//------------------------------// // 73. The Friendly Alicorn // Story: Azure Edge // by Leaf Blade //------------------------------// Twilight and Pinkie stepped off the train onto the Canterlot Moon District station platform, where Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Spike were all waiting with bright smiles and open arms. Twilight didn’t even waste a second before running to them, Spike running for her and jumping into her arms, Twilight spinning around and nuzzling him. It may have been a little silly, but this was maybe the longest they’d been apart, at least without Zecora around, since they met. “I missed you!” Spike said, bumping his nose against Twilight’s. “I missed you too, my number one assistant!” Twilight giggled, nuzzling Spike again for good measure. Twilight considered putting Spike on the ground, but decided to keep him in her arms for a little bit longer while she said her greetings to the others. Applejack was in the midst of untangling herself from Pinkie Pie’s all-encompassing hug, and Rainbow was just kind of standing around watching them, so Twilight headed for Rainbow first. “Hey, stranger,” Twilight said, holding out a hand to shake Rainbow’s and holding Spike in the other. “Did you guys do a good job watching over our library while I was gone?” “Heck yeah we did!” Rainbow exclaimed, pumping her fist. Spike held out his fist and Rainbow bashed hers against it, getting an enamored giggle out of Twilight. “Yeah, Rainbow was amazing!” Spike cheered, and Rainbow tried to play it cool, so Twilight pretended not to notice the blush on her face. “By the way, we’re gonna have a bunch of people in the library again next week.” “Uh, how many is ‘a bunch’?” Twilight asked concernedly. “I think like half the town was there,” Applejack chuckled, “right, Rainbow?” “I’m sure it wasn’t half,” Rainbow scoffed, but then bit on her lip, “I think?” “Welp,” Twilight gave a nervous grin, not entirely sure what had happened or if she even wanted to ask, but then she took a deep breath and gave a charmed smile, “I’m sure it’ll be fine.” Once Spike and the others explained what went on while she was gone, with Rainbow’s dramatic reading of Daring Do and how much the Canterlot foals enjoyed it, Twilight felt like a shining star was twinkling in her heart. “That’s amazing, Rainbow!” she said proudly, half a mind to pull the pegasus into a hug right then and there. “What a great idea!” “Th-thanks,” Rainbow said bashfully, rubbing the back of her neck. “I wanna be there for the next one!” Pinkie chimed in, bouncing up and down. “It honestly was somethin’ to see,” Applejack added, “and Spike deserves a lot of the credit too, you made a real good villain!” “I sure did!” Spike beamed, and Twilight laughed and nuzzled his cheek. “Honestly, Rainbow,” Twilight said teasingly, “I leave you with my son for one day and you turn him into a villain.” “I guess I’m just a really good influence,” Rainbow grinned, and Twilight laughed again. But then something very unexpected happened; Applejack pulled Rainbow close to her and kissed her on the head, eliciting two very fascinated and confused stares from Pinkie and Twilight. Rainbow, noticing the two staring, chuckled. “Oh, we’re dating now.” “WHAT!?” Pinkie screamed, practically levitating off the ground. “That’s amazing!!!” “I’m really happy for you guys!” Twilight said. “And I’m really happy for me that I don’t have to pretend that I don’t know you two are crushing on each other!” “Wait, what?” Rainbow said confusedly. “Well,” Twilight cleared her throat, “Applejack told me that she was crushing on you, and you told me you were crushing on her—” “And you didn’t think to tell either of us?” Applejack arched an eyebrow. “Now how would that be fair?” Twilight balked. “I couldn’t tell one of you and not the other, that would be a complete betrayal of the trust you put in me not to tell anyone. And I couldn’t exactly tell you both at the same time, could you imagine how awkward that would be?” “I guess,” Applejack sighed. “I still kinda wish you had said somethin’ though…” “Yeah,” Rainbow grumbled, “or like, helped nudge us in the right direction, since you knew we were both into each other and never gonna say anything about it.” “You’re right, Rainbow,” Twilight said flatly, “what was I thinking. What I should have done was subtly convince the two of you to meet each other in a safe space where you could be alone and not be disturbed by anyone else, like maybe a library in the middle of the night. That should’ve been my move. OH WAIT.” “Wait, so,” Applejack’s face turned red as she pointed a limp finger at Twilight, who wore the smuggest grin she could muster, Pinkie Pie and Spike both trying to hold in their laughter, “you planned for us to get talkin’ while we were at the library?” “I didn’t exactly plan for you to do anything,” Twilight said casually, taking a look at her nails as she spoke, “I just figured that if you two had an opportunity to be alone together, without any expectations or demands or distractions, you two would talk things out. And I was right!” “Twilight Sparkle, ultimate matchmaker!” Pinkie exclaimed with applause, Twilight taking a bow and putting Spike on the ground, the little pegasus also clapping for Twilight’s incredible matchmaking skills. “Thanks, Twi,” Applejack said sheepishly, “that was really swell of ya. Sorry for givin’ you that grief just a second ago.” “Yep,” Rainbow cleared her throat awkwardly, “what she said.” Twilight just smiled at the pair’s flustered responses, though she did feel a little bad for them. If only some other distracting thing could suddenly come out of the blue to snatch everyone’s attention away. Like perhaps a loud thud clanging on top of the canopy above the Moon District station. “What was—” Before Applejack could finish her statement, a night blue alicorn dropped from the canopy and walked into the station, her ethereal mane glittering around her like a starry sky. She looked Twilight dead in the eye and Twilight froze. Time stood still as Twilight stared down the mysterious alicorn and a thousand questions ran through Twilight’s mind all at once, though the most pertinent of them were “Who is she?” and “Where did she come from?” But all those questions could wait once a familiar face also dropped down from the canopy; Rarity. “Excuse me, everypony!” Rarity said charmingly, and Twilight felt her heart speeding up as she approached, Twilight completely forgetting about the alicorn for just a moment. “I’m sorry I’m late, but you know a lady does have an obligation to make a dramatic entrance.” Rarity looked toward her alicorn friend with a smile. “And I’d say we did just that, wouldn’t you, darling?” “Princess Luna!?” Rainbow exclaimed in shock before the alicorn had a chance to speak, Rainbow’s wings spreading out. Meanwhile Applejack just took a few steps back, with Spike cowering behind her leg; alicorns were bad news for him and Twilight, after all. Pinkie Pie, in the midst of all of this, just seemed mostly confused. “What are you doing here?” Rainbow asked, approaching Luna and bowing her head. “Please, Rainbow Dash,” Luna sighed, “there’s no need for such formality.” Luna took a look around the empty station and grunted. “Though I must admit, I expected more ponies here to bask in my glorious presence.” “The downside to making a surprise appearance, I suppose,” Rarity shrugged, walking past Luna and toward Twilight. “Hello, darling,” Rarity said softly, grabbing Twilight’s hands, and everything else in the area disappeared while Twilight focused only on Rarity, “hope I didn’t keep you waiting long.” “No,” Twilight shook her head with a smile. “Did you get my letter?” “I did,” Rarity giggled, “and it was precious. Thank you for sending it to me, though you must teach me how you did it! I assume it was with some spell, but I would love to learn it if I could!” “I’ll, um, see what I can do.” “Rarity,” the all-too-serious voice of the alicorn chimed in, shattering Twilight’s perfect little illusion of it just being her and Rarity in the train station, “is this your friend, the librarian?” Twilight was vaguely familiar with Princess Luna; while not nearly as famous as her royal sister, the infamous Hunter Queen of Equestria, Luna’s exploits and skill as a Slayer were nothing short of horrifying for someone like Twilight. And she was an alicorn on top of it all, which meant she could see right through Twilight. Twilight locked eyes with the alicorn as she approached, and Twilight wondered if this was going to be the moment where everything collapsed, where the life she had been building for herself and Spike would be completely shattered and fall apart around her. She wondered what she would do if the alicorn became hostile; would she run? Could she run? What would Rarity say or think? She’d probably hate Twilight forever. The alicorn took a step closer. Rarity said something to her, but Twilight didn’t hear it. An introduction, maybe? It didn’t matter. If Twilight didn’t take Spike and get the hell out of here now, then— “It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Luna affected a dazzling smile and held her hand out to Twilight. Twilight looked at the hand, then at woman’s smile, and she was certain that her mind was playing tricks on her somehow. “Twilight,” Rarity muttered irritably, “don’t be rude to the Princess, please!” “Uh, right,” Twilight cleared her throat and swallowed some of her anxiety, taking the Princess’ hand and shaking it heartily, her eyes glancing over to Spike as he continued to shrink behind Applejack’s legs. “Pleasure to meet you, Princess.” “Please, call me Luna,” Luna said softly. “Rarity’s told me a little about you, she said you were a very fine pony, and I can definitely see it.” “Right,” Twilight smiled, and she hoped it didn’t look as forced and nervous as it felt. She knows. Why isn’t she doing anything? “Unfortunately, I need to go,” Luna said. “I have a meeting I need to attend, and I’ve been really draggin’ my feet on it.” Luna glanced over at Twilight, her smile faltering for merely half a second. “I hope to see you again, Twilight Sparkle. Perhaps I could come by your library sometime?” “Oh, that would be divine!” Rarity cheered, though Twilight was… less enthusiastic. “My library’s always open to anypony,” Twilight said, her tone polite and measured despite how ghoulish Twilight felt in her heart and stomach. Luna’s smile returned as Rarity and Rainbow Dash said their goodbyes to her, and she outstretched her massive, starry wings, taking flight and disappearing into the evening’s sunset-tinted sky. “Twilight?” Rarity asked concernedly. “Are you alright?” “I don’t, I’m, uh,” Twilight knew she needed to think of something to say to explain why she looked and felt like such a hot mess, “I’m alright.” Wow. Good save, Twilight. “Um, if you say so,” Rarity said, not even pretending to sound convinced. “So!” Pinkie Pie suddenly clamored. “Is everypony ready to party?! We should totally have another library party since we’re all together!” “Um,” Rarity mumbled, “I don’t know if—” “I think that’s a great idea, Pinkie,” Twilight said. “If everyone is up for it.” Twilight looked around at the others, and Rainbow gave a thumbs-up and bright grin, Applejack gave a soft nod, and Spike a much more effusive nod. Rarity though, seemed a bit hesitant. Which was fine, because Twilight had another idea anyway. “But maybe,” Twilight said, not-so-subtly taking hold of Rarity’s hand and delighting in the tiny gasp Rarity made, “me and Rarity could catch up to the rest of you later tonight? Meet you in the library in an hour or two?” “You lovebirds need some time alone?” Applejack mused with a wry grin. “Applejack!” Rarity balked, her face turning bright red. “Honestly! Where are your manners?” “Notice she didn’t say ‘no’,” Rainbow snickered, needling a chuckling Applejack in the side. “Well!” Rarity harrumphed, crossing her arms and turning her head away from the others, like she always did when she was flustered. “It’s been a long day for me,” Twilight said, and she could practically feel bags forming under her eyes even as she spoke, “and I was hoping I could talk to Rarity for a bit, alone, to sort of clear my head. If that’s fine with you, of course.” Twilight smiled at Rarity, and it took every ounce of willpower not to melt into a puddle when Rarity smiled back. “Of course, darling. You wanted to talk to me about your trip, didn’t you?” “I did,” Twilight said hesitantly, “but tonight, maybe we could talk about something else? Just… have a nice time. No worries, no important serious talks, just you and me, chatting over a meal and some drinks, like friends?” If that alicorn could really see through Twilight, then it was entirely possible her days in Canterlot were already numbered. She refused to start living in fear, or to drop everything and run based on one anxious hunch, but just in case, she wanted to have one more nice night with Rarity. “Sweetheart,” Rarity sighed and put her hand on Twilight’s cheek, Twilight purring in delight as she nuzzled Rarity’s hand, “nothing could please me more.”