//------------------------------// // 19 - This Moment // Story: Queen of Equestria // by BlackWater //------------------------------// The path back through the tunnels was quiet at first, just the clicking of the spider legs against the rock and the clopping of the hooves in between. Twilight didn’t need to reignite the gravity spell yet, but knew she would have to eventually. An idea popped into her head as they approached a side chamber that smelled exceptionally delicious. Perhaps if she stalled them a moment, she could get some kind of useful information. “Is that the bakery?” she inquired to the spiderpony in front of her. Ka’Ran replied, quite pleased. “Yes, our bakers are no doubt restocking our depleted stores.” Twilight looked backwards to Chrysalis, who blushed. She shook her head and stopped in her tracks, causing the arachnes to stop as well. “Is there a problem?” Ka’Ran requested politely. “May we ask some provisions before we leave?” Twilight put her plan in motion. “It will be a long time before we can acquire more and I’m quite hungry after the trip it took to get here.” The arachne appeared fidgety. “Well,” she looked down the tunnel both ways. “I suppose it’s the least we could do. The Vine respects you deeply. So do we...” Twilight increased her smile when Ka’Ran stretched her pony foreleg to the side chamber entrance, beckoning them in. She followed the invite along with her companions behind her. Lighting was better than elsewhere, with ovens and stoves illuminating spaces not covered by gem torches. The smell was incredible. Not unlike- “Sugarcube Corner!” Pinkie shouted out in glee as she bounced forward. “It’s just like Sugarcube Corner! Oh oh oh!” “Besides the smell, I don’t really see the resemblance,” Twilight tried to bring up a forehoof to calm the party pony but she was already bouncing all over the large chamber. Pinkie crisscrossed from oven to oven stationed by arachnes baking delectable treats and from shelf to shelf stocked with mouth-watering goodness. “Oh! Chocolate cake! Strawberry cupcakes! Coconut cookies! Oh! We’ve got to sing a song about it!” Chrysalis’ eyes widened in fear. Twilight tried to reach Pinkie before she had a chance. “Oh, I never knew what wonders I could find~ Oh, did I come in here so blind~!” Pinkie sang out as an upbeat tune sounded off from nowhere. “Nooo,” Twilight cried as she ran, trying to catch the mare. “Oh, yes but lookie lookies~” Pinkie picked up a platter from a shelf with treats on it. “We’ve got spiderpony cookies~” Chrysalis facepalmed. Pinkie bounced clear across the room, defying physics and Twilight’s desperate chase. “Even drinks and glasses aplenty~! Two, ten. No! Twenty! On this shelf I can see even higher~ Your delicious stores of spider cider~!” Just as Pinkie was about to follow the rush of energetic music into a powerful chorus, Twilight finally grabbed her rear hooves and pulled her down out of the air she was starting to walk across (in defiance of all physics). The purple alicorn grabbed her midsection next and put a hoof to her mouth when she tried slipping into the chorus anyways. Mysteriously, the background music stopped once the hoof was over Pinkie’s mouth. “How about we just calmly enjoy some cake, alright?” Twilight suggested deadpan. A muffled “mmkay” and a nod came from the big-eyed pink mare to indicate her agreement. Twilight removed her hold cautiously and followed Ka’Ran’s lead to another large chamber that had been half joined to the bakery. Long and high rows of tables occupied the space, the surfaces flat in alignment with gravity. They were made of stone like the ovens and shelves from before. However, reduced lighting and a lack of seats caused Twilight and Chrysalis to ignite their horns with a powerful green glow and look to their hosts for directions. Ka’Ran and one of the others grabbed containers with flat tops and appropriate height. They placed them at the nearest table. “We don’t use chairs or stools, as your kind does,” Ka’Ran explained. “Thank you,” Twilight appreciated and easily climbed up onto the container. It was a little tall since the table surfaces were higher than they would be for a pony. Even if it had been a struggle to get up, however, the use of magic and wings were more than enough to overcome the challenge. “And thank you for letting us eat and take rations. It’s very hospitable of you.” “We can make plenty,” Ka’Ran answered simply. She went around to the other side of the table, her standing height putting her at perfect eye level with the pony queen. Although, it was difficult for her guests to know which set of eyes to look into. “What would you like to have now?” Pinkie, who had bounced straight onto her own container, looked back at the bakery with a big-eyed feverish expression. She was practically drooling. “Everything…” “How about something more practical,” Twilight suggested. “Muffins sound good. Perhaps a slice of cake afterwards for Pinkie.” “OH! Yes, a dozen muffins please!” Pinkie turned her food-lusting stare to Ka’Ran. “I’ll have whatever Twilight has,” Chrysalis waved off any concern over her request. One of the other arachnes retrieved a tray from the bakery. By pony standards, it was quite large. Twelve muffins were arranged on it with a variety of styles. Chocolate chip, blueberry, and glazed were just a few. Although Twilight had been far calmer than Pinkie, she did have to admit they looked and smelled incredible even in the dark surroundings filled with large half-spiders. Ka’Ran sat it down before the ponies and changeling. “Oh my,” Twilight happily said to herself as she grabbed the first one – a mix of blueberry and chocolate. “These look amazing.” “Hey,” Pinkie frowned when Chrysalis took the strawberry one she was going for. “I thought you ate love.” “A muffin or two won’t hurt,” Chrysalis giggled with a purr-like buzz. Ka’Ran just stood there at her place at the table, not saying anything as she watched the other creatures consume the food. She must have felt the need to provide conversation because she spoke up on her own initiative. “We keep all of the chambers well ventilated. Especially this place due to the ovens.” After swallowing, Twilight looked up and around. “Now that you mention it, the air does feel relatively fresh. Not as fresh as being on the surface but still not as suppressive as a cavern like this should be.” Pinkie Pie, knowing her friend’s plan but lacking her tact, went straight for it. “So when did Shining Armor and Cadance leave here?” Twilight glared at Pinkie. “The evening before we took Chrysalis and Sombra in,” Ka’Ran openly replied. While surprised at the forthright answer, Twilight was happy to take the information. It was as if fate had barely kept them from running into each other. “So they might not be too far away...” With that in mind, the group continued to eat what was by all means a delicious meal on par with the treats of Sugarcube Corner. As much as the setting was worlds apart, Twilight let the chocolatey berry flavor savor on her tongue. When they left after this, there would be much flying to do. The reel finally ended. The credits had finished and, in spite of the long list of ponies involved in making the film, Cursed Swamp Monsters of the Everfree somehow managed to be just as cheesy as the name implied. Their concern over the spectacle of light and fireworks had faded for now, since Applejack was used to such happenings and trusted her queen to deal with it in due time. Even though calming Rara about it had taken more work. What remained now were two mares laying on a large bed in Rara’s tour home. The bright lights of the room remained dim from the movie-watching and both of the ponies’ bellies remained full from the smores they had made together. Nostalgia. That is what they had enjoyed the most. “I forgot how much I was missing out on,” Rara whispered to herself as she stroked AJ’s mane. She laid just beside the sleeping mare. Given the recent events, it wasn’t surprising that AJ had fallen asleep at the start of the credits. Rara was about to do so herself but, before she did, she grabbed her bed’s neatly folded throw blanket at the end and laid it over them. YAAAWWWN. Applejack’s mouth cranked wide open as her eyes started to do the same. Sunlight filtering through the home’s curtains had stirred her. It was warm too. Not uncomfortably warm. The weather was bitingly cold outside while the insulation and heating system of the modern house-wagon made it comfortable enough inside. The additional heat of the blanket on her was quite effective in luring her back to sleep. But then she noticed. It wasn’t just the warmth of the blanket. It was the warmth of the mare, who was no longer fully beside her but rather tangled up and half on top of her! “Oh nelly,” Applejack whispered under her breath as she was pulled much harder into consciousness by the other mare’s position. “If Granny saw me now...” Rara stirred now too but failed to awaken. She merely cuddled against her old friend and mumbled something that might have included Applejack’s name. “Don’t remember her talkin’ in her sleep,” the farmpony made further comment to herself. She just needed to find a way of getting this famous, beautiful, warm, and irresistible mare off of her. Wait. Irresistible? “I ain’t no mare-lovin’ sleep-around,” AJ continued to whisper, as if she needed to speak the words to convince herself of them. Rara, however, countered with more of her sleep talk. “Mmmm...so good...” Applejack gulped. She really should move her filly friend off of her. Her filly friend. Not her fillyfriend! “Oh...AJ...” Was that a moan? Applejack bit her bottom lip. This was getting to be a bit much- “Right there, Jackie…harder...” “Jumpin’ junebugs!” Applejack exclaimed as she flailed out of the sheets. Rara was sent turning across the mattress in the tangle of sheets while the orange mare landed beside the bed on her hooves. “Huh?! What?!” Rara’s head poked out of the bedsheet burrito she had gotten wrapped in. “Oh, good morning.” “Mornin’? Were y’all asleep just then?” AJ asked right away. Her face was a deep red and her legs were rather shaky. “Mmhmm,” the far sleepier mare nodded with a yawn at the end. Her mane was a mess and the next thing she looked to as she started removing the sheets around her was the brush on her nightstand. Applejack tried to compose herself. It was just a dream. Maybe she misunderstood. There could have been an innocent meaning behind it all. She tried directing the topic to a better distraction. “Y-you, uh, hungry for breakfast?” “Like a horse,” Rara replied light-heartedly after getting up off the bed. She made the joke with a snort of laughter that really helped break any illusion of her public image. “I wouldn’t mind pancakes. I’ll be in the kitchen in just a minute.” “Aw, naw. I’ll make ‘em,” Applejack insisted and hopped out of the bedroom with a vigor. Yes, this would be a nice restart for the day. So she set about making the best stack of pancakes that any Apple worth their salt would be able to present. The kitchen and dining area were relatively small, but perfectly adequate for a mere pair of ponies. Various syrups and toppings were set out since Applejack wasn’t sure which Rara liked. Some bottles looked older and less used than others, but AJ didn’t take chances. Once the milk was added to the table, she looked back to the bedroom. Rara walked out in perfect timing, her dark indigo mane done up in a pretty toss with curls at the ends. She sniffed the air. “Now doesn’t that just smell incredible,” she praised and added a warm hug to her friend before sitting down at the table. “Thanks for making this, AJ.” “N-no problem,” Applejack fumbled her words, bothered by her own bothering. She sat across from her host. “I got everything out. Not sure what y’all like.” “Well we never had pancakes back at camp,” Rara thought out loud. “I like the fruit dressings most,” she explained while grabbing for the apple jam-like topping. “I rotate them throughout the week, so I’ll go with apple today.” “Hehe,” Applejack averted her gaze, a nervousness creeping back into her. “Yeah, nothin’ like them apple jams.” Rara smiled sweetly but gave no indication of flirtation. Is she doing this on purpose? Applejack thought with a bite of her bottom lip. She reached for the pear butter to add it to the pancakes she put on her plate. “So, AJ, how’s the family holding up?” “Oh,” the farmpony gave a sigh. A more normal topic. “Just fine. Better than me, no doubt. Granny’s takin’ care of the lighter chores while Big Mac runs the farm in my absence. Apple Bloom does all kinds of work helpin’ ponies with cutie mark problems...” “Big Mac still have any crushes?” Rara asked with a sly grin before taking another bite of the meal. “Hehe,” Applejack chuckled at that. “Sure does, though he won’t tell nopony who.” A moment passed as both took mouthfuls of the almost-too-hot pancakes. Rara spoke again just as Applejack took a drink of milk to wash down the hearty meal. “How about you? Are you single?” PPPPFFFT! “Sorry,” Rara was the first to apologize. She wiped her face of the spit liquid without complaint or sour expression. “No, I’m sorry,” Applejack wilted in regret. “I was just so...surprised.” “So?” the showmare insisted. Her eyes held a serious expectation even though her smile suggested a casual aloofness. Applejack felt unsure. Less about the truth than her self confidence. This wasn’t her strong suit. She was a hard worker. Rarity was the one that was supposed to know about relationships, but the hivemind was weak at this distance. On the other hoof, she didn’t exactly need the hivemind to make her spill her true feelings. She was the Element of Honesty, after all. No previous lessons over tact could prevent her from dismissing the use thereof. “Naw, I ain’t seein’ nopony,” she let out. “How do you feel about dating a mare?” Rara kept her pleasant smile and then took another bite of pancakes. If she had any nervousness over asking such questions then she was perfect at hiding it. “Heheh,” Applejack’s face twisted in disbelief. How far was her friend going to take this? Not that Applejack didn’t like entertaining the idea of exploring a relationship. She just had no honest idea how or what to do with such a thing- “Do you find me attractive?” Applejack’s head finally hit the plate of pancakes in front of her. She was done. Finished. “Are you okay?” Rara reach out to her friend, same sweet tone of innocence tinged with just a bit of concern. Applejack rose slowly with a half-hearted chuckle of defeat. “Y’all want to go the country mile with me?” “How about we focus on this moment first?” the pop star suggested, bringing up a cloth napkin to AJ’s face to clear off the specks of pancake. “I might be able to do that, sugarcube,” Applejack finally smiled. “Eating pancakes and washing dishes are two things I know. Maybe you can take it after that.” “I’d be glad to.” Spike laughed. Oh how he needed that. The morning had been stressful enough with further work to be done organizing the changelings, crystal ponies, and handling the departure of the Union ponies. This debacle was precisely what was needed to lighten his mood. “Why I never!” “It wasn’t an insult, Rarity,” Fluttershy poked the tabletop with a forehoof as a form of fidgeting. “Besides, it’s not like we have any masks to wear with each other.” They were in the palace dining room. It was the personal dining room as opposed to the public one used for large gatherings and consulate dinners. The smaller size of the room, warmer environment of the fireplace, and rich royal purple rugs made it more comparable to the inviting scenery of Rarity’s stately bedroom than a cold prison of formality. “Old habits,” Rarity shrugged. “In any case, I assume you are waiting for Twilight to be back before becoming more intimate?” Rainbow Dash swallowed the remainder of the muffin she had been eating for breakfast. “Yep. I mean, we tried some stuff anyways but only up to a point. It’s awesome even though we both agree that we’re a little more interested in Twi than each other. In that sense anyways.” “I see,” Rarity voiced, using her magic to push her empty plate from her just a hoof’s distance. “Only the hivemind allows me to get some grasp of your feelings, I suppose. Such a polyamorous relationship is beyond my own feelings or desires. Spikey Wikey is the only one for me for such matters.” Spike turned to the mare beside him at the table. He had to look down since he was higher up in a sitting position, but her words warmed his already flaming heart. The light smoke he exhaled in the next breath was shaped in the form of a heart, which he puffed out past her on the table. The heart dissipated when it reached the fireplace on the other side of the room. “Awww,” Fluttershy cooed. Rarity smiled, her own feelings melted somewhat. “Don’t speak anything to the crystal ponies, though. They’ve been brainwashed by Cadance to believe Spike and I are...well...you know.” “So you’re not?” Rainbow smirked, her head propped up now by a forehoof as she leaned over the table expectantly. “Sunburst wants us to,” Spike answered. “He thinks our love may affect the Crystal Heart. If testing the theory means we need to make love then I’m ready and willing even if it fails.” “Spike!” Rarity’s cheeks puffed out with a pink tinge. Rainbow laughed. “You two do love each other so much,” Fluttershy commented in her usual sweet manner. “I’m sure it would be possible if it were not for having to manage the changeling refugees. Maybe Dashie and I-” “Oh don’t be so giving,” Rarity laughed that certain laugh one only gave when they were incredibly nervous about something. “You’ve got cold hooves,” Rainbow deftly remarked with a smirk turned sly. “Not that I blame you. I mean, he is like twice your size.” Rarity’s indignation turned to a pale speechlessness which would have turned again into a deadpan stare if the conversation had stalled. “Dashie,” Fluttershy turned to her blue companion across the table. “This is something they can do only at their own pace.” “Not that anybody is asking my opinion,” Spike rolled his eyes, “but this pace is fine.” To demonstrate his meaning, he leaned over the short distance between his seat and Rarity’s to give her a chaste kiss on the lips. Their lips did meet, Rarity quite willing to in the absence of crystal pony observers. However, a rainbow blur streaked across the table and intervened. She held their heads together and even pushed a bit. “Rainbow!” Fluttershy complained from her seat while the Element of Loyalty snickered. She kept holding them there. Spike could have resisted but honestly enjoyed it. His lips held against hers and pressed deeper. Though Rarity had raised her forelegs up in reaction, she hadn’t yet ignited her magic to resist. The now-familiar press of her dragon’s tongue against her lips made her react automatically. His tongue entered, initiating the deep kiss and holding back only for a lack of space in her pony mouth to contain its full length. “Whoa!” Rainbow rose her brows as she watched from her close-up position. Her hooves gradually fell away, no longer needing to encourage it. Rarity, her mind adapting to the moment, turned her gaze briefly to Rainbow as the kiss became heated. An expression crossed her eyes, as if to say “you want it, you got it” or perhaps “jealous?” The white unicorn put one hoof around Spike’s head and pushed Rainbow back with the other. Running with it seemed to have wiped the smugness from the prankster’s face. Rarity, however, found herself caring less about that the longer the kiss lasted.