//------------------------------//
// In Search of Closure 
// Story: In Search of Knowledge 
// by thehalfelf 
//------------------------------//


In Search of Closure


Dear Princess Celestia,

Firstly, I would like to apologize for my lack of communication recently, either friendship report or textbook update.  Things have changed somewhat drastically in my personal life, and I had to take time to sort through them.  Now everything has settled and I am pleased to report that, for the moment, all is well, if not better.

You may recall my partner in the textbook rewriting: the local schoolteacher, Cheerilee.  At the onset of our project she was just a friend, one of many that I have made since my relocation to Ponyville.  During our work, however, she began acting odd during our time together, but even still I began to dread our time apart.  After a rather strange, circumstantial, and honestly unrelated line of questioning with both Fluttershy and Rarity, I stumbled across a series of books Cheerilee had been reading; a series of romance novels centering around a young mare with love interests in both a stallion and her closest friend, another mare.  Of course, I did not realize this until I began reading it myself.

Naturally, this reading led to a series of revelations for me, foremost being that I had a crush.  Not something that has never happened before, but the first on a mare, which brings me to the first lesson in friendship this has taught me: sometimes the line between friend, crush, and even enemy can blur.  When that happens, it is not always easy to step back and analyze the relationship objectively, but it can be the best thing to do.  Of course, that’s not what I did.  I read those books, specifically the second, many times over the course of a few days, hammering my brain for answers.

It was difficult, then, to spend any reasonable amount of time with Cheerilee.  I began to suspect, based on my own actions in her presence, that she may also have a crush on me, but the possible ramifications of voicing a false suspicion were too great to risk. So, instead of just talking to her like a mature pony, I hid it to the best of my abilities, which were apparently not good enough, because Rarity began to get suspicious.

After cornering me in the library after Cheerilee and I went to the spa--another long, somewhat more awkward story--Rarity had me accompany her back to the Boutique, where we ran into Fluttershy carrying two rather large bottles of wine.  They then proceeded to, uh, get me drunk in an attempt to wheedle information out of me.  I confessed, after a time, after which Rarity took it upon herself to convince me to tell Cheerilee.  Inebriated and confident, I left the Boutique on a quest to finally tell her my feelings.

Things did not go exactly as planned, but the next day we sat down and talked like rational adults, and came to the realization that my crush was mutual.  I write this letter a week and a hooffull of days spent together later with another lesson:  when it comes to matters of relationships beyond just friendship, though fear will be present, the rewards will always outweigh the risks of not confessing.  A true friend will not scorn you, and if your affection is reciprocated then all is well, and if it is not at least you have closure, and can return to your life certain in the fact there is nothing you could have done.

And don’t worry, Princess, the textbook has not been forgotten.  We are currently working our way through chapter three and everything is on schedule, despite the setbacks.  It should be done in plenty of time for the Equestrian Education Board’s review.

As always, I look forward to seeing you next month during my visit to Canterlot.  And, assuming you don’t mind, of course, I may have somepony other than just Spike accompanying my this time.  And give my best to Princess Luna as well

Your faithful student,
Twilight Sparkle

Don’t forget to tell her not to smite me.

She isn’t going to smite you, Cheerilee, I already told you that.

But you aren’t the princess, are you, Twilight?

Of course not but-- Spike, you didn’t write that down, did you?

Erm, no...?

Good.

P.S.  Hi, Princess, it’s Spike.  Twilight seems really happy, but I’m kind of worried about everypony else.  She really likes Cheerilee, but what about the others, her parents, or even you?  She acts strong, and she is, but I know she can be really fragile sometimes.  You know she doesn’t take disappointment or fighting well, and I’m worried something will happen and upset her.  I’m pretty sure Fluttershy and Rarity already know, and they don’t care aside that Twilight’s happy, but... I guess I just don’t want to see her hurt.  Could you maybe write me back with some ideas or something?  I just don’t know how to handle this if something goes wrong.  Thanks, Princess ~ Spike