The night went by quickly for the two mares, already one of them finding herself stirring as the morning sun rose over the horizon. The first rays of light creeped through the curtains, and on cue, Rainbow's eyes fluttered open. Her eyes blinked several times, adjusting to the light while she worked to gain a sense of where she was.
Then she remembered the day before.
Right, she remembered, this is my room... She rubbed the sleep from her eyes and blinked a few times, just as she began to feel something warm and furry wrapped around her waist, and pressed up a little against her back. Twilight... that's right... She smiled, gazing down at her waist. And that's Twilight's hoof, she concluded, Twilight's hoof is around me. No matter the number of times she told herself, she couldn't help but grin a little. Rolling over onto her back, and doing her best not to disturb Twilight, adjusted herself so she was lying a bit more comfortably on her back. She sighed, cozying up beside Twilight, and holding a hoof over Twilight's as it now remained draped over her stomach, waited for the young unicorn to wake.
She couldn't leave Twilight hanging while she needed her there as she slept, and, it was nice she supposed, spending some time alone in the hooves of the mare she loved.
A short while later and Twilight began to stir. She groaned as her eyes slowly opened, coming into view of blue fur, and the sound of somepony's soft breaths. Just like the pegasus lying beside her, she too remembered the night before: the cloud bed, accepting Rainbow's friendship, the emergence of... certain feelings, and— Is she holding my hoof? Twilight glanced over, and sure enough her hoof was lying beneath Rainbow's. Her heart skipped a beat, and she froze, now fully alert and aware of her surroundings... yet she didn't pull away.
All the while Rainbow sensed Twilight had awoken. "Hey," she greeted with a small chuckle.
Twilight shook the realization away and swallowed the nervous lump in her throat. "H-hey," she replied, a bit shaken. Rainbow smiled, letting go of her hoof, and for the briefest moment, Twilight felt her hoof grow cold and fretfully grabbed a hold of Rainbow's hoof, holding it back over hers, and slightly startling the pegasus with the sudden, brash move.
Twilight noted Rainbow's startled reaction, and smiled sheepishly. "Uhm... m-my hoof's cold," she reasoned in all honesty, though the added sensation was one Twilight found herself liking.
Rainbow nodded. "R-right... right, of course." She took a deep breath, looking around the room for a distraction. "S-so, uh... y-you're up," she said to Twilight, then a second later mentally berated herself. Of course she's up, stupid, her mind chided her.
"Yeah..." Twilight giggled at the remark, choosing to chalk it up as another dumb thing the pegasus had said in their time together. She began to find it all a little cute—did she really just think that? Twilight thought for a moment. Yes, she did. She was beginning to find the stupid, non-perverse things Rainbow said a little cute, and it only fueled the feelings she already held for her.
And now here she was lying in bed with the pegasus she supposedly loved, resisting the urge to act on whatever feelings she had, with whatever shred of rational thought remained inside her head.
Although it became less of a concern to her, she still didn't know if Rainbow was taken, or if... Rainbow even liked her back. Sure, Rainbow joked about liking her, but... that's all it was: a joke, right? Twilight didn't know for sure.
She sighed under her breath as she searched for something to take her off her previous thoughts. Rainbow had awoken before her, hadn't she? "So..." Twilight began to ask. "How long have you been awake?"
Rainbow sighed quietly, averting her gaze out the window. "Since sunrise," she replied. "Been waiting for you, just in case..." Her eyes drifted to the joined hooves on her chest. "You know..."
Twilight smiled at Rainbow's thoughtfulness. "Thanks," she said, giving the pegasus a quick nuzzle on the cheek—not out of love, but out of thankfulness.
Not that Rainbow knew. Her eyes widened a bit at the contact, and for a brief moment, considered returning the affectionate notion. Before she could however, Twilight pulled away.
"I guess we should probably start getting ready for the day," Twilight said after a moment of lying there in bed, gazing aimlessly back up at the ceiling. Not that either of them particularly wanted to... She looked over at Rainbow. "Why don't you go first?" she suggested. "I could... I dunno, make some sandwiches in the meantime. For breakfast, you know?"
Rainbow sighed. "Alright." Reluctantly, Twilight retracted her own hoof, allowing Rainbow to freely step out of bed. She shook her mane back into shape and let out a deep breath, allowing her shoulders to drop before stepping to the front of the bed. She stopped at the draped sweatshirt, lifting the article up a little with her hoof. "Hey, Twi?" she asked. "Think you could wash this for me?"
Twilight's own gaze immediately turned deadpan, looking back at Rainbow.
Rainbow dropped the article, and grinned sheepishly, returning the gaze. "Please?"
Twilight's stare eventually broke and she sighed quietly, putting a hoof to her chin in pretend thought. "I do have a quick wash spell..."
"Thanks—"
Twilight's lips curved up into a slight smile, holding back a giggle. "But no dry warming spell."
"A lot..." Rainbow huffed, turning for the door. "Oh well..." She shrugged her shoulders. "I do have a fur coat, after all. No biggie." With her back turned away from Twilight as she stood in the doorway, she drifted back into thought.
Alright, today's a big day! Better get ready, she thought, brandishing a confident smile and trotting off for the bathroom.
For moments after Rainbow left, Twilight lied in bed with a hoof draped beneath her head, simply enjoying the comfort the bed provided for a few moments longer before eventually, and grudgingly, leaving its warm embrace to start her own day.
First things first, Rainbow had asked her if she could wash her sweatshirt, and as Twilight inspected the article, sure enough there were small grass stains here and there. Not entirely Rainbow's fault, she supposed. She lit up her horn and with it, out poured a magical cleanser upon the article, removing any trace of dirt, but not without leaving the article soaked as she had predicted.
But it was like Rainbow told her: she had a fur coat. No biggie, Twilight recalled. Right...
She sighed, figuring she may as well make Rainbow's bed before heading down. While taking the sheets off and dumping them in a pile, she caught a glimpse of their Wonderbolt tickets beneath the flower she had picked for Rainbow on the table beside the bed. The flower itself appeared untouched, as if handled with the utmost care, and seeing just how careful Rainbow had been with it... she couldn't help but smile.
Twilight grabbed her feathery earring off the table, looping it around her ear, and some bits from her saddlebags she had dropped against the bedroom wall the night before leaving the room, becoming lost in her own thoughts as she trotted downstairs. "Okay, let's see..." she thought aloud while going through a mental checklist of her plans for the morning. "Put together a couple—or maybe several sandwiches, eat one, apply new bandages to Rainbow's wings, get cleaned up, wake up Spike, and pray to Princess Celestia everything goes well."
Twilight stopped, clasping her hooves together, and smiling triumphantly. "Perfect!"
Rainbow smiled, stepping out from the shower and shaking her coat clean after a quick rinse. Taking a quick look around, she congratulated herself.
At least she managed not to drench the floor this time.
She grabbed a towel and threw it nonchalantly over her head, then turned to the sink, and the mirror above it, where her attention was focused for the next several moments. She grinned nervously back at her reflection. "I'm nothing compared to Twilight, but..." Rainbow sighed, hanging her head a bit. Wonder if she'd find somepony like me attractive... Rainbow shook her head and looked up again, this time at the counter top. She breathed onto her hoof and gave it a sniff. "Yeesh..." She frowned, taking the first toothbrush in sight, laying a glob of toothpaste along the bristles, quickly running it under some water, and gave her teeth a much-needed brushing.
She soon finished up, grabbing the handle of a medical kit she remembered Twilight using between her teeth before leaving for the kitchen. When she finally trotted down into the dining area, she noticed Twilight seated at the dining table, content and nonchalantly eating a simple daisy sandwich.
Twilight's ears perked at the sound of Rainbow's approaching hoofsteps, and she looked up at the pegasus mare with a smile. "Done already?" Rainbow nodded, setting the kit down on the tabletop before taking a seat herself. A moment of silence soon followed.
"Well, breakfast is all ready," she said, motioning to a small stack of sandwiches on the table. "Nothing special, just daisies this time." Twilight smiled sheepishly, holding a hoof against the back of her head. "They're a little bland—I usually pour some dressing over them first... Hope they suffice."
"But I just brushed..." Her shoulders slumped, and she let out a low groan. Ugh, now they're gonna taste all minty.
"It's alright, Rainbow, just..." Twilight paused, her expression becoming more and more peeved by the second as her mind immediately put together the pieces. "Wait, what do you mean brushed?" Rainbow's smile widened a little into a small, yet embarrassed grin. "You used my...?" Twilight paused as she rolled her eyes, letting out a small groan. "Rainbow... you could've just asked for your own; we do have extras."
"You do?" Rainbow looked at Twilight with a look of surprise. "I mean, uh... But i-it was an emergency, Twi, really!" Surprisingly, she already found the unicorn quietly giggling into her hoof. Already her annoyed expression had faded.
"It's alright, Rainbow," Twilight simply replied, lighting up one of the sandwiches in her magic. "Just... let me know next time. For now, let's eat."
"Um," Rainbow cocked her head slightly, "a-alright..." She grabbed one in her hoof and took a hesitant bite. Blech.
All the while Twilight watched from the corner of her eye with a slight, humored smile, her head leaning against her left foreleg. Even with the fact that we're friends, I find myself smiling... even when I should be annoyed with her, mad even! Either I'm the most foolish pony alive, or our relationship really has grown to the point where all I want is... is to be with her... Bits of Twilight's mane fell over her shoulder as the unicorn slumped forward a bit, twirling some of the hair with the tip of her hoof. I know I'll have to let her go eventually, as much as it hurts, but... I wonder what ours would be like if she stayed—?
"So, uh..." Twilight jumped a little, her mind snapping back to reality as she heard Rainbow begin to speak. The pegasus motioned to her left wing, giving it a little flap. "Think you could help bandage up these badboys?" She paused, then brushed her mane up with the back of her right hoof, revealing a small bruise on her forehead. "I... think I could use a bandage on my forehead too," she added with a sheepish grin.
Twilight rolled her eyes, and smiled, wiping her mouth free of any sandwich crumbs before stepping down and walking over to Rainbow, taking a seat beside her and digging out some bandages from the kit. As Rainbow had asked, Twilight started by placing a square bandage over the bruise on her forehead before leaning back, allowing Rainbow to shake her mane back into shape and disguise the bruise. "Now, hold still..." Rainbow snorted in response, averting her gaze while Twilight went to work.
A few moments passed that Twilight spent wrapping up Rainbow's wings as delicately as her magic allowed. Perhaps it was the numbing sensation of Twilight's magic caressing her wings, or their friendship changing things, but for the first time, she felt no pain. "You're getting better at that," Rainbow remarked with a small grin.
Twilight froze for a moment, and looked away, her cheeks a light pink. "It's nothing, I just... want them to heal as quickly as possible, and that of course involves being as gentle as possible," she hastily explained, wrapping up the final wingtip. "Well, there you are. All patched up. Now, if you'll excuse me... I have to get cleaned up myself, and I still have to wake Spike..." She gazed up in the direction of their room where Spike was presumably still asleep, then back at Rainbow. "Hey, Rainbow? Do you... do you think he and I are friends?"
"I don't see why not," Rainbow replied nonchalantly. To her the answer was obvious. "The two of you sure seem like friends."
At that, Twilight's face flushed with embarrassment and her gaze quickly darted down towards her hooves. "It's just... I don't know." She shrugged her shoulders. "You're the first pony I've ever really considered my friend, but the more I think about it, the more I realize just how much the two of us get along, and I know it seems like we're friends, but... I'm not sure if he sees me as one."
"Uh, well... maybe he was just worried you wouldn't return his friendship, knowing how you were before and everything," she proposed, then smiled, nudging Twilight in the arm. "But I'd say the two of you already are friends... somepony has just yet to accept it."
Twilight glanced up, turning to look at Rainbow while her mind thought over what Rainbow said. I haven't accepted it... The realization hit Twilight hard, already finding it weighing particularly heavily on her heart. She's right... Spike... all this time he was my friend without me ever knowing, or acknowledging it... I wonder who else has considered me a friend all this time... Shining? Cadance? I wonder if Princess Celestia—?
"Didn't you say something about needing to get ready?" Twilight's thoughts and worries vanished for the time being, finding Rainbow's sudden reminder ringing a little more important than her prior thoughts.
"Oh Celestia, thanks for reminding me!" Twilight rose from her seat, stepping down and running off to do just that. "I'll see you in a bit, Rainbow!" she called out without ever once looking behind her as she continued towards the stairs. As a thought occurred to her, however, she looked back once to say, "Oh, also your sweatshirt's drying, Rainbow; it's up in your room when you're ready!"
She smiled and turned once more, leaving Rainbow to her breakfast, and a problem that had been unbeknownst to Twilight.
Rainbow waited until the unicorn's own hoofsteps began to fade before she breathed out a sigh of relief. "They're starting to relax," she observed as she spoke softly to herself, running a hoof along the base of her right wing. Luckily for her, Twilight didn't seem to know everything about pegasus anatomy after all, or that their wings became rather... stiff in the presence of a pony as beautiful as her.
Knowing Twilight, she probably assumed her wings were outstretched for the sole purpose of helping her bandage them.
She smiled a little as her wings finally retracted to her sides, and with them, the pain she felt quickly began to die down. "So much better..." She allowed her shoulders to relax, and a happy sigh to escape her lips, then resumed her breakfast, taking another bite out of her sandwich, only to frown. Still minty...
For Twilight, cleaning up didn't take nearly as long as she had planned for it to take. She brushed her teeth, remembering to use a new toothbrush, and brushed her mane a few times to give it that rounded, in-shape look she loved. Not a hair out of place; everything was neat and even, and to her liking.
She still couldn't fathom why Rainbow chose to wear her mane in a completely opposite fashion, or why she was somehow the only pony she ever met who made such an unruly style work. She also supposed that Rainbow's mane was the only mane with such a style where she didn't mind the look, or how messy it was. To her... it was truly alluring—
Twilight paused, looking back at her annoyed self in the bathroom mirror. No doubt her feelings at work again.
She sighed and shook her head. Concentrate, Twilight! As she left the room and stepped upon the staircase, she began to collect her thoughts. Alright, every part of me that needed to be brushed is brushed, and I'm still pretty clean considering I showered just the other day— After all, she was still an equine. Showering wasn't exactly the highest priority for a pony like herself. "So that just leaves..."
"Twilight?"
Twilight jumped back a little in surprise. "S-spike!" she exclaimed, then soon visibly relaxed, seeing it was only Spike, seemingly having stepped foot out from their room. "H-hey."
"Hey to you too," he replied. "I just woke up actually, but, well... Where were you?"
"Oh, just making breakfast..." She brought a hoof up to scratch the back of her head while averting her gaze. "Among other things," she added in a whisper.
"Really, Twilight?" Spike raised an eyebrow while a small smile made its way onto his face. "I've told you before to just let me handle it. I mean, no offense, but you're terrible at cooking."
Gee, way to boost my esteem... Twilight lowered her hoof as she shook the thought from her head. "S-so, are you all ready for today?"
"Huh?" Spike's arm unfolded, and a look of curiosity replaced his smile from mere moments ago. "Oh, right!" he recalled, already growing excited. "Yeah!" His excitement however started to lessen as another thought creeped into his head. "But, what about Rainbow? Where's...?"
"Oh, well... she's coming with us, Spike," she confessed, unsure of any other way to say it.
"Oh..." Both the young dragon's eyes and shoulders faltered. He let out a sigh. "And here I was hoping it could just be the two of us, like before."
Twilight walked forward a bit, placing a hoof on Spike's shoulder. She smiled warmly at the dragon. "Spike, I... I know she was tremendously annoying, and rude, and unpleasant when we first met her, but I've gotten to know her a lot recently, and I've sort of... uhm, grown to... like... her, sorta of... in a way." She looked away as she spoke those last words, her smile already gone and her voice growing quieter.
Spike's annoyance piqued. "Seriously, Twilight? You're telling me you're friends with her now?"
"Well... er, yes, uh, technically we are."
"What happened to her being just some mare?"
For a moment, Twilight's stare returned to Spike, dumbfounded, before the thought then occurred to her. "Right... I said that..." Spike could only roll his eyes at her forgetfulness. "But I... I couldn't prevent the two of us from growing close," she continued. "I mean, in hindsight it was bound to happen, what with our shared similarities, and the time we've spent together, reading together, sl—" Twilight stopped suddenly, placing a hoof over her lips.
A bit skeptical, Spike turned and looked up at Twilight, his arms crossed. "The two of you read together?"
"Oh, uh..." Twilight nodded her head, half-consciously. "Uh-huh."
"So... what? You swear off friendship, but the second some stranger comes through the door—"
"Window," Twilight spoke up, interrupting the dragon. Noticing Spike's exasperated expression, Twilight grinned sheepishly. "Sorry."
Spike sighed. "You're more than willing to befriend them, but... despite all the times we've had together, you've never once considered me your friend..."
Twilight shook her head, her expression softening. "That's not true, Spike," she said, softly smiling down the young dragon. "I do consider you my friend, I always have... I guess I just never acknowledged what I felt was friendship, until Rainbow showed me otherwise... But I promise you, Spike, I am your friend, and always will be."
"A-alright," Spike said after a moment spent in thought, thinking over the mare's words, before eventually letting out a sigh. "I believe you."
Twilight let out a small breath of relief. "I'm glad." The two shared a happy smile for a moment. It wasn't too long however before the growing silence began to get to them.
"Uh, so I was thinking..." Twilight began, looking for a means of breaking the silence. "I mean, there's no reason why we can't all be friends!"
Spike looked at her for a moment as if considering, before waving a claw dismissively. "I don't think she and I would get along..."
"Please?" Twilight tried again suddenly, a bit of a pleading tone in her voice, and right then, Spike realized she wasn't about to give up on this idea of hers.
"Okay, okay," he gave in, "but only because we're friends..." He gave her a reassuring nod. "If she really means so much to you, I guess I could try getting to know her—" Before he could finish, Spike found himself cut off by a suddenly grateful unicorn.
"Oh, thank you, Spike. Just think... my two friends, all friends with one another!" Twilight clapped her two hooves together, smiling at the thought. "How wonderful!"
Spike scratched the back of his head while simply watching Twilight with a slight, humored smile. He was no Rainbow; he wasn't a pony that Twilight could relate to, nor was he a mare that Twilight could enjoy time with... but he was finally her friend, and it was all thanks to Rainbow... Perhaps having her around wasn't such a bad thing after all... Come to think of it... Spike thought. How long is she even staying with us?
"Hey, uh, Twilight? How long will she be staying here anyway? I know you said until she's better, but she's been "better" for a while now."
Twilight froze, her happiness, for a moment, replaced with worry. "I... don't know myself," she admitted. "Her memories are still an issue—I-I don't know how I feel about letting Rainbow go without her knowing who she is first... and, well... we still have no idea where she's even from, if anywhere. Cloudsdale and Ponyville seem most likely—hay, even Manehatten's a likely possibility... but until we know for sure..."
"And if she's not from anywhere?" Spike asked.
Twilight swiftly turned away, hiding the uncertainty in her eyes from the young dragon as she searched for an answer. "Then... then I-I'll think of something."
"But what if she decides to stay and live here, regardless of whether or not she ever had a life to begin with?"
Spike's question caused her to blush. "S-she would had to have hit her head pretty hard to want something like that, Spike," Twilight stated, her voice shaking a bit. Even with the fact that we're friends... She took a deep breath, allowing her body to relax a little before looking back at the yearning dragon with a soft, reassuring smile. "Now, come on, Spike; I have a whole day planned for us. Let's try and enjoy it, alright?"
"Alright... Oh, but first!" The dragon headed back into their room for a moment, before returning with a sealed letter in his claw. "Here," he said, handing her the letter. "I burped it sometime last night, but was a little too tired to bother you with it, and sorta fell right back asleep. Sorry..."
"It's alright, Spike," she assured him, accepting the letter and unrolling it with her magic. She held it up before her eyes. "Now let's see..." She read through it quickly, and when she was finished, she looked back at Spike, a bit misty-eyed.
"Is it bad news?"
Twilight shook her eyes, and smiled softly, but warmly at the small dragon. "Princess Celestia is happy that I've made friends, Spike."
Spike let loose an internal sigh of relief, returning the smile. "I'm happy too, Twilight."
"So, Twi..." Rainbow began, standing dressed in her casual attire, "what's the plan for today?" The mid-morning sun shown through the windows as both mares and dragon stood gathered at the exit of the tower.
"A day together in Canterlot park," Twilight replied, a subtle tone of excitement in her voice. Spike and Rainbow lowered their eyelids in annoyance, their hopes of any sort of excitement already dashed, however Twilight continued without paying any mind. "Since today," she proceeded to say, "a carnival is being held there, in celebration of Summer!" At the mention of a carnival, both Spike and Rainbow's eyes lit up with excitement, while widening grins spread across their faces. "There's all sorts of activities being held down there, as well as various games, attractions, plenty of food stalls—" Twilight never got the chance to finish, finding herself interrupted by a certain pegasus bolting past her on her way to the door, ever so eager to leave. She grinned and turned back to the spot where Twilight and Spike stood.
"Then stop rambling and come on already, Twi; we're missing out!"
"Yeah, Twilight," Spike agreed, turning Twilight's attention to the young dragon. He ran on ahead, over to the open door. "We'll see it all when we get there!"
Without waiting another moment, the two proceeded out the door, already finding a common interest in discussing the things that may await them. Twilight smiled, hearing little bits of their conversation. And he was worried about not getting along with her... Twilight thought as she herself walked to the door. Guess all they needed was a little time to just... talk.
Not too long after leaving had the trio arrived at the park, which, once peaceful and serene, had been transformed into a bustling playground of rides and attractions. The space the park contained was aplenty, a couple coasters, rides that spun on an axis with carts in the shape of bullets and hang gliders, tilt-a-whirls, fun houses, twirls and carousals... Spike himself had never been so wide-eyed in his life.
In all the time he had known Twilight, she would never have allowed him to spend the day at a place like this.
"Well," Twilight smiled, looking at the two of them, "where to first?"
"Something fast!" Rainbow exclaimed, then backtracked as she noticed the deadpan expressions on Twilight and Spike's faces. "What?" She shrugged. "I'm feeling energetic today." A moment passed before Twilight sighed and shook her head.
"I don't know, Rainbow; I don't like "fast." If we try something, I want it to be a bit more reserved."
"Killjoy," Rainbow muttered, albeit a bit teasingly.
"Uh, I'm up for anything, really," Spike said, with a shrug of his shoulders. "Why don't we go on something fast first, and something more relaxing afterwards?"
"Works for me," Rainbow agreed, then playfully grabbed Twilight by the foreleg, dragging the reluctant unicorn along with her. Rainbow turned and motioned with a nod of her head for Spike to join them. "Come on!"
So the three proceeded to enjoy themselves as they explored the rides and various attractions for a couple hours, until they were forced to take a momentary pause the second Rainbow's stomach growled.
"Really?" Rainbow blushed sheepishly while Twilight raised an eyebrow. "Even though we just had breakfast a few hours ago?"
"I barely ate any of it, Twi!" the pegasus argued. "I couldn't get the taste of mint out of my mouth."
"Ugh, fine, here's a few bits." Rainbow smiled, accepting them just as she heard Spike call Twilight's name. The mare in question looked back at Spike, then back at Rainbow. "Spike and I are going to be competing in this scavenger hunt," she explained, "and according to the clock, it should be starting soon... Sorry but we've got to head over now if we're going to make it... Be sure to meet up with us once you've gotten something to eat. I'll be waiting for you!"
Twilight soon disappeared into the crowd with Spike, leaving Rainbow by herself to decide on a snack. She looked around at the surrounding food stalls.
Alright, time for food! The corn-on-the-cob is lookin' pretty good right about now. She paid for one, then went off to the side where she found a bench to eat, while spending some time thinking up things for the three of them to do next. Come to think of it, she thought, I still haven't told Twilight that I want to stay with her... I still gotta find the right moment to do that...
She finished up her snack, shaking the thought from her head. "Well, no need to worry about that now," she told herself under her breath. Getting up, she walked over to a trashcan and threw away her cob. "Guess I should try and find Twilight—"
"Hey, Rainbow!" Rainbow's body tensed up, her breath caught in her throat as the pegasus stood absolutely still while a sudden, pink blur zoomed past her. "Rainbow layer cake, my favorite!" the voice said, and only after the pony vanished into the crowd did Rainbow's body start to relax.
Still a little shaken, she turned and ran back to find Twilight.
After moments of running through the park, and following various signs, Rainbow at last found Twilight and Spike, the latter holding a jewel half his size, and looking overjoyed. As she approached the two, Twilight looked up and smiled. "Uh, hey guys..." Rainbow greeted. "What's going on?"
"Me and Twilight just won first in this year's scavenger hunt," Spike explained.
"Really?" Rainbow's interest sparked a little. "How'd you pull that off?"
"Twilight can sense all sorts of things with her magic, and not to mention she's sort of a genius—"
"Spike, please," Twilight cut in, urging the young dragon to be a little less boastful. "Genius is a bit of an exaggeration. I just... knew where to look is all, and, well, the prize was this large jewel that Spike was practically drooling over so I just had... had to win it... " Her voice drifted, taking note of Rainbow's downcast gaze and rather sullen appearance. She turned to Spike, placing a hoof on his shoulder. "Hey, Spike... you're old enough, why not go and try out some of the attractions on your own."
"Aw, but I was hoping we could have some more fun together..."
"I just need a little time alone, Spike..." Twilight assured him. "Here, I'll watch your jewel." She picked it out of his claws with her magic, placing it in her saddlebag. "I promise we can have more fun together later."
"Alright," Spike sighed. "I understand... See you guys later!" he added before running off.
Twilight waved goodbye as he ran off, before turning her attention back to Rainbow. "What's on your mind?"
"Thought I heard somepony call my name—the name you gave me, I mean," Rainbow confessed. "It sounded so familiar... It honestly freaked me out a little, thinking I was about to run into somepony I used to know... somepony I can't even remember."
"But if it really was somepony you knew then that means...!" Twilight's excitement died down almost immediately once the realization struck her. "Ponies have come looking for you..."
A moment of silence passed between the two. "Twilight..." Rainbow began, her cheeks growing a bit warm. Now was as good a time as any, she supposed. "Um, remember when you said I could live with you?"
Twilight's ears perked as the memory came back to her. I do, but... I was only joking, Twilight thought, puzzled. Don't... don't tell me... Thinking back, she never did make it clear to the pegasus. "Yes?"
Rainbow looked at her, scratching the back of her head. "Could I?"
Twilight was taken aback, finding herself without an answer. Did she seriously say that? There's no way she's really serious... Another look into Rainbow's eyes however, told Twilight just how serious she really was. Okay, just relax... she wants to stay with you, this is great news. Deep down, it's what you've wanted. It'd be a chance for your friendship to prosper, and you would never have to risk her leaving! Just imagine all the fun times you could have with her. The thought alone brought a happy smile to the unicorn's face.
But as much as it pained her, Twilight told herself it was wrong, that she had no idea what she was missing out on. "You need to go back though, Rainbow," Twilight said. "If you do have a home, then you would be leaving behind so much."
"Well, what if I wanted to live here anyway?" the pegasus asked with a shrug. "Even after... you know."
Twilight found herself utterly baffled. Why would she...? Are we really that good of friends? No, i-it must be something else... She heard a voice, and it obviously just spooked her. "Rainbow... you-you're obviously a little shaken up—"
"No, Twilight!" Rainbow interrupted, shaking her head. "I know what I want."
Rainbow's tone and gaze told Twilight she was serious, that there was no changing her mind; and in all honesty, Twilight wasn't too distraught. How the princess would react worried her. Sure, she's happy about us being friends, but her living with me could affect my tutelage... Still, there was nothing more she could say to persuade the pegasus otherwise, she herself did want Rainbow to stay, and although it made no sense to her, if it was what she wanted... "Alright you stubborn pegasus, fine." She sighed in defeat, looking away a bit. She'd deal with whatever consequence her decision may hold later. For now, what was important was her happiness. She looked back at Rainbow with a humored smile. "You can stay with me... as long as you like—" Rainbow leaned towards her suddenly, interrupting her and catching her in a soft embrace.
"Thanks, Twi," the pegasus sighed happily. "I'm so relieved to hear you say that."
Momentarily stunned by the move, Twilight's surprised gaze returned to its usual size, and she returned the hug. "You know, I... I didn't think you'd actually want to live with a mare like me, but then again, I never imagined you would want to be friends with me either..." Twilight let out a soft, tittered laugh. "Guess I was wrong on both counts."
Rainbow pulled away, her forehooves on Twilight's shoulders. "You're more likable than you think, Twilight," she said.
Twilight smiled bashfully at the compliment, shying away a little. Is that all though? she thought. She wants to stay... because I'm likable? No, that can't be... Although the question of why Rainbow wanted to live with her still lingered in her mind—and no doubt would continue to bug her for days on end, she found herself feeling relieved as well. Their friendship would undoubtedly be given a larger opportunity to blossom, as would... the feelings she held towards her. A silly thought then came into her head. Maybe Rainbow is staying because she actually loves me back, and... and... Twilight's thought was put on hold as her ear twitched, picking up a nearby sound. Is that... sniffling?
Curious, she and Rainbow turned to see a mare with a curly, cotton candy-like mane and tail—pink in color—and a lighter pink coat, sitting on her haunches with exaggerated tears flowing from her eyes. "That... that was so beautiful!" She blew her nose into a suddenly materialized tissue, then wiped the tears clear from her eyes with a hoof. "Sorry, I always get so emotional about these sorts of things."
Twilight exchanged a confused glance with Rainbow before asking, "Uh... I-I'm sorry, do we... do we know you?"
The pink earth pony shot up immediately, a big grin on her face, and rushed over to shake Twilight's hoof. "Pleased to meet ya! I'm Pinkie Pie."
Twilight's brow furrowed. "That can't be your real name," she remarked as the mare let go of her hoof.
The pony in question rolled her eyes, maintaining her friendly smile. "Okay, lokie, you got me. It's really..." She leaned forward, and whispered something into Twilight's ear.
"Pinkammmphl—?" Twilight tried to clarify, but her words cut short by Pinkie's hoof covering her mouth.
"Let's keep that a secret between you and me," she said.
Twilight cocked her head, a little weirded out. "Uh... s-sure?"
"Pinkie promise?"
"Pinkie... what-now?"
"Cross my heart and hope to fly—" Rainbow turned her gaze to the street, downcast. "—stick a cupcake in my eye." Twilight visibly flinched at those words and image before her of Pinkie lightly prodding her own eye with a hoof.
Imagining an actual cupcake in place of the mare's hoof only made her feel worse. Not literally, I hope... she thought, grimacing slightly at the imagery.
Twilight shook the thoughts from her head, getting back to the matter at hoof. She still didn't know who this "Pinkie Pie" even was, but taking a serious stance, she was determined to find out.
"Who are you?"
"I already told you, silly; my name's Pinkie Pie, and I've come all the way from Ponyville for my good friend, Rainbow Dash!" She pointed both her forelegs out at the surprised pegasus. Pinkie's smile became weak, and she scratched the back of her mane. "Though I guess she's content with... with... uhm, you. She's content with you," she said, looking at Twilight before allowing her gaze to fall towards the ground, her voice becoming softer. "Didn't count on that..." As Pinkie continued, Twilight found herself rapidly losing focus, consumed by her thoughts.
Ponyville... Rainbow Dash... good friend... So many thoughts ran through Twilight's mind at once she could barely keep herself steady. She had been right first off: Rainbow really did have a home, and it was in Ponyville. She had other friends, and ponies who were concerned for her, but yet had taken so long just to find her. Not knowing she was here with her in Canterlot was a possibility, but even so... Rainbow no doubt felt a little hurt. Looking over at the pegasus, all she saw was how stunned Rainbow looked, and could only assume what she was feeling. Hay, she found herself having a hard enough time taking this all in as well. She put a hoof to her temple while beckoning Pinkie with her other hoof to give her a chance to think. "Wait, wait, wait."
"Okay," Pinkie said simply, smiling politely.
"Rainbow Dash..." Twilight thought aloud, looking at her rainbow-maned friend for a moment. "Wait."
"I'm waiting," Pinkie replied.
Twilight's eyes widened, looking back at Rainbow in disbelief. "Your name is actually Rainbow?"
"I-I don't know..." Rainbow uttered, meeting her gaze. Her own expression had a look of panic, and in her eyes, Twilight could see a twinge of fear.
Twilight had never seen the mare more frightened.
Was this pony... Twilight wondered, the voice that Rainbow had heard?
"Wait a minute," the pink earth pony spoke up. "Now I'm all confuseled. Why didn't she know your name... a-and why, why didn't you, Dashie—?"
"Who... w-who the hay is Dashie?" Rainbow asked a bit hesitantly, yet sincerely, surprising the mares that stood beside her. Her nerves weren't hidden well, the tiny quivers in her voice were evident, and it was clear she was lying in what seemed to be to Twilight, panicked denial. She really didn't want to return home...
Pinkie was the first to respond. "W-well, you are, Rainbow Dash! Don't you remember?"
Before Rainbow could say another word, Twilight quickly intervened, explaining, "She lost her memory, Pinkie." However Pinkie didn't say a word, and her expression didn't change; if anything, her smile grew a little, like it was all a joke between the two of them.
"Alright, you girls got me! I mean, there's no way this is seriously true..."
When she looked back at Twilight though, the unicorn simply nodded solemnly, assuring her it was true. At that, Pinkie's own smile fell, and her ears fell flat. "It hasn't been returning either—"
"It doesn't matter anyway," Rainbow said, turning her back to them. "I... I'm not going back... It's not like anypony will miss me."
Before Twilight or Pinkie could say a word, Rainbow ran off, deep into the crowd. Twilight stepped forward, her first instinct being to chase after the fleeting pegasus, then stopped mid-step when she heard a quiet sniffle. She looked behind her at the earth pony who looked almost completely different. Her mane was noticeably flatter, and her coat, a slightly darker shade of pink.
"I... I would..." she quietly cried.
Rainbow ran. Had her wings been usable, she'd easily have flown away, but with her current state, she had no choice but to stick to her hooves. She had no desire to leave however, or abandon Twilight, it was that other pony she needed to get away from... Something about her caused not only her head to ache, but her heart. She would happily have stayed—Twilight would have tried to help, but she needed to be alone, needed time to think.
By the time she stopped however, Rainbow found herself on the other side of the park, and according to the position of the sun, it was around mid-afternoon.
Plenty of time to sit and think, she supposed, taking a seat on a shaded park bench.
She had a home, and Twilight knew. Thinking back, if she had a home, she planned on keeping it from her, leading Twilight to believe she didn't really have one.
All so that they could stay together...
Of course, that was before Twilight gave her permission to stay. Guess there's no keeping it from her anymore, Rainbow thought. But, she couldn't help but wonder, would Twilight still send her back with that pink pony? She wanted to stay—Twilight knew she wanted to, and she was certain that Twilight wanted her to as well, but knowing her, she would think of it as the right thing to do...
Why couldn't she see that this was her home now?
But so was Ponyville. In her heart, she knew it was her one, true home, and the longer her thoughts lingered on it, the more she felt a desire to return there. If what... Pinkie said was any indication, she did have friends, and was supposedly missed, so perhaps Twilight was right: she didn't mess up after all.
It almost felt like... there were memories trying to come through, but it was no use... Rainbow sighed, thinking back to the moment when Pinkie dashed past her. Pinkie Pie... I recognized her voice, and then when I saw her, I knew it was somepony from my past... and then there's my supposed friends. I can't even remember their faces... Argh, why am I even trying, she thought. I gave up wanting to know since I met Twi, and even now she's my best friend, not... whoever they are!
Rainbow huffed, feeling more frustrated than angry as feelings of sorrow, and betrayal swelled up inside her. But it's not fair to them either... I... I'm betraying my own friends, but yet... I can't— Ugh, why does this have to be so hard?
"Rainbow?" Spike's voice snapped Rainbow from her own berating thoughts, and looked up to a somewhat startled dragon before her. He looked around before then asking, "Where's Twilight?"
Right, I forgot about... Rainbow took a deep breath, calming her own nerves. "A-around, Spike," she answered, a bit shakily.
Spike took a seat beside her. "Are you alright?" he asked, looking up at her.
"Fine," she replied hastily. "I... I'm fine."
A moment of silence passed between the two of them before Spike sighed and shrugged it off. "Hm... If you say so..."
Rainbow fidgeted a little as another moment passed, her mind telling her to tell him, if only to talk about it with someone. She swallowed down a nervous gulp, before glancing nervously over at him. "Hey, um, Spike... You've heard of... um, Ponyville, right?"
"Of course," the dragon answered simply. He looked back at her, his eyes telling her he knew what this was about. "I'm gonna guess something happened involving Ponyville... right?"
Rainbow nodded, letting out a small, shaken breath. "I'm that obvious, huh?"
Spike chuckled a bit. "An amnesiac pegasus starts asking about other towns, while spacing out and stuttering every sentence... Call me crazy, but I'm gonna guess something happened."
For a moment, before her expression again became sullen, Rainbow couldn't help but chuckle herself. "I'm from Ponyville, Spike," she confessed, looking down at the ground below. "And... apparently my name's Rainbow Dash."
"No way..." Spike thought over what he had just heard, then looked back at the mare in disbelief. "Your name's really Rainbow?" Rainbow rolled her eyes, breathing out an exasperated sigh. Seeing this, Spike backtracked. "So, uh... w-what's the problem?"
Rainbow's gaze shot back to the young dragon. "Huh?"
"Knowing where you come from is a good thing, right? So... now you can make a decision: will you stay here with us, or... you know." Grinning softly, Spike said, "Knowing you, it'll probably be to st—"
"I don't know anymore, Spike," Rainbow interrupted suddenly, turning her gaze downcast once more.
"But... you and Twilight—I mean, I don't think I've ever seen Twilight so happy—outside of her usual studies and reading sessions, that is—and you're the only pony she's ever warmed up to, you... can't just leave her like this." What Spike said held true, and although a bit selfish, Rainbow knew she couldn't just leave Twilight, at least not for long; they needed one another. Already she had changed how the unicorn viewed friendships, and she wasn't about to change that.
"I know, Spike," Rainbow said. "And I want to stay here with her, more than anything. But... I know that there's ponies back home I don't even remember, and yet I know they miss me, and want nothing more than to see me again... I-I can't just abandon them like this, but... I really—"
"Princess Mi Amore Cadenza?" Rainbow heard Spike say, almost disbelievingly. Rainbow looked back at him skeptically.
"Princess what-now?" she asked, before then spotting the mare—somewhat older than herself—standing before Spike, having walked up without either noticing. Rainbow took a long look at the mare, and could at least say she had never seen one so vibrant, other than herself of course. Her coat was a light cerise, and her violet mane, long with a bit of a curl and decorated with pink and golden streaks. What's more, she not only had a horn, but wings as well. Just like Celestia... Rainbow recalled. But wait... how does she know Spike? I wonder... is this somepony Twilight knows?
"Hello, Spike, long time no see," the mystery mare greeted. She smiled warmly down at him. "How's my favorite little dragon doing?"
"Uh... f-fine, fine," Spike replied. He shot a nervous glance at Rainbow before returning his gaze to the mare. Why did she have to show up while Rainbow's like this? Spike fretted. "I'm uh, h-here with Twilight and my other friend, Rainbow," he explained, motioning to the pegasus beside him.
Cadenza nodded understandingly. "Spike... I'd like to talk with her, if that's okay." Both dragon and pegasus looked up at her, surprised.
"I, uh... Well, I-I don't know," Spike stammered. "She isn't... I mean, I don't know if she—" Before he could say another word, Cadenza motioned for him to quiet down by simply raising her hoof, assuring him it was alright.
"I understand, Spike... but," She looked knowingly at the rainbow-maned pegasus, "I think I can help."
Spike opened his mouth, about to argue when it hit him that she was a princess, and she was about as close to Twilight as Rainbow was right about now... If one princess already managed to help, maybe another one—one with a more personal connection to Twilight, could help as well. "Alright," he said, stepping down. "I'll go see if I can find Twilight." Looking back at Rainbow with uncertainty in his eyes, he added, "Guess I'll see you around," before turning and taking off into the park.
The mare, whose name was Cadenza according to Spike, waved goodbye to the small dragon before taking a seat herself. Rainbow hesitated for a moment before asking, "So... Cadenza is it? No offense, but how exactly are you going to help me?"
"Oh, I was thinking we could just talk."
Rainbow raised an eyebrow. "Talk?"
Cadenza blushed. "Sorry, I'm not a very good therapist..." she admitted sheepishly as she scratched the back of her head. Rainbow could only deadpan in response. "But I sensed a pony with a broken heart and I was lead to you; and it's my job to mend it!"
Broken heart...? Rainbow began to wonder. "So, uh... you're a friend of Twilight's?" she asked, hoping to find out a little more about this mystery mare.
"Friend?" Cadenza looked off in thought, then shook her head. "I... I'm not sure if she considers me one, but I'd like to be..." she added, looking back at the pegasus beside her with a hopeful smile. "Oh, and by the way... You can call me Cadance."
While on that end, Cadance worked to help Rainbow with her own worries and doubts, on the other side of the park however, another pair of mares were holding their own conversation, albeit different and a bit more lighthearted...
Twilight, having been so close to chasing after Rainbow, wasn't however about to run from her only key to Rainbow's past, and who Rainbow really was. So she stayed with the earth pony in an attempt to find out all she could about the pegasus, and hopefully smooth out any issues between her and Rainbow. She began by intruding herself to the mare.
"My name's Twilight Sparkle. I've been looking after... er, Rainbow Dash for the past week or so, and I've tended to her injuries, kept her... company—uhm..."
To Twilight's surprise, a small smile crept upon the disheartened earth pony's lips, and she began to chuckle a little, her mane already regaining some of its puffiness. The chuckles then expanded into full-blown laughter as the mare fell backwards, and for the smallest moment, Twilight was given a slight sense of déjà vu.
"Ah," the earth pony sighed, "a good laugh will do a pony wonders." Pinkie giggled, wiping a tear from her eye as she sat up, immediately coming eye to eye with Twilight's bewildered stare. "Your name... it-it's just... really funny-sounding!" she explained, a few rogue giggles slipping out as she spoke. Twilight's eyes narrowed in annoyance.
"It's not funny," Twilight shot back. What was with these Ponyville ponies and laughing at names? "If anything," she added, "Pinkie Pie's the funny name."
"Well of course it's a funny name," Pinkie replied as if it were obvious, rolling her eyes. "That's what makes it so fun!" she exclaimed, happily bouncing upwards in a single stot.
Twilight let out an irritated groan. What was with this mare? Sure Rainbow was a little strange when the two first met, but she was also suffering from amnesia and several injuries. So what's this mare's excuse? Twilight wondered. Is everypony from Ponyville like this—?
"So are the two of you together?" Pinkie asked out of the blue, staring intently at the feather behind Twilight's ear.
The question itself caused Twilight to cease all brain activity and stare shocked, mouth agape, back at Pinkie. Then she began stuttering like crazy.
"Wha...?!" Twilight exclaimed, utterly baffled. "W-wha, why—what-what makes... what makes you think—?"
Pinkie pointed a hoof at the cerulean feather she wore. "The feather, silly! You're wearing it behind your ear!"
Twilight backed up, no less confused. "S-so?"
"Duh, everypony knows that when a pegasus pony falls in love when somepony else, regardless of race, they give their first molted feather to them as a sign of affection."
Twilight stared at Pinkie for a few seconds, then glanced up in the direction of where her feather hung, then back at Pinkie. Then she began fumbling to remove the accessory. "I didn't know that!" she fretted, so many thoughts running through her head. She was wearing her crush's feather around... everywhere. Her parents saw it, Spike saw it— Doughnut Joe saw it! Oh, what would they all think? What would Rainbow think once she found out? Was this even her first feather? Did Rainbow give it to her, or... It just came loose, didn't it? "I-it's not her first feather, Pinkie; it just came loose. S-she didn't give it to me!"
Too shaken up to use magic, she finally clasped the feather in her hoof. When she was about to remove it from her ear however, Pinkie's hoof stopped her.
"No no no, don't! You'll ruin it!"
Sure enough, Pinkie was right; she could feel the feather in her hoof, and already she knew when she hastily grabbed it, she had grabbed it a bit too roughly. As much as she wanted to keep her crush a secret, she wasn't about to damage the one thing she had of Rainbow.
Removing it gently, she lowered it before her eyes and began fixing it.
"Pinkie, you're right, but... I don't want ponies thinking—! I mean, we aren't..." Twilight hesitated, biting her lip. "We... we're not like that."
Pinkie's shoulders slumped. "Aw, but why not? I mean, the two of you look super-duper cute together!"
Twilight's cheeks became a little warm, yet another sense of déjà vu washing over her; and, if only for a moment before she disguised it with a laugh, she smiled. They did look pretty cute together, in a weird sort of way.
"I'm pretty sure me and her are anything but cute together, Pinkie," Twilight said. "Besides, we've only just become friends—" She paused. "I-I'm sorry, can... can we talk about something else?" Changing the subject was one reason, but it also just hit her that she had gotten terribly off track. She was supposed to be questioning Pinkie, not the other way around.
"How did you and Rainbow come to know one another?" she asked.
At the mention of Rainbow, Pinkie's smile visibly weakened, but she kept it up as the two proceeded to walk. "Hm..." She tapped her chin. "I think it's more a case of me knowing her, actually. I mean, she always flew off whenever I tried to talk to her, muttering something about me being annoying—"
Can't imagine why... Twilight mused.
"—But I'm sure she was in a bad place at the time or something... I mean, I'm not annoying, I'm party-rific! Everypony in Ponyville absolutely loves my parties, even Dashie said they weren't half-bad." She paused, then backtracked. "Accompanied by Fluttershy, of course."
Twilight however, partially listened. She had all but zoned out, her mind trying to comprehend the word, party-rific... "Party-rific..." she whispered out loud. "T-that... that's not a word..."
"It is in my dictionary."
"Your dictionary?" Twilight asked, a tad skeptical.
"Uh-huh," the earth pony nodded.
"So... you're saying you have an interest in literature?"
"Nope," she denied simply. Looking over at Twilight, she grinned. "You're one of those big brainy types, aren't you?"
Twilight was taken aback; she made it sound like a bad thing.
"S-so what if I am?"
"Whoa, hey, no need to get defensive! I think it's nice Rainbow Dash has somepony as smart as you looking out for her." She looked ahead of her in thought. "Though I always imagined she'd go for a more athletic pony like herself... I suppose a pony like you could balance out her hot-headed competitive... ness."
I could? Twilight quickly shook the thought from her head. "I am not in love with her, Pinkie," she insisted.
Pinkie stopped in her tracks, and turned to face her, looking the most serious Twilight had seen her. "The twitchy tail never lies, Twilight."
"The..." Again, Twilight found herself stuttering in utter confusion. "Wh—uh, wha...? Huh?"
"Well," Pinkie started to explain, "when the two of you were talking, my tail began a-twitchin', and I mean seriously twitcha-twitchin'. Then my ears flopped, my legs buckled, and my body shivered all over... and it was all followed up with a sudden feeling of warmth."
"Uh... I-I I'm not a doctor, Pinkie; I can't help with that—"
"No, silly! It's my pinkie sense, it allows me to predict things by triggering a buncha different feelings throughout my body, and I knew such a super spectacular feeling could only mean one thing!"
Pinkie... sense...? The concept baffled her to no end. It had to have been a nickname for something—a gut feeling perhaps, or it was just her being random again. Wouldn't be the first time in our short time together, Twilight thought.
"She's not with anypony, or at least, I'm pretty sure she isn't," Pinkie continued. "She was always competing with others, and talking about some kind of sport, or trick... She never seemed like much of a friend maker though, or a romantic pony for that matter."
"Reminds me a little of myself, in a way..." Twilight mused, though her worries lessened a little as well, knowing Rainbow wasn't in any sort of relationship. It gave her slight hope for a potential relationship as long as nothing in the present went awry.
"With you though, it's different!" Pinkie exclaimed, snapping Twilight from her thoughts. "Rainbow was practically batter in your hooves!"
Er... batter? Twilight pondered the expression for a quick moment before shaking the thought from her head. "Do you usually play matchmaker like this?"
"Nope!" she denied with a wide grin on her face. "But it's a potential relationship between my best-est friend, and my newest friend, and I just know it'll make them both super happy!" Twilight blinked. Was she really Pinkie's friend? No, that would be ridiculous; they barely knew one another...
Noting Twilight's blank stare, Pinkie went on to explain, "That's my talent after all: making other ponies happy! Even if it makes us Ponyville ponies sad..."
Pinkie... Twilight placed a hoof on the mare's shoulder, feeling a twinge of sympathy for her. "They say that if you love somepony, you should let them go." Twilight hesitated, biting her inner lip. "Pinkie, I'm sorry..." she said, her expression becoming melancholy. "If I could make Rainbow return home, I would, but she made up her mind to stay, and, on a more personal note... so much has happened between us that I... I'm not so sure I could bear to see her go... Celestia only knows how it would affect our friendship..."
"Or ours... Hey!" Pinkie chirped up suddenly as a thought then occurred to her. "You should all come and live in Ponyville!"
Twilight withdrew her hoof, looking back at the earth pony with a look of surprise. "Ponyville?"
"Just think," Pinkie said. "We would all be together, and we'd get to see one another every day! It'd be super fun-tacular!"
"Pinkie... that sounds nice, but... I can't." She shook her head. "Not while... not while I'm still a student."
"Couldn't you just study in Ponyville?" Pinkie asked.
"Couldn't I just...?" Twilight smiled at the idea. "Don't be ridiculous, Pinkie; the princess would never allow that." At least, I don't think she would...
After a couple moments spent in silence, Twilight then asked, "Why did she leave?" Pinkie looked at her curiously. "Rainbow, I mean."
"Hm... I don't know... but I bet Fluttershy knows!"
"You mentioned her before... Who is she?"
"Only the kindest and most gentlest mare in all of Ponyville, and maybe all of Equestria!" Pinkie exclaimed. Her excited tone died down a little as she added, "She was also Rainbow Dash's first friend."
First friend...? Twilight tapped her chin with her hoof, looking downwards in thought. I wonder... did something happen between th—
"Twily?" a voice familiar, yet so nostalgic spoke up from where Twilight stood. When she looked in the direction the voice had come from, she was surprised to see her brother there. At first she couldn't believe it.
"Big brother?" she asked, not believing her own eyes. It had been so long; she had so much to say, so much to catch up on. Where was she even to begin?
"Pinkie Pie!" Pinkie exclaimed suddenly, drawing the attention of both siblings. "Uh... sorry, I thought we were all doing the name... thing... I'll give you guys some alone time."
Twilight rolled her eyes as Shining turned back to his sister, smiling softly. "You made a friend?"
"A-a couple... actually." It was safe to say Rainbow and Spike were her friends, but who her brother had referred to, she still wasn't sure. The thought also sparked a new one inside her head. Was her brother a friend? Sure they acted friendly, and liked one another well enough, but... Was it the same case with Spike? Had they been friends this whole time?
Twilight looked away, a bit uncertain and embarrassed, then asked, "Hey, uhm... we're friends too, aren't we, brother?" She turned her gaze back up at her brother, awaiting an answer.
Shining however had been taken aback slightly. Twilight had never referred to him as a friend before. He knew time had passed since they last saw one another—years even—but he hadn't expected his sister to change like this...
It honestly made him happy to see his sister finally call others her friend.
Shining looked down at his sister, and nodded softly. "Best friends," he said.
Twilight smiled, relieved, and for a moment, neither pony found themselves saying anything. For her, it was sudden, and unbearable awkward silence. She needed to say something. "I uh, originally came here with somepony else," Twilight said. "She's around here somewhere..." She glanced around for her before asking, "So, uhm, what are you doing here?"
"I'm here with somepony myself," Shining replied. "Figured since I had the day off, I'd spend it with her. She's been looking for a reason to leave the castle anyways."
That piqued Twilight's interest. Was he escorting somepony? A relative of Celestia perhaps? She looked at her brother with interest. "Who?" she asked.
"Cadance," her brother answered simply.
"Cadance?" Twilight repeated, the excitement in her voice rising. An elated grin appeared on her face. "Really, Cadance is here?"
Cadance, Twilight thought. Her old foalsitter. Maybe even the first pony other than her brother she would've considered her friend, had she only been a little more open to it at the time. Already the memories of the time spent together came rushing back to her, if only then to fill her with a sense of sadness for the years gone by.
Not since she was a filly had she seen her.
But perhaps that would change. Perhaps she could see her again—at this very moment even!
It would be just like old times for her.
"She's around..." Shining said, taking a quick glance around himself. "Said she sensed a love emergency, and teleported off." Hearing that, Twilight's head fell, her smile already gone. Of course wishing to see somepony from her fillyhood was too much to ask...
Twilight sighed, shaking off the disappointment. Maybe she wouldn't get to see her, but at the very least, she could give her a message. "Could you say "Hi" for me, when you see her?"
Shining smiled warmly. "Sure thing, Twilight," he assured her.
Grateful, Twilight returned the smile before asking, "So, were you looking for her?"
Shining nodded. "I wonder where she went off to...?"
I wonder if she's with...? Twilight quickly denied the possibility. If Cadance was still in the park somewhere, she couldn't be with her. That would mean...
"She sensed a love emergency, and teleported off."
Twilight's cheeks grew a deep shade of red. Could that be why Rainbow ran... why she wanted to stay with me? The possibility made some sense, yet Twilight found she couldn't believe it. Hay, she had a hard enough time believing she herself had fallen in love with the mare in such a short time, considering their rocky start. Now it was possible the pegasus liked her back, and Cadance was helping her through it all. But that's silly, Twilight reasoned. There's no way that's all really happening...
She sighed, putting the thought aside for the time being. "I-I know the two of you knew one another, but I never imagined the two of you were friends..."
At that, Shining's own cheeks reddened a little, and his smile grew sheepish. "Yeah, we... we're something like that."
Twilight nodded, though her brother's own signs went unnoticed. Instead, she found herself in thought once more as she couldn't help but wonder. I wonder if Cadance thinks of me as a friend—
Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of her name being called and, as she looked toward the source, she saw Spike walking over to her.
"Really?" Rainbow asked. "You used to foalsit for Twi?"
Cadance nodded. "I did, yes," she replied, then giggled. "Twi... that's a cute nickname... Here I thought Twily was her only nickname."
"Twily?" Rainbow perked up slightly as a small smile grew. "Now there's a funny nickname. Wait... I had thought of that one! Why didn't I go with that?"
"Don't embarrass her with it, Rainbow," Cadance warned.
"I won't, I won't!" Rainbow assured, quickly holding her hooves out before her as Cadance's own sternness melted away, and she chuckled softly, holding a hoof over her lips. Rainbow rolled her eyes and glanced away. "Though maybe I will just once, but... I mean, I could never, I..."
"Love her?" Cadance surmised. Rainbow's eyes widened, and she panicked, stumbling over her own words.
"Wh-what, no! W-why-why would I—? That-that's crazy! Where'd you get an idea like that—?"
"I'm the princess of love, Rainbow," she cut in. "I can sense love from a mile away." Hearing this, Rainbow's composure slowly began to regain itself. Her mind still panicked however, knowing full well there was no getting out of this. Cadance seemed to notice this. "I didn't mean to intrude," she explained softly, "but I could sense you had feelings for somepony... and you seemed conflicted, so I decided to help."
How many princesses are there, anyway? Rainbow wondered for a brief moment before nodding her head in understanding. "I... I appreciate it princess, but what makes you so sure it's Twilight?"
"Well, considering your recent memory loss, and your young age, I can't imagine it being anyone but Twilight... Unless..." Cadance tapped her chin, looking at Rainbow with suspicion. "You're in love with Spike?"
"Spike?" Rainbow repeated, dumbfounded, before shaking her head. "N-no, I...! Argh, alright..." Rainbow sighed in defeat, allowing her shoulders to drop and her gaze to fall to the ground. "Maybe I do... kind of like Twilight." she admitted. "She was the first pony I met since I lost my memory, and she's just... been there for me ever since, you know? I mean, sure we found each other a little annoying at first, and we didn't quite get along, but it's not like I disliked her or anything; hay, I thought she was kinda funny... kind, hardworking... and, well, beautiful." Rainbow paused, looking over at Cadance. "But don't tell anypony I said that." Cadance, already a big smile on her face, simply nodded her head reassuringly.
"She's a humongous egghead in every way, and she stresses out way too often, but... I dunno, I really enjoy being around her. It makes me happy whenever I see the color of her coat, or that dorky manecut of hers that she brushes way too many times. Plus her coat's got like this... really silky feeling whenever we hug, and not to mention her totally adorable laugh she always tries to covers up, and the way she gets all flustered whenever I make some stupid joke..." Rainbow's voice drifted, memories of the night before returning to her. Then there's everything that happened last night... Cadance's excited voice broke through the thought.
"That's adorable!" the alicorn squealed. Rainbow rolled her eyes, a humored smile on her lips.
"I wasn't sure if she liked me like that," she continued, "or at all for that matter... until yesterday, that is. It was then I began thinking that maybe she too liked me as more than a friend. I mean, I think she likes me, but..."
"Twilight never did take much of an interest in love," Cadance spoke. "She always looked at it as just another way to power her magic."
"I suppose that sounds like her... But why would she think—?"
"My magic is powered by love, Rainbow," Cadance said. "Most unicorn magic is affected by emotion in some way..."
As she recalled things about Twilight, a sudden voice, that of a young filly entered her mind. A voice from a memory long forgotten... at a playground, on the swings...
"You're a princess. I'm just a regular old unicorn."
"I... I think she may have wanted to be like me."
"You?" Rainbow remarked. "Why? I mean, Twi's great the way she is."
"It's sweet you think so, Rainbow... but Twilight's dream has always been to achieve magical prowess similar to Princess Celestia's. Guess she figured if she could pull off magic like mine, it would help her be like the princess she always wanted to be."
Rainbow's expression saddened a little. "I... I had no idea."
"I eventually did explain to her what love was, and... I think she may have lost interest after I told her." Cadance smiled sheepishly as Rainbow's own expression turned slightly peeved. "B-but I don't think she ever lost complete interest!" Cadance continued. "I think she simply needed somepony to rekindle that interest." Rainbow's annoyance faded as she looked back at Cadance and took in what the princess told her. However, her brow scrunched up in confusion, cluing Cadance to help her out.
"I'm saying she might like you too, if she's already warmed up to you this much." Cadance winked at her. "It's worth a shot." Hearing her words of encouragement, Rainbow's face lit up for a moment, but the reminder of what led her astray in the first place entered her thoughts.
"But...!" Rainbow groaned out in frustration. "It's just... what about my other home? My friends in Ponyville?" Rainbow glanced down defeated, her voice growing weaker. "I can't just... I can't just leave them..."
"Even though you don't remember them?" Cadance asked.
"They remember me..." Rainbow replied. "It... it's not fair to them."
"Seeing the way you are now may hurt them."
"Then what should I do?"
"I wish I knew..." Cadance sighed, taking a moment to think. "Something tells me though that the answer may lie in Ponyville. Why not travel down there, for one day?" Cadance suggested. "Doing so may help you remember... and you could maybe track down the ponies you once knew—though I wouldn't mention your memory loss around them," she quickly added. "If your heart really is content on staying here with Twilight, then... you've got to convince your friends, and yourself that you aren't abandoning anypony! You've just found a new home, and... you'll see each other again someday."
We'll see each other again... The words lingered in Rainbow's head, moments after Cadance finished speaking, causing an eventual, small grin to spread across her face. It was enough to convince herself that she wasn't really leaving behind anypony.
But traveling to Ponyville also meant no Twilight. Rainbow doubted the unicorn would join her on such short notice, but perhaps it was better if she did this on her own. "I'd hate to leave Twi, even if only for a day," Rainbow said. "But... that's not a bad plan." She smiled at Cadance. And... it's not like I'll be alone. Something tells me I'll have some company... I still have to set things right with her...
"Then it seems my work is done. You came here with Twilight, right?"
Rainbow's eyes widened at the reminder. "Oh crud, you're right!" She hit her forehead with a hoof. "I ran off and completely left her behind! What kinda friend am I...?" Rainbow hopped down from the bench, turning her head back towards Cadance.
"Thanks, Cadance... I think, I mean I appreciate the talk, but I gotta find Twilight, and talk to her... about all that." She turned once more, then paused, glancing back at Cadance. She hesitated, her gaze faltering for a moment before it returned to the alicorn. "Hey, um... we are friends... right?"
"I would hope so," Cadance replied simply with a smile.
Guess Twi rubbed off on me a little... Rainbow smiled at the thought, then nodded at Cadance. "Cool! Alright, well... later!" she added before running off to reunite with a certain unicorn, just as another, with a white coat and striped-blue mane, walked over to the seated alicorn.
"Cadance, there you are!"
Cadance's ears perked up at the call, and she turned, curious. "Shining?" she wondered as her somewhat... tired-looking coltfriend walked up to her. Was he looking for me this whole time?
"I know you sensed a broken heart Cady, but... Next time, warn me before you teleport away like that."
Cadance frowned, and stepped down, stepping over to where Shining stood before giving him a loving nuzzle. "Sorry, Shiny," she said soothingly, and in a voice so innocent any annoyance melted away on the spot.
"W-well it wasn't so bad, I suppose," Shining said softly. "On the upside, I got to see Twily." Cadance pulled away, her interest piqued. "She was here with actual friends... Though she ran off when Spike showed up and told her... something, I... I couldn't quite tell what it was."
Cadance chuckled softly. "You make it sound like Twilight's incapable of making friends."
"Not incapable, just..." Shining scratched the back of his head. "I was unsure if she'd ever warm up to the idea of friendship... She says "Hi" by the way."
Both ponies shared a quick, yet soft chuckle. "That's sweet of her," Cadance remarked. She's grown so much; she's no longer the filly I once knew, she thought, with a slight, proud smile on her lips. If she were standing here right now, I honestly don't know what I would say—
"So," Shining said, removing Cadance from her thoughts. "Who were the ponies this time? Or was it just one?"
Ponies? Cadance wondered. Oh, right... She smiled, walking past Shining, her tail brushing against his side playfully. "Just a friend with a troubled heart."
Shining turned, looking at his girlfriend with a confused expression. "Friend?"
Rainbow ran, eager to reunite with a certain unicorn. The direction she was running in also happened to be the one Spike was leading Twilight and Pinkie down, and mares with a rainbow mane, or a lavender coat stood out rather easily in a crowd of ponies.
Both their faces lit up in joy as they spotted one another, and ran over, reuniting in a happy embrace. The hug lasted several seconds, with an occasional nuzzle in the mix as both ponies simply relished the feeling of being in the others' hooves.
Pinkie merely stood back a bit and watched, not wishing to interrupt, while Spike stood watching in curiosity, confused by their sudden, loving actions.
The two pulled apart, their hooves gently remaining on one another's shoulders.
"Twilight—"
"Rainbow—"
Both mares paused, looking at the other for a moment before breaking out in a small bout of laughter. Twilight was the first to speak. "You first," she said.
Rainbow let out a sigh, the smile from her face fading. "Sorry for leaving you like that, Twi," she said, shrugging her shoulders. "I guess I just needed to figure some things out..."
Twilight shook her head, looking at Rainbow with a soft smile. "Neither of us need to apologize Rainbow, but... Sorry for letting you leave. I should've tried to stop you, or have gone with you... Though, it's like you said... you needed some time alone." At least before Spike and Cadance found her, and Cadance talked to her about what, Spike couldn't tell her.
But knowing Cadance had indeed found Rainbow, made the pegasus's own feelings towards her a little clearer. She remembered her chest tightening and her face breaking out in a sudden blush when Spike had first told her.
She looked as the pegasus before her hesitated, looking away a bit, and it caused the lovestruck part of her to wonder: if Rainbow did like her, was she about to confess?
"Twi, this isn't easy for me to say..."
Yes? Twilight thought eagerly, feeling her heart skip a beat.
"I'm going back to Ponyville."
And just like that, Twilight's heart broke in two.
"N-no..." She backed up a bit, shaking her head. "You-you can't—"
"Don't be so dramatic, Twi," Rainbow cut in, smiling. "It'll only be for a little bit."
A... a little bit...? Everypony looked at her, curious. "What do you mean, for a little bit?" Twilight asked.
"What I mean is, there are ponies out there who consider me their friend, and... even if I can't remember them, what kinda friend would I be if I just... left them hanging?" Rainbow walked ahead, over to where Pinkie stood. Pinkie smiled softly at her old friend. "Pinkie, right? I'm willing to travel back with you, and hopefully set everything straight, but just... don't mention my amnesia; it... it's painful for everypony else as is."
Knowing there was nothing she could say, Pinkie merely nodded.
"So I want to visit my old hometown and let you all know I'm alright," Rainbow continued, turning back around. "But also that my new home, for the time being, is with her." Rainbow motioned to Twilight. Twilight herself blushed as Rainbow gazed at her. "With Twilight."
The evening sun slowly dipped into the horizon as the group reached the Canterlot train station. Having allowed Spike to stay awhile longer on his own before sending him home once he began feeling tired, Twilight now waited to the side of the train station, rather impatient as Rainbow stood talking with Pinkie near the train.
"I really wish you'd reconsider, Dashie, but... if you really are happy here, then... well, who am I to stop you? It's enough just knowing that you're safe with..." Pinkie began to trail off. "With, uh..."
"Twilight?" Rainbow assumed. "Pinkie, how did you already forget?"
"It's hard enough remembering the faces of everypony in Ponyville, Dashie," she said, then grinned sheepishly. "Remembering ponies from other cities isn't exactly my forte."
Rainbow smiled a bit before rolling her eyes. She looked off near the direction where Twilight stood. "I still need to say goodbye to her... Excuse me." Rainbow turned to leave, when her thoughts reminded her of something she had been needing to ask. "Hey, uh... just wondering..." Rainbow began, turning back around to face the pink earth pony. "Why it'd take so long for you to find me?"
"Oh, about that! You see, when you first disappeared, ponies said you flew off in the direction of Canterlot, and at first, I had misheard and thought they said Candylot... There actually is a Candylot by the way! They make the best rock candies in all of Equestria! I found that out when I... uh," Pinkie scratched the back of her head, "traveled there by mistake—"
A cerulean hoof was shoved suddenly before her lips, silencing her. "Got it," Rainbow said. "Thanks..." She sighed, shaking her head as she turned and headed over to Twilight.
Twilight smiled, although a little nervously as she saw Rainbow begin to approach her. Seeing Twilight's smile, Rainbow couldn't help but smile herself.
"H-hey again," Twilight greeted. "Are you sure about this? I mean, I'm not going to stop you; I think it's good you're doing this, but..."
"Thanks Twi, but... I'm sure. Try not to miss me too much while I'm gone, okay?"
"I'll try... As long as you promise you'll be back soon."
"I promise I'll be back before you know it," Rainbow said with a reassuring grin. "Try not to have any nightmares while I'm gone, alright?"
Nightmares? Twilight blinked. She had forgotten all about that... If Rainbow left, would they worsen? Or maybe they would disappear right along with her. Maybe I could stay up all night, and the night after; I'm sure I could find something to keep me occupied, or a spell of some sort... I still have to write a letter to Princess Celestia, and tell her about all this anyway. No doubt that's going to keep me up for a while...
She looked into Rainbow's eyes and nodded slowly. "I-I'll try." A sudden, playful smile crept upon her lips, and raising her voice a bit, she added in a faux-irritated tone, "Just be back in time for the Wonderbolts show. I spent a lot of money on those, and I don't want to go alone."
"I will Twi, I will! It won't be long, I swear!" Rainbow insisted, holding a hoof up in defense, but to her surprise, Twilight began chuckling lightly.
"I was only kidding, Rainbow. Or... trying to, anyway. Trying to lighten the mood, you know? Take all the time you need." She looked away a bit, blushing a bit. "I meant it though, about not wanting to go alone, so... if you do make it back in time, I'd be more than happy to accompany you, if you were up to it."
Rainbow grinned. "Totally!"
"So, um..." Twilight trailed off as the silence between them grew, knowing full well Rainbow had to leave any moment, and for the time in what felt like forever to the young mare, would be without her rainbow-maned friend. The thought alone was hard to accept, and already she found herself struggling to keep Rainbow here beside her, but she was out of words, and anything her mind wanted to say, was caught beneath a net of nerves.
She averted her gaze away from the cerulean face and rainbow mane before her in favor of the ground, simply waiting for the mare to leave so she could once again look up. Seeing the first pony she ever considered her friend now about to leave was hard, but when that very same pony was also her very first crush... it was near unbearable.
Unbeknownst to her, Rainbow was having an equally hard time-not just bearing their departure, but the saddened look on the unicorn's face.
Darn it, Twi, cheer up! Rainbow thought. Now you're making me all sad...
Then, as she thought up ways to make her feel a little better, she remembered something Cadance had told her that, at the time, had made herself feel a little better.
"I'm saying she might like you too. It's worth a shot."
Her heart began beating faster, a knot already forming in her stomach.
Here goes nothing, she thought, swallowing down a nervous gulp before leaning a little to Twilight's side, the hairs of her mane brushing against the side of Twilight's face. At first Twilight simply passed the feeling off as a buzzing insect, or some weird itch, but then she felt a different sensation: one that wasn't irritating, or itchy. It was warm, and... a little bit dry, but moist as the same time.
It was then that it occurred to her: Rainbow had kissed her right cheek.
Twilight's sudden, surprised gaze snapped back up from the ground just as Rainbow pulled away. Her cheeks were an obvious shade of red, and she wore a small, shy grin. "Bye," she whispered, a different, more hopeful tone in her voice before running off in the direction of the train headed to Ponyville.
Rainbow's goodbye, and her running off barely registered in the young unicorn's mind; she could only stand, stunned, with a hoof now covering the patch of fur Rainbow had ever so lightly kissed, a thousand questions crowding her mind at once.
Then, all of those thoughts and questions were replaced by a single, lopsided and goofy grin as everything, even Rainbow's own feelings became clear to her.
"She likes me too... She likes me too!" Twilight exclaimed, jumping up a little, and attracting some unwanted attention.
But it all went unnoticed by the elated unicorn.
The eventual question of why Rainbow liked her didn't go as unnoticed, and her smile fell the more she thought about it. As happy as she was that Rainbow actually liked her, it puzzled her as to why. She looked around the area hastily about to question the pegasus, when she remembered said pegasus already left. Her ears drooped at the realization. "She couldn't even stick around..."
However it didn't bother her for very long.
She knew their time wouldn't be ending anytime soon. They had a whole year ahead of them, and Celestia only knew how many more would follow. "Oh well, I'll just have to ask when she gets home."
She smiled confidently at her resolution, then turned, with a happy step in her walk, finding herself with the same feeling she felt the day she was accepted into Celestia's school.
Only this time, she was even happier.