//------------------------------// // The Thing About Engagements // Story: The thing about maturity // by Scekkel //------------------------------// The Thing About Maturity Chapter 7 "The Thing About Engagements" By: Scekkel My Little Pony © Hasbro It had been a long day and a very warm one at that, which was uncommon to Spike who unusually enjoyed heat and normally wasn't bothered by it. But he had a feeling this wasn't normal heat, it was summer but, maybe he was just a tiny bit nervous about what was about to conspire that evening. "Rarity? Where are you?" Spike said softly through the open door to The Carousel Boutique. "In here Spike, I am just trying out some of these new designs." Spike rolled his eyes as he walked through the Boutique dropping off a basket on the sofa. Of course she were, at the rate that pony got ideas he wondered how she found time to make dresses at all. Spike couldn't help but smile though, he actually liked her obsessions, they where so familiar to somepony else that he could not help but find them cute. Rarity was in the middle of balancing a hat on top of a model when Spike walked in. "Rarity I wondered if you had some time to go have some dinner with me now." Rarity turned around and smilingly trotted over to kiss Spike on his cheek. "Of course dear. I just have to finish this bit or else it will fall off when I'm gone. Anywhere in particular you wanted to go this fine summer evening. Spike smiled "Somewhere special my love." "Why aren't we the smooth-talker today, where are you planning on taking me." Rarity said a little teasingly. "You'll see when we get there." He just answered. He supposed the blindfold had not been necessary, but he knew Rarity would adore the suspense. He had been preparing it all day, the roses, the candles, and it had taken him days to find the most secluded spot in the park. On the ground he had placed a classic white and red sheet for them to sit on. The candles where tall and slender, but placed so frequently around the edges sheet that they created a lovely atmosphere under the dark sky. The roses both whole and just petals where everywhere around them. In the middle he had placed a bottle of Rarity's favourite wine and a plate with fruits, chocolate and nuts. As they walked to this romantic location Spike guided his exited love along the bushes with one hand behind her neck and another holding the basket. "Spike I hope your are not walking me in to a fine restaurant blindfolded and in this state, I am in no state for a high class dinner." She said a little strictly Spike laughed to himself. She had spent half an hour getting ready and truth be told, he thought she had been planning on him asking her out tonight, he had been very secretive and she had of course not forgotten about this being the anniversary of their first date. "Don't worry love, I have something else entirely, planned for tonight." He guided her through the bushes and told her to wait a little while he prepared. He put down the basket at the edge of the sheet and lighted the last candles with his breath. He then walked to her and took off the blindfold carefully to avoid damaging her hair. "Spike!" She yelled. "By Celestia this is perfect, maybe not entirely for what I'm wearing but it is so romantic." She turned around and hugged him tightly and kissed him heavily on his mouth. Spike smiled at her and let her sit down and look at the stars before he started to feed her some of the food. "No Spike let me do that, you have already done so much." Spike ignored her and took some drapes and laid down so she could use his stomach as a pillow. She laid down under protest. "You don't have to do anything tonight my Lady, let me be the generous one tonight. He playfully lowered the draped to her mouth and she snapped at them on by one. She was extremely adorable Spike thought and he chuckled at her. Haven gotten a grape she suddenly rolled over facing Spike and shared the grape with him in a kiss. "You always know how to make a lady comfortable," she whispered, as she opened her eyes after the kiss. "If anyone had ever told me, a few years ago, that this would be my life now. I would never have believed them." he said with a expression of the utmost sincerity." She looked at him with lingering affection. "Spike you know we have spoken of this before, you can't think like tha.... Spike placed a claw on her mouth. "Shh, love, let me speak." He said. He replaced his claw as she fell silent. "Rarity a year ago today I was a nervous wreck. I did everything in my power to be someone you would like, to be someone fit for you." "but", she started. "...but", he said a little louder, as to make her voice become silent again. "We have come a long way since. I understand that you love me too and however weird it might sound I want to be honest here. There was a time where I did not think we could work. I wasn't sure if you loved me the same way I do you." he sounded sad Rarity had a little tear in her eye. She opened her mouth as to say something, but closed it again. As she sat there he thought how cute she looked when she was indecisive like this. He knew that when she showed this side of herself, it was his job to give her back her flair, her confidence. She looked a but frustrated and was about to resume his speech when she looked cross. "Spike you are really disappointing me. Do you have any idea how hard you make this for me. I know we haven't talked a lot about it, but it is eating me away darling. I cannot go on in a relationship where I have to constantly reassure you that I like you just as much love you even more that you do me." She started crying in a very unladylike manner. Spike got a little unsure of his approach, but decided to take a chance. "Do you think you are easy to be with. The entirety of our home is filled with fabric. You have meltdowns every two days and you are always stressed about your job. She looked up at him in anger at his harsh tone as he grabbed her tightly in a hug and she started to pull away from him turn a bowl of fruit over. "Let go of me Spike I need to go." She yelled. He did not let go of her. "But I love you regardless." He said. " "All your faults, all your night on the sofa with ice cream, to calm you down when you seem agitated, I love seeing your passion when you work, I love to be near you because every time you are near you make me smile. I know that you don't think, I think, you don't love me as much, but that is not true. Every time you show yourself as you really are under your mask of the busy business pony. When you calm down and don't mind spending a day with me without having to put on makeup and the fanciest dresses. For every Sunday you have spend with me in bed and let me see you as you really are. The playful little mare, who know every little bit about me, the little mare how knows me better than I know myself." He kept talking and she had finally stopped trying to get away. In stead he could feel her tears making his scales wet. "It is true, I was scared at the start, but you showed me that you loved me by letting me into your world, by understanding mine in return. I love you my sweet sweet girl. In this moment you are the only mare I want to be with." He ended his speech. "Spike.. I really love you too, and even though you may not believe it I might even love you more." She squeaked through her tears. "Why would you think that my darling" Spike asked with a big smile on his lips." "Because when I'm with you I can never stop smiling, because I know that however crazy, I must seem or annoying, you will never stop loving me, and I love you for just that. For the fact that you are willing to put up with me, I am eternally grateful to you." He smiled and discovered that it wasn't all Rarity's tears. Spike got up from the ground while Rarity sat up and tried to redo her mane. He tipped over the bowl, she had flipped when trying to get away. The fruits were ruined, so he threw them off as to have more room to himself While she was still tending to her air and trying to cut off the tears that were still running down her face he suddenly got down on one knee. She did not notice until he spoke. "Rarity, my precious, most beautiful mare." He said. Rarity looked up at him. Her eyes grew bigger as she saw the fat ruby on the gold ring he was holding out. "Will you do me the honour of marrying me" He said with a confident voice. "YES YES YES YES DARLING A MILLION TIMES YES" She said as she jumped into his arms and hugged him for dear life. "There is nothing I would rather do" "Then sit still so I can put it on you" She pulled away as he put the perfect fitting ring with a big ruby upon her horn and she started crying from happiness again. It goes without saying that they had a joyous evening when they went home. Luna looked a little nervous as Twilight was grading her last paper. It wasn't like it was thing required by twilight, to invent tests to Luna, she knew exactly how far she had gotten in her study, but Twilight loved tests and she would not feel right if they did not end their engagement the right way. Therefore the teacher and the student had met in order for twilight to properly examine her student. To be honest Luna didn't really give a rat's ass how well she did, this was only so that they could finally be together. Twilight put down the last piece of paper and wrote something on the front of the pages. Luna got up. "So, how did I do" "I don't really know." She answered with a quizzical look. "Come take a look" Luna walked closer. She had really hoped tonight would be the night. "What is it," she asked. Twilight got up quickly and kissed her. "It was perfect" They kissed long and deep. hours could have passed when they suddenly heard a sound like someone who wants to be noticed. Luna and Twilight opened their eyes. and looked towards the door. It was Celestia. "I come to inquire about the test, but I see that I didn't need to ask you" Both mares reddened on their cheeks. "While I don't want to disturb you two, could I borrow Luna a few minutes.?" she asked. Twilight whispered into Luna's ear. I'll be waiting in your chambers. and went out the door past Celestia. "Sister I am sorry to intrude" Celestia started "It is alright dear sister. Now, what do you want say?" Celestia looked fondly at her sister. It was so nice seeing her this happy, this time she would do the right things. She wanted to keep her happy, make her feel more included as a princess and a sister. "I wanted to give you something" She said: "I have seen how much the two of you care for each other. As have the rest of the castle." She mumbled the last bit. Luna looked at her sister, quizzically. Celestia went closer to her. "Now I don't know how close you too are, exactly, but you should know that I am behind you guys 100 percent and because of this I wanted to give you this." She levitated a ring to Luna with her horn and the dark aura of Luna's magic took it off her. "what is it dear sister." She said. When the ring came closer she recognised the enchanted ring. The diamond in it was unlike any other. It was black and infused with magic from both Luna and Celestias parents. It pictured a starry nights sky.. "This is their ring isn't it..." Luna looked confused, "but why? and wasn't there supposed to be sun in here". Celestia looked at her sister. "Yes it has always depicting a night and day. Dad used to say that the ring was made with the love of both of them and would depict a day and night sky swimming along into infinity, but now it only shows the night sky. "But why sister, why would it only show this?" A tear could be seen in Celestias eye as she went closer to her sister and hugged her. "When you refused to lower the moon and I banished you it stopped depicting anything. It was black and seemed dead. But ever since you and Twilight got together it has been shining more and more intensely." She released her sister and noticed a tear and wonder in her eyes. "But I could never.... I don't deserve" Luna started. "I think that is our parents way of saying that you are every bit a princess and part of the family as you ever where. And I think you know what to do with it when you are ready" Luna smiled: "Thank you sister, thank you so much." "I won't hold you any longer and I think Twilight has just about had time enough to prepare" "What do you mean sister" Luna said. "Haha, nothing sister, just remember what I said." "Is that you Luna?" Twilight called from inside Luna's bedchamber. "Yes love, it is me" She walked inside and saw that twilight had lighted candles and laid on her bed with quite the provocative outfit on. She felt her heart skip a beat. There was nothing to say, nothing to discuss they flew into each others embrace. An hour later they lay, their hearts pounding. "Twilight I love you" Luna gasped "And I you moonie" She answered Luna lifted her eyebrow at the nickname. "I have something I want to talk to you about." she collected herself and sat up. Twilight mirrored her pose and looked at her with a smile. "What is it love." She asked "These months has been hell. Waiting for this moment dear love, I wanted to do something special for you, and then you go and make everything so simple. It was everything I have ever wanted. I have never felt for anyone as I do for you." Twilight pulled her in for a hug. "I feel the same way Luna, but we are now free to do whatever we want. So there is something I want to ask you." "Oh what is it"? she seemed a little perplexed, she was after all just about to propose marriage to Twilight, but there was something in the mares voice that made her keep quiet. Twilight looked at Luna with a serious face. "Now that we are free, love, there is something I want you to answer. As Alicorns we are gonna live forever, but how to you feel about us now? I mean we are able to stay together for literally forever. I just want to know that we are in the same place." She looked at her lover with praying eyes as to convoy how hard it was for her to ask this question. Luna got up and sat herself next to twilight while embracing her. The moon and the stars outside the tall windows were still peeping in to their private sphere and as Luna noticed this she made Twilight look up. "Twilight look up. Look at my stars" Twilight looked up at the spectacle before her. "I love you, you know that. But if there is anything my many years in this world has taught me it is that nothing can last forever, even the two of us will someday perish and make way for the next world. Celestia knows this fact too, but standing in front of forever can be scary. And I understand if you are afraid of the future. To tell the truth, so am I. I keep fearing that history will repeat itself and the nightmare within me will erupt, but somehow when, I am with you, everything seems a little less complicated and scary. I have no idea how to predict the future in its entirety. But looking at my night sky I have always observed the same thing. Every winter, summer, fall or spring. Every night just before the night sky makes it's presence there will always be twilight. No matter what twilight and the night will always continue to make the balance between light and night. What I want to say is that you and I are forever, yes, but I can promise you that my desire to be with you is as strong as my certainty that the Night will always follow Twilight. I don't know what will happen, but I will always be her for... hmmmhm" The princess of the Night was silenced by the princess of Friendship in a spectacular passionate, albeit wet kiss "Marry me Luna, become mine and I'll become yours for eternity Twilight cried. I don't ever want this feeling to end." She looked down at her confused looking partner that she had just tackled to the bed. Luna had tears in her eyes again. "Ok love, let's get married. Let's become one, let's claim our ownership of each other." A light was pulsing from a bundle of clothing Luna had tossed when she came in. It was a silverly moonly glow. Luna levitated the ring out of her things and put it on Twilight's horn. They did not sleep that much this night.