Here's chapter four! Now this one's more comedy rather than romance, but you'll get a laugh out of it, especially since a certain cross-eyed pony is here! This takes place before "Three's a Crowd".

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Chapter 4: Rising Tensions

"…and when it came for my entrance exam," continued Twilight, "I must have been so wrapped up in you helping me find my parents that I was unable to hatch the egg Spike was in. That was when all of a sudden, as if by coincidence, it was a young Rainbow Dash's sonic rainboom that hatched Spike, caused me to lose control of my magic until Princess Celestia intervened, and obtain my cutie mark!"

"A sonic rainboom?" asked Flash, and then quickly realized. "I think I can remember seeing one of them not long after we found your parents; it was real loud and scary, I thought."

There was a pause before Twilight spoke up again.

"Now that I'm thinking about it," she said, "we met the same day you and Sunset broke up, the day Spike hatched, and the day me and my friends all got our cutie marks! How often does that happen?"

"Must be destiny, I suppose," Flash shrugged, "or pure coincidence. So what did happen after you passed your entrance exam?"

"Princess Celestia made me her own personal protégé at the school not long after I passed," said Twilight, "and since then, I've been studying magic, and eventually friendship, right up to my coronation. Even so, my friends and I still learn more about friendship every day.

"When I told my older brother, Shining Armor, about how you helped me, he said, 'I'm glad you're okay, Twily, and although I'm not fond of strangers, I'd like to meet this Flash pony and thank him for what he's done.'"

"Hold on," Flash interrupted, "did you say Shining Armor?"

"Yes, I did," said Twilight, "why?"

"Oh, nothing," said Flash, a little hastily, "I was just asking, is all."

"Oh, okay," said Twilight, understanding, "I guess he probably forgotten about it and assumed you were another random pony named 'Flash'. Must be a common name in Equestria."

"I guess so," Flash chuckled, and then he went silent. Oh, jeez, he thought, Shining Armor's my boss and Twilight's brother. What's he gonna think if he finds out one of his soldiers is dating his sister?! No, come on, Flash – pull yourself together!

"Oh, my gosh, does time fly?!" exclaimed Flash, "Well, it was nice finding out more about one another, and hope to see you soon!" And he quickly flew off.

"Wouldn't you like to visit me sometime in Ponyville?!" called Twilight, but she got no reply. "I guess it's a 'maybe', then!"

Twilight was a little disappointed, but nonetheless glad she at least got to speak with Flash in pony. As she walked back to the station to catch the next train to Ponyville, Twilight thought something was up, but couldn't put her hoof on it…

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Over the next two months or so, there were few changes here and there in Ponyville since Twilight's visit to the Crystal Empire. The Cutie Mark Crusaders were chosen as flag carriers for the Equestria Games, there was a bat infestation at Sweet Apple Acres, Rarity was invited to Manehattan's Fashion Week, and Ponyville recently got qualified for the Equestria Games.

During that time, Comet Tail was doing what he could to get Twilight to go out with him, but every time, she rejected him, and he got more and more frustrated.

Spike and the others couldn't help but notice Twilight acting strange, and they held a meeting at Sugarcube Corner.

"Thunderlane tells me that Comet Tail's gotten obsessed with Twilight lately," Rainbow Dash was saying.

"Caramel told me the same thing the other day," added Applejack.

"Maybe Twilight's too afraid to admit she likes Comet Tail," suggested Pinkie Pie.

"She's not interested in Comet Tail," said Spike. The five mares looked at the baby dragon curiously.

"Well… who does she have a crush on?" asked Fluttershy.

"This guy I haven't met yet, Flash Sentry," said Vincent.

"That royal guard from the Crystal Empire?" asked Rarity.

"Get outta here, Vincent!" laughed Applejack, waving a hoof, "Don't mess with us!"

"Not messin' with you, Applejack; it's the truth."

"Vinny, we barely even know the guy!" said Rainbow Dash, "How do you and Spike know that Twilight's got a crush on this Flash Sentry?"

"The same way you have a crush on a certain Wonderbolt?" Vincent asked innocently. His snaky comment was met with "oohs" all around.

"You-!" Rainbow Dash spluttered with indignation, "I don't-! How-?! Ohhh!" There was laughter at Rainbow's expense as the blue Pegasus flushed red.

"Lighten up," smiled Pinkie Pie, "Vince is teasing you."

"In all seriousness," said Vincent, "Twilight's told me and Spike that she's afraid about falling in love with Flash since her brother Shining Armor runs the Crystal Empire with his wife, Cadance. It's like dating your boss' daughter at your workplace, only in this scenario, it's Flash dating Shining Armor's sister Twilight."

"Long story short," said Spike, continuing from where Vincent left off, "if they fall in love, Shining Armor won't be pleased!"

Nopony said a word for a moment or two, but then Applejack spoke up.

"Why should y'all be worried?" she asked, "I hang 'round with Caramel a lot, and Big Macintosh doesn't mind it at all, considerin' Fluttershy's got a crush on the big fella!" The light yellow Pegasus blushed upon hearing that.

"Granted, but don't forget Shining Armor runs an empire, not a farm," said Spike.

"Plus I don't now much about Equestria's politics," Vincent admitted, "but I'm sure an empire's rules are stricter."

"Don't fret so much," said Pinkie, "we could try and set up a romantic atmosphere for them!"

Vincent gaped at Pinkie and shook his head. "No! Out of the question!" he snapped, "I feel we should let nature run its course and let their feelings come naturally."

"What if something were to go wrong?" asked Fluttershy.

"Fluttershy's got a point," said Rainbow Dash, "like what if somepony jealous were to keep them apart? We're not letting it happen, are we?"

The other three mares agreed, even Spike went along with them.

"No disagreement intended," said Vincent, "but I wouldn't recommend counting your chickens before they've even hatched! I don't think Twilight would approve if you force her and Flash to fall in love."

"Don't be silly; we're only trying to help her," said Pinkie.

"I'm not being silly!" argued Vincent, "I'm being realistic… and safe!"

"Ah, lighten up," said Spike, "how bad could it be?"

"Don't say that," groaned Vincent, "but either way, your silly idea isn't going to work."

"It's better than not trying at all, Vincent dear," insisted Rarity.

Unfortunately, none of them knew Comet Tail had overheard their argument. He scowled angrily to himself.

"How dare she?" he hissed, "What does Twilight see in this Flash Sentry guy? When I'm done, she'll be mine and this Flash will rue the day he stole her from me! Just you wait and see… you'll all see!"

When he said the last three words, Comet Tail had barged into Sugarcube Corner. The argument between Spike, Vincent and the five mares stopped, and all seven stared at him.

"I told you there'd be somepony jealous," Rainbow Dash whispered.

"How long were you listening to us?" demanded Rarity, "It's rude to eavesdrop on conversations like that, you know."

"Never mind that," said Vincent, "but what are you doing here anyway, Comet Tail?"

"I'm here to do whatever I can to win the heart of the fair Princess Twilight Sparkle," he boasted in a show-offish way.

"Look, buddy, if I may call you that – Twilight's made it clear she's not interested in you!" snapped Vincent, "So I suggest you leave her alone and give her breathing space!"

"Oh, and are you threatening me, van Colt?" Comet Tail snapped crossly.

"Strong words from somepony who's a Comet Fail at winning a filly's heart," Vincent retorted sarcastically.

"Oooh!" said Spike and the mares.

"Comet Fail?!" the light yellow unicorn snapped angrily, "Not so fast, van Colt!"

"Ha, 'not so fast', you say? Is that your new motto?"

"Looks like something need to be settled," said Rainbow Dash, "what do you say about a race, Vincent?"

"Oh, I don't know," said Vincent, "I could easily beat him and it wouldn't be fair."

"You can go fast as you like, van Colt," Comet Tail smirked, "you'll be surprised at my speed. But if you beat me, I'll leave Twilight alone."

"Alright then… you're on!" And the two stallions shook on it.

"First thing tomorrow afternoon," said Comet Tail, and he walked off, smirking to himself.

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Back at Golden Oak Library, Twilight was walking around anxiously in circles. She had not seen anyone of her friends, not even Spike or Vincent.

"What can I do?" she thought anxiously, "I'm afraid to tell Shining Armor about my feelings towards Flash, Vincent understands, and Cadance…"

Then she stopped dead in her tracks, and an idea flew into her head.

"Perhaps I can spend a day with Cadance to soothe my nerves!" Twilight squealed in delight, "What does my calendar say?"

She looked at her calendar and saw that the Star Swirl the Bearded Traveling Museum was coming to Ponyville in about two weeks' time.

"Excellent," she told herself, "there's plenty of time to prepare for Cadance's visit… given that she agrees to it, of course." Twilight then set off to make plans.

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The following afternoon, Vincent and Comet Tail stood at the starting line outside Sweet Apple Acres. Both stallions were determined not to let the other one win.

"This shall be a one lap race, boys," said Applejack, "there shall be no tail bitin', no shortcuts, no rammin' one another off course, no greasin' anypony's hooves, no-"

"Sorry to interrupt, but can we get on with it?" demanded Comet Tail.

"Fine," sighed Applejack, and then said quickly, "most importantly, have fun. Ready, set, and go." And with a wave of the flag from Caramel, Vincent and Comet Tail were off! Comet Tail went as fast as his feet would let him, as did Vincent with his wings.

"Now is my chance to prove myself a worthy mate to Twilight," Comet Tail was saying to himself, "this will prove to everypony in Equestria why they call me 'Comet Tail'! Speed is everything here!"

"This will probably be the first time I ever used my wings for what they were made to do," remarked Vincent to himself, "I must make every wing beat count for Twilight! Wings, don't fail me now!"

"Applejack," said Caramel as the two stallions ran off, "I've got a feeling this is only going to lead to trouble…"

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On the streets of Ponyville stood a light bluish-gray Pegasus mare with a pale blond mane and tail, crossed yellow eyes, and her cutie mark was two large bubbles surrounded by five smaller ones; her name is Derpy Hooves, and in her hooves was a tasty muffin.

"Mmm, muffins," she was saying to nopony in particular. Unfortunately, Derpy was standing in the middle of the street, right where the race was occurring!

"Wooaaahhh!" cried Vincent, landing on the ground, skidding to a halt. Comet Tail, however, was not so lucky!

Too late, Comet Tail saw Derpy in his way, and before he could react, he smashed right into the cross-eyed mare, causing the muffin to fly out of her hooves!

"Oh jeez!" groaned Vincent, facehoofing.

"Not my muffin!" cried Derpy as she was sent flying into the traffic, just as Big Macintosh was coming with a cartload of apples!

The large red stallion gasped in surprise, and swerved to the side, spilling apples onto the ground, and crashed right into Time Turner, who was at a nearby banana stand. Apples and bananas flew into the air!

"Oh, buggeration!" exclaimed Time Turner, "This can't end well!"

"Nnope!"

More trouble lay ahead; Derpy went fast as she could to retrieve her muffin, but she wasn't paying attention and slipped on some fallen apples and bananas, crashing right into Pinkie Pie, who was carrying a big cake on her back.

"Sorry!"

"Oh no!"

The cake was catapulted into the air, flying straight towards Rarity in a new dress! Vincent acted fast and tried to get the cake away from the white unicorn, but unfortunately, he slipped on a banana and fell to the ground.

"Watch out, Rarity!" he yelled.

Too little, too late, Rarity saw the cake falling towards her and was smothered from horn to hooves!

"My new dress!" she shrieked in horror, running around all panicky, smashing into Derpy, who'd just retrieved her muffin, causing the cross-eyed Pegasus to send it flying into the air!

"Not again!" cried Derpy, and quickly flew after it, accidentally knocking Fluttershy out of the way, causing her to fly towards Thunderlane and Rainbow Dash, who were talking in the air prior to the initial crash.

"Look out!" cried Fluttershy, but before either could react, Thunderlane and Rainbow Dash were both flown towards the clock tower, hitting the bell causing it to ring loudly.

"Agh, my ears!" groaned Rainbow Dash, sticking a hoof in her ear.

"My muffin!" cried Derpy, catching it, "Oh, thank Celestia you're safe!" And she flew away, completely oblivious to the carnage that had occurred below.

"Is everypony alright?" called Vincent.

"I'm not!" sobbed Rarity, "Just look at my beautiful dress – ruined!"

"My head hurts," groaned Rainbow Dash, landing onto the ground. She, Thunderlane and Fluttershy had recovered from their ordeal with the bell tower, and were clutching their heads.

"And that cake too," sniffed Pinkie Pie, "I worked really hard into baking it too!"

"Not t' mention all the apples," added Big Macintosh, "Applejack and Ah worked hard in harvestin' them, and now they've gone to waste! We can't sell ruined apples!"

"This has Comet Tail written all over it!" said Vincent crossly, "If he'd paid the slightest bit attention, this mess would never have happened!"

Then everypony glared crossly at Comet Tail, who'd just recovered from crashing into Derpy.

"What? What are you all looking at me for?"

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I think you know why, Comet Tail. :P Also, isn't Derpy silly? Kinda like this chapter was. The next one, I promise, will be a little more serious.