Twilight took another sip of her chamomile tea as she glanced between Fluttershy and Rarity. The fashionista was excitedly discussing her plans for the upcoming Hearts and Hooves Day Gala to be hosted by the Crystal Empire. Cadance had sent her and all of her friends invitations.
“Oh, and our dresses need to be just perfect. There can only ever be one ‘first’ of any particular gala, so we simply must make a smashing impression. It was so fabulous of your sister-in-law to send us all invitations,” gushed Rarity.
Twilight smiled. “I’m sure whatever you come up with for us will be fine.”
“You really don’t need to go through so much trouble for us. We don’t want to be a bother,” added Fluttershy.
“Oh, but if our dresses aren’t absolutely just right, how are we ever supposed to grab the perfect stallions?”
Twilight felt a slight blush on her face and her wings fluttered a bit in anticipation. “I suppose…” And then she added, “But I don’t want some colt who is judging me just based on my looks.”
Rarity looked at her a moment with her jaw low before her eyes lit up. “Why dear, do you actually plan on getting into the spirit of this event? You had me convinced that the Princess of Friendship had no interest in romance.”
“Well,” Twilight circled her hoof on the table around her teacup, “last year I could not have cared less about Hearts and Hooves day. But Princess Celestia sent me a letter about personal relationships and it got me thinking. When I first came to Ponyville I could not have cared less about having friends. I was happy, but… Well my life is just so much more full now, and whenever I see Shining Armor and Cadance they are just so, so bright.”
“You need say no more Twilight, I understand completely.” Rarity nodded.
“You do?”
“Certainly. You are happy now, but wonder if having a special somepony might not be like having friends. Maybe finding Mr. Right will add something special to your life that you wouldn’t even know was missing until you found it.” Rarity responded.
“That’s it exactly. If the magic of love is even a tenth that of the magic of friendship, then it is worth investigating. I owe it to myself to at least try looking for somepony.”
“Oh, it is! Much more than a tenth.” Fluttershy’s words trailed off as her friends turned to look at her.
“Dear, is there something you have to tell us?”
Fluttershy shook her head, ducking beneath the table. Twilight tried to give a reassuring smile to her friend. “It’s OK, Fluttershy. You don’t have to tell us right now.”
Fluttershy slowly crept out from under the table, whispering, “maybe, maybe later.”
“Whenever you’re ready darling.” Rarity paused looking at Twilight. “So what characteristics are you looking for in a stallion? That is something you should think about before the gala you know.”
“Oh, well, it's not like I’ve made multiple checklists or anything,” Twilight chuckled nervously. “I’m not entirely certain; you know the concept is kinda new to me. I don’t really want to cross off possibilities. I see lots of ponies together who I would never expect to work out, and I mean, look at all of my friends.”
“What about us?” Asked Rarity.
“Just that, back when I lived in Canterlot I never would have believed I would eventually become friends with ponies like you - no offense. I mean-”
“Twilight darling, you fret too much. I understand what you mean. If you had made a checklist back then of what you would look for in a friend, I doubt the list would have looked much like us, no?”
Twilight nodded meekly.
“Still, Twilight. It’s good of you to be open, but just for my own curiosity, what would be on such a list?”
“He… or maybe she… I’ll be honest I haven’t really thought about it enough to know-”
“You don’t know? Darling, how can you not know something like that?”
Twilight helplessly shrugged her withers. “Does that make me weird?”
Rarity gave a polite cough. “Perhaps a bit unusual.”
“I think it’s just fine,” added Fluttershy.
Twilight looked between her friends, unable to quite smile. “I’m not really good with… well, being in touch with myself in general, and all of this is just even more confusing. Basically, for most of my life you could have describe me as asexual.”
“Yes, but surely you… ah, what’s the polite way to say it? Fantasize?”
Twilight shook her head. “Not really. Maybe I’ve always just been too busy for a libido. My lessons with the Princess pretty well occupied most of my time back in Canterlot. Once I came to Ponyville I would basically fall into bed exhausted every night from trying to juggle my studies on friendship while keeping up with my other subjects. Now I’ve got learning to be a Princess to juggle on top of all that. Do,” Twilight hesitated. “Do you think there is something wrong with me?”
“I think you are fine the way you are Twilight. Don’t you agree Rarity?” Fluttershy’s voice took a surprisingly firm tone with her last words causing all ponies present, Fluttershy included, to blink.
“Ahh yes. Forgive me for my indiscretion. Fluttershy is right.”
“No, it’s OK.” Twilight reassured.
“Maybe you could describe your list, if you don’t mind that is.” Fluttershy’s curiosity was more evident in her voice than her shyness at the moment.
“Well he or she should be smart.” Twilight’s hoof began making checking motions in the air as she went. “They should like books and reading. Not just fiction or non-fiction. Preferably all genres. Ideally they would be good with magic or at least magical theory so that we could have discussions about it. Maybe… maybe a pegasus?”
“A pegasus? One good at magic?” Scoffed Rarity.
“Well…” Twilight blushed. “I mean, since I’ve started getting the hang of it, I like flying and it would be fun to do that with my special somepony. They don’t necessarily need to be good at magic, they just need to understand it. I’ve never met any pegasi magical theorist. But, Nimbolus Trotsla invented magical field theory and was a pegasus. So, I mean… they exist.”
“Very well, go on.”
“I guess I would want them to be calm. I’m kinda excitable and would need a pony to balance that. They have to be kind, of course, and understand the value of friendship. Oh, and they should also have a sense of humor because I can be too serious at times. That’s it. Well, it would be nice if they are good looking.”
“My that is quite a list. I think it is a good thing that you are keeping yourself open.”
Twilight blushed.
“I’m sure Twilight will find somepony.” Fluttershy smiled at her and Twilight felt a warm confidence in the words.
“Our dear Fluttershy is certainly right. Ordinarily, I would be ill inclined to attend a Hearts and Hooves Day event designed to match together lonely ponies, but if anypony can do this right it is Princess Cadance.”
“Match ponies up?”
“Didn’t you read the invitation darling.” Rarity pulled a piece of paper from her saddlebag in a blue telekinetic aura and began reading. “You are warmly and cordially invited to The Crystal Empire’s First Annual Hearts and Hoof Day Royal Gala hosted by Prince Shining Armor and Princess Mi Amore Cadenza. Open by special invitation only, you are sure to meet the pony of your dreams.”
“Huh, that’s not what mine says.” Twilight said with confusion.
“Really, do you have it with you?”
Twilight nodded and pulled her own letter from her saddlebag before reading out loud. “‘You and your special somepony are warmly and cordially invited to The Crystal Empire’s First Annual Hearts and Hoof Day Royal Gala hosted by Prince Shining Armor and Princess Mi Amore Cadenza. Spend a lovely evening with the pony that you love and watch others find their heart’s gem as the evening goes on.’ I figured it was just a standard invite written to apply both to ponies with or without dates. I wonder why mine is different.”
“That’s,” Fluttershy trailed off for a moment before working up the courage to continue. ”That’s the letter written for ponies who already have special someponies.”
“Twilight! How could you keep something like this from us? And after everything we have been talking about.”
Twilight, face as red as a tomato, threw her hooves in the air. “I don’t have a special somepony! And you!” She pointed a hoof at Fluttershy who ‘eeped’ in response. “How do you know that’s why my letter is different?”
“Last - last time Cadance visited Ponyville she showed me the letters. She said she wanted my opinion on the calligraphy and that I would have ‘gentle tastes.’ Also…” Fluttershy hid behind her mane. “I might have gotten one too.”
“Now darling, I’m afraid you simply must tell us who this special somepony is? No putting it off any longer. You can trust us dear.”
Fluttershy whispered some words too quiet for either of her friends to hear. They both leaned forward when she repeated them at a barely audible level. “Discord and I have been dating for a few weeks.”
Rarity leaned back with a smile on her face. “I thought that might be the case.”
Twilight just gave her friend a hug. “I’m happy for you.”
“You two aren’t upset or anything.”
“No,” Twilight answered. ”I really think Discord has made a legitimate effort to change. And even though it was sort of his fault, we wouldn’t have been able to defeat Tirek without his help.”
Rarity nodded in confirmation. “And while I have a dozen and one questions I’m simply dying to know, I think the biggest one right now is why our Twilight received a letter designed for ponies already in a relationship.”
Twilight shook her head. “I really don’t know why.”
“And you are sure you don’t have confessions of your own to make?” Asked Rarity while leaning forward.
“No!” Twilight snapped. “It must be some sort of mistake, but it’s not like it really matters.”
“I’m sorry, but actually it does matter.” Fluttershy whispered.
“Why ever would that be?” asked Rarity.
“The second page of my invitation had my seating assignment for the dinner. Cadence is doing assigned seating and Discord and I are together. If Cadance didn’t just send you the wrong letter, she could have you sitting next to the wrong pony.”
“Second page? I don’t have a second page.”
“Just check the envelop again, dear.”
“I already threw the envelope out! What am I going to do?”
“Calm down Twilight.” Rarity began making hoof motions in an attempt to get Twilight to engage in the relaxation technique. “All you need to do is send Cadance a letter to clear this little mixup up.”
Twilight groaned. “That’s great. Except there isn’t really enough time to send a letter by pegasus post.” After a sigh she continued. “I guess I can ask Princess Celestia to send one over dragon fire.” And then in a grumble she added, “I really wish she would teach me that spell.”
“Dear, you’re going to Canterlot this afternoon aren’t you? For one of your magic lessons, right?”
“You’re going to Canterlot for magic lessons?” asked Fluttershy.
Twilight perked up and looked at Fluttershy as she answered both questions. “That’s right, I nearly forgot. I guess you missed it when you were out of town, Fluttershy. I realized I was missing my old inpony lessons with the Princess, and so we are trying to meet up every week or so. She's trying to teach me long range teleportation to make it easier for me to pop in and out of Canterlot. Then we could make our lessons a more regular thing and maybe even start having afternoon tea like we used to. So I can just ask her to send a message to Cadance when I see her tomorrow rather than bother her with a letter.”
“How is the long range teleportation coming along anyway? I’m not sure if I have heard of many unicorns who can manage such a thing?”
Twilight began to ramble about magical theory, the earlier conversation temporarily forgotten.
+++
As Twilight walked through the palace gardens she quickened her pace at the sight of her mentor. When she reached Princess Celestia, the larger alicorn leaned down twisting her neck around Twilight’s in a hug and a warm wing came resting down over her back.
They stood like that just long enough for Twilight to wonder when they were going to pull apart before Princess Celestia stepped out of the hug.
“Twilight, it’s so good to see you again. Are you excited for the gala this weekend?”
Twilight pulled out the invitation that had been bothering her. “Actually, I was wondering if you could help me out with that.”
“Oh? Do you think we should coordinate?”
“Coordinate what?”
“Why, our dresses of course. I know Rarity is custom making you something, but I am sure I can find some old thing that will match. I’ve accumulated quite a fashion collection over the years, you know.”
“Why would-” Twilight shook her head. She wanted to give Cadance as much time as possible to fix the table arrangements if it was necessary. Send her letter first, ask questions later. “Actually, I just wanted to know if you could send this letter to Cadance over dragonfire. She accidently sent me an invite for ponies in a relationship rather than the one for single ponies.”
“You mean the otherway around. She sent you the invite for single ponies.”
“No… I’m not in a relationship.”
Twilight was not sure what happened, but she was certain that it was unlike anything she had ever seen before. Princess Celestia’s smile vanished and was replaced with a quivering lip. Her wide eyes began to glisten.
“Are-” It almost sounded like Princess Celestia choked back a sob. “Are you breaking up with me?”
Twilight’s face twisted in confusion. “What are you talking about?”
“I knew a long distance relationship was a bad idea.”
“What are you talking about?”
“But noooo, I just had to send you to Ponyville-” Celestia began to pace back and forth.
“Princess Celestia!” Twilight slammed a hoof over her mouth in embarrassment.
“Yes, Twilight?” Princess Celestia was definitely sniffling. Twilight had never seen her sniffle.
“I don’t understand what you are talking about.” And as Twilight was speaking she saw a glimmer of hope appear in her mentor’s eyes.
“Maybe, maybe I jumped to the wrong conclusion. I just assumed when you said that… I mean, do you still want to be my marefriend? Are you not breaking up with me?”
“Since when have I ever been your marefriend?” Twilight saw the hope shatter.
“Since when?” Celestia shouted. “How could you ask me something like that?”
Twilight nervously glanced at the palace staff that was watching them, hidden behind hedges. She had not expected to be involved in, what was apparently a breakup and a very public one at that.
“I just don’t understand how we could be marefriends.”
“I thought we had been in relationship since you were my plus one to the Grand Galloping Gala.”
“I was your plus one?” Twilight was confused.
“What about the jewelry I gave you?"
“What jewelry?”
“The Elements of Harmony! I gave them to you to keep. How could you forget them?”
“I thought they were a weapon, not a gift!” Now Twilight was shouting as well.
“Can’t they be both? I was a bit hurt that I only saw you wearing them when some disaster was happening, but you still wore them. What about all the nuzzles? All the nuzzles, Twilight! I even sang to you. I never sing for other ponies. I arranged that song and flight routine with Cadance and Luna to cheer you up.”
“You arranged that?”
“Of course I arranged that! Do you know how much practice we put into that. Musical numbers like that don’t just spontaneously happen.”
“Princess, special someponies go on dates.”
“We go on dates all the time. Walks through the garden, drinking tea on the balcony. Last week when you visited we curled up together by the fireplace reading.”
Twilight blushed as the events were cast in a new light.
“Princess, I just don’t-”
“No!” The Princess spun around looking in all directions. “Luna, if this is another one of your pranks, you’ve gone too far. This is cruel even by your standards, and Twilight! How could you play along?”
“A prank?” Twilight wondered if this might not all be some sort of prank Celestia was pulling.
“Yes, I know it’s a prank. It has to be. We’re in love.”
“I don’t-”
“We’ve even talked about marriage.”
“Mariage!” Twilight nearly choked. “When did we ever talk about getting married?”
“At Cadance and your brother’s wedding. I told you that you 'had a lot to think about!' I’ve been expecting a proposal for months now. I mean… Sure I only worked up the nerve to kiss you a few weeks ago-”
Twilight wanted to express incredulity at the comment that she had been convinced was a reprimand, but instead her thoughts kept going back to the peck on the cheek she had received. At the time she thought it strange, but there had been many foreign dignitaries from Saddle Arabia in the palace and she had chalked it up to Celestia trying to follow their customs.
“-I even made you a pony princess so there wouldn’t be any weird power dynamics between us. Luna visited you to make sure she approved of our relationship.”
“Wait?” Twilight’s eyes widened as she processed the rant. “That’s why you made me an alicorn?”
“Oh Tia, you always do this. You come on too strong and drive them away.” Celestia was pacing back and forth. “This is just like that dragon lord. I tried to kiss him after we had only been dating for two hundred years.”
“I don’t think coming on too strong is your problem.”
“What?”
“Nothing.” Twilight muttered.
“So… We aren’t marefriends… We were never in a relationship.”
“Not, as I understand the words, no.” Twilight rubbed the back of her head.
Celestia’s rump plopped to the ground with a loud thump as the pony entered into a staring contest with her own hooves. The silence stretched between the two ponies until it grew decidedly uncomfortable. Twilight thought of her interactions with Celestia looking at them under the light of this revelation.
And to her surprise, she did not hate it. Instead she felt a strange warmth in the pit of her stomach.
“But you know,” Twilight ventured. “We could try going out on a date.”