//------------------------------// // Under the Stars // Story: Remedial Studies // by Rose Quill //------------------------------// I don’t know how she did it, but Twilight was almost glowing when she came down the stairs. Her mane no longer lay hanging in the straight, simple styling she preferred, but tied up in a way that the ends seemed to bounce and curl with her steps. Her coat shone in the lights of the castle and her wings looked freshly preened. “Wow,” I stammered. Nice one, Sunset. Real classy. But instead of being put off by my monosyllabic response, she blushed and ducked her head. “Thank you,” she whispered. “I hope you don’t mind, but I asked Rarity for a little help.” “I don’t mind it at all,” I said, brain working again. “I feel a little sorry that all I did was brush my mane.” “Oh, don’t be!” She walked shyly up next to me and her bashful smile caused my nerves to calm a little. “I’ve always kind of liked how your mane looks” It was my turn to duck away a little in embarrassment. “Thanks, Twilight.” She blushed a little and pulled out a short length of parchment. “So, what’s first? I have a list of things we could do, like…” I put a hoof on her shoulder, my head tilting slightly. “Actually, I don’t know if Starlight already told you, there is a slight change in venue. We’re going to have a picnic instead.” She nodded. “Yeah. It’s such a shame about the café. I really liked their eggplant.” “They’ll have it up and running again soon, I’m sure,” I mused. “Where are we going for the picnic, Sunset?” Twilight inquired. I merely smiled cheekily. “You’ll see.” We started out from the castle and headed for some fields just out of town. Being later in the evening, there wasn’t a lot of others having a meal there. It was something I was glad of, since I’d figured that if I was nervous, then Twilight was likely just as nervous. The fewer eyes watching us, the better. The twittering of birdsong snapped me back to reality as we approached the little spot I had planned. Under a maple tree, a blanket and basket had already been laid out, and a flock of Fluttershy's songbirds singing cheerily." A rather large box sat next to the tree, adorned with a tag showing Starlight’s cutie mark on it. I stared at it, wondering for a moment just what it could be. Twilight looked at the birds. “Aren’t these some of Fluttershy’s chorale?” I nodded as I opened the basket, levitating out the contents. “I asked if she could help with a little entertainment until the main event started.” I glanced up at the birds. “I’m surprised she was able to get them set up so quick. She seemed eager to get to Cloudsdale for that dinner with Dash.” The Alicorn settled down on the blanket across from me. “It was nice of her,” she said. “And I’m curious as to what you have going there. It smells amazing!” I giggled. “I wish. It’s just a simple vegetable soup.” I felt a blush creep up my face. “I, um...really didn’t have time to come up with anything more elaborate or romantic or…” I shook my head quickly, trying to get back on track. “But it’s warm, it’s tasty, and I have a couple of good crusty loaves to use as bowls. I hope dessert is good. I’m not quite the baker Pinkie is.” Twilight reached over with a wing, touching me on the shoulder. “I’m sure it’ll be fine.” I looked at her and smiled before I had a thought. “You’re awfully calm, Twilight,” I said. “Considering you’re on your first date ever and with your mentor’s daughter, too.” I almost didn’t catch the eye twitch. “Why shouldn’t I be calm?” She tittered nervously. “We’re just friends enjoying  dinner. Under a wonderful sky. With birds singing. And a slow change from day to night…” I smirked at her. “You did something, didn’t you?” Her practiced calm look cracked. “Noooooo?” “Delayed emotion spell?” I guessed as I poured soup into the two bread bowls. “Calm charm? Share with me, because, honestly, I’m nervous as all Tartarus right now.” Twilight blinked. “You are?” I nodded as I passed the dish over. “I’m on a mostly improvised dinner with one of the princesses of the realm who also single handedly saved me from myself,” I smiled at her blush. “Not only that, but she happens to be one of my best friends and more than a little pretty. Even when frizzed out from panic.” She chuckled nervously as her horn lit momentarily. “I may have used a stress charm,” she admitted, her breathing already starting to speed up. “I mean, this is my first date! And with Celestia’s daughter? This is such a huge thing that I almost hyperventilated once already. What if I say something wrong, or do something incorrectly? Or what if I -“ The spoonful of soup landed in her mouth, cutting short the panicked rant. “Twilight,” I said as I released the spoon. “Relax. It’s just me. I’m no different now than when you and I talked that night at the sleepover. I’m the same girl… er, pony.” I grinned sheepishly and took a spoonful of my own dinner, using the food as a way to not have to speak for a moment. Twilight smiled as she pulled her spoon from her mouth. “I know, it’s just…”She sighed. “Did you know I read a book about slumber parties while trying to navigate my first one?” She shook her head. “I mean, it made sense at the time, but looking back now, I should have known that my friends would have been able to share ideas.” I nodded, not quite sure where this was going. I knew from experience that she would ramble a bit before getting to the point. “And short of writing Cadence for advise, I don’t have much literature on dating or crushes outside of some novels Rarity leant me,” her face turned a deep crimson. “I don’t think those are much help in this situation.” Twilight ruffled her wings. “I don’t particularly know how to act in a lot of social situations,” she admitted. “I was sheltered a bit growing up, I suppose. But I also know that sometimes a faux pas can ruin something fun…” I smiled sadly as she trailed off and stirred her soup. “You’re a silly mare, Twilight Sparkle,” I whispered. Her raspberry eyes met mine. “Despite all the times we’ve spent as friends,” I said, tilting my head forward. “Meetings at the café, writing back and forth til all hours some nights, or even the silly jokes shared because only another Equestrian would get them. We’ve been closer than I am with the girls, the other girls.” I pointed my spoon at her. “I tried to fry you with a fireball,” I felt a lump in my throat. “And you still tried to help me. You were a friend when I didn’t have too many. I’m not going to let something silly like using the wrong spoon ruin a good night.” I smirked. “Besides, I only brought one kind of spoon anyways.” She laughed. I liked that sound more than her nervous giggle. It was rich, and alive. It was beautiful. The tense mood broke as we ate in bursts. We talked about things that had happened in the last few days, my lessons and how they were faring, or the latest friendship mission she had been called for. As the sun sank behind the horizon and the moon began to rise, I glanced at the box set aside by Starlight. “I wonder what this is,” I mused aloud as I pulled it open. Inside was a long cylinder, wider at one end than the other. As I lifted the telescope from the box, I heard Twilight coo in amazement. “This is a fixed focus telescope,” she said, settling it onto a tripod that was also in the box. “It’s great for general observation! I have one just like it, I didn’t know you did too!” “Neither did I,” I quipped as I saw a bit of paper in the box. Pulling it out, I read over it quickly. Sunny, Don’t forget that the meteor shower starts not long after moonrise. If the two of you aren’t kissing or anything at that time, enjoy the show! Oh, and I kind of borrowed this telescope from Twilight without double checking, so try not to let anything happen to it? Starlight I covered my face with a hoof as Twilight looked around for something to view. She seemed oblivious to the existence of the note, so I tucked it into the picnic basket. I’d deal with Starlight another time. It was at that moment that the sky split open, dazzling lights flying across the nighttime air. Telescope forgotten, she just stared upwards as I went over and sat beside her. As the show continued, I caught movement out of the corner of my eye. I turned my head and saw the wing closest to me flutter slightly before tucking in tight against her body again. After the third repetition of the motion, I smiled, took a gentle grip on the wing with my magic, and pulled it over my shoulders. I felt her breathing hitch for a moment, but it returned to normal soon. I sighed contentedly as the warmth of her body seeped imnagainst the growing chill. There was something comforting about this. Something right. We sat there long into the night, not really speaking in words but in tiny little shifts of the body. I turned to ask a question only to find myself looking at her eyes. An eternity passed. Then I felt her lips press against mine, and I lost track of time.