//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 // Story: The Student's Freedom // by E11imist //------------------------------// Out the door, down the street, off to Carousel Boutique. She passed that strange looking purple pony with the loopy eyes who always had her hoof in her mouth, usually just twiddling her lips and making foalish sounds. “There’s one in every town…” She said to herself. It wasn’t long before she reached the Boutique; she peered through the windows and saw Rarity lying on her sofa with a glass wine levitated next to her. She was obviously distressed. Twilight to the rescue! Twilight burst through the door, making Rarity leap off the couch and almost forget about her wine. “Twilight! You startled me! I was umm just taking a break!” “Rarity, don’t you think it’s a bit early for wine? I mean even for you…” “I have no idea where you find the proof for your ungrounded implications Twilight, but I assure you I am far from an alcoholic! I just needed to relax a bit, to take my mind off work.” “Oh, I suppose everypony needs a break.” “Yes, now not to sound rude, but what are you doing here?” “I have some very interesting news.” “Ooh! Please, sit down and tell me everything.” Rarity said, now interested in the potential gossip. “This morning I got a letter from the Princess, telling me that I don’t have to report on friendship anymore and that I should go and find happiness for myself, with another pony.” “Wait, the Princess told you to go out and meet someone?” “Well not exactly, it was more of a suggestion… She just wants me to be happy.” “And you came to me because you thought…” “I don’t know, I thought you would have some advice for me.” “I find it flattering that you would think of me Twilight, and I do find myself free from work at the moment, so please, feel free to ask me anything.” “Great!” Twilight smiled, happy that she had such a good friend. “Okay, so the Princess said that I should find love with another pony, but I don’t think there’s anypony that I like, and I seriously doubt that somepony likes me.” “Well, Twilight, perhaps you should lift your head out of the books more, I’m positive that there are more than a few ponies in this town who would simply love to go on a date with you.” “Really?” Twilight blushed. “Oh absolutely darling! Applejack recently mentioned that Caramel mentioned how simply breathtaking you looked the other day when you walked into Sugarcube Corner. Twilight blushed a deeper shade of crimson. “Really, Caramel? I always thought he had a thing for Applejack… Also Caramel used the phrase ‘simply breathtaking’?” “Well I may have paraphrased just a bit, I believe he used the words ‘hot damn’ when you entered.” “That’s good I guess? I wasn’t even trying to draw anypony’s attention that day…” “Well Twilight you have to be careful. Not everypony out there is like you see in films. Oh! The horrible dates I’ve had!” Rarity exclaimed as she melodramatically raised a hoof to her head, as if to keep herself from fainting. “Also watch out for the ones who seem too perfect, they may just be acting so nice to get you… well… in the sack; and then the next morning they are gone without so much as a goodbye.” “Relax Rarity, no-pony said anything about getting in the sack. I just want to find somepony I like and who likes me back, maybe go on a date; let’s not worry about that sort of thing just yet.” “I suppose you’re right Twilight, although I really cannot help you if no-pony piques your interest.” “You’re right, thanks for the chat Rarity, I think I have a better idea of what I want now.” “I’m always happy to help Twilight. If you need any advice, you know where to find me.” “Thanks Rarity, I’ll talk to you later.” Twilight left the Boutique, now with a much better idea of what she wanted. “I’ll just make myself more approachable from now on.” She thought to herself. “I mean how hard can it be?” On her way back to the library she trotted past Lyra and Bon-Bon walking flank-to-flank. “They seem so happy, and yet they are both mares… I haven’t really considered whether I like mares, stallions or both. Can you even be interested in both? Is there someone in Ponyville who swings both ways?” The questions continued as she carried on back to the library. She needed to rethink her strategy, and figure a few things out. “Spike! I’m home!” Twilight announced as she entered the library. Spike comes running down the stairs, obviously much better since this morning, “I wasn’t sleeping!” He loudly says in his own defence. “I didn’t say you were but thanks for clarifying that. I’m glad you’re back on your claws again. Could you make me some tea please? Thanks.” Spike grumbled something about how dragons never worked like this in the old days and if he were just a few years older he wouldn’t even be able to hold something so small without breaking it in his hands. Twilight went to her room and added to her plans. Operation TwiLove: 1. Find somepony I am interested in. 2. See where it goes. If I find love, great, if not, well then we try again. Addendum: In order to find somepony I am interested in, I should find out what kind of pony I like. (Mares and/or stallions?) How do I find out? I suppose I’ll just have to try both! “Seems like sound logic,” Twilight thought. “Only I don’t know where to begin… ARGH!!! Why does this stuff have to be so complicated?” Twilight shouted at the ceiling, throwing a book at her nearest bookshelf. “Uhm, Twilight can I come in?” Spike asked, as if he were dealing with volatile explosives. “Oh, sure Spike, just set the tea down there by the bedside table.” “I know this may not be my business but you’ve been acting kinda weird since that letter Derpy delivered yesterday.” “Well Princess Celestia basically told me to go live my own life and that I no longer have to send her letters.” Twilight grumpily admitted. “You don’t sound happy with your freedom…” “I don’t think I am, Spike. Things were simple last week. Suddenly I have to figure out so many different things I barely noticed before.” “You’re smart Twilight, you’ll figure it out, you always do. And you always have a number one assistant and 5 great friends to help you.” “Thanks Spike, but I really don’t think this is something you can help me with. I’m probably just making too big a deal out of this anyway.” “I think you should consult your books. I mean it’s not as if you’re the first pony to struggle with, well whatever it is you’re struggling with.” “Oh Spike you always know just what to say. Thanks for being such a good friend.” Twilight said as she pulled the little dragon into a hug. “Go relax for the rest of day, I have a few things to sort out.” “Thanks! I think I’ll go visit Rarity.” Twilight didn’t say anything, not wanting to shatter his dreams; it made sense that he’d figure it out for himself eventually and Rarity wasn’t the type to be cruel. Twilight lay down on her bed, not realizing how tired this day had made her until now. She easily slipped off into her dream world, where things were always better. Twilight awoke to the sound of somepony knocking on her window. She got up to go see who was so secretive not to use the front door. Two strangely pretty yellow eyes and a friendly “Hey Twilight!” met her. “Hey Derpy, why are you here?” “Oh I was just wondering if you wanted to make out.” “Huh?” Twilight stared at the grey pegasus in confusion. “You know, like this.” Derpy said, then settled onto the window ledge and pulled Twilight closer. Twilight was powerless to resist as Derpy held her in her legs and began softly kissing her. The purple unicorn just went with it, kissing back without restraint as it started to grow more forceful until they were joined at the muzzle, exploring each other’s mouths. Twilight loved every single moment of it, and she started to pull Derpy towards her bed, her blood running hot through her body. Derpy looked at Twilight with a seductive smile and then whispered in her ear, “Wake up, beautiful.” Twilight’s eyes snapped open to find that she was still in her bed and that her window was closed, the early morning sun streaming through with no grey pegasus anywhere. She felt wetness between her haunches and a hot feeling in her face. “Well that was…” She paused as she tried to think of a suitable adjective. Amazing, arousing, alarming… “I guess I am more than partial to mares,” she thought to herself. “And apparently I have latent feelings for Derpy…” She mumbled as she got up. There was a knock at the door and Twilight walked downstairs whilst combing her hair. She opened the door to find the same pony she had been making out with just minutes ago standing at the door with a letter in her mouth. “Hey Twilight!”