//------------------------------// // Bitter-Sweeite // Story: Happy Anniversary Sug // by Bysen //------------------------------// It had been just over a month since Twilight had left the hospital and things had been weird between her and most her friends. Rarity had been withdrawn lately, Rainbow Dash had been more somber and down than usually, Flutterhsy and AJ seemed to be having some problems as well. But she wasn’t sure about the reason for any of it. Pinkie was Pinkie. If that wasn’t a problem then she didn’t know what was... Twilight chuckled a little at that last thought, she needed a good cheering up. She hoped that tomorrow would be such an opportunity. It was Spikes birthday, or hatchday rather. Spike had apologised for saying that he… Twilight winced just thinking about it, even now it still hurt. She'd told him that she'd been hospitalized that night which had made him feel terrible. Twilight knew even then he hadn’t meant it. At least, she thinks he didn’t. How could he? The party tomorrow was just a small thing, just the girls and Sweetie Belle, who may’ve also invited Applebloom. Pinkie was throwing the party as usual but had been told to keep it small. No drinks and no unexpected surprises. Well, there was going to be one surprise, this one was first time all of her friends would be together at once so Twilight had decided to tell them all at once what she had been diagnosed with. She hadn’t even told Spike yet. Taking the medicication let her go about life normally and she hadn’t passed out again since. Or shown any of the other symptoms either. It was her first check-up today since she'd been release from the hospital so she was additionally nervous. Twilight was just waiting in the lobby as she had arrived almost an hour early. Almost ironic in its own way. It had been more than half an hour since she arrived and she was contempt with reading, not really listening to anything that was going on. Who was coming and who was going didn’t really matter to her. That was until she heard a familiar 'Eeyup.' She quickly put the book down to see Big Mac checking-in at the front desk. She waved to him and he came to sit beside her. “So what’s a mare like yurself doing here?” “Oh, well , it’s my first check-up since I got out of the hospital last month.” Twilight said, making sure to keep a neutral face. The two had never really gotten many chances to talk to one another, despite knowing each other for over a decade. He was always at Sweet Apple Acre and even if Twilight was there, so was Applejack so she would usually just end up talking with her friend. “Well ah hope you’re ok. Would be awful if one of ma friends were sick.” “I’m fine. Well… well, actually, it’s Spike’s hatchday tomorrow and we’re having a party, Applejack’s coming and I think Applebloom is as well. I was just wondering if you might want to come too.” she told him. He considered her a friend and so did she. Even if not a very close one but a friend all the same so inviting him, he would be told about her condition with all her other friends. “Ah’d love ta.” Big Mac happily said. “Ya think ah should bring the fella a gift?” “Maybe you should ask AJ what she’s getting him. So anyway, what are you doing here?” Big Mac was taken aback by her question “Well uh… it’s just a check-up as well. I’m not as young as I once was.” Big Mac said, a bit envious of Twilight’s youth. He was eight years older than AJ and AJ was two years older than Twilight, making him almost forty. Twilight realised what he was here for and without flinching at all said “So you’re getting a hoofstate exam?” Big mac, looked off, embarrassed at the idea but turned back to her saying “Eeyup.” “Miss Sparkle!?” came the voice of a nurse Twilight stood up, looked back at Big Mac “So, I’ll see you tomorrow? “Eeyup” he said, giving a smile. It was quite rare for this normally stoic stallion. Twilight walked over to the nurse to check-in before going into the see the doctor. She couldn’t help but think to herself as she took one last look at Big Mac ‘I hope the doc asks me to fill the cup again…’ ~ ~ Rarity had mostly gotten over her stock in the last month. She’d known Spike for over a decade and she knew he was a good dragon. Spike was one of the few people she looked back at happily to think that he had once had a crush on her. That path of thought had also been one of the darker ones early on. ‘He can’t have me so he’ll have my sister, that bastard!’ But Rarity had accepted them, they were good together. Though they were still moving a bit fast for her liking. Rarity had moved faster in the past. She was a hypocrite. Comparing herself to Sweetie Belle, she feared the worst. These cycles repeated a lot but she at least had the comfort of the negativity headed at herself rather than Spike or Sweetie Belle. Rarity could deal with that herself, she didn’t want her negativity to hinder anypony else. She had finally gotten in a relatively good mood until… HE had tried to contact her! That evil slimy repugnant and so-many-other-horrible-worded bastard! Eli. The last stallion she had dated and who she had once hoped to be her husband. She had thought that he loved her and vice versa. Now however; she had sworn that if she ever saw him again she will kill him on the spot! Though she had once seen him and all she had done was tear up and run right out of Cantalot, slept in the forest that night and walked the rest of the next day back to Ponyville getting back will after midnight. Rarity still blamed herself for what this monster had done to Sweetie Belle and was mortified that he hadn’t been blasted straight to the moon! He was a ponophile, a pedofilly, filly-fiddler, a monster who Rarity wanted to blind his own horn! She blamed herself for what he had done, though she didn’t know, nor did she want to know the details about what he'd done with her dear sister. He was arrested for having photos of her and a one of her friends Diamond Tiara. The thought that this cretan had even tried to contact her had made her sick. Not that she hadn’t expected it; Rarity had received a letter every few months ever since then. She was sure that he would’ve approached her if she hadn’t gotten a restraining order on him for the entirety, and surrounding areas of Ponyville. She had read the first few letters she received and finally replied to the fifth saying that she would no longer even read his letters as there was no way she would meet with him under any circumstances. But against her better judgement she decided to read this one. Dear Rarity, All I ask is that you meet with me so we can talk. I know how you feel about me but I assure you things where not how you thought. Sweetie Be… She stopped reading, magically crumpling the letter and throwing it into the cold fireplace which quickly lit. “How dare he even mention her name?! I swear to Celestia I will… I will… I will do nothing… what can I do? What have I done? Sweetie Belle’s still not better off, even with all I’ve done. Spike… if you ever!… oh… Spike… I’m sorry, I know you would never do anything to hurt her… it’s me… I’m…” She stopped talking to herself as the jingling of her boutique’s door-bell rang. She had to quickly calm herself and greet her customer. She walked out to the front room. It wasn’t a customer however, it was Sunday and the shop was closed. Instead she saw Sweetie Belle, in the beautiful dress Rarity had made her almost two years ago for when she had gotten her law degree. “Rarity, you ready to go?” Rarity had completely forgotten about Spike’s party today. She had to get ready. And fast! Wait! She couldn’t let Sweetie Belle know something had her so worried. “Oh, Sweetie Belle, yes. I’m ready…?” Sweetie Belle noticed a certain… something in her voice “Are you sure? You look, a little… Flustered.” Rarity hadn’t been crying luckily, though she had gotten close a few times, else her mascara would be running. Her hair was most likely what Sweetie Belle was talking about. She levitated a mirror over and took a look at herself. She was fine. Not perfect like she preferred to be but by any other pony’s standards was still stunning. Sweetie Belle must have picked up on how she was feeling. No surprise really. ‘The sweet deary…’ Rarity thought, before saying “I’m fine darling, don’t worry me in such ways” she smiled hoping to push away any doubts her sister had had. “Shall we be off then?” “If you say so ‘darling’” Sweetie Belle mocked just a little with her last word as Rarity let out a little huff, before walking past her with her head held high, like her usual self. Sweetie Belle knew that little mock would kick her sister just the right way to get her back to her normal self. Whether or not her normal self right now was a good thing or not didn’t really matter. They left the boutique, Sweetie Belle flipping the ‘open’ sign to ‘closed’ worrying her a bit more. There was definitely something bothering her sister for her to forget her boutique. She’d bring it up on the to Spike’s pla… err, Twilight’s place. ~ ~ Pinkie was humming and quietly singing to herself, making sure not to be loud enough to start a spontaneous impromptu song to break out from everypony nearby, like she occasionally did. Twilight had once brought-up Pinkie’s infectious ways to Princess Celestia, who to this day, Twilight wasn’t sure if she was joking or not when she had said ‘This pony could create political unrest without the slightest effort, she may start a rebellion and topple our imperial reign! I most consult with Luna immediately.’ Twilight had thought this funny at the time, however Celestai had indeed flown off and was not back until that night, with her sister. Putting it out of her mind, Twilight tried to get back to sleep. Pinkie had shown up at 3am that morning to prepare the party. As Twilight felt that she had just fallen asleep, she was quickly pulled back to consciousness as Pinkie increased the volume of her singing. It was useless… “OOOOOOOHHHHH” Pinkie held the tone for longer than she possible should’ve been able to, before starting the next line of the song without even taking a breath. Pinkie started to sing “Who lives in a library, inside a tree?! Twi-ligh Spar-kle! A purple unicorn as adorkable as can be!? Twi-light Spar-kle! If magical mishaps be something you wish?! Twi-light Spar-kle! Then… All I can think of that rhymes is ‘fish’…” Twilight started to get angry, really angry. REALLY angry! She knew this wasn’t right. Anger wasn’t right here. She resigned herself to waking up. Scowl on her face, she walked over to her draw and opened it magically. She felt herself getting even madder still. She quickly pulled out a needle and a small jar, filled with a white liquid. She filled the needle with an exact amount and injected into her horn. She calmed… the medicine worked fast. She still felt slightly annoyed but that was normal. She wasn’t a morning pony after all. Something that Luna had found amusingly ironic, being the pupil her sister, who raised the sun every morning. Twilight walked down the stairs wondering how Spike was still sleeping. He could sleep through the apocalypse… and once did. Pinkie had quieted down again but it was still a long few hours before she expected anypony else to arrive. ~ ~ The normal piece of Sweet Apple Acres was destroyed this morning. Applebloom hated it when her sisters argued. Fluttershy wasn’t really her sister but she had become a full member of the Apple family and Applebloom loved her just as much as she loved Applejack. Applebloom didn’t know exactly what they were fighting over but she knew whatever it was, it was almost certainly a one sided argument. She knew one of her sisters couldn’t fight back against anything the other said, her nerves never let her. As the two came down form their room, Applebloom saw them and was now certain that Fluttershy had been dominating the discussion. Poor Applejack, there was no way to fight back against Fluttershy without scaring her or hurting her feelings. Big Mac had gotten up first, as usual and had prepared food for all five… err, four of the them. Applebloom was still sad at the recent loss of a family member. Angel Bunny was as close her them as any of the family but had passed at ripe old bunny age of seventeen a few months ago. Oddly though, everypony else had been hit harder by this than Fluttershy, who Applebloom thought was closest to Angle. She had said ‘It was his time, he lived a long happy life. He wouldn’t want us to be sad.’ She hadn’t been sure if Fluttershy had been hiding her feelings as she often did, she just didn't want anypony to be unhappy because she was unhappy, or if she had truly meant it. In any case, she had put up a brave face. Applejack was slumped back behind Fluttershy as they walked down the stairs. Fluttershy had a small, barely noticeable glint in her eyes. Something only somepony very close to the shy filly would notice. It meant she was furious! Applebloom had no idea what they had been fighting about but the fact that AJ hadn’t already caved meant that she must really not like whatever Fluttershy wanted. Applebloom knew she was going to get drawn into this whether she wanted to be or not, sooner or later one of them would confide in her, saying that the other was being completely unreasonable. Fluttershy sat at the table and politely said “Good morning Big Mac, Applebloom.” Another sign of how angry she must be. Again, you'd have to know her quite well to feel the subtle tones in her voice. “Morning darl, you sleep well?” Big Mac said, either oblivious to the subtle rage or trying to ignore it. Knowing Big Mac: oblivious… “Neither us got much sleep las’ night. We were, uh, talkin’ a’night.” AJ told her brother. “Well," Applebloom started "we should finish our breakfast and head on over ta Twalight’s place for Spike’s party” She was now certain Big Mac hadn’t picked up on the tension after what she had just said. Breakfast passed in painful silence to Applebloom, though she was sure Big Mac enjoyed the rare quiet. As they headed out along one of the alternate paths out of Sweet Apple Acres they passed Angel Bunny’s grave. A small apple tree sapling across from a older but still young tree, planted for Granny Smith who'd passed a number of years ago now. there where more, older trees there. Each for a member of the apple family, ranged from a magnificent century old tree to Angle’s small, newly sprouted sprig. They all took short, discreet looks at the trees, trying to make sure the others hadn’t noticed. Fluttershy however had looked at Angel’s stone for a few seconds before turning to AJ, then lowering her head. Applebloom couldn’t help but wonder if what the two had been arguing over had something to do with Angel. After getting out of the farmstead’s limits the silence had been broken when Big Mac had brought up the topic of Spikes gifts. The girls had gone all in together on a ridiculously large fire-ruby and had offered to let Big Mac to say he had put some bits towards it as well. They kept on going until they walked passed Rarity’s boutique, too dissolved in the conversation Fluttershy, Applebloom and Big Mac where having. AJ had stayed quiet and had tried to suggest checking in on Rarity but couldn’t find an opening in the conversation. Applebloom would’ve found this uncharacteristic of her if she had noticed. Just as they were about to walk past it altogether came a loud “ABS!” Applebloom turned around, seeing Sweetie Belle and Rarity leaving her boutique. Rarity didn’t look much better than AJ did. Applebloom could’ve sworn Rarity had looked at her with mirth before forcing it away greeting the family. “Hello, all of you! Heading to Twilight’s place I take it? Shall we go together.” No answer was needed as she walked up to them and started talking about the special gift she had hoof made for Spike and so on and so on. Applebloom started to tune her out and talked to Sweetie Belle. “So… Rarity and Spike are both gunna be there? She still feelin' down on this whole thing?” “I thought she was over it, but she seemed… she seemed like she had been crying when I stopped by this morning, even if she didn’t look like she had. But really, I’m more concerned with Spike. He, he asked if he could… he asked if he could move in with me.” Applebloom was more than just surprised by the news. She hadn’t thought that things between the two where that serious, though apparently they weren’t as Sweetie Belle had said ‘no’. “So how’d you let the fella down?” “I didn’t, I said he could… but that I thought it would break Twilight’s heart if he did. At least this soon after their fight.” All Applebloom knew about the fight Twilight and Spike had had was that Spike had apologised soon after and that the two where ok now, at least that’s what she’d heard from Twilight. But Sweetie Belle had told her Spike had said some stuff about Twilight that she wasn’t sure if he truly meant. Sweetie Belle was saddened that Spike could even say that stuff about somepony who was practically his sister but was also sad that he had been able to say it at all. It had to have to have all come from somewhere inside him and that part of him most've felt it was true. “Wait a minute, you said ‘yes’?!” Applebloom burst out and quickly looked to see if the others had heard her. She saw no response from the others, all still talking amongst themselves. “Did you even talk ta Die and Sil ‘bout this? ‘Specially Die! She couldn’t handle somepony moving in with cha!” “Calm down, I said he could if he wanted but he decided he couldn’t do that to Twilight. If he really wanted to, I would let him but I don’t think he’ll ask again anytime soon. Though honestly… I hope, I hope he does ask.” Sweetie Belle had to look away from Applebloom at that last confession. Applebloom had just thought that they were merely going out, she didn’t know her friend felt so strongly for Spike. “I didn’t know ya felt so much for ‘im. He’s sure lucky ta have you.” She hoped the words would lift her friend’s mood. It didn’t. Sweetie Belle wanted to change the conversation quickly “So how has your training been going? You made it to the next weight bracket yet?” she knew this would get Applebloom talking about her UFC courier for the rest for the walk to the library. It had worked in the past and it worked again now. Sweetie Belle couldn’t stop ABS talking now if she tried… Twilight heard the knock on the door and headed to open it but was beaten to it by Pinkie. The six ponies enter. Fluttershy and Big Mac first, side by side, then AJ and Rarity followed by Sweetie Belle and Applebloom. The ponies stayed in these groups for some time with Twilight joining in on Fluttershy and Big Mac’s conversation while Pinkie went back to work. It wasn’t exactly obvious what Pinkie was fixing but somehow every time they had looked over at the decorations there where something different, even if they couldn’t tell what had actually changed. Pinkie would make so many small changes so fast that if you looked at the area for five minutes straight you wouldn’t see a single change but if you looked once, then looked back five minutes later you wouldn’t recognize the place at all. It was almost midday now when Spike had woken up and came down stairs, one of the rare times Twilight let him sleep in. Pinkie had yelled ‘Surprise!’ and Spike had been kind enough to pretend he was. After the initial greetings by all his friends he’d quickly joined in on Sweetie Belle and Applebloom’s conversation. Sweetie Belle was glad it had managed to stay away from the topic of their relationship, especially when Rarity had come over for a while and listened in. She had returned to talking with AJ quite quickly after as Applebloom had starting getting into details about her last bout in the ring. Even Spike thought it was a little gruesome, though Sweetie Belle was used to it. She’d been her manager and defence lawyer for quite a while now. There was a knock on the door and Pinkie yelled “Dashie’s here!” before she had opened the door to see who it was. Sure enough it was Rainbow Dash. The pegasus had slept in until about nine, and then had to take care of the kids who had woken her up. Despite Dash and Pinkie’s usual lax behaviour they had turned out to be very good parents. Pinkie had always taken care of the baby Cakes when they where younger and Dash had a surprisingly strong maternal instinct behind her tomboyish nature. “Sorry I’m late” Rainbow said to everypony “I had to drop the kids off with Silverspoon. I’ll have to pick them up in a few hours so I can’t stay to long.” Fluttershy rushed over to her faster than even Pinkie, leaving Twilight talking with Big Mac. More time passed and by around 2pm everypony had talked to Spike for some amount of time. Sweetie Belle noticed, however that Twilight hadn’t said anything to him. She was too busy flirting with Big Mac, who seemed to be somehow completely oblivious to it. Gift time came around and Sweetie Belle had given him her gift first. A brilliant sky-sapphire that she had gotten after spending almost three full days modifying Rarity’s gem finding spell so she could track the largest gem she could find. Spike had loved the gift and given her a long peck on the cheek for it. Next was the Apple’s gift, a fire-ruby almost as big as the gem Sweetie Belle had given him. She could tell they were awe-struck and a little curious as to how she had gotten such a huge gem. Sweetie Belle wondered how much they must’ve spent on their gem. Pinkie and Dash gave him an assortment of smaller gems from pink quartz to a shimmering multi-coloured onyx. The second last gift was from Rarity, a stunning suit she had hoof made. Spike seemed to like this the most. Most likely because it was his only gift that wasn’t food. Sweetie Belle waited for Spike to get his last gift but before that happened, everypony dispersed from the circle they had formed around him, giving one last small cheer before they returned to the previous groups. Sweetie Belle wondered why Twilight hadn’t given him a gift. Everypony else knew that Spike would always find, and likely eat, his gift from Twilight in the weeks leading up to his hatchday. Sweetie Belle however hadn’t been to one of his parties before seems, up until recently, they hadn’t really been that close. It just became another thing about Twilight that had bugged her. ~ ~ “A’right, suger. What’s been bothin ya? Ah can tell there’s sun’thing. It can’t just be about Spike and ya sista.” AJ broke away from the previous conversation with her abrupt question. Rarity was taken aback. “Why, whatever do you mean?” “Don’ you try an’ hide it. Something's been bothin' ya and ah want to know what.” “Well, I do hope you don’t take offence at this Applejack but I may not be the only one keeping something all bottled-up” Rarity said, implying that AJ had been acting out of the ordinary as well. “Well tall ya what then, spill the beans on what's bothin’ ya, and I’ll tell you what’s been bothing me.” AJ couldn’t have been happier at what had just happened. She’d been trying to bring up the fight she and Fluttershy had been having and finally had a way to do so without just simply blurting it out. “Oh, well…” Rarity hadn’t expected that but she might as well get this off her chest. “There has been something bothering me… it is partially about dear Sweetie Belle but... you see, I got a letter from… from ‘HIM’!” she said darkening her voice at his mention. “Him?” “Eli” “Oh, ‘HIM’!” AJ took a quick look over in Applebloom’s direction. She didn’t know exactly what had happened but she knew enough. “So, what’d the letter say?” “I refuse to read any letter that fiend would send me!” It wasn’t entirely a lie… “Can’t say I blame ya dal, but I gotta ask, why de’ya still call him ‘Eli’? Wasn’t that yur pet name for that smarmy bastard Elusive?” Rarity stood silent for a moment thinking the question over. She had called him that name for years now. She had at one point thought that he may be the one for her, but what he had done was beyond breaking her heart. “Oh, I just don’t dare even dignify him with his real name.” Rarity hoped the gap between the question and the answer wasn’t too long. “Why is that creep's even walkin’ around free is beyond me, Ah’da thought fer sure he’s be sent straight ta the moon! Ah also thought yur sister was some ace attorney with that entire ‘Objection!’ and ‘Hold it!’ and other legal talk” “Now, now, she wasn’t even out of school when this happened, remember. I know it seems like only not so long ago but it has been almost four years.” “Four years… I can’t believe it…” “Oh, it can’t be long enough…” Rarity was cut off “That’s not what I meant sugar; it’s been four years since you even thought about a partner for yurself. Ah can’t imagine how lonely you must be. Know you blame yurself for what he did but you can’t let it ruin yur life. Sweetie Belle’s even got somepony of her own now.” “It’s not that darling, I’m perfectly happy, I know I may seem a bit of a prude at times but…” “You used to be all about romance. Now you’re bitter and cynical and I hate ta tell ya this but… but that’s the thing, you call yourself a prude, we call it, well… we kinda have nickname for ya.” Rarity was starting to feel that her friend was legitimately worried about this. “And what might that be?” “Bitch-ity… we sometimes call you bitch-ity. Ah’m sorry sugercube but you’ve changed so much from when we first met. Don’t get me wrong, Ah still consider you a dear and close friend, maybe ma closest after Fluttershy but Ah worry for ya, ya know?” if Rarity was hurt in anyway, she was hiding it well. "Who? All of you? I know it wouldn't be Fluttershy or Pinkie Pie, and certainly not Twilight. That only leaves either Rainbow Dash or you who came up with such a phrase." Rarity questioned. While she wasn't entirely surprised, seems she'd heard it once or twice before, she didn't actually know it went as far as to be considered her nickname. "Neither Rarity... it was Sweetie Belle." “Honestly dear, you can call me whatever you want, I really couldn’t care less.” she was putting all her will to not burst into tears. She was remarkably surprised she was doing so well, though she knew she wouldn’t be able to for much longer. “Anyway darling, I told you my problem, now, I believe you promised to ‘spill your own beans’ as it were, about your own?” AJ was suprised by Rarity’s reaction, or lack of reaction, to what she had said and wanted to press the issue. But a promise was a promise. “Well ah… alright then.” she sighed thinking where to start. The beginning’s a good place to start. “Fluttershy and I’ve been fighting.” AJ started to turn to Fluttershy, Dash and Pinkie but stopped herself and hung her head. “Dear Celestia. She’s not… beating you is she?” Rarity said, jokingly of course. “What? No! Nothin’ like that. It’s just ever since Angel Bunny died, she’s seemed like something was missing from her. Then, the night of our anniversary she told me she wanted… she wants ta have a child.” “Well what’s the problem? If you’re lucky you could even set your little foal up with Dash’s little foa-oh… you don’t want a child though, do you?” “No. it’s not that. I’m fine with children, but I would want my OWN foal.” Applejack admitted. “Well what if Big Mac was the father, then…” she was cut of in turn by AJ, putting her hoof to Rarity’s mouth. “What’ve you heard?! We were young! And it only happened once, ah swear!” AJ blurted out! Rarity didn’t exactly know how to respond to what she had just heard. What had she just heard? Looking away and back to AJ a few times before opening her mouth to let out a polite laugh that she hoped conveyed the message ‘I’ll forget I ever heard that if you let it go as well.’ It looked like AJ had received the message clearly. Rarity cleared her throat “Ahem... what I meant darling, was Big Mac is basically a male version of you correct? And if he where father Fluttershy’s child, it would genetically be a little Applejack.” From what AJ knew about genetics she thought Rarity was right, though she’d have to ask Twilight about this. “Well ah don’t really know about that. Fluttershy’s over there talkin’ up a storm to Rainbow about her baby. That whole ordeal has made it a whole lot harder to squash the issue.” “Well, I could see how that would make thing harder. Not to mention Big Mac may be the only pony you wouldn’t half kill if they got involved with Fluttershy.” Rarity said, with a slight snideness to her tone. “Ah, ah don’t know what you could possibly be talkin’ ‘bout.” AJ was never good at lying and knew this wasn’t going to go away if she didn’t act now. She wasn’t proud of what she had done to the certain pony who had kissed Fluttershy and ended up in the hospital as a result. “Listen, Rarity, ah haven’t told any of the other girls about this and ah don’t want ‘em ta know until we get it all sorted out.” “Of course darling, I wouldn’t dream of telling anypony else.” “Thanks sugercube, I know ya won’t and… and ah’m sorry ah’ve called you name behind yur back in the past, ah never really meant nothin’ by it, but ah’m really sorry anyway.” Rarity could feel the shame in AJ’s eyes and sincerity in her voice. She couldn’t help but let slip one of the many tears she’d been holding back. Perhaps AJ was right. Maybe it was time to move on. “Th-thank you Applejack. I don’t think I knew it, but I needed to hear that.” “Anytime suger, anytime.” ~ ~ Twilight and Big Mac had talked for almost three hours straight now and she was running out of things to say. Luckily Pinkie had called the two of them over a few minutes ago and there where now immersed in Dash’s conversation. It was barely visible but Twilight thought Rainbow Dash was starting to show. This confirmed her theory that Dash had gotten pregnant on the night of Pinkie’s incident. She surmised that the only reason Pinkie wasn’t pregnant as well was because the fountain had ‘cleaned her out’ so to speak. Then the thought of who the father could be crept back into her head, thinking of Big Mac. She wondered if he was thinking the same. Twilight couldn’t help but feel a little saddened towards Big Mac for being there that night but he was a free pony, he wasn’t seeing anypony or anything so he hadn’t really done anything wrong. She felt the emotion’s being higher than they should be and knew it was almost him to take her medication again. Twilight was snapped back from her thoughts hearing Rainbow Dash saying “Me and Pinkie should probably get going soon, gotta pick up the kids from Sil and get them some din-dins… I mean…” Twilight chuckled at the use of the baby talk. Removing the thought of ‘That should be Pinkie and I’ that she had picked up from Dash’s grammar… she had to stop doing that. Twilight hadn’t noticed how much time had passed. She needed to make her announcement very soon. ~ ~ Sweetie Belle had seen Rarity tear up and had come over to see what was happening. She told Spike that maybe he shouldn’t come over; it may be because of him. She didn’t like that it was taking ponies so long to except them as a couple but she had to put that thought aside to comfort her sister. “Are you alright Rarity?” “Oh, I’m fine darly, just my eye lashes making a nuisance out of themselves.” Sweetie Belle wanted to press the issue but knew that if she did it would end up in a loud shouting match with her sister. She would have to talk it out with Rarity sooner or later but now wasn’t the time or place. She could negotiate her way through anything but Rarity always brought out the worst in her when it came to logic. ‘Sisters do that…’ she thought to herself “Everpony! Everypony, can I have your attention?!” came Twilight’s voice “The party’s wrapping up and I have to make this speech while we’re all still here!” they all circled around her and Sweetie Belle went back to Spike’s side. She took a look over at Rarity who was eagerly looking at Twilight. Sweetie Belle gave Spike a quick kiss on the cheek before turning her attention to Twilight as well. Twilight cleared her throat “The day Spike hatched was the best day of my life. It was the day I was accepted to Princess Celestia’s School For Gifted Unicorns. It was the day I became Celestia’s personal pupil and was the day I got my Cutie Mark!” she paused for a moment before continuing “But most impor…” “ME TOO!” yelled Pinkie “I got my Cutie Mark today as well! So did Dashie!” “Haha, yeah, we all did I think “Dash replied. “Yes, me too” Fluttershy added, as she hugged Dash. They could all thank Rainbow Dash for getting their Cutie Marks. Pinkie joined in the hug with Dash who tried to pull away but resigned herslef to it with a sigh. AJ and Rarity both had smiles on their faces. Sweetie Belle knew all the stories of how they had gotten they’re Cutie Marks. Well… all but Pinkie who had given them a surprisingly detailed and accurate description of the big bang theory when asked. Spike looked slightly frustrated. Sweetie Belle noticed this, putting her in a bit more of a mood herself. Twilight had continued talking but had left her previous topic. “We all got our Cutie Marks together, before we even met. I once wrote Princess Celestia a letter about this. We were all linked before we even knew each other. In fact, I used to think my Cutie Mark represented my gift for magic. I have five 6-pronged stars and a big starburst with six prongs and another 6-pronged star behind it: representing me and my five friends. Now, as we all know 42 is answer to life, the universe and everything in it. My Cutie Mark has a total of 42 points, and in the Running of the Leaves, my number was 42. So what does this all mean? If 42 equal the answer and 42 also equal my Cutie Mark and my Cutie Mark equal friendship. We can conclude...” Spike sighed; she was on another one of her lectures to nopony in particular again. Twilight had walked over the girls; Pinkie had stopped hugging Dash though Fluttershy still was. “…the meaning of life, the universe and everything is…" She paused before hugging Dash as well “Friendship!” Rarity joined the hug, followed by AJ and Pinkie Pie. It was a beautiful moment. At least that’s what Twilight thought. Sweetie Belle on the other hand had had enough! She thought she may have been over reacting but didn’t care! “Twilight!” she yelled, before bowling her over, breaking the hug. “I defend you when Spike said anything bad. I’ve stood up for you thinking that Spike was just embellishing things! I see now he hadn’t been! So far today, all I’ve seen is you ignoring him on HIS day! You haven’t spoken to him since the one word this morning's ‘surprise'. You’re the only one who didn’t get him a present! You spent the whole day thinking of yourself, flirting with Big Mac and then when I think you’re going to make up for ALLLLL that with a speech saying how Spike hatching was your best night ever: no! You turn it into how it was the best because all the stuff that happened for you! Then you go off about how you’re the centre of the universe!” Sweetie Belle was huffing and panting after the outburst. Rage still sculled on her face. Everypony was taken aback by this. None of them had expected this. Even Spike looked worried thinking ‘Sweetie Belle has ALWAYS taken Twilight’s side… now she’s flat out accused her of half the stuff I’ve said. What if… what if I haven’t been imagining it. Has Twilight really been this self-involved?’ Applebloom had come up to Sweetie Belle whispering to her “Calm down Belle. Ah don’t think…” Sweetie Belle walked over to Spike, glanced back at Twilight, still as angry as she had been. She quickly calmed herself as much as she could and turned to Spike “Will you to move in with me?” Spike was stunned. He didn’t say anything for a moment. When he answered at last, he didn’t think, “Yes.” he just spoke. Sweetie Belle felt a wave of relief when Spike had answered. She hadn’t known how panicked she was thinking Spike may say ‘no’ until it was over. Calming even more and starting to feel happy again she said “Should we go Spike?” “Y-yeah, let’s go.” he said, slightly apprehensively as he looked away from Sweetie Belle to Twilight who was staring back at him. “I… goodbye Twilight, goodbye everypony.” his voice neutral, caught between his fear of hurting Twilight and his happiness at what Sweetie Belle had asked. He turned back around to face where he was headed, put his arm around Sweetie Belle and the two walked towards the door. Opening the door for Sweetie Belle he still wasn’t sure whether he was doing the right thing or not. She walked through and he followed, closing it behind him. There was no going back now. ~ ~ It was painful. More painful than anything she’d ever felt before. Hurt didn’t describe it. It was so much worse. Twilight wasn’t crying. It was beyond even what crying could be. No, she was crying, she just couldn’t feel it, her body was numbed from what she happened. Still looking at the door, she couldn’t seem to even move. It wasn’t until AJ had said “Twilight? Are you ok?” This was too much pain! “This isn’t right” she said, barely audibly before she rushed to a nearby draw. Opening the draw she pulled out syringe and the jar of white liquid. She filled it, only measuring be eye and injected the contents into her horn. A brief moment she felt better but it didn’t last. The pain and sadness didn’t disappear. So the medicine wasn’t working? No, it was working but this wasn’t an false emotion, this was what she really felt. The realization made it hurt all that much more. Her friends didn’t know what they had just seen. They all looked at Twilight with various expressions from curious on Rarity, to shock on Rainbow Dash. None of them knew exactly what had just happened. Dash was the first to say anything to Twilight “Um… are you al-alright Twi?” Twilight barely heard it over her own crying. Legs crossed over her head and he face buried into the floor she mumbled something unintelligible. “Um… what was that Twi?” Pulling her head from her leads she cried “I-I was g-going to s-s-say the it was my best n-night ever because of all that b-but most import-t-tantly… because th-that was the day that Spike...that Spike became m-m-my… son.” Twilight finished and slammed her head back to the ground, covering it where left front legs again. Twilight’s pain visibly spread amongst her friends but it still hadn’t answered what had happened. Dash thought she’d try one more time before dropping the topic to try comfort twilight. “I, I see Twilight, but what was… what was with the stuff you did?” Twilight had planned on telling them all after finishing her speech and giving a toast to Spike but just felt selfish for wanting to tell them now. She kept her head down, not saying anything. Dash came right up to her hugging her, trying to bring back the moment just before this had all happened. Twilight lifted her head and grabbed on to Dash pulling her in tight. “I, I’ve been, I… I have magibetes. I, the do-doctor… last month...” None of them had known anything about this. Was Twilight ill? None of them knew what magibetes was. Or so they thought until Rarity had said “Oh darling, why didn’t you tell us? I know all too well wha’ you’re going through!” Twilight, looked over at Rarity. As the only other unicorn she was the only one it could affect. Did she have it as well? “Re-really? Rarity, how long have you…?” Coming over and joining in the hug, and to Dash's relief, getting Twilight to let go of her, allowing her to breath properly again, Rarity said “No, not me, my father, he was diagnosed when I was a foal before Sweetie Belle was bo…” Twilight’s head went back against the floor at the mention of Sweetie belle. “P-p-please… don’t say… I, I’m sorry. She’s right… I’ve been terrible to Spike. He, he…” “Not another word darling! You love Spike, and he loves you! He’s just going through somethings right now. No matter what he says, no matter what he does, he will always love you Twilight.” “Y-you really think so?” Twilight said keeping her face to the floor. “I don’t think so, I know so, got it?” ~ ~ It had been another hour since Spike and Sweetie Belle had left. Twilight had been cheered up somewhat by her friends but was still crying. She’d asked to be alone but they had all refused. However it was getting late and they would soon have to leave anyway. Dash had had to leave soonest but had sent Pinkie to pick up the kids and prepare din-dins for them instead of her. The Apples where the next to leave, living so far away, they had the longest to travel before night-time but Big Mac had stayed. He had seen her at the doctor's yesterday and had a talking point about her illness he could share with her. Finally Rarity left. She didn’t want to but the more she tried to help, the more Sweetie Belle kept coming up. She wasn’t helping and honestly she had her own issues with Spike moving in with her little sister herself as well. It was now getting dark and only Dash and Big Mac where still at the library. Twilight had only managed five or six fully formed sentences since Rarity but what she had managed to convey she was thankful that they had been so nice. “Don’t mention it, we’re your friends, it’s what we do.” Dash replied as best she could trying to put together what Twilight had actually said. “Eeyup” added Big Mac “I, I appr-preciate it, really. But I’d like to be alone.” Twilight whimpered for what Dash thought had to be the thousandth time. She was starting to think Twilight may be better of just crying it out overnight. “Hey, Big Mac, maybe we should go, I mean, we can’t really do much more than we already have? Maybe we should just let her get it out of her system.” Sighing, he replied “Eeyup…” “Twilight, I’m sorry but I should get going, Pinkie’s ganna need some help with the kids. I’ll be back first thing tomorrow. I promise!” “It’s fine r-really. I just…” she looked away from the two “Well, I guess I’ll see you tomorrow Twi.” Dash had flown off through the window and gave a shout as she left “Bye!...” that trailed off. Big Mac walked towards the window Dash had flown out of and closed it. It was going to be a cold night and he didn’t want Twilight to be uncomfortable in anyway. “Ah guess ah should head back to the farmstead too, Miss Twilight.” and he started towards the door. Opening the door, he was about to leave. “Big Mac… Could, could you stay a while please? I’d really appreciate your company. Would you… please stay the night?” it was the most coherent statement Twilight had said in hours. He couldn’t refuse. He closed the door and walked back over to Twilight and answered. “Eeyup.”