//------------------------------// // Romance // Story: Fear Me, for My Name is Twaith! // by Michael Hudson //------------------------------// Twilight and Rarity stepped back from the ponyquin. Adorning it was a plain, silver and purple gown, with a reserved crown on top. The gems were of a rough cut, and barely glinted in the light of the boutique. The whole thing would be easily still be considered a masterpiece, even with these supposed ‘flaws’, especially since parts of the Hearthswarming play were stitched into the fabric, only able to be seen through close inspection, and otherwise did not interrupt the fluid transitions between purple and silver. Rarity nodded, stretching herself out as she did. “Thank you Twilight. I probably have a few more stitches, but this is fabulous. A true blend of modern couture, and a time period that most ponies would be fooled for Platinum’s own. I know Sunset might nitpick about it when she wears it, about how you had to come after her, but seeing as you are the farthest we can date back for any help with culture and fashion, this will just have to do.” Twilight nodded, faking a yawn so as to make Rarity not feel bad for being tired, just in case. The dress did look amazing, but she was worried about how much she had actually been able to help, as she only ever had seen her mother’s dresses, and had assumed they were with her times when it came to fashion. No matter what, the gown was finished, and now she could go read. The wraith slowly drifted to one of the shelves in the boutique, spotting small novels within it. She slid one out, and began to read the back. It was apparently a tale about a social outcast girl, who was about to find out that the boy she liked held a dark, and sinister secret. Turning it over again, she noted that the book’s title was her own name, and giggled at it. If it were truly about her, it would be Shining who found out about her dark secret. One last thing about the book caught her eye though, and that was, A romance by Steponay Neighers. Twilight raised an eyebrow, and turned towards Rarity. “Rarity, is romance a new genre, or should I know about it?” Rarity froze for a moment, and for a moment, just thought. She had wondered how oblivious the cute mare could be, having not noticed her sly compliments throughout the afternoon while they had worked, but this… this made the answer horrifyingly clear. Rarity swallowed hard, turning to look at Twilight. “What do you mean, darling?” Twilight put the book besides Rarity, and tilted her head. “I always knew that stories may have romantic elements, and that some fairy tales were about love as a theme, but for a whole book to call itself a romance…” She opened it again, frowning more as she noted the recent publishing date. “Is this some sort of new age fairy tale? Without the interesting bits like vampires and werewolves?” Rarity picked up the book for a moment, before throwing it behind her, causing it to slam into one of her waste bins. “More like a nightmare that I only kept around for the teen fillies who would only shut up by reading it. However,” Rarity paused, taking a deep breath as she shut her eyes, “romance is indeed a genre, and oh, what a blessed genre it can be.” Twilight blink a few more times, before glancing at the door, and wondering just what it was she may have caused. Still, her literary curiosity had to be sated, so she raised an eyebrow, and Rarity lunged forward. Twaith would have been grabbed and twirled with her if she had been tangible, but instead, Rarity spun in the middle of the boutique by herself. “Romance is not as the fairy tales would have you believe. Romance is the chemistry between two ponies, who don’t know the ride they’re in for. Whether with true love, love at first sight, or,” Rarity stopped herself, stretching out over one of ponyquins, before running a hoof along its chin, “unrequited love, romance covers these wondrous tales. It shows how these two lucky souls get together, what trials they may face to stay together, and, if written well, makes the reader wish they themselves could have been a part of the couple.” Twilight swallowed hard, a blush coming over her face from the provocative pose Rarity had entered for the last part of her speech, but then bit into her cheek. “And when it’s written poorly?” The white mare’s eyes narrowed. “Then you wish they would go out like Romeo and his fair Juliet, but with about five more gallons of gasoline.” She pushed off from the ponyquin, and back onto her hooves, before she shook herself out. “Hmm, how about instead of an explanation, an example?” Twilight’s eyes widened. “Are you a writer? I would definitely like to take a look at your work!” A small laugh escaped Rarity before she waved away the question. “Do not be silly darling. I’m far too busy to deal with putting my fantasies to paper. However,” She turned dramatically, once more trying to grab Twilight’s face, but coming back with nothing. A sigh escaped her muzzle as she shook her head. “I have been told I am a good story teller.” Twilight lowered herself, pretending to lay down, while her eyes shone at Rarity. For a moment, the same question crossed the fashion mare’s mind as it had so many times before. If Twilight could wear something else, could all this cuteness become absolute beauty? She channeled this thought, and turned away. “It is a late, cold night in the castle. The mistress of it walks through the halls, her heart aching for some sort of companionship. Any sort of companionship, as long as it fills the cold air with something other than bitter misery. She has been alone for too long, and even when she has time to mingle, the stallions she speaks to all seem like fools. Love is but a distant star to her, just like any that shine in the sky above.” Rarity raised a hoof, staring to the sky. “But wait, what is there amongst those gleaming dots? Why, it is a creature, clad in darkness, descending down from the heavens. She raises her defenses, afraid of the intruder, but intrigued as well, for by no means does it seem to have hidden its arrival. When it lands, tis not a stallion, but a mare, beautiful as the night, with large, glowing, gre-gray eyes!” Rarity glanced back to Twilight, her face aflame as she realized what she had almost done. The other mare only tilted her head, allowing Rarity the ability to breathe again. “The two begin to speak, the demon being from another time, another culture. The connection is there though. Between the sophisticated, and the innocent, but intelligent. Their hearts beat at each others time as they come closer. Even while so dangerous, this may just be what the queen so desperately needed.” Twilight floated upwards, her smile growing as her cloak billows from the excitement within her essence. “But soon the demon must go, off to torment other towns, as she has no desire to destroy the mistress’s. She does promise that she will find her beloved one day though, and that she must not give up hope.” Rarity’s eyes snapped open, her whole being shaking before she shot over to Twilight, putting her face mere centimeters from Twilight’s. “No! That is what we call shipteasing; when you take two characters who obviously could have chemistry, have them act like they like each other, but then they never act on it. It is the absolute worst form of romance!” Twilight stopped, taking in Rarity’s words, and her breath. The dark blue eyes were so close, and reflected one of the lights around them, giving them a shining sparkle besides the pupils. They were truly a beauty to behold. Rarity herself noticed the softening of the other mare’s face, and started to lean in closer. Maybe if she were bold, the wraith would understand that she was attracted to her? Or at least understand how to be a bit less oblivious. Rarity promptly slammed her face into the ground as she lost her balance, and met nothing. Twilight jumped into the air, her hooves drawn up to her chest. “You know Rarity, you really need to learn that us spirits are incorporeal. It’ll help you not get hurt like that.” Rarity’s eye twitched, before a muffled scream escaped her lungs. “Damnit!”