//------------------------------// // 226. By the Stars, How Beautiful // Story: Azure Edge // by Leaf Blade //------------------------------// Rarity felt like she was sweating buckets as she hiked up a green, foresty hill in the mountains of Canterlot that overlooked the city. Technically it was still within the bounds of the city, but far enough away from the densely packed buildings that perhaps a dragon could hide out there for a bit and regain her magic. You know, just as a hypothetical. Though of course Rarity understood the necessity for such an out of the way rendezvous point, by the time Rarity had removed her dress and was carrying it on her shoulder because she just needed to feel the winter chill on her fur to give herself some reprieve from the strenuous climb— and also because she kept tripping on the damn thing— she wanted to strangle her girlfriend herself. She never would, of course. Unless Twilight was into that… hm. Rarity hadn't considered that possibility before, perhaps she could ask— actually, that was a thought for another time. The last thing Rarity needed was to heat herself up even more. “Rarity, you made it,” Twilight said politely as she sat on the grass, patiently waiting for Rarity, and she looked like an angel as she sat naked under the glimmering moonlight— she likely removed her dress so her transformation wouldn’t ruin it— and it was almost enough that Rarity wanted to forgive her instantly for causing her to make that climb. “Twilight, I love you,” Rarity panted as she collapsed next to Twilight, falling into her arms. “But if you make me do that much exercise again in a single night, I’ll make you sleep in the doghouse. I don’t know what that means, I’ll figure it out later.” “I love you too,” Twilight said, and Rarity purred as Twilight covered her neck in kisses. “Sorry you had to come out all this way.” “My darling, please,” Rarity said smoothly, turning to Twilight and tilting up her chin. “For you, I’d do anything.” “Weren’t you just complaining—” “Shhhh,” Rarity said with a finger against Twilight’s lips. “Don’t be so stuck in the past that you miss the present.” “Okay,” Twilight hummed and held Rarity in her arms, gently rocking her back and forth. “How’d it go with Luna?” “Well,” Rarity chuckled, knowing Twilight was going to love this, “I managed to convince her not to tell people that dragons could infect ponies and turn them into dragons.” “Oh my gawd,” Twilight sighed and slid her hand down her face, and Rarity laughed. “I can laugh about it because she didn’t actually do it,” Rarity said with an amused smile, absolutely drinking up Twilight’s ireful expression, “but Fleur and I were both horrified when she suggested it.” “What did she actually end up saying?” Twilight asked. “Nothing,” Rarity shrugged. “She made a statement to the people not to panic and suchity such, and that she would wait until her sister returned to make any decisive choices. Rainbow Dash was still laughing about what a weak statement is was even by the time she headed back to the inn.” “Luna’s way out of her depth, huh?” Twilight said flatly. “Oh yes,” Rarity immediately confirmed. “Absolutely. We’ll have to do what we can to support her, since we do need her help, and because she’s a friend and her heart’s in the right place, so I very much want to help guide her through this.” “Same here,” Twilight let out a cheeky little giggle. “I sure don’t envy Fleur though. She’s the one who’s going to have to hold Luna’s hand the most.” Rarity hummed. She wanted to apologize for her own mistakes and her own ignorance, and for needing Twilight to hold her hand in certain aspects regarding dragons. But then she thought about something; she had explained gender to cis people many a time, and not once did a cis apology make the process any easier. She recognized the impulse for what it was, less a desire to soothe Twilight’s feelings, and more a desire for Twilight to soothe Rarity’s. To tell Rarity that she was good, even when that wasn’t remotely the issue. She had no desire to center her own feelings in this conversation, so she kept her mouth shut. “So what do we do now, my dearest?” Rarity sighed, leaning into Twilight’s embrace. “Right now?” Twilight said. “We rest. I need to go into the mountains and regain my magic, and tomorrow we’ll talk to Luna first thing and work out our next step. Together.” “That sounds like a splendid idea,” Rarity said. “If it’s not too much to ask, may I go into the mountains with you?” “Why, cuz you don’t wanna walk back to the inn?” Twilight said smarmily and Rarity gave her a sarcastic laugh. “No, because I want to drool over how sexy your true form is, actually,” Rarity corrected Twilight, and the darling’s sudden snap from smug to smitten was so unbelievably satisfying. “Well,” Twilight bit her lip, “I guess I can’t argue with that.” Twilight had far less difficulty walking up the mountain than Rarity did, and as Rarity started to pant and gasp and need a break every five seconds, Twilight— without chastisement or judgment of any kind— offered to carry Rarity up the mountain. Rarity agreed and moved to get behind Twilight so she could be carried on Twilight’s back, but Twilight just laughed. “I am still a dragon you know,” Twilight said as she carried Rarity bridal style in her arms, Rarity swooning over how tall and muscular and strong her girlfriend was. Though that kind of swooning was absolutely nothing compared to when the two women were finally safe in the mountains, and Twilight transformed. Rarity’s jaw dropped as she saw the dragon in all her glory for the first time. She had seen Twilight’s dragon form twice before, but she was so blinded by her awful bigotry that she couldn’t see her for what she truly was. Absolutely stunningly gorgeous. And also? Very sexy. “D-damn,” Rarity whispered, holding her hand in front of her mouth as tears stung her eyes. She couldn’t believe Twilight was so hot that she was getting genuinely emotional over it, but here she was. “What’s the matter, Rarity?” Twilight grinned, and if her oh-so-satisfied smirk was sexy before, Rarity was bowled over entirely by seeing it at Twilight’s new magnificent size, with her mouth full of beautiful, shining fangs. Twilight laid across the grass and propped her head up with one hand, giving Rarity an amazing view of the dragon’s chest. “See something you like?” Rarity let out an unintelligible blubber of lust. She didn’t have to tell Twilight what she was thinking, all Twilight had to do was look under Rarity’s waist; she was still naked after all. “Cuz I gotta say,” Twilight took one finger and gently grazed Rarity’s body; and Twilight’s finger was roughly half the size and width of Rarity’s entire body, so feeling that against her sent a jolt of excitement through her, “I like what I see right now.” Rarity shuddered. She was almost concerned she was going to nut right then and there if Twilight so much as touched her again. “Uh, Rarity?” Twilight asked concernedly. “Are you okay? I didn’t go too far, did I?” “No, my love,” Rarity shook her head emphatically, panting from something other than exercise this time. “You’re absolutely perfect.” “Oh okay, phew,” Twilight laughed awkwardly, and Rarity was overwhelmed by affection to the point that she almost dropped to her knees. That really was her Twilight. Despite the changes in size and shape and appearance, she was the exact same woman that Rarity had fallen in love with. Just bigger, and honestly? Sexier too. “I don’t suppose there’s any way,” Rarity suggested, walking slowly down to the area between Twilight’s legs; there was nothing to look at just yet, but Rarity could see the sheathe that tantalizingly hid what Rarity wanted to see, “that I could—” “Absolutely not,” Twilight said flatly. “That could actually kill you if we tried that.” “Oh,” Rarity said, disappointed. “I mean,” Twilight cleared her throat, “I have worked on a few spells… that might make it possible. But I wouldn’t want to risk your life over something like that.” “Any way we could test the spells without risking my life?” Rarity asked. “Dip a toe into the pool, as it were?” “Maybe,” Twilight sighed. “But we haven’t even gotten that far in just our pony forms together yet.” “Well,” Rarity licked her lips, “we’ve gotten that far in one way.” Rarity put her hand on Twilight’s chest and sighed. “But if you’re uncomfortable, I won’t press the subject. The last thing I want to do is make you uncomfortable, my love.” “Thank you, Rarity,” Twilight smiled and coiled up around Rarity like a soft blanket. “I love you.” “I love you too, you absolute sweetheart,” Rarity purred as she melted into Twilight’s embrace. “And if you’re still up for it in the morning,” Twilight whispered, “before we go back to the others, I’ll let you have it. As ponies, I mean.” “Oh, darling,” Rarity moaned as she relaxed against Twilight’s body and her eyes fluttered closed; it had been a long night, “you spoil me.” “I treat you right,” Twilight corrected, “because I love you.” “You’re too good to me,” Rarity sighed. “I’m just the right amount of good to you,” Twilight said, and Rarity laughed. “Stop correcting me, you dork!” Rarity yelped, playfully slapping her hand against Twilight’s beautiful scales. “Then stop saying silly things, you silly pony!” Twilight stuck out her tongue, and by the stars how many different ways could Rarity say she loved her? “Okay fine,” Rarity rolled her eyes, “for you. And you know why?” “Why’s that?” Twilight asked smugly. “Because,” Rarity sighed and closed her eyes, “I love you.” “I love you too, Rarity,” Twilight whispered, and Rarity smiled because she knew it was true. Rarity slept well that night. And had a difficult time sitting down after the next morning.