//------------------------------//
// Joust and Bonfire 
// Story: Honey(on the)moon 
// by James Rye 
//------------------------------//

	The joust field was huge with a joust railing in the mid and much space around it with many terraces on each side. Thestrals in their armors drawn in different colors warmed up for their part of the tournament while moonies and thestrals sat down on their seats. Luna and Rainbow walked up to a Batpony in a golden armor who oversaw the warming up phase of the contestant. The captain had like all thestrals a dark coat with grey undertones but his cat like eyes were blue instead of the typical yellow, his moss-green hair was long and braided with black cloth ties. A few scars adored his neck and face proving that he had his fair amount of fights in his life. Luna nodded briefly to him as he bowed before his princess.

"Greetings, Captain Stardust Chaser. I have another contestant for your tournament."
The captain wrinkled his left eyebrow at her request. He opened his mouth and a clicking sound escaped it. Rainbow blinked confused at this weird sound in different shrill pitches. 

"Yes, it's a last minute entry and I know you already have all bases covered." The Captain's mouth made another series of clicking sounds.

"She's more than just a guest, dear Captain. Rainbow Dash is not only famous for being the element Loyalty of the elements of harmony which freed me and the moonfolk but also for being one of the best Wonderbolts ever in their history." Luna had a sly half-smile on her face as she expected her overly prideful and a bit too full of himself captain to take the bait. He did.
After a series of clicking sounds which sounded a bit like scornful laughter, the Captain gave Rainbow the place and number of a rookie batpony guard who didn't looked all that disappointed to not have to went on the joust field.

"What was up with those weird clicks?" Rainbow asked still weirded after the captain had walked away and Luna led the pegasus to the armory.
"When my sister punished their ancestors, she didn't simply silenced their voices. She just changed them, to fit the other changes on their bodies. Their ears can hear way better than anypony can and while their eyes see better in the night than most of us, they can fly blind thanks to their voice echolot and their ear hearing it hitting their surroundings. It's how they were able to fly and live in the lightless tunnels and sunless caves deep inside the mountains. They soon created a new language with audible clicks, a mix of speech and morse codes. Though they also established wing and hoof signs similar to mute ponies in Equestria to talk with other races who can't understand their clicks."

Rainbow knew Twilight would loved to read some books about those batponies to learn their language and culture. Maybe they could used a day of their honeymoon to read in the library of the hotel or in Luna's palace to find out more about the thestrals. And if Luna could teach them their language Twilight would be overjoyed with all the new knowledge she gained through this vacation. The best way would be of course to befriend somepony of the thestrals and spend some time with them. The opening of a door brought Rainbow back to the present. She looked past Luna into a big room with many armors, helmets and weapons.
"Here's the armory. Time to chose your gear, Rainbow Dash."

Luna helped Rainbow to get out of her yukata and put on her silver armor with purple coloring, very fitting for Rainbow's taste. It was a bit different than the one she had carried in the Crystal empire, mostly because of the three shields with red circles on then added to it; a big one on her chest and two small ones on the sides of her helmet as well as leather and metal covering her exposed neck. It should be much heavier than the one on earth yet Rainbow felt like it was her normal weight without anything on. Must be the moon's gravity, I felt way too light ever since we landed here, thought Rainbow.
Luna explained the tournament rules while helping Rainbow to get ready in the last minute before the tournament.

"In the first round you go up once against three opponents, you need to hit the shield to get points. A graze hit is one point, a full hit on the chest two points and a full hit on the helmet shield three points. First and second place advanced to the quarterfinals where you go up three times against an opponent, most points wins, in a draw you go up again. Same for the semi-final and finals. The lances ends are soft and covered in clothes to ease the impact, but be careful, my guards will go all out and a full hit can still hurt a lot and I don't want to feel the wrath of your wife cause of a cracked rib of yours. 
Especially Stardust is determined to win today. I believe he has, what do you call it nowadays, the hots for me but he became very arrogant lately towards his own people and the moonies ever since I appointed him to be the captain of my guards. I think it kind of went to his head. That's why I agreed to let you in, I hope you can teach my captain some lessons in humility."

"Don't worry, princess. I have my own reasons to win this and nopony can stop me once I've set my eyes on a goal," assured Rainbow Luna. "And it has nothing to do with kissing you, just to make it clear."

"I thought so. Good luck then, Rainbow Dash."
"Pff, I need no luck with those babies," said Rainbow beating her wings up and down twice. Luna left Rainbow as she joined the others on the VIP stand and Rainbow walked up to the thestrals in line in front of it.

The crowd became silent as princess Luna walked up to the dais and hold a speech at full volume to welcome each and everyone of them and wished the contestant much success in the joust.
"May the best pony win and claim crown, title and your princess lips!" ended her speech.
The moonies cheered so loudly that the terrace shook. The thestrals raised their lances silently whereas Rainbow shouted her excitement as loudly as the crowd.

"Rainbow! Come over here!" waved Twilight to the armored pegasi.
Rainbow flew up to her wife, doing some spins and turns she would hardly be able to do on earth with this attire. The armor's weight meant nothing to her up here.

"Check it out, Twi. Don't I look the best in Uniform?"
Twilight's smile flinched slightly, remembering the same sentence Rainbow had used when she first showed her her Wonderbolt costume when she got into the team. Rainbow facehoofed herself in her mind.
Ah, crap. Why didn't I said armor?

"Anyway, why did you call me, I'll be up soon." The group screamed loudly as Stardust Chaser send a batpony flying with a straight hit on its chest. Twilight's smile returned to normal, with some worry glimmering in her eyes.

"I wanted to give you this scarf. In the old times of Equestria, joust contestant had asked for some lucky charm of the mare they courted. Do you want to take it?"

"Of course I do! With a luck charm from you there's no way I'd lose. Thank you, love." Rainbow bowed forward and gave Twilight a nuzzle to the nose with hers, Twilight nuzzled back into the nose kiss and tied her scarf around Rainbow's lance with her magic. Rainbow blowed Twilight a kiss before she flew down on the field for her first match.

It was over in an heartbeat and she lost it spectacular. Rainbow didn't got a single point and her opponent, a female batpony with light purple hair and a grey and a white streak in it, got two points for hitting her straight in the chest shield. Worse was less that she had lost or gotten no points, but that said hit made the proud pegasi eat moondirt. That's not how she had imagined the start of her plan.

Rainbow gritted her teeths, the thestrals were more used to the moon's gravity to run on it whereas she was unused to it. The pegasus had a hard time to determinate how much distance her opponent would run in what time, it got her badly as she hasn't prepared her lance timely and got surprised by the sudden burst in the female guard's speed.

But now thanks to it, she had an sorta feel for it. She bowed before the female batpony as thanks for the good match, but she just walked away, not even bothering to look at her. Some moonies booed though Rainbow could understand the cold treatment. For those descendants of the Windbolts it was a smack to the cheek to have to face a Wonderbolt in "their" tournament, even if it was a retired one. Rainbow looked at the white scarf on her lance and then on its worried owner in the VIP stand. This would be the last time she lost, she couldn't afford more losses.

The next match was against a young guard rookie who had lost his first fight as well 0-2 against a huge veteran batpony. He grinned as he smelled a chance to get easy points with the pegasus. Rainbow squinted her eyes, she would show him why she her name was spoken in the same breath with Spitfire and Fleetfoot. The gong sounded and both ponies run up to each other, lances aimed at each other. Five steps before they meet halfway the run, Rainbow rushed the distance with a single step and beat with her wings. The young thestral widened his eyes, his lance swayed in surprise at the rainbow-maned pegasus suddenly being up close to his face, Rainbow moved hers slightly, eyes set on his chest shield and then it connected while the opponent's lance missed her helmet shield by a mile.

A loud crack was heard as the batpony was hit full in the center and lost his balancing. He rolled into the moondust, unhurt but still without points. The crowd exploded and cried out Rainbow's name again and again, cheering for the underdog to have a chance to get nominated for the quarterfinals. Depending on how the other two fight's goes out. If both somehow manages to get a hit on the other's helmet shield at the same time, I'll hardly have a chance to advance, measured Rainbow her chances.

But she was lucky. The huge male guard and female guard's match ended with 2-1 in favor for the mare. She had feinted a hit on the veteran's helmet shield who tried to hit her first on the chest by leaning forward, when the mare suddenly crossed her forelegs, moving her body out of the way and used her wing to change the lance's end down.
The Veteran pony immediately saw no chance to escape the hit and tried to get one himself, moving his lance after his target, but she was already out of range. He just managed to get a graze, while she got a full-hit on his chest shield. Though it barely had any impact it still counted as a two point hit.

The veteran panted disappointed while the much younger winner did a salto to celebrate her victory and as good as nomination for the next round of the tournament as the rookie will hardly be an opponent for her skill.

Yet she was slightly mistaken as the rookie managed to surprise with an unexpected slowdown of his run, fully expecting the hit which even splintered the purple-maned thestral's lance. But he easily managing to hit the female's chest shield as well, withstanding the impact of her hit. This time he didn't fall and while the mare staggered, she managed to stay on her hooves. Both bowed before each other respectfully, something Rainbow doubted she would receive anytime soon from them in this joust.

Then it was her time against the veteran pony. All he needed was a two point hit and Rainbow had no chance to advance. And even if Rainbow hit his shield helmet as long as he got a hit on the chest, he won by default due Rainbow's zero point loss in her first match. Rainbow put the white scarf on her lance close to her forehead, closing her eyes to concentrate on her breathing, before she walked up to her running start point.
Her opponent snorted disparaging, Rainbow paid it no mind.

Unlike in the other matches both begun to walk slowly, Rainbow cause she planned to surprise with a speed burst, the veteran cautious because he wanted to win this for sure. They increased their speed the closer and closer they came to the midpoint of the joust field.Then the Veteran picked up his speed to max, lance concentrated on her shield. Rainbow moved her lance up to the level of his head, clearly showing her intent to hit his helmet shield. The Veteran allowed a short grin the second before they would passed each other, he foresaw an obvious feint just like in his last match. Just in case he moved his head slightly away and presented his shield chest more towards Rainbow Dash, luring her in to attack it though he knew as long as he hit he got this in the bag.

Two steps before Rainbow meet her opponent, she breathed out in her mediated breathing method. Her right leg leaned forward in the next step, the veteran's lance near her shield. Her left leg followed, moving a step aside and leading downwards which lowered her body's hit zone. Her left wing spread out to keep her balance so she wouldn't fall down at this speed. Her right one kept her lance aimed on the head and thrusted forward. Their lances crossed each other. The sounds of metal being hit and lances getting broken vibrated through the warm air, suppressed by the cries of the excited audience.

Rainbow beat her left wing to compensate for the sudden impact on her right side. She pushed forward with both hind legs to get up back into a more balanced position. She slowed down her trot and looked back to her opponent, panting heavily. The end of her lance hung on a wood splinter, she had hit his head shield fully, but she had also felt a hit of him on the right side of her shield. She was too scared to look down.

Her opponent laid down on the ground, his helmet a few metres away from him and a dust trail showed how far he had slided after her score on his helmet shield. He sat up, looking around confused and blinking, then he saw the helmet and Rainbow Dash still standing. He concentrated his sight on her shield and saw a dent on it, halved by the edge. It was only a graze shot. Luna declared Rainbow the victor of the third match. Relieved Rainbow bowed to the veteran guard. He just looked away ashamed.
The terraces shouted her name at the top of their lungs as did Twilight and Luna and their friends with them. Rainbow smiled proudly and raised her cracked lance, the white scarf fluttered in the wind.
Gonna need a new one.

Rainbow's quarterfinal came up quickly and was done just as quickly. Her opponent had fought in his last match against the Captain and lost miserably. After his hit on the helmet, he had fallen unlucky and sprained one of his legs. He limped towards his starting position and when the gong came his run started slow and ended in a pained hiss as his lance almost hit the ground. Rainbow was still fit and could have easily landed a score on his shield helmet, her lance was raised and ready to hit it.

But then Rainbow thought differently, moved her lance aside and passed her opponent, neither of them scoring a hit. Luna flew down and asked him if he could continue. He shook his head and Rainbow won by default. The audience applauded her for her sportponyship. Her bow to the match's loser was answered with an of himself disappointed nod. Rainbow didn't even wanted to imagine how it would feel to be in his position especially with her idea in mind. For her there was more on stake than just a victory and its prizes.

Her opponent for the semi-finals was the female thestral she had lost to in her first match, she won by knocking out the other contestant in the second round.
Rainbow didn't wanted to let this chance slip aside, this time she would beat her.

Captain Stardust Chaser had a tough opponent and had to went up three times against him, despite the guard not even scoring a single point against his captain. Rainbow grinned, she might had a chance after all. But first remained the semi-final to be won.

When they both walked to their starting point, the purple-maned mare hold up a hoof to wish for a time-out. Luna allowed it and the batpony used it to make some signs with her wings and hooves incomprehensible to Rainbow though she knew that she was meant with them.
But what she did understand was when the guard pointed at her, hit with the same hoof on her shield with a loud clang sound and bowed before her: Rainbow had earned her respect. The moonies applauded loudly as Rainbow answered her respectful bow with her own.

"What did the mare said, Luna?" asked Twilight, making a mental note to read some books about hoof and wing signs. Luna smiled as she together with the ones around her applauded to this display of true sportsponyship shown by the guard.

"That Rainbow is a true warrior and that she's very honored to fight her."
Twilight smiled proudly of her Rainbow, looking at the athlete, growing with the hurdles thrown at her, earning the respect she deserved and the admiration of the crowds she desired. It was just like when she had been in the Wonderbolts and was close to become their new figurehead, the Captain of the Wonderbolt. And then she had given all of that up to carry her feather. It did made Twilight happy that Rainbow had chosen her over her job, her dream, but it still left a stale taste when she thought that she basically had forced Rainbow to chose between those two. She had worked so hard to find a way for her love to keep both, even thought about giving up her princess title but Celestia didn't wanted to hear about that option. And then Rainbow had just gone and declared her retirement in public and thus ended her search for a solution to keep Rainbow's dream alive.

Now Rainbow was fighting for some reason she couldn't hold grasp on and she feared that it was because of this: The applause and praise of the audience, the respect and envy of the other contestant, the adrenaline rush when a move succeeded because of her skills. Twilight's clapping slowly died out and was the first to end. Suddenly she felt all alone and quiet in a sea of applause and cries.

Rainbow couldn't noticed Twilight's inner turmoil. She felt her spirits roar and grinned eagerly. Both ponies set into motion and crossed lances for the first time in the semi-finals.
Both had aimed for the other's chest and evaded the incoming hit slightly thus both ended up with only one graze point in their first match as both were unable to follow the evasion with their lances thrusts.

In their second round it was the other way around, both aimed at the head and moved downwards to hit the chest as their heads moved slightly to escape the incoming head-thrust. Both lances shattered as the force behind their hits made both ponies fall onto the ground. The crowd groaned shocked as both ponies laid on the ground. Rainbow gasped and took needed air back into her hurting lungs.

"Rainbow!"

Twilight jumped up from her seat, terrified that Rainbow might have gotten hurt or even got inner injuries. Jerome covered Buffy's eyes who tried to push them away to see what's happening. Larry looked worried at the cool Luna and agitated Twilight who looked like she was about to jump from the VIP stand and rush to her wife's side.

"Luna! This is too much! Rain- somepony could get hurt if this continues!" protested Twilight, feeling that this joust had gone too far if its endangers her love's health.

"Of course, this isn't a Crystal pony joust, but a Thestral one. I had to forbade them to use real lances as I doubted the Moonies would enjoy this tournament as much if instead of bruises and hurt pride, we have broken bones and deep stabs. Rainbow already realized the risks when she said she wanted to join a joust made for guards. She is fighting there, willing to win but not for herself. Have you noticed how often she looked at the scarf you gave her as lucky charm? From me and probably anypony else, a good luck wish wouldn't have meant much as she trust her skills to get her through everything. But it's your lucky charm she takes strength of. She's fighting for you, I don't know the exact reason, but I think she's trying to prove you a point. Support Rainbow if you really cheer for her victory. Don't stop her because you're worried about her health."

Luna's eyes hasn't left the field as she watched the batpony stand up and shake off the dust on her armor while Rainbow still laid on the ground, breathing heavily. Soon she would had to enter the field and decide whenever or not Rainbow could continue the match. Twilight gritted her teeth, then she turned towards the field and shouted in her best royal voice impression.

"Stand up, Rainbow! Didn't you told me that there's no way you could lose? Then show me that you're a mare of your word and win this! I believe in you!"

Rainbow grinned, still feeling the pain in her chest. This would leave a bruise for the honeymoon. Then again she could used it as excuse to make Twilight kiss it better to ease the pain.

"Ugh, like I gonna disappoint you. No need to shout. It takes more than this to take the Rainbow Dash down," grunted the bruised up pegasus to herself as she slowly fought her way up to stand on her four hooves. Once she did, she picked up her lance. She kissed the dirtied scarf and raised the lance as thanks to the terrace, looking to the seat where Twilight sat, causing an encouraging cheer from the crowd.

Twilight felt her heart beat faster as she clapped and shouted louder than anyone else in the terrace to spur Rainbow on to decide this last round for herself and advance to the finals. The last match where Captain Stardust Chaser was already waiting after his overwhelming victory in the semi-finals.

Rainbow took stand in her starting place. She tried to calm down her rapid breathing and get back into a pattern. Her opponent was good, as good as her if not better. And that she wasn't Captain of Luna's guards spoke volumes of the strength that Stardust must had in him to lead ponies like her. She couldn't help but smirk as she started to run with her lance raised high, waiting for the right time to drop in for a thrust. She had missed this the past weeks, no matter how much she tried to convince Twilight and herself differently. Ever since she has left the Wonderbolts she had missed it. This one little thing.

The wondering if somepony else was faster and better than her, the challenge stirring in her to prove her worth in face of stronger opponents and the feel of accomplishment when she won. She became faster and faster just like the batpony in front of her. Her lance already sank down slowly while Rainbow's was still raised.

But what I missed the most... 

Her lance begun to sink slowly, taking aim.

...was not the adrenaline rush...

Rainbow squinted her eyes and hold her breath as less than three metres were apart of her and the female guard.

...nor the applause and admiration...

Rainbow put a full stop to her motion the moment she felt the lance was about to hit her.

...not even my teammates and fans!

The impact pushed all thoughts out of her mind, leaving only white pain in her head. The lance of the guard dashed to shivers under the force, but Rainbow didn't faltered and the unexpected strength of her stand proved to be successful. The thestral mare movement was halted for a mere second, enough time for Rainbow to move forward, move her lance sidewards and thrust upwards, resulting in a hit at the helmet shield.

Rainbow staggered forward before she collapsed while the Thestral stopped her run, slowly realized that she had been hit and lost the match. Expect her blue opponent wouldn't be able to stand up anymore. Worried the guard ran to the pegasus on the ground. The entire crowd in the terraces and around it stood up, worried whispers filled the air. Twilight had her hooves before her mouth while Luna begun to wonder if it had been a good idea to let Rainbow enter the competition.
The thestral mare nudged Rainbow carefully, fearing the worst when suddenly the pegasi jumped up into the air with a loud shout.

"Buwaaaah! Hah! Hahaha, got you all! What? You thought this was it for me? Sorry to disappoint some of you but this pegasi ain't stopping till she won this joust!"
Rainbow's vociferated words resulted into a huge uproar, a cacophony of thousands of voices calling out her name, over and over again, mixed with shrill screams and lots of clapping and stamping on the terraces ground. Rainbow Dash still knew how to work the crowd like a music director.

However she ignored the rain of admiration and appreciation, blocked out thousands of voices, searching and listening to the one voice she wanted to hear in this turbulent sea of sounds. A sound, most pleasing to her ears, refreshing like a shower after a harsh training to her body and as warming as a blanket in the cold evening to her heart. A voice of pure euphony: Twilight's voice calling out her name.
Yeah, this was it.

What I missed the most was her voice cheering me on.

Rainbow smiled and waved towards the purple pony who was jumping up and down, ignoring the state of her clothes getting slightly loose and her hairdo undone.

The thestral mare came up to her and gave her a slap on the back with an acknowledging look saying “I had no idea you're that kinda crazy pony”. Rainbow grinned back and hold out a hoof. The guard's yellow eyes looked puzzled at the offered hoof, before she realized how her opponent wanted to pay her respects. Not with a bow like athletes, but with a hoofbump like friends after a good match. Her lips moved into a toothy smile and her hoof connected with Rainbow's briefly.
And the crowd went wild again.

Luna flew up over the joust field, turning towards the terraces which was swarming with moonfolk and thestrals. She raised her hooves and waited for them to calm down a little before she spoke to them in her royal voice.
"Dear audience! I see and hear that you all are burning for the finals!" Loud cheers agreed with Luna's observation.
"Then I will no longer annoy you with meaningless blabber and say let the final begin: Stardust Chaser versus Raaaaaaaainbow Dash!"
The terraces shaked upon the noise made by the moonies and thestrals.

Rainbow walked to her starting point, swallowing her spit. It hurted, just as every breath left a sting in her side. The armor and lance felt heavier than in the matches before. And her opponent looked as fresh, fit and strong as in his first match. Rainbow snorted determined. She didn't had come so far to lose in the end. Especially not to somepony who looked at her with so much disdain in the skyblue eyes.

She breathed in and out, then the gong sounded and they run towards each other.
Her breathing was heavy, too heavy. Somehow it wasn't easy to hold the lance towards Stardust, its end felt like a bar of iron. She could see the lance of Stardust aimed on her chest shield. She would sidestep and thrust towards his to get a score and him only a graze point. Then suddenly his lance's end was in her face's front.

Shocked Rainbow stopped her run and threw her head aside, too late realizing it had been just a feint to made her do this to expose her headshield for a better hit. Which Stardust did with all his strength. Rainbow saw the darkening sky of the moon with the blue and green planet filling out half of it for some seconds. She wondered where the ground had gone before she hit it with her back. Grey dust fogged her view.

Her head rung and she groaned. The shield and helmet as well as the cloth around the lance had turned this hit of Stardust into only a headache and bump on it. If those measures weren't there, it would have cracked her skull open easily. But that didn't eased the pain much, especially not the one to know that she hasn't felt anything on her lance's end. She was without a point in the first round.

Where's my lance anyway?
She saw that it was behind her, she had lost hold of it when she got hit and the scarf was grey of moondust. Groggily she tried to stand up but ended on her butt, blinking away the white and black dots in her sight. Then she heard a clicking and saw Stardust walking towards her. She couldn't understood what he just said, but she could feel how he had said it: Arrogantly and malicious.

Her eyes widened as she saw what the guard captain did.

He went to her fallen lance and picked the scarf up, ripping it away from her lance and tied it around his own. Shouldering his scarf decorated lance he looked down at the open-mouthed pegasus who couldn't believe what her opponent had just done to spite her. Neither could the princesses and the audience who were speechless for mere seconds, before they interrupted in boo's and swears. Even Stardust Chaser's many fans amongst the thestrals and moonies thought he went to far.

Twilight was swearing so madly that if she were still Celestia's student, the princess would have teleported at her side and washed her mouth out with a big soap. But the only princess besides her watched the happenings sadly, cold disappointment glooming silently in her cyan eyes.
Abruptly Rainbow jumped back to her hooves. Her pain and fatigue were washed away by a red flood of anger and wrath.

"Give that back!", she screamed, louder than the audience's collected noise. With a shake of his head and a toothy grin Stardust refused. he walked back to his starting point, ostentatious slowly, the lance with the damaged scarf wavering in the air. Rainbow steamed and gritted her teeths. She was so close to just tackle that bastard and beat him into the ground, but that wasn't her goal. She closed her eyes briefly and looked then to the seat where Twilight was close to erupting into fire if she wasn't controlling her rage.

Larry had forgotten all of his tact as mayor and shook his feathery fist threateningly at the batpony captain, who ignored the uproar of the crowd and bowed in the princess of the night direction before he turned to face Rainbow Dash. Jerome had his hands full to hold Buffy back from jumping down onto the field and kick Stardust's butt.

Rainbow smiled and the blusterous flood inside her receded with the view at Twilight who had stopped swearing and was just looking intensely at her wife in armor, conveyed her wish unspoken. Rainbow nodded and walked towards her lance. Sadly she looked at the few tiny scarf remains on the ground when she picked up her scarf-less lance.

She bowed deeply before the princess of her heart and flew to her starting point for the second round of the final. Her pain was forgotten and her anger a silent whisper in her head. She had to thank Stardust for this as his display of irreverence had opened ressources of strength and concentration she thought gone. She knew Stardust had just done that to make her lose her head in anger and be an easier target, but she wouldn't do him that favor. She would repay him fully.

Your wish is my wish, Twilight.
Her lance was aimed at Stardust even before the gong sounded, a clear challenge to the captain that she would hit him this time. He receipted it with an arrogant smirk.

The gong sounded.

Rainbow shot forward, beating her free wing to gain more speed whereas Stardust Chaser started slower, the lance with Twilight's lucky charm still raised. She paid the provocation no mind and focused on her target, his chest shield. Stardust lance lowered, aiming on her helmet and when they were a few steps apart he pulled its end aside for it to appear before Rainbow's face and make her recoil. Neither did she stopped nor slowed down her run.

Startled the guard captain pulled the lance aside to avoid a direct hit between her eyes which surely would have left an injury. An injury his admired princess would never forgive him. His body leaned away to get a better angle at her hard to hit helmet shield. Rainbow's head turned down sidewards to make her helmet an even smaller target, while both her forelegs went quickly into the knees and her left wing pulled her lance up quickly to score on his exposed helmet shield.
His lance grazed her shield on the left side just slightly. Her own hit his fully.

Stardust did a salto backwards, so strong was her grip and force of her lance, that even a bump in his shield remained. With a hiss he tried to raise from the ground to regain footing, but he tottered around before he sat down on his butt against his will. The world was turning and twisting, but he could clearly hear the laughs of the audience like needle stabs in his pride while he started to realize that he had been hit on the head. And had himself only gotten a graze point, his first in this tournament which he had dominated so far with full hits whenever on chest or head shields.

The shamed guard captain felt anger rise in him and he stood up, grabbing onto his lance with the trophy to show this audacious pegasi who was the better fighter of them. Then he noticed that his lance wasn't nearby. A loud cheering from the terraces made him turn in confusion what they were cheering for. He saw the reason.
His lance with the scarf from that other princess on the ground. And a blue in silver-purple armor clad pony next to it, grinning triumphantly at him before she picked up his lance to get back her property.

Tenderly she untied the scarf from Stardust's lance and put it around her neck, part of it falling onto the left part of her chest shield. She tossed Stardust's lance before his hooves and raised her own, face serious and grim, pointing at him to pick it up. Then she did a turn and walked back to her starting point without looking back. Everybody in the seat rows hooted in response with her action.

Stardust fumed with rage, jumped on his feet, took his lance and flew as fast as he could back to the other end of the joust railing.
He was furious that he had been treated like a mere rookie who couldn't see the difference between a spear and a lance. That he had failed before the eyes of the princess he had sworn to protect and fight for. That a common descendant of the pegasi who had been unworthy to enter the noble Windbolts had beaten him. Worse, she was even a former Wonderbolt, the pegasi troop who hold the torch from where the Windbolts had ended. When he grew up in the mountains and heard of the story of his ponies, he had sworn he would show Equestria and especially its pegasi what thestrals are made of: Skill, Speed and Pride.
And he would start with this feisty blue one.

Twilight and Buffy's daddies cheered for Rainbow's point win, Buffy was jumping up and down on her seat, waving her little arms. Luna still sat there silently, contemplated how the match will unfold.
Stardust led with one point but that didn't reassured him of his victory, yet it didn't irritated him either. Rainbow could win if she gets two or three points, but that put ahead that her opponent scored no or only one point. Something Stardust will try to prevent to hold justice to his reputation as most skillful batpony on the moon and as he says of himself, of his entire tribe. All he needs to do is to make sure that Rainbow scores no point and he won the tournament. But Luna knew that the pride of her captain would not allow such a shallow victory, he would go for the head. And Rainbow probably anticipated that already.
This match could still go either way.

Neither Rainbow nor Stardust had eyes or ears for the terrace and its audience. Both waited with heavy breathing chests, which contained tense strength and boiling anger at once, for the gong to sound the last round of the final. It sounded. Both ran. As fast as they could they held on towards each other, Stardust aiming on chest height, Rainbow on head height. The moment they were about to meet they changed the directions of their lances.
The sound of a single shield being hit let everyone and everypony hold their breath in the stadium.

Stardust trotted towards the end of the railing, stared at the end of his lance. He had missed. Completely missed the target for the first time in this joust. Then he looked back at Rainbow Dash who looked relieved to have landed at least a graze. Her plan had been to avoid the incoming head thrust and get two points by a chest hit, but Stardust had automatically moved his body aside, making a direct score impossible. At least she had succeed to escape Stardust's attack when she leaned her head forward and turned it aside. Though that risky move costed her purple panache quite a bit hair, it was better than any hit of Stardust to deny his victory and force a draw.

Stardust couldn't believe it and neither could anypony watching. There would be extra rounds till one pony got more points than the other one.On his starting point the thestral captain turned to look at the sidelines to see the reactions of his guards. What he witnessed was worse than what he had feared. Most of his guards were cheering for the pegasi, at the head the female guard and the other opponents Rainbow had faced and beaten and those who didn't were recusant to cheer him on.

Their cheering stoked his burning rage. He saw red. When the gong for the fourth round sounded he just wanted the equestrian to go down. Both lances crashed into each other's chest shields, but neither did stop in their track and rushed to the other end, picked up swiftly another lance and were back racing on the joust ground before the gong could be hit again. The gong to the fifth round sounded when they were mere seconds away to meet each other in the mid of the joust railing.

Luna and Twilight hold their breaths while the rest of the audience screamed their minds to the heavens. Both felt that this was no longer just a match to win a tournament. For one pony his worth, pride and self-respect was on stake, for the other the happiness of somepony else.
 The rivals collided in the middle of the joust field as Stardust reared up to let Rainbow's upwards aimed thrust hit his neck and not his helmet. It was risky enough to end with an injury, but he was ready to take that pain as long as he beat the unyielding pegasus. 

He pulled his lance downwards to thrust from above onto Rainbow's chest shield, but she raised as well into the air together with her lance. Stardust's end hit her shield first, it bent under the pressure but it didn't pushed Rainbow down as she digged her hind legs into the ground and thrusted her lance upwards, avoiding the neck towards his helmet. Stardust tried to prevent the hit, but on two legs only he had neither the speed nor the stability to escape the quick attack.
He leaned sidewards as far as he could, moving forward to let the thrust end in empty sky and finish the battle, but his lance on Rainbow's sturdy chest kept him in place and so he could only watch the unavoidable.

Rainbow's lance end hit straight into the mid of his helmet shield, sended it flying and him stumbling. Stardust fell on his side, his broken lance besides him. Rainbow landed on her forelegs, before she breathed out and flew up in the sky, her unbroken lance held high. Twilight cried, while Luna smiled and applauded and so did Larry, Jerome and Buffy and everyone else with their hoarse voices. Still it was the loudest cheer of the entire tournament as nearly all moonies and thestrals threw their masks into the air, celebrating Rainbow's victory.
The noise the audience caused was so loud that three hours later ponies everywhere in Equestria could have sworn they had heard a faint cheering sound from the sky though they were all alone.

While Rainbow flew circles and savored her hard earned victory, the loser of the final looked sadly at the VIP seats. Seeing princess Luna clap and smile at Rainbow Dash sunk Stardust Chaser's heart and head. No longer he could called himself undefeated champion of princess Luna and no longer would thestrals or moonies listened to his boasting of his skills, pointing out his loss against an ex-Wonderbolt in the joust. In the future he would have to be a lot less self-important and arrogant than he had been till now if he wanted to remain princess Luna's guard captain. If she will have him, that is.

Defeated Stardust moved to the balcony where princess Luna awaited the victor of the joust and all its competitors. But while all eyes were set on Luna, Rainbow had only eyes for Twilight next to the princess of the night. She gripped lightly on the scarf she had given her as a lucky charm and in the end had been part of the reason why she won this tournament.

"Sorry, it got dirty,",Rainbow mouthed quietly.

"As if that matters to me, silly," moved Twilight her lips silently.

Luna raised her hooves and waited for a couple minutes till the cheering and applauding finally quiet down.
"Moonies and thestrals! We have a winner: Rainbow Dash!" Again Luna raised her hooves as she unsuccessfully tried to calm the crowds applause and cries down to continued her victory speech and gave Rainbow her prices.

"Will you quiet down already?!" Luna shouted in her royal voice, blowing away the helmet of the thestral rookie guard in the rank before her which got him a sharp look of his superior, the veteran guard besides him. With the audience being quieter than an animal caught in Fluttershy's stare, Luna harrumphed and continued from where she had begun.

"Rainbow Dash, you have won through your skill, strength, willpower and a keen eye. And a bit of luck i might add. To you I will bestow you the title of the tournament; from now you'll be known as 'Champion of Princess Luna' as well as get land and a duke title for a part of the moon." Oohs and aahs were heard from the audience at the size of Rainbow's price. And yet it wasn't the end of it.
"You'll also receive this crown made of moon silver and diamonds. It alone is worth a fortune to be set for life." The thestral rookie blowed a loud whistle which the huge veteran guard besides him redeemed with a blow to the head, everyone on the terraces laughed at the bold rookie's expense.
"And as last part of the price you will receive a kiss of yours truly, me." Luna had no idea where the moonies got the breath and energy but they shouted again so loudly, it shook the balcony slightly.
"Come forth to welcome your prices, Rainbow Dash," finished Luna waving to Rainbow to fly closer. Luna took a beautiful formed silvern crown out of a small treasure chest hold by Larry while a thestral secretary who came out of nowhere hold a pergament with the new title of Rainbow and to write over the rights to own land on the moon.

Luna held the crown in her hooves, looked at Rainbow who still hadn't broke eye contact with Twilight who already made small desperate gestures telling her to quit that and look at the princess next to her. Luna looked slightly bemused as she asked Rainbow:
"Any words to speak, Rainbow Dash?"

"Yeah, how about 'no, thank you very much.', princess?" said Rainbow finally looking at the princess of the night. A loud gasp was heard from the audience and every guard present. Twilight's gestures stopped in their tracks, eyes widened in surprise. Stardust was so shocked his mouth hung wide open as did it with almost any guard who had been in the joust.

"I have not entered this tournament to win some prizes or to establish a new fanclub on the moon. I do hope though the Rainbow Dash fan club gets more members, 'cause I'm awesome fellas! Heh, just kidding though you can join if you want to. No, princess, I did this for myself and for somepony else, somepony very special to me who needs to hear some words I had to tell her much clearer many days ago: Twilight Sparkle!"

Twilight cringed as she felt thousands upon thousands of eyes looking at her as soon as her name fell. She blushed red like the setting sun, trying to hide herself behind Luna. A plan Rainbow shoot down as she flew up to her, took her hooves into her own and pulled her forward to the balcony for everybody to see as she got to the juicy part of what she wanted to tell her wife.

"Twilight, if I had known back then what kind of a shitstorm I kicked off when I asked for some time to think, I had chosen you in less than ten nanoseconds. I would have said "no, thank you very much". I need no mountain of fame or awesome job or fancy title, much money and land as far as I can fly. What I need is to have you at my side a whole lifetime. And I would do it again and again as I've proven just now. I had good years with the Wonderbolts, but I've got a life more amazing and wonderful than any Wonderbolt tour could be ahead just because you wanted to marry me. I couldn't be happier. I didn't gave up my dream for you, Twilight, you became it. I love you."

Twilight opened and closed her mouth, trying to comprehend what she just had heard from Rainbow, what she had known already in her heart but wished for it to be confirmed by this brash and smashing pegasi own words. She felt her doubts dried away and wither away like weed refused its water by the blazing sun of Rainbow's honest love. Twilight pulled the purple feather forth and put it back on the pegasi, its color shining brightly over the dusty scarf.
"Come here and kiss me, you fool!" With wet eyes Twilight let Rainbow pulled her up in the sky in front of the balcony and kissed her.

The moonies and thestrals applauded and a few even cried while some couples used this chance to kiss as well, like Larry and Jerome which Buffy commented with rolling eyes. The veteran sniffed loudly and before the rookie knew what happened his sergeant was crying into his shoulder to muffle the sounds. It was a really awkward and confusing day for the poor rookie.
The purple-maned thestral mare sniffed and wished away a tear at this romance before her. The hurt guard from Rainbow's quarterfinal put a hoof around her and pulled her closer to his side. She snuggled closer to her lover, giving him a kiss to the cheek. Stardust thought he was in the wrong movie.

"When did you thought all that up?" asked Twilight Rainbow, unheard by the noise of everyone present.

"Would you believe me if I told you just now?" answered Rainbow with a cheeky smile.

"Interesting, so love makes pony not only blind but also eloquent."

"Hey, did you just insult me?"

Twilight laughed shortly before she went in for another kiss, enjoying the feeling of happiness rose in her chest like a field of flowers opening their buds to show their rainbow colors to the sun which had awaken them, a feeling Rainbow shared with her. She pressed herself closer to Rainbow and Rainbow's hug tighten around Twilight to keep her as close as possible.

When they finally broke apart, Luna still had the beautiful crown in her hooves and no winner to give it. She looked at the captain turned into a pillar of salz.
"In this case, Captain Stardust Chaser, step forward." Luna's loud voice startled the captain who was still not sure if he was in the wrong movie or not. Swallowing he stepped forward and bowed deeply, still staying on the ground.

"You lost the final yet the victor refused her prices. What do you propose should be done about this situation?" Luna awaited her captain's answer with stoic expression which he only looked at for a second before facing the ground again and clicking his answer, hasty and apologetic.
"Is that so? It's rare to see you modest, to refuse what had been refused already. Does nopony want to get a price today?" The rookie tried to raise a hoof just to get another slap to the backhead by the composed himself again veteran sergeant.

"Nopony? In this case, captain, you as second place will receive neither crown nor title of a duke nor land. I will bestow you the title 'Champion of Princess Luna' as I wish for you to be in the future not only my protector but also the embodiment of the virtues I want to be seen in Equestria for your people which are not arrogance and self-aggrandizement, but humility and caring in face of those less gifted than you in need of your protection. Do you believe you're cut for that job, Stardust Chaser?"

When he had heard about the title the batpony captain had just stared at the princess, not believing his luck. He knew he didn't deserved this title yet, that he had to earned it in the years to come, but he felt ready to be what his princess wanted him to be and what the pegasi who had beaten him already was. He bowed to princess Luna and clicked some answer which Twilight and Rainbow could guessed was something in-between "You're so gracious, your highness" and "I'll not disappoint you, princess".

"Now what about the kiss, captain? The offer still holds."
Stardust blushed madly at Luna's tease and the crowds whistles. The rookie bit his lower lip to not give in to temptation, all the grander was his surprise to see his sergeant have his hoof up his muzzle and blew a shrill long whistle at their captain. The veteran thestral winked at him and the rookie gladly joined the choir. Stardust looked left and right, trying to find a way to properly refuse this kiss he didn't wanted under such circumstances. Then he flew up to grasped Luna's hoof and kissed her platinum horseshoe. Luna giggled at the shy behaviour of her guard's captain. She could get used to it.

"How unusual chivalrous of you, dear captain. In this case I allow you to have the first dance with me on the bonfire tonight." Stardust looked like he was about to cry for joy while everybody else cheered for the last time in the joust stadium.

"It's time!" shouted Larry and he was right as far away from another hill fireworks flew up in the sky and bloomed into wonderful flowers and figures causing many light up the night sky in all kinds of colors, sparkles and fire.

Closely entangled Twilight and Rainbow watched the fireworks with the rest of the townsfolk. Their heads and chest next to the other one, Rainbow's wing wrapped around Twilight, their hooves holding each other, feeling their breaths, heavy and tired of Rainbow, softly and swiftly of Twilight. This was true happiness to the both of them. And yet Rainbow could feel that there was still something in Twilight, that she hasn't managed to satisfy. A kind of longing she didn't understood but knew it was important to her. But she was too exhausted to worry about that today, she would ask her wife about it tomorrow.

The last firework went out in a golden shower of stars and the crowd slowly scattered, walking back to the stalls, home or to the place where the last part of the festival will be hold. Twilight and Rainbow followed Luna, Buffy and her parents to the square where a big tower of white bricks with many holes in between its four sides was build on. It was at least 8 ponies height and had had an extent of two carts. Both wondered what should feed the fire as Luna walked up to the stone tower and lit it on fire with a simple sparkle spell.

"Oh, magical firestones ever burning once lit, just like in the dragon lands. I had no idea there are ressource up here on the moon too." whispered Twilight surprised, knowing what a price each such brick would fetch on the market. Rainbow shushed her quietly since nobody else spoke a word either as the white fire climbed himself up higher and higher till the whole tower was on a blazing fire. Some moonies and thestrals stepped back from the hot flames.

Luna stayed where she was, her white mouse mask in her hoof, eyes on the tower. Neither Twilight nor Rainbow understood what the princess intended to do with it as she suddenly tossed the mask towards the burning tower through a hole in its large centre. Everybody and everypony expect the first two and right now very confused guests on the moon hooted as loud as their tired throats could do at Luna's successful throw.

Luna sauntered light as a feather over the ground to Twilight and Rainbow, looking very pleasant with herself. Both mares were none the wiser what just happened and they watched how Larry went with Jerome and Buffy up to the tower with their masks ready to been thrown as well.
Compassionate the princess of the moon and stars explained the idea behind this strange festival part.

"I see neither of you understood why I tossed this nice mouse mask in the fire. You see, somebody had last year the idea that instead to gather the masks we could use them to throw into a special prepared firestone tower with the black masks being our fears and doubts and bad luck for the future and the white masks our happiness, hopes and good luck for the same. It's like a game. A fortune game to see whenever you will have bad or good luck in the next year or even both or neither at the same time. Watch our little family there."

Larry and Jerome threw their black masks at the same time and while Larry's throw went right through a hole Jerome's hit a brick next to the hole he had aimed for. It fell on the ground already caught fire after one touch. Applause for the parents and cheers for Buffy were heard as the moonie girl went up to a good throwing position. She threw her white fox mask as far and as strong as she could, but she ended up hitting the lower row of bricks on the ground. Very sadden by her luck burning away her ears dropped down far though Larry and Jerome quickly took her in their arms and hushed her, telling her that with Larry's throw everything was fine and that this doesn't mean she won't have any luck or success at all in the next year, just that she needed to work a bit harder but that success will surely come to her.

"If you don't hit the center of the tower, your luck will burn outside while your doubts and fear will come true depending on whatever color of the mask you threw at it but missed a hole," explained Luan further with a sympathetic look at little Buffy. "Missing has a purpose as well. So, It looks like the moonies wants you, our guests, to go next. Go on, step up and toi toi toi."

Luna pushed them on with her magic and Rainbow and Twilight stumbled towards the big tower on fire. With their masks in hooves they looked unsure to its huge size and its many small holes in the wall, just big enough for a mask to fly through without a problem if you aimed them well.

"Uhm, do you want your mask back, Rainbow?"

"Nah, I rather stay in charge of the good luck part, Twi. Make sure to burn our bad one to crisps."

Rainbow grinned encouraging to Twilight and stepped up first, took aim and threw it. The white bunny mask went right through a high hole on the right side of the wall. The crowd cheered loudly as hitting a higher hole was always seen as a good omen despite it being a newly invented tradition. But this game had been so much fun last year that buying a mask for yourself and your family members had become trendy for the festival this year and most likely all future nightmare liberation festivals as well.

Then it was Twilight's turn with her black wolf mask. Nervously she got closer to the tower, as close as she allowed herself with the heat coming at her. She looked which hole was more likely to be hit and decided for a hole on the left side on medium height. She took aim, tongue swiftly licking her cheery-sweet lips and threw the mask.

And it did hit the hole but the throw was not strong enough. The mask tipped as it took fire and fell on the ground. However, Twilight's just shrugged her shoulders while the audience sighed disappointed and applauded for this partly successful throw.

"Sorry, sweetheart. Looks like we gonna have a bit of trouble coming up next year." Twilight said with a smile, not upset for some weird reason but still happy as a foal on Hearts and Hooves day when it got the gifts. A misleaded throw wasn't able to spoiled her day anymore. Rainbow looked at it the same way.

"Doesn't matter, Twi. Given my throw we got perfect luck and all our dreams coming true as well. Besides as long as you are at my side and we have our friends with us we can face any trouble, no matter how big or how many fire-breathing heads it got. And a bit bad luck always spices up an adventure given the books of your mom. High wing, love!", said Rainbow holding up her right wing which Twilight hit with her own right one.

Both started to laugh as they went back to join the princess, Larry, Jerome and Buffy. They comforted Buffy with the others as well and accepted the gratulation of the others for a great throw and an almost good throw.

While more and more moonies and thestrals threw their black and white masks into or onto the tower, the big band from their dinner yesterday entered a stage and started to play a slow couple dance. Luna and Stardust were the first to start the dance while moonies and their families from all sides came and threw their masks to then join the dance around the bonfire burning the white and black masks as well. Rainbow hold out a hoof to Twilight, asking for a dance which the alicorn answered with a smile and bow.

Rainbow was the one who led Twilight on the dancefloor though she was always surprised how a badly solo dancer could dance so perfectly whenever it came to a couple or group dancing with presumed steps and moves. She noticed the strange look of her wife again, this time past her shoulder. A mix of melancholie and wonder and happiness. With a swirl she turned Twilight around and saw what her purple eyes had seen before.
Larry gave Jerome a feather of his chest which Jerome accepted overjoyed.

"Heh, looks like somepony is about to introduce new traditions to the moonfolk. I wonder who that could have been", teased Rainbow playfully the obvious offender, Twilight stick out her tongue in response. Both pressed themselves closer, sharing a quick kiss as Twilight pulled Rainbow's head closer with her left hoof. After their muzzles drifted apart slowly, Rainbow looked with silent curiosity at Twilight, her cherry taste still on her own lips.

"What? Am I so beautiful I stole your voice with a kiss?"

"No, but close to it," smiled Rainbow at Twilight's haughty act. "I was just wondering what secret you are keeping from me. Is it still about the Wonderbolts or my title?"

"So you really did take the title just to be able to marry me? Even left your friends in the team."

"Of course I did, I don't even know which county I'm duke of. And I didn't left them, they are still my friends. We just will have different jobs from now on that's all. I hope the weather team still has a spot open for me. But that's not-"

"Windsoir, Rainbow."

"What?"

"The county you're duke of."

"The citystate where it's always misty and it rains so much? Dang, thank god it's just a title with no real responsibilities 'cause I wouldn't want to live there." Twilight snickered at Rainbow's indignation to have gotten such a 'lame' county despite it being one of the most productive ones in Equestria. Not that Rainbow cared much about such statistics.

Rainbow knew that Twilight had successfully evaded her earlier question and decided to went about it another way.
"What do you think about creating our own stunt team, Twilight?"

"Huh?" The alicorn in Rainbow's arms looked baffled at her wife with this idea. Not like she hasn't thought about that possibility herself when she tried to find a way to keep Rainbow's dream as sky acrobat alive. But she hasn't expected that the Wonderbolt-loving Rainbow Dash would honestly consider founding her own team. With their incomes it would be no problem to finance a team of professionals as well as build a school to teach newcomers who wants to join them. All that needed was to calculate the costs, managing the teachers and flyers and tours and make sure that the ponies in Equestria will be interested to watch their shows which Rainbow's name will be a guarantee to caught their interest and it would boost the competition in a entertainment niche which the Wonderbolts had filled out and got fat in for the last couple hundred years.

So Celestia would surely allow their team to exist, same with their school. All they need was land where Twilight and her title could come into. Maybe Ponyville would be ready to sell some land if she asked the mayor if they got any free plots.
But before Twilight could think deeper and further in her plans for Rainbow Dash's own stunt team, with her as its manager, said pegasi took her back to the present.

"I mean, like the Twilightdashes or something like that. What's your opinion about that?"

"Heh? Oh! I-I think 'Lightdashes' sounds more awesome. What do you think, Rainbow?" Twilight smilied widely, trying to cover up that she hasn't listened to Rainbow's explanations. 
Explanations she had already written and collected weeks ago in a drawer in her writing office in the library.

"I think somepony seemed to have put more thought into this than I had till now. Let's see what the future brings. Right now I can't even get my wife to listen nor open up to me, how can I lead a team of young and hopeful flyers?", sighed Rainbow quickly noticing the strange look returning in Twi's eyes. Hurt, which hurted Rainbow as well, but she wanted answers if there was a way for her to help her love with whatever troubled her. Thoughtfully, which made Rainbow hopeful she'll consider telling her. A bit of worry and uncertainty which made Rainbow wonder what problem it could be that her wife didn't came straight to her. But most important of all, it was determined as well. I'm starting to sound like a headshrinker, thought Rainbow chuckling about herself and her observation of Twilight's emotions through her eyes.

"I'll tell you tomorrow once we're alone," came the fully determined answer of Twilight. There was nothing else besides it, just an assurance that everything will go well and a trust that Rainbow will understand her. Twilight knew, now was the right time to come clean with her wife and to be honest with her. Tomorrow, when they weren't surrounded by thousands of other people as this was something Twilight wanted to speak about only in privacy.

Rainbow beamed and embraced Twilight into a bear hug which Twilight responded with even greater strength thanks to her alicorn body.

"Okay, as long as you let me know what's eating you, love."

"Sure thing. Thank you for being such a sweetheart and wait all this time. When did you notice that something was amiss with me?"

"During our wedding when you talked with Pinkie. I'm not sure if you had those looks before but back then I already had a feeling that there was something important which was eating you. And then I have seen those looks the past days here and then again and again."

"Really? I'm so transparent?" asked Twilight surprised at how open of a book she was to Rainbow.

Her wife laughed and took her hoof to lead her into another much quicker couple dance the band started to play.
The rest of the night spent Twilight and Rainbow partying with everybody and everypony of the moonies and thestrals. Larry brought Buffy to bed before he returned for the various bonfire dances which Twilight and Rainbow enjoyed very much. The moonfolk had a fun time when the band played a quick song for the solo dancer and the princess of magic joined them in her unique style. But that didn't bothered Twilight at all as she had lots of fun herself and it gave her a good sweat to match Rainbow's from the harsh joust tournament. Liquor and food was brought by Luna for everyone to ate and get drunk to their heart's contents resulting in many many songs sung this night with hoarse and babbling voices.

Much later in the night, when the first sunrays crawled through the craters and hills towards the city, Twilight and Rainbow left the party while Luna was still partying like crazy with the moonies and thestrals. In a couple hours all of them would wake up with a huge hangover.

They returned to their hotel, beaten by walking, dancing and staying up all day and half of the night. And since the joust had taken so much of Rainbow's strength Twilight had to carry the half-sleeping pegasus up the stairs. In their soundproof room away from the noises of the festival still going on, Rainbow was tossed on the bed and Twilight pulled off her soaked with sweat Yukata and laid next to her sweaty smelling darling. Tiredly Rainbow pulled her into a hug and Twilight snuggled closer to her. Then she heard a throaty whisper above her head.

"If you could chose between me and your title what would you take?"

"You!" said Twilight without a second hesitation, squeezing Rainbow warm body closer to her chest.

"And if you could chose between me and a book?"

"What kind of book?"

Rainbow roared with laughter ending in dry coughing. to which Twilight snickered and levitated two cups of water on the table. But before she could give her lover some water, she heard a loud snoring and saw Rainbow sleeping soundly at her side. Twilight took a quick sip of water, raised her head for a good-night kiss on Rainbow's forehead and joined her partner in the sleep. Soon she dropped off into the dreamlands with white and black masks, knights in armor and large towers on fire.

And in all that was her Rainbow, the purple feather on her chest with a confident smile on her face and understanding in her eyes. She danced with Twilight over a field of flowers and white papers, always breathing the same sentence in her ears:
"Everything gonna be just fine, love."
And Twilight hugged Rainbow a bit stronger in her sleep, happily smiling.