//------------------------------//
// No More (Part 3) 
// Story: Tired of the Daily Routine 
// by Feedbacker 
//------------------------------//

	"Told ya!"
Applejack glared at Rainbow. Honestly, she had been surprised that she hadn't blurted that while Twilight was still in the room. Apparently, she had listened to that little talk they'd had.
Everypony had noticed that something fishy was up. Twilight's actions in the past months had been so dissimilar to the norm that Applejack had half a mind to inquire about Changelings. With the amount of time she was spending in Canterlot, the girls had been able to narrow it down to a few options: research project, preparing for some sort of graduation or ascension, or secret special somepony.
Of course, all the girls had expected that special somepony to be a professor or guard, and definitely not a princess. Hell, everybody except for Rainbow had expected it to be male.
"C'mon, Rainbow," Applejack groaned. "You thought it was probably another librarian. Not the princess."
"Still guessed that she was into mares!" Rainbow boasted.
"You say that about everybody," Applejack countered.
"Wonder why," Rarity muttered.
Dash, completely oblivious to Rarity's insinuation, just smiled.
"Still, uh," Applejack said, trying to find the correct words, "That's... Well, a might unexpected."
"It's so romantic, though," Rarity said, "A young student longing for love, a wise teacher willing to give!"
"Sounds like one of those romance 'novels' you read," Rainbow snickered.
"Hey!"
"What? You read them, don't ya?"
"Yes, but-"
"Girls!" Applejack shouted. "Back on topic!"
Rarity nodded. "So... The Princess."
"That's kinda adorable, but also really weird." Pinkie said.
"Yeah... I mean, I'm happy for them, but boy, that was out of left field," Rainbow agreed. "Still, kinda awesome. Hey, would Twilight be a princess too if they got married? I think Princesses hang out with the Wonderbolts a lot."
"Rainbow!" Applejack cried. "It's a bit early for that!"
"Well, yeah, but still."
Applejack shook her head.
"Girls, uh," Fluttershy mumbled, the temporary silence finally giving her a chance to speak up, "Twilight is probably really worried right now."
"Why would she be worried?" Pinkie asked. "We just needed to get our heads around it. It's kind of a big deal, right?"
"Yes, but, uh," Fluttershy replied, "We kinda... Just asked her to leave, and she looked pretty nervous."
"Well, yes, but - It's not like we could have had this conversation with her in the room!" Rarity said, more to assure herself than Fluttershy.
"Well, she does have a point," Applejack admitted. "I mean, I know I'd be a bit scared if I both came out and admitted I was dating royalty."
"Well, it's not like hearing this conversation would help!" Rainbow replied.
"I know, but I think that we probably should have made it a bit clearer that we were okay with it first." Applejack said. "I mean..."
Applejack walked to the window near the library's door and opened it, revealing Twilight and Celestia on a bench. Twilight was staring at the ground, Celestia's hoof on her shoulders. She looked like she was about to cry.
"Oh." Rainbow muttered, slowly fluttering to the floor. "That might be a problem."
"Yeah, uh," Applejack muttered, "Kinda thought that they're just be holding hooves or somethin' there. Didn't mean ta see that."
"Well, uh," Rarity said, "Perhaps we should go and get her?"
"Who wants to do it?" Applejack asked
"Well, you were the one who asked her to leave..." Rainbow replied.
"She offered!"
"You accepted!"
"Girls!" Pinkie shouted. "Let's just all go."
Both Rainbow and Applejack remained silent for a moment, then nodded. Together, the five walked outside.

* * *

"Twi?"
Twilight slowly looked up.
"Look, uh," Applejack stuttered, "We- We're sorry. We just, uh, needed a minute."
Twilight remained silent, just staring at her. She would have replied but she was pretty sure she couldn't make any noise right now. Well, any noise besides that of a sob.
"I mean, you are kind of dating royalty. That's sorta weird." Pinkie commented, "But not bad weird! It's cool."
"Awesome!"
"Romantic!"
"Uh... it's very nice."
Twilight's eyes welled up with tears. Before she could start crying, her friends all swarmed her for a hug.
"Th- Thanks, girls," Twilight muttered.
"Did you think we'd be upset?" Applejack asked, her voice low.
"I- I was just scared."
"Scared of us?" Pinkie asked. "We're your friends!"
"Y- Yeah, but..."
Twilight shook her head.
"You're right."
About a minute later, the hug broke. Twilight stood, facing her friends.
"Darling... Now that that's out of the way," Rarity began, "You simply must tell us the story!"
"S- Sure. Can we do it inside, though?" Twilight asked, looking back at Celestia. "This isn't exactly... public knowledge yet."
Celestia nodded. Rainbow muttered something in protest as they all re-entered the library. There, Twilight gave them a brief summary of the relationship -- Leaving out all the intimacy, of course. Twilight's friends left an hour later, leaving her alone with the Princess. As they walked, Rainbow turned to Applejack.
"Hey. Do ya think they..." she began, her voice increasing slightly in pitch as the sentence went on.
"Do I think they what?" Applejack asked, her voice gaining a slight edge.
"Y'know... Did it?"
"Rainbow!"
"What! It's an honest question!"
"Get your mind out of the gutter. That's their business."
Applejack continued to walk to her farm, Rainbow following behind her. A few minutes later, she spoke again.
"I bet they did."
Applejack sighed and turned around.
"Dash..."
"I know, I know," Rainbow said, waving a hoof, "That's inappropriate. You just... Ya have to wonder, ya know?"
Applejack shook her head.