That was unexpected. Princess Luna had just admitted to not being honest with Twilight? The unicorn blinked before turning her attention to the princess, who avoided her questioning gaze. “You two have overcome your recent… hardship and made up, have you not?”
“Yes, we have,” Twilight said simply, waiting for Luna to continue. She still wasn’t sure how to feel about what was to come.
“That’s good to hear. You see… Your relationship was foretold in the stars. I will be the first to say that I did harbor a certain… fondness… for you, Twilight Sparkle. And that is why I was upset that it was not I that had gained your affections. I came to accept it as time went on, but the two of you did not know of one another’s own feelings, and it seemed like neither of you would do anything about it no matter how much time passed.”
Pinkie’s mind was still stuck on the part where Luna had said she did have feelings for Twilight. She was caught between wanting to say “I told you so!” and being protective of her marefriend, who sat right next to the pony that’d wanted her affections almost as long as she had.
Princess Luna continued. “So… The nightmares… They were of my creation.”
“Aha! I knew it!” Pinkie exclaimed, jumping up from her seat. She sank back down in her chair from the heated look Twilight shot her way.
“Please continue, Princess Luna.” Twilight wasn’t happy either, but she wanted to hear more. After all, the nightmares had been plaguing her day and night, bringing her to tears on more than one occasion. Maybe Luna had a good reason for it, however horrible a thing it is to do.
“It was the only way I could think of to push you into the embrace of your lover. It was also a bit of a… test... to make sure that the object of your affections was deserving of them. And from the looks of things now, it appears that all has worked out and you did not need me in the first place. It was selfish of me.”
Pinkie sulked from her side of the table, but had learned her lesson and didn’t speak up. Twilight looked back at Luna. “I’m honestly very… surprised right now. I’d never have guessed you’d do something like this, Luna. Does this mean that Princess Celestia was in on it as well?”
“No, of course not. She would never have approved of it had she known. My sister did believe the only way to rid you of your nightmares was to separate the two of you, and that is only because she trusts me so completely in this regard—my being the Princess of the Night and all.”
“I see…” Twilight said after a while. She wished she was sitting next to Pinkie at that moment, so she could hold her hoof and will herself to stay strong. “I appreciate that you would go to such lengths for me, Princess… but I think you’ve taken it too far, and I don’t know if I can forgive you for that.”
The older mare’s head dropped. “I understand, Twilight Sparkle. It’d have been foolish of me to believe otherwise. In any case… I truly am glad that you’re happy with your special somepony, and I can promise that I will no longer interfere.”
Luna gave Twilight a sad little smile before standing up and stretching her wings. “I shall take my leave, then. I must get some rest if I am to raise the moon when the time comes.”
Pinkie leaned over the table toward Twilight as Luna trotted to the door. She whispered, “You’re not gonna stop her?”
Twilight stared at her marefriend in surprise. “Why would I? Pinkie, she could have ruined our relationship and for all I know, I could’ve fallen for her instead. I thought you didn’t like that idea either.”
Pinkie shook her head before placing her hoof over Twilight’s—the gesture she’d been wanting earlier. “No, of course I don’t like it. But if it were me in her horseshoes, I would want you to come after me. Even if I knew nothing would come of it. And, you know… I could turn a blind eye if you, um… hug her. Just once.”
Pinkie stared down at the table, and lightly pushed Twilight out of her chair. The unicorn didn’t get the chance to say anything, though she doubted she’d have been able to formulate any sort of response if given the opportunity.
Luna opened the door and spread her wings. Before she was able to get off the ground, however, Twilight had approached her and placed a hoof on her shoulder.
“Princess Luna.” The alicorn looked back at her, but Twilight avoided her gaze. After a few moments, Twilight finally willed herself to meet the princess’ eyes. “I may not be able to forgive you… but I’d still like you to come to Ponyville the night of Winter Wrap Up. We always have a big party celebrating it.”
The Princess of the Night’s expression lit up like that of the stars she created. “Oh, yes! Of course I will attend. I don’t know if I’ll be able to get away from the castle early enough to arrive on time, but I shall be there!”
Luna hugged Twilight, a huge grin on her face. Despite the cheery atmosphere, Luna knew not to push her limits. When Twilight glanced back, she was surprised to see that Pinkie really had averted her gaze.
Not long after, Luna pulled away, said her goodbyes, and flew into the sky. Had she been a few hundred years younger and her heart lighter, she’d have done flips. But if a thousand years banished to the moon taught her anything, it was patience.
Pinkie came up behind Twilight and nuzzled her cheek with her own. “What did you say she could come for? You didn’t ask her out on a date, did you? That would be way more than I would be okay with.”
Twilight shook her head. “No, I told her she could come to Ponyville for the annual Winter Wrap Up celebration.”
Pinkie screwed up her face in concentration—the kind that made it look like she was trying to remember something she’d forgotten. Then, her eyes sparkled. “Oh, okay! That sounds good. But back to the more important topic… Was I right, or was I right?”
The unicorn glared, so Pinkie settled down. Twilight sighed. “Okay, fine. You were right. But I don’t think it’s something to be smug about.”
Pinkie placed a kiss on Twilight’s nose. “Yeah, I know. I’m just glad that you were able to forgive me. But we have another issue. Do you remember that thing I asked you about the other day?”
“What thing?”
“Mr. and Mrs. Cake wanted to meet my very special somepony on Friday, and…” She gulped. “Today’s Friday.”
Twilight’s eyes widened, and she raced upstairs. Pinkie followed after her, only to find that she was pulling out her personal calendar—every date had several lines of writing on it—and Twilight’s eyes darted across it.
She groaned and slumped forward. “What am I even supposed to wear? Or say? How would I show up and not make myself look like a complete idiot?”
Pinkie Pie trotted over to where Twilight sat and wrapped her hooves around her in an embrace. “It’ll be okay. You don’t need to try super hard, which I know will be hard for you, but trust me. If the Cakes have a problem with you, which I’m almost positive they won’t, then we’ll work it out over ice cream and cupcakes. You don’t have to wear anything special. Just be your cute self; they already know who you are. The fact that we’re dating shouldn’t change how they think of you.”
Twilight sighed, a weary smile on her face. “So much stuff is happening so quickly. I think I need a break.”
The pink mare giggled lightly. “How about me and you ‘take a break’ after we get this out of the way? Listen, I’m gonna head back to Sugarcube Corner to help the Cakes and to get ready… Make sure you’re there on time, alright? I’ll look forward to seeing you.”
Pinkie kissed Twilight briefly before hopping away. From the doorframe, she blew another kiss, and then she was gone.
Twilight frowned more as she thought about how the Cakes would react, and idly she wondered where Spike was and when he was going to be getting home. She had a few hours until she had to start thinking about dinner. Maybe Spike would show up just in time to keep her from going off the deep end. Even though Pinkie’s words could calm a raging fire, it was in Twilight’s nature to be a worry wart.
Still, she could try to get some work in. So, she went back downstairs and tried to read.
As it turned out, Twilight wasn’t able to get anything done. She was reading the material, but she wasn’t retaining any of the information. Instead, she was biting at her hooves thinking about the inevitable ending to an already uncertain day. Worse yet, Spike had never shown up, so he wasn’t able to quell her worries. Twilight didn’t have any time to wonder where he’d been, though, as she had more important things cramping her style.
Now, as she stood outside of Sugarcube Corner with nothing but the fur on her back, she couldn’t have been more nervous. Her breathing was shallow and sweat dampened her brow. This was perhaps even worse than the day she’d tried getting into Princess Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns. At least then she had some comfort in the form of her parents.
Twilight Sparkle cleared her throat and took another, shaky step toward the entrance to Sugarcube Corner. From within she could hear the cheery shouts of both Pound and Pumpkin Cake, who seemed to be out of control (but that was normal).
Finally, Twilight rose a hoof up to knock. After hours, Sugarcube Corner’s entrance was closed and locked, so you couldn’t just walk in. Mr. Cake yelled “Coming!” and Twilight only had enough time to gulp before the door was opened.
Mr. Cake’s brow lowered slightly. “Twilight? Is there something you need? I’m not quite finished with that book I checked out if that’s what this is about, but I should be within the next couple of days.”
Mrs. Cake appeared from behind her husband, sporting both baby ponies in one hoof. “Twilight, dear? Oh, do come in for some dinner! Pinkie invited her coltfriend over, and he should be arriving any minute now!”
Twilight had every intention of correcting the overly enthusiastic mare. But it was in vain. Mrs. Cake pulled her inside while her husband closed the door behind them. Normally, this room was used for clients that wanted to eat within the bakery, but now there was just a single table set up in the center. Hayburgers, fries, salads and fruit—all sorts of things were spread atop a table cloth. Apparently the twins had put up a bit of a struggle, as a bowl had crashed to the floor and caused baby food to splatter.
But that wasn’t what caught Twilight’s attention. Rather, it was the pony who was cleaning it. Pinkie Pie was in the midst of wiping up Pound and Pumpkin Cake’s mess, clad in a frilly apron Twilight was used to seeing on Spike.
Pinkie’s eyes met Twilight’s.
Thankfully, the bashful unicorn didn’t have to formulate a response. Instead, Mrs. Cake spoke.
“Pinkie dear, go clean yourself up. You want to look nice and presentable for when your date gets here, right?”
The mare in question swallowed lightly, but Twilight intervened on her behalf.
“Actually, Mrs. Cake… I’m Pinkie’s special somepony.” Mr. and Mrs. Cake’s eyes popped out of their heads in surprise. The stallion’s mouth dropped, and his wife’s eyes darted between the two ponies. Pound and Pumpkin took the opportunity to get away from their mother, who hadn’t noticed.
Twilight’s heart pounded in her chest. She knew she’d done the right thing in being blunt, but she couldn’t help feeling like she was being burned alive. She could see it happening clearly—the mean, hateful glares the Cakes were giving her, the engulfing silence that befell them all. Twilight imagined herself resting her neck on a guillotine, preparing for the blade to make its cut.
“That’s great!”
Twilight’s head snapped upward, and she met Mrs. Cake’s excited gaze. The unicorn said, “Really? You’re not angry?”
Mrs. Cake was gathering the kids when her husband responded. “What? Why would we be angry? Haha, Twilight honey, you’re not being serious, are you? Whoever Pinkie decides to date, it’s hardly any business of ours. Besides, you’re a good pony; why wouldn’t we approve?”
Twilight didn’t have the time to register Mr. Cake’s words before Pinkie’s hooves wrapped around her neck, taking her by surprise.
“Yay! Did you hear that, Twily? Oh man, you don’t know how much this means to me, Mr. Cake!” She nuzzled into her marefriend’s neck without restraint. The married couple both smiled fondly before getting the twins into their seats.
“How about we get to that dinner?” Mrs. Cake said jokingly. Both Pinkie and Twilight sat down on one side while the Cakes took their seats opposite them. All the ponies ate and held cheery conversations—most of which consisted of Mrs. Cake’s excited inquiries of the two’s relationship as well as her sharing information about hers. Anytime she said something personal Mr. Cake would grow bashful and steer the conversation elsewhere. All in all, it was a great evening, and the twins were mostly well-behaved.
When their meal was finished, Twilight thanked the bakers for the wonderful meal and made her way to the exit. Pinkie followed after her, grinning.
“Oh, Twi, that was great! Dinner with the Cakes usually isn’t so… so... fun!” The pink pony hopped onto her marefriend’s back and hugged her. “I’m so glad you decided to come!”
Twilight shot a smile back toward the amiable pony, who was now snuggling into her neck. “Me too. It feels nice that they’re okay with it, you know?”
“Yeah, I know,” Pinkie replied. She smiled against Twilight’s fur. “...Do you mind if I crash at your place?”
Twilight blinked. “What?”
Pinkie thought for a second before giggling. “Not like that, sheesh! Just a sleepover with marshmallows and ghost stories.” Even so, the way that she’d said it and the fact that she’d smiled suggested that she’d planned on Twilight misinterpreting it.
Twilight nudged Pinkie with her nose. "Let's do it! That would be a nice way to relax. And... You know, we wouldn't have to worry about me falling asleep and having nightmares, so we can spend more time together."
Pinkie stuck her tongue out playfully. "I was planning on it."