***Epilogue: The Morning Hangover***
The storm had left a terrible mess in its wake. Outside, broken branches and tree limbs were scattered across Ponyville.
The weather pegasi had done their job well.
With the weak and dead branches no longer a looming threat to the ponies below, Ponyville was now ready for winter.
Twilight sipped on her morning coffee, letting out a satisfied moan as the brown liquid traveled down her throat and warmed her chest.
It was a satisfying feeling that she savored every morning.
"Mmm... Thanks, Spike..."
She said, almost moaning aloud.
“That's better than good.”
She meant every word too.
"No problem, Twilight."
Spike chuckled as he sat on the opposite side of the table with the daily paper in his claws.
"You were right about this castle holding up better than the old library."
He laughed as he recalled the storm that had left the library, particularly Twilight’s room, in splinters, very wet splinters.
Twilight gave the little dragon a silly smirk.
"Awe... Did the widdle dwagon get scared during the storm?"
It was a friendly and playful jab, but Spike found it less amusing than Twilight.
"I wasn't scared..."
Spike snapped, turning his head to hide the red hue in his burning cheeks.
He thought quickly in a desperate attempt to change the subject, something other than his fear of thunder.
"What about you? I could hear you and Starlight talking about something. What was all that about?"
Like a broken dam, memories of the previous night flooded into Twilight's mind.
She remembered the bottle, Starlight's drunken confession, the kiss...
Before Twilight could make up an answer, a zombie-like groan echoed through the corridor, and Starlight came trudging into the room, looking as though she had just awoken from a thousand year slumber.
Twilight's lips curled into a smile as she offered Starlight the chair next to her.
"Good morning, Starlight. How are you feeling?"
Her curiosity had been heightened by Starlight’s confession, but even though the kiss was unwanted, it only made her think about Starlight more.
She wanted to know more.
She needed to know more.
"I feel like death...”
Starlight groaned, laying her head on the table.
The plate beside her shook, threatening to fall off of the table.
Twilight turned to Spike and motioned for him to get some coffee for Starlight.
When the little dragon was gone, Twilight turned back to her friend.
"So... Do you... want to talk about last night?"
Starlight fired her an awkward glance.
"What about last night?"
Twilight's smile dissipated in an instant.
"You don't remember? You kissed me and told me you loved me."
Surely, Starlight was just messing with her.
She had to remember.
Starlight finally looked up and met Twilight's gaze, and she managed a light chuckle.
"Ha... Really? That's funny, Sparkle. I doubt I'd ever do something like that, unless I was really, really drunk..."
Twilight snapped, her face turning into a frown.
"You were really, really drunk."
Looking at Twilight’s expression, Starlight's smug grin faded away, and her cheeks burned with embarrassment.
"O-Oh... I... I'm sorry, Twilight... I didn't mean-"
Spike returned with another steaming mug of coffee in his claws, and he offered it to Starlight.
"Thank you, Spike..."
Twilight said to him.
"Can... I be alone with Starlight for a little while?"
Spike cocked his head to the side and looked back and forth between her and Starlight.
Then, he shrugged his shoulders.
"Sure thing, Twilight. I'll be in the kitchen.”
He then turned around and returned the way he came.
Moments later, Twilight and Starlight were alone again.
Starlight buried her face in her hooves.
"I'm sooooo sorry, Twilight... I don't know what I was thinking..."
Twilight bit her lower lip and placed a comforting hoof on Starlight's back.
At the touch of Twilight's hoof, Starlight looked up and met Twilight's gaze.
"You asked me last night if... if I think you're… pretty..."
The distressed Starlight’s ears fell behind her head, and her lower lip began to quiver.
“Twilight, I-”
A gentle hoof swiftly covered her lips, Twilight’s hoof.
Twilight grinned, the corners of her mouth stretching from ear to ear.
"Well, I think you're... pretty, Starlight... and...”
She leaned in close, bringing her snout closer to Starlights until she could feel her shallow breaths.
“... and I think I’d like to see you again tonight.”
***