It all made sense. After days of confusion and mental infighting, Twilight had finally figured it all out. She wasn't going crazy, there was a perfectly normal, rational explanation for it all.
In the recent months, all her friends had slowly begun moving towards longstanding relationships, or at the very least were dating more actively. Rarity would speak of her nights out at dinner with stallions from Canterlot, such as Fancy Pants, though as far as Twilight knew at the moment she had not yet settled on any stallion in particular and was still seeing a long line of suitors; from all over Equestria now that her name was out there as one of the top fashion models and designers.
Applejack was seeing a stallion in the military. Though it was a sort of long distance relationship at the most due to the stallions active duties. Still, it was certainly more then Twilight had.
Pinkie Pie, well Twilight wasn't sure on Pinkie's love life. But she knew that Party Favor and Cheese Sandwhich would often show up, sometimes both at the same time. The story was to help her with party planning, which sometimes it was. But Twilight suspected it wasn't the only thing they were doing.
And as for Rainbow Dash, well it seems that the Wonderbolts were more then just an elite group of fliers, but by the way she would talk about it an elite herd as well. Though she would always blush when asked for further details.
In short, all her friends by and large were seeing somepony or more. And since she herself was single, it only made sense that Twilight would start to feel jealous and then begin seeking a partner for herself. And given she spent a lot of time around Castus, it was only natural that she would express that jealousy on him as he interacted with her on a regular basis.
So that was the answer. All she had to do was interact with other males, and all her problems would ease away. All the thoughts, the worries the embarrassments. Once she exposed herself to a wider range of stallions, she would find that it was all just mental jealousy and would find a stallion for herself as well.
It all made sense!
Yet how did she proceed? Twilight knew nothing of dating. In all her life, she had been so busy with studies, or unwilling to meet other ponies that she had practically no dating experience. And she could not find any books at all to help her, which only made her worry grow.
And so, lacking a book she instead turned to an oral presentation and overview. She figured that Rarity would have hade the most experience and would not only know of where one could find dates in Ponyville, but how a mare should go about it.
Rarity had proven excited in helping Twilight with her love life, and took it on herself to not only provide her with a new dress, but to take her to take her out on the town to help her.
"Oh Twilight you look simply ravishing, you will knock the stallions dead and the mares wild with jealousy." Rarity gushed over her work as she and Twilight entered into the finest bar and club in Ponyville. And from what Rarity had said, held a form of dating called Speed Dating.
"Thanks Rarity. I'm hoping I can meet somepony. So, what is this Speed Date again?" Twilight asked, smiling sheepishly.
"Well dear," Rarity said, "the premise is that each couple will be given a set amount of time to talk. Usually after the allotted time has passed, they leave and go to another table to meet a new stallion or mare and it starts all over. Sometimes you walk away with an address or never leave the first table at all. The organizers won't interrupt a pair if they seem to be really enjoying each others company."
Twilight nodded, "Well it sounds easy. What will you do?"
"Oh I will be partaking as well. If we should be paired up please fill me in and I'll offer any tips if you need them." Rarity offered as the two of them signed a form at table to participate in the Speed Dating.
"Right. Thank you again Rarity. You didn't have to come, and especially making me a new dress." Twilight said, looking at her new gown.
"Oh nonsense darling. If one is going to go out on the town, one should look their best." Rarity said with a smile.
As other daters arrived, the speed dating soon began. Twilight was the first to arrive at her table, and she spotted Rarity not far. Rarity gave her a wave and Twilight waved back, before focusing her attentions on her first date.
It was a unicorn. He wore a thing pair of glasses and was dressed in the style of a scholar. His body was thin, and he had a book in his hooves as he sat.
"Hello, my name is Scholar Scroll." The stallion said.
"Hello, I'm Twilight Sparkle." Twilight said with a smile.
This was perfect, a fellow intellectual. This was starting out perfectly.
"-But the studies show that Starswirls method is the more classical variation of the equation. I especially find his algarithims in the use of magic for mass teleportation to be a hallmark of genius." Scholar Scroll drooled on.
"That's great." Twilight said with a sigh, her mind starting to grow numb.
It wasn't that she did not find this interesting. It was nice to see a fellow learner of Starswirls theories, but it lacked....well all he did was go on, and on and on about the theories but never seemed to offer his own variations. If anything he seemed to be praising them without any desire to examine further the applications of the theory or to study an alteration of the equation to discover new examinations.
'Is this how I sound to the girls when I talk about stuff like this?' Twilight thought.
"Hey, um," Twilight interrupted, "That is great and all, but what else do you do? Do you compete in any sports? I know I love a good Running of the Leaves race now and then."
"Oh, no. Never," Scholar said with a shake of his head, "I don't have time for such things. And even then, I don't feel that physical exertion like that is worthwhile in the long run."
Twilight frowned, "Oh."
Twilight frowned, looking at her hooves while Scholar went on, then an idea came to mind.
"Um, excuse me. I understand you spoke of Starswirls Circle method?" Twilight asked.
Scholar fixed his glasses, "Of course, its the key theory in magic that allows for a greater sum of energy to be formed and used in the spells. Its what allows for the mass teleportation. The key factor relies in the gathered unicorns to combine their magics and each one to carefully thread the spell as they follow a central spell leader. This allows for each unicorn to take up part of the spell and-"
"Yes," Twilight interrupted, "I know. What I mean was, that I recently learned that the way Starswirl postulated his method was not the full extent of the limit. While a spell can be individually split, the level of risk increases as each unicorn is required to be exact and perfectly timed with their spell weaving. But, it is actually possible through a spell and when each unicorn is at an equal strength to actually unite their magics to a single point, in this case the central lead pony. The central leader weaves the full spell, while using both his own and the connected unicorns as wells of extra energy. This not only helps to prevent mistakes in the weaving but actually helps lower the stress and exhaustion that can occur when committing to a circle spell."
Twilight began explaining the full details, and noticed that Scholar seemed rather impressed. She smiled, feeling that she had finally found a ground to stand on in this date.
"I say, that is rather marvelous. Where on Equestria did you read on such a theory?" Scholar asked.
"Oh, me and a friend complied the material. You see he-" Twilight stopped, as her mind went to memories of the event. Where she had Castus had compiled the theory she had just explained. She remembered the excitement she had felt, talking over the theory. The theory had been formed using a similar system of shared energy that Castus and other Wind users could us. Taking his knowledge of the ancient past, and mixing it with her own to create a new theory of magical use that unicorns could use had been the best day in her life. She remembered the joy she had felt and the smile on his face. How she had hugged him and he her.
"Oh...um. Yes. We...complied it....together." Twilight finished, sad.
"Incredible. Do you think you could write down the equation?" Scholar asked.
"Sure." Twilight deadpanned, using her magic to fill out some of her pieces of paper meant for addresses and to give Scholar the equation.
"Oh, excellent." Scholar said, taking the notes. He then stood up and rushed out of the bar.
Twilight sighed, but perked up a bit at the ringing of the gong.
'Okay. Perk up Twilight. So the first date didn't go well. I'm sure the next one will work out.' She thought, smiling and banishing her previous remorse.
Twilight sat at her table, waiting for her next date. Well sat was a kind word. In fact, she leaned against the table, her face planted on it in a bored and crestfallen sort of way.
This speed dating thing wasn't working out so well.
Her date after Scholar had been Caramel. A nice stallion, and he had been very charming and polite. A little shy, but she had found it rather cute. She felt sure that she had found a date that would work out. But Caramel always seemed to look around, as if expecting or hoping to see somepony else. And their conversations always seemed to drift back to be about Applejack.
In short, she left the date once again addressless, and feeling a bit bad for the stallion. Still she perked herself up, convinced that the next date would work.
The next had been with Bulk Biceps, who took any question about what he or she liked to do and turning it into a near ten minute seminary of a grueling work out regiment so that she could "bring out the beast" in her.
That was three dates down the drain.
She had noticed a rather handsome and good looking yellow Pegasus with cut short blue mane. But he and his date, a unicorn with red and yellow mane, seemed so lost in each others eyes that they didn't even seem to hear the gong telling them to move. Twilight looked away with a sound of disgust as they soon began locking lips.
"Twilight?" A voice said in a surprised tone.
Twilight looked up, "Lyra?" She said, equally surprised.
Before her was Lyra Heartstrings. One of her old friends from back in Canterlot. After having reconnected with Moondancer and the others, she had also gone to rekindle her friendship with Lyra. It had been awkward at first. Lyra, while a famous musician herself, was also something of a human fanatic. She seemed devoted to studying everything about them, and until recently after talking with Castus about the Ancient Valhruans, had been considered a conspiracy nut when she went on about an ancient race of humans that populated the world and made ponykind.
"So, you're with me?" Twilight asked.
Lyra smiled and sat with a nod, "Guess so."
Twilight smiled, "Well it is nice to sit with somepony I know, but uh...I was kinda hoping to meet a stallion here."
Lyra smirked, "Heh you and me both." She took a sip from her drink, which she had brought with her.
"Really? Are things with you and Bon Bon on the fizzle?" Twilight asked.
Oh you don't know the half of it." The mare said with a frustrated sigh. "I mean, I know she went out of retirement so she could do secret 'whatever' in 'need to know'vile. But seriously!" She said slamming her hoof on the table, causing it to shake and for some ponies to look their way a moment. "When she comes home after being on the road for weeks, would it kill her to tell me something! I mean she gets to see the world while I'm stuck at home laying in bed wondering if she is gonna come back at all!!"
Lyra took a long, heavy gulp from her drink before slamming it down and giving a pouting sort of face.
Twilight tried to hide from the glances this outburst was causing. "That's pretty rough, I know my brother was away for a long time when he was in the service. And I can only imagine how Cadence must have felt."
"Yeah well, 'Sweetie Drops'," Lyra said that name while making air quotes with her hooves, "Can buck off for all I care!" Lyra said despite a hurt look. She sniffed and rubbed her muzzle.
The two of them sat there in silence for a moment, before Lyra finally spoke up again.
"Say...Twilight?"
Twilight sighed, "Yes Lyra?"
"Is it true that your friends with that human? Castus?"
"Y-yes..."
"Is it true what they say?" Lyra asked, an excited look now in her eyes, "You know about human stallions lasting..."
"LYRA HEARTSTRINGS, I KNOW YOUR HERE!" A booming voice came from entrance of the hall.
"Oh man, speak of the she-devil." Lyra said with a pout. Lyra ducked down, trying to hide from the view of her two tone partner, who stomped over with a glare in her eyes. Though everypony had turned to watch, no pony was brave enough to interfere.
Twilight shrank back, as Bon Bon stood before her table, glaring down at the spot where Lyra was. Slowly, Lyra stood up. She planted her hooves on her hips and met her partner eye to eye.
"What the HAY are you doing here?!" Bon Bon snarled. "And is that MY DRESS?" Her eyes further bulged as she recognized the blue cocktail dress the unicorn wore.
Lyra rolled her eyes, "Oh don't be so pissy, you always said it looked better on me."
"Don't skip the real question?" Bon Bon glared at her. "What are you doing here with-", the 'confectioner' paused as she saw Twilight for the first time, "Oh! Hey Twilight!" She said, giving a smile and a small wave, her tone taking on her friendly one as if she hadn't just been causing a scene.
Fighting down sheer mortification, Twilight didn't even make eye contact as she waved passively, "Hi Bon Bon."
"Don't you talk to her!" Lyra snipped at Bon Bon. "You are interrupting our date!" Lyra said as she returned her seat facing Twilight determined to ignore her seething mare friend. She then moved her chair closer to Twilight, and pulled her closer to her.
Twilight just blushed, feeling embarrassed.
"Date my flank!" Bon Bon laughed "only loser's go speed dating!"
As if on command, all eyes now snapped towards Bon Bon, with a pained hiss and glaring looks. Others with looks of indignation and crushed hope. Bon Bon looked around, noticing the attention and chuckled uneasily, "Uhh, I-I mean..."
"How do you even know I was here anything, do you have me bugged or something?" Lyra demanded, checking herself.
"You wrote it on the damn calendar genius!" Bon Bon shouted.
"Oh. yeah." Lyra said, embarrassed, "W-well you aren't the boss of me. I'm a grown mare, and if I want to go out on a date I can. So there."
"Without even bothering to consult with me?!" Bon Bon shouted, "That was not how we agreed this relationship would work!"
"Well we also never agreed that we would be keeping secrets!" Lyra shouted back, slamming her hooves on the table as she stood up.
"Uh..." Twilight started, noticing that all eyes were on them again.
"I thought we had that cleared up!" Bon Bon shouted.
"Back then you were retired. But now ever since you went back to work for the Agency, you've never told me anything! Nothing at all about what you are doing or where you are, even if you are gone for weeks at a time!" Lyra shouted, sniffling.
"Keep your voice down!" Bon Bon hissed, looking around as if expecting a spy to be about.
"Oh? Why start now?" Twilight asked before planting her face on the table and placing her hooves over her head. Trying to be as invisible as possible.
"No! I'm so sick and tired of all the secrets now. Do you even stop to think how I feel?!" Lyra shouted, tears now in her eyes.
"L-Lyra..." Bon Bon started.
"Do you even know what it's like, laying in bed alone at night, wondering about where you are. Are you okay? Are you hurt? Will I even see you again!?" Lyra shouted, sniffling as tears ran down her face, staining her makeup.
"I-I can't keep doing it. It's too much." Lyra sobbed, sitting down and cover her face with her hooves.
Bon Bon stood there, mouth open. She felt like her whole heart was breaking. Here was a mare she cared so deeply for, and yet she had not even noticed how she might have been affecting her when she went back to her old job. Lyra always seemed so strong and assured, that she didn't even think about anything like this.
"Lyra..I-I'm sorry." Bon Bon said, her own eyes starting to grow blurry from tears. She approached her mare friend and wrapped her hooves around her. Lyra wrapped her hooves about Bon Bon in return.
Discord sat in his couch, belly extended out and about, as he wore a simple, yet soda and grease stained wife beater shirt. His beard had grown stubbly and he scratched his belly as he watched the t.v.
As he watched the tender moment, he pushed a button and a sign above him went on. It read, in big, bright neon lights: Go Awww.
After some silent sobbing, Bon Bon and Lyra finally released each other. They gave the other a smile, before Lyra reached up and kissed her mare friend squarely on the lips.
"I'm sorry. I didn't realize what I was doing. I promise, I'll try to be more forthcoming about my missions." Bon Bon said.
"Really?" Lyra asked, smiling as she wiped away some tears.
"Well, I can't tell you everything. Confidential and oaths and all. But, I'll try to tell you what I can. And maybe I'll bring back souvenirs from now on."
Lyra smiled and nodded, "Okay. I guess that will work."
"So, can we go home now?" Bon Bon asked.
Lyra smiled nervously, "Uh, well...I kinda gotta admit. I was sort of here to maybe find a stallion. You know, to add to our herd."
"Why?" Bon Bon asked, raising an eyebrow.
Lyra blushed, "Uh well...any stallion would do...but I was kinda hoping one of those humans might be here. I uh...well I read something and-"
Lyra leaned in and started whispering into Bon Bon's ear.
Bon Bon blushed, "W-what? But I-. That- Oh my."
Lyra kept whispering.
"Oh dear." Bon Bon whispered, her face growing more red.
Lyra whispered some more.
"They do?" Bon Bon looked at her mare friend in shock.
Lyra nodded, her own face flushed.
Bon Bon gulped, "Uh well, maybe we can talk about this at home. Later."
"Uh yeah. But, hey the night is still young, so how about some drinks?" Lyra offered, "Once I fix my make up."
"Sure. I think I could use some good cider after all this." Bon Bon said.
Taking hoof in hoof, the two stood up and walked over to the bar, with Lyra departing to the restroom to fix herself up.
Twilight sighed, both out of relief that that was all over, and that once again another date down the drain.
Later into the night, all the speed dates were done. Ponies all around left with other ponies, talking and laughing. Some even kissing and by the number of drinks, probably on the way to do more then kiss.
Bon Bon and Lyra both looked especially flushed, laughing and giggling even as they pulled a surprised, and confused looking Caramel with them, who they had sat with at the bar when they saw him looking depressed.
Twilight stood near the exit, waiting for Rarity as she finished writing down a number of addresses she had acquired.
"Well Twilight, how did it go?" Rarity asked as she put the list into her purse.
"Uh...not so good." Twilight started, as she told about her dates.
"Oh dear. I'm...really sorry this didn't work out for you dear." The ivory unicorn said to her lavender friend
"It's alright Rarity." Twilight said chipperly, giving a smile. "One couldn't say it wasn't at all an interesting night."
"Quite so, darling." Rarity said with a smirk. "Well, as they say "the night is still young"! What can us two fabulous ladies get into yet, hmm? A club? A coffee house? Or perhaps a little fun at a Stud Show?"
Twilight shook her head, "N-No. I think I'm just gonna make my way back to the castle, I got a lot on my mind. I'll see you tomorrow?"
"Of course." Rarity's worry was evident in her reluctant acceptance. "Twilight?"
"Yes?"
"Matters of the heart are always troublesome, but don't be discouraged. I know their is somepony out their for you." The fashionista placed a hoof on the Princess' shoulder, a small smile bolstering the act.
After a moment it was met with a small and reassure hoof laid atop from Twilight.
"Yeah...some pony." Twilight said, though in her heart she felt that such was not the case.
Not that she did not feel that she would find somepony. But the painful truth was, she was not interested in meeting somepony.
What she wanted. Was someone.
Going their separate waves with a last hug goodbye for the night, Twilight walked down the moon shrouded roads of Ponyville. And tried to pull herself out of the well of tortured emotions she felt herself trapped in.
As she passed a sign, she stopped and looked up. It was one of the local taverns in town. Deciding that maybe having a small drink before going home couldn't hurt, she walked in. The door ringing a bell as she entered.
The tavern was not busy, with only a few ponies in. Some sat at tables and talked, while others played at the pool table. One pony laid on the bar, nursing a drink.
"Oh, Princess Twilight? In my bar? Welcome! What can I get ya?" The tavern owner asked, looking surprised and excited.
"Oh um, just something to drink. Maybe some cider?" Twilight asked. Frankly she did not know much on alcohol.
"Of course. Always glad to serve the princesses." The bar keep said, filling a mug with cider from a large barrel. He set the mug on the bar infront of Twilight; who pulled some bits from her purse and paid for the drink.
"Thank you." She said, smiling as she picked up the mug and slowly poured the contents into her mouth.
As she drank, Twilight began thinking back to her dates, and the gnawing feeling of failure. She had thought that if she had just dated around, eventually she would move on. But all she seemed to do was not only feel embarrassed, but felt her longing only grow. She groaned in despair as she ordered another drink; quickly making it vanish down her throat.
After that, things started to get a little fuzzy. At first, Twilight felt fine and got another drink. After the third she started to feel a little bit better, and so ordered a fourth. Then a fifth. Then a sixth. But then things started getting depressing. She remembered the dates previously, and felt both foolish and stupid. How could she not get a date?
How could she not get Castus out of her mind? She hated this feeling. Hated herself for feeling these feelings. Hated herself for even feeling them at all.
Seven. Eight. Twelve drinks. Twilight sat at the bar with a sigh, feeling completely worthless. When she felt somepony sit beside her. She looked over and saw a stallion, who gave her a smile and an appraising look.
Not long after, Twilight found herself stumbling out of the tavern with the stallion, whose hoof was wrapped about her body. She knew that something was not right though, that she needed to go home. But her mind was just so clouded, and it was difficult to concentrate.
Not soon after, Twilight felt the stallion press her up against the side of a building, just behind the entrance to an alley. She moaned instintualy, as the stallion licked down her neck and moved his hooves down her body and begin lifting the hem of her skirt up. She heard the clinking sound of a belt coming off and falling to the ground.
'W-wait..' She thought slowly. Her mind slowly putting two and two together.
"I-I.." She started, before the stallion kissed her, silencing her.
But the kiss ended as the stallion was soon roughly yanked from her, and thrown to the ground.
"What the hell do you think your doing?" A voice said in a tone that promised a painful death.
Twilight slumped against the wall, slowly sliding down. She groaned again, lifting her head up and her blurry eyes catching sight of a familiar form before her. But in the darkness of the alley, it was difficult to see his face. Or was that the drinks making her vision cloudy?
"Hey, who the buck are you!? Get lost!" The stallion growled, and pulled a knife from under his coat.
"I'm someone you don't want to piss off." The familiar form said, lifting a hand.
The stallions knife soon went limp, and the metal dripping off like ice cream in the hot sun. The stallion jumped, and looked from the now useless weapon to the figure before him
"Scram. Before I do to you what I did to your knife." The figure threatened.
The stallion ran.
Twilight watched as the stallion ran, before looking up to the figure standing before you.
"Twilight? What the heck happened to you?" The figure asked.
"I-I..." Twilight started, slowly getting up. She stumbled slilghtly and the figure caught her and placed her hoof around his neck.
"Come on. I'll escort you home." The figure said, and helped Twilight out of the alley.
As she stumbled in her walk, the light from the moon made the figure more clear to her eyes and Twilight felt her eyes widen as she saw it was Castus.
The one responsible for all of this.
Without thinking, she shoved him away, and caused herself to stumble and nearly fall to the ground.
"Ow." Castus deadpanned as he got up, dusting himself off, "What gives?"
"Why did you butt in!?" Twilight shouted, pointing her hoof at him. Her vision went a little wobbly, but a shake of her head cleared it up.
Well a little bit. How much did she drink again?
"What? Twilight, he was going to rape you."
"N-No he wasn't. I was in complete acceptance to it. I-I even pulled him into the alley myself." Twilight huffed.
"Twilight, your drunk. Your not in your normal state of mind." Castus said, crossing his arms.
"I-I am not. I am perfectly fine." Twilight hiccupped, placing her hoof over her mouth as she blushed.
"Twilight, just calm down and let me take you home. Before you get into more trouble." Castus said, walking over to Twilight.
"Stay away from me!" She shouted, her horn flaring and pushing Castus away.
Castus blinked, and Twilight glared at him as her vision became blurry.
"Y-you just stay away from me and don't butt in on my business! I was perfectly fine with that stallion and you had to come and mess it up!" Twilight shouted, sniffling as she wiped at her eyes.
"Twilight-" Castus started.
"It's all your fault. All of this. If you had just stayed away I...I would have.." Twilight's legs shook as she felt to her knees, fighting back her sobs.
"I would have felt wanted." Twilight sobbed.
"Wanted? Twilight, why would you say that?" Castus asked, moving a little closer now. Still, keeping some distance incase she lashed out at him with more then just a push.
"Because all my friends are prettier and sexier then me. They all have stallions or mares that love them. That hold them. But I-I just wanted that." Twilight sobbed, placing her hooves over her face.
"Twilight..." Castus started, moving over to the sobbing mare and kneeling down to hug her.
Twilight stiffened, but leaned against him and continued to cry.
"Twilight. You're plenty pretty. Gorgeous even. And you shouldn't compare yourself to others. You will find some somepony who will love you for who you are, not what you compare too. You just have to wait, and not go looking when your drunk." Castus said.
Twilight sniffled, wiping at her eyes. She leaned back and looked at Castus with tear stained eyes.
Castus gave a slight smile, "Now come on. Lets get you home." He stood and held out a hand to her.
Twilight looked at the hand, and then looked down and mumbled, "W-will you...carry me?"
Castus blinked, but nodded, "Okay. Probably be easier then letting you stumble around."
Kneeling down, Castus turned and Twilight slid herself onto his back, wrapping her hooves around his neck. She shivered slightly as she felt Castus' hands grip her legs.
"Hmmm. Your lighter then you look." Castus said as he stood up.
"Are you saying I'm fat?" Twilight demanded.
"N-no. No." Castus stuttered.
Twilight didn't say anything, merely resting her head against Castus shoulder. She stayed quiet as Castus began to walk.
As the two made their way down the road, with the castle just in sight, Twilight found herself smiling as she nuzzled her head against Castus' shoulder; enjoying the moment of just the two of them.
"Castus?" Twilight asked.
"Yeah?"
Twilight bit her lip, "Am....I sexy?"
Castus stumbled a bit in his next step, but fixed himself quickly.
"I-that uh...Why do you ask?" Castus stammered.
Twilight frowned, "Just answer. Please." She begged, her heart craving to know.
Castus frowned, feeling Twilight's body shake with his silence.
It was something of a conflict for Castus. How did one answer a question like this? He couldn't keep quiet, out of fear of how Twilight would react. But what did he say?
Eventually he made a choice, "Well, yes I think so. In your own way Twilight."
"Really?" Twilight asked, tightening her grip.
"Yes. Really." Castus answered.
"Really, really?" Twilight asked again.
"Yes." Castus said, getting a little exasperated now.
Twilight was quiet for a moment, before saying, "Thank you. Even if you don't mean it."
"Twilight, I do mean-mmmph." Castus was muffled as Twilight pulled herself up a bit and with her magic, turned his had to plant a kiss on his lips. It did not last long, before Twilight's head lulled back, her eyes closed.
Castus blinked, and after fixing Twilight so that her head was turned toward the side against his back, he continued carrying her home. With the Wind, he opened the door and carefully carried the sleeping Twilight up to her room. He used the Wind to slip her dress off, covering his eyes as he did so, and hung it up in her wardrobe. Then he placed her into her bed and placed the covers over her.
He looked down at her sleeping form for a moment, leaning over to gentle kiss her forehead.
"Good night Twilight." He said softly, and opened a Waygate into the front yard of his home. The Waygate closing behind him as he entered.
Inside he found Fluttershy sitting before the fireplace, reading a book. A box of tissues sat next to her on a table, as well as some medicine. She looked up and smiled, "Welcome back. Did you enjoy your walk?"
"Yeah. Though it would have been better with you." He said, coming over and kissing her.
"I wish I could have. I'm sorry." She said, turning away to cough a bit.
"Hey don't feel bad. We all get colds." Castus said, as he slid himself next to Fluttershy.
"Your so sweet." Fluttershy smiled, sliding herself ontop of Castus and throwing her blanket over them both as the cuddled close together, "But aren't you afraid you will get sick?"
"We'll all get the same cold eventually. It always happens in families." Castus said, nuzzling her neck.
Fluttershy giggled, "So nothing happened on your walk? Did you run into any pony?"
"Well I saw Rarity. She seemed to have gone to some speed dating thing. I saw Bon Bon and Lyra dragging Caramel into their home. And..."
Castus stopped as he thought on the last part.
"And?" Fluttershy asked.
"W-well...I kinda ran into Twilight as well." Castus said.
"Oh? How was she?" Fluttershy asked.
"Well, she was drunk." Castus said, trying to decide how much he should say.
"Drunk? Why was Twilight drinking?" Fluttershy asked.
Castus looked away, "Don't know. But I walked her home, to make sure she didn't get hurt or anything."
"That was sweet of you," Fluttershy said, "But she didn't say anything about what she was drinking?"
"No. Not at all." Castus said.
Fluttershy frowned, and looked at Castus steadily a moment.
"Well, I hope she is okay." She said.
"Well, she probably won't be happy in the morning. That's for sure." Castus said with a slight chuckle.
Spike sighed as he carried a tray into Twilight's room. On it was a large glass of water and beside it a mixed drink of tomato juice and other things. A recipe he had learned for such an occasion as this.
"Geez Twilight. Didn't you learn the last time you drank so much?" He said, as he walked up to Twilight's bed and set the tray on the night stand.
Twilight groaned under the covers and a hoof slid out to grip the drink. Her head following, mane a mess and eyes slightly bloodshot.
"Thank you Spike. You're so good to me." She moaned in pain as she drank the hangover cure.
Spike sighed with a roll of his eyes, "What made you drink so much anyway?"
With her drink finished, Twilight vanished under the covers again.
"Its complicated." She groaned.
"Is it a guy?" Spike deadpanned.
"N-no." Twillight stammered.
Spike rolled his eyes again, "Maybe you should talk to Cadence. She is the Princess of Love after all."
Silence from under the covers, before Twilight popped out.
"That's it!" She shouted, before wincing and covering her ears and eyes, "Agh! My head." She vanished back under the covers.
Spike sighed and faceclawed. He better write Cadence a letter. Twilight wasn't in any condition to do so and knowing her she would want him to in five. Four. Three. Two.
"Spike...could you write Cadence a letter."
'Right on time.' He thought with a smirk, "Sure thing Twilight."