The Hour of Twilight

A Warm Welcome Home Part I

"Bleed them, make them suffer for their sins. Leave none of them alive."

"Ugh...Pinkie Pie...they're just jelly donuts?" Rainbow Dash said as she lifted the pan with her hooves. Pinkie swiped a jelly donut and holding a small baggie underneath it she kept an angered face on it. Scorn filling her eyes and burning two holes into the donut. Her Mouth curled and snarling in anger like a rabid dog defending its territory.

Pinkie growled, "But they were over cooked, they do not deserve mercy. They will suffer for this."

Squeezing tight, the jelly donut slowly bled jelly filling. Oozing out like blood from a wound, the bright purple jam running down her hoof, sticking to her coat. The smell fresh on the air and danced its way into her nostrils. This was the last time Pinkie Pie ever got something from Donut Joe's, she doesn't want to educate an amateur on jelly donut making. She would assume that since it was his special talent that he could at least be proficient at it. Or what Pinkie thinks, Rainbow just saw her ranting rambling on and on about proper desert etiquette. Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes and said, "So what if they're overcooked, Pinkie. I'm hungry and everypony is waiting for us outside."

The sun was bleeding into the dining area of Sugar Cube Corner, bright orange and red rays. The day had gone pretty normally, they planned this welcome home party since they left. Every detail calculated and every precaution already made. The balloons, the guests, the food, and the music. Everything crafted nearly to perfection. Rainbow Dash had done some exercising and was hankering for a sloppy hay sandwich that was calling her name. The sweet sweet taste of sloppy hay sandwich.

Pinkie slowly turned her head and held the carcass of the once proud overcooked donut in her hoof. She tossed the carcass in the baggie and threw it in an open waste disposal and said, "Rainbow Dash. Twilight and Rarity have been gone for months, I can't let them come back home with imperfections. Everything. Must. Be. Perfect."

Pinkie stepped into Rainbow Dash' face with boldly enunciated words, both shaken and somewhat scared at her pink friend Rainbow Dash backed into the edge of a table and set down the pan of donuts. Rainbow Dash stared into her maddened gaze and saw a familiar look there. The same gaze Pinkie gave her when they all planned a surprise birthday. Scorn and unyielding hatred await past those bright blue eyes. Trying to die down the fear rising in her throat, Rainbow Dash coughed, "Jeez, you are reminding me of Rarity. What's next you start a sewing business and you buy a cat? And start talking like a Canterlotian and say things like "darling" or "Oh my"."

Pinkie chuckled at Rainbow's best Rarity impression, Rainbow released a breath of relief that Pinkie did not go crazy for a second. Pinkie had a tendency to lose her nut once in a while. Everypony goes grazy once in a while, but she takes it a LITTLE bit too far. Her light pink colored face moved out of Rainbow Dash's face and gave her time to think and to breathe. Rainbow Dash was excited, two of her friends were returning after leaving for a mission in the North. A notion that Rainbow Dash found both curious and annoying, she wanted to be a part of it. She wanted to know how things were going with Shining Armor and Cadence and to help her friends with the dangers of the mission. Why was it only a mission for Twilight and Rarity? And why was Rarity tagged along, she could barely lift her hoof in a fight without hoping she wouldn't break a hoof? The more and more Rainbow Dash thought about it, the more and more it gave her a headache.

It irritated her but gladdened her at the same time. Confusing, and emotions that she had to battle with all on her own. Rainbow Dash smiled and said, "I'm going to wait with the others outside."

Rainbow Dash pushed open the doors, hovering with the gentle flap of her wings, she saw in the main square. Everything was set up and ready for Twilight and Rarity's welcome home. All the ponies gathered and waited for the arrival of Twilight and Rarity. Bright red streamers hung high and flapping into the wind. Balloons stapled to both tree and picnic table. A mural picture holding both Twilight and Rarity in the picture. The hot summer day thought was unpleasant on Rainbow Dash's dry skin, gave a small amount of solace knowing that her friends would be returning. Oh she could not wait for her friends to spin tales of their quest in the north. But moving her gaze over the crowd Rainbow Dash spotted two ponies that stuck out like a sore hoof. Celestia and Luna. Though they were not invited, that did not mean that they could not show up. Rainbow Dash coughed, what were they doing here?

Rainbow Dash hovered her way over there, her gaze not moving off of the two monarchs. Their stone gazes not moving from the entrance of Ponyville. Hadn't they went with Twilight and Rarity to the north? Their usual garb was donned and their backs straight awaiting the arrival of their two beloved champions. Rainbow growled inwardly, hovering close to eavesdrop on their conversation. Seeming to Rainbow Dash that it was a minor dispute as Luna said, "But are you sure that they are ready for the responsibility that comes with such titles?"

Celestia sighed, "Though I am not certain of the future, I am sure that they can carry such a title."

"But they are simple ponies, duties that come with-"

"I have complete faith that my student will be able to carry the weight of a title such as this."

Luna knit an eyebrow, "But what of Rarity? Surely after the crucible that she had gone through she can handle such a title? Correct?"

Celestia seemed to dislodge at the sudden use of the white unicorn's name, "I-yes...yes I would assume so."

Luna shrugged and moved her gaze over the crowd of ponies, "Let us hope that she can live up to her legacy."

Legacy? What does she mean by that? And what titles? Spirits of Harmony wasn't enough? The more that Rainbow Dash thought about this, the more that it sounds like they are showing favoritism. Unicorns have always been praised as higher evolved than pegasi and earth ponies. That notion made Rainbow Dash sick to her stomach, and made her sad. How could this have happened? Harmony could not be pure without balance, but she did not have enough evidence to support this notion. Rainbow Dash took in a large breath and put on a friendly face.

She stepped into view of the princesses and bowed low, "Princess Celestia. Princess Luna."

Celestia had a warm smile as she greeted, "Rainbow Dash, as always it is a pleasure to see you."

Rainbow Dash simply got a acknowledging nod from Luna, Rainbow stood back up and said, "So, what brings you here?"

"We came here to see to the arrival of my student and Lady Rarity." Celestia answered.

Rainbow returned, "But didn't you two leave with them?"

Luna answered this time and said, "We had to leave early, on account that our positions were compromised and our safety was in question."

"There was a threat to Equestria? Why wasn't the Elements put together?" Rainbow questioned.

Celestia answered, "Because it was simply a mop up of King Sombra, taking care of the rest of his magic so the Crystal Empire can sleep at night. We only sent Rarity and Twilight because it was an easy task, as well as the fact that they were most heavily resistant to Sombra's magic. It was a simple mission, I did not want to trouble all of you for something so trivial."

Luna grunted, "Huh, trivial is not the word that I would use sister..."

"Luna, please." Celestia silenced her sister.

Rainbow said, "If it was trivial then why were some of the guards sent to the Crystal Empire?"

Celestia waved a hoof, "They needed extra hooves, they were low on protection and they still need some of the guards to watch the empire."

Celestia rubbed a hoof against her forehead and groaned as if trying to get over a pain. Rainbow knit an eyebrow, "Is everything alright your majesty?"

Celestia answered still rubbing her head, "Yes, you need not worry about me. Just a headache that I have not been getting over for the past few days...anyways, I hope that they arrive soon."

Rainbow nodded and said, "I will leave you two be then. By your leave my majesties."

Rainbow bowed and on her way up Celestia nodded, "A pleasure as always to see you."

Rainbow turned around and whispered to herself, "Wouldn't have been simpler to just have all of us do this together, probably would made the mission go faster..."

Either the princesses were hiding something or trying to avoid anything else that Rainbow would have to say. She needed to tell somepony else about this. Her attention returned from her deep thoughts as she heard Applejack's voice call out, "Hey sugarcube!"

Rainbow turned and saw the cowpony trot towards her and said, "Afternoon."

Rainbow nodded, "Hey Aj..."

Her voice trailed off in thought and Applejack took note of this as they continued on their way, "Everythin' alright sugar cube?"

Rainbow Dash shook her head gently and said, "Do you ever think that we are slowly becoming unneeded Applejack?"

"Huh? What're yeh talkin' 'bout?"

"I mean that the princesses are slowly forgetting about us." Rainbow said, sitting on a bench on the other side of the main square looking at the princesses. Applejack sat next to Rainbow in silence for a few seconds.

She spoke up, "Come on now Rainbow, course they're not goin' teh ferget 'bout us."

"Look at the facts Applejack," Rainbow chided, "There has not been an Equestria threatening event in over a year and now Twilight and Rarity are getting new positions in the government. Face it Aj we're being left in the dust."

"Is somepony jealous?"

"I'm not jealous," Rainbow growled through gritted teeth, trying to keep her anger under control, "I'm just worried that we'll be left behind and forgotten."

Applejack wrapped a hoof around her shoulders and said, "Come on now sugar cube, that there is stinkin' thinkin'. There ain't no way that our friends will forget 'bout us. We should be proud of what they accomplished, otherwise what are we to them."

Rainbow thought about it for a few seconds but could not dissuade her feelings from the scorn she felt inside. She buried her feelings and put on a joyful face and cracked a smile and said, "Yeah, you're right Aj. It's probably just my imagination."

Applejack smiled and said, "I usually am. Now come one, let's go bobbin' fer apples."

Rainbow Dash stood up with Applejack and said, "You go on ahead I'll be right there."

Applejack nodded and pranced off towards the apple bobbing area a few paces away, Rainbow Dash looked over towards the Princesses and said to herself, "I'm going to find out what you two are up to."

Taking in a large gulp of fresh spring air, Rarity released a sigh of contentment. For months all that she had breathed was the fogs of war and the dry air of the north. It was refreshing to breathe in the true air of Equestria after so long being away from it. It was lively to say the least. Twilight noticed this euphoric feeling and said after her own breath, "You seem more jovial than usual."

Rarity opened her eyes and turned towards her friend who was dressed in cloth layers with patches of leather, a spaulder and breastplate of cracked leather. A cloak around her neck but the hood pulled down with her longer deep violet mane cascading down her armor. Her staff sheathed to her back, and the arcanic mark emblazoned on her cheek. Rarity smiled and answered, "I am just glad to return home to my friends."

Twilight mirrored the smile as they continued on the dirt path, "Yeah, I can't wait to get back home."

Rarity focused her gaze back on their path and saw that they were now walking in the Everfree forest. Normally her heart would flutter in fear and shrink on horror. Dirt. Dust. It all would frighten Rarity. But not now, now it was a numb feeling. After everything that they both went through, it pales in comparison to what they saw together. The shadows that they had to face. Rarity clenched her jaw tight as she remembered that final confrontation with Sombra. They had come close to losing their lives to Sombra. Rarity took her hoof and pulled out a crystal attached to a leather cord that was about her neck, staring at the bright yellow crystal.

She could feel it thrumming with power, power that only she could sense. It transformed into a magical shield that protected them with some sort of interaction Rarity had with the crystal. She heard Twilight ask, "Have you figured out how to use it yet?"

Rarity shook her head, "No...but I will figure it out."

Twilight added looking at the crystal, "I wish I could help you but-"

"-I know you can't sense anything...it's just...I can feel a connection with this crystal...like...like it's sleeping almost." Rarity said continuing to stare at the gem that pulsated with dim light. Rarity tucked it back under her tunic and metal breastplate. It had taken her a few weeks to get used to the steel armor but now it just felt a part of her. The bracers, the stompers, the leggings, the spaulders, it all felt like second nature to move around. Armor that has saved her more than once, something that she is not about to forget. Despite it being made of metal it was surprisingly light.

The sun was high and was bleeding its rays through dark clouds. Ponyville just got over a storm the night before, she could tell. They stepped into a grove of trees and Rarity said, "What is it you miss the most about not being home?"

Twilight looked at the tops of the trees and answered, "Oh most definitely the feeling of being around so many books. That and I miss Spike a lot...what about you?"

Rarity looked down and asked herself that question. What did she miss the most? Her sewing machine? Her thread? Her boutique? No, the answer came easily after she thought about it for a second. She answered, "I missed Sweetie Belle."

After their parents died about a year ago they became closer and now Sweetie Belle was her complete responsibility. She could not count on any other pony but herself to protect and raise Sweetie Belle this time. It was all her, and she left Sweetie Belle alone for a few months. There was no feeling greater than seeing her face light up at seeing her big sister return home.

"Aw...that's so sweet." Twilight gushed.

Rarity smiled and said, "It's the truth...I miss her the most...she's grown up so much..."

Twilight snorted, "Sweet Celestia you sound like her mother."

Rarity smiled and returned playfully, "Shut up Sparkle."

They shared a round of laughter and continued on with a few minutes of silence. They were a few minutes away from Ponyville yet. Already the forest became denser and they were passing through a very familiar section of the Everfree. She kept an extra eye out for the poison joke that would be nearby. Rarity's expression grew as dark as the forest, she said, "What will we do?"

Twilight swallowed hard and said, "Rarity...we've been over this. We can't tell anypony what we saw, for the integrity of all of Ponyville and Equestria itself...we cannot repeat what we saw."

Rarity turned and said, "We can't keep the ponies in the dark about this...surely they will-"

"What they don't know can't kill them."

Rarity chided after a few seconds of silence, "No, but it will kill us."

"Rarity," Twilight rubbed her nose, "We have each other to talk about it. We aren't telling anypony, end of discussion."

Rarity dropped the conversation and listened to the sound of the forest, the scraping of twigs against trees, the distant sound of birds chirping. It was relaxing and kept her mind at ease from the discussion they have had more than once. Twice actually. Rarity just had a strong feeling that Equestria needs to know the truth about its past villains. They are darker than what the princesses hide from them, Sombra being the worst amongst them. Rarity rubbed a scar on her collar bone beneath her armor, permanently branded on her skin. The wound that would never heal, a magical wound she would carry for the rest of her days. Twilight glanced at Rarity and saw her consoling her wound and said, "How is it?"

Rarity continued to massage her wound and said, "The pain is numbing now, and something that I am used to. It's just-"

The wound flared and she groaned, stopping in her tracks to try and alleviate the pain. Clenching her eyes shut and flexing her jaw, she heard Twilight stop in front of her and said, "Rarity, are you okay?"

Rarity waved a hoof and groaned, "Yeah...it just flares from time to time."

Rarity massaged it and felt an alien hoof press warmly and tenderly on the wound, the pain melting away. Rarity opened her eyes and raised her head. With genuine concern in her big purple eyes, inches away from Rarity's face. Twilight said, "I can help you."

Her hoof slipped under her tunic and gently rubbed the wound, her hoof spreading warmth over her body. Rarity breathed heavily with how close she was and hesitantly moved her hooves up and pulled her in closer. Rarity whispered, "Thank you. For everything."

Twilight smiled and Rarity stared long into her starry eyes. Twilight has seen the best and worst of Rarity, for the good and the bad. Rarity likewise for her. It was not the first time that she was paired with Twilight on a mission of some kind and Rarity prayed to the goddesses that it would not be her last. Rarity, without thinking, pressed her lips against Twilight's. The amount of times that Twilight had saved her sorry hide was too many to count and being the generous spirit that she was needed some way to repay her. So a kiss wouldn't be that bad. Twilight's lips were warm and soft as silk itself. Twilight did not raise a hoof to object, in fact she curled her hoof around Rarity's neck.

She parted her lips and let her tongue slip inside of Twilight's mouth. Her tongue was even softer than her lips, their tongues wrestling together for dominance. Pressing Twilight in closer, their bodies collided and caused a yeep to escape Twilight. After a few seconds Rarity pulled back and she said, "I've wanted to do that for a while now."

Twilight smirked, "Rarity. Don't you know that you shouldn't keep secrets from your friends?"

Rarity returned the smile and added, "Yes, but I was afraid of your reaction...it would appear that your reaction was the one that I did not expect."

Twilight kept her adorable face and continued, "Aren't you into stallions?"

Rarity felt a slight blush form on her cheeks, "I prefer either...I hope this means that we get to see more of each other?"

Rarity had never seen Twilight so flustered and so happy before. Sure she had this look whenever she got a new book but it was always a come and go look that Rarity has come to adore. A look that was permanently plastered on her face. Rarity smiled and said, "I'll take that look as a yes."

She leaned in once again and stole another kiss from Twilight. This one lasting shorter and with their new found feelings for each other they continued on toward Ponyville with high spirits and smiles on both of their faces.

Twilight has been known to predict things before they happen. She could predict when the next comet would grace itself across the sky. She could predict the next diplomatic meeting of the royals. But what she could not have predicted were those kisses that Rarity had given her. Twilight has always secretly wanted Rarity to pay special attention to her, she expected it. She was a noble of Canterlot, the stallion/mare of her dreams was literally a few doors down. Twilight could have foreseen this, she should have, but she did not. She kept it sheltered and protected it against everything and now that a storm has been cleared she can now understand her feelings. She loves all of her friends, but none were closer to her heart like Rarity was.

        Twilight released a contended breath as they parted from the kiss. Twilight thought out loud, "Wait what about the others? What will they-"

        Rarity rested her hooves softly on Twilight's cheek, her soft delicate hooves soothed her now growing paranoia and her nerves settled as her serene voice explained, "They are our friends, they will understand. And all of the other ponies that don't...well...then they should just be left alone."

        Twilight settled down and said, "Thank you Rarity. You always know what to say."

        She smiled and combed a hoof through Twilight's mane, "It's my speciality."

        Rarity leaned in and gave a light peck on the lips, her lips like silk against her own. Twilight had never been more calm and more collected in all of her life. Never has she ever been in such a sustained state of bliss like that moment, nothing was greater. Twilight had wondered when she would find somepony who meant more to her than just a friend. She kept the thought but always had more priorities then to find her special somepony.

        Twilight smiled and said, "Lets not keep everypony waiting, we kept them waiting long enough."