As the night got longer and the noise of the inn quieted down, Twilight looked around her. Her and the others had moved from the bar to a full seating area with several comfortable chairs, and as the lights dimmed over the inn, most of the patrons left or headed to their rooms, leaving a scant few behind, including Twilight’s group.
Rainbow was passed out on a nearby couch, and Twilight mused that her snoring was almost louder than the all of the other patrons’ chatter combined. Pinkie went to the bar to refill her drink, and Spike was snoozing soundly next to Twilight, using her thigh as a pillow.
“I should probably get this guy to bed,” Twilight giggled, petting Spike’s mane and looking over at Fluttershy who was still awake, albeit just barely, sitting on a chair across the small coffee table from Rainbow Dash.
“I can do that if you want,” Fluttershy yawned. “I’m a little sleepy sheepy myself, and if you’re not quite ready to hit the hay just yet…”
“Thank you, Fluttershy,” Twilight mumbled, “I’d actually really appreciate that.”
Fluttershy nodded and Twilight gave Spike a gentle poke, whispering for him to head up to their room with Fluttershy, which the little man agreed to, leaving Twilight alone with her thoughts for a moment.
It was surreal.
She was so certain after her secret was discovered that everything was going to change for the worse, that everything was going to be ruined. And yet, she spent the night chatting away with Pinkie and Rainbow just like old times, and her and Fluttershy clicked so naturally you’d swear they’d been friends for years!
It was nice. But of course, Twilight couldn’t help feeling a little melancholy every time she started to think about Rarity.
“Hey, Twi,” Pinkie chirped quietly as she snuck up on Twilight’s couch from behind.
“Hey, Pinkie,” Twilight said fondly.
“Wow, you really have relaxed,” Pinkie cooed, hopping over the back of the couch to sit next to Twilight, big mug of strawberry milk in her hands. “You didn’t even freak out when I snuck up on ya!”
“I heard you coming,” Twilight said, giggling when Pinkie huffed and puffed up her cheeks.
“So didja have a nice time tonight?” Pinkie asked with an incredibly infectious smile.
“I did,” Twilight smiled back, though she quickly became dour as she thought about Rarity. “I still miss Rarity, but… but to be honest, even if I can never make things right with her, I still need to be able to move on. And thanks to you and the others, I honestly think that I can now.”
“I’m glad to hear that, Twilight,” Pinkie hummed, “but I don’t think you need to ‘move on’ from Rarity. She’s a good person, and so are you, and I’m pretty sure she’s smart enough to realize that.”
“I think you might be a little too optimistic,” Twilight said drolly, rolling her eyes.
“Maybe you’re just too cynical,” Pinkie playfully stuck out her tongue, and Twilight laughed.
“Maybe you’re right.”
“Hey, Twilight!” Pinkie chirped, pumping her fists. “You wanna go up on the roof and do some stargazing?”
As Twilight laid flat on her back on the rooftop garden plaza of the Neighagra Falls inn, she found herself really enjoying Pinkie’s company, and pointing out all the different constellations to her. It was the kinda thing Twilight always thought was too boring to share with people, but Pinkie couldn’t get enough of it; she pointed out different star patterns and asked about them, and she relished Twilight’s explanations.
“Hey, Twilight?” Pinkie asked, looking over at Twilight as they both laid on their backs.
“Yes, Pinkie?” Twilight replied fondly.
“Are you okay?”
Pinkie’s question took Twilight by surprise, and she slowly sat up as she processed it, Pinkie following suit.
“Can I be honest?” Twilight asked.
“Yes, of course!” Pinkie replied.
“I’m terrified,” Twilight admitted, and she felt the cold winter wind biting her skin even despite her dragon blood. “I’m terrified of losing Rarity and my friends, of being killed by the Slayers and especially Celestia, but most of all I’m terrified about what could happen to Spike.
“Sometimes it makes me so sick with worry thinking about what the Slayers— or even some of the people I used to know back in the dragon lands— might do to him that I can’t even think straight.”
“Well I’ll tell you this, Twilight,” Pinkie crossed her arms and gave Twilight a look of supreme confidence, “no matter what happens, I’m sticking by you. Even if Rarity chooses not to, even if all the Slayers are out to getcha, I’ll stay by your side, cuz I believe in you and you’re my friend, and sticking by your friends even through the rough patches is the right thing to do.”
“Pinkie,” Twilight sniffed, her eyes watering like someone cut an onion right under her nose, “thank you so much.”
“My pleasure, Twilight!” Pinkie beamed.
“Can I ask you a favor?”
“Sure, what’s up?” Pinkie smiled.
Twilight puffed up her cheeks and looked away from Pinkie, feeling utterly embarrassed by what she wanted to ask, but if she wanted to live freely that meant being honest about her emotions with the people she cared about, and that absolutely included Pinkie Pie.
“Can I just—” Twilight bit her lip. “Is it alright if I just cry on your shoulder again for a little bit?”
“Twilight,” Pinkie moaned and held her hands over her heart, “you can cry on my shoulder anytime you need to.”
“Thank you, Pinkie,” Twilight sobbed, Pinkie wrapping her arms around Twilight’s waist, and Twilight holding Pinkie tightly and squeaking out muffled sobs into Pinkie’s big poofy soft mane.
It made her feel a little bit better.