//------------------------------// // Decent Proposal // Story: Twilight's Love // by Bluecatcinema //------------------------------// It was Hearth's Warming Eve. A flurry of snow fell over Ponyville, painting the ground and buildings a brilliant white. Pinkie Pie was throwing her annual Hearth's Warming Eve party in her room above Sugar Cube Corner. Inside, the mane six, Spike and Flash were partying. There was dancing, good food, and party games. Everypony was having fun. Rarity had even deigned to give Spike a kiss on the cheek while they were under the mistletoe. The baby dragon fell into a catatonic state immediately afterwards, paralysed with joy. Twilight and Flash were dancing together, although Flash was a tad halfhearted in his movements. Twilight had noticed he seemed preoccupied of late. "Flash, is everything okay?" She asked. "Of course." Flash smiled. "How could anything not be okay, when I've got a marefriend like you?" The answer briefly mollified Twilight, though she was getting the sense that Flash was waiting for something. He kept glancing over to the pack he had brought with him to the party, which was lying next to everypony's winter outfits, a short space away. As the party started to wind down, Flash made his move. He reached into the pack and pulled something out, tucking it under a wing. He then walked over to Twilight. "Flash, what's going on?" Twilight asked. "Twilight, our time together has been the best time of my life." Flash declared. "And I don't want it to ever stop." "Okay..." Twilight replied, unnerved by the sheer seriousness of the look on Flash's face. "I can think of only one thing that would make me happier." Flash declared. "And that's just one little word from you." Flash extracted a small velvet box from under his wing. Everypony there froze in surprise. "Whoa, nelly." Applejack whispered. "Oh, wow..." Fluttershy murmured. "Ooooohhh!" Pinkie gasped. "Oh. My. Gosh." Rainbow gaped. "I don't believe it." Rarity declared. Even Spike stared, having been broken out of his euphoric state by the shock of Flash's actions. "No way." He whispered. Nopony was more surprised than Twilight herself. She was staring at the box like she didn't even believe it was there. "Twilight Sparkle." Flash opened the box, revealing a small horn ring, a single diamond set into the gold band. He kneeled down on one hoof, proffering up the ring. "Will you marry me?" "I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I..." Twilight stuttered, aghast. "I have to go!" In a flash of light, Twilight disappeared, reappeared by Spike, picked him and their winter gear up, then disappeared again in another burst of light, leaving Flash standing, dumstruck, in his offering position. "Ooooh, awkward." Rarity cringed. "That... really wasn't the answer I was hoping for." A disheartened Flash declared. Twilight and Spike rematerialised back at the library. As Spike turned on the lights, Twilight started pacing frantically. "You okay, Twi?" Spike asked worriedly. "No, I'm not okay!" Twilight roared. "My coltfriend just poured his heart out to me, asking the biggest question in our relationship, and I teleported away like some scared little filly! I'm not even sure why I did that! What's wrong with me?!" "I'll get you some tea." Spike said nervously. "That oughta calm you down..." As Spike went into the kitchen, Twilight buried her face in her hooves. Her despair was cut short by a knock at the door. "Twilight?" Flash's voice called. "Are you in there?" Twilight opened the door with her magic. "Hey." Flash waved a hoof nonchalantly. "Oh, Flash!" Twilight sobbed, embracing him. "I'm so sorry!" "I can see that." Flash stroked her mane. "If you don't mind my asking, what happened back there?" "I don't know!" Twilight yelped. "When you pulled out that box, it felt like the world just turned upside-down, and all I could do was run away!" "I see." Flash said flatly. "I didn't mean to hurt you." Twilight told. "But it was just such a shock! Cadance told me that love is about feeling, but right now, I'm feeling an awful lot; anxiety, elation, uncertainty, trepidation, nervousness, fear... It's just too much!" "I'm sorry." Flash sighed. "I didn't think about how you would feel about this. I went and laid it on you from out of nowhere, just expecting you to say 'yes'." "It's not that I don't want to marry you." Twilight countered. "It's just... such a big step." "I know it is." Flash nodded. "But it's one I want to take with you. You are the love of my life, Twilight, and I want to be with you for the rest of lives." "Really?" Twilight smiled. "Really." Flash grinned. "Just think of it: You and me, together every day, from sunrise to sunset. Always there for each other, now and forever." "You make a compelling argument." Twilight admitted, her smile widening. "And besides, it's not like we'd have to get married right away." Flash pointed out. "The engagement can be as long as we want to be." "It can?" Twilight asked, her knowledge in such matters still limited. "The last thing I want to do is make you feel like you're rushing into anything." Flash admitted. "As long as it means having the perfect union with my perfect girl, I'm willing to wait as long you want to, and I'll be right there beside you, every step of the way, and beyond." "Oh, Flash..." Twilight flushed. "I'm so sorry I ran out on you before. The truth is, I'd love to-" "Ah-ah-ah." Flash stopped her, taking out the ring box again. "Let's make it official." "If you insist." Twilight rolled her eyes. "Twilight Sparkle, will you marry me?" Flash asked again, opening the box. "Yes, I will." Twilight smiled, levitating the ring out it's box and onto her horn. "WAAA-HOOO!" A familiar voice squealed from behind a nearby bush. "Pinkie!" Another familiar, tomboyish voice hissed. "You can come out now, girls." Twilight smirked. Her five friends emerged from behind the bush. "Sorry for the espionage, darling." Rarity apologised. "But we just had to know how this would all turn out." "Congrats, Twi!" Rainbow smiled. "I'm so happy for you." Fluttershy beamed. "Now I have to get to work on an engagement party!" Pinkie cheered. Spike wandered in from the kitchen, a cup of tea in his claw. He stopped when he saw everypony together, and Flash's ring on Twilight's horn. "Did I miss something?" He asked. "Only a lot." Twilight joked. "So, can I get a kiss from my blushing bride-to-be?" Flash purred. "Like you even have to ask." Twilight chuckled, wrapping her hooves around his neck and pressing her lips against his. "This is cute an' all, but can we get indoors now?" Applejack piped up. "If'n nopony's already noticed, the snow's pretty much knee-high out here, and Ah don't know about y'all, but Ah'm startin' tah freeze mah tail off." "Come on in, girls." Twilight offered. "Think you can manage a few more cups of tea, Spike?" "You got it." Spike nodded. "Might even throw in some of my special cupcakes, to mark the occasion..." Twilight's friends rushed into the library, giving her words of congratulations and hugs. "Another royal wedding." Rarity sighed. "I hope I can count on you to design the wedding dress." Twilight smiled. "But of course!" Rarity beamed. "And I'll ask the Cakes to whip up the bestest wedding cake ever!" Pinkie squealed. "Can I do the Sonic Rainboom at the wedding?" Rainbow asked. "Can I?" "Easy, gals." Flash chuckled. "The wedding's not happening just yet. And there's no rush." "That's right." Twilight smiled, nuzzling against Flash. "We're going to take our time." Spike returned with the tea and cupcakes. Together, they all celebrated the upcoming union. It may have been a cold Hearth's Warming Eve outside, but inside Twilight's heart, it had never been warmer.