!!!!!This collection is now dead, please see the Finer Things: The Rarilight Collab by Donraj for more RariTwi.!!! Prompt based short stories from the authors of the RariTwi group.
A collection of prompt based RariTwi short stories that are less than a thousand words.
!!!This collection is now dead with these last few stories, please see the Finer Things: The Rarilight Collab by Donraj for more RariTwi shorts.!!!
These stories cover a number of different genres, so there is something in this collab for everyone to enjoy.
Authors of all skill sets are encouraged to participate, if you want to participate go here.
The past few weeks have been very kind to Rarity. Her business was booming thanks to the upcoming winter months. She was recently contracted by the mayor of Ponyville to replace the worn and battered vests for this year’s Winter Wrap Up. She had even managed to get over that dreadful cold she had gotten about a week ago. The cherry on top of this, of course was the recent ascension of her friend, the newly crowned Princess Twilight Sparkle.
If rumors were to be believed, Twilight must have found herself a colt, a private in the royal guard named Flash Sentry. But after all the rumors were still rumors, and as Rarity knew all too well rumors about the royals were about as stable as a one legged mule. Had she of known Prince Blueblood was actually gay, instead of the voluptuous playcolt the rumors led her to believe, she would have never approached him, or have thought about him on all those lonely nights.
She was giddy with excitement, Twilight was supposed to be visiting her today, now she could find out if the rumors were true about her friend. Quickly dashing to the kitchen, Rarity set a pot of tea on the stove and gathered a few of the pastries she had in her icebox on a plate. Leaving the kettle to boil, she trotted gingerly to her living room, setting the pastries on the coffee table as she began to clean up the toys her sister Sweetie Belle had left on the floor. After putting away her sister’s toys in their proper place, she heard the kettle whistle in the kitchen.
“Ah yes, just right.” Rarity muttered to herself as she brought the kettle as well as two of her finest teacups with her to the living room. Pouring a cup of tea for Twilight and herself, she heard a knock at the door.
“Twilight, darling I’ve been expecting you.” Rarity stated joyfully as she led her friend into her boutique.
“Thanks for having me.” Twilight said, leaving the two guards stationed by her at the door.
“You are very welcome. I have been looking forward to this for a very long time.” Rarity replied, returning to the lounge in the living room, patting the seat next to her.
“I’m sorry I haven’t been able to see you girls that much.”
“Dear, you are a princess. you have an important job to do”
“I know, but maybe if I reorganized my schedule—”
“Twilight” Rarity interrupted “The citizens of Equestria need you more than we do.”
“But—”
“No Buts! As long as you do not forget about us, we will all be fine.” Rarity smiled, bringing her hoof to Twilight’s shoulder as she began to soothe her.
“Thanks, I needed to hear that.” Twilight sighed as she started to relax to her friend’s ministrations. … …. ….. “So—”
“So?” Twilight questioned as she looked up at her friend.
Rarity quietly sipped her tea “Are the rumors true?” she asked.
“What rumors?”
“A little birdie told me, that you are involved with a certain royal guard.” Rarity smirked.
“What! Um well—” Twilight visibly stiffened as she began to stammer out a reply.
“Ooh, touchy subject?” Rarity asked retracting her hoof from her friend’s shoulder.
“Kind of, I’m not involved with Flash Sentry, not anymore at least.” Twilight slumped down in her seat.
“Oh dear, what happened”
“He said that we couldn’t be together, that it would be a conflict of interests.” Twilight said as tears welled up in her eyes.
“I’m sorry to hear that.” Rarity said pulling Twilight into an embrace, as she started to rub her back.
“It’s just that he was the first guy that I’ve ever liked, you know?”
“I know dear, first loves are always the hardest to break.” Rarity gently patted Twilight as she cried into her chest.
“I’m going to be ALONE!!! Now that I am a princess, ponies are now going to be afraid to approach me.” Twilight wailed into Rarity’s chest.
“Darling, if they are afraid to approach you because of your station, then you deserve better.” Rarity looked into Twilight’s tear soaked eyes before adding “Dear, you are beautiful anypony would be lucky to have you.”
“You’re just saying that.”
“No I am Not! You really could have anypony you wan—” Rarity was interrupted as Twilight planted a soft peck on her lips.
“Twilight? Wha—”
“I’m so sorry Rarity! I know you’re not into mares but I—” Twilight cried as she looked at her friend’s shocked face “I’m just so confused, I’m so sorry!”
“Twilight, I know I’ve never been into mares before.”Rarity said as she looked into Twilight’s eyes. “But, I never said I wouldn't try.” Rarity hooked a hoof around Twilight’s head bringing them into a passionate kiss.
"Get it off me!" The once delicate voice of a beautiful white mare rang out through her parlor. "Get it off, get it off, get it off, get it off!"
"Hold still and I will," Twilight snorted in anger as she watched her friend thrash about. "Calm down, it's only pottery clay."
"It's adobe! Red Clay Twilight! Red Clay! Do you have any idea what Red Clay does to white fur?" Rarity snapped back, fire in her eyes.
"It stains," Twilight sighed with a roll of the eyes. "But hey, you were the one who said we should try more couple activities."
"Well, yes..." Rarity admitted.
"And you did shoot down my idea of joining a book club," Twilight reminded as she began to scrub out the mess in her lover's fur.
"Dear, you run the book club. I wanted us to expand our horizons!" Rarity whined as she flopped down in the warm water.
"Reading expands the horizons," Twilight noted with a small frown. "Besides, your idea of wine tasting tours was really..."
"Selfish?"
"Yeah. I hate to admit it Rarity, but we just have such different tastes when it comes to leisure activities."
"Not true dear," Rarity corrected. "We both loved going to the theater. We both loved the forest jogging. And I can't remember a better time in all my life than when we played in the rain coming home from the opera."
"That was a really fun night," Twilight blushed, remembering the water running down her mane, the look of Rarity's mane besieged by the weight of the water. "That was the night I fell in love with you..."
"Wait, you what darling?" Rarity asked. She had as of yet not been privileged to those three little words.
The door to the main bedroom of Carousal Boutique, and with it entered two Unicorn mares.
More specifically, two Unicorn mares whom have just returned home after a long night at the (for the most part) disastrous Grand Galloping Gala.
And one of them was quite intoxicated at the moment.
“I tol’ you –hic- darling…” Rarity slurred, leaning onto Twilight, whom was struggling to guide the drunken fashionista to her bed; “I… I appreciate whut you’re doin’… but I… I… can get home jus –hic- fine…!”
Twilight however was having none of it. As she finally got Rarity onto her bed, she spoke firmly; “Rarity, considering how much wine you drank after we left Donut Joe’s place, there was no way any of us were going to let you go home alone. You’ll thank me in the morning."
Rarity for her part lazily looked around the room she was in and exclaimed, “Oh mah gosh… Twi-Tw-Twilight… we’re in my –hic- room!”
Twilight let out a groan as she began to undress herself. “Yes Rarity, I know. We’re standing in it.”
About two minutes later, after Twilight had carefully removed her Gala dress and neatly stored it away, she then went over to the bed and started to get Rarity undressed; determined to not let her drunken friend use her dress as a makeshift set of pajamas. A couple more minutes later, both Unicorns were out of their dresses.
Just as Twilight began to tuck Rarity into her bed, the white-coated mare asked; “Why don’t you –hic- sleep ‘ere tonight?”
Twilight was about to decline her offer when she suddenly felt the effects of a long and (for the most part) disappointing night take a hold of her. Her eyes grew heavy and her movements slowed to a crawl.
Admitting defeat, she replied, “Oh to Tartarus with it. I did tell the other girls that I may wind up sleeping here anyway.” After climbing into the bed with Rarity, Twilight tried to fall asleep, until she heard what sounded like soft sobbing coming from her friend. Turning towards her, she saw that her suspicions were true, for Rarity had moisture building in her eyes and was in fact looking quite depressed.
“Rarity,” Twilight asked in a concerned tone, “What’s wrong?”
After a brief pause, Rarity replied, “How coul’ it all go scho… wrong?! H-he was shupposed to be a –hic- kind and gentle prince… and all I got wus a –hic- jerk!”
Not wasting another moment, Twilight pulled Rarity into a gentle hug and let the drunken fellow Unicorn cry.
“It’s going to be okay Rarity…” Twilight whispered into her ear “…Just let it out.”
After a couple of moments, Rarity –both physically and mentally exhausted- finally fell asleep.
Just as Twilight followed suit, she couldn’t help but think to herself. “Maybe the one you’re meant to be with is still out there, wondering when you’ll find him... or her…”
The wheels of The Friendship Express clacked quietly as it traveled down the track. A cold wind outside was howling, as a new blanket of snow was being added to the northern landscape. Colorful carriages being pulled by the locomotive shook ever so slightly, rocking their inhabitants slowly to sleep. The soft snores of the passengers filled each carriage of sleeping ponies.
“I wonder what they’ll say?” a mulberry mare sighed quietly to herself as she gazed at the moon above the frozen landscape.
“Twilight dear, come back to bed.” Rarity yawned softly, rolling over to see Twilight staring out into the night sky with a forlorn expression on her face.
“Sorry to wake you with my worrying.” Twilight apologizes before giving her lover a soft peck on the forehead.
“Darling, you haven’t a thing to worry about.” Another yawn escaped her alabaster muzzle. “Tomorrow will go smoothly, just you wait.”
Twilight settled into the covers, starring into the azure eyes of her marefriend. “It’s just with the changeling fiasco, and Sombra’s attack, I just don’t want to stress them out more than they already are.”
“You act as if coming out with our relationship is a threat to Equestria itself.”
“I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to—”
“Do not apologize to me.” Rarity pulled her sweetheart into a short embrace. “Now hush, I wish to spoon with you.” She added, giving Twilight a kiss, before resting her head into the crook of her beloved’s neck.
~~~~~<>~~~~~
“I’m really not sure about this.”
Rarity shook her head slightly. “We are going to be fine love.” She nuzzled Twilight,s side as they walked to The Crystal Palace.
“Ok.” Twilight said solemnly as they approached a pair of guards posted by the Palace entrance.
“State your business.” A gruff voice came from the smaller of the two guards.
“We’re here to see my brother and my sister in law.” Twilight raised her eyebrow, expecting her brother to tell the guards of her upcoming arrival.
The two guards looked at each other. “We sincerely apologize, they are waiting for you in the dining hall.” The tallest guard apologized, while the two of them opened the Palace doors.
~~~~~<>~~~~~
“Twilie!” A familiar voice called out to her as her brother and former foalsitter walked up to them.
“Shiny!” Twilight exclaimed rushing to meet her B.B.B.F.F. in a loving embrace.
A tired looking Cadence looked at the two siblings with a small smile. “Hello Twilight, Rarity.”
“Good day, your Majesties, I hope everything is well in the kingdom.”
“The kingdom is doing well, thank you for asking Rarity” Princess Cadence responded looking at the alabaster mare. “Let us sit down, the letter Twilight sent seemed to be very urgent.”
“Of course.”
They all sat down at the large Palace dining table, Twilight and Rarity sat next to one another holding hooves, while Shining Armor and Cadence sat across from them.
“So, what did you want to tell us about?” Shining Armor asked his sister as he took a ship of his black coffee.
Twilight turned to look at Rarity and gulped. “Rarity and I are dating.” She looked at her brother and sister in law.
Shining smirked. “Is that all? The way the letter was written we thought something terrible must have happened.”
Rarity was stunned by the lack of shocked gasps and incredulous stares. “Y—You’re not surprised?”
“Not really, I mean I’ve had my suspicions, but she just confirmed them.” Noticing his little sister was now quieter than when she was caught wearing their mother’s makeup when she was a foal, Shining Armor added, “C’mon Twilight, nopony I know can miss as many flirts as you do, even you can’t be that clueless.”
“Wha—” Twilight unable to deal with the turn of events, promptly passed out, hitting the floor with a *thump*
“Oh dear, she did the same thing when we came out to our friends.”
"This is relaxing, isn't it?" Twilight sighed contentedly, as her eyes scanned the pages of the book floating in front of her.
She was lying down on a blanket near the edge of the water, with an umbrella shielding her from the sun.
"It is a very nice day to be out." Rarity agreed from beside her marefriend. She gazed around at the rest of the beach, and found that Twilight and herself were the only ponies on the small expanse of sand.
Turning to face Twilight, she said "So, what are you-" she was interrupted as a giant wave crashed onto the blanket, drenching Rarity and Twilight.
"AH! My mane!" Rarity dramatically squealed. Her mane was straight and dripping with water, so was Twilight's but she didn't mind. After all, the book was bone dry.
Twilight rolled her eyes "C'mon Rarity, you still look amazing." She chuckled "You shouldn't get so worked up about these things."
"Worked up!?" Rarity glared daggers at Twilight "This is a travesty! How could you not be upset about this!?" Rarity frowned as she saw Twilight barely contain a chuckle.
"Oh, you think this is funny, do you?" Rarity tried to keep the angry look on her face "You know what I think would be funny?" Twilight shook her head.
Grinning, Rarity enveloped Twilight with her magic and tossed her into the water. Twilight fell through the surface with a shriek, and surfaced with an unamused expression.
Rarity was giggling on the beach towel, when she found herself being levitated above the waves "Wait please don''t!" Rarity pleaded to the grinning Twilight, before she dropped Rarity into the water.
She emerged spitting water out of her mouth. Rarity and Twilight glared at each other for a few moments, before bursting into laughter.
"You're right." Rarity said splashing Twilight playfully "This was relaxing."
"Told you that the beach would be fun." Twilight nodded before planting a small kiss on Rarity's cheek.
Pinkie Pie’s parties were always...interesting. For Rarity, though, “interesting” did not necessarily mean “good.” Yes, they were lively. Yes, it was fun to dance with her friends and enjoy a little bit of spiked punch, but sometimes unpleasantries would occur. Usually somepony got too drunk (and alarmingly often that somepony was Berry Punch) and either got sick all over the floor or started a fight. Rarity hoped this wouldn’t be that kind of party. What she was looking for was a bit of harmless fun.
She glanced around Sugarcube Corner, seeing if there was somepony she could talk to, perhaps flirt with. She was just buzzed enough to have herself a bit of fun, but not drunk enough to walk away with any old pony. He would have to impress her first.
Twilight was standing in the corner. Normally she’d be talking to her friends and enjoying herself, but she had come to this party with a purpose. She gazed over at Rarity over in the opposite corner and felt unsettled in her stomach. She was sure it wasn’t the punch she was drinking; Pinkie didn’t spike it that much. It was all thanks to the stunning mare across the room, the mare she had been wanting to ask out for weeks but couldn’t find the courage. Twilight downed the rest of her punch, took a deep breath, and pushed her way through the crowd towards Rarity.
A fleeting thought of Spike almost slowed her to a halt. What would he think if Twilight took the love of his life for her own? But it couldn’t be helped. Rarity saw her and was waving her over, and if Twilight didn’t do it now she knew she never would.
She finally broke through the crowd and stood beside Rarity. The room was crowded, so personal space was a bit lacking, and the proximity to Rarity was making Twilight blush. Twilight hoped that Rarity would assume it was the alcohol.
“Did you just get here, Twilight?” Rarity asked, speaking loudly to be heard over the music.
“I...well...I guess I’ve been here for a little while, sure. I was just off in a corner, kind of like you.”
“I see. Well, I would be letting loose on the dance floor, maybe talking up a few stallions, but I just don’t see anypony that catches my interest. Do you?”
You have no idea, Twilight thought. Rarity had applied just the right amount of makeup to accentuate her stunning eyes, her devilishly smooth lips, her creamy complexion. Twilight could feel her heart pounding, but a sudden surge of energy compelled her to take the leap of faith she had been fearing for so long.
“Yes, you,” she said plainly, with absolute sincerity. Rarity looked puzzled, blinking at Twilight a few times.
“‘Me’ what?” she asked, but even in her slightly buzzed state she soon put two and two together. “Oh... Twilight, please. You don’t have to kid me like that.”
“I’m not kidding you,” Twilight said, feeling her breath quicken. “I’ve really liked you for a long time and I didn’t know how to tell you. But then you just had to ask that question and I—”
“Twilight, I’m just a little surprised. You walked up to me and told me out of the blue you have feelings for me, and I guess I’m just a little confused.”
Twilight was now visibly shaking, and Rarity quickly realized how upsetting this was to her. She put a hoof on Twilight’s shoulder, and Twilight winced at the touch, but as Rarity rubbed it she began to calm down. There had been no abject rejection...yet.
“I just think...” Rarity said. “Well, now that you’re bringing it up, I have to think about my own preferences. I’ve always been looking for that perfect stallion, the one who would sweep me off my hooves. But after Blueblood, I lost my naive thoughts of marrying Prince Charming and tried to look for somepony a bit more down-to-earth. Every party I’ve been to, I’ve looked for a stallion who I’d be at least somewhat interested in, only to find disappointment that none of them fit the bill."
“Rarity, you don’t mean...”
“Twilight, I’ll be blunt. I never believed I would be attracted to mares, but your confession struck a chord with me. I find myself giddy at the thought of dating you, and I can’t begin to explain why. I think, perhaps, that I’ve been feeling this way for some time, too, but I’ve been denying it all this time at the thought of finding a stallion.”
“Does that mean you want to go on a date?” Twilight asked tentatively, still in disbelief that this was somehow working out.
“Well, we’re already at a party. Let’s have ourselves a good time and see where it goes from there.”
“Um...okay,” Twilight said, but before she could take a second to think about it Rarity grabbed her hoof and pulled her into the dance floor.
As the two of them began to dance close, all Twilight could think of was that this was going to be a very interesting evening.
That question. It had to be that question. Of course she would follow up her request with that question. Why wouldn't she? That's who she is! It's part of her, right down to her very being. She knows that question prompts a response from me.
"I don't know Twilight..." I finally manage. "I just can't bring myself to say..."
"Why not?" She almost snaps. I wish she had. Her anger would make it easier for her to make the right choice. "Don't you trust me?"
"Implicitly darling." I stutter, almost crying. Oh how I trust you. No, not trust, though that does play it's part. No, the word I should be using is love. I love her, more than the mountains love the skies. But just like the mountains, my love will forever be out of my reach. And I can't even blame the poor boy's love for me. That would not be fair to him. No, he is only guilty of a childhood crush, and should not suffer my sins for his heart.
No, what keeps us apart, is us. I'm a nervous wreck, one missed stitch away from a crying fit. And her? She's just a tightly bound ball of nerves, too edger to please those she loves most. Her best qualities outshine mine any day of the week too boot. She's a star pupil, a dedicated caretaker, and just effortlessly the greatest friend and confidant I could ever hope for. I have nothing to offer her. A relationship between us could only ever end in disaster.
"Rarity, listen, I know you like somepony. I like somepony too," Twilight rallied, and thus succeed in breaking me out of my self induced bout of hate. "So how about if you tell me yours, I'll tell you mine. Deal?"
"I- I can't... I don't want you to think less of me..." I mutter.
"Rarity, I could never think less of you. You're an amazing pony. You make the most beautiful things. You're always so kind, so proper. Yet you're not stuck up. If I could manage to somehow think less of you, the universe would have ended."
"Do you- do you promise?" I squeak. Yes, squeak. I've sunk that low in my fear of her discovering my feelings. But she smiles for me.
"I promise."
"I- I would like a relationship with you, Twilight..." I manage. I can't meet her eyes. She's quite. She must hate me. Morbid curiosity strikes a hold of me, and I look. She's- She's smiling?!
"I know," Twilight says with her gorgeous smile. "I've known for a while now. About a month ago I was walking past the boutique, when I heard you singing. I stopped to listen for a minute, till I realized you were singing a love song, about me. At first I was shocked, but only because I never thought you liked mares. But I also secretly hoped one day, you'd work up the courage to tell me."
"Twilight, are you saying...?" I stutter, looking at those hopeful eyes, tears brimming on them as she readied herself.
The chilly autumn wind blew softly as it shook red and orange leaves off the trees, creating piles upon piles of leaves for the foals to play in. The townsponies were out and about, enjoying the pleasant scenery around them. Nightmare Night decorations lined the houses on Manestreet in preparation for the annual Nightmare Night Party. Only one house was not covered in decorations for the upcoming event. The Carousel Boutique, home to Ponyville’s biggest diva, was bare, neither a ghost nor a foam tombstone could be found anywhere.
Rarity stepped out of the bare boutique, shivering slightly as a she was hit by the icy October wind. She stepped out into the cold, donning her Istalion made saddlebags, as she trotted carefully to her destination. Traveling across town to get to the library ran by her friend, she skillfully avoided the lingering puddles brought about by last night’s storm. She approached the library and let herself in, the bell above the door letting the library’s occupants know of her arrival. She walked into the foyer and stared around the room, noticing a lack of a certain purple unicorn and dragon.
“They must still be asleep.” Rarity murmured to herself, knowing very well how late the duo would sleep in after an all night study binge. She contemplated waking them up but decided against it, she would simply leave a note informing them of her returned book, and a warning about leaving their door unlocked while their sleeping . She placed her book down on the counter as she began to look for some parchment and a quill. Rarity perked her ears as she heard a soft rustling sound from behind her, she turned to see a pony with a shaggy grey mane and tattered clothing made out of burlap on her friend’s couch. Seeing the pony was asleep, she quietly tipped hoofed past them and walked into the kitchen.
‘This is exactly why I was going to warn them’. Rarity thought to herself as she got her weapon of choice, a rather fierce looking broom. She quietly sneaked back to the couch, the broom levitating beside her as she eyed the intruder. Lining up her swing, Rarity took aim at her sleeping opponent. The broom came down with a solid *THWACK* on the pony’s midsection, immediately waking the pony as it tried to defended itself.
“GET OUT!!! THIS IS NOT THE PLACE FOR YOU!!!” Rarity screeched at the top of her lungs as she got in a few good whacks in.
“Rarity? OW!Rarity STOP!” The bum on the coach hollered in a familiar voice.
“Twilight?” realizing that she was attacking her friend instead of a bum; she dropped the broom and smiled sheepishly at her friend.
“Honestly Rarity, what the hay was that for!” Twilight said as she rubbed her stinging side, that was no doubt bruised now.
Sitting down on her haunches, and rubbing one foreleg with the other. “I’m sorry darling. I thought you were a bum.”
“Why would there be a bum in my home?” Twilight looked incredulously at her friend/attacker.
“I came to return my book, and saw you dressed like a bum, and took the necessary precautions.”
“I’m not a bum! I’m the third Episcopal, a former member of the knights templar.” Twilight stated the obvious fact.
“Dear, if you dress like that to the party, everypony will assume you’re homeless.”
“Oh Yeah? Then what are you going as, a fashion model?” Twilight retorted angrily with her brows furrowed.
“I’m not going to the party dear.” Rarity flipped her mane with a hoof.
“You’re not?”
“No, Fluttershy and I are going to the Salt Lick on Clydesdale Street tonight.”
“You’re taking Fluttershy to a bar!” The purple mare’s hooves shot into air as she looked at her friend skeptically.
“Yes, you know she doesn’t do well with large crowds.” Rarity said as she got up on her hooves to leave.
“I know that, but how did you manage to get Fluttershy to agree to go with you to a bar?” The lilac mare shook her head.
“I know, I’ve been trying to get her to join me for years.However, last Nightmare Night’s surprise visit from Princess Luna finally convinced her.” Rarity replied with an airy laugh, as she headed to the door.
Twilight was contemplating what she had just been told. Rarity was taking arguably, the most shy, soft-spoken mare to a place with enough booze to give the Royal Sisters a hangover. She wished she could be a fly on the wall to see that, however she had a party to attend; a party that she would have to correct ponies constantly all night on her costume, just like last year. She would probably wake up with a headache, just like last year. It also didn’t help that her costume was incredibly itchy. Perhaps she should go with Rarity and Fluttershy to the bar, at least there she could enjoy getting a headache. Quickly throwing the costume on the couch, she ran after her friend.
“Rarity wait! I wanna go too!” Twilight called out to her friend in the middle of the street. ‘Spike will probably be fine by himself for a few hours.’ She thought to herself as she closed the distance between her and her friend.
With a ring of the bell, a flip of her mane, and a certain tweak to her skirt, Rarity made herself ready for this night. A cosplay party at Fancypant's estate, and just in time for Nightmare Night. The perfect cover to trot around in her skimpy attire, though that was just the character she was portraying. Rarity had dressed expertly as Fancypant's favorite anime character, just to win him over. Just the sort of chance she needed in her otherwise loveless life right-
"Rarity!" Fluttershy squealed with glee, throwing open the doors to a very startled Rarity. What is she doing here? "Oh my gosh! I love your Rosario + Vampire costume!"
"Oh, hello Rarity!" Fancypant's greeted, though his smile soon faded. "Are you supposed to be a school girl of some kind? So much for my tip that he liked this manga... Rarity mentally growled. "Yes my dear. I though it was cute."
"Well, it's certainly you, Miss Rarity." Fancypants chuckled as he was lead away by Fleur De Lis, dressed up as Maid Marion to Fancypants' Robin Hoof. And that explains my source...
"Come on in!" Fluttershy greeted, pulling Rarity into the house full of adult ponies doing absolutely nothing that interested Rarity anymore.
A few minutes later saw Rarity in the corner, huffing about how she misread the invitation, and worse yet, believed her luck had changed. All I wanted was to flirt up Fancypants, have a fun night, and possibly wake up next to my special somepony! Rarity mentally screamed, though really even she knew that her plan was low.
But she was desperate. She was so sick of being alone. Of knowing that she had a special somepony in her future that refused to be hers now, when she needed them most.
"Rarity?" The concerned voice of a friend cut in, breaking Rarity's trance.
"Hmm?" Rarity asked as she let her gaze fall upon her friend Twilight, who looked none to happy.
"No pony understand your costume either?" Twilight huffed as she sat down next to Rarity with a snort of rage almost.
"Seriously? Does no pony recognize my Mareium Curie costume? She discovered a new periodic element for buck's sake!"
"I think you look great," Rarity absently shrugged. "But no, the pony I wore this stupid outfit for didn't even understand what it was!" And after Pinkie told me the love of my life would fall for it head over hooves! So much for Pinkie Sense...
"Hey, don't call Moka stupid," Twilight chuckled.
"Wait, you like Rosario + Vampire?" Rarity chuckled. "I never took you for a manga fan darling."
"Well, I only know that series because of Fluttershy..." Twilight blushed. "But yeah, I came to really love the manga. The love story, Moka's hidden dark side. It's all just so..." Twilight blushed again, looking away.
"Twilight?" Rarity asked as she reached a hoof of support over to her friend.
"Your costume's not stupid is all I'm saying." Twilight muttered.
"Do you like Moka?" Rarity chuckled.
"I like how you pull off Moka..." Twilight said, biting her lip afterwards.
"You do like Moka!" Rarity laughed.
"Stop!" Twilight pleaded with a laugh. "I'm weak against awesome no none sense vampires!"
"Come here darling!" Rarity toyed. "Let me just get a light snack. A Twilight snack." Rarity laughed as she pulled Twilight over.
"Ah! No!" Twilight protested jokingly, hiding behind her hooves as her blush grew. "I'm saving myself for that special vampire..."
Rarity smiled. Pinkie Sense still had a flawless track record after all. "Maybe I'm that special vampire darling?"
"I... I would be okay with that..." Twilight nodded as she let her hooves down to kiss Rarity. A light kiss that was not shy about biting the lip apparently. A perfect kiss, as far as these two were concerned.
Twilight giggled softly across from Rarity on the couch. Rarity raised an eyebrow, as nopony had said anything. Twilight took another sip of the wine she was drinking, before bringing up a thoughtful and important topic.
"I...I hate it that books are flamea-flumab. " Twilight closed her eyes trying to find the word. "Flammable, yeah that's the one." Twilight hiccuped.
Rarity was trying to hold in chuckles. The night had started well enough, a few kisses, talking, more kisses. Then Rarity brought out the wine. It was a downward spiral from there.
At first it was fine, she'd occasionally mispronunce some words, or stumble around. But five drinks later she was comparing turtles to newspaper.
"I think you've had a bit too much to drink." Rarity grinned as Twilight tried to pick up her glass.
"Not a chance, Twilight." Rarity shook her head "I think you've had enough." She said as she levitated the glass away from her marefriend.
"But I'm fine! Your the one who's had enou-enough!" Twilight argued throwing her hooves in the air before falling onto Rarity's lap with her eye's closed.
"Ow." Twilight muttered nestling her head against Rarity "This is probably the softest pillow ever."
Rarity just smiled broadly, making sure that she wasn't missing any of the priceless antics in front of her
"I rem-rememebr when you and I went to that fancy restaurant." Twilight yawned "Fun times."
Rarity absentmindedly ran her hoof through Twilight's mane "Yes, of course I remember. It happened only a few hours ago!"
"Oh...right."Twilight mumbled sleepily, as Rarity laughed.
Twilight blearily opened her eyes and gasped loudly "Rarity! Your stom-stomach is a pillow!?" Twilight opened her mouth to say something else, but instead she collapsed.
Rarity frowned "Are you okay?" She asked worridly. Then Rarity heard the sound of snoring.
Shaking her head Rarity picked up Twilight and carried her into her bedroom. Making sure she had a blanket over her, Rarity kissed her on the forehead.
"Goodnight, Twilight." She whispered before climbing into bed next to her.
“Twilight?” Spike asked, “Don’t you think you’re overreacting a little?”
His question was ignored however as the lavender-coated mare looked between two dresses, one being the dress she wore at the Grand Galloping Gala and the other a simple light blue gown.
“SPIKE!” Twilight yelled, “Which dress should I wear?! Is my Gala dress too flashy for tonight or- wait, WHAT AM I SAYING?! Our six month anniversary is tonight! Maybe I should wear this one… except for the fact that I already wore this one at that opera we went to! SPIKE, HELP ME!”
Spike could not suppress the groan as he gave himself a face-palm. To him, this was all too similar to when Twilight was called to Canterlot for Princess Celestia’s test; shortly before they went to the Crystal Empire for the first time. Just like before, Twilight was in a frantic hurry to prepare for her upcoming event, ignored almost all reason, and was not thinking clearly. The only saving grace was that this was still nowhere near as bad as the “Smarty-Pants Incident” (Something Twilight still to this date preferred not to talk about).
Realizing that Twilight’s brief insanity was only going to get worse, he gave her an answer.
“The one on the right I guess.” He said in a neutral tone.
After nodding frantically, Twilight took a couple of minutes to slip on her dress. She then used her magic to grab a notepad from a nearby table and checked off “FIND SUITABLE DRESS” off the list that was written on it. Above that particular part of the list were other parts that have been checked off.
ARRANGE RESERVATIONS AT RESTAURANT TAKE SHOWER COMB MANE AND TAIL Below it were: AWAIT ARRIVAL OF RARITY ENJOY EVENING
“Hmm…” Twilight thought to herself “…I can’t help but feel as though I forgot something…”
There was no time to investigate however, as she and Spike both heard knocking coming from the front door. Before Twilight went downstairs to greet her, she performed her calming breath technique Cadance taught her. Now prepared to meet her date, she approached the door and opened it.
On the other side was Rarity, wearing a lovely silk red dress and smiling warmly at her.
“Hello my dear Twilight,” Rarity greeted, “Are you ready to leave?”
Just as Twilight was about to say “yes”, it was then that she noticed what she was forgetting; when she saw what was on Rarity’s face.
“MAKEUP!” Twilight yelled, startling both the seamstress and the young dragon, “I knew I was forgetting something! Oh Rarity, I’m so sorry! I was in a bit of a rush to get ready for tonight and it just slipped my mind and-”
Twilight’s rambling was cut off when she felt a pair of warm lips meet hers. After realizing that Rarity was kissing her, Twilight calmed down enough to return the kiss. When Rarity pulled away, she again smiled warmly towards Twilight and spoke to her.
“Twilight, you look absolutely perfect. I honestly don’t care if you have makeup on right now. Because it was when you didn’t have makeup on that I realized that I love you. And I always will.”
After a brief silence, Twilight returned the smile, said to Spike; “Spike, you have a good night; and don’t stay up too late;” and trotted out the door with her marefriend.
It was a beautiful summer’s day at the Canterlot Fair, and Twilight and Rarity were hollering at the top of their lungs. The wind rushed past their faces, causing their eyes to water, as the mechanical ride they were on twisted and turned. The sound of the wheels grinding against the track failed to mask their screams. They were the loudest ponies on the ride, although a few other ones were yelling as well. Rarity’s voice was piercing with its high pitch, and what Twilight lacked in frequency she made up for in volume.
Soon the track was coming towards a loop that would leave them completely upside down. They could feel their stomachs churning as the cart careened towards the loop. Their screams got even louder as they flipped upside down, the safety restraints being the only thing keeping them from plummeting to the ground.
Once they got out of the loop, they calmed down a little...until the ride plummeted down a nearly vertical track. Rarity felt as though she were going to faint, and Twilight was having a hard time catching her breath. After that drop, however, the ride slowly ascended and ended. Twilight and Rarity finally stopped screaming and stumbled off the ride once the restraints were lifted.
“I feel quite ill,” Rarity groaned, her face even paler than normal. Her voice had given out from all the screaming.
“I know what you mean,” Twilight said. She suddenly belched, and she feared what might come after that, as her stomach felt like it was ready to jump out of her mouth. “Excuse me.”
“You’re excused, darling,” Rarity said. She convulsed, and it was only by means of self-control that she didn’t start retching.
“Oh, I’m going to kill Rainbow Dash.”
“What’s that now?” Dash asked as she approached with Applejack close to her. She saw the looks on both of their faces and started laughing. “Wow, was that ride too much for you?”
“Don’t even try to antagonize us,” Rarity said menacingly, “or I might upturn the contents of my stomach in your direction.”
“Oh, okay,” Dash said, turning to Applejack and smirking. The two of them started laughing, and Twilight and Rarity glared at them.
“Ah mean, ah’m sorry we’re laughin’ at ya,” Applejack said, “but Dash and ah rode it just fine and we thought you’d enjoy it.”
“To be fair,” Twilight said after belching again, “you and Dash are used to taking high-speed flights, so you were more prepared for that kind of experience.”
“Oh, ah guess you have a point.”
“Hey girls!” chirped Pinkie Pie as she bounded towards them, Fluttershy lagging behind her. Pinkie looked at the roller coaster and her jaw dropped. “Ooh, ooh, ooh! Fluttershy, do you want to go on the ride? It looks like fun!”
“Oh, well, I don’t know...” Fluttershy said as she caught up. “It looks awfully scary.”
“Aw, you’re no fun,” Pinkie said. “Hey, have you girls been on the ride? Can you tell us what it was like?”
Applejack and Dash responded with “awesome,” while Twilight and Rarity simultaneously replied with “terrible.”
“Oh,” Pinkie said, her smile fading slightly. “Well, I’m still gonna go on. Fluttershy, you can join me if you want.”
“I think I’d prefer not to, if that’s okay with you,” Fluttershy said.
“Okay. Your loss!” Pinkie chirped as she took off towards the ride.
Rarity suddenly started gagging and quickly looked for the nearest trash can. When she found one a few feet away, she sped towards it and lowered her head in before vomiting. Dash and Applejack stopped chuckling when they realized how bad off their friend was. Concerned for Rarity, Twilight rushed to her side.
“Are you okay?” she asked.
“Ugh, no,” Rarity said in between her retching. “I never want to ride a roller coaster ever again.” Rarity stayed stooped over the trash can until she was sure she had completely emptied the contents of her stomach.
“Here, let me clean that up for you,” Twilight said. She used a bit of magic and cleared the spewed matter from Rarity’s muzzle.
“Thank you,” Rarity said, gasping for breath. Twilight was thankfully starting to feel better, so she wouldn’t be sharing in Rarity’s discomfort. Dash, Applejack, and Fluttershy came over to see if Rarity was all right.
“Wow,” Dash said, “I didn’t realize it would be that bad. Sorry, Rares.”
“It’s all right,” Rarity said. “It was my fault for eating that fried dough beforehand.”
“Wait,” Applejack said, “you ate before ya went on the ride?”
“Rarity did,” Twilight said. “I warned her not to, but you know how she is at these fairs. She has to try all the food.”
“I didn’t expect to be tasting it a second time, however,” Rarity said, and Dash suddenly started laughing again. Rarity glared at her and she stopped.
“Well,” Fluttershy said, “they say riding a roller coaster is a good bonding experience. Do you two think you’ve bonded a little more?”
Applejack and Dash turned to Fluttershy in alarm, and Fluttershy cowered at their look. Twilight and Rarity didn’t know what the big deal was, but their friends had seen them together a lot lately and had suspected that they had a thing for each other. Nopony had wanted to bring it up, though, and Fluttershy’s question skirted the line a little too closely for Dash and Applejack. Twilight and Rarity, however, took the question in stride.
“Well,” Twilight said, “we were already close friends, so this is just one more experience to share. What do you think, Rarity?”
“Personally, I’d like to forget the whole thing happened, but it’ll be a funny story someday. Why do you ask, Fluttershy?”
“Oh, um...no reason,” Fluttershy said, pawing the ground and hiding behind her long mane.
“Well, now that that’s over,” Twilight said, “what should we do next?”
“Well, Rarity,” Dash said with a smirk on her face, “are you hungry?”
A rhythmic clicking filled the air, as the mare with a royal purple mane fed the machine more fabric. This was the third time today that she had to start over completely. The rest of her ‘creations’ lacked the special charm that all of her designs shared, or had stitching mistakes that made the piece unusable. Her whole week had been an utter disaster. She knew the reason why her creative juices were flowing, but wouldn’t admit it to herself.
The creative slump started a week ago, when a dear friend confessed his feelings for her. Spike, her little ‘Spikey Wikey’ had finally said what she’s been dreading to hear. Rarity loves spike, but not in the way, that he loves her. It had absolutely pained her to turn him down, but it had to be done. She’d known about spike’s feelings for a while now, you’d have to be positively oblivious to miss the not-so-subtle ‘hints’ that he’s left.
At first, she found his crush cute, but over time, she realized just how deep his feelings were for her. That is why she had to do it, breaking his heart left her hollow on the inside, but it had to be done. If only she could ha—
*Knock* *Knock* *knock*
Rarity’s thoughts had been interrupted as a knocking came from her door, she left her workroom, wiping away few stray tears as she answered the door.
“Hello Rarity!” Twilight greeted when the door was opened, as her friend visibly paled even whiter than she already was.
‘Oh no! no! no!’ Rarity thought to herself, the one pony that she did not need to see right now, was on her doorstep.
“Um, you ok?”
Rarity mentally prepared herself; Twilight was no doubt here to give her quite the tongue-lashing for breaking her assistant’s heart. “I-I’m F-Fine dear.”
“Are you sure? You’ve been shyer than Fluttershy herself this week.”
“Just Fine,” Rarity stated a little more forcefully.
Twilight mulled over what her friend had just told her, taking into account the white mare’s body language, it only raised her suspicions.
“Are you really sure?” Twilight cooked her head and raised an eyebrow at the fidgeting mare.
Rarity removed her gaze from Twilight’s eyes as she began to hyperventilate when her fidgeting worsened. “I-I-I” she tried to speak but the words died in her mouth, she swallowed hard trying to force the words out.
“I’M SO SORRY,” The seamstress wailed as she struggled to hold back tears. “I d-didn’t mean t-to break his heart!”
Her suspicions conformed the lavender mare wrapped her friend in an embrace. “Shh , Rarity, it’s ok Rarity, I’m not at all mad with you.” Twilight whispered.
“You’re n-not?” Rarity asked from within the confines of her friend’s chest.
“No, I’m not,” Twilight kissed Rarity’s forehead softly. “How could I be mad with one of my best friends.”
Nothing else matters now. This is all out war. Look at her up there, not a care in the world! Who does she think she is?! After what she just did to me!?
"You're going down Rarity!" I scream forward at her as I slam my hoof down. The motor roars to life, and I feel the cart kick back as I pick up speed. I have to catch up now. I have too!
~~~~~<>~~~~~
No chance to get around her. She's smart. Drives like a natural. And I may just be in shock, but I do believe she is drifting the corners! Oh that show off!
Wait? Is that... It is! An opening! She's too wide on this corner. I slam down on the accelerator, feeling the purr turn into a feral roar that sings with my soul. I'm close to her now, no room for err. A bump!
No, a nudge! Twilight is trying to keep me behind her! The nerve. But it back fires! I was so close to the wall, I had nowhere to go, but Twilight lost control for a second. I take my chance, and push on past. I hear Twilight bellowing at me, but she can scream all she wants. I am now in the lead.
~~~~~<>~~~~~
Rarity's arrogant. She'll make a mistake soon. I just have to focus, and keep my head in the game. I can now respect why Rainbow loves to fly so fast. Speed is... it's amazing. Like no drug could ever hope to be. I know I'm not going that fast, but this little cart just feels so alive, how could I not fall in love with this?
Rarity's in the next turn now, and I see my chance. I get in close to her, coming up on the outside. She sees me, and moves to block, opening herself up for a pass on the inside! I take the pocket and push up to nose and nose with Rarity! I look over, expecting to see her scowling at me. But no... She's laughing. Her mane is being tossed around so effortlessly. There looks to be so much life in those eyes of Azure blue... She's so eloquent at everything she does. She pushes past me to the finish now. I hardly notice.
~~~~~<>~~~~~
"Oh my gosh!" I laugh as I pull into the corral. "That was amazing! We have to go again!"
I jump out of my cart, and see Twilight pulling up. The lavender mare looks determined now. Sore loser much? She wastes no time in getting out of her cart and striding up to me. I can't help but laugh. I mean really, what does she expect?
"Did you have fun?" I ask her with a giggle. She wastes no time as I see her lips flick upwards into a smile. I begin to chuckle as I wave my hoof at her, but something catches my hoof, pulling me into Twilight. Without a word or anything, she pulls me close to her, and takes my chin with her mana.
The next thing I feel, is bliss.
~~~~~<>~~~~~
My heart rate is going a million miles an hour. My nerves are like steel though. The speed is perfect. My timing, flawless. I take Rarity's lips to the inside, and I clench the pocket. The race now is over for the carts, but for me and the white mare that beat me and my flawless record, the new race is just beginning. Now it's a race to the finish, with neither participant keen to ever collect that checkered flag. Tongues dance around each other, purrs turn into primal roars in my mind as the adrenaline mixes with my endorphin. But sadly, this race too must come to a close, but only because any longer and we'll both pass out from the lack of air...
~~~~~<>~~~~~
"Loads." Twilight pants as she breaks her lips away from mine. "Did you?"
"Uh huh." I manage. "But I do believe the race track personnel are now quite upset with us..." I state as I take a glance to the two officials for the ride glaring at us.
"I'm seeing a lot of angry parents actually..." Twilight muttered looking to our other side. So with a bashful look, we start to exit.
"Tea cup ride?" Twilight suggests.
"I was wondering how many attractions we could banned from today." I laughed.
"Why not go for them all?" Twilight asks coyly as she slips in next to me, taking me on the inside once again today. But was only fair, I started it after all.
Rarity was never one to boast or brag, but she had her share of talents, like everypony else.
She could create something bland into something beautiful, turn rags to riches, craft a stunning dress with little to no time, find the good in almost anypony ... and she wasn't that bad of an actress either.
With a swift batting of her pretty blue eyes and a simple smile, stallions would service themselves to her.
As much as she hated to admit it, she tended to let her diva side shine one too many times.
Even if her nerves were shot, she could effortlessly present her designs to the Canterlot Elite.
...but one thing she actually found as a struggle to cover up was her pain. Not minor pain, as if a slight confliction or a light accidental hit, but rather the mental sort of pain. The kind that frustrated her to no end and caused her heart and very soul to ache unconditionally. It burned, like a scorching flame, and she had no way to stop it.
And yet, she amazed herself each and everytime she somehow managed a brave face when confronted with that pain.
It was caused whenever she would catch even the slightest glimpse of one of her true friends.
Jealousy - what an ironic emotion for the Element of Generosity to have.
But somehow, that devil feeling had weaved it's way into Rarity's senses, and everytime she saw that certain scene, her eyes flashed green, and her heart shook - on the verge of breaking.
"Rarity? Is something wrong?" Twilight murmured, as she stole a glance to one of her best friends. "You seem a bit... distraught. Is everything alright?"
Rarity cleared her throat, and nodded. "Of course," she said swiftly. "I'm perfectly fine."
"Are you sure?" the Princess of Magic questioned. "Because if there's something going on - you know I'm here for you."
The dressmaker hesitated, only before raising an eyebrow. "Why the sudden concern?" she asked cautiously.
Twilight, of course, gave the expected answer anypony else would. "We're friends, aren't we?" she replied, with a sweet, caring, sparkling smile. "If there's anything you need to talk about, ever, I'm sure that-"
"May I have this dance?" a voice interrupted.
The voice caused both mares to look up, and upon realizing who it was, Twilight giggled like a schoolfilly whilst Rarity's expression fell.
"I'm... sorry for interrupting," Flash muttered, with a slightly bashful smile. "I just-"
"It's fine," Twilight responded, as she returned the grin. She turned to Rarity and bit her lip. "Are you sure you're ok?"
Rarity simply nodded.
And all she could do was watch as her best friend - her wonderful, beautiful, adorable, sweet, kind, compassionate, and indescribable best friend - walked off... with her lover.
Fortunately, Twilight would apparently always be by blinded with love to not notice.
Unfortunately, Twilight couldn't see Rarity's horrible acting.
EQUESTRIAN SCOOP Princess Sparkle and Wonderbolt Soarin: New Couple? Our photographer at the annual Silver Hoof Charity Ball in Manehatten snagged a photo of what appears to be the recently crowned Princess, Twilight Sparkle, and Lieutenant Commander Soarin of the Wonderbolts, both toasting each other with glasses of champagne. Could these two have found the loves of their lives?SEE "LOVE" ON PAGE A3 FOR MORE
That was on the headline for the weekly Equestrian Scoop; and Twilight Sparkle was... not taking it very well... to say the least.
"OUT OF MY WAY!!!!" She shouted as she galloped past several unsuspecting bystanders on the dirt streets of Ponyville.
Omigosh omigosh omigosh! I can't believe this is happening! This is all a huge misunderstanding! I hope Rarity listens to me! I HATE tabloids! Any two ponies can toast each other and it won't mean anything romantic. Besisdes, he told me he was interested in Applejack!
It all started earlier that morning, during which Twilight and Spike were spending the week in Canterlot. Twilight was continuing her lessons on proper etiquette as a new ruler of Equestria with her beloved mentor Princess Celestia, while Spike was busy catching up with an old friend of his, a popular electric musician by the name of Vinyl Scratch. It was when the teacher and the student were taking a tea break that Twilight noticed a newspaper sitting on the corner of another table. Celestia told her to just ignore it, due to the fact that that particular newspaper had a reputation of stretching the truth.
Twilight insisted that she looked however, as she occasionally liked to spot the odd story here and there.
That's when she saw the headline.
Before the Ruler of the Daytime Court could say or do anything, Twilight flew off towards the direction of Ponyville with a speed that would make Rainbow Dash blush.
Finally approaching the home of her marefriend, Twilight stopped in front of the door and pounded on it several times frantically.
"Please be home... Please be home... Please be home!" Twilight said to herself.
She was beyond nervous at this point. No amount of Cadance's Calming Breath Techniques or Pinkie Pie's Smile Songs would ever be enough to soothe the anxiety of the Princess of Magic.
The door finally opened, and in it now stood Rarity: Bearer of Generosity, critically acclaimed seamstress, national hero, and marefriend of Princess Sparkle.
"Twilight! I had no idea you were coming back so so-" Rarity said before being cut off.
"RARITY! I CAN EXPLAIN EVERYTHING!" Twilight shouted.
Rarity for her part blinked before asking, "...About what?"
Twilight held in front of her the copy of Equestrian Scoop she took with her from Canterlot.
"THIS!" She yelled, "This isn't what it looks like at all! Soarin and I are not dating each other at all! It was a friendly gesture! I swear it is!"
A short pause and neither pony uttered a word.
"Now you probably hate me! I should have realized that there would be paparazzi at that event..."
"Twilight..."
"...I mean those jerks are all over those kinds of things! Maybe I should just cast an invisibility spell before I go to those sort of things..."
"Twilight..."
"...but that would mean that whomever I'm supposed to meet won't see me at all! Gah! This is so frustrating!"
"Twilight!"
"Why? WHY MUST LIFE BE SO HARD?! WHY WERE PAPARAZZI JERKS EVER BROUGHT TO THIS WORLD?!"
"TWILIGHT SPARKLE!"
Twilight finally stopped her previously uninterrupted rant and looked over at the fashionista whom herself had willed herself to calm down after her outburst. Said fashionista then used her magic to bring over another newspaper. Not only that, but it was the very same Equestrian Scoop Twilight herself was in possession of.
"Darling," Rarity spoke, "I am very much aware of what appeared in this week's issue; and I am also very much aware of just how wrong they are."
Twilight continued to stare at her, allowing Rarity to continue.
"Twilight, we faced Nightmare Moon, Discord, the Changelings and their despicable Queen, King Sombra, and quite a few other events in between all of those. I have known you for three years; and it took two and a half of those years to finally realize that you are the one I've been searching for my whole life."
She then leaned in and gave Twilight an affectionate kiss on her cheek before asking;
"Now who do you think I'd rather believe? The tabloid that has a long reputation of making up stories just to sell more copies? Or the pony I love with all my heart?"
After digesting what Rarity had told her, Twilight opened her mouth to issue an apology for not realizing this sooner; as well as say that she loved Rarity and always did everything she could to come home from her royal duties as much as possible just to spend time with her (as well as their friends).
But the adrenaline from her rush from Canterlot to Ponyville caught up to her, and she collapsed on the floor in front of Rarity.
Sharp breaths punctuated the air. Why wouldn't they? Everything was on the line here. The reality of everything was on the line. Rainbow Dash's modification of two classic games had turned from fun to terrorizing in a heartbeat.
"So Shy, what have ya got?" The multi colored mare smirked.
"Full house." Fluttershy smirked back, wiping the smile off her friends face. "I win."
"... Just say what you want." Rainbow growled as her other friends laughed. So far, Fluttershy was the big winner of truth or dare poker. Dash, the big loser.
"You have to say 'Fluttershy, you rock. Woohoo.'"
"Shy, you rock. Woohoo..." Rainbow growled, but soon followed through with a laugh.
The next hoof was dealt, and for one white mare, the deal was horrid. She found herself begging and pleading that Applejack was the top pick. Applejack would leave it at something messy. Undesired, but welcome over what could happen. But despite Rarity's desperate pleas to the heavens, the Apple pony was not the top winner. But twas rather the librarian, Twilight.
"Yay, I won!" She giggled. " And it looks like Rarity lost. So Rarity, truth or Dare?"
Rarity thought for a second of saying truth, but knew better. She knew that request could show too much on her end. "Dare, Twilight dear."
"A dare? Hmmm, what to do?"
Rarity found herself wishing it was attend her friends next lecture. Something-
"I got it!" Twilight beamed. "Rarity, I order you, to give me a great memory, like none of our other friends have before!"
"... My dear, you're being a bit vauge."
"That's the point, silly." Twilight smiled brightly. "Help me experience something I never have before."
"Hmm, alright." Rarity smiled as she reached over and pulled the lavender mare to herself. Twilight was speechless as Rarity's lips neared her own. Rarity, for her part, saw a way to dispel all doubt that really, no pony was having in the first place. "I, Rarity Grace, will give unto you, your first kiss."
"I-I-I... okay..." Twilight muttered as the white mare smiled, all their friends speechless. " Close your eyes?"
Rarity complied, and soon felt something cool press against her lips. Rarity peeked, and let out a chuckle as she found the mare of magic smirking back as she pressed a Hershey Kiss to the white lips. Rarity arched her brow as she opened her mouth and snatched the candy. "You're lucky that was chocolate."
The reaction was priceless as all of their friends began to laugh, until Twilight's on error came to. "I said something I nev-"
Twilight began with a smirk, but froze as she caught herself mid-sentence. But it was too late, all of their friends sat around shocked again.
"You've been kissed?" Rainbow squealed. Try as she might to suppress it, the cyan mare was a sucker for romance stories. Even more so those others did not want to share.
"I-" Twilight blushed , looking away.
"Oh man!" Rainbow laughed. "Oh, I would've never seen that coming!"
"Rainbow dear, stop it." Rarity chided.
"Who was it? Somepony we know?" Pinkie asked, cutting in.
"Y'all know who it was. It had to be that Flash feller, right Twi?"
"No, I- Hey, I'm not the loser, I'm the winner! I don't have to answer the truth questions." Twilight stated, holding her head up high.
"Oh man, That poor sucker!" Rainbow laughed as five pairs of judgmental eyes fell upon the mare. "Imagine it. Kissing Twilight has got to taste all eggy and like old books and binding paste!" For one mare, that comment was one too far.
"You take that back!" Rarity declared, letting her hooves strike the table as she stood up tall. "Twilight's kisses are not eggy or musty in the slightest! Each one of her perfect kisses is like a gift of warm sunlight after a winters cold. Like the soft caress of a warm shower! Expression given form! Her lips are magical, and inspire love and comfort and safety whenever I get the privilege of setting my own upon them!"
Rarity huffed as she looked around to her four stock still friends, all with mouths hanging open as they tried to comprehend what was just said. Twilight made due with letting her head bang into the table with a groan.
"What?!" Rarity asked as no pony moved.
"Rarity." Twilight growled from the table. "Sit down."
"In a minute dear." Rarity chided in response.
"You- and- and Twilight?" Pinkie finally managed, pointing a hoof between the pair.
"Oh my..." Fluttershy managed, her drink slipping from her grasp as the plastic cup clattered to the floor.
"Since when?" Applejack asked, leaning forward.
"Oh, oh my stars..." Rarity gasped. "Twilight darling, I'm so sorry. Rainbow just said those mean things about you and I-"
"It's alright Babe," Twilight sighed. "They were going to find out sooner or later."
"Why didn't you two tell us?" Rainbow finally asked, recovering from her shock not just of the relationship, but Rarity screaming at her too.
"We wanted to just keep it a secret." Twilight grunted from the tables surface.
"Something unique to us darling." Rarity nodded.
"How long has this been going on?" Fluttershy asked at long last.
With a quick glance at each other, Twilight sat up, and pulled the deck of cards in close. "If you want that information," The librarian said with a small amount of sass and flair as the crack of the shuffling cards rang out, "You'll have to beat us first."
“I’m really not sure that this is a good idea,” said the studious purple mare, holding a fake lottery ticket as she looked into the cerise eyes of her partner in crime.
“Ah, come on Twilight,” the scratchy voice of her rainbow headed friend complained. “You’ve been saying that you wanted to get Rarity back for putting salt in your coffee for ages now.”
“But she did that for April fools, Isn’t it too late to get her back?” Twilight questioned, contemplating if she should actually go through with this.
Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes at the overreacting egghead, “It’s never too late to get revenge.”
“But it is November!” Twilight exclaimed, throwing her hooves into the air for extra emphasis on what she was speaking.
“So? Let’s go we don’t have all day.” The prismatic mare not waiting for a reply turned and exited the library, leaving the mulberry mare behind.
~~~~~<>~~~~~
“Are you sure about this?”
“Yea, I can’t wait to see her face when she realizes it isn’t real.” A blue hoof rapped the artisan-crafted door.
“Doesn’t this seem kind of cruel?”
“Nah, not really,” the Pegasus replied calmly as the door began to open.
“Twilight, Rainbow, how are you today?” A groggily looking white unicorn greeted them.
“Um, fine thanks,” Twilight looked around nervously, “we were just in the neighborhood, and we got something for you.” The shaky mare retrieved the fake ticket from her satchel and levitated it in front of her ivory-coated friend.
“A lottery ticket?” The bloodshot eyes of the seamstress scanned over the ticket, before returning their gaze to her friends. “Now I appreciate the gesture, I really do, but gambling is quite unbecoming for a mare like me.”
“Oh, get over yourself, you might win something.” Rainbow smirked.
Groaning Rarity rolled her tired eyes, “I have about the same chance of winning the lottery as I have of becoming a princess.”
“You never know Rarity,” Twilight assured her friend, trying to hide her giggle.
“Fine, I’ll try.” Rarity retrieved a nearby bit in her magic, starting to scratch the ticket.
Seeing her friends face pale even whiter than it usually was Rainbow smirked. “So Rarity, did you win anything?”
“Huh…Wha--,” Rarity swallowed hard as she continued to stare at the lotto ticket in front of her.
“Um, Rarity are you ok?” Twilight questioned, concerned about her silent friend who was usually anything but.
“I won… I WON!!!” Rarity screamed as she began to shake violently.
“What’d you win,” the deceiving duo asked simultaneously.
“3,000 bits!” Rarity bit down on her hooves as she let out a squeal, “I can finally buy that new sewing machine and I’ll have enough left over to pay my rent this month!”
“Check the back, to see where you can receive your prize!” Twilight said cheerfully
“Valid only in your dreams…” Rarity read the back of the ticket, her voice lowering as a wave of revelation washed over her.
“That’s for putting salt in my coffee!” Twilight smirked as she put a hoof on her shocked friend’s shoulder.
“A joke, this is a j-joke?” Rarity stammered, her eyes questioning her friends.
“You should’ve seen your face!” Rainbow Dash fell to the floor clutching her abdomen, busting a lung.
“Rarity? Are you alright?” Twilight shook her unresponsive friend, as she looked into their cold azure eyes.
Rarity giggled softly, she began to chuckle louder as she looked at her friends. “You really had me going there for a minute.”
“You’re not mad at us?” Twilight looked at the still flailing Pegasus, before returning her eyes to the white unicorn.
“Oh, no, not at all,” Rarity’s lips lifted into a small smile as all the doors and windows in her boutique closed with a click.
"Please! You have to help me!" Twilight's voice rang out as she clung to her assistant, as the small dragon tried to walk away. "I can't do it without you!"
"Yes you can Twi." Spike snorted as he pushed her hooves off. "It's not that hard! You cook for me all the time!"
"But that's different!" Twilight pleaded. "That's just dinner with some gems thrown in. This is my first dinner with Rarity's folks. For Rarity's folks!"
"So what? You know them both already." Spike noted. "They're proud of you and Rarity."
"But now I'm hosting them. Here, in my home. As their daughter's marefriend! What if I don't make the meal right? They'll shun Rarity? What if her folks get sick from it? Then Rarity will be upset with me! What if I say something stupid?"
"You just did." Spike noted. "Rarity loves you, and her parents think the world of you! There is no way on Equus that any meal you prepare could turn out bad." Spike smiled as he exited, leaving Twilight with a vote of confidence, and no real help what so ever.
"But which dish should I make?" Twilight muttered to her empty library. "I don't want to come off as stingy. But I don't want to be a braggart either... Maybe a little bit of everything?"
~~~~~<>~~~~~
"Hello deary!" Pearl sang out as the motherly mare hugged Twilight, the two parents and daughter being ushered into the house. "My, it smells wonderful in here!"
"Thank you." Twilight smiled as Rarity visibly relaxed. She was worried her love would fall victim to another bout of worry.
"So what's for dinner?" Magnum joked as they all headed to the table.
"Everything." Twilight smiled. The sad, demented smile of a mare who has worked to long in a hot environment on a delicate task. Rarity groaned as her fear came to pass.
"Did you say everything?" Pearl asked, unsure.
"Everything from 'Modern Recipes for Family Entertaining!'" Twilight tried to smile, but it sounded more like a whimper. "I wasn't sure which dish would be best, so I..."
"You made every dish in that book?" Pearl gasped. "Honey, that's over 50 different items!"
"I know... It's exactly 56 with only three variations on previous dishes."
"My darling, you didn't have too work that hard for us," Rarity began to comfort her love, moving closer to her. "We would have been just happy with some salad and pecans if that was what you had felt like making."
"... I made a nice pecan and apple slice salad actually also..." Twilight muttered. "I was just so worried."
"My dear, it's alright." Rarity whispered as she held her love close.
"Umm, I hate to be the one to ask then, but where is all of that food? 50 dishes sounds like an awful lot of food?" Magnum pointed out for the group.
"Oh, they're in here!" Twilight smiled as she dashed into the kitchen, coming back out with a rolling cart loaded with over 50 little pony sized dishes. "I didn't want to risk anything, so I made little samplers of everything."
"My dear, these look fantastic!" Rarity gasped as she looked over the tray, her eyes lingering on that particular lemon meringue pie slice.
"It's like a feast of appetizers!" Magnum smiled, licking his lips.
"Calories still count honey." Pearl reminded her husband before he went over board again.
"Well, I was hoping to find a group favorite tonight so I could make that next time actually... "Twilight smiled. "But you all really like this idea?"
"My dear, it's you exactly." Rarity smiled as she hugged her lover again. "How could I not love something this thoughtful that you poured so much into?"
"Thanks Rarity, that means a lot." Twilight chuckled. "So then everypony, lets eat. Grab whatever you like I guess..." Twilight laughed as she watched her lovers folks poke around the cart, debating where to start, what to come back for, and who was going to have to wrestle who for that spinach and avocado wrap.
The Ponyville Cinema; A great place for friends and family to spend quality time together. Whether it’s to share laughs, scares, romance, tears, or anything in between; there’s always a great time to be had there.
That is… unless there are four certain ponies following two other certain ponies.
“Uh… girls?” Fluttershy asked in an uncomfortable tone, “Don’t any of you think it’s wrong to just follow them like this?” Applejack answered, “Fluttershy, aren’t you the slightest bit curious as to why Twi an’ Rare have been doing stuff together so often?”
“We do things together sometimes.” Fluttershy countered.
Rainbow Dash scoffed, “Maybe; but Twilight and Rarity have been spending way too much time together. More so than usual that is. Something’s going on between those two…”
“Exactly,” Applejack added, “We saw them go to that restaurant last week; and then they went into the park for several hours jus’ two days ago. When they came out, they looked happier than Applebloom when she came home from school with a good report card.”
Fluttershy however argued (albeit in a quiet tone), “But following them like this behind their backs isn’t a very nice thing to do. Don’t either of you think we should talk to them about this?”
“Look, Fluttershy;” Rainbow said, “How’s about this: This will be the last time we tail them, and then we’ll start asking questions tomorrow. Does that sound good to you?”
“I.. I guess…” Fluttershy replied uncertainly.
Applejack however grunted as she then switched topics, “Where in tarnation is Pinkie Pie?”
“Over here!”
The three looked over towards the source of the familiar voice… only to see the pink mare trot over to them with four large buckets of popcorn and four large cups filled with soda.
“Seriously Pinkie?” Applejack asked; “Are ya tryin’ to get us noticed by Twi and Rare?!”
Pinkie Pie however retorted, “Jackie, everypony knows that you can’t go to a movie without popcorn and soda!”
Applejack was about to argue with that reply, only for her to look behind the pink mare with eyes as wide as dinner plates; and subsequently shove her behind a large decorative vase. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy followed suit when they too saw what had the farmer pony so spooked.
Twilight Sparkle and Rarity had finished getting their desired movie snacks and were headed their way.
Holding their breath and praying that they wouldn’t be seen, the two Unicorn Mares passed them and trotted to the left hallway. After being certain that they weren’t seen, the four quietly followed them until they stopped when they saw just what movie the two had ducked into.
THE MARE GUTTER II: THE SECOND COURSE
“…Really?” Rainbow Dash asked as she saw the poster attached to the side door of the theatre; “I heard this was considered the scariest movie of the year… I’ve been dying to see this movie!”
Pinkie Pie added, “I know right?! The first one was so good!”
“I… uh…don’t really want to go into this one…” Fluttershy said in her usual timid tone.
Applejack told her, “It’s alright Fluttershy; we understand if ya don’t wanna come into this one with us. We know that you don’t handle well with movies like these.”
“Oh thank you…” Fluttershy answered, “…Because the first movie had absolutely terrible acting, the blood splatters were horribly inaccurate, a predictable plot, even more predictable ‘scary’ moments, terrible pacing, and honestly nopony really likes to see any potential end-credits scene when they already know that there’s going to be an equally –if not more- bad sequel that they’ll pay bits to see anyway.”
Her three friends stared at her for the longest time, their mouths agape, their brains taking in what had just came out of the mouth of their usually terrified-of-her-own-shadow friend.
Finally Rainbow Dash asked, “…What was that about inaccurate blood splatters?”
Fluttershy gave an unusually seen smirk, “When you treat as many injuries on animals as I have, you’ll understand.”
Shaking off the shock, Applejack then spoke, “Alright, enough dilly-dadiling. Let’s get in there an’ see if we can find a good spot to watch them from.”
The other three ponies agreed and followed the Apple Pony into the theatre.
However, several doors down at another movie (A romantic-comedy-mystery called: THE AMAZING LOVE LIFE OF A SOLDIER AND A DETECTIVE) two ponies that have been observing them finally let out the laughs they have been suppressing.
“Oh my gosh! I can’t believe that actually worked!” Twilight exclaimed in between laughs.
Rarity recovered from her laughing fit first and spoke to her marefriend; “Indeed my dear. It’s a good thing you teleported us out of that room once we got in. They’ll never know what hit them.”
“To think that we had no idea that they were following us all week.” Twilight said; “Although I can’t blame them. They’re just concerned for us after all.”
Rarity gave her a soft kiss, “Don’t worry love, we’ll tell them once we’re all out of this theatre. In the meantime, let’s enjoy both this movie and our little revenge tactic while it lasts.”
The sound of clopping hooves filled the carousel boutique as they franticly met the tile floors. Rarity returned to her foyer, a designer hoofbag in her magical aura.
“Here you are dear,” Rarity said levitating the bag to her partner. “I knew I had just the bag to complete your ensemble.”
Twilight took the bag in her magenta aura. “Is this really necessary?” She questioned, looking over the bag that she’d just been given.
“Of course it’s necessary!” Rarity huffed, “without that bag your ensemble would be ruined.”
Twilight didn’t respond, knowing it wouldn’t be much use when her Rare-Bear had her mind on something. They’d only been dating for a few weeks, and now they were about to attend a double date with another lesbian couple.
“Oh, is it Six O’clock already?” Rarity questioned as the clock’s toll chimed. “I guess we should get going.” She turned, heading towards the door.
The pair headed out into the cool autumn air, the breeze was blowing slightly as the sun disappeared from the horizon. Their hooves met the cool cobble streets, making Rarity wish she’d worn her booties, and Twilight wish they could get to the restaurant already.
Passing the time, they walked and talked about this and that, making their way down the road. Soon they came upon a small corner restaurant, with few ponies inside.
Nodding to the waitress, they headed to a corner booth in which sat a familiar, butter coated Pegasus. They took their seats, smiling at their friend who was staring intently at the menu the server had given her.
Clearing her throat, the snow coated mare turned to the oblivious mare. “How are you on this lovely evening dear?”
“Hmm, wha—” Fluttershy looked up, her internal debate on choosing either extra croutons or ranch dressing interrupted.
Chuckling slightly to herself, the mulberry mare met the cyan eyes of her startled friend. “She asked ‘how are you doing?’”
“Oh! Um fine thank you,” the shy mare looked around the restaurant, “I’m just a little nervous.” “What do you have to be nervous about darling?” Rarity asked, “we’ve been planning this for months.”
“Oh, well it’s just that this is the first time you’ll both be meeting her, and that makes me nervous.” Fluttershy fumbled with her hooves, like a foal with their hoof caught in the cookie jar.
“Dear, I know how hard it is coming out to your friends, and you don’t have anything to worry about.” A white hoof wrapped itself around a yellow one. “We will always be here for you, dear.”
Her nerves calmed for the moment, the shy mare looked around a bit. Looking at the hoof still wrapped around hers, she thought about the recent coming out of the white hoof’s owner.
“At least I didn’t have a panic attack like you did.” Fluttershy retrieved her hoof, chuckling slightly.
A forced smile found its way to Rarity’s face. “I suppose I did have a bit of a break down when I came to terms with my sexuality.”
Noticing the pained expression on her marefriend’s face, Twilight adopted a facial expression of her own.
“Ooh, what happened?” A seldom-used evil smirk appeared on the scholar’s lips.
“Well, it’s not really my place to say but,” The quiet mare gulped, “she had a mental breakdown, but one worse than it usually is.”
“I bet that sure was something,” Twilight chuckled, earning a swift kick to the back of her leg from her unamused ‘Rare-Bear’.
“She threatened to sign herself up for straight camp.” Fluttershy murmured, hoping to avoid a kick to her shins.
“Anything else happ—” her question was cut short as a muzzle made its way to her ear. “One more word and I swear you’ll be sleeping on the couch tonight, even if it is your birthday.” Rarity chided her lover.
Realizing the gravity of the situation, Twilight gulped. “So… how are the animals doing?” The purple mare said, hoping to avoid the loss of her birthday present.
“They’re fine, thanks.” Cyan eyes roamed the restaurant, spotting a familiar gray form, her eyes widened.
Seeing her friend’s eyes widen, Rarity raised a brow questioningly. She was answered when a gray mare with a charcoal mane sat across from her and Twilight. She seems familiar…
Adjusting her collared-bowtie, the well-manicured mare cleared her throat. “You must be Fluttershy’s friends, I’ve heard so much about you, I’m—”
“Octavia Melody!” Rarity gasped, realizing her favorite composer was sitting across from her.
Twilight was lying on her couch, reading a book on dressmaking when she heard a knock on the library's front door. She eagerly got up, and trotted to the door. Twilight threw open the door, and was surprised to see Fluttershy.
"Hello, Fluttershy!" Twilight said with a grin "What brings you by?"
Fluttershy gave a small smile back "Well...I thought I'd bring back this book." She muttered, before taking the novel out of her saddlebag.
"Do you want to come in for a while?" Twilight asked, levitating the book away from Fluttershy "I just made some tea."
"If it's not too much trouble, then sure." Fluttershy said.
Twilight shook her head "Fluttershy, of course it's not too much trouble. Make yourself at home, I'll be right back with the tea."
Fluttershy walked into the library and shut the door behind her. She sat down on the couch, and noticed a book on the cushions.
Dress Making, Fluttershy thought placing the book on the stand beside the couch. I never knew Twilight had any interests in dress making.
Fluttershy began to look around, waiting patiently for Twilight to return. After a minute or two, Twilight came back into the living room using her magic to hold a tea kettle, and cups.
"You like honey, right?" Twilight asked pouring herself and Fluttershy a cup of tea. Fluttershy nodded as she took her own cup and gave it a small sip.
Twilight sat across from the pegasus "So, how has your week been? I haven't seen you in a day or two."
Fluttershy took another sip of tea before replying "Well, a lot of new critters were born this week and I had to make sure that all the animals were doing okay." Fluttershy grinned "So, how has your week been."
"Well" Twilight began "Rarity and I went on our fifth date, and it was amazing!" She said enthusiastically
Fluttershy grinned at Twilight's obvious happiness "If you don't mind me asking, what did you two do?"
Twilight shook her head "Oh, not at all." She drank some of her tea before continuing "At first we went to this fancy restaurant that Rarity goes to a lot. It was really nice and romantic, she even made sure we had a table with my favorite flowers!"
Fluttershy nodded "I wouldn't doubt it. When it comes to romance, Rarity knows everything."
Twilight grinned "That's definitely true." Twilight said with a slight blush "It was a fun date, but what happened afterwards was even better."
"What happened?" Fluttershy asked curiously.
Twilight scratched the back of her head "Well, we went back to the Carousel Boutique and had some wine. Then Rarity said that we'd been dating long enough that we could take our relationship to the next level."
Fluttershy spluttered on the tea she was drinking. Twilight didn't notice that Fluttershy's face was as red as an apple. "So then we went upstairs and-"
~~~~~<>~~~~~
"Have you looked at that book on dress making Twilight?" Rarity said opening the door to the library. She was greeted to the sight of Fluttershy cowering under a couch with a panicked look in her eyes, while Twilight tried desperately to coax her out.
Upon noticing Rarity, Fluttershy gave a yelp and shot out from under the couch and out the door. Rarity stared confusedly at Twilight for a moment before Twilight nervously laughed.
"Umm...I think I gave her a little too much information..." Twilight said with a blush.
Today had been such a good day, it was ripe to turn now into a bad day. Worse so than the day the her teacher was kidnapped. Worse than the day her beloved little brother became ill for the first time. No, today, Twilight Sparkle was being forced to tell Spike the truth.
At least she wasn't alone. "Spike darling, please take a seat." Rarity frowned as the dragon returned from the market, a large bag in his grasp.
"Oh boy. Hi Rarity. Twi, there was eight bits in change. I was going to keep three. I'm sorry." Spike pouted.
"No, this is about- Wait, how long have you been skimming me?" Twilight asked as she rounded on the drake.
"What, skimming you? I would nev-" Spike began till he met Twilight's eyes. "Four months, three days, twelve hours, and sixteen minutes."
"Precise much?" Rarity asked Twilight.
"No, Spike's just good with numbers." Twilight muttered. "And right now, that doesn't matter Spike. We need you to sit down. Please?"
"What is it?" Spike asked as he came to them slowly, setting aside his bag of vegetables for dinner tonight.
"Spike, this is about Rarity and myself." Twilight frowned.
"Oh? Are you two going off on some super secret mission again?" Spike asked. "That's like the tenth time this month girls. What's up?"
"No Spike, there is no mission." Rarity confessed. "There never wa-"
"There was the invasion last week." Twilight interrupted.
"...Almost never a mission. No Spike, Twilight and I were using those days as our own... private days..." Rarity attempted.
"Okay? So you two wanted some time to yourselves. No biggie." Spike shrugged.
"No Spike, we were- we were never alone..." Twilight sighed. "We were with each other..."
"Oh, you mean the dates you two kept taking." Spike groaned as the two mares balked at the reveal. "Yeah, I've known about those for a while now. I just hoped I was crazy."
"What? How?!" Twilight asked. "I put every ounce of strategic cunning into those diversions to derail you!"
"You wrote 'Date with Rarity heart heart heart' on the calender the first time." Spike said, rather amused.
"Every ounce, darling?"
"Oh don't you start on me also." Twilight huffed.
"Yeah, I knew." Spike interrupted as the month long facade came crashing down. "I kept telling myself it was a lie. You would never do that. Not without talking to me about it at least! I mean I really thought my feelings mattered more to you two!"
"Spike-" Twilight began.
"I mean, really?! You just blatantly lied to me!" Spike heaved, tears rolling freely now. "I could have taken it. Really. I always knew I didn't stand a chance, and even I could see the chemistry between you two! I could. I would have understood. But no! You decided to just lie to me, for a whole month. Right to my face!"
"Spike, please-" Rarity began til Spike cut her off harshly.
"No. No more lies! You two don't care about me. You don't-"
"Spike, please!" Twilight argued. "I lied to you be- Because I can't stand the thought of you leaving me again. I was scared about how you would react. My fear got the better of me..."
"I know that..." Spike huffed, standing up. Mature beyond his years, Spike took the higher road in this conflict of morals. "And on some level, I can respect that. But you still lied to me. Right to my face, Twi. I'm not going to yell at you anymore, or run away, or cry. But I will ask that you stay at Rarity's tonight. I don't want to be around anypony right now, okay?"
"I'm so sorry, Spike..." Twilight choked as she felt the tears welling up inside of her. Rarity took her hoof and guided her out, only stopping to say good night. Today had been such a good day, it was only fitting it should end as a bad day.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: This is a SLIGHTLY alternate take on the ending of Equestria Girls.
"Why is it that every time we try to have a huge celebration SOMETHING has to try to ruin it for us. I mean, can't we just have this country safe... for TEN MINUTES?” Rarity thought to herself.
It had been only moments ago that Twilight and Spike returned from the alternate dimension; and everypony had so many questions they had to wait for answers on. What was the alternate world like? Would they ever see Sunset Shimmer again? If so, how many ponies would it take to keep Rainbow Dash from pounding her to dust for putting Equestria in danger?
“But most importantly…” Rarity thought once more, “What were they wearing in there?! Oh if only I could have gone with them. I could have gotten some inspiration for a new design! I'm going to have to pry that from Twilight and Spikey-Wikey soon enough!”
Her thoughts were cut off when she heard a thud coming from in front of her. Looking forward, she saw Twilight being helped to her hooves by a Royal Guard they saw when they had first arrived at the Crystal Empire.
“We’ve got to stop bumping into each other like this.” The guard said before walking away.
Twilight asked Cadance, “Who was that?”
“He’s a new member of the castle guard. Flash Sentry, I think. Why? Do you know him?” Cadance responded.
There was a couple-second pause before Twilight replied, “Not exactly.”
Despite her answer, the recently crowned Princess seemed nervous about delivering her response and… was that a blush on her face?
Applejack was the first to pick up on what was going on; “Ooh! Somepony’s got a crush on the new guy!” She said.
Twilight looked like she wanted to bolt and gallop to her room. “No! No I don’t!”
“Ha! That is so denial!” Rainbow Dash teased. “You’ve so got it for him!”
“Don’t be ridiculous. I don’t even know him.” Twilight argued; “He just-”
“Totally reminds you of a guy you met in the other world who played guitar, was in a band, and helped prove you didn't destroy all the decorations for a big dance, so you could still run for princess of the big dance, and then asked you to dance at that dance?!” Pinkie then takes a huge breath after delivering her rant; “Right?”
Twilight seemed very perplexed at what Pinkie had just spoken.
“…How did you know that?” She asked.
Pinkie answered in a calmer tone, “Just a hunch.”
Whatever was said next seemed to have gone unnoticed by Rarity as her brain brewed up a storm over what had just transpired.
“Twilight… and that Flash Sentry? I just… I can’t seem to imagine those two… TOGETHER. I mean, Flash seems to be a kind pony, a good soldier as well. He just… I don’t know how to describe it… doesn’t seem like the type that could be the right pony to court her. Twilight is certainly a one of the fairest ponies I’ve ever met and have the honor of being a friend of. She’s smart, funny even when she’s not trying to be funny, and not to mention quite beautiful to look at. Her mane just GLOWS when she’s standing in the sunset- Wait, WHAT AM I SAYING?! Twilight is my friend! Besides, I’ve always been more into stallions……… right?”
Any further thoughts were interrupted when she felt somepony prod her in the arm. “Rarity!” She heard Applejack yell.
Turning towards her, Rarity saw that both her closest friend Fluttershy and Applejack had remained behind while the others were already heading upstairs back to their rooms for the night.
“Oh my.” Rarity told them, “I must have gotten distracted. Sorry to keep you girls worried.”
Fluttershy replied, “We weren’t worried Rarity; but you were spacing out back there. Is something wrong?”
“Not at all darling;” Rarity said, “I just… cannot stop thinking about what I’m going to ask Twilight first when she tells us about that alternate world she and Spike were just in.” She finished with an awkward smile.
Applejack wasn’t fooled however when she responded, “Admit it Rare. Yer jealous.”
Rarity sputtered before replying, “J-jealous?! That is absurd! I would never stoop myself to that level.”
Fluttershy tried to calm the situation. “It’s okay Rarity. You’re not the only one who thinks Flash Sentry is… well… very handsome.”
“…Who?” Rarity asked.
Applejack looked confused, “…That guard you have it for just like Twilight? The one that was just here?”
It dawned on Rarity on who they were talking about. “Oh! That guard. Uh… yes… he seems… quite rugged if you ask me…”
Judging by the looks Fluttershy and Applejack were giving her; it seemed they had begun to realize something else. Something Rarity herself thought wasn’t true.
“…No way.” Applejack spoke in a stunned tone; “No. Way. You mean… you…”
“I DON’T HAVE A CRUSH ON TWILIGHT SPARKLE!” Rarity blurted out loud; whom then covered her mouth with her hoof.
Applejack and Fluttershy were speechless.
After a couple of moments, Rarity quietly begged them, “Please don’t tell anypony. Even I don’t know what to do with these feelings.”
Fluttershy was the first to respond, “Don’t worry Rarity, your secret is safe with us.”
Applejack followed suit, “Same here; but sooner or later yer gonna have to talk to Twi about this.”
“I know Applejack. I just… need to process this…” Rarity said as she began to walk towards the stairs.
"Ponyfeathers!" Rarity thought to herself once more. "What just happened?! Where did that come from? I... I can't have a crush on Twilight! Applejack is right though, I really need to talk to Twilight about this as soon as I can."
When Rarity finally reached her room and climbed into bed she thought to herself one last time before sleep took her hold; "Twilight would look quite amazing in that new design I have in mind..."
Sweetie Belle watched in horror as black smoke began pouring out of the oven. She glanced overhead and saw the smoke reach the detector. A shrill beeping sound rang out as Sweetie Belle rushed to the oven, throwing it open.
She coughed as she ran outside and quickly returned with a hose. She aimed it at the inside of the oven, and while most of it hit the intended target, Sweetie Belle tripped and fell while the nozzle began shooting water everywhere.
"Ugh..." Sweetie groaned as the smoke cleared out of the kitchen
2 hours earlier...
"Remember Sweetie" Rarity said standing at the door with her marefriend Twilight Sparkle "We'll only be gone for a few hours, so try and be good."
"I will sis!" Sweetie grinned fidgeting from excitement "Happy anniversary!"
"Thanks Sweetie Belle!" Twilight and Rarity said in unison, looking at each other lovingly. They leaned in closer to kiss when they felt themselves being pushed by the filly.
"You girls can save that stuff for your date, you're going to be late!" Sweetie said barely moving the mares.
Rarity didn't like the way Sweetie Belle was acting, she was obviously up to something. But she had a wonderful night ahead of her and there was no way it would be spoiler.
"Alright then, we'll be back." Rarity said glancing back at Sweetie Belle trying to look angelic.
~~~~~<>~~~~~
Sweetie Belle got off of the floor groaning. She had wanted to surprise Rarity and Twilight with some cookies for their anniversary. She took out the pan, with small black crumbs.
Why did I think cookies would be easy to make!? Sweetie Belle looked around the wet kitchen and random bits of cookie dough splattered everywhere.
Sweetie Belle looked at the clock, it was almost ten-Rarity will be back by ten. Sweetie Belle opened a cabinet and pulled out as many rags as she could find. Using the washclothes to glean up the Burt oven and cookie dough, she then started drying the whole kitchen.
She was exhausted from all the work and as soon as she finished, she heard the sound of the front door opening before she passed out.
Twilight and Rarity trotted into the kitchen to find it sparkling clean, and Sweetie Belle curled up into a ball, snoring lightly
Rarity and Twilight shared a look before Rarity levitated the sleeping filly onto her back "I think its time we all went to bed."
Twilight nodded, yawning. "Yeah, I'm beat." She and Rarity took Sweetie Belle upstairs and tucked her into bed, before they retired to their own room.
How does one picture their first kiss? Standing in the middle of the arena as watchers cheer them on? Or lost in a bit of foalish party shenanigans. How many ever saw their first kiss coming because of a fit of anger? Certainly not Rarity. Certainly not Twilight.
"I have no idea what you're talking about!" Twilight snorted as she stormed into the Apple Family barn after a day of aide with her friends.
"You were staring at my flank! Admit it!" Rarity cried out as she followed the librarian into the structure. "That's the third time I've caught you doing so!"
"I would never!" Twilight snapped back. Do it in a way that you would notice, at least...
"You liar." Rarity snarled. Please? I was posing just for you. I- I just want you too look at me. I love you so much, but I can't even tell if you have anything more than a passing thought about me...
"I have never been so insulted." Twilight growled at Rarity. I never meant to offend you. I love you so much I wish I could scream every time I see you, and you do nothing...
"You?! You're not the one with some absolutely adorable, whimsical mare playing with you in her fantasies!"
"Wait, what?" Rainbow asked form the sidelines.
"No, I'm the one with a mare I'm head over hooves for that is accusing me of looking at her like just a piece of wheat and not for the absolute work of art that she is! Mind, body, and soul!"
"Did you all just hear that?" Applejack asked the others.
"You enrage me!" Rarity screamed.
"You enthrall me!" Twilight screamed back.
"I love you!" Rarity snapped as she shoved her forehead into Twilight's, staring her down hard.
"At least we agree on something!" Twilight nearly screamed. Both mare's stood stock still for what seemed ages before their panting gave way. In a flash of hooves, both mare's pulled each other in tighter, letting their lips haphazardly dance around each others in a desperate power struggle that the only end goal was to meet and never part ways again. Tongues paired together in that messy way first timers always manage. Soon, the kiss was broken for cries of pain, one mare on the other's hair, one's leg falling asleep. Both needing to actually breath again. The petty things, really.
"No. No way. How?" Pinkie finally asked after watching these two struggle for minutes to manage to actually kiss correctly, but still enjoying the attempt as well. But her words did burrow into minds as the two in question sat bolt upright, attempting last minute fixes to manes and coats.
"Oh my, you scoundrel..." Rarity panted.
"I'm not the only guilty party here." Twilight sassed.
"Stop it!" Fluttershy barked at the pair. "You two should be ashamed!"
"We're sorry..."
"That was horrible! You all never considered pacing, hoof placement, or ascetic appearance!" Fluttershy informed. "No more public displays of affection till you've worked out how to actually kiss each other!"
"I know, right?" Pinkie snorted from the side lines. "You both look like the only thing you've ever kissed before was your hooves for practice."
"Umm..."
"Our friends are weird." Applejack finally said to Rainbow as the pair exited the barn where Fluttershy and Pinkie were lecturing the unicorns on how to kiss.
"Hey, at least they have good teachers now." Rainbow noted.
It has been a couple of hours since the Summer Sun Celebration in Canterlot. Nearly everypony has returned to their homes; whether they be local Canterlot citzens or from elsewhere in Equestria. The clean-up crews were hard at work picking up the garbage and storing away the decorations and stands that once lined the streets of Equestria's capitol city.
Princesses Celestia and Luna, having returned from their mysterious disappearance*, had both retired to their private bedroom for well deserved rest after a long night and day.
*The exact details of what transpired between the Royal Sisters were kept mostly unknown to the public. All they were told was that Celestia and Luna had left once they heard of the sudden invasion of the Everfree Forest, which was technically half-true. This was done to prevent a panic among the population.
The Princess of Magic however remained in the Main Hall, staring at the mysterious box she and her friends recovered from the Tree of Harmony.
Many thoughts ran through Twilight's head as she continued to stare at it.
What could possibly be inside that thing?
How are we going to find the six keys if we don't have the slightest lead as to where they are?
Once we do get a lead; how dangerous will our potential expedition be? Where will we go? Who will we run into?
Any further thoughts were interrupted when she heard a voice call her name.
"Twilight?"
Turning towards the voice, Twilight saw that it came from the mare she was secretly hoping would come by and snap her out of her trance.
“Oh, hi Rarity.” Twilight greeted her.
Rarity spoke as she trotted up to her; “Darling, you’ve been in here for over an hour. The others are getting worried.”
“Sorry;” Twilight apologized, “I didn’t mean to. I’ve just been looking at that box we’ve collected.”
Rarity stood next to her and looked over at the box Twilight was referring to. After a couple of seconds she looked back over to the Princess and told her; “I really don’t want to state the obvious, but sitting here staring at isn’t going to open it.”
“I know;” Twilight responded, “You’re right. It’s just like Celestia said back at the Tree of Harmony, ‘It’s a mystery I won’t solve alone.’”
Rarity nodded and then said in a softer tone, “Twilight, I don’t know what the others have said, but I cannot express how sorry we are for deciding to send you away back in the Everfree Forest. It’s… it’s just like the wedding rehearsal all over again.”
Wrapping an arm around her marefriend’s shoulders, Twilight responded; “Rarity, we’ve already been over this. There’s nothing for you and the others to apologize for. I’m just as guilty on that for following through with that plan. Also, that part about the wedding rehearsal, that was NOTHING like what happened in the Everfree Forest. You girls had Equestria’s best interests at heart as well as my safety.”
“Safety?!” Rarity exclaimed, “If we hadn’t sent you away in the first place you wouldn’t have been attacked by those poisonous plants!”
“Only because I foolishly let my guard down!” Twilight countered in a tone harsher than what she had intended.
Rarity argued back, “You would not have been in that position at all if it wasn’t for us!”
After a couple of moments of silence between the two, they calmed down enough to continue their conversation.
“I’m sorry.”
They were both surprised that they said the exact same words at the same time.
Twilight spoke first, “I didn’t mean to yell at you.”
“I’m the one who yelled first, love.” Rarity replied. “I just… can’t stop thinking about what would have happened if we didn’t get to you in time.” She finished with a sad tone.
Twilight turned Rarity towards her and gave her a tender kiss on the lips. After pulling away she replied with a smile, “Let’s be glad that it didn’t come to that then.”
Rarity smiled back at her; “That’s a decision I can absolutely agree to.”
A bead of sweat raced down the concerned mare’s face. Bloodshot azure eyes scanned the glass case in front of her. Within the case contained various gems and precious stones each of them uniquely cut. Her eyes met an exquisite purple diamond; the deep mauve color sparkled brightly in the sun coming through the storefront. A white hoof tapped softly on the glass, prompting the jeweler to come over from across the room.
“How may I help you, Miss?” The elderly stallion said sweetly, smiling softly.
“Yes, I would like to see that beautiful mauve diamond please.” Rarity motioned towards it with a hoof.
Nodding, the jeweler reached carefully into the case, retrieving the precious stone for the customer in front of him.
Surrounding the diamond in her magical aura, Rarity brought it close to her, inspecting the stone before her while rubbing her chin with a hoof.
“Excuse me,” The jeweler took his loupe in his own aura, passing it to the mare. “Use my loupe; it will make it easier to see the quality of the stone.”
“Thank You,” Rarity put the loupe in front of her right eye, inspecting the quality of the cut.
Her eyes traced over the surface of the gem. Rotating the gemstone, she looked at it very closely. Biting her lip, she looked over the fine stone one last time. Placing the diamond as well as the loupe down carefully on the case, she nodded to the jeweler.
Smiling gently as he took the diamond and loupe off the case, “very fine is it, no?”
“Quite,” She gulped, looking at the diamond again, “I would like to purchase it.”
“Good choice,” he began to polish the diamond with a specialized cloth. “What type of ring do you want it to be set on?”
‘Gold? No, gold is used much too commonly.’ Ideas ran through Rarity’s head as she contemplated what type of ring would complement the diamond just so. “What do you have in platinum?” She asked.
The jeweler nodded again, handing Rarity a pamphlet containing the choices of ring designs that were available to her.
~~~~~<>~~~~~
An irritating ringing filled the royal suite. One of the forms on the princess sized bed started to move. A purple hoof came from under the covers, swatting at the pesky alarm clock. The hoof retreated back under the covers as its owner groaned.
Sitting up in bed, Princess Twilight Sparkle groaned again, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. Smacking her lips, she yawned rubbing her stomach. White hooves hooked around her midsection as she was pulled into a hug from behind. The hooves soon found their way to her shoulder, massaging the tired flesh and muscle.
“Good morning, darling.” Rarity’s hot breath entered Twilight’s ear.
“Mhm, good morning to you too,” Twilight cooed, relaxing at her partner’s ministrations.
“I wish we could just lie in bed together all day.” The white mare pushed harder into the shoulders of her lover.
“I do too,” Twilight’s horn sparked to life, bringing over her crown from the dresser.
“But, alas you must attend your royal duties as I attend to my own responsibilities.” Rarity’s hoof covered her brow while she bawled.
Twilight shrugged, getting out of bed, she headed into the bathroom. Washing her face with cool water, she dried her face off with a towel. Collecting her toothbrush from the sink side cup, she began to brush her teeth clean. After inspecting her pearly whites, she brushed her mane, and headed for the door.
“Well, I’ll be leaving now,” Twilight looked over to see Rarity sitting up in bed looking at her. “Are you still bringing your business proposal for me to go over?”
“Yes, I’ll see you at noon court.”
“Ok, goodbye,” Twilight said, closing the door with a soft click.
~~~~~<>~~~~~
Rarity was giddy with excitement; she had just picked up the engagement ring from the jeweler, making her way to the castle. The sun was high in the sky above the capital city when Rarity reached the castle gates. Nodding to the royal guard as he let her in, she headed towards the courthouse just left of the castle itself. She got in line behind a mare in an extravagant formal gown, tucking the little black box away; she waited her turn in line.
Today’s court had been just like all her other days in court. Rarely did she decide on anything useful, usually she just had to settle pointless disagreements by pompous nobles. She listened on to the ranting and raving noble in front of her. She shook her head at the ludicrous demands made by the blue-blooded mare. Apparently, this mare felt she shouldn’t provide healthcare to her servants as mandated by a recent law The Royal Parliament passed, she argued she should be exempt from said law.
After listening to the mare talk up the better part of an hour, Twilight made her decision calmly, and with respect. The mare grumbled and bowed, cursing the princess under breath, thinking Twilight didn’t hear her. Twilight rolled her eyes, and met those of her marefriend of two years dressed in formal attire for the noonday court.
Rarity cleared her throat, “I have come here today, in the hopes my business license be approved by her Majesty Twilight Sparkle.”
Twilight nodded, taking the papers brought by Rarity in her magical aura. The princess looked over the papers, and saw that everything was in order.
Twilight took her eyes off the papers in front of her. “Your business license has been—”
“Excuse me, your highness!”
“Yes, Lady Rarity?”
“I just remembered, I have one more document to add.”
“Let me see it please,” The royal mare commanded.
“Of course,” Rarity said, giving Twilight the folded piece of paper that she hastily pulled from a pocket in her dress.
Princess Twilight took the paper in her aura, and started to read it aloud. At first, the document seemed to be in order. However, as she read on, the demands that Rarity made were beginning to get more and more ridiculous. One of the demands that Rarity made, was the legal right to burn down all the competing boutiques within a five-mile radius of her own. Another, more disturbing demand, gave Rarity the right to kill any rival designers on site.
Twilight shook her head. “Rarity, you know I cannot allow this.”
“What a pity, but please read on dear.” The fashionista sighed, motioning towards Twilight with a hoof.
The regal mare snorted. Twilight read through two more paragraphs of the over demanding legal paper. She paused when Rarity demanded in the paper that her expenses be paid by the royal treasury. Twilight reached the final line of the document. “If these demands cannot be met, then I, her Majesty Twilight Sparkle should compensate Lady Rarity by—” The purple princess swallowed hard. “—By taking her hoof in marriage!”
The stunned mare looked away from the parchment, looking at Rarity, tears brimming in her eyes. Rarity met her gaze with tears of her own as she presented a little black box. Within the box sat an immaculate mauve diamond set in a platinum wedding band, where two hearts were connected together holding the valuable stone in between them.
“Well?” Rarity asked.
Twilight began to shake a little before jumping from the throne, into the hooves of the pony who proposed to her.
“YES! YES! YES, I will marry you Rarity!” The excited alicorn started to jump around her new fiancée, shouting her answer again repeatedly. Ponies in the courtroom began to stomp their hooves and applaud the pair, and unbeknownst to Twilight, their family, friends, and the princesses, were in the corner with happy tears of their own in their eyes.
A long day, a fruitless search, leaving the mare numb. Nothing was more aggravating than a day wasted, a day lost. Love lost. It had been three seasons since Twilight had been dumped by Time Turner, and all of her friends kept telling her it was time to get back up and try again.
But it was hard. Twilight had to retreat to the confines of the world wide web to manage this feat, and that was just barely. She never looked seriously, only just observed. She stayed out of chats, and never turned on her camera. She was a digital ghost almost, just a byte of data wasted.
Often, the mare found herself here, on Match.com. She didn't know why. She would just flip through the pages of stallions for hours, thinking of how silly this whole pursuit was. There was no way she would ever find a love like this.
Often, Twilight would poke around the mare for mare pages, telling herself it was just for a chuckle. But no pony checks those pages daily for just a chuckle. But today say something new happen for Twilight.
As she flipped through mare after mare, she came across a gem. Literally. GemLuv26, or as she clearly was, Rarity. Twilight almost snorted with laughter, stopping herself just short, out of respect for her friend.
"Rarity's a lesbian?" Twilight muttered as she clicked on the profile. She just had to see what Rarity had written. She had to see it all. She would, too.
I made this profile the day my friend did, the day we talked her into trying again. I made the move publicly as a show of support, being a good friend. But my motives were impure.
To be honest, I love her, but she's just not that kind of mare. I am smitten by the mare with a heart of gold and a champion intellect. Before her, I was convinced I would move out of town not long ago, till she came into my life. Now, I'll stay here, just too see her some more, even if it's just as friends. I don't want your comfort, or your pity. I know my place, and I have long ago accepted that. I am just here on this site to fulfill my promise to a friend, and have some place to just get this off my chest.
Interests: Her alone.
Updates: Please, stop messaging me looking for casual sex! If I have to tell one more pony that, I will track you down and hurt you. Also, stop messaging me to tell me how wrong my life choices are! I don't recall asking you now!
Twilight felt numb again. This was something else. Rarity loved... loved her. With a trembling hoof, Twilight clicked on the send message link, and began her own.
Rarity, I think you and I should talk about a few things. Over diner, and just us please? I would really like that. I don't even know if you still check this page, but if you do, I wanted to say that what you said was beautiful. I... Just please reply. Twilight.
With a blank mind, Twilight pressed send. She knew not what guided her hooves, but she still just had to do this. Minutes passed as Twilight just sat there, moving only to breath and blink. Had she made the right call? What if-
Beep Beep Beep!
A new message called out for Twilight's attention. She was numb before. Now she moved at speeds that blurred all of time. She just had to see...
From GemLuv26
You sure know how too keep a lady waiting, Twilight.
Ponyville to this day has the lowest crime rate in all of Equestria; but that doesn’t mean there aren’t any trouble-makers within the town. That was what the Ponyville Detention Center was for. It wasn’t anywhere near as bad as a prison, but it would do just fine to contain said trouble-makers.
“Besides, I don’t think how I could handle being locked away in a prison. They make the prisoners wear orange. Orange! It would clash with the color of my mane! Absolutely horrendous.” Rarity thought to herself.
She sat with two other mares in the mare’s cell in the detention center. All of them were in a semi-circle, sitting in an awkward silence. Finally, one of them broke the ice.
“Well, if anypony is going to get this ball rolling it’s me.” Lyra Heartstrings spoke, “Let’s pass around how we all wound up in here for the night.”
The other two ponies groaned.
Lyra dismissed their refusal; “Oh come on ladies! How else are we going to pass the time while we’re in here?”
“Sleep?” Berry Punch rhetorically asked.
“No way.” Lyra responded, “Too boring. I’ll tell you how I got in here. I went into the museum.”
Rarity questioned the teal Unicorn; “Not to be blunt my dear, but how does going into a museum land you in here with us?”
Lyra turned towards her and responded, “Because I’m banned from the museum because they won’t let me speak the truth!”
“What truth?” Rarity asked once more.
Lyra then spoke with a loud voice, “That humans exist! I’m telling you they’re out there somewhere; and I won’t stop the pursuit of the answer until I find one and bring it to the museum so I can rub it in the museum curator’s face!”
Berry Punch leaned towards Rarity and whispered to her; “How does Bon Bon put up with her?”
Lyra then calmed down enough to ask the magenta Earth Pony; “How’s about you Berry? How’d you get in here?”
Berry Punch for her part put on a proud smirk and replied; “Two words: Bar fight.”
“Ooh! Nice…” Lyra commented, ignoring Rarity rolling her eyes.
“Yup.” Berry Punch began to explain, “Get enough hard apple cider in your body, get into an argument with that one certain pony, the next thing you know I’m throwing punches left and right with about five other ponies. I got in a few great shots before the cops got me and threw me in here.”
Rarity then asked, “Where are the other ponies you fought?”
“All in the stallion cell.” Berry responded.
“Never mind.” Rarity spoke in a deadpan tone.
Lyra turned towards her once more; “All right, your turn.”
“I’d rather not talk about it.” Rarity spoke.
“Aw come on!” Lyra complained, “Me and Berry weren’t shy about how we got in here!”
Rarity wasn’t convinced, “That’s because I’d rather hold onto whatever dignity I have left; but if you must know I got in here due to an unfortunate lapse of judgment and common sense.”
FOUR HOURS EARLIER
“YOU TAKE THAT BACK RIGHT NOW!” Rarity screamed as she used her mouth to pull on the mane of a certain cherry selling stallion at the Ponyville Market Square. “JUST BECAUSE SOME PONIES ARE INTO MARES DOES NOT MAKE THEM INFERIOR TO OTHERS! NOW APOLOGIZE TO ME AND MY STARSHINE!”
“I ain’t gonna sell out my beliefs lady!” The cherry salespony yelled back, “Just wait til- OW! STOP PULLING ON MY MANE!”
Twilight Sparkle was doing her best to pull Rarity off of him, “Rarity stop it! Get a hold of yourself!”
Rarity ignored her as she continued her assault; “OH I’LL GIVE YOU SOMETHING TO BELIEVE IN!”
PRESENT TIME
Rarity gave a depressed sigh as the memories ran through her mind.
“Twilight is not going to be very happy with me the next time I see her.”
Heavy bags and happy jingles. Tis the season, everypony says, the season of giving. For one mare trotting down the road tonight, that was oh so true. The white mare had toiled day after day in her shop, hoping to make enough. She just had too get the perfect gifts.
For her sister, Rarity picked up some darling ear rings. For the ever impracticable Pinkie Pie, a shirt that lights up to the beat of music. For Rainbow Dash, a lovely signed first edition of the Daring Do graphic novel. For Applejack, the mare had tracked down just the right color of felt to repair her old stetson with. For Fluttershy, a all natural medicine kit for her animals. For Spike, some jade, turquoise, amethyst, and quarts all mixed together in what she called Chex mix.
Now it was time to check out with the perfect gift for Twilight, the long time target of many of the white mare's more subtle flirts. The gift, a hefty tome about the history of early unicorn tribes. She could just imagine that mare's face, the blush, the glee, the joy, when she would open up that paper to find-
"I'm sorry Miss, your card has been declined..." The colt frowned.
"What? But, but I've paid my bill..." Rarity gasped.
"It looks like your cardholder put a block on spending. Too much in one day." The colt nodded. "This happens every holiday season."
"What do I do now, though?" Rarity asked as the line behind her grew irate.
"Call the bank." The colt offered. "Now Miss, I have other customers to attend to."
"But it's Hearths Warming eve! I'll never be able to get a hold of them in time!"
"I'm sorry..."
~~~~~<>~~~~~
The next day was a great Hearths Warming eve to be sure. Everypony loved the gifts they received, and everypony was happy, except for the one mare that had failed in her quest.
"Twilight, I hate to tell you, but I couldn't get a gift for you in time," Rarity said in private to the mare.
"Oh, it's alright, Rarity." Twilight dismissed. "I'm sorry you felt so bad about it that you had to pull me aside."
"What sort of friend would I be if I didn't?" Rarity chuckled. "But still, thank you deary."
"No problem Rarity." Twilight smiled as she hugged the white mare close. "... You over drafted again this year, didn't you?"
"Almost. My bank put a lien on my account."
"Ah." Twilight nodded. "The element of giving way too much so she has to eat Ramen every night."
"Don't remind me..." Rarity groaned as she stomach called out.
With a giggle, Twilight waved off her friends blush. "How about for a gift, you let me treat you to a holiday dinner? I would love your company tonight."
"I would-" Rarity began til she caught on to the particular wording of the question. "Are you asking me on a date?"
"What? No, I-" Twilight stammered as she began to blush herself.
"Because if you are, I wouldn't exactly say no right now..."
"I- You- That's not what I-" Twilight stammered. But she had no arguments either.
A twist of irony would have seen them under the mistletoe now, and having to share a kiss. Instead, they found themselves under the garland as the tact came out, draping both mares with golden fur. But that was close enough for Rarity as she leaned forward and planted a kiss on Twilight's cheek. A kiss that Twilight soon returned. A kiss the lavender mare held higher than any books she had, any praise she had received.
Rarity frowned as she wrapped part of Twilight's left wing in cloth.Twilight was lying down on Rarity's bed and her left wing looked a little crumpled.
"Is that better dear?" Rarity asked worriedly, seeing Twilight tense when she wrapped the wing.
"Yeah." Twilight said, with a smile "I don't think it's anything serious, but I'm feeling better already. " She started to get of Rarity's bed, but Rarity gently pushed her back down.
"No, you need your rest after that crash! I wouldn't want you to hurt your wing even more!" Rarity said nervously.
Twilight rolled her eyes "It's nice of you to worry, but all I did was sprain my wing. My hooves aren't broken." She grinned as Rarity begrudgingly let her get up.
"Well, at least promise me no more flying practice today." Rarity said with a pout.
Twilight sighed "Fine, but I'll have to explain to Dash that practice is off." As she started to walk towards the door she she noticed Rarity's expression.
"What's wrong Rares?" Twilight said with a frown "Rainbow Dash told me that I'd probably hurt myself a few times, Celestia knows that Dash still does. It could have been much worse."
"What's wrong is that it's my fault you hurt yourself, If I hadn't distracted you then you wouldn't have hit the boutique." Rarity said guiltily.
"Hey, it's my fault for not looking where I was going, It doesn't hurt now, and by tomorrow it'll be fine." Seeing that she didn't look convinced, Twilight draped her right wing over Rarity's back and pulled her closer to her.
"Listen, I'm fine and I promise to be more careful next time, okay?" Twilight asked, nuzzling her cheek.
Rarity smiled "Okay, I feel better now." She moved away from Twilight "But I'll make sure and make it up to you later."
Twilight rolled her eyes "Rares, I'm fine. You don't need to make it up to me."
Rarity leaned closer to Twilight and smirked "I said, I'll make it up to you." She smirked as Twilight's face flushed red.
"A-alright then." Twilight blushed, as Rarity chuckled at her reaction.
“Dancing?” Twilight Sparkle asked, unsure as to why she was pulled away from a very interesting study about the mating habits of dung beetles, just for a little bit of dancing.
“Yes darling, dancing.” Rarity exclaimed, practically pulling her unicorn companion by the tip of her horn into the nightclub.
Twilight only grunted in response after being pulled into ‘The Wub Club’, the hot new thing to hit her home city of Canterlot. She’d just tuned twenty-one, and she thought she would reward herself with a nice scientific experiment. However, before she could write down her results, she was recruited by her friend to spend a night out on the town. At first she was ticked off that her friend had removed her from her lab, eventually over the half hour train ride she calmed down, at least until Rarity said they were going dancing.
It wasn’t that she had some kind of dancing phobia. It was only that she preferred to do her dancing in private. Such as in the shower, she could out dance the best of them in there. The only problem was that when she danced in public her legs locked up, leading to some very awkward dance moves. She made the mistake of dancing in public once, during a garden party she would rather forget.
The pair of mares walked into the club. The music was blasting from the speakers cabinets of the DJ across the room.
“WHY IS THE MUSIC SO LOUD?” Twilight yelled to her friend.
“That’s just the way it is at a nightclub.” Rarity’s horn ignited, “maybe this will help.”
Twilight’s ears popped and the music was now at a much more pleasant level. “What did you do to me?” Twilight asked her friend who had made her way over to the bar.
Finding a seat at the bar, Rarity patted the seat next to her. “You’re not the only one who knows neat magic tricks.” Rarity said before motioning over to the bar tender.
“Oh cool, maybe you could teach it to me later?” Twilight replied taking her seat next to Rarity.
“Yes, I’ll teach it to you later.” Rarity turned her head away for a moment, and noticed the bartender was waiting to take their orders. “Could we have a round of tequila shooters please?” Nodding, the bartender began to make the drinks.
“What are Tequila Shooters?” Twilight asked, she may have been a mare with a lot of knowledge on many different things, but alcoholic beverages were not one of them.
“A little liquid courage, you seem to need it.” Rarity chuckled at her friend’s blank stare.
“So, it’s a potion?” Twilight’s face contorted quizzically, staring at the beverage in front of her.
Rarity burst into a laughing fit, grabbing onto her friend. “No, it isn’t a potion, you just drink it.”
Twilight went to sip on the drink when she was stopped by Rarity. “Not like that dear, you must drink it all at once, and then lick the salt around the rim, before biting into the lemon.” Rarity instructed her friend.
The two friends began to enjoy their drinks properly; Twilight amused Rarity when her face started to contort in reaction to the drink.
“Gah! Why would you drink that?”
“You’ll see in a moment darling, now let’s go dancing.” Rarity pushed Twilight onto the dance-floor into the throng of ponies dancing to their heart’s content. Soon Rarity started to move to the music, not doing anything in particular, just letting the music move though her. Twilight on the other hoof just stood there awkwardly smiling at her friend.
“What’s the matter darling, just let the music flow through you.” Rarity nudged Twilight in the side with her horn.
The alcohol now taking affect, Twilight began to cut loose. On lookers looked at her, some snickered, while others took photographs. She knew that some people were going to make fun about her less than stellar dance moves, but she was having fun, so why did it matter what others thought. Rarity excused herself before heading back to the bar.
Putting some bits on the bar, she whistled to get the attention of the bartender.
“What’s your poison?” The grumpy middle-aged stallion asked her.
Thinking for a moment, Rarity decided. “A Black Devil please.” Giving the barkeep the correct amount of bits, Rarity watched him get her a glass.
“Hey Rarity, I think I’m getting the hang of this!” Twilight yelled, still swaying and jumping like a pony who had lost their mind as she moved herself to the music.
Gulping audibly, Rarity witnessed images that would no doubt be in the tabloids tomorrow. Turning to the Bartender, who had yet to make her drink, “could you make it a double please?”
Drink in hoof, Rarity watched the spectacle, only sure of one thing.
"Twilight, this place is marvelous!" Rarity cried as she lounged on the king sized bed of their Canterlot suite.
Twilight gave a small chuckle as she lied down next to her marefriend; "I figured you'd love it. We're going to be here for about a month after all."
Princess Twilight Sparkle and Rarity Belle both had their own business to attend to in Canterlot.
Twilight Sparkle had several meetings with the Royal Court, ambassadors from the Griffin Empire, and nobles from the Crystal Empire that Princess Celestia wanted Twilight to be a part of to help build her training and experience as a ruler of Equestria.
Rarity meanwhile was there to prepare for an annual fashion show. Word had it that Sapphire Shores was looking for a new line of attire for her next tour. Rarity saw it as the perfect opportunity to display what she had worked seven days a week. She also wanted to pay a visit to her close friend Fancy Pants, whom would also be attending the fashion show with his wife Fleur.
Needless to say, when both ponies learned that they would be traveling to Canterlot at the same time, they were both ecstatic. Rarity gave a sly smirk as she looked over to her marefriend.
"You know darling, I don't necessarily have to get started on my presentation for the show until tomorrow..."
Twilight was keen to pick up on what Rarity was implying, "It has been a while hasn't it...?"
Rarity nodded as she leaned in towards Twilight's face. Both mares prepared to give each other a soft, soothing kiss that would lead to-
"RARITY! SPIKE WON'T LET ME HAVE THE TOP BUNK!" Sweetie Belle cried from another room.
"I ALREADY CALLED DIBS ON IT!" Spike yelled.
"THAT DOESN'T COUNT!" Sweetie Belle yelled back at him.
"YOUR FACE DOESN'T COUNT!" Spike yelled once more.
Twilight and Rarity both groaned and facehoofed; wondering just how wise it really was to bring Spike and Sweetie Belle along for the trip.
Clickity clack. Clickity clack. The downpour beating against the train. The world outside their windows blurred as the pair raced on to Canterlot, an urgent mission in the wings. A plan neither one of these two ladies was being honest about.
"Twilight?" Rarity finally inquired. "I understand the princess asked for your aid, but what's the matter?"
"Hmm?" The distracted friend hummed as she was pulled from her thoughts, "Oh, it's about that jewel piece coming to Canterlot tomorrow; the diamond muffin."
"Ah," Rarity smiled. "I've heard several tales of the jewel. Funny how it was perfectly muffin shaped, no?"
"It makes it extremely rare." Twilight smiled. A sly smile, that Rarity mistook for pride in her extracurricular knowledge, but was really the small slip of greed. And that rarity, my Rarity, will increase my pay out ten fold. I've been dying to get my hands on that jewel for years! And now, I'm the head guard who will be setting up the defensive spells! Oh, this is too easy!
"I am to guess then that my aid here is for my extensive knowledge of gems and jewels, no?" Rarity inquired. I know this jewel like the back of my hand. I almost had it in Trottingham last year, but then Pinkie had to clone herself a thousand times and throw off my plans completely!
"Yes, I'll need your expertise to create the spell they'll use to guard it." Twilight smiled.
"I am honored, Twilight darling." Finally, after ten damned years, I'll get my hands on it! No distractions, no children, nothing in my way! All I have to do is provide Twilight with some innocent misinformation, and then I'll be able to come back and claim my precious reward. "Hmm, I can't wait, dear. I must admit, I have wanted to work on some advanced magic with you for a while."
"Same here, Rarity. This will be fun." Twilight smiled her sly smile. I wonder what I'll buy with all that money I'll make. Hmm, a few stolen Starswirl scrolls might just find their way into my hands here soon...
Both women looked put the window, one thought in their minds as the train clicked down the tracks. But how do I keep her out of this? I don't want her to get hurt after all. She's just an innocent bystander to my heist...
"Twilight, there will be thieves. Are you sure about this?"
"I was about to ask you that, Rares. I'll be fine. But I would be lying if I said I wasn't worried for you."
"Don't fret my dear. I'm doing the same thing you are." Rarity smiled as Twilight let herself relax. Neither one knew how true those words were, but soon would.
Tobacco smoke permeated throughout the dingy bar, creating a hazy cloud that burned the eyes of those in the room. Trash and various party supplies littered the ground, left over from the New Year’s celebrations. A lone unicorn mare with a disheveled mane sat on a stool in front of the bar, drinking away at what must have been her fifth margarita. Slamming down the glass, the mare wiped a tear from her tear sodden cheek. She waved her purple hoof at the barkeep, signaling for another drink.
Twilight Sparkle sipped on her drink, her mind starting to wander all over the place. Her she was in a bar on New Year’s Day, drinking her pain away at two in the morning. This was the second year in a row that she has done this. At this point, it’s almost a tradition to drink on New Year’s. Her horn sparked to life, recasting the spell that hid her wings. Sighing, Twilight’s gaze fell to her lap as she began to sniffle a bit.
An hour ago, she had been at a party with all of her friends, celebrating New Year’s at Sugarcube Corner. After the party was over, she laid Spike down, and went back out into the night. She soon arrived at the bar, just like she always did, and ordered her drink of choice. Like many ponies, she had made New Year’s resolutions. However, unlike many ponies, she knew she’d never complete them. Her resolutions weren’t something simple, such as a promise to lose weight, or to stay fit. The only thing she wanted to do was to confess her feelings for a dear friend, a mare that was very dear to her heart.
She was in love with her fashionista friend. So many times, she has come close to admitting her feelings, but she would always hold back. In her heart, Twilight knew her feelings would never be returned. Her friend Rarity was straight, talking constantly about her dream stallion. It didn’t help that her feelings were not hers and hers alone, she knew very well of her number one assistant’s feelings for the fashionista.
Twilight knew her feelings were selfish, but she couldn’t help them. She never planned to fall in love with her best friend’s love interest, it just happened. At first, Twilight denied her newfound feelings, before ultimately accepting them. Luckily, for Spike however, she was set on keeping her feelings a secret.
Twilight could never hurt Spike; it just wasn’t in her to do so. As time goes on, it is becoming harder and harder for her to bottle up her feelings, and pretend they don’t exist. She could only hope that she would get over her feelings for Rarity, but she’s been harboring these feelings for over a year, and that did not seem very likely. Overhearing the bartender yell for last call, Twilight left the bar and headed home.
On the way to her house, Twilight came up with a new resolution; one in which she would stop lying to herself over her feelings and how to go about them. The only thing that worried her now was the possibility of hurting those closest to her, especially her little dragon.
Today was not Rarity's day. Five. Five canceled orders. And it wasn't even lunch yet. Too just top everything off, she had been doing so well, but was falling today. She could feel the pack calling to her. Begging to used again.
"I promised Twilight I would stop..." Rarity muttered to herself as she paced back and forth. Back and forth. Back and-
"Rarity?" A lovely little voice sang out as the shop bell chimed. "I got us some lunch. Thay food!"
"Twilight!" Rarity screamed as she bolted form the study and straight into her lover's hooves. "Where have you been?"
With a sigh, not a giggle, Twilight looked down to the mare and clicked her tongue in dismay. "You couldn't do it, could you?"
"Do what?" Rarity asked.
"I can still smell the smoke on you, Rarity." Twilight whined as she let the white mare slip form her grasp.
"I- I was just so... I'm sorry, Twinkle...." Rarity muttered in defeat.
"Where are they?" Twilight asked as she set the take out on the table.
"In my study, under the third mannequin." Rarity pointed.
"Good." Twilight smiled. "And the back up pack?"
"I would never!" Rarity gasped until her eyes met with Twilight's. "Basement, behind the water heater."
"Very good. Now for the three loose cigarettes?" Twilight asked politely.
"How did you know about those?" Rarity gasped as Twilight smiled.
"I didn't. I just guessed."
"Drat." Rarity laughed at long last as she fetched the offending tubes of leaves from one of her tea tins. "I'm sorry dear. I know this was my goal, but it's just so hard."
"Hey, resolutions are meant to be." Twilight chuckled as she tucked away the paper sticks. "That's why you get very patient help."
"Thank you, dear." Rarity smiled. "Here, give me the cigarettes. I want to break them, to show I'm true to my word!"
"Yay!" Twilight cheered as she held up two of Rarity's menthol delights.
"Umm, darling, there were three..." Rarity pointed out.
"Oh? I must have missed one, here." Twilight smiled sheepishly, handing over the last cigarette with a blush. A blush Rarity was all too quick to catch on too.
"No!" Rarity gasped. "When did you start smoking?"
"I-" Twilight began till her lover's determined eyes won her over. "I started back when I was 15. It was my rebellious phase, and the smoking just sort of... stuck around..."
"Darling! I'm shocked!" Rarity anguished. "All this time, and you never said a word!"
"I had quit. Up till I started helping you quit that is. I remembered how much I would crave for a smoke, and I just couldn't help myself."
"So this whole time I've been suffering, you've been lying to me about how easy it would be?" Rarity snorted, coming nose to nose with Twilight.
"I'm sorry..." Twilight muttered, looking away.
"Me too." Rarity nodded as she floated over a lighter and gave a cigarette to Twilight. "We'll start again tomorrow, okay?"
“Please Twilight! It’s not what you think!” Rarity called from the outside of her marefriend –or ex-marefriend if her reaction from earlier was anything to go by. Her ears perked up to listen as she heard Twilight speak for the first time since she started pleading.
“I was fine with you looking! I was fine with it, but no! I was an idiot…” Rarity’s eyes widened. She knew that tone. Twilight had never had always been a bit insecure, doubly so when it came to romance. Lack of experience and foalhood teasing about her looks having ate their way deep into her psyche. That tone said that she was falling into a pit of depression. The only way to safely help her when she was alone was to make sure she didn’t have anything to cause her to do so.
Rarity opened her mouth to speak once more in the hopes of explaining completely when she winced at the sound of something being thrown into the wall before Twilight spoke again, her voice dripping with depression and hurt, “Two years! Two whole years! Did any of them actually matter?! Did – did I ever matter….? Or was I just a good looking trophy?
“Of course you meant something to me! You meant -and still mean the world to me! More than the world. Please darling… just give me a chance to explain…”
Twilight shouted, her voice cracking, “Explain what? That I wasn’t good enough for you that you needed to find somepony else?! I’m sorry that I’m not some supermodel! I’m sorry that just I’m some - some geek with her muzzle always buried in books! If you don’t want to really be with me then please just say so…” Her voice had lost it’s anger towards the end and dropped into a sad muttering as her tears continued unabated.
“Please Twilight. Just let me in for a moment…I’ll leave as soon as I’m finished speaking if you want me to.” A few minutes passed, making her think that perhaps she had lost the mare she loved completely. Her ears perked excitedly when she heard the lock slide out of place and the door creak open slightly. She opened it just in time to see a cloth cover something on the other side of the room. But she avoided answering. Curiosity could wait for until she wasn’t in danger of losing her special somepony.
Once she fully entered the room she nearly froze at the sad state her marefriend was in. Every part of Twilight could be said to be drooping. Wings, ears, eyes indeed her whole being seemed to be pushed down by the weight of the situation with tears flowing heavily from her eyes as she sat there with Smarty Pants held in a tight grip. “So?” Twilight asked harshly, causing Rarity’s ears to lower more.
“It was a misunderstanding. He kissed me.” Rarity began,only to be cut off quickly.
“You sure looked like you were enjoying it!”
“I assure you kitten, I wasn’t enjoying him slobber on my face at all.” Twilight’s ears rose ever so slightly at the old nickname she had recived for how she stretched in the morning. “Besides. I love you far, far too much to let you go for some stallion with the grace of a drunk goose.”
Twilight stifled a small giggle at the image that had been envoked in her mind. Shaking her head she got close enough to Rarity that her eyes filled her view. “Say it again. To my face”
Rarity smiled and got close, crossing their horn and laying their foreheads against each other. “I love you and only you. I would never leave you. My body, mind and soul belongs to you and you alone. My beautiful kitten.” Twilight’s eyes watered more as she could find no hint of a lie. White or otherwise in her large, blue eyes. She let out a loud sob and embraced her marefriend.
“I’m sorry! I shouldn’t have just jumped to conclusions.” She said, sorrowfully. Rarity merely smiled and caressed her back and before long the alicorn in her hold had calmed down. She began to hum quietly as Twilight bagan to get comfy.
As her eyelids drooped to the sound of her lovers humming, Twilight looked over at what she had thrown and smiled. She would dust it off, get a new box and plan the perfect moment to make the perfect mare her perfect wife.
It was a long-avoided question, but with Twilight Sparkle, curiosity often killed the cat very quickly - but she just couldn't help but notice it, even if she wasn't born with an eye for extreme detail like her better half was.
Although, nothing could avoid a certain puzzling thought from weaving it's way into her mind.
Every time she kissed Rarity, she thought about it. Whenever they cuddled, Twilight's mind eventually wandered to it. The times they held hooves, she was especially curious. And when they went for a 'rendezvous' (as Rarity liked to call it anyway), there was always the smallest itching as to what, why, where or how in Twilight's buzzing brain.
She had always figured out an obvious excuse, rather than intrude by bothering to ask, but it seemed to be too often.
From time to time, she'd see an uneven patch of white on her marefriend's beautiful coat, and it would stand out. Sometimes, there'd only be a few, while other times, there were several. Often, they were near Rarity's hooves, so Twilight paid no mind - it must have been some sort of sewing accident. She knew well enough that her marefriend could be a bit of a klutz if she was in a rush or overworking herself, something like that.
But sometimes, Twilight noticed the marks in other areas too, like on Rarity's hind legs, or on the back of her front hooves, places that it was impossible to get pricked by a needle. However, Twilight was oblivious and thought up an excuse for that one too - it must have been caused Opalescence, seeing how it was no secret that cat was violent with everypony.
...but this was the only time that Twilight ever noticed one of them were irritated. And if she wasn't mistaken, she saw the slightest bit of red in the endless ivory coat of her marefriend.
And this time, it wasn't the most ideal of places to notice either.
It was at one of Rarity's fashion shows, after hours, all of the models were leaving and the audience was long gone. As usual, it was a hit and the newly showcased dresses would be broadcasted in shop windows within a week, if not a few days.
After cheering on in the audience with the rest of their friends, Twilight had gone backstage to spend some time with her marefriend, while the others in the gang went off to go explore the city for a little while until they would all reunite for dinner.
However, the Princess was taken aback as she was about to give Rarity a hello kiss, briefly taking note of a slight, streaked crimson mark by the fetlock of the fashionista's hoof. It was no sewing accident, that was for sure - and sadly, Twilight's observation skills were not at their highest currently.
On the other hoof, though, her concern was definitely growing.
"Rarity?" Twilight said softly, her voice slightly shaking.
She was given a quick kiss, and the unicorn smiled at the knowing her marefriend had showed up. "Yes, dear?" she replied, with a raised eyebrow. "Pardon me, but you look a bit worried, is something wrong?"
"Yes," the Princess hesitated, as she gently took Rarity's hoof in her own, turning it over to let the dressmaker see the bleeding wound. "What happened to you?"
Rarity looked almost mortified as she noticed the injury, and yanked her hoof out of Twilight's, stammering over her words, giving a nonchalant shrug. "It's nothing but a flesh wound," she scoffed. "Really, nothing, I was sewing and-"
"-no needle can cause that," Twilight pointed out. "And if it was the machine, it'd do much worse."
"I'm fine," the fashionista said, in a tone that was a tad bit too defensive and stern. "I'll wash it up in a moment." She magically levitated over a piece of scrap fabric, and gently tied it around her hoof. "And I'll hide it as well, if it makes you feel any better."
With slight hesitated, the alicorn bit her lip and shook her head. "It's not good enough," she murmured.
"Whatever do you mean, Twilight?" Rarity replied, in a somewhat cautious manner.
"I don't know what it is, but-" Twilight stammered, and looked down, to notice other slight uneven marks among her lover's foreleg.
"I'm just worried how you got all of those scars. I've noticed them for a while now, and they can't be accidental, I see them too often." She looked up, with her lavender eyes meeting concerned forget-me-not blue ones. "...Rarity? What is it?"
Letting out a deep breath, Rarity lowered her hoof, and bit her lip. "I was starting to wonder why you didn't ask about them," she sighed. "I suppose it was only a matter of time."
She took note that this confused Twilight, and so - she continued.
"I can't explain it," she said shakily. "And I don't want to, even if I could. It's nopony's fault, except my own, I'll give you that much. I love you dearly, but when I'm ready to tell you the tale, will you be there to listen?"
A moment passed, only before Twilight's expression fell in realization.
Oh, Rarity...
Who would have ever guessed that a mare as beautiful as she would be so broken?
The alicorn nodded, as she suddenly leaned in, placing a passionate kiss on her lover's lips. It wasn't the usual I Love You sort of kiss, but rather the kind of kiss that expressed true, raw emotion and nothing but deep caring. It was the kind of passion that was sweet, soft, and unconditional - the type that was also like a silent promise.
"I'll help you, if I can," Twilight whispered as they finally broke the kiss. "I don't mind if you don't tell me, but I promise you, Rarity... I'm going to help you."
A single tear trickled down Rarity's cheek, and she managed a broken, bittersweet smile. "Thank you, love," she murmured.
The two mares stood there in silence, embracing one another, trapped in their love and connection for a moment. After all, love was all about strengths and weaknesses, no matter how deep the scar.
With an angry snort, Twilight pushed past her friends as they all gathered around the doors. They where holding her in, and right now, she would not have that.
"Twilight, wait!" Rarity pleaded, the guiltiest party present.
"I don't think that's a good idea, Rarity." Twilight growled as she set out down the street. Four friends looked on in confusion as one felt about ready to cry.
"Rarity, what happened?" Applejack asked at long last, still watching their enraged friend depart.
"Nothing, darling. Not a thing." Rarity was quick to answer, and her look made it clear that she really didn't want to answer any questions about it beyond that.
"I thought you two were just taking some egghead test?" Rainbow Dash tried to ask, but was hastily ignored. Rarity was off with an envelope of sorts, quickly trying to catch up to her friend.
~~~~~<>~~~~~
Back at the town library, the old Golden Oaks, Rarity knocked hard on the door softly. She was still unsure the plan, but she just had to try. There was no answer though. Rarity sighed as she knocked again, with more authority. Again, nothing. Rarity was about to walk away when she heard the click of the lock followed groan of wood.
"What do you want?" Twilight asked venomously.
Rarity only smiled as she levitated up the envelope and a lighter. With a small chuckle, Twilight stepped aside to allow her friend entrance. Both mares soon found themselves settled neatly on the couch, as Rarity gave the implement of destruction over to the lavender mare.
"Good riddance." Twilight snorted playfully as she clicked the flame to life, setting it to the edge of the letter in question. "Sorry I was so rotten about it."
"I don't know what you're talking about, darling." Rarity laughed as she levitated over a blanket to wrap them both up with as they watched the flames tear away at the letter. "Not a clue."
"Thank you." Twilight smiled warmly for her cuddling friend as the flame tore away another level of paper. The words were brief, but there they stood for all the world to see.
Twilight Sparkle: IQ-182 Rarity Grace: IQ-183
And then, they were gone, never to be talked about again as the two mares in the blanket cuddled tighter. Right now, they were warm, and happy, so let stupid tests lie.
What do you expect to be the worst news you'll ever hear? That a loved one died? That you are going to die? How about a dear friend is going to die soon? That's some pretty bad news.
The results of her blood test confirmed the growing fear eating away at us all as of late. Poor Rarity, truly. Rarity was sick, so very sick. The technical name is long and painful sounding, and those words do not fit her beautiful visage, so allow me the courtesy of being frank. Rarity's kidneys where shutting down. She needed a donor, and soon. I did all I could. I studied the medicines for weeks, but I found no miracle pill. I studied every tome in my library, but found no archaic words worthy.
But the doctors, they did find an answer. Those clever colts in their pristine coats discovered that Rarity had a match. Me.
I am a perfect match for Rarity. Before they could even finish explain this news to me, I was sold. I told them right there to take me into surgery. I would give her one of my kidneys. I didn't even stop to ask normal questions, like how would this affect my life. I was crazy that day. Blessedly crazy.
My friends all cheered for me, and I yelled at them for it. I can't believe I had to tell them, but I did. I'm not a hero, Rarity is. Rarity never gave up hope, when I almost did. Rarity made friends in the hospital, and grew as a pony. I became a shut in while I searched. Rarity had even lately donated her mane to the foals with cancers, just so they could feel normal. I was just born lucky, able to help her. Rarity is a hero. I'm just a tool.
But I'm alright with this. As long as she comes out alright, I'll b-
~~~~~<>~~~~~
"Miss Twilight?" The doctor asked as I tore my eyes away from the diary page. "They're ready for you."
"Then we should be going." I said as I let the doctor wheel me away in a chair. I never even looked back at that diary as I raced on to save my friend. Soon I was in a gown, sitting on a gurney as I answered questions and had an I.V. drawn. All standard. What I didn't expect was my new hero to come in also.
"Hello dear," Rarity smiled. She was thinner now, and pale. She looked different without hair also. She was beautiful now. She was stronger right now than I recall ever seeing her.
"Hello yourself there, Rarity." I smiled. "I think I have something here for you."
"I hope so, otherwise they grabbed the wrong pony again." Rarity laughed. "Thank you Twilight. You're my savior."
"I was just born lucky. You're the strong one."
"No, I'm not." Rarity sighed. "I was scared, but found courage in your quest. You never gave up. You found one hundred wrong answers, whilst all I had to do was not give up on living. You even chose to do something radical, reckless, and maybe even crazy, at the drop of a hat. Just for me. Thank you Twilight. You're my hero."
"I just wanted to do what's right." I smiled warmly, even if the smile was small.
"I'll make it up to you, dear. Dinner when we wake up?"
I laughed hard now. "Sure. First I.V. is on you." The nurse nodded to me as she spliced in the antithetic. I felt my world start to get blurry, as Rarity's did too, because the last words we said, I'm pretty sure, went a little like this.
"I love you, Twilight."
"I love me too. And you Rarity. Like... love love."
"Good, I'm not alone." I guess I'll have to talk to her about that, when we wake up.
“Oh, it’s just terrible! Horrible! Terribly horrible!”
Twilight Sparkle fought back the urge to sigh. Rarity had called her over to Carousel Boutique, insisting that whatever matter she needed help with “simply could not be heard by the public ear”, as she put it. And just what was so terribly horrible that they needed to meet in private?
“Rarity, it’s just two pounds…”
A meager dietary slip-up. It wasn’t that the princess didn’t sympathize with her friend. As a fellow perfectionist, she knew all too well just how frustrating it could be to pour all her energy into keeping everything just so, only to have one rebellious hair refuse to stay in place.
Even so, making a mini-crisis out of a two-pound weight gain seemed a bit silly.
“Besides,” Twilight continued, “it’s not even noticeable.”
“Yes, darling, I know,” Rarity huffed, “but that’s always how it starts out! First two, then ten, then fifteen, and it just never stops! And it all goes straight to my rump and thighs, too!”
“Huh?” Twilight raised an inquisitive eyebrow.
The unicorn blushed and quickly looked away. “W-well, I… That is… You see…” She sighed. “Promise to keep this a secret? Please?”
Twilight nodded. “Of course.”
“Do you swear?”
“Definitely.”
“Do you Pinkie swear?”
The alicorn rolled her eyes, but obliged all the same. “Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.” Rarity smiled. “Thank you, dear. Well, during my college years, ah… let’s just say I wasn’t as well versed in dieting techniques as I am now.”
“’Not as well versed in--‘” Twilight’s eyes widened in realization. “You mean you were a victim of the Freshmen Fifteen?”
“Yes.” Rarity blushed. “I still haven’t forgiven myself for how careless I was back then. It took my entire stay at Manehattan University to shave off all those pounds!”
“At least you know better now, right?”
“True enough, I suppose…”
The alicorn smiled. “Besides, I bet through thick or thin, your butt will stay as perfect as ever!” It was only after the words left her mouth that Twilight realized her mistake.
What did I just say?!
The two mares stared at each other, Twilight in mortified horror, and Rarity… she was shocked, obviously, but it was hard to tell beyond that. Silence reigned, and the tension in the air was so thick it was practically visible. Twilight’s eyes darted around Rarity’s workroom, as if looking for something she could use to change the subject.
Sadly, the boutique wasn’t feeling particularly generous that day.
After what felt like an eternity of awkwardness, Rarity was the one to finally find her voice.
“Err… Thank you. That’s very, ah…” The unicorn cleared her throat. “Would you care for a drink? Some tea or water, perhaps?”
“Huh? Oh! Sure! Yes, water sounds great, thanks!” Twilight hurried past Rarity out the door.
“And Twilight?”
She stopped dead in her tracks. Slowly, and with no small amount of apprehension, she turned to look her friend in the eyes.
With a spark, Twilight set the wick of the candle ablaze. Turning her head to the clock on the wall, noticing that it was a quarter to six, she quickly trotted into the kitchen to check on the vegetable soup she had simmering. One of the few things she could actually cook well, Twilight practically lived off the stuff when she was in college. Bringing the wooden spoon to her lips, she sipped the soup, making sure that it was made to perfection. Putting the wooden spoon back in the pot, she walked over to the kitchen table, and set it with two bowls and two spoons.
After making sure her silverware was straight, Twilight left the kitchen, and went down into her basement to retrieve what would be the centerpiece of the table. Sitting on her workbench was the candle that she had spent weeks making for her anniversary dinner. It was made from only the most premium of extracts that she had extracted herself from the scents that her marefriend, Rarity enjoyed the most. Candle in tow, Twilight went back into the kitchen to place her special candle.
Twilight studied the mauve candle as she adjusted its position on the table. Satisfied, she levitated the pot of soup, and brought it to the table. Giving each of the bowls a generous helping of soup, she garnished them with a pinch of clover in the center. The aroma of the soup made her mouth salivate, but she had to wait for her date to arrive before she could enjoy it. Setting the pot back on the stove, Twilight lit the wick of the candle. A knock at the door prompted her to go answer it.
The door opened to reveal her marefriend Rarity checking her appearance in a small mirror. Twilight cleared her throat.
“Oh, hello darling, I didn’t see you there,” Rarity put her mirror away in her purse as she stepped inside the library.
“Don’t worry about it,” Twilight assured, leading her marefriend into the Kitchen.
Upon entering the kitchen, Rarity spotted Twilight’s simple but refined table layout. “My, you didn’t need to go to all this trouble Twilight.” Rarity breathed deeply, taking in all of the pleasant scents.
Twilight walked up to Rarity, and gave her a small peck on the lips. “I know, but I wanted to make our Anniversary special,” Twilight replied with a smile.
“We could have had takeout, and it would still have been special.” Rarity nuzzled Twilight, before taking a seat at the table.
Twilight simply smiled, and sat in the chair opposite of Rarity. The two mares started to eat quietly, occasionally sipping on their glasses of Marelot from their shared wine cooler.
“Where is… ” Rarity began.
“Spike is on his date with Silver Spoon at the café.” Twilight interrupted, not even looking up from her soup.
Rarity didn’t respond right away, her eyes traced over the candle as she looked at it deeply. “Good for him. Where did you get this candle, Twilight? It looks and smells absolutely marvelous!” Rarity swooned, taking an even bigger whiff of the candle’s scent.
“You like it?” Twilight asked. “I spent the better part of a month making it.” She added looking up at a doe eyed Rarity.
“Like it? I LOVE it!” Rarity exclaimed, before adding. “Why it must be the most stunning candle I have ever seen!”
“I’m glad you like it. Maybe all my hard work deserves an award?” Twilight asked huskily, leaning over the table.
Rarity, realizing where her marefriend was going, “It most certainly does,” she said seductively, leaning over the table as well.
Twilight puckered her lips slightly in preparation for meeting those soft, succulent lips of her partner.
….
......
……….
Twilight opened one of her eyes, confused at what was taking Rarity so long, and saw that… Rarity was kissing a candle?
Twilight looked onwards in shock as Rarity practically fellated the candle. Her marefriend’s once white lips were now covered in the mauve wax of the cylindrical object. Strands of thick wax now connected the roof of her mouth and jaw. Rarity’s eyes were now in a thick haze of lust, candle lust.
“Huh… What?” Twilight stammered out as her jaw made its way to the floor. The dull thud of Twilight’s hoof hitting the table woke Rarity from her candle-induced lust.
“T-Twilight, this isn’t what it l-looks like!” Rarity said frantically trying to hide the object of her affections.
“What do you mean it isn’t what it looks like? It’s exactly what it looks like!” Twilight shouted, her face still in disbelieve.
Rarity’s eyes filled to the brim with tears as she cried out a response. “I never meant for it to be this way!”
“Be this way? What in Celestia’s name, are you talking about? It’s a feathering candle for discord’s sake!” Twilight argued, baring her teeth at the mare in front of her.
“I never knew a flame would spark between Candie and me, it just happened!” Rarity stepped in front of Twilight while bawling her eyes out.
“Are you serious right know?” Twilight growled deeply.
“Please, know I’m sorry, and never meant for it to end like this!” Rarity sobbed out an apology before turning tail, and bolting out off the library.
Twilight sat down on her haunches. ‘Did that seriously just happen?’ Twilight thought to herself in disbelief. ‘Did I really get dumped for a candle?’ She thought again, trying to piece together what just happened.
A few moments later, the front door opened. Expecting to see Rarity, Twilight lifted her head, and met the confused eyes of her dragon assistant.
“Was that Rarity I just saw right now, sobbing and muttering to a candle?” Spike asked not believing what his eyes were telling him.
Sighing deeply, Twilight deposited the bowls in the sink. “Yep,” she stated simply in a monotone voice.
“Then shouldn’t we, I don’t know help her?” Spike suggested with wide eyes, and a worried expression on his face.
“I guess we should,” Twilight shrugged before slipping into her coat, in the hope that they could find the now disturbed and candlesexual mare muttering to a hunk of wax.
"Now, Twilight, you didn't have to get me a gift," Rarity said, with a small smile.
"It's not really a present," Twilight explained. "It's - well, I can't really describe it without spoiling the surprise."
The dressmaker cocked an eyebrow, and thought for a moment, only before giving in. "Alright then," she murmured, deciding to play along. "So... are you going to tell me where it is?"
"I can't give it away if it's meant to be a surprise," the Princess suddenly realized, as she let out a frustrated sigh and realized her mistake. "Um, how about we do this - you have twenty questions to try and guess where and what it is, and then if you don't get it right, I'll give in and tell you?"
Rarity chuckled at her marefriend and smiled. "Fair enough," she replied. "Is it in this room?"
"Yes!" Twilight piped up, only before her expression slightly faltered. "No. Well, sort of. You're half right."
"So you're hiding it," Rarity declared. "Is it anywhere in the Boutique?"
"Same answer as before," the alicorn said in defeat.
"Is it a thing?"
This question made Twilight think for a moment, only before she gave a half-hearted shrug and nodded. "For now," she replied.
Now, it was Rarity's turn to be slightly puzzled with the result she had been given, but nonetheless, she decided to continue on with her questions. "How would I use it?" she inquired.
"I-" Twilight hesitated, and stammered, only before giving up. "I'm not sure. Still, I'm positive you'll like it."
Well, that didn't help much.
"What color is it?" Rarity questioned, as she began to survey her gaze all around the room, looking for any sort of clue.
"I don't know," Twilight admitted.
"What do you mean you don't know?" the fashionista said, now even more perplexed as she turned back to her lover. "You had possession of it before I did."
The Princess gave a so-so motion with her hoof. "Not quite," she responded. "And that counted as a question, by the way."
This was getting nowhere.
All of the ideas Rarity had buzzing in her mind from before, they had vanished. Apparently, Twilight didn't want to make this easy.
"If it's not in the Boutique, and you don't know what it looks like, how am I supposed to find it?" the unicorn inquired.
"Because I still have it," Twilight countered. "Sort of."
"So, it's invisible?" Rarity joked, with a soft chuckle.
A moment of silence passed, only before the alicorn slightly nodded. "I guess you could say that," she murmured.
This really was impossible. Either it was a joke or Twilight was being terribly confusing - and Rarity was going to go with the more obvious choice of the two.
Releasing a defeated sigh, she shook her head. "Well, could I have a hint?" she tried.
"That counts as a question," Twilight reminded. "But I can tell you this much - you're going to have to wait a while for it to show up, even after you find out what it is."
"How long would I have to wait for it?" Rarity pondered, now fully and utterly confused.
"If my calculations are correct, about eight to nine months."
This statement caused a sudden silence to pass by as the dressmaker took a minute to think things over. It was there, but not quite, thus making it somewhat invisible. Twilight had it, and she didn't know what it looked like, plus some waiting would have to happen before it would be revealed. Now, Rarity was no fool, so she didn't know why it was taking her this long to figure out what the surprise was...
Suddenly, then all of the pieces of the puzzle fused together.
With a light gasp, Rarity looked to Twilight in disbelieving shock, which immediately caused the alicorn to begin stammering in worry.
"Rarity, really, I can explain how it happened, and-" She was cut off, with a kiss.
Letting out a breathless laugh as they broke apart, Rarity's shock melted away with a priceless smile replacing it. "I'm no fool, darling," she murmured. "I know how it happened." A glint of mischief sparkled in her sapphire eyes, and she chuckled. "And I almost have a feeling that you intended this to happen."
"Well, maybe not this soon," Twilight admitted, with a light blush. "But I'm happy, and so are you. That's all that matters, right?"
"You're very correct on that," Rarity smiled as she kissed her marefriend once more.
And even if the surprise was still unnoticed by anypony's gaze, in the minds and souls of the two mares, the sound of a little foal's hooves running around was echoing in their minds.
I used to adore wedding dresses. To me, they were a promise of seemingly endless days of matrimonial bliss. I would frequently imagine myself dressed in one of my own, slowly making my way to the altar and my beloved Prince Bluebl—well, he’s not nearly as beloved anymore, needless to say.
All the same, my experience left a bitter taste that still lingers to this day. I can no longer look at a wedding dress without remembering the disappointment I felt that night. It certainly doesn’t help when I have an increasing number of clients all coming to me so they can have their wedding dress perfectly crafted to please their loving stallion for their wedding and have their happily ever after while I’m stuck helping them along!
“Oh! Oh, not again!”
It also doesn’t help that I dwell on this tragic fact every time I’m commissioned for one.
“Guess third time isn’t the charm,” I muttered to myself as I undid the stitching. “Come on, Rarity, she needs this ready by tomorrow.”
“Rarity!”
“I’m a bit busy at the moment!” I didn’t bother to look away. I knew Twilight and Spike came to check up on me. The other girls already had. They must have picked up on how sour my mood got whenever it came to wedding dresses. Bless them for caring, but they just cannot tell when a mare wants to be left to fume!
“Rarity?” I heard the door to my workroom open. I still didn’t look away from the dress. “Hey, Rarity! How’s the dress coming along? Will you be done soon?”
“Sorry, Spikey-Wikey, I’m having a bit of trouble at the moment.” My tone had none of the affection it usually did when I called him that. I wasn’t looking at him at the time, but I can just imagine him cringing at my words.
This time, Twilight was the one to speak up. “Why don’t you take a break? Your client won’t need it for a while, right?”
Sighing, I finally turned to face the two. “That sounds wonderful, darling, but she explicitly stated she needed it finished by tomorrow.”
“That soon?” She asked. “Well, um… Have you tried imagining yourself in it?”
“Hardly,” I scoffed. “I just can’t for the life of me picture myself in one. White on white is just so redundant and unappealing, don’t you think?”
I remember one of them trying to interject, but I can’t remember which as I cut them off before they could even finish a single word.
“Do you know how lucky you are, Twilight? You’re the perfect shade of lavender, just right for contrasting with the white. And it doesn’t even clash! Not one bit! And so do all of our friends, for that matter! You’ll all pull it off so… so perfectly while I’m stuck in here, making them for you!”
I had no idea I started pacing during my, ah, slight outburst. Nonetheless, I couldn’t deny I was jabbing poor Twilight with my hoof. An awkward moment of silence past between us before I slowly backed away from her, no doubt looking as guilty as I felt.
“I… I-I’m sorry for that,” I finally said, “It was completely uncalled for. Please don’t hold it against me.”
Twilight, being the ever sweet and forgiving mare she was, just shook her head and replied, “I wouldn’t dream of it.”
“You don’t usually act like this,” Spike added. “Is something wrong? Anything I—Uh, anything we can help you with?”
I turned to him and put on the warmest, most apologetic smile I could muster. “Oh, you don’t need to worry about a thing, dearie. I just need to put aside some time so I can sort things out.”
He obviously wanted to ask more, but the look I gave him kept his questions at bay.
“Alright,” said Twilight, “but you have to promise us you’ll explain one of these days, okay?”
“Of course, darling.” I turned back to my unfinished dress.
“And I seriously think you should take a break.”
“But I really have to—” I sighed. “How about we do this: I’ll keep working for another hour. If I’m not done by then, I’ll pay you two a visit.”
She mulled it over for a minute before answering. “I guess that sounds fair. But just an hour, alright? If you’re not at the library by then, we’ll come back and drag you there ourselves. Right, Spike?”
“Definitely!” He had the most adorable look of resolution on his face as he said that.
“You have my word.” I placed my hoof over my heart for added effect. “Just an hour more. That should be all I need.”
“Good to hear. Come on, Spike, let’s give Rarity some space.”
The two of them made their way to the door, only for Twilight to stop in the doorway. She stood there, Spike staring up at her questioningly, not saying anything. Then, after rustling her wings a few times, she turned around and looked me straight in the eyes.
“Rarity?”
Something about the way she stared at me caused my response to delay for a moment. “Yes?”
“I think you’d look gorgeous in a wedding dress.”
And with that, she made her way out. Spike and I stared at her for a beat before exchanging glances.
“I agree with her,” he said, and then scampered off after Twilight. Silence once again hung in the air as I was left alone with my thoughts.
For several minutes, I did nothing but sit and stare at my unfinished commission, mulling over what Twilight had said. I appreciated her flattery, but I just couldn’t see myself pulling off a wedding dress half as well as she would. White on white can’t possibly hold a candle to white on lavender. Or the inverse, for that matter.
White on lavender, lavender on white… Why does that tickle my fancy?
At an outdoor amphitheater in downtown Canterlot, many ponies were hard at work preparing the main stage for an open-air concert that was to be held later that night. The headline performer was none other than one of the most popular electric musicians in Equestria, DJ Pon3; otherwise known by her real name, Vinyl Scratch.
At that moment, that very pony was backstage calibrating her disc table while chatting it up with her old friend; a cetain baby dragon whom was also the personal assistant to the recently crowned Princess of Magic.
"Spike, I can't believe you came here just to see me man!" Vinyl exclaimed.
Spike replied, "Well, we haven't seen each other in a while; and it's not an everyday thing to be able to hang with you backstage for your own concert." As he spoke he fiddled with the backstage pass he wore around his neck.
Vinyl added, " I know right? The last time we saw each other was for that...uh...interesting fashion show I played music for. Say, weren't you trying vainly to cheer Rarity on even though practically everypony that was there hated those dresses she made and that she really didn't want to be seen?"
After a couple of seconds Spike awkwardly answered, "Yeah...I wasn't exactly thinking clearly that night."
Seeing how uncomfortable her friend was, Vinyl decided to switch topics; "So, how is Rarity these days anyway?"
"She's doing great." Spike answered, "She's been getting a lot more clients in Canterlot and the Crystal Empire, she now has a marefriend, and wait until you hear how she managed to-"
"Whoa, hold on a second;" Vinyl interrupted, "What do you mean by 'marefriend'?"
Spike replied, "Yeah, she's now got a very loving marefriend. You're never going to believe who it is either. Twilight Sparkle herself."
Vinyl Scratch's eyes went wide with disbelief.
"No way. You've got to be making that up." Vinyl said.
Spike shook his head and spoke back, "No I'm not. Rarity and Twilight have been dating for the past several months. Though I do ask that you don't go spreading that around; I don't think they'd like a lot of gossip spreading about them."
Vinyl then said, "Uh, yeah sure. Honestly, it's not those two dating each other that's surprising to me. What's really getting to me is that you seem to be pretty okay with the fact that the mare you seemed to have had one massive crush on is now dating one of your other closest friends."
Several moments of silence hung in the air with no word being spoken between the mare or the baby dragon. Finally, Spike sighed, took a seat on a nearby box, and told his long time friend;
"I'll admit, for the first couple of weeks after they announced that they were together, I refused to speak to either one of them. It wasn't the fact that they were dating each other that got on my nerves; it was the fact that they tried to hide it from me. I guess I can understand that they didn't want to hurt my feelings, considering my crush on Rarity and all; but I would have liked for them to be honest with me still."
Vinyl trotted over to Spike and sat next to him; "I guess it goes without asking, but did you eventually talk to them about it?"
"Yes I did." Spike said, "I told them that after giving it some thought, that I knew that those two were destined to be a very happy couple and I wished them the best; and I apologized for not speaking to them for two weeks. They apologized to me for not being honest with with me about their relationship."
Spike took a pause in his story to take a long look at the sky before continuing.
"As for how I'm cool with Rarity dating somepony else...don't get me wrong, I'll never stop loving Rarity; but I now know that I wasn't destined to be IN love with her; but that doesn't mean we still can't be good friends."
Vinyl took a moment to ponder his words before replying, "Well, it's good to see that you've got a clear head about this. I also hope that-"
Whatever else Vinyl Scratch was about to say was cut off when everypony's attention was directed toward the sky. Looking up, both the Unicorn musician and the dragon assistant witnessed Princess Twilight Sparkle soaring across the sky towards Ponyville.
"What the heck is she doing now?!" Spike exclaimed.
Vinyl suddenly remembered what she saw in one of the newspapers from that morning and grabbed the closest one to her.
"Here;" Vinyl said as she gave Spike the newspaper, "Maybe this will help clear things up."
Looking at the cover story of the paper, Spike groaned and said, "Yeah... that will definitely do it."
Five words that haunted that mare like none other. She cursed the first time she was asked, but that was quickly dismissed as hate for the enemy. Some called them infidels, or rouges. Call them what you want, the lavender mare called them deviants, because nothing else seemed to fit. They were a threat to Equestria, and Twilight felt for their cause. And Twilight was to become a mole among them, because fate was cruel.
"Princess, why are they a threat?" The filly had asked, years ago.
"Because of what they could bring down upon us..." The teacher sighed. "I cannot say why Twilight, but one day I hope you'll understand. I hope that one day, my beloved subjects can forgive me, as I work to right the wrongs of my mother's laws."
Twilight understood all too well what the teacher had meant that night, and before too long, she was put to work as all of the royal students were. She was trained rigorously as a mole. And she was the best. After years of climbing the Equestria Intelligence Agency's ladder, Twilight was finally in her element. Her first mission, where she reported to only the Princess. It was a dream come true for the mare. But where was this mission?
"Ponyville!" Her assigned partner and only friend, Spike, sang out. "Oh man Twi, this will be awesome!"
"Ponyville? A backwater town close to Canterlot?" Twilight snorted. "There will be nothing to report! They're wasting my talents!"
"It just gives you a better chance to work on those Summer Sun Celebration plans then." Spike joked. "And do what the Princess said, make some friends!"
~~~~~<>~~~~~
That had been the start of it all, three years ago. Twilight had since learned that Ponyville had a ripe community of the deviants, laying in secret. She just needed an in was all. Just one, and she could be free.
"Knock, knock?" The soft voice of a dear friend called out. "Twilight darling, are you home?"
"Huh? Hey Rarity." Twilight groggily reply as she lifted herself from her work desk, having drifted off into a nap mid work yet again.
"How can I- help you?" Twilight asked, punctuated mid sentence by a yawn.
"I was invited to a support group tonight, and I must admit that I'm a little nervous about going actually. I was wondering if you would accompany me?"
"Ummm..." Twilight groaned, looking back to her work. It was a lot of cross references on old leads, cold leads. Some up to three years old. "I could use a break, sure."
So the pair was off. Rarity seemed a bit quite, but Twilight just chalked it up too nerves. But why would she be nervous about a support group? Seeking to better one self is a noble goal after all. The only thing one would have to be ashamed of was-
"We're here." Rarity said as she broke Twilight train of thought. "Please darling, after you."
"No no. You're the one here for support Rarity. I'm here to help you help yourself." Twilight smiled. "Lead the way."
"Twilight,I can't do this. I was wrong. I-"
"Rarity, stop it. You came here to get help, right? Well, let me help you. We'll do this together!"
"Thank you dear. Shall we?" Rarity asked as she came side by side with the lavender mare.
Inside though, it was everything Twilight had never suspected, and everything she had ever wanted. The door clicked shut behind Twilight, and she didn't even notice. All she did notice was the symbol, drawn on that poster, hung cautiously on the wall by the door so you had to be in the room to see it.
"Why did you bring her here!?" Twilight heard one member yell at Rarity.
"I have done more for this community than you have, Roseluck! Don't question me. I have spent years learning how to identify one of our own from among the crowd, and Twilight here, she... Twilight?"
"So it's true. There is a secret community in Ponyville..." Twilight muttered with wide eyes as she spun around the room. "I've studied you all for so long with out even realizing it. I heard tales early on, and it got me curious. So I've read, and learned. To hide my curiosity, I did some things I'd rather not say, but now, it doesn't matter anymore. I'm- I'm home now..."
"Twilight?" Rarity asked. "Are you... like us?"
"Yes, Rarity." Twilight smiled as she pulled out her own hoof made sign of her devotion. "I, Twilight Sparkle, am a Christian."
~~~~~<>~~~~~
All Just a Part of a Nefarious Plan by Spartan-Guy 88
LOCATION: Unknown Fortress on Edge of Maretropolis
In a large room deep within the fortress of Doctor Insidious, there were two guards making sure no uninvited guests enter to free two captives that their boss managed to capture a half an hour ago. Those two captives were chained together and hoisted upside down in the air.
They were none other than The Masked Matterhorn and Radiance; and neither one of the seemed rather pleased with their current position in life.
"...Well this is embarrassing." Twilight said at last.
Rarity chimed in, "I couldn't agree more, love."
The two goons down below couldn't suppress their chuckles.
"Yeah! Not so tough now huh?" The first goon asked rhetorically.
The second goon added, "You might as well just call it quits! Because when our boss is done with his machine he's gonna-!"
The Masked Matterhorn interrupted him, "No you don't understand, we were talking to you guys. You guys truly have no idea how easily escapable this is."
"I honestly expected a lot more than this really." Radiance said in a very non-amused tone.
The two goons were left baffled at their statements. Goon One seemed ready to stand his ground.
"What the heck are you ladies talking about?! You're chained several feet off the ground, your other Power Pony have no idea where you are, Masked lady has a dampening ring on her horn, and Radiance is practically powerless without those precious jewels of hers. You don't stand a chance!"
One would expect any other pony to take heed of Goon One's words. Yet all the Masked Matterhorn and Radiance could do is sigh in exasperation.
"This is just sad, Matterhorn." Radiance said. "They just don't seem to see their flaw, do they?"
Goon Two, more nervous than his companion, spoke up, "Th-then why aren't you two just escaping then? Not that we want you two..."
Masked Matterhorn looked down at him and shook her head, "Because we feel sorry for you two. You two are going to be the only ones in here for us to deal with. I just hope your medical insurance is up to date..."
Goon Two gave a big gulp and backed away from them; Goon One however seemed to be more stubborn than ever.
"You're just bluffing! We're not gonna fall for it! Right?" He finished looking at Goon Two.
"Uh...yeah...right..." Goon Two responded nervously.
Twilight whispered to Rarity, "Although I REALLY wish the other girls would hurry up and get in here. I hate the feeling of my blood rushing to my head; and my wings are starting to cramp up."
"Indeed, Twilight. We didn't pool our bits together to get this enchanted comic just so you and I can hang up here and feel terrible for those two hooligans down there." Rarity replied in a whisper.
Just then however, Twilight came up with something very devious to further psychologically twist the knife. "Hey Rarity, wanna make out...?"
Rarity seemed slightly repulsed at the thought, "Darling, you know that I love you with all my heart, and that I just adore to 'make out' with you... but is NOW a really good time?"
"I just want to freak them out even more... Please?" Twilight silently pleaded.
Rarity sighed and replied, "Oh, why not. It is rather enjoyable to fool those two down there anyway."
Down below, Goon One and Goon Two were discussing their current predicament.
"D-Do you really think they mean what they said?" Goon Two asked, "Are they just toying with us."
Goon One resisted the urge to slap his companion upside the head. "Will you just can it already?! They're testing us! Look at them. They've got nowhere to go up there."
Goon Two nervously glanced up towards the two captives, "But what if they-WHY ARE THEY KISSING?!?!"
"Oh nice try," Goon One said while looking up towards whatever it was Goon Two was seeing, "They're not...whoa..."
Both Goons were pleasantly surprised when they saw both The Masked Matterhorn and Radiance passionately kissing each other. Neither Goon seemed to be able to tear their eyes away from the sight or make any sound.
Therefore neither one of them noticed the door to the room getting blasted off its hinges with lighting coming behind it; and neither one of them turned to see two bolts of lightning streaming towards them.
Zapp flew into the room after neutralizing the two Goons and loudly proclaimed, "Don't worry Matterhorn and Radiance, the Power Ponies have finally arrived to-!"
Rainbow Dash looked up and saw her two sisters-in-arms in a rather heated lip lock. She couldn't suppress the groan.
"Oh for crying out loud! You two couldn't wait until we got out of the comic to start trading spit with each other?!"
After finally releasing the kiss, Twilight calmly stated. "Nope, I guess not." She turned towards her marefriend, "Radiance, would you please...?"
"Ah yes of course." Rarity replied.
She then activated her horn -the ONE THING Doctor Insidious and his Goons completely forgot about- and floated her Attack Constructs to her wrists. Once firmly secured, she then constructed a magical bolt-cutter and snapped them both free of their chains.
After landing on the ground, Zapp finally spoke up; "Right, now that you two are done expressing your 'unquestionable love for each other' we gotta join up with the others so we can take down Doctor Insidious."
Just as they all began to leave, the Masked Matterhorn turned towards her lover and said, "You have to admit, we really showed those two not to screw with us."
"All just a part of a nefarious plan my dear..." Radiance replied.
To think, here I stand, inches away from sorrow, with only this stupid bouquet to convey my heart's desire. It had all started with that game, where I agreed to answer with a truth. My clever friend and sister in law had asked if I had any feelings for anyone, and I had to confess I did , but I wished not to disclose whom was my carnal desire. No longer was I able to answer with truth past that as well, for fear of being revealed. So my options were limited to dares. And eventually, it came back to haunt me.
Pinkie Pie, bless her good intentions, dared me to ask out my crush within the next three days. She said it was wrong to lie to myself and them, so I should just get it out in the open. I had to accept. Refusal means I have to tell her my crush so she may ask them out for me, and I will not let that happen. If only so that when I am shot down, there are only two ponies on Equus that know my secret. Gods I hope my little brother never finds out my truth.
So I came home, and planned. I drafted plan after plan, trying every idea to see if in my time limit I could first gauge their reaction, and then peruse from there. But alas, that did not work so well. I just couldn't find the courage to even broach the subject with them when I saw them. No, she was busy, or babysitting, or just plain tired from a lack of sleep as she had been up all night with family concerns. No, I was just going to have to wing it, wasn't I?
So now, on the third day, with a lack of plans and even less so courage, I stood, shaking on her door step as I tried to ring the bell. But my strength was non existent. I tried to knock, but nothing came of that either. I just wanted to cry.
Why? She didn't deserve to have to deal with a friend, a close friend telling her that this smart girl was walking a different path in life. No, she deserved a friend that was that for her, not a hollow shell that wanted to explore so much more with her when that revelation would only cause her pain. But if I failed tonight, then I would have to include Pinkie Pie, and perish the thought of letting another see me like this. No, this was my fi-
"Twilight?" A voice from behind asked, making me turn about. "I'm so sorry dear. I was out getting groceries. I hope you haven't been waiting long."
I failed to answer her. I just stood there almost hyperventilating.
"Are you alright dear? You look pale... Here, let me help you." She offered, stepping towards me. I reacted as well as I could have hoped, given my current state.
I nearly screamed as I thrust the flowers forward, hiding my face behind those soft petals and lovely scent. Maybe, just maybe, this colorful plants can mask my fear.
"Oh, thank you darling." She smiled warmly, taking the flowers despite herself, and giving them a sniff.
"Lilacs. My favorite. Thank you, Twilight." She almost hummed, looking deep into the flowers as if peering into the depths of the sea.
I want to tell her more, but the words will not form. They just sat there, unsaid. Unformed. But defiantly felt. I could feel a million ways to just scream out I love you, but not one way to say it that was not cliched, forced, or insufficient. No, it was a lost cause.
"Twilight?" Rarity asked at long last, looking up from her floral gift. "I have more than enough groceries here. Would you like to stay for dinner? I would really enjoy your company..."
How could I refuse an offer such as that? I nodded as that beautiful mare smiled for me yet again. Now it was her turn to be at a loss for words. She would look to me and just giggle, and sigh a contented sigh. The sigh of stress melting away. I knew it so well, because I was doing it as well. We just stood there for what felt like an eternity, and that was perfectly fine with me, truth be told. But finally, things had to change, and for the better.
"Oh look at me, so flustered now. Here, let me get the lock." Rarity laughed as she opened the door, sweeping her hoof to allow me passage into her home I knew so well. "And Twilight? Thank you ever so much for the flowers. I- I really need this right now in my life... Thank you."
"Thank you..." I muttered. Maybe I wasn't the one that needed a savior on that stoop after all. Maybe it was both of us today. I was fine with that idea.
Well, it had all started out so nice. The girls, Spike and myself decided to take a little trip this winter to the Rocky mountains for a little snowy fun. I had bought a cute new down jacket, and was ready to have the time of my life. Fluttershy and Pinkie had a bit of an issue adjusting to the new higher elevations, so they stayed back at the suite and were going to work on some pastries for us to enjoy when we all got back.
Rainbow Dash and Applejack hit the slope early, determined to find out who among them was the better winter sports athlete. Spike tried to go skiing with Twilight and I, but he was soon found to be far outside his comfort level. He was good, granted, but Twilight had years more experience, as did I. I went skiing every year with my father actually, ever since I was a little girl of about five. I used to-
"Rarity! Come on girl, stay with me!" Twilight urged, rubbing my shoulders vigorously to warm me back up. Her nose was running, and her eyes blood shot.
"Twi-light? Why am I so cold?" I stuttered. Well, surely that couldn't be right...
"Rarity, save your strength, help is on the way. You'll be fine, I swear!" Twilight pleaded, continuing to rub me. Everything was all fuzzy now though... I looked down to the pool of red below me and the hasty bandage.
"Oh, that's right. I broke my leg..."
~~~~~<>~~~~~
"Rarity, this way!" Twilight urged as she darted down the path. The sign was a double black. my favorite. "Where did you learn to ski like this?"
"I've been skiing since I was seven." Twilight laughed as she slalomed down the hill, just barely close enough to hear me or be heard for that matter. "It's the only sport I'm really good at!"
"I had no idea!" I laughed, taking the chance to pass her up. It w as a fun game of cat and mouse, all at 30 miles an hour on a mountain top surrounded by snow and ice. I darted forward, laughing as I looked back over my shoulder. Twilight was having so much fun. I couldn't remember seeing her this happy ever before. Of course the look lasted for a second before I saw her panic.
I turned back around, but just in time to catch that damned branch to my stomach. I was knocked head over heels, flipping through the trees and sliding off the trail and into the forest, albeit painfully. I lay on the cold earth now racked with pain as I heard Twilight scream for me. I was just able to make out her form coming down the hill after me, her skis tucked under arm. Wait, no those where mine.
"Rarity!" Twilight nearly shrieked, sliding in next to me and dropping to her knees. I tried to sit up, but she stopped me. "No! Don't move. Just lay still. This is going to hurt a lot, Rarity."
"What are you-" I managed as I looked down. There before me sat my leg, now with a quite a nasty looking bone jutting out of it. I admit I screamed. Twilight forced me back down, taking her scarf off and propping my leg between my two skis.
"I'm sorry, but this is going to hurt..." Twilight managed. She grunted a she synced down the scarf, holding her splint well in tack. I screamed again. After that, I was a little bit fuzzy, till I felt my scarf come off.
"How many scarfs do you need for a splint?"
"This one's for the tourniquet." Twilight frowned. "You'll die if I don't control the bleeding."
I blacked out when she began tightening the damned thing.
~~~~~<>~~~~~
I first awoke to see Twilight yelling back up the hill. I couldn't turn enough to see them, but I knew it too be Rainbow dash and Applejack. Thankfully they hadn't been far away, and heard Twilight screaming. I felt light headed, but warm for some reason. Unseasonably warm. Like I really needed to get my coat off.
"Rarity, stop!" Twilight screamed.
"I'm fine darling. Just a tad warm." I managed.
"No, you're not. You're going into hypothermia!" Twilight commanded, taking up a seat next to me. She grabbed me by the shoulders and began rubbing me for all she was worth.
"Just hold still." Twilight ordered when I tried to stir. "We'll be out of here soon."
"Why can't you just teleport us?" I managed, my voice breaking against my will.
"I don't want to risk hurting you more." Twilight assured me.
"Can you at least start a fire then? If I'm going into- into-"
"Hypothermia."
"Yes, that. I need heat, right?"
"I would if I could, but all the wood up here is wet. You need to raise your core temperature. I can't do that here with out exposing you to frost bite." Twilight said as her rubbing slowed down. She was getting tired. And so was I...
~~~~~<>~~~~~
Well, that sums up why I'm lying on my side as Twilight continued to try and warm me up, rubbing my back vigorously.
"Twi-Twi-I-Light?"
"Hang in there, Rares." I heard her grunt as she continued to rub me.
"Listen, it's getting dark. I don't want you to put yourself in danger just for me."
"Stop talking crazy." Twilight snorted in my ear. "You're going to be fine."
"Thank you, Twilight." I muttered shortly before passing back out.
~~~~~<>~~~~~
I awoke to quite an odd sensation this time. I may just have been crazy, but it felt like Twilight was hugging me now...
"Hey! Stay with me! Keep talking!" Twilight ordered. She was hugging me... No, wait, her coat was open and mine was fitting differently around me? Were we in a jacket burrito?
"What did you do to my jacket?"
"You need body heat. Just stay with me Rarity. I can hear the ski patrol now."
"Your hands are in my armpits..." I muttered as I took stock of where she had me grabbed.
"My hands are freezing, alright?" Twilight snorted. "I don't want frostbite anymore than you."
"No, I mean whenever you flex your fingers your grabbing my-"
"Hello!?" The ski patrol called out as I heard the two rangers hit the snow. Salvation was at hand...
"Down here! Please, she needs medical attention!" Twilight screamed. Everything was so blurry...
~~~~~<>~~~~~
I awoke a couple of times coming down the mountain, and once in the ambulance. Twilight was right there, every step of the way. Bless her, and bless the morphine drip they had on me now. I later learned Twilight had been reading up on first aide, just by happenstance. I had never been so happy for her random reading exercises as I was that day.
"Thank you, Twilight." I managed in the hospital that night as our friends all gathered around. "I don't think I would have made it with out you."
"Sorry about your scarf." Twilight smiled. "And snow pants. And jacket. And for... well you know."
"Darling, I'm alive, and that's all that- Wait, what happened to my jacket?" She never did answer. She just hugged me close. I laughed, hugging her back as best as I could. "I hope you enjoyed the free grabs Twilight, because now my girls are off limits." I whispered.
"That's not what you said in the ambulance." Twilight teased. I don't know if it was true, but it did raise my heartbeat a little, according to the monitor anyways.
~~~~~<>~~~~~
Completely Lost, Just Like We Wanted To Be by Ponywubs
" Completely lost ( in love), just how we wanted to be?" Rarity looked at Twilight from the flier she was given by Twilight.
Twilight who was just outside of the carousel boutique walked in and said " Yea, an event for couples only, and i think we should enter."
" I don't know twilight, i mean it's being held at sweet apple archers and i just don't think we'll win ( not to mention getting dirty)." Said Rarity as she shut the door behind Twilight and walked towards her kitchen, Twilight not to far behind.
Twilight took a seat the kitchen table, will Rarity put the flier down next to Twilight and went to the tea pot to pour herself a cup " Tea darling?" asked Rarity as she picked up the pot. Twilight shook her head, Rarity proceeded by grabbing a cup from her cupboard and poured herself some tea before setting down next to Twilight. who waited for Rarity to take here seat before continuing, Rarity took her seat and started to drink her tea while listening to Twilight.
" But Rarity there are prizes, grand prize is a weeks vacation at horse shoe resort and --" Twilight was interrupted by Rarity spitting out her and jumping out her seat " HORSE SHOE RESORT!!" yelled Rarity "Love why didn't you just say it from the start!" Before Twilight could respond Rarity grabbed her with her magic bolted out the door.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ five hours later~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Twilight and Rarity were back at the boutique, Rarity madder then when Sweetie belle ruined her dress she made for Twilight. "Can you believe applejack disqualified us? some friend."
Twilight chuckled and shook her head "well you did shoved other out of the way yelling 'GRAND PRIZE IS OURS!!!' and not to mention using your magic when we couldn't." Twilight lean close to her love and gave her a passionate kiss on her lips before saying " who cares if we were disqualified, in my books what we have is worth losing."
"This is just wonderful," Rarity muttered sarcastically. That said, she threw down the papers that she was levitating via her magical grip, letting them fall onto the floor, and stomped out of the room, with frustrated tears in her eyes.
Twilight let out a sigh, as she followed after her fianceé.
"Rarity," she called after the dressmaker. "Just take a minute and calm down, will you?"
"Calm down?!" Rarity snapped, looking back to the Princess. "How should one calm down upon receiving news like this? This is the fifth rejection we've gotten, Twilight - and you're telling me to calm down?!"
Releasing a deep breath, Twilight closed her eyes for a moment, only before slowly reopening them and looking at her beloved with a very delicate, caring expression. "We can't act like this either," she defended. "We just have to find a new place - and change a few plans, that's all. A few mistakes won't keep us from getting married, will it?"
The unicorn let out a scoff, turning away from Twilight. "You're a Princess," she argued. "Why not just sign a new law to allow us to get married? It's not too much to ask, is it?"
"Rarity, I can't just make laws, I have ru-"
"-then ask Celestia," Rarity protested. "You and her are awfully close, she could do you a favor, couldn't she?"
"She can't make an exception for me - or anypony else," Twilight shot back, suddenly getting defensive, as tears brimmed her beautiful lavender eyes. "Don't you think if I could have done that, I would have by now? I can't. Neither can Princess Celestia, or Luna, or Cadence. None of us can pass a law that the citizens of Equestria have voted against, it's illegal."
Rarity froze, and lightly sniffled, hanging her head as she softly cried.
As her stone cold emotionless expression faded away, Twilight frowned, stepping forward and wrapping a foreleg around her marefriend, gently nuzzling her comfortingly. "I'm sorry," she whispered in Rarity's silky vanilla-scented curls. "Really, I am - I wish I could do something. I feel so powerless, even as a Princess, and I feel worthless as a marefriend. I want the same thing you do... but we have to keep fighting for it."
Clutching onto Twilight, the fashionista nodded softly. "It's fine, dear," she admitted, her tone of voice soft and demure. "You're right. We just have to wait."
~ x o x o ~
Finally, after months and months of waiting, practically begging - in addition to endless wishes and prayers, it had happened.
Equestria Daily
Friday, July 18th
Same-Sex Marriage Legal!
After several votes in the past, it is official - three cities in Equestria have now dubbed marriage for fillyfoolers and coltcuddlers legal. Manehatten, Canterlot and Ponyville now accept the rights for same-sex couples to wed, this also includes equal rights for them and the privilege to adopt children, if they wish to do so. This vote was reannounced to the public after two famous Equestrian icons, the nation's newest Princess, Twilight Sparkle, and her partner of three years, a well-known fashion designer by the name of Rarity [Belle], wished to be married. After their engagement rocked the nation, other celebrity couples also came into the spotlight {see more on page five}.
Twilight levitated down the newspaper, and smiled proudly as she took note of the joyful tears in Rarity's eyes and the priceless grin plastered on her expression. She reached forward, taking her fianceé's hoof.
"So," she said, with a light giggle. "Are you ready to become Mrs. Rarity Sparkle?"
The dressmaker laughed, and shook her head playfully as she kissed the alicorn. "I have to admit," she declared. "While that does have a nice ring to it, what would you think about becoming Mrs. Twilight Belle?"
With a sweet little smile, Twilight let out another giggle slip out. "We both have pretty last names," she argued, in a teasing manner.
"Let's save that for later. I'm assuming you already have some wedding dress designs planned?"
Rarity nearly squealed and nodded. "I actually have an entire notebook of just ideas," she admitted. "I was thinking maybe a soft blue for you, like the Gala dress I made you? Or a reverse color palette would work - you could be in white, and I was thinking a nice lavender gown for myself? Then again, I don't think either of us would be allowed to wear white on our wedding day seeing how-" She was silenced with a kiss from Twilight, who softly chuckled.
"Go get the designs," she declared. "And I'll get my checklists. We have a wedding to plan."
Rarity smiled that sort of irreplaceable smile again.
"The Summer Sun Celebration for the date, and Ponyville as our venue?" she inquired.
"As if we would pick anything else," Twilight murmured, returning the grin as she victoriously kissed her bride-to-be once more.
The fight they had fought for their love was painful and cruel...
"Twilight, stop." Rarity groaned as the princess stormed off, almost earning the moniker of a tyrant.
"Rarity, I can't believe you! I simply can't believe you want this- this thing around!" Twilight snorted as she turned around, thrusting the toy monkey under her wife's nose. "There is a recall on this toy! And I don't know about you, but I will not let our precious little filly play with such dangerous things!"
"Not Momo," Rarity whined, taking the toy away form Twilight unexpectedly. "Charity loves him. Have you seen her smile when she plays with him?"
"Rarity, the eyes come off extremely easily!" Twilight retorted, trying to reclaim the toy, but found herself frozen by the mother's stare.
"I saw that information yesterday. And I then when over and removed the eyes Momo came with, and added some new ones myself." Rarity hissed back. "Or did you forget you're married to a seamstress who makes baby clothes for a living as well as her elegant gowns?"
"I-"
"Twilight, I get where you're coming from, but Charity is going to be fine. Just relax, breath deep, and trust the monkey." Rarity smiled before she was interrupted by the cry of a small filly piercing the air.
"I'll be so much happier when teething is over." Twilight groaned as she and her lover returned to the small unicorn's care once more.
A cream colored filly with amethyst eyes and messy indigo hair that refused to cooperate with Rarity's design plans, but in a rather adorable way lay there now, commanding all attention like a true child of Rarity's would in any room.
"Why Charity? Why did you have to take after my father for your mane's volume?" Rarity teased. "Please, please please please, tell me you'll get that under control by the time you start school, little fluff ball?"
"I've been meaning to talk to you about that-" Twilight began, but was again cut short by the mother's glare.
"What did I tell you about teaching our foal about advanced mathematical concepts?" Rarity snorted.
"It doesn't count if it's only theory?" Twilight ventured to a weighted sigh from her tired better half.
"No Twilight. You're worrying too much." Rarity scolded as she lifted the foal to check her diaper.
"I just don't want our foal to waste any time of learning potential on silly things like Wonderbolt lineups or teen stars." Twilight sassed back. "Do you?"
"No, but you're still being too overprotective dear. Clean diaper?"
"I'm just so scared. You've had years of practice raising Sweetie Belle around your house. You're a natural..."
"You raised Spike." Rarity chortled.
"Spike can swim in lava. He's pretty disaster proof on his own." Twilight dismissed while Rarity set the filly back down with the monkey in tow.
"True, but you still had to learn about feeding, diapers, story time, and the like, no?" Rarity asked as she pressed her love to the wall. "I like to think you're a great mommy too. You're just a tad excitable."
"Meh, I'm just well read." Twilight teased while she wrapped her hooves around her lover. "How about we get some of that 'little thing' we can't really get anymore?"
"Darling, talking about 'That?'" Rarity laughed quietly while their foal slipped into slumber once more. "You know talking about it means it'll never happen."
"We can try." Twilight affirmed, taking Rarity's hoof and guiding her to the bedroom for a favored past time neither was fulfilling as of late. Just as the two heads hit the pillows though, a cry broke the air of the too briefly quiet home.
"Twi? Rares? I'm back from Sweet Apple Acres!" Spike hollered out as he came home, and like clock work the cries of Charity Sparkle Grace rang out through the house. "Oh man, why didn't you two tell me she was asleep?!"
"So much for sleep..." Twilight groaned.
"Twi, Charity needs a new diaper!" Spike hollered down the hall, walking into their room holding the filly at arm's length.
"I got this one Rarity. Try to get some sleep." Twilight smiled for her lover, just to find the mare had passed out as soon as she had hit the bed. "I will never figure out how you do that..."
"Twilight, what have you been feeding her?" Spike retched as Twilight took hold of the filly and walked her back to the nursery.
"Just what the top infant nutritionists recommend." Twilight smiled. "I may be the 'Overprotective parent,' but our filly's healthy, so that's all that matters."
"It smells like spinach and asparagus in here..." Spike complained to his friend of many years. "Besides, all those docs change their minds as often as you change her diapers."
"No they- Well... Huh, I guess they do..." Twilight reasoned while she finished with her daughter's diaper. "I am getting tired of asparagus diapers myself..."
The shrill beeping of the alarm clock shattered the serene morning, rousing the sleeping ponies in the room.
“Ugh, my head,” Twilight groaned. Ears ringing from the shill beeping sound coming from the alarm clock by her bed, Twilight grabbed the object of her derision and chucked the infernal device out the window of her hotel room. Rubbing her eyes, Twilight tried to remove herself from the bed, but found herself snared by a pair of white forehooves. The groggy princess turned to her bedmate and tried to wake the sleeping mare.
Rarity’s eyes fluttered open to see the dark bags and dull purple irises of her friend’s eyes. “Good morning my—” she paused, a skull splitting headache interrupting her greeting, “—Dear.” The fashionista finished, rubbing her temple, groaning in pain.
“What did we do last night?” Twilight asked, turning away from Rarity to take a sip from the glass of water she had sitting on the night stand.
Pausing for a moment while trying to get her thoughts in order, Rarity answered. “Well, we went out with the girls drinking last night for your twenty first birthday, and then we—” the unicorn paused again trying to recall, “— to be completely honest, I don’t quite remember after the sixth or so round of tequila.”
“Even Fluttershy?” Twilight questioned. her headache subsiding if only for the moment.
“No, not Fluttershy, she was the designated… whatever.” Rarity shook her head. “Oh, why does my head feel so heavy?” She asked, reaching above her head she felt something familiar. “I think this belongs to you.” Rarity said, handing Twilight her crown.
“Thanks.” Twilight set her crown on the nightstand.
“I believe we should go get some breakfast, perhaps the girls are up as well.” Rarity suggested, breathing into her hoof her face scrunched in disgust. “On second thought, go on without me, I going to go brush my teeth.”
Twilight nodded and left Rarity in the bedroom. She walked down the hallway towards the small kitchenette on the other side of the condominium, and found everypony with the exception of Applejack and Rarity at the kitchen table.
“So Twi, how does it feel to be a newlywed?” Rainbow Dash asked while taking a sip of her black coffee.
“How should I know? I’m not married.” Twilight held her head in her hooves, not even bothering to look up.
“You don’t remember?” Rainbow Dash chuckled. “Oh boy, this is gonna be good.”
“Remember what and why is it going to be good?” Twilight asked, finally looking the now cackling pegasus in the eyes.
“Oh, dear,” Fluttershy quietly stated, “This won’t be good, no, not at all.”
“Maybe you should read it for yourself.” Pinkie Pie passed Twilight the newspaper and went back to reading the comics section.
Twilight’s eyes scanned the paper and the large photograph on the front page of the Las Pegasus Sun, and found to her horror, that she was indeed married and to none other than her friend Rarity.
“What?” Twilight asked just above a whisper.
“WHAT!?” Twilight suddenly screeched, rereading the paper again to make sure her eyes did not deceive her.
Twilight looked up to see Rainbow Dash laughing hysterically, Pinkie Pie still reading the comics, and Fluttershy looking back at her with a nervous smile. Not waiting for a moment, Twilight bolted from the table and ran into somepony.
Twilight stood up dusted herself off and saw that she had ran into her friend Applejack. “Oh, sorry Applejack, I just found out that I’m married and now I need to find Rarity. Do you know where she is?” Twilight asked, beads of sweat traveling down her face as she struggled to catch her breath.
“Don’t worry none about it,” Applejack assured. “She’s in the bathroom, worshiping the porcelain god.” The farm mare laughed to herself a bit.
“What, there’s a god of porcelain?” Twilight inquired, not in all her years of intensive studying did she ever her about a god of porcelain, and she knew multiple gods and goddesses personally.
“What no, just go see for yourself.” Applejack rolled her eyes and pointed towards the end of the hall.
Twilight didn’t say anything. She headed down to the end of the hall and ducked into the bathroom to see Rarity hugging the toilet like she didn’t want to let it go.
“Um Rarity, we have a bit of a problem and—”
“I know dear, Applejack told me.” Rarity turned to Twilight, a thin line of bile escaping the edge of her muzzle. “We’ll work through it together, just as soon as I get done vomiting.” The sick mare dry heaved again before nasally adding, “or when I keel over, whatever happens first.”
"So Sweetie Belle and her friends made... this?" Rarity cringed as she levitated up the potion in question, looking at the offending fluid as if it would apologize for it's existence.
"Yep..." Twilight sighed. "I just knew giving them that book was a bad idea."
"What kind of potion is it, do you think?" Rarity asked as she turned the bottle to examine the sheen of the liquid.
"I don't know. It didn't trigger any results on the potion litmus test..." Twilight frowned. "That book holds over sixteen different potion recipes. We need to test this."
"Fluttershy won't loan us anymore rabbits, darling. Not after last weeks 'test.'"
"Plan B then. Rarity, you're control. I'll take a small taste to see if I can determine the effects." Twilight surmised.
"If you insist." Rarity added, watching in horror as Twilight took a small sample with an eye dropper, then carefully let just one drop splash onto her tongue. "Anything?"
"No." Twilight noted, looking in the mirror carefully. "Well, it's not a cutie mark potion, I can tell you that much."
"Is it dangerous?"
"No, I don't feel any ill effec-" Twilight told while she turned, but stopped as she laid eyes on the white mare with the slightest signs of a frown. She cared so much, and she just couldn't help but admire that sort of dedication to family and friends. And her eyes looked so pretty. And her hair looked so pretty. Everything was kinda pretty now. "Rarity..."
"Yes Twilight?" Rarity asked as she stepped closer, her fear paramount.
"You're really pretty."
"... Granted, now are you okay?"
"I'm fine, but you're perfect." Twilight sighed, letting that drunken smile of love slip over her features.
"Oh bloody hell, it's a love potion." Rarity growled. "Okay Twilight, how do we break a love potion?"
"Eee! She said my name!" Twilight giggled, dancing around.
"This is going to take a while..."
"I'm fine with that..." Twilight said timidly, slipping closer still to Rarity so she could whisper to her lovingly. "As long as I get to be with you, I'll take a long as you want me too."
"Down Twilight." Rarity ordered. "We have to figure out why my sister would even make a love potion to begin with."
"Yeah. Or we could just stay here and cuddle for a bit..." Twilight offered meekly. "That also sounds like a good plan."
"Ugh." Rarity grunted as Twilight wore on her nerves. "Get your head out of the clouds, Twilight. We have an important mission."
"You won't drop this till we've solved the mystery, will you?" Twilight asked rather sharply.
"No, I shall not, Twilight."
"Fine. How about if I can answer your questions, you'll cuddle with me?" Twilight bargained.
"No."
"Please?"
"No!"
"One try? That's all I ask."
"Just one?"
"Just one." Twilight nodded.
"Fine. If you can get the answer in just one try, I'll cuddle with you." Rarity snorted in disgust. Part of her felt bad for manipulating her friend's condition, but the other part was just annoyed and ready to do what it took to move this show along.
"Yay!" Twilight cheered. "So it seems pretty obvious that given the holiday coming up tomorrow, they wanted to do something special for a certain somepony. Seeing as they would all have to rally around one target for their join efforts, that narrows it down to Cheerilee as the mare. The colt could be anyone in town, but logic dictates they would pick Big Macintosh due to his relationship with them already and the fact that he is one of the few single stallions in Ponyville at the moment. The administration is probably tonight or tomorrow, more than likely at a secluded area where the kids will be betting their targets drink the potion sold to them as punch because 'they're just kids being kids.'"
Rarity was stunned. Her mouth hung open as her brain tried to process the information, but to no avail, till, at long last, "Big spoon or little spoon?"
"Yay! Yes, please!" Twilight cheered, jumping onto Rarity as she nuzzled deep into the white mare's chest.
"Twilight! We have to stop them! We have to... oh your fur is so soft..." Rarity purred as Twilight hit a sweet spot just on the side of her neck. And thus Rarity's and Twilight hour of heroics was cut short for more cuddle time.
“Come on, Twilight, just do it now and get it over with.”
“I don’t know, Spike. I’m not really experienced with this kind of thing…”
“I can tell,” the young dragon muttered. “But you already bought the roses and wrote the note, so you’re just gonna be wasting your bits if you don’t go through with it.”
Twilight sat in the main room of the library, staring at the bouquet of roses floating in her magical grip. About two-thirds of them were lavender, while most of the rest were a deeper shade of purple, save for a few pink ones here and there. Wedged between two lavender roses was an unsigned note that simply read “To my most treasured gem.” It was a good set-up, in Twilight’s opinion; the arrangement of flowers made it clear who it was from, and the note would make sure the message was clear enough. Hopefully, at least.
“You have a point,” Twilight said. “Still, I never realized confessing to somepony, even like this, could be so nerve-wracking!”
“Hey, this whole thing was your idea in the first place, and you actually got the stuff you wanted, so it shouldn’t be too hard for you to— “
“My idea? As I recall, it was your idea for me to approach her in a way that was, and I quote, ‘directly indirect.’ What does that even mean, anyway?”
Spike held his hands up defensively. “Hey, you’re the one who shot down my suggestions for a direct or indirect approach. You’re also the one who came up with idea to use a bouquet with your color scheme, so yeah. Your idea.”
Twilight opened her mouth to retort, but no words came out. She sat down. “Fine, you’re right. I just… Are you absolutely, positively sure you’re okay with me doing this?”
“For the millionth time, yes.” Spike sighed. “We’ve been over this, like, fourteen times. And that’s just counting the last two days.”
“I know, I know, I’m sorry! I just don’t want you getting treated unfairly because I took your crush.”
Spike didn’t say anything. With a reassuring smile, he walked over to Twilight and patted her on the shoulder. She smiled back.
“Thanks, Spike.”
“Anytime. Just don’t be surprised if she rejects you.”
Twilight’s smile vanished instantly. “I’m expecting that, actually. Why do you think I’m so worried?”
“Heh, right. Sorry.”
“But it’s like you keep telling me: I won’t know for sure until I go for it.” Steeling herself with a deep breath, Twilight trotted over to the door. Another breath to steady her beating heart, and she opened it, ready to venture out and nearly walk right into Rarity.
What felt like minutes of stunned silence past as the two mares stared at each other. A bouquet of purple and white roses floated by Rarity’s side. There was even a note sticking out the side, this one reading “To my beloved princess.”
It was Rarity, cheeks burning a bright pink, who finally spoke up. “This was your idea as well?”
Twilight—who was blushing just as brightly as her glamorous friend—could only bring herself to nod in the affirmative, breathing out a light “Uh-huh.”
Rarity giggled. “Well,” she said, “I guess great minds do think alike.”
The warmth of the bed fading, the princess stumbled down the hall. She knew Rarity had been there when she had drifted off to sleep, but where was the mare now? After a cautious sniff, the question lay forgotten as Twilight smelled what was definitely hay bacon and coffee.
Her mouth salivating at the thought, the lavender pony trotted happily into the kitchen. But to her surprise, there was more than just the bacon and coffee. Plate upon plate, full of food. Omelets, hash browns, biscuits and gravy. It looked like enough to feed an army.
"Oh, Twilight!" Rarity gasped as she spied the mare entering her work space. "I wanted this to be a surprise! But I guess the smell kept floating down the hallway, no?"
"Mmm, it smells really good in here..." Twilight murmured half asleep. Rarity smiled brightly as she guided the lavender pony over to a chair and started to pour her juice.
"Darling, you look wonderful today. Did you sleep well? I think you did, but one can never be too careful. Where you too hot in my bed last night dear? I'll go out and buy some new satin sheets tonight. Those should be much more comfy for you dear."
"Mmkay." Twilight nodded sleepily. "Where's the coffee?"
"Oh! Here darling!" Rarity panicked, fetching the mug and pot with haste. "I didn't know what kind you would prefer, so I've been brewing different types all morning."
"Huh?"
"I have cappuccino, espresso, canterlotian, fancy roast, black forest brew, and Irish coffee if you want to start with a drink. I won't judge."
"Wait, you made-"
"Oh you're right. You would never start off with alcohol so early. That was stupid of me!" Rarity anguished, setting the offending liquid down by the drain. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean too offend you, dearest."
"No no. No offence taken, but..." Twilight started, but soon found she didn't exactly know how to continue.
"I still haven't made the one you love?" Rarity anguished. "How could I have been so short sighted? Of course you would have more refined tastes than this meager selection! I'm sorry Twilight. I'll fix this right now! Just-"
"Rarity, stop!" Twilight pleaded, throwing her hooves out as she tried to stop the perturbed pony. "What has gotten into you? I've never seen you this- this scared before, Rares. Please?"
"I- I'm sorry, Twilight." Rarity muttered. "I was so scarred I would screw this up that I just started to panic, I guess..."
"Isn't that my thing?" Twilight scoffed playfully to a chuckle from Rarity. "Hey, I get you're scared. You just came out, decided to pursue a new relationship with a close friend, and just had your first marefriend ever sleep over. It's a lot to take in. But you're Rarity. You can handle all that. You don't need to smother me with attempts like this to keep me hun."
"I know..." Rarity sighed. "But this is still so frightening."
"You'll do fine Rares." Twilight smiled as she drew Rarity into a hug. "But... if you perhaps wanted to keep making me breakfast like this, I wouldn't be one to say no exactly..."
"Ah! You scoundrel!" Rarity teased. "You like being smothered in affection, don't you?"
"Just a little." Twilight laughed as she floated over the pot of coffee and her mug, all to happy to serve herself.
"You just took the Irish coffee, didn't you?" Rarity chuckled softly, knowing all to well that contented moan of her lovers that followed a hug and warm whiskey.
“Thanks for coming Rarity.” Twilight turned to the mare who was sitting in the middle of the room. “I know your schedule must be very busy, what with it being spring and all.”
“Oh nonsense my dear,” Rarity waved one of her well-manicured hooves at Twilight. “It’s much too nice a day to spend it all cooped up in my home.”
“But, still thank you.” Twilight un-corked the vial she has been working on for the past week; before she emptied its contents into a medical syringe. “Now, I’m going to warn you Rarity, this may sting a little.” Twilight warned as she brought the syringe to her friend’s foreleg.
“I am a grown mare. I’ve had shots before,” Rarity looked down at the rather large needle that was pricking her foreleg. “Just please make it quick.”
Twilight nodded before putting her hoof on the plunger. “Here it goes!” Twilight said as she pushed down on the plunger, making Rarity stifle a pained yelp.
Rarity bit her lip; her foreleg was still throbbing after receiving quite possibly the most painful injection of her life. “That sure was something, wasn’t it?” Rarity asked while rubbing her leg.
“Yep.” Twilight turned to face her friend, a bandage in her magical aura. “Here, this should stop the bleeding.” Twilight pressed the bandage into her friend’s knee while kneeling over.
“Twilight dear, my mouth is getting dry, is that supposed to happen?” Rarity asked, smacking her lips together.
“It’s probably just a minor side effect. I’ll go get you some water.” Twilight got up, and turned towards the kitchen before Rarity stopped her.
“If I may ask, what did you inject me with?” Rarity questioned looking over to the empty syringe over on the table.
“Oh, just a little something I’ve been working on.” Twilight grabbed the empty vial with her magic, bringing it to Rarity’s face. “I created it to make bears in city zoos more docile when they are receiving a check up from the vet.” Twilight grinned from ear to ear, she was very proud of her accomplishment.
“You… Injected me with a bear tranquilizer?” Rarity deadpanned before gulping worriedly.
“It’s not a tranquilizer per say, It only makes the bears more docile.” Twilight tried to explain, but found it hard to put into words. She settled by rubbing the back of her neck and whistling awkwardly.
Rarity looked towards Twilight with a distant looking gaze. She tried to speak but her mouth was much to dry. The drugged unicorn noticed her body temperature was rising. It wasn’t unbearably hot, but a more relaxing heat, like the spa baths at the local spa. Rarity sighed dreamingly before turning towards her purple friend.
“Um, Rarity are you ok?” Twilight said questioningly, noticing the strange behavior of fashionista friend.
“I’m much better now my dear.” Rarity purred, rubbing up against Twilight like an affectionate feline. She began to nuzzle the mulberry mare while wrapping her hooves snuggly around her friend’s neck.
“Rarity, what are you doing?” Twilight tried to pry her friend off her but found she was trapped in Rarity’s forelegs. The studious mare felt snared by her friend, she wiggled trying to escape as her friend giggled. With a well thought out shake, Twilight escaped Rarity’s embrace.
Equestria’s newest princess noticed her deranged friend advancing on her. Thinking back to the training she received soon after being crowned, Twilight readied herself.
“Rarity, as your Princess I command you to cease at once!” Twilight’s voice boomed. Books fell off their selves and onto the floor in a heap of literature.
Rarity, unfazed by her majesty’s shout replied curtly. “I’m afraid I cannot do that my dear.”
“Why can’t you?” Twilight asked eyes still ablaze.
Rarity matched her friend’s fiery gaze with a smirk. “Because…” Rarity began to trot around Twilight slowly before she stopped beside her. “I’mma snuggle you.” She said with a hiss prior to pouncing on Twilight’s back.
“Gah! Rarity, get off me!” Twilight fell to the floor with a snuggle obsessed mare on her back. The two of them rolled on the floor in the main room of Twilight’s library. Rarity kept nuzzling the back of Twilight’s neck, which made the purple mare uncomfortable. Trying to unfurl her wings Twilight strained as she thrashed about on the floor. She tried to stand up but the fully-grown mare on her back wouldn’t allow her. “SNUGGLE” Twilight heard Rarity growl into her ear. Charging her energy in her horn, Twilight blasted Rarity off her back towards an adjacent wall in the library.
“I’m sorry I had to do that, but—” Twilight tried to explain but was interrupted by a grunt upstairs. She looked towards the noise and saw that they had woken up her sleeping dragon assistant.
Rubbing his right eye, Spike spoke up. “What’s with all the shouting?” He asked grumpily as he walked down the stairs. He was about to complain again but his vision turned white, he soon realized that the object of his affection was hugging and nuzzling him. He thought he was still dreaming until Twilight’s shout ruined his moment.
“Spike! Get away from her!” Twilight shouted as she approached the two of them.
“Why? She’s so soft and cuddly” Spike questioned while snuggling Rarity back.
“Spike, she has become obsessed with snuggling!” Twilight tried to reason with her lovesick assistant. “I knew I shouldn’t have given her that shot.” She added after looking down at her unicorn friend.
Spike looked down at Rarity, then back up at Twilight. “You know, I’m ok with this.” Spike said smugly; but before he could return to Rarity, he found himself on Twilight’s back.
“C’mon Spike, We got to get help so we can reverse this.” Twilight gave her wings a mighty flap, propelling them into the air.
As soon as his head stopped spinning, Spike realized what was happening. “Oh, you’ve got to be—” He was interrupted by a bug flying down his throat.
Work, work, work. That's all that these ponies could do these days it seemed. Work. Work at home, work for bits, and now working to fix up an old castle in the Everfree Forest. But it was a nice change working in the forest. The castle had so many amazing things to it, one could get lost in it's wonders if they really tried. Or at least, two had hoped they could, but they had one problem.
"Oh, we're lost! Whatever will we do?!" Rarity anguished loudly for her audience of two.
"I guess the only thing we can do is stay here while one of us goes for help." Twilight stated, looking to Pinkie Pie, who was all just smiles.
"We came from that way, sillies. Two lefts, a right, 30 meters down the hall, and we're back at the main foyer."
Twilight and Rarity glared at the Pink maned mare. If looks could kill, the group would be one friend less right about now.
"Oh goodie." Rarity spat with as much venom as she could muster. "We're saved."
"I guess we should keep exploring then." Twilight huffed.
"I like that idea!" Pinkie smiled, bounding ahead of the two. Rarity shot Twilight an expression of desperation. She only wanted a little cuddle time with her secret girlfriend. Was that so wrong? Twilight shrugged. They had to bring somepony with them to avoid suspicion, but why did Pinkie have to volunteer? Her sense of direction was just- unshakable!
"Let's try to lose her at the next turn, darling." Rarity whispered as they followed the hyper mare.
"Sounds great." Twilight nodded. So they tried, and failed. Every time the pair would take a wrong turn, there was Pinkie, correcting them and insisting on traveling in groups.
Eventually, the group found themselves in the west halls, watching as the late afternoon sun drifted in through the windows. Twilight sat down for just a second, laying her head back against the wall as she let the warm light wash over her belly and neck. It was divine.
"Twilight, what are you doing?" Rarity asked kindly as she spotted her lover just relaxing there.
"I just wanna sit for a second..." Twilight murmured sleepily.
"But we have so much more to see!" Pinkie gasped. "We can't take a moment to just sit here!"
"Just try it, Pinkie." Twilight urged with eyes blissfully shut.
Pinkie huffed as she was reigned in, but let herself take a seat in the sun shine. "This is boring though. We have so much to see and ZZZZZZZZ."
Rarity leaned her head as she examined her slumbering friend. "Did she really just...?"
"Yeah, she did." Twilight smiled as she reached a hoof forward and took Rarity's own. "So while she's snoozing, would you care to join me for a little bit?"
"Darling, I thought you would never ask." Rarity giggled as she cuddled up to Twilight's side, basking in the warm glow. "I missed this."
"Me too." Twilight murmured. "I missed you..."
"You never lost me." Rarity sang for the mare that meant the most to her.
"Mmm." Twilight purred. "I wish we didn't have to hide this..."
"The world community would have a field day if Equestria's newest Princess was a lesbian though." Rarity chimed in. "Darling, I hate talking politics. Let's talk about happier things."
"Okay." Twilight murmured again, resting her head on top of her love's. "I could just sit here forever with you, babe."
"Darling, you took the words right out of my mouth..." Rarity giggled contently. She felt her lover's breathing slow to a shallow pace, and giggled to herself once more. So her special somepony wanted to just take a nap in the warm sun? That sounded like an amazing idea to the fashionista.
Pinkie awake as she felt her tummy growing cool. The sun was dipping behind the trees, and the room was no longer basked in the glow of the Princess's kindness. But as Pinkie turned, she found herself looking at an odd sight. There was Twilight, and Rarity, laying together and holding hooves. They were breathing quite lightly, and they looked just plain happy. No, not happy, right. Everything was right with them right now. So Pinkie smiled as she laid back down, letting them set the schedule for when the world would matter once more. Right now though, all that mattered was the smiles on her friends faces, and that was just right for this girl.
As Twilight and her friends -minus Rarity- left Carousel Boutique, she couldn't exactly describe just how to feel considering what had transpired just thirty minutes ago. She and the others had spent a good portion of the evening helping their dress-making friend sew and assemble the high end order of outfits for pop star Sapphire Shores along with her backup dancers. After they had gotten a good majority of them finished and were preparing to take a well deserved break, during which Twilight looked forward to having with her marefriend, that's when Sweetie Belle entered with an unexpected temper tantrum that followed.
When Rarity did finally come downstairs for their break, it was quite awkward and quiet for everypony involved. Nopony seemed to know what to say that could explain Sweetie Belle's sudden anger towards her sister.
It doesn't make any sense. How in the world could Sweetie Belle be mad at Rarity BECAUSE the dresses for the play were great? Twilight thought to herself. Her pondering was interrupted when somepony in the group spoke to her.
"Hey, Twilight. Is something bothering you?" Rainbow Dash asked.
Snapping out of her thoughts, Twilight turned towards the others and responded.
"Sorry, I've just been wondering about what had happened in there." She said.
Pinkie Pie was the first to reply, "I know right? Sweetie Belle was like an emotional vacuum cleaner!"
The others stared at Pinkie before Applejack finally asked, "Uh...yer gonna have to explain that one to
us."
"I mean," Pinkie explained, "We were having such a blast and having fun helping Rarity with her dresses and then Sweetie Belle came in and practically sucked the fun right out of the room!"
"Oh;" Rainbow said, "So you're saying Sweetie Belle was a buzz killer in there."
Pinkie turned towards Rainbow and exclaimed, "Dashie, there weren't any bees in there. How could Sweetie Belle kill any bees if there wasn't a hive in there?"
"Uhm...I'm pretty sure it's just an expression Pinkie." Fluttershy explained, though it looked as though she was having a particularly difficult time imagining a massacre of bees.
Twilight however turned towards the boutique and said, "Maybe I should go back and make sure Rarity is alright. She really seemed out of it when we left."
After a couple moments of silence, Applejack cautiously stepped forward and spoke, "Uh...Twi...don't get mad at me please...but..."
Oh no. Twilight thought to herself once more. Nothing good comes from that sentence.
Whether they thought there was going to be a nasty dispute or if it was something Applejack wanted to do alone, the other three ponies excused themselves and made their separate ways home; leaving only the librarian/Alicorn princess and the apple farmer to continue with the coming debate.
"...Ah think this is somethin' that Rarity should handle by herself." Applejack finished.
Twilight didn't gasp in disbelief but she did deliver a rebuttal; one that was perhaps harsher than she intended it to be. "Applejack, you saw how upset and confused Rarity was when we left. I can't just ignore something like that happening to any of my friends, especially my marefriend!"
Applejack for her part didn't raise her voice when she responded, "Ah know Twilight; and ah know it's a very kind thing to be there for yer loved ones when they're feelin' down. That bein' said, it still doesn't mean ya should hover over them like a hawk and fight all of their battles for them. Whatever's goin' on in there is between Rarity and Sweetie Belle. Nopony else."
"But I love her!" Twilight exclaimed.
Applejack replied, "Ah know you do. There is absolutely no doubt in mah mind that you two are truly meant to be with each other; but as ah said, there are some things that both you and she should handle by themselves. Take it from me, ah had something similar happen to me about a week ago."
Twilight gave her a confused look and asked, "...You have a special somepony?"
Applejack gave a small chuckle, "Nope, ah ain't seein' anypony at the moment. I'm talking about Applebloom. A week ago Granny Smith, Big Mac, and I all agreed that Applebloom was old enough to stay home alone while we went out of town for a while. Along the way however, ah guess ah let my overprotective self take control of me and ah went back home to keep a close eye on her."
"Ah had good intentions," Applejack continued, "but it seems ah really wasn't payin' much attention to how Applebloom felt about it. Lookin' back on it now, ah guess ah kinda went a little overboard on tryin' to protect her; and ah only wound up drivin' her further away from me as a result. She ran away to try to deliver those pies ah was supposed to deliver. Don't get me wrong, she was grounded for it and she did apologize for what she did; but at the same time she wouldn't have done so if ah had trusted her to take care of herself in the first place."
Twilight took in her story and finally responded after a couple more moments, "I now know you're right Applejack, but I just can't help but feel helpless by leaving like this. Like I said, I love Rarity; and I just want to know if she's alright."
Applejack wrapped her foreleg around Twilight's shoulders and said to her, "Yer far from helpless Twilight. When all this is over, ya can go and talk to her about it. Hay, for all we know, this whole thing could just be some huge misunderstanding that'll get resolved in the morning."
Finally admitting defeat, Twilight sighed and spoke, "I guess you have some very good points there." She gave Applejack a sincere smile and added, "Thanks for the talk."
"Anytime, Twi." Applejack responded as the two then left the premises of the boutique, hoping for the best for the two unicorn sisters.
"You guys sure you're ok with watching her?" Rainbow Dash said hesitantly.
Twilight gave a reassuring smile. "Of course we are," she said, with a wave of her hoof. "Go on, enjoy your date with Fluttershy - you both deserve some alone time."
Rainbow slightly smirked. "Heh, yeah. But I gotta warn you, Firefly here isn't harmless."
The little filly mentioned looked down at the ground, and simply kicked a pebble, avoiding everypony's gaze.
"Oh, this little dear?" Rarity smiled. "I'm sure she'll be an absolute angel."
"Yeah, whatever you say," Rainbow Dash replied, letting out a soft chuckle. She turned to her daughter, and ruffled the little filly's bright pink and red mane. "Alright, squirt, be good for Aunt Rares and Aunt Twi, 'kay?"
"Okay, Awesomom," Firefly mumbled.
Rainbow Dash gave a wave and then zipped off, leaving her daughter alone with her friends.
Twilight looked down to the child, and smiled. "Now, Firefly, would you like to go to the park or stay at the library?" she offered.
"Um..." the filly frowned and darted her gaze from side to side. "I'll stay here at the library, I guess," she muttered.
"She's so quiet," Rarity observed as she watched the child silently walk into the library.
"She's Fluttershy's daughter," Twilight said, with a soft laugh.
"Obviously, but seeing how she's Rainbow Dash's child as well," Rarity mused. "I don't know what I expected."
Twilight shrugged. "Genetics are a very funny thing," she said.
~ x o x o ~
The afternoon rolled on slowly, but a sudden yell broke the silence of the lazy day-
"Twilight!" Rarity called.
"Yes?" Twilight replied, as she poked her head out of her study.
Rarity was looking around frantically, and said, "Have you seen her?"
"Who?" Twilight asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Firefly Spectrum! I turn my back for a minute, and I can't find her anywhere!" Rarity said worriedly.
With that said, Twilight's expression fell. "What do you mean you can't-"
She was cut off by a loud crash outside, followed by a high-squeaked squeal.
"-you don't suppose...?" Rarity said slowly. "I mean, Rainbow Dash did say that-"
Another crash summoned the two mares to instantly bolt out of the library and look around. Obviously, it didn't take long as they saw a certain little blue pegasus dancing on the top of a nearby building.
Twilight let out a gasp. "Firefly Spectrum!" she called. "Get down from there this instant!"
Firefly stuck her tongue out. "You're not my mommy! You can't tell me what to do!"
"No, but I am your Aunt Twilight and don't think I won't fly up there and get you!" Twilight argued.
"I'd like to see you try!" the filly laughed, as she buzzed her little wings, almost as if she was threatening to run off.
Twilight frowned. "Did I just get sassed by a seven year old?" she muttered.
"I'd say so," Rarity said, with a nod.
~ x o x o ~
Twilight could barely walk up to the front door of the cottage, completely exhausted as she carried a sleeping Firefly on her back.
"Well... I had predicted she was more or less a perfect mix of them both," Twilight mumbled, looking back to the little filly. "Looks like I was right." She knocked on the door and was greeted by a smiling Rainbow Dash.
"Hey, kid!" she said, as she retrieved her daughter. "Aw, all tuckered out, huh? What did you two do to her?"
"Us?!" Twilight groaned. "She ran off! I had to chase her around town the entire time!"
"I'd like to know why you don't keep her on a leash," Rarity spoke up.
"Did you forget who I'm married to?" Rainbow Dash chuckled, as she did a decent impression of Fluttershy's infamous Stare.
"Oh. Right." Twilight said, with a frown. "I should learn that."
"Thanks, guys," Rainbow replied.
Her friends bid their farewells and made their way down the dirt road, on the way back home.
"So is now a bad time to ask about having children one day?" Rarity questioned, with a smirk.
Twilight could only roll her eyes.
~~~~~<>~~~~~
The First Time You Said Those Words by Spartan-Guy 88
The clock on the nightstand read 2:46AM in the bedroom of Carosoul Botique. I had only moments ago woke from some dream that cannot remember. It doesn't matter though, it probably wasn't all that important. What was important however was the mare I was sharing the bed with tonight.
Faust Almighty. It's been a little over three months now. Three months since she said those three words to me. I have to admit, when I first heard them, I had no idea how I should feel at the time. Parts of me were confused and scared; while pretty much everything else wanted to jump up an down with joy.
I feel so glad that I went with the latter feelings. Because who would have thought that in those three months that followed that would be some of the happiest of my life. All those dinners we had together. That one movie we went and saw, even though it really wasn't that good. Lying on our backs on the highest hill in Ponyville and staring up at the night sky. My personal favorite though were all the times we were simply in each other's embrace; whether it was a simple quick hug or peck on the lips, or a firm hug or a loving kiss. All of them just as amazing if not more than the last.
I stared at my marefriend, her white coat illuminated by Princess Luna's moon, and I was once again reminded just who it was that had made me the luckiest Princess in Equestria.
"Rarity? Yo girl, you home?" The tomboyish Rainbow Dash cried out as she stalked around the Carousel Boutique, looking for her friend. The concept of knocking, or at the least not breaking and entering, was lost on the lady. "Rares? I need your help, come on!" The girl huffed as she stomped around the shop, till the sounds of clatter above her grabbed her attention.
Bolting to the stairs, the lady, to use the term loosely, was just in time to see both Rarity and Twilight coming out of Rarity's private room, also known as her bedroom/ living quarters. "Hey! There you are, Rares!" Rainbow smiled.
"Rainbow, to what do I owe this visit?" Rarity asked sternly. "A broken lock or window?"
"I didn't break the lock." Rainbow scoffed. "But anyways, I needed to ask you if you could swing by and feed Tank while I'm off at drill this weekend."
"Sure, fine." Rarity dismissed as Twilight looked to her watch impatiently. "Now if that's all, Twilight and I have some impor-"
"Yeah, what were you two doing up there?" Rainbow interrupted, looking at Twilight as the girl stiffened under the shock.
"We were-" Rarity started till the girl she was answering just bolted past the two, bounding up the stairs much to their protests. Bursting into the room, Rainbow quickly found two outfits laying on her bed as if they had just been worn. One rather racy leather piece, and a much more innocent lace piece.
"Oh my gosh..." Rainbow stuttered while she turned around to face the two just reaching the top of the stairs. "I didn't mean to- I'm so- Congratulations?"
"It's not what it looks like." Twilight hissed. "They're from Rarity's new line."
"Fetish couture?" Rainbow tried, accusingly.
"No." Rarity snapped at the invader. "It's from my new collection, Motorcycle Honey."
"Huh?" Rainbow asked, knitting her brow in confusion.
"It's leathers and lingerie for bikers, darling." Rarity continued. "There is a large bike festival every year in Dodge Junction. I take some new products down there to help make some income between the wedding dress orders and the occasional tuxedo rentals of summer."
"So why do they look like they've been worn?" Rainbow asked slowly.
"I had Twilight modeling a few pieces that I was unhappy with how they fit on the forms." Rarity surmised.
"Why Twilight?"
"Why not Twilight?" Twilight asked harshly. "What? Are you saying I'm not good enough to model for a friend in need?"
"No, I- I'm- Sorry, Twi..." Rainbow conceded at long last. She started to head for the doors, but stopped half way, turning to face the pair one last time. "So, you're going to Stirrup then, right?" Rainbow asked with a smile.
"Of course." Rarity dismissed.
"Cool. I'll look for ya there this year!" Rainbow smiled as she headed back out. "Sorry to barge in. Have a good one."
The two ladies left waited till they were sure they were once again alone before either spoke. "Damn it, now I have to go to that damned Biker festival." Rarity muttered as she flopped onto her bed.
"We're going to have to mass produce a line..." Twilight groaned as she flopped down next to the indigo haired beauty.
"Yes. Well, we'll get started on that later," Rarity giggled as she rolled over and straddled Twilight. "Now darling, do you want the leather or lace this time?"
"Hmm, I didn't really get to enjoy you in that lace earlier, so..."
"Sounds fantastic." Rarity giggled as she kissed her pinned lover. "Now, suit up darling."
Twilight Sparkle walked into the market carrying a stand in her magic. A white sign and red paint accompanied her as she strolled casually through the square despite all the curious looks she was getting.
The spot she picked to set up shop was right next to Sugarcube Corner. The mare had a pleasant smile on her face as she set down the stand and stuck the sign on it. She took the brush and paint and dabbed it in. She took the brush and scribbled down the words Kissing Booth in a calligraphy that most would say looked stunning.
The warm summer day helped the paint dry faster then expected, and the birds chirping gave the tiny town it's own quartet. Twilight wrote the pricing for the booth then walked around and sat down waiting patiently.
Many of the ponies who walked by assumed that the librarian was either doing an experiment or that she was losing her mind because mares like Twilight Sparkle aren't normally seen in ticket booths. Contrary to their belief, however, this was no experiment. In fact, this was yet another of Twilight's attempts to woo Rarity, the mare she loved more than books.
Sure enough after some time the mare came by Sugarcube corner to buy a treat for Sweetie Belle and she noticed Twilight's booth.
"Twilight, darling, what in the name of Equestria is this?" The unicorn asked.
"A kissing booth." Twilight replied calmly.
"Why would you ever run a kissing booth? It's just not right! You're better than that!"
"I'm just doing an experiment. Do you want to help me?" Twilight asked with pleading eyes.
"Experiment for what?"
"I'm researching if the way a pony kisses results in different emotions or reactions of the body."
Rarity seemed unsure of whether or not to help the lavender mare running the booth. Twilight gave her the same pleading eyes which made Rarity give in.
"Fine! Here." Rarity tossed a bit on the table. She leaned forward and puckered her lips. Twilight did the same and kissed Rarity.
Tiny jolts of joy sped through her nerves and a scarlet blush played itself on her face. She had to fight down the urge to pounce on Rarity and keep kissing her, albeit it was a losing battle.
The kiss went on longer than it should have and when Twilight began to pull away she felt Rarity coming with her. The white unicorn stopped however as the desk of the stand connected with her hips, preventing her advance. A rosy blush was clearly visible on her face.
"I hope that helped with your experiment. Come by the boutique later and tell me what you find."
With that she left Twilight sitting blissfully at the stand.
Rarity glanced up from her reading. Twilight was hunched over at her desk, glowering at the scroll that was supposed to be her report for Ponyville’s state of affairs. Why the alicorn wasn’t tasked with handling most of the town’s paperwork immediately after rising to princess status was anypony’s guess. Maybe it was all in the castle?
Or the mayor just suddenly realized having a princess around gave her an excuse to delegate responsibilities, never mind that delegation was something usually meant for superiors and not subordinates…
Deciding to bookmark her place for the time being (cheap, dime-a-dozen romances could only distract for so long), Rarity let her gaze wander around the study. Compared to Golden Oaks, the new castle’s aesthetic was much more befitting of Twilight’s royal status. There was still plenty of touch-up needed to give it a homier feel, granted, but it was still a step up from the much more humble abode from before.
But at the same time, the newness coupled with the sheer suddenness of Twilight’s forced relocation couldn’t have been anything short of stressful. And judging from her groaning, the paperwork only served to make matters worse.
“Writer’s block, darling?”
“Yes,” Twilight grumbled. “You’d think a simple state of affairs report wouldn’t be so hard to write when you have all the information you need.” She lifted a stack of documents with her magic to emphasize her point. “It’s like this thing just doesn’t want to be written!”
Rarity got up from the chaise lounge (a contribution she herself made to the study) and trotted over to the alicorn’s side. “It doesn’t need to be finished by tomorrow, does it?” she asked as she sat down.
“Well, no, but…” Twilight sighed. “If I get behind on this, I’ll probably end up falling behind on my other affairs. We’ll need a lot of ponies to keep the castle in shape, so I’ll have to start hiring soon. I’ll also need to replace all the books I lost when… Well, the point is they need replacing.”
“True enough,” Rarity said, “but I’m sure that the other princesses—”
“At least the new castle came with its own furniture. Can you imagine how much money I’d have to spend if it didn’t?”
“I could only ever guess, but—”
“Oh gosh! I just realized something: without Golden Oaks, Ponyville won’t have a library! Do you think it would be better to have a new one built, or just use the one here in the castle?”
“The castle library’s just fine, darling. N—”
“Great, thanks. But that still leaves the state of affairs, the other papers the mayor gave me, and I’m pretty sure I still need to pay the last taxes for my old home.”
“… Twilight, you’re a princess. Do you even need to pay taxes?”
“I don’t know, but I’m not taking any chances! Even with everything else to take care of, I still can’t just—Ah! Oh. Ohhh…”
Rarity gently rubbed a hoof up and down Twilight’s back. She smiled at the sight of the princess visibly relaxing and scooted closer so they could lean against each other.
Twilight smiled back and wrapped a wing around her marefriend. “Thank you.”
“Think nothing of it, my dear.” Rarity gave her a kiss on the cheek. “I can only imagine how stressful this all must be for you. Honestly, I’ve half a mind to share words with the mayor for dropping her paperwork on you at a time like this!” She was mostly joking, but there was no denying the slight edge in her tone.
Twilight shook her head. “It’s not too bad.” She nuzzled Rarity’s neck. “I’ll just have to remember to take a break every once in a while and tend to more personal affairs, if you know what I mean.”
Rarity giggled. “All too well, my darling Twilight. All too well.”
Something about Rarity seemed a little bit unusual. For the past few weeks, Twilight had been noticing certain behaviors from her that seemed strange.
Rarity had started reading voraciously, she would stop by the library once every few days to pick up a new book. Twilight found it odd that Rarity would start reading so much since she had never showed interest before. Not that Twilight had any problems with it though, it was nice to have her friends share her interests.
Rarity had also begun following Twilight around. When Twilight was heading to the store, Rarity would appear from some side street and start walking with her. No matter what, she would always just happen to be heading in the same direction that Twilight was.
It was really starting to bother Twilight. What could be causing this change in one of my closest friends?
There was only one way to find out, of course: studying, the solution to all problems.
Twilight surveyed her bookshelf, looking for something that would tell her what was wrong with Rarity. History… Biology… Flight… No, none of these are right. Aha! Psychology! That will tell me what was going on.
She levitated a few basic psych books off the shelf and set to work. She had a lot of reading to get done.
~~~~~<>~~~~~
Hmmmm, this looks interesting. “Subject will act as a shadow, often following around a pony of interest.” I’ve finally found it! This definitely sounds like whatever happened to Rarity.
“These are common symptoms of infatuation. Subjects displaying this behavior are usually in love with the one that they pursue.”
What.
Rarity is “infatuated” with me? There’s no way! we’re just friends. Good friends. She can’t be thinking about me romantically, that would just be too weird.
Twilight thought about it. Would it really be bad? She is a beautiful mare, and one of the nicest ponies I know. If she’s really infatuated with me, maybe I should give her a chance.
The more Twilight thought about it, the more excited she became. Of all the mares she could hope to end up with, Rarity was among the best.
Now there’s just the question of getting her out on a date. Her horn lit up and she looked around the library. I’m sure there’s a book on it somewhere in here.
Rarity considered herself a mare of class and fashion. She liked the best of the best when it came to clothes, style, and food. So when her marefriend suggested they go out to eat, she expected a culinary place in Canterlot, not Hayburgers at The Hay Burger.
She loved Twilight and would do anything to see her smile or giggle, but there were somethings even she would question when it came to the mare. It seemed like an obvious choice to say yes when Twilight approached her this morning saying that they could go out for lunch together.
She hadn't said where at the time and if she had, Rarity would've had second thoughts about it. It wasn't that she didn't like spending time with her marefriend, in fact, she would practically go out of her way to see her whenever she could. If she didn't have an order to fill, she would run to the Golden Oaks Library. If she had the day off, to the library. If she was sick, well, she'd make an effort to go to the library.
That's how she found herself here. In The Hay Burger, with a burger sitting right in front of her, and Twilight munching away at the food like a ravenous timber wolf. The smell of it was bland and when Rarity had taken a nibble of it it tasted bland. Rarity watched Twilight as she ate rather than eat her own food. It was astonishing how Twilight could go from a mare that would chomp everything in her path, to the civil bookworm she was known for.
Twilight finshed eating and saw that Rarity had barely touched her burger. A look of concern etched it self onto her face and it grew as she saw Rarity grimace at the burger. Tiny bits of guilt pelted Twilight as she watched her marefriend poke at the food on the table.
"Rarity," Rarity glanced up at Twilight, "If you want, we can go somewhere else and eat? That wasn't very filling so I'm still a bit hungry."
It looked like she was lying, but truth be told Twilight was still in the mood for some food, especially if it meant that she could spend more time with Rarity. Rarity smiled in return and grabbed Twilight's hoof. She dragged the mare out of the restaurant and began galloping towards a familiar sight to both ponies.
"We're eating here/" Twilight asked.
"Of course darling! We shall eat at the best resturaunt in town!" She smiled and waved a hoof to emphasize her point. Twilight giggled and the two walked into Carousel Boutique.
How long have I been laying here? An Hour? A day? I guess I kinda forgot about time... But who could blame me?
For years, I looked to her as my everything. I thought I loved her. I would come home from her place and just tell Twi everything. How her smile made me feel. How her perfume smelled. Everything.
Twi would always scoff, and tell me I was being superficial. She would ask me what her favorite books were. I never knew. She would ask me what Rarity thought about current events. I never cared.
I harbored a love for years, and that's all that mattered.
So it came as a shock one day that while I was running errands, I come across the two in the cafe. They're talking about a new book Rarity had read and loved. I was ready to hear Twilight go off about how she loved it too, but she didn't. She argued. She talked about how she felt the author rushed through so-so's inner turmoil. Rarity admitted she felt that too, but she said one error did not sully a great work.
How? How had I never stopped to consider what her thoughts were on art? I always just thought she loved to look at pretty things, make pretty things, be a pretty thing. But here she is, going hoof to hoof with Twilight over something trivial in a book published fifty years ago. No pony read it anymore. It was just more classical dust fodder in the library.
Twilight then asked Rarity what she thought about the terrorist attacks in Zeborica yesterday. Rarity got quiet. It took her a minute, but her answer shocked me. She didn't feel it was our place to intervene in the political affairs of another land, because she knew that the attacks are just part of a coup d'éta. She didn't know how to carry on, but she was afraid of a war.
Twilight nodded. I walked away. Rarity was a deeper, more intelligent pony than I truly gave her credit for. How, in all my years of affection, had I never noticed that? She wasn't even trying to hide it, nor flaunt it. It was her. She was the type of mare to just sit in a cafe having grown up talks, and grown up thoughts.
So here I sat. I looked out the window. Twilight and Rarity had been out for quite a while. I guess they must just be catching up on the day to day. Maybe Twilight was talking to Rarity about some science she had read about. Maybe Rarity was talking to Twilight about her last indecisive client.
All I knew is I had something to do too. Let it go. Let it all go. I held Rarity so close, I never looked at her like an equal. Maybe there will be something in my future involving Rarity. But not if I don't learn to look at her like she really is. That's the most important thing to do. So good bye Rarity I knew. I'm setting you free to explore happy thoughts in some one else's imagination. So I'm letting go, to move forward.
The smell of burned wood still filled the air even hours after the remaining flames were extinguished -courtesy of the Ponyville Volunteer Fire Department and the Ponyville Weather Patrol. Scattered throughout the ruined floor lied charred books and paper along with assorted framed photos now barely recognizable.
Twilight Sparkle, recently titled 'Princess of Friendship', sat in front of the destroyed Golden Oak Library.
She honestly couldn't remember how long she sat there staring at the remains of what was once her home. She wasn't even staring at anything in particular, just staring off into the library, completely lost in her thoughts.
After the fires were put out, Twilight along with her friends -including Discord- scoured the destroyed library in hopes to find anything salvagable. Fortunetely, the majority of her underground labratory equipment was undamaged; and whatever was damaged looked like it could easily be repaired. Sadly, pratically every book was now either completely destroyed or unusable. Finally, there was now no upstairs-
"Twilight?"
The lavender alicorn snapped out of her trance at the sound of a very famillar voice. Turning around she saw that it belonged to the once pony she admitidly knew could be the only one to convince her that it was time to leave.
"Oh, hey Rarity." Twilight answered.
The white unicorn took a seat next to Twilight and after a short pause finally spoke.
"In case you were wondering, Applebloom invited Spike to sleep over at her home tonight."
Twilight replied, "That's fine by me. Even with a new castle, I don't think he's quite ready for the sudden move to a new home just yet." She gave a small chuckle and then added, "Besides, I'm pretty sure Applebloom has developed a crush on him."
"Indeed, she certainly isn't as subtle as she thinks she is." Rarity said with a small smile.
A moment of silence passed before Rarity turned towards Twilight and said, "My dear I...I cannot even begin to imagine what you must be going thought right now. I'm so sorry."
Twilight lowerd her head with her ears folded back and replied, "I...I know that the library can be rebuilt. Or should I say regrown? It WAS a tree after all. I've already taken inventory of every book that was in there so they can be replaced. But...it was my home, Rarity. Me and Spike's. Now...look at it." She finished with tears forming in her eyes.
Before Rarity could speak, Twilight continued, "It's where Pinkie Pie threw her first party for me. Where you and Applejack had that slumber party with me. Where your sister first learned how to control her magic. Where Owloicious found a place to live. Where you and I..." she started to choke on her words, "...had our f-first kiss. Where y-you told me that...that you loved me! I...I..."
Whatever Twilight wanted to say came out as choked sobs. Rarity wasted to time in pulling Twilight into a close hug and allowed her marefriend to bury her face into her shoulder and give a long and much needed cry.
Neither one of them moved for several long minutes, with Twilight's cries of anguish gradually becoming more and more quiet. Rarity for her part held onto her alicorn compainion. When Twilight finally stopped crying, she pulled herself off of Rarity's shoulder and looked into her eyes.
"Are you done, my dear?" Rarity asked.
Twilight sniffled before responding, "Yeah...I needed that. Thanks."
Rarity then said, "Good, because now I want you to listen to me."
"Okay." Twilight obeyed.
Taking a deep breath, Rarity spoke; "As I said, I'm so sorry for your home. You may have lost a good majority of those belongings inside. But with everything you just said about what that libary will be remembered for, it proves one thing. That you haven't lost any of the memories that you've had in there. They will always be right up here; " She patted Twilight's forehead; "You haven't lost them, you haven't lost the other Princess, you haven't lost Equestria, you certainly haven't lost your friends..."
Rarity then pulled Twilight in for a deep and loving kiss, which Twilight gladly returned. When they pulled apart, Rarity then concluded;
"...And you haven't lost the mare who loves you with all her heart, my Bright and Shining Star."
Twilight smiled at the nickname Rarity loves to use with her. She then gave a soft kiss on her marefriend's cheek and whispered, "I love you too Rarity."
The bell chimed as Twilight walked into the Carousel Boutique. Rarity came downstairs a second later and regarded her with a warm smile.
“Ah, Twilight,” said the unicorn, “punctual as ever, I see.”
“Of course,” replied Twilight. “So what did you want to show me?”
Rarity motioned toward the work room. “A sneak peek at my latest fashion line. I know you don’t usually have much interest in such things, but I have a feeling this particular line might speak to you in some way.”
“Really? How so?”
Rarity didn’t answer. Instead, she turned around and headed over to her work room, with Twilight following close behind.
Four mannequins were set up in a row, each with their own dress. The first thing Twilight noticed about them was how each one was mostly dominated by various shades of purple. There were some other colors thrown in, like white or pink, but they served to emphasize the purple more than anything. Not only that, but most of it was lavender, the same as her coat.
“You know,” Rarity started, “a thought occurred to me just the other day: out of all the colors in the spectrum, very few come close to being as expressive as purple. So light and soft one moment, then dark and moody the next. Not a lot of colors can pull that off. And do you which shade of purple is my favorite, Twilight?” She fixed the alicorn in question with a strange half-lidded gaze and an equally strange smile.
“Uh…” Twilight’s gaze darted back and forth between her friend and the dresses a few times before answering, “Is it lavender?”
Rarity’s smile widened a touch. “Indeed it is.” She began to move toward Twilight at a deliberate pace. “I can’t think of a color more perfectly balanced than lavender. Such a mixture of softness and vibrancy could never be copied by any other. You should consider yourself lucky for being born such a color.”
At this point, Rarity’s muzzle was mere inches away from Twilight’s. The alicorn gulped.
“G-gee, that’s very nice of you, Rarity. T-thanks.” She looked away for a moment. “So, um, why did you only want to show me your new dresses?”
“Actually, I was planning on showing all of our friends at some point, but I’m also planning on making an announcement when I do.”
“An announcement for what?”
Rarity sighed and lit her horn up with magic. “You’ve found my behavior these last few minutes rather off-putting, yes? My fixation on lavender, how close our muzzles are to touching, this scarf I’m wrapping around our necks.”
Twilight was about to respond when she felt something silky drape itself across the back of her neck. Sure enough, a pink scarf encased in the light blue aura of Rarity’s magic wrapped itself around the two mares’ necks.
“Why the scarf, though?” Twilight asked.
“It just felt appropriate. To be perfectly honest, it’s always been one of my fantasies to share a scarf with somepony very dear to me.” A hoof lightly trailed up and down the alicorn’s neck.
“Wha-what do you mean, though? Are you trying to tell me—”
“I think you have enough evidence to know exactly I mean.” At those words, Rarity slowly pulled away, causing the scarf to fall to the floor. “I know it’s not fair of me to expect an answer right away, so I’ll give you some time to ponder all this. When you are ready, let me know. I’d be more than happy to answer any of your questions until then.”
“But—”
“Well darling, it’s been a pleasure seeing you today, but I must return to my work. Do you need anything before you go?”
Twilight opened her mouth, then closed it. After a moment of silence, she said, “No, I’m fine. I’ll… I’ll just go now. Great seeing you, Rarity, and thanks for showing me your new line.”
“Anytime, Twilight.”
The two stood in silence for a good minute before Twilight slowly made her way out the door. Many questions needed asking, no doubt about that, but she decided it was best to gather her thoughts and save them for later.
In the hustle of the large city, two mares were meeting for lunch, making sure to give large smiles and large hugs when they at long last reunited.
"Rarity, it's been too long!" Coco laughed as she hugged her friend.
"Hello darling." Rarity rejoiced. "Love your bag." The white mare teased, spying the identical bag she was carrying upon her friends shoulder.
"I thought you would, after all, you designed it." Coco teased back as they took their seats and placed their bags down. "So how go things with Twilight? You two have been dating for a while now."
"Well, that's actually why I wanted to meet up today..." Rarity sheepishly smiled, pulling a small box out of her bag magically, opening it for her friend to admire.
"Oh Rarity, it's beautiful. I'm so happy for you."
"Thank you." Rarity blushed, putting the ring back down in the bag. "I'm just so nervous though. What if Twilight figured out my plans? She'd ruin the whole surprise."
"Wait, you're proposing to her here?" Coco gasped.
"Mmhmm." Rarity nodded. "I wanted it to be special. Away from family and the majority of our friends so it could be just our special time."
"When will you...?" Coco asked, delighted by the idea.
"Tonight at dinner. We're going to Per Se." Rarity almost squealed, but refrained.
"Oh Rarity, you two will be so happy!" Coco smiled as she reached over the table, pulling Rarity into another hug. "So, are you hungry?"
~~~~~<>~~~~~
That night, two mares sat by in the blissful lighting, the welcoming atmosphere, the perfection of Per Se.
"Twilight, I have something I need to ask you." Rarity finally managed, earning a coy grin from her better half.
"Hmm, whatever it is, my answer is yes." Twilight giggled, playing with her wine glass.
"Twilight, I need to say this in all seriousness." Rarity soldiered on. "I love you. I love you more than fashion. More than elegance. I love you more than Celestia loves cake."
"Wow." Twilight snorted in laughter. "I made that good of an impression, huh?" The Princess laughed.
"Indeed. Darling, would you..." Rarity asked as she reached into her purse. But there was a pause. A very long, weighted pause. "Ah..."
"Rarity?" Twilight asked as she saw her one and only love freeze. "Rare Bear?"
"Where is it?!" Rarity screamed, dumping out her purse to the scorn of several patrons nearby. "It can't have just grown legs and walked off on it's- Coco!"
"Coco has my ring?" Twilight asked, dumbfounded.
"Shush, it's a surprise." Rarity shot at the lavender alicorn. "Come on, we have to find her!" Rarity cried as she rose to her hooves, bolting out of the restaurant at top speeds."
"Sir, just put this on my royal tab, please!" Twilight cried as she took off after her beautiful fiance.
~~~~~<>~~~~~
"Coco! It's Rarity!" The white unicorn begged as she mashed the call button, but to no avail.
"Maybe she went out somewhere?" Twilight pondered. Her lover's mane was a mess, having just galloped eighteen blocks to try an find her friend, and let us not make comment about her make up.
"But... but where? We're in Manehatten?"
"Well, let's try the closest places first."
"Okay..." Rarity muttered feebly. But half an hour later, Twilight's optimism was waning in favor of Rarity's new found pessimism.
"She left the city. That's the only answer." Twilight muttered, hugging the shell shocked Rarity tight as the pair sat beside a carrot cart. "She was kidnapped by militant extremists bent on having her make them new uniforms. That's the only logical answer."
Rarity was unable to answer as she just began to cry, burying her face in her hooves. "Rarity? Twilight?" A soft voice called out, begging all attention as the pair looked up to find their target, Coco Pommel, the most welcome sight right now in Manehatten.
"Coco! Where have you been?" The pair asked, bolting up to hug their lost friend.
"I had to run to the store for more light bulbs..." Coco offered meekly. "What's going on?"
"Darling, I think I accidentally put IT in your bag." Rarity urged.
"It? Oh, it!" Coco gasped as she dug around her purse, finally pulling out the small red velvet box to a squeal from the unicorn and alicorn. Rarity greedily scooped up the box, before turning to Twilight with tears in her eyes.
"This is not how I wanted to remember tonight, but we've come too far now darling. Twilight Sparkle, will you marry me?" Rarity asked as she opened the box, letting Twilight spy the diamond at long last.
"Rarity, I can't think of anything that would make me happier." Twilight smiled as she wrapped up the white mare in a strong embrace. "Although I am curious why Coco had my-"
"Shut up and stop ruining the moment, Twilight." Rarity blissfully sighed.
“… Alright, and will that conclude your order, Miss?”
“Rarity and yes it will.” The aforementioned mare politely responded to the hostess who had taken her and her mother’s order at the small café by Ponyville’s market place. While waiting for their food to arrive, Rarity and her mother entertained themselves with idle chitchat. The two of them went from topic to topic. They conversed on her father nearly killing himself at the gym when he tried to show off to a young stallion in order to prove himself. Celebrity gossip was also a topic of discussion as well as Sweetie Belle nearly feeding herself to the timber wolves, again. Rarity was having quite the time with her mother. Usually these little get togethers were ruined by her mother’s probing and nosiness into Rarity’s personal life. Often her mother’s probing started innocently enough, such as asking about her recent clients, and how the business was doing but these questions gave way to others that were a great deal more private. Rarity often dreaded going into town with her mother, who often would try to set her up with any pony her mother felt would be a good fit for her. She knew her mother only meant the best but at times, her mother could be very tiring.
“I’m sorry to interrupt your conversation ladies but I have your food with me.” The hostess said, carrying a tray on her back.
“It’s fine, deary, my daughter and I were just were just chatting.” Pearl stated with a smile.
Nodding at the pair, the hostess took the tray in her mouth before placing it on the table. She took the first plate with the house salad along with a glass of red wine and passed them to Rarity. An order of lasagna with a glass of water was soon placed in front of Pearl. She exchanged pleasantries with the mother and daughter, before taking her leave to help other customers.
Rarity took the glass of wine in her magic and welcomed the chilled liquid down her throat…
“Don’t you think it is a bit early to be drinking, hun?” Pearl interrupted as she took a sip of her own beverage.
Rarity sighed, “No mother, I’m only having a glass or two at most and it is an absolute crime to have this particular salad without a glass of wine.”
“Alright, Rarebear, I believe you but I said to your father that I would only have a glass or two of wine and we wound up with Sweetie Belle.” Pearl finished with a snicker.
“Mother, will you please stop!” Rarity groaned exasperated at her mother’s quips. Her mother did stay quiet for a few minutes, much to her relieve.
“So…” Pearl trailed off as she bit her lip.
“So… ?” Rarity could only dread what her mother would say next.
“Meet anypony special lately?” Pearl asked her daughter with a saucy grin.
“Mother, we’ve been over this already.” Rarity said sharply with her trademark pout appearing on her face.
“Dear, you’re going to end up alone with a bunch of cats if you aren’t careful. Every day your maternal clock ticks away and if you wait too long, you know what’s gonna happen?” Pearl questioned her daughter who had long since put her head down on the table.
“What mother, what’s going to happen?” Rarity grumbled from underneath her mane, eyeing the cherry-oak that made up the table.
“Boom, menopause,” Her mother motioned with her forehooves. “After that you will start hoarding cats among other things. Then your friends won’t talk to you anymore because you smell like cat pee.” Pearl put her forehooves to her hips, frustrated with her daughter’s lack of forethought.
“Ugh,” Rarity only groaned as she attempted to embed herself within the table.
“What about him?”
No longer willing to argue with her mother, Rarity decided to humor her mother and looked to see that her mother had pointed to a familiar face.
“Mother, no, that is Big Macintosh, the older brother of a dear friend and he is off limits.” Rarity said in a stern tone of voice.
“Wouldn’t hurt to try… ”
“Mother, the last mare to try and court Big Macintosh was chewed out by Applejack in the middle of the farmer’s market. She is very protective of him. The poor mare that Applejack confronted nearly soiled herself before she ran away crying.” Rarity steadfast by her point and crossed her forelegs over her chest.
“What about a nice mare then? It’s okay if you’re into mares, your father and I wouldn’t mind.” Pearl smiled as she wiped her muzzle clean with a napkin.
If Rarity’s eyes could roll any harder, she was sure to tear her optic nerve right in two. This time she didn’t even answer her mother and just laid her head down. She felt a hoof on her back and turned to see who it was, but before she could see her vision became blocked by a wall of purple.
“Hey sexy, you stopping by my place tonight?” Twilight Sparkle spoke as sensually as she could manage. Rarity found herself dumbfounded by what had just happened. Her shy and courteous librarian friend had just kissed her on the lips!
“Twilight… what?” Rarity stammered, her jaw had yet to reach the ground but Rarity knew of its descent.
“I’ll take that as a yes.” Twilight stunned the white mare further by licking her lips.
“Oh, shame on you, Rarity, for not telling me about your little marefriend,” Pearl chided.
Rarity had finally managed to compose herself before speaking. “Sorry mother, if you will excuse me for a moment, I need to have a chat with my friend.” Rarity nearly yelled after making sure to emphasize the word ‘friend’.
“Okay you two, but be back soon, you and I have a lot to do with today.” Pearl was so giddy with joy she nearly squealed.
Rarity led Twilight to the alleyway that was beside the café. She turned to face Twilight, her face more cross than the eyes of a certain blonde mailmare
“Just what, in the wide world of Equestria was that!” Rarity hissed viciously at the mare who stole a kiss from her in front of her mother.
“I was joking Rarity, Rainbow Dash dared me to and—”
“Rainbow Dash dared you? Regardless, since when are you the type of pony to take on a dare?” Rarity aimed her horn at Twilight’s jugular vein.
“Heh, well, um… somehow Rainbow got a hold of the next book in the Daring Doo series and before I could read it she said I would have to find a way to embarrass you, so… ” Twilight trailed off and backed up from the sharp horn pointed at her throat.
“A book!? You kissed me in front of my mother for a—” Rarity cursed “—book? I couldn’t have cared less if the book was written by Princess—” she cursed a second time “—Celestia herself! What you’ve just done was completely uncalled for!” Rarity stared darkly at Twilight for a moment before turning away from her in an angry huff.
“I’m sorry, Rarity. I didn’t know it would upset you so much.” Twilight apologized and reached out to her angered friend. “I’ll do anything I can to make it up to you.”
Rarity sighed deeply before meeting Twilight’s eyes again. “You’re close to Princess Celestia, are you not? Because, I need to ask you for a big favor.”
Twilight sighed in relieve. “Well yea, beside Luna and Cadence, I’m probably the closest to her; why, what do you need?”
“Oh, I don’t know, perhaps a royal pardon,” Rarity’s left eyelid twitched.
“Royal pardon? Why would you need one of those?” Twilight raised an eyebrow at her friend’s odd request.
“Because, I’m about to kill a mare and wouldn’t want to wear an orange jumpsuit that would clash so horrendously with my mane!” Rarity snorted and advanced on her target.
“N-Now R-Rarity, let’s talk about this.” Twilight backed herself in the corner of the alleyway.
“Also, Twilight—” Rarity spoke in a calm voice “—next time you for whatever reason try to kiss me, would you use a little less tongue?” Rarity smiled sweetly.
“S-Sure Rarity.” Twilight let out a short breath as she calmed down, thinking Rarity was only joking about the whole killing thing…
…At least until she saw Rarity lift a large stone with her sapphire blue magic.
Twilight screwed up. She had fallen in love. Well, that wasn't the bad thing. The bad thing was that her love was one of her best friends.
But the real problem came with her confession. About to confess her undying love as eloquently as a master poet, Twilight proceeded to unceremoniously knock over a table with a lamp, and a vase on top of it. So, now trying to pick up the pieces, Twilight wondered if she'd have to do the same thing with her's and Rarity's friendship. Metaphorically, of course.
"Sorry...again." Twilight smiled meekly at the mare in front of her sweeping the broken glass into a dustpan with her magic.
"Oh, it's quite alright." She smiled reassuringly "You didn't mean to knock them over."
Twilight shook her head "Still, I feel like I owe you a new lamp at least."
Rarity simply waved the offer off with her hoof "Nonsense, you can just take me out for dinner tonight." she said, throwing the broken shards into a nearby garbage can. They were in a small hallway leading to Rarity's dress making room, and now with the floor clear of debris, Twilight restarted her master speech.
"You see, I came here to ask you...huh? Dinner!?" Twilight's eyes widened in surprise.
Rarity laughed "That is what I said, darling."
"B-but why dinner?" Twilight asked, regaining her composure.
"Oh, I just think it'll be a fun time for the two of us!" Rarity smiled, "But right now I must get back to my orders, see you tonight at seven." She winked, then crossed the hallway into her work room; closing the door.
Twilight looked at the closed door for about a full minute, remembering the countless hours of planning and deciding what to say. So after all the preparation...I get a date with Rarity by breaking her things. Twilight burying her face into her hooves, and groaned loudly.
Rarity chuckled once the door was closed. Really, if I hadn't said that Twilight would probably still be trying to confess to me. she shook her head. Taking out a spool of thread and other supplies she wondered when Twilight would figure out she had known Twilight like her.
"I hate the rain." Rarity muttered, staring gloomily out of Twilight's window.It was supposed to be a nice, peaceful day, with a lunch picnic and friends. Instead, She got caught by the rain as she stopped off to pick up Twilight, and now neither mare could leave the bookish enclosure.
Twilight, for her part, was in no better moods. A certain 'delivery' of a baby grand piano had mad ea new hole in her roof, so she was spending all day trying to just stop the leaks. She could only roll her eyes at the white mare that was sitting there, looking dejected and miserable. Maybe I should cheer her up with a nice hug... Twilight thought before she snapped the the idea that she was thinking of hugging Rarity. "Hey, Rarity, would you mind helping me?"
"Hmm, oh of course Darling." Rarity nodded, pulled from her thoughts of hat destroying water to her friend's aid. "Let's see here..." Rarity muttered while she slid right up to Twilight to look at the same leak she was seeing.
Twilight felt her heart beating a mile a minute now, and was quick to put distance between her and the beautiful white mare. No! Not beautiful! She's just a white mare. Nothing more. She looks nice, but only in a platonic way! "Whoa, hey. Don't sneak up on me like that." The librarian nervously chuckled.
"Darling, you called me over." Rarity was quick to point out. "Do you want my help or not?"
"Yes." Twilight said, but she was indecisive when she tried to step closer to her friend. "I- I just need a little space is all..."
"What? Did you eat a lot of garlic or something?" Rarity chuckled as she kept looking for and magically stopping leaks. Twilight gave a sharp laugh before her mind ran away with the new thought.
Oh Celestia, what if I did eat a lot? Did I eat a lot? I don't remember if I did. I don't think I had any actually. But what about eggs? I had an omelet this morning! My breath must be horrid! She'll never want to talk to me now! Wait, she's not that shallow. She'll still like me. I mean Talk to me! Talk!
"Twilight!" Rarity urged, pulling Twilight from her thoughts. "I could really use your help here."
"Sorry!" Twilight yelped, getting up next to Rarity to help plug the leaks. She focused her magic, but found quickly her thoughts would betray her again. Every time Rarity brushed against her, she would lose focus. Every time Rarity would mutter something under her breath, it almost made the mare collapse. Eventually the roof, now suffering in it's neglect and the growing downpour, gave way to streams of water, coating Rarity and Twilight in cold water as they yelped and tried to get out of the water's path.
Soaked, cold, and huddled in the only corner of the library that was not filled with books or water, the two mares were trying to warm back up, and Twilight had had enough. "Just- Just stop it, Rarity!"
"Excuse me?" Rarity asked as she scooted away from Twilight. "What is wrong, Twilight. You never snap at me."
"What ever has gotten into you?" Rarity chuckled. "You're acting like Spike. Poor boy and his cru-sh..." Rarity laughed till it dawned on the mare. "Oh... my..."
"What?" Twilight asked as she began to shiver.
"Darling, um... I think I know what's wrong..." Rarity offered. "And it's okay. It wouldn't be the first time a friend has felt these feelings for me."
"What?" Twilight asked as Rarity saw right through her. "I- I don't..."
"You don't need to lie, darling." Rarity smiled. "It's alright, really. I'm flattered."
"I- I don't know what you're talking about."
"Twilight, you're not the first mare to have a crush on me, but you're the best by far. And I have to say, I'd do anything for you, darling. If you think it would be worth it try something out between us, who am I to say no?"
"What?" Twilight asked, her face turning bright red. "I- You- What?"
"It's alright, darling."
"But-"
"Here, I'll start. How about tomorrow afternoon then?" Rarity asked with a smile.
"Hey!" Twilight finally cried. "I don't know what you're talking about, assuming these things, but I am not falling for my friend!"
"Okay darling. If I'm wrong, just look me in the eye, and say 'Rarity, I have no romantic feelings for you'."
"Rarity." Twilight started, looking deep into the azure orbs the librarian never really noticed till right now actually... "I- I... I can't say it..."
"Just as I thought." Rarity smiled. "Trust me, it'll be fun darling. Now, stop being such a nervous filly and sit closer. I'm freezing here."
"Darling, I simply don't see why we need to sit in the cheap seats. We deserve better than this," Rarity said, shuffling around uncomfortably. It wasn't that the cheap seats were badly made, but the idea of sitting in them was putting her off and she just could not settle down.
Twilight giggled. "Rarity! Don't be so uptight! These are just as good, and they're cheaper. Besides, it's good to show that we're ordinary ponies. It sets a good example."
Rarity sniffed. "I suppose so."
Twilight laughed again, knowing that Rarity hated admitting that she had been snobbish. She tried her best to be above such notions, but her old side shined through sometimes.
"Do you want a jelly filly?" she asked.
"Excuse me?"
Twilight held out a striped paper bag that she was levitating. Inside were several sweets dusted with icing sugar in a variety of rainbow colours. Twilight took a red one and munched on it happily. "They're very nice."
Rarity gingerly took one and placed it in her mouth. Twilight watched, grinning, as Rarity pulled a face.
"Lime," she said, the only explanation she was offering. Twilight smiled, and the lights started to dim.
"What are we seeing tonight?" Rarity whispered to her.
"To be honest, I'm not completely sure. I've never heard of it, but it appears to be good. It's called Wicked and it's about - " Twilight began to explain.
"Dear, you should have mentioned! Wicked is simply marvelous!" Rarity exclaimed, trying desperately to keep her voice down when inside she was exploding in the best possible way.
Twilight's face fell. "You've seen it before? I was hoping we'd both be surprised."
Rarity hated seeing Twilight downtrodden, and she pecked her marefriend on the cheek. "I'll gladly see it over and over again for the rest of my life," she reassured her, "and to watch the mare I love experience it for the first time is worth every second."
Twilight smiled and gave Rarity a long kiss, pulling away as the music started. "Thanks, Rarity," she said simply, and rarity smiled warmly, knowing that for Twilight, that was the sincerest form of gratitude.
Maybe the cheap seats aren't so bad after all, she thinks to herself.
If Rarity had to describe her marefriend, cute, bookworm, punctual, brave, loyal, neat, caring, and amazing were all words she would use.
Now she may have to add anxious to that list.
Here she stood, next to her friends and Twilight, watching half of the town fight over a doll. The cause of the fight wasn't because of how popular the doll was, but that her love had cast a spell forcing the whole town to go crazy over it. The amount of chaos here would make Discord proud.
The motive for Twilight causing all of the trouble, was so she would have something to write to the princess about regarding friendship as she had a deadline to meet. When she and the girls first heard it they didn't think anything of it and brushed it off.
Twilight's hurt look was burned into Rarity's mind.
She didn't like seeing her marefriend like this, nor did she like being the cause of it. She thought about stepping in to comfort Twilight, but she was interrupted by the goddess herself. Celestia didn't look angry, it was more of a look of disappointment instead. There was flash of her horn and all of the ponies currently fighting over the doll snapped out of their trance.
They all took a quick peek at what all the commotion was about, before trampling over the doll on their way back to town. Well, almost everyone. Big Mac searched the area around the doll, before taking it and running off. He looked very happy with it, and frankly Rarity would like to forget what she saw.
Celestia didn't say anything except that she wanted to see Twilight in the library. Twilight looked defeated as shown by both appearance and movement. It made Rarity feel worse for not helping her sooner. Twilight's last sentence sent a bucket of guilt pouring into her.
Goodbye, girls. If you care to visit, I'll be in magic kindergarten, back in Canterlot
She couldn't lose Twilight. She was going to march right into the library and stand next to her marefriend.
She didn't help her before, and she won't let it happen again.
Spike couldn't remember the last time he had been this happy. The comic shop was having a half off sale, Pinkie had goofed up an order of cupcakes and gave him quite a few free ones, and Snips and Snails were turning over a piece of paper for hours trying to figure out just how to entertain an idiot for hours like it said. All in all, today was perfect.
Spike burst in the library, arms full of his days loot, as he made a bee line to the bean bag chair. His sudden entrance startled two unicorns in all truth that had, until he arrived, been sitting very close together and giggling all too much.
"Spike!" Twilight floundered, pushing herself off the couch. "Hey, Spike. How ya doin there... Spike?"
"Hello deary." Rarity forced a laugh. "Twilight and I were just, um..."
"Talking!"
"Gossiping!"
"Mmmhmmph!" Spike grunted, not even looking away from his comics.
"Gossiping?" Twilight asked in a hushed tone. "About what?"
"I- I don't know." Rarity admitted, watching the drake from her perch on the couch. "Um, Spike, did you hear me?"
"Huh? What?" Spike asked, not really paying attention.
"Oh thank Luna, he didn't notice." Twilight sighed.
"Hmm, I wonder how long we can cuddle before he starts to notice, lover." Rarity purred, loud enough to be heard for sure. Twilight could feel the heat coming off her now crimson face, but Spike just grunted and nodded.
"Rarity, shut up!" Twilight urged, feeling herself start to sweat.
"Oh gods yes, more!" Rarity grunted almost at the dragon.
"Rarity!" Twilight blushed.
"Uh huh." Spike nodded, stuffing a whole cupcake into his mouth.
"Wow, he's really into those comics..." Twilight giggled. She was beginning to relax, till she felt Rarity's teeth on her ear. "Rarity!"
"Yep." Spike nodded, turning the page of his precious book.
"Wow..." Twilight muttered as she calmed down.
"Try it, darling." Rarity urged.
"Spike, Rarity and I have secretly been dating for months now." Twilight said, letting out a pent sigh.
"I'll get to it in a minute, Twi." Spike muttered.
"See, my love." Rarity purred, throwing her hooves around Twilight and drawing her close once more. "I don't think we could interrupt the boy now if we tried."
"Okay, done." Spike said as he put down the comic and turned to the two unicorns, still locked in their loving hug. "What did ya need, Twi?"
"Take out the trash!" Both mares screamed, fear rising in them both rapidly.
"You got it!" Spike saluted, leaving the mares to their whims once more.
With a great sigh, Rarity began to giggle as she relaxed, pulling her lover in closer to whisper. "Goddess that was close. My heart hasn't beat this fast since-"
"There's no trash, Twi." Spike said, poking his head back in the room and looking right at the pair.
"Spike get out!" Twilight cried.
"What's up?" Spike asked, furrowing his brow. Now that he looked at it, there was something odd going on here. They wanted him to take out the trash that wasn't there, and wouldn't shut up the whole time he was reading. Finally, it all clicked for the small dragon. "Wait, you two are wrapping my birthday presents, aren't you?"
"Huh?" Twilight and Rarity eventually asked.
"Ah, clever. I never would have thought about it four months before my birthday." Spike chuckled. "I'll leave ya alone so you can finish."
As the dragon left, the two mares almost collapsed from sheer relief of stress. "Too close..."
"We have to tell him sometime, my love." Rarity chided lovingly.
"Yeah... Someday..." Twilight giggled as she reached up and pulled Rarity into a quick kiss.
"Hey!" Spike cried for the other room as the two mares froze. "Who ate all my cupcakes?!"
"... He's kidding, right?" Rarity asked. Spike charged back into the room, small puffs of smoke coming from his snout.
"Who ate my cupcakes?"
"You did!" Twilight protested. "We watched you shovel down five of them!"
"I did?" Spike asked, taken aback. "Man, I zone out completely when I'm reading comics..."
Twilight and Pinkie were in sugar cube corner's kitchen planning to make a cake for Rarity. you see it was hearts and hooves day and Twilight wanted to bake a very special cake for her, why did she wanted to bake a special cake for her you ask? Why it was because she loved the white mare more then life itself. she was hoping the cake would make Rarity fall for her. Anyways the cake they were planning to make was a chocolate/strawberry cake, one of Raritys favorites. "Thanks for helping me with the cake Pinkie." Twilight said who had the whisk in her hand and started to whip the frosting
"Any time Twilight." Pinkie chirped as she put cake batter in the oven.
An hour later the cake was finally baked and now the mares were ready to decorate the triple layered chocolate cake, Pinkie grabbed pump that was filled with strawberry filling and filled the cake, when she was done Twilight started frosting the cake with chocolate frosting, then they both put strawberry and chocolate shaving on it. "Now that is what i call a cake!" Exclaimed Pinkie who was now examining the cake a gave Twilight the okay. so Twilight grabbed the cake with her magenta magic and both mares started heading to tne boutique.
When they got the front door Pinkie pie looked like she had forgot something "Oh shoot!!"
Twilight turned around to look at Pinkie "What's wrong Pinkie?"
Pinkie started to skip backwards "I forgot, my break well be over in two minutes, sorry i can't stay."
"But it a holidays." Twilight deadpanned
"Uhhhhh........ bye". Pinkie then took off in a flash.
"What was that about?" Thought Twilight.
She just chalked it up as Pinkie being Pinkie and knocked on the door. seconds later she could her hoofsteps getting closer "Hello darling." Greeted Rarity when she open the door and saw it was Twilight.
"H-hi Rarity h-how are you" said Twilight becoming instantly nerves upon see Rarity.
"Happy hearts and hooves day." she said as she held out the cake
"Thanks darling and i'm fine. oh is the chocolate/strawberry cake?"
she motion with her arm for Twilight to come in "would you like to come in and have some cake?" ask Rarity.
Twilight nodded her head walked past Rarity and started heading for the kitchen with Rarity behind her who was enjoying the view. When they reached the kitchen Rarity quicken her pase to get the plates for both of them when Twilight tripped over her hooves.
Rarity got two plates and turned around just on time to get a face full of cake! "Oh no!" Exclaimed Twilight
Her whole frontside was covered in cake, Rarity started walking towards a clearly scared Alicorn princess who was now backed in a corner. "R-rarity I'm so s-"
she was interrupted when she felt Rarity's soft strawberry filling covered lips on hers. Twilight was in heaven right now, this was everything she wanted from today. she was no longer scared but overjoyed. Twilight wrapped her arms around Rarity and kissed her back.
After what felt like enternity Rarity pulled back leaving Twilight wanting more. Rarity and Twilight was stairing in each others eyes "I simply love sweet treats." she whispered and kissed Twilight again.
With the sun set at midday, Twilight and Rarity enjoyed the silence in the café as sipped on their tea.
Twilight sighed happily in content, "You know, ever since I stole Celestia and Luna's magic and made us the new queens of Equestria I feel like our life is finally in it's rightful place."
"I know exactly what you mean," Rarity giggled, brushing her crown with a hoof, "Speaking of Celestia and Luna, where are those two? It's been almost half a minute." Rarity complained and picked up the table bell, shaking it hard.
Soon enough two alicorns dressed in maid outfits appeared, making their way to the table. Having no magic the former princesses walked slowly to keep the platters on their back from tipping over.
"Honestly, were you two planning on making us wait all day?"
"Sorry, your grace," Celestia spoke submissively and continued handing out the ordered pastries.
Twilight giggled as the the two alicorn sisters struggled place the platters on their table, "You know, for someone who's been raising the sun and the moon for millennial, it's funny how neither can even do a simple task such as serving."
"Apologize, your grace," Celestia apologized, lowering her head.
"Oh, don't look so gloom," Twilight insisted, "Come on, smile!"
The two sisters shared a look of bewilderment before finally forcing a smile on their faces.
"That's better," Twilight smirked, " And I'm sorry. I know it can't be easy to smile considering the amounts of public executions we've been having these past weeks, but it's important you show some sort of gratitude for being kept alive."
"Not to mention manners," Rarity intervened, "Do you think this café wants to see sad frowns serving their food and meals?"
"No, your grac—"
"Speaking of serving, where is my deluxe strawberry cake that I ordered?"
Before the former princesses got a chance to answer, a stallion appeared carrying the order appeared.
"Ah! Blueblood!" Rarity exclaimed, "What a pleasure to have you serve me. You look very well dressed," Rarity smirked at the former prince who shifted uncomfortably in his maid outfit.
"Your cake, your grace..." Blueblood presented, moving the enormous cake over to the two queens table.
"Thank you, darling," Rarity nodded as she reached for a fork and took a piece of the strawberry cake. Rarity chewed on it twice before spitting it out, "Too sweet," she remarked, pushing the cake of the table and onto the floor with a splatter.
Twilight giggled at the display and watched her wife in action.
"Oops. How clumsy of me," Rarity smiled innocently, "Would you be a dear and clean that up for me?"
Blueblood cringe at the messy sight, but swallowed and recomposed, "O-of course, your majesty."
"Where are you going?" Rarity asked, as Blueblood turned and began walk away.
"U-uh..." Blueblood stuttered, "To get the broom, your g—"
"Oh you don't need a broom to clean this up. Your tongue will do just fine," Rarity happily explained, earning a laughter from across the table.
"M-my tongue?" Blueblood swallowed.
"Go on then," Rarity encourage, pointing her hoof at the floor.
Blueblood lowered his head towards the cake mess on the floor, but froze as he came within close vicinity of it. Rarity watched as the stallion stared horrified at the mess completely petrified.
"Blueblood? Is there a problem?" Rarity asked, but got no response from the stallion. Rarity looked at the Twilight who's amusement had drawn into a yawn. Twilight gave Rarity the nod and Rarity sighed and turned towards a guard closest to her, "Kill him."
At the words, Blueblood snapped out of his frozen state and change his attitude and quickly began shuffling floor cake as a guard drew close with weaponed drawn, "No wait! Please!" Blueblood pleaded with a mumble of cake in his mouth.
Alas, no mercy was shown.
The queens laughed like mad mares as Blueblood head did a dancing number on the floor.
Rarity giggled, "I can't believe I was worried today would not be fun for us. Oh how I wish I could rewitness that display..."
Twilight laughed heartily, before coming to a sudden stop, "Rewitnessing..."
"Twilight?"
"You know," Twilight smirked, "That might actually be possible. There are some time scrolls in Canterlot's royal library, though useless for changing the past, they're not useless for rewitnessing it."
"Ooh ♥" Rarity exclaimed, clapping her hooves together, "Please, tell me you're not joking because that would be wonderful! Oh, how I would love to rewitness Applejack beheading!" Rarity squeed.
"Or Rainbow Dash," Twilight remarked, "She was a real screamer."
The mares laughed together at good memories they've both had under the recent weeks.
"You're absolutely sinister, you know that?" Rarity spoke as her laughter died down.
"I know," Twilight smiled, as she stared happily at her beautiful wife.
Glowing her horn, Twilight made the sun set casting it's orange hue at them through the Maid Café window. She observed Rarity in the brilliant light and leaned forward to lock muzzles with her queen. Even though thousand of ponies had died at her hoof that week, Twilight had felt nothing. No sorrow nor sympathy. Yet Rarity, despite the situation, would always make her cold heart beat loudly along with the butterflies that swirled wildly in her stomach.
As the kiss ended Twilight observed the beauty before her in silence as she let that warm feeling of love and happiness buzz through her body.
“End up somewhere else?” The voice of one of the ladies Star recited, looking over the letter.
“Yeah, mom. I think it means I cast a portal charm, but I can’t be sure…” Twilight groaned, throwing her head back.
“Well, it makes sense.” Twilight Velvet nodded with a chuckle. “Come on baby girl, you never had troubles before.”
“I wasn’t using outside help before either.” Twilight groaned. “I had to be sure I wiped the memory out of Rarity's mind with the spell too.”
“Poor girl, making you suffer.” Velvet cooed as she placed the letter on the table. “Well, she won’t remember anything that could tie you back to it, so I guess it’s worth while.”
“Blugh.” Twilight emphasized. “Why did I need even need to involve a gem expert? I’m almost an archmage for crying out loud!”
“Oh please, Twilight. She’s an alibi.” Velvet laughed. “She’s unknowingly helping you to pull off the heist of a lifetime.”
“Yeah…”
“Besides baby girl, you’re just guilty that you had to lie to your friend is all.” Velvet said as she sat by her daughter, pulling her over for an affectionate hug. “And she has gotten you farther than ever before. Grandma would be so proud, she never even came this close to the jewel.”
“I feel bad for Rarity though…” Twilight finally said, looking away. “She’s better than this. I feel rotten I had to use her as a… a tool.”
“Don’t worry, honey.” Velvet assured, “Rarity’s a good girl, and a true friend. If you could, I’m sure you would open up to her about everything.”
“Of course not.” Velvet laughed. “He’s a blabber mouth.” The ladies joined in harmonious laughter as about the only family they could be open with enjoyed their talks. But such was the life they had chosen, so very long ago. “So, if you think it’s a portal charm, what’s the hold up?”
“It’s because I’m just guessing. Knowing myself too well is a bit of a problem…” Twilight admitted. “I mean, how can I remember forgotten knowledge if I’m so scripted in what I’d do?”
“Yeah…” Velvet sighed. “I’d have just nipped the damned thing and wiped your friend’s brian.”
“I can’t do that!” Twilight gasped. “I have to wait. Fence said so.”
“Hmm, yes. Your fence.” Velvet snarled. “Darling, maybe you should look into a different fence from now on?”
“If someone else had the scrolls, I would.” Twilight conceded. “Ugh! I need to break this stupid spell!”
Twilight examined the table for the dinner date that was scheduled for the evening.
ONE OAKWOOD TABLE: 100 BITS
On top of the table sat a fine tablecloth, two plates, two sets of silverware, and two wine glasses.
A FINE TABLECLOTH, TWO PLATES, TWO SETS OF SILVERWARE, AND TWO WINE GLASSES: 75 BITS
Twilight couldn’t help but smile as she playfully shook her head at the sight. She then heard the sound of someone coming down the stairs. Turning to look, she saw her UYBBFF (Unofficial Younger Brother Best Friend Forever) coming towards her wearing a very fine looking tuxedo.
A VERY FINE LOOKING TUXEDO: 200 BITS
Despite the fact that Spike was in what many would consider his teenage years, there were times like this that made Twilight wonder just how mature he really was.
“Spike, I know you’re trying to make a great impression on your date tonight. But don’t you think that this is a little too much?”
Spike replied as he straightened out a couple of forks on the table; “Too much? I say it’s not enough! I think a candle right in the center of the table would really set the mood.”
“Spike,” Twilight replied, “You two are ordering pizza and you’re drinking Mountain Fury. I stand by my statement.”
Spike finally turned towards her and said with absolute certainty, “Twilight, sometimes you gotta go for style points.”
Twilight glanced over at the table and then said, “If you’re doing all of this just to try to impress her, you don’t have to. You two have known each other for years and she clearly knows that you’re a respectable young drake.”
Before Twilight could elaborate any further, there was a knock at the door to the dining room.
“You may enter.” Twilight spoke.
The door opened and in came a teenage mare wearing a silk red dress.
A SILK RED DRESS: 250 BITS (BUT WAS FREE OF CHARGE FOR THIS ONE TIME)
Spike walked up to the mare and said, “You look great, Applebloom.”
Applebloom blushed as she replied, “Aw shucks Spike. You’re lookin’ pretty nice yerself.”
Twilight walked past them towards the door. “Don’t mind me; I’ve got places to be tonight. You two behave yourselves now!”
After she left the castle, she saw a familiar white coated unicorn mare waiting for her.
“Well? How did it go my dear?” Rarity asked.
Twilight looked back at the castle as she responded, “I think those two are going to be just fine.”
DOING WHAT YOU CAN TO MAKE TWO INDIVIDUALS YOU CARE ABOUT HAVE A GREAT NIGHT: PRICELESS
Twilight turned back towards her marefriend and said, “So, what did you have in mind for us tonight?”
Rarity gave Twilight a soft kiss on her cheek, “I figured we should do something rather simple tonight. A movie and coffee perhaps?”
" I wonder if there any ice cream left?" wondered Radiant star. she put a bookmark in the book she was reading before putting down on her bed. hopping off the bed she walked towards the door I hope mom didn't eat all of it, iknow how she gets she is upset. she opened the door the her "bed chambers" and walked down the hall that lead to the kithcen.
Couple minutes later she was at the door of the kithen, she was about to open it when she heard crying. "No, not agian!" she opened up the door to the kitchen and sure enough there was Rarity and Spike; Rarity was sitting at the counter crying her eyes out, and eating ice cream, Spike was trying his best to comfert her.
Radiant walked up to Spike and her Mother " Let me guess she misses mom and sis." Spike looked at her and said " you bet she does, i found here like this an hour ago and still won't spot crying." said Spike
"She does know they been go for a day right?" Radiant star deadpanned.
Rarity looked up at her duaghter with puffy red eyes. " But, i really miss them." exclaimed Rarity. Radiant moved over to her mother and spike and put a hoof on her mother's shoulder " spike can you take care the mess my mom made?" Spike saluted and went to work.
"Ohhh mom, if you miss them this bad already i'm afriad to see you in a week."
Rarity gave Radiant a small smile and said "Me too."
Radiant looked back at the ice box, then at Spike ( who was still cleaning) " Did she ate all of it?"
"She sure did." proclaimed Spike
Radiant looked back at her mother and said "Even the one that's enchanted with the Endless bucket spell?"
Rarity had adopted a light blush on her cheeks "Unfortunately yes i did."
"wow, you must really miss mom and Amethyst sparkle huh?"
Spike had thown away the last empty bucket of ice cream in the trash can want joined his family "You don't know the half of it." he said
"If look at mother give an indaction to go by, then yes i do." replyed Radiant star. the three of them started laugthing at the joke Radiant made.
After about a minute of good laughter Radiant stopped laughting. "Mother?" she asked
"yes?"
"Do you think Amethyst well ever learn the value of friendship?"
Rarity and Spike also stopped laughing as well and the room became serious "I hope so, I really do." Replied Rarity
It was never something she expected when she first received her wings. Well, okay, she never expected to receive wings in the first place, but that was a totally different story. No, now she was Princess Twilight Sparkle of Equestria, Alicorn pony. Her town adored her, her court respected her, and her friends?
"Seriously darling?" Rarity huffed as she looked over Twilight's wings one day after royal court.
"What?" Twilight huffed, instantly regretting that. "I'm sorry, Rarity. I haven't been sleeping too well lately."
"Well of course you haven't, your wings are a mess!" Rarity chided. "Come come, I won't sit around here and let you continue to injure yourself a second longer darling." Rarity dragged Twilight to her private chambers, closing the door as she made Twilight lay down on a cushion. "Has anypony explained preening to you darling?"
"I read all about it right after I got these things." Twilight snorted back.
"No darling, preening is something taught to pegasi during foalhood, not read and learned." Rarity frowned.
"How would you know? You're a unicorn."
"I've also helped Fluttershy preen her wings before." Rarity stated as a matter of fact. "She neglects her wings too. And when you neglect them, somepony else has to help you with them. Now lay still..."
"What are you do-Ah!" Twilight began, but gasped as she felt her friends teeth as they dug into an errant feather, pulling it, twisting it, tugging it, and pushing it. "Oh mama that feels good..."
"See, there is nothing too it dear. You try." Rarity ordered as she backed up.
"As your princess, I order you to." Twilight murmured sleepily.
Rarity gasped, holding a hoof to her chest as she blushed. "I will not let you just order me around as such, Twilight!"
"Please?"
"No!" Rarity relented, holding her ground.
"I'll give you a back rub afterwords. Pretty please?"
"No!"
Twilight considered this for a long moment, knowing that she had to play her big guns now. "I'll tell you a secret, Rarity."
"What kind of secret?" Rarity asked, falling for the bait.
"Just preen me, and I'll tell you this juicy, ripe gossip."
"... Fine." Rarity sighed. She hated that Twilight knew her weakness so well, and was so willing to exploit it, but she just couldn't rest while Twilight, Princess of Equestria, held some gossip just for her. So she went to work, straightening each feather she needed to, knowing which needed the most work by Twilight's gasps and groans. Finally, after two hours of exhaustive oral attention, Rarity was done. She had down feathers stuck to her tongue, lips, teeth, and throat, so this had better be worth it.
"Alright dear, all done. Now what is your magical gossip?"
But there was no reply. Rarity leaned over the princess to discover that the lavender filly was sound asleep.
"So much for my reward." Rarity huffed as she shook her head, floating over a blanket for Twilight so that she may sleep soundly. But as she floated over the blanket, a letter fell out. Rarity hesitantly picked it up, not sure what this meant. But when she saw her own name adorning the paper envelope, she couldn't resist.
Dear Rarity, figured I might fall asleep during your preening. It's been three weeks after all since I had a good night's rest. So as promised, your reward: Celestia really wants to buy some dresses from you. She wanted me to tell you so that you could offer them to her, because she is supposed to be impartial to all Equestria businesses.
"Buwahaha!" Rarity screamed in delight, kissing Twilight on the cheek in her jubilation. "Oh darling, I'll preen your wings anytime you want for this!"
"I'll hold you too that." Twilight groaned as Rarity woke her up.
"I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to wake you, but this is- This is- Buwahaha! Yes!"
Twilight giggled as she readjusted, pulling the cover up around her neck as she went back to sleep, Rarity bouncing giddily down the halls.
