//------------------------------// // Chapter 18 // Story: The Spell to Happiness // by ScientistTrixie //------------------------------// She gazed into the box, tears brimming in her eyes as she glanced up at the pegasus before her. Dash smiled shyly at her, a fierce blush on her cheeks as she stared into Twilight's eyes lovingly. Twilight slipped the lid back onto the box, quickly setting it aside as she leapt forward, tackling the mare into a fierce hug. "I love you, Rainbow Dash!" She whispered, her muzzle inches from Dash's ear. She pulled away, kissing her marefriend quickly, drawing a light giggle from Pinkie Pie. The pair blushed as they remembered the presence of their friends. The room was silent for a moment, broken by Twilight awkwardly clearing her throat. “So... sleepover anypony?” She asked, her eyes going wide as her friends cheered in approval. She shot a glance at Dash, motioning for the mare to meet her upstairs the first chance they had. Dash nodded, a grin on her face as Pinkie Pie vanished into the kitchen, returning a moment later with several cups of steaming hot chocolate. She passed the cups around, grinning as the six friends sipped contentedly from their drinks. Twilight smiled, a sigh escaping her lips as she sipped at the warm beverage. The group sat, giggling and talking amongst themselves as Rainbow and Twilight stole glances at each other. Rarity cleared her throat, giggling as she glanced at the two. “Are we just going to sit here and watch you two stare at each other, or are we going to do something?” Rarity asked, giggling as Twilight blushed, her attention snapping away from her marefriend. “Umm... We could play a game?” Twilight ventured. Pinkie Pie cheered, bouncing in place as the rest of the group nodded or shrugged. Twilight grinned, her horn flaring for a moment as her head suddenly pounded. “Ow..” She groaned, rubbing a hoof at the base of her horn. “Would you mind grabbing the games off the shelf, Rarity?” She nodded, her horn flaring a light blue as the boxes levitated into the air, drifting to settle in the space between the friends. Twilight leaned forward, nudging the boxes beside each other. “Okay, look's like we could play Sorry, Ponopoly, Risk, or Apples to Apples.” Twilight giggled as Applejack sat up straighter, a broad grin on her face as she excitedly reached for Apples to Apples. “Oh, heavens no.” Rarity said, snatching the offending game in her magic and swiftly depositing it back on the shelf. Applejack frowned, huffing as she crossed her arms and shot a glare at the prissy pony. “I happen ta like that game!” Applejack protested, glancing to the box on the shelf behind them. “I know you do, but so does Applebloom. I am always forced to join in and play that game with the girls when they stay at the boutique, and I would rather not play it tonight.” She said, ignoring Applejack's frown as she peered at the other games. “Ohhhh, how about Ponopoly?” Pinkie said, holding the box in her hooves as her ears twitched excitedly. “I would rather not play Ponopoly...” Twilight said, shuddering slightly. “I still remember the marathon game we had the last time Pinkie played it...” The group, minus Pinkie, simultaneously shuddered. “So it's between Risk and Sorry.” Dash said, pushing Ponopoly aside, where Rarity quickly snatched it up and deposited it back on the shelf. “Which one do you like Fluttershy?” “Oh, I don't mind which one we play. They are both fun...” She trailed off, retreating into her hair as she peered at the games. “Let's play Risk!” Twilight said, shooting a glance at Dash, a sly smile on her face as she winked at her. Dash smiled back, quickly agreeing with Twilight. Pinkie Pie ripped the box open, quickly passing out the army tokens and colors to each player. They placed their pieces on the board, smiling challengingly at each other as they rolled the dice to see who would go first. Pinkie ended up rolling the highest number, marking her as the first player. They quickly snatched up the unclaimed territories, giggling as their armies started fighting each other, territories trading hooves each and every turn. Fluttershy ended up being a ruthless commander, quickly doubling the size of her territories. Twilight and Dash stole glances between turns, only halfheartedly paying attention to the game. Before long, their armies were crushed, reduced to a single unit each. Twilight sighed as her last unit was defeated, effectively ending her participation in the game. “Well I'm out. I'm going to the little filly's room.” She said, speaking to the group in general as she stepped past Dash, flicking her with her tail. Dash followed her with her eyes, grinning as she saw Twilight grab her present in her mouth, her eyes reluctantly trailing to the board before her as Twilight vanished from her view. After another round, Fluttershy crushed Rainbow's last unit, booting her from the game also. She zipped into the air, glancing at her friends as she drifted toward the staircase, clearing her throat slowly. “I'm gonna go check and see if Twi is alright.” She zoomed up the stairs, a sparkling rainbow trail left behind her; silence left in her wake. After a moment, Rarity spoke up. “You realize that they were attempting to lose as quickly as possible right?” She asked, glancing at the ponies around her. “Eeyup,” Applejack giggled, examining the board before her. “And that they are probably talking about whatever Rainbow's present is right now?” “Yea,” Pinkie Pie said, rolling the dice in her hoof. “Alright.” Rarity said, shaking her head. ~Upstairs~ Rainbow Dash flew into Twilight's bedroom, a grin appearing on her face as she caught sight of Twilight leaning against the balcony railing just outside the bedroom window. Rainbow quietly trotted up, a loving smile on her face as she quietly approached her marefriend. “So what does this mean... for us?” Twilight asked with a smile as Rainbow sat down beside her. “Well... um It means that...” She trailed off, mumbling slightly. “I'm... asking you to.. you know..” “I'm sorry, but I'm afraid I don't know,” Twilight said, feigning ignorance. She grinned as her marefriend scowled at her, the pegasus breathing deeply as she focused on Twilight. “I know that I'm not normally the mushy type... but seeing you laying in the hospital...” Rainbow trailed off, scratching the back of her head. “It killed me inside. I don't wanna imagine not knowing how you're doing... how you're feeling... if you miss me.” She took a deep breath, pulling Twilight closer to her. “Will you make this easy on me, and marry me?” She asked, reaching into the box and offering the ring to Twilight. “You never even had to ask,” Twilight said, tears in her eyes as she held a hoof out. Rainbow smiled, slipping the ring over her hoof as Twilight admired it. The ring was beautifully crafted; the diamond sparkling as it caught the moonlight. Twilight threw herself on top of the pegasus, capturing Rainbow’s lips in her own. They broke apart a minute later, gasping for breath, their cheeks flushed a heavy red as they stared into each other’s eyes. Twilight looked down at the ring once again, before looking back at Dash. She smiled, her eyes sparkling as she pulled Dash closer to her. She leaned forward, kissing Dash with a fiery passion, not stopping until Dash pulled away gasping, her wings stiff, her cheeks shining a brilliant red. Dash stared at her, desire obvious in her gaze, her mouth open as she panted quietly. She tore her gaze away from Twilight and sat up, gazing out over the town before them. They sat beside each other silently, leaning against each other happily. Minutes passed, neither breaking the silence, until Twilight slowly turned toward Rainbow. “Should we go tell the others?” Twilight asked. “Honestly?” Dash asked, chuckling as Twilight cocked her head at her. After a moment of silence Twilight nodded, shaking her head at Rainbow's antics. “Honestly, I'm having trouble not screaming it to the world.” She replied, kissing Twilight on the nose. Twilight stood, a smile on her face as she kissed her fiancée, her tail running under Dash's chin as she passed her, her hips swaying as she reentered her bedroom. Behind her, she could hear Dash curse as she awkwardly tucked her wings into her side, following on hoof a moment later. Twilight giggled, her hooves clacking on the stairs as she descended into the main room. Their friends were still sitting in a circle, the board game neatly boxed up and back on the shelf. They turned to face the two, smiles on their face as Twilight and Rainbow beamed at them. “So...?” Pinkie asked, giggling at the pair. “Where'd ya go?” Twilight grinned, nudging Dash with her shoulder. Dash smiled, sharing a glance with the pony beside her before speaking. “I asked Twilight to marry me.” She said, her cheeks aching in an ear-to-ear grin. “She said yes!” She yelled, grinning as Twilight nuzzled her affectionately. Pinkie Pie cheered, yelling loudly as she turned to face Applejack. Applejack sighed, cursing quietly as she dug into her saddlebag beside her. Pinkie pie laughed, holding her hoof out toward the farm pony. Applejack pulled a small bag of bits out of the saddlebag, tossing them toward Pinkie without a word. Twilight's jaw dropped, a scowl on her face as she stared at her friends, all of who were smiling innocently. “Seriously? You bet on Dash proposing to me?” She said, glaring at her friends who bust into laughter. Twilight stared at them, before breaking into laughter with them. Her friends gathered around her, expressing their delight at the proposal, hugs and words exchanged between the group. Twilight smiled as she caught her fiance’s eye. It felt strange to imagine her life without Rainbow, and until recently, that's exactly how she had lived. She thought back to that day, so many months ago, when she had first learned of Rainbow’s feelings for her. If it wasn't for that, she might never be standing here, amongst her friends, with the love of her life at her side. It was funny how something so small could lead to one of the happiest moments in her life. And it all started with a spell.