Starshine slowly blinked and wiped a hoof across her eyes sleepily. She sat up pulling back the warm blanket she noticed draped across her to reveal a sleeping Hazel next to her. The positioning indicating that Hazel had been nuzzling her while sleeping. Smiling, Starshine gingerly placed a hoof against Hazel's side. She gently began nudging her, rocking her back and forth softly until her eyes opened sleepily. "hrmph...five more minurtes..."
Hazel's voice was slurred and it was clear she wasn't fully awake. Starshine giggled, leaned down and tenderly gave her a kiss on the muzzle. Hazel's eyes shot wide open, only to slowly close once more in ecstasy as she melted into the embrace. "Mmmm..."
Starshine slowly pulled away and looked Hazel in the eyes, her own crimson red eyes radiating her feelings. Hazel blushed and gladly obliged. Laying back down together, Starshine showed Hazel what it truly meant to taste a rainbow as a chorus of angels rang inside her mind.
It was much later that the singing had died down. Starshine and Hazel lay next to each other panting and sweating far more than usual. Starshine looked at Hazel and spoke softly to her as she gently nibbled on her wings. "Tell me, my lovely secretary, how has the Tirek's condition progressed?"
Hazel felt strangely enchanted by those eyes, she felt almost compelled to answer. "I almost forgot! I was told to give this to you by Faust."
From the dresser she passed Starshine a scroll that was tied with a pink ribbon. Starshine unrolled it as her horn glowed and began to read: "My dearest daughter, I must commend you. I was just visited by a centaur asking forgiveness for his transgressions. Even now he is helping to guard Ponyville and the whole of Equestria. Apple Pie even seems to have been able to get him a job bucking apples in Sweet Apple Acres for a part time affair when he isn't on guard. I am proud of you keep up the good work. "
"Signed, Faust"
Starshine rolled her eyes and sighed in disgust. Placing the scroll down on the nearby end table, Starshine slowly rose and walked over to the dresser. Hazel watched in interest as the slowly swaying form of Starshine opened and shut the drawers, one after the other muttering to herself. Hazel could only understand parts of what was said. "No...not lacey...satin needs...no...new...add black...needs more red."
Finally Starshine turned around, slowly yet deliberately, with a warm smile upon her muzzle. "Hazy, let's go shopping!"
The blood red thestral stared in disbelief at what her bedmate was saying. "W-what?"
Slowly starting towards her, with an almost predatory stare, Starshine quickly leaned in close causing Hazel to lose her breath. Stopping just inches from Hazel's lips, Starshine lifted her muzzle and whispered softly and tenderly in her ear. "I want to take you clothes shopping in Equestria. I want to dress you up like a pretty pretty princess and I want to introduce you to a pony who means a lot to me, just as you do. Consider this my request for a date."
Starshine grabbed her in a heated embrace and kissing her began to speak in a silky do-as-I-say tone. "Now be a good pony and say yes for me, Hazy."
Hazel wanted to say no. She opened her mouth. She wanted to say it was a waste of time. Her voice and tone was timid yet said exactly what was on her heart. "I would love to Starshine."
Starshine smiled mischievously and her horn began to glow red once more. "That's my good girl."
The two of them vanished and reappeared inside Rarity's boutique. Hazel's eyes went wide with worry when she thought about how they would be seen. A quick look in the nearby wall mirror told her Starshine had given them illusions to hide their thestral forms. Starshine smiled at her as the store owner came out of the back.
Inch for inch she resembled her grandmother. Her creamy white fur, that unicorn's horn and those gorgeously coiffed curls in her purple mane were the spitting image of the fabled fashionista, Rarity. Spotting Starshine she broke in a grin and ran to hug her, nearly knocking her on her hindquarters in the process. "Starshine! How have you been? I heard you were given a special mission and-"
The unicorn turned her head and saw Hazel. The blush on Hazel's face and the nervous look she gave at the sight of this unicorn hugging Starshine, made her smile. Looking back at Starshine, she winked and said simply, "I want all the details, dah-ling."
Starshine laughed and looked at Hazel. In a reassuring tone she spoke to her. "This is a friend from my childhood, Hazy. Her name is Ruby Rayon. We are close but not as close as you and I."
Turning her attention back to Ruby she leaned in close and whispered for almost five minutes detailing her relationship, avoiding the parts of Faust and her sister being the former warden. Hazel could only hear some of it. "First we met...then we...her tongue...my...rubbed...her..next licked... we ended up exhausted and now we are here shopping for clothes."
Ruby's eyes went wide and her white face flushed with a bright shade of pink. "Oh, you naughty mare! I am so proud of you. Tell me what I can do for you both tonight? Perhaps some lace for further misadventures you twisted mare you?"
Hazel's disguise was that of a peach colored unicorn. Right now however, her fur seemed to be channeling her emotions and it had turned completely pink with embarrassment. Starshine gently hugged her and said softly, "relax Hazy, trust me."
Turning towards Ruby once more, Starshine spoke in a soft, mellow tone. "No, not right now at least maybe later. Right now I wish to find her a star-filled evening dress, if you catch my meaning."
Ruby smiled. "So it is that serious is it?"
Starshine nodded. Ruby said to Hazel in a joyous tone. "Hooves up dah-ling let me take your measurements, and I will have a dress made just for you. One sure to impress any pony."
At a nod from Starshine, Hazel did as she was told and hours later both walked out with hazel in a diamond shimmer blue evening dress. "I feel silly. Starshine."
Starshine smiled and whispered, "you look positively radiant, Hazy. We are here and remember, best manners."
Here? Where was here? Why did she need such a formal gown anyway? They were standing at a large door made of crystal. As Hazel watched, the door swung open slowly to reveal a lilac colored alicorn with a rather knowing smirk on her face. Who is this? Hazel thought as she heard the words that made everything crystal clear. "Mom, allow me to introduce Hazel Eclipse, my marefriend."
Sitting on the sofa in Twilight's private study, Hazel felt strange. For the first time she could recall, she genuinely cared what an alicorn thought of her. Twilight glanced at her for a moment, almost appearing to see through her, before asking Starshine to please go fetch some tea from the downstairs kitchen. Once her daughter was out of sight Twilight spoke in a soft and friendly voice. "You don't have to hide from me; I won't bite."
Hazel's eyes opened wide. Does she know? Her thoughts began to race trying to think of an excuse as Twilight spoke once more, in a very commanding voice. "Show me who you truly are. I promise you have nothing to fear from me; I am well aware what you are."
Hazel did as she was told. She wasn't sure why, but she didn't want to upset this particular alicorn by refusing. Her illusion faded slowly away, revealing her blackened hooves, her blood red fur, her draconic wings and finally her emerald eyes. She slowly raised her head afraid for a reason she could not explain to see Twilight's horrified reaction. Instead, she was greeted with a smile. "There that's better isn't it?"
Hazel sat there stunned and speechless. Twilight laughed. "Do you really think I would deny my daughter's happiness simply because you are a thestral? I have never seen her eyes sparkle so much, even though they now are no longer amethyst."
Hazel stared slack-jawed at Twilight. "Y-you knew?"
Twilight just smiled and instead of giving an answer asked Hazel one question in a softspoken voice. "Tell me something, do you love her?"
Hazel's mind screamed say no, be done with this! Instead her heart won and the words she truly felt came forth."More than I could ever say, Ma'am."
Twilight slowly leaned forward and gave her a warm hug whispering to her in a flowery voice. "Then no more needs to be said, does it? My daughter is returning, why don't you 'hide' yourself once more hun."
As the illusion was recast, Starshine appeared carrying the teapot. Twilight, "Well how is it go-?"
Her voice stopped midsentence as she saw Hazel halfway covered by her illusion. Terrified, Starshine turned to look at her mom, who was giving her a rather reproachful look. "Mom I-I-I can explain!"
Twilight's wings flared out as she rose gracefully and raised a hoof, causing her daughter to close her muzzle. Twilight slowly walked over to her and using a hoof lifted her chin until they both made eye contact. "Young lady, tell me the absolute truth, do you love that thestral?"
Starshine gulped and said in a shaky voice, "I-I love her more than life itself, mom."
Twilight grinned. "Then maybe you should show it by removing your illusion spell and hers as well in the company of your mother, sweetie."
Starshine blushed. "How did-"
Twilight spoke in a warm, hospitable tone. "Sweetie, I gave birth to you. I raised you. When you were scared of the dark, I was there to soothe your fears and give you a blanket. When you scraped your knees, I was there to kiss away the pain. I have seen every aspect of your life. Tell me, did you truly believe I would not recognize my own daughter no matter what disguise she may be wearing?"
Slowly, Starshine's horn glowed red and the alicorn illusion fell away revealing the silver sheen on her fur as well as her blood red brand of a cutiemark, her dragonic wings unfolded to reveal the scales on them. She stared into her mother's eyes with her own crimson-colored ones. "I'm sorry mom."
Twilight Sparkle, the Princess of Friendship told her daughter words she would never forget at that moment. "Everypony has their skeletons, sweetie. I am not flawless either. Please never be afraid to tell me the truth."
Hazel watched the scene in her true form, Smiling warmly. Twilight said in a loud voice, "How about we make this party more fun?"
At once a pink blur rocketed into the room wielding none other than her signature party cannon. "Did somepony say party?"
The rest of the legendary mane seven as well as a few others began to make their appearance. First Applejack and Rarity walked in side-by-side. Rarity's mane and tail were fabulously styled, while Applejack seemed to be carrying a strange keg upon her back. Next Rainbow Dash zoomed in carrying a blushing, terrified Fluttershy in her arms. The cyan pony calmly explained."She was taking too long!"
Starlight and Discord along with Trixie walked in laughing at a joke. Starlight glanced at Twilight, seeing the thestral and didn't so much as flinched as she asked,"Sorry are we late?"
Vinyl Scratch and Octavia, two of the most sought after pony musicians sauntered in and as Vinyl set up her Dj Stand, Octavia poured herself some cider and flirted with her. Then none other than Celestia and Luna themselves showed up at the door. Luna immediately went for the pudding while Celestia headed towards a cake that she had been watching Mrs. Cake bring in.
When asked how they knew, one answer was given by all. "Pinkie Pie."
Hazel asked in a confused manner, "Pinkie Pie?"
At once, every pony in the room responded loudly, "don't question it."
Twilight laughed and introduced her daughter's marefriend as well as her daughter's new form. Party games erupted and soon all seven were dancing as well as drinking home-brewed cider. "Please don' tell Celestia about this, sugarcube."
Twilight shot a glance at the celestial princess, completely three sheets to the wind with the special rum cake. Currently, the princess was dancing crazily out on the dance floor that Vinyl had asked Pinkie to set up. She just grinned as she drank from a hoof-tall stein, savoring the forbidden taste, and taking a moment to whisper to a grinning Applejack. "Have I ever, Aj? Cheers!"
As the night went on, they partied, dance sang and ate extravagantly inside the crystalline castle of Twilight. Hazel had a huge grin pasted on her face in such company. She was dancing with Starshine amidst Ponyville's craziest ponies, looking into her face, she saw it too. Starshine's crimson eyes were sparkling, shining with the light of true passion and they were looking directly into Hazel's own emerald eyes. Tomorrow she would have to go back to work in Tartarus with Starshine. Tonight however while it lasted, was one she would enjoy and never forget.