During that same day, Ponyville would be bustling with activity. With Nightmare Night off the calender, the next step would be to prepare for the upcoming winter season. Rainbow Dash would occasionally leave during the next period for Cloudsdale's weather team, Fluttershy would be busy trying to get her creature friends ready for hibernation, and everypony would be busy purchasing coats.
But that night, one pony's work always stayed the same.
"It still doesn't look right," Rarity noted. "Perhaps a little more ribbon...Spike, could you be a dear and place three ribbons around the neck?"
"Will do!" Spike replied. He grabbed a bucket of ribbons and placed three of them where needed on the dress, placed on a mannequin. The dragon pulled back and placed his claws behind his back, awaiting the next order.
"That's perfect. I believe it's finished. Thanks so much for the help, I never would have thought I could make this many in a day."
Spike smiled, looking back at their work. It had taken all day to reach this point, but they had seven completed dresses to show for it. And yet there stood three more mannequins at the end of the row, awaiting their own dress.
"Can I help with just one more dress, Rarity?" the dragon asked.
Rarity shook her head, even if she did enjoy having her Spikey Wikey around. "I appreciate your eagerness, but it is rather late. When does Twilight usually have you off to bed?"
"Around 10. Just one more dress."
"I'm afraid not. Twilight should be back at any moment, and she'll want you home by then, I suppose. Maybe I'll let you come back tomorrow to finish up, if she hasn't scheduled anything then."
Spike looked disappointed, but nodded and fixed the ribbons on the last dress of the night. Rarity did give him a goodbye hug before opening the door.
Yet they were both surprised, as Twilight was there ready to knock on the door, in a dress neither one had seen before, Rarity even experiencing envy at how marvelous her attire was, and that she didn't design something that amazing.
Adding to the confusion, the unicorn didn't look alert at all at the front step. She seemed to be looking off into the distance, lost in her her thoughts. And rubbing her left cheek longingly was the weird cherry on top.
"Hello, Twilight. I didn't expect you to be here. Do you want me to send Spike your way?" Rarity greeted.
"That moment, I can't forget it if I try," Twilight wandered. "Oh...hi Rarity. Did you ask something?"
Twilight, not thinking straight? What had happened in Canterlot? And what was with that dress? The rubbing with the cheek? I have to find out!
"I was asking if you want Spike to travel home with you. It is almost 11, and you do have him in bed at 10, right?"
"I...I guess. Spike, you go on ahead of me. It might be a while before I'm there. Just don't stay up too late, OK?"
Spike did as he was told and made his way to the house, more than a little confused as he went past Twilight. Was that...lipstick on her cheek?
Once he was gone, Rarity took careful mental notes of Twilight's state. She didn't seem upset, thank Celestia. But Twilight's glances to the side, almost behaving like the designer wasn't there, hinted she was confused, lost in her thoughts.
There was a lot more to this than Rarity was seeing.
"What happened in Canterlot, deary? I understand you traveled to Canterlot so Luna could show you some neat things in science, but did something else happen while you were there? Did you bump into your parents while you were there? Or did some stallion give you a hard time? I must know, you're acting strangely right now."
Twilight blinked, shaking her head to clear her thoughts. "Don't worry about it. Nothing bad happened to me. It's just...something did happen, and I don't know what to make of it. I'm not sure if I should be thinking about it like I am."
"What do you mean? Twilight, I don't have any idea what this is, and I'm starting to worry about you."
Nodding, Twilight placed her left hoof on the ground, and then it was all clear to Rarity. The only clue she needed was the black lipstick stain on her cheek, which said enough.
"I don't know, Rarity. I'm starting to get sleepy. Could we talk about it some other time?"
"Oh, I have some other idea in mind. You see, thanks to Spike I will have an order finished ahead of the deadline, and I could spend a few hours tomorrow on a spa date. Fluttershy's occupied with her winter job, do you mind coming with me that day? You can explain everything then."
"I guess...I'll have to check my schedule, but if there's nothing on the list I'll be there. This feels weird, I'm not sure if you know how this is like, but I don't know what to do."
"Twilight I think I know exactly how you feel. You came to the right pony for your dilemma. But let's wait until the spa to discuss the matter, shall we?"
"Yeah, maybe I'll be able to figure it out in my sleep."
"One last thing Twilight, you have something on your cheek."
The unicorn didn't fully listen to those words, instead making her way down home. She kept rubbing on the cheek, coming to realize she liked how it felt that moment. It was the first time anypony outside her family gave her a kiss like that, and it was...amazing? Yes, amazing.
She opened the door to see Spike left the place dark, already sleeping in his bed and snoring. With the moonlight giving her the all the sight she needed, she made her way to the bathroom, taking off the dress and placing it to an adjacent closest. It was nice enough of a dress that she wanted to wear it again when an occasion came up.
But then she looked in the mirror, and gasped in horror at the sight before her eyes. How could she let Rarity see something like this?
She had a black lipstick stain on her cheek, imprinted deeply despite her hoof smearing it a little.
Oh Celestia no! Rarity knows I've been dating a mare, but not just any mare, she might already know it's Luna!
No...there's no way....just keep it together and say it was your mother...who has a white mane...that wouldn't mix with black lipstick...and still likes to kiss her grown daughter on the cheek...
I'm finished...this is so embarrassing...
She washed the lipstick off the cheek and went to her bed, collapsing in the sheets. Tomorrow could very well be the most uncomfortable day of her life.
1262879
Thank God, I thought you were going to banish me for writing about your sister. She is more adorkable after all.
Way I see it, if it's a shipfic, the confession has to be early or else we end up having to wait til the end for them to get together and that just makes it terrible. Thank you for the early confession; those of you who hate early confessions, go write your own fics
1265104
Or read The Sweetest Gem. That's a good late confession story.
Sorry. I am OK with a late confession shipfic if the writer's skill is good enough, which in that story is the case. But yes, I decided not to take that route in the end, and it seemed like it paid off well.
AHEM!....... I like it.
this is gonna be good.
1265104
Agreed. This has been done very well thus far. There was enough build up (including Pinkie's epic Hawk scene) to warrant it, and enough brevity to keep it from being boring. It's a good balance with a good pace.
1265104 as long as they dont spend 15 chapters pussyhoving around the freaking bush, while building a wall of confusion which hold back a huge mess of emotions that will undoutibly fail anyways, then they spend 10 more chapters fixing what they fucked up by not talking. im fine with the early or late confessions
Excellent story cannot wait for more. I personally don't care if its an early confession or a late confession as long as they don't just sit there awkwardly with each other please just get it out there don't continue my suffering. Just get it out in the open please I personally like it when they have to help each other and show there feelings for each other in a giant rage saving each other.
A nice short chapter.
There was one thing i noticed however,
I'm guessing there is supposed to be and "if" in-between "but" and "there"?
1265104
I like early to-mid confessions.
1266233
I'll warn you, I had an outline of 15 chapters. And the Intermission chapter was very last second, which means I still have 10 chapters to go. This gonna be a long one.
1267097
Ten to 15 chapters of an well done Twiluna story? I can think of worse things. I don't usually see these stories go THAT long, but you post, I read. MOAR!!!
I have her confess around chapter 6-7 of my story, I guess that counts as late or mid confession since it's 13 chapters long? Also, Loving this story, I can't wait to see what happens next. Keep up the good work.
1278620
Midway in my eyes.
1017757 don't let the haters get to you, this is an awesome story. If these people think they're so great, then they can go write their own story and shut up about others.
I'm going to post again, not because I have anything to say other than thank you all for your support, but because I saw 69 comments and I'm not mature enough to NOT make that age old joke.
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1303826
Uh...what's going on here?
when twilight was all like i love you too i was like dafaq!? but i'm really enjoying it so far
Great story so far. By the way, for all you people out there saying a good shipfic has the confession at a single-digit chapter, read Splitting aMid the Night. Semi-confessions happen throughout the story, but the actual confession only happens after 50 sufficiently long chapters...I was tearing my hair out reading it, but if you can get past the complexities and the whole "what is reality and what is illusion" its a good story, albeit an unfinished one. Either way, I love any good TwiLuna stories and I'm thankfully that you posted this. TwiLuna stories always make me optimistic and such.
Whats wrong with a mother kissing her daughter on the cheek? Maybe not with black lipstick though...
intermission? *eye twitch intermission? *more eye twitches INTERMISSION (1:02)
For the readers complaining that it is being called "LOVE" too quickly, remember: Ponies are not Humans.
Even among our own species, we can not agree upon exactly what emotions trully consist of (chemicals aside). These are not just a different species, but magical Ponies, and for anyone aside from the author to claim they know how this world's biology works, well, they are just being silly.