//------------------------------// // Epilogue Part 2 // Story: Fly Like You // by Jinzou //------------------------------// Rainbow Dash let out a heavy sigh, flopping onto her bed as she watched the now-almost normal sized Twilight raise the moon. “I kinda feel like we should be down there, partying with her.” Rainbow moaned. “We haven’t seen her in forever.” Twilight didn’t respond, focused on her task. After a few moments her horn dimmed, and she set upon the room, binding the curtains and tidying up. “Twi, would you just come over here and cuddle, already?” Rainbow snorted, tapping the mattress irately. Twilight turned around and chuckled before wrapping herself tightly around her wife. “You know just as well as I do that she’s probably gonna spend the entire night hanging out with Sweetie Belle, Applebloom, and Flurry Heart. She’ll go to bed at five in the morning and then she can spend the entirety of tomorrow with us. Besides,” Twilight kissed the back of Rainbow’s head. “The moon is up, so it’s your bedtime.” Rainbow turned her head and stuck her tongue out at Twilight. “I’m the Amazing Rainbow Dash. I don’t have a bedtime.” “Well, the amazing Rainbow Dash is bound to fall and injure herself if she exerts herself more than I know you already have today.” Twilight teased. “Also I haven’t been about to see you in months due to this blasted schedule, and this mare needs Rainbow cuddles right now.” Rainbow let out a contented sigh and snuggled deeper into the alicorn’s embrace. “Well, I can agree with that last thing, definitely. And I’m not that old!” Twilight chuckled as she nuzzled deep into Rainbow’s mane. “I know. I just love teasing you.” “You suck.” Rainbow smiled. “Give me a half hour of cuddling at least, and I will.” Twilight shot back. “Ohohoho, is that a promise?” Rainbow laughed. “Mm-hmn.” Twilight responded. The two mares enjoyed a companionable silence for a few more minutes until Twilight spoke up. “So I heard Soarin retired a week or two ago, right? How do you feel about that?”  “Nah, unfortunately Clipper retired a full two months ago. I’m the last original Wonderbolt on the team.” Rainbow sighed. “I mean, our new team is great. They’re great ponies and just as much of dickheads as the Wonderbolts team I got to know as a newbie. But it’s not the same.” “Aw, I’m sorry, honey.” Twilight cooed. “It’s whatever.” Rainbow scoffed. “So,” Twilight hummed. “What’s new in Ponyville?” “Well, Lyra and Bon Bon had their eleven year anniversary last month. Fluttershy hired some ponies to help out at her sanctuary, and… Heh, so somebody started this ridiculous rumor where you actually died in the fight with Tirek, and you’re actually a clone that possessed Celestia and made her give up the throne to you.” Twilight snorted loudly into a hoof. “What? That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard!” Rainbow chuckled. “I know. It’s pretty great. So what’s the news in Canterlot? How are the princesses? You guys still write each other every week?” “Ruling Equestria is boring and monotonous, as usual.” Twilight scoffed. “Celestia bought a puppy, and I actually heard Luna is looking into adoption. Really set on finding a filly named ‘Rose’ though, for whatever reason. Also, Canterlot Carousel has officially become the most popular dress shop in Canterlot.” “Huh.” Rainbow replied simply. “Well, good for Rarity. But how are you doing?” Twilight paused for a moment, pulling Rainbow tighter into her body. “Honestly? Overworked. If I had to balance day shifts and dreamwalking at the same time, I’d be riding the edge of a nervous breakdown all the time. I’m thankful Starlight took up dreamwalking, it’d be horrid without her. And that’s not even to mention all the other stuff I have to deal with. That one pony, Mr. Bit keeps trying to create new laws that will just funnel more bits into his saddlebags, I can’t go anywhere public without a serious disguise because I get more mobbed than you were after we started selling the Friendship Journal, and honestly? If I didn’t hire Tempest as Captain of the Royal Guard, I doubt I’d ever get peace again. She doesn’t mess around.” “Dang Twi, sounds like you need a good break.” Dash whistled. “I… yes. A chance to decompress would probably do me some good.” Twilight sighed, before giving off a small chuckle. “But it’s not all bad news. I’ve gotten some pretty entertaining letters from the princesses. Short lived as it was, you’ll never guess who Luna went into business with last month.” “Who?” “Flim and Flam.”  Rainbow Dash burst out laughing, turning around to face the alicorn. “There’s no way. I need to hear this. What did they do?” “So they made a business plan where they sold ‘moon rocks’, but they were actually just painted rocks. Celestia was so mad, saying ‘We can’t be using our role as former princesses to con ponies out of their well-earned bits’, but Luna just found the whole thing hilarious. Celestia did get her to stop after like four days, though.” “Oh man, Luna is always hilarious.” Rainbow chuckled. "And..." Twilight buried her face into Rainbow's neck, trying to hold back a fit of laughter. "I almost forgot, so Celestia sent me just the best letter two days ago. Apparently Luna had been dreamwalking in her dreams, and kept trying to plant the idea that Celestia should become the lead singer of a screamo band. Celestia finally got tired of it, teleported to Luna's bed, and starts hitting her with a pillow. Luna was all 'argh! what did you put in this?!" and Celestia just screamed 'MOON ROCKS' and then they both just fell over laughing." "Did she actually hit her with a bag of rocks?" "No, it was just small bags filled with sand." "That's.... just awesome." "I have the letter right next to my bed, I still crack up every time I read it.” Twilight smiled warmly. Rainbow Dash chuckled. “Speaking of beds…” Twilight purred, slowly drawing a forehoof down across Rainbow’s body, gently sliding over her cutie mark and off her leg. She gave the side of Rainbow’s jaw a gentle kiss and lit up her horn. Rainbow Dash felt a warm magic sensation sweep over her rump.  "Hey- What was that for?" Rainbow asked, pushing her upper body up so she could see what the spell had done. "Just a little spell Starlight taught me." Rainbow Dash looked down to see her cutie mark replaced with the words "Property of Princess T.S." Rainbow chuckled, pulling herself back into Twilight’s embrace. "You're acting like I won't flaunt this with pride." "I know you will, you minx. Just remember after everyone else goes to bed, I have a lot of stress to work off. Better get used to my stamina spells, old mare. I'm gonna need at least until I have to raise the sun."  Twilight winked as Rainbow Dash was struck silent. And then slowly, a grin appeared on Rainbow’s face. "Dear Celestia, Twi. I missed you." "I missed you too, Pookie."