"Alright." Twilight stomps a hoof on the library's wooden floor. "Everypony report in."

She looks up and down the line of ponies in front of her. Her friends are standing at attention – well, some of them, anyway. Rainbow Dash is flopped out on a floor cushion, her eyes wandering up to the ceiling.

"Ooh! Ooh! Me first!" Pinkie Pie bounces, waving a hoof. "I brought her the cake, just like you asked."

"And?" Twilight's eyebrows go up.

"She said it was great, and then I said it was from you and you really wanted her to come talk to you, and she got all quiet and thanked me and went back in her house. She took the cake, though! That's good, right?" Pinkie Pie fidgets hopefully.

"Sure, that's something. Well done, Pinkie." Twilight looks at the next pony in line. "Rarity? You said you had a foolproof plan?"

"Most assuredly, Twilight! I've enlisted the help of my little sister. I instructed her and her friends in the art of subtle conversation and unleashed them upon their teacher."

"And her friends?" Applejack cocks an eyebrow. "You can't mean Apple Bloom."

"Why yes, of course. And that scrappy little pegasus, as well."

"Scootaloo?" Twilight asks. Then she cringes as she absorbs one of the earlier words. "Wait... subtle?"

"Indeed! Those girls will surprise you, occasionally. At any rate, they reported that they talked with her after school and dropped hints about how much you miss her."

"That's the most cockamamie thing I ever heard!" Applejack butts in. "Those three couldn't be subtle if their cutie marks depended on it!"

"Not that you would know anything about subtlety." Rarity peers down her nose at the earth pony next to her. "Besides, I don't know her well enough to approach her directly. It would be too obvious. On the other hoof, she loves those three fillies. They're the perfect agents for this."

"Nuts to that!" Applejack scoffs. "Can't believe you threw my little sis at her all sideways like."

"Yeah..." Twilight puts a hoof to her chin. "That's kind of..."

"You must trust me, Twilight!" Rarity says, her eyes intense. "This is love! All bets are off."

"Okay, okay!" Twilight smiles and nods, placating the other unicorn somewhat. "I'm sure it helped. Thanks, Rarity."

"I still don't see why you gotta be all movin' in the shadows. Just tell 'er what's what," Applejack says.

"Is that what you did?" Twilight cringes again.

"Well... yeah, I s'pose so." Applejack pauses, hemming on her hooves. "I mean, I don't know her so well. But I flagged her down in the market all the same. Then I gave her that order you picked out, and I kind of laid out what you've been sayin'. She seemed to take it alright."

"Oh?" Twilight's hopes jump a little.

"Yeah... I mean, she didn't make no promises or anything," Applejack says.

"That's fine. I'm sure it helped. Fluttershy?" Twilight moves down the line.

"Oh?" Fluttershy jolts as if startled. "Um... Twilight? I mean... I don't mind helping. But why don't you talk to her?"

"I tried." Twilight folds her ears down. She winces inside at the look on Cheerilee's face. "I don't think she wants to see me right now."

"Oh?" Rarity makes a hushed gasp. "That bad?"

"No... she was nice enough. But... she doesn't want to see me," Twilight says. "Not just now. And I want to respect that. Give her space."

"Wait..." Rainbow Dash raises her head up. "Getting all your friends to bug her all the time counts as giving her space?"

"Well I have to do something. I want her to know I care." Twilight glares at Dash. The blue pegasus just snorts and goes back to tracing her eyes around the ceiling.

"I gave her the flowers we picked," Fluttershy says, almost whispering. "I think she really liked them."

"Perfect. I knew I could count on you," Twilight says, then turns back to Dash. "Unlike some other pegasus ponies..."

"Hey, I helped!" Dash sits up on the cushion.

"You did?" Twilight's ears perk up.

"Yeah. Of course. I may have said stuff, but I know you still dig her. I got your back." Dash waves a hoof.

"Oh." Twilight feels bad now, despite the good news.

Element of Loyalty, indeed...

"Hey." Dash looks at Twilight, as if just now entering the conversation. "There may be plenty of other ponies out there, but she's a good one. For you, especially. It won't be the end of the world if she does dump you, but... you know. Either way's good."

"What did you do?" Rarity asks.

"Huh?" Dash lazily rolls her head towards Rarity.

"You said you 'have Twilight's back.' What did you do, exactly?" Rarity says.

"I talked to her. She's cool." Dash shrugs.

"Hmm." Rarity looks nonplussed.

"Thanks, Dash," Twilight says, ignoring Rarity. "I'm sorry I doubted you."

"No big. Just remember, if she does take you back, it was me. I did that." Dash relaxes back into the cushion. The line-up of friends all roll their eyes, almost in unison.

"I helped too!" Spike walks out from the kitchen, waving an eager little claw.

"Oh?" Twilight turns to him. "Did you say all the things I told you to say?"

"Well, I started to." Spike takes a thoughtful pause. "But then she asked me if you told me to say that stuff, and I said yeah."

"What?!" Twilight balks.

"Yeah... then we talked about how you can be kind of bossy sometimes. Uh... I mean..." Spike taps his fingers together nervously.

Betrayal! Sedition!

"Spike!" Twilight frowns.

"Hey, it was bonding! I was gaining trust. You know, being a good agent." Spike flexes his arms.

Twilight narrows her eyes. "You always take her side," she says.

"Well she helps me with chores sometimes. Unlike some other ponies." Spike crosses his arms in a huff. Twilight groans loudly.

"At least I wouldn't totally sell out for a pile of pancakes," Twilight says.

"Hey! Her pancakes are glorious!" Spike stares off into space, drooling a little. "Just... glorious..."

"Mmm... pancakes..." Pinkie Pie licks her lips, also staring into space. "Ooh! Waffles!"

"Huh?" several of them say, turning to Pinkie.

"Waffles! I'm gonna make waffles. Willions of waffles!"

"Willions?" Twilight says.

"It's like millions, but for waffles," Pinkie Pie explains very seriously. "You girls should all come over to Sugarcube Corner for waffles!"

"I'm in!" Dash sits up, waving a hoof.

"Me too!" Spike jumps in place, waving his claws.

"Ain't it like... night time?" Applejack screws her face up in confusion.

"Night time waffles are the best waffles!" Pinkie growls out, glaring.

"I suppose if we're all retiring to your bakery, I shall tag along," Rarity says.

"Yeah! Let's go!" Pinkie looks just at Twilight, waving her along. Twilight doesn't move. She just gives Pinkie a weary smile.

Oh Pinkie... effective, if obvious...

"You girls go on ahead. I just ate," Twilight says.

"Whaaaaaaaaat?!" Pinkie Pie pouts. The rest of her friends make similar shows of dismay.

"It's okay. I need some time to think about things. And write a letter." Twilight holds her smile, trying to reassure them.

"You're going to write to her as well?" Rarity arches her eyebrows.

"I can't give up. I have to try everything I can. Even if it is..." Her smile breaks, and she casts her eyes down at the floor. Spike puts his hand on her shoulder. She looks up, enough to see him, anyway.

"It's gonna be okay. Come eat some waffles. They always make me feel better." He smiles up at her.

"No, you go ahead. Last thing I need right now is a stomach ache." She looks up at her friends. "Go ahead. And thank you. All of you. I don't know what I would do without you."

"Without us?" Pinkie Pie nods, closing her eyes. "You'd be a broken shell of a mare, alone and bitter, and Equestria would be cloaked in eternal night."

"...Oh." Twilight folds her ears back.

"Alright, enough of all that. Twilight says she needs a minute, she gets a minute." Applejack heads for the door, waving a hoof to draw the group along. "We'll come on right back after havin' some grub."

"Go on, Spike." She nudges him with her snout. Her friends shuffle out quietly, but Rainbow Dash and Rarity trail behind. Rarity gives her a strange look – it's sympathetic, but... as always, Twilight has trouble reading her.

"Twilight..." Rarity begins, her eyes hesitant. "I just want you to know that whatever happens, we'll still be here for you. Everything's going to be alright."

Twilight takes her time absorbing the words, trying not to let her face fall too much. "You think she is going to dump me." She frowns, despite her effort.

"She didn't say that. Nopony said that," Rainbow Dash says.

"It's pretty obvious from the letter, though, isn't it? And it's not like I don't deserve it. I mean, I'd dump me..." Twilight closes her eyes as she speaks, getting more quiet. Rarity walks over and puts her hoof on Twilight's shoulder, much like Spike before her.

"Everypony makes mistakes. But you do love her. We can see that. I only hope she can see it, too," Rarity says.

"And hey, if she doesn't?" Dash cuts in. "Like I was saying before. You're Twilight Sparkle. She isn't the only mare out there who wants some of you." Dash winks at her.

Twilight raises her head, her eyes going a little wide at the wink.

Maybe she's right... maybe it wouldn't be so bad...

No! No! From now on, brain is doing the thinking. Not haunches. Not anymore.

"Thanks, girls." Twilight recovers quickly. "I mean, I know you're right. But she's..."

"Special?" Rarity smiles knowingly.

"...Yeah."

"She better be, the way you're fighting to hold on to her." Rainbow Dash waggles her eyebrows. "She must be, like, crazy in the sack, huh?"

"I think that's our cue to leave." Rarity glares at Dash. "Excuse us, Twilight. We'll be back in a while to check on you."

"Oh man, I am so right! Ha!" Dash laughs, looking at the slight blush on Twilight's cheeks. "We'll catch you later, Twi."

Twilight just nods at them as they leave. A small bit of her is annoyed that they think she needs to be "checked on", but the rest of her rightly reminds her that they're just being the good friends they always are.

Always.

Twilight sighs, happy and sad to be alone at the same time. The library is quiet. Pale moonlight pierces in through the windows.

She makes her way upstairs, meditating a little on what her life used to be. Once she opened herself up to the power of friendship, nothing was ever the same. She is never really alone. She's strong now, supported on all sides.

Love really isn't that different, I suppose.

It will never be the same. That bond... that connection...

She clears a space on her desk, laying out her quill and ink and paper.

Even if I've lost her... it was so beautiful to have her.

She sighs, closing her eyes. When she opens them, she's looking up, out the window. A full moon stares back at her, surrounded by breathtaking, twinkling stars.

She pauses for a moment. It's been a long time since she really gave thought to how this all began, in anything other than a strictly sexually curious way. She's had idle daydreams of making love to Luna occasionally, just as she occasionally catches herself staring at other mares. Just wondering.

Not that Cheerilee isn't great or anything...

No, that definitely isn't it. Nothing wrong with Cheerilee. Twilight smiles, her eyelids half-closing, as naughty memories send her tail lashing against nothing. The memories sting her just as quickly as she realizes she might never add to them.

Never again to feel that luscious body against hers, hear that beautiful voice crying out or whispering in her ear. To just lie with her, feeling the motion of breath in her chest.

She closes her eyes again, hard.

No more of that. Stay focused.

Have to stay focused. Have to fight. Have to win her back. Have to show her that I do care. It's not over yet.

Her eyes dart upward on their own, tracking movement. But there's nothing there. Twilight creases her brow, peering up into the night sky.

The moon seems dimmer, somehow. The room she's in feels darker.

Her breath catches in her throat. The hairs of her coat stand on end.

"My Twilight."

A voice from behind her. Twilight doesn't jump or startle. Her eyes narrow.

Of course she's here.

Twilight starts to turn around.

"I had a feeling you might..." Her voice drops dead. Her knees shake. Every cell of her body feels drained of blood, cold.

It's the most heart-stoppingly beautiful thing she's ever seen.

Luna is there, standing in her room. She's tall, as big as Celestia, if not a little taller. Everything about her before is more pronounced, more refined, the sleek curves of her body alluring, her large wings spread out in fanfare. Her mane and tail shimmer with stars, like they did when she was Nightmare Moon, stunning and only a little terrifying.

Her eyes glow, just slightly. Twilight feels an electric prickle, the air alive and tingling with magic.

"Duh... wha... how..." Twilight gasps breathlessly, her eyes wide.

"Good evening, Twilight. It's been so long," Luna says quietly. She smirks down at Twilight, as she always did, but warmer. Never before would Twilight have said that she resembled her sister.

"Good... evening...?" Twilight stammers out. Her chest aches, like the wind's been knocked out of her. Luna giggles, an arrogant, charming sound.

"You look so shocked. I wax, and wane. You've never seen me at my fullest before, have you?" she says.

Twilight starts to lose herself in that voice, those glowing eyes. She can feel her thoughts melting into dumb yearning. She shakes her head, crushing her eyes closed so hard it hurts. The slight pain brings thoughts back.

NO! No! Brain is in charge now! Don't forget what she did to you!

She opens her eyes, forcing her lips into a straight line.

"Good evening," Twilight says flatly.

"So grim, my eager student? And I heard you were doing better these days," Luna says, her smirk not moving.

"That's none of your business," Twilight says. "What, have you been watching me?"

Luna pouts at her, feigning hurt. "Oh, Twilight. Nothing so sinister." She steps closer to Twilight, casting moving shadows over the floor where her hooves tread. "I ask my sister of you, of course. I do have affection for you, after all. I never lied to you."

Twilight holds her grimace, despite tremors in her chest. "Why are you here?" she says.

"Isn't it obvious?" Luna's eyes light up. She stalks closer to Twilight. She looks ready to pounce. "You asked me once to come and claim you. At the time, you were not yet ready. But now I am here."

Twilight can't hold her mask through that one. Her eyes go wide again, and she stumbles back onto her rump.

"What? I didn't... we haven't talked in months! I don't want anything to do with you anymore!" Twilight forces a glare, trying to ignore the parts of her that very much want to do with Luna.

"I think we both know that isn't true." Luna smiles more, a real smile, predatory and thrilling.

"I didn't fall in love so I could appease you." Twilight's glare hardens.

Luna's smile fades. She gets that bored, feline look, staring at nothing in particular. "Whatever your intentions, you have done as I asked. I think you have learned much. Do you not better understand what I asked of you?"

Twilight starts to speak, but the words threatening to come out are too incriminating. She bites her tongue and casts her eyes to the side.

She's right. I didn't understand. Before.

No! Remember!

"You hurt me," Twilight says. "I still haven't really forgiven you, you know."

Luna shakes her head, looking somber. "I am sorry for what happened. But I think it more truthful to say that you hurt yourself. I tried to be gentle with you. Your infatuation was strong. Love's first bite is usually so."

Twilight looks away again. Every word she agrees with crumbles a bit of her resolve. She holds on tight.

"But I can see that you have grown up since then." Luna draws Twilight's eyes up to her own somehow, piercing into them. "You may appreciate what we have all the more."

"Luna... we... we don't have anything," Twilight says weakly. Her mind is tearing itself apart. The pull of craving lust is there, certainly – Luna's mere presence is arousing. Twilight can feel her pulse racing, feel herself getting wet just sitting there. But there's something else, too – that dormant longing for a goddess, forced into hiding by pain and shame. It's screaming in her mind.

But there is still resolve. She clings to it, squeezing tighter and tighter on a shrinking life raft.

"We don't have anything," she repeats, holding her head high.

"Perhaps not yet." Luna arches an eyebrow, stepping even closer. She's almost close enough to touch. Twilight's horn tingles, an antenna crackling in the aura of power surrounding the night princess.

"We could have so much, you and I," Luna whispers.

Twilight's face starts to go slack, dozy. She leans forward for just a moment before snapping herself back to attention.

"I can't. I have someone else," she says.

"Do you now?" Luna titters. Her eyes tell Twilight that she knows everything. "And where is this lover of yours?"

How did she know?

Twilight's head droops. She is alone. Alone and it's all my fault and I lost her and it was too little too late and I'm alone.

You're not alone. She's here.

No...

Twilight shakes her head, crumbling inside. She feels a hoof shod in the finest blue crystal stroke her cheek. She looks up into those powerful, glorious eyes.

"Be with me," Luna whispers.

Twilight's lip quivers. Her coat tingles at Luna's touch. She's hypnotized, stripped away down to nothing but basic urges.

No!

She reaches a hoof up and rests it on Luna's, rubbing her cheek against it. She closes her eyes, swimming in the intense feeling of just touching her.

No no NO!

Her eyes snap open.

Her smile, her lovely, warm smile

Waking up, opening her eyes to see those light green eyes staring back at her.

Lying with her, reading, her head resting on me as she reads her own book.

Twilight drops Luna's hoof, scooting back, away.

"No."

Luna's smile fades for just the briefest moment, then returns. She reaches her hoof out to Twilight again.

"I said no." Twilight stands, bracing herself.

"Twilight..." Luna smirks at her, dismissive. "I know you want me."

"Maybe I do. But I can't," Twilight says.

Luna's smirk fades and stays gone. She raises an eyebrow.

"I can't. I won't." Twilight stands tall. "I'm with someone else."

"She has left you."

"Maybe. It's not over yet. I have to try."

"You read her letter, didn't you? I would think it to be fairly obvious."

Twilight's jaw drops.

How does she know...?

"She has left you, Twilight. You two shared a wonderful love, but she left you."

Twilight's stance holds, but her face falls. "You're probably right," she admits.

"I have waited for this moment, and longed for you. Do you intend to keep me waiting?" Luna looks... almost plaintive. Twilight can't believe her eyes, but she holds strong.

"I'm sorry, but we can't do this," Twilight says.

Luna narrows her eyes. Twilight's coat crackles with silent static, magic pulsing through the air.

"I do not offer myself to just anyone. You would dare to refuse me?"

Fear rides Luna's icy voice right through Twilight's chest. Twilight swallows hard, her mouth dry. She holds eye contact with Luna, not budging.

"And what could possibly be running through your mortal mind to warrant such foolishness?" Luna glares down her nose at Twilight.

Twilight's breath is stuck again, a lump caught in her throat. She can't hide the fear on her face anymore. She stands, frozen.

"Why?" Luna says, cold and sharp.

Twilight's eyes go even wider. Everything in her mind falls away before that one word.

Why

Why?

"I..." she stammers.

Luna looks on, waiting.

"I love her," Twilight says. She blinks hard, feeling warm tears streaming out onto her cheeks. "I love her... I love her... I do. I can't do this. It would hurt her so much. Even if she is leaving me. Even if I did push her away. I love her."

The words pour out of her slowly. Something glows within her as they leave, something whole and healing and pure. She's never felt so warm, so peaceful. More pours out of her, everything, heedless of the living deity before her.

"I love her. I'm sorry. You're beautiful. You're all I ever dreamed of for so long. But you aren't her."

Twilight stares up at Luna, her eyes shimmering.

Luna glares back at her, the corner of her mouth turning down into a simmering frown. Her eyes are terrifying, glinting with hidden cruelties. Twilight quakes inside, caught, exposed, suddenly alive with panic. The room grows darker still.

And then the darkness fades. Luna smiles again, that strange, Celestial smile.

"I am very proud of you, Twilight."

Twilight's eyes bug out. "...What?"

"Truly, you have come to understand love. I am so happy for you." Luna sits on her rump, still smiling. "You've done well."

Twilight's stomach lurches, plummeting through the floor. An awful, terrible idea comes to her. "Don't tell me this was all some... some kind of test?" she says, more than a little angry.

"I do not know if test is the word I would use." Luna puts a hoof to her chin. "More like a crucible."

"What?!" Rage rises up out of nowhere. Twilight is almost quivering on her hooves. "WHAT?! That's crazy! You're insane! That's... you're crazy!"

"They don't call them lunatics for nothing, Twilight." Luna sticks out her tongue, making a silly face.

"You're awful!" Twilight screams. "What is wrong with you?!"

"Come now, Twilight." Luna rolls her eyes, looking almost bored. "Are you not happier now? You have found love, after all."

"NO." Twilight stomps a hoof, gritting her teeth. "You do NOT get to take credit for that. I found her despite you, NOT because of you."

Luna rolls her eyes again, sighing. "Very well, if that is what makes you happy."

"Happy? HAPPY?!" Twilight's throat stings, she's yelling so hard. "What would you have done if I said yes? Laugh?"

"Oh, I would have taken you. A win-win, really. As I said, I never lied to you. You are quite tempting." Luna licks her lips. "But I do not think that would be what's best. I am glad you chose as you did."

Twilight falls onto her rump, her mouth hanging open. Her mind reels, totally blank.

"I suppose you think I was just toying with you," Luna titters.

"GET OUT OF MY LIBRARY!" Twilight yells, glaring again.

Luna makes an amused pout. "Ooh, Twilight. Must you be so rough with a lady of my stature?" She grins devilishly. "I will go. But I wish to hear of your lover first. She must be quite the mare, if you think she is worth passing up on me."

Twilight's chest heaves. She doesn't have the breath left to scream anymore. "I asked you to leave," she says. "Seriously. I kind of hate you right now."

"That is a shame." Luna stands up, flapping her wings once. "At least tell me her name. I am very curious."

Twilight glares at her long and hard, loathe to even acknowledge the conversation.

"Cheerilee," she spits it out.

Luna looks delighted instantly. "A fine name. Warm. Full of mirth. Is she a unicorn like you, or are you as adventurous as I hoped?"

"Earth pony," Twilight growls out.

"Oh my! How do you keep up?" Luna smiles knowingly, bouncing her eyebrows.

Twilight just snorts at her.

"A final question. I know I am trying your patience." Luna asks eagerly, as if they were old friends, "What does she do?"

"She's a schoolteacher," Twilight says quickly, trying to get this over with.

Luna's eyes go wide, and a single, musical laugh escapes her mouth before she silences herself with a hoof. She snorts against closed lips a few times.

"...Are you her most faithful student?" Luna jeers.

"Get out of here. Now. Or I'll... I don't know. But really, I don't want to see you again."

"So serious sometimes, my Twilight." Luna sighs dramatically, pouting again. "I suppose I shall take my leave. I do not want to be in the way, after all."

"Excuse me?"

"She is coming here, you foal. Any minute now." Luna flares her wings out and wraps them around her body, casting shadows impossibly all around her. "Best of luck, my Twilight. Show her your love. I know you can win her back."

Some weird trick of light happens – or absence of light, as it were. Twilight tries to watch, but there's a blind spot all around Luna somehow, dark but not. Twilight is just beginning to tackle her confusion when it stops.

Luna is gone. She's alone again.

Her anger fades, now that it's target is gone. It shrinks to just a low burn, roiling in the back of Twilight's throat.

How... what... what just happened?

Slowly, her hooves come back to the ground. Nothing makes sense right now. Nothing makes sense ever. She's reeling, standing alone trying to wrap her mind around what just took place.

Her ear twitches.

How could she do that? How could anyone do that?

What's wrong with her? I wanted her?! What's wrong with me?

I can't even... I don't...

Her ear twitches again.

Knocking.

Somepony is knocking on the library's door.

She's coming here, you foal.

Twilight rushes so quickly she almost falls down the stairs. She coasts down the last few steps and bounds over to the door, slamming into it. She tears it open. Her face lights up.

"It is you!"

Cheerilee is standing there, a hoof raised where she was about to knock again.

"Excuse me?" she says, looking confused.

"Cheerilee!" Twilight can't contain herself. She darts forward, trying to nuzzle the fuchsia mare.

"Um... Wait a minute." Cheerilee backs away, blocking Twilight with a hoof. "Hold on. We need to talk."

"We do!" Twilight nods furiously, beaming. "I need to tell you that I love you."

"I... I know." Cheerilee bites her lip. "Your friends have been telling me. Not that you had anything to do with that, I'm sure."

"Oh, I did! I told them to do all that!" Twilight says, ignoring Cheerilee's sarcasm.

Cheerilee gives her a confused look. "Have you been crying? Are you okay?" she says.

"Yes! No! I mean, yes!" Twilight says frantically. "I am now."

Cheerilee starts to say something, but she gives up and just stares at Twilight.

"I'm so happy you're here," Twilight gushes, out of control. "I thought I'd lost you. I'm so sorry. About before."

Cheerilee winces, the words paining her. She looks away, trying to steel herself up. She takes a deep breath, letting it out slowly. Then she looks at Twilight and speaks, reciting.

"I appreciate that. I do. Your friends told me all that. And I'm glad."

This isn't right. This isn't the face she should be making.

"But..." Cheerilee falters on her speech.

But?

Twilight's face falls, her ears drooping. "But?" she says, half in shock.

"Listen..." Cheerilee begins, not meeting Twilight's eyes. "It's not that we don't care for each other. We do. And it's not that I want to do this. But..." Cheerilee pauses again, stuck. "I... we..."

Twilight's heart stops.

She's here to break up with me.

"Wait!" Twilight can't contain the panic in her voice. "Wait! I know I was awful. I was wrong. But I love you. It won't be like that anymore."

Cheerilee cringes, taking the words like blows. "I've heard that before. Too many times," she says, looking down at her hooves.

"Not from me!"

"No. But... I swore I would be strong this time." Cheerilee finally meets her eyes, long past tearing up.

"Don't do this!" Twilight bows down, gripping Cheerilee's foreleg. Shamelessly begging. "Please don't do this! I'm so, so sorry!" Her voice cracks, croaking out her pleas. "I love you. I love you so much. You have to believe me!"

Cheerilee tries to pull her hoof away, tugging at Twilight's grip. Twilight holds on for dear life.

"You're not making this easy." Cheerilee's lip quivers.

"Please... Please!" Twilight begs. Cheerilee keeps pulling her hooves, yanking at Twilight's grip.

"You're hurting me." Cheerilee looks down at her hoof.

You're hurting her.

I... but... I love her.

Stop hurting her.

Twilight lets go.

She freezes, the warm wetness of tears sliding down her face yet again. She stares up at Cheerilee.

"I'm sorry," she says quietly. "It's all my fault. I pushed you away. I was scared, maybe. I'm not sure. I wasn't sure." She bows her head, resting her chin on the front step. She closes her eyes. Defeated. "You should go. I don't want to hurt you anymore."

Twilight rests there, hiding in the darkness of her closed eyes. Seconds pass. She hopes, dimly, that Cheerilee will just walk away.

She doesn't.

"Do you... you really love me?" Her voice floats through Twilight's darkness.

A spark of hope forces Twilight's eyes open. She looks up.

"More than anything."

Cheerilee pulls Twilight to her feet, looking very stern, her eyes shimmering with tears.

"Look me in the eye and..."

"I love you," Twilight interrupts her, eyes locked on. The words force a proud smile onto her lips.

Cheerilee blinks, fighting the smile creeping onto her face. "If I give you this chance..."

"I'll only need the one. I promise," Twilight interrupts her again. Cheerilee sniffs loudly and nuzzles her, desperately pressing their faces together. Twilight's whole body shudders with relief.

"I'm so stupid. I just can't say no," Cheerilee says, crying even as she smiles.

"You won't regret it. Not this time."

Twilight strokes her cheek with a hoof, pulling her face away. They both stare at each other through waterlogged eyes.

"I love you, Twilight." She sniffs loudly again.

Twilight isn't sure who started it, but they kiss, their lips drifting together. It's a brief, chaste kiss, just a welcoming hello. It ends quickly, and Cheerilee laughs out some tension as soon as it's over.

"Well are you going to invite me in, or are we just making out in your doorway all night?" she says.

"Heh... sorry." Twilight steps aside, holding the door for her. Cheerilee walks in. The slightest brush of her coat and tail against Twilight sends her heart fluttering.

Hey... there's that new love feeling again! Oh my gosh!

Twilight closes the door and follows Cheerilee, floating on her hooves.

"So – now... um..." Twilight's eyes dart around, chasing her nervousness. "Are we... oof!"

Cheerilee tackles her onto the floor, landing them both on a sitting cushion. She snuggles up against Twilight, pinning her on her back. Twilight sighs loudly.

I missed her so much... even before she left me. How did I not realize?

"I missed you so much. Even before it got really bad," Cheerilee whispers.

"Huh?" Twilight fidgets.

"I said..."

"No, I heard you. I was surprised. I was just thinking the same thing."

Cheerilee squeezes her forelegs tight around Twilight. "You started getting all distant on me. I was so scared. I thought you didn't want me anymore," she says.

"I'm sorry. I..." Twilight pauses. It's strange – it all seemed so clear, the epiphany had come. But now she's having trouble putting it into words for the one pony that most needs to hear it.

"It's okay. I know you're sorry," Cheerilee says.

"No." Twilight pushes her back a little so their eyes can meet. "I have to tell you. I should've told you a long time ago."

Cheerilee gives her a quizzical look, waiting.

"I guess when you first meet someone there's like a... I don't know. A buzz. A high." Twilight searches for word.

Cheerilee snorts with amusement. "It's not unlike being drunk," she says.

"Right." Twilight hesitates. Even now, it's hard to say. "And us... we were dating and everything was so great. But then that feeling wasn't as strong. And I got worried. I was worried I wasn't in love with you. But I still loved you, and... I was so confused."

Cheerilee's jaw drops. She stares at Twilight shamelessly. Twilight does her best to shrink into the cushion.

"That's all it was?!" Cheerilee says.

Twilight nods weakly.

Cheerilee smiles and hits Twilight's chest with a hoof, softly. "You're such a silly filly sometimes, Twilight. I keep forgetting that you're new at this."

Twilight just grins sheepishly.

"But I love you anyway." That seductive look, just like when they first started dating. Twilight starts to fall apart when something occurs to her.

"Wait... you know what I'm talking about? Did you feel the same way?" Twilight raises an eyebrow.

"Of course, Twilight. That always happens." Cheerilee rolls her eyes.

"Oh." Twilight really does shrink this time.

I am the dumbest damn pony that has ever been.

"We're kind of a big, dumb mess. The two of us," Cheerilee says.

"Both of us?"

"Well... maybe if I wasn't so paranoid I would have just talked to you more. We could have avoided this whole thing."

"It's not your fault," Twilight says, almost proud.

"Well it's probably a little my fault."

"No! Completely mine."

"Hey, I can say it's my fault if I want." Cheerilee stands up over Twilight, looming over her.

"You're so weird sometimes." Twilight flashes her practiced seductive smile, version two. "I missed you."

Cheerilee's mouth slowly forms a hungry smile. "I missed you, too."

They kiss again. This time Twilight is sure Cheerilee started it. Cheerilee forces Twilight's head into the cushion, laying her body back down on Twilight's. Twilight is pinned under her, just taking her kisses, squirming and flicking her tail around. Her whole body tingles, flush with pent-up arousal. She moans just a little as Cheerilee pulls away.

"Wow," Twilight blurts out between breaths.

"Yeah." Cheerilee grins above her. "You know what else I missed?" Her eyes are pure sex, and they force a nervous giggle out of Twilight.

"I wasn't sure you would want to... you know. So soon again. I mean, I hoped," Twilight says.

"Ha! You're so cute sometimes." Cheerilee lowers her face again, their noses brushing. "That was our first big fight, wasn't it? We never did it after all the little ones leading up."

Twilight shifts her eyes around. "So?"

"So..." Her eyes flash, drawing Twilight in. "I think tonight Miss Cheerilee needs to teach you a lesson about make-up sex."

"Ohhhhh..." Twilight shudders, her eyelids dropping to half-mast.

Twilight reaches her forelegs up and loops them around Cheerilee's shoulders. They're just about to kiss again when voices trot up to the library's door.

Aw, darn it!

They both turn their heads as the door opens. Spike immediately shields his eyes.

"Aw, jeez! Not again!" he cries.

"Whoa! Whoa... uh... 'scuse us!" Applejack immediately blushes, a rare sight. Twilight's other friends crowd in behind them, peering in curiously. Rainbow Dash's head pokes down from above, staring in from the top of the doorway.

"Nice!" Dash says, nodding and grinning.

"Hi, Cheerilee!" Pinkie Pie waves.

"Hi," Cheerilee says, smiling graciously, still cuddled against Twilight.

"Oh, so it did work out! How marvelous!" Rarity says.

"AHEM." Twilight glares up at them from under Cheerilee.

"Oooooh!" Pinkie winks at Twilight, exaggerating it as always. "Come on, Spike! Slumber party at my place!" She loops a foreleg around the baby dragon.

"Baking slumber party? Can I come?" Fluttershy perks up.

"Of course you can, silly! Let's all go and leave these lovebirds alone," Pinkie says.

"Baking? Twilight, can I go?" Spike looks back to the couple.

Twilight nods her head furiously.

"Alright!" Pinkie drags Spike away. "Come on, everypony!"

"Ah dunno. Should probably be getting' back to the homestead." Applejack pauses, still in the doorway.

"Likewise. I do have quite a bit of work to get to in the morning," Rarity says.

"Yes! Well! Thank you all for your help and support, and as you can see things have worked out. SO! AHEM!" Twilight glares even harder, tilting her head at the mare on top of her.

"Right! Right. Sorry. You two... heh... you two have a good night, now." Applejack quickly shuts the door, grinning.

Voices fade outside, drifting away. Twilight turns her head to see Cheerilee giggling at her.

"Your friends..." She shakes her head. "You're so lucky."

"Yes." Twilight looks into her eyes. "Yes, I am."

Twilight cranes her neck up, reaching her lips towards Cheerilee. But her lover pushes her down with a hoof.

"Bedroom. Now," Cheerilee almost growls. Twilight's heart races as Cheerilee gets up and trots off towards the stairs, throwing extra wiggle in her rump as she walks. Twilight chases after her.

Cheerilee halts for just a moment at the base of the stairs, casting Twilight an inviting look over her shoulder. She flicks her tail and hops up the steps. Twilight catches her halfway up, and can't resist grabbing that thick tail in her mouth and giving it a tug.

"Oh!" Cheerilee halts. "I thought I said bedroom."

"Too far. Can't wait," Twilight mutters through teeth gritted around thick curls. She grabs Cheerilee's ankles with her arms and drags her snout up, over those luscious flanks, nuzzling them. She darts her tongue out, pressing it against a smiling flower.

"OH!" Cheerilee collapses, resting her head and forelegs on a wooden step. Twilight drags her snout along her flank and tail, sniffing and kissing. Her scent, her intoxicating scent, invades Twilight's nostrils.

It feels like we haven't done this in years my gosh she's so wet my gosh I'M so wet

A maelstrom of mixed-up emotions, building within her for days and churned up all night. Twilight can barely think. She yanks Cheerilee's tail again with her teeth...

Oh yes oh YES

...And dives right into the paradise under that tail, lapping softly at her lips.

"Ahhh!" Cheerilee squirms and whimpers. "What, no foreplay?" she says, her voice aching with pleasure.

No time.

Twilight just mumbles into her girlfriend's slick privates, lapping softly at her. She greedily eats her out, right there on the staircase, her forelegs locked around thick, shaking thighs.

"Uh. Uh! OHHHhhhhhh..." Cheerilee grunts, deeper and harder than her usual screams. Her tail curls around Twilight's head, caressing her head and withers, enveloping her in that heady, mystery scent.

Distantly, Twilight remembers the lingering mystery of that smell. It doesn't matter. She's too busy. She drinks deeply of her lover, suckling at her, running her tongue up and down the slit and dancing it around her entrance.

"Okay," Cheerilee pants out. "Okay!" She giggles, dragging her hooves, trying to shake Twilight off her rump.

Twilight grunts like a spoiled foal, holding on tight. She feels Cheerilee's backside buck against her, the lovely muscles flexing, interrupting her tongue's strokes. She squeezes tighter with her forelegs and plunges her tongue right in, flicking the tip up and down.

"Oh! Twilight!" Cheerilee squeals. "Ahhhhhhh I love that you know I love that oh god!" She shakes, almost giving in. Then she summons one last buck of her back legs, throwing Twilight's mouth off just long enough.

Twilight feels that lovely rump shake and buck and then slide away, dimly feels legs squeeze out of her hooves. She leans forward to chase, mindless. Cheerilee dodges and turns, meeting her with a kiss. She holds Twilight's face, directing her desire.

"Go on." Cheerilee breaks the kiss, still holding her. She scolds, seductively, urging Twilight to move past her. "Upstairs."

Twilight squeezes past, dragging their coats together. Cheerilee pushes her ahead and follows Twilight up the stairs, nipping at her thighs. Twilight tries to flick her tail and walk with her rump, the way she's watched Cheerilee do so many times.

The bedroom. Cheerilee nudges Twilight's rump, pushing her up onto the bed. She climbs after Twilight, clambering up onto her body, forcing Twilight onto her back. Twilight grins at her.

"Right, right. Foreplay. Sorry, I kind of lost my head there for a second," she says.

"Foreplay?" Cheerilee looks very confused.

"...Yes?"

Cheerilee gives her a wicked grin and sinks her body, dragging her mouth right into Twilight's yearning crotch.

"Whoa!" Twilight's arms shoot to the side, digging into the sheets. Her whole body jolts. Cheerilee's tongue is sharp, almost stinging, better than ever before. It reminds Twilight of her very first time receiving this kind of ministration. It feels incredible.

"Ohhhhhhhh wow!" Twilight moans, vising Cheerilee's head between her thighs. Cheerilee exposes that glorious little nub of pleasure with an expert touch, parting its hood with her tongue. She goes wild with it, somehow coiling her tongue around it. Twilight shudders and loses her breath. She closes her eyes, her face twisting up in what would otherwise look like pain.

And then it stops. Movement. Twilight feels hooves moving on the blanket around her. She opens her eyes and Cheerilee's hips are above her face, her back hooves planted on either side of Twilight's head.

Twilight freezes, taking in this new perspective. She's heard of this position by now, but they had never done it in the past. Cheerilee's tail teases at her bangs and horn. She feels Cheerilee's tongue go back to work and gasps, arching her back. Cheerilee is running her tongue up and down Twilight's nether lips, but the sight above her is...

Words fail. Twilight stares for some seconds, just watching. Cheerilee flexes her hips in the air, winking at Twilight with her crotch. Her thick lips are shining, parting on their own. Her clit is sticking out, almost visibly twitching.

Twilight licks her own lips and attacks, clinging to Cheerilee with her forelegs.

"Ahmmmaaaahhhmmm!" Cheerilee muffles her scream with Twilight, bucking with her hind legs. Twilight goes right for her nub, wrapping her lips around it and sucking. She flicks her tongue over it frantically. Cheerilee almost kicks with her back legs, moaning in her chest, picking Twilight's head up off the bed with each buck.

Twilight had always assumed that this would be difficult. How could you really pay attention to your partner while being pleasured yourself, after all? But nothing of the sort occurs to her now. She holds on to her lover, completely losing herself in the pleasure at both ends of her body. Her tongue goes on its own – it knows what to do.

Her horn starts to glow. She wants – she needs – to make this mare come, to feel her being overcome with love. A quiet part of her thinks that's a little cheap.

No magic tonight just us it's not a race you don't need to get her off

It goes ignored. She snakes a thick finger of magic against Cheerilee's folds, rubbing them, then forces it inside her.

"Mmmmm!" Cheerilee stops licking instantly, shaking all over. She presses her muzzle against Twilight's crotch, basting it with her hot breath.

Twilight holds Cheerilee's clit in her lips, her eyes wide. She can see everything by the glow of her horn, dark pink skin squeezing around the glow of magic as she pushes it in and out in a slow rhythm. Twilight is transfixed. Fascinated. She presses around Cheerilee's tunnel, sliding against the slick, smooth flesh.

Wait... what's that?

Twilight feels a spot in her horn against the front of Cheerilee's inner walls, different somehow. Not smooth. She rubs it again. It's a little rough, ribbed almost, and the sensation against her horn makes her eyes cross.

"Mmmmmmm..." Twilight moans, sending vibrations into Cheerilee's button through her lips. Cheerilee gasps silently, her tail lashing violently.

Twilight presses down into this new spot, wondering how she never noticed it before.

Well you were always so busy just rutting her like a stallion.

True. I've never explored her so...

"Mmmmm!" Her thoughts fade as shivers run through her horn. This spot feels so good. She rubs harder on it, almost not noticing Cheerilee's quaking hips, the shaking in her mound.

"MMM! MMM! MMM!" Cheerilee screams into Twilight, her back legs tightening up, her muscles like steel.

Wow she is loving this I can't believe I never this is GREAT

Twilight keeps pressing, her horn glowing brighter. She smiles around Cheerilee's clit, barely sucking anymore, focused entirely on this new sensation.

"MmmmmmmmMMMMM!" Cheerilee screams silently and writhes around, jerking her hips.

Twilight feels the flesh around her horn squeeze and clench, the familiar dance of her lover's climax. And then her eyes close on instinct. Something hot and wet squirts onto her face, right between her eyes.

Wha duh huh?! Wha?!

Her horn dies down instantly. Her mouth falls open, releasing Cheerilee's sore clit, just in time for a second spurt to soak her muzzle.

"AAAAAAHHHHHHhhhhhhhh..." Cheerilee snaps her head up, screaming loud enough to ring in Twilight's ears, trailing off into a low, dark moan.

Twilight sits up, frozen in shock. Cheerilee slides off her to the side, twitching and moaning. Twilight barely notices. She's making choking little gasps, she can feel warm fluid running down her face.

What... what?

She sniffs tentatively. Her nose is surrounded, bathing in the scent of... well, the scent of Cheerilee.

Okay... not urine. That's good. That is good.

She sits up on her forelegs, just hanging her mouth open.

Did she just... was that some kind of super orgasm?! She is way more sensitive than me...

Cheerilee's gasping breaths slow down, her face relaxes into that beautiful, post-coital smile. She tiredly turns her head towards Twilight and almost jumps at what she sees.

"Oh! OH! Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh!" She gets up, fidgeting next to Twilight, not sure what to do. "I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! Uh... here!" She grabs Twilight's sheets between her hooves, her favorite ones. Stars and moons. Cheerilee wipes at Twilight's snout with them, drying her off.

"What... just happened?" Twilight says.

"I came." Cheerilee smiles sheepishly.

"What, like... like a stallion?!"

"Sort of. I guess."

"You can do that? Girls can DO that?"

"Some girls. I don't know. That only happened to me once before."

"Huh." Twilight just gawks at her, taking this in. "Huh."

"I didn't mean to get you in the... um... you know."

"It's okay." Twilight crinkles up her nose, still sniffing Cheerilee's sex all around her. "I'm new at this, remember?"

"Ha!" Cheerilee takes a deep breath, still looking a little embarrassed. Only a little. "You really didn't know?"

Still learning. Always learning.

"No. I had no idea. It's not like there are books about this," Twilight says.

"True. There should be. Maybe we can write one."

"What's it like? Coming like that, I mean?"

"Maybe I can show you."

They share a seductive smile, leaning in closer to each other. Twilight's hoof slides over Cheerilee's, their bodies inching closer and closer together. Then Twilight is giggling as a hungry mare pounces on top of her.

They lie together, breathing slowly. The moon and stars have shifted a fair distance across the sky. Twilight slowly strokes a hoof against Cheerilee's side. Cheerilee nickers, occasionally flicking her tail gently into the air. They're both exhausted.

Twilight sighs, deep and contented. She had not, in fact, discovered what it was like that night.

Maybe only some mares can do it.

But that's okay.

We certainly had fun trying.

She stares down at Cheerilee's face. She's resting her head on Twilight's chest, her eyes closed. Peaceful. Happy. Twilight nods her head down and runs her snout through that pink mane, sniffing at her.

"Sunflowers."

"Huh?" Twilight's head jolts up.

Cheerilee opens her eyes and smiles slowly. "Sunflowers. Like my cutie mark."

Twilight's eyes go wide.

Of course! Dear Celestia, it's so obvious!

"Wait... sunflowers don't really have a smell. Do they?" Twilight says.

"That's what it smells like to me," Cheerilee says matter-of-factly.

Twilight is confused, but it feels like she agrees. She goes with it. "So... does my mane smell like magic?" she wonders out loud.

"It definitely smells magical."

Twilight rolls her eyes, smiling. Cheerilee nibbles at her chest, then rests her head down again.

"Hey." Twilight nudges her.

Cheerilee picks her head up again, eyebrows raised.

"I meant all those things I said before," Twilight says. "I really did. I love you. I want to prove it to you."

Cheerilee smiles, bemused. "Oh, sweetie. You don't have to do anything special. I believe you."

"No... I don't know." Twilight has no idea how to communicate this feeling. Something inside her is yearning to get out. Cheerilee cocks an eyebrow at her.

"I'm yours. I'll give you anything you want. I'll come see you every day. I'll promise to never leave you. You can move in here with me. Or I'll move in with you, or something, I don't know," Twilight blurts out.

"Twilight..." Cheerilee looks deeply happy, her whole face flush with bliss. "I don't care about any of that."

"You don't?!" Twilight balks. "What do you want?"

"I just want you to love me." Cheerilee smiles at her.

Twilight smiles back. "I do," she says.

"I know, sweetie. I know."

Cheerilee rests her soft mane on Twilight's coat. Twilight wraps her up in an embrace, holding her tight. She stares up at the ceiling, relaxing with Cheerilee in her arms. Together with her. Whole with her.

Twilight feels her fall asleep, her chest rising and falling. She looks down and Cheerilee is smiling, peaceful. Twilight lies there, wide awake with tears in her eyes, happier than she's ever been.

This is something. This is real. This is love.

We did it. She found me. I found her.

It IS love.