Three Little Words
Part One; The Date
There were a few sounds recognizable to any Ponyville citizen. The noise of alarms as Equestria’s latest thousand-year-old enemy attempted to claim the throne or their revenge or whatever it was they wanted. The thumping bass of a patented Pinkie Pie party. The distinctive ‘daaaarling’ from a pearly white unicorn about to give you a hat or accessory that would “look just perfect with your ensemble”.
And, of course, the clatter of certain pegasi making not-so-elegant landings.
The last of which Twilight Sparkle had grown quite accustomed to, much to her dismay. Once again, from her little desk in her little private corner of the library in the crystal castle, Twilight heard that yelp. Followed by a thud, followed by several more thuds. She turned her page, not even glancing up. “Hello, Rainbow Dash.”
“Heh… hey Twi.”
She turned the page again, scribbling some notes. “You’re picking those up, I assume?” There was a shuffling sound, and Twilight nodded to herself as she heard books being slotted onto a shelf. “You know I have a front door, right?”
“Yeah, but that’s no fun.”
Twilight rolled her eyes, finally turning to face the pegasus just as the final book was put back on a shelf that… she sighed. It had yet another dent in it. Wood was hard, but Rainbow Dash’s head was harder. “You know, one of these days you’re going to break something.”
Rainbow just answered with that cocky grin she’d faced gods and demons with. “Heh, you know I’m made of tougher stuff than that.”
“I meant the shelf,” Twilight corrected flatly. “I know you’ve got a thick enough skull.”
“The thickest around!” She boasted proudly, before realizing what she’d said a moment later. “Wait…”
Rolling her eyes with a little smile she hadn’t noticed, Twilight flipped her book closed. Before Rainbow could think too hard about the remark she changed the subject. “So, to what do I owe the honour? Or have you just come to make me organize my shelves again?” She emphasized her point by swapping around the books Rainbow had put back seconds ago.
The pegasus just smiled. “The book bandit claims another victim!” she announced, crouching low to the floor. “Quick as the wind, she strikes from the shadows, unseen and unheard, devastating neurotic alicorns everywhere!”
Twilight raised a single brow. “Neurotic? That’s a big word for you. Where’d you read it?”
“Hey! I know big words!” Rainbow defended herself, voice thick with inflated indignation. When Twilight’s skeptical look didn’t relent, however, she deflated. “It was in one of those romance things Fluttershy made me read.”
“Ah, you mean the novels you begged her to loan you?” Twilight tittered at the blush that raced across the pegasus’ cheeks. “Don’t worry; your secret’s safe with me.”
Rainbow shook her head, willing the blood from her face. “Yeah, well, I wouldn’t have had to if you picked up on, like, any of my hints.”
Again, Twilight gave her a disbelieving look. “Really? Hints? Name one time you implied you liked me before you asked me out.”
“I said you had a hot flank,” Rainbow deadpanned. Twilight opened her mouth to respond, but the pegasus advanced on her. “I told you I was into the, and I quote; ‘nerdy librarian types’.”
“W-when did you-” Twilight was once more cut off as Rainbow’s advance forced her to take a step back.
“I once told you I’d always wanted to bed a unicorn- when you were still a unicorn!”
“Okay, that never-” Twilight felt her flank press into her desk. Rainbow continued forward, a lioness stalking her prey.
“One time I caught you staring at my flank and I winked at you and told you that the view was better up close.”
“I told you I wasn’t-” They were face to face now, muzzles inches apart as Rainbow’s eyes narrowed accusingly. Twilight’s eyes were wide and a nervous sweat ran down the bridge of her nose.
“Twilight.”
The alicorn swallowed thickly. “Y-yes?”
Rainbow grinned, and Twilight swore she saw the fangs of a predator. “Just admit you’re totally oblivious.”
“I don’t think it’s fair to say I-”
“Twi.”
“I’m just saying I thought of you as a friend and-”
“I brought you flowers. On hearts and hooves day.”
“I told you I forgot what day it was!” Twilight shouted, eyes shifting to anywhere but the ceris irises filling more and more of her vision. “I thought they were for the experiment I was working on!”
Rainbow stopped her advance with a hair’s breadth separating their muzzles. “Twilight.”
A whine came from the back of Twilight’s throat, and she was forced to look her girlfriend in the eye. “Fine! I’m totally oblivious! I always have been. Are you happy now?”
“Yep!” Rainbow chirped, darting forward and pecking the alicorn much too fast for her to react. “Love ya, Twi.”
Twilight rolled her eyes as her personal space was returned to her, feeling the heat in her cheeks. She cleared her throat forcefully, returning a kiss of her own. “Yes. Well. Now that that’s sorted, is there a particular reason you crashed into my castle today?”
Rainbow’s smile became almost imperceptibly smaller, but she covered it with a laugh. “Do I need a reason to crash my girlfriend’s boring studies and make her day a little more interesting?”
“Yes.”
“Well tough,” came the defiant reply. “‘Cause I don’t have one, and your boring studies have officially been crashed. So, since you’re clearly not going to get any more work done, and you’ve been stuffed in this stuffy library all day, how about we go out for some dinner?”
Despite the tempting offer, Twilight forced herself to remain dedicated to learning. Or at least, that was the excuse she gave herself when she wanted to make Rainbow work for it. “Who says I won’t get any more work done? You can’t expect me to just blow off my studies for you whenever you feel like it.”
“Sure I can! I’m much too distracting for you to keep reading anyway.” A suggestive waggle of eyebrows was added to the statement.
Twilight scoffed. “Oh really? I’ll have you know the current text I’m reading is absolutely enthralling, and I might just-”
“Twi-” Rainbow shook her head “-if it was really that interesting, you wouldn’t have heard me come in.”
“Like I’m ever that-”
Rainbow rolled her eyes. “This again? Do I really need to list everything you missed while reading a book you were actually interested in? Or can we cut to the chase?”
Sputtering a moment, Twilight was eventually forced to concede the mare’s point. “You know, sometimes I think you know me too well.”
“Atta girl!” Rainbow cheered as she succeeded in pulling the egghead out of her books.
Twilight sighed. “Where to?” She asked as she was lead through the twisting crystal halls. Why they didn’t leave through the same window Rainbow had entered through was a mystery that would surely just end with a headache.
“It’s a surprise,” was the cryptice response, and Twilight gave her girlfriend a curious look.
“I thought you said you didn’t have anything planned?”
Rainbow shrugged a little as cramped crystal corridors gave way to the bright cobbled streets of Ponyville under the afternoon sun, a cyan wing drifting casually over lavender shoulders. “I don’t,” she said, deliberately ignoring Twilight's eyes as they walked side by side. “But it’s a surprise anyway.”
“Uh-huh.” Twilight didn’t buy it. Not a single word. While Rainbow had always been… spontaneous, she usually wasn’t quite so coy about it. However, when she wanted to be the mare could be impressively stubborn, and the overly-cheerful humming and up-beat swaying of the pegasus’s flank told her Rainbow had no intention of letting anything else slip.
“You know,” Rainbow said eventually, after several minutes of walking, when the crystal castle was far behind them. Her voice was quieter than normal. “We didn’t spend much time together yesterday.”
Twilight hummed her agreement. “Well, we were both pretty busy. With Winter Wrap Up and everything.”
“Yeah, I know…” she trailed off as they came to a stop in front of the only place they were ever going to go at a moment’s notice. Rainbow sighed, staring at the door to Sugarcube Corner. “Hey, Twi?”
“Hmm?”
Rainbow looked up, giving her best smile at the alicorn. “I love you.”
Instead of responding, Twilight leaned in and kissed her girlfriend properly, lingering just long enough to imply more to come. “What’s this about, Dash?”
Rainbow’s smile seemed to twist as she quickly looked away. “Yeah… well. You know what yesterday was, right?”
Twilight blinked. “Winter Wrap up?”
“Yeah but…” she sighed, shaking her head. “Did you really forget?”
“Forget?” Twilight tilted her head, tapping a hoof to her chin. “I don’t think I forgot anything yesterday? I had that schedule planned out for months, I made sure to-”
Rainbow groaned. “Twi, yesterday was our one year anniversary.”
Twilight’s eyes widened and her jaw dropped. “Oh my gosh! I-I didn’t even… I’m so sorry! I totally forgot! Just we were so busy yesterday and I was so focused on making sure everything went smoothly I didn’t even think about-” she was stopped by a cyan hoof shoved in her mouth.
“Relax, egghead,” Rainbow scolded gently, slowly removing her hoof. “Honestly, I had Spike help me sneak a peek at your checklist. I kinda figured you’d forgot.”
“I didn’t mean to! Oh, Rainbow, I’m so sorry…” she trailed off, staring resolutely at the ground. “I’m a terrible girlfriend.”
Rainbow nodded. “Sometimes.” The alicorn shot her a withering glare. She just shrugged. “I mean, you did forget our anniversary. Lucky for you, I’m amazing.”
“What did you do?” Twilight asked, looking to the bakery with renewed suspicious anticipation. Only now did she noticed the darkened interior despite it being well within the confectionary’s regular operating hours.
Grinning, Rainbow made a grand gesture of swooping in for a kiss. “You’ll love it, promise.”
Despite herself Twilight returned the kiss. “Rainbow? What did you do?”
With a flourish the doors were thrown wide open. Twilight watched as the reason for the dimmed lights was revealed; the normally busy sweet shop was empty, save for a single table in the middle of the floor. Lit by a tall candelabra, the pitch black tablecloth shimmered with silver flecks and a sheen that implied a silky smoothness. Plates, napkins, and silverware was set out as though it were the fanciest restaurant in Canterlot. The only thing that reminded of the bakery’s origin was the ever-present smell of sweets that clung to the very walls, and even that was hidden beneath a layer of other smells emanating from the kitchen.
Suddenly, Twilight felt severely under-dressed for Sugarcube Corner.
“I know it’s hard to eat anywhere fancy these days, what with the princess thing,” Rainbow said, highlighting her point by rubbing her feathers along Twilight’s. “So I figured I’d do something a little more private, and bring the fancy to us.”
“Rainbow…” Twilight trailed off, holding a hoof over her gaping mouth.
Rainbow just smiled, bumping their flanks together. “What do you think? Am I the best girlfriend or what?”
“All this, even though I forgot?”
Sighing, Rainbow Dash shook her head. With a hoof she forced Twilight to meet her eyes, giving the alicorn a gentle smile. “I don’t care that you forgot, Twi; the day doesn’t matter to me. It could be just some random day for all I care - it’s not important. I didn’t do this because of the anniversary thing. I did this for us. Our anniversary was just a good time to do it. I put this together because I love you.”
Twilight was at a genuine loss for words. Some part of her noted the sincerity in Rainbows eyes, and another giggled at how sappy the pegasus could be. The rest of her still struggled to take in everything she was being presented with. She still felt terrible for forgetting what most would consider an important date, but… Rainbow didn’t seem angry or upset at all.
“Oh, Dashie…” Without a better way to express herself Twilight threw her hooves around the mare, pulling her into a tight embrace and locking their lips together in an embrace that lasted far longer than what would usually be considered appropriate for a public setting.
“Yeah, well, y’know…” Rainbow looked away, rubbing the back of her neck with a hoof. “I’m just that awesome, so it’s only natural. I mean, have you met me?”
Covering her giggle with a hoof, Twilight was forced to nod along. “Yes, I suppose you can be pretty awesome. Sometimes.”
“Sometimes?” The pegasus almost looked offended. “Always, Twi: Always.”
Twilight tapped her chin thoughtfully. “Oh yeah, that reminds me; you promised you’d do the dishes last night, and I could have sworn I saw a pile in the sink this morning. But I must have been mistaken, right?”
“Okay, low blow, Twi; I was busy doing this-” she gestured at the table “-last night. I told you I had somewhere to be!”
There was a chaste kiss, and Twilight stepped into the small shop, flicking her tail across Rainbow’s muzzle. “And what about the other day when I cooked that casserole you’d been bugging me to make for weeks? I’m pretty sure I remember doing the dishes then, too.”
Rainbow attempted to defend herself, but shut her muzzle with a click. Thinking back, she shrugged. “Touché.” She followed her girlfriend into the dimmed lighting within, smiling idly as she caught scent of the food cooking in the kitchen. In a magical glow her seat was pulled out for her, and with a roll of her eyes she accepted the unspoken invitation.
“You know, Dash,” Twilight said distractedly, gazing into the flames of the candelabra as she too took her seat. “Sometimes I think you’re too good for me.”
“Oh, definitely,” Rainbow responded without a second’s hesitation, a sly smirk across her muzzle. She just chuckled at the glare she received. “But you’re way too awesome to put up with me, too. The way I see it, we’re pretty even when it comes to being too good for each other.”
Despite herself Twilight giggled, rolling her eyes. “I suppose. Still though, I’ll have to find a way to make up for forgetting about today.”
Rainbow waved a hoof dismissively. “I told ya, Twi; don’t sweat it.”
“Oh, so you don’t want me to pull some Princess strings and get us box tickets to the next Wonderbolts show in Canterlot?”
Rather predictably, the pegasus’s eyes grew wide. “I take it back; you’re totally making it up to me.”
Again Twilight laughed, and when she stopped she found Rainbow smiling at her in that way she sometimes did. Just occasionally, on some quiet nights or early mornings, when they were alone with just each other, the mare would look at her differently. Not bad different; not at all. It felt… nice. She felt closer to Rainbow Dash in those times than she had ever thought possible.
Their moment was cut short as plates and glasses were set out in front of them, and Twilight came crashing back to reality just in time to see a pink tail slip back into the kitchen. On the table was a simple appetizer salad, with an extra sprinkling of almonds.
“You even remembered the almonds?” Twilight asked, already levitating a fork into her food, noting the wine glass as well.
Rainbow already had a mouthful of lettuce. “What? You act like I wouldn’t know my girlfriend's favourite foods.”
“Well, we’ll just have to see about that, won’t we?” Twilight asked, happily starting on her appetizer as the pegasus practically devoured hers as though it was the first time she’d seen food in days. Which was how Rainbow always ate, and Twilight had long grown accustomed to it. Even if she sometimes wished her girlfriend would tone it down a bit. Unfortunately, no amount of chiding or stern glares had been able to change the habit thus far.
Swallowing the last of her plate, Rainbow took a moment to sigh happily. “You’ll see, alright. I called in a couple favours for tonight.”
“Oh?” The alicorn took her time finishing her own salad, enjoying the crunch of the almonds. “Well, I’ll give you that it certainly smells delicious, whatever it is. Though I doubt you know my actual favourite food.”
True to form, Rainbow accepted the challenge with a confident chuckle. “Twi, don’t take this the wrong way, but you’re not exactly subtle about your…” she rolled a hoof in the air, searching for the word. “Obsession, with a certain food.”
Twilight blushed. “O-oh?”
“I’d call it pretty obvious, actually. Which is why I had Pinkie go and get…” she drew out the sentence, building the anticipation as they both turned to look back at the door to the kitchen.
Nothing happened.
Rainbow slapped a hoof to her face. “Pinkie, that’s your cue!”
“Your burger, madame.”
Both ponies jumped and snapped their attention to the pink mare standing next to their table, a bow tie around her neck and a fake pencil moustache affixed unter her nose. An outstretched hoof held a silver platter upon which sat a grease-stained white bag.
Twilight gasped. “Rainbow-”
“Hayburger hayburgers,” Rainbow announced as the fast food was set down on the table, their pink waitress disappearing just as suddenly as she’d appeared. “Your not-so-secret guilty pleasure. Told ya.”
Despite having to swallow to keep from drooling at the mere smell wafting from the bag, Twilight held her nose high in the air. “Hmmph. Do you honestly expect a Princess to be caught eating such basic, greasy… delicious… succulent - I-I mean, such disgusting, common fast food?”
“You’re about as convincing as that time Celestia tried to tell me she wasn’t drooling over that cake at the Gala,” Rainbow deadpanned. “Now hurry up and eat while it’s fresh.”
Twilight glanced around the room, painfully aware of the last time she’d allowed herself to give in to her unhealthy urges in public. The gossip rags had gone nuts with the story, and she’d had to make a public statement regarding the so-called ‘scandal’. While it had blown over with time, it left a lasting impression and she’d always been hesitant going back to the burger joint.
However, here in private with her girlfriend, her reservations were being torn down one by one and before long the paper wrapping had been torn off her burger. Though before she could take that first bite, she noticed the lack of a similar bag in front of Rainbow.
“Where’s yours?”
The pegasus rolled her eyes. “You know I can’t stomach the grease in those things; Pinkie will be out with mine in-”
“Your dinner, senorita,” Pinkie Pie was once more at their table, this time sporting a much thicker - but no less fake - moustache and a second bowtie higher up her neck. She lowered a plate in front of Rainbow loaded with pasta covered in a rich red sauce and grated cheese.
“Pick an accent!” Rainbow shouted as the mare went back to the kitchen.
Pinkie stuck her head back out the window. The moustache had become a goatee, and there were now three bow ties around her neck. “Of course, signora.”
“Was that Italian!?” Rainbow turned when she heard the barely-constrained snickers of her partner, and she scowled. However, Twilight’s laugh proved to be too infectious and soon they were both sharing their mirth.
Happily digging into their meals, a comfortable silence fell over them. Despite what she would often say about Rainbow’s eating habits, Twilight’s weren’t much better when it came to fast food. The princess had wolfed down her burger in a matter of minutes, leaving no small amount of carnage in her wake and a noticeable glob of ketchup on her cheek. Rainbow looked up just in time to see Twilight devour the last of her meal, hastily swiping a nipkin across her muzzle. She just chuckled, shaking her head.
“Never change, Twi.”
The alicorn blushed, realizing she’d been caught in her cover-up. “S-sorry.”
Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. “Relax; I’m not gonna rat you out to the press or anything. Enjoy the food. I know I am.”
Taking the suggestion, Twilight started on the fries with gusto, pausing only a moment to drain the rest of her wine. It wasn’t long before she was done, watching her girlfriend eat with an idle smile as Pinkie (now with four bowties and mutton chops) refilled her drink before slipping away. Rainbow caught her eyes, returning a smile of her own around a mouthful of pasta before taking a moment to chew and swallow. “Something on your mind?”
“Hmm?” Twilight sat up a little straighter as though she’d been jolted awake. “No, not really. Just… enjoying myself, I guess. We haven’t done anything like this in a while.”
“Don’t expect it everyday,” Rainbow chided playfully. “It takes a lot to set these things up, y’know.”
With a fake gasp, Twilight held a hoof to her heart. “Am I not worth it?”
Rainbow chuckled. “Once in a while? Totally. Every day? Well, let’s just say there’s a reason I don’t do this every day.”
“I’m a Princess, you know; I should be dining in the finest restaurants in Canterlot on a nightly basis.” Twilight threw on her best pompous accent to accompany her words, raising her nose as high as it would go.
“Ah yes, those fine eateries where they serve only the best of greasy fast food burgers.”
“Only the best!” Twilight agreed, holding her head aloft a moment longer before breaking down into a fit of giggles. When they died down Rainbow was once again looking at her that same way, a slight smile on her lips. There was something about that look in the mare’s eye that made Twilight blush like it was their first date all over again, and she had to look away. She heard the pegasus take a breath, and their eyes met.
“I love you, Twilight.”
Twilight’s face grew a few shades redder than it had already been, but she was unable to avert her gaze. Without hesitation she leaned forward over the table, intent on capturing her girlfriend's lips. Just out of the corner of her eye, before they met, she saw Rainbow’s smile fade into a frown. She felt her hesitate just a second before reciprocating the kiss, and noticed the way Rainbow ended it much faster than she usually would.
When they drew back, and Twilight lowered herself back into her chair, she carefully studied Rainbow’s face. The small creese in her brow, the way her muzzle wrinkled slightly when their eyes met - how hard it was to catch her eye. Twilight sighed. “Rainbow? What’s wrong?”
Rainbow Dash visibly jumped, and for a moment she seemed to consider actually coming clean. Of course, as Twilight knew all too well, it was rarely that easy, and the pegasus just offered a shrug. “Nothin’ Twi.”
“Rainbow…” Twilight groaned. It was always like this. It didn’t matter what it was; getting that mare to admit when something was bothering her was like pulling teeth. “I can tell by now when something’s eating at you. I can’t help unless-”
“Oh look, dessert!” Rainbow made no attempt to disguise her obvious subject change, but as a pink mare with more bowties than neck at this point came bouncing out of the kitchen, Twilight was forced to drop the subject. For now, at least.
Despite the lingering questions, Twilight couldn’t deny that dessert looked amazing. A chocolate lava cake with vanilla ice cream and caramel syrup. Or, as she’d lovingly dubbed the treat; a cavity on a plate. Not that that would stop her from thoroughly enjoying it. Her dental hygiene was impeccable, after all. Although, this combined with the hayburger meant a few early morning jogs to burn off the extra calories. Well worth it, in her books.
“Fine,” the alicorn muttered, already licking her lips. “But you’re coming clean after.” A spoon was pointed at Rainbow, who shrugged.
“Nothing to come clean about, egghead,” she responded around a mouthful of her own slice of cake.
As untrue as the statement was, Twilight had been with the pegasus more than long enough to know when to drop something. Otherwise it would turn into a fight, and Rainbow was as stubborn as they come when she dug her heels in. So she let it slide - for now - and focused on enjoying her dessert. Which, admittedly, was absolutely fantastic. Everything about tonight had been fantastic.
Sometimes, Rainbow Dash could be quite the romantic sap.
It made Twilight think again, about things her girlfriend assured her over and over weren’t true. It helped, a little, but she couldn’t stop herself wondering if maybe she really didn’t deserve somepony like her.
“You’re spiraling.”
Twilight shook herself out of her thoughts, focusing on Rainbow’s frown. She quirked a brow. “Huh?”
Pushing away her empty plate, Rainbow shrugged. “I know that look; you’re spiraling about something. Stop it. Whatever it is, you’re fine, you’re doing fine, you’re going to do fine, whatever. Don’t worry about it.”
“You…” Twilight trailed off, at a loss for a moment. Then she shook her head with a smile. “You really do know me too well.”
“Probably. So, what was it about?”
Twilight started to respond, but stopped, and just laughed. “Like you said; I’m fine, and it’s nothing to worry about. I’m just… I’m really glad you’re my girlfriend, you know?”
“Well…” Rainbow started what was obviously going to be some kind of ego-stroking brag, but instead she blushed and looked away. “So am I.”
“Awww,” Twilight couldn’t help but to swoon. Well, she probably could have, but watching Rainbow squirm was always so much fun. “My Dashie’s being mushy!”
The pegasus rolled her eyes, but the blush on her sky blue cheeks didn’t lie. “Knock it off, Twi. You know I hate it when you call me that.”
“You hate that you love it,” Twilight corrected playfully, noting how Rainbow became very interested in anything but what was in front of her, but didn’t correct the statement. Spooning the last of her dessert into her mouth, Twilight leaned back in her chair and patted her slightly rounded belly. “That. Was. Fantastic,” she announced, reaching forward and finishing the last of her wine. Rainbow did the same, a distant and foggy look in her eye, and in a pink blur their dishes were cleared away. They didn’t get a chance to count her bowties.
Rainbow cleared her throat, forced down her blush, and met Twilight’s eyes. Her look seemed conflicted for a moment, before she focused back on her date. “So, first anniversary. How’d I do?”
“Hmm, well…” Twilight tapped a hoof to her chin ponderously. “A solid seven out of ten, I’d say. You lost marks here and there for teasing me, but got bonus points for my favourite foods. If you want you can take a retest in a week.” Judging by the pout she received, an above average grade wasn’t what her girlfriend was shooting for, and she giggled. “Fine. Eleven out of ten: Everything was perfect, Rainbow. I’m sorry I forgot about yesterday.”
Blowing out a heavy breath, the pegasus stood from her chair - albeit more slowly than she would without having eaten a full meal. “Eleven? Not good enough. I’m going for twelve. C’mon; date’s not over yet.” Motioning for Twilight to join her, Rainbow extended a hoof.
The alicorn groaned, once more rubbing her distended stomach. “Raaainboooow~~” she whined the best she could, “I’m full. We can’t all have disturbingly high metabolisms. Some of us need time to digest.” And time to find out what was bothering particularly stubborn girlfriends.
“Don’t worry; I know you’re all sluggish after eating. It’s nothing big.”
“First,” Twilight started, accepting the offered hoof despite her protests and being pulled to her hooves. “You tell me what was bothering you, because it obviously still is.”
Rainbow’s idle smile melted in an instant, and she sighed. “I told you, Twi; there’s nothing-”
“I’m too full to do anything else tonight. Can we just save it for tomorrow?” Twilight’s pointed look made it clear her chips were on the table, and she was prepared to up the ante if need be. If Rainbow wanted to play hardball, she’d play hardball.
“Twilight…” Rainbow moaned in a tone that was dangerously close to threatening.
That tone meant a fight was brewing in the current line of questioning, but Twilight had long since learned fights were inevitable sometimes. And with the way Rainbow had been acting, it was something to do with their relationship, and those kinds of topics were best pulled out into the open, kicking and screaming if need be. “I can’t help if you won’t talk to me.”
The pegasus ground her teeth together. “Can you just drop it? Just for tonight? I’ll tell you tomorrow.”
“It’s always tomorrow with you, but you never do. Just talk to me. Please,” Twilight was almost pleading, but there was no shortage of fiery determination behind her eyes. She met Rainbow’s hardened glare, and neither of them broke eye contact for a tense few seconds. Then, finally, a victor was declared.
Rainbow grunted, looking to the floor as she feebly kicked a hoof across it. “Why do you have to be like… this?” She made a vague gesture towards her girlfriend. “It’s nothing, Twi, I just…” there was a pause. Long and drawn out. Her hooves fidgeted, and when next she looked up a frown stretched across her face. Muzzle wrinkling in that way it did right before whatever damn the mare had been building burst, Rainbow growled. “Fine!”
Stomping up until there was only a few inches separating their muzzles, Rainbow’s glared bored into Twilight’s worried look. “I love you, Twilight.”
Twilight felt like she’d been knocked off balance. Was that it? She couldn’t help but giggle as she leaned in to kiss the silly mare who had her worried over nothing.
Until a hoof on her shoulder stopped her. She opened her eyes, and Rainbow’s look hadn’t changed.
“I love you,” the pegasus repeated, this time holding Twilight back and forcing their eyes to stay connected.
Twilight tilted her head curiously. “Rainbow?”
“Augh!” Rainbow’s hoof fell away and she looked to the ceiling, muttering something under her breath. A moment later her head came back down, and again she said; “I love you, Twilight.”
“I know…” Twilight frowned as Rainbow only grew more riled. “I know that, Rainbow. What’s wrong? What’s this about?”
A few sputtered words was all the pegasus could get out, and Twilight was left to watch as Rainbow turned away, hooves hitting hard against the floor as she paced a few short lines in an effort to bleed her mounting frustration before it could become anger. When she stopped, her head hung and her back turned to her girlfriend, there was a hollow chuckle. “Why won’t you say it?”
It was Twilight turn to sputter. “W-what?”
Rainbow whirled around. “Do you even feel the same?”
“Rainbow, what are you-”
“I thought, for a while, it was just me, y’know? I’ve always liked to take things fast. I thought it was just that, and you just weren’t ready. I was okay with that; I could wait. I’ve been waiting, but nothing’s changed, and I just… I just want to know. I don’t care if the answer’s no. I just want to know, you know?” Rainbow shook her head. “Maybe I’m crazy. Who knows. It’s been a year, Twilight, and I-” she seemed to choke on her words, and took a second to reign in her thoughts.
“When you forgot about our anniversary it just… it made it seem like you didn’t care, y’know? And I know that’s stupid. I’m stupid for thinking that. I know you care, but it feels like sometimes you don’t. Especially when…” the pegasus took a deep breath, and finally their eyes met again. “I love you, Twilight. I’ve never felt this way about another pony in my entire life. But you’ve never told me if you love me and I can’t wait anymore. Every time I say it, you just kiss me - and don’t get me wrong; I’m totally down with kissing - but I want to know if you feel the same way, or if I’m going too fast or if you just need more time or… or something! Anything!”
Twilight held a hoof to her slack jaw in a silent gasp. “I… I didn’t know-” she stopped herself. Of course she didn’t know. How could she have? “Rainbow, I…” but no words came, and in the silence the pegasus scoffed, hanging her head.
“I’m being stupid, I know. It’s nothing, just me taking things too seriously too fast, right? I… really hadn’t been in a lot of relationships before you, not ones that lasted more than a couple months, anyway, so I don’t know how long any of that kinda mushy stuff is supposed to take. I just do what I always do and go with my gut, and like usual it’s gotten me in trouble. Look-” she offered a clearly forced smile, more to the floor than her girlfriend, “-just forget I said any of that, okay? I’m just getting worked up over nothing, like always.”
“Rainbow Dash,” Twilight started. She didn’t really know where she was going, but she needed to say something. “You’re not stupid for having feelings.” A hoof under Rainbow’s chin lifted her face until their eyes met. “I’m sorry I made you feel that way; truly I am.”
Hesitantly, Rainbow nodded. “And… do you…?”
There was a long silence as the alicorn uncomfortably chewed at her lip. “I don’t know,” Twilight eventually answered with a frown, just as dissatisfied with the answer as the pegasus. “I’ve never really thought about it. What I do know is that I really like you, and that I like being your girlfriend and enjoy spending time with you…” she trailed into silence, her face twisting into a sour expression, looking within rather than outwards. “I don’t really know if that’s what love is.” She turned her gaze outward again, and saw the look on Rainbow’s face. It wasn’t quite hurt, but it was a long shot from pleased. Twilight sighed. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s.... fine…” Rainbow responded in a clearly not-fine way, but there wasn’t much that could be done about it. After seeming to mull over the words a minute, she smiled. “Well, I suppose I got an answer, at least. C’mon; I did have something else planned for tonight.”
“Are you sure? After that, you still want to-”
The pegasus rolled her eyes, playfully bumping their shoulders together. “Nah; I asked for it, after all. As long as you’re happy being my girlfriend that… that’s enough for me. Now come on, we have a schedule to stick to, and this took way too much time!”