Twilight looked up from her book. The clatter of plates on the table brought her attention away from the book and to the table. Spike set down a few more plates while Rarity came out carrying a large platter in her blue aura. Twilight bookmarked her page with one of her quills setting it down on top of the bookshelf. She sniffed the air in an attempt to find out what Spike had cooked this time. Whatever it was, it's scent didn't give it away, so Twilight had to wait patiently for Spike to finish up.
"Spike, this smells amazing! What did you make?" Twilight asked.
"It's spaghetti and garlic bread. There's also some parmesan cheese if you guys like that sort of thing." Spike replied.
Twilight picked up a plate full of noodles in her magic and dropped them onto her plate. She then took the ladle and scooped up some tomato sauce. She was about to set it down when she felt someone else grasp the ladle. Rarity was smiling sheepishly as her and Twilight's magic duked it out for control of the ladle. Eventually Twilight relented and her magic withdrew. The two laughed while Spike groaned.
"Twilight, what time did we have to be at the party?" Rarity asked.
"Nine o' clock. Why?" Twilight asked.
"Just curious, darling."
Twilight glanced back at the clock to see what time it was. It was currently six thirty-seven. They had roughly two hours and twenty minutes to get to Sugarcube Corner which gave Twilight plenty of time to finish the book she was reading.
The trio ate in silence for the majority of their meal. Twilight had asked Rarity if she had any new projects she was working on to which the fashionista replied that she had at least three orders to fill. Spike had offered his assistance, but Rarity politely declined much to the young drake's disappointment.
When they had all finished, Twilight returned back to the couch to continue her reading. She opened her book to the marked page, reimbursing herself into the story.
Velocity had been waiting for this moment. His wings spread wide and his hind legs ready to launch. This was his chance to make it up to his sister. Her life was on the line here, if he lost she wouldn't be able to get the treatment she desperately needed. Foul Play stood next to him, a devious grin on his face. Velocity's anger built up as he resisted the urge to kill the other racer. It was his fault his sister was in the hospital and today he'd pay it for. Velocity redirected his anger towards the race at hand. The timer counted down 5, 4, 3, 2, 1-
Twilight's story was briefly interrupted by a certain unicorn laying herself against Twilight. Twilight looked down to see Rarity, with a novel of her own, laid up against her with her head laying on her chest with a content smile.
"Uh, Rarity?" Twilight asked.
"Yes?" Rarity replied.
"Why are you laying up against me?"
"Whatever do you mean?"
"Why are you using me as a pillow?"
"It didn't bother you before so I just assumed that..." Rarity drifted off.
Before? What exactly does Rarity remember?
Twilight was drawn from her thoughts by a grunt coming from the kitchen. Upon inspection she noticed Spike giving her a glare. Twilight was confused at first, but the realization quickly sunk in once he motioned towards the love struck fashion designer currently in her lap. Twilight groaned inwardly. She'd have to keep up this act of hers not only to keep Rarity smiling, but Spike as well. Twilight noticed Rarity trying to reposition herself off of her chest, but before she could Twilight made a bold move and wrapped a hoof around the alabaster mare keeping her in place. Rarity looked up at her with a confusing look.
"You're right, I'm just a little stressed out. I was really worried when that potion went off in your face." Twilight said.
Rarity's eyes scanned Twilight's for any hint of a lie. Twilight prayed to Celestia that Rarity would buy her act. Much to her relief, she did and if she didn't then she definitely didn't show any signs of suspicion. The smile returned to her face and she continued reading, as did Twilight. The lavender mare glanced towards the kitchen and she noticed the faint smile on Spike's face. Twilight rolled her eyes and continued reading where she had left off.
Twilight and Rarity started down the road to Sugarcube Corner. Spike stood in the doorway waving them off, albeit a little bitter that he couldn't come along too. Twilight had asked him to go to the basement to inspect the ingredients she had used to make the potion. The sooner they found out what exactly had gone wrong, the sooner things could get back to normal. The night air was cool and brisk, a gentle breeze blew through the open streets of the village. Rarity had left little more than a few millimeters between her and Twilight which made Twilight a little uncomfortable. She hadn't had any experience with romance nor had she ever considered it at all! She always convinced herself that there were always more pressing matters at hand than a silly love story starring her.
Looking back on it she didn't consider it so silly now that she was actually in one.
She sighed. Her eyes turned towards the stars up above and the moon illuminating the world below. Twilight always admired Princess Luna's handiwork, it's like she knew just what arrangement to put the stars in to make her night even more beautiful. She could lose herself in that sky for hours on end and never get bored, reading the stories that each constellation told. Aries, Capricorn, Pisces, all of them had their own tale.
Rarity took note of Twilight's gazing. She was acting very strange lately, and Rarity didn't know why. Had she done something wrong? Did Twilight not feel the same anymore? Was she just putting up an act to keep her happy?
"Are you alright, Twilight?" Rarity asked.
"Huh?" Twilight asked drawing her eyes away from the night sky.
"I said are you alright? It seems like something is bothering you."
"O-oh nothing! Nothing at all! I just zoned out again hahaha..."
"Are you sure? You know you can tell me anything, darling."
Twilight hesitated for a moment, confirming Rarity's suspicions that something was bothering her even if she didn't want to admit it.
What do I say!? I accidentally made you fall in love with me and remember events that never happened!?
Luckily she was saved from any sort of response as they approached Sugarcube Corner and the bubbly pink mare waving them inside.
"You guys made it!!!" Pinkie squealed from the entrance. She continually bounced up and down as they approached.
"It's good to see you too, Pinkie Pie." Twilight greeted casually.
"You know I wouldn't miss one of your soiree's Pinkie Pie." Rarity chimed.
"Swaryay's?" Pinkie said butchering the pronunciation of the word.
"It's another word for party." Twilight explained.
"Ohh! Well what're we standing out here for let's get to the swaryay already!"
"Pinkie it's soir-"
She was cut off by Rarity's hoof in her mouth and a facial expression that read just let it go. Twilight's brow furrowed, obviously annoyed that she couldn't give Pinkie the correct punctuation their language deserved. Alas, some things can't be helped and she ended up sighing in her friend's hoof. Rarity giggled as she followed Pinkie Pie in, flicking Twilight's nose playfully with the tip of her tail. Twilight flinched, giving Rarity a scowl to which she replied with a mischievous smile. Twilight couldn't help but return a smirk and stifle a laugh of her own. She rolled her eyes and followed her "marefriend" in. There was already a table set up with food scattered all around it. Rainbow Dash and Applejack were already at it arm-wrestling while Fluttershy sat idly by and watched. The meek mare looked up and smiled warmly when she saw Twilight and Rarity walk in. She fluttered over to Twilight and wrapped a hoof around her and then around Rarity.
"Oh, I'm so glad you two could come! But where's Spike? Did he not want to come?" Fluttershy asked looking towards the door.
"He just...you know him he had to...uh..." Twilight trailed off.
I've been so busy trying to keep Rarity happy that I forgot to ask Spike if he wanted to come! I've still got to explain this whole situation to him when I get back...and what a fun conversation THAT will be.
"He's reorganizing Twilight's mess of a lab. You know how she can be when she gets that adorable mad scientist look in her eyes, Fluttershy." Rarity cooed.
"Oh my, did something happen today?" Fluttershy asked.
"There was a minor accident while creating a potion for the festival." Twilight replied. "Spike said he'd clean it up for me while we were gone."
"That's so nice of him, I'm glad nobody was hurt."
Twilight felt something brush against her tail and saw Rarity's looping ever so slightly with her own. Twilight began to panic. She hadn't told any of her friends about Rarity's situation yet, but given how they were all together in one spot now was a better time than any.
Beggars can't be choosers
"Rarity, why don't you go freshen up?" Twilight suggested.
"That sounds like a wonderful idea, Twilight." Rarity skipped towards the bathroom upstairs.
As soon as she was out of sight, Twilight turned towards Pinkie and Fluttershy. "Okay girls, listen up real quick I have to tell you all something."
"What's up, Sugarcube?" Applejack asked as she pinned Rainbow's arm to the table. The cyan mare glared at her which was returned with a smug look.
"Ooooh is it a present!? Is it a super amazing cake that Spike made!? Is it a new book!?" Pinkie asked excitedly.
"No, none of those things. You all know that there was an accident this morning at the library correct?"
"Yes, you were just telling me about it." Fluttershy said.
"What about it?" Rainbow asked.
"Well, Rarity and I were trying to make a potion to help out with the decorations when something went wrong with the mixture. While it didn't have any physical affects, it did have some mental ones." Twilight explained.
"Like?" Applejack inquired.
"Rarity thinks she's dating me, she's got false memories of us together as a couple. I haven't been able to find out what the cause of it was, but for the time being I'm going along with her fantasy."
Rainbow Dash broke out laughing. "You made Rarity fall in love with you!?" Rainbow shouted through tears.
Twilight angrily shushed her, pointing a hoof towards the stairs. "Oh, sorry." Rainbow said sheepishly.
"Yes, I did. For now I'm going to play along, however uncomfortable it may be, and I'm asking you girls to help me keep her happy."
"I don't know about this, Twilight." Applejack crossed her forelegs. "It's not mah place to meddle in someone's love life. Especially mah friend's love life. Ah don't know how Ah feel about ya'll being together too. It's...well it's a little weird to me."
"It's not official, Applejack. We only have to keep it up till the potion wears out or I find an antidote." Twilight replied.
"Sorry, Twi, Ah'm still on the fence about this."
"Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, what about you two?"
"I'm not sure how I feel about it either, but if it makes Rarity happy then I'll do my best to help!" Fluttershy asserted.
Twilight smiled gratefully. "Thanks, Fluttershy."
"This is one doozy of a doozy you're in, Twilight! If it means I get to throw more parties for you two then I'm all for it!" Pinkie exclaimed.
Twilight then turned her attention to Rainbow who sat quietly. She looked fidgety and uncomfortable much to Twilight's surprise. If there was anyone she didn't think had a problem with helping her out it was Rainbow Dash.
"Dash?" Twilight called out.
"What?" Rainbow asked curtly.
"Will you help me?"
Rainbow went quite again, looking at the blue floorboards. Finally she sighed and looked up at Twilight with a look she'd never seen before.
"You can count on me, Twi." Rainbow reassured.
"Thank you all so much!" Twilight reached out and hugged all four of her friends. She let go just as the door swung open upstairs and a lovestruck voice called downstairs.
"Pinkie Pie there seems to be something wrong with your toilet paper. I tried to fix it as best I could." Rarity explained as she descended down the stairs.
She laid her eyes on her friends all huddled together staring up at her anxiously. "Did I miss something? Why are you all huddled together?"
"I'll tell you later." Twilight said.
"Yeah, right now let's party!" Rainbow shouted energetically launching into the air.
"Finally! Weeee!" Pinkie shouted as she jumped for the jukebox in the other room.
Twilight smiled watching Rarity retreat back to her side. The two unicorns looked at each other and shared a brief kiss before sitting down at the table full of delicious food. Within seconds loud electronic music was blaring in the lobby. Rainbow and Applejack went back to arm-wrestling to settle Rainbow's grudge match while Pinkie dragged a reluctant Fluttershy into the living room to dance. Twilight rolled her eyes and smiled.
Well that went better than expected, maybe tonight won't be so bad after all...
Unbeknownst to Twilight, however, the night would get very bad and very uncomfortable for her.