WARNING, MAY CONTAIN SHIPPING
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Shift's POV
The incident with the Changeling passed, and Twilight and I tried to act like it never happened. It was a beautiful late afternoon, and I wasn't gonna let anything get I the way of my fillyfriend and I. And so, using the rest of the day, we walked through Ponyville, looking for things to do.
Really, Ponyville is a small town and not much of a tourist attraction past the Elements and the place where Discord was defeated, a plaque put up in honor of the day chaos was conquered. So naturally, finding anything to do was a hassle, but it passed the time nonetheless. As long as I was with Twilight, the love flowing not only from her, but between us, I was content.
We eventually ended up stopping at the library for a few books, Twi asking Spike to help. Spike had become more distant and snappy at me, making me wonder if a repeat of Owloysius was about to unfold. Even Peewee the baby pheonix was giving me that 'shitstorm coming' look. Nevertheless, Spike retrieved the books, which we packed into a pair of saddlebags and headed for the park.
Celestia was setting the sun at that point, only an hour away from dark. There was still ample light for a picnic and some reading. We took out a couple of DLT's and some astronomy books, laying next to each other and getting wrapped up in our respective texts.
Eventually, Twilight fell asleep, using her book as a pillow. Carefully, I wrapped us in a green aura, taking the books out from under our heads and replacing them with two cushions from my saddlebags. I set us down, folding the picnic blanket over us. Taking care not to wake the lavender mare, I lay my neck on top of hers, and we slept together under the stars.
Storm's POV
Just like every other day, Caramel and I were out on that balcony, watching Celestia's setting sun. Caramel was right; this never got old. Especially with him at my side. The whole thing felt complete with him there, his foreleg wrapped around my shoulder. As the last rays of sun died, I nuzzled him. "Caramel, I love you."
He missed me lightly and led me inside. "Storm?"
"Yeah, Caramel?"
"I… I love you too," he said, "and I want to ask you something." He hesitated. "I noticed you trying to make an advance, Storm. But you always hesitate at the last second. Why?"
I shied away. "I didn't want to do anything before you thought you were ready, Caramel," I said, "I don't want to scare you off. I don't want to lose you."
He drew me into a very passionate kiss. "Storm, I love you more than anypony else that I've ever met," he said, "and I am ready to do anything to prove it." Caramel, still embracing me, brought me to the bed. "I am ready, Storm." He gave me his signature blush.
Seriously, who can resist that blush? We slipped under the covers, pulling each other close. We kissed again. "I love you Caramel, to the ends of Terra."
"I love you, Storm, to the end of Time…"
Skyblaze's POV
"But seriously, does time HAVE an end?"
"It had a beginning, didn't it?" Luna argued, looking up from her desk, "so by all logic, time has an end, because it can't be timeless."
"While I admire your play on words, my love, you forget that I am from another dimension," I rebuked, "so if there are different dimensions being created at different times, then those newer realities would be continuing when this one is long gone!"
"Yes, but time will still have ended in this dimension."
"Touché." If this is what physicists make millions doing, sign me up.
Kind Greetings POV
"So, I can use this to send letters to anypony, like Spike's fire?" I asked Celestia, staring at an emerald candle with a yellowed wick.
"Yes, and the added bonus is that the flame will never consume or go out until somepony snuffs it with a hoof," she answered, demonstrating by tapping the candle and causing a green flame to appear, "it will not burn you, nor will it spread to anything if it is knocked over."
"What if one of the Ponyville bronies wants to send a letter to Sky or I?"
"I will send a letter to Spike and my faithful student explaining that Spike will send any correspondence from the bronies to you," she said, "I believe that one of your friends is staying with her at the library."
I sighed. "That would be Shift," I answered, "thank you, Princess Celestia, if I am needed further, I will be either in my quarters or around the castle or city." I turned for the door.
"You disapprove of the relationship between my sister and Skyblaze, don't you?" The question caught me off guard, and I spun as fast as courtesy would allow. "I want you to know that I welcome it, for it has made my sister extremely happy."
I sighed. "No, not really. Skyblaze is supposed to be helping in matters here in Equestria, not flirting with royalty. No offense."
"Ben, it may surprise you that, since the appearance of Skyblaze and the bronies, her work ethic has increased greatly," she smiled, "not only that, but your friend helps her every night in order for her to spend more time with each other. I think it's sweet."
I was silenced. I had no idea Skyblaze was actually helping run the kingdom. The thought of Sky doing paperwork or anything else dull and repetitive was completely alien to me.
"But there is something you said that I am curious about," Celestia broke me from my stunned silence, "you said 'my quarters'. Do you not share a room with Skyblaze?"
"Well, he said he sleeps during the day like Luna, but he never sleeps in…" I facehoofed, "oh buck."
Celestia must have had the same thought, as there was a flash of light as she teleported us up to Luna's tower. I didn't have time to marvel at the artistry of the room. The first thing I saw was Skyblaze and Luna, curled up in slumbering embrace in the master bed. Evidently, I must not have noticed that teleportation makes a sound, for the two ponies stirred awake at our entrance.
Skyblaze blinked his eyes open and looked around the room, his gaze coming to a rest on us. He shot upright, using his hoof to prod Luna. "Um, Luna… wake up, please…" he redoubled his efforts, causing Luna to giggle when he poked a ticklish spot.
"Sky, don't make me preen you again." The blue stallion facehoofed. Luna cracked her eyes open and leaned up to kiss his cheek before following his gaze.
She froze when she saw her sister. "Um, escape plan five on Mexicolt?"
Sky, still frozen, muttered, "uh huh."
Luna began to chant, "daisy… ice cream… cracker… TACO!" On that cue, they bolted for the window, their near-sonic escape cut off by a simmering wall of Celestia's magic.
A golden aura surrounded Sky's tail-tip and the blue pegasus being dragged through the air to hang upside-down in front of us. "Um… hi," he chuckled nervously.