//------------------------------//
// Chapter 7: There's a First Time For Everything 
// Story: No Romance For Twilight Sparkle 
// by socky_dude 
//------------------------------//

Twilight was curious, and she knew Trixie knew that.

But, Twilight also knew that bothering Trixie about such things was not acceptable. There was a thing called privacy, and Twilight didn't want to stomp all over that. She did keep finding out new things about Trixie, like how alike the two were. The alicorn never knew, but Trixie was always thinking a lot like her, and always knew things about her that she never told. She also noticed the little things Trixie did. Like how she would flip her hair back when she seemed proud, but actually really nervous. Or the way she would rub her ears every time she blushed, since they would turn red and warm up. Or the way she would laugh around others, and the difference when she laughed with Twilight. It was more heartfelt, like she was embarrassed about the way it sounded. It was like she was more comfortable with Twilight than anyone else. It would make sense. Twilight never saw her write any letters, which meant that Trixie really was all alone. It was kind of sad, really. Her self confidence was probably lower than Fluttershy's, even though the unicorn has been known to act prideful. Twilight has read books about boasting, and it's actually a known indicator of low self confidence. 

The Princess does do everything in her power to see her smile, but it doesn't even seem like enough. Especially after what happened yesterday, and Twilight wasn't an idiot. After that little stunt Trixie put on, the purple mage spent the whole night studying. And after a few books, she knew exactly what was going on. Twilight wasn't a pony who dilly-dallied around, she had to have the cold, hard truth. Even if it upset her, it was always worth it for her. Questions itching at her head was something she didn't deal with. Yesterday was kinda like a spark, that ignited the realization that something was off. The way she acted around Trixie was different than what she did with her other friends. After reading for a bit, she thought it had something to do with how Trixie was clearly depressed. But it was different than that. Why did Twilight feel so clueless around her, yet so at home? That was different, and she's never experienced something like that.  

She kept doing her research, determined to find an answer. And she found one alright, but it was not the answer she ever expected.



Oooooooh!! Somepony's in LOVE!! You'll go goo goo ga ga for this pony!! You're absolutely head over hooves in crazy love! You have found your soulmate and it is meant to be! Time to break out the wedding ring, the long walks on beaches, the cuddles and snuggles!! This love is way too much to just keep inside!! You just have to let it pour out and confess to your lover and forever more!! 



Okay, first of all, gag. Second of all, how come the correct answer was in a magazine for Celestia's sake? You'd think books would be more informative! But even after wanting to bleach her eyes, she knew it was true. She may have absolutely no experience in love whatsoever, but she knew that there was something there. Everything became so clear. From all of the romance novels she's read, she couldn't believe she hadn't gotten it sooner.

Twilight was having her first love, and she needed all the advice she could get.

She read more books on the topic of love, and stayed up the rest of the night. Sleep was irrelevant, she could sleep tonight. This was much more important and fascinating! One of the books said that she should get some advice from friends, because they will know you better than any book will. Twilight thought that was a great idea, and she planned the morning out smoothly.

Once it was about time to 'get up', Twilight closed the current book she was reading, Love For Dummies, and made her way downstairs to the kitchen. She was surprised, however, to find Trixie already there, sitting at the breakfast table.

"Uh.. Good morning?" She asked, confused. 

Trixie's head spun around to face Twilight, and she raised a hoof to rub one of her burning ears. Twilight chuckled a little, and made her way over to the stove to make some eggs. 

"M-morning..." The unicorn replied quietly. Twilight stole a glance at her from across the room, and saw her staring down at the table, twiddling her hooves.

"You okay?" Twilight asked, opening the fridge.

Trixie glanced up, seeming a little unsure. 

"Fine," She said.

It was at this moment the alicorn realized that Trixie was wearing her cape, with the pin she gave her attached to the collar. 

The widest smile graced Twilight's face as she continued to stare, Trixie looking right back.

"Uh.... Twilight... the eggs.." 

She snapped back to reality, grabbing the eggs out of the fridge quickly. The lightest splash of pink formed its way onto her cheeks, and she quickly levitated the container over to the stove.

She mumbled something, although Twilight couldn't make it out.

The alicorn sighed, putting her plan in motion.

"I have some errands for you to run today, the girls are coming over, and it would be great if you could do a few things for me..."

"Of course!!" Trixie jumped up, nearly knocking over a vase. She bumped the chair as she stumbled out of her seat. "I would love to!!!" 

Twilight smiled again, finding the way she wanted to help comparative to the way a young child would always beg to do a chore until they were allowed. It was cute.

Twilight bit her lip, blushing once more, and turned to crack eggs into a pan. 

"Right! So I'll give you this list," She levitated a short paper over to Trixie. "And you can be on your way after you're done eating."

"Cool!!" Trixie rushed towards the door, throwing on her saddlebags before anything else could be said. Twilight couldn't help but laugh. 

"Hey, that pin looks good on you."

Trixie's whole face flushed red, and she stopped dead in her tracks. Twilight laughed a bit more. 

"Thank you," The Princess said, smiling wide. 

"N-no problem!!" Trixie seemed to shake it off and went out of the door quickly.

It took five whole minutes for Twilight to realise that Trixie hadn't even eaten.





"I don't understand why I'm even here, I have cloud duty to do!!"

"Twilight said it was important darling, you should be a bit more understanding."

"Yeah but-"

"Ya' need ta' realize that Twilight has been actin' mighty strange lately..."

"Oh she really has... Angel bunny even realized it..."

"What??" A new voice asked. 

Twilight came into the room at that moment, rubbing her eyes and sipping at an espresso she had picked up from down the street. Regular coffee wasn't going to be enough. Another normal morning. Except it was completely different. Everything was completely different, this was completely different. It had taken her a couple hours to wake Spike up, write letters to everybody, send Spike off to do whatever he pleased, and for the gang to round up. She shouldn't have been so nervous at that moment, but she had to admit she was really scared. What would her friends think, falling for a mare who was such a boastful, rude, know-it-all? 

Oh right. Discord.

Suddenly she felt much better about this whole thing. 

"Darling... you look tired..." Rarity stated simply, eyebrows arching in a type of concern. 

"What did you girls say about me acting strange?"

The five of them all gathered to the map, and sat on their correlating chairs. All of them looking at each other quickly, and looked back up at Twilight again. They were doing the eye thing, like they knew something she didn't. 

"You've just been acting different..." Fluttershy muttered. 

Twilight sighed before walking over to her chair.

"Yeah, you guys seemed to realize it before me then."

The other elements looked confused.

"What do you mean Twi?" Pinkie asked, rather calmly.

She sucked in a breath. It was now or never she supposed.

"I-"

"It's Trixie."

5 consecutive seconds of silence passed. Twilight had been cut off. They knew.

"RAINBOW DASH!!!" Twilight screamed, mortified. Rainbow just shrugged. 

"Well think about it you guys! This all started right after Trixie got here!!"

"That actually makes sense fer' once Dash...."

"Shut up AJ."

Fluttershy then stepped in, standing in her chair before daintily tapping her hoof on the table to catch the others attention. Because they had all grown used to this, they all peered up at the tiny noise, even though it was barely noticeable.  

"Um... Twilight I'd hate to put you in the spotlight like this.... but... If it's something to do with Trixie... Is... Is it.."

"IS IT WHAT FLUTTERSHY??"

"I... um... I think I know what's going on," Fluttershy nearly whispered back. 

"Well! What are ya waiting for!! Tell us!" Pinkie shouted excitingly, jumping in her seat. 

Twilight didn't realize it completely, but she started hyperventilating, her eyes darting between the curious friends and the sure of herself Fluttershy. This was a lot more difficult than she first anticipated. She kept trying to think to her self that these were her friends, and they would understand. But, the problem was that Twilight didn't understand herself. She had never been in this situation before, she had never had a kiss, a date, or anything like that. The only thing that could count as something romantic was that stupid one night stand all those years ago, when she still lived in Canterlot. And that was just a disappointment. This was really something, something that she could make into more of something, and something that could be.... well something! She didn't understand what was going on. But, it was better to just come clean now than wait later.

Slamming her head onto the table, staring down at the floor, she spoke calmly, and nonchalant. 

"I'm gay."

Silence. 

"I'm a friggin' lesbian, okay??"

More silence. 

".... Could someone please say someth-"

"I KNEW IT!!!" Fluttershy screamed, slamming her hooves down on the table. Everyone looked her way, and the mare fluttered her wings a bit.

"I mean... I-I knew it...?" She said, quieter. 

Twilight was more than mortified, she was completely and utterly submerged in horrid embarrassment. This was awful, why did she ever make herself do this. 

"Took ya long enough sugar cube..." 

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN 'TOOK ME LONG ENOUGH'??" Twilight shot back, looking up from the table.

"We all figured... since you said you've never dated anypony.. and what you said about that one night stand... that you just kinda swing that way," Rainbow Dash said calmly, like nothing was wrong. 

"RAINBOW DASH THAT IS REALLY JUDGEMENTAL!!"

"Hey! It wasn't just me! And what's wrong with making a few assumptions? It's not like we said it was factual or anything!"

But Rarity took a different turn, "So you like Trixie huh?"

Twilight let out a long groan, slumping down in her chair. A few of the elements let out some small giggles, while others appeared to be deep in thought. This was all stupid. Twilight was stupid. This situation is stupid. 

"Wow! Going for her? I never would have expected it! But... it kinda is expecting.. It's like, the unexpected expectedness, or something!"

"Rainbow, yer' not helping."

"Haters gonna hate AJ. Haters are gonna hate."

"Girls! Don't argue! Can't you see the state Twilight's in! You need to be more understanding!" Fluttershy spoke up once more, turning to look back at the dismayed Twilight.

Applejack and Rainbow both mumbled small apologies, mama Fluttershy had disciplined them. The alicorn buried her face in her hooves.

"What do I do??" She droned out.

"Isn't that obvious?" Pinkie asked.

"No it isn't! I've never gone through this before and I have no idea how she feels or whatever and-"

The sound of the door opening caught Twilight's attention, and she whirled around too see a blue body slowly trot into the room, her eyes staring at the paper she received earlier. 

"Now, I didn't get to the Sofa and Quill shop, because it was closed for today, so you'll probably have to do that tomorrow," Trixie said causally, and she walked across the room, still staring at the list. 

Nopony said anything, they didn't dare, especially Twilight. 

"But I did get everything else done, and it was actually really fast and easy. I think the Sofa Clerk takes up all of your day."

Trixie shoved her saddlebags off, placing the list inside them as she did. She finally peered up, her candy pink eyes taking in the scene around her. Twilight sat agape, her eyes bugging out of her head. As much as she tried to look over at one of her friends to call out a silent help, it was proven useless. She was frozen, stuck in non-existent glue. Her eyes were paused in time, forever still on the target known as the Great and Powerful Trixie, who didn't seem to falter at this at all.

"Hello," the unicorn said shyly, peering around at the 6 mares all sat in their seats.

They all chimed a few 'hello's and whatnot, each one a bit too enthusiastic. Trixie smiled, trotting over to Twilight, who continued to stare. 

With the smallest of voices, as if what she were about to say shouldn't be known by others, yet not even a whisper, said, "I got you something from the market. I got a few bits. I wanted to make it up to you." 

She smiled brightly, trotting off into the hallway, with a completely stunned alicorn left behind. 

"She totally has a crush on you."

Oh yeah, the annoying ponies called her friends were here. Lovely. 

"Why do you say that Pinkie...?" Twilight merely mumbled, even though she was freaking out. 

"Because it's obvious."

One of these days she was going to strangle her. But the others nodded in agreement. 

And Twilight was left alone, accepting yet denying the cold hard truth.





Do something with her, they said.

It will be fun, they said.

Did they mention any awkwardness? Nope. They all went and left her with their stupid advice. But really, what did she expect when she'd gone and asked them? They had absolutely no idea what they were talking about. Maybe Fluttershy, since she was experienced, but all of the others were blithering idiots when it came to this. All Rarity looks for is the perfect husbands when they weren't so perfect. Applejack just hadn't had a clue. Rainbow didn't care, and Pinkie sounded like that magazine from earlier. Why in Equestria did she listen to them? Maybe books didn't answer everything? Maybe it wasn't such a good idea to consult her friends? The next few hours were sure to be completely awkward. And by Rainbow's suggestion to 'Do something with her', she really meant 'Go on a date'. Twilight was CLEARLY not ready for anything like that! Trixie had only been staying over for 2, maybe 3 weeks! Close friends, maybe, but a date was out of the question. Trixie would definitely refuse, and Twilight had no idea how to even ask. This wasn't even important. Trixie was going through a lot, and there was no way Twilight could put anything supposedly stressful on Trixie's mind. 

The alicorn silently waltzed over to the hallway, Trixie awaiting in all her glory. She could do this. Twilight was the master of platonic friendships. 

"Here," Trixie said as she shoved something into Twilight's chest. It was a book.

The Unusual Pattern and Array of Stars and Constellations, and Other Such Things That Contribute

"Hey! I used to have this book! It was one of my favorites!" Twilight chimed, turning it over and over in her hooves. 

Trixie smiled that casual smile of hers, "I know. It burned with your library didn't it?"

She paused. She never told her about what happened that day. 

"The Cakes told me. I went there to look for a job. They hired me."

"Really? Congratulations..."

"Yep, gave me few bits even. I went and bought you a book to start restocking."

Twilight hugged the book against her. Trixie was still the same, yet incredibly different. Using her first few bits just to buy her a book. 

"Thank you Trixie...." Twilight said quietly.

"No problem."

There was a long silence, Twilight turning the book over in her hooves some more. Trixie waited patiently, for a response most likely. The Princess was at a lost for words, however. There were about a million things she could say, but she felt as if none of them were necessary. She was still extremely concerned with Trixie's mental state. She didn't want to offend her or make her feel obligated to do something. It was obvious that she felt guilty that she was staying here, even though Twilight could completely afford it and her hospitality told her to let her stay. It was stupid, to put it bluntly, and if Trixie was anyone else she would have told her that. But this wasn't anyone else. This was someone who needed to heal on her own. Of course Twilight would help her when she could but it was Trixie's decision to actually do anything. 

The thing her friends didn't realise was that she wasn't stable enough to where Twilight was comfortable.

That may have sounded just a bit selfish, but it was the truth. Twilight was absolutely terrified she would screw things up, and Trixie would be the one to suffer. She could break down again, and there would be no one to comfort her. It was difficult enough for Twilight to get her out of bed, but anyone else? Oh no, it wouldn't happen. And another thing was that she had no experience! None whatsoever! She would mess everything up, and she had no idea where to start. 

But her friends were correct in way, she did have to try. 

"Hey.... uhh...." Twilight mumbled. Trixie's ears perked up, and she turned towards the alicorn. Twilight's mind scrambled for something to say.

Book.... Meteor shower....

Of course!

"Actually Trixie, I just remembered something!" 

Twilight opened her new book, turning quickly to page 394. 

"Right here see! This book is sorta recent, it was written 2 years ago. It talks about meteor showers and ones coming up. And, what do you know, there's one in a few days!" 

Twilight's mind was a strange void of sentences from books.

"Really?" Trixie questioned, looking at the page herself.



This specific meteor shower is called, Scorpio's Rain. It was named after the fact that Scorpio is a water sign, and the constellation will be closest to the sun.

 

"A little scribble about it. I love meteor showers!" Twilight splurged, flipping to the index to see if she could find any extra pages about it. There were none. This was a book on constellations. 

"Can we go?"

Twilight paused for a moment, shutting the book.

"Wh-what?"

Why did she stutter? Celestia, why did she stutter?? She was not nervous, as far as she could tell. In fact, she was as far from nervous as possible. This was wasn't some stupid rom-com novel. She can control herself. This was stupid. She can control herself! 

"Can we go?" Trixie repeated, casually. Fuck.

A date? Does that count as a date? No, of course not. It could never. Twilight was supposed to suggest going to watch the meteors! Not Trixie! THIS WAS RIDICULOUS.

Shrug it off. Continue. 

Twilight sighed shakingly. 

"Sure." Twilight levitated the book, as if what Trixie had just said wasn't groundbreaking. "Why were you looking for a job anyway?"

Trixie looked off to the side. She didn't want to talk about it. 

"Nevermind..." Twilight mumbled, walking forward to put her book away. She needed a night out desperately. Maybe she could plan one with the girls. Whatever, it wasn't going to happen tonight. She should just work. She was behind. Today was a long day. She let out a long groan and rubbed her eyes. She was tired again. That espresso didn't help at all. Was it possibly caffeine free? What a joke. What was the use of coffee without caffeine? She groaned again, trotting down the hallway slowly. 

"Hey Twilight?" a voice sounded from behind. 

"Yes?"

"I'll make you some coffee."

Twilight smiled.

"Thanks, Trixie."