Pipp was stuck. Completely and utterly stuck. It had been days since somepony posted that compromising picture of her online. A picture that showed her fans a side of herself she'd rather not let them see. It almost compromised her reputation. That is, until Zipp did something equally embarrassing and shifted the attention away from her.
It was the kindness and most selfless thing her sister ever did for her. It felt like an act of true love, just like in the bedtime stories Zipp used to read her.
She had to make it up to her. She had to show Zipp just how much she meant to her. Just how much she loved her. And she believed that the best way to do that would be to sing the most beautiful love song for her.
The only problem was that she was suffering from intense writer's block. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't think of anything. She couldn't think of the best way to describe her feelings for Zipp: The words just weren't coming to her.
All over her bed, there were crumpled up balls of paper, all failed ideas for songs. And in the middle of all of it, laying face first in her bed, was Pipp herself. She let out a long and frustrated groan into her pillow when Izzy arrived, completely oblivious to Pipp's distress.
"Hi Pipp!" she waved. Pipp only groaned in response. Izzy approached her and quickly noticed all the balls of paper, she inspected them with interest. "Ooh! Are you planning on having a paper snowball fight?"
"No…" Pipp responded, her voice muffled by the pillow.
"What was that?" Izzy inquired.
Pipp raised her head and groaned more clearly. "No, Izzy. I'm trying to think of a song to show Zipp just how I feel, but I keep coming up with nothing!" she moaned, slamming her face into the pillow again.
"Ooh, creativity block. I've been there." Izzy sympathized. "You've even seen me there! Remember? When I got that super cool mane accessory for Sunny's birthday?"
"Yeah, I remember." Pipp acknowledged as she raised her head.
"Hey! You had writer's block too!" Izzy remembered.
"I know, Izzy. But I don't think putting a twist on a similar song is gonna work this time." Pipp grumbled with an annoyed tone before sighing. "Sorry… it's just… I just really wanna make a new and original song, one that shows just how much I love Zipp, but I keep coming up with squat! Like diddly squat! And it's, like, really bringing me down."
"Aw, it's ok. I'm just sorry you got diddly squat instead of just regular squat." Izzy remarked.
"Why is this one so hard anyway?!" Pipp wondered in frustration.
"Well, have you ever written a love song before?" Izzy inquired.
"No…" The princess replied.
"That's your problem! This is your first love song! Dedicated to a pony you love more than anypony! It's totally unfamiliar territory!" The unicorn pointed out.
Pipp's eyes slowly widened in realization. "Huh… You're right. It is!"
"You just write each word that describes how you feel, then put them all together in song form!" Izzy advised her with a cheerful smile.
"I… suppose that could work…" Pipp admitted as she brought over her pen and paper. "Gonna need a topic though…"
"Hmm… Maybe the forbidden nature of your romance? The one that all of us are feigning ignorance too?" Izzy suggested. "Of course, me and Sunny have walked in on you both making out once or twice and seen you be sweet and romantic to each other. All that's left to do really is just tell us that you two are dating."
"But then you wouldn't have plausible deniability anymore…" Pipp realized.
"Yeah, that's true." Izzy admitted. "But you know, if we're a hundred percent in the dark about it, then you and Zipp won't be able to invite us all to your wedding and it'll just be the two of you."
Pipp's face became hot as she blushed bright red. She quickly spun up and sat on her bed. "What?! Wedding?! No! No, no, no! There's no wedding! We're not getting married! That's crazy! I mean… we talked about it when we were… and it does sound great… But I'm not thinking of…"
Izzy grinned suggestively. "You sure?" she asked as she leaned in closer, making Pipp feel uneasy.
"Wha… What is it?"
"I spy a little light makeup, freshly made sheets, and aside from the sweet smelling perfume, I can even smell your raging hormones! And don't even get me started on your sparkle!"
"Just what are you implying, Izzy?"
"Nothing. Other than you're totally hoping for some 'alone time' with Zipp when she gets back."
"Izzy!" Pipp exclaimed in embarrassment.
"You love Zipp, right?" Izzy inquired. "So much so that you make love with her, right?"
"Well, duh, of course I…" Pipp began to say.
"Then what's the problem? If you love her enough to make love with her, then you must also love her enough to marry her, right?" Izzy questioned.
"I… think I see your logic Izz but it's… but it's…" Pipp mumbled, blushing as she shyly tapped her hooves together repeatedly.
Izzy tilted her head like a dog. "It's what?"
The younger princess put both her hooves on her rosy cheeks as she smiled. "It's… just too early for us," she admitted. "But… I mean… if she were to propose, I don't think I'd be able to say no… I just wish… That we could do it with all of Zephyr Heights watching… But we can't…"
"Right, because of the forbidden part of your romance, and if everypony were to learn about it, you'd both get sent to your kingdom's super comfortable dungeon." Izzy remarked.
"I actually heard my Mom made the dungeon's less comfortable now." Pipp admitted.
Izzy gasped dramatically. "No massage chairs?!"
"And no opulent furnishings." Pipp added.
"Whoa." Izzy said, completely stunned. "Well… you gotta admit, it's kinda fun don't you think?"
"Fun?"
"You know, being super sneaksy, doing not-safe-for-work stuff behind everypony's backs, going on dates that everypony thinks are just sisterly bonding moments. Bet that spices up the romance, huh? The forbiddenness of it all?"
"Well…"
"Doesn't it?"
Pipp glanced away with rosy cheeks and a smile. "Well… yeah. It does," she confessed. "It's super hot. Our forbidden love… a story untold."
The pink pegasus' eyes slowly widened all the way. Izzy's brows rose up as well upon seeing the look on Pipp's face.
"Ooh! I know that look! Your brain is tingling with inspiration, isn't it?" Izzy asked with interest.
"You bet it is. And it's all thanks to you, Izzy! Thank you!" Pipp expressed gratefully before giving Izzy a quick peck on the cheek. "You're a doll!"
Pipp quickly got to work on writing down her new song while a stunned Izzy rubbed her recently kissed cheek. "You know, if you weren't already dating Zipp, I could fall for you," she admitted.
Pipp stopped writing and turned to Izzy, unamused. "Let's not go that far, Izzy."
"Ok!" Izzy shrugged. "Yep! You're a loyal one. Zipp sure knows how to pick 'em."
"And we're not…" Pipp started to deny.
"Pipp." Izzy responded with a knowing look.
"Ok, fine. You don't wanna have plausible deniability anymore? Then fine, I admit it; I am dating my sister. Happy?" Pipp asked tiredly. She let out a guilty sigh shortly after. "Sorry, I'm just on a roll here and if I stop even for a minute I…"
"Say no more! Shutting up right now!" Izzy declared as she made the zipped lips gesture but still smiled. Pipp smiled back with appreciation and resumed writing her song.
As for where Zipp was, she had just flown over to Zephyr Heights and traveled straight to the castle to converse with her mother about something that was still giving her butterflies.
It took all she had to will herself to keep going and not fly back to Maretime Bay. She deeply wanted to, but knew she couldn't, this matter was too important and she had to do it now while she had the nerve.
As she pushed open the doors and entered the throne room, she began to feel even more nervous then she did when she and Pipp decided to tell their mother the truth about them.
She quickly saw that her mother was busy as usual, approving and rejecting various papers and such, and at incredible speed as well. Part of Zipp wanted to use this as an excuse to leave and try again later, but she quickly berated herself for being such a chicken. With a deep inhale and exhale, she proceeded towards her busy queen of a mother.
"Approved. Approved. Denied. Denied. Approved." Queen Haven said as she sorted through papers before snapping out it the moment she saw her eldest daughter coming over. "Oh, Zipp! What a lovely surprise!"
"Hello, Mother. Listen, I know you're busy and all that, but I kinda need to talk to you about something." Zipp revealed.
"Without Pipp?" Haven inquired, acknowledging the absence of her youngest.
"Yeah, because… she's part of the reason why I need to talk to you." Zipp confessed with a blush.
Noticing this, the Queen smiled. "I understand, dear," she said. "Just give me a moment and we can discuss this together in private."
"But… aren't you busy?" Zipp pointed out, with the scared part of her hoping that to be true.
"Oh, I'm sure I can put a few things on my to-do list on hold for a while." Queen Haven assured her as she turned to Zoom. "Right, Zoom?"
Zoom tapped her phone a few times. "Already done, your majesty."
The queen put her hoof around her daughter and led her away. "Come Zipp, I am quite interested to hear what you wish to say about Pipp. Something juicy I hope?"
Zipp blushed. "Mom… Ponies are listening…"
"Oh, let them gossip, as long as it's not about your flank that is." Queen Haven stated. "I'm still reeling from that risque dance you performed weeks ago."
Zipp's face became even redder upon hearing that. Her mother wasn't the only one still dealing with the consequences of her little stunt to help Pipp. And while she doesn't regret it, she had to deal with ponies of both genders constantly checking her out, taking pictures of her rump, getting too close to it, as well as flirting with her, which Pipp responded to with jealousy.
And all of that was on top of all the catcalls she was getting too, and she couldn't escape it. Even in Zephyr Heights she could feel everypony's eyes on her butt, even at this very moment. The Queen shot the ponies giving her a leering eye behind her a quick glare to make them turn away while the queen and princess left.
In Zipp's old room inside the castle, she and her mother sat themselves down on the bed, with Queen Haven pouring them both some tea. She gave Zipp her cup before speaking. "So, tell me, Zipp. How are things between you and your sister?"
"Oh, we're doing great. Everypony's finally stopped badging Pipp about who her 'secret lover' is and shaming her for the whole butt kissing thing…" Zipp said with a blush.
"Well, that's a relief." Have expressed while wiping her brow. "A shame that now you have to deal with all the unwanted attention and badgering."
"I can handle it, Mom. Really. I keep telling Pipp that too, along with the fact that I don't regret it, and I'd do it again." Zipp stated firmly.
"Oh, sweetie." Queen Haven said with a loving tone. "You really do love your sister, don't you?"
"She's the one." The white pegasus declared without a doubt in her mind. A small chuckle escaped her. "Huh, funny. I found the love of my life and it turns out I had been living with her for years."
The queen chuckled as well. "Yes, well, I suppose life is funny that way."
"Yeah, it is." The oldest princess agreed. "Speaking of the elusive 'one'... How did you know… that Dad was the one?"
The queen was caught off-guard by this. Neither she nor her daughters liked to talk about the late king and everypony knew it. The topic was just too hard and too sad for any of them to deal with without bursting into tears. They had gotten better at keeping themselves together as the years passed, but they still required all the willpower they could muster not to cry.
With Zipp willingly bringing up her father and asking about him, Queen Haven knew the situation had to be serious. After a long pause, the Queen composed herself with a deep breath, then finally spoke. "Well… It was moons ago but… I can still remember the day. It was an arranged marriage, so we hadn't met until that day. Because of that, and the fact that we were so young, we didn't think it would ever work out," she admitted. "But as we spent some time together, learned what we had in common, we decided to be more open to the idea of being married."
"And?" Zipp inquired, now very invested in the story.
"Well, one day, your father came home distressed and when I asked him what was wrong, he admitted he had… relations." Queen Haven confessed.
Zipp's jaw dropped as she gasped. "Dad cheated?"
"In a… manner of speaking, yes. But not with another mare if that's what you're thinking…" Queen Haven revealed, rubbing the back of her head with a blush.
The eldest princess' eyes almost popped out of her head. "With a stallion?"
"Well… yes. Turns out your father… 'played for both teams', as it were." Haven admitted.
"But Mom… why would…?" Zipp began, completely shaken and confused.
"It was a moment of weakness, Zipp. An old relation he had before we were married. Both still had feelings for each other and it was hard for either to let them go." Haven explained. "Now, before you start cursing his name, you should know that he actually admitted to it after it happened. He could have kept it a secret. He could have acted like nothing happened and I would've been none the wiser. But instead he confessed to it. He apologized and expressed just how much he loved me. That was the moment I knew that he was the one."
"Wow… I… never would have thought." Zipp said, still stunned.
"I never knew how to tell you both, or if I would ever… but now…"
"You should tell this to Pipp, next time you see her."
"Of course. And no matter his faults, don't ever question that your father loved you both, and he would be so proud."
"Even if he knew that his daughters were an incestuous relationship?" Zipp inquired, uncertainly.
"Well, he might have been a bit surprised, like I was, but given his own mistakes I doubt he'd be the one to point hooves." Queen Haven pointed out.
"Heh, guess not." Zipp admitted with a sad smile. "And… you forgave him? Just like that?"
"Well, not straight away. It took quite a while before he was able to earn back my trust, and I was quite upset about it." Queen Haven confessed.
"I'd be surprised if you weren't." Zipp remarked.
"But I was, and after I finally managed to calm myself down, I sat down and allowed him to explain himself." Queen Haven said. "Once I heard the whole story, I became willing to give him a second chance. A chance he did not waste, especially when you and your sister were born."
Zipp smiled, fondly remembering the few memories she still had of her father. "Yeah… I miss him…"
"As do I." Haven nodded understandingly.
The two shared a moment of silence as they held each other close, trying hard not to cry, but a few tears still fell. After composing themselves, Zipp and Haven looked each other in the eye again.
"So, do you think you can tell me the reason why you wanted to know me and your father's love story so badly?" Queen Haven inquired.
"Well… you the thing is… I'm thinking of… I'm wondering if…" Zipp struggled to say, blushing the whole time.
Queen Haven gasped dramatically. "Can it be? Are you…?"
"Yeah I'm… thinking of… asking Pipp to marry me." Zipp confessed, bashfully. "And… I was… I was thinking… I mean hoping… if you'll give me your blessing."
"Hmm, you know, it's usually the stallion who asks for the parent's blessing." Queen Haven noted.
"Well… I may not be a stallion, but I do kinda see myself as a groom…" Zipp admitted.
Queen Haven smiled. "And a wonderful groom you will make."
"Does… Does that mean…?" Zipp asked with a hopeful tone.
"Yes. Of course, darling. Of course I give you my blessing." Queen Haven smiled.
Zipp happily embraced her mother. "Thanks, Mom."
"I do have a small condition though." Queen Haven added.
"Such as?" Her daughter inquired.
"I was hoping if you would do me the honor of officiating your wedding." Queen Haven requested.
"Really?" The white pegasus remarked in surprise.
"Who better to officiate a wedding between my own daughters, as well as make it official, then your own mother; the queen?" Haven pointed out with a smile.
"Oh yeah, good point. And… official?" Zipp repeated, still surprised.
"Indeed. While our subjects and the rest of ponykind may never know of it, the two of you will officially be considered sisters and wives. As long as you promise to make her happy, that is." The queen stated.
"Of course I will." Zipp said, determined.
"Then I wish you both nothing but the best!" Queen Haven expressed. She gave Zipp a suggestive smile just then. "And maybe… in the future… I'll be some more heirs to the throne? In the form of grandchildren?"
"Mom!" Zipp protested in embarrassment.
Haven laughed a little. "Oh, do calm yourself, dear. It was only in jest," she said. "You and I both know that, despite how much you love each other, two mares cannot produce a child."
"Especially not two mares that are sisters." Zipp added.
"Exactly. Still, it's a fun thought to think about." The queen admitted.
"And embarrassing…" Zipp pointed out.
"Well… maybe more fun for me then you." Haven chuckled while Zipp turned away to hide her blushing face. They then hear a knock at the door. "Yes?"
The door opened as Zoom entered. "Your majesty, Princess Pipp just posted a video online that I think you'll both wanna see."
Zipp and her mother exchanged looks before they both took out their phones. It didn't take long for them to find Pipp's video and notice that it was streaming inside Mane Melody.
"Hey Pippsqueaks! it's your girl Pipp, ready to present you all with a brand new song that's sure to leave you dazzled!" Pipp said in a sing-song voice. "Oh, and BTDubs, this particular song is going to my mysterious special somepony, whose identity is still and will remain a mystery. But she's watching this right now, I hope she knows that… this song expresses just how much she means to me and I how much I want to have her in my life, forever!"
Zipp was surprised. A song dedicated to her? Pipp had never done something like this before and the gesture made Zipp feel both honored and touched. Only when the song began and she began to hear the lyrics did she feel her heart grow three sizes and tears of joy flow down her face. As she sang, Pipp's cutie mark glowed brightly.
In shadows we dance, a love that's veiled,
A whispered desire, forever enthralled,
They say we can't be, but our hearts won't yield,
Forbidden love, the story untold.
Oh, but we're the echoes of a clandestine affair,
Caught in the tempest of secrets we share,
The world may judge, but can they truly perceive?
This love so beautiful, yet deemed to deceive.
Underneath moonlit skies, we find solace in disguise,
Our stolen moments are like fireflies,
Aching hearts entwined, weaving dreams,
Yearning for a love that's more than it seems.
Oh, but we're the echoes of a clandestine affair,
Caught in the tempest of secrets we share,
The world may judge, but can they truly perceive?
This love so beautiful, yet deemed to deceive.
For every touch we steal, there's a longing in the air,
Oh, this passion's a symphony beyond compare,
We're walking on a tightrope, but we won't let go,
In this world of "shouldn't be," we'll continue to flow.
Seeking shelter in whispers, caressing in code,
The thrill and danger, the love that's untrode,
We hold onto each other, our souls intertwined,
In this forbidden love, we'll eternally find.
Oh, but we're the echoes of a clandestine affair,
Caught in the tempest of secrets we share,
The world may judge, but can they truly perceive?
This love so beautiful, yet deemed to deceive.
Whispered desire, our love's undying flame,
In the depths of the night, we'll forever remain,
We'll tread on the edge, 'cause we know what's true,
In this forbidden love, I'll keep on loving you.
By the end of the song, Zipp had the biggest smile on her face while tears of joy continuously streamed down her face. She looked at her mother and saw that she had the same look on her face. Both held each other close and listened to Pipp thank everypony for listening and watching, as well as see all the likes and views it was getting.
Any doubts Zipp may have had were completely wiped out after that. She was gonna propose to Pipp one way or another, it was gonna be awesome.