Twilight's eyes flit back and forth across the words in front of her.

The cosmos is interesting rather than perfect, and everything is not part of some greater plan, nor is all necessarily under control.

She's read it before, maybe hundreds of times. That line in particular had always stood out to her. She used to think it was strange, dropping that in the middle of an otherwise straightforward book. It used to grate on her. She had even written a short essay refuting it. She had just earned her cutie mark at the time.

Twilight tries not to think about it now. She goes back to reading, her mind somehow occupied, and not. The words run through her head without engaging anywhere. Every time she slows down, thought begins to creep in around the edges.

Luna

Nope. Luna who? What's a Luna?

Write her a letter.

Not happening.

Why would you write a letter to that horrible –

She reads more, hearing her own voice in her head.

She's so awful.

She reads another paragraph, glaring down at the paper.

She's so... NO, stop it.

"Books permit us to voyage through time, to tap the wisdom of our ancestors," she reads out loud, drowning everything else out. "I think the health of our civilization, the depth of our awareness about the underpinnings of our culture and our concern for the future can all be tested by how well we support our libraries."

She smiles as she reads. A smug, almost orgasmic pleasure washes over her, making her feel light-headed.

Ah, books... you'll never leave me.

She reaches the end of the page and sighs. She turns the page.

"Where we have strong emotions, we're liable to fool ourselves," she reads out loud. Her smile vanishes instantly.

I don't remember that line.

She groans and closes the book. Her head drops until her face is resting on the cover. She closes her eyes.

Luna.

Stop it. Just... just stop it.

...

Time passes. She shifts uncomfortably on her bed, pushing the rumpled sheets to the side. She doesn't open her eyes.

What time is it even?

The drapes are closed, but she's pretty sure sunlight was creeping through the last time she bothered looking.

When was the last time you ate?

Also unknown. She doesn't feel hungry, so it can't have been too long. Right?

Someone knocks on her bedroom door. She groans.

"I said no disturbances, Spike."

She doesn't open her eyes. The sound of her door opening floats up from downstairs. Hooves clop their way up wooden steps.

Hooves?

Twilight sits up and opens her eyes. Applejack and Rarity are standing in her room. Behind them, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy float up, skipping the stairs. They're all looking at her with weak smiles. The feeling of all four looking at her is too much, and she fights the urge to hide under her sheets.

"Actually, Twi, Spike asked us to come on over," Applejack says.

"Not that we weren't planning on it anyway," Rarity adds. "We haven't seen you for days."

"Yeah, ever since Luna dumped –" Rainbow Dash says. The other three turn on her and glare, cutting her off.

"...What?" Dash shrugs, hovering above them. Rarity tsks and shakes her head, then trots over to Twilight.

"Oh, you poor dear. Just look at you." Rarity strokes Twilight's mane. She puts a hoof on Twilight's shoulder and pulls, trying to lead her off the bed. Twilight doesn't move.

"I appreciate it, girls. I really do. But it was embarrassing enough having you all over after it happened. I'll be fine. I just want some time alone," Twilight says.

"No way, no how, Twilight," Applejack says, joining Rarity next to the bed. Together they pull Twilight to her hooves, and this time she goes along with it. They lead her over to her mirror and Rarity, naturally, starts brushing her bed-matted mane back into place. Twilight sighs heavily. She starts to look at herself in the mirror and jerks her eyes away.

Eww my eyes are all puffy still.

In the corner of her mirror she sees Fluttershy gliding around, opening every window. Twilight squints in the beams of sunlight bouncing off the mirror. Warm, fresh air floods into the room. Twilight notices all over again the stale, musty smell that had filled her bedroom just as it is leaving, replaced by the smell of newborn flowers and cut grass. Her head clears a little. Her posture straightens unconsciously.

Applejack leaves her side, leaving Rarity to her work. Twilight watches, again in the mirror, as Rainbow Dash and Applejack make her bed. It's not the neatest job ever done, but it's better than the mess it was before. Fluttershy starts picking up the books littered everywhere, stacking them into small piles. A stronger tug on her mane drags her eyes back to Rarity, completely absorbed in her grooming. Rainbow Dash lands next to Twilight and taps her chest with a foreleg.

"Look on the bright side, Twilight. You're back on the market. You can do waaayyyy better than some crazy moon jerk," Dash says.

"Dash!" Applejack scolds her from across the room. "Enough o' that. We talked plenty about that witch. Let it be."

"I'm just sayin'." Dash raises her hooves.

"Yes, we know, Rainbow Dash." Rarity narrows her eyes. "You have been 'just saying' every day."

"No, she's right," Twilight says. "I can do better than Luna. Easily. I run into ponies every day who are sooooo much better than an immortal magical moon goddess." Twilight rolls her eyes.

"Hey." Applejack walks over and joins them at the mirror. "I know you think yer bein' clever and all, but you ARE right. She ain't nothin' for you."

"I agree." Rarity stops her brushing. "She had the love of Twilight Sparkle, Element of Magic, and she turned you away. Hardly perfect."

"Yeah, what a dumb ass," Rainbow Dash says. "How did you even fall in love with a piece of manure like that anyway?"

Again, everyone glares at her. Fluttershy lands next to her just to join in on it.

"...What?" Dash says again, shrugging once more. Twilight sighs. She can see them all in the mirror, gathered around her.

"I've been thinking a lot about that, actually. How I fell so hard for her," Twilight says.

All four of her friends wince a little.

"That's kinda why we came over," Applejack says.

"We've been so worried about you," Fluttershy says.

"You need to get your mind off of her," Rarity says.

"Yeah, we want our friend back," Dash says.

This is quite the little gauntlet of friendship.

Against her will, a smile tugs at the corner of her mouth.

"Thanks. But I want to figure this out," she says.

"Okay, but you can't just stay cooped up in here, reading," Rainbow Dash says.

"We know you like doing that," Rarity adds. "But it's not healthy to do it all the time."

Twilight's head sinks. The warmth of having her friends here, all around her, feels undeniably good. But it pains her at the same time, having them be so concerned, so upset.

All on my account.

You should be happy. They're here because they love you.

I am happy. I am sad. Love is complex.

She looks into her own eyes in the mirror and something clicks together in her mind, something she can't quite consciously get her hoof on. It's one of those magical eureka moments, and she opens her mouth to speak, not thinking.

"You know, before I moved here, when I lived in Canterlot? I didn't really have any friends," Twilight says. Her voice is stronger than before. Her friends stare at her in surprise.

"I still find that hard to believe," Rarity says.

"Well, it's true," Twilight says.

"What about Spike?" Fluttershy asks.

"Oh... yeah." Twilight pushes away a small, guilty tremor of remorse. "I wasn't exactly nice to him. Back then. I treated him more like a servant."

"You don't do that now?" Rainbow Dash says, then speaks again before everyone can give her a look. "Kidding! I was kidding."

Twilight gives a weak little smirk. "You're right, though. I've been trying to be better with him. I wasn't good to him, and he didn't deserve it. I wasn't good to anypony," Twilight says.

Her friends say nothing. They listen patiently. Twilight takes her time.

"I... I didn't get along with the other fillies. When I was little. Some of them were mean, I guess. They called me a nerd, or egghead, or things like that."

Applejack and Rainbow Dash give each other a guilty look. Twilight ignores it.

"They weren't all mean. But for some reason I started acting like they all were. I just stayed inside and studied. It was easier," Twilight says. "I knew I was smarter than them. But I thought I was better than them, too. I guess I was kind of... bitter."

Twilight pauses. She's not even sure where she's going with this. She feels open, protected only by her friends around her. Strangely free.

"It only got worse when I got older. I would see other ponies with their friends and feel bad for them. Like they were wasting their time. And then ponies my age were dating, and that was even worse. I couldn't understand that at all. Just a bunch of gross, animal emotions. I thought I was above all that. Too smart to act so... so... foalish."

"I spent all my time in my room or in the library, studying. Alone. I was so, so lonely. I didn't understand why it hurt, back then. But I get it now. I was lonely. And I didn't... I thought I didn't want to fix it. I resented them, I think. The way they looked at me. The way I thought they thought of me. How happy everyone else seemed."

Her friends still listen patiently. Twilight tries not to look at their faces. She talks to herself, in the mirror.

"I cooped myself up. I felt so trapped sometimes. Like I was going to be alone like that forever. I pretended I liked it that way, but it was driving me crazy."

Her next words form in her mind and she understands now. Everything seems clear.

"I guess I thought Luna would understand. I guess... I... maybe... I don't know..."

She chokes up, and the image of herself in the mirror blurs into shapes with colors. A pink and yellow blur moves suddenly, and then Fluttershy is crushing her in a hug. She tries to speak, her mouth is smiling somehow, but her voice just croaks. She feels other hooves embracing her. One by one, her friends join in, until they're all holding her. She coughs out a sobbing laugh.

"This is so cheesy," Twilight says. "I love you girls. You're all too good for me."

"No, we're not," Fluttershy whispers into her coat.

Twilight sniffs loudly. "Where's Pinkie Pie?" she asks.

"Right here!"

They all look up at the mirror to see Pinkie Pie waving to them from inside. All five turn to where she should be standing and see nothing.

"I said, right here, you silly fillies!" Pinkie Pie says. They all turn, breaking their hug, and gasp to see Pinkie Pie standing next to them.

"How did you..." Applejack says.

"...do that?" Twilight finishes.

"Sorry I'm late! Aww, I missed the group hug!" Pinkie ignores their question and tackles Twilight to the ground, squeezing her so hard it almost hurts.

"Where have you been?" Rarity asks.

"Getting the party ready, of course." Pinkie stands up, leaving Twilight lying on the floor.

"...party?" Twilight cocks an eyebrow.

"Yeah!" Pinkie Pie practically leaps into the air. "We were all talking about what a heartbroken sad pants you were, and I thought to myself, Pinkie Pie, how can we cheer up poor old Twilight Sparkle? And then it hit me!"

"...A party," Twilight deadpans.

"Oooh, you are smart!" Pinkie Pie puts a hoof to her chin. "But then everyone else said you wouldn't want a whole party just because you were sad. They said you would just get embarrassed and say it was stupid."

Twilight closes her mouth. She had, in fact, been about to say those exact things.

"But then I had the best, bestest, best idea ever! This is a SECRET party!"

"Excuse me?" Twilight says.

"Everypony else will think it's just a regular old Pinkie Pie party spectacular. But really – SECRETLY – it's a party to cheer up Twilight Sparkle. Don't worry, we won't tell anyone!" Pinkie Pie gets a deadly serious look and glares at everypony there. "Right?"

They all nod anxiously.

"And bonus! I even invited all the hottest single ponies in Ponyville!" Pinkie shakes her eyebrows at Twilight and then makes a huge, exaggerated wink.

"Bonus, indeed," Rarity titters.

"Umm... thanks?" Twilight says, wearily standing up.

"Anything for my girl, Twilight." Pinkie Pie lays a foreleg over Twilight's shoulders. "Let's go to Sugarcube Corner. The party's already hopping!"

Twilight hesitates, holding her hooves firm on the floor.

"Whaddya say, sugar? I think you could use the time outside," Applejack says.

"Well of course she's going," Rarity says.

"Do I have to go?" Fluttershy says.

"Yes!" Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and Applejack say in unison.

"Oh... okay," Fluttershy says.

"Come on, everypony!" Pinkie Pie bounces over to the stairs, barely able to sit still any longer.

Twilight tries to force her hooves to move.

No... no, I'm a mess right now, what am I doing?

Hard determination wells up in her chest, almost anger.

What am I talking about? I've been moping up here for... for days now. I'm Twilight Sparkle, darn it!

"Yes!" She steps forward, crying out in joy. "Yes! I am going to a party!"

"Yeah!" Pinkie Pie cheers.

"I am going to have fun!" Twilight says.

"You go, girl," Fluttershy whispers.

"I'm gonna have fun and be happy and Luna can just... she can just... she can just deal with it!" She says it with some difficulty, but the words fill her with some kind of ridiculous high.

"Aww yeah!" Rainbow Dash flaps into the air, pumping her hooves. "Twilight's back in the saddle!"

"Woooo! Let's go!" Pinkie Pie tumbles down the stairs.

They follow, sweeping Twilight away in a tide of good cheer. Her chest is bursting, her mouth aches she's smiling so hard, she could swear her horn is even tingling. They pour through the library, a laughing torrent of mirth.

"What happened?" Spike looks up from a comic book. He's been waiting in the main room, trying not to eavesdrop too hard.

"Hop on, Spike!" Twilight pauses in front of him. "We're going to a party!"

Spike drops his comic in surprise and immediately smiles. He jumps onto Twilight's back like he always does and they set off.

I feel better.

This is better.

She looks all around Sugarcube Corner. Pinkie Pie has really outdone herself this time. It's packed – the party has even spilled outside, too big for the building to contain. The usual cheery decorations are everywhere, but they look better than ever to Twilight. The music is thumping, but it vibrates in her chest more intensely than ever before. She smiles, a big, dumb, goofy smile. It feels only appropriate considering the silly party hat she's wearing.

She's been dancing and talking and laughing for hours now. The sun set a while ago, and the party only got stronger. A pleasant kind of tiredness is creeping into Twilight's limbs. She takes a sip of her drink. It's just punch. She made sure to ask Pinkie which bowl was spiked and steered clear of it.

She idly scans the crowd, looking at nopony in particular. At the moment her friends are lost somewhere in the party. She smiles again. She's sitting alone, but she isn't lonely. Far from it.

REALLY far from it.

She smiles harder, dropping her eyelids to half-mast. Ponies she didn't know had actually come up to her and hit on her!

Three someponies!

All stallions, but still. That's never really happened before.

Not to me.

She drinks more of the sweet punch, almost sweet enough to be cloying. Her friends had encouraged her and acted like perfect wingmares. Twilight played along a little, but made it clear she wasn't interested. In as nice a way as possible, she hoped. None of the three seemed too broken up.

Probably wouldn't be a good idea to get involved right now.

Well, why not?

What's stopping me?

That would really show Luna, after all. I don't need her.

Applejack was right. I can do better. She isn't so great.

She just thinks she's so great. I can find someone better. For me.

Someone who won't lie to me.

She cuts her thoughts short before she can get angry. Or sad. She's not sure which one would win that fight, and she feels too good right now to want to find out.

But I do want someone, don't I? I am lonely. In a very specific kind of way.

Something had occurred to her a few times during her self-imposed solitude. Perhaps she had clung so hard to Luna because it was the first chance at a relationship that had come along. Perhaps she'd never really loved Luna. Perhaps she just wanted somepony to love.

That sounds so cheesy. I don't need anyone like that. What am I, lovesick?

This isn't about that. This is like friendship. It's natural. I shouldn't fight it.

Then who?

Excellent question. She finishes her drink, starting to slip into full-on pondering analysis mode.

But just then, Rainbow Dash swoops right past her.

Twilight's eyes follow the blue pegasus as she traces a circle around the large room, skimming the ceiling. She has glow sticks taped to her hooves, and her mane is pulled back behind a pink sweatband. Dash's keen eyes spot a landing zone and she dives, landing right next to the snack table. The party-goers near the table that were waiting for a spot glare at her, and she ignores them all.

"Hmm," Twilight says unconsciously. She can't take her eyes off her friend. She's got the same kind of sleek, toned build as Luna, with none of the haughty indifference. She's unique, strong, and beautiful.

And not bad in bed, either.

Twilight's smile broadens.

Am I doing this? I think I am.

She gets up and starts making her way over.

The wild Twilight Sparkle catches sight of her prey and stalks in for the kill.

By the time she gets there Rainbow Dash has claimed an enormous plate of snacks and is shoving her way to find somewhere to sit.

"Hey!" Twilight calls out to her. She levitates some floor cushions over to a wall where things are slightly less crowded. Dash nods at her, holding the plate in her teeth, and sits down.

"Thanks." Dash puts her plate down and dives in greedily.

"Anytime." Twilight sits next to her. Dash turns to her with her mouth full.

"Can't believe you didn't go for one of those guys earlier. You had 'em melting in your hooves."

"Heh. I don't know," Twilight says. "Thanks for trying to back me up. I didn't really know how to react."

"You did fine. Kinda."

"Kind of?"

"You shut them down so quick. I woulda kept 'em on the back burner. Just in case, y'know?"

"Well I'm not as into stallions as you. I wasn't really interested," Twilight says.

"So you're really going full on filly-fooler, huh?" Rainbow Dash cocks an eyebrow at her.

"I guess so. I wouldn't rule out guys for good, but... yeah, I guess so," Twilight says.

"Ha!" Dash elbows her gently. "That's what happens when you fly with the Dash. Never look back."

Twilight rolls her eyes, but it's more for show than anything else. "Actually, I wanted to talk to you about that," she says.

"Oh yeah?" Dash stops mid-bite.

Gosh I'm not nervous or anything... I mean, we had sex already. It was great. Why would I be?

Twilight feels unusually strong, confident. Recognizing the feelings just makes them stronger.

"Would you want to go out again sometime?" Twilight says, more nonchalantly than she ever could have thought possible. Dash gets a wicked grin.

"You wanna spend another night at my place?" She scoots closer to Twilight. Twilight blushes a little and looks at her hooves, but only for a second.

"That would be fun." She flashes a new, improved seductive smile, now with sexy eyes. "But I liked the date part, too. I think we could really have something, now that I'm not being all stupid over Luna. I like you."

Rainbow Dash looks surprised, even a little bashful. "Really?" she says.

"Yes." Twilight touches Dash's hoof. "Really."

"Wow..." Dash chuckles nervously, sliding her leg away from Twilight's touch. "That's... I like you too..."

Twilight's heart swells up, puffing her chest out.

"But..." Rainbow Dash says.

"But?" Twilight's chest deflates.

"I don't know, Twilight. I like to keep it casual. And we're really good friends and all... why don't we just keep it that way?"

Twilight's ears fold down, and she feels the smallest bitter pinprick of disappointment.

"Don't get me wrong! I really like you," Dash says, this time laying her hoof over Twilight's. "But I'm not looking for that. Not now. If you wanna just roll in the hay, that's one thing. But you sound like you want a girlfriend."

"I think I do," Twilight says.

"Yeah, I don't think I'd be good at that. Besides, I've got too many ponies waiting in line. Can't cage this pegasus pony!" She stomps her hooves and flares her wings.

"Oh." Twilight forces her smile to stay on. "You really have ponies waiting? Not just Pinkie Pie?"

"Heh, Pinkie... yeah..." Dash suddenly gets a far-away look. "She's... she's really something."

"Is she?"

"Yeah. Not gonna lie, it's still kinda weird. But I'm diggin' it."

"Oh. That's good." Twilight means it. She feels like she should be jealous, but she just feels happy. "I'm glad you two found each other."

"Don't make it sound so serious." Dash slaps her shoulder.

"It isn't?"

"Naw... I dunno. We'll see. I still gotta get my hooves on Big Mac. One of these days, I swear. AJ can't keep him off-limits forever." Dash pounds a determined hoof on her cushion. Twilight does a double take.

"What's all this now?" she asks.

"Oh, you didn't know about Mac?"

Twilight shakes her head.

"Jeez, Twilight, everypony knows about Mac."

"What?!"

"Ask AJ about it. Heh, yeah... do that." Dash looks deeply amused for a moment, then stands up. "Sorry I won't be your girlfriend. I'll still help you find somepony, if you want."

"Thanks. I'll think about it," Twilight says.

"Cool. I'mma go check on Fluttershy. Rock on." Dash takes off from a standstill, disappearing over the heads of other partying ponies. Twilight just stays on her cushion.

Well, that could've gone better.

It's fine. Rainbow Dash is right.

At least she'll still sleep with me. That could be fun.

But that's not really what I want.

Maybe it's just what I need.

Twilight sighs. Just as she thought she was starting to figure things out, she feels confused all over again. She tries to put it out of her mind. The party keeps on raging right in front of her.

Is that Mac?

Pinkie did say she was inviting all the hottest ponies. Mac is across the room from her, being chatted up by a very attractive young mare. He isn't talking much, but it looks like they're hitting it off.

Speaking of not ruling out guys...

Twilight snickers to herself. She can't see herself with Mac, for some reason. The same urge she felt for Rainbow Dash is nowhere to be found. But she definitely wouldn't mind trying him out just a little.

How is he single? He's older than us, too. What's going on there?

As if in answer to her thoughts, Applejack cuts in on her brother's conversation. Twilight can't hear them, but the younger mare leaves pretty quickly, casting a come hither look at Mac. Mac looks like he wants to excuse himself, but his sister keeps talking to him.

Is she angry at him? It definitely looks like she's chewing him out.

Quietly, anyway. Mac looks like he's only half-listening. Rarity practically sashays past the two, and Mac's eyes obviously follow her flanks. Applejack turns to see what he's looking at and now she really does look angry. She goes back to scolding him. He rolls his eyes.

Twilight wants to keep investigating this little mini-drama, but she can't help her eyes following Rarity as well. The white unicorn helps herself to another cup of punch and looks around the party, signaling her availability to any brave enough to try.

Hey... Rarity!

Of course! Rarity! She's so classy and dignified. She understands love! And she won't have to pretend she doesn't like mares anymore!

There's nothing standing between us!

Twilight thinks back to her first time, how new and wonderful everything seemed. How excited she was. It was lovely. It all just happened on its own.

If that's not love, that has to at least be a good shot at it.

She takes a longing look at her friend. That gorgeous, gorgeous mane. Her equally gorgeous tail. Her perfect body.

Rainbow who?

Twilight smiles, on the prowl again. She stalks right up to Rarity. That unbelievable confidence wells up inside her again.

"Oh, good evening, Twilight. You look like you've had a wonderful time." Rarity smiles warmly, pretending she hadn't noticed Twilight's approach.

"I have," she says, trying to act casual.

It's about to get a lot more wonderful.

"I'm glad. It's so good to see you feeling better," Rarity says.

"Do you want to sit with me for a second? I have to talk to you," Twilight says, nodding towards the cushions she set down.

"Oh? Oh, of course, Twilight. Is something the matter?"

"No... well, yes. Kind of," Twilight says as they sit down together. Rarity gives her a well-practiced look of sympathy.

"I know it hurts, dear, but it will be fine. Just give it time," Rarity says.

"Oh, I wasn't talking about me. I know that. I wanted to talk about you," she says.

"Pardon?"

"How are you doing? We haven't really talked since that night. With your... you know... your breakthrough."

"Oh. That. How nice of you to ask." Rarity quickly glances around them, confirming that nopony is listening in.

Discreet, as always.

"Are you alright? It's not still bothering you, is it?" Twilight asks.

"Ha! Quite to the contrary, darling." Rarity sips her drink, looking unperturbed.

"Really?"

"Oh, yes. I've decided it could really add depth to my image. As long as I play it carefully, of course. Evasive. Risqué. Just enough to fuel a few naughty rumors, but not enough to confirm any of them," Rarity says with a lascivious glint in her eye.

Twilight raises an eyebrow. "You want ponies spreading rumors about you?"

"All publicity is good publicity, Twilight. Besides, in the world of fashion those kinds of rumors are practically an asset. They'll know I'm truly sophisticated. Open-minded. Progressive. A real mare of the world."

"Huh." Twilight tries to recover from how taken aback she is. "I never thought you would embrace it this much."

"Well, I've yet to really embrace it." Rarity swirls her drink in her glass, looking a little nonplussed. "I do hope to find my true love at some point. I'm still waiting." She sighs.

"Even if your true love is a mare?" Twilight asks carefully.

"Mmm. I'm open to the idea, I suppose. I'll have to do a bit more dating before I can say for sure."

Twilight scoots closer to her, their coats almost touching. "That's kind of what I really wanted to talk to you about."

"Oh?" Rarity turns to her with a look that says she knows exactly where Twilight is going.

"We should go out sometime. Without two dumb stallions getting in the way," Twilight says.

"Oh." Rarity puts her glass down. "You want to date me?"

"Yes. Yes, I do," Twilight says, just a little exasperated. "I think we really have something special."

"As friends."

"Yes, but... you don't feel anything more than that?"

"Twilight..." Rarity smiles, but it's not the kind of smile Twilight was hoping for.

"I know you do," Twilight says.

"Of course I do, Twilight. You are ever so special to me. As a friend," Rarity says.

Twilight's face sinks. "You don't even want to give us a chance?" she asks.

"Dear, I'm not exactly saying that. But you're very vulnerable right now. I don't think this would be a good idea at the moment."

"What's wrong with now?"

"What's wrong? Well I would like to be sure you're really interested in me, not just filling a Luna-shaped hole in your heart. As much as I want you to feel better, I can't do that for you. It wouldn't end well."

Twilight scowls at her. "How could you say that? You don't think I like you for being you?"

Rarity puts a calming hoof on her shoulder. "I trust you, Twilight. I'm not exactly saying no. I just want you to take some time. And I mean it, I'm not brushing you off. I know Luna made you do some silly things. I hope you don't think it's too much to do this much for me."

Twilight looks down at her hooves, defeated.

She's right.

Of course she's right. This is where crazy confidence gets you, apparently.

"I'm sorry, Twilight. I want to be here for you. I think this is for the best." Rarity holds her arm around Twilight a little tighter.

"I understand." Twilight puts on as not a disappointed face as she can manage. "I would probably say the same thing."

"Time, darling. Time heals all wounds. You're going to be just fine. You'll see." Rarity nuzzles against her, touching their horns together for a moment. Strangely, Twilight feels nothing sexual in it. She feels warm, though. Loved. Rarity is good at that.

"Thanks. For being honest with me," Twilight says.

"I couldn't think to act otherwise. Now!" Rarity stands up, looking excited. "Would you like to walk past Macintosh with me? He'll stare at us, and it'll give Applejack an absolute fit. Just delightful." Rarity grins wickedly.

"What are you talking about?!" Twilight says, picking up her bewilderment where it left off with Dash.

"Oh, you don't know? Ah, of course you don't. I just assumed. So sorry."

"Are you going to tell me what's going on?"

"Oh, no no no, you should ask Applejack. That would be priceless."

Twilight groans in frustration.

"Coming?" Rarity says.

"No, you go ahead."

"Very well then. Ta!"

Rarity trots off gaily. Twilight starts to watch her but thinks better of it. She picks herself up off the cushion, feeling far more tired than when she sat down.

What now?

Who cares?

Just... whatever.

She makes her way over to the punch bowls.

Which one was the spiked one again? Oh, to hay with it.

She scoops herself another drink and trudges over to a table. She slumps down next to it, ignoring the two mares already sitting there. They both look at her in surprise. Twilight just glares down at her drink. They leave.

Good. Alone again. Nice and familiar.

Stop that. Quit being so pathetic.

Right. I'll just do that. No problem.

She gulps down some of her drink and gags loudly, almost spitting it out.

For pony's sake, what did she spike this with? Licorice?

"Bleugh!" She slides the cup away from her on the table. Drinking is the absolute last thing she wants to do right now, anyway. She sits there and glares at the cup as if it's offended her in some way, trying to put her feelings in order.

What now? The question still stands.

Rarity's right. I should just stay away from all this love stuff for a little while.

What, just give up?

No, take a break. A tactical withdrawal. Wait for another opportunity.

What if one never comes?

Then it doesn't. It's not like I really have another choice right now. Applejack is a no-go.

That just leaves... Fluttershy? Pinkie Pie?

She lets out a bitter chuckle.

Why am I so fixated on my own friends?

It makes sense. I know them. I trust them. Of course I'm drawn to them.

It's still a bad idea. I should have learned that lesson by now.

But that means I have to find somepony else. Where am I going to find somepony else?

Gee, if only there was some kind of fun gathering where single ponies could be found.

Twilight sighs. Her drive, all her reserves of confidence, all of it seems to be depleted. She feels exhausted.

I should just find Spike and go home.

"Twilight Sparkle! Hi."

Twilight's eyes snap up.

"Cheerilee?"

"Do you mind if I join you?" she asks.

Just go home, Twilight. This isn't your night.

"No, please do," Twilight says instead.

The pink mare sits down next to her. "I'm sorry to say this, but you look almost as put out as last time I saw you," Cheerilee says.

Twilight's head jogs through her memories quickly, trying to sort through all the bigger recent events. Then it hits her.

"Oh! I... I'm sorry, I kind of ditched you. That night. I didn't mean to."

"I figured. You looked like you had some other things going on. I understand." Cheerilee looks like she really does. Not a hint of sadness in her expression.

Twilight smiles back, but she has trouble finding more words. She feels absolutely worthless.

Why is she even sitting with me?

"So..." Cheerilee says.

"Sorry. You're right, I'm kind of a mess tonight, too," Twilight mumbles.

Cheerilee laughs a little, trying to break the tension. "I guess I'll ask again. Do you want to talk about it? Or maybe I can help you take your mind off it."

"I don't want to be a bother."

"Twilight, I'm a schoolteacher. Picking up messes is a big part of my job."

Twilight smiles weakly at her, but she can't bring herself to talk. Cheerilee suddenly looks very secretive, glancing over her shoulders quickly.

"Does it have something to do with your mission to try out mares?" she says quietly, leaning in closer to Twilight.

"How do you know about that?"

"My friends and I heard you talking in the spa. I mean... we didn't mean to. But you were a bit loud."

"Oh." Twilight's ears burn. "Right."

Cheerilee takes a long pull at her drink and looks away, like she's choosing her words. Hesitant.

"Have you... have you found anyone?" she asks after a short pause.

"Definitely not," Twilight says immediately, glaring down at her drink again.

"I see." Cheerilee rests her hooves on the table, examining them closely. "I suppose I'm sorry."

"You suppose?"

What the hay is that supposed to mean?

"Well, you... you really helped me realize some things. When I heard you talking that day. I've been meaning to ask you about it for a while, but I haven't gotten the chance."

"Oh?" Twilight barely looks up from the table.

"Some things I've been struggling with lately. Some things I didn't understand. About myself. And then you and your friends talked about that number scale and it just... it just made sense. It all made sense. Thanks to you," Cheerilee says.

Twilight Sparkle snorts sarcastically. "Don't worry about it, Cheerilee. You're making me blush over here," she says.

"You aren't used to this kind of thing by now? You're practically a town hero, you know."

This time Twilight really does blush.

Well, what can I say? Twilight Sparkle. Helping ponies everywhere.

"It's no big deal. I'm not better than anypony else," she says.

"You are, Twilight. To me. You really helped me." Cheerilee is staring at her intensely, and Twilight gets a little uncomfortable.

Her eyes are nice and all, but... what is going on? I don't remember the Ursa Minor going after the schoolhouse or anything.

"No... no problem," Twilight says, a little uneasily.

Cheerilee bites her lip, looking a little scared. "I... discovered, recently... that I like mares," she says, almost whispering it. "Because of you."

"...Thanks?" Twilight says, getting even more uncomfortable. Cheerilee gives her the kind of deadpan look that Twilight didn't think the schoolteacher was capable of.

"I like mares. Because of you." Cheerilee stares into her on that last word. Twilight's mind draws a total blank for a second, and then the slightest inkling of a suspicion leaks in.

Waaaaaaaaaaiiiiiiiit a minute...

Twilight blinks once. Then twice.

"I thought you would be a little quicker on the uptake," Cheerilee says, looking a bit annoyed.

"You like me?" Twilight says, loudly.

Cheerilee winces, looking around her. "Yes. I... Twilight." Cheerilee takes a deep breath, visibly relaxing. "I've had a thing for you for a while now."

Twilight just keeps blinking.

Wha... me? Why?

"Oh, it feels so good to finally just say it!" Cheerilee says, louder now, apparently forgetting her shame from before. "I have a thing for Twilight Sparkle. Ha!" She stares off into the party, beaming.

"Cheerilee, I... why didn't you say anything?" Twilight says, her senses slowly catching up to events.

"I don't know." She looks down at the table. "I didn't know what to do. I've never felt this way about a mare before. I didn't know if you were like that either, until recently. I... I didn't know what to say."

Their eyes meet for a long moment. Twilight sees her as if for the first time. Green. Bright green, shining eyes. They almost clash with her coat. Almost.

"Do you want to..." Twilight starts to say.

Wait.

"Yes?" Cheerilee leans closer, hanging on her words.

Wait! Don't do this to her! You're a disaster area! Run away, Cheerilee!

"I don't know," Twilight stops herself short.

"Oh." Cheerilee visibly shrinks.

You fool! What are you doing! Take her!

"No, no, not like that!" Twilight touches her hoof on the table. "I just had kind of a rough patch lately. I was about to give up on dating for a little while."

"Oh, I've been there." Cheerilee shakes her head. "Sometimes I get scared I really will end up being a single old school marm. But you can't give up, Twilight."

"Even if you really hurt someone? Or they hurt you?" Twilight asks.

Cheerilee lays her hoof over Twilight's. "I've been there, too. Too many times. But..." Cheerilee closes her eyes. Now Twilight is hanging on her words. Something is going on here, some weird form of magic she can't comprehend. She feels hypnotized. Cheerilee opens her eyes again.

"For small creatures such as we, the vastness is bearable only through love," she says.

Twilight's jaw almost drops to the floor.

I KNOW I've heard that before somewhere...

It hits her almost physically when she realizes.

"You read Colt Sagan?" Twilight gasps out.

"Oh!" Cheerilee jolts in surprise, then smiles. "You read Colt Sagan? I just adore his work."

I've never met another pony who even HEARD of Colt Sagan.

Something deep and feral completely usurps Twilight's mind. Her heart rate picks up. Butterflies explode in her stomach. She can almost feel her mouth watering.

She wants this mare. Now.

"Do you wanna dance?" Twilight says, putting on her most seductive smile yet. It has a visible effect on Cheerilee.

"Oh... now?" She blushes somehow through that dark pink coat. Nothing has ever looked cuter to Twilight.

"Sure. Let's go." Twilight pulls at her hoof.

"You aren't worried about ponies seeing us?" Cheerilee says. "I mean... that's kind of silly to worry, isn't it?"

"I think so," Twilight says, full of certainty. "Besides, Lyra and Bon-Bon have been grinding on each other over there for like, an hour, and nopony's bothering them. Aren't they your friends?"

Cheerilee nods. "Bon-Bon is. Oh, I bet she's so embarrassed right now. She hates showing off in public like that."

"How do you feel about showing off in public?" Twilight raises an eyebrow at her.

"I could get used to it." Cheerilee looks at her with her eyes half-closed, just smoking. Twilight almost tackles her to the floor right then and there, but she holds back. She pulls Cheerilee up onto her hooves.

"Come on," Twilight says. They walk together towards a small crowd of ponies, dancing in a space where customer's tables usually sit. They meld into the crowd effortlessly, walking side by side.

Twilight pauses at first, remembering that she has no idea what she's doing. Cheerilee has no such qualms. She segues from walking to dancing effortlessly, wading into the rhythm. She's not particularly graceful – she dances with an easy, sloppy, fun bounce. It reminds Twilight of the way Pinkie dances. Not a care in the world.

This is the part where I get all awkward. This is the part where I...

Cheerilee is dancing right next to her, eyes closed, thick bangs bouncing around her face. She looks happy.

She looks perfect.

Twilight is dancing with her and she's not even sure when she started. Something strange is happening here. It didn't take her whole minutes to get comfortable. She didn't worry about the ponies around her watching. It didn't take a conscious effort to get her hooves moving.

It's like nothing Twilight's ever done. It's as natural as walking. As breathing. They move together with the beat, and when Cheerilee opens her eyes and looks at her it's almost too much. She moves up to Cheerilee's side and leans into her dance partner. Their bodies slide together. The soft curls of her mane press against Twilight's face. Her coat warms against Twilight's. Her rump pushes against Twilight's flanks, soft and firm. She's about the same size as Twilight, but thick.

Thick? That sounds so mean. Like I'm calling her fat. What other word is there?

Curvy? That's it. She's thick and curvy. Voluptuous.

That's probably how Pinkie's going to look in a few years.

She pushes her thoughts away. She leans her head against Cheerilee's, the sides of their heads touching, and they just sway together. Twilight closes her eyes.

She's so soft...

She opens her eyes occasionally. She's vaguely aware of seeing her friends here and there. Rainbow Dash nodding at her triumphantly from the ceiling. Rarity smiling at her from across the room, looking satisfied. Applejack giving her a cheeky smile and winking. Pinkie must be dancing somewhere, she can hear her whooping in the background. And Fluttershy must be... wait, where is Fluttershy?

Oh, whatever... she's her own mare. I'm busy.

She feels Cheerilee's tail curl around her own as they dance. She nickers quietly and flicks her ears. Cheerilee responds in kind. It's the best thing in the world.

"Well! That was... that was really fun, Twilight."

They're standing just outside Sugarcube Corner. The party is winding down. Spike is resting on Twilight's back, snoring loudly.

Twilight looks at her for a long time. She's completely exhausted. They're both practically worked up into a lather.

"Yeah... you know what? It was," Twilight says, smiling at her.

"I haven't done anything like that in a long time," Cheerilee says. Her eyes look at Twilight longingly.

Ugh, I'm sooooo tired... doesn't matter. Doesn't matter at all.

Her wild desire for Cheerilee has only grown stronger as the night wore on. That confidence is back, from wherever it goes to hide.

"So..." she says. "You wanna walk home with me?"

"Walk home?" Cheerilee gives her a pretty damn sexy look. "Is that all?"

Wow, she's good!

"Heh heh... uh... well..." Twilight stammers, her tail flicking around.

"I would love to," Cheerilee says, her smile turning innocent all of a sudden. "Some other time."

"Huh?" Twilight's tail drops.

"I have to work tomorrow. I really shouldn't."

"Oh."

She leans forward and kisses Twilight on the cheek, so quickly and lightly that it's almost painful.

"But I want to see you again. How's next Friday?"

"Good! Next Friday is good!" Twilight blurts out, feeling dumb.

"It's a date." Cheerilee turns to walk away, looking at Twilight over her shoulder. Twilight tries with all her might not to, but her eyes are glued to Cheerilee's flanks.

"Goodnight, Twilight," she says.

"Goodnight," Twilight manages to say. Cheerilee watches her as she walks away, flicking her tail. Twilight's eyes follow it unconsciously, powerless to resist. The fuschia mare gives her one last satisfied smile and turns away, trotting down the street.

"Wow." Twilight stands there for a few moments, just soaking in the night. She's already said goodnight to her friends. She mindlessly turns and starts to walk home.

THAT is how you cure heartbreak. Shoot, that is how you cure ANYTHING. I bet I could cure cancer if I could just figure out a way to bottle that flank...

She shakes her head, giggling at her own naughty thoughts. She feels giddy. The night is beautiful again.

I'm going to do this right. We're going on a date and I'm doing this right and treating her right and nopony's getting hurt.

Her heart beats faster just thinking about it.

Is this love? Have I finally found it?

Is it?

I don't know. I don't care. It's amazing.

She feels movement on her back. Spike stirs and shakes, then yelps and falls into the dirt.

"Spike?" She stops walking.

"ACK!" Spike coughs a few times, blinking awake, then burps a gout of green flame. A scroll appears out of the fire. Twilight snatches it out of the air with her magic.

"Aw, jeez." Spike coughs some more, wiping his tired eyes. "A letter? At night? This better be good."

Twilight ignores his grumbling and opens the scroll. It's strange – just a plain parchment, lacking the usual royal seal and formal letterhead. She reads by the light of her horn.

My Most Faithful Student,

I've been hesitant to contact you since I learned what happened. I don't want you to feel like I'm smothering you. Quite the opposite – you are an adult, and I know you can handle yourself. But I worry for you.

I wish to speak with you in person. Let me know what time would be convenient for me to stop by. Unfortunately I have commitments over the next few days, but sometime next week should be fine.

Please don't hold hatred in your heart towards my sister. I know it can be easy to do so at a time like this. And I know she can be inscrutable. I trust you'll understand.

HRH,
Princess Celestia

"Wow," Twilight says again.

"What is it?" Spike says, dusting himself off.

"It's from Celestia. But I've never seen something from her so... informal."

"Is everything okay?"

I guess so? Why is she sending this so late? Deal with it in the morning, I guess.

"I think so." Twilight rolls up the scroll, handing it to Spike. She crouches down so he can jump on her back more easily. He snuggles into her coat, trying to go back to sleep as quickly as possible.

"Did you have fun tonight, Spike?" she asks.

"...Yeah. Did you?" he mumbles.

"You could say that." Twilight giggles.

Spike doesn't respond. Twilight checks over her shoulder that he isn't going to fall off again. He looks fine. She trots down the street, headed home.