Several weeks later, Twilight and I were still together, although I was worried about how the residents of Ponyville would react to the news of our relationship. After all, how would you react if your friend and neighbour suddenly announced that she's fallen for the guy who appeared in town only a few months ago?
The sheer speed at which our love had grown was my primary concern. Would everypony think that I was forcing Twilight to love me? Would they think that I was using some kind of ancient and forbidden magic to control her mind? These thoughts, and several more like them, clouded my mind for those first few weeks.
Of course, I forgot one very important thing: I lived in the most welcoming town imaginable. My doubts were shattered when Pinkie Pie threw a 'Congratulations To Geo And Twilight On Getting Together' party and invited the whole town. Everypony who came shook my hand and wished us both all the best.
Even Celestia and Luna came to the party; of all the ponies in Equestria, it was their approval I sought the most. After all, its not every day your most promising student and friend announces she's fallen in love with an alien from another world.
As both Princesses approached us, I found that I had become paralysed with fear. Twilight nuzzled me as I ran my hand through her mane, which – as usual – was nice and soft. The feeling was enough to calm my nerves, albeit by a small amount.
"Oh, Geo," Twilight said gently. "You do realise that if the Princesses were angry with you, they'd be showing it?"
"Yes, Twilight, I do," I said tensely. "But, for all I know, this could just be the peaceful calm before the terrifying storm."
Twilight giggled as Celestia and Luna both strode up to us.
"Geo, Twilight," Luna said. "Lovely day for a party, is it not?"
"Hello, Princess Celestia, Princess Luna," Twilight replied. "It is a lovely day for a party; we're both glad you could make it."
"It's always a pleasure, Your Majesties," I said, feeling the cold sweat collecting on my forehead. If either of them are going to do anything, I wish they'd hurry up and get it over with.
"We heard the news," Celestia said. "About you two, I mean." The tone of her voice was neutral, so I couldn't tell what she was about to do. "And we only have one thing to say about it." With that, she and Luna raised a forehoof each.
Great, I thought. They're going to smack me upside the head. I closed my eyes and bracing myself for the blow — which never came. I opened my eyes to see that Celestia was holding a drink, and that Luna was giving me a strange look.
"A toast," Celestia announced loudly. "To Geo and Twilight. May they find everlasting happiness together."
There was a chorus of "Geo and Twilight!" and everypony raised their glass to us as both Princesses leaned closer to me.
"All we want is for Twilight to be happy," Luna whispered. "You are quite clearly a perfect match for her, so treat her well, Geo."
"I will, Princesses," I whispered back. "I'll do anything to see her smile, come hell or high water."
Celestia and Luna grinned then trotted away to mingle with the other guests, leaving Twilight and I in the middle of the room. As soon as they were out of sight I let out a sigh of relief and scooped up Twilight for a hug, which made her squeal in delight. "For a moment there, I honestly thought that I was going to be taking a one-way trip to the moon," I said quietly.
"Oh, relax," Twilight soothed. "As I said, if they were angry with you then they would have made their feelings quite clear."
I smiled and gave her a peck on the cheek before putting her down. "You're right," I replied. "I shouldn't have doubted you, or the Princesses for that matter. Sorry."
Twilight gently punched my side. "Don't worry about it," she said. "It's all in the past — but regarding the present... we are at a Pinkie Pie party, and you've got a face like a wet weekend. So let's see what we can do about, as Pinkie would say, turning that frown upside down!" She took a hold of my hand as she spoke, and then we went to mingle.
***
It goes without saying that Twilight's parents were at the party as well, their approval being something else that I was eager to get.
"I saw this coming a mile away," Velvet said smugly. "When I saw how the two of you acted around each other while Geo was in hospital, I knew that it was only a matter of time before you fell in love." She turned to her husband. "Right, dear?"
Night Light sighed. "Yes, honey." he leaned in closer to Twilight and I. "Your mother has been going on about the possibility of you two getting together for a while now; she's been driving me crazy."
Velvet batted him with a forehoof. "I heard that," she said. "Anyway, the two of you must come up to the house for dinner at some point. Also, Twilight..." She giggled. "Does this mean I can look forward to becoming a grandma soon?"
"Mom!" Twilight's face turned bright red, and her ears lay flat against her head. "It's a bit early in our relationship to be thinking about foals!" She thought for a moment. "Then again, I don't even know if it would be possible for a human and a pony to conceive."
I shrugged. "Let's not think about it right now," I replied. "Twilight is right though, Velvet, it is a bit early to be thinking of children."
Velvet pouted. "A mare can still dream, though," she said. "Oh, well, I'm sure you'll talk about it when you're ready. Now, if you'll excuse us, I can see a cake stand with my name on it."
She and Night Light both bade us farewell, leaving us free to continue mingling with the other party guests.
***
The rest of Twilight's friends were just as surprised as everypony else in town about our relationship; thankfully they were welcoming of the idea, and came over to offer their congratulations.
"How do you like the party?" Pinkie Pie asked. "Hey, you should totally get married now and let me do the wedding!" She put her forehooves together pleadingly. "Oh, please, please, please get married, because I really want to cater for another wedding! I had so much fun at Princess Cadence and Shining Armour's wedding... well, except for when the Changelings attacked of course."
"Two things, Pinkie," I replied. "One, the party is great – just like it always is – and two, what the fuck is a Changeling?"
"They're like ponies," Pinkie replied. "Except they look like giant bugs and they can make themselves look like anypony, because they feed off love. A whole army of them tried crashing Twilight's brother's wedding a few months back, but it didn't work out."
I raised an eyebrow.
"Trust me, pardner," Applejack interjected. "Ya don't wanna know. All ya really need ta know is that we sent those critters packin'."
"Yeah," Rainbow Dash added. "It was awesome. We kicked so much flank that day it was unreal. Best wedding day ever!" She pumped the air with a hoof as she spoke.
"Right," I replied. "I'll take your word for it, and hope that I never meet one of those things. Now, if I could be so bold and change the subject, what do you think of Twilight and I being together?"
"It's wonderful," Rarity said. "You two seem like such the perfect couple. In fact, it's like you were made for each other."
"Fate is a funny thing," I retorted. "I wasn't getting anywhere in my own world, both socially and romantically, so I was brought here... where I found both friends and love."
"It's really sweet that the two of you have each other." Fluttershy cast a forlorn glance out of the window and sighed wistfully. "I wonder if there's somepony out there for me?"
"There is somepony out there for all of you," I replied, waving my hand across the room. "I'm pretty confident that, sooner or later, all of you will become prisoners of love. And when you do, you will appreciate it just as much as we do. Right, Twi?"
"Indeed," she nodded. "Don't worry, girls, I'm sure you'll all find a special somepony sooner or later. Try not to give up the search."
"Could we please change the subject again?" Dash said grimly. "All of this romance stuff is getting... sappy."
"What's the matter, Dash?" I asked her. "Afraid that you won't find somepony to ignite that spark within you?" Dash waved her hoof dismissively. "I'm no expert, nor do I claim the ability to predict the future, but I'm fairly confident that you will all find somepony special. You're all great mares; any guy would kill to be with you."
The girls nodded.
"You're right, Geo, I should not give up," Rarity said. "Instead, I shall continue hoping that my special somepony is simply waiting for the right moment to reveal his true feelings."
Twilight and I exchanged a sly smile, but said nothing.
"Yeah," Applejack said. "An' I'll continue ta hope that I meet a stallion who's as honest and hard workin' as me. Of course, knowin' mah luck, he'll turn out ta be the exact opposite." She shrugged. "Then again, as tha old sayin' goes... opposites do attract."
"Ooh, and I hope to meet somepony who's really sweet!" Pinkie chimed. "And smart, and brave... basically just the best guy ever!"
"What about you, Fluttershy?" I asked. "I'm pretty sure there's a guy out there who's just as kind and caring as you are." Fluttershy squeaked and hid behind her mane to cover the blush forming on her cheeks, causing me to chuckle. "So are we all in agreement that there is a special somepony out there for all of you?"
"Mm-hmm!" came the reply.
"Good," I said. "Now... let's party."
***
Hours later, the party was over, and Twilight and I were walking home by ourselves; Rarity had kindly invited Spike to attend a sleepover at the Boutique with the Cutie Mark Crusaders. The moon was full, casting a brilliant glow over Ponyville, and illuminating the two of us as we walked side by side, my arm on Twilight's back.
"Did you have fun?" Twilight asked.
"Yeah, I did." I grinned. "Mind you, since Pinkie knows how to throw a good party, that was only inevitable."
"I have to admit," Twilight said. "I never realised you were capable of bringing everypony's spirits up like that. I've never seen the girls more determined before."
"Everypony needs a little pep talk once in a while," I replied. "It just so happens that I have a way with words."
Twilight giggled. "That's true," she said, before biting her bottom lip. "So, um... what do you want to do now?"
"Beats me." I shrugged. "In fact, the night is still young, and I'm not even tired. Why, what do you want to do?"
Entering the library, Twilight turned on the light.
"I can think of one thing that we could do," she said sultrily. "I'm just hoping you can figure out what it is."
I realised at once what she meant. "A-are you sure?" I stammered. "We've only been together for a few months, and—"
Twilight put a forehoof over my mouth. "Shut up, Geo," she said sternly. "Shut up and... make love to me."
She removed her hoof from my mouth, at which I wordlessly scooped her into my arms, kissed her as passionately as I could, then carried her upstairs to her – our – bedroom.