RariTwi: Love is War

by SigmasonicX

13. The Gala, Part 5 - Rarity and Twilight Under the Starry Sky

Wallflower Blush stepped into the council room with a sigh. She wore a simple light green dress, but it was getting chilly, so time to switch back to her trusty sweater.

As she reached for her backpack containing her clothes, she noticed Rarity sitting on the couch, blinking curiously at her. “Oh, hello there, Wallflower. I didn’t realize you came to the Gala too.”

Wallflower jumped up. “You saw me?”

Rarity narrowed her eyes in confusion. “Darling, I can see your dress. I didn’t see you at the Gala, but I can put two and two together.”

Wallflower shook her head. “No, I mean—well, never mind. So, uh, yeah, I went to the Gala for a bit, though only when it was already emptying out.”

Rarity giggled lightly. “My, that makes you even more shy than Fluttershy. She stayed around from the start.”

“Well, it’s less about being shy, and more the trample risk.” Rarity tilted her head and Wallflower said, “Never mind. So, I suppose while we’re talking, I should ask, did you have a good Gala?”

Rarity hummed. “Much of it was… quite exhausting to say the least. But I can’t help but feel like… the answer is yes. It was… those quiet moments at the end.” She sighed and rested her cheek on her hand, slouching. “You know, in some ways, I have to admire quiet girls like you.”

Wallflower’s mouth twisted. “I wouldn’t say I’m quiet, it’s just that everyone forgets when I speak. But please, continue.”

“It’s just, life is so much easier when you don’t say much, don’t you think? At times, I feel like all my talking and plotting what to say next just puts me in a greater bind. It almost feels like if people just sat down next to each other without saying anything, we’d be able to erase all conflict from the world!”

“That… doesn’t sound right to me.”

“And why not? Why wouldn’t it save the world?” Rarity’s voice grew soft as her fingers touched her lips. “After all, it was thanks to that that we…”

Wallflower blinked. She considered whether she cared enough to press Rarity on this topic, and decided she didn’t. Still, they needed to talk about something. Her eyes turned to the two ice cream cartons in front of the council vice president. “So, how’s the ice cream?”

“Ice cream?” Rarity looked down, then suddenly shot up. “Ice cream! Of course! We need to finish before it all melts!” She clenched her fist. “Pinkie or no Pinkie, I was making more progress today than I had in months! If sitting quietly is the way to resolve this, then I need to do this now!” She smiled at Wallflower. “Thank you so much, dear! It’s thanks to you that I know what to do!”

“You’re welcome?”

Wallflower simply waved slowly as Rarity gathered the ice cream and rushed out the door.

She groaned. “I swear, if that works when me just telling Twilight didn’t…”

---

Rarity rushed down the street, her muscles still aching from all the activity earlier, but she had to push through it. Twilight was going back to find Spike, and she was likely going where they last left him. She hoped the princess didn’t make a detour or change her mind. She had to do this now or she’d never be brave enough again.

A wondrous quality of Canterlot was that despite the city’s lights, the stars were still clearly visible. As such, Twilight Sparkle was lit up by diamonds in the sky. Rarity called out to her, and the princess spun around, her long hair flowing in the wind, air glittering around her.

Rarity came to a stop, panting as they stared at each other. Eventually, Twilight’s eyes lowered and Rarity followed her line of vision, seeing the cartons in her hands. Rarity held them out and simply said, “I-Ice cream! Finish!” Rarity chided herself for talking like a caveman. She took hesitant steps forward while the princess continued staring at her with those deep eyes of hers.

Eventually, Rarity got close enough for Twilight to look inside the cartons. The princess frowned lightly. Rarity decided to look inside herself and realized that despite the chilly night, it had all gone liquid. She couldn’t help but laugh. “Oh, silly me! Well, I have no reason to keep you.”

Rarity turned to leave, only for Twilight to grab her arm. “Rarity, wait.”

After a moment, to let the tingle across her body subside, Rarity turned back to face her. “Yes?”

Twilight looked at her, not giving an answer.

Rarity knelt down to place the cartons on the ground, then stood back up. Twilight opened her mouth to say something, but then Rarity put her finger on the princess’s lips. “Darling, I have a theory, but to prove it, we have to be completely quiet. Not a word out of either of us. Will you test it with me?”

Twilight blinked, then nodded. Rarity lowered her finger and turned to the side, looking up at the night sky. Expressionless, Twilight followed suit, her eyes shining with the stars.

Accompanied by nothing but the buzz of electric lights, they stood together. A cold breeze blew past, making them unthinkingly huddle closer together. Their hands brushed together, and after a moment’s hesitation, they interlocked. Neither woman dared take their eyes away from the sky.

Soon, they were drawn close enough together that they could feel the other’s hair against their own. They turned to look at each other, their faces oh so close together. If they could speak, they would have excused themselves, and come up with reasons why this didn’t mean what it meant. Not just for the other person, but for themselves.

In the silence of the starry night, there was nothing else they could do.

Tentatively at first, they closed their eyes and leaned in. First their noses touched, and with the slightest adjustments, they pressed in closer and finally their lips met.

After the longest second, they separated by nothing more than an inch. Then they kissed again. This was another short kiss, but it said everything that needed to be said.

They pressed their foreheads together and breathed heavily, their hot breath belying that out of everything that happened that day, this was the most exhausting of them all. Too soon, Rarity pulled away, despite every part of her body telling her to stay. But, still, she was Rarity, and she had to leave an impression.

She stood up straight, swished her hair, and smiled. “See you tomorrow, Princess.” She backed away with her hands behind her back, keeping her smile, before finally turning around and barely stifling giggles as she walked away faster and faster.

Twilight, meanwhile, blinked under the street lights.

Finally, she looked down at the cartons Rarity left behind. “I’ll just, uh, throw these away, then.”

---

Princess Cadance sat down with her clearly concerned sister-in-law, placing a cup of tea in front of her. She had removed her jewelry for the Gala, but hadn’t gotten around to changing out of her dress.

Twilight continuously ran her fingers through her hair. “Sorry for bothering you so late. I just, well, needed to know something.”

Cadance smiled. “Don’t worry about it, I’m always here for you. Shining was already brewing tea for us anyway. So, what brought you here so late?”

Twilight lightly tugged her hair. “So, uh, let’s imagine I was just standing outside, looking at the stars with a girl, and then we kissed. Does that mean anything?”

Cadance blinked. “You mean with Rarity?”

“Hypothetically, it’d be…” Twilight’s expression shifted, and she looked at Cadance with serious eyes. “Yes, it was Rarity.”

Cadance furrowed her brows. “It… means you’re dating.”

Twilight blinked. “Oh.”

Without a further word, Twilight got up and left the room.

Cadance continued sitting and eventually started rubbing her forehead.

Spike, meanwhile, enjoyed the afterparty unbothered and would end up staying in bed the following day.

Author's Note:

Going to take an extra day on the epilogue, since I'm not quite satisfied with it.

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[Ri2]

FINALLY GOD