"Ah, Twilight, there you are." Rarity jumped up from her chair, taking Twilight Sparkle into a short embrace as greeting.
"Sorry, I... Spike... things happened," panted Twilight. Clearly, she had once again ran much further than she could stand in a vain attempt to arrive on time. Rarity kept trying to convince her to use magic for the way, but so far to no avail.
"That's quite alright, darling. We've got all the time in the world." Rarity threw a few coins to the pony behind the counter, receiving their usual robes and towels in return. Truth be told, she had never expected Twilight to come in time. Each week, she would find another reason to delay, misjudge the distance between her home and the spa, and arrive sweating after sprinting the distance. At least it helped her reduce her librarian's pudge, Rarity figured. "What have you been up to, anyway? I haven't heard a word from you in the last few days."
"Usual stuff, I suppose," said Twilight as they were led down the same corridor as so often before. Rarity only raised an eyebrow in response. "I've been asked to summarise a lesson or two on rune casting, and before I knew it, I was taking references between seven different books. You know how indulged I can get."
"And that's the whole truth?" asked Rarity, climbing into the huge bathtub before taking Twilight's hoof to help her in. "All of it?"
"I think so." Twilight slid further into the tub until only her head remained in sight. "This old pony needs exactly this right now," she whispered, her horn emitting a few sparks as if discharging stored energy.
"And you're sure that there's nothing? Things that you don't even know you're hiding from yourself?" Rarity moved closer so that she would be understood while whispering, even though they were alone. "Those are the worst secrets, I can tell you."
Twilight retreated away a bit, though the rest of her body remained where it was. "Well, alright, I've been thinking in the time between all of that, about the value of rituals and so on. A few years ago, I had just arrived in Ponyville, and between then and now we have all become so accustomed to each other. Our weekly spa visits, to give just an example; Each Wednesday, skipping the first in every even-numbered month in favour of sister bonding activities, each time exactly at two in the afternoon, if I could manage to make it on time anyhow."
"I'm listening." Rarity also gave in to the water so gently surflowing her. She did not see a reason to lose control as Twilight had, however. "And you think that's a bad thing? That it's making our lives boring and predictable?"
"Not really, but... it is sort of a nexus of our lives. Since then, we've used this as an excuse for meeting each week, creating a first habit which seeds the rest of my settling in. Already I see how little I remember of Canterlot because I relied on its repetition. I can't imagine a life outside of Ponyville. It's a cycle that will be continued even by our foals, yours and mine." Twilight rubbed her front hooves together, cleaning off the last bit of street dust. "Isn't that how it runs?"
"Your foals, hmm?" Rarity had struck gold, now having to do her best to hide her emotions while she dug deeper. "I didn't think you of all ponies would be thinking such things."
"Of course. Watching life pass by while alone, even with a baby dragon, creates isolation. Isolation makes you think about why you chose not to stay with anypony, it creates desperation. Desperation weakens your mind to romantic thoughts, until you find the one mare you've always sort of liked." Twilight moved further back, though she couldn't escape Rarity's eager advances. "That's how love is created."
"I wouldn't describe it like that, but that explanation works, yes." Rarity knew they were already far beyond how much time in the water was good for their skin; She couldn't say she cared in that moment. "Yet this is just theory, right? There's nopony specific for you?"
Twilight breathed through, as if contemplating her next words. "Perhaps, but I don't think she knows her luck yet. I'd prefer for it to stay a mystery, too. How did you know?"
"You told me, darling." A simple spell on Rarity's part put an end to Twilight's sudden attempt to drown herself. "Don't worry, this will stay between us if you can keep quiet about it."
"I'll do my best," said Twilight, hopping out of the water and throwing a towel onto her back. "It's the least I can do, keep it under discretion until the perfect opportunity arrives."
Rarity followed, applying four towels of her own. "Most certainly, if you'll be ready to take it. You wouldn't want to tip the odds in your favour, would you?"
"Knowing how well things worked out the last few times I let friends help me, I think I can handle without." Twilight descended down the curved stair, walking faster than usual. "In fact, you can just keep yourself and anypony else out of it." She sighed, as if knowing how little impact her words had. "This is a matter between me and her."
"But do tell me when you need a wedding dress." Rarity laid a leg across Twilight's shoulders as they walked to the next chamber. A few questionable thoughts crossed her mind, but they fled with a discreet shake of the head. Twilight could not possibly have been talking about her, after all. Not with such pressured honesty. "I managed to get some Lightweave recently. I couldn't imagine a better purpose for it, a thread that rare."
"If you don't mind staying at Canterlot for a bit since it will have to be there, sure." Twilight's horn flared up for a moment, after which her mane emitted a small cloud of steam and returned to its usual ruler-straight style. At times, Rarity wondered what was truly holding Twilight's use of magic back. "You can be best mare if you want. Then again, no offense, but maybe not. There are a few old friends, so to speak, that deserve to have it close to them. One of them might appreciate the post more, as well as going at it with more delicacy. Though, I mostly want to go to Canterlot to show my brother. I've had sources tell me that he hasn't visited Canterlot for a while now. He'll have it the same way as I." She shook the remaining water off of her, with the clearly accidental side effect of dropping Rarity. "But we are talking distant future here. What about the present?"
Yes, what about it? thought Rarity. There is plenty still to tell. Maybe you don't know it yourself. I'll be glad to help you find out.
