//------------------------------//
// Girl's night 
// Story: Make them budge 
// by Aurora_Glow 
//------------------------------//

"You really don't have to do this for me Flash," Twilight said as she entered the library, Flash by her side. "I'm fine with reading alone."

Flash smiled. "I know," he said. "But company is always better. Plus, I like reading as well. I wouldn't mind reading a book or two before my night shift."

Twilight perked up at his words. "You like reading as well?" she asked. "What genre do you like?" "I mostly read adventure stories," the guard replied. "Daring Do is my favorite series."

"Really?" exclaimed Twilight. "It's mine as well! I especially love Daring Do and the Quest for the Sapphire Stone!" Flash's eyes grew wide. "No way!" he said. "That's my favourite one as well!" 

"You know, I think Cadance recently stocked up the library with Daring Do books," Twilight said. "We can grab a book to read each, then discuss the contents every time we finish a chapter!"

Flash nodded, and it didn't take long for Twilight to find two copies of Daring Do and the Quest for the Sapphire Stone. Both ponies settled down to read, and hours flew by as they happily talked about their favourite book.

Unbeknownst to them, the rest of the girls had already returned from their trip to the spa, or in Fluttershy's case, from her trip to the petting zoo, and were currently in a meeting with Cadance and Flurry to discuss how to move Twilight and Flash's little situation along...





Two pegasi, two earth ponies, one unicorn and two alicorns were seated around a table.

"So what did ya call us in here for?" Applejack asked. Cadance nudged Flurry. "You tell them honey," she said. "It was your idea after all."

Flurry Heart nodded. "I wanna get Auntie Twily and Mr. Flash together!" she said. "Mommy agreed to help, but I want you guys' help as well Aunties!"

The ponies chuckled. How could they say no to that? "Okie dokie lokie flurry!" Pinkie chirped. "What do you want us to do?"

"That's what we are here for! We're gonna think of ideas now," Cadance said. "Twilight and Flash are in the library reading right now, so they won't bother us. Neither will Shining. he's working on paperwork."

"Well... umm... I think the first thing we have to do is to get Twilight to be honest with herself," Fluttershy spoke up. "Right now, I don't think she's really acknowledging the fact that she has a crush..."

The others nodded their heads in agreement. "Then why not a girl's night tonight?" Cadance suggested. "We can corner Twilight then. It helps that the five of you, plus Twilight and Starlight, are staying in the same room. Speaking of which, where is Starlight?"

"Oh she's still on her date with Sunburst," Rarity answered. "But don't worry darling. She said that she would be back before dinner." 

"Can I go to the girl's night as well Mommy?" Flurry piped up. Cadance chuckled but shook her head. "I'm afraid not Flurry. You can't stay up past your bedtime." Flurry pouted. "Don't worry sweetie," Cadance comforted. "you can be part of the other parts of the plan. In fact, since this was your idea, you can lead the rest of the project. How does that sound?" 

Flurry smiled happily. "Why not make Auntie Twily and Mr. Flash go out foor lunch together?" she asked. Cadance put her hoof to her chin, thinking about the plan for a bit. "I think that can work Flurry," she said. 

"I think I know how we can pull it off..." Flurry said. "But I'll need help..." "Sweet!" exclaimed Rainbow. "What can we do to assist?"

Flurry smirked, then told them all about her plan...





The hours flew by. Flash left to start his night shift. Twilight went to have dinner with her friends and family. Food was served and eaten. 

"What do you think about a girl's night tonight Twilight?" Pinkie asked, finishing the last of her food. "Cadance can join us."

Cadance nodded. "Yeah Twilight! It'll be fun!" she exclaimed. Twilight smiled. "How can I say no?" the princess of friendship said. "Girl's night it is!"

Cadance clapped her hooves in delight. "Oh by the way Shining, you'll have to put Flurry to bed tonight." Shining nodded. "What do you think off reading a bedtime story tonight together Flurry." Flurry grinned at her father. She loved reading.

"Ooh it's gonna be exciting!" Twilight said. "I haven't had a girl's night in forever!" 

"Oh I reckon it's going to be exciting alright," Applejack murmured, sharing a knowing smirk with Rainbow and Starlight. The girls had told Starlight about their plans before dinner, and Starlight happily agreed to play along. 

Twilight raised an eyebrow. "What's with that look?" she asked. "Nothing nothing!" Starlight reassured. Twilight glared at them, but let the matter drop. 





"And then he took me to the Crystal Empire Kite Museum. I got to learn all about the traditional kites of the Crystal Empire!" Starlight finished, her eyes shining. "Aww how sweet!" Twilight exclaimed.

All the girls, plus Cadance were on the floor of their temporary shared bedroom. Starlight had just finished sharing all about her date with Sunburst.

"Twilight, you seem to be into romance an awful lot these days," Cadance smiled knowingly. "No I'm not!" Twilight denied, turning red.

"The romance books in your to be read bookshelf back home begs to differ, Starlight pointed out. Twilight glared at her, while Starlight simply shrugged. "Don't look at me like that! It's not my fault we live in the same place!"

I knew putting those books out was a terrible idea, Twilight thought with an inward groan.

"I just happen to like reading romance lately!" she protested.

"So why do you blush and stutter every time you bump into Flash Sentry?" Rainbow said with a smirk. "And why do you sigh dreamily on the train when we come to the Crystal Empire darling?" Rarity asked. "And why do you look dejected, sad and mopey when we leave this place?" Fluttershy added in a whisper. "Ooh ooh! And why do you wait for Flash's letters every week and get super excited once they come as if they are as important as cupcakes when everpony knows that nothing is more important than cupcakes?" Pinkie said, all in one breath.

Twilight could only scowl, unable to counter any one of her friend's points. "That's... that's only because Flash is a really good friend. I. Don't. Have. A. Crush. On. Flash. Sentry," Twilight growled. I don't know the first thing about love or crushes! I'm the princess of friendship, not the princess of love! she thought. That's Cadance's job! I can't have something I don't understand! Right?

Cadance wrapped a wing around Twilight, as if sensing her thoughts. "Twilight, just because you don't understand romantic love, doesn't mean that you can't have a crush," she said. "Doesn't your stomach get butterflies every time you see Flash?"

Starlight nodded in agreement. "I know I get very excited and happy every time I see Sunburst," she pointed out.

Fed up with all this talk about her love life, Twilight stood up. "I'm going to bed," she said, avoiding her friend's gazes. "Good night."

She climbed onto her bed and buried her head underneath the covers. Are they right? Do I have a crush? Twilight wondered. I... I probably don't right? Whatever I'm feeling, it's just me treating Flash as a friend!

The rest of the girls looked at Twilight, sighing. This was going to be harder than they thought. Time to put the next part of the plan in action...