Twilight stood on her balcony with her elbows propped up against the fencing. The bright, glowing moon of Equestria shining down on the quiet towns below. The first star in the purple night sky came out, and Twilight's keen knowledge in astronomy, brought forth by her fascination of the world and the universe, allowed her to be a witness of its presence. She was getting sleepy, but refused to go to bed, too awe-stricken by the celestial spectacle before her. The sleepy smile on her face seemed as if it would never pass; her breathing at such ease, but her concentration could not be stronger.
As she gazed into the night, one by one, more stars lit up the sky, and started creating constellations in the canvas. A bird standing its ground. A bunny hopping around. A squirrel with its nut. A small pony reading. There was no end to the images she painted with her eyes.
Finally consumed with drowsiness, Twilight hopped down from her position at the edge of her balcony, and climbed down into her Library, quietly closing the window behind her; in an effort to not awaken Spike who lay sleeping in his little bed. She yawned, snuggled herself up under the warm, cozy covers of her bed, closed her eyes, and promptly began to drift off into a peaceful receipt.
Twilight will be going to Canterlot in the morning, for a few reasons, that is. Earlier that day, Princess Celestia had sent a letter to her, requesting her presence in Canterlot tomorrow. Although she kept her wording vague, it was implied that Twilight had completed another stage of her training on the magic of friendship in Ponyville, and Princess Celestia wished to discuss the terms of her promotion in person.
Because this was such a delightful occasion, she also mentioned that who else but Pinkie Pie was welcomed to throw a party in Canterlot in celebration of the event.
So, as far as Twilight knew, tomorrow was going to be a cheerful day to remember: a huge party celebrating her accomplishment, and a promotion to the next stage of her education on the magic of friendship. She could only wonder what kinds of new challenges and opportunities awaited her in her advancement. She had already learned quite a lot from the three years she has spent in Ponyville, learning something new many a day.
Before she fell asleep, she contemplated on Princess Celestia's vagueness. She did not mention a thing about the new curriculum for which Twilight should prepare herself. Which was quite odd, because the Princess usually is quite specific and elaborate in her letters of what is expected of Twilight during any type of request or assignment. Even when her knowledge of the subject is limited - such as her briefing on the Crystal Empire several months ago - she was still informative in her demonstrations and vivid in her instructions.
Twilight appreciated that. Celestia knew that if there was any ambiguity, confusion, or uncertainty in her assignments, as smart of a pony as Twilight is, there is no doubt that she would freak out at least a little. It was due to her obssessive compulsion with perfection. If she could not perform a task perfectly, she would spend the next while depricating herself about how she "failed" or "was unable to meet expectations." Oh, how the Princess sympathized about her feelings when she admitted that she felt she had let Celestia down when Spike was the one who saved the Crystal Empire and got his picture in the stained-glass window instead of herself! But, of course, the Princess, though sympathetic and understanding, was not dissatisfied with her efforts, and promoted her to the next level of her studies.
And now, ten months later, she was about to receive another promotion.
This event would liberate her with joy, happiness, and merriment.
Yet, sadly, it was not.
Twilight had still been writing to the Princess all this time - her friends still regularly contributing to her education with their own letters - but, only a blind pony could not see that the duration between each lesson was regularly increasing. It was as if Twilight had already learned so much about the magic of friendship, that there was nothing of the curriculum left to learn, and so she was scraping the bottom of the barrel when it came to what to say about her lessons to the Princess. No doubt Celestia had picked up on these patterns, being that Twilight was her most faithful student, and was probably trying to hide her concern in her letter by mentioning as little about the occasion as possible. She instead only mentioned the lighter side in an attempt to ease her worry.
She had failed.
Of course, these thoughts of fear and doubt had subsided when she finally lost consciousness for the night, and spent the next several hours dreaming of a bright tomorrow.
Twilight awakened to the sunshine which snuck into her Library through the window of her bedroom. She rubbed her eyes as her vision came into focus. She yawned and stretched her hooves, taking a quick glance around the room before dismissing her bedding, making her bed for the day, and heading downstairs for breakfast.
Today was the day.
As her hooves touched the last stair, she could smell her meal and began to salivate.
"Mmm, what's that you're making, Spike?" she asked her number-one assistant as he and Owlicious were busy at the kitchen, Owlicious himself just observing Spike as he remained perched on his post.
"Bacon and scrambled eggs," he said. "Your favorite."
"Sounds delicious!" she seated herself on a stump at the dining table and picked up a strip of bacon with her magic and bit into it.
"Whoo!" said Owlicious.
"Oh! Good morning, Owlicious," she said.
"Who?"
"You."
"Whoo!"
Twilight giggled and resumed her breakfast.
"How are you liking your breakfast, Twilight?" he inquired.
"It's scrumptious!" she exclaimed. "I had no idea you had such a niche for cooking, Spike."
Spike kicked the cookbook he borrowed from Pinkie Pie yesterday for today's breakfast under the counter. "Uh, yeah, neither did I. I guess if I were a pony, now would the moment where I'd get my cooking cutie mark. Heh, heh!"
"Hmm-hmm," Twilight chuckled, using her magic to stab her eggs and bring them to her mouth.
Spike wiped some perspiration from his forehead, having avoided that embarassing situation. He removed his apron and chef's hat and sat across the table from Twilight.
"I got up early so I could make this for you - a special breakfast on a special day for a special mare!"
Twilight blushed. "Thank you, Spike."
Twilight finished her breakfast in no real hurry.
"Well, I'm off to the ceremony," she said as she opened the Library door with her magic.
"Wait, aren't I coming with you?" Spike asked, panicked.
"I was talking to Owlicious."
"Who?" inquired the owl.
"You."
"Whoo!"
"Hurry on, now, Spike: we don't want to be late."
"Late?" Spike asked, hurrying behind Twilight and climbing up on her back. "Doesn't it start whenever you arrive?"
"I was referring to the train."
"Oh."
Twilight giggled.
The girls met Twilight at the Friendship Express station. They all greeted her with praise and enthusiasm, congratulating her with all the sincerity of their hearts. Twilight tried to fake an identical level of enthusiasm, but, sadly, was unsuccessful. She thought she was doing well until her failure was pointed out to her.
"Somethin' bother'n' ya, Sugarcube?" Applejack asked from her seat in the Friendship Express. "Ya dun't seem s' happy 'bout dis momentus occas'n. Like a cat g't yer tongue 're somethin'."
"It's nothing," Twilight lied.
"It's not nothing," Rarity interjected. "Tell us what it is, Darling, please. Is it about the ceremony?"
Twilight only responded with a gentle nod.
"Is it anxiety?"
A shake of the head.
"Oh, no - it wasn't my breakfast, was it?" Spike asked.
Another shake of the head.
"W-was it about the letter Princess Celestia sent you?" Fluttershy asked.
Finally, a nod.
"She was extremely vague," Twilight explained. "More vague in that letter than in any other letter I've received from her. Why would this bother me, you ask? Because the Princess of Equestria is never vague in her instructions - no matter what the formality. I have a feeling she's only letting me on for a huge bring-down at this ceremony."
"Well wat kinda nonsense 's dat?" Applejack blurted.
"Huge bring-down?" Spike asked.
"Darling, what kind of bring-down to you could the Princess possibly have?"
A tear formed in the corner of Twilight's eye.
"We've been sending her letters less and less frequently," she continued. "I don't doubt she's noticed that. Sure, she's been okay with that, but it's been over a year that this tardiness has been happening. Almost two, in fact. It's as if we're running out of lessons to learn and letters to write. And this ceremony will start as a big party, but end in disaster-"
"Just like the Grand Galloping Gala!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed.
"When the Princess announces that I'm done with my training, and I'll have to leave Ponyville and you guys, move back to Canterlot with my parents, and move on with my life - and I don't want to! I love my life the way it is! I love being in Ponyville and learning about the magic of friendship! I wouldn't give all this up for anything!"
She began to weep into her hooves.
"Hmm," Rarity began. "Now that you've spelled it out for us, I'm starting to see your concern. But I think you're getting all worked up over nothing."
"Just like back when you thought there were deathly consequences to being tardy," Rainbow Dash added.
Everyone gave Rainbow Dash a menacing glare.
"What?" she asked in a shrug.
"Ah beg t' differ," Applejack retorted. "Ah think Twilight's showin' reason'ble concern far somethin' mighty indeed."
"Thank you, Applejack," Twilight said through a few tears.
As the Friendship Express pulled into the station at Canterlot, Twilight's heart sank, her stomach tying itself into a knot.
Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, Princess Cadence, Prince Shining Armor, and Mr. and Mrs. Sparkle were all waiting for Twilight and her friends when they arrived. They each gave the mare of honor a hug, and four of them a kiss as well. She blushed with the overwhelming attention.
"I was expecting a crowd," Twilight said to the Princess a moment later.
The Princess closed her eyes in delight. "This is a more private ceremony," she said.
That was not an answer Twilight was expecting.
The Princess cleared her throat. "Mares and gentlecolts, ponies and stallions, it is with great honor and pleasure that I hereby declare Twilight Sparkle promoted to the next level of her training!"
Cheering. Pinkie Pie blast her party cannon, confetti flying everywhere.
Twilight's heart sank.
The Princess took a slight bow to Twilight. "I am very proud of you," she said. "None of my students have ever been as faithful as you, nor have they demonstrated enough skill in their education to reach the grounds you are about to put your hooves on, Twilight."
Twilight's worry grew greater as the Princess spoke. She almost visibly shook with anxiety. Finally, she asked: "Am I moving away from my friends?"
"Of course not," was the answer.
Twilight perked up.
"You may live wherever you feel most comfortable, Twilight."
"Wow, really?"
The Princess nodded. "You've exceeded the expectations in learning about the magic of friendship. Now it is time to take your studies a step further in - the magic of marriage!"
Twilight's eyes widened.
Everyone around her but the Princesses (Celestia and Luna) gasped.
"M-m-m-m-m-marriage!?" Twilight stuttered. "But I'm just a kid!"
The Princess closed her eyes in delight. "Twilight, you moved to Ponyville when you were sixteen."
"And that's still a child," she retorted.
"It was also three years ago," the Princess opened her eyes in a triumphant expression. "You're nineteen years old now. Sure, you're still youthful, but you're very mature for your age, Twilight. And you have demonstrated that you can handle the responsibility and demand of marriage and motherhood. I see it as a honest challenge for you, Twilight: something you can work hard for and grow into, but nothing that is completely out of your level of capability. You are a passionate, intelligent, and dedicated student. I would not be assigning you this if there was even a speck of doubt that you were incapable."
Twilight swallowed Princess Celestia's words. But she did not seem very resassured. She sighed.
"Who am I to marry?"
"Whomever you want," replied the Princess. "Part of all of your assignments is passion. If I were to arrange a marriage for you, you would not have passion for your marriage, and you'd call me out on it. Your journey so far has been a labor of love because of the passion that follows in your hoofsteps, Twilight. I wish for you to continue down that path. Marry whomever you want. Take your time. Make the right choice. I want this to be a positive experience for you."
All Twilight said was a gentle, "Okay," which was practically a whisper.
"Now," she - the Princess - continued. "I believe you and your family and friends have a party to attend in your honor."
"Rainbow Dash, can you help me with my MareSpace account?" Twilight asked, turning in her chair, at her desk in the far corner of the first floor of her Library, all of her friends visting and hanging out in the kitchen.
Rainbow would have flown, but seeing as flight would cause an unnecessary amount of collateral damage, she instead just trotted over to Twilight.
"Sure, whatcha need?"
"It wants my Emare address."
Rainbow Dash briefly stared at the monitor in scrutiny. "Wait, did you say MareSpace?"
"Yeah. I'm giving online dating a try. Well, just to initiate my new relationship for Princess Celestia. I think it'll be easier for me. There aren't many colts in Ponyville."
"True...but- wait, you're seriously going through with that?"
"Of course! Why wouldn't I? It was an order from Princess Celestia!"
"Oh, please, what could marriage possibly teach you, Twilight?"
"I don't know. But I'm eager to find out." She pointed her hoof at the still screen. "Now, will you help me or not?"
Rainbow Dash sighed. "What is it?"
"It wants my Emare address."
"And?"
"Well...what's an Emare address?"
"It's an online thing you use to obtain eletronic mail."
"You can get mail online?"
Rainbow Dash facehoof'd herself. "Duh! Now, don't tell me you want to search for love on MareSpace."
"What? Why not?"
"Dude, nopony's on MareSpace anymore," Dash explained as she stood erect and navigated through the windows on Twilight's computer for her, bringing up a page which read Flankhoof at the top.
"Flankhoof?" asked Twilight.
"Yeah," Rainbow Dash nodded. "Everypony's on Flankhoof. You're bound to find the colt of your dreams here."
"But it's not a dating site."
"Yeah, well, neither is MareSpace. Look, it's a social network."
"What about my Plottr account?"
Another facehoof by Rainbow Dash.
It took about fifteen minutes for Rainbow Dash to successfully get Twilight an Emare address. From there she helped her search the Ponynet for an online dating site.
"It says, 'Find your true love! Set up a searchable online profile for you to gain access to hundreds of single mares and colts from across Equestria to connect with, and utilize the matchmaker tool included to pinpoint your perfect match!'"
"Sounds nifty," Rainbow almost sounded sarcastic.
"Do you think I should join?"
"Up to you."
"I'll join then."
Twilight went right to work on creating her profile, now that she had a real Emare address to confirm her account. That was the easy part. The hard part for her was deciding what to say in her profile.
"Okay, well, the basic information part - like what you'd like to be called - I think you can take for yourself," Rainbow said, walking away.
"Right," Twilight affirmed.
Your Profile
Full Name: Twilight Acorna Sparkle Short Name: Twilight Nickname (if different from above): Twi I'd Like to Be Called: Twilie Sex: Female Age: 19 Date of Birth: 9/9 Sexual Preference: Male Height: 3' 2" Weight: 12 lbs Species: Unicorn Residence: Ponyville Special Talent: Magic Coat Color: Lavender Mane Color (primarily): Royal Blue Eye Color: Medium Purple Astrological Sign: Virgo
Interests: Magic, Books, Friendship, Literature, Science, Music Hobbies: Astromony, Reading, Bookkeeping, Practicing Magic, Singing, Studying Employment: Other Employer: Princess Celestia
Questionnaire 1.Are you now or have you ever been married? No 2.Do you live alone? If not, please specify with whom you live. No, my foster son Spike 3.Are you currently seeing anyone? No 4.Do you have any crushes or romantic interests in anypony you know already? No 5.Are you open to the idea of dating and marriage? Yes 6.Are you comfortable with the thought of sharing a bed with somepony else? I don't know 7.Have you ever been on a date before? No 8.Have you been or are on another dating site? No 9.On a scale of 1 - 10, rate yourself on high your esteem is about yourself: 8 10.On a scale of 1 - 10, rate yourself on how attractive you see yourself to your desired sex: 5
Comments/Additional Information:
Twilight added a picture of herself she found appropriate and then hit the Submit button on the screen. A message popped up an instant later reading
Profile Saved Successfully! Welcome to FindMyMare!
