//------------------------------//
// Happy Birthday, Twilight! 
// Story: Trouble at the Finish Line 
// by shortskirtsandexplosions 
//------------------------------//

	In a flash of light, Twilight Sparkle materialized on the confetti-strewn floor of Sugarcube Corner.

"—gotten!"  She gasped.  A blink.  She looked around, and then her body slumped with drooping ears.  "Awwww... it's over."

"Twilight!"  Rarity looked up from a basket of socks she was darning.  With a happy smirk, she got up and trotted across the nightlight windows.  "You're back!  At last!  Wellllll?" She leaned in, smiling.  "How was itttt?"

"I..."  Twilight pawed at the floor, shuddering.  "I really... really liked it."  She gulped and looked up with a tender smile, blushing slightly.  "I liked it so much, I-I didn't want it to end!"

"Well, that's the magic about... erm... m-magic comic books, darling!"  Rarity rested a hoof on the alicorn's shoulder. "You can repeat the experience any time you wish!  With multiple variables to the narrative, even!"

"Oh yeah!"  Twilight blinked back at the book.  "That's true!  Wow, Rarity.  Do you know how to give a gift or do you know how to give a gift?!"

"Hmmmm..."  Rarity smiled with a delightful shudder.  "I try not to brag."

"Horseapples!"  Twilight gasped, blinking out the empty eatery's windows.  "It's super late!  When did the party end?"

"About thirty minutes after you indulged us by hopping into the book."

"Yes, but how long ago from now?"  Twilight winced with guilt.  "And just how long have you been here... waiting?"

"Never you mind!"  Rarity tilted her nose up.  "You're the birthday girl!  You're entitled!"

"Awwwwwww..."  Twilight squirmed, giggling as her party hat slumped down until it looked like a second horn.  "Rarityyyyy..."

"Nuh uh uh!  None of that!  However, I would like to know what you thought about the gift!"

"I already told you!"  Twilight practically hopped in place.  "I loved it."

"I desire specifics, dear," Rarity said with a grin.  "Applejack and Rainbow Dash did work overnight to make it the way it was, after all."

"Oh yeah!  That's right!"  Twilight blinked.  "Gosh, I was going to say.  They looked really, really tired at the party earlier this afternoon.  Heehee!"

"Mmm... yes... well..."  Rarity cleared her throat.  "Nevertheless, entertain a lady, why don't you?  Tell me your thoughts!"

"Oh... it was utterly fantastic!"  Twlight paced in a circle, her face beaming with fresh enthusiasm.  "The space battles!  The explosive moments!  The dramatic moments!  Ravashin' Prism's toys and Astro Dust's backstory!  It felt so rich and yet so riveting at the same time!  From the first battle with the Goblin Gauntlet to the duel with Ebon Soul!"

"Ahhh... I see..."  Rarity nodded, smiling.  "So, no flaws, then?"

"Absolutely none!"  Twilight smiled.  A blink.  "Er... well..."

Rarity leaned forward.  "What?"

"Heh—nah..."  Twilight chuckled, waving a hoof.  "Forget I said anything—"

"Tell me!"  Rarity took a bold step.  "If there's something wrong with it, I want to know!"

"It was perfect, Rarity!"

"No, Twilight, I insist!"  She smiled.  "I have plenty of bits from my last contract and the commission artist at Quills and Sofas is still on hold!  I can make the alterations if I need to!"

"Well..."  Twilight Sparkle tapped her hooves together, blushing bashfully.  "If... if it's n-not too much?"

"Name it, darling."  Rarity grinned.  "Just what would you improve about it?"

"The ending was just so satisfying... except for one thing!"  Twilight spun about, forelimbs spread wide.  "Ravishin' Prism and Astro Dust!"

"... ... ..."  Rarity blinked, her muzzle locked in a smile.  "...what about them?"

"Isn't it obvious?"

"Isn't what obvious?"

"They love each other, Rarity!"  Twilight Sparkle exclaimed.  "They should have—I dunno—kissed or made out or at least nuzzled each other right at the end!"

"Right..."  Rarity's left eye twitched.  "...at the e-end?"

"Now I can't go to sleep tonight without wondering about the two mares!"  Twilight squirmed in place.  "Do they ever express their love to one another?  Do they ever consummate?!"

"It... you... th-they..."  Rarity gurgled, teetering backwards.

"I'm telling you—the only thing that story needed was a romantic sub-plot!"  Twilight couldn't hear Rarity's fainting noise from the sound of her own gasps.  "Oooh!  What if... hee-hee... what if I wrote my own Ravishin' Prism and Astro Dust fan script?!  Would Ravidust literature be considered an infringement on a commissioned magical comic book?"  Silence.  Twilight spun about, smiling innocently.  "...Rarity?"