I twisted my hair around my fingers, eyes shut tightly as the boat rolled with the storm. My sea legs had fled with the sunny weather, leaving me laying in bed trying to keep some sort of equilibrium. Twilight returned from the bathroom with a wet hand towel and laid it on my head.
“Any better?” she asked, a kind look in her eye.
I shook my head, holding the towel in place. “Not really,” I said. “I don’t feel like puking now, but the boat still swims whenever I try to stand or sit up.”
Applejack came into the room, a look of caring concern on her face.
“So Dash ain’t the only one not likin’ the weather, Ah see,” she said, a weak smile on her face. “How ya holdin’ up, sugarcube?”
I smiled, sure my face was as green as her eyes. “I think I’ll survive,” I said. “Though I’m not happy this is how I spend our last day on this trip.”
Twilight picked a few errant strands of hair from my face and cupped my cheek. “Not much to do with the rain anyway, hon,” she said. “Most of the outdoor activities are closed and there aren’t any shows until later.”
“Maybe we can have a lil’ get together here in yer cabin, Sunny,” AJ said. “Talk ‘bout some o’ the things that happened on this trip.” She tapped a quick message out on her phone.
“Like you and Dashie?” Twilight asked.
The farm girl colored a bit, running her hand through her hair, the blonde tresses worked into a braid today. I frowned as a detail worked into my awareness.
“Where’s your hat, AJ?” I said. “Weather like this you’d almost be sure to wear it.”
The blush deepened, and she glanced away. “Dash has it,” she said. “She weren’t feelin’ good, and Ah was about t’ go out while she slept it off.” She smiled a little. “Said it smelled like me and Ah thought it might help her sleep.”
Twilight resettled herself on the bed, her presence comforting. “I can understand that,” she said, glancing at me.
“She steals a shirt of mine every time she comes over,” I clarified, glancing at my fiancé. “Sometimes she gives them back.”
“They’re comfortable,” the bookworm said, tapping her forefingers together.
“What’s comfortable?” asked Rarity as she walked in, Fluttershy behind her brushing some wet hair out from her face.
“Twilight steals my shirts sometimes,” I said as the two sat down.
“Completely understandable,” the prim girl said as she sat on one of the chairs. “You do have some lovely choices in your wardrobe.”
“Who wants nachos?” cried a giddy voice as the door opened to admit Pinkie, bearing said snack in her hands.
I slowly sat up, wiggling back against the headboard of the bed. The night was passed with laughter, especially after Rainbow managed to make her way down, feeling better following a nap. Her girlfriend's hat stayed on her head, however, causing a snicker from Twilight that brought a glare from me that was softened with a mental I love you.
We were watching as the ship eased up to the dock, large mooring lines being thrown over the sides to secure it to the dock.
I slung my duffel bag over my shoulder, glancing at my better half as she scoured the room for items we might have missed, somehow producing a checklist in a matter of minutes.
“That everything, Twi?” I asked.
She made a mark on her notepad. “Seems like,” she said, picking up her bag as well, tucking the notepad inside. I caught a flash of a tartan skirt. She followed my gaze and blushed a little.
Eyes front, missy, she sent with a wry smile.
I tittered as we left the room and met the rest of the girls on the deck. I looked at each of them and smiled. Applejack had her arm around Dash’s shoulders, Fluttershy and Rarity were holding hands. I felt Twilight’s hand slip into my back pocket and rest her head against my shoulder, sighing happily. I waved at Lemon Zest as I caught a glimpse of her through the crowd.
“I think this was just what we needed, AJ,” she said. “A nice vacation with nothing odd to happen to us.”
“Speak for yourself,” Rainbow said. “I didn’t expect to hook up with AJ the way we did.”
“Ya didn’t make it easy, ya know,” the tall girl said, resting her forehead against the athlete’s, smiles blossoming on both faces.
“Nor us, to tell the truth,” Rarity said.
“Though it was like a dream,” Fluttershy whispered.
“Awwwww,” Pinkie said. “I’m going to have to throw everyone a party when we get back to town for finding love!” She was grinning bigger than any of us.
“Are you saying you have someone, Pinkie?” Dash asked.
“Yep!” she returned, grabbing us all in a hug. “I got all of you as friends and you’re all happy!”
We couldn’t argue with that.
We waved as Shining Armor dropped us off at my apartment, Twilight letting him know she’d be home later that evening.
“It’s going to feel good to sleep in my own bed,” I said, dropping my bag next to my bed.
“I agree,” Twilight said, a teasing tone to her voice.
I glanced back at her and smiled.
“Perv,” I tossed back.
“Whatever,” she returned. “I’m starving, you want to grab a bite before running me home?”
“Sure,” I said, pulling my wallet from my bag. “Tudors?”
“Sounds great!” she replied.
The pub we parked at was the only one in town that offered vegetarian and vegan alternatives for their fare. I deposited a few quarters into a meter and was about to head inside when I felt a surge of surprise and shock through the bond.
“Everything ok, Twi?” I asked turning to see her staring across the street. She just pointed, directing my attention.
And there she was, red and yellow hair shorn in a chin-length bob, a sharp business suit, and expensive looking pumps. She was chatting into a cell phone, holding up a hand to flag a cab, slinging a leather attache case into the backseat of the hack that pulled up. The distance and the general din of the neighborhood made it impossible to hear anything.
We both stared as the cab pulled away, my counterpart inside.
“Huh,” I said.