//------------------------------//
// "Slipping Through My Fingers" 
// Story: Jukebox Scribbles 
// by Timaeus 
//------------------------------//

Prompt - "Slipping Through My Fingers" by Abba





Twilight Velvet stood in the bridal preparation room with a contemplative, faraway look in her eyes. She tipped her head to the side, staring outside at the blue sky. It promised an open future, full of possibilities for her daughter—for her Twilight Sparkle—and her soon-to-be wife. A robin flitted past the window, chirping merrily in the summer afternoon. Velvet’s gaze drifted downwards and fell on her daughter. Sunlight poured in and bathed her in a golden glow as her dress caught the rays of sun and twinkled brightly.

Twilight Velvet’s breath caught in her throat as tears began to fill her eyes. She raised a hoof to her mouth, blinking away the wetness.

There will be plenty of time to cry later.

Velvet lowered her hoof, a melancholic smile in its place. She watched as Twilight ran a brush through her mane in front of the vanity. Freshly washed and carefully dried, it was already glittering in the sunlight, but she brushed it all the same. With each stroke Velvet felt an odd, unexplainable sense of guilt tug at her heart. She felt it before on the day of Shining Armor’s wedding but today it was much more real. She had insisted that Twilight’s bridesmaids—all wonderful ponies—wait for Twilight outside. Velvet insisted that she get to spend these precious few hours alone with her daughter.

It was silly to think so, but it felt as if she was losing Twilight forever. Though Velvet knew Twilight would always write and visit—and even though she had moved out years ago for her studies—this was the final step. In a few hours, Twilight would truly be out of her life. She reached for a handkerchief as her eyes threatened to water again. Velvet regarded Twilight in a new light. It was peculiar, even after becoming Celestia’s student, moving to Ponyville, and becoming a princess, Twilight Sparkle had never stopped being Twilight Velvet’s little girl. But now, in these minutes before her wedding, Velvet had finally come to the realization every parent dreads.

At some point over the years, Twilight Sparkle had grown up.

Velvet let out a gentle sigh, her legs shaking weakly. Where have the years gone? Wasn’t it just a few years ago when Twilight was accepted into Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns? Velvet could remember it as if it were. In her mind’s eye, a much younger Twilight Sparkle was bouncing ecstatically in the library, crying a chorus of ‘yes, yes, yes!’ while Velvet and her husband stood proudly in the doorway. And hasn’t it only been a few months since Twilight announced that she was moving to Ponyville to be with her friends? Velvet’s heart soared that day. Twilight had finally made friends, and now here she was... betrothed and about to marry a wonderful mare.

That was another memory Velvet cherished. She would never forget the letter Twilight had sent her, retelling how she and one of her friends, Rainbow Dash, had gotten together. Many months later, they were engaged, and after weeks of planning, here she was. It was almost cruel how quickly time seemed to be slipping through her hooves.

It was hard for her to see. Powerless to do anything but watch, Twilight Velvet stood with a sad but proud smile, her eyes trained on her daughter. A part of Twilight Velvet’s mind wanted so dearly to have her little filly back, to turn back the clock and watch those years wind by another time. Where part of her mind wanted to see a small filly clutching her Smartypants doll, she found herself instead staring at a fully-grown mare, beautiful, brilliant, and... trembling?

Twilight Velvet shook off the melancholy that shrouded her thoughts as her motherly instincts took hold. In an instant, she was at her daughter’s side, her hoof softly stroking locks of indigo mane. She guided Twilight Sparkle’s gaze to hers with her other hoof. In her eyes, Velvet saw a tremble of fear and a shadow of uncertainty that seemingly dulled the excited spark that filled her eyes only hours ago.

Velvet’s features softened as she brought her hoof to Twilight’s cheek. Twilight looked just as Velvet remembered herself on the day of her own wedding: nervous, frightened, and second-guessing herself. The air of apprehension though was trumped by a well of love, one that Velvet could see behind the uncertainty in Twilight’s eyes.

If there was one thing Twilight Velvet was sure of on her wedding day, it was that she loved Night Light with all her heart. And if there was one thing she was sure of today, it was that Twilight Sparkle loved Rainbow Dash the same way.

“You look wonderful,” Twilight Velvet said, breaking the silence that had filled the room. She moved to stand behind Twilight, looking over her in the vanity mirror. Her face brightened with a reassuring smile. “Now, it’s almost time. Are you ready?”

Twilight Sparkle bit her lip and fiddled with the hem of her dress. She looked from the mirror to the blue feather that was delicately braided into her mane. Twilight sucked in a quick breath and steeled her resolve. The veil of doubt that fogged her eyes had lifted, and Velvet beamed as a loving warmth took its place.

Wordlessly, Twilight nodded, and after a quick hug and kiss on the cheek, turned to leave the room. Twilight Velvet made to follow, but hesitated and placed a hoof over her chest. Her eyes began to glisten with tears ready to fall, but she banished such thoughts away.

There would be plenty of time to cry later. Time during the ceremony when Twilight and Rainbow would recite their vows. Time when Twilight and Rainbow would be on their honeymoon. Time when they would be living their lives together.

For now, Twilight needed her mother, and for her daughter, Twilight Velvet would be strong.