On the train back home, Twilight and I felt closer together than ever. Our relationship had been tested to the limit, yes, but we had managed to put it behind us and move on with our lives. And as Ponyville came into view, I hugged her tighter than ever.

I had spent the last day of my visit to Canterlot telling Night Light exactly what I had done to Velvet. He listened intently to my words until he could recite them back to me, saying that – despite his lack of fingers – he would be able to recreate the sensation. I didn't fancy finding out what he meant by that, so I didn't ask.

Once the train had stopped, we both took our bags and headed over to the Carousel Boutique, where Spike had been staying with Rarity (much to his glee). It wasn't long, however, before a certain friend of ours made an appearance — by which I mean she jumped out of a bush and tackled Twilight to the ground.

"You're back!" Pinkie said eagerly. "How was your trip? Was it super fun and splendiferous to be back in the big city and to see your mom and dad again? Was it? Huh, huh, was it?!"

Twilight got up, with my help, and dusted herself off. "It was fine, Pinkie," she said. "There were one or two minor hiccups, but other than that it was a lovely trip. Right, Geo?"

"Hiccups?" Pinkie asked. "Did you try drinking a glass of water while standing on your head? That always works for me!"

I laughed. "Not that kind of 'hiccup,' Pinkie," I replied. "We had a bit of a falling out, like most couples do, but we've sorted it now."

Pinkie gasped. "But why would you both fall out?" she wondered. "You two are the cutest couple I've ever seen!"

"We'd rather not talk about it," Twilight said. "All you need to know is that we sorted things out, and we're okay. Right now, though, we really want to get Spike, then go home and—"

"Have sex?" Pinkie cocked her head at us.

"We want to get home and unpack." I finished Twilight's sentence for her. "It was a long trip, so we might also sleep for a while."

"Right, I getcha." Pinkie tapped her nose. "You did it on the train."

"What?! No!" Twilight and I shouted in unison.

"Suuuuuuure you didn't," Pinkie said in a sing-song voice.

The resulting silence was awkward, to say the least, so I pointed in a random direction in an attempt to distract the overexcited Earth pony. "Hey, Pinkie," I said. "You've spent so long talking to us, you just missed something fun over there."

"WHAT?!"

She shot off in the direction I was pointing in, leaving Twilight and I free to make our escape back towards the Boutique.

"That was mean." Twilight giggled.

"Don't worry about it, Twi," I replied. "It's not as if the thought of missing anything fun is going to affect her in the future."

We soon arrived at the Boutique, at which Twilight knocked on the door once before we both went inside.

"Welcome to the Carousel Boutique," Spike said as he came into the room. "Where everything is chic, unique and— hey, you're back!" He ran up to Twilight and hugged her.

"Hi, Spike." Twilight hugged him back. "Everything all right?"

"Absolutely, darling." Rarity walked into the room and draped a foreleg over Spike's shoulders. "Spike has been magnificent; I've managed to get so much work done with his help."

"That's good, Rarity," Twilight replied. "Thanks again for letting him stay here; I didn't fancy leaving him all alone in the library."

"It's no problem at all, dear." Rarity noticed how close Twilight was leaning into me. "After all, a little trip away appears to have done the two of you the world of good."

"Yeah, well..." I rubbed my arm. "It wasn't without its problems, which we've worked out, but you're right. We really did get closer during that trip, and I for one am glad we went."

Rarity covered Spike's ears with her hooves. "Please, dear, not in front of Spike. He's far too young to listen to you two talk like that."

Twilight facehoofed. "Not you as well," she groaned. "We've already had Pinkie Pie think we were talking about sex when we weren't."

Rarity giggled and uncovered Spike's ears, a goofy smile appearing on his face at having been touched by his crush. "I was only teasing you, Twilight," she said. "I shall get Spike's belongings for him, and then the three of you can go home."

She disappeared upstairs, leaving Twilight and I to snap Spike out of his Rarity-induced stupor. He shook his head to clear his thoughts, then cleared his throat.

"So... how are your parents, Twilight?" he asked.

"They're fine, thanks for asking," she replied. "They asked me to pass on their best wishes, and made sure to tell me to tell you that you can come with us next time we visit."

"Thanks, I will." Spike glanced at the stairs. "Oh, there's Rarity." He rushed over to her. "I'll get those; they are mine after all."

"Such a gentlecolt." Rarity passed the bags over to him and gave him a small peck on the forehead, which made the goofy look reappear on his face. "Thank you again for all your help, darling, I really appreciate it. Oh, and since she's at school, Sweetie Belle asked me to tell you that she has enjoyed having you here as well."

"Aw, shucks, Rarity, it was nothing." Spike blushed. "I'm always happy to help out my friends."

"Quite," Rarity replied. "Anyway, I shan't keep you any longer. I must get some more work done before I pick Sweetie Belle up from school. Ta-ta, darlings, have fun!"

"Bye, Rarity!" said Spike, Twilight and I in unison.

Rarity waved one last time and then disappeared into her work room. As soon as she vanished from sight, Spike sighed dreamily.

"She's so amazing," he simpered. "And so... so beautiful."

I rolled my eyes. "Come on, Casanova, it's time we went home."

Spike grinned sheepishly and left the Boutique, Twilight and I following a few steps behind him. We walked all the way home in silence, noticing that Spike had already unlocked the door and rushed inside, then stood outside and looked at each other.

"It's been quite an eventful week," I said. "Hasn't it?"

She nodded. "Indeed," she replied. "But if there is one thing I've learned on this trip, it's that I can't bear to be apart from you."

"Likewise, Twilight." I scooped her up and hugged her. "Likewise."

With those words, we exchanged a long, passionate kiss and then entered the library, closing the door softly behind us.

Author's Note

And so, another chapter of the Geoverse draws to a close.

All that remains now is the cloppy Alternate Ending to Chapter Seven.