//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 // Story: While You Were Out // by JKinsley //------------------------------// Twilight shivered in spite of her boots and scarf. Her walk was short one, just from the library to Rarity’s boutique. She tried to focus on their breakfast plans to keep her mind off of the bitterly cold winds blowing through the streets of Ponyville. It was barely winter, and yet the temperatures had dropped faster than anypony expected. Rainbow Dash mentioned something about a few of the weather teams from up North being unable to restrict some winds, but for once, Twilight found herself out of her depth when it came to knowledge of all things. Individual cities managing their own weather was a concept she and many other ponies understood well, but the larger systems eluded her. She sighed and trod on, hoping to reach the warmth of the boutique soon. Not long after, Twilight stood in front of Carousel Boutique. A note fastened to the door read “Twilight, please come in and make yourself comfortable. I have had a long night and will be down to greet you properly when I awake. Love, Rarity.” Twilight chuckled and tried to open the door. When it didn’t give, she infused the lock with a touch of magic and it clicked open. Twilight stepped inside and locked the door behind her before she kicked off her boots and hung her scarf on the rack next to the door. She glanced around and saw that the boutique was unusually dark. Some light filtered through the curtains on the windows, but early morning offered little brightness, especially for the expansive foyer. Since she hadn’t seen Rarity yet, Twilight wandered further into the boutique. She poked her head in the kitchen, but saw and heard nothing. So she’s not preparing breakfast yet, Twilight thought. “Rarity?” Twilight called softly. “Are you downstairs?” Twilight kept her ears up and flicked them side to side, hoping to catch any sound of her pale friend. She continued to search downstairs, but there was still no sign of Rarity. “Rarity?” Twilight called again. She ascended the stairs to the second floor and started searching. The first door she came across was the guest room; Twilight doubted Rarity would be in there, but she would leave no stone unturned in her search. The next room she searched was a store room, full of bolts of fabric, ponykins, and shelving. To Twilight’s surprise, the store room looked like it was used recently, as the bolts of fabric looked like they had been hastily rearranged by Rarity in a search of her own for a particular bit of cloth. Twilight resisted the urge to reorganize and shut the door. She turned back to the hallway and the last room on the second floor, Rarity’s design room. She poked her head in and whispered, “Rarity?” Like the other rooms, the design room was dark with its curtains closed. Twilight stepped in to open the curtains but stopped when a light breathing drew her attention to a large sofa tucked in the corner. Rarity slept peacefully with her head resting on her hooves and her curly tail wrapped around her body. Her chest gently rose and fell with each inhale and exhale. A little shiver ran through her and Twilight nearly melted. “Oh, Rarity, you poor thing. You must’ve been up all night!” she whispered. She planted a soft kiss on Rarity’s forehead and earned a soft murmur of appreciation and slight smile. Twilight shot her a smile back and left the room in search of a blanket, not wishing to wake her sleeping marefriend up just yet. She returned shortly after raiding a closet for a large fleece blanket. Twilight unfurled it and draped it over Rarity’s sleeping form and tucked her in with a hoof through her mane and another soft kiss to her forehead. A contented sigh escaped Rarity’s lips and Twilight smiled once more. “I’ll be back in a bit, love, just after I get breakfast started for us,” Twilight whispered. She almost made it out of the room before a needy whimper begged her to turn around. Rarity tried to nuzzle a cheek that wasn’t there and grab and hold a hoof that wasn’t, either. “Breakfast can wait,” Twilight whispered to herself as much as anypony. She slipped under the blanket and leaned against Rarity. Now Rarity’s nuzzle and hoof hold found their mark and Twilight cooed. She slid one of her wings around Rarity’s back and snuggled closer. As if by instinct, Rarity’s tail flicked and found Twilight’s, so Twilight obeyed and entwined her tail in Rarity’s. Now settled in, Twilight laid her head down and smiled blissfully. She closed her eyes and waited for Rarity to wake up, completely content to just lie with her until that happened. A few false starts got Twilight’s hopes up. A happy murmur here, a slight stir there. Twilight let herself drift off for a bit longer after the latest bit of Rarity trying to wake up when she rolled over and pulled Twilight to her chest to be her little spoon. Twilight chuckled and laid her head down to continue her wait. After what seemed like only minutes, Twilight felt a distinct tickle along her neck as a pair of lips found a place uncovered by her mane. She cooed softly and turned her head upwards. “You’re warm,” Rarity whispered sleepily. Twilight chuckled. “Good morning sleepy head.” “Every morning is a good morning when I wake up with you.” “Awww!” Twilight turned the rest of the way and planted a gentle kiss on Rarity’s lips. “Come, now that you’re awake, we can get started on breakfast.” “Mm, breakfast,” Rarity mused, still half asleep judging by the sound of her voice. “Breakfast!” she cried as she sat bolt upright. “Oh no, I overslept, I was supposed to have breakfast prepared and--” “Ssh!” Twilight pulled Rarity into a loose hug and used one of her hooves to massage the panicking unicorn’s back. “Ssh. It’s OK. You’ve been awfully busy, I know. So ssh. You needed your rest, and breakfast can wait.” “I just...” “Ssh, there, there. Deep breaths.” Rarity nodded slowly and took a few deep breaths. “OK, I think... I think that’s better. But... I don’t, uh, I don’t remember grabbing a blanket last night. Er, this morning.” Twilight giggled and shook her head. “You didn’t. I did. I let myself in and you were fast asleep with your tail tucked around you. I was going to start preparing breakfast for us, but you, well, you seemed rather insistent that I join you.” Twilight’s smile sparkled with amusement and lighthearted teasing. Rarity’s smile, in return, was soft, genuine, and full of compassion. “Thank you, Twilight, for staying with me.” She craned her neck around Twilight’s and nuzzled. Twilight’s giggles continued at the ticklish sensations of their coats rubbing together and she knew full well that was Rarity’s intention. A little gurgle from Twilight broke them apart. “Perhaps breakfast shouldn’t wait any longer,” Twilight said sheepishly.