Several hours passed as the pair walked through the gardens, and before long, the sun began to set. As their shadows stretched across the ground, Twilight glanced towards the castle, where she could make out a familiar figure standing on the balcony of the tallest tower.
Twilight gazed at Princess Celestia, a small smile gracing her muzzle as she sat down to watch her mentor lower the sun.
"You love her, don't you?" Rainbow calmly asked, sitting down next to her.
"Yes, I do. But not in the same way that I love you." Twilight said, glancing over for a moment, before turning back to look at the castle. "She was my first friend, you know? I will always hold a special place for her in my heart. If it wasn't for her, I never would have met the cutest, fastest, and most daring pony ever anyways." She said, nudging Dash in the side.
"Yeah, if it wasn't for her, then I never would have met Pinkie." Dash glared at Twilight for a moment before breaking up in laughter.
"There's Princess Luna!" Rainbow exclaimed, pointing a hoof into the sky, where they could see the dark figure of Luna gliding through the air, a long star-filled mane flowing behind her as she landed next to her sister.
"We better head to the dining hall, then." Twilight said as Rainbow stretched her legs and jumped into the air.
As the pair entered the castle, Rainbow landed next to Twilight, brushing her with her wing. Twilight leaned against her, nuzzling the cyan pony’s neck, sending a shiver down her back. She impishly grinned at the pegasus before nipping her on the neck.
"Hey!" Dash yelped, and poked Twilight in the ribs, who squeaked in response. A large grin appeared on Dash's face as she unfurled her wings and slowly approached the stuttering and trembling mare.
"No, Da- Stop it-" She started laughing as Dash ran a feather over her rib cage, tickling the unicorn. "Please, mercy!" She screamed between laughs, as Rainbow needled and poked her ribs.
Laughter rang out through the hallway, not from the trembling unicorn, but from the two approaching alicorns. Dash looked up, grinning at the Princesses before bowing to them, finally letting Twilight stand, who was grinning ear to ear with a light blush on her cheeks.
"Hello Princesses." Twilight said, bowing to the two before her. She suddenly shrieked as a feather suddenly ran over her ribs once more, and shot an evil glare at Rainbow Dash, who pointed a hoof at Princess Luna. Twilight turned, and sure enough, Luna was levitating a feather beside Twilight, grinning at her reaction.
"We... I did not know you were ticklish, my dear Twilight." Luna laughed, as Twilight’s blush deepened. Twilight lowered her eyes to the floor, and mumbled something incoherently to herself.
Twilight trotted off, leaving the Princesses and Rainbow to follow her to the private dining hall.
"So, Rainbow Dash, we saw your sonic rainboom at the wedding. It was most... beautiful?" The princess said, searching for the right word. Ahead of her, Twilight slipped into the dining hall, a slight grin on her muzzle.
"Thank you Princess! I’ve only been able to do it three times." Rainbow grinned, her chest puffing out slightly. The trio stepped into the dining hall, still chatting to each other. As they sat around the small dining table, Rainbow glanced around the room.
"Wait... Where's Twilight? You… you don't think she's mad at me, do you?" Rainbow stammered, her ears falling as she started to look around desperately. She glanced under the table, and trotted to the door and glanced up and down the hallway.
"I doubt she's mad at you Rainbow Dash." Celestia said, her brow furrowed at her student's puzzling behavior. "Come, let us begin our meal and await her return." Celestia said, tapping her hoof against the table twice.
Behind her, several ponies entered the room, holding large trays of food, which were quickly deposited on the table. Rainbow walked back to the table and sat down. She looked at her food, then at the empty spot next to her.
"Um... Princess?" Rainbow said, looking toward Celestia. "If it's ok, I'd like to wait for Twilight.”
Celestia smiled at the pegasus before her, nodding as she regally chewed a salad that had been placed before her. Hearing something odd, her ears perked up as she glanced over at Luna, whose ears were cocked to a spot just behind the pegasus.
Rainbow looked down at her plate, and pushed the sandwich away from her with a hoof. She turned, gazing toward the door again, the itch to go find Twilight rising in her chest. Suddenly the plate in front of her bumped into her chest, causing her to glance at it. She looked up to the two princesses, who were watching the plate with surprise.
"Did you..." The pegasus trailed off as she watched as the plate slowly rose into the air. Rainbow glanced at the two alicorns before her, and after seeing no magic coming from either of them, she started looking around for Twilight.
"Twilight?" Rainbow said, looking around for her signature purple glow. She glanced under the table again, and started trotting around the room, looking for the mare.
The plate followed her every step of the way, and as Rainbow finished looking around the room, she felt a muzzle press into the back of her neck, lips slowly drifting across her fur. She shuddered slightly, and turned to look behind her, conveniently hiding the blush creeping on her face from the princesses.
"What in the hay is going on?!?” She cried, slapping her hooves over her eyes. She slowly lowered her hooves, and yelped in surprise as Twilight's face appeared out of thin air inches from her own. Twilight fell to the floor, snorting with laughter as Rainbow jumped into the air, her chest heaving. She glanced over at the Princesses, who were giggling behind their hooves.
"Nice one, Twi. How'd you do that?" Rainbow said, nervously drifting back to the ground beside her.
"Oh, it's an invisibility spell that I learned just a few days ago.” She trailed off, blushing as she remembered her first experience with it. She felt guilty about finding out about Rainbow's feelings for her like that, but at this point it didn't matter.
She grinned at Rainbow, and said, “I wasn't mad at you, I just thought I had to get you back for earlier!" She turned to the two other mares in the room. "Thank you both for not telling her I was in the room."
Rainbow turned to the two princesses, indignation on her face. "You knew she was in here?"
"Well… no, not at first," Celestia said, a grin on her face as she glanced at Luna, who shook her head with a grin. "We weren't sure until she used a levitation spell on that plate, but even then we did not know she was invisible, merely that she was somewhere in the room. That was an impressive bit of magic, Twilight." Luna nodded her head in agreement.
"Thank you Princess." Twilight blushed at their compliments.
"Please, call us by our names. There's no need for such formality between friends." Luna said, glancing at her sister for approval. She was met with a warm smile, agreement on her face.
"I must know; how did you hide your horn's glow?" She inquired, the thirst for knowledge on her face.
"I actually was unaware that my glow would not show up. I was hiding under the table when I cast the spell, and when it didn't cast a glow, I slipped out." The mare said, giggling.
"Um, Twi?" Rainbow said, glancing at the mare. "Can we eat now?" A deep growl rumbled from her stomach as she spoke.
"Oh yes, let's eat." She said, grinning as Rainbow dug in.
A comfortable silence fell over the four as they ate, no one wishing to speak with full mouths. After they had eaten their fair share, a conversation broke out about Twilight's studies and Rainbow's pursuit of joining the Wonderbolts. Eventually, the topic drifted closer to home, and Celestia asked her student about her budding relationship.
"So, how long have you and Rainbow been together?" Celestia asked, happiness evident on her face. Beside her, Luna frowned.
"Well, it is a recent development," Twilight said, smiling at the mare next to her as she grabbed Rainbow's hoof in hers. "We just became marefriends a few days ago, and this is actually our first date."
Rainbow smiled as Twilight acknowledged their relationship with words for the first time. She knew they were dating, but it set her heart a flutter to hear Twilight say it, especially to someone as important to her as her mentor.
"Well, congratulations on your new relationship! If I may be so bold... Are these new feelings, or have you been keeping secrets from me?" Celestia asked, grinning as her student blushed slightly. Beside her, Twilight felt Dash stiffen slightly. She kept a neutral expression on her face, but Twilight could tell she was just as curious as the princesses. Twilight cocked her head as Luna looked away from them, a deep frown on her face.
I'm not sure, honestly. I didn't know I liked her until..." She trailed off, staring at Luna until she returned the unicorn's gaze. "Is... Is everything alright Luna?" Luna sighed, her shoulders sinking as she lowered her head.
"I apologize if I seem... uncomfortable. I did not have the thousand years of change to get used to... same sex relationships as my sister did." Luna said, glancing at Celestia who was busying herself with her salad. "Back before... before I was banished. Same sex relationships were... uncommon to say the least. You were supposed to find a stallion and have children, just to make sure your family line would... live on." Luna said, a pleading tone in her voice.
"Please, Twilight. You must understand, I do not disagree with you and Dash being together, I support you completely. It's just... something I have to adapt to." Luna explained, a smile on her muzzle. "I am still trying to get used to the new things I find in this world around me." She beckoned with a hoof, motioning for Twilight to resume her story.
Twilight smiled, nodding at Luna's foreleg waving. "I understand Luna. Thank you. Anyways, she told me at a party the other day. Deep down, I think I've liked Rainbow since I got to see her do her second sonic rainboom, and I'm not sure if I told you Celestia, but the only reason I'm your student is due to Rainbow." She said, smiling as Rainbow and Celestia both gave her a confused look.
"When I was taking my entrance exam to get into your school, I was so nervous because I couldn't make Spike hatch. But suddenly a beautiful rainboom went off in the sky, and it startled me so much I lost control of my power. If it hadn't been for her, I never would have met Spike, or you, or any of my friends. I owe her my entire life." Twilight finished, turning to look at the mare sitting beside her.
Rainbow sniffled slightly, grinning at the unicorn before her. She felt affection rush through her and she pulled Twilight into a hug, grinning as she returned the embrace.
Twilight pulled back, giving the pegasus a concerned look. "Never think that I don't love you Rainbow. You mean the world to me, and you may not know it, but you are my first relationship of any kind, and I may not always know how to express my feelings. When we get back to Ponyville, I promise that I'll study up on it!
"You egghead…" Rainbow said, giggling at Twilight. "Love isn't something you study, it's something you just do!" Twilight cocked her head at her marefriend, before looking to Celestia and Luna who were nodding as well.
"She's right, Twilight. You can read all the books in the world and never know love. Love is something you feel and do without thinking." Celestia said, smiling as Twilight silently mulled over her words.
"Well, my little ponies, it is very late. Would you like to stay in your old room for the night, Twilight?" Celestia said, gazing out the window where the moon sat, full and beautiful, casting a silvery glow over the land.
Twilight shook her head, her mane flying. "I'm sorry Princess, but I actually have... other plans." She said with a smile and turned to Luna. "May I ask a favor of you, Luna?" She asked, stretching her hooves as she stood.
"Of course."
Twilight stepped up to Luna, and whispered her request into the princess’s ear. Twilight backed away, looking hopefully at the night princess, who was grinning at the mare as she nodded.
"I believe that can be arranged." With a farewell, Luna stepped out of the room, her hooves clacking against the marble floor into the distance.
Twilight turned to Celestia, who was trying to stifle a yawn behind her hoof.
"Thank you for dinner, Celestia. I was happy to catch up with you and Luna, and if you would excuse me and Rainbow, we will be heading to the sun tower." Twilight said, grinning at her teacher.
"Think nothing of it, Twilight Sparkle! I am always happy to see you, and I hope you have a fair trip home tonight." She hesitated, studying Twilight's face before speaking. "Before you go... I need to talk to you for a moment."
Twilight cocked her head at her mentor, before nodding. "Of course Princess."
Celestia turned, her tail swaying behind her as she walked to the other side of the small dinner hall, leaving Rainbow Dash alone to wait for her. "I am afraid, I have some grave news to tell you Twilight."
"Is everything alright?" Twilight said, glancing behind her at Dash worriedly.
Celestia nodded, nuzzling Twilight reassuringly. "We have reports from Ponyville, and several other towns that border the Everfree forest that changelings have been sighted on the edges of the forest." She lifted a hoof as Twilight gasped. "Now, as of yet, it is not a problem. I just wanted to let you know that... there is a chance that we will have to call on you and your friends once more." She said, gazing at the unicorn with a smile. "For now, just push it from your mind. Go and enjoy the rest of your night. By now, Luna should have your request waiting for you."
Twilight lifted an eyebrow as she smiled at Celestia. "How did you know?"
Celestia shot a coy smile at the mare, giggling as she turned toward the doors her sister had exited through a mere moment before. "Good night Twilight. Good night Rainbow Dash!" She called out, raising her voice so the pegasus could hear her parting message.
"Goodnight Princess." Rainbow said, bowing to the sun princess as she left the room. She turned to Twilight, a question on her lips. "What was that about?"
Twilight hesitated, knowing Dash would overreact to the news of the changelings. "She was just asking about my request from Luna. She's gonna meet us at the top of the Sun tower."
Dash cocked her head, giving the unicorn a sideways glance as they headed toward the dining hall doors. "Why are we going to the Sun tower? Especially at this time of night?"
Twilight smirked at her. "You'll see when we get there. Come on!" Twilight giggled as she galloped into the hallway, leaving a rainbow-maned pegasus behind her. Before Twilight was out of sight, she heard the sound of Rainbow flying beside her, a grin on her face. The pair came to the entrance of the tower, and began to climb the stairs. A few quiet minutes later, the pair stepped onto the balcony of the tallest tower in the castle, the beautiful night sky on display before them.
Twilight silently stood, her eyes roaming the night sky, leaning against her marefriend. Rainbow opened her mouth to ask why they were up here, when suddenly a bright light flashed before her eyes and she felt herself standing atop a cloud, with Twilight standing next to her.
Her horn glowed brightly and a gentle wind rose up, pushing the small cloud across the sky, away from Canterlot, and toward the distant lights that made up Ponyville. Rainbow was looking at her, surprise on her face.
"Did you ask Luna to make this cloud for us?" She said, understanding in her eyes.
"Yes. I was thinking about what you said earlier, and I wanted to have a chance alone with you to make this night special. I thought we could ride this home and talk." She said, scuffing the cloud with her hoof, not quite meeting Rainbow’s eyes. She yelped in surprise as Rainbow hugged her unexpectedly.
"That's really sweet, Twi! Come here." She laid down, patting the cloud next to her with a hoof as she stretched out a wing. As Twilight snuggled up to her, she laid her wing over the mare and pulled her close.
"Wow, you’re so warm Dash!" Twilight exclaimed, smiling as warmth flooded her body.
"Well, I have to be," She chuckled at Twilight's confused look. "I spend so much time flying high in the air, I'd freeze if I wasn't built to stay warm."
"Oh… good point." Twilight said, her eyes trailing to the sky above them. Rainbow gazed up, her eyes scanning the sky above them.
"I've always loved the night sky. It's amazing flying and having ponies cheer for you, but the solitude of the night has always called to me in a way I can't define. I practice my best tricks at night." Rainbow said, grinning at Twilight.
The pair dissolved into small talk for a few minutes, the light of Canterlot growing fainter in the background. Twilight grew silent, gazing at Dash as she nervously chewed on her lip.
"Twi?" Dash said, noticing Twilight's nervousness.
"I want to kiss you." Twilight abruptly said, a hoof reaching out and slowly stroking Rainbow's mane. Rainbow giggled at the mare beside her.
"We've already kissed at Pinkie's Party, remember?"
"That doesn't count because we were drunk. I want a real first kiss." Twilight said, growing closer to Rainbow with each word.
Their lips met in a passionate embrace, and Twilight pulled Dash closer to her. Twilight opened her lips hesitantly, tracing her tongue over Dash’s lips, which opened a second later. Rainbow ran a hoof down Twilight's back, melting into the kiss even more than their first drunken one. As the two kissed, fireworks exploded overhead, throwing warm glows of many different colors over them.
They pulled away as they ran out of breath, gazing lovingly into each other’s eyes.
Dash spoke first. "Rarity was right!" She said, giggling as Twilight looked at the mare beside her.
"About what?"
"Rarity said if you get a kiss from the one you love, you see fireworks! And she was right!" Rainbow said, waving a hoof at the fireworks exploding in the air.
"Wait a minute... I don't think she meant real fireworks..." Twilight trailed off as the pair looked over to see a familiar pink pony standing on a nearby cloud, holding dozens of fireworks as she struggled to light the next batch.
Pinkie looked up, a large grin on her face as she noticed the pair staring at her.
"SURPRISE!" she screamed, jumping up and down on her cloud.
"I felt a back itch, tail twitch, AND a throat cough! And everyone knows that means a first kiss! So I grabbed my First Kiss firework pack and came as soon as I could! You two look so cute together I can't believe it! Did you like the fireworks, most ponies do but I wasn't sure, and then when I saw ya'll looking at me I just decided to yell SURPRISE! Which I already did!" Pinkie said, somehow not breathing once throughout her entire speech.
"PINKIE!" Twilight screamed, cutting the ecstatic pony off before she could begin talking again.
"Yes, Twilight?" Pinkie asked as she bounced on the cloud like a trampoline.
"How did you get up here?" Twilight asked, an eye twitching as Rainbow collapsed in silent laughter.
"I'm not sure..." Pinkie said, freezing impossibly in mid-air, a hoof thoughtfully scratching her chin.
Twilight just glared at the pink pony before joining Rainbow Dash in laughter, with Pinkie Pie following seconds later.