The Forgotten Family

Twilight and Rarity had walked all day and the sun had gradually fallen past the horizon. The two mares continued walking for awhile in companionable silence. "Maybe we should make camp.", Rarity said. She had packed much lighter than normal knowing that she would have nopony but Twilight to share the load and she was not about to ask the mare carry her bags.

"Um, I'm sorry Rarity, but you don't really want to sleep on the ground do you?", Twilight asked.

"Of course not, Twilight. I packed a tent.", she said.

"Oh.", Twilight replied looking a bit sheepish. "I kinda, didn't think about it. All I packed was some food, and some books.", she seemed nervous to Rarity, and she believed she understood why.

"You are more than welcome to stay in my tent.", Rarity said, trying to keep her excitement out of her voice. She had only slept together with Twilight twice now, but she already knew that it was something that kept her from depression, Plus apparently alicorn wings were amazingly comfortable.

"Are you sure you don't mind?", Twilight asked. "I didn't even remember to pack a sleeping bag.", she looked down at the ground then and even in the dim moonlight Rarity could see her blushing clearly. Pop!

"You are more than welcome to share that too.", Rarity said with a smile while putting her rubber band on the other hoof (It had actually started to thin the hair around one and she did not want it falling out) all the while trying to contain her excitement over the idea of spending a night together with Twilight.

"Really?", Twilight said excitement evident in her voice, a bright smile upon her face.

"Really.", Rarity said with a smile.

An hour later and the tent was set up and both mares were inside it pressed together in the sleeping bag Rarity had packed. The sleeping bag was actually large enough that Twilight could still lay her wing over Rarity.

"This is okay, right?", Twilight asked pointing to her wing. Rarity pretended to think about it for a moment before replying.

"Not quiet.", she said. Feeling bold she pulled herself closer to Twilight and wrapped her hooves around her. "Now it is.", she said hoping that she had not crossed the line. Her worries were put to rest as Twilight returned the gesture and sighed contently.

"Thank you.", she whispered before Rarity fell asleep.

Rarity awoke with a shiver, and immediately realized something was missing. That "something" happened to be a lavender alicorn princess. Rarity momentarily panicked until she heard the sounds of a fire crackling under the night sky. It was the middle of the night, and she was curious as to why Twilight would start a camp fire. She didn't want to leave the tent, but she knew something had awoken her.

She heard the noise that had disturbed her slumber again. A beautiful voice saying just two words. The words were whispered, and Rarity knew they were not for her ears. "I'm sorry...", the whisper came again. She could hear a disturbing tremble in the voice, as if the speaker were on the verge of tears.

She knew that this was not something Twilight wanted Rarity to be privy to, however she could not stand to let her, the same mare that had spent the past two days taking care of her, to go through whatever was wrong alone.

Rarity got to her hooves and walked out of the tent. As she exited the tent, she saw Twilight, her back to the tent, staring into the fire she had made. Her shoulders were shaking, and Rarity could hear her sniffling, and sobbing quietly. Rarity approached the crying alicorn and put a hoof on her shoulder.

Twilight stiffened, but then seemed to relax as she realized who the hoof belonged to.

"What's wrong, dear?", Rarity asked. Twilight quickly wiped her eyes and smiled up at Rarity. She could see her eyes were bloodshot and puffy.

"Nothing.", she said trying, and failing, to sound cheerful. "Just couldn't sleep so I thought I would come sit outside and enjoy the lovely view.... I didn't want to disturb you."

"Twilight.", Rarity said, unconvinced. "Please, tell me what's bothering you."

Twilight's smile faltered. "I just....", she obviously had more to say, but couldn't bring herself to say whatever it was she was thinking. Rarity knew that she needed help, but she did not want to bother her friend. "I'm sorry.", Twilight said again.

"Whatever for?", Rarity asked. Twilight had been nothing short of perfect the past two days, Rarity had no idea what she needed to apologize for. "Darling, you've done nothing wrong.", Rarity said.

"Maybe not, but"- she looked at Rarity and she could see the tears in her friends eyes, ready to spill down her cheeks- "I've been selfish.", she said. "I only came with you because....", she did not complete her thought, but Rarity could see the war waging in her mind, and she knew that Twilight was obviously not ready to say whatever was on her mind.

"Twilight.", Rarity said. Twilight looked at her again and their eyes met. "I've been more selfish than you possibly could."

"But I-", Twilight began, but was cut off.

"No. Twilight.", Rarity said saying each word sternly. "I only brought you for selfish reasons. I could have left you to stay in your castle, to spend your days whiling away the time with our friends. Instead I chose to ask you to accompany me.", she paused and let her words sink in while she debated how much to reveal to her friend. She knew she had developed feelings for the princess, however she decided that this was not the time to voice those feelings, and maybe never would be a good time. "I asked you to accompany me because you are strong enough to protect me, because you are an excellent companion, and-", she stopped long enough to smile at the blushing alicorn before wrapping her hooves around her neck and hugging her tightly. "-because I feel like you have been the only thing keeping me sane since this whole... mess started.", Twilight smiled back at her and returned the hug nuzzling Rarity's cheek.

"But what about letting me sleep in your tent? Your sleeping bag?", Twilight asked.

"Selfish also.", Rarity said smiling. "For several reasons, although the most selfish is probably because sleeping under your wing is simply...", she searched for the right word. "Divine."

"Rarity...", Twilight said, hugging her even more intensely. Rarity could feel her cheek become wet and assumed the alicorn was crying. She did not mind.

"I'm sorry.", Rarity said from the heavenly embrace. "I'm sorry."

Twilight pulled away suddenly with tears streaming down her cheeks, but a joyful smile on her face. "Thank you.", she said.

Rarity smiled sheepishly. "So... you don't mind that I've been selfish?", Rarity asked.

Twilight smiled even more beautifully then, a blush in her cheeks. "Not if you don't mind that I've been selfish.", she said. "And besides, you're the element of generosity. If anypony is entitled to be a little selfish, it's you."

"Well then, if that's why you came out here, perhaps we should return to bed.", Rarity said.

"Well...", Twilight said hesitantly. "I had something else on my mind.", she said, her tone indicating it was a grim, but important, topic. Twilight took a breath and prepared herself to reveal what had been on her mind for awhile. "I had a few questions.... they're important." she said. Rarity nodded at her and she took that as her queue to ask. "First, how long have you lived in Ponyville?"

"All my life.", Rarity replied.

"And your parents?", Twilight asked.

"Since I was born, as far as I know.", she said. Twilight pondered her words for several seconds before continuing.

"I thought so.", she said. "Listen, you remember when I had to restore all of your memories?", she asked.

"I believe you've needed to do that for all of our friends at least once now.", Rarity replied.

"Right well, first of all, why didn't that restore your memories of your brother?", she asked.

"I thought you only had to restore the memories related to our friendship.", Rarity said.

Twilight shook her head and considered her next words. "No.", she said. "I had to restore the memories that made you who you are. That was all of your memories that I could access.", she said. "And if you, your parents, and presumably Mythic lived in Ponyville for at-least as long as you have been alive, why does nopony else remember him?", Twilight asked. "Don't you think it's a little odd?"

Rarity considered her friends words. Nopony remembered Mythic which was, in Ponyville's close-knit community, completely impossible. Twilight was one of the most powerful unicorns in history when she restored the memories of her friends, which led Rarity to believe even if there were some block on her memories, Twilight would have easily removed them. Then she also took into consideration she still had all of her memories from her child-hood except for the memories of her brother.

"I know you probably don't want to hear this...", Twilight said as Rarity braced herself. "But I think your parents are hiding something."

Rarity considered her friends words for a long time after that. Her mind was ablaze trying to process everything, until Twilight spoke again.

"I know it's a lot to take in but, I thought you needed to think about it a bit before we find them.", she said.

"Thank you, Twilight.", Rarity said. "I appreciate you bringing this to my attention, and I agree with you completely.", she said. She then looked up at the moon and saw that it had drifted to the midpoint of the night sky. The clearing they had made camp in was completely still and quiet. "However... I don't believe there is anything we can do about it just now.", she smiled at Twilight. "So, why don't we return to our sleeping bag, and you allow me to be selfish for a little while.", she said with a smile.

Twilight opened one wing. "You mean...?", she asked waving with her wing.

"If it's no trouble.", she said. "You really have no idea how comfortable it is.", she said with a smile. She meant it too, nothing she had ever touched was quite as soft as the alicorn's large lavender wings.

"I don't mind.", Twilight said. "I also don't mind the... uh... closeness.", she said blushing again, which in turn caused Rarity to blush. "It's... uh... nice...", she said quietly. She was obviously just as nervous about the subject as Rarity. "Plus it is practical.", she said quickly. Upon seeing the confused expression on Rarity's face she clarified, "It's been cold at night lately, and it's only going to get colder."

"Of course.", Rarity said. She also had no problem with the "closeness" as Twilight called it, still Rarity preferred to think of it as what it was- snuggling. Twilight looked hesitant, so Rarity decided to take the lead and walk back to the tent, confidant that Twilight would follow.

As she slid into the sleeping bag, she felt Twilight do the same. They laid apart for several awkward minutes, until Rarity slid directly next to Twilight and nervously wrapped her hooves around her again. Twilight stiffened at the contact, and Rarity was nervous that she had only been joking when she said she did not mind. However after a few moments she felt a large wing unfurl over her and pull her closer.

Rarity could feel her eyelids getting heavier by the second and knew it would only be a few more moments until she fell asleep. Before that though, she had one last thing she wanted to say before she fell asleep.

"I'm sorry."

The next morning Rarity awoke to find Twilight asleep. The large wing that had caressed her through the night remained and she could feel Twilight's hooves still wrapped around her. Rarity laid in her friends embrace content to stay there until she awoke. She knew Twilight had slept very little since she had started watching over the unicorn, and she did not want to do anything to disturb her rest.

She also found laying in her friends embrace extremely relaxing. Rarity breathed in the scent of the lavender alicorn's mane, and sighed at the pleasant aroma. She had been through so much in the past forty-eight hours, and she had not been lying when she said that she believed Twilight Sparkle was the one thing keeping her sane through it all. She felt like her closeness with Twilight was the worlds way of apologizing for her recent problems. If that was the case, the world could hit her with whatever it wanted, so long as she got to stay by the side of the beautiful mare in her hooves.

After several minutes Rarity felt the pony under her hooves begin to shift. Then she heard probably, the most adorable yawn she had ever heard. She would have popped herself again but she had taken off the rubber band to sleep.

"Good morning.", she said.

"Good morning.", the sleepy alicorn answered quietly. "Did you sleep well?", she asked.

"Best night's sleep I've ever had.", Rarity answered. "Yourself?"

"Best sleep ever.", she said quietly obviously fighting the urge to return to that "best sleep ever". Rarity could not blame her.

"Well as much as I would like to stay here, we should probably set out soon if we hope to catch up to my parents.", Rarity said.

Twilight nodded and they set about putting away their make-shift campsite. As Rarity put away the tent and sleeping bag, Twilight prepared them a light breakfast of daisy sandwiches. They ate in companionable silence, and then set off down the road.

After they had been walking for about an hour Twilight checked her map. "Well...", she said. "It looks like we should reach Manehatten by nightfall tonight."

"Excellent.", Rarity said. As much as she had enjoyed a night spent in the other mare's embrace, she was ready to have a real bed to sleep in even if it was just a hotel's and not her own.

After a few minutes of silence Rarity had a thought. "Twilight?", she asked.

Twilight stopped and looked at her. "What is it, Rarity?"

"I was just thinking... last night, when we got to talking about the memory spell, you made it sound as if my memories were no longer there.", she said.

"Essentially yes. If they were completely removed though there would be an item or a pony those memories were stored in, and I never saw any magical blocks in your mind. Why?", Twilight asked.

"Well, I was thinking. If all traces of my brother are gone from my mind, how did I remember his name?", she asked.

Twilight thought on this for a moment before replying. "I honestly don't know.", she said. "Maybe, whoever removed your memories missed one mention of your brother's name. That's all it would take, and honestly even somepony as skilled at magic as I am would have missed that much at least, let alone somepony who didn't have much experience.", she explained. "Or maybe somepony, who knew about it, decided to return that much to you at least."

"I see.", Rarity said. They walked in silence for the rest of the day and soon night descended upon them. Shortly after night fell, they arrived at the bustling city Manehatten.

"I don't think it's a good idea to start looking for your parents this late at night.", Twilight said as they walked through the streets, careful to avoid the darker areas.

"Agreed.", Rarity said. "Perhaps we should just find somewhere to stay the night, and we can see if any apartments or houses have been occupied recently tomorrow."

"Sounds like a plan.", Twilight said. She seemed very nervous all of a sudden.

When they found a hotel that seemed up to Rarity's standards Twilight stopped. "Rarity?", she said.

Rarity stopped with her. "Yes?", she asked. "What is it, dear?"

Twilight shuffled nervously and was not meeting Rarity's gaze. "Maybe we should... just get one room?", she said quietly. "It's...... practical." she said. "It'll be cheaper...."

Rarity was far from short on bits, and could always use her gem-finding spell if she ever did get low. However she replied, "That certainly seems like a good idea to me."

Twilight beamed at her. "Really?", she asked. Pop! Rarity's hoof was throbbing at this point.

"Of course, dear.", she said.

Later that night the two mares were on separate beds in the same hotel room, and Rarity longed for the alicorn's embrace once more. Her wings truly were much more comfortable than the stiff blankets the hotel used. Then she had an idea.

She scoffed loudly and looked to Twilight who was currently reading a book. Twilight looked up from her book and raised an eyebrow. "My bed is too small.", Rarity said.

"I'm sorry, but my bed is the same size.", Twilight said. After a moments pause Twilight smiled and said, "We could push them together....", she said quietly, hesitantly. "That is.... it's kind of cold in here.", she said blushing intensely, and trying not to sound too hopeful.

"I agree completely.", Rarity said.

So both mares, without leaving their beds, used their magic to pull each other's beds close. Twilight then levitated her book back to her saddlebags and wrapped her hooves around Rarity, who returned the gesture. After a few minutes the two became comfortable and Rarity felt the now-familiar weight of a large wing holding her closely. Part of her hoped their journey never ended, so she would never have to give up her nights spent in the alicorn's embrace. After awhile, Rarity realized that Twilight's breathing had become deep, and even. She was fast asleep.

"Good idea...", she whispered quietly so as not to disturb the Princess's sleep. "After all the real work starts in the morning." After that Rarity took one last breath of the scent of Twilight's mane and sighed contently before falling into a deep sleep herself.