Twilight stirred, slowly waking up with a slight groan to the first morning rays of sunlight beaming in through her window. The light warmed her, and... annoyed her slightly as her eyes adjusted; but the sun was no match for a body of blue fur, or a hoof to hold onto, a mane to snuggle into...
Her heart dropped at the realization, and at the memory of retiring to Rainbow's room, not long after she ushered Spike to turn in for the night.
As she herself had turned in for the night, a hopeful thought told her that Rainbow would've returned to her overnight—while she slept—and that she would have woken up to the warmth of her beside her.
Guess I was wrong again, she thought with a slight smile, before sighing and lifelessly stepping out of bed. Her body grew a bit colder once her hooves touched the floor, after another chilling night as summer neared its end. Though, it was nothing compared to the chills she currently felt throughout her body.
Twilight—swallowing down a saddened lump—breathed in and out deeply in an attempt to calm herself.
However the wounded and sick feeling in her chest only grew heavier.
She hasn't abandoned you, Twilight told herself, lifting her foreleg to her ear, and holding Rainbow's feather in her hoof with hopes that it would restore her confidence... but it only caused her hoof to tremble. She... she hasn't aban... abandoned— Twilight's hoof clenched around the feather as it only brought more bad feelings than good memories to the surface... She yanked the accessory from her ear, throwing it as far away from her as she could.
It drifted a couple feet from her, before floating soundlessly to the ground.
She let out a few soft breaths, bringing a hoof to her chest, and gently clutching the spot that hurt most. Her gaze rested on the feather for a few moments before she cleared her thoughts of it—and everything in the room—averting her teary gaze to the doorway.
Twilight stared downcast as she sat on the floor of her shower, water raining over her back and mane.
Celestia had told her to remain strong, and calm... yet she found herself lacking the strength or motivation to do anything other than let the water do its job. Her eyes shut tight, the sound of her soft crying was the only other sound that could be heard, partially echoing beneath the patter of the bathwater. She tried to avoid it, if only it wasn't the one thing she didn't have control over.
At least it did a job of masking the tears that she tried to stifle, as both streams of water and tears ran freely down her face and dripped from her muzzle. I know it's selfish of me, but... I, I just can't...
"As long as you promise you'll be back soon."
Rainbow met her worriment with her usual cocky grin. Only this time it was more reassuring.
"I promise I'll be back before you know it."
The smile Rainbow had given her that day was enough to cause the unicorn to shut her eyes tighter.
Twilight gripped her other foreleg as her body again began to tremble. I... I know she needs time, but... I... Twilight slowly opened her eyes and let out a shaken sigh, then slowly stood, pushing the shower curtain aside with her drenched hoof. I don't know if... if I can wait any longer...
Turning the water off with her magic, she galloped off to Rainbow's room, her body still sopping with water, and with care, gently picked the earring off the ground. "I'm sorry, Rainbow..." Twilight wiped her cheek with her hoof as she magically placed the feather around her ear. "Celestia," she wept, falling back on her haunches. "I'm so sorry..."
Draping a towel over the back of her neck, and with her eyes and cheeks mostly dried, Twilight walked up the stairs leading into her usual place of study. She sniffled once, looking to where her books from the night before still lay.
May as well read more, Twilight thought wistfully.
She sighed, and slowly walked over, sitting down at her desk and resuming where she left off, her face slouched against her left hoof while her other hoof fiddled with the feather she wore.
Once upon a time, in the magical land of Equestria, there were two regal sisters who ruled together, and created harmony for all the land. To do this, the eldest used her unicorn powers to raise the sun at dawn; the younger brought out the moon to begin the night. Thus, the two sisters maintained balance for their kingdom and their subjects, all the different types of ponies. But as time went on—
Twilight's attention was torn suddenly from the passage as a knock bellowed from the door below. Her lifeless gaze looked up; already widening a little at the prospects of that being Rainbow—the real Rainbow—standing on the other side, waiting for her. A slight grin already found itself tugging at her lips.
Twilight got up and dashed down the short set of stairs—the towel falling from her shoulders as she ran over to the front doors, practically tearing them from their hinges in anticipation.
"Hey, Rain...!"
Twilight blinked, her voice drifting to a stop as she ended up spotting not a single pegasus, or pony for that matter, in sight.
The eager smile she wore slowly faded from her face. Had it just been her imagination?
Twilight sighed and turned downcast, closing the doors behind her. "Looks like she really won't be making it back in time..."
"In time for what?"
Twilight rolled her eyes, turning back around as she spoke. "You know, that big Wonderbolts per... form... ance—" She paused, her eyes growing wider at the sight before her. "Rainbow?!"
"Surprise!" the pegasus exclaimed with a happy grin, floating a couple feet off the ground.
Twilight stood still, staring disbelievingly, her mouth agape. "Wha... but how...?" She looked over at the shut doors, before turning again to face the pegasus. "Where did you—?" She paused, noticing something peculiar the longer she looked up at her friend. "You-you're flying..."
"I slipped in just as you turned, and yep! Pretty cool huh?" Rainbow glanced back at her wings with a proud grin. "Yesterday, while I was away, my wings started feeling itchy, and at the same time, my body became all restless, like I just had to fly. So I tore the bandages off, and just like I figured, my wings were good as new!" she exclaimed as she flew around in a little circle. Slowing to a halt, her smile faded a little, again choosing to look back at her wings. "Well sort of anyway... But I've been flying ever since! Even decided to fly here, and make it back it here early!"
Rainbow's elated appearance returned and before Twilight even knew it, the pegasus had swept her up into the air, hugging her tightly. Twilight stifled a gasp, but Rainbow didn't seem to notice. She only smiled and even leaned in, giving Twilight a nuzzle before said unicorn surprised Rainbow by teleporting away in a blinding light. She reappeared on the ground, a similar look of bewilderment on her face before tearing her gaze away from the hovering pegasus.
Momentarily stunned, and quickly rubbing the light from her eyes, Rainbow looked down at the startled unicorn and made a slight, wry face.
It was nice while it lasted... Rainbow sighed, lowering herself to the ground, folding her wings by her sides and stepping forward. "Hey... Twi... You alright?" she asked. "Let me guess—" Rainbow smiled, lifting her hooves in a dramatic sense. "—You thought some great disaster would occur while I was away, right?"
Twilight looked up again, this time with uncertainty and curiosity in her eyes. She inched closer to the pegasus until she was a couple hoofsteps apart, then lifted her hoof and, for a moment, began poking and pinching at Rainbow's face before being swatted away by the pegasus's hoof in annoyance. "T-twi, what the heck—?"
"S-sorry," Twilight apologized, then gave a sigh of relief. "It's just... I can't believe it's really you. I mean... you've been gone for so long—!"
Rainbow chuckled a bit. "I've been gone for a day, Twi," she said, and couldn't help but smile at the exaggeration. Twilight broke out into a soft blush.
"Still..." Twilight glanced downwards, softly brandishing a hoof back and forth across the floor while allowing a soft, relieved grin to adorn her face. "I... I'm just really happy you're home."
"I'm happy too, Twi," Rainbow said, leaning forward a little and putting a foreleg around Twilight in a makeshift embrace. Twilight froze for a moment, her eyes widening in startlement before tightly returning the embrace, pulling Rainbow as close as possible to her, and so strongly that it surprised the pegasus at first. Her chin rested on the pegasus's shoulder, her mane and the fur of her cheek lightly touching her own.
"S-so... I, uh..." Rainbow silently gulped, her cheeks burning fiercely. "I—I hope you weren't too bored without me here."
Twilight smiled softly. "Maybe a little..." Images of herself slouched with a pancake through her horn briefly entered her mind. "B-but for the most part I spent my time reading... Oh, and I paid Princess Celestia a visit!" Twilight pulled back just enough from the pegasus to look her in the eyes, her muzzle so closely wound with Rainbow's that she could feel the mare's soft breaths.
"She's okay with you living here by the way," Twilight continued to explain, all in a soft voice. "She gave me a new assignment too, since, you know, you're... no longer my old one." Twilight grinned sheepishly.
"She wants me to study the Elements of Harmony."
Rainbow tilted her head in confusion. "Huh?"
"Huh?" Twilight froze up. "El-elements...? Of...?"
Twilight swallowed a sudden, nervous lump in her throat and shook the memory from her head. "T-that's what I said at first," Twilight replied, drawing in a deep breath to calm herself. "I, uh... I-I was actually reading a little when you knocked."
"Huh." Rainbow nodded slowly before taking a casual look around. "So what about Spike?"
Twilight shrugged. "Oh... same old, same old," she said with a smile.
Rainbow returned the smile, however, her body was beginning to feel a little cramped. On the inside, she yearned to break free of the embrace, if only for a moment.
Rainbow chuckled nervously, and slowly tried to worm out of Twilight's hold, despite being face to face with her, and seeing the sudden, surprised look of hurt in the unicorn's eyes. Twilight frowned, and adjusted her hold around the shoulders of the squirmish pegasus.
Rainbow sighed.
"Hey," she whispered with a gentle grin; "you know we can't stay like this forever."
Twilight bit her inner lip, lowering her gaze before slowly nodding in understanding. She sighed, putting on a coy pout as she hesitantly ended the embrace between them. The two stepped back from one another, Twilight sheepishly rubbing her left foreleg.
Rainbow let out a small sigh of relief, allowing her shoulders to slump as she took a look around, spotting a cozy-looking area behind her.
She turned back to Twilight with a sheepish smile.
"Excuse me, Twi." Rainbow hoped into the air, turning from Twilight in favor of the nearby window seat. She then fell, practically throwing herself into—and promptly sinking into—the cushiony embrace. Letting out a sigh, she closed her eyes as she lay on her stomach, her forelegs falling at her sides.
Twilight watched the whole scene from where she stood.
Can't really blame her for being exhausted, she thought before walking over and sitting beside Rainbow, looking down at the complacent mare. Twilight smiled admiringly at the pegasus she loved, captivated as her body seemingly glistened in the warm morning sun.
Rainbow sensed the unicorn's presence beside her, and turned her head to her left, opening her eyes just enough to look up at her.
She grinned weakly at Twilight. "Feels good to just... lie back after a long flight, you know?"
Twilight shook her head, covering up a soft chuckle that soon followed with her hoof.
Rainbow rolled her eyes, sporting the same smile as she turned over onto her back.
"So how was Ponyville?" Twilight asked.
Rainbow's grin weakened a little.
"Come on, Twi... I just got back..."
Twilight lowered her gaze, disappointed, and seeing that look in the unicorn's eyes, Rainbow sighed, looking away. "Take a guess—"
Twilight perked right back up again. "Unpleasant?" she asked suddenly. "S-sorry—"
"N-no, no, it... it's okay," Rainbow assured her, raising her hoof a bit. She sighed as she lied back down, gazing upwards. "You're not that far off actually."
Oh, Rainbow... Twilight looked worryingly down at the mare, her ears falling against her head. Hearing those words, she could only assume what she had worried about had happened.
"Nopony found out about your... problem, did they?"
Rainbow shook her head. "For all they know, I decided to move here for awhile."
"G-good!" Twilight's voice shook a little, and was followed with a weak sigh of relief, the corner of her mouth curling into a slight smile. "Good..." Not long after her smile had formed, had it disappeared from her face. "So then why—?"
"I dunno," Rainbow replied with a shrug. "Guess it was just... messin' with my head too much, being there... and... being away from you, I—I guess..." Rainbow averted her eyes as Twilight looked at her surprised. "Though... it wasn't so bad," she continued. "I remembered little things about myself, got to meet some nice ponies, and even realized who I want to be."
Twilight's head tilted in confusion. "And who's that?"
"Somepony who'll always be here for you." Rainbow looked back at her with a smile.
Twilight's cheeks grew warm, breaking out in a light blush. "R-rainbow..." She bit her lip, looking worryingly at the mare. "Should... should we talk about what happened... right before you left?"
Rainbow visibly grew a little panicked. "What happened?"
"Rainbow... you... you know what I mean. Remember? You, me, cheek, kissed?"
"Oh yeah... about that." Rainbow's ears flattered as she sat up on her hooves with a sigh. Her gaze remained lowered for a moment before hesitantly meeting Twilight's. "Look, you're not... mad or anything, are you?"
"N-no!" Twilight quickly sputtered out, shaking her head. "No, no, I'm, I'm not, I..." She stopped, taking a deep breath to calm herself. "I guess you could say I'm just a little curious."
Rainbow huffed and looked out the window, already feeling her cheeks heating up by the second.
"Well... maybe I just, sort of have this... stupid crush on you, alright? And I took a stupid gamble and thought maybe I'd try and clue you in, but... never mind—" Rainbow sighed, defeated, as her voice became weaker. "—it was stupid anyway."
"Oh, I didn't think so, Rainbow." Twilight smiled warmly as the feeling of butterflies in her stomach hit her. She leaned forward, and unbeknownst to Rainbow, nervously planted a quick peck on the pegasus's cheek. Rainbow's eyes widened and quickly shot back to the unicorn, just as she pulled away. Their cheeks now matching one another, Rainbow put a gentle hoof to the spot on her cheek Twilight had kissed.
Twilight herself put a hoof over her lips, simply letting out a soft chuckle as she gauged Rainbow's reaction.
"Guess I've been harboring a stupid crush on you too."
O-on... me too? Rainbow's heart thumped against her chest as Twilight's words slowly began to register. She stared back at Twilight, stunned, before a small grin started to form, spreading itself bigger and bigger until she could no longer stand it—exclaiming an elated "Awesome," and throwing her forelegs around the unicorn's neck, already hard at work nuzzling her cheek against Twilight's own. "I mean, it's just... I, I thought that maybe you felt the same way, but it's so awesome to actually hear you say it!"
Twilight chuckled softly, the ticklish feeling of Rainbow's fur, as well as the pegasus's own excitement causing her to stammer. "I—I-I'm happy t-too, Rainbow." She smiled, placing both of her hooves on her shoulders, holding Rainbow back a little. "What I can't help but wonder about though, are the reasons why."
Rainbow's smile fell, momentarily drawing a blank. "Reasons?" she questioned, cocking her head. "Oh, the reasons! Right..." She silently berated herself.
"Twi... Remember when I said you were likable?" Twilight thought for a moment before softly nodding her head. "Well... I meant it, you know? You're totally fun, caring, smart... beautiful..." she added in a whisper; "a-and, I dunno... Seeing you just makes me feel safe, and, well... happy. Like I have a place where I belong." Twilight listened to every word as the blush in her cheeks deepened. She nervously swallowed, furthering her hold on the pegasus and gingerly wrapping her forelegs around Rainbow's neck as she garnished a shy smile.
Rainbow noticed, and grinned softly. "Ponyville doesn't make me feel the same way you do."
Twilight blinked.
The look in her eyes changed suddenly, and her lips steadily tightened, curling into a slight smile. "Pfft... That... that's so sappy!" No longer able to hold back, Twilight burst out into a small fit of laughter. Rainbow grew flustered as her laughter grew so strong that she found herself falling backwards.
"T-twi—!" Rainbow tried to say, feeling her body slipping as Twilight fell back upon the floor. Twilight's hooves still wrapped around the pegasus's neck, the two wound up on the floor together, Rainbow's body lying gently on top of hers.
Rainbow shook her head, letting out a soft groan as she leaned back, pushing up off the ground and off her new girlfriend. Twilight's mane was splayed across the floor somewhat as Rainbow looked down over her, meeting her gaze. Rainbow shined a sheepish grin at her while the last few chuckles left Twilight's lips.
"S-sorry, I... I didn't mean to laugh, or drag you down like this; I just—"
"It's cool, Twi, really," Rainbow assured, with a smile. "You have a good sense of humor about things too."
Her smile softened, her voice growing gentler. "I meant everything though."
Twilight lovingly smiled, lowering her eyelids. "I know," she said, urging the pegasus closer to her. Rainbow's eyes widened for a moment before catching on, and swallowed nervously, mirroring Twilight by slowly closing her eyes as well. Their muzzles inches apart, Twilight found herself hesitating suddenly, her forelegs trembling slightly.
She silently gulped as a few bristles of Rainbow's muzzle came into contact with her own.
The faint, sudden sound of a dragon's yawn sounded from the stairs, causing both unicorn and pegasus to freeze. Their ears twitched—alerting themselves to the sound—and immediately, Rainbow's eyes widened in panic.
She leaned back as she averted her eyes. The second she did, Twilight breathed out a quiet sigh, feeling her nerves start to dwindle.
Internally, she was panicking a little too. Had Spike seen her like that, about to lock lips with another mare...
If he had seen her like that, Twilight supposed, as she and Rainbow scrambled apart. Her gaze saddened. If... if I could even bring myself to...
The two got to their hooves just as Spike reached the top step, Rainbow mouthing a quick "Sorry" over to Twilight, followed by a brief, apologetic smile.
Seeing Rainbow's smile, and humor about the whole situation however, seemingly lifted Twilight's own mood a bit, and she softly returned the smile.
Rubbing the last bits of sleep from his eyes, Spike looked groggily to his left, only to be taken by surprise by the presence of a certain pegasus beside Twilight, and jumped back a little, eyes wide. "Rainbow! You-you're back..."
Rainbow turned to the dragon, letting out a soft chuckle. "Heh... Sure am, Spike."
Spike's startlement quickly wore off and he let out his breath. I wasn't expecting her back so soon, but... "That's good," he replied with a slight smile. He looked over at Twilight, noticing that she was bearing the same familiar smile from whenever she was around Rainbow.
"I see you're in a much better mood today," he remarked.
Twilight looked away a bit flustered, brandishing her hoof on the floor as Rainbow looked over at her, her curiosity piqued.
"Well..." Spike scratched the back of his head. "I take it you two want some time alone to catch up. That's cool." He waved a dismissive claw as he turned back for the stairs. "I'll be around if you need anything."
As he left, Rainbow put aside her look of curiosity in favor of a slight smile. "We're not going to have much privacy, are we?"
Twilight shook her head, looking back at Rainbow, and returning the smile. "Probably not, but... there's still tonight," she whispered sweetly, causing Rainbow's wings to seemingly stiffen; for whatever reason, Twilight couldn't fathom. "And now that your wings are better," she noted, drawing her attention to them, "you still owe me a flight."
"A flight...?" Rainbow thought aloud, snapping out of her previous thought. "Oh, right!" She grinned excitedly back at Twilight as the memory came back to her. "You're still up for that?"
"If it's with you..." Twilight nodded softly. "Then yes—" Rainbow cut her off, greeting her cheek with another nuzzle. However Twilight still remained a little shaken.
"Ah-hem!" She broke away from Rainbow with a slight blush. "S-so! N-now that you've chosen to live in Canterlot with me and Spike, we've got to lay down a few ground rules."
Rainbow's shoulders slumped. "Seriously?"
Twilight put a hoof to her chin as she looked off in thought. "We'll also need to get you a job of some sort... I know Canterlot could use some weather ponies—"
"Whoa whoa, wait..." Rainbow put her hooves out before her, beseeching Twilight to slow down. "Why do I need a job?"
"I'm already looking after Spike, Rainbow, and now I've got you living with me too; I... I'll run out of bits in no time unless you start pulling your share around here."
Rainbow glanced down at the floor saddened, placing one foreleg over the other. "But I don't want to..."
Twilight stepped forward. "Rainbow..."
"I mean, I want to spend time with you," Rainbow continued, "not with ponies I don't even know!"
Her confession caught Twilight off guard.
"W-well," she stammered, "I... I suppose it doesn't have to be immediate."
Twilight smiled at her, and seeing that, Rainbow returned it.
A moment passed in silence as both mares searched for something to say. Twilight glanced around before turning her attention to the window, and the morning sun just outside. "Say... we still have time before our date, and since we have time," Twilight pointed a hoof at Rainbow's wings, giving her a wink. "Why don't we see just how good those wings are."
Twilight walked on ahead, Rainbow looking back at her, curious. "Date?"
After a quick teleportation spell, Twilight grabbed a stopwatch as well as their tickets for later—stuffing them into her saddle before teleporting back to accompany Rainbow outside.
With Twilight's instructions, Rainbow now found herself floating beside one of the many cumulus clouds outside the Ivory Tower.
She huffed a sigh of frustration. "Cloud busting? Seriously?"
"It's just a simple test to prove agility and durability during flight. I'll be timing to see how long it takes you to move from one cloud to the next," Twilight explained from the side of the road below, a stopwatch suspended within her magic. "You can also look at this as a form of wing therapy, since your wings so far have only been strained and not probably exercised."
Rainbow snorted, crossing her forelegs. "You make it sound like my wings are still hurting, Twi. I'm telling you they're fine." She looked away a bit, muttering softly, "Mostly..."
"We'll see..." she whispered, readying the watch. "Alright, and... go!" she yelled, to which Rainbow rolled her eyes before quickly taking off. One by one, the surrounding clouds were kicked and karate chopped—even dispersed when she dove right through some of them—until the skies around them were perfectly crystal clear.
Rainbow landed skillfully before Twilight, just as she stopped the counter.
"Well?" Rainbow asked her in anticipation.
Twilight shook her head, tearing her eyes away from the watch and snapping out of her bafflement. "Fifteen seconds..." she uttered. "T-that's... wow."
Rainbow however, wasn't so impressed. She sighed, glancing down at the ground, disappointed. "I was aiming for ten, honestly."
"You think that's possible?" Twilight asked. "To clear the sky so quickly?"
"Pfft." Rainbow looked up again with a confident smirk. "I could totally do it."
Twilight's eyes narrowed. "Prove it," she playfully challenged.
Rainbow smiled confidently. "Once my wings are up to speed, I just might," she replied, taking a seat next to Twilight and looking over at her with a soft smile. Twilight rolled her eyes before returning the smile.
With her gaze focused on Rainbow, Twilight didn't notice when the pegasus slipped one of her wings over her back, her wingtips folding around her shoulder. The gentle, and somewhat hesitant gesture surprised her—her eyes widening a little before slowly regaining her smile and turning once more towards the sky, melting into her wing.
Her tail flicked up off the ground, and clumsily wrapped itself slightly around Rainbow's haunches. It wasn't a wing, but she needed a way to return the gesture somehow. Luckily for her, it seemed to work, as she noticed the slight blush in Rainbow's cheeks from the corner of her eye.
Rainbow chuckled sheepishly as she and Twilight stared out before them at the now cloud-free sky. "We might need to find some more clouds if I'm gonna take you up on that..."
"That won't be hard," Twilight replied. "Canterlot's one of the cloudiest cities in all of Equestria. It's like... for every sunny day, there's two cloudy ones."
"Good thing you have me then!" Rainbow exclaimed, causing Twilight to giggle into her hoof.
Rainbow noticed her do so, and reached out her hoof, placing it over Twilight's own, gently lowering it from her lips.
Twilight turned to face Rainbow, her curiosity piqued as she raised an eyebrow.
"Your laugh," Rainbow explained; "you shouldn't cover it up." She smiled softly, holding Twilight's hoof in hers in the grass between them. Twilight's expression slowly changed into a look of understanding. She gingerly nodded her head.
Turning back towards the sky, a thought suddenly occurred to the pegasus. "Say, I could sleep on them now if I wanted..."
Twilight looked down, disappointed. "I can't..."
"Right... a unicorn like you would just... fall right on through."
Rainbow smiled sheepishly at Twilight as the unicorn looked back at her with a sour look.
"B-but i-it's because of that, that I... I won't." Rainbow's voice softened, just as Twilight's expression did also.
"I love flying, but if it means being close to you... I'd gladly put my wings away— Well, except for now..." Rainbow shrugged her shoulders, now sporting a sheepish grin. "I mean, with it being around you and whatnot." With her free hoof, she scratched the back of her head.
Twilight's heart thumped loudly against her tightening chest. Already she could feel the figurative butterflies returning.
As cheesy-sounding as it was, it was the sweetest thing Rainbow had ever said to her. Despite her lingering nerves, it made her want to kiss the pegasus right then and there; and, as she leaned in, she very well was about to, had it not been for Rainbow's stomach suddenly rumbling, triggering an awkward moment of silence for the two.
Twilight immediately deadpanned.
"Rainbow... did you eat at all today?"
Rainbow shrunk back, her sheepish grin already returning to her face. "Well, uhm... since I left, I've maybe eaten... a little bit."
Twilight sighed, taking a moment to again untangle herself from the pegasus before getting to her hooves. As she did, Rainbow's wing remained outstretched for a couple of moments, before the pegasus reluctantly folded it back against the barrel of her sweatshirt. In truth, the warm, tender feeling of her wing around Twilight—the feeling Twilight herself got being encompassed by it—and simply being so closely wound together after what felt like ages... were all feelings that neither mare wanted to abandon.
But the two of them—in particular Rainbow—needed to eat, and, they both silently supposed, there would be plenty of time for that later.
Twilight smiled warmly at her girlfriend, which Rainbow eagerly met as she rose to her hooves. "Come on, we're getting you some breakfast." Though the mood had practically been ruined by Rainbow's stomach, that didn't stop it from returning; and the lovestruck unicorn gave Rainbow's cheek a quick, yet affectionate nuzzle.
Rainbow was surprised by the bold move; it was plainly obvious as Twilight pulled away and soon giggled at Rainbow's rose-colored cheeks. No matter the number of times Twilight nuzzled her, it always seemed to leave her without words for a brief moment or two.
Rainbow smiled slyly as she was not about to be outdone, and once again placed her wing around Twilight.
There was time now, too, Rainbow supposed, as her girlfriend's expression came to match her own, for a long moment caught off guard by the act... but soon eased into it.
The two walked through the inner city streets, drawing more attention than either would have preferred. If seeing a rainbow-maned pegasus in the streets of Canterlot wasn't an eye catcher, seeing her with a wing expanded around one of Canterlot's most promising youths was. Whether it was simple disapproval, curiosity, or young colts hoping to steal a possible glance of two mares sharing a kiss, it seemed all eyes were on Twilight and Rainbow as they walked down the street and through crowds of ponies.
In particular, the two ponies had unknowingly caught the attention of a group of mares that Twilight had met not too long ago. The four were seated at an outside cafe when they noticed the two passing by.
"Oh my Celestia, look!" In a hushed tone, Twinkleshine still exclaimed, "They really are together!"
Lemon Hearts gasped breathlessly. "Cute!" the mare remarked. "Though... I always imagined a pony as smart as her would go for a mare that was... I dunno..." She shrugged half-heartedly, looking between the other two. "Less boyish?"
"If even a mare at all," Minuette added, sitting right of Twinkleshine and Lemon Hearts.
Moon Dancer watched the two, sitting furthest away and not saying a word as the others around her chatted away at the news... but rather feeling a little hurt. It stung a little to think Twilight had lied to her the day before, though... hearing what the other girls were saying, and seeing the way ponies around the two of them—and even herself—were acting...
She supposed she could understand why Twilight had wanted to keep it to herself.
Looking again, Moon Dancer smiled, seeing Twilight's head nestled somewhat against Rainbow's shoulder, Rainbow humorously craning her head a bit to avoid the unicorn's horn. She almost sort of envied Twilight, and how happy the two still managed to look... at least until Minuette spoke, bringing her out of it.
"I always figured she would end up with a guardspony, if anything," she said. "Ruggedly handsome... strong, brave, big—"
"Not to mention dreamy," Lemon Hearts added in a romantic sigh. "Makes me think of that one pegasus... you know, with the blue mane—"
"Oh what does it matter who she's with?" snapped Moon Dancer suddenly as she stood up. "I mean, she's happy, isn't she? Isn't that enough for you girls?"
Turning, the unicorn trotted away without another word.
Twinkleshine raised an eyebrow. "Jeez, Moon Dancer; what's got you so upset?"
Minuette blinked, then looked back and fourth between the other two. "Do you think it was something we said?"
It wasn't long before Twilight and Rainbow came into view of Joe's place at the corner of the street. It was also at that time that Rainbow let out a small, yet quiet sigh and looked down at the mare who was resting comfortably on her left shoulder. It honestly puzzled her... She had been worried that all of this might have been overwhelming for the unicorn, that it would embarrass her like before... Instead however, Twilight seemed content the whole walk.
Once inside, Twilight happily ordered for herself, along with whatever Rainbow asked for... though the pegasus remained no less puzzled the whole time, even after they were seated in their usual spot, meals and all.
Though Rainbow cut back eventually, drawing her wing back again to her side in favor of enjoying some breakfast, Twilight didn't seem intent on letting up: brushing herself up against Rainbow, placing her hoof over the pegasus's—with an occasional stroke from her own hoof... She seemed more focused on Rainbow than on her own food, staring admiringly at the pegasus.
Finally, Rainbow could stand it no longer. She needed an answer.
"Twi... there's other ponies around..."
Twilight grinned softly. "So?" she asked, humored.
"What if they see us as... you know, a couple."
At that, Twilight's grin slowly started to fall. "We are a couple," she noted sternly.
"Yeah, I know, but... " Rainbow shrugged, looking downcast. "Lots of ponies joke about that sort of thing, and besides... those were just nuzzles and hugs. Now you're giving me those looks while doing that thing with my hoof, I mean..." She looked at Twilight, concern in her eyes. "Doesn't any of this embarrass you?"
Twilight shook her head. "If I were embarrassed by you, Rainbow, I wouldn't have fallen in love with you." She shrugged softly as her smile returned. "Nothing you do seems to bother me anymore, and, well..." The enamored unicorn lowered her eyelids, her voice already becoming sultry.
Twilight, as inexperienced a mare as she was, tried to make her words sound as loving as she could, as she gingerly spoke, "Guess I just can't keep my hooves off of you."
However, Rainbow couldn't help but chuckle. "Since when did you become such a romantic?"
Twilight's look turned deadpan. She sighed, and backed away, drawing in a more serious tone. "I wouldn't call me a 'romantic,' Rainbow," she said. "I suppose I just... still can't believe you're really here." Twilight smiled as she gazed down at her hoof resting over Rainbow's, and gave her hoof a light squeeze. "I guess holding your hoof helps assure me that you're really real, and, well... you're the first pony I've ever loved romantically." From the looks of it, Rainbow now understood.
Twilight shook her head, brandishing a warm smile. "I don't want to let go of that."
This unicorn... Rainbow simply broke out into a soft smile. "And I'm the sappy one."
"You are sappy, Ms. "You remind me of home"."
"Twi... come on—" Rainbow's shoulder's slumped in defeat. "I spent a lot of time coming up with that."
"And I love you all the more for it," Twilight said, her eyes closing contently as she leaned in to nuzzle the mare's cheek.
She pulled away, the two sharing a quick smile before remembering why they both came here in the first place.
Rainbow chuckled briefly as she glanced down at her partially polished off meal. "Uh... maybe we should finish eating," she said, turning to look at Twilight, who seemed to be thinking the same thing.
"Good idea," she replied, a hint of sincere laughter in her voice.
"So I visited my mom while you were gone." Twilight nonchalantly kicked the ground with her hoof, as she and Rainbow walked side by side through the palace gardens. "She supports us being together."
"What about the rest of your family?" Rainbow asked.
"I..." Twilight hesitated. Sure, her father would warm up to the idea eventually, she figured... she hoped. Her brother on the other hoof... "I can only hope," she replied with a sheepish smile.
The two stopped to take a seat on a nearby bench, though thoughts of family never left Rainbow's mind. Particularly, thoughts of her own.
"I wonder what my folks would think about me dating you..." Rainbow wondered aloud, almost going unnoticed by the unicorn beside her.
Twilight looked at her, for a moment her interest piqued. Looking back down at her hooves, she bit her lip, debating what she was about to say, and do.
Rainbow's saddened eyes widened a bit in surprise as she felt a pair of hooves wrap around her shoulders, and the soft touch of another mare's cheek pressed up against her own, all in a soft embrace. "They would be happy to know you've found somepony who loves you," Twilight whispered, turning a smidgen, and kissing her girlfriend's cheek.
A fastly-growing smile graced Rainbow's lips, already her mood could be seen lightening. After that, how could it not?
Shaking off her amazement, she continued. "I, uh... I-I saw that they live in Clouds... dale? I think that's right..." She looked at Twilight as the unicorn gave her a reassuring nod.
Rainbow gave her an inviting smile. "Maybe we could visit them one day, as, y'know... a couple." Not a moment after she finished, did Rainbow realize what she said, and backtracked. "I-I mean, of course we would need to find a way—"
"I-I would need to find a cloud walking spell, but..." The moment between them grew quiet as Twilight's voice softened, growing less panicked as she drew in a calming breath. "I would love to," she said, smiling as well, albeit thankful.
The two each turned, looking ahead of them in thoughtful reprise. Cloud walking spell... Huh... Rainbow thought in amazement, glancing over at the unicorn from the corner of her eye, though... she wasn't the only one stealing glances. Twilight was as well, whenever she felt Rainbow's eyes weren't on her as she silently debated what to say next... until at last, she spoke.
"In the meantime though," Twilight said; "if it's any consolation... You can visit mine whenever you like." She shrugged, and glanced away as her smile slowly vanished, muttering shyly, "Maybe as their daughter-in-law..."
Rainbow's gaze snapped to her, her gaze widening. "What—?"
"N-nothing!"
"No... it was definitely something..." Rainbow teasingly insisted, closing in. "Daughter-in-law? Really, Twi? That would mean that, like... we would be—"
"I-it was just a silly thought," Twilight tried to say in defense, but Rainbow cut in.
"No, no no, I mean... I didn't think it was silly," she assured her gently as Twilight's blush only deepened. She kept her eyes averted as Rainbow continued. "I, well... I mean, I... I wouldn't mind marrying you someday."
Now it was Twilight's turn to have her gaze fall back on the pegasus sitting beside her, with the same look of surprise at what she had just heard, only to find Rainbow staring somewhat confidently ahead of her. "Rain—?" Before she could even finish her name, Rainbow interrupted her with that same, foolish grin she was ever so used to.
"So how about we practice for when that day comes?"
"Rainbow..."
"No no, it'll be awesome!" Rainbow grinned as she leapt to the ground, turned and knelt before Twilight. "See, I kneel down like this, and ask, "Twilight Sparkle, will you do me the totally awesome honor of marrying me?" And then you say..."
Twilight smiled, rolling her eyes before meeting Rainbow's hopeful gaze. "Oh Rainbow, I thought you'd never ask!" Deciding she'd play along, Twilight smiled a sly smile before playfully tackling the other mare. The two fell back in the grass, in a mangle of tails and hooves. "Then the maiden tackles her betrothed in a joyous embrace," Twilight continued in spite of their conjoined laughter; "a-and the two proceed to roll about in the grass for a bit, laughing and smiling."
Rainbow and Twilight stopped on their sides, facing one another—Rainbow deciding to continue. "Months pass and the wedding takes place. We'll have Pinkie Pie handle decorations, and invitations. Our parents will all be there—"
"And Princess Celestia will preside over it all," Twilight added.
"Right, right." Rainbow rolled her eyes, smiling humorously. A moment passed and her smile softened, her eyelids lowering as her head inched closer. "Then, after our vows, we face each other..."
Twilight silently gulped. "A-and then we kiss. The end." She breathed out a shaky sigh before getting up and brushing herself off. "Well wasn't that imaginative?"
Rainbow sat up from the grass, looking worriedly after Twilight as she walked a few steps away. "Twi... what's wrong?"
"N-nothing, just... I-I don't know." Twilight turned and shrugged half-heartedly. "Just nervous, I guess. I mean, I must have imagined our first kiss in my head at least a dozen times!" Rainbow's face grew a little warmer at the fact. "And yet, when the time finally comes—!"
Rainbow shook her head, stepping forward.
"Then let's not worry about it for now." Rainbow placed her hoof on Twilight's shoulder. "We'll kiss when you feel up to it," she said, leaning in and giving Twilight's cheek a reassuring nuzzle.
She supposed lips were a whole other territory after all, especially for a fretful mare such as Twilight.
Twilight narrowed her gaze down at the ground. "Stupid nerves," she silently spat, just as Rainbow pulled away.
"Hey," Rainbow said with a soft grin. "Don't feel too bad." Twilight gazed up, saddened, to see Rainbow, a hoof over her lower lip, smiling softly. "My lips are kinda dry anyway."
Seeing Rainbow's smile, and humor again managed to lift her own spirits. She breathed out a sigh, before nodding and returning a halfhearted smile.
The two soon left, aimless—without a destination in mind.
The streets were a good enough place, either supposed, so long as they had one another.
"Did you know pegasus feathers are given by pegasi to the pony they love?" Twilight asked, seemingly out of the blue, while searching her mind for something to talk about as the two walked through the late-afternoon streets.
The sudden question took Rainbow by surprise. "Seriously?" she asked, with a bit of a laugh.
Twilight looked away, down at the road before her. "I thought you may react like that." She shrugged her shoulders. "I... I know you didn't really give this to me, but... the idea's still there."
Rainbow's face lit up, unbeknownst to the unicorn, then turned to her with a grin. "I knew that was a big deal!"
"Right, you did say... Wait." Twilight paused, her brow slightly furrowed as she met Rainbow's grin. "You knew it had romantic meaning?"
Rainbow shook her head. "Nope." To Twilight's surprise, her grin widened. "I just said that because it was one of mine," Rainbow said, placing a hoof over her chest, and looking up heroically. "And I'm awesome!"
Twilight remained taken aback for a few moments after Rainbow's declaration of awesomeness, before her face eventually softened, her smile warming. She let out a soft chuckle, then leaned in to nuzzle her neck, catching the brash pegasus completely off guard. Rainbow herself let out a small, startled breath, feeling the hairs of Twilight's mane ruffle against her chin, and the intimate, warm feeling of having her girlfriend's head nuzzled below her own.
"Yes," Twilight whispered ever so soothingly. "You are."
The two pulled apart, sharing a short, loving smile, yet thoughts of the feather still lingered inside Twilight's mind. Something about it nagged her as they continued walking. Thoughts of her earlier outburst... thoughts of Rainbow abandoning her, never returning to her... The touch that once warmed her hoof, had sent a pang across her heart earlier, and forced an explosive anger to boil up from deep inside her... causing her to practically rip it from her ear.
Of course she had gone back for it after granting herself time to think, and cool down.
Even so, her eyes become a little teary at the memory, as she glanced over at her girlfriend. The painful truth that she had done such a thing to Rainbow; that she let her worries, for a moment, overcome her.
Rainbow may not have known about what she did, but that wasn't about to stop her from apologizing.
She glanced away, and spoke softly, her ears falling flat as she did. "Sorry for throwing it..."
Rainbow looked over at her, confused and unsure if she had heard correctly. "What—?"
"Sorry for throwing it!" Without warning, Twilight threw her forelegs around Rainbow's shoulders, her eyes shut tight and practically crying into the pegasus's neck. Rainbow stiffened—her eyes wide—finding herself caught off guard by the act.
Before she could even question what, Twilight continued, sputtering out her words and begging for forgiveness, though Rainbow hadn't a clue what for. "I... I-I woke up hoping that... a-and and I, I thought you...! I-I thought that... I just... felt so angry, I... I, I don't know, I just... I..."
Twilight quickly found herself without words.
A few soft, shaken breaths and choked sobs were all that were heard coming from Twilight, following her incoherent and tearful apology.
Rainbow shifted uncomfortably, glancing ahead, and around at her surroundings. She didn't know what to think, or even what to make of... whatever it was Twilight just said, or tried to say. To a passing pony who slowed as he caught sight of the two, and met her eyes, Rainbow shrugged her shoulders and looked back with a half smile.
Looking down again at Twilight, Rainbow bit her lip in hesitation, before softly bringing her hoof through Twilight's mane and down the mare's neck several times. Her eyes closed, Rainbow rested her head gently over Twilight's in a strange, and... semi-relaxing embrace—being weary of the mare's horn. "H-hey, hey, it... i-it's alright, Twilight," Rainbow whispered, doing her best, despite her nerves, to sound as soothing as she could. "I mean, whatever you did couldn't have been that bad."
Twilight sniffled, then, in a voice that was a little more clear, explained, "I ripped your feather from my ear, and threw it."
Rainbow expression turned wry. Okay... that stung.
Still, Rainbow supposed, it was clear to her how much Twilight regretted it, that she hadn't meant to... and, it was Twilight. It was almost second nature for the unicorn to overreact, and... if she were to love her, she'd learn to cope.
"Didn't I tell you not to beat yourself up so much?"
"Y-yes... you did... But—"
"But nothing, Twi," Rainbow said. Though she couldn't have seen it, her sudden, stern tone had surprised Twilight a little.
A moment passed between the two before Rainbow continued, and Twilight didn't dare say a word. She only listened as Rainbow let out a sigh—seemingly in her own ear from where her head rested, then softly said, "Look, Twi... I... I know your mind's probably telling you things that aren't true. Believe me, I... I know what that's like. The hurt feelings, feelings of being abandoned... Yeah," Rainbow drew out a shaky breath, "I've been there."
A moment of silence passed. "I remember," Twilight noted softly. "We were at the hospital. You thought everypony forgot about you."
That's not exactly what I was thinking of, but... Rainbow smiled at the remark. "Back then... you still found a way to make me feel better." She closed her eyes, slightly nuzzling her mane and picking up the slightest lavender fragrance as she did. "I love you Twi. Feeling bad and overreacting isn't going to get rid of me that easily. Putting aside the fact you didn't even mean to, I'll forgive anything you say or do, because... you mean way too much to me. So, cheer up, Twi. Please?"
Twilight nodded softly, chuckling as she stepped away. A soft, happy smile formed on her face.
"You're a lot smarter than we first met," she remarked.
Rainbow looked back at her, sharing the smile. "Hanging with you has that effect."
Twilight smiled at Rainbow, all while thinking inside her head, for a moment glancing down, then up at again at her. Her eyelids fell slightly as she leaned close and kissed the corner of Rainbow's lips.
Rainbow blinked a few times, stunned from the maneuver, and when Twilight pulled away, the pegasus looked at her. Her amazement hadn't lasted long, and she formed a bemused smile. A smile of course was to be expected whenever one of them kissed the other, only this time it had been closer, on the corner of her lips and seemingly all she could kiss from her angle without Twilight taking her face in her hooves, and turning it to face her.
Even if it wasn't a real kiss, or barely a kiss at all, it made her a little happy to see Twilight work past her nerves, and even happier when she looked over at her, seeing her expression lighten, and a satisfied smile on her lips.
Rainbow rolled her eyes, then looked at her with a soft grin. "So... I take it you're good now?"
Twilight chuckled, before vigorously nodding her head.
Seeing that, Rainbow let out a sigh of relief. "G-good... So..." she began to ask as Twilight once again joined the pegasus by her side. As per usual, Rainbow's wing softly unfurled over Twilight's back as they resumed walking. "Is there anything else you'd like to get off your chest?"
For a long moment, Twilight thought about Rainbow's question, before muttering shyly, "Sorry for sneezing on you..."
Rainbow nodded in understanding, at first, not giving what she said much thought. "Wait..." Her eyes then flew open upon realizing, and gazed down at Twilight, baffled. Twilight herself turned her head and gazed sheepishly up at her girlfriend.
"What?"
"And now... the Wonderbolts!"
The aforementioned stunt fliers flew into the arena center at the sound of the announcement; the stadium and darkening sky ablaze with so many fireworks and lights so spectacular it wowed the ponies watching. Particularly Rainbow Dash.
Twilight on the other hoof, found it all only mild amusing. Her attention found itself elsewhere, finding Rainbow's amusement all the more rewarding.
She didn't mean any disrespect to the performers, but... this was all done for her, she supposed—
"Do you think I'll ever be able to fly like that?"
Rainbow's sudden question snapped Twilight from her reverie. She blinked, noticing Rainbow staring back at her with a grin.
Twilight's expression softened, and smiled back with a warm smile. "I think you've got a pretty good shot."
Rainbow nodded.
"Then that's what I'll do," she said with an air of determination, looking back up into the sky. "I'll practice flying until I'm as good as they are, maybe even better." With a confident smile, she sat up a bit, placing a hoof over her chest as she added, "Maybe I'll even be asked to join them someday."
Twilight let out a chuckle, softly shaking her head. "It's not that simple, Rainbow. There's auditions, and training—even tests you'll be asked to take—!"
"Yeah," Rainbow replied, taking Twilight aback as she turned to her, her grin softening; "and I'll have you for that."
Twilight stared back at the pegasus for a short moment, as her surprised gaze returned to normal. She then broke out into a smile and soft a giggle before placing her head on the mare's shoulder. "Mm-hm," she agreed, nodding her head.
"It feels like I was waiting forever for this... Now it's actually happening..."
Rainbow swam lazily through the night sky, allowing her wings to do the work as she laid back with a foreleg behind her head and her other around the unicorn currently curled up and... clinging tightly to her body. Twilight's forelegs were draped securely around her neck.
As breathtaking as it was for her, for all the time she had longed for it... deep down, it scared her—even if she wasn't completely aware of it. It might as well have been her unicorn instinct kicking in as she subconsciously held on dearly to Rainbow's body.
Her eyelids closing until her gaze was half-lidded, she gazed out upon the fields beyond Canterlot, a cool wind brushing through her mane, whipping it about slightly. She sighed in content and nestled her head further into Rainbow's shoulder.
It was as she was getting comfortable, that she heard Rainbow whisper to her.
"Watch the horn, Twi."
Twilight's eyes widened a bit, and she lifted her head, turning to face her love. "Oh... s-sorry, I, I didn't mean—"
"It's alright," Rainbow said with a soft grin, "you were just getting relaxed, and... it's not your fault that you were born with a deadly weapon atop your head." Twilight's eyes narrowed in annoyance, cuing Rainbow to raise her hooves in defense. "Kidding, kidding..."
Twilight frowned as she settled back down, settling her head on Rainbow's shoulder. She sighed, then muttered quietly, "It wasn't very funny..."
Rainbow's gaze lowered, hearing those words, already feeling herself already overcome with a sudden feeling of sadness, and guilt that she had said something wrong. Her eyes widened a bit however, and she felt a little relieved, her ear flicking once as she picked up the sound of Twilight softly asking, "Is this real?"
Her voice sounded so content.
Rainbow closed her eyes, letting out a soft chuckle under her breath, then, with a smile on her lips, gazed once again up at the sky. "I would hope it is," she replied.
Her eyes leisurely observed the stars hung above them.
A few moments passed like that until Rainbow got an idea. An admittedly dumb, and... risky idea... but nevertheless, an idea.
"Hey, Twi, hold on."
"What? Rainbow—!"
She let out a quiet shriek and shut her eyes immediately as Rainbow began to fall backwards, Twilight holding onto Rainbow even tighter than before. Softly, the two fell back through the air, the only things Twilight feeling were the currents of wind rapidly blowing past her, and her heart dropping into her stomach.
She yelled out over the sound of the wind. "Slow down this instant, Rainbow! I told you I, I-I don't like going fast!"
"It's not so bad, Twi," Rainbow insisted. "I swear that I won't ever drop you." Twilight felt Rainbow's hoof coax her cheek, and her soft voice in her ear, persuading her. "Here, just open your eyes..."
Rainbow slowed her descent—Twilight quickly noting due to the lack of wind whipping past her, and feeling as though she was no longer falling, and cautiously opened her eyes. "Whoa..."
She looked around for only a moment before freezing up, terrified, as it occurred to her.
She was still upside down.
"Eep!" Twilight shut her eyes tight and frantically tightened her forelegs and hind legs around the pegasus, all while Rainbow softly laughed. "It's not funny, Rainbow!"
Rainbow's laughter died down, looking down at the head trembling on her shoulder, and smiled. "No," she said, as the syllable teasingly lingered, "it kinda is... Especially since I told you that I'd never, ever drop you."
Rainbow's words didn't seem to help as the unicorn's face remained buried in her shoulder.
Twilight only let out a shaken sigh before explaining, "Unicorns were never meant to be so high up, Rainbow; so excuse me if I'm being a little cautious."
Rainbow simply rolled her eyes in response, maintaining her smile and furthering her hold around Twilight's waist before performing a small maneuver midair, the wind whipping around them gently for a moment before soon slowing.
Feeling as if Rainbow had stopped, Twilight opened her eyes again—slightly at first. Once she felt completely safe... like they were no longer descending, her tail no longer dangling before her line of sight and her mane flat upon her head. Opening her eyes a little more, she found that one spin and a flip later, Rainbow was flying upright. A little hesitant, though eager, Twilight looked around yearningly, taking in every moonlit sight, and building and monument caught in the glow of the city streetlights, before turning upwards to take in the stars.
"Wow..."
Rainbow couldn't help but smile at her reaction. "Pretty neat, huh?"
Twilight nodded before turning to face her, grinning softly in amazement. "It all looks so different from up here, like... I was always looking at stars from my balcony, or through the lens of a telescope, but right now... if I weren't clinging to you for dear life," Twilight added, her smile turning sheepish. "Well, I feel like I could just... reach out and grab one, you know? Like I'm up there with them..."
"I know I am," Rainbow remarked, then backtracked, not wasting a moment upon seeing Twilight looking at her puzzled. "I mean, you just... remind me of them is all," she added as her tone, for a moment, grew sheepish and quiet. "A-and that wasn't meant to be a flank joke or anything! It's just..." Rainbow shrugged, averting her eyes a bit. "Whenever I look up at them, I'm reminded of you."
Twilight's expression softened. "Rainbow..."
Rainbow shook her head. "Urgh, this is getting too sappy... Come on," she said, shying away. "Let's fly some more!"
Rainbow flattened out and dove toward the ground before Twilight could get a word in.
Twilight closed her eyes instinctively, the feeling of her her heart dropping again returning. With the speed Rainbow was traveling and how fast the ground must have been coming up, Twilight feared they would no doubt crash, and cried out the pegasus's name. "Rainbow—!" Rainbow grinned confidently as she neared the empty field, slowing for a brief second before shooting forward at an angle, inches from the grass below, parting the grass as she flew.
Rainbow spun around, allowing once again for Twilight to lie on top of her and relax her nerves. Rainbow grinned up at her, Twilight rolling her eyes before eventually smiling back.
Twilight glanced away for a second to look ahead when what she saw startled her. She gasped suddenly. "Rainbow!"
Rainbow looked at her funny, watching as Twilight hid her face in her shoulder before tilting her head back to see what had scared her.
Her eyes widened immediately.
Rainbow swerved her head and body at the last moment, out of the way of a sudden streetlight. Her wings however weren't so lucky, and the tip of one hit the post, knocking her out of control, and sending the two of them spiraling... then barreling into puddles of mud in the fields outside their home before skidding to an eventual stop.
Rainbow lied there for several moments—Twilight trembling in her hooves as both mares steadily caught their breath and processed what had just happened.
Eventually Rainbow sat up, out of the muck and filth.
"Whew, what a rush!" She grinned, shaking her head, and sending specks of mud flying from her mane. With the side of her hoof, she wiped away a glob of mud from her cheek, then, deeming herself clean, turned her attention to the quivering mare still clung to her body. "See?" she said gently, "I never let you go." Rainbow paused, looking away in thought. "Even if I did sorta crash—ow!"
Twilight backed off Rainbow's chest, though not without punching the mare in the foreleg first. It was light—and admittedly weak—but it made her anger evident to the pegasus who recoiled a bit, finding herself quickly stunned by it.
Twilight stood, practically steaming, and in Rainbow's eyes, seemed to be ablaze for a brief moment.
"You featherbrain!" Twilight shouted, forcing Rainbow to recoil further than she already had. "We could very well have died! If you had only just listened to me, we never would have crashed!"
Rainbow's ears fell flat against her head as Twilight continued. Breathing out a sigh of dismay, the unicorn fell back on her haunches, taking another look at herself. "And I'm all covered in mud..." Defeated, Twilight's forelegs fell to her sides, her hooves splashing the mud a bit as they fell. "Great..."
Rainbow looked at her, feeling her chest tighten. "Twi..."
Okay, so there was actually very little chance that they would have died, Twilight figured, allowing herself a moment to calm down and think over her words. Taking into account the durability of ponies, pegasi especially; the most either would have gotten was the wind knocked out of them.
At the most, maybe a few bruises.
Twilight looked again at Rainbow. Seeing her downcast, broken gaze caused any lingering anger she felt towards her to melt away. Her gaze saddened, and... what she could only describe as a knot in her throat caused her eyes to produce a few, sudden tears.
She quickly rubbed them away, sniffling once.
Twilight took a deep breath. No, she told herself, I can salvage this.
Rainbow stiffened, her heartbeat quickening as she felt Twilight's gentle hoof on her cheek. "But getting to see Canterlot from so high up, with the wind in my mane and my heart practically beating out of my chest...! It was the most exhilarating experience I've ever had, so... thanks." She smiled, and leaned in to kiss her girlfriend's cheek... only to be greeted by the faint, grimy taste of mud. Twilight pulled away, and silently spat out the taste, wiping it from her lips.
Twilight's hoof dropped from her lips, turning immediately to greet Rainbow with a sudden, innocent smile just as she looked at her, her own smile slowly returning. Starting from where she left off, she added, "Sometimes I think you know better than I do."
"Nah," Rainbow replied; "I just act on instinct. Whatever my gut tells me."
Twilight raised an eyebrow. "Even if you end up crashing?"
"Especially if I end up crashing—wha—?" A raindrop had splashed down on the pegasus's muzzle, and she looked up at the sky, the dark gray clouds letting loose some rain. "Huh, it's raining."
"So it is..." Twilight noted, for a moment looking up as well. Rainbow met her cheerful gaze, and immediately, her breath got caught in her throat. "Well, that kind of solves the mud problem, although I already had a couple of spells in mind that would easily have cleaned it off of us..."
Rainbow's heart thumped loudly in her chest, finding herself no longer paying any attention to what Twilight was saying. She was too focused on something else. The rain had added a sort of gleam to Twilight's mane and through Rainbow's eyes, a prismatic backdrop now stood behind her, and sudden sparkles glimmered around her.
It made her want to kiss the unicorn for real right then—not on the cheek, nor on the corner of her lips.
So she did, all while smiling softly at the thought prior.
"Got to admit it feels kind of nice though, and... hey, at least it's not freezing or anything—"
Twilight was cut short, finding herself unable to say another word as a soft, and familiar sensation pressed against her lips while Rainbow's hoof now held her right cheek. Twilight's eyes flew open in realization.
Rainbow had captured her lips in a kiss.
Twilight's head was spinning, her thoughts ceased; her heart was hammering out of her chest. She couldn't act... only sit before Rainbow in shock.
Her body softly started to tremble as she slumped forward a bit, unknowingly beginning to melt into the kiss the pegasus was giving her.
Twilight's eyes slowly closed and for a moment, began to kiss back when a sudden fizzling noise startled Rainbow, forcing her to part away. Her eyes opened slowly, breathing out a muffled groan in displeasure.
Opening her eyes fully, Rainbow came face to face with Twilight, the unicorn's own eyes closed and leaning forward slightly, a content expression on her face—the image made brought a small smile to her face—and right above Twilight, Rainbow noticed, were curious sparks of magic emanating from the tip of her horn.
Rainbow could feel a small laugh tugging at her lips. "Uh... Twi?"
Twilight's eyes blinked open, and slowly her face garnished a look of disappointment. Her breaths were a little rugged and her body trembled still, her face completely flushed.
Rainbow lifted her hoof a bit, pointing it directly at Twilight's horn. "I think your magic's on the fritz."
Twilight's brow scrunched up, and curiously, she lifted a hoof to her horn, feeling a sudden numbing sensation as her magic came in contact with it. Her eyes widened a bit in realization. "O-oh! Uh... i-it, it uhm h-happens to unicorns when they've, um... e-experienced an overwhelming sensation of euphoria. The abundance of magic flows out the horn, resulting in those sparks you just saw."
Not knowing what else to say, Twilight simply let out a nervous chuckle.
"And... has this happened to you before?"
Twilight shook her head. "This is the first," she sheepishly assured Rainbow before then falling back into silence.
She looked off to the side, averting her gaze to the ground, and biting her lower lip. "S-so..." she nervously began to ask, her voice shaking a bit, "We... er, I mean... you kissed me."
Rainbow chuckled softly. "Yeah, sorry 'bout that..."
She rubbed a hoof through the back of her mane, looking away a bit. "I just couldn't resist any longer, and I wasn't sure if you were ever going to... you know." Rainbow shrugged her shoulders, then looked at Twilight again with a small, hopeful smile. "You didn't mind that I—?"
"No!" the unicorn hastily denied, swearing her blush deepened at that precise moment. "N-no, I, I-I didn't."
"G-good!" Rainbow beamed, then not long after, shrunk back as the awkwardness set in, and began searching for something to say.
"Um... It was nice."
Twilight blinked before her expression softened into a smile. "Very," she agreed with a giggle. "C-can we, um... y'know... again?"
Now it was Rainbow's turn to look surprised, the smile she bore falling from her face. "You want to?"
Twilight nodded her head without a second's hesitation, and upon seeing that, Rainbow's smile slowly returned to her face.
Twilight shied away almost instantly noting the mare's expression. However Rainbow interpreted her shying away a little differently.
"I suppose neither of us are really used to this..." Rainbow remarked, finding herself growing increasingly nervous, and a little shy even as she continued.
"Still," she said, "I'm happy to have you as my first."
Twilight's eyes widened a little at her words.
She looked at Rainbow, finding it impossible not to smile a little right then as her heart practically leaped from her chest. Still, a part of her was left curious. For a mare who had never kissed before... she did it so well, without any doubt.
Worry swept over Twilight as she gazed away in uncertainty, down at the ground between them. "You made it seem so easy..."
"It is easy, Twilight," Rainbow replied, rolling her eyes. "You're just over thinking it." Twilight remained unsure, leading her to try something else. "What if I meet you halfway?"
Twilight thought it over for a moment, gazing back into Rainbow's eyes.
"A-alright..." Twilight at last stuttered out as she nodded softly. She swallowed hard, before closing her eyes partway and hesitantly leaning forward. Her heartbeat quickened and her breath grew more rapid, feeling Rainbow's own breath on her lips. She swallowed again, her body trembling slightly in anticipation, and fear. What if I mess up? Rainbow wouldn't think badly of me, would she?
Twilight was torn from these thoughts the moment she felt Rainbow's hoof against her fur as it gently stroked the side of her face. "Just relax, Twi," she whispered. "Don't worry about messing up, or how good you'll be. At this moment, none of that matters." Her soft smile broke into a small grin as she let out a quiet chuckle. "I just really want to kiss my beautiful, and awesome girlfriend."
Twilight chuckled softly. Somehow hearing Rainbow's soft, reassuring voice worked as her worries and nerves disappeared. She nodded slightly, bearing a warm smile and placing her right hoof over Rainbow's, holding it as it rested against her cheek. Closing her eyes slowly, she once again leaned forward until her lips met Rainbow's in a gentle, loving touch of the tips. Different from Rainbow's sudden surprise kiss moments ago.
Before, when Rainbow had kissed her, she wasn't sure what to make of it, how to describe it... having never been given the chance. But now, she could freely take in everything: the texture, the taste, the sweetness... Her lips were a bit cold, with the slight taste of rainwater, but Twilight didn't mind in the slightest.
To someponies, the mere thought of sharing a kiss in the pouring rain, hoof deep in a puddle of mud, probably wouldn't be their ideal location for a first kiss. Even Twilight, had she been more interested by the idea of relationships before she met Rainbow, would have been repulsed by the idea.
But here she was, amid the muck and filth, lips locked with the single most beautiful mare she's ever known, in both body and spirit.
The two fell back into the sodden grass as their kiss grew, quickly turning into a series of kisses, Twilight herself smiling into the kiss, as she gingerly held Rainbow's hoof in her own. Rainbow wrapped her free foreleg around Twilight's barrel, eliciting a subtle shiver from the mare and small orchid and violet sparks to go off above their heads.
Twilight inched back—Rainbow playfully tracing her tongue around her lips before pulling back and looking into her girlfriend's eyes with a deep blush and a sheepish smile, the two quietly catching their breaths. She loosened her hold on Rainbow's hoof, allowing it the chance to snake around Twilight and hold her even closer while her own hooves rested over Rainbow's shoulders.
And the two stayed like that, never once leaving the other's embrace, never saying a word until Rainbow broke it, looking back at her girlfriend with an amused grin. "And you were worried."
Twilight smiled warmly, taking up a favorite spot of hers on Rainbow's upper chest, nestling her head right beneath Rainbow's chin. She sighed in content, listening to the gentle fall of rain and the rhythmic rise and fall of Rainbow's chest.
Rainbow nuzzled Twilight affectionately, again catching a momentary whiff of lavender that had almost completely been washed from the unicorn's mane.
A moment or two later and Twilight spoke. "I can't believe we really just kissed..."
"What's so unbelievable about it?"
Twilight shrugged softly. "All of it... I mean... I, I didn't think I'd ever see you again, or that you'd be so forgiving, or that you'd really have feelings for me. It's weird, after being friends for so long... considering our rocky start, that we'd end up like this."
"Oh I dunno, Twi." Rainbow smiled down at her. "I always sorta had this feeling that you had the hots for me since day one." Twilight paused, then glanced up at her with a raised eyebrow, causing Rainbow's smile to drop. "What?"
Twilight rolled her eyes before again snuggling into the partially-soaked warmth of Rainbow's sweatshirt, the soaked feeling reminding her of where they currently lay.
In the soppy, wet grass in the pouring rain.
Twilight chuckled at the realization. "I think we should move someplace a little less filthy."
"Aw," Rainbow sighed, "and I was just getting comfortable."
"So that's a "No" then to sharing a nice, cozy cloud bed together in the warmth of the tower, out of the rain?" Twilight asked with a coy smile.
"Okay, maybe that does sound... a little better," said Rainbow as Twilight giggled, softly standing up on all fours and stepping away so she could get up. Sitting up, the first thing Rainbow noticed was her sweatshirt. She looked sheepishly up at Twilight. "Guess this isn't much good anymore..."
Twilight rolled her eyes before then putting a hoof to her chin, looking it over. "Why not take it off once we're inside; I... should be able to clean it up."
Rainbow smiled thankfully before getting to her hooves, and walking over to Twilight. Side by side, the two walked down the pathway leading to their home, until at last, they arrived at the base of the tower. About halfway up the stairs however, Rainbow let out a sudden, light sneeze.
Twilight stopped, for a moment surprised, before looking worriedly over at her girlfriend.
Rainbow shook her head, sniffling once. "I feel... sort of dizzy all of a sudden. Can... can I lean against you?" she asked, already putting her wing over Twilight to steady herself. "I just need a moment..." Twilight however, wasn't so convinced.
Lifting her hoof, Twilight hesitated, before pressing the back of her hoof to Rainbow's forehead.
Seconds later and she recoiled.
"Rainbow, you're burning up! Oh this isn't good! We've got to get you inside right this instant."
"It's nothing, Twilight," Rainbow insisted. "I mean, weren't you the one that said how sturdy pegasi are? A little cold weather's not going to affect m—" Rainbow was interrupted, finding herself suddenly being whisked up the stairwell, coated in Twilight's magic.
"Even the most stubborn pegasi aren't foolproof, Rainbow," Twilight replied over her shoulder as she continued running ahead.
Twilight wasted no time once she got inside, setting Rainbow down as she dispersed her magic and hurriedly yanked Rainbow's sweatshirt off over her head. Twilight floated the article over, hanging it over a nearby desk chair for the night.
All the while Rainbow huffed, annoyed at how much Twilight seemed to be overreacting.
"Can't you just find a spell or something?" she asked.
Twilight shook her head. "I've told you before, Rainbow; I'm no medical pony..." She looked at Rainbow with a sorry smile. "All I can do is keep you company."
"But wait... Won't you get sick if you do that?"
"I was out there too, Rainbow, and we kissed... No doubt I caught a bit of a cold as well..." With Rainbow's right wing draped along her back, Rainbow herself leaning against her side for support, Twilight began her descent down the tower stairwell. "If there's something we need, Spike will get it for us," she added reassuringly, at last reaching Rainbow's bedroom.
Upon seeing her old room, Rainbow's lips formed a reminiscent smile. "Feels good to be in my old room again, after so long..." Her smile remained, though a sudden, sad feeling started to spur from deep inside her.
Twilight turned to her with a knowing grin. "Bet it feels a little nostalgic, huh—?"
Rainbow leaned over, and nuzzled Twilight's cheek suddenly, catching the unicorn by surprise mid sentence. "I'll never leave again," she whispered softly. "I promise."
She gently pulled away, leaving Twilight momentarily without words, though that didn't stop her from thinking. Rainbow... She gazed over in wonder at the mare she loved so dearly, before her look of wonderment soon became a gentle smile. "I know, Rainbow," she said, blushing lightly while returning the nuzzle. "Now come on, let's get you to bed."
Twilight walked Rainbow over, pulling open the covers for Rainbow to lie down, before getting in herself. Facing one another, Twilight snuggled deeper into the mattress and mass of warm sheets, her hooves resting delicately on Rainbow's chest as both ponies lay on their side, their foreheads inches apart.
Their own soft, shaken breaths were the only sounds heard, outside of the calming sound of raindrops pattering against the outside window.
Twilight smiled, staring into Rainbow's eyes, and giggled. Rainbow had always been beautiful, and intriguing in her eyes, but now... Her look of adoration as she stared back at her girlfriend through eyes full of wonder... her flushed cheeks and parted lips as she softly breathed in and out, the way her mane lay between her eyes, and how it matched them perfectly... Twilight took in every detail until she found she could no longer hold herself back and planted a quick surprise kiss on her lips, tracing a sly hoof down Rainbow's chest as she parted.
"Even when you're sick... you still manage to look undeniably awesome."
Rainbow chuckled at the remark, before replying in a whisper, "That's me," —She sniffled— "awesomeness extraordinaire."
Twilight giggled softly, before closing her eyes and snuggling in closer to the pegasus, a content smile on her lips. "Mm... I love you."
Rainbow smiled warmly, gazing down at her before placing a soft kiss atop her forehead. "I love you too, Twi," she said, closing her eyes as well, and nestling her head beside Twilight's.
It wasn't long until the two fell asleep, nor was it until the days themselves started to pass on by. The days soon turned into months, the rain outside eventually freezing into frost on the bedroom window as a gentle snowfall fell outside, blanketing the city.