The sound of hoofs on wood signaled the return of Princess Twilight Sparkle to Ponyville. Spike looked up as he heard the telltale ruffle of wings and the little ping of a crown taken from a royal head. He breathed a little fire on the teapot as Twilight finally walked out of her bedroom. “You’re home on time. No late night emergency meetings?” He poured cups for himself and the princess. “Careful, it’s still hot.”
Twilight took the tea in her magic and blew on it. “No, today was quite exhausting though. The new laws passed, but there was so much fuss and debate. You wouldn’t believe how happy I was to leave Canterlot.” She took a little sip and sighed. “Will you be over at Sweet Apple Acres too?”
Spike didn’t manage to hide his grin. “You really want me at your “once a month with all girls” night? I don’t think that’s a good idea, but thanks for asking.”
They drank another cup together before it was time for Twilight to leave. She loved living in Ponyville. The small town had changed very little since she had moved here. She still knew practically every pony she met by name and enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere. As long as she didn’t wear her crown she was still just Twilight Sparkle. Some ponies in the royal court were quite unhappy about this lack of royal refinement, but Twilight had yet to meet one with the gall to say that to her face. Luna had told her about this little perk of being a princess: she could fire any official from the court without giving so much as a reason. Celestia or Luna could hire them back, of course, but this kind of ponies cared about their own family’s tradition even more than about royal traditions.
As she walked by Sugarcube Corner Pinkie Pie already waited for her, and only a minute later Rarity came down main street from Carousel Boutique and joined them on the road to Sweet Apple Acres. Twilight enjoyed hearing the latest gossip from Ponyville and shared what little she knew from Canterlot. She always amazed how Rarity managed to know so much more juicy chitchat even though she was in Canterlot only once a week.
Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash were already at the farm when the three ponies arrived. The six ponies hugged, especially Twilight and Rainbow who only saw each other on these meetings anymore due to obligations with the court and the Wonderbolts respectively.
As the evening progressed with snacks and cider, Twilight noticed that Fluttershy was less outgoing than usual. The pegasus had become quite sociable with the help of Rarity and Pinkie Pie, but today she was just as meek and timid as the day they had met. With a glass of cider in her magical grip she walked over to the animal caretaker and gave her the most encouraging smile she could muster. She wasn’t quite sure if the alcohol or the smile worked better, but as she asked what the problem was, Fluttershy opened up in an instant. As it turned out there was some royal business she had to attend to, right here, right now. And the best kind of royal business, too.
“Girls, girls,” she started and only had to resort to a third “GIRLS!” from her improvised speakers desk of a hay bale to get everypony’s attention. Or whatever it was Pinkie Pie had instead of attention. “I know not all of you follow my work as a princess very closely.” She pointed a hoof, “I’m looking at you Rainbow Dash.” They all laughed, because she had caught Rainbow right in an exaggerated yawn. “But today a law passed through my hoofs, and I was very happy to sign it. And so without further ado, Fluttershy has something to say.”
Twilight jumped down from the bale and used her magic to put Fluttershy there. The pegasus pony’s first instinct was to hide behind her mane, but the cheers and smiles from her friends gave her the courage to stand up again.
“Uhm, I ... Twilight I don’t know what to say.”
Twilight Sparkle just rolled her eyes. “You have one sentence, or I’ll come up there and do it for you. I’m a princess, I can do that!”
Fluttershy’s eyes opened wide, and she shook her head. One last deep breath of air and she finally pressed the words over her lips. “I love you, Pinkie Pie. Will you marry me?”
Four pairs of eyes turned from the timid pegasus to the party pony. The glass of cider Pinkie held slipped from her hooves and was only rescued by Rarity’s attentiveness.
After another second Pinkie found her voice again. “I love you too, Fluttershy, but mares can’t marry. There’s a law …”
Twilight Sparkle beamed for joy. “Princess.”
“So, we could marry, but where are we gonna find an official at this time of night?”
A flash of magic lid up the barn, and Twilight’s crown settled on her head. Her smile illuminated the whole room. “Princess!”
Pinkie Pie walked up to Fluttershy and offered her a hoof to help her down from the hay bale. “So we could marry, even right now, but do you really want to marry in Applejack’s barn?”
“Hey now, what …” Another flash of magic and the six ponies sat in one of the smaller ball-rooms of Canterlot castle. “ … ‘s wrong with my barn?”
Rarity jumped a bit as the party cannon dropped to the ground next to her and spewed a whole wedding cake onto a nearby table.
Twilight looked a bit winded. “That’s a third ‘Princess!’, Pinkie. Don’t push your luck.”
But Pinkie didn’t pay her much attention. She and Fluttershy were kissing, which got Applejack a bit riled up. “Hey, you lovebirds. ‘I do’s first, kissing later!”
Fluttershy and Pinkie broke the kiss and threw AJ a look. In one voice they said “Princess Twilight Sparkle, the shortest ceremony you know, please!”
Twilight could hardly contain her laughter, “Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, do you?”
Both ponies looked in each other’s eyes. “I do.”