Rainbow Dash stood tall in the grass fresh from rainfall and evening dew. Dash, sky blue and prismatic; set against deep green and brown of earth and soil. And yet, even against natural colours of nature, such vibrancy as hers could not hide diminutive feelings written all over her.
Me, a pony of books and science less so of things like emotions and feelings, could still see, despite myself, that there might be something bothering her
I watched as she stepped closer, ears wilted back, like trees in autumn weighted down by remnants of a past as of yet unblossomed, and a nagging doubt taking away from me my speech
It was Rainbow who dared to break the silence first I knew she would her eyes, bright and sparkling, bear her soul to witness
"I wanted to get you alone."
of course she had, standing with me in the open field and under an orange and purple night sky
Foolishly, I spoke no words but quiet mumble that feebleness from within me winning over but I could see beginnings of what Rainbow was going to say
"It's just that I..."
I'm sure were I somepony else I could feel her heart beating out of her chest, her hooves shuffling upon the ground her gaze digging a hole through me desperately trying to find any semblance of romance, or desire: at the least some kind of understanding which I could not possibly have
"I've been crushing on you hard, Twi." She said, ever the fearless and courageous mare. Rainbow Dash was bearing to me everything and risking it all chest ripped open heart exposed, and conceding fate to a bookish, antisocial and entirely undeserving introverted small Unicorn.
"Wow, Rainbow, I don't know what to say. I'm afraid I don’t have any experience yet in romance."
"Just do what your heart tells you." Dash replied, and that's perhaps maybe the wisest thing she's ever said I stare into her eyes at the deep wanting, and at such desire emboldened love rich affection and the craving to be with me
"But why choose me?" I offer, but I cannot yet escape the thought that this somehow could be a ruse some sort of trick or dastardly prank to rile me.
"Why wouldn't it be you? You're smart and beautiful and I love how much you care for your friends. And I want to be close to you every day. I've never told you, but that shampoo you use and the smell of dusty old books drives me crazy. So just say yes."
I think on it for some moments. that in hindsight must have been such agony to her, before at last, returning her gaze, I smile.
"Yes. I'd love to go out with you."
In an instant, she springs to life back to her old self. boisterous and full of pride to be with me embracing me and kissing me below the ear.
In an instant, I know, I won't regret it, and sink into Dash's side, who, in turn, lies down in the tall grass where we lay staring at the stars for hours.
Sky of amber Mid-Autumn breeze Smell of Cinnamon and Apple
Shadows Dance across the wall I watch them nestled in safety hooves intertwined with hooves and Fur and Wing and I wonder how it possible to love someone so much as I her
I feel curve of her back gentle breathing the heat of it against my chest where her face is pressed loving
The heat of another pony blankets wrapped too tight almost too warm but I daren’t move lest I disturb peacefulness
Magenta eyes stare back up at me I wonder how long she had been awake feeling the same as I do
Her face moves up to mine tender lips press together content to just be there existing
As shadows dance across the walls and mid-autumn breeze flutters through the windowsill I realize how I could love someone so much as I her
Pinkie says she saw us by the park behind an old building. Rainbow denied it, of course. I find lying to my friend an exercise in failing oneself. I wanted to call out, in front of all our friends. Yes, it’s all true. I was kissing Rainbow Dash behind Quills and Sofas, where I found out just what kissing feels like. I wanted to tell all of them how much I was so impossibly in love. what Rainbow tastes like, that look in her eyes when I can see she is deeply in love. I love her, too, more than I love books and that’s saying something. That feeling in my chest when she looks at me fiercely and intensely I know she is thinking about kissing and other things. My heart wants to beat out of my chest. I don’t tell them. It must have been another pony, I say. Rainbow breathes a sigh of relief. I feel a hoof touch me under the table. It’s not so bad having a secret.
Dear Princess Celestia, I thought I saw you today By the market stalls Standing regally In the throng of shoppers. Head held high Smiling pleasantly.
When I was young You used to take me to the opera I remember it vividly This is a different kind of learning You would say That you can't find in books Real ponies, baring their souls Singing their hearts And I found it hard to disagree
It couldn't have been you today Nopony else seemed to notice But it does make me wonder Do you ever travel Equestria In secrecy To see from our eyes?
Have you ever been in love? So fiercely it almost frightens you That it causes such longing As to make your heart ache.
I suppose this is as good a time as any To tell you The world beyond the library seems small now The coldest winters Warmer With her around Beside me Chiding me for staying up late When instead I should have come to bed
I never knew There was so much more to friendship As this
I was on the upstairs balcony, looking out at the stars through my telescope when you showed up a flurry of feathers and wind, tossing your mane to one side. I act annoyed, but secretly am glad to see you.
What's up, Twi? You say.
Stargazing, I mutter, we're supposed to be able to see the Equinuus Major tonight.
Sounds like fun. You sat down, put your wing around me, pretend to be interested. I know you don't care for the stars, but the gesture is sweet regardless.
Your wing is warm, the primaries tickle my sides I feel your breath on my neck; nuzzling against me. It's a welcome reprieve from the cold evening air.
Is something bothering you, Rainbow? I ask, still peering through the telescope. I hear your hesitation piercing through the silence.
I was thinking about you all day, Twi.
You were?
The telecope waits as we gaze at each other; Your eyes seas of ambition and desire.
You act first, our lips meet like a thousand newly discovered constellations my heart burns for you.
The Equinuus Major can wait. It's already been discovered. Unlike what lies waiting trying to escape from my chest.
Ask me a year ago, and I probably would have said the greatest thing on earth is books. All pony knowledge centuries of history wrapped up in convenient tomes. What's not to love?
Now whenever I find time to read you take it upon yourself the opportunity to cuddle up and bother me.
I should find it infuriating, my time for books invariably diminished, but I don't.
Your hooves like to wander; along tired shoulders, across my back, down to my haunches.
You're insatiable. And that's what I love most about you. You see what you want and you take it.
It feels good to be wanted so much. Desired, like the only other pony in Equestria.
That's what I like more than books. The feeling of you next to me.
I thought we'd agreed on keeping us a secret. There were reasons for it. You had your job on the weather patrol. Me, I wasn't ready. or at least, that's what I told myself.
I thought we agreed not to tell our friends. For fear of making it weird, or condemnation. After all, how could we go behind their backs the way we have been. Nestled together, at sunrise, trapped in each other's embrace.
And here you told them, on our behalf, as we sit at dinner; the six of us.
I should be mad but I'm not. I'm relieved, proud, in such awe of you and your courage.
I know this isn't for you, how could it be. You knew how I had been hurting. It must have been all over my face.
Our friends are happy for us. There is an exchange of laughter. I guess everyone knew The worst kept secret in town. How many times had ponies walked into the library and seen us?
I suppose there's a lesson of friendship in all of this. I can't think of letters, though. All I can think of is getting you away and kissing your face.
Once, when ponies lived in fields and grasslands they would have stayed freely with one another no concept of marriage or friendship simple coexistence and survival
I wonder often, on gloom overcast days what it must have been like always surrounded, never alone, with those you love always but what is love if not for the absence of it the heart yearns but for filling the hole once left there
and you feathers, wings, lightest touch Pegasus hooves have a way of dancing across one’s body with feathery touch in ways you didn’t know were possible
I thought I knew everything yet in love and its absence I learned I know nothing except only of missing you
