Marble cracked an eye open, letting in the welcome sight of her marefriend in the morning light. Last night had been very different from the first night's performance, but that had suited Marble just fine; they'd had a lovely dinner, and even danced a bit, bringing memories of Marble's first time on the ice rink rushing back. As long as she was with Minuette, she felt like she could do anything, and the thought brought a giddy, almost electric feeling to her, like all of the worries of all of the years of her life were slipping away.
With a giggle and without a second thought, Marble threw herself on her marefriend with a kiss, eliciting a happy moan from the half-asleep unicorn. It took Minuette only a moment to start returning the kiss, and soon the two were rolling around and laughing without a care in the world. Eventually Minuette halted her giggling long enough to get a question out.
"Geez, Marble, what brought that on? Not that I'm complaining or anything!"
Marble giggled in response and buried her head in her marefriend's neck, giving it a playful nip before she even registered what she was doing. "You mean besides being hoof over tail for you? Or did you just want to hear it again?"
Noticing a lack of response, Marble glanced at Minuette's face, seeing it had gone scarlet. Minuette met her gaze and chewed her lip over slightly before she responded.
"Wow. I just, I guess I didn't expect you to get like this. You've always been so, well—mph!"
Marble planted a playful kiss on her lips and nuzzled into her barrel, giggling uncontrollably for a few moments, soon joined by her marefriend. They snuggled a bit as Marble thought over what Minuette was saying. She took a deep breath as she considered her response.
"I trust you."
Minuette angled her head to look down at her marefriend, still nuzzled into her. "That's really all it is, huh?"
"Mmmmhm."
Minuette laughed at that, rubbing her forehead with a hoof. "You just had to really believe I wouldn't push you away or get mad. I guess it never even occurred to me you would think I would."
Marble nuzzled her barrel a bit more, and cracked an eye to look at Minuette. "You feel the same way, don't you?"
Minuette's blush deepened, and she glanced away. "About being hoof over tail? Definitely. I guess I just haven't let go, yet, y'know? It's not that I don't trust you, it's more like I don't... I dunno. It's about me. I don't know about me is all."
Marble nodded, rubbing her cheek into Minuette's barrel as she did so. "Mmmmhm. I understand. I still feel that way a lot. I'm happy to wait until you get there, too."
Minuette glanced down at her marefriend quizzically, but Marble had both eyes closed and was still just rubbing her cheek against her barrel. Her phrasing sent Minuette's head spinning with ideas, but she didn't want to presume too much. Then again...
Marble didn't have to wait long.
By the time the two ponies emerged from their hotel room, they were both worn out from their frolicking. After all of that, a shower, and some other preparations, it was past noon by the time the two ponies made their way to Sugarcube Corner.
"So how does this Pie Sisters' Surprise Swap Day work, exactly?" Minuette inquired as the bakery came into view.
"Well, we meet up in a different place each year—"
Pinkie Pie suddenly charged out of Sugarcube Corner, so quickly it was like she spontaneously appeared before them, stopping just short of Marble and Minuette, leaning forward on the tips of her hooves such that her nose was almost touching Marble's. Marble recoiled, but Minuette quickly wrapped a reassuring leg around her, while Pinkie picked up where Marble had left off.
"andthenweshoweachotheraround andwhenthedayisalmostover WE SWAP GIFTS!"
Marble quickly took a steadying breath, trying to keep her heart from hammering its way out of its chest at the sudden invasion of personal space. "H-hey, Pinkie."
"Hey, Marble! So how's your time in Ponyville going?!"
Pinkie paused to consider for just the briefest moment, remembering her sister's boundaries and distaste for talking at length, before leaning back and holding up a hoof. "Oh, sorry, nevermind, you don't have to—"
"It's been amazing, Pinkie. I'm really happy to be here."
Marble nuzzled her cheek up against Minuette's, prompting a giggle and returned affection from her. Pinkie froze in place, her eyes widening. She slowly blinked a couple of times, but somehow the image before her didn't disappear. Pinkie quickly pinched herself, but somehow, she didn't wake up!
"Marble! You're, you're, you're..."
Marble slowly retreated behind her mane, eyes wide in anticipation, but Pinkie seemed lost for words for once. An awkward silence descended on the group for a second, just long enough for Marble to remember that Minuette had her, and that same giddy energy she had felt all day came rushing back, making her feel like she could fly if she just wanted to. She spoke without even a shred of reservation.
"Madly in love?"
Pinkie's jaw fell open, and Marble almost threw a hoof over her mouth in horror. She only got halfway before she realized she had nothing to be embarrassed about. Minuette was amazing. She glanced at her marefriend, who was just smiling as broadly as ever, and giggled when Marble looked at her. "Wow, Marble. You're all kinds of bold today."
Marble buried her burning face in her marefriend's cool neck and mumbled, "Only with you," eliciting a giddy and nervous string of laughter from Minuette. Pinkie just rapidly looked between the two of them, an almost unnaturally wide smile growing on her face. A sudden crash from the entrance to Sugarcube Corner caused all three ponies to look over.
Maud Pie was standing in the doorway, a broken glass on the ground at her hooves. What Pinkie and Marble focused on, however, was her visibly shocked expression, jaw open. Maud quickly trotted over to Marble, closing her mouth as she did so, until she stopped near her. Marble smiled at Maud, and was surprised when Maud responded with a small smile of her own, and reached a hoof over. With a glance at Minuette, Marble disengaged from her and gave Maud a gentle, firm hug. Maud's usually deadpan voice had just a tinge of emotion to it.
"Marble, I'm really happy for you."
As curt as it was, it meant the world to Marble. She sighed happily as she leaned in to Maud.
"Could this day get any better?"
Pinkie's smile grew manic. "Only one way to find out!"