smile, mutters a quick "Thank you", before turning back to you with a curious expression on her face. "So, what parts of the story didn't you understand?" "Pardon?" You speak through a mouthful of your burger, causing Twilight to giggle. "I mean, what did you think of the movie? What parts didn't you understand?" "Well," You start, considering your words carefully. "I guess the part where the princess falls in love with the alien was a bit... out there. I mean, I get that it's a fantasy world and all, but still." "What's so hard to understand about that?" Twilight tilts her head in confusion, levitating a fry into her mouth as she speaks. "It's just, she's a Princess, Twilight. She could've had her pick of the most handsome, charismatic, and charming stallions out there, and yet, she chooses an alien who by all means probably looks grotesque by pony standards." You speak through mouthfuls, swallowing at the end of your sentence. "The whole premise of the "interspecies romance" trope just doesn't hit home for me." "Well..." Twilight thinks for a moment, chewing thoughtfully. "I suppose it does seem strange at first glance. But if you look hard enough? She fell in love with him for who he was on the inside." Twilight smiles. "She couldn't care less if they were two different species, because the love was there." Twilight blushes. "... That doesn't seem too far-fetched to me..." "That's another thing. Their love." You interrupt suddenly, failing to notice Twilight's blushing. "I don't really get the whole 'true love' angle. Like, the main character's true love is someone who doesn't even know they exist. That doesn't make sense to me." "I get what you mean," Twilight says, chewing on her burger as her ears droop lower. "But sometimes, you just fall in love with somepony who doesn't feel the same way. It's a part of life." With a shrug, she takes another bite of her meal, looking out the window with an air of gloominess about her. You follow her gaze, lost in thought. It was evident that Twilight's words had touched a sensitive string within her, and you decide not to press her for any more information than she was willing to disclose. The topic is clearly sensitive, and addressing it too soon may cause Twilight more harm than good. So for now, you let her be, eating in silence and exchanging small talk here and there. The air between you both feels heavier than before, as if a barrier has been put up between you both. But the two of you continue on, trying not to let the awkward atmosphere deter you from enjoying the rest of the evening. Soon, you and Twilight both finish your meals. You stand up from the table together, making your way towards the exit. The warm air outside hits you both with a refreshing breeze as you step out into the cool evening. You walk side by side, both lost in your own thoughts, quietly processing the evening's events. The sound of crickets chirping and the hum of the town fill your ears as you make your way down the sidewalk. The streetlights illuminate the walkway, casting strange shadows on your faces as you pass by illuminated shops and stalls lining the sidewalks of Ponyville. As the two of you walk in silence, you can't help but notice that Twilight seems gloomier than ever, her head hung low as she drags her hooves along the cobblestone pavement. You can't blame her. In an attempt to lift her spirits, you slip an arm around her as you walk, causing her to flush red. A ghost of a smile finds its way to her lips, and she leans into your touch as you make your way back in the direction of your apartment building. Before you know it, you're standing right in front of the entrance to the building. You turn to face Twilight, scratching the back of your head. "Well... this is where we part for now. Can you teleport yourself home?" "Yeah! It's no trouble. And..." Twilight blushes. "... thank you for tonight, Anon. I really enjoyed it." You smile at your friend, pulling her into a gentle hug. She reciprocates, wrapping her forelegs around you in a firm embrace, closing her eyes as she breathes in deeply. "The pleasure is all mine, Twi. Take care of yourself, okay?" You smile encouragingly at her as you pull away. "Have a safe trip home." Twilight gives you one last grin, and in a sudden flash of light—she's gone. You sigh, walking towards the door and pushing it open. You're getting ready for bed, fixing up the cushions on the mattress before climbing in, letting out a sigh as you ponder the day's events. But just as you're drifting off to sleep, the notebook sitting on your bedside table starts glowing, catching your attention. You sit up in bed, yawning slightly as you flick on the lamp on your bedside table. You flip the notebook open to the latest page, grabbing your quill as you read the words now forming on the page's surface. When are we going to go on a real date? You can feel your heart clench upon reading those words, and you pause and think before writing down your reply. Twilight, we talked about this. It's not long before new words begin to form once more. I know. It just really hurts, Anon. Seeing you every day, hanging out with you, sharing all these special moments with you... knowing that all you see me as is a friend. It's killing me inside. You can feel your heart hammering in your chest as you read her words. It doesn't take you long to compose a response, however. Can't we talk about this some other time? You wait. Suddenly, words begin to form. I'm done waiting. You sigh. Okay... how about tomorrow? We can talk about it then. Before you even finish writing, the page begins to glow once more. Promise? You hesitate a little before writing your reply. I promise. There's a momentary pause before the page begins to glow once more. I'm counting on it. Goodnight, Anon. You yawn, rubbing your tired eyes with a free hand. Goodnight, Twilight. Sleep well. Returning the notebook back to where it belongs, you allow yourself to collapse onto the pillows with a heavy sigh, feeling thoroughly drained. Today wasn't so bad. You got to spend time with your best friend, see a new movie, have a nice dinner... all in all, it was a pretty good day. That being said, you were still worried about Twilight. You flip yourself over to your side, staring at the doorway. You knew, deep in your heart, that you would have to give Twilight your answer eventually. It would be very insensitive of you to keep her in the dark, that much you knew. Still, you didn't know exactly how you felt about the purple Alicorn. She was definitely more than just an average friend to you, but the idea of sharing a future with her? It was a bit overwhelming to think about. As you begin to drift off to sleep, your thoughts are consumed by Twilight and her alluring presence. Her captivating eyes and soothing voice still playing over and over in your head like a beautiful symphony. The feeling of being with her, the closeness, the bond, it was otherworldly. It's in this moment that you begin to realize, as you sink deeper into your slumber, that the feelings she has for you might just be mutual after all...