//------------------------------// // The love of a Pegasus and a Unicorn // Story: The love of a Pegasus and a Unicorn // by Maple Sunrise //------------------------------// “I really cannot thank you girls enough for your remarkable achievement this time!” The mane six beamed with pride as Princess Celestia praised them over their success over Discord. Like she and Princess Luna had a millennium ago, the bearers of the Elements of Harmony defeated Discord. However, the two princesses had defeated Discord through unity and responsibility over Equestria. The bearers of the Elements of Harmony had defeated Discord through both unity and responsibility as well, but they had one thing the princess lacked a millennium ago. Friendship. Princess Celestia smiled as the the mane six attempted to be modest, though they weren’t at all successful. Princess Celestia, and the mane six were in the royal hall, near Princess Celestia’s throne. Twilight, as usual, was the modest of them all, saying that the Discord incident was like the Nightmare Moon incident. She said that experience had helped them through as well, but Princess Celestia took this as another play at being modest. However, not wanting to let her star pupil find out her weakness in being modest, she simply nodded and smiled. “You know, a thousand years ago, when both me and my sister took on Discord, we actually thought it would have been a piece of cake. But apparently it wasn’t. At the time, he was very strong, but considering he was entombed in stone for a thousand years, he was probably much stronger than he was a thousand years ago. And yet, you girls make it look so easy!” Pinkie Pie was bouncing around in joy at being praised as Twilight once more tried to be modest in front of the Princess. Rainbow Dash was smiling wide, her chest high as she felt proud with her achievement. Rarity was trying hard like Twilight to be modest, but like Twilight, she wasn’t succeeding that much. Fluttershy could only grin as she watched how the others were reacting, and stifled a chuckle. Applejack, however, wasn’t paying that much attention. She was still feeling bad about what Discord had turned her into. She had lied all the way. She felt terrible. The Element of Honestly had lied to the Element of Magic. She pushed the thoughts out of her mind. She joined her friends as they celebrated their victory. Before Twilight could protest against Princess Celestia’s praises, the sun goddess held up a hoof, silencing the six. “I believe you six deserve a break, after all you’ve gone through.” She smiled as she announced. “After all, I’m sure Discord had been a hard cookie, but since he’s in his stone prison again, I figure you six should take a break. How does a trip to Trottgart, Germaney sound?” Twilight merely shrugged as the other five started exchanging words among each other. Normally the princess wouldn’t offer the six a break, much less a trip to another country for their adventures. They were, after all, doing what they do because they wanted to ensure that Equestria stayed peaceful. Without the six, Equestria would be in trouble, as the two princesses couldn’t possibly tackle every problem that presented itself. “But Princess, who will take care of Ponyville while we’re away?” Twilight inquired. “You need not worry, Twilight. I have been around for a thousand years, there is not a thing that I couldn’t possibly have not seen.” The princess grinned. “And I insist, you six look like you deserve a break. It’s the least I can offer after the good deeds you six have done in the name of Equestria.” Twilight gave Princess Celestia’s words some thought as she tried to imagine what Equestria would be like with the absence of the Elements of Harmony. The princess, sensing some doubt about her proposition in Twilight’s mind, decided to add, “I am being serious here. Unless you would like something else?” Twilight shrugged, and turned to the other five as she asked for their views. “Ah’ think a trip would be fine an’ dandy. Ah’ mean we’ve already been through a lot already, why not take a break?” Applejack spoke. “I agree with Applejack. After that Discord incident, I say we all deserve a break. Besides, it’s probably for a short while anyway!” Rarity agreed. “I say we take what the princess offers!” Rainbow Dash nodded. “I’m fine with anything, actually... I don’t mind a vacation or anything, as long as it’s fine with you girls...” Fluttershy whispered. “A vacation! We ALL need a vacation! I mean, after all, we have been working hard to defeat that big meanie McMeaniepants, Discord! And I heard that Germaney is a BEAUTIFUL country! It wouldn’t hurt to be on a vacation for a couple of days right!? Nothing as bad as Discord happens everyday anyway! So why not? It’s gonna be fun! The parks and the beautiful night sky are to die for!” Pinkie chimed. Rainbow Dash tried, without much success, to calm Pinkie down as Twilight offered her opinion. “Well, since the princess insists, I say why not as well. What Pinkie said, we really need a break.” Twilight blushed as the image of a certain pegasus filled her mind. Twilight shook her head, and continued. “And we get to visit other places as well! Isn’t that exciting?” Twilight’s eyes sparkled as she spoke. The other five agreed, all for their own separate reasons. Satisfied, Twilight turned to face the princess. “Princess, the six of us agree, but I have a question...” Princess Celestia craned her neck and nodded, signalling Twilight to continue. “How long will this, uh, vacation be, and how will you and Princess Luna cope with the events in Equestria?” Princess Celestia smiled, as if expecting this question, and answered smoothly. “Like I’ve said, I’ve had a thousand years of experience under my hooves. I’ve commanded for a thousand years alone, and I ended up fine. Now that Luna is back, I’m sure things will be much easier.” That doesn’t answer how long we’ll be gone. Twilight was about to open her mouth to ask her question again, but the princess beat her to it. “It’ll be for three days.” “That sounds quite reasonable. We wouldn’t want to be away for too long, lest it be a huge burden for you and Princess Luna.” Rarity added. Rarity knew the princess had a lot on her mind, what with all the royal duties and control over Equestria. But she didn’t want the vacation to be too long. Luckily enough it was only for three days. “Three days is good enough I guess. What’s Trottgart like, princess?” “Oh I’m sure you’d like to discover it yourselves. After all, Germaney’s a beautiful country.” Princess Celestia’s horn lit as she hovered over a small jewel box from behind her throne. The sides of the box were encrusted with all kinds of gems and gems. The box, being made of gold, shines in the morning light pouring through the stained glass windows. The box landed in front of them as the most intense of morning light focus on the box. The box faced Princess Celestia as she opened the box. Pinkie was resisting the urge to look in the box from where she was at now, beads of sweat rolled down her cheeks in anticipation. However, before Pinkie could pounce on the box, Princess Celestia floated out a few tickets and shut the box. Before Pinkie Pie could analyze what was happening, the box floated once more behind the throne. “Here are the tickets for your trip to Trottgart, so I hope you arrive safe. The pegasi commandeering your chariot there will be by the finest transportation pegasi here in the castle.” Rainbow Dash arched an eyebrow, “Wait, you had the tickets even before we agreed? You knew we were gonna accept your offer didn’t you?” Princess Celestia stifled a laugh. She found out. Princess Celestia didn’t say anything in return, but just smiled at the cyan pegasus. Twilight too, had a question for the princess. “Why tickets? I can just teleport us there.” Princess Celestia didn’t even have to think of what Twilight said, as she had anticipated what she was about to ask. “Oh Twilight, my dear student, you’ve already done Equestria a good favour, so at least free transport would be what you six deserve. Also, the tickets are not for the flight there. It’s for your chalet by the seaside, unless you’d like a hotel suite.” The six cheered, and Princess Celestia knew she didn’t have to change the tickets. She had made the right choice. She smiled inward as she watched the six. “Now, I bid you all farewell, and have a fun vacation!” Princess Celestia levitated the tickets over to Twilight, who managed to grab the tickets before they touched the ground. Twilight thanked the princess, and handed out each ticket to all five of her friends. Pinkie eagerly swept her ticket from Twilight’s hoof before Twilight could even get her own. As usual Twilight could only sigh, but she continued handing out the tickets anyway. Rarity shook her head, but Pinkie didn’t notice. Not that she would notice anyway, seeing to how she kept jumping around the five. Twilight led the five outside to the awaiting pegasi transporters. Rainbow Dash opted to fly instead of joining the five in their chariot. Twilight shrugged. She didn’t mind. The morning sun wasn’t that hot. Yet. So the six made haste. Rainbow Dash flew ahead as the pegasi pull on the chariot through the skies over Equestria. “Imagine the sunset over the beautiful ocean! We get the sun sinking into the hills in Ponyville, but a sunset sinking into an ocean must be ten times more beautiful than what we get in back at home!” Rarity exclaimed. Rainbow Dash glided next to the chariot, probably knowing that they couldn’t catch up with her. Too lazy to invite them into a race, Rainbow Dash sat down next to the other five ponies as their chariot is pulled through the skies. “Oh Rarity, the sunset’s not the only thing you’ll have the chance to see there. There’s a lot of things we can do there! There’s probably a spa there to spoil you.” Twilight chuckled. “I hope the animals there aren’t fierce or anything.” Fluttershy squeaked. “You know very well there isn’t anything dangerous by the seaside. Except, sharks of course, but what are the odds?” Dash shrugged. “Besides Fluttershy, you can fly. You’ll probably meet all kinds of seagulls or seabirds or something.” Dash shrugged again. The thought of sharks scared Fluttershy a little, the other five could tell, by the slight shiver she had. But when Dash reminded her that she could fly, the shivering stopped and a warm smile appeared on her face. “I’ve never really been to the seaside before. I think it’ll be interesting to have new friends... But I’m still a bit scared...” Fluttershy looked down. Applejack gave Fluttershy a pat on the shoulder, which startled the yellow pegasus for a moment, before she calmed down. “Woah, sorry ‘bout that Fluttershy, but ya’ really shouldn’t worry so much. After all, yer’ a natural around animals, remember?” Fluttershy slowly nodded, and she relaxed herself. Twilight read a book as the pegasi brought them closer and closer to Trottgart. “Value time, and those who have time will value you.” Twilight always said when confronted about her love for reading. Her friends didn’t really mind. The only other reader in the group was Rainbow Dash, who had settled down with a book of Daring Do and the Goliath blueprints. And by the looks of it, Rainbow Dash must be really enjoying what she’s reading. Her friends didn’t mind Dash’s hobby either. Rarity was talking to Fluttershy about what things to do when they arrived and Pinkie Pie was baking a cupcake in her portable cupcake-in-a-briefcase oven. Twilight often wondered what else could be considered weird with Pinkie Pie around. The smell of the cupcake fell behind as the wind blew across them, the speed of the pegasi pulling the chariot leaving turbulence in its wake. Twilight peeked up from her book, at her reader friend, so engrossed in her novel. Twilight was confused when she had a weird feeling in her stomach when she saw Rainbow Dash. This had only happened recently, after Rainbow Dash started to visit Twilight frequently, inquiring about the latest stories to read, and ways to fully enjoy what is written. Twilight didn’t mind the frequent visits, she was helping a friend out as well every time Dash asked about things related to reading. But it wasn’t only Twilight who was feeling weird in the presence of Rainbow Dash. Rainbow Dash herself seemed nervous when Twilight was around. Feeling eyes on her, Dash looked up to catch the librarian peeking on her. Twilight noticed and immediately shifted her eyes back to her book. Rainbow Dash thought Twilight was just being weird, but Dash herself wasn’t so sure. She continued her reading as Twilight tried her best to hide the blush that had formed on her face. Applejack was leaned over the chariot, her face a sickening green. Rarity snickered as she watching the earth pony throw up over the side of the chariot as it pulled through the skies. “You’re looking a little green there, Applejack.” Applejack turned her face a little to look at Rarity, but still had a good portion of her face outside the chariot, ready to vomit should she have to. “Fer somepony who’s at white as a ghost, look who’s talkin’.” Applejack leaned over and hurled outward, the contents of her stomach spreading out in the air like a net fired from a net gun. Rarity felt disgusted as she looked away, turning her attention to the shy pony before her. The sound of a timer going off alerted everypony in the chariot, save for the fliers. “Oh goody! The cupcake’s ready!” Pinkie skipped in place, somehow not falling off the chariot in the process. She donned some oven mitts as she slowly opened the door to her cupcake-in-a-briefcase oven. The instant she had done so, the smell of chocolate pastry filled the chariot, with most of the aroma dissipating into the atmosphere as they continued to go through the skies. Half an hour later, the pegasi landed on a stretch of beach near the seaside. Applejack was the first to get off, apparently happy to be on even ground again. Rarity was next, followed by Pinkie Pie, who’s mouth was covered in chocolate icing. The last two to get off were Twilight and Rainbow Dash. Twilight thanked the pegasi for sending them, and they left. Twilight looked around. It was almost noon, and the sun was almost at its peak. “Let’s go check in our chalets before it gets too hot.” Twilight looked over to Rainbow Dash, who was still engrossed in her Daring Do novel. This time Twilight managed to look away before she got caught, not that Rainbow Dash would have could her anyway. At the end of the stretch of beach, near a waterfall, were three chalets and a spa with several floors. The section of beach in front of the chalets were already laid out with beach chairs and umbrellas and, to Pinkie’s delight, a volleyball. Rarity hovered the bags a couple of feet above her head so as not to get them wet should the tide suddenly crashed onshore. Twilight looked around, making sure everypony was present before giving a command. “Alright girls, we’re going to have break into three groups, since there’s only three chalets here, so who wants to go with who here?”. What happened next surprised Twilight. Rainbow Dash looked up from her book and answered, before anypony could, “I’ll share a room with you if you don’t mind Twilight.” Rainbow Dash tried her best to keep nervousness from enveloping her voice when she spoke. “But I’m fine with it if you don’t want to.” Twilight was silent for a few seconds, before she answered, “Alright then, Rainbow will be sleeping in the same room with me. You girls have to choose who you girls wanna share a room with now.” Twilight’s face flushed the moment Rainbow Dash had said she wanted to share a room with her. Twilight didn’t dare to look at Rainbow Dash, because she feared that she might be caught blushing and Dash might assume something else. No, Twilight wanted Dash. Applejack decided to go with Fluttershy, after much protest that she didn’t want to share a same room with Rarity, which was fine by Rarity. Pinkie Pie still bounced around, apparently still excited about their vacation, though they haven’t even started. Applejack opened the door into her chalet as Fluttershy carried the bags in. Rarity didn’t need to force Pinkie to carry the bags, because she could just levitate them in. Twilight travelled lightly, only packing a few clothes, a toothbrush and half a dozen books. Some of them novels, the rest studies on things about life. Twilight had been reading about the stars and how they seem to shine the most when there were no ponymade lights around. She set her bag down on her bed before hopping straight on her bed, her rearlegs resting on her pillow. She took out her book she was reading earlier, and continued reading. Rainbow Dash had travelled light as well, and set her bag down on the ground as she put her Daring Do novel on the side table next to her bed. The room was small, but was big enough to give a cozy, at-home feeling and the two had separate beds. The beds were close to each other, the only thing separating the two being a side table between the two beds. The sun was already beginning to inch downward as the day became the afternoon. Twilight had come upon an interesting fact, when sudden Rainbow Dash asked her a question. Twilight looked up from her book, to see the pegasus looking straight at her. Twilight wasn’t sure whether or not she was blushing or not, but she tried her best to try not to. “You were looking at me strangely on our way here. What was that all about?” Twilight probably ran a million things through her head in that couple of silent seconds. If she messed up, Rainbow Dash might think she was weird, or disturbing. Or worse. Twilight found what might be the perfect response when she glimpsed upon the Daring Do novel on Dash’s side table. “Oh, I was just, um.. Wondering how you were enjoying the Daring Do series! Yeah! How’s the story holding up for you, Dash?” Rainbow Dash arched an eyebrow, wanting to laugh at the blushing unicorn trying her best not to show that she was. Rainbow Dash assumed it was a genuine interest in her book. “Oh, the series is great! I didn’t know there was such a vehicle as the Goliath!” Rainbow Dash grinned. “I really can’t thank you enough for getting me THIS hooked into reading, I just can’t get enough!” Rainbow Dash grinned again, causing Twilight to flush even further. Twilight put on a pokerface, hoping that Rainbow Dash hadn’t noticed her blushing, but she probably had anyway. “Anything for you, Dash!” As soon as that line left her mouth, Twilight knew she had said the wrong choice of words. She was bracing for whatever Rainbow Dash might have inquired what Twilight was implying, but Dash never asked. Rainbow Dash was already asleep in her bed, facing Twilight. Twilight didn’t find this surprising though, Rainbow Dash always took afternoon naps. Twilight merely shrugged, and decided to get some shut eye as well. Setting her bag on the floor, Twilight raise the blanket over her torso, carefully positioning herself so that the blanket would cover her rearlegs as well. The sea breeze in the afternoon was quite cooling, and Twilight could feel herself shivering because of the cold. Or was it because she was happy? Maybe a bit too happy? Twilight shook the thought off, and before she knew it, she drifted off into sleep. Twilight woke up around sunset time when Rainbow Dash invited her for a walk down the beach. Twilight rubbed her eyes to clear herself of any sleepiness. Twilight’s eyes flew open the moment she saw Dash. Rainbow Dash was in her swimsuit, something Twilight hadn’t expected to see even in a million years. Rainbow Dash collapsed in a fit of laughter seeing Twilight’s reaction. Twilight’s face flushed once again, and Twilight sighed. “Don’t do that again. Please!” “Do what, Twilight?” Rainbow Dash asked in an innocent tone. “Nothing.” Twilight sighed again, and went off to the bathroom with her bag to change into her swimsuit. Rarity wasn’t just only good in making fashionable clothing for the high class ponies of Canterlot, she was also good at making fashionable AND comfortable swimwear. Twilight swore, how Rarity did what she does, she would never know. She put on her swimsuit quickly, paranoid that at that moment, Rainbow Dash might be looking in. Zipping up her bag, Twilight opened the door and stepped out. She was about to set her bag down when she heard the sudden ruffle of feathers, one she had heard very frequently during Rainbow Dash’s visits to her library. Pomf. Twilight finished setting her bag down before looking up to see Rainbow Dash, trying to keep her wings down. Her wings had gone erect, and Rainbow Dash was blushing up a storm, quite possibly an even darker red than Twilight had earlier. Twilight giggled, and Rainbow Dash stammered. Twilight didn’t want to ask Rainbow Dash what was going on. Her wings did the explaining already. “Come on Dash, stop fooling around. Let’s go for the walk.” Twilight gave a warm smile, just as Rainbow Dash managed to get her wings back down. Twilight opened the door with her magic, and gestured to Rainbow Dash, “ After you.” Rainbow Dash went back to her normal composure and went out, leaving her book behind on the side table. She didn’t want to get the book wet. Twilight shut the door behind them as they made their way along the beach. Fluttershy and Rarity were sitting on the beach chairs watching Applejack and Pinkie Pie tried to beat each other in a game of volleyball, and it seemed like Pinkie was running. Applejack couldn’t keep up with Pinkie as she jumped around as if she weren’t using any energy at all. Applejack was already running low on her energy when the volleyball struck the ground next to her. “Yay! I win!” Pinkie exclaimed. “Yeah well, you were lucky.” Applejack groaned in a defeated tone. “Oh Applejack, relax! Maybe we can have a rematch later! I’m sure by then you’d be more luckier than I am now!” Applejack facehoofed as Rarity and Fluttershy laughed. “Hey Twilight?” Rainbow Dash had caught Twilight off guard, almost making her jump. She had forgotten she was to be walking along the beach with Dash. “Yes, Rainbow?” “How many books are there in the Daring Do series anyway?” Dash inquired, not making eye contact as she faced forward. Twilight thought over it for a couple of minutes as they continued walking down the beach, the only sound between the two being the waves beating onto the shoreline. After going through her mental file system, Twilight came up with a reasonable answer, though she herself wasn’t that sure about it. “About 5 books I guess. There’s going to be more soon anyway.” Rainbow Dash nodded, and turned to face Twilight, who was looking at her. “Thanks. I really needed to get that question out of my head. That question was just nagging at me, and I knew I had to ask you.” Twilight merely shrugged. Twilight gasped. “What’s wrong Twilight?” “Look at that sunset!” Twilight exclaimed. Rainbow turned around, and looked as the sun slowly lowered itself into the orange horizon. There were only a few clouds in the sky, but the rays reflecting off the surface of the water and into the clouds made it look like pegasi wings in the skies instead of clouds. A flock of births flew into the sunset as the sun slowly continued to lower itself. “Oh my Celestia...” Rainbow Dash was at a loss for words. Being the athlete type, Dash never really had the time to appreciate nature. So this first sunset, was one of the best things Rainbow Dash had ever witnessed. Dash felt happy all of a sudden, joy exploding through her body. Before Dash could contain herself she hugged Twilight, her wings once more fully erect. Pomf. Twilight wasn’t expecting a hug from Dash, so what just happened caught her by surprise. Twilight couldn’t do anything as she felt the warmth of Dash’s body against hers, her head on Twilight’s shoulders. Then she did what anypony would have done in that situation. She hugged Dash back. The two ponies, though unable to see each others faces, were blushing crimson red, but at the same time, the two were smiling inward. Rainbow Dash, because she just saw one of the most beautiful things in her life, and Twilight, because she gets to hug the mare that she felt like she was interested in. The embrace was broken when the sun completely set, it’s rays, however, still illuminating the horizon. Dash forced a cough, though she was sure Twilight would have noticed. Twilight giggled, catching Dash’s attention. “You know, it’s getting kinda late now, we should probably get back.” Twilight suggested. Rainbow Dash, her face still a deep red, merely nodded, and led the way. Twilight and Dash took their time walking together, somehow feeling that their bond of friendship had reached a new level. Rainbow Dash was contemplating on her actions earlier. What had she done? She had just seen something very beautiful, but instead of praising the beauty of nature, she hugged her best friend whom she felt strange around. Dash didn’t remember blushing as much as she had whenever she was ever around Twilight. And it wasn’t normal for Dash’s wings to just pop open like that. And for some reason, Dash couldn’t keep Twilight off her mind. Twilight, however, was trying hard to hide a huge smile from forming on her face, knowing that Rainbow Dash might notice and start wondering why. She didn’t want that. But what was this feeling Twilight had when she was around Rainbow Dash? Is this, what all the other ponies call love? Twilight’s face flushed again as she ran the thought through her head. No, that couldn’t be.... Was Twilight really in love with her best friend? She really didn’t think so, but she was wondering what Rainbow Dash felt about just now. Luna’s moon came out into the night sky as the two almost reached their chalets. Fluttershy, Rarity, Applejack and an ecstatic Pinkie Pie were around a campfire outside their chalets. Twilight’s curiosity had gotten the better of her, and before she could control herself, she asked Dash a question, one she knew she shouldn’t have asked. “Hey Dash, I was just wondering...what was that back there?” Dash stopped halfway in her tracks, the blush once more returning to her face. She stuttered as she tried to find the words to describe the situation earlier, but she knew she had to be honest to her best friend. She didn’t know why, but Dash felt like Twilight deserves to know. “I have no idea honestly. I’ve never seen something so beautiful, but I can’t reach out and touch it. I already have something even more beautiful than the sunset earlier, and that was when I realised I couldn’t only just touch it, I could hug it as well.” Dash’s face flushed an even deeper shade of red, something Twilight thought was already impossible considering the colour now. Twilight’s face was also a deeper red. “Could you repeat that again Dash?” Twilight was trying her best to hide an eager smile from her face, but she knew that traces of a smile were already forming on her lips, leaning closer as she wondered what Dash had meant by that. Rainbow Dash knew she wasn’t responsible for what she had done earlier, but what happened next was purely her intention. Twilight didn’t even have time to lean back when Dash pushed herself forward, kissing Twilight on the lips. Immediately, all the feelings she had felt earlier disappeared as she kissed Twilight, her wings spread wide. Pomf. Twilight felt strange, suddenly being kissed just like that, but somehow she didn’t care. She returned the kiss, somehow feeling that this was wrong, but at the same time she felt it was very right. Twilight and Dash didn’t stop for at least a couple of minutes, passionately kissing each other on the beach, under Luna’s beautiful moon. When they broke the kiss, the two were blushing like mad, and Rainbow had a wide grin on her face. Twilight simply giggled. Something so sudden, feeling so good, Twilight and Dash kissed again, for a short moment before breaking the kiss again. “Wow, that was, uh, strange.” Dash forced a cough again. “But at the same time... It felt amazing!” Twilight couldn’t help but laugh. “You know, I should really thank you, for just now. I had this, like, you know, weird kind of feeling every time I saw you-” “So THAT’S why you were staring at me in the chariot earlier!” Rainbow Dash sneered. Twilight knew her face couldn’t get any redder, but she still felt heat rush to her face. “Well, what happened just now when I stepped out of the bathroom!” This time it was Twilight’s time to sneer at Dash, her face inching closer as she tried to back off. But of course, she didn’t. Instead, she leaned forward, and kissed Twilight one more time. Fully this time, Dash offering her tongue first, but before she knew it, Twilight was fighting back with her tongue. The inside of Twilight’s mouth tasted weird. Like grapes, but somehow a much refined flavour. However, on Twilight’s end, Rainbow Dash’s mouth tasted like a mixture of all sorts of flavour. Sweet, sour, and bitter. Twilight liked the bitter taste. It was like late nights in Princess Celestia’s school for Gifted Unicorns. She would have exam the next day, and she’d have a bitter cup of coffee as she studied. She missed that feeling, and that was what made Twilight kiss harder. To taste the bitter feeling one more time. They broke off once more, panting. This kiss lasted longer than their first. Twilight was smiling as she looked up. Rainbow Dash followed Twilight’s gaze upward, into Luna’s beautiful night sky. Stars littered the sky, just as Twilight had read. Twilight pointed out all sorts of constellations in the sky as Rainbow Dash, of all ponies, stared in astonishment. The other four had retreated into their chalets, but the campfire was still burning. There was a forest near the chalet and it was near enough to Rainbow Dash and Twilight to see the fireflies flying out and scattering themselves all around the beach. Twilight watched as one landed on Rainbow Dash’s nose, and when Twilight tried to get it off, Rainbow Dash tried to nuzzle it into Twilight’s mane. Twilight giggled as she tried to avoid Dash’s attempts at Twilight. Twilight flicked it off, and the fireflies flew away hurriedly. The two were laughing, lying down on their backs in the sand, looking up at the stars. “Hey Dash?” Rainbow Dash looked over at Twilight, smiling when she saw her beautiful smile, and those mesmerizing eyes. “Yes Twilight?” “I love you, Rainbow Dash” Twilight leaned closer, and kissed Dash one more time, though not as long as their third time. Dash broke the kiss, a wide grin on her face. “I love you too, Twilight.” “Something tells me our vacation here is going to keep getting better.” Twilight giggled. And Rainbow Dash understood what she meant.