It had been a nice day all day; just like it had been the past week, not to mention most of Equestria's existence. But there was happiness in the air all over Ponyville, and everypony felt it - including Pinkie Pie.

She remembered the night before fondly; after all, it was one of the main causes of Pinkie's mood today. Today, the pink mare stepped out of her apartment door and took in the scent of morning with fresh vigor. She was ready to tackle the world.

Nonetheless, there was still a lot on her mind as she ambled aimlessly around the town. Even though today was basically a personal day for her, relaxation required concentration. There was little positive energy left in her after her thoughts a few nights ago.

However, the encouraging words of Applejack and the fun they had together the night before gave a hypothetical rebirth to Pinkie's mood; although it was currently undefined, it would definitely flesh itself out given enough time.

Like the morning before, she felt as though there was a lack of inspiration for her in Ponyville, along with an obvious dearth of entertainment. But, she thought, I'm not gonna go through yesterday morning again. She shook her head a bit, moving the memories to the back of her mind. She hoped she would never have to experience that again, ever.

It being such a nice day and all, there were enough ponies out and about in Ponyville that the town could be considered 'busy', at least for the time being. But there seemed to be next to nothing to do at all today; nopony seemed like they were really out to accomplish anything.

Eventually, though, Pinkie came upon a semi-conscious decision: because she'd never enjoyed 'stay-at-home' days too much, and there wasn't anything else to do, she decided to go for the next best thing: a 'stay-at-somepony-else's-home' day. She decided to visit Fluttershy. After all, Rainbow Dash was probably napping somewhere in the clouds, Rarity was always busy on Friday, and there was no way she'd visit Twilight or Applejack. Not yet.

She smiled and began skipping cheerfully to the border of the Everfree Forest.

It really is a nice day, she thought, trotting unhurriedly down the broad dirt road that led out of town. She realized why she was so peppy today; If it was trying to make her feel better, then it was succeeding.

Finally, she came to the small cottage and farmyard, and walked up to the door, knocking in her own little pattern. It didn't take long for the light yellow pegasus to answer.

"Oh, good morning, Pinkie," she greeted her, smiling softly.

"Hi, Fluttershy!" Pinkie said, returning her smile. "There's nothing else to do today, so we should totally go out and do stuff!"

Fluttershy blinked, and shook her head slowly. "I'm sorry, Pinkie, but I already have company. Twilight just dropped over to share some good news."

"Oh... really?" Pinkie replied, failing spectacularly st sounding casual. Leaving now would be suspicious, but... she had to start setting her own boundaries. She knew by now that it could be difficult being near Twilight, and she couldn't afford to let anything slip right now.

"Well, I guess I'll just come back later, 'cause, I mean, you're already doing stuff, and..."

"No, it's alright. Come on in, I'm sure she'll want to tell you, too," Fluttershy said politely.

"... Okay."

Fluttershy had always had a gut instinct; a sixth sense, if you will. She could see outright that something was bothering Pinkie, but at the moment, she couldn't imagine what. She stepped aside and let the pink mare enter, showing no evidence of her concern.

Pinkie walked slowly into Fluttershy's living room, glancing nervously at the purple unicorn reclining on a couch facing the fireplace.

"Hi, Pinkie!" Twilight said excitedly. "Guess what, guess what, guess what?!"

"Um... what?" Pinkie replied. Twilight was acting different - something really extraordinary must have happened.

"I'm taking an exam!" Twilight said, smiling broadly. Only Twilight would be so cheerful about a test, Pinkie thought. I like it. She blinked quickly and sternly chastised herself. She shouldn't think stupid things like that; at least, not here.

Pinkie was genuinely happy for her friend, just because she seemed so passionate about it. "That's... um... great!" she responded. "But... what for?".

"Why, Pinkie. 'What for' isn't correct grammar." She stopped herself and chuckled. "Sorry. Anyway, I'm taking one of Princess Celestia's progress examinations! I'll be gone for two days starting tomorrow, and I can't wait to meet up with the princess and show her what I know! I know she'll be so proud..."

Fluttershy had quietly let herself into the room without arousing anypony's awareness. She studied Pinkie's actions around Twilight carefully and curiously; although she appeared to be acting like herself (talking at high speeds, bouncing around, etcetera), there was something else in her mood that showed ever so slightly.

After about ten minutes' worth of conversation, Pinkie's attitude began to change drastically. She began to lose her grasp on playfulness and vigor, as though she was losing energy - or willpower.

Far into the conversation, Pinkie finally began to excuse herself. "Um, I probably should get back to the bakery, 'cause I think I might have to do stuff. I don't know. I just... I should leave. Uh... bye, Twilight." She stood without waiting for a response and walked towards the door, forcing herself not to look back.

Fluttershy silently followed Pinkie out the door, floating so that she wouldn't be heard. Twilight was left rather confused in Fluttershy's living room, alone. She looked to her right and left, as though expecting somepony to just walk into the living room, and sighed, lying down more comfortably on the couch. Fluttershy wouldn't take long.

"Pinkie," Fluttershy said softly, causing the pink mare to gasp in surprise.

"Oh, um... hi, Fluttershy," Pinkie replied.

"Pinkie, I get it."

"Get what?" Pinkie turned to face Fluttershy, who was still hovering slightly above the ground. "What is there to get? How do you think- I mean, what do you think you get? Wh-"

"Pinkie, stop." Pinkie silenced herself mid-sentence. "I understand. Just hear me out." She sighed, and touched down right in front of Pinkie. "We should get off the road. I just wanna ask you something." Fluttershy walked into the woods to her left, trusting the curiosity of Pinkie to goad her to follow.

Pinkie and Fluttershy arrived by a still lake, which was glittering beautifully in the light of midday. Although all of nature surrounding them was lively and vibrant, Pinkie felt almost hollow inside, with a sinking feeling deep in her chest. Fluttershy sat down beside the lake, motioning for Pinkie to sit beside her.

Pinkie hesitated, and nearly turned away, before lying down adjacent her friend, watching the glimmering lake silently. She half-hoped that this wasn't what she assumed, and half-hoped that it was.

Fluttershy looked intently at the ground, as though embarrassed herself. Without looking up to meet Pinkie's gaze "I can see things that other ponies can't," she began. "I always could. I guess it's just a skill. Anyways, I could notice something different about you today. I finally pieced it together when you were about to leave."

Pinkie remained stoic, and Fluttershy continued rather awkwardly. "Um, I, uh, don't want to assume anything, so I'll just ask." She stopped briefly, wondering how to begin. "Are... are you in love with Twilight?"

Pinkie felt her face begin to burn; she never thought Fluttershy was capable of being so blunt. She felt compelled to shake her head, but Fluttershy had a voice that always seemed to coerce her into telling the truth. It was difficult nonetheless. "I... yeah," she said quietly, blushing as she looked away from Fluttershy.

"Don't be embarrassed - I'm not going to tell anypony," Fluttershy assured her. "I just wanted to know. If it's any consolation, I... happen to be... that way myself."

Pinkie looked with mild surprise at Fluttershy, who hadn't moved her eyes from the ground beneath her. "So, you mean, you're a... uh..."

"Yeah. I - I am. I don't usually tell anypony this, because I'm afraid they'll make fun of me. Or worse. Actually, I've never told anypony before; you're the first one." Fluttershy sighed and finally decided to look at Pinkie, who'd been staring at her since she confessed. "I'll keep your secret if you keep mine."

"But I'm -I'm not - I'm not like that," Pinkie stuttered. "I just... have a bit of a, um, crush on Twilight. That's it. I don't like to talk about it. Maybe it's only Twilight, or maybe I'm... um... both. I mean, I like - you know what I mean."

"... have you told anypony else?"

"Yeah, AJ. But she said she would keep it a secret. I'm wondering now if I made the wrong decision. I mean, she is the Element of Honesty."

They sat in silence, overlooking the lake while they both considered the impact of what they'd just heard.

"Um, Fluttershy?" Pinkie asked. Hearing no response, she continued. "Have... you ever had a crush on one of your friends? Like, on one of us?"

Fluttershy was silent for a few seconds. "Yes," she replied quietly. "I think that's how I figured it out for myself: I started to fall for Rainbow Dash ever since she stood up for me when I was a filly. It... didn't feel normal for a while, but eventually, I started to understand myself. I'm not sure whether I'll ever tell her, though."

"... I understand."

They sat together quietly for a while, just enjoying each other's company and looking out over the lake. Without any warning whatsoever, Fluttershy leaned over and kissed Pinkie.

Pinkie gasped, taken totally by surprise. But she didn't pull away. She thought for a second, feeling it, testing herself as to whether this was she was inclined to. She broke off soon, and closed her eyes. It still didn't feel any different than a colt... maybe softer. But that might have just been Fluttershy.

Fluttershy was flushed a deep red, and turned her head away from Pinkie. Pinkie could see her eyes water, and could have sworn she saw her shiver, before her wings extended and she stood shakily, ready for a quick, shameful escape.

"No, wait, Fluttershy!" Pinkie cried, standing just as quickly and catching Fluttershy off-guard. "Don't feel bad. I hate bad feelings." Fluttershy whimpered, and Pinkie tried to smile encouragingly. "You helped me. Something just clicked." Fluttershy almost smiled as Pinkie added, "Thanks."

Fluttershy was still flushed red, and her ears were down. She looked almost like she was about to cry. "I don't know why I did that, though. Please don't think any less of me, it was just a spur-of-the-moment thing, I didn't really mean to -"

"Fluttershy, calm down. You're still the same nice old Fluttershy to me, no matter how weird that was. And it was pretty weird." At this, Fluttershy blushed deeper, if it was possible by that point. "But you helped me realize that it's just -"

"Twilight?" Fluttershy seemed rather upset.

"Well, yeah, I think it's j-"

"Uh, hey, guys," Twilight said, making the hairs on the back of Pinkie's neck stand on end. "Whatcha doing?"

"Twilight!" Pinkie nearly shouted, and inhaled rather deeply as though she was about to try to 'explain' everything. Fluttershy noticed this, and quickly took corrective action.

"She just walked in," Fluttershy whispered softly but clearly to Pinkie, who stopped her train of thought before it could form itself fully. That would have ruined quite a lot in the grand scheme of things.

"We were just admiring the lake," Fluttershy told Twilight quickly, "but Pinkie still needs to get back to the Cakes, right?" She nudged Pinkie. "Right?"

"Yeah! I gotta - I mean, I have to leave, and - yeah. Bye, Fluttershy! And - uh - Twilight," she finished lamely, before trotting quickly onto the dirt path leading back to town.

Both Twilight and Fluttershy stood and watched her vanish onto the wavering dirt path, the sun creating mirages in Pinkie's place. Twilight then shook her head and walked over to Fluttershy, standing beside her and looking out across the lake.

"Do you have any idea why everypony's been acting so strange lately?" she asked. "Pinkie seems to be avoiding me, Applejack tries not to talk to me, you ditch me; seriously, what's going on?"

Fluttershy smiled knowingly and shook her head. "I have no idea."

Twilight snorted. She wasn't stupid; she knew when one of her friends was lying (especially Fluttershy, she was terrible at it). She stood slowly. "Well, I should go pack. I leave for Canterlot in the morning. Wish me luck," she added, smiling.

Twilight returned from her short sojourn in Canterlot in the quiet and peace of the night. Two days of mental examinations certainly did take an effect on even the most intelligent of ponies.

Now, knowing Twilight, anypony may have made the assumption that she would be, at this point, anxious, tense, stressed, nervous, or all of the above. But in reality, undertaking such a strenuous task gave Twilight a feeling of release and of freedom, as though her work was done, and there was no way to know what the future could hold.

And in the immortal words of Leonus Greyscale, 'What fool worries of the unknown?' Twilight thought to herself, smiling as she stowed her still-full luggage neatly under her bed for the night, before turning and lying in it, exhausted.

Elsewhere in Ponyville, there was another mare lying in bed, albeit far from exhausted. She never got much sleep anyways, but during these last few nights, her thoughts made it less and less accessible.

Each night was filled with thought - thought of the future, of relationships, and of her own personal psyche. All of these thoughts could easily have been summed up by one short phrase: Should I, how, and will I be able to?

Pinkie had tried so hard not to think about anything, and on more than one occasion, she was successful in pushing romantic and difficult thoughts out of her mind. But they always drifted back, against Pinkie's considerable will. It was almost as though her brain was begging her to listen to it.

So she did.

By the time 2 AM rolled around, Pinkie had finally made a conscious decision. She was going to do her best to tell Twilight the next time they were alone; she didn't want her friends making a scene. Of course, she didn't want Twilight making a scene either, but she was powerless towards that. She wondered how she could possibly tell Twilight anything she'd been thinking about.

Sleep wasn't important. Not anymore.

Pinkie had found herself having... strange longings, all of which having to do with Twilight. There was a part of her that just wanted to touch Twilight, to just feel her warmth against her own body. She'd begun thinking and dreaming of things that made her chest tingle, that nearly bordered on the perverted: she would have such a desire for Twilight's neck, or ears, or lips...

Somewhere along the line, Pinkie began sobbing quietly into the night. What on earth was wrong with her? Twilight Sparkle was probably Pinkie's best friend... not to mention another mare! At this, Pinkie began biting into her pillow. Hard. She just wanted to stop thinking such weird things. That was all she wanted.

She had no idea what the feelings were really expressing. True love is something that comes only once in a few centuries - and tragically, it is commonly left unrequited. Especially in this kind of situation.

By this point, Pinkie had already been recessing from her friends and social life. When Twilight left, though, she assumed the problem would lessen: out of sight, out of mind. In reality, it was quite the contrary; her social life suffered even more without the presence of Twilight. Parties became less and less frequent, she stopped picnicking or shopping with anypony, and at times she even avoided her friends on the street. And it had only been two days.

Tonight was a night of thought, and only thought could provide Pinkie any comfort.

Pinkie sighed, and shuddered. She was beginning to calm down, if only slightly. This was important to her; she just wanted it to stop. She'd already told one pony, and Fluttershy figured it out by herself. It would only be a matter of time before all her friends knew, and before Twilight herself figured it out.

It really was a relief to know that a friend was going through the same thing she was; but should she keep talking to Fluttershy about it? She didn't seem really shy about it... strangely enough. Maybe she would get advice from AJ and Fluttershy tomorrow. After work.

She felt as though if she didn't tell Twilight directly, if Twilight confronted her, that she wouldn't be able to bear it. She wouldn't be able to bear anything. She knew what she would have to do - and the sooner the better.