//------------------------------// // Rekindling... // Story: Princess Charming // by Petalled //------------------------------// ‘’Goodbye, my darling!’’ Rarity stood under the frame of the door of her boutique, giving a goodbye kiss to her new marefriend before waving to her as she started trotting away. ‘’Bye,’’ Twilight said in return, giggling before skipping her away under the twinkling stars above like a foal. However, her heart was suddenly beating rapidly in her chest as if she didn’t want to leave the unicorn. Trying to make up an excuse to stay over, she halted in her tracks when she was just a few hooves away from the boutique and the unicorn. She glanced at the darkness surrounding her. ‘’Um,’’ she began, ‘’is it okay if I sleepover for the night?’’ Intentionally forgetting the fact that she could fly or use her magic to light the way, she felt as if there was no energy too if her steps were feeling heavier and heavier, and her wings were feeling lightweight. A wide devilish grin marred the unicorn’s face as the alicorn teleported in front of her, touching her marefriend’s chest as she brought her back inside her home. Her lips were tightly pressed against the alicorn’s as she backed her up against a wall. She pulled away for a brief moment for the two of them to breathe, brushing back the bangs of the alicorn with a hoof and examining the pretty face she was observing in front of her. ‘’You’re beautiful,’’ Rarity whispered, having the alicorn nuzzle into her neck. ‘’So are you,’’ she murmured, then pulled away. ‘’What would Spike think of this, Rarity?’’ Rarity frowned, brushing back the bangs of the alicorn again. ‘’I don’t know, darling. I don’t know.’’ Twilight, too, frowned. ‘’Well, that’s unconvincing.’’ The unicorn rolled her eyes playfully but smiled goodnaturedly, nudging her marefrend softly in the shoulder. The alicorn tried suppressing her frowns. ‘’I... should go.’’ ‘’What, why?’’ Rarity asked, suddenly alert. ‘’It’s dark and besides, we didn’t have that much fun yet.’’ A smirk graced the unicorn’s lips. Twilight slid away from her marefriend’s grasp and gave a quick peck on the lips before putting on a cloak that belonged to the unicorn on her back, making her way towards the door. ‘’I can teleport,’’ she said, smiling. ‘’Don’t worry about me.’’ Rarity sighed contentedly, trotting over and tucking the cloak on the alicorn. ‘’Very well, then. I’ll be coming to Canterlot tomorrow morning for my daily boutique checkup over there and then I’ll come to you.’’ ‘’Or,’’ the other suggested, grinning from ear to ear. ‘’You can come with me right now.’’ Rolling her eyes, she said, ‘’should I?’’ The alicorn shrugged. ‘’I don’t mind, only if you want to I mean.’’ Rarity thought about it for a second before caressing her marefriend’s cheek. ‘’Dahling,’’ she pronounced. ‘’I’m flattered, but I don’t think I should.’’ ‘’Why not?’’ she asked, a little disappointed. The unicorn smiled plainly. ‘’What if someone catches us and tells Spike?’’ ‘’Oh, don’t worry about that,’’ she said, waving it off. ‘’I’ll just do a spell and—’’ ‘’Darling, please,’’ Rarity said, smiling rather plaintively. Twilight sighed in defeat. ‘’Oh, all right.’’ The unicorn softly smiled, lifting up the chin of the alicorn. ‘’Chin up, darling.’’ Nodding, the alicorn turned around to face the starry night sky and ignited up her horn with a soft glow of magenta to teleport within a flash of light. Rarity sighed wistfully. ‘’Good night.'' The next morning, Twilight’s eyes fluttered open as she laid on top of her bed in the old chambers of her mentor. As she checked the alarm clock that Applejack had given to her, she wondered why the sun hadn’t been brought back up at this time of day until she reminded herself that she was now supposed to do that. ‘’Crap,’’ she muttered, teleporting away from her bed and near her windows, putting the curtains all on one side before powering up her horn in a similar fashion to her mentor. She began to wheeze, squeal, croak, and then finally let out the breath that she had been holding as well as letting a giant yellow orb in front of her raise high up into the sky, almost blinding her. Twilight smiled, cheering inwardly on her achievements before trotting back to her bed. She felt the soft texture of the blanket she once was covered in during the night, took another deep breath and trotted out the door to begin her new day ahead and to wake up her royal ambassador. As she trotted through the hallways of the castle, she was met by a castle guard that she had begun to know deeper during the past few days of her reign. ‘’Good morning, Princess Twilight,’’ said the guard, bowing respectfully. ‘’Shall I get Raven Inkwell to start your royal duties or...?’’ ‘’Actually, Flash, will it be okay if I start a little bit late today?’’ Twilight suddenly asked, quite unexpected of her to start late on tasks, projects, and others else. Flash Sentry blinked a few times before straightening himself back up again. ‘’Yes, of course, your highness.’’ And with that, he resumed his trotting. Twilight sighed and had also gone back with her trotting, later standing in front of a door before pushing it in to allow herself to enter inside, revealing a dark room with snores being heard. ‘’Spike?’’ Said Spike was on his bed, repeatedly flipping sides to gather the cold side of his pillow and trying to sleep. Soon he sat upright and saw the alicorn standing in the doorway, approaching nearer towards him. He turned himself away again. ‘’What do you want?’’ Twilight knitted her eyebrows together in surprise. ‘’Are you okay?’’ Spike turned back to her in a deadpan, annoyance stinging the alicorn. ‘’Do I look okay after just playing tonsil hockey with my crush that you knew I liked ever since, well, forever!’’ Twilight stepped back. That was straightforward of him. He sighed inwardly. C’mon. Let’s get this over with already. ‘’Spike, I—’’ she stammered, biting her lip. ‘’That wasn’t, I didn’t—’’ ‘’You didn’t what, huh?’’ Spike asked, raising an eyebrow and crossing his arms. ‘’Spike, I... didn’t mean to. I’m sorry. I didn’t want you to see and—’’ ‘’Well, it’s a good thing I did,’’ said the dragon. ‘’Or else I would have completely made myself into a fool if I tried making an act on Rarity later on.’’ ‘’Spike...’’ There was no use in backing out. He knew and it broke Twilight to think that he would ever forgive her. After years of telling him that he is too young to date his crush, she completely and utterly betrayed his trust which is ten times worse. ‘’Oh, please,’’ he snarled, turning away. ‘’Don’t even dare. You hurt me, Twilight, or should I say princess.’’ Twilight’s lips quivered out of misery. Her heart was hurting. She just wanted to get this over with. When Spike went to sulk in the corner of the room, the alicorn felt like it was no use to go after him if she knew she would only get brushed away by him. He tried wiping back his tears but it was so, so very hard. Knowing how his crush is taken. Knowing how his sister is the one with the crush. Knowing how his sister betrayed him. However, Spike sniffed for the final time and straightened himself up, walking over back to the alicorn, two solicitous eyes looking into one another. Twilight ducked her head in shame. ‘’I’m sorry.’’ ‘’As you should but,’’ Spike said, biting his lip, ‘’I am really mad at you for doing what you did, for betraying your brother, but I also realized that there is no way that I can be able to hate you for the rest of my life because you’re my family, my life companion, and without you I’m nothing.’’ ‘’I don’t mean that without Rarity the world is over, but...’’ He sighed. ‘’It’s different with me and you falling apart. We’ve been there for each other from the start and will be to the end. I don’t wanna ever leave you, Twi.’’ Twilight’s eyes welled up with tears, feeling the remorse, the sympathy... If only she hadn’t done that to him. She truly had regretted that. ‘’You’re a good dragon, Spike,’’ said Twilight, smiling at him as she cupped his chin to meet his gaze. ‘’I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have done that. Maybe Rarity and I should call it quits.’’ Spike shook his head. ‘’I’m fine, Twi. You and Rarity should continue what you guys were doing. I should be happy for ya and I am.’’ Twilight’s breath was caught in her throat and felt the urge to bring him into a heartfelt hug. ‘’Oh, Spike. You’ve really grown.’’ ‘’All because of you, Twi,’’ Spike murmured softly, chuckling as he felt the coat of his sister. They broke apart for a moment, wiping their tears away. ‘’So, uh...’’ Twilight chuckled. ‘’What now?’’ Spike grinned. ‘’I haven’t told ya that I now have Gabby as my girlfriend.’’ ‘’Really?’’ She smiled. ‘’That’s great, Spike. That’s really great. Hey, how about we talk more about it over breakfast. I sure am starving and waiting to hear all about it.’’ He nodded. ‘’Sounds good, Twi.’’