More To Me Than That
Chapter 3: Shocking Affections
Now you ever have that moment when you have a great idea, but you don't
know that someone else was thinking it at the exact same time?
Well that's exactly what got into the heads of Sonic and Rainbow Dash when
they decided to visit the home of Twilight Sparkle, which was a castle of gems that resided
on top of a tree, for advice about filming each other (which the other never knew about).
What neither of them also didn't know is that someone else was in Twilight's house.
A certain two-tailed kitsune in fact.
In a living room inside the Castle of Friendship (which was
evident in Twilight lived in by how much her scent seemed to radiate the place),
Tails woke up exhausted, shaking himself from the doziness given to
him by Pinkie Pie.
He knew that she only meant it because she mistook his snapping Twilight out of Chaos
Control for an abusive assault, but the ringing in his ears and the confusion actually came
from what Twilight said to him about himbeing her best friend.
Not just one of many, or just another ally (which everyone seemed to think of him as
whether they meant to or not), but her very best friend.
Don't get Tails wrong; he honestly would've said the same thing about her.
Out of the Mane 6, Twilight seemed to be the one Tails could really connect to for her being
a bit of a nerd like Tails. But unlike Tails, her group was all unified. It didn't really have a
leader. All of them were respected for their works as a team. She was used to getting the
attention she deserved. Tails, however, had "sidekick" status on Team Sonic. This team, like
the Mane 6, were a group of great friends; but because their situations were different on
Mobius than Equestria (such as the world being under more unfriendly and more
world-threatening conditions in certain cases than in Equestria) everyone usually turned to
Sonic because he was a natural leader. The one who would usually start fighting and
attacking evil with no hesitation. His confidence and power enabled his team to fight harder
and more efficient whereas, without him, the world in which they lived had far more next to
none of a chance of survival. Sonic knew that he had earned his friends respect and also
knew that they would also give it their all for him, which made him feel more comfortable
about using their various gifts when he needed them too. Tails, being his best friend and
main sidekick, was the one who would be the main hacker, technician, weapons designer
and one of the main military strategists on the team. He was also one of the main fighters
of the team as he showed "valor and power" (as Knuckles called it one time) on and off the
battlefield.
In spite of all of this however, he wasn't getting all of the due respect he deserved, at least
that's what he observed. Tails just wasn't as flashy or as brightly spontaneous in a way that
would turn others on.
Sonic would do so with the confidence and the speed, Amy with the over-the-top optimism
and her powerful hammer, Knuckles with his brash thinking and brute strength, Silver with
telekinesis and optimism (although he was a bit more grounded in reality than Amy.)
I think you get the point by now. With Tails though; sure he's a loyal person, but he's not the
most socialite of the Mobians or the most physically gifted or empowered like Sonic,
making him way more depreciated and devalued.
Which explains why he was utterly surprised that Twilight would even come close to saying
anything like that about or even to him.
Confusion, exhaustion and the sheer volume of which Pinkie and Twilight argued
was what eventually overloaded Tails's mind that day and made him faint
down right there in front of her at the ice cream parlor. While Tails felt
embarrassed by what he did, he was still flat-out exhausted as he shook his
head violently before thudding back on the ground.
"Oh you poor silly fox."
Twilight said. Tails drifted back to exhaust-driven sleep, so of course he paid
no attention to his friend smiling, walking up to him, picking him up (with a
towel also in her hands) and carrying him up into a spa room where he
would have a better chance of resting.
So let's shift over to Twi as she places Tails down gently in a crystal hot tub
(which was in her Emerald Spa Room)
made with special magical salts that would "soothe" his exhaustion away by
relaxing his mind to the point where it would be fully rested and thus, fully
energized.
Twilight knew that it would take a while for her to truly convince Tails that
she truly is her friend. When she first met the kitsune, one of the first things
she noticed is that everypony else would usually rally around one of his
friends, but not directly to him. It wasn't done to insult him, nor was it done
because nobody/pony wanted to be around him (everybody liked Tails).
But more mainly because of Tails's status as a "sidekick."
You really can't blame everypony's conceptions of him though either.
Tails just wasn't as flashy or as brightly spontaneous in a way that would turn others on.
Sure he's a loyal person, but he's not the most
socialite of the Mobians. He's what you would call a nerd, and since I don't know what
Equestrians would call those types of people, we'll just stick with nerd. He knows how to
make very useful machines; sometimes out of the best materials out there, other times just
with what he can find.
That is something we humans call "life-hacking", and Tails was one of the best at it.
But that was all they usually saw. A great technician who was a loyal sidekick and a great
helper. Nothing more, but at the same time, nothing less.
Twilight saw those things they thought of him, and they weren't bad things at all, neither was
it ill-intentioned, because everyone actually liked Tails.
But it was as if they haven't noticed the heroism their friend offered enough or knew him as
well as they should have as a Mobian, or as a friend or that matter.
She was still thinking about how the Main 6 and she herself saw her friend when she heard
a knock at the amethyst door.
Somewhat annoyed that she was broken out of her thoughtfulness towards someone she
more than highly valued, she strode across the ruby floor of the hallway which connected
the Spa Room to the Onyx-walled living room.
She finally opened the door to see Rainbow Dash and Sonic on the
other side.
"Hey Twi." they said simultaneously in a friendly manner.
Although Twilight was a little stressed about Tails's condition, she controlled herself enough
(knowing that neither of them meant to rudely intrude) and kindly let them in.
"Please sit down." Twilight said, motioning her friends towards a large sofa whose exterior
was made of sapphire and whose cushions are made of the most comfortable of clouds.
Sonic and Dash both sat down and glanced at each other, both wondering why the other
was there with them at Twilight's.
As Twilight sat down in her own comfortable sapphire recliner, Sonic whispered curiously to
his rainbow-colored friend, "What are you doing here?"
She turned and whispered back, "Probably the same thing as you, getting advice for our
friend contest. I'm also assuming that you wanted to ask Twi to be a judge?"
Sonic nodded and Rainbow smiled and nodded as well, affirming to her that they were in
agreement about Twilight being a judge.
"So, what can I do for you both?" Twilight's friendly asked question broke the two friends out
of their conversation.
Sonic and Rainbow told Twilight briefly about them wanting to judge for a contest between
the two for who could best express how they felt about their best friend.
Twilight beamed in a radiant, sparkling excitement. "Are you kidding?! Of course I can be a
judge for you." she said, excited that the two friends came up with such a bright idea;
"In fact, I'll see if we can have the winning video also be displayed for the Week of Elements
Celebration!" she said, accompanying an already great idea with one of her own.
Sonic and Rainbow looked at each other in the eyes with excited looks. One, because their
friendship to each other meant so much that they didn't really care how public it would get.
Second, because it would push them to do even better at coming up
with an amazing idea of expressing how they care about each other because it would no
longer be just them, but for the whole wide world of Equestria to see.
And finally, maybe (just maybe) through their example, friendship in Equestria as a whole
can be improved like never before. "Yeah that'll be great. Thanks Twi." Sonic said in
gratitude. "Yeah thanks Twi." Rainbow said.
"You're welcome." Twilight said gratefully in response.
"There's just one more last thing
though." Sonic said. Twilight smiled again, with the exception of Tails, Sonic was the closest
Mobian friend she ever had. "Is it a Fist Bump?" Twilight guessed, playfully in a friendly way.
"No, not this time. I don't quite know what exactly to say to this special friend
of mine. Or even how to say it for that matter." he said, then he looked over to Rainbow who
said, "We were wondering if you can give us advice on how to do that so that my speech can
be the best, most spectacular, most awesomest thing my friend has ever seen! And that
Sonic's doesn't make him and his friend fall asleep." she said, gently elbowing Sonic with her
elbow.
Sonic pretended to annoyingly sigh in front of Rainbow. "Really? Are you bringing up
Winsome again?"
"What happened at Winsome?" a confused Twilight asked the two.
"Oh nothing." the two asked, smirking at Twilight, who then nodded
and said "Uh-huh" in a sarcastic manner, knowing better than there would be an "ordinary"
moment between those two.
"So, can you please help us out?" Rainbow asked.
Twilight was about to answer when they saw Tails walk into the living room holding onto a
towel. "Whoa, I don't know what happened there. One minute I was at the ice-cream place,
the next I fainted and now I'm at..." Tails stared awkwardly at a
confused Sonic and Rainbow Dash and then turned to Twilight, who sighed in relief that her
friend was ok.
"Oh hey Twilight." Tails said awkwardly, he looked as if he was caught with his tails in the
cookie jar with a towel around his waist in front of 3 of his closest friends.
"I didn't know you had company over. Uh, hey Sonic and Dash." "Hey Tails." Sonic said, with
he and Rainbow smiling and waving at their two-tailed fox friend. "What do you mean by
fainted?" Sonic asked, concerned.
"Long story bro, I'll talk with you later." Tails said, looking at Sonic, who smiled in
understanding and nodded.
Tails then turned to Twilight and asked, "So, do you know where I can put the towel?"
Twilight found herself staring at Tails, quickly plotting one move that could accomplish two purposes.
To help Sonic and Dash, and to get something important off
of her chest that she had been dealing with for a while now.
Something so significant, that it could not and must not wait any second longer.
"Actually Tails, can you put that down for a bit? I need to talk to you about something
important."
Tails didn't know why she was asking him to do that, or what she needed to talk to him
about, but he put down the towel anyway and went over to her.
"You know Twi, we can leave if you want to. We didn't know you had..." Sonic offered, but
Twilight interrupted with, "No, please stay. It's perfectly fine." She then got off her chair
(which was more like a throne in look and stature), gently lifted Tails up and put him on it,
and sat down on the floor right next to him, as if she were a pauper discussing something
important to a king.
"Tails," she started in a calm, friendly tone, "I just want you to know
that the past year has been one of the most happiest and joyful years of my life. And I'll bet
you could guess why." Tails looked at her confused, as she gently turned to him and said,
"because a golden fox from another world has entered my life and made it better than it
already has been." She smiled and she continued. "As someone who has often been
respected by others for my gifts and abilities, I've always felt like I've been at the center of
attention in a lot of the friendships I was in. I felt like I was thoroughly and effectively doing
my job as both the Ambassador of Friendship and being a friend in general." She then came
a little bit closer to Tails, motioning towards him. "But you helped me realize that there was
more to friendship than just accomplishing something. I saw this kind, tender, amazingly
nerdy fox who was nowhere as respected for what he brought to the
table; fixing broken machines, rebuilding a hippogriff's hut even though he didn't have to,
making ponies laugh, telling stories and even shaving the fur off of your tails to keep a
young pony warm." She paused for a moment to let the words marinate into her
audience, then resumed.
"I could tell that you weren't getting nearly enough respect for what you did for everypony,
but yet I also could tell that you cared more about how the other guy or girl felt rather than
that. Sure, you don't get the credit you deserve; but I could tell in your face
and in your actions how happy you were just to serve than be served. I could really see it in
you.
You helped me realize that the
reward in friendship wasn't glory or a sense of feeling good, but the friendship itself. And I've
been striving for that ever since.
And that's why I want to ask you something."
Tails was listening intently to the story, so his assumably "still"
expression was actually a more focused one. "Ok, go on." Tails said, permitting her to
continue.
"Tails, it's officially been a year since I've known you and I want our friendship to be greater
than before; for my good and for yours." She then
looked to Sonic and Dash (who were listening with intent and anticipation since her story
began) then turned back to Tails before
saying softly and kindly to him, but loud enough for everyone in the house to hear. "I want
you to be my fox-friend."
That statement immediately set Sonic and R.D. in shock as they quickly looked at each
other, then to Twilight. Was she saying what they thought they heard her say?
Tails was shocked too, but his shock came somewhat slower than everyone else's. "I'm
sorry, what do you mean by a 'fox-friend?'" he asked.
Twilight chuckled a bit, then answered. "I know that this seems weird to you Tails, but I really
do love you and I truly care about you. I know you've been thinking I'm just the 'Ambassador
of Friendship' and I have to care about you. But nothing is further from the truth and what I
feel. I feel, no, I do. I really do love you Tails. And I really hope that my actions have spoke
loudly enough for you to hear and see that." she said in a rather quickened and excited, yet
calm and sincere manner.
"Oh, you mean like boyfriend and girlfriend?" Tails asked, quickly realizing where Twilight
was heading with this conversation.
"Yes, of course I do. I forgot that you guys might have different terms for it." she said,
nervously stammering over her mistake, then blushing. "But if you really don't think that I'm
worth it for you, then I understand." she said, trying not to look too sad about
the possibility, but emotion was still there nonetheless. "I'll still love you. I'll still want what's
best for you and for our friendship to remain." she concluded.
The two left a moment for each other to process what the other had said. Finally, after what
felt like an hour but what was really a couple of minutes; Tails finally broke the silence.
"It's alright Twilight. I understand what it's like to go through with those
feelings. I'd like to take a couple of days to think about it, if you don't mind." Twilight smiled
and nodded, wanting to respect the reasoning of her friend and knowing that a maybe is
better than a no.
"Of course, take all the time you need Tails. I'll be waiting for you." she said,
looking off in the distance. "There's something I need to ask you
though." Tails said, breaking Twilight
out of her trance, making her look towards him with listening ears on and ready.
"I know I'm not really that much of someone to have feelings for, but why would you even
consider being in a relationship with me?" he asked, wanting to get to the heart of Twilight's
decision. Not in an angry-spirited or negative way; but
in a curious, researching type of way. She smiled at him and said, "Because you're the
greatest thing that ever happened to me."
"You know that greatest thing was me, right?" they all then turned to see Shadow, leaning
against the doorway.
Evidently, he came in while Twilight was talking to Tails and was listening in the doorway the
entire length of the discussion.
"Shadow!" Twilight said, angrily staring down the being that chaos-controlled her earlier,
and also insulted Tails at the same time. "Hold on a second," Sonic said, getting everybody
to calm down. "What's going on here Shadow?!" he asked in a curious sterness.
Shadow smiled his usual edgy smile and stared down and pointed at Tails. "Fox hunting,
what else?"
Whoa, bow your heads low; Here comes Shadow! Why is he acting so ticked off at
Tails? And it seems that Twilight is somehow in the middle of this. How is she such an
important piece in Shadow's treatment of Tails? And what about Sonic and
Dash? Are they gonna get any help with their situation? To find out, wait 'til next time.
I want to thank wensdayponythomasfan for all the MLP facts.
He told me that Twilight's house changed depending on where in the FIM show it was. It was
a tree-house/library in Seasons 1-2 and when she became an Alicorn (please tell me how that
happened) her house was a crystal castle. So I decided to combine the
two ideas somewhat and make her house into a precious-gems castle nestled in a big baobab
tree. Wanna know what a baobab tree is?
Google it.
I've seen this question coming and the answer is no, that Twilight is not a changeling. She's
the real deal. Why this is so will be revealed in the next chapter. But Shadow does have an
interesting story behind his motives for this tale. So interesting that they
are going to be in his own story that will serve as a companion to this one.
And about the whole "fox-hunting" thing?
Thank the Sonic Boom show for that inspiration.
Also, a special announcement. You might have noticed that Love Feels Like has been deleted.
Well, I've pretty much lost the motivation for that particular story and have gotten more
captivated by this one. But don't worry, I'm sure this story will be better than Love Feels Like.
Until next time; Keep Loving, Keep Edifying, Keep LoveandEdifying.
See ya! :-D