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// CHAPTER THREE: That Next Morning 
// Story: Bookends 
// by Stormbringer 
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	It was early in the morning, when Twilight started to wake up.  She was comfortably warm.  She noticed, not only was Cheerilee holding her close, but her own forelegs were wrapped around the mare in the bed with her as well.  
Twilight opened her eyes, Cheerilee was just laying there, eyes closed, muzzle only inches from her own.  Her lovely face there before her in the early morning light.  Twilight could see no evidence of the change in attractiveness Cheerilee warned her about her ‘morning face’.
Twilight had never really considered the desirability of a comely mare.  Cheerilee was a very attractive pony, Twilight was struggling with feelings she’d never felt before.
Twilight had never considered she might find a mare attractive or desirable.  Not that Twilight thought there was anything wrong with it.  She knew she’d never had any desire to be with colts in an intimate relationship.  But she’d never considered the same about mares.
She had convinced herself it was because of her self-esteem issues and actually not finding any desire in herself to explore intimacy, she never gave any thought to be with any stallion or mare.
But something inside her caused Twilight to ‘test the waters’ that previous  evening with hints of the possibility of some deeper relationship.  Twilight was herself not quite sure of where or how deep it may go.  But she was feeling something for this mare she didn’t feel for any of her other five friends.  And it appeared that Cheerilee was sending the same signals back.
But for now, here was Cheerilee in her forelegs.  She was soft, warm and yes, alluring.  Plus Twilight could register the pheromones given off by this feminine body in bed with her.  It was more than she’d ever expected to feel for any pony, mare or stallion.

Cheerilee felt movement in the bed with her.  She was having the dream again, the one about ‘settling down’ with a very intelligent mare who cared for her and helped her to deal with the stigmas of being with another mare.  The difference this time was the mare had a face, and it was Twilight Sparkle.
It was a level of happiness she’d never felt before.  It gave her strength to tell her father off, as long as she had this mare, she didn’t have to snivel before him.  If they wanted to have a relationship with their daughter, it would be on her terms.  
That felt good.
Cheerilee started to wake up, she knew it was a dream, but she was still happy, warm and in the embrace of a special pony.  Her eyes opened to see Twilight looking at her.  
What a thrill.  
She could feel the smile spread across her own face.  Twilight was everything she wanted in a pony; she was intelligent, modest and had a quirky sense of humor.  Also, Twilight was a cute pony, which was a pleasant plus.  
Cheerilee was hoping she’d not just been reading into the signals Twilight was sending her way.  After all, Twilight was inexperienced at this kind of thing.  Plus it’d be easy for her to read into innocent comments, content she was hoping to hear.
Seeing the face of the pony that she was starting to discover feelings for, Cheerilee knew what she wanted to do.  Perhaps what she wanted to do since yesterday evening.
She had to at least try, the chance may never come again.

Twilight’s thoughts returned to the here and now and noticed Cheerilee had opened her eyes.  Twilight was hoping that Cheerilee was having similar thoughts going through her own head about herself.  She smiled and it felt good.

They looked into each other’s eyes.  Both mares smiled together.  Twilight couldn’t help herself; she and Cheerilee closed the couple inches between them and kissed.  
It was the kind of kiss she’d only read about before.  She was unsure, but it appeared she handled the passionate kiss, tongue and all, as well as any of the erotic literature that she’d ever read.  
The feeling was phenomenal!  The joy, the flush of ecstasy at a visceral level!  
Twilight could tell that there was no resistance from Cheerilee.  In fact Cheerilee was holding Twilight tightly, returning passion for passion.  She’d never felt this level of desire before.

It was like electricity, Cheerilee knew she liked mares, but she’d never put her likes to the test.  She could tell Twilight was inexperienced and unsure of herself.  But so was Cheerilee, it was a moment of discovery shared together.  Untested as her feelings were, she knew the pleasure she was now feeling, and yes, the passion, was because she was kissing a very special pony, not from just kissing a mare.  
She was hoping that Twilight was feeling the same.

How long it went on, neither mare could guess.  It took them somewhere else.  While connected, time disappeared.  It could’ve been seconds, or it could’ve been days.  
Questions that remained, disappeared.  For both, it was a validation of what they were hoping for.

They broke the kiss and just lay there looking into each other’s eyes.  Not saying anything except with their eyes.  It was as pleasant as the kiss.

The bell in the Ponyville Tower struck seven, Cheerilee then realized the time.  The sun was pouring in through the window.  Twilight noticed as well.

“Holy Horseshoes!” exclaimed Cheerilee.  She hopped out of the bed abruptly and went to the window.
“Almost no snow left!  I’m so sorry Twi; I need to get to the school.”
Twilight sat up on the bed; Cheerilee rushed over gave her a quick kiss.
“I can show myself out,” said the mare.  “Thank you for everything.”  
Cheerilee trotted down the stairs as fast as she dared.  Then she heard the front door open and close.
Twilight went to the window and saw Cheerilee galloping in the direction of the school.  She did get a little bit of pleasure when she saw Cheerilee look back over her shoulder at the library.  Twilight gave a feeble wave, but she knew that Cheerilee couldn’t see it.

All-of-the-sudden Twilight felt empty.  She’d been in a state of bliss she’d never expected to experience ever.  Then just like a gust of wind which blows out a candle, or a bucket of water on a campfire, it was gone.  
Twilight started to cry.  She wanted to be with Cheerilee!  But was Cheerilee just using her?  Was she just convenient?  
Was it all a lie?
‘No!’ Twilight thought to herself, she was sure that Cheerilee couldn’t be that kind of pony.

Twilight went downstairs to start the day, after eating a quick breakfast; she went about her chores to get the library open for the day.  
She tried to be busy but she couldn’t get the rose colored Earth Pony out of her head.  She could still feel the kiss.  A kiss she’d never thought she could feel this way over.  
It didn’t matter to Twilight that Cheerilee was a mare, it was Cheerilee she was having these feelings about, not just some mare.  
‘Does this make me a mare-lover?’ thought Twilight.  ‘Who cares, it’s only an artificial label given by narrow minded and uneducated ponies.’  
‘To be with Cheerilee I’d be proud to be considered a mare-lover.’ thought Twilight.  ‘If it meant I could be with Cheerilee right now, I’d take out a first page ad in the Ponyville Express telling all of Equestria Twilight Sparkle, Princess Celestia’s protégé, is a mare-lover.  
And I’d dare anypony to say anything about it!’

The bell rang denoting somepony had opened the door.  Twilight looked to the door hopefully, but it was Spike.
“Good morning Twilight,” said the dragon, “the princesses and your brother sent their greetings.”
“Oh, hi Spike.” Said Twilight, Spike could read that his closest of friends was down.
“Don’t be so happy to see me,” joked Spike.
“Sorry Spike,” said Twilight, “just trying to figure something out.”
“Okay, I know when to let you be,” said Spike with a smile. “I’ll put my bag away and get to work.”
“Thanks Spike,” said Twilight barely looking up, “take your time.”

It was about an hour later, Spike was making sure the books were all straight and neat.  He noticed a book left on one of the sofas in the main part of the library.  He picked it up read the title.  Blushing a little he called out to Twilight;
“Hey Twi, what pony was reading: 
How to Speak to Kids About Pony Sexuality?”
“That was Cheeri.”
“Who’s Cherri?” asked the dragon.
“Sorry, Cheerilee needed it for a lesson in reproduction,” said Twilight.
Then it struck her, Cheerilee had left the book behind.  Twilight decided she needed to take it to her and see what kind of reaction she got.  
Was Cheerilee just in a hurry to get to school?  Or was it just an excuse to leave.  She was sure this would help her to find out.

“She forgot to take it with her,” said Twilight, “I’ll run it to the school.”
“I can do it for you,” said Spike.
“Thanks, but I’d rather do this.  Can you watch the library for me?”
“Sure thing Twi,” said Spike, always happy to be given responsibility.  
Twilight levitated the book to her saddle bag and put it on her back.  She headed to the door but she stopped.  She went to one of the shelves and after looking at the titles, levitated another book to the bag as well.  Then she headed out the door.