Twilight yawned and stretched out in her bed, rolling over onto her back. Her forehooves settled to either side of her, finding the bed empty. She reluctantly opened her eyes and confirmed she was alone. Her bottom lip puckered in disappointment; Rainbow’s early mornings as of late were getting in the way of precious snuggle-time.
The lavender mare glanced at the clock and caught sight of the framed letter. She smiled despite herself; the peer-review acceptance letter for the Vim-Sparkle Leyline Mapping Method had arrived six months after their work had concluded and it had been her cyan mare that insisted on getting it framed. Twilight smiled and pulled herself out of the cloud bed, adjusting her locket that had long since been enchanted with a permanent cloud-walking spell.
After showering, she cantered down the stairs to what used to be her living quarters, but was now an entertainment space and personal library. She was surprised to find a certain pegasus sitting on her haunches at their shared desk staring at a book. The unicorn approached carefully; Rainbow’s expression was lined with deep thought. Wordlessly, she sidled up to her marefriend and regarded the book laid out on the desk. A sky blue wing extended and wrapped around her middle. “Hey there, beautiful.”
Twilight smiled and nuzzled Rainbow’s neck. “Hey yourself.” She rejoined her marefriend’s silent vigil over the tome. After a few minutes, she whispered into a blue ear, “…Why are we staring at a book?”
Rainbow chuckled. She lifted a hoof and opened the cover, revealing the hoof-written words. “Not just any book, Twi’. It’s my old journal.”
The unicorn nodded gravely. Leaning in she whispered again, “…Why are we staring at your old journal?” Rainbow only smiled. Still mouth to ear, Twilight shrugged and began to nibble gently. The tightening grasp of Rainbow’s wing and a throaty moan propelled her from base to tip. Rainbow’s slow moan resolved into husky chuckles and with a quick twist of her neck she caught lavender lips in her own. Their kiss slowly deepened and Twilight found herself being dipped backwards. She lost her balance and pin wheeled, hooves searching for purchase. Desperately, she grabbed her mare and the two toppled to the floor in helpless giggles. Rainbow’s journal thumped next to them. Twilight stared up at the cyan mare looming over her. She traced circles on Rainbow’s chest with her hooves. “So seriously, babe, what’s with the journal?”
Rainbow paused, caught in the middle of preparing to assault lavender neck. She glanced at the book and shrugged. “It caught my eye is all.” Her gaze returned to the much more welcome sight of her lover. “I got to thinkin’ about what I was like when we got together.” She leaned down and regarded purple eyes from inches away, her marefriend stealing a quick peck on her approach. “You’ve changed me, Twi’. I’m a better pony because of you.”
Twilight encircled the mare’s neck, hooves running through chromatic mane. She pulled her lover’s head to rest against her chest and fondly regarded the room around her. Her old bedroom, once so barren and utilitarian, was filled with personal touches. Posters adorned the walls and knickknacks lined all available surfaces. Chairs and pillows were set up everywhere, creating dozens of welcoming spaces for talking. The library, once the choice sleepover spot for all her friends simply due to size was now the favorite hangout spot for everyone. The room, the whole building, was lived-in and cozy. Twilight had spent her life living in suites, boarding rooms, and libraries. She now had a home. “…You’ve changed me too, Rainbow.” She stroked her lover’s mane. “So are you all squared away with your past now?”
“Nah.” Rainbow leaned up to catch the unicorn’s eyes and smirked. “Never gonna get over all of it. I’ll probably always be arrogant sometimes, an’ nothin’s gonna change my past. But ya know what?” She leaned up and in, muzzle to muzzle with her marefriend. “Doesn’t matter.”
Twilight turned her head slightly and kissed her lover. The book lay forgotten under the desk. Some weeks later while picking up, Twilight found it again and set it next to Rainbow’s dresser. The pegasus stuffed it in a drawer.
Twilight stared into her mirror, brushing out her mane. The early summer sun streamed through her window, dust motes dancing in its beams. She watched them from the mirror, trying to still her thundering chest. She checked the vanity drawer for the tenth time that morning and sighed deeply. She left the bathroom and began to pace her old bedroom. Her nervous wandering paused when the sound of rustling drifted down from the upper living room. The gentle press of hooves on cloud stairs brought her over to the spiral stairway. She greeted the sky blue pegasus’ smile with one of her own.
“Hey Twi’.” The mare stepped off the staircase and pulled Twilight into a gentle kiss. “Happy anniversary.”
Twilight smiled warmly. She wrapped her hooves around the mare of her dreams and pulled her close. “I can hardly believe it’s been two years already, Rainbow.” Rainbow chuckled and returned the embrace, hooves lingering on her lavender back. “So what have you planned today, Miss I-Can-Plan-An-Anniversary-Just-As-Well-As-You?”
Rainbow gasped dramatically, raising a hoof to her mouth and leaning back. “Hey, I plan stuff all the time. Aside from being the fastest, I’m the most romantic pony in Equestria, too.” She puffed out her chest and waggled her eyebrows.
Twilight giggled and lightly struck her mare’s shoulder with a hoof. “Fair enough, Miss-Most-Romantic. So what’re we doing?”
The pegasus turned and bounced toward the stairs down into the library’s common room, her flank swinging playfully back and forth as she called in sing-song over her shoulder. “It’s a surpriiii~se!” Twilight sighed in mock-frustration and began to follow, pausing just before the stairs.
“Err, just a minute, gotta grab something.” She hurried back to her vanity and encircled a saddlebag in violet energy. The vanity’s drawer slid open and the unicorn hurriedly stuffed something inside her floating bag, eyes darting over her shoulder. Rainbow was still downstairs. Taking calming breaths, the mare set her bag over her middle and bounced in place to work off some of her fidgety energy. She watched herself in the mirror. ’That eye twitch isn’t good.’ An annoyed grunt from downstairs brought her hurrying down to meet the hoof-tapping pegasus.
“Geez, your saddlebag?” Twilight shrugged noncommittally. Her marefriend rolled her eyes and smirked, leading them out of the library. Twilight locked up behind them and took several more steadying breaths. She thought she’d finally gotten a handle on herself as she turned back to face her marefriend. Rainbow took the lead. The unicorn stayed half a step behind and to the left of the cantering pegasus as they walked through a surprisingly empty town. They passed by their usual hang-out and date spots and when they reached the edge of downtown Twilight realized Rainbow had led her in a weaving pattern to keep their destination hidden.
Twilight watched the town fall away to their sides. They wound through the hoof-beaten path into the trees. There weren’t many other options of destination left. “So we’re going to Applejack’s?”
“Maybe.” Rainbow waggled her eyebrows again. Twilight smirked and shook her head.
“Of course we’re going to Applejack’s. There’s nothing else in this direction.” Her mare pulled a hoof across her mouth, indicating her lips were zipped. The unicorn shoulder-checked her marefriend, giggling. Rainbow leapt into the air and hovered upside down. She stuck her tongue out. Twilight blew a raspberry. The pegasus performed a half barrel-roll shoulder-check that knocked Twilight off the path. Giggling madly, she chased her flying attacker along the path, half-hearted tackle attempts making the flying mare dart back and forth through the air.
The two inevitably found their way to Sweet Apple Acres. Rainbow flew straight for the barn. “Gee, babe, I wonder who or what could be in the barn?” Twilight’s face was stuck in a grin that wouldn’t abate no matter how hard she tried to look astonished. The barn door swung open.
“SURPRISE!” The entirety of Ponyville was crammed into the barn. No less than five party cannons erupted, covering the picnic tables outside with tablecloths and place-settings. A banner unfurled over the barn doors proclaiming “Happy Anniversary to Ponyville’s Bestest Couple.” Twilight’s gasp fooled no one.
Rainbow swooped back down to the ground, ending in a flip that set her next to the lavender unicorn. Twilight grinned and poked Rainbow’s nose with an accusatory hoof. “I thought you said you planned today?”
“I did!” the mare scoffed, “I planned it by telling Pinkie to plan a surprise party.” Twilight giggled helplessly and turned to face the oncoming rush of well-wishers. After her neck was sore from nodding and her hoof was numb from shaking, she joined her partner at the head of a table filled with her best friends.
“Okie dokie everypony, let’s get this party started!” Pinkie Pie signaled DJ-Pon3 with a flourish and music pumped out of the barn. The pink mare zipped from table to table laying out large platters of sweets, cakes, and pies before taking her seat with her friends. The food was delicious. Pinkie regaled the table with a story about babysitting for the Cakes that left everyone gasping for breath, clutching their sides. Rarity and Applejack reminisced about one of the more raucous trips to Canterlot the group had been on while Twilight was working there. When the Guests of Honor fell into a conversation about an exciting adventure series that had just started, Applejack teased her sport rival about how much time she spent cooped up in the library. The two athletes fell into a spirited contest of hoof-wrestling, that drew spectators and challengers from other tables.
While Rainbow winced and rubbed her aching shoulder, Fluttershy asked about Cloudy Moon, sending the pegasus into an excited tale about her good friend’s recent pregnancy. The afternoon whiled away with Twilight basking in the warmth of their company. It was not an intimate anniversary party, but there was nowhere she’d rather be. When seconds were finished and thirds refused, the bouncing earth pony grabbed the couple by their necks and led them to an erected podium.
“SPEECH!” The crowd chanted. Rainbow chuckled and raised her forehooves for silence.
“Well, thanks for coming everypony. It means a lot to have so many friends be here for us.” Rainbow’s smile glowed. “This town is the most awesome place in Equestria and I wouldn’t wanna be anywhere else.” A smattering of hoof-stomping broke out. The sky blue mare wrapped a hoof around Twilight and pulled her close. “This pony here is the best thing that’s ever happened to me. It, uh, it really means so much to see all of you so happy for us…” She trailed off, a bit too much emotion bubbling to the surface for her taste. She swallowed thickly and blinked to clear her eyes. “I mean that. I’ve not always been the easiest pony to be around, but you all have stuck by me…It’s, uh, it’s really great to have a home and a family like all of you.” Her throat starting to hitch, she turned to her unicorn. “You have anything you’d like to say, Twi’?”
“Erm, yes.” The lavender mare bit her lip, fidgeting from hoof to hoof. Her eyes darted around the crowd. She cleared her throat. “It means a lot to me, too. Ever since I came to Ponyville, I’ve met so many wonderful ponies and made so many friends.” She paused fiddling with the podium. Her eyes continued to dart around, not settling on anything. “Before I came here, I didn’t have any friends, but here I’ve found so many ponies who I can treasure.”
The unicorn took a deep breath and she turned towards Rainbow. Her nerves receded. “I found you to treasure, Rainbow. Every day with you has been a gift.” She stepped forward and gave her mare a soft kiss. A few catcalls from the audience were quickly shushed. “Every kiss feels like a first kiss…” The two shared a long gaze. “Every day is the start to a grand adventure. I don’t know what the future holds, but I know I want you there with me. Every step of the way.” Twilight’s nerves re-descended on her like a blanket. She glanced away, her gaze refusing to stop darting around. She took several deep breaths and a step back from the pegasus. A quick, terrified glimpse at the audience crossed her face before she turned back to her confused mare. The lavender unicorn sat on her haunches as a velvet box floated from her saddlebag. Hovering in midair between the two, it opened to reveal a golden band the bore of a hoof, inset with a sparkling diamond. Rainbow’s eyes darted between the glint of the stone and the glint of hope in her marefriend’s eyes.
Princess Celestia sat on her throne, working through the large stack of decrees her advisor hovered in front of her. She stifled a yawn. A flash of green fire pulled her out of the administrative daze she had settled into. The princess grasped the scroll in her magical grip. She unfurled it to read the contents, joy lighting her regal features.
Princess Celestia,
She said yes!
Twilight Sparkle
The lavender mare lounged on her cloud couch, idly reading a piece of correspondence. The jargon was starting to give her a headache. She was saved by the gentle sound of hooves on cloud; she set the letter down and opened the puffy white door in a violet glow.
The sky blue pegasus cantered in and sat heavily next to Twilight on the couch, pulling the cowl of her Wonderbolt uniform off of her face. She breathed a sigh of relief. “Gosh this thing’s hot. How ya doin’ babe?”
Twilight wrinkled her muzzle in distaste at the letter. “Got another consult offer. This time for a company that wants to tap leylines to power long-distance teleportation hubs.”
Rainbow shook her head vigorously, her mane sticking out in sworls and spikes. “That sounds like fun, I guess.”
“It’s not.” She prodded the letter with a hoof. “It’s just like the floating bumper cars. The leyline tapping will take five minutes, they’re gonna spend six or seven months arguing about interface coupling and decoding; it’ll work the same way it always works which will be exactly what I say at the start of it.” She rubbed her eyes and turned to her wife. Rainbow’s head was twisted around her back. The zipper to her uniform grasped tightly in her teeth, she struggled to pull it down, one or both wings insisting on getting in the way. As she worked her forelegs waved impotently in the air in front of her. The unicorn failed to stifle a snort. “I’m sorry, let me get that.” The zipper glowed dark purple and flew down the pegasus’ back. The extremely tight uniform violently sprung off her frame, flying into the air and catching on the ceiling fan.
“Oh, thank Celestia.” Rainbow sighed in relief and stretched out her back. Her coat was covered in cowlicks and matted patches. Twilight levitated a towel over from the closet to her mare. After drying off, she slumped back onto the couch. The unicorn smiled and scooted over next to her wife. She put a hoof on each sky blue shoulder and began to work the taut muscles in circles. The mare moaned and sunk face-first into the couch. Twilight climbed up and put her weight into the massage, going down her wife’s shapely back and focusing on the stiff, powerful wing muscles. Rainbow groaned, her wings jutting out at obtuse angles. “You are so amazing at that, babe.” The lavender mare grinned. “So that teleport thing, ya gonna do it?”
“Yeah, I suppose I will. The money’s always nice from those.”
Rainbow snorted. “Hey, we’ve got plenty in savings from your other work, and it’s not like this Wonderbolts gig is for charity. If you don’t wanna, you don’t haveta.” Twilight finished up on her wife’s wings and the pegasus sat up. She slung a hoof around the unicorn’s neck, but looked away, her face shadowed with thought. She mumbled indistinctly.
Twilight leaned her head on a blue shoulder. “What was that?”
Rainbow shook her head. “Just thinkin’ aloud.” The pegasus’ gaze had settled on the mantelpiece. A photo adorned the spot; Rainbow Dash giving a ponyback ride to a four year old Shimmer Shine, Cloudy Moon’s daughter and the cyan mare’s godfoal. A soft smile graced Rainbow’s lips. She turned to her wife, a sharp, measured look in her eyes. “You ever thought about us…havin’ a foal?”
Twilight blinked slowly. A grin spread across her lavender face. “As a matter of fact, I kinda have.” Rainbow’s eyes danced. “I’ve been doing some research and—” the pegasus sighed and flopped back on the couch, eyes piercing. “Don’t give me that look! Listen, we can either adopt, or we can have our own.” A blue eyebrow went up. “See, there’s a spell for mares like us…”
“Hey, babe?” Twilight whispered, standing over the basinet. Orion Bolt slept peacefully, a dusky blue hoof in his mouth.
“Yeah, Twi’?” Rainbow stroked her hoof along the infant’s back, careful not to disturb his tiny wings.
“…Do you ever have regrets? Wish things happened differently?”
“Never.” She leaned down and kissed the baby’s cheek. The two mares stepped carefully out of the room, a sky blue wing wrapping around a lavender middle, two tails entwined as one.
“Me neither.”
Author’s Note: And that’s a wrap. Thank you everyone who has read, favorited, thumbs upped, and commented. Everyone has been great and very supportive of this silly little fluff piece. Your kind words and well-wishes have spurred me on to a new project. My next fic will be quite a bit more ambitious than this one. It will still be Twidash (because I’m obsessed), but will be a story of much grander scope. I hope everyone here will keep an eye out for it; the journey through this fic would not have been half as pleasant without all of you. I told you this story to get the courage to tell you the next one. :D
Doctors Note: He thinks that’s deep.
I tried to change that comment and got my editing privileges taken.- Ech.
Bats: As deep as a puddle.