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// The Party: Part 4 
// Story: Spike of All Trades 
// by Ariamaki 
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Shortly after the coffee was finished they broke out more of the adult beverages: In that time it also became clear that everypony already knew. Not the details, but they had all cottoned on to the fact that Twilight wanted to talk to them about something serious. Obviously positive news, given the decorations and celebratory tone... But the mare still wasn't talking. It took the fortification of even more time (and no small amount of fortified wine) before Twilight steeled herself to speak.

"I just... I love you girls so much."

A chorus of 'aaawww's and a wave of smiles went around the table before she could continue. She even got hugs from both Pinkie and Rainbow Dash, an inveterate hugger and touchy-feely kind of drinker respectively. As the other mares slinked and flapped back to their seats, Twilight took a deep breath.

"And.. But. The thing is, I'm also in love."

"GASP!"

Nopony called Rarity out on her decision to gasp audibly by literally saying the word gasp: It wasn't even in the top twenty as far as dramatics and theatrics went, and it did help lighten the mood.

"I'm in a relationship. With somepony."

There would have been cheers then, if it weren't for Twilight raising a hoof sharply.
"And I have been. For a while. A whole year! I just couldn't, I didn't want to tell anypony or risk word getting out, because..."

"Is it somepony scandalous?"

"Is it somepony famous?"

"...Is it somepony we know?"

Twilight blinked owlishly and processed the questions before replying with a smile.
"Yes. In triplicate."

The technical choice of words was only a brief stumbling block for everypony: All of Twilight's friends were used to her being Twilight, sometimes moreso than usual. With a last swig to drain the glass, she leaned back and looked up. All of their friends mostly watched her chair to make sure she wasn’t about to fall over backwards, but Spike knew to look elsewhere. He watched her gaze catch on one of the many decorations in the air above- a stylized sun that, on closer inspection, should have been familiar to anypony looking.

"I'm in love with Princess Celestia. And the two of us are dating. Courting? Rarity, is it courting if-"

Whatever her question was, it would have to wait for later: All five of her best friends dogpiled onto Twilight with a singular hugging intent before she could finish speaking. Spike dodged the group hug for the sake of both his friends (he wasn't quite as cuddly as he used to be) and his outfit: He'd already had to sneak off and replace the thing three times during the meal.

The next few minutes were a chaotic mess of questions, declarations, answers, and rebuttals.

"Holy horsefeathers... Like, literally! Hahaha, good pickup Twi!"

"Shucks hun that's great news!"

"I had a feeling it might have been... well."

"Did you now, dear? I know it never came up during our spa dates..."

"Well I wouldn't want to say something so important on just a hunch."

"I knew in advance! Not like, super-duper in advance, but somepony had to plan all this party!"

Once things calmed down and everypony got back into some semblance of order, the actual conversation could begin. Twilight explained (some) of the same things to the others that she had told Spike previously, and answered what questions she could. In return, everypony was equally supportive and encouraging, with some bringing up their past realizations on the topic.

Applejack, it turned out, had some clue that Twilight was up to something consistent out of town. She paid too much attention to schedules and seasons to not notice the increasingly-common trips out to Canterlot, but hadn't put two and two together aside from that: She figured that if Twilight wanted to tell her, she would do it in good time.

Neither Rainbow Dash nor Rarity had managed to figure it out in advance. A fact which Dash took in stride, but which Rarity treated as a failing of her romantic acumen.

Fluttershy... had gotten to the opposite half of the conclusion from Applejack: While she didn't realize Twilight was leaving for Canterlot any more often than usual, it had been clear to her that the unicorn was romantically interested in the Princess... Apparently for quite a bit longer than anypony suspected.

"How long!?"

"Um. Ever since... the start, really? Almost the entire time we've known each other. Definitely since the first Gala, at least."

"...REALLY."

"You just get this... spark, when you talk about her. It's very endearing actually! It reminds me of some of the Neighponese comics I've been reading lately, now that I think about it."

Eventually Twilight's incredulity dissolved into laughter, and the rest of them fell into the same pace. Spike couldn't wipe the smile off his face, even as he continued to ply his newfound skills as an unobtrusive server. All the worries, the stress, the buildup? It was all behind them now: They'd arrived. Twilight finally got her secret off of her back, and everypony here loved and accepted her all the same. She probably wouldn't be going public with things anytime soon, but... Well, that could wait.

Over the course of the evening their conversation kept returning to the topic of romance: Pinkie Pie traded what Spike hoped were a few knowing glances with him, and otherwise kept mum. Rainbow Dash had interesting things to say about the Wonderbolts, and nopony questioned the distinct blush she had when talking about both Spitfire and Soarin. Applejack was just as married to her work as always, but that didn't keep her from encouraging the others.

All in all, the night wound on as their weekly get-togethers often did: Ponies filtered in and out of the room (and the conversation) while Spike hung back and kept the wheels greased. By the time he started overtly gathering glasses and plates to prepare the cleanup, ponies were beginning to say their farewells: No sleepover tonight, and if Twilight's buoyant energy was any indication? Maybe no sleep at all.

Eventually they were alone again, and Twilight turned to him with a brilliant smile. She seemed even brighter than she had earlier, as if a filter had been lifted off and revealed more light from underneath.

"I did it, Spike. I actually told them."

"Yup! Hit it out of the park if I say so myself."

"...It feels like such an enormous weight off me. I mean, it was never a problem keeping things quiet, but-"

"-but you still wanted to climb up onto Town Hall and shout it from the spires, right?"

Her purple cheeks went swiftly brick red, and a stray magic aura swatted at his spines.
"Shush. Also yes. But shush."

"Still, I'm glad it all went off without a hitch! Everypony enjoyed the food, I didn't mess up during the service, no problems in the reveal, and the girls were totally supportive."

"True, all true... Oh! That reminds me, Spike, the food was fantastic. I'm still surprised by how much I enjoyed the potatoes."

"I mean, dragon, so it never bothered me anyway... But agreed. Top 5 of the night from where I sta-"

His reply was cut off by the crisp ding of a notification: Specifically from his Mail system.

"...Mail call!"

"Really?"

A genteel cough and subsequent gout of flame (no longer necessary, but still kinda fun) brought out two gold-sealed letters. One was addressed to him, the other to Twilight. Both, naturally, were from Princess Celestia: Luna had a penchant for changing up the wax on almost every missive, but her sister was consistent.

Twilight levitated her letter over while Spike literally clawed open the seal in order to read his own.


Dear Spike,

I apologize profusely for the time it has taken to get these letters to you and Twilight. That would have been the case multiple days ago, but then your (very appreciated) snacks arrived by way of dragonfire. Then Luna informed me of your situation. Needless to say, if I was already apologetic before those events? I am positively mortified now. I owe you quite a lot, dear nephew.

They were, after all, extremely good snacks.
 
 
Here the letter was interrupted by a tiny stylized drawing that Spike recognized as Celestia's own self-caricature, winking with an air of sarcastic glee. Sometimes her replies could get a little 'venty' like this, especially after a long week dealing with the nobles. Given that he'd sent her and Luna the letter about Discord more than a week ago now? Yeah, she had probably been dealing with a lot.
 
 
According to my assistants I managed to get through this week without shouting at anypony, which I am going to chalk up to a minor miracle given that, in my head, the screaming was without any end or succor.

...In all seriousness, it has been a trying time, and I regret that my time will continue to be tried somewhat regularly for the foreseeable future. My intention, in a perfect world, would be to spend as much uninterrupted time with you and Twilight as possible in light of your development, and the... well, the proverbial cat being let out of the bag on my relationship.
 
 
Another aside, this time written in the margins of the scroll: Relationship. After so long. What a wonderful word!
 
 
Unfortunately, and despite my best efforts, we do not live in a perfect world.

Which is not to say I do not strive to perfect it. As such, please find enclosed a list of dates and times when the two of you can come to Canterlot for an initial... How would Twilight phrase it? Information-sharing session? Data-gathering, perhaps. Regardless, after we have established the baseline in that meeting, we can endeavor to set aside a longer visit in the coming months.

Be well, and always strive to keep learning.

Your Ally Always,
 Princess Celestia

P.S. It would be convenient if your studies involved sending more snacks. And perhaps earplugs?
 
 
Spike pulled the set of dates out from the smaller piece of included parchment, then looked up.
"I'm going to guess we got pretty similar letters, although yours probably had the sarcasm and jokes replaced with lovey-dovey mushy stuff?"

Twilight's magenta aura ripped the letter down from her face, but unfortunately that just revealed her cheeks blushing the same color: Bingo.

"Aaahh, well... Specific contents aside, yes, I imagine we received similar schedules."

He didn't press her any further, especially since she could probably just turn it around on him with how he'd been acting around Pinkie Pie earlier. Which... fair. Mutually assured embarrassment wasn't the goal, so instead they compared calendars and debated dates. After several minutes they came to a conclusion, composed a pair of replies, and then Spike sent them on their way.