The water was the same colour as the sky.
Not in the sense that it was reflecting the light above it, but in that it was a light, sky blue. That shouldn't have been physically possible given what Twilight knew about light refraction.
Still, that was the least of the wonders on her mind as she watched the lure at the end of her fishing rod bob up and down in the impossible liquid.
"This is nice," she commented, feeling a bit silly at the inanity of the statement but still needing to say it out loud. "Thank you both for doing this for me."
"It's our pleasure." On her left, Twilight's wife nuzzled her as she held her own fishing rod in her hooves. "I just hope the spell I put on these actually works. I didn't get a chance to test it before we came out here."
"Oh, Cadance, where's the fun in that?" Twilight's coltfriend said on her right. "Besides, you're a master at all this lovey-dovey stuff, so I'm sure it'll work out."
"I guess we'll see soon enough." There was an actual thread of nervousness in Cadance's voice, and Twilight immediately nuzzled her back.
"It doesn't matter how it works out, I still love both of you, and I really appreciate the thought behind this." She also leaned over to the right to place a kiss on the neck of the draconequus that had also stolen her heart. "If nothing else, this place is beautiful, and I'm just happy to spend time here with both of you."
"Well, it's your first birthday since the two of us hooked up, as the kids say," Discord replied, his own fishing rod gripped in his talons.
"Nobody says that these days," Cadance said with a smirk. "You've got to get with the times, old goat."
"Hardy har har." Discord snapped his fingers, and a clock appeared in his paw. "I'll have you know that I have all of the time in the world, just not all at once."
Twilight's heart soared at the easy banter between them. She'd foreseen their friendship with her newly-developing gift of prophecy, but it was still nice to see it come to fruition sooner rather than later. This surprise birthday outing truly had caught her unawares, and she revelled in their ability to plan something like this together.
"Maybe it's time for you to—" There was a pause as Cadance's word cut off. "Oh, I think I feel something!" She began to reel in her line, excitement painted clearly across her muzzle.
The lure was glowing with magic as it was pulled up, and just as it touched the top of the rod, Cadance's eyes began to glow that same sky blue as her expression became blank. The stupor lasted for about a minute before the magic faded and Cadance smiled, her eyes holding the weight of centuries in them once again. "Did you know that there was a choir of songbirds in the Canterlot Gardens the day Shining Armor proposed to me?"
Twilight shook her head. "I didn't. You never told me."
"I'd already forgotten by the time we went on our first date." As Cadance returned to the present, a wide grin quickly formed on her muzzle. "It worked!" she exclaimed, her body rocking up and down in raw joy that was infectious.
"I never doubted you," Discord said warmly. "Pay no attention to the backup plans I'm carrying on my back." Indeed, there was a backpack there now, labelled with a sticker that said PLAN B SUPPLIES.
Twilight snorted at his antics before returning her attention to Cadance. "You'll have to tell me how you cast that spell after this."
"Of course." Cadance cast her rod into the river once again. "To be honest, it was a very intent-directed thing. When Discord told me that the river Lethe contained all the memories that had ever been lost, I knew I just needed to put an Attraction Matrix in the lure infused with love, and the physical connection to the rod would attune it to the person fishing."
"Interesting," Twilight turned to Discord. "And does the choice of this tributary have anything to do with the efficacy of the rods?"
Discord shrugged. "That's for you to find out, my dear. I never was one for detailed note-taking." A dunce cap appeared on his head. "I had better things to do in class."
"Ooh, a fun date and a new research project?" Twilight dropped her fishing rod for a moment to hug her new lover. "You really know how to spoil a mare, huh?"
"Naturally," Discord said. His head suddenly turned towards the water. "Oh, I think I'm getting something too." He began reeling in his own glowing lure, and a similar process played out, his eyes glowing with the magic of memory before fading away. "Ah, Fluttershy did always make the most delightful cucumber sandwiches. I miss them."
"She gave me the recipe," Twilight said. "Maybe I can try to recreate them?" Before Discord could reply, she felt a tug on her rod. "Looks like it's my turn, now."
Her hoof began turning the handle as she drew her own lure upwards. Anticipation welled up in her heart as she watched the magical ball rise further and further until it finally made contact with the tip and—
"Happy birthday, Twilight!"
"Thanks, girls," Twilight said as she trotted into her private chambers in Canterlot Castle. There was already a cake waiting for her, being zealously guarded by Pinkie Pie holding a whisk.
"I trust the public celebrations went well?" Rarity asked as she pressed a kiss against Twilight's cheek.
"Yeah," Twilight replied, feeling the weight in her heart begin to lift. "Just tiring, is all. You know how it is."
"Don't I know it." The Wonderbolt jacket really did look nice on Rainbow Dash, though Twilight wondered if she really needed to wear it everywhere she went. The pegasus landed next to her and gave her a quick nuzzle. "At least now you can be with the cool ponies."
"Darn tootin'," Applejack chimed in, slapping Twilight across the withers.
"Alright, enough talking!" Pinkie exclaimed. "It's time for cake!"
There was a general chorus of agreement as Twilight stepped up to the table and stared at the candles on her cake.
"Remember to make a wish," Fluttershy said softly, and Twilight nearly jumped in surprise. She hadn't even noticed her before, but now her warm, calming presence was undeniable.
Twilight closed her eyes and blew out the candles. Everypony clapped.
She opened her eyes and picked up the cake knife, ready to divide it up into perfectly proportioned slices which Rainbow Dash and Applejack would still fight over out of some misguided belief that one was larger than the other.
Rarity would, of course, pick the slice she thought was the smallest, insisting that it was ruining her diet.
"So, what did you wish for?" Rainbow Dash asked as she stared hungrily at the cake.
"Land sakes, Dash," Applejack scolded. "She's not supposed to say, or else it won't come true."
"Aww." Dash pouted.
"Well, whatever it is, I hope your wish comes true," Fluttershy said, pressing herself close against Twilight.
Twilight gasped as she stared into the clear blue waters of the river Lethe once again. Her eyes were wet, tears staining her cheeks.
Immediately, her lovers were upon her.
"What's wrong?" Cadance asked, concern lacing her voice as she floated out a handkerchief towards her wife.
"Did you remember some dastardly thing that some villain did?" Discord chimed in as he wrapped an arm around his marefriend. "If so, I'll be happy to give them the ol' one-two." A pair of boxing gloves appeared on each of his horns.
Twilight shook her head. "It's not that." She sniffled. "I just remembered my first birthday party after the girls and I got engaged. There was a cake, and Fluttershy told me to make a wish before I blew out the candles, and I wished..." Another sniffle. "I wished that I could be with them forever."
"Oh, honey..." A hoof gently patted Twilight on the back as Cadance spoke. "I'm so sorry."
"I can't believe I forgot about that," Twilight said quietly. "It was dumb of me to wish for something that wasn't possible, but now I can't remember all the moments we had together."
"Maybe not," Cadance said, "but you still carry them in your heart."
"And even if they aren't here," Discord added, squeezing Twilight harder, "that doesn't mean we aren't feeling their effects today. The ponies we loved changed us, and that's the only reason we're together now." A familiar cutie mark floated in the air for a few moments before Discord dispelled the image. "A butterfly shows kindness to a mean old draconequus a few hundred years ago, and now we're sitting by the river, remembering all the good times we had with those we love."
"Even if you can't remember the exact details, the core of the love you shared still lives inside your heart." Cadance's smile was so painfully bright, and its light banished away some of the gloom dwelling in Twilight's heart.
"And if you really want to relive the good old days, we can always come back here. All we have to do is take the second star on the right, and straight on til morning!" Discord’s shadow suddenly rose up and tried to strangle him before being kicked back into submission and slithering back into inanimacy. "Wait, no, that's for something else." He shrugged. "Anyways, I'd be happy to draw you a map so you can get back here whenever you want."
Twilight chuckled. "I might even be able to read it this time."
An exaggerated pout formed on Discord lips. It was adorable. "I'll have you know that back in my day, all the kids knew how to read seven-dimensional star charts."
"Maybe you can teach me sometime," Twilight said.
"I'd love to." The worry returned to Discord's expression. "Are you feeling better, my dear?"
"I am. Thanks for the pep talk." Her heart still ached, but it was a good ache. A reminder that she still loved those who had long past, and would continue loving them long after the memories began to fade. That was what mattered, in the end.
"Anytime." With that, the three of them picked up their fishing rods again and cast out their lures.
Cadance was the first to get a bite, again. "Oh, you were so adorable when I kissed you in that restaurant on our first date in front of everypony!" she squealed in delight as she hugged Twilight and pressed a kiss against her cheek.
"You nearly gave me a heart attack when you grabbed me," Twilight choked out, her own memories returning naturally as Cadance threatened to squeeze the life out of her.
"I can't wait to make more memories with you," Cadance said as she released her.
"Me too," Twilight said.
"Me three!" Discord chimed in.
"Someone please remind me to get a sample of this water before we leave," Twilight said as Cadance cast out her lure again.
"Don't worry, if we forget, we'll just fish out the memory again." Cadance snickered. "After all, this is definitely a memory that'll be associated with love."