Chapter 7
Spike woke up in his new bedroom for the first time. He was quite disoriented at first, especially with the lack of light in the room, but it didn't take him long to remember where he was. Since there were only so many changes in his life he could handle, he decided to continue with his normal morning routine, which began with getting a pot of coffee started for when Twilight woke up and getting breakfast going. He headed upstairs and opened the door to the basement. He proceeded towards the kitchen, the smell of coffee catching his attention as he got closer. He discovered Rarity sitting at the kitchen table, a fresh pot of coffee on the counter, and a cup in Rarity's magical grasp.
"Good morning, Spike." Rarity said, almost not loud enough to be heard.
"Morning, Rarity. I wasn't expecting you to be up already. Is Twilight up also?" Spike asked.
"No. I'm pretty sure Pinkie couldn't wake her right now. That trip to Canterlot took a lot more out of us than we were willing to admit. I've been getting up late the past few days, so I figured it's about time I start trying to resume my normal schedule… although I'm having a hard time getting myself going this morning." Rarity sighed as she stared at her partially emptied cup of coffee. "I've really got to introduce Twilight to some better coffee. This stuff is quite harsh."
"Twilight actually likes it that way… helps to kick start her brain she says." Spike laughed a little to himself, picturing how Twilight would stagger around the library until she managed to get that first cup of coffee down.
"Oh, I can imagine. Especially when you consider how late she normally stays up with her nose in her books." Rarity chuckled lightly.
"Well, I'm going to start breakfast. Any requests?" Spike asked, as he started putting his apron on.
"Oh, I'll have whatever it is that you would normally make for Twilight. I wouldn't want to inconvenience you." Rarity got up and headed out of the kitchen, the cup of coffee floating over her back as she exited. Her head briefly popped back through the door. "Thank you for making breakfast for us."
Spike smiled before turning back to his cooking. "No problem, Rarity."
Rarity wandered over to her little nook. She sat down, slowing taking stock of what she had to work with. She had just taken up a little sketch pad when she heard a knock at the front door. 'I wonder who that could be' she pondered as she made her way to the door. She saw Spike peak his head out of the kitchen just as she reached for the door knob.
"Welcome to Carou… oh, wait, I mean." She never did finish her sentence, as she found herself enveloped in a hug from her mother.
Pinkie woke up early as usual. She quickly shook her mane out and headed downstairs to join Mr. and Mrs. Cake, who were getting the kitchen prepared for the morning rush. While pulling a few mixing bowls out, she paused, looking out a nearby window. Mr. and Mrs. Cake noticed that she had stopped, and looked at her with concern in their eyes, as any pause from this particular mare was almost always reason to be concerned.
"Pinkie, dear, are you okay?" Mrs. Cake placed a hoof gently on Pinkie's shoulder.
Snapping back to reality, Pinkie looked over her shoulder at Mrs. Cake. "I'm alright. I was just thinking about somepony." She smiled and went back to work.
A small, knowing smile crossed Mrs. Cake's lips. "Anypony we know dear?"
"Um, yes. You know her." A pale blush tinted Pinkie's cheeks, barely noticeable against her naturally pink coat.
"Well, are you going to tell us who you were thinking about?" Mrs. Cake was so surprised that the normally talkative pony was suddenly being so coy.
In a manner so uncharacteristic of Pinkie, she whispered, "Fluttershy." At this point, her blush had deepened so much that it was blatantly obvious, despite her coat color.
"Who dear? Why are you being so quiet?" Mrs. Cake moved closer to Pinkie in the hope of understanding her if she managed to speak up a second time.
In a slightly louder whisper, Pinkie repeated herself. "Fluttershy."
"Really?! When did this start?" Mrs. Cake had grasped Pinkie's face, gently squeezing her cheeks together. Mr. Cake, recognizing that Pinkie was obviously uncomfortable, tapped his wife on the shoulder.
"Cup, dear, maybe you should just let her be for now? I'm sure Pinkie will tell us more when she's ready."
"But," was all Mrs. Cake managed to get out, before she saw the seriousness on her husband's face. Realizing that he was right, Mrs. Cake let Pinkie go and went back to work.
Mr. Cake gave Pinkie a gentle nuzzle. "When you're ready to talk, we'll be happy to listen."
Pinkie turned and gave him a little smile and a hug, then returned to work.
Fluttershy woke up quite flustered. She had several vivid dreams that night, and they all involved Pinkie… some a little more intimate than she ever believed herself capable of imagining. While she would normally wait to take a shower until after she had done all her morning chores, she desperately felt the need to take a cold shower, now! Once the warm feelings in her cheeks, chest, and much to her dismay, between her legs, had disappeared, she got out of the shower and continued with her normal morning routine. She occasionally caught herself looking towards the center of Ponyville, knowing that Pinkie was likely busy at work and probably wasn't thinking about her at all.
Fluttershy let out a long sigh, almost bordering on a groan. "I wonder if I should tell her how she made me feel yesterday?" She wrapped up her morning chores, before sitting down on her couch to think. "Maybe Rarity and Twilight are home now. I wonder if they'd be able to help me sort this out."
Settling on that idea, she made a quick check around the house to make sure she hadn't forgotten to do anything. Satisfied, she started to make her way into town.
Rarity was still reeling when her mother let her go. "Mother! I wasn't expecting you to get back so early!"
"Well, dear, we greased the carriage ponies hooves a little to make sure they got us home as soon as possible. Are you okay? You're not hurt are you? Is Sweetie Belle alright?" Crystal Belle was hovering all over her daughter, looking for any sign of injury.
"Mother, I'm fine. I was nowhere near the shop when the damage happened. Sweetie Belle is fine as well. She is staying with Apple Bloom and her family until I could make better arrangements. Oh, where are my manners. Please, come in."
"You seem to be taking this better than I thought you would." Rarity's father gave her a brief hug as he entered. "I thought for sure we'd find you a complete wreck."
"Magnum! Don't mind him, dear, he's just a little grumpy because we haven't had breakfast yet." Crystal Belle shot him a disapproving glance. "Although, I must agree that you do seem quite calm and collected."
"Well, I have my friends to thank for that. If it hadn't been for their support, I probably would be a mess. Twilight in particular has really gone far beyond what I would have expected of her. Letting me stay here, helping with the paperwork to get the store rebuilt… I don't know what I would have done without her. Actually, when she wakes up, I do have something I'd like to talk to you two about. Of course, if you are too busy, it can wait for another time."
"I would like to get some breakfast, check up on the house, and go see Sweetie Belle. With us home now, there is no need for her to stay with the Apples any longer." Magnum turned to head back out the door.
Spike had remained quiet as he observed the family reunion, but being around Rarity so much, he had picked up a few pointers on being a good host. "I'm actually in the process of making breakfast now. If you'd like to join us, it's no trouble."
"Oh Spike, that's so generous of you. Would you like to join us for breakfast?"
Magnum briefly looked at Spike, then Rarity. "I think I'll pass. We'll just grab something from Sugarcube Corner on the way home." He was about to walk out the door, before he paused. "Why don't you come to our place for dinner tonight? Bring Twilight Sparkle and Spike with you. It's the least we can do to show our thanks." He then made his way out the door. "Crystal, you coming?"
"One moment, dear." Crystal Belle quickly enveloped her daughter in another hug. "I'm so sorry this happened to you. I'm glad you have good friends to help you though. I'm looking forward to meeting Twilight tonight. I've never really gotten a chance to talk to her. How does six sound?"
"That sounds great, mother. Thank you." Rarity gave her mother a little nuzzle before letting go.
As Crystal Belle made her way out the door, Fluttershy was making her way up to the library.
"Good morning, Mrs. Belle. I hope you're doing well." Fluttershy gave her a warm smile.
"Fluttershy, so good to see you again! I'm doing quite well. I wish I could stay and chat, but Magnum's stomach isn't going to wait much longer. Do come by sometime." Crystal Belle waved before scurrying to catch up to her husband.
"Good morning, Fluttershy. It's been too long, darling. Please, come in." Rarity stepped out of the entrance to let Fluttershy by. "You've probably already eaten, but please join us for coffee?"
Just then, Fluttershy's stomach rumbled. She quickly blushed. "Um, actually, I forgot to eat. I was kinda distracted this morning. That's why I came here. I'd like to talk to you and Twilight… that is, if you're not busy."
"Oh, then I insist you join us for breakfast." Rarity turned to face Spike. "Spike, darling, would you be so kind as to make enough for Fluttershy also."
Spike gave a quick salute, and a smile, before disappearing back into the kitchen. Rarity grabbed the pot of coffee and two empty coffee cups and levitated them into the living room. She filled one cup, leaving the other one empty until Twilight woke up. She then levitated her cup from her work area and sat down on the sofa, patting the cushion for Fluttershy to join her. "I'm afraid Twilight is not awake yet, but you can talk to me if you want."
"Actually, I am awake. Good morning, Fluttershy." Twilight was slowly making her way down the stairs, her eyes half open. "With all the talking down here, I couldn't stay asleep."
Rarity quickly filled the remaining empty cup and sent it over to Twilight, who gratefully took possession of it. "I'm sorry about that, dear. My parents just arrived. I did not realize we were being so loud."
Twilight took a sip of her coffee, her ears perking up from the familiar taste. "That's okay. I should have been up by now anyway. It's not like I stayed up all night. I'm sorry I missed them. You should have woken me up."
"Well, they did not stay very long, but they did invite you and Spike to dinner tonight. I hope that is alright with you." Rarity waited patiently for Twilight's mind to process the question and come up with an answer.
"I don't see why we couldn't do that. I would like to spend some time with my parents today, before they have to go home." Twilight settled in on the other side of Rarity, gently leaning against her. "So, Fluttershy, to what do we owe the pleasure of your visit this morning?"
"Um, well, that is…" Fluttershy trailed off as she thought of what she wanted to say.
"Dear, are you okay?" Rarity gently placed a hoof onto one of Fluttershy's, causing the pegasus to jump slightly.
"Oh, yes, I'm okay. Just a little nervous I guess." She glanced over to Rarity. Twilight had just finished getting onto the couch and was cuddling against Rarity with a soft smile on her face. Rarity gave Twilight a gentle nuzzle to her cheek before returning her attention to Fluttershy. "Seeing you two get together got me thinking that I would like a special somepony too. I started thinking about what kind of pony I would like to be with, and at first I thought that pony might be Applejack."
Rarity gasped. "Really?! I never saw that one coming. Have you talked to her yet?"
Twilight finally decided to become more involved in the conversation as the effects of the caffeine finally reached her brain. "I always thought Applejack wasn't interested in dating… too busy with the farm and all."
"She also not interested in mares either, as it turns out." Fluttershy added.
"Oh no, you poor dear!" Rarity quickly enveloped Fluttershy in a hug.
"Oh, Rarity, it's not what you think. I never asked her out. Since I couldn't talk to you or Twilight about it, and Rainbow Dash just is not the type of pony to try to have this kind of conversation with, I ended up talking things over with Pinkie Pie."
"Wait, you had a serious discussion about relationships with Pinkie?" The look of surprise on Twilight's face was enough to make Fluttershy snicker. The fact that Rarity's jaw had hit the floor made her openly laugh, leaning against the back of the couch for support.
It took a moment for Rarity to collect herself. "Twilight, dear. I think Fluttershy just pranked us."
Hearing this, Fluttershy collected herself as quickly as she could manage, getting back up to a seated position. "Actually, that wasn't a joke. Surely you've noticed that Pinkie can be very insightful sometimes, if not in a traditional way. She made me think about how I felt about Applejack, and I came to realize that she's more like a sister to me than anything else. I ran into Applejack shortly after talking to Pinkie and I told her what was going on. In the end, we were both relieved. For a while, she was beginning to think I was mad at her. It was during that conversation that I found out she isn't interested in mares."
"I see. So then, if everything is resolved between you and Applejack, what did you need to talk to us about?" As Twilight finished asking this, Rarity leaned closer to Fluttershy.
"You've found somepony haven't you!" Rarity declared, nearly bouncing off the sofa.
"Maybe… I'm not sure. I've never felt like this about another pony before, especially one of my friends."
"Woah, hold on. One of our friends?" Now both Twilight and Rarity we're teetering on the edge of the sofa.
"Um, yes?" Fluttershy quickly ducked under her mane from the scrutiny her friends were giving her.
Twilight and Rarity glanced at each other. Rarity spoke up first. "Well, we know it's not you or I, and she just ruled out Applejack. The only two ponies left are Rainbow Dash and Pinkie."
They turned their gazes back to Fluttershy, only to find that she had gotten off the sofa and backed herself as far into the nearest corner that she could find. Her attempts to continue backing up had put her rump partway up the wall. "Oh Fluttershy, do calm down. We know it's one or the other, and I'm guessing it's Rainbow Dash. You've known her the longest and have always been close. Am I right?" Rarity had gotten off the sofa while she had been talking, and had walked up to Fluttershy, stopping a pony's length away to make sure Fluttershy didn't feel crowded. Twilight had done the same, stopping next to Rarity.
Fluttershy peaked out under her mane and slowly shook her head, bringing her rump back down the wall, but remaining crouched low to the floor.
"No? But that just leaves…" Rarity was left speechless. Twilight was in no better state. Yes, Pinkie was a dear friend to them both, but neither had ever thought of her as dating material. They had most definitely not seen Fluttershy falling for her.
Fluttershy slowly began to inch her way towards the front door. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you. I'll just go now." She made a wild dash for the door the second she finished speaking.
She almost made it to, had Twilight not snapped out of shock in time to envelope her in a levitation spell and bringing her back over to them. Turning her around, she deposited her on the floor gently, releasing most of her magical hold, but keeping a gentle grasp on her tail in case she tried to bolt again. "Fluttershy, we're not upset. Confused, definitely, but not upset. Look, it's not our place to judge who you fall in love with… and Pinkie is a dear friend to all of us. I just never thought of you two getting together, that's all. I'm pretty sure the same goes for Rarity."
Twilight gave Rarity a gentle nudge on the shoulder, which was enough to snap Rarity out of her stupor. Rarity looked over to Fluttershy, but could only manage one word. "Pinkie?"
Fluttershy managed to find the strength to look Rarity in the eye, rising off the floor to a standing position. "Yes, Rarity. I have developed very strong feelings for Pinkie… and I think she might feel the same way."
There was a moment of silence as Rarity and Twilight pondered what to say. They looked at each other, Twilight nodded to Rarity and smiled, and then looked back at Fluttershy. Twilight spoke first. "You know, Rarity and I were quite nervous when we decided to tell you and the others about us. I don't want you to feel that way. If you think that being with Pinkie Pie will make you happy, then Rarity and I will do whatever we can to support you both, should you get together. Even if you don't, we'll still be there for both of you." Twilight and Rarity both stepped forward and gave Fluttershy a much needed hug.
"Thank you, both of you. I'm so glad I have friends like you." She backed out of the hug slowly. "But, how do I tell her? Yesterday was so magical for me and I want her to know how much it meant, but there is still a part of me that's afraid that she doesn't feel the same way. I don't want to lose her as a friend if I'm wrong."
"I understand where you're coming from, but sometimes you have to take a chance." Twilight pondered if there was really anything else she could tell Fluttershy that would be helpful.
"Idea!" Rarity was nearly bouncing like Pinkie, she was so excited.
"What, Rarity?" Fluttershy and Twilight asked in unison.
"The four of us are going to the spa… right now!"
"Huh? What does that have to do with…" and then Twilight knew exactly what Rarity was up to. "Rarity, that's perfect!"
"Um, I don't know what you two are talking about."
"Oh, sorry Fluttershy. Look, if we can observe you and Pinkie together in a relaxing environment, we may be able to get an idea of how she feels about you. If either Rarity or I can get her alone for a few minutes, maybe we can ask her discreetly. This way, we may be able to help you figure out whether to tell her how you feel or not!" Twilight smiled at Fluttershy. Rarity at this point had broken down into giddy squeals.
After they got Rarity to calm down, they settled down to a brief breakfast. Spike, having only caught bits and pieces of the conversation through the kitchen door, was shocked at how quickly the three mares inhaled their meals. After some discussion of what Twilight and Rarity would ask Pinkie, of which Spike was not included, they made their way over to Sugarcube Corner to pick up their unsuspecting friend.
Well, she would have been unsuspecting had it been anypony else. Pinkie, moments before, had her Pinkie Sense kick in with a rather complex combo that told her she was about to be marenapped by three of her friends and taken somewhere. This, unfortunately, also resulted in cake batter flying everywhere. She quickly asked the Cakes if she could wrap up early again. Mrs. Cake, suspecting this had something to do with Fluttershy, quickly agreed. "I want details when you get home!"
Pinkie blushed again, before exiting the kitchen and heading upstairs to clean herself up a little. 'I wonder what this is about?' She only had enough time to splash some water on her face and lick the cake batter off before she heard her friends come in. Drying off quickly, she made her way down the stairs to greet them. "So, where are we going?"
Fluttershy, Rarity, and Twilight all balked. "How did you…" Rarity started to say before she remembered who it was she was talking to. "Nevermind. No big occasion. I just felt like treating my friends," she paused for a moment, glancing at Twilight, "and my lover to a spa treatment. Please tell me you can go?"
Twilight was blushing profusely from Rarity's comment. Fluttershy had a light tinge of pink on her cheeks, which Pinkie and Rarity both thought was adorable. Pinkie simply took it in stride. "Sure. This is gonna be fun!" Pinkie paused for moment. "What about Applejack and Rainbow Dash?
Rarity quickly came up with an excuse, which was likely the truth anyway. "Well, Applejack is simply too busy working at the moment to come along… and let's face it, Rainbow Dash will not willing put a single hoof in the spa if she can find a reason not to."
Pinkie nodded in agreement. The four friends wasted no time making their way over to the local spa. Lotus was working the front desk, and smiled as she saw Rarity and Fluttershy enter. Her ears perked up, and she tilted her head to the side just a little when Twilight followed closely behind them. However, when Pinkie came in directly behind Twilight, Lotus couldn't stop her ears from snapping flat against her head in concern. She managed to recover before any of them had noticed. "Welcome ladies. Rarity, Fluttershy, I wasn't expecting you until later in the week. What's the special occasion?"
"Oh, nothing really, Lotus. We just felt like we could use a little extra attention this week, all things considered. I hope you can squeeze us in?" Rarity asked.
"Actually, most of our regulars have canceled their appointments... too busy with repairs and other errands. Aloe and I were considering closing early today. Having the four of you show up at least made it worth opening. What can we do for you?" Lotus asked over her shoulder as she gathered a stack of towels from behind her.
Rarity looked at each of her friends, before turning to address Aloe with a smirk on her face. "The works, darling."
"Okay, Rarity, so the usual for you. What about your friends?" Aloe had turned back around and was making her way around the counter.
Before any of them could say anything, Rarity spoke up again. "I meant all of us, Aloe."
Aloe stopped mid step and stared at Rarity, her mouth moving to speak, but nothing came out. Eventually, she managed to squeak "All of you?"
"Yes." Rarity smiled at her.
"Rarity, you don't need to do that for us. The works is the most expensive treatment they do. I've never even done it before because of that." Twilight, despite knowing that her marefriend was the Element of Generosity, still had a hard time coming to grips with just how generous she could be at times.
"Nonsense, dear. I won't take no for an answer… and that means from any of you. I insist." Without waiting for her friends, Rarity made her way deeper into the spa.
"Well, we all know that there is no arguing with her when she gets this way. I guess we should follow her." Twilight turned from her friends to catch up with Rarity.
Pinkie and Fluttershy looked at each other briefly, each noticing a slight blush on the other's face. Before Pinkie could say anything though, Fluttershy had scampered after Twilight. Much to Aloe's surprise, Pinkie simply walked in to join her friends.
The four friends spent the next two hours gossiping and talking about what they had been up to since they had last spent time together. The entire time, Rarity was doing everything she could to discretely observe Pinkie and Fluttershy. When it came time for their relaxing dip in the hot tub, Rarity was almost certain that the attraction was mutual. She had caught them both sneaking glimpses at each other, and sometimes not just at each other's faces. They were almost always next to each other during the entire treatment, but always at that awkward distance between two ponies that liked each other, but were afraid to show it just yet. Thankfully, the hot tub wasn't very big, and with four of them in it, Pinkie and Fluttershy were forced to close that distance. Even Twilight noticed that the blushes on their faces had deepened, especially when any part of their bodies made accidental contact as they shifted to get comfortable. Rarity gave Twilight a little wink, before standing to get out of the tub. "Please excuse me. I need to use the restroom."
Twilight gave a little nod to Fluttershy, who looked confused for a moment before realizing what Twilight and Rarity were trying to do.
"Oh, Rarity! Would you mind if I came with you? Power of suggestion I guess." Fluttershy stood up and they both made their way out of the room, leaving Twilight and Pinkie to continue their relaxing.
Much to Twilight's surprise, Pinkie spoke up before she could get the chance to. "Twilight, um, do you know if Fluttershy… well, how do I put this?"
The doubt in Pinkie voice was so unfamiliar to Twilight that it took a moment for her to adjust. She didn't like seeing her friend like this, and wanted to get her through this as quickly as she could, for Pinkie's sake. "Pinkie, something's happened between you and Fluttershy recently, hasn't it?"
"It's that obvious? Wait, I mean, no, not really. Oh, who am I kidding, yes, something's happened. At least, I think something's happened. I'm not sure."
"You like her, don't you."
"Of course I like her, silly! She's my friend."
"That's not what I meant, Pinkie, and you know it."
"Oh."
"Well?"
"Yes, Twilight. I think I'm falling for Fluttershy, but I don't know if she likes me that way, or mares that way."
"So you wanted to ask if I knew what her preferences are or if she's said anything to me about you?"
"YES!"
"Pinkie, I can't do that and you know it. It's not my place to tell you those things. I will say that Fluttershy is thinking about something also and that she's been talking to myself and Rarity about it, but I cannot tell you what it's been about."
"Oh. I understand."
"However…"
"Yes?"
"If you would like my opinion, I think there just may be something there. Just my observation, nothing more."
"REALLY!" Pinkie rushed across the tub and smothered Twilight in a hug.
After gradually extricating herself from Pinkie's grasp, she smiled at her. "Just talk to her Pinkie. I know what it's like to be nervous about the unknown and fearful about taking a friendship to a new level. I also know what it's like when taking that risk pays off. I've never been as happy as I am right now. I don't know why it took so long for me to realize just how much Rarity means to me. I guess it just took the right circumstances for both of us to see it."
"But, what if Fluttershy says no?"
"Then, maybe it just wasn't meant to be. I don't think that confessing your feeling to her will hurt your friendship in the long run. If she doesn't want to be your special somepony, I doubt she would want to stop being your friend. Fluttershy just isn't that kind of pony."
Pinkie slowly settled back to the other side of the tub, quietly considering what Twilight had just told her. "I need time to think. Do you think Rarity and Fluttershy would understand if I went home now?"
"I'm sure they would. Go ahead. I'll let them know you had something you needed to do when they come back."
"Twilight."
"Yes, Pinkie?"
"Thanks."
"Anytime."
Pinkie got out and dried herself off, before making her way out of the spa and back to Sugarcube Corner. As much as Mrs. Cake wanted details, the expression on Pinkie's face told her it wasn't the right time to ask. Pinkie made her way up to her room and flopped onto her bed, spending the next several hours thinking about the party and what she wanted to say to Fluttershy.
A few minutes after Pinkie left, Rarity and Fluttershy returned. Fluttershy noticeably deflated when she saw that Pinkie was gone.
"Fluttershy, it's okay. Pinkie had some errands to run, so she couldn't stay any longer."
"Oh, okay then."
They dried off and made their way out to the front desk, where Rarity settled their bill.
Fluttershy said good bye and made her way back home to get her afternoon and evening chores taken care of before the party. Twilight and Rarity watched her walking away until she disappeared. Rarity turned to her marefriend.
"What do you think, darling?"
"It's obvious both are very much into each other. It'll probably work without a hitch, but they need to be nudged forward a little maybe." She turned to look at Rarity, who held a pensive look in her face before smiling.
"Well, then we shall give them a helping hoof, hmm?"
Twilight smiled as well, approaching Rarity for a brief nuzzle. "Let's see what happens. For now, let's go back to the library."
They walked back to the library in silence, basking in the presence of each other and the warming sunlight falling upon them. Twilight pushed the door open and both entered.
"Hello, Sparky, Rarity!" called out Twilight's mother from one of the tables where she and Nightlight were sitting. Twilight beamed and they both approached, hugging and kissing each other.
"How was your morning, mom, dad?" asked Twilight, now sitting next to her mother while Rarity sat to her other side.
"It was pretty relaxing. I must say I'm liking Ponyville more and more. We might even give serious thought to moving out here sometime in the future. Isn't that right, dear?"
Nightlight smiled. "Sure is, though it won't be anytime soon, unfortunately. We can always visit from time to time. Shining would like to visit here as well, I would think. Cadence too, if I've learned anything about her."
Twilight's ears perked up at the mention of her brother and sister-in-law. "I wonder how they're doing on their honeymoon. Maybe I should send them a letter?"
Her mother nodded. "That'd be nice, Sparky. After all, he told me how upset you were when you found out about the marriage. You wouldn't want to do that to them, would you?"
"Yes, you're right. I'll write a letter tonight."
The warm smell of soup filled their nostrils, and they all turned to see Spike carrying a big tray with five steaming plates on top of it. He made his way towards the table, setting the plates in front of everyone. Nightlight smelled the reddish soup.
"This smells delicious, Spike. What it is?"
Spike smiled. "Just some tomato soup I pulled out. Hope you like it." Twilight's mother smiled and leaned over to give him a small nuzzle; his cheeks brightened up.
"You're a sweet little dragon, Spike. Thank you."
"Gee, Mrs. Sparkle," said Spike, trying to keep a straight face. He smiled however. "Thank you. That's not everything though." He rushed back to the kitchen, returning a couple minutes later with plates full of vegetable pie. Rarity had to fight off the urge to lick her lips in an unladylike manner.
"This looks wonderful, Spike!"
Spike's blush intensified even further as he finally sat down next to Nightlight.
"I can only try to do my best for my family." He lifted a small cup from the tray, sprinkled crushed ruby dust on his soup, and picked up the spoon to begin eating with enthusiasm. They all concentrated on enjoying the meal up until the last bite. When they were finished, Spike rose and picked up a plate, being stopped by a white magical glow taking hold of it.
"Let me handle this Spike," said Twilight's mother, enveloping all the dishes with her magic, but a bluish aura would not allow her to take hold.
"Please let me take care of this. You are guests in this house and I shall not see you lifting a hoof to do anything."
The older mare smiled. "I will accept your generosity, then, Rarity. Thank you."
Rarity lifted the plates, collecting the one that Mrs. Sparkle had already grabbed, and carried them towards the kitchen, leaving the Sparkle family at the table with Spike. Nightlight threw a brief look towards the kitchen, and then turned towards his daughter.
"I'm happy with her. You definitely could've done worse."
"Dad!" Twilight groaned, pouting, but then shifted to a warm smile. "Thanks, dad."
She walked around the table and wrapped him in a hug, which he promptly returned and her mother and Spike joined in. They eventually separated.
"We're going to meet Rarity's parents later today. I hope it goes as well as it did with you. Her sister has already accepted us, even though she discovered it accidentally."
"Sparky, if they are as good as Rarity is, I know there's not going to be any trouble. Everything's going to be fine." Her mother embraced her once again. "We'll be with you no matter what."
"I know. Thank you, mom."
Fluttershy looked around her cottage. Next to her, Angel chomped down on his super special salad. She had come back to her cottage swiftly and put herself to work in the hopes of getting Pinkie Pie out of her mind. Now, however, the bunnies were fed, the birds pecked at their seeds from their small houses, the beavers munched on their fish and all the other animals had been taken care of.
As thoughts of Pinkie slowly crept their way into Fluttershy's mind, the warm feelings that she had experienced early that morning came back in earnest. "Oh my, I think I'd better go take another shower."
The majority of the afternoon was passed as the four unicorns and Spike chatted in the library, which had been closed for the rest of the day. Finally, Twilight's father looked towards the clock that hung on one of the walls. He turned towards his wife. "Honey, we'd better get going."
She glanced towards the clock. "You're right, sweetheart."
They all went to help get the luggage to the train station. In the late afternoon, only a few ponies were around waiting for the train when they arrived. Nightlight waited in line to buy their tickets, which was a long enough wait that the rest of them had time to sit down at one of the benches.
The sound of the locomotive arriving made them stand up. Soon enough, the train stopped in front of the station, letting out a big cloud of smoke. The doors opened, letting the arriving ponies out.
"Goodbye, Sparky, Spike, Rarity. We hope to hear from you soon, okay?"
"Of course, mom. I'll write soon and tell you how everything went." Mother and daughter hugged tightly.
They separated and Rarity hugged Mrs. Sparkle as Twilight spoke to her father. "Rarity, please take good care of her." Mrs. Sparkle had a few tears in her eyes as she let Rarity go.
"I will. I promise." Rarity rushed forward to embrace her again. "Thank you for accepting me."
As the train whistle blew to remind them of the time, they finally separated. Mr. and Mrs. Sparkle waved goodbye and boarded the train. The doors closed, and Twilight, Rarity and Spike watched it take off. When it disappeared in the distance, they turned around to head back to the library.
Twilight looked at herself in front of one of the mirrors occupying Rarity's corner, as the white unicorn groomed her mane carefully. She could feel the comb's teeth working their magic on her, and she saw her reflection returning a nervous smile.
"What is the matter, love?" asked Rarity, looking at Twilight by way of their reflections in the polished glass.
"I guess I'm nervous, Rarity. This is the first time I'll present myself as a marefriend in front of anypony's parents. Do you think it will go okay?"
Rarity's lips curved upwards, offering a reassuring smile to Twilight. "Absolutely, darling. I guarantee everything will come out right. Sweetie Belle already accepts us. We just have a little door ahead of us that we'll open this evening. Oh! It is just lovely." Rarity lifted the comb, letting out a small shriek of satisfaction as she checked on her work. She levitated a small mirror behind Twilight, allowing her to look at her mane, perfectly straight and shining. Twilight smiled broadly as she rose from the bench.
After a few quick adjustments to Rarity's mane, both ponies deemed themselves ready for dinner. They waved goodbye to Spike, who had to be left behind, as the gluttonous dragon had snuck one to many gems from Twilight's "secret" stash while they had been busy getting ready. He was now slowly making his way to bed after drinking one of Zecora's recommended herbal remedies. The sky above was losing its bright blue coloration, degrading into the soft colors of dusk as the day died. They trotted at a slow pace, enjoying the scenery. Rarity led the way, with Twilight soon recognizing Ponyville's Lake.
"Your family lives in a very nice place, Rarity."
"That it is, Twilight. I often miss the relaxing days near the lake and enjoying its waters. It's too bad it is an unsuitable location for my business, without mentioning my parents… rather lackluster fashion sense."
Twilight smiled as they approached the two story house. A balcony on the second floor held a couple of reclining chairs and some plants in ceramic pots providing a nice atmosphere for resting. The other side had two ornate windows, one per floor, covered by curtains. Rarity knocked at the door. The sound of excited hoofsteps preceded the door opening, and they soon found themselves thrown to the ground as a purple and white blur opened the door and jumped on top of them.
"You're finally here! I'm so anxious! I've almost let the news slip myself, but I didn't, but I really wanted to do it, but now you're here!"
Rarity groaned. "Sweetie Belle, dear, please get off of us."
The filly finally stopped bouncing and smiled sheepishly. "Sorry, Rarity. I'm just so excited!" She climbed down, allowing them to finally stand up and brush themselves off. Fortunately, their manes hadn't been mussed up by Sweetie's enthusiastic assault and they managed to get themselves presentable when Rarity's mother turned up at the door. She offered an apologetic smile to the pair.
"Sweetie Belle crushed you? The poor dear has been jumping around for the last hour, almost as if she had become Pinkie Pie incarnate." She looked around briefly before returning her attention to the pair. "Didn't little Spike come with you?"
"Poor Spike couldn't come; he overate… again." Rarity trotted up to her mother, entwining their necks. "It's good to see Sweetie again, hyper or not. I really wish I had spent more time with her these past few days." They separated and Crystal's attention turned to Twilight.
"Hello dear, and welcome to our home. I'll send you home with something for Spike before you leave, as I made way too much food. Come on in."
"Thank you, Mrs. Belle," answered Twilight, walking forward to give Mrs. Belle a brief embrace. Crystal, Rarity and Twilight walked inside with Sweetie bouncing excitedly behind them. The living room was sparsely decorated, with only old time style furniture occupying its space, consisting of a large sofa and accompanying chairs with a center glass table and a small side table.
Mrs. Belle led them past it, towards a dining room filled almost entirely by a six-chair table made out of willow wood with cushioned matching chairs. The only other thing in the room was a vintage gramophone on a chair in the corner, beside a collection of LP disks. Twilight marveled at the simple, but extremely cozy atmosphere the house exhibited.
"You have a very beautiful house, Mrs. Belle."
The mare laughed heartily. "Oh, thank you, Twilight. The majority of the furniture is hoof-me-downs of high quality from both sides of the family, and we do our best to keep them in perfect shape.
"Hey, Rarity, Miss Sparkle!" greeted Rarity's father, coming into the room. Rarity embraced him as her mother slipped into the kitchen. Sweetie Belle ran around the table, setting up cutlery and napkins in front of each chair.
"Hello, father. How have you been?"
"Good evening, Mr. Magnum," greeted Twilight, bowing her head slightly in deference. "Thank you for inviting me."
The stallion smiled, fixing his hat that had fallen in front of his eyes. "Think nothing of it, young lady." He turned to his daughter. "I'm doing just fine, Rarity, and you? How are things coming along?"
"Well, the workers are going at it hard, but progress is slow. It will be a few more weeks before any significant headway is made."
"It's good that you have the Princesses backing you up, sweetheart."
"Yes, I'd say that I'm a very lucky pony." She shot a brief look at Twilight, which her father noticed, but didn't comment on.
"So, how did it go today, girls?" asked Magnum, as Crystal entered, pushing a food cart filled with dishes with her magic. She began levitating them towards the table, filling every available space. While she organized the meal, Magnum manipulated the gramophone, putting a disk on it. When the needle came down, old time jazz began to fill the room. Sweetie Belle let out a groan and Rarity covered her eyes, but Twilight smiled, her ears perking.
"Nat King Colt! You're definitely a stallion with good taste, Mr. Magnum!"
"I'm glad you like it. For these girls, I'm nothing but an old timer, but classic jazz will never die!" He smiled as a hearty portion of grilled vegetables was served to him and the piano melodies resounded.
Once everyone had settled around the table, the five ponies proceeded to eat to their heart's content. Sweetie Belle held her spoon with her hoof, while the others used their magic. Rarity threw another look at Twilight, who nodded. The white unicorn looked at her parents, as did Twilight.
"Mother, father, I… we have something to tell you."
The hustle around the table suddenly stopped as all the gazes were set on Rarity. Her tail flicked as she swallowed nervously. After a few moments of silence, her mother intervened.
"What is it, sweetheart?"
Sweetie Belle's eyes glistened, and she encouraged her sister non-vocally, bouncing in place while leaning on the table, dinner forgotten. Twilight slipped a hoof under the table, gripping her leg in support.
"Mother, father, Twilight Sparkle and I are dating," said Rarity, quickly, the string of words coming out of her mouth as fast as she could say them and still be understood. The air in the dining room felt heavy as the weight of the moment shifted from the young couple to the older one. Crystal's eyes were wide open, looking at the pair in front of her, a smile slowly growing across her face. Magnum's expression was unreadable as he stared at them. Sweetie Belle was frozen, her eyes sweeping from one side to the other.
The sound of Magnum's fork slamming against the table resonated in their ears, overcoming the sound of Nat King Colt's piano and voice, as the stallion rose from his seat. Four pairs of eyes followed him as he crossed the table behind Sweetie Belle's chair, approaching Rarity, who saw his figure towering in front of her.
"What is the meaning of this? I didn't raise you so you'd be a filthy fillyfooler! Are you joking?"
Rarity stumbled out of her chair, falling hard on the floor. Tears liberally flowed down her cheeks. She sat there, sobbing and unmoving. Sweetie Belle shrieked and Crystal stood up alarmed. Twilight quickly got up and moved to help Rarity off the floor.
"What did you do to my daughter? I didn't raise a fillyfooler. You took advantage of her situation and seduced her! That's why you invited her to your house, so you could have her brought over to your disgraceful whore house!"
Rarity struggled to lift herself up but she couldn't breathe from her uncontrolled sobbing. Crystal was frozen in place, in shock and at a loss for words.
"Daddy!" shrieked Sweetie Belle with all the force of her lungs; she jumped forward on the table. "Daddy, stop it!"
Sweetie's cries were lost on his ears. He reared back and brought his forelegs down to deliver a powerful smack to Twilight to move her out if the way, only to hear his ankle snap as it impacted sooner than anticipated. The second she saw Magnum start his decent, Twilight had cast a shield around herself and Rarity. Time seemed to slow down. Rarity stared in disbelief. Crystal finally seemed to recover, letting out an anguished scream. Magnum hollered in pain as he recoiled, cradling his injured limb.
Sweetie Belle stared at him with a look that could kill. She felt her grip on reality floating away as rage filled all her being. Her eyes glowed of a deep white and her horn shone with a green hue, the same as her pupils. A focused wave exploded from her horn, sending the stallion flying across the room and into the wall, which he hit with a sickening crunch. He fell to the floor in a heap, looking briefly towards Sweetie Belle, before he lost consciousness.
The music in the background continued happily, contrasting with the scene as Rarity slowly got up from the floor. Twilight helped her up as she dropped her shield. Rarity and Twilight quickly embraced each other, Rarity's tears refusing to slow down. While trying to comfort her marefriend, she couldn't help but look at Sweetie Belle as the magical surge finished its course. Sweetie Belle collapsed on the table, exhausted, but alert. Crystal quickly ran to her.
"Sweetie, are you alright?"
"Why?" she asked repeatedly. Crystal embraced her, speaking softly to try to calm her down. She didn't know how to answer her daughter. She had never seen this side of Magnum, nor had the slightest clue that he felt so strongly against same sex couples. It was simply a conversation that had never come up.
Once Rarity's sobbing started to subside, Twilight walked over to Magnum, checking to see if he was still alive. His breathing was slow, and she was fairly certain that some bones were broken, but he appeared to be stable despite the force of the impact. She looked over her shoulder to Crystal. "He's going to need a doctor. Some of his injuries are fairly serious.
Rarity, having run out of tears, approached her mother slowly. "Mother, I'm sorry, but Twilight and I are going to leave now. I'd like for Sweetie to come with us, and you as well. That is, if you're not disgusted by your daughter being a filthy fillyfooler."
Sweetie Belle started crying. Rarity nuzzled her comfortingly.
"Thank you, Sweetie Belle. You helped protect all of us. I'm very proud of you!"
"We all are Sweetie Belle. Thank you." Twilight nuzzled her from the other side.
Crystal completed the circle, embracing Sweetie Belle from behind.
Slowly, the filly stopped sobbing, but continued to cling to Rarity's leg.
"It's okay, Sweetie Belle, I'm here." Rarity started to gentle caress Sweetie's mane.
Crystal tapped Twilight on the shoulder, gently coaxing her to the next room. "Do you love her?"
It took a moment for Twilight to shift gears from what just happened back to where she had expected the conversation to go. "Yes. Yes, I do."
"Then you have my support. As long as my Rarity is happy, that's all I care about." Crystal quickly embraced Twilight. "Thank you, for protecting my daughter."
Rarity saw the embrace and smiled, thankful that it appeared that her mother did not share her father's opinion. She quietly picked Sweetie Belle up with her magic, placing her gently on her back. Sweetie Belle quickly adjusted to the new position, wrapping her forelegs around Rarity's neck and softly crying into her mane. Rarity made her way over to her mother and Twilight.
"Twilight, we'd better go." She looked at her mother. "Will you come with us?"
"I… I need to get a doctor, first. We shouldn't just leave him like that."
Rarity was about to say something, when Twilight gently touched her shoulder. "She right, Rarity. As wrong is it was for him to do and say the things he did, nopony deserves to be left like that to suffer. We also don't want this to come back to haunt us later, so we had better explain what happened."
Rarity considered her words for a moment before looking at her mother again. "Do as you must, mother, but please consider staying with us for a while." She started to head for the door. With a final look to her mother, they left, leaving Crystal behind as the evening grew darker.
They walked in the direction of Sugarcube Corner, but Rarity came to a halt when they were only a few blocks left. Twilight looked at her, worried.
"I can't go in there, Twilight. Not like this."
Twilight gave her a brief nuzzle. "I know, Rarity." She looked off to the side. "Let's go to the park. It's always empty at this time, and we can find a secluded place to gain even more privacy. We'll go once we've gotten a chance to calm down."
Rarity nodded in silence, placing Sweetie Belle back on her own hooves. They arrived at the park and chose a bench partially hidden by a cluster of trees, aided by the full dark that now fell on the town. Rarity and Twilight sat on the bench in a gentle embrace, with Sweetie Belle lying quietly on the ground, watching them.
Rarity started sobbing again. She let her forehooves fall as the tears flowed, exposing with every drop the pain that resided in her heart. Twilight embraced her tighter, letting the tears stain her coat, crying in sympathy, if not as heavily. Sweetie Belle didn't cry. She just stayed where she was, watching. Eventually, Rarity's sobs started to slow, and she just pressed herself against Twilight, who remained silent.
"I never discussed this with them, you know? It never came up as a topic of conversation, and well, with the stallions I dated, I guess I could see why. But I thought he would be supportive of me. I…" She cut herself off, the tears threatening another round. Twilight stroked her mane softly.
"I'm here, Rarity," said Twilight, delivering a kiss to her forehead, "and I always will be." The pair remained in their embrace for a while. Twilight's tears eventually ran out. Rarity lifted her head and looked at the sky. Between the trees, she could see the shape of the moon overhead, revealing the fully fallen night. She looked down to see Sweetie Belle asleep and then turned to her lover.
"Twilight?"
"Yes, Rarity?" Twilight answered, wiping her eyes.
"Can my family come and live with us, Sweetie Belle and my mother I mean? I just realized that I asked them too without talking to you about it first."
Twilight didn't hesitate for a second. "Yes. I can make arrangements so that they'd be comfortable."
Rarity nodded and looked down. "Sweetie Belle?" she called out softly. The filly looked up slowly, her bright green eyes gleaming with tears not spilt. Rarity almost choked, forcing herself to speak.
"Would you like to live with Twilight and I?"
Both sisters locked gazes. Eventually, Sweetie Belle nodded slightly. "Yes," she said, lowering her head to look ahead of her once more. Rarity looked at Twilight, who gestured with her muzzle towards Sweetie Belle, and Rarity lowered herself from the bench to catch her sister in an embrace. Both remained silent. Nopony was able to say how much time had gone by, until a rustle in front of them caught their attention. Amongst a couple of trees, only the bright blue of her eyes being a hint that she was standing there in the darkness, Pinkie Pie looked at them, keeping impossibly still.
"Twilight, Rarity, is everything okay?"
Twilight looked down at the two sisters, who were still caught in their embrace, and walked over to Pinkie.
"Yes, Pinkie. Something happened, but we'd rather not talk about it."
"Okay, Twilight, but you should come to the party! Everypony's waiting for you, and it's been more than an hour since it began!"
Twilight shook her head. "I don't think we're in the mood for a party, Pinkie…" Suddenly, she found herself with Pinkie Pie standing just in front of her, staring at her seriously. Twilight backed away from her.
"You can't stay here moping and being hurt! That's not good, Twily! Come on, you'll feel better with your friends!"
Pinkie disappeared from Twilight's field of vision, and Rarity and Sweetie Belle found themselves lifted from the ground and trapped within an embrace from Pinkie, who smiled at them, her crystal blue eyes shining.
"Come on, please?"
"We'll go, Pinkie" Rarity choked out. "Please set us down." Pinkie complied, turning back to lead the way, bouncing happily, though she was strangely quiet. The three unicorns followed, Sweetie Belle walking in the middle of the couple. They made their way across the darkened streets, finally reaching Sugarcube Corner with its windows aglow.
Pinkie pushed the door open and ushered them in, where Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Spike received them. Their faces were shifted from boredom and annoyance to worry when they saw the state their friends were in. In a heartbeat, the three were surrounded by anxious ponies. Rarity closed her eyes and Sweetie Belle clung to her leg, their ears flopping down. Twilight hit the floor hard with her hoof.
"Quiet down, everypony!"
Rainbow Dash and Applejack flinched, while Fluttershy cowered behind her mane.
"Are you okay, Sugarcube?"
"What happened?" demanded Rainbow Dash, shaking the unicorn by her shoulders. Applejack pulled her away by her tail. Twilight almost fell to the floor. Applejack glared at Rainbow Dash, who backed down. Scootaloo, Apple Bloom and Spike watched the scene without any clue.
Twilight shook her head. She was about to answer, when Rarity's voice filled the silence.
"We were assaulted by my father when I confessed to him that Twilight and I were lovers."
Seven pairs of mouths fell open as Rarity relayed the whole story to her friends. After she finished, Rainbow Dash almost bolted out the door, were it not for Rarity's magic holding her back.
"Do slow down, Rainbow, darling. My father has already been given some bitter soup by my little sister here."
Sweetie lowered her head. "I don't remember that. I just know that I wanted to protect you and Twilight and everything went hazy after that. I can only recall crying next to you, remembering what he said, and then leaving."
Twilight approached Sweetie Belle, eyeing her with clear interest. "This is the first time that you've experienced an accidental magical discharge, right? Would you mind if we ran some tests? We could even get you to develop your magic…"
"Twilight Sparkle!" Rarity's voice boomed as Twilight towered over a cowering Sweetie Belle. She turned to look at Rarity and blinked, then turned back to Sweetie Belle.
"I'm sorry, Sweetie."
The small unicorn stood up, shaking her head. "It's okay, Twilight."
"But are you sure you'll be fine?" asked Fluttershy, looking at her friends with concern written all over her face.
"Don't worry, darling, there wasn't any major physical damage done… well, to us anyway. We'll recover soon," answered Rarity, grooming her sister with a hoof.
A knock came from the door. All the ponies looked at each other. After the knock was repeated, Pinkie trotted over to the door and opened it to find Crystal Belle outside, wearing a black sweater. She offered a weak smile to all present.
"May I come in?"
Pinkie looked back to Rarity, who nodded. She stepped aside to let Crystal in, then closed the door behind her. Crystal waved shyly at everyone, and walked over to Rarity and Sweetie Belle. Both looked up at her and she stopped. Her face showed all the signs of having been crying.
"I left your father at the hospital. The impact sprained his neck and broke several ribs. His ankle is shattered. He'll recover from most of the injuries, but he'll never walk again without pain."
Silence reigned in the room following Crystal's words. Sweetie Belle's mouth hung open as she realized that most of those injuries were caused by her. Crystal hugged Sweetie Belle and held her other leg out for Rarity.
"I must apologize for your father, girls. He…" She got cut mid-sentence by Rarity, who glared at her.
"Don't, mother. Do not argue for him. He knew what he was doing. He tried to lay his hooves on me and what he said to Twilight... he is going to take full responsibility for his actions. If he wants some sort of reparation to be done, if such a thing can be attained, he must look for it himself. Do not try to endear him to me. Also, mother, I insist that you both come live with us. I do not trust that he will not try to do the same thing to Sweetie Belle one day… or to you. Please, don't stay with him."
Crystal's eyes and mouth opened wide, but said nothing. She closed her mouth and thought for a few minutes before speaking again. "Rarity, I agree that Sweetie should probably stay with you until I figure out how I am going to handle this. However, with himin the hospital, I don't feel a need to leave my home just yet. If you need me for anything, you'll know where to find me." She paused briefly before looking back to the door. "I have to get home and clean things up. I hope we can talk soon."
"So do I mother."
Mother and daughters embraced each other before Crystal took her leave.
Rarity and Sweetie Belle looked at the door through which their mother had just left, when Twilight caught them both in an embrace. Soon all around joined in. When they separated, Rarity, Sweetie Belle and Twilight smiled.
"I thought this was supposed to be a party, Pinkie," said Twilight. Pinkie wasted no time in turning the music on at a volume low enough so as to no disturb the Cakes, and getting the food around.
Scootaloo, Rainbow Dash and Spike cheerfully talked in a corner, while Apple Bloom consoled Sweetie Belle. Applejack approached Twilight and Rarity, who were cuddling together.
"Howdy, girls!"
"Hi, Applejack. It feels like such a long time has passed since we last talked."
"Indeed, darling. Have you been doing well?"
"Ah've been doin' mighty fine, thanks. Plenty of good ol' work down at the farm." She flashed them a smile, which was then swayed by a concerned look. "Y'all sure yer gonna be fine?"
"Of course, Applejack. We can hardly let that stop us. I'm not feeling very well to be honest, with all that has happened today, but I'll trudge on. I will talk to father eventually, but now I can't bear to be in his presence, lest I lose my composure and do something I might end up regretting."
"Ah see. Seems like the sensible thing to do. Ya know y'all can count on me."
Rarity smiled pleasantly, bringing Applejack into an embrace. "I know, dear. Thank you."
"'s nothin', Rares."
While Applejack and Rarity spoke, Twilight spied Pinkie Pie making her way over to Fluttershy, who had be quietly watching from a corner. The pegasus seemed to retract into herself as she saw the earth pony approaching, but Pinkie managed to coax her out, and soon the pair were conversing. Twilight couldn't see Pinkie's face, as her back was turned to her, nor could she read much on the conversation. She saw Fluttershy's unsure expression, and then the pegasus nodding her head. Twilight then gasped as Pinkie pushed forward and her lips joined Fluttershy's in a small, chaste kiss. The pegasus' eyes widened, then slowly closed as she pressed into the kiss.
Twilight turned to see Rarity alone once again, smiling as she observed the scene which had gone unnoticed by the others. She looked towards Twilight and her smile turned broader; she imitated Pinkie Pie by pressing her lips against Twilight's. Both unicorns smiled, savoring each other's lips until they pulled back.
"I think this can be called a good end to our day," said Twilight, peering into Rarity's eyes.
"I think so as well, Twilight. I'm happy." Rarity tried, but failed to suppress a yawn.
"Should we go home?" asked Twilight, caressing her cheek.
"Yes, I'd very much like to take a bath and rest."
They walked over to where Fluttershy and Pinkie were, and after throwing a look back to ensure everyone was distracted, hugged the couple.
"Congratulations!" whispered Twilight and Rarity together. Fluttershy and Pinkie blushed.
"Thank you, Twilight," said Fluttershy, smiling and hugging Twilight back. "I'm very relieved and very happy this turned out well."
"We're very happy too, Fluttershy. You two have given us a great end for the night. Are you going to tell the others?"
"Well, Pinkie wants to, but I think I want to wait a little before announcing it to the others."
"Yup! I'm totally fine with it, though. And when we're ready, I'll throw a super fantastic party! It's a shame this one wasn't what I wanted, but that's okay. You're fine, right?"
"We will be, Pinkie. I know the next party will be great. Rarity and I will go home now, though."
Pinkie pouted. "Aww, do you have to?"
"Yes, Pinkie, I'm afraid this has been a long day for us, but you can, and should celebrate. We'll think of something fun to do another day. Maybe we can arrange for another visit to the spa. We could have a double date!"
Pinkie beamed, jumping to embrace the three ponies. "Okie dokie lokie! Just let me get you something for the road!"
Pinkie bounced away, and they turned to Fluttershy. "Let's hope you don't get too overwhelmed, Fluttershy."
"I think I can manage." Fluttershy smiled softly and gave them a small hug. They waved goodbye to her and crossed the room, separating. Twilight called Spike and Rarity summoned Sweetie Belle. After saying goodbye to the others and receiving a big bag from Pinkie, they left Sugarcube Corner and made their way to the library.
Spike growled as they sat around the table. "I should have gone with you."
Rarity looked at him from across the table. "Spike, you're a gentledragon, but I wouldn't have liked you getting hurt over it."
"But you two could have been hurt!"
"We'll be fine, Spike. I told you already. I'm glad that you worry about us, but what's done is done. Go on to bed." Twilight glanced over to the couch. "Seems like Sweetie Belle's already out."
The dragon glanced at both of them, sighing before jumping off the chair and heading towards the basement. Twilight watched him walk away.
"I guess things happen for a reason."
"That they do, Twilight. Say, why don't we take our bath right now? We both need it, and you wouldn't mind sharing it with me, would you?"
Twilight nodded, fighting back the slight blush that tinted her cheeks. "I'll be up in a minute. I have a letter I want to write to Shining and Cadence first."
Rarity winked and kissed her right cheek before making her way upstairs.
Twilight brought some stationary and a quill over to the table and quietly settled down on the couch next to Sweetie Belle. She quickly penned a letter to her brother and sister-in-law letting them know about her new relationship and everything else that had happened. She left out what happened at the dinner, fearing that her brother might do something rash and get in trouble. She sealed the letter and placed it off to the side.
"Twilight, dear, the bath is ready. Are you coming?"
"I'll be right there, Rarity. I'm almost done."
Twilight waited until she heard the bathroom door close again before placing a blank piece of parchment in front of her.
Dear Princesses,
Rarity and I have both meet each other's parents this weekend, but both meetings did not go well. Princess Celestia, you know my parents very well, and will not be surprised that they accepted us unconditionally. They both like Rarity very much. Princess Luna, I hope you get the chance to get to know them as well as your sister has.
The meeting with Rarity's parents did not go so well. Crystal Belle is a very loving mother and seems to like me. Rarity's father, Magnum, does not. He thinks that I have somehow corrupted his daughter into being in an intimate relationship with me. Things got a little physical. Magnum is currently in the hospital, but only his shattered ankle is because of me. I cast a shield around myself and Rarity and he slammed his hoof down on it trying to smack me. The rest of his injuries were caused by his other daughter, Sweetie Belle. She's never been able to use her magic before today, but she surged, and in the process, threw her father across the room into a wall. She's an emotional mess, but is sleeping soundly next to me on the couch. Please understand that what she did was in an effort to protect her sister and myself. Please watch out for her if you can. I don't know what Magnum will try once he's out of the hospital. We've taken Sweetie Belle in, and have extended the offer to Crystal Belle as well, although she has refused for the time being. I must admit that I am afraid of what Magnum is capable of trying and am not looking forward to seeing him again anytime soon. Do you have any advice for me as to how to best deal with this situation?
On a happier note, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie have gotten together. Rarity and I are very happy for them and are looking forward to a double date at the spa soon.
I hope you are both doing well and would love to see you both again soon.
Your Faithful Student & Friend
Twilight Sparkle
After she read the letter over and was satisfied, she sealed it and quietly made her way down to the basement. She gently knocked on the door to Spike's bedroom. "Spike, are you still awake?"
A moment later, the door opened. "I haven't settled in yet. I wasn't quite tired enough, so I was reading. What's up?"
"Could you send this to either Princess Celestia or Princess Luna? It's meant for both of them, so it doesn't matter which one receives it." Twilight placed the letter into Spike's claws.
"Sure thing, Twilight." Twilight turned to leave, but felt a claw gently grab her rear leg. "Are you okay?"
"I will be. Thanks for worrying about me though." Twilight gave him a gentle hug and then made her way up the stairs.
"Best get this sent now, but who to send it to?" Spike closed the door and made his way over to the bed. "I haven't sent anything to Princess Luna in a while. She'd probably like to receive a letter from Twilight." With a quick flash of green fire, with just the slightest trace of midnight blue, the letter disappeared.
Rarity was beginning to think that Twilight had fallen asleep downstairs, and was about to go check on her again when the bathroom door opened. "Oh, there you are. What took you so long?"
"Sorry, Rarity. I decided to write two letters instead of one."
"Oh, that's quite alright. I know you don't like to let stuff like that wait. Just give me one moment to warm the water just a bit." Rarity cast a quick spell, raising the water temperature just enough to make it comfortably hot again.
Twilight dipped a foreleg in first, then climbed in and settled into a comfortable position. Rarity waited for her to get comfortable before climbing in also. She sat with her back to Twilight and slowly leaned back until she was resting against Twilight's body. Twilight wrapped her forelegs around Rarity's chest and nuzzled into her neck. "That was quite a day we had, huh?"
"Most definitely, although I wish things had gone better with my parents. I can't believe my father acted like that."
"Now, now. Let's not start dwelling on it again. I'd rather think about a certain white unicorn instead." Twilight leaned forward slightly, kissing Rarity on the neck.
"Mmmmmmm. Oh, please don't stop." Rarity leaned her head away and closed her eyes, exposing more of her neck to Twilight's mouth.
Twilight slowly peppered Rarity's neck with kiss after kiss, involving her tongue a little before she stopped. Rarity's eyes popped open and she looked back to Twilight. "I thought I said not to…"
Twilight had cut Rarity off with a kiss, slipping her tongue in shortly after. Rarity's eyes went as wide as saucers before closing and getting her tongue involved as well. Twilight managed to coax Rarity's body around so that they were facing each other and was running her hooves up and down Rarity's back. Rarity inched herself forward as much as she could, their bellies pressing against each other as their breathing sped up. Eventually, they had to stop kissing in order to catch their breath.
Rarity nuzzled into Twilight's neck. "Darling, I'm afraid I might try something you're not ready for again if we keep this up."
Twilight sat back so that she could look Rarity in the eyes. They stayed that way for a moment, before a blush crept up on Twilight cheeks. "Okay."
Rarity tilted her head a little to one side. "Okay what?"
With one hoof, Twilight reached out and took a hold of one of Rarity hooves. She then slid Rarity's hoof down her own belly, stopping as Rarity's eyes went wide. "Okay?"
"Are you sure?"
"Mhmm."
Rarity quickly pecked her on the lips. "Not in here, darling. Not for our first time. The bed?"
"Okay."
They both quickly got out and dried off, although as they dried off, a smell that neither of them could ignore got stronger. Twilight glanced at Rarity, and was almost shocked by the lust that shone in her eyes. Rarity wanted her, and she wanted her now! Never had Twilight ever felt so attractive. She rushed for the door, grabbing Rarity as she passed, and made a beeline for the bedroom. Rarity recovered quickly from being grabbed and they both pounced on the bed together, Twilight quickly using her magic to close and lock the door. Remembering something Spike had said before, she cast a second spell, soundproofing the room. Rarity smirked. "Good idea, darling. I'm not going easy on you this time."
Had Twilight forgotten to cast that soundproofing spell, the entire town would likely have heard the moans coming from the library, and not only from Twilight. Those moans did not stop until well past midnight.
The party settled down and eventually broke up shortly after Rarity and Twilight had left with Sweetie Belle in tow. Rainbow Dash offer to walk Scootaloo home. Applejack and Applebloom made their way out shortly after. With everyone gone, except Fluttershy, Pinkie started the process of cleaning up. It wasn't going to take long, as it was a small party and hadn't gotten as exuberant as she would have liked it to. While gathering cups, she noticed Fluttershy grabbing a broom. "Shy, whatcha doing? You don't have to help me clean."
"I know, Pinkie, but I want to." She smiled and started to sweep the dust and confetti into a small pile.
Together, the store was back to normal in just a couple of minutes. They sat together, looking over their work, before Fluttershy looked up at the clock. "Oh my. I had better get home."
"Do you really have to go?" Pinkie asked, as she leaned against Fluttershy's shoulder.
"I don't want to, but I should." Fluttershy gave Pinkie and quick hug before turning for the door. "I'll come by for breakfast tomorrow, if that's okay?"
"I'd like that." Pinkie followed Fluttershy to the door and opened it for her. "Are you going to be okay getting home?"
"I'll be fine, Pinkie." Fluttershy started to walk out the door, but stopped and looked over her shoulder. They looked into each other's eyes for a moment, before Fluttershy turned around and gave Pinkie a passionate kiss, nearly knocking the earth pony to the floor. When they separated, they both smiled. Pinkie gave her a quick kiss on the cheek, then saw Fluttershy out and closed the door.
