It was the day of the party for the residential librarian. The pony for whom it was for was currently off searching for all the local flora and fauna as per requested by Princess Celestia.
Twilight would have asked for help from Fluttershy but felt that as it was an assignment she should do it on her own, though with the usual help from Spike, who was taking notes for the unicorn.
Since the lavender unicorn was out in the fields to study, she didn't see the library being readied for the party that night.
Applejack took care of the extra food stuff needed for the night. Rarity, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash helped to get the decorations up while Pinkie Pie took care of everything else and still found time to help her friends with their tasks.
It had all the usual party things; games, music, balloons, streamers and a giant banner proclaiming 'Happy Birthday Twilight!'. The whole color scheme was of Twilight's coloring, light purple, dark purple with pink every so often as a highlight.
Even though Pinkie Pie loved all the parties she throws, there was just something special about being surrounded by her crush's colors. She was very tempted to sit in the middle of the floor and lose herself to the colors, but she knew she had a party to pull off first before she could lose herself in the moment.
The Princess had thought ahead and as part of her instructions to her faithful student there was a set time when she was supposed to return to the library.
“I wonder why the Princess wanted me to go back at 7pm sharp? That's an unusual request...” Twilight looked to her assistant who walked next to her as they headed home.
The young dragon merely shrugged trying to keep a neutral expression on his face. He didn't want to ruin the surprise and opted to remain silent instead.
The lavender mare shrugged as well and opened the front door with her magic. As the two stepped inside, Twilight tried to turn on the lights to no avail and just as she was about to get worried about it the lights came on (seemingly by themselves) and her five friends shouted 'Surprise!' from where they had circled around her in the dark.
Twilight jumped a foot into the air with a slight arch to her form at the sudden appearance of her close friends and as she sat down patting her chest to slow her heart rate, took a look around the room. As she took in the scene before her, she couldn't help but smile at the well hidden surprise. Her thoughts turned to the lessened amount of work for the past week and her 'instructions' for the day, suspecting a certain sun princess's hoof in maintaining the secret. She laughed as she pulled her friends into a hug.
“My gosh you guys, this is great! Thank you! It was a complete surprise. And you got the Princess in on it too didn't you?” She pulled back enough to look at her friends as Rarity levitated a pink cone party hat onto the lavender mare's head.
“We're pleased you like it darling. Though Pinkie Pie set up most of this.”
“Yeah, Pinks even sent a letter to the Princess to make sure you wouldn't be too busy this week.” The pink mare was glad her coat color mostly hid her blushes as she scraped a hoof along the floor.
“Aww, it was nothing. I just wanted this party to be just right. Oh and while the Princess couldn't make it, she sends her regards! Oh and she has a gift for you that is now in the great big pile waiting for you to eat cake and cupcakes and have fun first!” Just as the party mare finished, Spike gave a little burp that presented a scroll from the Princess, stating much the same thing.
After Twilight gave the scroll a quick read she shook her head in amazement at how Pinkie can predict pretty much anything. As Twilight hugged the pink mare in thanks no one thought twice about the unicorn's blush, putting it down to having a surprise party for the first time, though it really was from the lengths that the pink mare was willing to go for her.
“Come on, we don't want the candles to melt into the cake, cause then it would be a candle cake and those are harder to eat and that and wouldn't be as fun!” Twilight laughed as Pinkie towed her to the cake in the shape of a the book Elements of Harmony, a Reference Guide, which was sitting on the table in the middle of the library.
The lavender mare took a moment to observe the great amount of detail that went into the cake. She had feeling that it was a certain pink baker that made such a good replica, as she noticed how the candles helped outline the unicorn on front. She could feel the hyper mare beside her bounce in place in excitement as her other friends made a circle around the cake facing the birthday pony.
Twilight thought for a moment before closing her eyes and blowing out the candles. All her friends gave a cheer (Fluttershy was even faintly heard) as Twilight opened her eyes once more.
“Did ya make a wish Sugarcube?” Twilight gave a small smile and blush as she nodded.
“Awesome! What was it? Come on, you gotta tell us!” RD hovered in excitement, wondering what the studious pony could possibly want.
“Ah ah ah.” Pinkie waved her hoof back and forth at each word.
“You can't tell others your wish, 'cause then it wouldn't come true! Then what would the point of making it be?” The pink mare nodded sagely as the cyan peagasus dropped back onto the ground with a dejected 'awww'. Twilight's smile became sheepish as she rubbed a hoof along the back of her head, glad for the excuse to not say what she wished for in front of everyone.
After everyone had some cake, they made Twilight open her gifts next. Rainbow Dash got Twilight the latest Daring Do figurine (from Daring Do and the Empire of the Crystal Skull), Fluttershy got Twilight a book on the local fauna and flora (Twilight sensed Princess Celestia knew about this gift and that Twilight wouldn't have had the time to conduct a proper research in the span of a day and that she could use the book to help finish her report), Rarity gave her a light blue raincoat that went along with Applejack's gift of rain-boots (which were a darker blue), Spike got Twilight a globe of the world and Pinkie Pie gave her a book on cooking ('Cooking from the Ground Up, Starting with the Basics').
After more words of appreciation were given, the seven friends partied long into the night. While Pinkie Pie did make sure everyone had fun, she made extra sure the pony of her heart wanted for nothing. While most did not take note of this behavior, a certain romance minded pony saw the extra attention the lavender mare got from the pink one and Twilight's response to it (which came as blushes and slight fluttering). Rarity went in search of the only other pony who would see it for what it was and not cause a big scene about it.
“My dear, do you see how Pinkie Pie is just fawning over Twilight?” Green eyes looked up from the second helping of apple cupcakes to the two ponies in question, whereas Pinkie was offering more cupcakes to Twilight who turned them down only to have her personal space invaded as Pinkie Pie checked her forehead with a hoof to see if she was feeling ok.
“I dunno Rare. Seems like the same ol' Pinkie Pie tah me.” The two friends watched as Twilight tried to insist that she was fine when Pinkie pulled out a small triangle hammer (neither one wanted to think from where) and held it out toward the lavender unicorn who frantically pushed it away while putting a hoof to the pink earth pony's chest as a means of both reassuring and keeping her at a distance.
As the two spectators watched, it seemed as though Pinkie Pie's face became a shade darker at the touch and she slowly lowered the hammer while nodding. They both watched as Twilight changed the subject to the nearby games and laughed as Pinkie Pie pulled out three sets of chess boards and placed them together (to the confusion of the two watching). As the two friends played three layered chess, the two watchers turned to each other.
“Alright, so maybe it's a little odd. But it is Pinkie Pie. And remember, not even two months ago Twilight freaked out when the Princess came tah visit and Fluttershy tried to help Filamina get better. They both can be odd when the mood takes them.” Applejack said with a shrug.
“Oh shush. You have no sense of romance.” Rarity said with a flip of her mane.
“Tha' might be. The farm keeps a pony busy. But Ah also don't go seeing romance when it could just be two best friends havin' a bit o' fun together.” Rarity hmphed and turned to go sit with the more understanding Fluttershy who was playing a round of battle clouds with Rainbow Dash as Applejack just chuckled to herself at the fashionista's antics.
Twilight, on the other hoof, was both intrigued and enjoyed the extra attention. While she liked how Pinkie made sure she didn't need anything, she also knew that this was going overboard just a little, even for the hyperactive mare.
With Pinkie being so close by, Twilight didn't feel like having as much cupcakes, which Pinkie Pie somehow took to mean that the lavender unicorn was sick. Luckily after that misunderstanding, she was willing to play some games instead. Inside though was a grand debate of epic proportions for the lavender unicorn.
(Don't take it the wrong way. You know how she gets when it comes to parties. She's just making sure the mare of honor is having a great time.... But she's never gone THIS far for them. I mean, really?
Assuming that I was sick because I'm not eating as many cupcakes, surely that's taking it a bit far. Well, you never know for sure, being sick would mean that you can't have fun and are most likely unhappy, so she could just be making sure everyone is happy...
But she's hanging on my every word!But she does that for everyone on their birthday...
But to this extent?) The internal debate continued throughout the party, unbeknown to everyone else.
Also unknown to everyone else was how the pink mare's thoughts were going a hundred miles a minute as well.
(ooohhh, does she need any punch? No, no punch. Oh, how about a message? No message? But she looks tense! Was that a moment of confusion mixed with hope mixed with anxiety? What would make her make that kind of face? GASP! Was it something I said? What DID I say? Now I can't remember, maybe because I'm talking really really quickly? Nah, it must be something else. Oooo.... Oh I know!)
The two friends had finished their chess game and were just chatting when Pinkie jumped up and began to bring lots of extra things to the unicorn, in an attempt to make sure the lavender pony was happy.
She brought cupcakes (“No Pinkie, I'm not hungry.”), punch (“Did you have to bring the whole bowl?”), pillows (“I'm not tired yet.”), blankets (“... I'm not cold either...”), a couple of books (“I appreciate the thought, but I don't really feel like reading.”), the music player (“I could hear it just fine from where it was...”), along with various games and do-dads.
By this point all other conversation and activity dropped off as the others watched the scene before them, while trying to decide if they should be concerned or laugh at the pink mare's antics.
“Piiiinkiiieee.” Twilight whined from the bottom of the pile as everyone gave in and just laughed while Pinkie brought her head closer and fluttered her eyelashes at the lavender mare.
“Yes, Twilight?”
Twilight sighed as she used her magic to lift everything off of herself.
“I was doing fine without all this stuff, Pinkie. Though I appreciate the thought. Let's put these back and just enjoy the party, alright?” She said with a smirk as she put everything back with her magic.
Soon the party returned to normal with the exception that any time Pinkie began to get anxious about whether or not the unicorn was truly enjoying herself, Twilight would rest a hoof on her shoulder and smile while reassuring the mare. Twilight was nearly positive that she was getting extra attention, though she would need extra study to be sure of the theory.
They partied until well into the night and only stopped when they couldn't consume any more sugar to cause a sugar buzz to stay awake. Spike had fallen asleep a few hours earlier and had been long since been put in bed.
As the friends began to head home from the party with the tougher ones escorting the more feminine and fragile ones, Fluttershy escorted by Rainbow Dash and Rarity escorted by Applejack, Pinkie Pie stayed behind to help clean up. As the last of the streamers were put away, Twilight gave a yawn as she looked at the other mare.
“That was a great party Pinkie. Thanks again.”
“No problem Twilight, anything for the best pony in Ponyville.” Twilight blushed at the praise.
“Have you checked your new book yet? Did you like it? Did you want to anything from it? I so totally wouldn't mind helping you learn how to cook some more!” The pink mare leaned towards the lavender one as she looked at her with hope and excitement in her blue eyes. Twilight rubbed the back of her head with a hoof.
“I'm sorry Pinkie. I haven't had the chance to look at it yet, though it does look good.” Pinkie's whole demeanor drooped. “We could take a look at it right now if you want though!”
At this the pink mare perked right back up and hopped over to the book before plopping down next to the lavender mare. Twilight laughed as she laid down as well while opening the book to the first page where a note was hoof-written in, waiting for her.
[Hey Twilight! I knew you said you can't cook but maybe you just need a whole book just for cooking! I'll always be around to help, so let me know when you've picked something you want to try and make!]
Twilight gave a small nudge and smile to the mare beside her who blushed and smiled in return.
As Twilight continued to read the book, pausing to look at some of the recipes that held her interest, Pinkie Pie hopped in place, never quite leaving from her spot on the floor. She was excited at both the idea of more hang out time and the fact that she was sitting right next to the one she'd want to have as her special somepony. She looked at the lavender mare beside her, dazed by the unicorn's entire being.
“So which one do you-” Twilight began to ask as she turned her head to look at the mare beside her when it happened.
The two mares were so close together that all it took was for both of them to face each other to accidentally kiss. Even as both felt warmth spread from all the places that touched (their sides, their hooves and their lips) they froze in place, worried about the other's reaction.
After a moment where neither one moved away, Pinkie felt the spark of hope rise into a flame and she deepened the kiss by a small amount, both to test the waters and to enjoy the one chance she may have to kiss the mare of her dreams. Her eyelids drooped to half-mast at the feelings coursing through her, though she wanted to make sure of the unicorn's reaction, in case it went too far.
Twilight's brain shut off as all her senses went into overdrive. She could smell the pink mare's usual scent of baked goods, vanilla and icing. She could feel everywhere they touched as well as Pinkie's breath from her nose and how perfectly still everything was. She saw the spark turn to flame in blue eyes as well as when Pinkie deepened the kiss. This lit her own internal flames as all previously debated emotions and reactions were thrown out the mental window and the lavender mare kissed back.
Pinkie could hardly contain her excitement as she felt the kiss returned and deepened. Neither mare wanted the moment to end and breathed through their noses as the kiss went farther and became a little more heated. Pinkie Pie put her hooves around the unicorn's neck as Twilight in turn put her hooves around the pink mare's barrel as each pulled the other closer.
Soon the need for a full breath of air became too much and they pulled away at the same time before resting their foreheads together. They both gasped lightly, one with blue eyes open and a large grin on her face while the other had her eyes closed though she did have a small smile which grew as she she opened her eyes to look at the pink mare before her.
“Wow. That was -” Began the studious pony, trying to find the right words to describe the feelings she was experiencing.
“AWESOME!” Gushed the pink mare as she hugged the lavender one, knocking the mare over on the floor. Twilight's smile grew even more.
“Yes. Yes it was.” Pinkie drew Twilight closer once more as she nuzzled her neck.
“Please say this means you like me as much as I like you, like like like you, and you want to be my very own special somepony and you won't ever leave Ponyville 'cause I'd be so lonely and things would get boring and -” Pinkie had looked up at Twilight, who was a puddle of warm fuzzies and if she wasn't already, the tirade would have made it so.
The lavender unicorn silenced the mare of her heart with a kiss and while she didn't want to end the feelings she got from it, she needed to respond to the heartfelt plea. Blue eyes sparkled as they looked into purple which melted at the sight before them.
“I do like you Pinkie. Like 'like' like you. I wouldn't dream of leaving Ponyville and I would be extremely honored and pleased to be your special somepony if you'd be mine.” Twilight moved her hooves so that one was across pink shoulders while the other brought Pinkie's head closer so that she could nuzzle the top of the pink mare.
Pinkie responded by hugging the lavender pony even more and cheered.
“Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa~~”
Twilight laughed lightly as she squeezed back. After a minute (during which Pinkie hadn't taken a breath or paused as she continued to cheer) Twilight looked at the mare from where she lay when the hyper pony knocked her over.
“Pinkie? What do we do now?” She couldn't help but be slightly anxious, it was unknown territory that they were heading into. Pinkie looked back at her special somepony and saw the smidgen of uncertainty, and while she didn't have a whole lot of experience in this area, she knew what would set the mare of her heart at east.
“I vote cuddling! Cuddling is good and comfy and warm and -” Twilight silenced her once more with a light kiss. Twilight loved how Pinkie was trying to set her at ease, even if it was a little wordy.
“And kisses. Kisses are good too.” The pink mare was a little shocked at all the kisses she was getting from the normally reserved pony but she wasn't going to put up a fuss about it.
Twilight giggled at the love-struck face of Pinkie's and had a feeling she was wearing a similar smile. Pinkie soon joined in the giggling as Twilight levitated a blanket and pillows over so that they didn't have to move from where they were currently cuddling.
They spent the night in each other's hooves, content and happy. Both couldn't believe their luck that the other returned their feelings and both mentally agreed that this was the best night ever.
The next morning Spike found them still on the ground floor in each other's embrace. After waking up and having been found in such a situation, they had to come clean and tell the young dragon the news. The small dragon was surprised but after thinking about the past few months, it made sense in a way. And so long as Twilight was happy, then it was fine.
And so Ends the journey of two mares to give voice to what they felt for one another.
Now they must face the hazards of a relationship,
which is a Story for Another Time.