Twilight and Jessica were out in the botanical gardens, having a nice picnic under the clear night sky. Sharing a nice moment together.
Twilight took a bite out of her sandwich and smiled. "A picnic under the stars with the most beautiful creature in the galaxy. What could be a better way to finish off Hearts and Hooves day?"
Jessica shook her head. "Literally no other way Twilight. This is nice."
Twilight nodded as she leaned in to muzzle her girlfriend. "Yeah it is. Especially since that demon hasn't made a peep all day, right?"
"Oh you can bet I will make a peep today. More than that actually."
Jessica groaned as the scene around her turned to the familiar back void that only meant one thing. She stood up and turned to see Nightmare Moon standing there.
Jessica glared at the demon. "One dream. Is it too much to ask for ONE dream to be left untouched by you these days?"
NM chuckled. "Oh but it is just so much fun ruining your dreams. Especially the romantic variety."
Jessica groaned. "At least you still can't touch us in the waking world."
NM lifted an eyebrow. "Do you not remember the Yule Ball?"
"Oh you mean the one where you turned me into a human you after the Waltz? Believe me when I say I WISH I could forget about that."
"I was using the magic from that tradition to show you what you will become when I take full control over you."
"I wish you hadn't. Do you have any idea how humiliated I was? My first Yule Ball, my first time partaking in an ancient Equestrian tradition, something Twilight was excited to share with me, and you ruined it just because you wanted to pull a Rarity and give me fashion advice, terrible fashion advice at that."
"As I recall I did not do that until the Waltz ended."
"Doesn't matter. You still did it, the entire Ball had to be paused, and now all of Equestria, and possibly all of Equuis, knows about you, and probably won't welcome me back until they have confirmation that you're gone."
NM chuckled. "Good. I wanted them to know about my return."
Jessica groaned. NM was a villain through and through, but why she insisted on letting everyone know she was around instead of taking them by surprise, which was tactically more sound, was simply beyond her.
Jessica shook her head. "Well, you may have been able to ruin the Yule Ball for me, but this time there will be no ancient magic at play here, no spells, no incantations, no ancient dance routines, just me, Twilight, and the whole day to ourselves before the Valentine Open Mic Dance Party Dinner tonight. So you can just cork it right now and leave me be today."
NM laughed. "Ha! We shall see you brat!"
It was a nice warm Sunday morning in San Fransisco. The sun was rising, to the joy of most, the birds were chirping, and in dorm 321, a certain lavender Alicorn slowly woke from her slumber. She opened her eyes and was immediately greeted with the sunlight pouring into the room and the sight of her roommates. Spike, who was sleeping in his basket on the floor right next to her bed, J-35, who was in low power mode next to the other bed, and Jessica, who was in that other bed. Twilight frowned when she noticed that Jessica had a frown on her face. A common occurrence these days she knew, but still hated seeing, majorly because of the role she had played in putting it there. 'It's not right. That frown is there because of something she should never have had to deal with. Because of something I gave her.'
'Ugh! You say that every time you see that frown while she sleeps! When are you going to stop blaming yourself? She certainly doesn't. No pony does.'
'I'll stop when the demon is gone for good.'
'That's unhealthy you know. Imagine what Jessica would think if she knew you were STILL blaming yourself. If she felt it was your fault she definitely would've said something.'
'I know, but I just can't help but blame myself for her nightmares lately.'
The voice inside Twilight groaned. 'We've been having this argument since we found out you brought the demon here. She snuck into your mind and used you to hide and you never saw it coming. Get over it. It's in the past. We won't beat her by moping about and feeling sorry for ourselves, especially not today. Now, you know EXACTLY how to turn that frown upside down. So get moving, and leave worrying about the demon to J-35 and Spike today. They can handle working on the mind manipulation device. Because the sooner the modifications are done—'
'The sooner we can get rid of the demon. I know.'
The sound of an alarm interrupted Twilight's conversation with the voice in her head. The alarm began stirring the dorm's still sleeping occupants. Twilight immediately lit her horn and magically pressed the snooze button. Once the alarm was disabled, she got out of bed, careful not to disturb spike, and quietly trotted over to Jessica. Once she was close enough, she leaned forward into Jessica's neck and nuzzled it. She had learned early on in their friendship that Jessica's neck was particularly sensitive. Which not only allowed Twilight to gain the upperhoof in more than one tickle fight, but was an effective way to make Jessica smile no matter how down she was. A few seconds of nuzzling later and Twilight heard a soft giggling coming from the waking Jessica.
Jessica felt soft and furry start rubbing against her neck, causing the girl to stir awake giggling. "Nngh...Twilight. Stop that. You know that tickles."
Twilight giggled. "As long as it gets you to wake up smiling, I'll continue to get you right in the most ticklish spots."
Jessica chuckled as she sat up. "Oh? And what if I decide to retaliate?" Before Twilight could respond, Jessica suddenly reached out and pulled Twilight onto the bed, pinned her to the bed, and proceeded to run her fingers up and down Twilight's sides. Resulting in the Alicorn letting out loud fits of laughter.
In his basket, Spike, having been woken up by the alarm and Twilight's laughter, tried to block it out, but eventually gave up and sat up. Stretching, he glared at the couple having a tickle fight, he groaned and called out to them. "You know, there are people who are trying to sleep in here!"
Jessica stopped tickling Twilight and helped her back up on her haunches. Twilight smiled apologetically at spike. "Sorry Spike."
"We didn't wake you did we?"
Spike shook his head. "The alarm did that. But I prefer to ease into the waking world not be thrown into it."
Jessica chuckled. "Sorry about that."
Spike smiled. "It's fine. So, how'd you two sleep?"
Twilight smiled. "I slept alright. You Jessica?"
Jessica chuckled. "I almost made it through the whole night without hearing from her."
Twilight and spike arched an eyebrow. "Almost?"
"When did she come in and ruin the dream?"
"Hmm. I'd say about, ten minutes before the alarm went off."
Twilight smiled. "At least you got most of the night to have a good dream."
Jessica nodded. "And what a good dream it was too. You and me having a picnic under the stars on Valentine's Day."
They all heard a steady stream of beeps and turned to see J-35 power up. Her photoreceptor powered up to see her smiling roommates. She beeped out a good morning, then turned her head module to look at Jessica. She beeped out a question.
Jessica smiled. "I slept better than I had in a while J-35. I only saw NM in the last ten minutes of sleep."
J-35 beeped out several happy beeps, expressing her gladness for Jessica. Spike shook his head. "I still don't get how you can understand her Jessica. It's just a series of beeps at different tones and volumes."
Jessica chuckled. "Some people are just blessed with the gift of understanding droid speak. I can try and teach you if you want spike."
Spike nodded. "Yeah. That would be great, another time. Today, you two have somewhere else to be."
Twilight chuckled as she hopped off Jessica's bed and proceeded into the bathroom to brush her teeth. "Are you sure you'll be fine here working on the mind manipulation device with J-35 spike? You can just come with us for the day."
Spike immediately shook his head. "No. Today is all about you two. It's Valentine's Day/Hearts and Hooves Day and you two are going to spend it with each other, doing literally anything other than worrying about a demon who can't hurt us right now. Leave that to me and J-35 and go have some fun for a change."
Jessica chuckled. "Well if you're sure. J-35?"
J-35 beeped out a reply to Jessica's unspoken question. Jessica's eyes widened at a result. "Really? This is why you came here to help us with the mind manipulation device?"
Twilight, having been listening to the conversation, arched an eyebrow. "What's the reason Jessica?"
"J-35 wanted to come and help us work on the mind manipulation device, just so we could have days like today to ourselves. Aww. J-35 that's so sweet of you."
Twilight nodded. "Yeah J-35. Thanks."
J-35 beeped your welcome before revving her engine and took off around the dorm. Causing Jessica to lift an eyebrow. "J-35? What're you—" Jessica was cut off by a toothbrush full of toothpaste jammed into her mouth by J-35, causing her to nearly choke on it. She reach up and plucked the brush out of her mouth in shock. "Whoa, J-35 what was that for?!"
J-35 beeped out a reply as she reached into an open drawer and started looking for an outfit for Jessica, who couldn't help but chuckle at the reply. "Oh, is that it? Hey Twilight."
Twilight answered Jessica. "Yeah Jess?"
"It would seem we aren't welcome here anymore because J-35 is being rather impatient in waiting for you to be finished in there."
Twilight and Spike let out a loud fit of laughter. "Really? She's trying to kick you two out?"
"I thought you liked us J-35?"
J-35 beeped several times. Jessica giggled. "Did Minnie and Mickey turn you into a hardcore romantic J-35? Because you seem a little TOO onboard with this relationship if it means that much to you that my love life goes well despite anything that happens."
J-35 beeped out a response, Spike turned to Jessica. "What did she say Jessica?"
Jessica smiled. "She said that she was just really happy I finally found my soulmate and just wants to make sure we actually have some good memories so that our first year as a couple isn't marked ENTIRELY by a war against a demon in my head."
Spike and Twilight couldn't help but laugh. "Wow. She's a good wingman, er, wing droid I should say."
Jessica nodded. "The best—oof." Jessica grunted as J-35 threw an outfit at her and beeped, telling her to get moving. Jessica chuckled. "Ok ok J-35. I'm going."
Some time later, down in the mess hall, Luke walked up to the replicator for breakfast. "Scrambled eggs, bacon, and a glass of milk." The replicator replicated the request and a tray with the order phased into the recess. Once the order had fully phased in, Luke smiled and grabbed the tray, went to an empty table, and sat down to have breakfast. "Welp, no better way to start another Valentine's Day than with a good breakfast, alone, just like always." He gave out a slightly annoyed chuckle. Usually the fact that he was alone for Valentine's Day didn't bother him, but this year was different. Jessica, who he normally spent the day with, now actually had a lover to spend the day with. And Luke now had his eye on his Romulan friend, and had yet to make his move. 'Ugh! Why is it so hard to talk to T'Nea about my feelings? Jessica confessed to her crush, and a demon in her head complicated that endeavor, this should be a cake—'
"Morning luke, how're you?" Luke was brought out of his train of thought by the voice of his friend, and crush. He looked up to see T'Nea standing there, with a tray of bacon, scrambled eggs and a glass of milk.
Luke smiled and tried to talk normally. "Oh, morning T'Nea, I'm doing fine. You?"
T'Nea smiled as she sat down next to Luke. "I'm doing good. It's a beautiful day, love is in the air, and I feel as peachy and cheery as I can be."
He didn't know why but Luke didn't like the way she said that, mainly because of what that could've meant. "Oh? Any particular reason why?"
T'Nea chuckled. "Nope. Just feeling fine and dandy today."
Luke, not completely convinced, decided to just drop it and nod. "Eh, I suppose there really isn't a reason not to feel good today. After all, happiness can be contagious."
T'Nea nodded. "Tell me about it. So. Anything planned for today Luke?"
Luke shook his head. "Not since Jessica and Twilight got together. Jessica and I would usually spend today doing something together. But now that she has Twilight, I'm kinda left hanging."
"That's too bad. Bet you two always have a fun time."
Luke nodded. "Yep. But today, with Jessica and Twilight spending the day together, I guess I'm on my own today."
"What's everyone else doing?"
"Ivan is studying. Fluttershy and Rainbow are going on a flying sightseeing expedition. Rarity and Pinkie are probably beaming over to Paris right now. Sunset and Starlight are... doing something, not exactly sure what. Applejack and Rara are spending the day at the Agricultural Museum, and Spike and J-35 are working on that mind manipulation machine and have forbade anyone else from bothering them until tonight. So...yeah. Everyone is busy."
T'Nea nodded. "Everyone's sure gonna make today memorable."
Luke nodded. "Especially Sunset for Starlight. The only thing she'd tell me about her plans for today, and this is without her in the room, is that she's planning on proposing to Starlight through song. Probably tonight at the Valentine's Day Open Mic Dance Party Dinner."
T'Nea nodded. "Hm. Well good for them."
Luke nodded. "I for one hope it goes well."
"Me too."
They both nodded and continued to eat their meals. After a few minutes, Luke spoke again. "So. What're you going to do today?"
T'Nea shrugged. "Only thing I have planned is Cosmic Harmony's performance tonight. Other than that I got nothing. You?"
Luke shook his head. "Nothing important except for tonight. Eh, I suppose I could log onto Space Engineers and continue building the NX-091299, I'm sure Jessica wouldn't mind me doing a little building today."
T'Nea arched an eyebrow. "NX-091299? Space Engineers? What're those?"
Luke smiled. "Space Engineers is a Space Sandbox Simulation computer game where you can build, practically anything you want. Spaceships, robots, tanks, cars, the possibilities are are endless."
T'Nea smiled. "Ooh. Sounds interesting. And the NX-091299?"
"The starship Jessica and I are co designing and building. Once we finish it, we're gonna spawn it in a multiplayer battle server and test its capabilities."
"Ooh. Interesting. Maybe it's something I should check out."
Luke nodded. "You definitely should. It's amazing. Hey, if you want to bring your computer over, it only takes a second to set up an account, we could log you in and we can play together."
T'Nea's face lit up. "Can you show me around the NX-091299?"
Luke nodded. "Come on." He and T'Nea finished their breakfast and headed out back to the dorms.
To he continued.