//------------------------------//
// Revelation 
// Story: Truth 
// by Toraka 
//------------------------------//

"To Twilight!" shouted five ponies in unison. Six bottles collided, then turning to release their contents down thirsty ponies' throats. Soon they would be put onto the small pile already standing besides the table and be known by none other. Perhaps there were already too many of them stacked, Twilight thought. Then again, on a night like that one, she should be allowed to break the usual boundaries. Now that her friends were all assembled in talking, laughing, and drinking, it was too late for anything else either way.

It had started with more innocence. Knowing that her day was coming up, she had asked Pinkie Pie to co-organise something on that evening. Nothing big of course, she was already out of the age for that. Probably not even a party, just a small meeting between friends. It was pure coincidence that there also were cake, the odd present or two, and lots of hard cider, though it certainly was convenient. Ponies said that social codes and constraints were not pillars of structure, but oppressors. Alcohol, by that logic, was the great equaliser. Perhaps that was true; She had not expected Fluttershy ever to recount the watermelon incident from summer flight camp, not to mention the level of detail she was letting on. Though a clear red smudge across multiple points in her face hinted at the amount she had already drunk, her memory seemed unimpaired.

With some effort, Twilight managed to recall the time when everypony had arrived. They had cared a lot more about their appearances and sentences, unlike now. There had also been less clutter around the library, everything being in its set, immaculate order. It had not taken them long to break it. Then again, she was fairly certain that the sun had still been up when she had opened the door to welcome the others inside. Perhaps a sense of time was amongst the imperfections stripped away by alcohol's purifying influence. If it wasn't, then everyone would have had to have noticed how late they already were to return home. Alternatively, perhaps they knew but chose to stay with everypony else, for Twilight.

She chased the thought out of her mind, not a hard task considering the effort that had been required to hold it. She appreciated everything her friends did for her, but she always had to repress the notion to refuse their efforts. Instead of being a burden to them, she would rather have nothing at all happen. She had spent her time in Ponyville well, discovering the lessons Princess Celestia had secretly laid out for her. Though it could also have been the reason why she had been sent there in the first place. Within the serene haze that was Twilight's memory, cause and effect blended together until either was both. She could not care much for the loss, either.

A bang tore Twilight out of her thoughts. While she had been pondering the significance of life, Fluttershy had been overtaken by sleep and only narrowly avoided direct contact between her face and the table's edge. "Don't worry, she's fine," said Rarity, bending over her as the others rushed in. "I think this is about the time that we all listen to reason, if Twilight agrees." Following the obvious nod from Twilight, Rarity lowered her head and voice to a whisper. Either she hoped to achieve some secrecy, or she didn't wish to startle Fluttershy who was on the border of consciousness. "You've just had a bit too much for yourself. Let's get you home."

Watching Fluttershy be guided outside, Applejack said, "S'ppose it's for the better. You need help cleanin' up?"

"No, it's fine, I'll do it myself tomorrow." Surveying the damage, Twilight figured she could at least stack everything together for the next morning.

As she removed the last bottle, Rainbow Dash awoke back into reality. "Hey, I was using that!"

"Come along, sweetheart. You can crash at my place t'night." Ignoring Rainbow Dash's mumbled objections, Applejack heaved Dash onto her back. "Sleep well, Twilight," she then said before closing the door Rarity had left open.

"I will. Probably should get on that." Walking upstairs, she noticed one more pony sitting on the second floor's balcony. As only the moon illuminated the scene, it was pure luck she even saw her. Perhaps another pony, a more superstitious one, would have attributed it to fate. "Hey Pinkie Pie," she said, stepping into the chilling darkness herself. "Admiring the flowers?"

"Yeah, I guess," replied Pinkie. "You've really got a collection here. Some things I didn't even know they existed. Still you have all of them here... except the one you wear around your neck. What is that, anyway?"

"A piece of voidstone." Twilight held the pendant up with a hoof, not confident enough to use magic. Somehow, it blended in with the natural crepuscule better than expected, disappearing unless focused. "She said it's really rare, at least in this land. Serves to remember her." Twilight took a deep breath. As cool as the air was, it felt purer than crystal water. For a moment, she was mesmerised as she looked upwards; She was caught by the stars' beauty, constant yet ever shifting as the night itself. "I should come out here more often, for the plants as well as the sky."

With the most delicate of touches, Pinkie reached out for one of the flowers' petals. They shimmered with a thousand colours in the moonlight, even more so after the touch. "They are all so beautiful." After a moment filled only by chirring in the bushes, she murmured, "Like you."

"Excuse me?" As Twilight approached to hear her better, Pinkie retreated. "Care to repeat that?"

"I... I think you're the prettiest mare I've ever met and I can't imagine anyone I'd rather spend my time with than you." Despite Twilight's attempts to get a hold of her, Pinkie fled inside, the moon's glint reflecting in her eyes as she slid past. "At least now we can stop seeing each other. Stop the pain."

"Pinkie, it's... so do I." With a daring leap, Twilight closed the distance between them. This time, she didn't waste a moment before claiming the kiss they were due. Both of them were stained by the bitter cider, yet there was also an undeniable sweetness, the taste of newborn hope. "Why didn't we ask sooner," Twilight whispered before diving in for the second. Everything vile was gone, leaving behind only the flavour of their bond.

"I was afraid. See how much it took. But still –" Pinkie sighed "– we're both too drunk to remember this in the morning. It's all a waste." She climbed out from underneath Twilight and headed for the stairs.

"We will figure it out, I know it." Pinkie paused as Twilight called after her. "We won't let this disappear, not as long as it's still burning in our hearts. For now, it's just a secret, hidden from everypony until we're ready."

Pinkie looked back, wiping her eyes. "It is. Good night, Twilight, and happy birthday again." Without waiting for a response, she ran down the stairs, devoured by darkness after the first few steps.

"Indeed it is." Twilight pulled forth paper and quill. It was far too late already, but there was no excuse to delay. "Dear sober Twilight," she wrote before stopping again and turning away. As she went further up, a tiny flame welled up and consumed the paper. It was a secret.