Twilight had a crush.
Of course, she had her fair share of crushes before, Mares and Stallions. But this was entirely different.
It was one of her best friends and, worse, a fellow element of Harmony. And even worse, worse, she was her kid brother/adoptive son/assistant/ baby dragon Spike's love interest.
She had a crush on Rarity!
It had taken Twilight a bit to realize. She knew Rarity was beautiful of course. But there were plenty of beautiful mares in Canterlot and in Ponyvile. What really made the difference was her personality, her kindness, her generosity, her artistic talent, and creative mind. Those all increased her appeal immensely. And through their friendship, Twilight had found a crush was developing. An infatuation. She couldn't get Rarity out of her head.
And this was a problem for lots of reasons.
1: As she had mentioned, Spike had a crush on Rarity himself. It would be a betrayal of his feelings to pursue her after he had poured his heart out to her about Rarity so many times.
2. She was friends with Rarity, and she didn't want to lose her friendship for the remote possibility of a successful relationship.
3. She had no idea how that would affect the Elements of Harmony, both magically and in terms of team composition. Would that depower the Elements? Strengthen them? Change them? Send them to different users? Would it negatively affect team morale?
4. Would it compromise her friendship with the others? Her relationships in town?
And so on. Really, there were no upsides to this. If she could control her feelings, she would squash this crush in it's cradle.
But she couldn't. Each day it grew stronger. She'd find herself ogling Rarity's bum, or having sigh filled daydreams at random times during the day, or even having actual dreams. Fantasies of her and Rarity together, in a world where nothing goes wrong. A bliss-filled world where their path to love was easy and guilt free.
Twilight didn't live in such a world, so she really just wanted to pretend these feelings weren't there. But that wasn't a solution really. It got harder to pretend each and every day.
"Dear, is something the matter?" A voice broke through Twilight's frenzied thoughts.
"No! I mean what? I mean, sorry, could you repeat that?" Twilight said, giving her a strained smile.
"Is something the matter? It seems your mind has been preoccupied dear." Rarity said, giving her a concerned look.
"No. Nothings wrong. Sorry if I've been a bit distant." Twilight said.
"It's no problem. I want only for my dear friends to be happy." Rarity said. A dagger stabbed through Twilights heart. Friends. Is that all they would ever be? Of course, it was. Even if things weren't so complicated, someone like Rarity would never-
"Thanks for your concern. But it's nothing. I just didn't get a lot of sleep last night, is all." Twilight said.
"Oh really? I suppose you were up late at night with a book. Twilight I appreciate your passion, I've felt it too, but you must get your sleep as well." Rarity says. Twilight snorted.
"Says the workaholic herself." Twilight said.
"Heh heh. Well, some sacrifices have to be made in the pursuit of artistic creation." Rarity said.
"The same could be said about academics and magic." Twilight said.
"I...see your point. I'll try to be better at following my own advice in the future." Rarity said.
"I-I was just teasing. I admire your passion as well." Twilight said, she was blushing a bit.
"Thank you very much, darling. You know...I've always felt that you and I understand each other the best, out of all the other elements." Rarity said.
"Y-you do? How so?" Twilight said. She could feel her heart racing.
"We are both unicorns, not that that is particularly important, but we know more of active magic than most others. We both understand and appreciate beauty in our own ways. The visual arts for me and the art of words and magic for you. We are passionately devoted not just to a career but a cause." Rarity said.
"A cause?" Twilight asked.
"Of course. We perpetuate not only ourselves but our ideas and aesthetics. When I sell my dresses and when you make a spell or write a treatise. You're spreading your vision of what you want the world to be like. Through self-expression, we change the world." Rarity said.
"I...I suppose your right." Twilight said.
"Of course this isn't to look down on what the others do. Farming, competition, fun, preserving nature...all of those things are very important but they are different creatures entirely from what we do, dear." Rarity said.
"I...I see." Twilight said.
"There's another thing we share in common, you and I?" Rarity said, and her voice sounded...different. Dangerously similar to how it was when she was flirting with a stallion. It could be, and yet Twilight still felt a shiver of arousal.
"We both like other mares. Don't we." She said in a stage whisper.
"Wh-what."Twilight said.
"You don't have to keep secrets from me darling. I understand. I've seen all the signs. Noticed your ogling other mares rumps. Your admiration of Bon-Bon and Lyra. I've even caught you flirting with some mares, you little minx." Rarity giggled playfully.
"I-It was that obvious huh?" Twilight said.
"Oh yes. You gave me instant fillyfooler vibes right away. Bi correct?" Rarity said.
"Did my mane give it away?" Twilight said dryly, Rarity giggled again.
"Well...that certainly didn't help preserve your cover, as it were. But really it was a million little things, and the aura you have around you." Rarity said.
"Aura? I have an aura of queerness around me now?" Twilight said. Rarity again burst into laughter.
"Hmph. I suppose you do. Although you should count yourself lucky it's not as big and powerful as our dear friend Rainbow Dash's." Rarity said.
"Ha. I suppose so. But what about you, you said you like mares too." Twilight said.
"Ah yes. But I pass exceedingly well as a heterosexual, thank you very much. Though that does have it's downsides." Rarity said.
"What are those exactly?" Twilight said.
"It's hard to find a mare who will take a chance on me." Rarity said.
"Why? You're beautiful! And kind and generous and smart." Twilight said. She could have continued but then her mind caught up to her mouth and she began to blush and hold her tongue.
"Thanks, but even if other mares see me like that, they aren't keen on pursuing someone they think might be straight. So I have to pursue stallions, which only amplifies the problem." Rarity said.
"I...see." Twilight said, taking a tentative sip of her tea.
"Have you ever dated someone?" Rarity asked. Twilight spit out her tea, coughing a bit as some made it's way down her throat anyway.
"A-are you ok Darling?" Rarity asked, alarmed.
"Y-yeah. S-sorry for worrying you." Twilight said.
"Twilight, you don't have to apologise to me for anything." Rarity said, putting a hoof on the lavender mares cheek.
"Th-thanks." Twilight said.
"But your not going to get out of my little question that easily." Rarity said. Twilight's face fell again.
"Don't worry, dear. You don't have to answer if it's uncomfortable for you." Rarity said.
"No...no. There's...no reason not too. I-" Twilight took a breath and composed herself.
"I have had a couple of l-lovers. S-Special someponies. None of them lasted too long. The longest was with a mare." Twilight said.
"I see. Well, those ponies didn't deserve you. You're fabulous darling. And you deserve someone that will treat you as such." Rarity said.
"Th-thanks. But it wasn't really their fault the relationships failed or anything. It was just-" Twilight began, and then a voice interrupted her.
"Rarity! I neeed you!" Called a familiar young voice. Rarity sighed.
"Sorry, Twilight dear, sisterly duty calls. We'll resume this discussion another time." Rarity said.
"O-of course. Make sure your sister is doing well. I have some books I need to organize anyway." Twilight said.
"Oh dear, you're always reorganizing your books. Couldn't you give that a rest?" Rarity said.
"But the library is getting new books Rarity, and that messes with my whole system." Twilight said.
"Twi, darling-" Rarity began.
"Raaaarityyyy!" Sweetie called again.
"Of course I'll be there in one moment. Farewell Twilight." Rarity said and strode away, swaying her hips enticingly.
Twilight enjoyed watching her leave, she sighed dreamily,and eventually made her way back home.