//------------------------------// // Clichés // Story: Sweet, Solemn, Sad // by Shingo //------------------------------// Rainbow Dash was many things: fast, awesome, a shining example of what it meant to be loyal, and a world class athlete. While she would never admit it, there were many qualities and abilities that she lacked. It was one of her inherent inabilities that led her to a rather uncomfortable situation for her. She sat inside Ponyville’s library with a novel in front of her. Beside her was the librarian supposedly reading a book in front of her. Rainbow was enraptured with her book while the librarian’s attention was on the cyan pegasus. Occasionally she would give a wistful sigh causing Rainbow to look up at her. Seeing Rainbow meet her eyes would force her to bury herself into her book before catching a few glances at her friend. Rainbow would then shrug before returning to her book. After performing the routine a couple dozen times, the librarian spoke. “Rainbow,” she said. “Can I talk to you about something?” “Sure.” Rainbow closed her book. “What’s on your mind, Twilight?” “Bear with me for a moment, this took me a long time to build up the courage to do.” Twilight took in a deep breath. “Why would you need to build up courage just to talk to…” “Rainbow,” Twilight interrupted. “Before I continue with what I have to say, I have a question to ask. Do you like it when ponies are straight forward?” “I’d prefer if they were, yes,” Rainbow answered. “Why do you ask?” “Great, this will be a lot easier then. Rainbow.” Twilight looked straight into Rainbow’s eyes. “I like you.” “I like you too, Twilight.” A faint blush appeared on the purple unicorn’s face. Her heart began pounding at a rapid rate while a doting smile appeared on her face. “Really?” “Why wouldn’t I like you?” Rainbow asked. “You’re one of the most likable ponies I know. I mean, you’re not as awesome as me but…” Twilight closed her eyes and leaned forward towards Rainbow’s lips. Before she could make contact, Rainbow placed a hoof on Twilight’s lips. “What are you doing?” Twilight pulled back. “You said you liked me,” she said. “I thought that a kiss would be the perfect way to show it.” “Why would a kiss be…” Rainbow smacked her forehead. She groaned and silently cursed to herself. “I always miss this social cue. I’m sorry, but I don’t feel the same. As clichéd as this sounds, it’s not you, it’s me.” “Because using an age old cliché is supposed to make me feel much better,” Twilight said dejected. A weak chuckle came from her. “I should have expected this. No pony can love a pony like me.” Rainbow placed both of her hooves at the side of Twilight’s face. “Twilight, listen to me,” she said. “Never say that. You’re a smart pony who has more value than you can imagine. You’re the most magical pony in the country only second to the Princesses. You have your heart out in the open like a cutie mark. A lot of ponies would see that as a weakness, but they're wrong, it shows you’re strong and willing to put yourself out there. You have all the traits that a pony could want in a romantic partner and then some.” “You sound like a filly going on about their crush,” Twilight chuckled. “And yet you use the cliché that ponies use when they’re breaking up with somepony.” “I meant it when I said it.” Twilight cocked her head in confusion. “I do like you, but as a friend. And that’s all I’m ever going to see you or anypony as.” “I don’t understand.” “How to explain this… Do you have a deck of cards?” Twilight lit up her horn. In a flash of light, a small stack of cards appeared in between her and Rainbow. Rainbow started searched through the deck. She pulled out a card and showed it to Twilight. On the face of the card was the ace of spades. “This is me.” “I still don’t understand.” Rainbow pulled three other cards out of the deck, the queen of hearts, king of clubs, and the jack of diamonds. "Look at these other cards. See how they all have some sort of pair in their pictures?" she asked. Twilight nodded. Rainbow tapped the ace of spades. "All of the aces in the deck aren't like that. In their picture it's a single picture and that's it. I'm like the ace in that aspect, I don't feel any kind of attraction and I don't really want it. It's not only towards mares either. Mares, stallions, griffons, zebras, you name a species and their gendered names and I can guarantee I can't feel any kind of romantic attraction towards them." “Why?” Rainbow shrugged. “I don’t know,” she admitted. “But in all honesty, I don’t really care. From what I’ve seen, romance is essentially a really close friendship only with certain benefits to it. And I already have close friendships with five other ponies. I don’t want anything more than that.” Rainbow stood up and flared her wings. “I can see why you’d like me, I mean, who wouldn’t? I’m the most awesome pegasus to ever live!” “Not to mention the most attractive.” “Flattery gets you nowhere, Twilight.” Rainbow winked at her. “But keep doing it if you want.” Twilight giggled. Rainbow sat back down with a soft expression in her eyes. She reached out and placed a hoof on Twilight’s. “I’m sorry that I can’t give you the kind of love that you want,” she said. “Believe me; if I could I would to make you happy. But I don’t see you that way. All I can give you is what I’ve been giving you.” “I understand, Rainbow.” Twilight smiled. “Thanks for being honest with me.” “Does this mean that we can continue our reading date?” Twilight nodded. She returned to her book while Rainbow did the same. A brief silence sat with them while they turned through their books. “You know you’re wrong.” “Excuse me?” “You said that no pony could love you,” Rainbow continued. “I know one who does. And it’s the kind of love you want.” Twilight looked up from her book. “Really?” she asked. “Really. She’s crazy about you. She gushes on and on about how you’re the most amazing pony in the world and how your beauty could put the Princesses’ to shame.” A faint blush appeared on Twilight’s face. “I don’t know about that,” she said, rubbing the back of her head. “Who is this pony?” “I’m not allowed to say.” Rainbow looked up at Twilight. “Like what you did before you talked to me, she’s working up the courage to talk to you about that. But, we can make that go faster if you can tell me that you’re willing to give her a chance.” “Is this pony a crazy stalker pony?” “Stalker, no. And crazy would be an understatement.” Twilight opened her mouth. “The fun kind of crazy, not the scary kind.” “If that’s true, then yes, I will give her a chance.” “Cool.” Rainbow returned to her book while Twilight did the same. Unlike Rainbow, Twilight couldn’t focus on her book. She was too busy thinking of the pony so enamoured with her. Every thought of this pony made her giggle like a love struck filly. Rainbow smiled as Twilight continued giggling. She’s going to be very happy when she hears the news.