//------------------------------// // Session 09 - Mirrored in Devotion // Story: Red Eye // by Fonypan //------------------------------// Rainbow Dash shifted and stirred. She was awake, but too comfortable to move. The mattress beneath her wasn’t as soft as her cloud bed, but much warmer. When Rainbow finally opened her eyes, she saw Twilight Sparkle staring at her. “Good morning, sleepy head,” said Twilight. “How long have you been awake?” “About an hour.” Twilight stretched her legs. “I didn’t want to wake you. You’re so cute when you’re asleep.” Rainbow kissed Twilight on the nose. “You’re cute all the time.” “I am not.” “You so are.” “Even right now, with bed head?” “Adorable. The disheveled look really suits you.” Twilight blushed. “Thank you.” The two mares cuddled for a while longer. Rainbow was the first to leave the embrace. She detangled herself from Twilight and crawled out of bed. She stretched her legs and wings. Twilight remained in bed. “Hey, Rainbow?” “Yeah, Twi?” “Do you want to move in with me?” “Wow. I don’t know, Twilight. That’s kind of a big step.” “How so? You’ve slept here every night for a month.” “That’s true. All right, I’ll move in with you. On one condition.” “Name it.” Rainbow Dash re-joined Twilight Sparkle on the bed and touched noses with her. “I want you to marry me.” “Wh—“ “Not right away. Just promise me that, some day, we’ll get hitched.” Twilight kissed Rainbow on the lips. “I promise.” “Then I’m all yours.” “Can you stick around for a little while? I mean, you don’t have to clear the skies right away, do you?” “I don’t think anypony will mind if I stay just a little longer.” Rainbow grinned. “Why? Do you want to play some more?” “Actually, I was going to offer you breakfast, as a thank-you for last night. But, I don’t see why it can’t be both.” Twilight gave Rainbow another kiss, then crawled out of bed. She swayed her hips while she walked, confident that Rainbow would stare at her rear. Rainbow indeed stared. She followed Twilight’s rump with her eyes until Twilight rounded the corner and disappeared from view. Rainbow relaxed on the bed, and reminisced on the events of the previous night whilst awaiting her breakfast. ---------- A while later, Rainbow Dash and Twilight Sparkle got cleaned up and went their separate ways. Rainbow set about her duties as a weather pony, while Twilight went for a trot through town. Twilight Sparkle had no pressing duties for the day. Only some re-shelving that she could do any time. Being alone in the library only reminded her of death, and made her miss Spike. Twilight intended to preserve her good mood for as long as possible, and that meant avoiding the library unless she had company. Fluttershy stood in the market. Her body language expressed profound confusion. The other ponies went about their business as though she weren’t there. Those who knew her respected her anti-social tendencies. Those who didn’t barely even noticed she was there. Twilight spotted Fluttershy and trotted over with a smile. “Hello, Fluttershy! How has your day been?” said Twilight. Fluttershy turned to have Twilight. Her eyes were cloudy and unfocused. “T-Twilight? Help me, I can’t see.” “What happened to your eyes?” “I don’t know. I just woke up like this. I’m scared.” “How did you get to town?” “I was trying to find the library. I just did my best to keep the road under my hooves. But then I started to hear so many other ponies talking around me, and I don’t want to bump into anypony, and—“ Fluttershy’s voice degraded into a series of incomprehensible mumbles and whimpers. “All right, just calm down. I’m here now.” “I want my sight back. Please, Twilight.” “I’d love to, but I’m not a doctor. Come with me, I’ll guide you to the hospital.” “Can’t you just zap my eyes with your magic and fix them?” “There are limits to what magic can do. I’ll try to find a vision spell, but I’m not sure one exists. Just put your wing across my back and stay by my side no matter what. I’ll get you to a doctor. If there’s no way to get your sight back, you can move in with Dashie and me. We’ll take care of you.” “You live with Rainbow Dash?” “Yeah. We’re sort of engaged. Isn’t that great?” “Oh my…” “Is something wrong?” “N-no. I’m just really happy for you. For both of you.” Fluttershy put her good wing over Twilight, and the two ponies walked through town together. Fluttershy turned her head in the direction of sounds she heard, but never left Twilight’s side. Her world had become a dark and frightening place, but Twilight provided a beacon of comfort and certainty. ---------- Meanwhile, Rarity made her way through Sweet Apple Acres. Her mane and tail were immaculately primped. Even more so than usual. She reached the Apple family home and delicately rapped on the door. A few seconds later, Applejack answered the door and smiled. “Applejack, darling! Just the mare I was looking for!” said Rarity. “Great timing, Rarity!” said Applejack. “I was just fixin’ to come see you!” “Oh my. What a wonderful coincidence! It must be fate.” “Well, I don’t know about fate, but you are the best dressmaker in town. I need you to make me a weddin’ dress.” Rarity blushed. “A wedding dress? My goodness, isn’t this moving a little fast?” “I don’t reckon. Prairie Song an’ I have been talkin’ this out for two years now.” Rarity furrowed her brow. “Prairie Song? Who is Prairie Song?” “My pen pal from Dodge City. We’ve been real sweet on each other for a long time. He’s movin’ to Ponyville, an’ he wants to get hitched as soon as he gets here.” Rarity’s eye twitched. “Why are you only just mentioning this?” “I wanted to keep the weddin’ a surprise. I actually plan to tell everypony today.” “You didn’t think to say anything at all about this pen pal of yours to any of your friends, until there’s a wedding planned?” “Nopony ever asked.” “You could have told me you have a coltfriend!” “Are you all right? You seem awful mad.” Rarity audibly gritted her teeth. “Not at all, darling! I’m just so excited for you!” “Good. I’d hate to think you’re sore at me.” “Why would anypony be sore at you after such a wonderful and sudden announcement? Does anypony else know?” “I told Granny Smith, Big Macintosh, and Apple Bloom this mornin’. I was fixin’ to come see you next.” “Well, isn’t that thoughtful? I should probably start planning your dress, so I can have it done in time.” “Hang on. Didn’t you say you had somethin’ to tell me?” “Er, yes. I did say that. Well, see, I have some free time in-between projects. I feel like making a dress for a dear friend, and I thought ‘Gee, it certainly has been a while since I made something for Applejack!’ So, I came over to see if you’d like a dress. That makes sense, right?” “Wow, that’s some coincidence! It must be fate, like you said.” “Yes, it really must. Well, ta-ta for now. I’m sure you have a lot to do.” “Take care, Rarity.” “You too.” Rarity turned and trotted away. She strained herself to smile all the way back to the Carousel Boutique. She walked inside, went upstairs to her bedroom, and leapt into bed. Rarity buried her face in her pillow, and let out an ear-shattering scream of frustration. The pillow could only do so much to muffle it.