“Oh my...” Rarity gasped as she looked up at the large manor. “This is where you live?”
“Um, y-yeah,” Twilight replied, embarrassed by Rarity's reaction, “but it's not that big, is it?”
“Twilight, this place is only a step down from a mansion!” Rarity exclaimed before she squealed. “I feel as if I'm under-dressed.”
“No, no, you're fine. I only invited you over for dinner. We can just grab whatever the chef made and bring it up to my room,” Twilight explained.
“What about your family?” Rarity asked.
“My brother's still at Crystal prep and my parents won't be home until later.”
“I see. Do they know about, well, about you?” Rarity questioned cautiously.
Twilight turned her gaze to her feet as they got closer to the front door. “No. I don't think anything bad would happen if I did tell them, but I'm still nervous. What would they think of me? Would it become awkward around the house?”
“Perfectly understandable,” Rarity put a hand on her friends shoulder. “I already told, you don't need to come out in some grand fashion. We'll take it step by step and only when you're ready. I just hope you know you don't have to do it alone now.”
Twilight looked up and smiled as they entered.
“Oh, it's even more lavish on the inside,” Rarity squealed.
A nearby maid looked over to Rarity weirdly, causing the pale girl to blush. The girls went to the kitchen, where Twilight's family chef cooked and served them some roast beef and vegetables. They then climbed a large flight of stairs and traveled down a hallway until they reached the door to Twilight's room. Twilight opened it to reveal a moderately sized room with purple wallpaper and a lighter purple carpet. Rarity saw that Twilight had a queen sized bed and a dresser as well as two desks, each with a chair placed in front of them. One was covered in beakers, tubes and other scientific equipment. The other had a computer and a small stack of papers.
“Normally I'd just get some dinner, then come up here to eat and do homework. This is the first time I've had a friend over,” Twilight giggled lightly. “We can eat on the bed.”
“Well I'm honored to be the first to come visit,” Rarity stated happily before her smile turned into a mischievous smirk. “Perhaps you'll get Trixie in here some day.”
Twilight nearly tripped as she walked over to the bed. “O-oh, um, well, maybe. O-or next time, we can invite the rest of our friends.”
“Nice try, but you're not avoiding this. We're alone now so I want you to start spilling,” Rarity daintily sat on the bed and gave an expecting look.
Twilight's blush deepened as she picked at her meal. “I really don't know what to say. I don't even know how to describe it.”
“What do you find attractive about her?” Rarity pressed.
“Well, she is pretty. Really, really pretty,” Twilight commented as she tried to suppress a goofy grin, “but what I think I really like about her is her confidence. I always shy away from the spotlight and freeze when people watch me, but she's completely different. She all but demands others attention. It looks like she craves it. And all I wanted to do was pay all of mine to her.”
Rarity giggled. “I would certainly call that a crush. You should try talking to her.”
“What!?” Twilight almost shrieked. “I can't do that! She's probably straight anyways...”
“Well you won't know until you try. What's the worst thing that could happen?”
“She's repulsed by my feelings and never wants to see me again,” Twilight whimpered.
“Then she wasn't the one. However, knowing Trixie, she would probably be happy to have your adoration, even if she doesn't reciprocate the feeling,” Rarity stated.
Twilight put her index fingers together and meekly looked Rarity in the eyes. “But what would the other students at CHS think? I don't want to be a weird outcast again.”
“Darling, you're not the first homosexual to walk those halls,” Rarity laughed as Twilight scrunched up her face.
“Really? There are others there? Who?”
“Well, for starters, there's Lyra and Bonbon,” Rarity started to explain.
“Is one of them gay?” Twilight asked. “Well, they are really good friends. I guess something like that wouldn't come between them.”
“Twilight, dear, think about it,” Rarity chuckled.
Twilight focused for almost half a minute when suddenly she had a revelation. “Oh. OH! Ohhh. That makes a lot of sense. They are always so close to each other.”
“You see, there's nothing to worry about. And besides, the other girls and I will always be your friends,” Rarity slung an arm around her purple friend.
Twilight smiled. “Thanks. You know, I think I want to tell the others tomorrow.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. I want to go to the sleepover, but I want them to know about me if I do,” Twilight affirmed her decision.
“Aright then! I'll be behind you for support if you need it.”
“Thanks Rarity. You've been a lot of help.”
“Of course dear. That's what friends are for. Unfortunately, it is getting late and it is a fairly long bus ride home, so I must say farewell,” Rarity sighed.
“Right, I also have homework to do. I'll walk you to the door.”
The girls left the room and started down the hall, but stopped when a tall grey skinned woman with purple and white hair wearing a suit stepped out of another room in front of them.
“Oh,” the woman exclaimed, “hello, um...”
“Hi mom. This is Rarity. She came over for dinner,” Twilight explained.
“You had someone over for dinner? Is this one of your new friends?” Twilight's mother asked, now smiling warmly.
“Yes. I hope that was alright.”
“Of course it is. Where are all of your other friends though? I would have loved to meet them,” Twilight's mother asked.
“Only Rarity came,” Twilight answered, trying to move past her mother, “but she has to leave now.”
“It was nice to meet you, Mrs Sparkle,” Rarity called as she left.
“Oh, you can call me Velvet,” Velvet replied.
Velvet saw her daughter hug her friend quite tightly before coming back.
“So it was just the two of you up there? Alone? I thought you made a few new friends” Velvet asked.
“I did. It's just that there was something Rarity and I wanted to talk about. I know it's weird. I never had friends to bring over before. I'm having a ton of new experiences lately,” Twilight giggled as she passed her mom and ran up the stairs.
Velvet raised and eyebrow as she watched her daughter. “Alone with her female friend having new experiences in her bedroom... What am I doing? I shouldn't jump to conclusions.”
Velvet laughed to herself as she continued to her room, but stopped again to think. “And yet?”
The next day rolled around for Twilight, who walked through the school doors with a little more trepidation. She convinced herself to confess to her friends the previous night, but as the time drew closer, her nerve began to waver. She sat down next to Rarity, who was eager to see her.
“Good morning Twilight! I sent texts to the others asking them if they would like to have lunch out in the field today. It'll give us some privacy and if you feel as if you can't go through with it, I'll just tell them I wanted a change of scenery,” Rarity smiled.
“OK, I think I can do it. Thanks again Rarity. I owe you,” Twilight smiled back.
“I just hope you come to me if you need any dresses for your future dates,” Rarity offered with a wink.
Twilight blushed. “Sure.”
The class ended and the girls parted ways with Rarity wishing Twilight luck on her most dreaded class. Even though gym proved much more difficult than her other classes, Twilight was thankful that it did take her mind off of what she planned to do at lunch. However, it had to come to an end and Twilight found herself leaving the locker room and heading to her locker to get her lunch. The purple skinned girl was so focused on how she was going to word her confession that she didn't pay attention to her course and inevitably collided with another student. Stumbling, Twilight looked to apologize when she froze on the spot.
“Who dares to bump into Trixie?” Trixie growled, staring down Twilight.
“Um...” Twilight stared back, a deer caught in the headlights.
“Wait, Twilight Sparkle? You look different. Or are you that new Twilight I've been hearing about?”
“Um...” Twilight desperately pleaded for her brain to start working properly.
“I guess that means you're the new one. Well, aren't you going to apologize for walking into me?” Trixie's eyes narrowed as she placed her hands on her hips.
“I...” Twilight could feel every bead of sweat on her face.
“Of course not. This is probably Trixie's fault as well. It always is” Trixie scowled as she pushed passed Twilight. “Doesn't matter if some magical creature is controlling her mind or not.”
Twilight blinked several times before she could talk again. “You have pretty eyes...”
Bulk Biceps, who was just walking by where Trixie was standing, blushed. “Thanks.”
Twilight blushed as well before rushing out to the field where her friends were waiting.
“Twilight! Over here!” Rainbow waved while Pinkie held a big sign with an arrow pointing at her.
“Hey guys,” Twilight greeted as she sat down with them.
“Great day for an outdoor lunch, huh?” Sunset commented. “Good idea Rarity.”
Twilight took a deep breath and looked around. “Actually, Rarity asked you guys to come out here so that I could tell you all something.”
She got an encouraging nod from Rarity and curious looks from her other friends.
“You see, I lied about my Aunts coming on Friday. I don't have any plans at all,” Twilight started.
“What!” Pinkie Cried. “But why would you lie? Don't you want to come and have fun with us?”
“I do, really!” Twilight quickly added. “There is one reason why I lied...”
“Which is...” Applejack pressed.
“I, um,” Twilight suddenly was at a loss for words.
“Is something wrong?” Fluttershy was the first to get concerned.
Twilight almost began to panic, tears forming in her eyes, when she remembered all the things Rarity told her yesterday. Surprising herself, Twilight managed to calm down.
“The reason why I lied to get out of the sleepover was because... I like girls.”
“What does that mean?” Rainbow asked.
“Like Lyra and Bonbon like each other,” Rarity added.
The others collectively said “ohhh”, save for Sunset, who burst out laughing.
“What's so funny?” Rarity asked, a little disturbed by Sunset's reaction.
“Sorry,” Sunset choked out as she laughed, “I sometimes forget how sensitive humans can be when it comes to sexuality.”
“Ah take it that Equestria is more tolerant on the subject,” Applejack questioned.
“Tolerant? There's nothing to tolerate back home. You love who you love and no one even questions it,” Sunset explained as she calmed down.
“Well it's the same with us Twi,” Rainbow claimed.
“Really, you still want me to come to the sleepover?” Twilight asked hopefully.
“Well that depends,” Pinkie started as she moved next to Twilight. “Are you some closet nymphomaniac with a bunch of weird kinks?”
“No!” Twilight shouted as her face turned red.
Pinkie frowned. “That's disappointing, but you're still invited.”
“It doesn't matter who you like Twilight, we're still friends,” Fluttershy piped up.
Twilight could feel tears in her eyes again. However, this time they were powered by joy.
“That's fine an all, but are you attracted to one of us?” Applejack asked. “Ah mean, that's okay, but is that why you didn't want to come?”
Twilight flushed and stuttered. “N-no, I don't like any of you! I m-mean in that way. B-but I still want to be friends, not that you're not beautiful, but, um, I mean-”
It was then that Rarity decided to save her friend. “Twilight and I talked yesterday and I can confirm that she is not attracted to any of us.”
Twilight sighed with relief until Rarity sang out her next statement.
“Because she has a crush on someone else!”
Twilight could only gawk at the friend who betrayed her.
“Oh, don't give me that look, darling,” Rarity giggled, “you know I had to. I did wait until you came out.”
Twilight turned away from Rarity to see her friends giving her similar smirks.
“So who's the lucky girl?” Sunset leaned in close to Twilight.
Twilight blushed as she tried to scoot away, keeping her mouth shut.
“Maybe Rarity will tell us,” Rainbow offered, looking over to the ivory girl.
“I'm not that cruel,” Rarity snickered. “She didn't even tell me. I simply put it together.”
“Is it someone we know?” Pinkie asked, to which Twilight squeaked.
“Ah think that noise means yes,” Applejack stated.
“Does she go to CHS?” Rainbow asked.
Twilight squeaked.
“Is she in our year?” Applejack continued the inquisition.
Twilight squeaked again.
“Oh! Is it Roseluck?” Pinkie guessed.
“No reaction. Berry punch?” Rainbow pressed.
“Carrot Top?”
“Colgate?”
“Photo Finish?”
“Octavia?”
“Could it be Trixie?” Sunset tried as her first guess.
Twilight tried to will herself to be quiet, but a small squeak escaped.
“Really? Trixie?” Rainbow gawked. “Why her?”
“Now, now Rainbow Dash,” Rarity interrupted, “we don't judge her on her feelings. We can endlessly tease her, but we won't judge.”
Twilight groaned as she covered her face.
“Trixie, wow. I was just throwing out a name. Didn't see that one coming,” Sunset thought out loud. “We don't exactly have the best history with her.”
“But Twilight doesn't have any history with her. You should totally ask her out!” Pinkie suggested.
Twilight shook her head while still hiding her face. "I wouldn't even know what to say."
"Then we'll help! I totally think you guys would be super cute together!" Pinkie announced.
"Help?" Twilight asked.
"Sure. We've ain't to foreign to the concept of flirting," Applejack replied, "We'll gladly help ya."
Twilight was touched by her friends willingness to aid her, but couldn't shake the feeling that this wasn't going to end well.