“Maybe it’s time for me to grow more… maybe in years, these feelings of ours, if they will still remain, we may be together.”
“I understand…” Rainbow lowered her head.
Twilight hugged Rainbow. “Until then you shall always be one of my most cherished friends.”
Rainbow raised her head and hugged Twilight back. “Don’t wait too long. The door to my office with always be open to you.”
“I know, Rainbow,” said Twilight, smiling. Her smile faded slightly. “I know. Get well soon.”
The reforms that Rainbow had wished and fought for had come to pass. Many said she was the single mare responsible for saving the Wonderbolts from being just showboating stunt flyers. From the officers down, the organization now valued camaraderie and cooperation above individual gain. The new Wonderbolts’ cohesion won out against other rival enemy factions, time and time again. The officers she raised at the academy exemplified those values most. Those that she took to battle became paragons of her ideals.
Rainbow’s uniform now was a glittering mesh of jingling medals. She contemplating taking them off, but each wasn’t just for one world-saving military operation or another: they symbolized soldiers lost to her. The holes in her wings and her eye patch were more physical examples of her losses. In her battles she was so fierce that on several occasions her subordinate officers had to drag her away from the frontlines when she was in enemy lines too deep.
Memories of old war stories and glories were now only in the background chatter of her mind whenever she closed her eye. A cold current swept from the field of alabaster gravestones. Rainbow shivered until a warm body blocked the wind.
Rainbow saluted with a wing. “Princess.”
Twilight gestured to her pantsuit. “That’s President, we’re now a republic.”
Rainbow shook her head. “You’ll always be a princess to me.”
Twilight lowered her eyelids seductively. “Rainbow, that bill for mare to mare marriage passed congress.”
Rainbow chuckled lightly. “Did we ever need a piece of paper to let us do what we want?”
In the shine of the setting sun, Rainbow saw a silvery strand to Twilight’s mane. “Twilight, you got a gray streak! I thought alicorns were-”
Twilight placed a hoof to Rainbow’s mouth. “Immortal? I could be… but I’d rather be with you. It took a while to come to the realization, but I’m the type who would work till the very end… I don’t want you to pass me by. It’s still a state secret, so hush.”
Rainbow gave a worried look. “Ponies would panic if they realized the republic’s leader was mortal, but then again I suspect they would always vote for you, turning it into another Celestial dictatorship.”
Twilight nodded. “This Pony democracy faces a lot more challenges to come. It is the horizon of doubt.” She turned towards Rainbow. “I, for one, am ready for something uncertain.”
The sun casted a medley of oranges, yellows, and reds as it fell further.
“Me too.” Rainbow wrapped a wing around Twilight. “I only wished it wasn’t the day we turned gray.” She gestured to a strand of her own Technicolor mane that had just turned silver.
“We’ve lived fulfilling lives. We found other loves. We fought our battles.” Twilight shook her head, sprinkling her tears onto the ground. “We can’t regret!”
Rainbow hugged harder. “Twilight, it’s okay. We’re here together now.”
Twilight smiled. “Our lives raced by rather quickly, didn’t they?”
“I’ll be with you in the final stretch.” Rainbow deployed her wings. “It’s Victory Day again. How about this last lap?”
Twilight stretched her withered wings. “I haven’t kept them physically fit… exercising them reminded me of you and our flying lesson sessions…”
Rainbow shrugged showing off her own wings that were missing feathers. “Mine have been battered by battle, so we’d probably be even. Life isn’t a race. Let’s go slow.” She extended her wings and gestured to Twilight.
“I’d be glad to, Rainbow. It can be our nuptial flight if you-”
“Yes.” said Rainbow, swiftly. She leaned and imparted a gentle kiss.
They kissed softly at first, but soon the dam burst upon the tears of yearning years. Hungrily, then they pulled closer, wet droplets in their eyes as they did so. After minutes had passed, they both gasped for breath. Rainbow offered her wing and looked towards the horizon. Twilight nodded and followed after.
Their initial flight together was shaky but genuine. Soon they danced in the skies as they became more familiar with each other’s pace. Wingtip by wingtip, enraptured by their partners’ glow, two forms faded into the light of the sinking sun.