//------------------------------// // 51. Azure Edge // Story: Azure Edge // by Leaf Blade //------------------------------// The library was quiet, and the only light inside came from a small set of candles placed delicately on the reception desk, behind which sat a very sleepy Rarity, and Twilight who was kindly placing a blanket across Rarity’s shoulders. Spike, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, and Pinkie Pie were all sound asleep on the blankets and pillows strewn about on the floor, the four ponies passed out together in one big pile. “I hope Spike won’t be too upset with you or I,” Rarity said teasingly as Twilight took a seat next to her and poured herself and Rarity some tea, “if I steal you away to myself for one more night.” “I don’t think Spike’s going to be awake in the morning either,” Twilight chuckled and looked up at the clock, which Rarity could barely see read two in the morning. “I think he’s officially in the realm of the sugar coma now.” Rarity giggled and leaned her head against Twilight’s shoulder. “I think we can consider the very first party at the library a success, wouldn’t you say?” “Absolutely,” Twilight said contentedly. “Abso-tootly-lootly,” Rarity replied, Twilight nearly choking on her drink as she tried not to wake everypony up with her laughter. “Right,” she grinned brightly, “that.” Rarity sipped her tea and couldn’t help but let a giggle burst forth from within her as the warm drink touched her lips. She couldn’t remember the last time she felt so at ease, or content, or at peace, or just… happy. She missed it, and she swore she wouldn’t lose it again. “Rarity?” “Yes, darling?” “Can I ask you something?” “Something important, I assume?” Rarity put her tea on the desk and gave Twilight her full attention, biting down on her thumbnail when she looked over and saw Twilight decorated in positively precious star and moon pajamas, with a little dangly nightcap resting on her head. “Otherwise, you wouldn’t have asked if you could ask.” “Right,” Twilight chuckled nervously and took a sip of tea, “that’s true, I suppose.” “So what is it, darling?” Rarity batted her eyelashes at Twilight and delighted in the glowing cheeks and widening smile her effort produced. “You can ask me anything.” “Why haven’t you asked about those fashion books since you’ve been back?” “Ah.” Anything but THAT, Rarity wanted to say. Rarity took a deep breath and steeled herself for what she could only assume was about to be a difficult and rather unpleasant conversation, but it wouldn’t do to not be honest with Twilight regarding her reasoning. “May I be honest with you?” “Of course,” Twilight said quickly, as though she were offended by the mere notion that Rarity couldn’t trust her; Rarity thought it was rather sweet. “Have you ever had a dream,” Rarity spoke, every word feeling like it was being dragged through her throat via a meat hook, “something that you very secretly yearned for, but it was something you were absolutely certain was the dumbest, most pointless, just downright… frivolous nonsense in the entire world?” “Azure Edge,” Twilight replied immediately. Rarity blinked, and Twilight took a sip of tea and avoided eye contact. “Pardon?” “Azure Edge,” Twilight repeated, and she looked as uncomfortable speaking about whatever that was as Rarity had just felt. And while Rarity was usually remiss to see a conversation steer away from her, in this instance she couldn’t have been happier to see it go. “What, pray tell, is that?” Rarity asked curiously. “I’ve never heard of it.” “There’s a legend,” Twilight spoke with the proper cadence and dramatism that reciting an ancient legend deserved, and Rarity’s heart nearly burst with pride, “where I come from, that speaks of a paradise, a perfect place of pure joy and magic, where the sea meets the sky. Azure Edge.” Twilight paused. “And I know it’s not literally ‘where the sea meets the sky’,” Twilight rolled her eyes, and Rarity tried not to giggle as she imagined how many times Twilight had probably made the correction based on the saltiness of her tone. “Honestly, I know it doesn’t really exist, but— I want to find it anyway. It’s been my dream since I was a child.” “Well,” Rarity yawned and a part of her whined that she wasn’t ready to go to sleep yet and lose out on her precious alone time with Twilight, “how about you help me with those fashion books, and I help you find your Azure Edge? That way I won’t feel quite so silly about all that… fashion… stuff.” “It’s not silly,” Twilight brushed hair out of Rarity’s face, and Rarity couldn’t help but blush under Twilight’s fiery, yet serene gaze. “And I think you already have helped me find what I was looking for.” “Oh?” Rarity chuckled and scooched her chair closer to Twilight, so the two were practically elbow to elbow. “You flatterer.” “It’s not flattery,” Twilight said matter-of-factly, and Rarity followed Twilight’s gaze to the four ponies sleeping on the floor in the library, and she felt a warmth radiating in her chest. “All these ponies, my friends, came here today just to hang out with me and my son. I don’t think I can imagine a finer paradise than that.” “Well then,” Rarity rested her head on Twilight’s shoulder once again, but quietly gasped in surprise as Twilight moved her arm and put it around Rarity’s shoulders, Rarity humming with delight as she pressed her body against Twilight’s and closed her eyes, “it looks like I already owe you. I suppose I have no choice but to let you help me with those fashion books, which you are so clearly desperate to do.” “Yes,” Twilight snarked, “you’re really in quite the unenviable predicament. How will you ever manage to deal with having a hyper-intelligent and supremely knowledgeable librarian help you with your secret dream? The absolute horror.” “Sass is a good fit for you, darling,” Rarity hummed, “you’re quite good at it.” “Thank you,” Twilight said, and Rarity nearly fainted when Twilight rested her head on top of Rarity’s. “For everything.” “Darling? Thank you.” “For what?” Rarity yawned; sleep was coming for her now and she couldn’t fight back. She would say one last thing to Twilight before falling asleep in the librarian’s arms. “For helping me find Azure Edge.”