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// ...That Bloom in the Spring 
// Story: Timed Ramblings 
// by Midnight herald 
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	The party was going along smoothly, as always. Rarity watched with a small smile set in place as the entire town danced and talked and laughed and smiled and lived freely. For the first time in years, Ponyville had come ahead in the unofficial race to wrap up winter, finishing easily before teatime. And so, of course, this warranted a joyful, boisterous party, much like the joyful, boisterous pony she couldn’t stop watching.  And as much as she was enjoying the party, Rarity couldn’t seem to quite leave the relative safety of the punch bowl. She sipped at her cup if only to keep her mind off of what she knew would happen tonight. the steady, low burn of vodka sat easy in her throat and slowly smoothed away the worst edge on her sharp and abrasive worries.

It had been a strange winter, to say the least. In late November, when the orders had finally slowed down at the Boutique, Rarity had found herself drawn, as if by a magnet, to Sugarcube corner on a nearly daily basis. Soon enough, the Cakes didn’t give it a second thought if she was in the kitchen, helping Pinkie decorate custom cupcakes or providing taste-tests on various recipes for fudge. And slowly, inexplicably, Pinkie began spending more time at the Boutique as well, respooling ribbons or having tea or wine and chatting about the ponies around town. And in mid-December, after nearly four weeks of pussy-hoofing around the issue, one of the most fulfilling, delightful relationships Rarity had ever been in had started with a simple question over hot chocolate.

And in January, Rarity had come to a shocking revelation - Twilight, the poor dear, was pining after Rarity’s sweet pink baker. The way the Princess’s wings would droop when they showed affection, the little pauses in their conversations, the little favors Twilight would ask of Pinkie upon occasion; baking lessons, lab assistance, and most transparently, bouncing lessons. And as February came along, Pinkie had quietly, shyly brought another revelation to light - Pinkie was falling for Twilight as well. A week passed by as Rarity thought and considered, a week full of further discussions with Pinkie, until she had realized that there was really only one way to go about this. If Twilight would help Pinkie be as happy as Pinkie was making Rarity, then of course they should be together.

Rarity took another large mouthful of punch and watched as her beloved baker worked her magic on her friend. She could almost imagine Pinkie’s soothing, persuasive voice; the same tone that reminded Rarity of how much she could trust her girlfriend, that could convince Rarity that the sky was green. Twilight was blushing furiously, stammering something back as she hunkered down and raised her wings, shielding her face from the room. And yet Pinkie kept at it, talking and edging gradually closer, until she stood right beside the trembling ex-librarian and Twilight’s wings had mostly folded themselves back to resting. 

Pinkie reached out with a gentle hoof and stroked Twilight’s trembling wing, and Rarity finished the rest of her punch in a single pull, fascinated, as Twilight melted into Pinkie’s reassuring caress, her reassuring words. Pinkie’s hoof moved from Twilight’s wings to her mane, and Rarity knew from experience what would come next. She took a meditative breath and stood poised and ready to reason away any ignoble or resentful thoughts before they could fully take root and fester. And slowly, gently, delicately, Pinkie guided Twilight into a tighter embrace, holding her until her shivers ceased. 

And Rarity watched as their lips met, as Pinkie guided Twilight into a gentle, sensual kiss. But the petty, jealous thoughts that had haunted her dreams since this little plan of their had been hatched did not clamor and nip and bite at her uncertain mood. Instead, a serene warmth spread through her chest, like the first rays of sunshine breaking through the heavy clouds of winter.

The kiss ended as it had begun, smooth and comfortable, before Twilight’s joyous laughter rang out like a bell across the crowded room. Pinkie led Twilight across the room and towards Rarity and the punch bowl, and looked at Rarity with eyes full of enough love for a thousand ponies, and Rarity knew that it was alright. She found herself laughing in delight as the two of them joined her at the table, delight and relief that it had worked out. She nuzzled playfully into Pinkie’s side and gave Twilight a friendly wink and thought about how much Pinkie had made her better.