//------------------------------// // Chapter 11 (Raritys Day) // Story: Living and Dying in Equestria // by TwilightsmyMare //------------------------------// I woke up the next morning to an amazing feeling I'd gotten very used to. Twilight sleeping peacefully against me, her beautiful mane in disarray, her soft breaths, it made my heart ache just watching her. How was I going to live without this...? I'd never be able to sleep again. The morning sun illuminated the room and as I watched her Twilight awoke, she looked up at me and smiled. "Morning." She breathed as she stretched against me. Ugh! Did she know what effect she had on me? I hoped not as she was torturing me. "Morning Twi. Are we late for applebucking today?" I asked as it was early but later still then we had been heading out. "Oh! I meant to tell you last night..." She blushed. "I guess I got a bit distracted..." I gave her a gentle squeeze. "It’s ok." "Applejack and Big Mac are going to finish the last few acres so the rest of us can get the preparations for Rarity’s party underway." "Sounds like a plan. How can I help?" I asked. Twilight levitated a checklist over to us with party preparations on it. Pony’s names and what they were taking care of were side by side, nearly everything was covered. Near the bottom I noticed Twilights name and beside it, it just said Magic. "What are you taking care of?" "Well the organisation of course. But I have been working on a new trick... Sort of a magical firework show." "Sounds cool!" "I hope so. I need more practice though." "Well can I help?" "Sure." She smiled at me as we reluctantly got out of bed. I got dressed and headed downstairs to have breakfast; Spike sleepily came trotting down shortly after. "Spike, don't forget your helping Pinkie Pie and the Cakes with the baking ok?" "Oh yeah, right!" He grabbed his breakfast to go and headed out the door. Twilight and I finished breakfast and headed into her private study. "There’s going to be a lot of ponies there and I'm worried I might lose focus if I get distracted. So as I make my spell can you try to distract me?" So for the next couple of hours I generally made a nuisance of myself, yelling and waving my arms, accidentally bumping into her and just plain being in the way. She weathered every challenge with ease, her spell was amazing to behold more then a few times I caught myself just standing and staring before I snapped out of it. "Whew... Looks like your set Twi. No distracting you." "Thanks! Let’s try it one more time then have lunch ok?" I nodded my agreement and she began casting. I had tried everything I could think of that was in your face annoying so I decided to try something a little more subtle this time. As she cast I moved up beside her and gently but slowly ran my hand down her neck to the middle of her back then back up. About halfway back up she seemed to shiver involuntarily and lost her focus. I was about to laugh and say gotcha! When her magic veered off course before she could cancel the spell setting the curtains in her study on fire! I quickly ran to the kitchen and soaked a towel, running back I quickly slapped the flames out; it hadn't been a serious fire thankfully. I turned to Twilight with a relieved look on my face to find her blushing heavily looking at me. "That... That was cheating!" She accused. I smiled at her. "Hey, you said to try to distract you. I promise I won't do that when you’re casting again." I said with mock seriousness. She tried to look annoyed with me but couldn't quite seem to pull it off. After a second she gave up and burst into laughter, I laughed along with her as we walked to the kitchen for something to eat. "Okay, I think I have that mastered. Assuming someone keeps their hands to themselves." She said with a glance at me as we ate. "Sorry! My bad." I grinned. She smiled back. "At least while I'm casting..." "Oh..." I cleared my throat. "So what’s next?" "Well I need to go and check on every other pony and see how their preparations are coming." I thought for a second. "Okay... I think I'll go see Sweetie Belle in the hospital, I'm sure she could use some cheering up." "That’s a great idea. Hmm... Here." She levitated a small collection of books off the table to me. "Rainbow Dash just returned these the other day maybe Sweetie Belle would enjoy reading them?" "I bet she would." I helped Twilight clean up then gathered the books in a basket and we headed out. Halfway to the hospital we had to split up, I ran my hand teasingly up her back as we parted and she snapped her tail gently at me. I detoured over to Rose's flower shop, entering I looked around before grabbing a small vase with a nice display of flowers in it. Rose was waiting at her desk for me as I walked up. "Hmm... Those aren't Twilights favourite flowers." She said with a smile. "Oh! Well these are for Sweetie Belle; she's in the hospital with a broken leg." "I see. Well she'll love them. Say, I have a few deliveries to go to patients there, if you drop them off for me you can have the flowers for free." "Well sure Rose... Um since you brought it up... Just what is Twilights favourite flower?" She loaded up my basket with several carefully wrapped bouquets. "Her favourite is the Dahlia." She pointed me over to where she had some displayed. "Beautiful aren't they?" "She sure is... I mean they are! Thanks Rose. I'll go deliver these right away." "Just ask for the names on the cards." She called out to me as I exited. I made another small detour to Sugarcube Corner, as I entered Pinkie Pie zipped out of the backroom. "Hi Rick!" "Heya Pinkie. I'm going to see Sweetie Belle and I thought some cupcakes might make her feel better." "Aww! You bet!" She quickly gathered me up a small selection of six different flavours. I paid for them and headed out with a wave to her. I arrived at the hospital with my load of stuff and began to deliver the bouquets, before too long I made my way to Sweetie Belles room. Peeking inside I found her sitting up in bed her back leg in a cast. She was staring out the window; I could see she must have had quite a few visitors as there were homemade get well cards tacked up on the walls as well as some flowers by her bed. I opened the door and she turned to see who it was, with a big grin on her face she squeaked. "Rick!" I walked over putting down my basket and gave her a big hug. "Heya Sweetie. How are you doing?" "I'm sooo bored!" She said with a cute pout. I laughed. "I mean how’s your leg?" "Oh!" She looked down at her cast leg, I could see now she had signatures on it, no doubt from her classmates. "It hurts a little. But its ok." "Glad to hear it. How long are you stuck here?" "Just a few more days then I get a walking cast and Mom and Dad are coming to bring me home." "Well that’s ok then. How about some cupcakes to cheer you up?" I asked pulling them from the basket. "And I got you a little bouquet as well." I put that on her nightstand beside the others. "Thank you!" She gave me one of her cupcakes and we both enjoyed our treat. "Twilight also sent these books for you in case you were bored." I pulled out the books and lined them up on her bed to look at. She looked them over and put her hoof on one. I picked it up to have a look. "Let’s see, Daring Do and the Azure Throne." Sweetie Belle nodded enthusiastically. "Mmm Hmm... Um... Rick?" "What Sweetie?" "Would you read it to me? Please?" She stared at me with her big green eyes, how could I say no? "Okay little filly get comfortable." She snuggled down in her bed as I opened the book. "Daring Do was relaxing in her office deep in the bowels of the university she taught history at when she wasn't off adventuring. She stared at the Sapphire Stone on her desk; it had been quite an adventure to get it. As she looked through her accumulated mail she found an odd package from an old friend of hers, she ripped it open and found it contained only a plane ticket with a hastily scribbled message 'come quickly' on it..." "... Somehow she had survived! The front of her lifejacket had been shredded but luckily the shark hadn't gotten a tooth on her..." I had been reading for a few hours, as I looked over to Sweetie Belle I found her fast asleep. With a grin I put a bookmark in the book and closed it putting it back in the basket beside her bed on top of the other books. I pulled her covers up and brushed her curly mane aside giving her a soft kiss on the forehead. As I turned to go I found Twilight in the doorway watching me. "How long have you been there?" I asked quietly. "Oh, since Daring Do's boat sank. I finished checking up on everyone and thought I would visit Sweetie Belle too. But I see you tired her out." She whispered. I motioned her over. "Here sign her cast and she'll know you were here." We both signed the cast and quietly exited. As we walked down the hallway she leaned over and kissed me on the cheek. "Oh. What was that for? Not that I'm complaining." I asked blushing slightly. "For being so nice to Sweetie Belle." She said walking beside me with my arm over her side. I squeezed her gently. "So how are the preparations?" "Everything is looking good. I hope Rarity will like what we've done." "I am certain she will." Over the next two days preparations continued, we weren’t really trying to hide anything from Rarity; she knew her birthday was coming up. We just kept her from seeing how we were setting things up. I helped out where I could but most things were taken care of, I visited Sweetie Belle each day to read to her. Scootaloo and Apple Bloom stopped by bringing Sweetie Belle her homework and were more then happy to listen in. Twilight came by each day to walk home with me. I was so head over heels for her I just didn't know what to do. The day of the party finally arrived, everyone arrived in the early afternoon and there were quite a few guests. Rarity had a lot of friends and acquaintances from her dress shop as well as from around town. I was dressed in one of my nicer suits Rarity had made me and Twilight had a beautiful but simple dress on, I had the case with the dress for Rarity in it on my shoulder as we arrived. "You know Twi I guess I should have gotten Rarity something too. I just didn't think of it..." "Don't be silly this is from both of us." She said with a smile. We went up and wished Rarity a happy birthday before putting our gift with the others. She opened her gifts first, we made sure to hold ours back until last. Rarity got many beautiful gifts; Spike had found another ruby nearly the twin of the one he had given her before that she was thrilled with giving him a big kiss on the cheek nearly causing him to swoon. I brought forward the case and carefully put it before her. "From Twilight and me too I guess." She smiled and levitated the case up opening it. Seeing the contents she immediately gasped letting the case fall back to the ground. She covered her mouth with her hooves tears forming in her eyes. "How... How did you...?" "It was Rick. He found a way to get it for you." Twilight explained. "Only because you wanted her to have the best." I complimented back. Rarity levitated the dress out of the case turning it back and forth showing it off for the crowd. Everyone ooh'd and aww'd. "I have to put it on right now!" She took off to do just that as we set up the tables for dinner. She came back a few minutes later the beautiful gown sparkling as she spun and showed it off very pleased with the attention she was getting. We all sat and ate; all the food provided by Sugarcube corner was amazing. After that was games, Pinkie Pie naturally excelled at them beating even Rainbow Dash at some to her chagrin. The time came for Twilights magical display, everypony gathered as she got ready. I stood off to the side not wanting to distract her. As I watched she looked out at the crowd and seemed to shrink back shaking nervously. She fled behind the curtain; no one seemed to take much notice of it. I saw all her friends were busy and hadn't noticed or they would clearly be rushing to her side. I headed over behind the curtain and found Twilight sitting on the floor hyperventilating into a paper bag; I knelt down taking her in my arms. "Twi. What’s wrong?" "Too many ponies! I can't..." She gasped. "Come on Twi. What about when you sent that Ursa Minor away? Everypony was watching you then." "Who told you about that?" She asked blushing. "And that was an emergency, totally different." "Dash told me about it. I know you can do it Twi. I believe in you." I said massaging her shoulders gently. She peeked out the curtain again. "No! No I can't! What am I going to do? I can't let everypony down!" She sobbed. I thought for a second. "Okay. How about if you do it with your eyes closed? Then you won't be able to see everypony looking?" She thought about it a second. "No... What if the magic goes somewhere I don't want it to go? I need to control it." "Okay... Well, how about if I stay right beside you? I'll watch and let you know if it needs to move? I won't let you down." She turned to face me, just an inch away. I wiped her tears away gently. "Are you sure? Everypony will be staring at you then." I smiled at her. "That will be daunting, but for you... Not a problem." She hugged me tightly. Walking out on stage I could definitely see why she was nervous, there were a lot of ponies here... I pushed it out of my mind and sat down beside Twilight. She began casting, her horn glowing brightly. Fortunately I had witnessed the spell many times and I knew what to expect. I leaned over whispering in her ear with small adjustments as she set off magical bursts of multicoloured energy, each exploded into smaller bursts fading into small silhouettes in the sky, flowers, trees and animals. Everypony was watching the display and not us which took a lot of pressure off. She brought her display to a finish with a huge magical explosion which ended with a huge silhouette of Rarity high in the sky; everypony broke out in enthusiastic clopping of their hooves together. "You did it Twi." I whispered to her. She spun, her eyes opened as she tackled me in a hug laughing. "We did it!" After the applause died down the music started up, Twilight was off to the side surrounded by admirers complimenting her on her magic. She blushed and accepted their compliments humbly. While watching her I felt a tug on my hand, looking down I found Sweetie Belle, she had a pretty dress on and a sturdy looking cast on her back leg. "Dance?" She asked with a smile. I scooped her up and made my way to the dance floor, she giggled and smiled as I swung her around as we danced. I was sure to be careful of her leg, after a bit I felt a tap on my back and turned around to find Rarity resplendent in her beautiful dress. "May I cut in?" She asked. I put Sweetie Belle down and she scampered off. Trying to remember what I had learned last time we had danced I took her into my arms. "I hope your having a great birthday Milady Rarity." "Oh I am. I don't know how you managed to convince Jet Set to part with it but thank you." "Well... Twilight wanted something special for you. I still should have gotten you something from me too." She smiled at me. "Oh but you have darling." Seeing my confused look she spun us around to face Twilight and her crowd of well wishers. "I've known Twilight for quite awhile you know. And I can honestly say I have never seen her happier then I have in this last month. So thank you." She whispered to me. I blushed slightly watching Twilight for a moment before spinning us away. "Thanks... I don't know what to do... I like Twilight... A lot, but... Well the Princess's made it quite clear I will be going when my three months is up. I don't want to hurt her..." She thought about it as we danced. "Well darling, I am not sure what to tell you. I will give it some considerable thought, perhaps we can come up with something?" "Thank you." We danced a bit more when I again felt a tap on my back, I turned around to see Spike balancing on a pair of stilts, Twilight helping him stay up as they danced. "Move over man, I'm cutting in." Laughing I stepped back letting Rarity swoop him up. I turned to Twilight and offered my hand, she put her hoof in it and we came together and began to dance. "Hope all the admirers didn't bother you too much?" I asked. "It was a bit nerve racking. I... I don't take compliments too well." "You’re amazing. You’re beautiful. You're one of a kind Twi." She blushed but didn't turn away. "See, you can take a compliment." I said giving her a squeeze. "Oh you." She laid her head on my shoulder and we danced slowly oblivious to the music. "Thank you for helping me... I couldn't have done it without you." She whispered to me. "I think you could have. But I am glad to help you anytime, anyway I can." Feeling a bit bold I kissed her soft ear gently and she hugged me back. We danced for quite some time lost in our own little world, eventually we parted to get some refreshments. The dance continued until late evening when things began to wind down, everypony heading home wishing Rarity a happy birthday again and complimenting her on her party. We all cleaned up quickly, the final part of the party was a girl’s slumber party at Carousel Boutique. So Spike and I headed back home with a load of leftovers. "So Spike, just us guys tonight what do you want to do?" He thought about it a second and I probably could have guessed his response. "Junkfood!" I laughed as we arrived and broke out the snacks, for a small dragon he could really put it away. We sat on the couch talking about the party and snacking together until he passed out amid the remains of his snacking. I smiled to myself and cleaned up; I headed up and got his blue blankie for him spreading it out on him as he snored quietly on the couch. I got undressed and got into bed turning out the lights. Twilight’s bed seemed very large and empty. I sighed inhaling her amazing scent and tried to get to sleep. Tossing and turning I just couldn't seem to get comfortable, I turned to look at the clock to find it was three in the morning. I thumped my head down on the pillow with a groan of exasperation as I tried to clear my mind. Lying there quietly I heard the door creak open. I lay still breathing softly, burglars? I hadn't heard of any such thing in Ponyville but... I heard quiet hoofclicks coming up the stairs, I opened my eyes a crack to see what I could in the moonlight getting ready to switch on the lights and jump up. "Are you awake?" I heard Twilight whisper as she peeked over the ledge. I relaxed immediately. "I'm awake.” She smiled and quietly came trotting over. "Is everything ok?" I asked. "Oh... Yes the slumber party was a lot of fun. All the girls went to sleep but... Well I just couldn't seem to..." I smiled at her in the moonlight. "Same here." I held up the covers and she happily crawled in snuggling up beside me. "What am I going to do without you Twi?" I whispered stroking her silken mane. "Maybe... Maybe you won't have to go." "I've racked my brain trying to find some way..." "You want to stay?! What about your friends and family?" "I'll miss them its true... But I really never fit in. No one there needs me for anything... Uh, not that anyone here does." "Oh what about the Crusaders? They would have been in some serious trouble without you." She teased. "Well I guess..." She hugged me tightly. "Somepony else here does too." She whispered. I looked down into her beautiful eyes, her lips... I leaned down. "Twilight I..." She stopped me pressing her hoof to my lips. "Shh..." "I was just..." "Shh, I hear something." Her ears rotated locating some sound I couldn't hear. I cocked my head but still couldn't hear a thing. "I don't hear anything..." Her horn glowed softly as she cast a spell and suddenly my hearing improved dramatically, I could easily hear Spikes snores and snorts down below, the creak of the tree as the wind blew and something else out the window... THUD "Careful AJ! You’re supposed to be looking not breaking it open." "Darn it Rainbow I know that, if you'd just fly a bit closer." "Hey I'm doing all the work here farmgirl." "I know, I know. And I plum appreciate it. Now shush and get me a bit closer." THUD "Now ya did that on purpose!" "I did not! I can't see with your mane in my face." "Shh! They'll hear ya." "Oh please, if they were going to hear us they would have by now. Their probably too busy..." "Rainbow!" "What?! Sleeping, I was going to say sleeping! Gee somepony has a dirty mind." "I swear by Celestia Rainbow... Just get us closer." "Fine, fine." Twilight had apparently heard enough as she sat up her horn glowed opening the window as Applejack leaned against it tumbling her and Rainbow Dash inside. She turned on the lights as they looked around confused, then catching Twilights grumpy look they both looked sheepishly at the floor. "It was Applejacks idea!" Dash burst out. "A'right, a'right I admit it I convinced everypony." "What do you mean everypony?" As Twilight asked the door downstairs opened. "I told you all there’s nothing to worry about." Rarity chastised as she entered. She, Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy joined us up in Twilight bedroom; I was beginning to feel a bit exposed. "Ah'm sorry Twilight. When I saw you get up and leave without a word to anypony I was a mite worried. I woke everypony up and we followed ya to see what was goin on." Applejack explained. Twilight sighed and sunk back into the bed. "While I appreciate your concern. I certainly don't condone you spying on me." Applejack hung her head. "Ah'm sorry it was my doin alone." I squeezed Twilight gently. "Ah don't be too hard on them Twi." She smiled softly. "Okay, okay. Well since your all here you might as well stay." Her horn glowed as she pulled spare blankets and pillows from storage for everyone. Everyone got comfortable downstairs, Rarity sleeping on the couch next to Spike, that would be a surprise for him when he woke up! Everyone was tired so after a few whispers back and forth we all slipped off into sleep. As I lay there, Twilight beside me, I was more comfortable then I had ever been in my life. I felt... At peace, like I was meant to be right here. I wanted to stay. Why shouldn't I? Oh right... Two all powerful beings who said I had to go... Damn...