The Library was quiet, save for one little dragon who dusted the various tomes and shelves diligently. Spike generally liked to slack off when Twilight was away, but he found himself needing something to occupy his time, and try as he did to find Rarity and the Crusaders, they just never turned up. He looked at the clock and hummed. "Gee... sure is taking Twilight forever to get back..."
A bright flash of magic, and Twilight appeared.
"Speak of the devil! Heya Twilight! How was the date?"
Twilight groaned. "Horrible! He was the most... egotistical... conniving.... augh!"
Spike grimaced some. "I see... so... what are you going to do about Hearts and Hooves Day?"
Twilight stopped and pondered it over. "Oh... uh... well, I guess I can ask Braeburn if he'd like to go on a second date..."
Spike shook his head. "Nuh-uh... he and Pinkie are going to be spending it together apparently. They stopped by earlier to tell you, cause Braeburn thought it was the right thing to do. He seemed relieved when he learned you were on a date."
Twilight bit her lip some as she felt a little ache in her chest.
"Uh... well... maybe Time Turner--"
"Away... he disappeared a few days ago, left a note saying he had important business to take care of... something about "Bad Wolf?"
Twilight felt that ache again. What was that?
"M-maybe I can... uhh... " she blushed more as she spoke. "C-convince Rainbow Dash..."
Spike rolled his eyes. "Didn't you say she said she didn't want to be more than friends? I'm sure a second date is unlikely..."
Twilight grimaced some. "Wh... but... Flam...?"
Spike quirked a brow. "Yeah, was that who you were with? What happened...?"
Twilight bit her lip. "W... well maybe I can..." She stopped that trail of thought. Desperate as she was, she wasn't so desperate she'd go out with that dirt bag again.
There was that pain again.
This time, she knew what it was.
"I don't have a date for Hearts and Hooves Day..."
Spike paused. "Really?"
Twilight didn't seem upset; rather distant actually. "No... no... the day is already almost over... " She just seemed to stare into the nothingness. "... and I'm still alone... with nopony... no 'somepony special.... Rarity's too busy to help me..."
Spike pumped his fist in victory. "Alright! Yeah! One week vacation! I don't gotta do squat! In your face Twilight, you lost and I won!"
"Yeah... you won... c-congradulations Spike..."
Spike blinked a bit, turning to face Twilight, who still seemed really distant, as if some sort of deep, profound truth had been revealed to her. She didn't say a word more as she slowly, almost blankly, moved past him and up the stairs, towards her room. Once she reached her destination, Spike heard a slow creeking as she shut the door behind her. "Hey! Wait a minute!" The dragonling followed and pushed the door, face planting into it. "Twilight, does the deal start now or do we wait a week or what?"
There was no response. "'Cause... you know... I have a few things left to dust..."
Still no response.
Spike grimaced a bit, wondering why Twilight was ignoring him. Certainly she didn't intend to pout just because he had won, right? After all, she had every right to back out before the deal was made. "Twilight, can you hear me?" With her continued lack of response, he sighed, until he thought he heard a noise. It was faint, soft... he couldn't make it out. He slowly pressed his ear against the wooden door to try to get a better idea.
He heard a sob.
Whatever victory he had felt within the past few minutes vanished near instantly. Spike bit on his lip and turned the knob, opening the door. He saw Twilight lying in her bed, wrapped up in her blanket, watching as it shuddered and fell to the sounds of choking and whimpering. Spike's heart sank immediately.
"Uh... T-Twilight... it's just a week... it's not really that bad is it...?"
Twilight didn't speak. Spike inched forward. "Twilight...?"
"No... no Spike... a... *hic*... a deal's a deal.... *sniff*... I'm okay...."
Spike inched a bit closer. "Then why are you crying..."
Her response was delayed. "I... I don't know... I don't want to talk about it..."
Spike bit his lip. "You know... you don't have to do my chores... I-I just wanted to give you extra incentive..."
"Please Spike... just leave me alone..."
Spike nodded a bit. He slowly made out of the room, turning to see Twilight's sheets continue to shudder and spasm with her chokes and sobs. He hung his head in shame and shut the door.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rarity hummed as she stared at her reflection of herself in her special, newly made Hearts and Hooves dress. She grinned proudly at her work; the dress itself purple, with pink hearts and a heart-shaped pendant hanging from her neck. "Why yes, Rarity! This is exquisite! You maybe single, but all the more reason to shine on this day! After all, you never know when Mr. Perfect will show up, sweep you off your hooves, and whisk you away toward a life of favor, of luxory, and of true, everlasting love!"
Rarity was brought from her fantasy by the sound of knocking at her door. "Oooh! That must be Twilight, here with the juicy details of last night's date! Why, I can only imagine what sort of story she has for this one!" The fashionista trotted hurriedly (and yet, still gracefully) toward the door and peeled it open. Much to her surprise, instead of Twilight, she was greeted by Rainbow Dash, staring at her with no shortage of concern in her visage. "Wha? Rainbow? What are--"
"No time to explain! Fluttershy told me that Spike told her that Twilight's locked herself in her room! She's been crying since last night, and won't come out!"
Rarity gasped and took her dress off, gently levitating it toward a nearby emergency dress hanger (a designer must always be prepared!) for safe, un-folding and thus unwrinkling, storage. "Quickly! We must attend to this at once!"
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The library was filled with ponies concerned for the well being of their friend. Pinkie Pie and Braeburn were sitting next to each other, Braeburn's hoof over the worried pink party pony's. Applejack was just looking up the stairs, waiting to see Spike step out. Fluttershy was keeping Owluacious company, petting the bird's head. Just then, the front door opened, and Rainbow and Rarity stepped inside.
"Has she come out yet?" Said Rainbow.
Applejack sighed. "Nope... Spike went up there t' talk some sense inta her, but aint worked yet..."
Rarity trotted forward. "What's wrong? Why is she so upset? Flam didn't try anything ungentlecoltly, did he?"
Applejack's eyes widened. "Flam!? You set Twilight up with that snake!?"
Rarity grinned nervously. "Not my brightest hour, but some of the ponies I had picked for Twilight were... uhh... sort of occupied... romantically speaking..."
Applejack groaned. "Rarity! Y'all cain't just go settin' ponies up with other ponies n' expectin' 'em to hit it off! Datin's gotta be a natural thing! It's gotta work on it's own, otherwise it's got no heart to it!"
Rarity scrunched her nose. "Yes, well, I had the best intentions, I--"
Applejack sighed. "Ne'ermind, Rarity. Our friend's upset, we gotta take care of that first."
Suddenly there was the sound of a door opening and closing. Everypony looked up to see Spike trudge down the stairs, a look of obvious defeat on his face. He simply sighed. "She won't talk to me... she just says I'm 'too young to understand'... maybe you girls will have better luck?"
Everypony stood and made their way up the stairs neat and orderly.
Rarity knocked on the door. "Twilight? It's me, Rarity. Dear, the girls and I want to come in... is that alright?"
"... leave me alone..."
"Twilight, I just--"
"I said leave me alone! ... I just... want to..."
Rainbow spoke up. "Twilight, did Flam do anything? Say the word, we'll hunt him down and break every bone in his body!"
"No... it's not that..."
Applejack quirked her brow. "Well what is it then, sugarcube?"
Twilight coughed loudly.
"... it's me..."
"What!? You!? What's wrong with you, darling!?" Said Rarity, taken aback.
"I don't know! ... But.. *cough*... I... I just... don't know...."
Rarity had had enough. She opened the door and stepped into the room. Sure enough, Twilight was wrapped in her blankets, pillows over her head. The curtains had been drawn to close the light out from the balcony, and Twilight's back was to the door.
"Twilight, I'm sorry dear, but this has to stop! You are a good mare, why would you think otherwise?"
Twilight bolted up and stared at Rarity with eyes filled with anger and self pity, puffy from crying, and her mane was a mess. "If there's nothing wrong with me, then why have I never had a Special Somepony!?"
Everypony froze. Twilight's expression softened as the tears began to work again.
"I... I had been thinking of it more and more with each date... compatibility... and love... and at first I just didn't want Celestia to be upset but... but..."
Twilight gritted her teeth and tried to force back a new wave of tears.
"... if it's not a case where I can't connect... the pony is either a fraud or... doesn't think I'm good enough..."
Rainbow stepped out. "Waitwait, Twilight, if this is about me, I told you it's not that! It's--"
"It's not you!"
Rainbow stopped and backed away.
Twilight choked. "I've had plenty of crushes... b-but... the few occasions I got the nerve to ask somepony out they always rejected me..." She sobbed. "I've... I've never thought too much of it... but... but..."
She stared at her friends with eyes brimming with tears.
"... I'm so lonely..."
She choked and returned to sobbing openly. Suddenly, Rarity furrowed her brow once more and approached.
"Twilight, no. This is not your fault. It's mine."
Everypony stared. Twilight's crying seemed to soften, but she seemed no less in despair. Rarity nodded.
"When you told me you wanted a date for Hearts and Hooves Day, I took the initiative and decided to find a date for you. Given I did ask if you had your eye on anypony, I didn't take into account that simply sending you on blind dates was not going to solve a thing."
She sighed and hung her head. "It's never worked for me, I can't imagine why I thought it would for you..."
Everypony looked to Rarity, surprise. She, however, did not seem fazed.
"Twilight... I made a mistake. I got your hopes up, and it seems that, as good as my intentions were, I may have opened a wound. Worse yet, I have you thinking yourself less than you really are..."
Twilight stopped crying.
"Darling, you are a great mare! You're friendly, compassionate, understanding, and as I said before, anypony would be lucky to be with you. I can't undo this travesty I sent you on, but I can tell you this..."
Rarity placed a hoof on Twilight's shoulder, and stared her in the eyes.
"... You're beautiful. And do not think anything less..."
Twilight sniffled and rubbed her nose. "... Are... are you coming on to me?"
Rarity balked a bit. Rainbow Dash fell to the floor, busting out laughing. Applejack herself seemed to be suppressing laughter - poorly. Fluttershy was doing better, though it was obvious she was giggling. Pinkie had burst into a series of snorts and giggles herself, causing Braeburn to wonder what the mares upstairs found so funny.
Twilight blushed madly - she really thought Rarity was flirting with her.
"No dear... I'm not. I'm not into mares... not that there's anything wrong with it! But... no."
Twilight sighed a bit. She wasn't as sad, but she still wasn't happy. Rarity sighed a bit and put a hoof to her forehead.
"What I'm saying darling..." said Rarity, "Is that it's up to you to find love. Your friends can only help so much... but relying on us, or even your books, to help you find love is a mistake... it must come naturally, by its own course..."
Rarity held Twilight's shoulders and smiled. "Sweetie, there is somepony out there for you. You may not find them today, tomorrow, or even a year from now... but you will find them... you just have to believe you will..."
Applejack smiled. "We're all keen t' help when we can, 'course! But with things like advice n' such..."
Rainbow nodded. "Hey, so you're single on Hearts and Hooves Day! Don't think you're alone!" Rainbow rushed to Twilight and grinned in her face, wagging her eyebrows. "We're all single too! Plus, we aint alone - we're available!"
Twilight choked out a laugh, rubbing some of the tears from her eyes. "Ooh! Ooh! I'm not be single!" Everypony stared at Pinkie Pie. Rainbow moved her hoof under her chin in a 'stop talking' gesture. Pinkie grinned awkwardly. "I'll be quiet..."
They turned to Twilight, and Rainbow smiled. "Twilight, there's a lot goin' on today! Instead of sitting here and moping, you should go out there and enjoy the day! Stallion or no, you don't win a race by standing still!"
Twilight smiled a bit, if only half-heartedly. "Thanks girls... yeah... I think I can stand to get out..."
Everypony smiled.
Rainbow Dash grinned. "Good! What say tonight, we all have an 'Available Pony Party!"
Pinkie jumped. "Wooo! Party!"
"Pinkie's not available, so she's not invited."
"WHAT!?"
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"WOOOO!"
Rainbow Dash danced around sloppily, laughing. "That was a great party! Who knew bein' single on Hearts and Hooves Day could be so awesome!?"
Rarity sighed, stepping out of the club, her mane a bit frazzled (although it seemed done in a more 'intentional' manner, likely her styling it for the club scene. "Yes! I'll admit, this is not my usual scene, but it was rather thrilling wasn't it?"
Applejack followed, looking relatively normal, but without her hat. "That aint no kinda rodeo Ah've ever been to... Ah'm happy y'all convinced me t' not bring mah hat..."
Fluttershy stepped out after them, waving her hooves around. "WOO! Party! The music! The dances! Somepony, gimme a mic! I wanna *hic* sing!"
Twilight sighed, trotting out of the club. "Rainbow Dash, do you think giving Fluttershy all those drinks was a good idea..."
Rainbow sighed. "I gave her one drink to ease her nerves... how was I supposed to know she'd like the taste and order more?"
Fluttershy giggled, putting a hoof over Rainbow's shoulders. "Rainbow Dash... *hic*... you're my best and longest time friend... n' you really know... *hic*... know how to have fun... hehehe..."
Rainbow rolled her eyes. "Well, I guess I better get Drunkershy to her cottage before she makes a scene..."
Fluttershy giggled. "I get it! It's because I'm *hic* ... because I'm drunk!"
Rainbow sighed and wrapped a hoof around her friend. "Just flap your wings, I'll steer us."
As the two pegasai took off, the remaining three ponies turned to face each other.
"Well," said Applejack, "Ah think Ah'm headin' home. Every year Big Mac vanishes, Ah swear he's got a secret special somepony, an Ah'm gonna find out who!"
Rarity gasped. "Oh my! That sounds romantic!"
Applejack rolled her eyes. "You'd think that... anyway, y'all have a good night."
Applejack made her way towards home. Rarity bit her lip. "Uhh.. sorry Twilight, but I've got... uh... things to attend to! You'll be able to get home on your own right?"
Twilight smiled and nodded. "Of cou-"
"Oh that's great! Ta ta darling!" Without another word, Rarity took off. Twilight quirked her brow.
"What's she in a hurry for...?"
She simply sighed and shrugged, and started to head home. She trotted at a casual pace, but the closer she got to home, the more she felt a strange need. She saw so many ponies cuddling and kissing... she had enjoyed the night, but she couldn't deny she still wanted companionship.
She decided there was one way to get her mind off this; some good, old fashioned star gazing.
So, she passed her home and continued on, past the edge of Ponyville.
Eventually she found it - a hill she generally liked to use when stargazing, with a single tree on it. Tonight was different however; she didn't have her telescope. She didn't need it. Tonight, she simply wanted to enjoy their company, as opposed to analyzing them.
She stopped and folded her legs underneath herself, laying in the grass and staring at the night sky.
She took in a breath and gently let it out.
Now, she could think - unhindered by worry or worldly concern. Just her, the stars, and her thoughts.
"... Miss Sparkle?"
Twilight nearly jumped and turned her gaze to see none other than Big McIntosh. "Yer out awful late..."
She smirked, quirking a brow. "I could say the same to you."
He raised a hoof to speak but stopped. He shrugged. "Eeyup." He trotted up the rest of the way. "Mind if Ah join ya?"
She shook her head. "Oh, go ahead. It might be nice to have company."
Big Mac nodded and sat next to her, more on his side than his stomach, and stared up at the stars.
"So, what brings you here, Miss Sparkle?"
Twilight sighed. "I just needed to gather my thoughts... put the week's events in perspective..." She turned her attention to Big Mac. "You?"
"Ah come 'ere once in a while fer 'bout the same reasons. Usually after particularly big harvests or somethin'."
Twilight quirked a brow. "Wait... your sister says you disappear every year... is this what you're doing?"
"Yeah. Ah've never concerned m'self of Hearts n' Hooves Day, but Granny n' Applejack like t' tease me 'bout findin' a mare this time-a year, so Ah like t' come 'ere and just think."
Twilight nodded. "Oh... about what?"
Big Mac shrugged. "Whatever needs t' be thought of. Family, bills, maintaining th' farm, any debts we owe, that kinda stuff..."
Twilight blinked. "Wow... you sound like you have a lot of responsibility..."
Big Mac laughed a bit, shaking his head. "Well, AJ is a good mare, but she aint too good with taxes... last time we let her do 'em we nearly lost th' farm. Granny was a master, but these days she cain't remember what she had fer breakfast... an' Applebloom is not only too young, but more prone t' causin' destruction than bein' truly productive..."
Twilight let out a little giggle, shaking her head. "I had no idea you were so... reliable."
Big Mac gave a gentle nod. "Ah, lotta ponies think Ah'm slow cause Ah don't speak much. Ah just don't typically like t' say more than needs t' be said..."
Twilight smirked. "You're awful talkative tonight."
"Eeyup."
The larger stallion turned his gaze to the smaller mare. "What about you? What's goin' through yer head, Miss Sparkle?"
Twilight smiled a bit, shaking her head. "Oh, you can just call me Twilight... and it's not important... just..." she sighed a bit. "Just... had some bad dates and I needed to sort of get some fresh air and thought."
Big Mac nodded. "Ah. Hearts n' Hooves Syndrome?"
Twilight quirked her brow for the billionth time tonight. "What...?"
He waved a hoof. "Ah ferget who coined it. Some sort of psychological thing where single ponies get depressed 'round this time-a year thinkin' on th' subject."
Twilight stared. "Wh... wow, I didn't think you knew much on psychology..."
Big Mac smirked. "Ah pick things up here n' there, usually when Ah see it in mah siblings..." He leaned towards Twilight and whispered. "B'fore you came t' Ponyville, Applejack used t' get it real bad..."
Twilight grinned. "Oh? So that's how she knows so much."
Big Mac shook his head. "She figured lots out on 'er own. Ah just helped."
"You sound like a very good stallion."
Big Mac grinned somewhat proud at the statment the little mare offered. "Well, Ah try t' be." This elicited a chuckle from McIntosh and a giggle from Twilight herself.
After a few minutes, Twilight realized she had been staring into Big Mac's eyes, and he back into hers. It had suddenly become very quiet. The various sounds of the world seemed to fade into nothing; no wind, no crickets, nothing, although Twilight became a bit more aware of the beating of her heart as she stared at the stallion next to her.
Suddenly she realized that he was starting to lean forward. Twilight's heart beat faster. The various alarms that she figured should be going off remained silent, and she found herself leaning forward as well.
She closed her eyes as she felt his lips press against hers.
It seemed to last forever before she felt him pull away. Her eyes fluttered open to see the stallion staring at her, his own stare gentle upon her. She couldn't help but smile half lidded, her cheeks becoming tinted red.
Just as her senses returned to her, Twilight's eyes shot wide open and her face turned a deep red. "Ah! S-sorry! I just... I... uh..."
Big Mac blinked a bit, a little blush on his cheeks but he retained the same stoic appearance he always carried. "... Salright... Ah got a bit carried away m'self... got lost in th' moment Ah guess...."
The two ponies simply lay there quietly, staring away from each other, silence having fallen again. Twilight gulped and gave a sideways glance towards the Stallion. "N... not that it wasn't a nice kiss...."
Big Mac grinned a bit. "Eeyup..."
Twilight cleared her throat, staring at her hooves. Big Mac looked around. "... N' yer not a bad mare... Applejack says yer very nice n' sweet..." Twilight smiled and blushed a bit.
"Thanks..."
Big Mac simply nodded. Once more silence fell. Twilight looked to Big Mac again. "Uhm... and she speaks highly of you too..." The larger stallion smirked and nodded.
The two ponies diverted their attention back to the night stars. Twilight felt very calm suddenly; at peace. Slowly, she leaned against McIntosh, laying against him. At first he seemed to tense a little, likely from surprise, but he immediatly relaxed again. The lavender mare was surprised by how warm and soft he was, admittedly. She was also surprised when he leaned back into her, his head over hers.
A short distance away, (hidden behind a bush) two ponies stared.
Rarity's hooves were placed in her mouth, stifling her own excited squeal. Next to her, Applejack stared, jaw agape, in utter disbelief. The orange mare grabbed for any words she could to describe what was going on. "... But... he.... an' she.... she was.... an'.... what...?"
Rarity smiled and grabbed her friend and began to drag her, making sure to not speak above a whisper. "Come Applejack. We shouldn't bother these two..."
Applejack's jaw continued to hang open, staring at the two ponies. "... But... Ah... Ah don't...." Applejack crossed her forelegs and sighed, relenting to the idea that she just had no idea what was going on. "Big Mac's got a lot of explainin' t' do..."
Rarity chuckled. "Yes, well, let him explain later. For now, let these two have their moment."
The two ponies made their way back to town, while the two ponies on the hill continued to stare into the night sky.