//------------------------------//
// Seventh 
// Story: A Game of Hearts 
// by AugieDog 
//------------------------------//

"Huppity-hippety-hoo!" Pinkie said, the blanket shivering around her. "What happened then?"

Under her own blanket, Twilight sipped her cocoa; the fire Spike had breathed into the library fireplace was making her almost feel like her regular self again. "Mac brought me back here, and once the storm got squeezed down to a regular rainshower, the rest of you came in to dry off and warm up." She smiled around the cozy room at all her friends—Applejack, Fluttershy, and Pinkie on the other side of the hearthrug, Spike and Rarity beside Twilight on this side, and stretched out facing the fireplace, Big McIntosh grinning from ear to ear at Rainbow Dash tucked into a blanket and lying on her back against his side, her mane still damp enough to look more like a helmet than anything else.

"Yep, yep, yep," Rainbow said, nestling her shoulders deeper into Mac. "Those Everfree storms are a piece of cake if you've got, y'know, the right motivation." She turned her head, her eyes closed, touched her nose to his shoulder, and inhaled deeply. "And that right there? The smell of hot, wet stallion?" Her eyes came partway open, and the predatory expression on her face when she met Mac's grin made Twilight blush. "That's about as much motivation as I can stand."

"Smell?" Mac drew himself up and tried to look dignified. "Just so happens I had a bath last Saturday."

"Hmmm." Rainbow scrunched up her face. "Well, once a week should be okay. But only if you insist." She blinked then, and Twilight thought maybe her eyes were a little shiny when she turned. "And Rares? I...I'm sorry. Really. The way I was acting back at your place, I think it musta been the weird pressure changes before the storm hit that made me so goofy."

"Of course, darling." A cat full of cream wouldn't have looked as content as Rarity, her mane wrapped in a towel. "I'm well acquainted with the pressures you're referring to." She chuckled. "And I'm ever so glad that you've found what you need to relieve them."

Again, McIntosh somehow managed to blush, and Applejack, her hat sitting on its own towel between her and the fireplace, blew a noisy breath through her lips. "Land's sake, Rarity! That's my brother you're talking about!"

Rainbow laughed and took another big whiff. "You better believe it is."

Pinkie whooped, and even Fluttershy gave a giggle. "Oh, my," she said, her eyes wide and dreamy and focused on Rainbow and Mac. "It's so wonderful that everything worked out happily in the end." She nodded to the library window, rain still spattering against it. "The storm did very little damage around town, and Rainbow found her special somepony." Her glance strayed in Applejack's direction, and since Applejack was looking at her, their gazes met with a click Twilight was certain she could hear.

They both looked away, but Rainbow’s laugh pulled Twilight's attention back to her. "That's right!" Rainbow batted her eyelashes at Big McIntosh. "'Cause a certain pointy, purple bird told me earlier that you're in love with me." She said the word 'love' with something almost like a sneer in her voice, and that set Twilight to blinking. After everything they'd gone through the past two days, was Rainbow now making fun of love?

Expecting another touch of that impossible blush to brighten Mac's cheek, Twilight instead could only blink some more when Mac half closed his eyes and cocked his head. "I reckon, Ms. Dash, that I oughtta give you a chance to convince me on that account. Just to be fair and all."

"Fair, huh?" Rainbow stretched herself suddenly, her front hooves taking each side of Mac's face and pulling his head down so their lips met. And for all that Twilight had seen ponies kiss many times before, in the long and timeless instant that followed, the feelings that burst through her were like none she'd ever experienced: happiness and envy and curiosity and a warmth that enveloped her even with the fireplace going.

In the crackling silence, Rainbow pulled back, her and Mac's gazes locked. "So?" she more whispered than said. "Would'ja call that fair? Good? Near mint, maybe?"

The breath that Mac puffed out was so steamy, Twilight could almost see it. "Well, now," he rumbled as deeply as a manticore purring. "That there's a darn compelling case, ma'am."

Twilight knew she shouldn't be leaning forward the way she was to get a better view of this private moment, so she was glad—kind of—when Pinkie Pie let out another whoop. "First smootchies to Rainbow Dash!" She leaped from her blankets and whirled to point a hoof at Rarity. "Which means I win and you owe me a pancake supper!"

Rarity rolled her eyes. "Yes, yes, yes."

"What?" In a way, Twilight was glad that things could still surprise her after all the shocks she'd been having recently. But still, she couldn't help narrowing her eyes. "Did you two have some sort of a wager going on?"

Pinkie seemed to be too busy with the little dance she was doing along the wall under the window, but Rarity sighed. "Some months ago, Pinkie and I got to discussing the possibility of romance amongst the members of our little group. And while I was convinced that you, Twilight, would be the first of our number to kiss a stallion while the rest of us watched, Pinkie insisted it would be Rainbow Dash."

"What?" This time, surprise wasn't a big enough word: Twilight found herself up on all fours, her blankets scattered and her wings fully unfurled. "Me? How could you think—? I mean, I've never even—! I—! It—! They—!" Realizing that she wasn't likely to complete any sentence she might start at this point, Twilight pulled her mouth closed and aimed as much of a glare as she could manage at Rarity.

"Exactly, darling." Rarity's smile made her seem even more worldly-wise than she usually did. "You have a fresh-faced, wide-eyed innocence about you that draws stallions like flies to sugar." She shook her head. "Add to that your matchless magical prowess and the princess cachet, and, well, were you to give even the hint of being interested in such things, you could have suitors lined up from here to the town square, all of them most eager to make your further acquaintance."

The thought of suitors—for her?—froze everything inside Twilight. So she shoved it into that part of her brain where she kept things she needed to think about slowly and carefully. "That's very nice of you to say, Rarity," she said after swallowing nine or ten more sputtering replies. "But I really don't think it's going to be an issue for quite a while."

A shrug rose and fell under Rarity's blankets. "Of course." Her eyes sparkled. "But should you ever find yourself considering the matter, you know you can always discuss it with—"

"Me!" Pinkie slid into the center of the hearthrug on her knees, her front hooves spread. "I totally called it on Rainbow Dash, didn't I? And I've got a pancake supper coming that proves I'm the best at romance! Meddling spinsterhood, here I come!" She waved at the window. "It's not hardly raining at all now, too, so how 'bout we head on over to Timothy Hay's and have him fire up the griddle! Rarity's treat!"

Rarity's jaw fell, but no words came out.

Applejack chuckled. "Oh, now, don't you fret none, Rarity. You pick up Pinkie's tab, and the rest of us'll cover ourselves." She licked her lips. "'Cause I've gotta say, a stack or two of flapjacks'd do me a world of good right about now."

"Yeah!" Rainbow jumped to her hooves. "Fighting a monster storm, and then having pancakes for dinner?" She turned and smacked Big McIntosh in the shoulder. "Best first date ever!"

Mac grinned, stood, leaned down, and touched a kiss to Rainbow's forehead. Rainbow laughed, her wings vibrating like a hummingbird's, and darted to the library door.

"All right!" Spike pumped a fist and moved quickly to where Rarity was shedding her towels and blankets, her hornglow holding them out so he could fold them and set them on the floor.

Applejack trotted past, but a tiny whisper of a sigh tickled Twilight's ear; she glanced back to see Fluttershy looking away and starting to fold her own blankets.

Dash was holding the door open for Mac, the two of them practically glowing with happiness—

And Twilight made her decision. "AJ?" she asked.

"Hmmm?" Applejack stopped and turned. "What's up, sugar cube?"

"It's just—" Once again, Twilight was forced to confront her inability to act nonchalant, but once again, she did her best. "Hey, I bet this'll interest you, too, Fluttershy."

"Oh?" In the doorway, Rarity stopped as well, Pinkie and Spike beside her, Rainbow and Mac in the hallway just beyond them. "Something juicy, Twilight?"

Twilight gave a laugh that sounded pretty natural, she thought. "No, no." She gestured to some papers on her desk. "I just had some thoughts about a few emendations to the 'wildlife assistance' component of the Ponyville Civil Defense Plan. And since AJ and Fluttershy are the section leaders there, I wanted to get their reactions to—"

"Booooooring," Pinkie said, her eyelids drooping.

"Pinkie!" Rarity shot her a glare.

"But pancakes!" Flailing her front hooves, Pinkie fell to her knees. "I can hear 'em calling me!" Her tongue lolled out. "Such...sweet...syrupy...voices!"

Smiling then was as easy a thing as Twilight had done in days. "It's okay," she said. "You all go ahead. This'll just take a minute, then we'll catch up with you."

With various nods, the others disappeared down the hallway toward the front door, but Rarity cocked her head, her eyes narrowing ever so slightly. Twilight pretended not to notice, focusing her attention on stepping steadily toward her desk. "I hope you two don't mind me butting into your areas this way."

"’Course not." Applejack moved up on Twilight's left. "Organizing's what'cha do."

On her right, Fluttershy nodded. "Anything to better help our animal friends."

"Thanks." Taking a breath, Twilight turned, and when she saw that Rarity was gone, she lit her horn to soundlessly push the door closed. "Then AJ?" She pointed at Fluttershy. "Tell her. And Fluttershy?" She pointed to Applejack. "You tell her."

The two of them froze, their wide-eyed expressions almost mirror images of each other. Then they both moved, Fluttershy drawing back so her mane sloshed around to cover her face and Applejack jumping about half a pace away from her. They spoke at the same time, too: "I...I don't know what you mean," Flutttershy muttered as quietly as a falling glass about to hit the floor; and "Hold on now!" from Applejack, her voice higher and tighter than it usually was.

Twilight kept her own voice gentle. "In your cottage yesterday, Fluttershy, I said something about not understanding why a pony wouldn't tell her friends if she was in love. Rainbow Dash looked very uncomfortable at that, and I guess we've seen why now. But the two of you looked just as uncomfortable, and I've been noticing plenty of other little signs that—"

"Don't." The word wavered from Applejack's throat in a way Twilight had never heard from her friend. "'Cause, I mean, yeah, that'd be a dream come true, but—" She sighed so heavily, she seemed to partially deflate, her eyes pulling shut. "Let's face it: a gorgeous, sweet, and wonderful supermodel ain't gonna be interested in some grubby ol' farmer."

The whole room flashed yellow, and Twilight had to jump back as Fluttershy threw herself forward, her arms and wings wrapping around Applejack's neck to press their lips together.

Again, Twilight had no idea how long the kiss went on, but she couldn't help but notice that, when Fluttershy finally fell back onto her haunches to quiver in front of Applejack, all three of them were panting. "Interested," Fluttershy gasped, her front hooves clasped below her chin. "Yes, please. If...if you wouldn't mind, I mean."

Except for her chest pumping, Applejack stood as still as a statue, eyes and mouth wide. "Shwuh?" she asked after a moment.

A sour stink of fear was creeping into the salty scent of Fluttershy's sweat. "When I first came to Ponyville, your family was so much everything mine wasn't, and you're so strong and brave and smart and gentle and good and..." Her voice crumbled, and she covered her eyes. "And now you'll hate me forever because I'm weak and cowardly and stupid and—"

This time, her words cut off when Applejack stepped forward, slipped a hoof into Fluttershy's mane, and gave her a kiss that made Twilight suddenly understand a lot of the things she'd read about kisses in various romance novels. "Oh, darlin'," Applejack murmured, her nose resting against Fluttershy's and her hoof stroking Fluttershy's neck. "Lemme tell you what'cha really are. You're the secret wish of my heart, and holding you's 'bout the only thing I've wanted the last couple years."

"Oh." Fluttershy's eyes shimmered, her hooves shaking as they settled uncertainly as butterflies on Applejack's shoulders. "You— I— Umm, thank you. And please. And...and—" She bent her neck, and their lips touched for the third time.

And again, while Twilight knew that she shouldn't be standing there staring, she also knew that she wasn't about to look away. Because whatever had happened between Rainbow and Mac, whatever was happening right now between Applejack and Fluttershy, as different as their respective situations were, they were both examples of love, romance, pair-bonding, whatever else the books wanted to call it.

Which meant that it was another subject she couldn't learn about by her usual study methods. After all, how would she have found the real meaning of friendship if Celestia had just assigned her to read up on the subject? If she hadn't left Canterlot, hadn't gotten entangled in the lives of the ponies around here, hadn't made mistakes and acted crazy and embarrassed herself by stumbling into more than one hole in the ground, she never would've gotten the feel of friendship, never would've discovered her true self, never could've stepped up all those times that Equestria had needed her.

It was like Cadance kept saying: she had to discover love on her own. "It's as if it's a unitary concept," she heard herself mumbling, "with near-infinite variations when actually put into practice...."

"Twi?" Applejack's voice startled her; she blinked up to see her two friends standing close together on the other side of her desk. Applejack's left eyebrow arched and she nodded to the piece of parchment Twilight suddenly realized she was scrawling over. "Taking notes on us?"

"Sorry!" She let the quill fall from her hornglow and leaped backwards. "I didn't mean to!"

"Easy, sugar cube, easy!" Rearing back, Applejack rested her hooves on the edge of the desk. "The way I been so jumbled up 'bout this romance stuff, I surely got no business telling any other pony how best to get a handle on it."

"Exactly!" Fluttershy's smile shone with the sort of reassurance Twilight had seen her give to frightened rabbits or birds, then she turned that smile toward Applejack, and it deepened, pure joy wafting up from her with an aroma that made Twilight think of lavender and roses. "And after everything you've done for us today, we're happy to help you in any way we can!"

"But—" Twilight blinked at them, two of her dearest friends and both still very much the same ponies they'd been five minutes ago. Still, something had changed about them, but whether it was their scents or their expressions or the way they held their ears, she couldn't tell. "I didn't really do anything! And you would've told each other how you felt eventually!" She looked back and forth between them. "Wouldn't you?"

Fluttershy was shaking her head. "If it had turned out that Applejack didn't feel for me what I feel for her?" She swallowed hard enough for Twilight to hear it, but when she went on, Twilight could barely make out the words. "That would've been too terrible to think about."

"Yep." Applejack moved to press her shoulder against Fluttershy's. "To tell the truth, it's still a little scary. I mean, thinking and dreaming's one thing, but now that we know?" She nuzzled Fluttershy's ear. "Everything's new, ain't it?"

"It is." Fluttershy rubbed the side of her head against the side of Applejack. "But it's wonderful."

"Yep," Applejack said again.

Twilight couldn't help picking her quill up again. "Then Rainbow Dash and Big McIntosh are likely to be having similar sorts of emotions?"

"Worse, I reckon." With a sigh, Applejack glanced at the library door. "Me and Fluttershy, we been friends for so long, we got a pretty good idea what each other's like. But Dash and Mac, they gotta whole lotta discovering yet to do." She cleared her throat. "Speaking of which, we better get going afore they come looking for us."

A thought struck Twilight. "Should we tell them? I mean, should you tell them? Is it too soon to let other ponies know? Or since, like you said, you've known each other for so long..." Uncertain how to go on, she let the words trail off.

Applejack and Fluttershy gave different sorts of grimaces and looked at each other. "I dunno," Applejack muttered.

"Ummm..." Fluttershy pulled partway back into her mane. "Because, I mean, well, it's just...this is Dash's day, isn't it?"

"Mac's, too." Applejack nodded. "They both been kinda wrung out when it comes to love, so yeah. All the focus oughtta be on them."

A smile emerged with Fluttershy, and she leaned forward to tuck her head against Applejack's shoulder. "I love you," she murmured.

"Oh, my." Applejack's eyes pulled shut, and Twilight thought she saw little gimmers at the corners. "How many years I been dreaming of hearing you say that? And how many years I been dreaming up what I'd say back?" She reached a hoof down to Fluttershy's chin and raised her head till their gazes locked. "But you know? Not a single thing I ever came up with's anywhere near as good as just saying, 'I love you, too.'"

It took some self-control for Twilight not to squeal like Pinkie Pie when the two slowly kissed again, but then they were pulling apart and Applejack was turning for the door. "So! Who's up for some pancakes?"

Fluttershy giggled and trotted after her. "I hope Pinkie hasn't drunk all the strawberry syrup yet."

Twilight followed them out into the hallway with a veritable plethora of questions bubbling inside her—Did Rarity suspect anything about Applejack and Fluttershy? Would Pinkie's twitches let her know? What might happen if things didn't work out between Rainbow and McIntosh, or even worse between Applejack and Fluttershy? How would the comparative friendship levels each couple had shared before admitting their romantic feelings affect their new relationships?

Shaking her head, she pushed them all into the back part of her brain, picked up her pace, and fell in beside her friends. Yes, the past two days had seen a lot of changes and had given her a lot to think about. But tonight was for congratulations and pancakes.