Bookends 2 or Making Dreams Come True

CHAPTER NINE

Love And What Comes After

The hospital bed was narrow but Cheerilee found that she could snuggle close enough to Twilight to be comfortable without undue pressure on her injured body.  It was hard to maneuver but the two found ways to make love without compromising the casts and bandages.  Cheerilee did have to do most of the work, but she found that with the adjustable bed, that she could position herself so that Twilight could do for her.

It‘s a good thing that Twilight had not been on the heart monitor for weeks now or the nurses would’ve been interrupting them several times!

Now they lay side by side, Cheerilee embracing Twilight out of love and helping herself not to roll out of the bed.

“Did you and the princesses have this planned?” asked Twilight.

“No honey,” said Cheerilee, “it was as much of a surprise to me as it was you.  But I think it was wonderful wedding gift;

A wedding!”

“I only wish I had a ring for you,” said Twilight.

“I have you, alive, awake and now mine.” Said Cheerilee with a smile and a tear. “I couldn’t ask for anything more.

But if you feel it necessary, I like sapphires!”

Both laughed, Twilight tried not to laugh too hard, it still hurt.

“Well, if we are putting in our orders, I like rubies!  Just keep an eye on them in case Spike gets, as Pinkie puts it, snacky!”

Again they laughed.

“Twi?”

“Yes Darling?”

“Do you think that we might later regret the princess springing this on us?” asked Cheerilee, “we never talked about such a thing.  I mean now if we had a falling out, we can’t just go our separate ways.”

Twilight looked a little confused.

“Were you expecting to leave me?  Did you find another mare while I was out?”

Cheerilee delivered a very light love tap.

“I love you Twilight, I never expected that we could be married.  Now, it feels so natural.”

“Well don’t get the idea that just because you’re now Sparkle that I’m a husband!”

“You sure about that?  Perhaps I should look to see if the princess did anything to you.”

With that Cheerilee carefully moved down to Twilight’s ‘nether regions’.

“Find anything?’ asked Twilight with a giggle.

Her answer was a tongue in her marehood.

“That feels so much better!” said Twilight, Cheerilee knew exactly what Twilight was talking about.

There was a knocking at the door, Cheerilee got out of the bed, a little stiff.  Went to the door and opened it.

“Mrs. Sparkle?” asked the nurse.

Cheerilee smiled at the name;

“Yes?”

“Sorry to bother you but we’ve waited as long as we can, we do have to check your wife, change the bandages and give her her medicine.”

“Of course, go right ahead, I need to get us some breakfast anyway.”

“That has been ordered.” Said the nurse, “it’ll be here soon.”

The nurse went in, checked Twilight over, changed a couple gauze bandages and gave her a couple of pills.

Another nurse brought in a couple of plates for Twilight and her.  It was apparent that it was a little more than normal hospital fare.

“Princess Celesta had this delivered.  Don’t tell anypony that we allowed Champagne.”

Twilight and Cheerilee were eating the delicious non-hospital breakfast and drinking the delicious Champagne.  They were still giddy about the previous days happenings and the night of love despite being in a hospital bed.

There was a knock on the door and it opened.  Twilight’s doctor poked her head in and asked if it was okay to come in.

“Yes doctor,” said Cheerilee.

“Oh! Champagne!” Said the doctor, with a sly smile.  “I guess with such disregard of hospital rules, I’m just going to have to send Mrs. Sparkle home!”

“Home!” said Twilight and Cheerilee together.

“Yes,” said the doctor, “now that Twilight is awake and doesn’t appear to be in much distress, there isn’t much we can do here now that can’t be done at home and with some follow-ups.  It’s clearly apparent that you’ll be watched after and with all the ‘exercise’ last night, you should do well at home.

Finish up your breakfast, by the time you’re finished the paperwork should be done.

That way we can give the bed to somepony that really needs it!”

The doctor turned to go but Twilight called out.

“Before you go doctor.” Said Twilight with sudden trepidation. “Did you get the results of that one test back?  The one I asked about earlier?”

Cheerilee just looked confused.  But the doctor smiled.

“Sorry I didn’t tell you sooner, Mrs. Sparkle.  I’m glad to tell you that’s one thing you don’t have to worry about.”

Twilight let out a large breath of relief.  The doctor turned and left.

“What was that about?” asked Cheerilee.

Twilight took her hoof and smiled.

“You don’t have to worry about being married to me but having to raise your brother or sister.”

Cheerilee was shocked, she had not even thought of the possibility.  How Twilight was able to act so calm with such a possibility hanging over her head, she didn’t know.

“Don’t think you’re getting out of raising a foal,” said Twilight.  “We’ll need to talk about it, but I remember one snowy night that a beautiful mare told me that she’d be open to the possibility of adoption.”

Cheerilee kissed Twilight so hard, it almost hurt.

A wheelchair was issued to Twilight, and Princess Celesta’s cart was waiting for them.  There were several of the medical staff along with many of Twilight’s friends waiting for her outside.  There were cheers and applaud as twilight was loaded on the cart.  Princess Celesta was seated and had Twilight and Cheerilee sit with her.  She gave a command and the guard pulled them to the library.

A large Welcome Home banner was above the door.

The princess told Twilight and Cheerilee that she had to return to Canterlot for now, but she’d be checking in on them.  Then she kissed Twilight and Cheerilee.

After Twilight levitated herself onto her wheelchair, the princess took off.  Everypony waved and they all went into the library.

To her surprise, the library was not decorated for a party.  All her friends were there waiting for her.

“Welcome home Twilight!” they all called out.

"No party?” said Twilight laughing.

“No!” said Pinkie, sounding hurt.  “Everypony said that you needed to rest yet.”

“I appreciate the thought,” said Twilight, it did lighten up Pinkie’s mood.  “And I expect a party later!”

“No problem!” said Pinky, throwing a hug around her.

“Ouch!” said Twilight, “still got some healing to do Pinkie!”

“Sorry Twi,” said Pinkie, not sure how she should feel.

“It’s okay,” said Twilight, “I’ve had worse.  A LOT worse!”

Twilight looked around the main library floor.  She could almost point where every blow was delivered.  Where the horrible violation occurred.   Cheerilee saw the look on Twilight’s face, she knew that this would have to be dealt with.

“Thank you everypony,” said Cheerilee, “Twilight still needs rest to get better.  I would really like it if we could have today just to get her accustomed to being back home.  I promise that anypony who wants to visit will be welcome tomorrow.”

Everypony agreed with what Cheerilee said.  They all gave, gentle, hugs and left Twilight with Cheerilee, Spike and Rain Shadow.

“Well honey,” said Rain Shadow, “I was invited to spend the night at Sweet Apple Acres.  I’ll just get a few things and be on my way.”

“I was going as well,” said Spike.

“Rain Shadow?” said Twilight.

“Yes Twilight,” answered the mare.

With her magic, Twilight moved the wheelchair over to the pink pegasus.

“For what you risked in warning and standing up for Cheeri, thank you” said Twilight.  “That took guts, I now know how much.  I want to let you know that I love your daughter so very much.  And I hope that now that we are married, that you’ll consider me a daughter as well.”

“I know I could’ve done more to protect her in the past.  I’m so ashamed of that.  I’m so glad that Cheerilee now has a marefriend, sorry, wife like you to protect her.  I thank Celesta that I’m now free of past oppression.

Twilight, you gave me my daughter where before I couldn’t have a relationship with her.  Her father was proof that it would be better if she was with a mare that loves her rather than being with a stallion just for appearances.

I would be proud if you were my daughter.  Two daughters are more than I’ve ever dreamed of!”

“Thank you for that……mom,” said Twilight.

A look of unbelievable joy crossed the older mare’s face.  A joy she had not felt for a very, very long time.  She wiped a tear away and hugged Twilight lightly.  Twilight returned the hug, Cheerilee came over and joined the hug as well.

Rain Shadow had forgotten what love and friendship could feel like.  She was also remembering a very special pony from long ago.

Twilight and Cheerilee sat at the kitchen table.  Cheerilee had made a light lunch and tea.  In spite of her claim to not be able to cook, it was quite tasty.  It felt like years since they had sat there talking about the summer, just before it happened.  And an eternity since that late evening, sharing daisy sandwiches, chamomile tea and dreams one fall night.

“When I said that I would move in with if you didn’t wait on me,” said Cheerilee with a smile, “I never realized that it would be me having to wait on you!”

“Nopony is making you,” said Twilight.

“Yes there is,” said Cheerilee with a look of love in her eyes.  “It’s my heart that does.  With the unconditional love you have shown, I’ll never be able to pay you back for what you were willing to sacrifice for me!”

Twilight motioned Cheerilee closer.  Cheerilee walked around the table to Twilight.  They kissed deeper than they had since the incident.  They broke the kiss and Cheerilee was panting.

“Debt paid,” said Twilight.

“Sorry Twi,” said Cheerilee with a tear in her eye, brushing back Twilight’s mane, “I never want to be free of that debt.”

Twilight pulled Cheerilee gently on her lap.  As they kissed, there was a purple glow around them, the next thing that Cheerilee knew was that they were in their bedroom.  This time the teleportation was not as disorienting, perhaps the distance or perhaps having gone through it once.

“What a horny little mare I’m married to!” said Cheerilee getting off Twilight’s lap and helping her to the bed.  “If I knew how you really were……”

“You would’ve made love to me that first night!” said Twilight.

“You have that straight!” said Cheerilee, laying Twilight on her back and then straddling her.  Cheerilee put her face at Twilight’s marehood while hers hovering at Twilight’s muzzle.

“So are you going to talk?” asked Cheerilee, “or are you going to…….”

Cheerilee was interrupted with a tongue deep in her.

“Good girl!” said Cheerilee as her own tongue dove into Twilight.

The weeks went by fairly normal.  Twilight got stronger and was able to help out around the library, cook meals and keep up with all the well wishers, along with other business.

The important event coming up was Rainbow and Big Mac’s wedding.  Rainbow was falling all over herself to make sure that Twilight could be there as her Best Mare.  Twilight complained to Rainbow that it was Rainbow’s wedding, she shouldn’t fuss so much over her.  But Rainbow pointed out that Twilight and Cheerilee’s wedding had been sprung on them without warning and she didn’t get to have any of the fun working up to it, so she wanted to share her fun with her best friend.  Rainbow, in spite of her past actions, was really a sentimental softy and Twilight did appreciated the thought.

Big Mac, who had been a close friend to Cheerilee asked her to be his Best Mare.

It was a week before the wedding and Cheerilee was sitting in the waiting room while Twilight was having the casts removed from her hind legs.  Both mares were excited.

Cheerilee was reading an old copy of Scientific Equestria when her eye caught the title of a pamphlet in the literature rack on the wall.  Wishing that she could levitate like her wife, she got up and retrieved one.  Looked it over, read it again and thought she’d burst.  She’d keep it for now, and let Twilight know what she was thinking after all the excitement was over with Rainbow and Big Mac’s wedding.

It wasn’t long before Twilight came out, she was out of the wheelchair, on her own four hooves.  She was wobbly and her hind legs looked skinner but she was managing as well as could be expected.

“Okay, Mrs. Sparkle,” said the doctor, “just take it easy at first.  No running for at least a couple of weeks.  And for Celesta’s sake, no more bar fights!”

All the ponies laughed as Cheerilee came up.

“I’ll keep an eye on her doctor,” said Cheerilee, “but no promises.  She can be a real spitfire when she has had one glass of wine!”

“We’ll talk about that one, Darling” said Twilight, not really annoyed.

“No, we won’t!” said Cheerilee, “but I have something we’ll talk about.  But we need to get through Rainbow’s wedding first.  And I promise, you’ll like it!”

Twilight just looked questioningly at Cheerilee as she leaned on her for support as they walked out the door.

As they arrived home, there outside the library, the couple was met by Rain Shadow, and another pegasus mare who Cheerilee thought she might have recognized but had not seen for a long time.  Rain Shadow had her saddle bag packed and on her back.

“Children,” said Rain Shadow, “I don’t think you need my help anymore.  Twilight is all but healed and I do have things to take care of back in Baltamare.

Twilight, I want to thank you again for what you did for Cheerilee and me.  You probably saved our lives and the lives of some other future victims.  Your sacrifice will never be forgotten!

Take care of your wife for me, and we will be back from time to time.  I promise that our next appearance won’t be followed by trauma!  Just remember that you’ll always have a place in our hearts.”

“We, our, mother?” asked Cheerilee.

“I’m so sorry!” said rain Shadow, embarrassed, “everypony, this is Wind Walker, a very old and close friend from before I was married.  You’ll see more of her.”

Cheerilee looked confused, Twilight started to snicker.  She had figured it out,

“Cheerilee,” said the mother, “when I told you that I had no problem with your lifestyle from the beginning.  Let me just put it this way.

You come by it honestly!”

“You’re a mare-lover, mother ?” asked Cheerilee.

“I’ve loved Wind Walker from the time we were in school.  My parents made me marry your father to hide their perceived shame.

And you see what became of that.

That’s why I finally stood up to him (everypony swore never to give voice to the fiend’s name ever again).  When I heard what he was planning, I couldn’t let the same thing happen to you that happened to me, my lovely daughter.

When he accused me of infidelity when you were born an earth pony, it was partially true.  And I’m somewhat ashamed of that, but it wasn’t with a stallion.  We had seen each other secretly from time to time, but not for a while.

There’s only one good thing to come out of that marriage, one that made it worth everything that I went through.

And that’s you my sweet daughter, and you too Twilight.  I couldn’t be prouder of each of you.”

Rain Shadow and Wind Walker gave the younger mares a hug.  Just before leaving,

Wind Walker spoke up for the first time;

“Girls, don’t repeat our mistake.  Be true to yourselves, don’t try to please anypony else.  Just each other.”

The two mares shared a kiss, perhaps for the first time in their lives in public, then they flew off.

Cheerilee and Twilight just looked at each other and laughed, then kissed then went inside.