A Woodland Romance

by KidatHeart5


True Love's First Kiss

They crawled for a few minutes until Timber said, “So…this is what it feels like to be a human with another human. Well, besides my sister, at least.”
Sunset smiled, “Don’t worry. I know what you’re getting at. We were both ponies, and then one of us was a human while the other was a pony. Now, we’re both human.”
“You know…you’re beautiful when you’re a human.” He then stuttered, “I mean, you’re beautiful as a pony, too. You know, I like you either way!” He blushed as he hoped that Sunset would accept his words.
She chuckled, “Thanks. I know you’re being sincere. And I was being sincere when I said the same thing to you on the boat.”
Timber smiled and then asked, “Hey, Sunset?”
“Yeah?”
“Do you think that if we can get Gloriosa back, we can – you know – have our first kiss and live happily ever after?”
“How do you know if it’s going to work?”
Timber looked into her eyes and held her hand as he answered, “Because I know I’ve found the one I’m meant to be with. I’m sure of it.”
Sunset smiled sweetly at him before she said, “Well, if you’re sure, let’s go save your sister and earn our happy ending.”
Another minute later, they saw a light at the end of the tunnel. They scurried towards it and leaned out of the tunnel to see what was outside the small passageway. There were red crystals dotting the rock walls and stalactites and stalagmites all over the place.
Timber breathed, “Whoa…I don’t think I’ve ever been here before. This must be the rock quarry.”
Suddenly, they heard two voices laughing as one. Sunset recognized it in an instant.
She whispered to Timber, “Come on.”
They quietly moved to the stalagmites situated a few feet from the tunnel. They peeked over the rocks to see the rescue party all tied up in brambles and near the crystal spire where Gloriosa had gotten the geodes. Timber and Sunset gasped when Glaea entered the cave. She now had jagged rock teeth and a cleft on her chin. Her hair had gotten more wild and bejeweled with red crystals. Her head brambles had now sprouted leaves and her arms and fingers had gotten longer with leaves wrapping around her wrists. Even her skirt had become longer and woodier.
Timber uttered in shock, “Gloriosa?”
Sunset shook her head, “That isn’t your sister. It’s someone who’s been consumed by Gaea Everfree.”
Their hearts skipped a beat when new captives wrapped in brambles floated behind Glaea.
Sunset whispered, “No…It’s everyone from the camp.”
Discord exclaimed, “Fluttershy! Screwball!” He growled, “Let them go, you crazy, tree-hugging, plants-for-brains!”
Glaea wagged her finger, “Ah, ah, ah. Remember who you’re talking to.” She booped his nose when she said that. She then said to everyone, “Or do I need to remind you all who I am? I am Gaea Everfree, the forest spirit those back-stabbing alicorn sisters trapped in these geodes! But…thanks to the pathetic girl who wandered into my cave, I will have my body restored when the sun comes up for the third time!” She cackled madly.
Timber was so filled with rage and worry that he stood up before Sunset could stop him. He shouted at Glaea, “No! You won’t!”
Glaea turned to face him and then chuckled menacingly, “Oh, look who’s here. It’s the brave little brother who’s come to the rescue.” She reached out to him as she said in a threatening way, “But who’s going to save you?”
Suddenly, Sunset rose up and answered with a determined face, “I will.”
“You, little princess?” She cackled before she said, “Oh, don’t make me laugh!” When she lifted her finger, brambles burst from the ground near the couple’s feet and wrapped the two very quickly. Glaea said as she used her magic to lift up her new captives, “Now I have two lovebirds to complete my collection.”
Twilight grunted, “’Collection’? What collection?”
Glaea pointed to her, “Why, you, my dear.” She then gestured to the rest of the sisters, “All of you. I recognized the spawn of Celestia when you first came here. My rage at being trapped at the hooves of your mother and aunt has fueled my powers enough to lure Gloriosa to me and strengthen your magic as well. That was how I could confirm that you were indeed Celestia’s daughters. Though, in truth, I am surprised about his magical surges.” She pointed to Discord as she said that. “How did you come to be part of this family, the same family whose matriarch had gone back on her word so many years ago?!”
Sunset asked, “What do you mean our mother went back on her word?”
“Oh? Didn’t she tell you? Oh, I see. This is just another one of those things she counts as insignificant. Well, no matter. I will tell you the truth about her.”
She conjured up a circular screen above the crystal spire and an image began to play before the captives’ eyes. It was of young Celestia and Luna with Star Swirl the Bearded.
Glaea recollected as the events played on the screen, “You see, Celestia and Luna were just fillies who had lost their home and family to a blizzard and they sought shelter from their bitter enemies. Star Swirl foolishly suggested bringing them into my forest and calling it their home. I was ready to defend my domain just as I had done for countless years.” The images of Star Swirl and Gaea battling played out before Celestia and Luna appeared again. “The sisters pleaded for his life and told me their little sob story, so I offered them sanctuary in the forest. There was, however, a condition. They could not bring Star Swirl or anyone else in the Everfree Forest.
“Of course, when the sisters became princesses on the ponies’ behalf, I let their visitors pass through my home so they could see them. As long as the ponies came into the forest on their own free will, my deal with the alicorns had not been broken…until that day.” She waved her hand to change the image. The ripples on the screen calmed down to reveal Celestia, Sombra, and their infant daughter arriving at the castle on a chariot. “Luna was detained from a broken leg at the time, but I saw no reason for her elder sister to bring her precious husband and daughter into my forest! She could’ve come by herself, but no! She chose to ignore our deal and completely walk all over it!
“As compensation for breaking her word, I took her little daughter Fluttershy from her parents.” The screen showed a vine creeping through an open window and wrapping itself around baby Fluttershy as Glaea said her words. “They did not take it so well, so we battled until Celestia and her sister imprisoned me in seven geodes and hid me away in this cave. Over 30 years of being trapped inside this dank place, all because of a deal broken by Celestia!” The screen disappeared as she shouted the former queen’s name.
Twilight countered, “Our mother may have broken her word, but she would never do so willingly!”
Glaea scoffed, “Oh, please. Spare me your daughterly affection for her. I spoke the truth and nothing more.”
Applejack spoke up, “And here is the truth in my words and my sisters’: our mother raised us with wisdom and compassion and ruled her country the same way. She did some hard things in her life, and the proclamation was no exception. She beckoned suitors for us because she wanted to protect us from a curse. But deep down, she wanted us to marry out of love. Even though things turned out for the better, that proclamation was still a hard thing for her to do, and I’m sure she did other things she regretted, too. Mother may not always be perfect, but she tries her hardest and does whatever needs to be done, even if it means doing something against her will.”
Glaea mocked, “’Against her will’? Do you suppose it was ‘against her will’ to just bring her husband and daughter into my forest?”
Sunset answered, “If our mother had a promise to keep, she would keep it unless she was forced to break her word.”
Glaea scoffed, “Ha! I don’t believe you! How would you know what your mother is really like unless you’ve lived through what I’ve lived through?” She then chuckled menacingly, “And now you will. Once this body is mine forever, I will wreak revenge upon Celestia by imprisoning her and taking everything she loves! When I am rid of these geodes at sunrise, I will be forever free.”
She began to sing, “I have waited for the day…to finally come out and play…Now the magic is my salvation…All plants are in my protection…Soon...I’ll…be forever free! Behold the beauty of nature in all its glory…No need to fear the vultures at the door…When I imprison the lot of you…within these walls of thorns…I will be free forevermore!”
Unbeknownst to Glaea and her trapped captives, Quibble rushed up to the boulder-blocked entrance of the rock quarry outside. He was the only one who managed to escape capture when Glaea took his friends at the camp.
He tried to push on the boulders as Glaea sang inside, “They had come into my domain…And then they sealed me in chains…”
Exhausted, Quibble stopped pushing on the boulders. As he panted, he heard Glaea’s voice echoing from the side of the rock quarry.
As he went to check it out, Glaea’s voice sang, “But I’ve been around for generations…”
When he saw a pony-sized hole above a rocky slope, he knew that he just found a way in.
Glaea’s voice sang as he ran up the slope, “This is just a complication…I...will...be forever free!”
Inside the cave, Timber grunted, “Let my sister go, you crazy forest spirit!”
Glaea merely faced him and sang in a sickly-sweet tone to mimic his sister, “Trust in me, this is for your own good…Don't be afraid, nature is our friend…All of this beauty that surrounds us…Every lovely bloom…” Her deep, hollow voice took dominance again as she sang, “…designed to defend…
“Let them come, just let them try! I'm not about to say goodbye! Gaea will be here throughout the ages…written into the history pages! I...will...be forever free!”
As she sang the last verse, a burst of green magic morphed some of her features. Her freckles became elongated but not exactly the teardrop shapes Gaea usually had under her eyes. She now also had a red gem on her forehead, a leafy collar around her neck, and pointed cheekbones. In addition to her skirt being longer, a curvy branch now wrapped around her waist and its end was looped between her thighs.
Daring Do could not get out of the brambles that bound her. She could only sit there and watch until –
“Psst!”
She heard the voice and turned her head to see her coltfriend hiding behind the rocks. She whispered in surprise, “Quibble! Thank goodness you’re safe. When I didn’t see you with the others, I didn’t know where you were.”
Quibble said, “Seems to me I would’ve been no better off coming with you.”
“Well, I’m glad you didn’t.” She grunted as she struggled with her bramble bonds, “Quibble, I need your help. We need to get the geodes off Glaea’s neck.”
He asked in confusion, “’Glaea’?”
She sighed agitatedly, “Just go with it!” She continued more calmly, “Look, the Gaea side is very protective of the geodes, but the Gloriosa side might want to give them up.”
“So…how are we going to get both sides to take them off?”
“That’s the thing. Gaea’s taking over Gloriosa every second she’s wearing the geodes. Soon, Gloriosa will become a monster like she is.”
Just then, Quibble’s eye caught something. He noticed that Daring Do was leaning against a big red crystal and the surface was reflecting her backside. Seeing this, he got an idea.
He asked with a smirk, “Has she looked at a mirror today?”
Daring asked in confusion, “What are you getting at?”
“Just get her to see her reflection.” He nodded his head towards the crystal Daring was sitting against as he said that.
After he ducked behind the rocks again, Glaea came up to Daring and said, “So, I heard you came here looking for my geodes.”
Daring shrugged, “They’re nature’s treasures, after all.”
Glaea said in rising anger, “Oh? And I suppose you came here to steal them away so they would be forever displayed in a museum?!”
“Hey, you’re lucky I got here first! Other treasure hunters would want to sell your precious geodes to the highest bidder! I want to keep them here in this cave so ponies could be safe from you!”
Glaea shouted, “I am the protector of nature, and not even Celestia herself will keep me from regaining all that is mine!”
“The body you’re controlling is not your own!”
“It shall be mine! I will mold it into my image!”
Daring then smirked, “Well, are you doing your job right? Then look in a mirror!” She lunged to the side so Glaea could see her reflection.
Her reaction upon seeing her transformed face was that of shock. Timber knew then that Gloriosa’s consciousness was surfacing.
Glaea dug her hands in her hair and crouched down in sorrowful shock. She murmured in her synchronized voices, “No…No…”
Timber had to act quickly before Gloriosa’s essence would possibly be lost forever. He shouted out, “Gloriosa! If you can hear me, fight Gaea for as long as you can. Please, Gloriosa! I need you to come back to us even if it’s only for a few seconds. You can do it, sis! I believe in you!”
Glaea grunted as both essences fought within her. Her voices alternated as she muttered, “No! You cannot! I can and I will! I will not have it! Sorry, Gaea! This is a battle you can’t win!”
She jerked her head violently before she became calm again. The captives were unsure which side of Glaea was in control now. Just then, Glaea outstretched her hands and the brambles around Timber receded from his body.
He slowly went to her as he asked, “Gloriosa?”
When he touched her shoulder, she looked up at him with sad eyes. When she spoke, two voices still came out, but this time, Gloriosa’s was the more dominant one. “Timber…” She put her hand on her face as she regretted, “Oh, Timber, I made a huge mistake. I thought I could fit in this land better if I became something ponies were more familiar with at night.” She sighed as she continued, “What a fool I was.”
Timber comforted her, “Hey, it’s okay. We’re going to fix this. And even if I get true love’s kiss and you don’t, we’re still going to be brother and sister. Nothing can ever tear us apart.”
Glaea smiled at that before she shook. She then said, “But Gaea might. Please, take the geodes off before it’s too late. I’m afraid I may not be able to hold her off for long.”
Timber nodded and grabbed the geodes around her neck. Suddenly, Gaea’s voice shouted, “NOOO!!!”
This surprised Timber and the geodes flew from his hand and onto the spire where the crystals were originally. When all seven of them landed back in their rightful holes, a flash of magic occurred and filled the cave with its bright light. When everyone opened their eyes, they were ecstatic to see that the brambles had disappeared and the humanized royals were back to their true pony forms!
Rainbow cheered as she flew around, “All right! I got my royally rad body back!”
Twilight said, “It must’ve been the geodes! I think they reversed Glaea – I mean, Gaea’s magic and the effects it had on others’ powers!”
Fluttershy asked her husband, “One question: would you have loved my human form as much as you do my pony form or more?”
Discord said as he wrapped his arms around his beloved, “Well, your human form would’ve made embracing easier, but…” He eyed her romantically as their faces touched. “…you know I love the real you, the one I married.”
She giggled, “Oh, Discord!”
When her parents kissed again, Screwball covered her eyes and muttered, “Not again!”
Timber then caught the group’s attention when he said, “Gloriosa’s okay, guys!”
Gloriosa, back to her regular human self, managed a groggy smile, “Hi, everyone.”
Whirl then flew up to Daring Do and gushed, “That was so cool with the mirror bit! You were like, ‘Look at your ugly face there’ and pow! Gaea’s defeated!”
Daring chuckled, “Thanks, but it wasn’t all me.”
The group looked at her in confusion and some said, “Huh?”
Daring started to explain as she slowly backed up against some rocks, “Actually, it was…” She then called out, “Hey, Quib! Come out and meet your new fans!”
At that moment, Quibble appeared from behind the stalagmites as he blushed and said with an embarrassed smile, “Dare, I don’t think that was necessary.”
She said as she wrapped her hoof around him, “Sure, it was. You were the brains and I was the one executing the plan. Why else would I have you as my coltfriend?”
He sputtered in surprise, “Uh, Dare? Are we supposed to say that out loud?”
“Hey, I may be Daring Do, but that doesn’t mean I can’t say whatever I want to whoever I want.” She gestured at the group, “I think these guys are good.”
Gloriosa nodded, “And so is Sunset.” She then sighed sadly to Timber, “I’m sorry I almost ruined your relationship. I guess that deep down, I was just afraid of losing you to someone you hardly knew. But I realize now that you have good instincts when it comes to the ones you love, and Sunset is definitely the right choice for you. I should be like a good big sister and let you go free to live out your future…with her.” She gave him a kiss on the forehead, causing tiny sparkles for only a moment.
She then urged her brother, “Now go on. You know you want to.” She smirked at him as her head nodded towards Sunset.
Timber chuckled softly, “My sister, the matchmaker.” He then crawled to Sunset so he’d be at eye level with her and asked, “Hey, Sunset?”
She turned to him and asked, “Yeah, Timber?”
He blushed as he spoke, “I…I love you.”
Her eyes widened as she breathed, “Really?”
He smiled in confirmation, “Really, really.”
She chuckled as she blushed, “I love you, too.”
They leaned towards each other and shared their first kiss. Sparkles then began to dance around Timber.
The group looking at the scene gushed, “Awww…”
A few seconds into the kiss, the sparkles began to lift Timber into the air. Even though his mouth didn’t move, his voice echoed out, “Until you find true love’s first kiss…”
Surprisingly, Gloriosa also had sparkles surrounding her and lifting her up. Her voice then joined Timber’s echo, “And then take love’s true form…”
When the twins were side-by-side in midair, more sparkles erupted. Then, their hands, feet, and faces began to glow. The group had to close their eyes as the twins’ silhouettes vanished in a bright light akin to a star. Suddenly, a ring of yellow mist burst from the light and broke many crystals off the rock walls with powerful force. The light began to die down as clouds surrounded it.
As the clouded ball of light descended to the ground, Sunset could hear the twins’ voices echoing out, “And then take love’s true form…And then take love’s true form…true form…”
After the light faded away and the mist began to dissipate, Sunset slowly walked forward, asking softly, “Timber?”
Timber groaned as he opened his eyes and saw the lovely sight before him. He asked groggily, “Sunset? Did…did it work?”
She smiled, “See for yourself.”
He looked down and saw…hooves! He chortled in delight, “I…I don’t believe! It worked! I’m a pony!”
A female voice also exclaimed, “So am I!”
Timber turned back to see that his sister was also a pony now! He smiled widely and said, “This is great! Now we’re both ponies at night!” He then thought of something and asked, “It is night, right?”
At that moment, Discord flashed out of view until he came back a few seconds later. He said with a smile on his face, “The moon’s still out, so you and your sister are officially free of the curse!”
The group cheered until Gloriosa asked, “But I didn’t even have a stallion to love. How could I be free?”
Sunset explained, “You do have a stallion to love: Timber.”
The siblings both uttered, “Huh?”
“You see, true love can come in many forms. It can be romantic or even family-related. I’ve seen how close you two are, and even if Gloriosa doesn’t find a stallion to marry, she’ll always have her brother in her heart.”
Something then dawned on Gloriosa. She said, “I think I know what you mean now. When I told Timber to live out his future with you, I was acting out of true love. I think it’s true love to let go of someone you really care about so they could be happy. I love my brother enough to let him go adventure the world like he’s always wanted to. Now, he has that chance thanks to you, Sunset. I couldn’t be prouder of Timber for choosing the right mare.”
Timber and Sunset embraced until he asked, “So, where to first on our Equestria tour?”
Sunset tapped her chin as she answered, “I’m thinking…” She then shrugged happily, “…Baltimare?”
“Good choice!” He then whispered to Sunset, “But, uh, could you help me get around Baltimare since it’s going to be my absolute first time in a city?” He smiled sheepishly.
She chuckled softly, “Sure.”