//------------------------------// // Epilogue // Story: Egghead and Featherbrain // by TheLastBrunnenG //------------------------------// “No! I can’t let you go! It’s too far down, you’ll never make it!” Iris Bolt’s grand wings strained to hold their falling altitude as her powerful muscles strained against the weight of the unicorn in her arms. Sunset Glitter shook her head, her mane streaming behind her in the wind. “It’s okay, Iris. Let me go!” She struggled to push away from the pegasus against whom she was clasped, chest to chest, hearts pounding in time together. “I can do it, I know I can.” Iris’ eyes were wide and watery, the rapidly approaching ground below reflected in their magenta majesty. “I let you go too many times already, Sunset. Each time I came so close losing you, too close, and I can’t take that chance again. Sunset, I…” The roar of wind was silenced and the terror of deadly impact receded as the pegasus’ words were cut off by the press of warm lips. Descent turned into glide and mere seconds felt like long minutes to the two ponies. “Iris, “ said the young unicorn breathlessly, “I love you. I have since the moment we met. I trust you, I believe in you, and I’m absolutely head over hooves in love with you. And if you trust me, Iris Bolt, if you believe in me, if you love me too, then let me go.” The pegasus stared down at her opposite for long moments. Shutting her eyes tight against tears, truth, and sure disaster, she flung her arms wide. She felt a great weight fall from her chest as the rush of cold wind replaced warm fur, and her wings beat furiously as her desperate dive became a sudden hover. Seconds, minutes, maybe hours later, her eyes remained sealed against the harsh truth of what and who she’d let go. Tears streamed down her muzzle, falling like rain into the dizzying world below. No sound pierced her willing darkness, just a gentle breeze and the flutter of near-silent wings. There was no wailing scream fading in the distance, no sickening thud from far below, only the sweep of wings. Wings, she thought – I’ve never heard my own wings before. Hoping against hope, she forced her eyes open. Blinding light forced her to shield her eyes with a raised hoof. Iris felt something lift her arm, and she found herself hovering hoof in hoof with Sunset Glitter, a pair of sparkling lavender wings formed of evening dew and sunbeams holding the smiling unicorn aloft. “Sunset,” the pegasus stammered, “You’re alive! You’re really alive… I… I’ve never seen anypony so beautiful. Sunset Glitter, I love you!” Glowing wings sweeping gently in the evening air and muzzle streaked with tears, the unicorn held tightly to her lover’s hoof. “Iris Bolt,” she whispered, “will you fly with me?” THE END ~~~~~ “Oh sweet Celestia, that took forever!” Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes and unceremoniously dropped her dog-eared and spine-broken copy of Wonderbolt and Wizardess 5: Winds of the Heart. “I can see how Rarity might enjoy a bunch of horseapple nonsense like this,” at which she did her best exaggerated gagging impression, “but I can’t believe Fluttershy actually writes these.” Twilight giggled and gently closed her own pristine copy. “Shy probably has more bits saved up from her published novels than all the rest of us combined. She has to pay for all that birdseed and otter food somehow, you know.” Dash let out a groan. “Yeah, but how does she come up with this bunk? I mean, really, Iris Bolt and Sunset Glitter? Must’ve picked those names out of a hat.” The purple mare looked down at the slim novelette, running her hoof over the cover’s tastefully lascivious illustration. “Oh, I don’t know,” she mused, “Fluttershy can be pretty observant.” “Yeah, okay, whatever.” The pegasus stood up off her cushion by the flickering fireplace, stretching her muscled legs and flaring her race-trained wings. “I know the next Daring Do won’t be out for a while, but for our next little date, can we maybe, ya know, re-read the last one again instead of reading some totally lame romance junk like this?” Lost in thought, the unicorn muttered half to herself. “Date…” she whispered. “If you love me too, then let me go.” “Gotta run, Twi.” Trotting up the few steps to the Library’s upstairs balcony, Rainbow stifled a yawn and added, “There’s a bed made of cirrus clouds calling my name. See ya!” She leapt over the railing and launched herself into the dark evening sky. Seconds later she winced and wheeled around in midair as a bright flash from behind threatened to ruin her night vision. Her eyes took a few long moments to adjust, and they held wide at what she saw. There, suspended on sweeping lavender wings made of gossamer and morning dew, hovered Twilight Sparkle, one hoof held out toward Dash. “Rainbow Dash,” she whispered, “will you fly with me?”