by Misago
~~~
The room was dark, and few rays of moonlight made their way through the thick curtains covering the windows. Twilight Sparkle had to take care to safely make her way through all the books and writing utensils strewn across the floor, especially with the hem of her dress spilling around her.
Her brand-new, Rarity-designed gala dress. The one she specifically asked for. With the pretty pink base color, the ribbons, the...frilly stuff. All to at least try and look presentable next to... her.
Stupid, naive Twilight.
The dress fell in a heap to the floor, soon joined by the ridiculous jewelry and the ornate hair clip that kept bothering her all through the night. A few seconds with a wet towel in the adjacent bathroom got rid of the make-up Rarity had put on her.
She threw herself on her bed, all four legs wrapped around her pillow, trying in vain to smother the pain in her chest. Her eyes stung from unshed tears, and her jaw ached from forcing a smile she hated herself for.
She'd made a fool out of herself, trying to confidently strut up to Cadance, who had looked even more radiant than usual, and casually ask her to dance, amongst all those nobles basically fighting for her former foalsitter's attention. She had thought after that confession Cadance had drawn out of her, that beautiful smile, that wonderful, wonderful hug...
Cadance had said she liked her. She was willing to give Twilight a chance. But what if she had just said it out of pity, trying not to break the poor, awkward bookworm's heart? After all, Cadance was kind and compassionate, which was part of what had attracted Twi to her in the first place.
Or what if she had thought Twilight was joking? Cadance herself loved to tease others about their love lives, since romance was her speciality and passion. She was really fun to be around, but if she had misunderstood the seriousness of the situation…
Twilight remembered the high society ponies around Cadance. Their stares, their unbelieving faces when she'd managed to stammer her question, the laughter. The laughter was the worst of it. Cadance had just smiled at her, but the smile was wooden, pained. Yes, now that Twilight thought of it, Cadance had looked pretty unhappy.
That was just it. She, the awkward, nerdish Twilight, and Cadance, the radiant, beautiful, kind, empathic, funny, clever princess, would never be more than friends. Cadance would find a wonderful prince, a dashing knight to sweep her off her hooves. Maybe Twilight would be able to distract herself for a while, until one day, the wedding invitation would come in the mail. And the only thing left to do would be to swallow her pain, and congratulate her beloved on her marriage with someone else.
~#~
The sound of someone tentatively knocking on her door shook Twilight from her thoughts. She hastily wiped the hot tears from her muzzle, trying to steady her voice.
When she called out “Yes? Who’s there?”, it came out as little more than the whimper of a sobbing filly.
“It’s me, Twily. Can I come in?”
Cadance. Her tone was neutral, and Twilight felt her insides grow cold. Had she come to announce that they should keep apart? That Twilight was not to approach her in public? Or...what if Twilight’s question at the ball had been too forward, and Cadance was about tell her that even their friendship was over?
“I… can we talk tomorrow? It is late, and I was just about to g-go to sleep.” She tried to feign a yawn, but it just came out as a hiccup. She really was useless, wasn’t she?
There was a moment of silence outside. For a while, Twilight wondered if Cadance had left, relieved that she would have some respite from the foal with a crush running after her. Another bout of sobs shook her body. It was better that way, wasn’t it? This way, Cadance could be happy, and Twilight would…
“I’m coming in, Twilight.”
Twilight felt Cadance’s magic even before the soft click announced the opening door. Ever since she had realized her feelings, there was this… odd tingle in her body whenever Cadance used a spell or even just channeled pegasus magic into her wings. It was a pleasant feeling, one that spoke of warmth and kindness and protection from all the pain in the world. She felt it sooth her, felt the pain in her body and her heart diminish.
Then there was movement, as Cadance’s silhouette slipped through the door before shutting it again. The pink glow from her horn illuminated an unreadable expression and magenta eyes searching through the darkness, to find the unicorn buried on her bed beneath pillow and blankets.
Just as careful as Twilight, but infinitely more graceful, Cadance made her way through the room. Twilight noticed that she, too, was not wearing her dress and jewelry anymore, and her mane was in slight disarray, hanging haphazardly around her neck and shoulders, some tufts sticking out slightly. Apparently casualties from the elaborate ceremonial hair style she had worn earlier.
Cadance was quiet, though. She idly came closer, picking up books from the ground and reading the titles in the glow of her magic.
When she finally reached the bed, Twilight felt weak. This was it. Cadance would tell her off, and they would only ever speak again on formal occasions, both wearing horribly forced smiles, both wanting to get away for different reasons. Eventually, even that would cease, and they would avoid each other if at all possible. But only one of them would be able to move on.
“Can I join you?”, Cadance asked quietly.
Stunned, Twilight nodded from her lying position, idly wiping the pillow over her eyes. She felt Cadance’s eyes on her, and the shame was just another sharp stab in her heart.
She felt the mattress shift when Cadance climbed up next to her. She looked into Twilight’s eyes, searching for something Twilight could not even guess, but apparently, she found what she was looking for. Breaking eye contact for just a moment, she crawled closer, until just the pillow and blanket separated the two of them.
Twilight felt the oncoming blush, and her heart pumped so loud that she was sure Cadance could hear it. She was so close. So close. If she just raised her hoof and moved it forward a bit…
“Twily...”, Cadance began slowly, but Twilight cut her off.
“You don’t.. It’s alright. I know that I sh-shouldn’t have been so forward”, she managed. It hurt, it really hurt. “Please, please don’t hate me… Please don’t stop being my friend…”
She did not dare to look up to look into the princess’s face, to see the disappointment with the weak, pathetic creature that had fallen in love with her. She buried her face in the pillows, to try and hide away from the shame and from the heartbreak she’d soon have to deal with.
The pink glow of magic surrounded her.
She knew the feeling even without having to look. Like a blanket, it surrounded her, made her feel loved, cherished. It lifted her from the covers, it dried her tears. And before Twilight knew what happened to her, she found herself belly to belly with Cadance.
A strange calm came over her. She felt peaceful, like she was floating in the sky, with no gravity to pull on her. There was only softness. She felt a hoof stroke her back, and a muzzle nestled next to hers. And after a while, tears on her neck.
“You silly filly.” Cadance whispered. "How can you doubt yourself?" She hugged Twilight closer to herself. "After all that you did? And after all that you are?"
Twilight swallowed, trying her hardest not to let Cadance look into her eyes.. Could she allow herself to be relieved? She wanted to believe Cadance, wanted to think that everything would be fine. But the doubts still gnawed on her mind, twisting every one of Cadance’s words against her. And if she asked, Cadance would think of her as needy and asking for self-gratification…
“I have fallen in love with you.”
Twilight came crashing out of her thoughts. She looked up, and met Cadance’s gaze.
“I never meant to have you doubt yourself so much. I did not accept your confession just to give it a try, I really want to be with you.” Cadance lowered her voice to a whisper. “Please, believe in me.”
Twilight was not good at reading emotions. She tried to guess what other ponies were thinking, and she always worried if she guessed wrong. But looking into Cadance’s eyes, she did not have to guess. She knew the Princess of Love was serious.
She felt Cadance’s magic reach out to her, but this time, it was not enveloping her body. This time, it went deeper, until it touched her very soul, tentatively brushing at the very border of her being.
Twilight took a deep breath and relaxed. Without breaking eye contact, without another word spoken, she allowed the connection.
Twilight saw.
She looked through a young Cadance’s eyes, watching her own younger self skip across the lawn in the palace gardens, with her foalsitter and friend in hot pursuit. She saw evenings spend together, cuddled up to the larger form of Celestia, or just alone, with a warm mug on a cold day. And, scene after scene, the Twilight she was looking at changed. She grew out into a young mare, slightly awkward, but no less beautiful for it, showing her limitless affection to the few she let into her inner circle, wielding magic with incredible ease.
She saw little arguments, feeling the sadness wash over her at the memory. Hours spend alone, with Celestia teaching her student. Cadance’s envy at seeing her younger friend, her own feelings of inadequacy. The intelligence, the magic ability.
She felt Twi leave.. Beautiful, kind Twilight was gone from Cadance’s life, sent to Ponyville to change the history of Equestria, while Cadance stayed back. She knew she was not good enough to do what Twilight could do. But the void left behind by her closest… friend?
Years spent waiting. Of course, Cadance knew that she would see Twilight again, but what if things changed? What if Twilight met a mare more intelligent, more powerful…
Until Twilight returned as a saviour of Equestria.
She was different. Older. A young adult now, and Cadance finally had prove that Twilight would indeed grow into her beauty. She was still awkward, but there was some tentative confidence swinging in step and speech. The fierce intelligence shining in her eyes got clearer, brighter, and her mastery over the arcane had only increased, far surpassing a weak alicorn (like Cadance).
But something else had grown. For Cadance, it was the most beautiful thing about Twilight.
She reciprocated.
Cadance felt Twilight watching her, shyly. Some lingering gazes admiring her, some awkwardness in her conversation. And from what Cadance’s magic told her, she knew.
They were going to be happy together until the end of times.
The magic contact weakened, leaving the connection intact, waiting, and stopping the flood of emotions crossing between them, until only the feeling of the other’s love remained.
Twilight blinked the tears out of her eyes as she looked up to Cadance, to reaffirm their connection. All the cold, harsh fear in her chest melted under the warm gaze as Twilight craned her neck upward, meeting Cadance in a brief kiss.
“Thank you, Cadance”, she whispered against her lover’s lips. “I’m sorry for doubting… for thinking that…”
Another kiss silenced her, this one longer. Cadance sighed happily, nuzzling her cheek against Twilight’s.
“There is one thing left to do, my love”, she said after a while. She let her hoof trace circles across Twilight’s back, delighting in the little noises of comfort and the warm breath on her coat.
“What?”
Cadance bit her lip. “Do you want to go back to the party for a moment for one dance?”
Twilight ducked her head, blushing. “But… but I can’t dance. And the nobles, if they see us dancing…”
“Then they will know,” Cadance affirmed. “And it will teach them for laughing at you.”