//------------------------------//
// We Don't Fly Like We Used To 
// Story: Pegasi Pillow Talks 
// by Undome Tinwe 
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We Don't Fly Like We Used To









"And Zipp doubted us." Pipp smirked as she sat up in her bed, wrapping one foreleg around her lover as she held up her phone for a selfie.

"Gonna admit, I didn't think it'd be that easy." Sunny smiled as the camera flashed. "But your mom is really good at spinning a story."

"Hey, where do you think I learned it?" Tap, tap tap. Pipp navigated the interface of the app with practiced ease. "How's this for a caption? 'Me and the founder of the Lighthouse Initiative having a very special private afterparty!'"

Sunny tapped her hoof against her chin as she considered that. "Hmm, I like the plug, but I don't think the tone is quite right. I don't want Lighthouse to seem like some kind of exclusive club, y'know? It's supposed to be for everypony."

Pipp nodded, all business. "Good point. How about just 'Me and the prettiest founder of the Lighthouse Initiative chilling after a long day?'"

"Pipp!" Sunny picked up a nearby pillow and lightly smacked her marefriend with it.

Pipp laughed. "Alright, fine, I'll drop the prettiest part, even if it's true."

Sunny nodded. "That works."

Pipp typed up the message and sent it out to her followers. "And done. Ooh, a thousand likes already! Looks like I still got it!"

"Yeah, you do." Sunny leaned over to press a kiss against Pipp's cheek, only to freeze when she heard the camera click again. "Wait, are you sending that to your followers too?"

"It'll be great for both our numbers," Pipp pointed out.

"I guess," Sunny allowed. "But I kinda want to have some private moments with you, where I don't have to worry about who might be watching and what they might be thinking about us. I don't know how you can put every moment of your life on display."

"You get used to it after a while." Pipp shrugged, but put down her phone. "But if it makes you feel better, we can just be us. I totally wanna get a shot of us lying in bed later, though. Fans love the domestic stuff. Makes them feel closer to us, y'know?"

"That's kinda weird, but I guess I get it." Sunny pressed up against Pipp. "So many things are going to be different now."

"You can say that again," Pipp replied. "It's going to feel so weird being able to actually fly." She paused, and her usual confidence fell away for a moment, revealing a vulnerable side that Sunny was honoured to witness. "I— I did all of this for them, you know? That's what I told myself, anyway. It was a comfort to the ponies to think we could fly, and I was helping to give them that comfort by lying to them."

"Would you have done things differently?" Sunny asked.

"I— probably not." Pipp grimaced. "Does that make me a bad pony?"

"I think you really did think you were doing what was best," Sunny said quietly. "I don't agree with it, but your heart was in the right place."

Pipp laughed, a biting, ugly thing. "That's not good enough. One of the first lessons of being a leader is that results matter, not just intentions. If we hadn't gotten magic back it would've been anarchy in the streets after they found out."

"But we did get magic back," Sunny countered. "That's the result that matters, right? And now you can use your fame to help bring unity to all the pony races. That's a good intention that's gonna lead to a good result."

"I guess so." Pipp smiled. "Thanks for being here for me, Sunny. It really means a lot to have somepony I can really be myself with, you know?"

Sunny smiled back. "I totally get it. I'm so lucky to have you and Izzy in my life. The Lighthouse Initiative wouldn't be possible without both of you helping me. You're doing what a princess was always meant to do, helping bring ponies together."

"It's good to be able to do something that feels really right, this time," Pipp said. "I've always felt like a real princess, but this feels ever more like what I was meant to do, you know?"

"I think I do." Sunny smirked as she began nibbling at Pipp's neck. "And I know something else I wanna do right now that feels really right."

Pipp gasped as the trail of kisses made it down to her wings. "Sunny! You know I'm really sensitive there!"

Sunny lifted her head to stare at Pipp with smouldering eyes. "Oh, I know."

For the next few moments, the conversation was stalled by Pipp's constant giggling and gasping as Sunny revelled in the feel of her marefriend's wings. It was a moment of pure fun, not recorded or performed but genuine in every moment and movement.

Eventually, Sunny made it back to the top, and they shared a deep and passionate kiss. "I love you, Pipp Petals, and I think you're a great princess."

"I love you too, Sunny Starscout," Pipp replied. "When Zipp takes the crown, I'm probably gonna have to do all the public relations stuff, and I can't think of a better mare to help me than the one who united all three pony kinds."

"The future isn't gonna know what hit 'em," Sunny declared as they snuggled their way under the cover of the blankets. "I can't wait to see what we can all do. Together."

"Together." From... somewhere, Pipp brought out her phone, holding it up above them. "Smile!"

Sunny smiled, secure in the knowledge that their future would be bright.