No Two Flakes

By Mist

Chapter XIV

So we’ve reached the end of the road, have we? We’ve approached the final chapter of this story. I’m sure you’re curious to know what happens, aren’t you? I mean how couldn’t you? We’ve seen a lot in the past few weeks haven’t we? It’s certainly been an interesting ride, and I know we all want to know how it ends. Does the mischievous Spike get the girl? Does Twilight gain Rainbow’s forgiveness? Well I suppose it’s time to find out isn’t it?

Applejack had followed an address she had received from Cloudchaser to a hotel not that far from her burned down apartment. Cloudchaser said she would be staying there for a while as she looked for a new place. Her renter’s insurance covered most of her stuff, and her disability pay made sure she was covered during this difficult time.

Promising she’d come check on her, Applejack put it off until the very night of Christmas Eve. It was perhaps 11PM at night and she had taken the last bus that dropped her off at that part of town, ready to face the girl whom she knew she had to face eventually. Deciding that doing it this late was the best way as she had no options to turn back now. Another bus wouldn’t run until morning, and that meant she had to confront her fear tonight.

Approaching the door, she gulped and tapped it gently with her knuckles. She could hear a voice from inside instruct her to enter. “Come in!”

Obeying, Applejack opened the door and stepped inside, shutting it delicately behind herself. The room had very little except a bunch of clothing thrown about as she took note of Cloudchaser lying on the bed in her underwear. It looked like she hadn’t gotten another change of clothing just yet, and hadn’t gotten around to buying them. In her hand she had an iPod clutched with an earbud in one ear. Her long partially dreaded hair was a mess, but she still looked cute as ever.

The blind girl sniffed the air lightly and smiled. “Applejack, what brings you here so late? I didn’t think I was going to see you tonight. Though “see” might not be the best word...”

Applejack nodded and gently stepped across the room and perched herself onto the bed next to her former lover. “’Aye… Sorry for not comin’ sooner… ‘Ah jus’… Needed to work up to it is all…”

Cloudchaser nodded and sat up, taking the earbud out of her ear. “I see. Was there something you wanted?”

“Yeah… Uh…” Applejack stumbled with the words.

“Just say it. I’ve had enough bullshit for one week, let’s just cut right to it and not dance around it, shall we?” Cloudchaser requested.

“Right… Alright…” Applejack responded.

With another sigh, the young farm girl finally spoke up. “’Ah wanted to say Ah’m sorry… ‘Ah know yer’ probably not too happy ‘bout what happened before… It’s understandable… ‘Ah was a jerk…”

Cloudchaser nodded. “Yeah, I guess so…”

“Listen though… When y’all were almost hit by that car… ‘Ah was reminded of the fact that y’all are blind…” Applejack explained.

Cloudchaser was already mentally rolling her eyes. “I told you, I can take care of myself…”

“No, that’s jus’ it; ya’ can’t. If ‘Ah wasn’t there, you’d be dead… It made me realize that if anything happened to you on my watch… Ah’d never forgive myself…” Applejack replied.

Cloudchaser remained silent.

“Y’all are too stubborn to ask for help even when y’all need it.” Applejack continued.

Instead of the retort and snarky reply that Applejack expected out of the alternative girl, she simply sighed and nodded. Cloudchaser scooted across the bed and pulled herself next to Applejack and sat upright, placing her hands on her lap.

“Yeah… I… Uh… I guess I can see that… I got so used to people just taking pity on me that I got sick of it… I wanted to prove I could do everything for myself to where I never asked for help even when I needed it.” Cloudchaser spoke sheepishly, slinking down in shame a bit.

Reaching over, Applejack took her hand and squeezed. “Everyone needs help now and then… ‘Ah want to be there to help ya’… ‘Ah want us to be able to help each other… ‘Ah jus’ worry Ah’m not enough…”

Cloudchaser repositioned herself and placed her free hand upon Applejack’s cheek. She leaned in and touched her forehead to Applejack’s, she could smell her autumn scented body spray. Freeing her other hand from Applejack’s grasp, she reached up and stroked one of the two ponytails the girl was sporting with a smile. “You’re more than enough for me…”

AJ bit her lip for a moment, and replied very quietly. “Prove it…”

Cloudchaser smirked. “I was hoping you’d say that…”

Gently she leaned in and whispered as the two’s lips came mere millimeters from each other. “I love you, AJ…”

“I love you too…” Applejack responded as she closed her eyes.

The two’s lips locked and both could feel the fire that was once there burning hotter than ever. Both knew that they were just denying this which was what they both truly wanted. It felt so good to finally be able to say what they felt out loud without worrying what the other thought.

When the two broke the kiss, Applejack chuckled a bit as she noticed the clock in the room.

“What’s so funny?” Cloudchaser asked, rubbing her nose to Applejack’s.

“Looks like Christmas miracles do happen…” AJ responded.

“So they do…” Cloudchaser giggled leaning in for another kiss.

Rainbow found herself absentminded, empty, emotionless even for the time being. Her thoughts of Ice being dead brought her no comfort and didn’t resolve anything in her mind. She tried to figure it all out as she walked down the sidewalk, her mind in other places.

Taking advantage of her lack of paying attention, a man approached behind her and pressed an object to her back from under his jacket. She attempted to reach behind herself to her waistband only for the man to jab the object into her and lift her hoodie with his free hand and remove the pistol tucked into her waistband and toss it to the ground behind himself. “Don’t think so.” He spoke.

Remaining quiet, Rainbow let him speak. “Let’s step into my office, shall we?”

She did as told and followed where he lead her with what she was assuming was a gun pressed to her back. He pushed the two of them into an alley nearby and kept her facing away from him. “Turn around and I’ll kill you now.” He instructed.

Finally reaching the back of the alley, he stopped her. “Here is good.” He said.

“Look you can take my money, I only got like fucking $12 on me anyways…” Rainbow responded, keeping her back to him.

“I don’t want your fucking money.” He said, jabbing her with his gun again.

“Well then if you’re after a date, I prefer those with some tits to them, sweetheart.” Rainbow joked.

“I’m here to put an end to you, cunt.” He growled. Leaning in closer, he whispered in her ear. “You see… Ice was my brother and I hear that you’re responsible for his death.”

She shrugged. “Brotherly love, how sweet.”

He jabbed her again. “Shut the fuck up and get on your knees.”

“Not even going to face me when you do it? Pussy.” Rainbow insulted.

“I said get fucking down!” He yelled.

She did as she was told and dropped down to her knees. Her mind finally realizing the gravity of the situation she was in. She thought back to her brother and how she let him down. She wouldn’t get a chance to be something better, it would all end here and after the moment where she realized it, she closed her eyes and tears began to run down her face.

A long bang cracked through the air and what Rainbow thought was the end turned out to be something else. She opened her eyes to see blood sprayed everywhere, her head turned around quickly to see the man who called himself Ice’s brother fell to the ground, a hole in his skull.

Behind him stood a confident Rarity standing firm with a revolver gripped in her right hand, extended and smoking from a fresh shot. “This was a $700 jacket…” She commented.

Rainbow blinked and brought herself to a stand as she wiped her eyes, taking note of the blood splatter on Rarity’s person. “Y-you… You saved me…”

“I was returning the favor.” She replied, lowering her gun.

“Where did you get a gun?” Rainbow asked.

“I’ve had one since my first run in with Ice. I felt it was necessary to protect myself… I saw that creep pull you into this alley and I followed.” She explained.

Rainbow blinked and looked up to Rarity with a serious expression. “Thank you…”

“Killing is a burden that we must carry for our entire life… That burden was worth it to keep you alive.” She smiled.

Rainbow nodded. “After the police get here and we explain would you mind if I went to take care of something?”

“It’s no trouble.” Rarity replied, already drawing out her phone.

“Thanks.” Rainbow smiled.

Soarin had finally gotten the call from the girl he was waiting to hear from for weeks. Fluttershy had been avoiding him, responding with short answers to his texts and just overall trying to avoid contact with him. He spent weeks panicking that he may have done something to upset her. He had spent the entire day cleaning up his apartment when she called earlier saying the two needed to talk directly.

His heart was pounding so hard that he felt it would rip out of his chest when his doorbell rang.

He reached for it more cautiously than he had done anything in his entire life, part of him thought he’d have a heart attack once he finally managed to get the door open.

Fortunately no such thing happened as he turned the knob and there in the doorway was the most beautiful creature he had laid eyes upon. Her gently toned Latino skin seemed to stand out in the hallway lighting, and her vibrant blue eyes seemed to draw his attention away from her otherwise attractive figure. Her expression though was that of a troubled girl.

“May I come in?” She asked.

Soarin nodded and stepped aside so she could enter.

Closing the door behind her, he followed her to the couch in the living room, sitting next to her and looking to her eyes patiently waiting for her to tell him what this was all about.

“Look…” She started.

Soarin braced himself.

“I really like you…”

“But?” Soarin asked.

“There is no but… I really like you and that’s why I’ve decided to handle this the way I am…” She inhaled and exhaled.

Soarin was confused, but kept quiet.

“You don’t have to say anything, just listen.” Fluttershy instructed.

He merely nodded in response.

Fluttershy gripped the hem of her sweater and sighed. “I couldn’t ever ask you to do something that would destroy your career for me… I’ve seen you play… You could go pro… I don’t want to be the one to screw that up…”

“What do you mean?” Soarin’s brow raised.

“Just let me finish… Please… This is hard enough as it is…” She said as she put her hand upon his mouth to silence him.

“When we…” She paused trying to think of a way to tactfully approach this. “When we… You know… I…” She almost couldn’t get it out. “I’m pregnant…”

Soarin’s eyes popped open, but she continued talking to prevent him from saying anything. “It’s fine though. I am not asking you for anything, this was my fault. I’m going to call my parents and move back home with them and I’ll take care of this. Don’t worry, I’m not going to make you give up your soccer career over this, I could never live with myself if I did…”

She removed her hand from Soarin’s mouth and sighed. “Sorry… I just figured you deserved to know so you didn’t think it was your fault. Please… Don’t hate me…”

Soarin leaned in and placed his hands upon her shoulders and pulled her in for an unexpected kiss. She blinked and took a moment to figure out what was happening. “I-I… Uh… What?”

Soarin smiled and kissed her forehead. “I can’t believe this!”

“Y-you’re not upset?” Fluttershy responded in a confused tone.

“Upset? This is amazing! Fluttershy… I like you too… I want us to be a family… I want to be there for you… I want to help you raise this kid.” He spoke excitedly as he took her hands.

“What about your soccer career?” She asked, concerned.

“We’ll find a way to make it all work, I promise.” He replied.

She blinked. “You’re sure about this?”

He nodded. “I’ve never been more sure about anything in my whole life.”

She tried to fight back tears, but with no luck. “I… I… Thank you...”

“You don’t need to thank me. We’re a family.” He smiled as he wiped her tears with his sleeve.

Asleep in his bed, Spike tossed and turned as he tried to get comfortable. His dreams were being plagued with visions of how he messed things up probably for good with Rarity. There was no way in his mind that she could ever be interested in him at this point. He could kill Applebloom for calling her when he needed someone to bail him out.

Half awake-half asleep, Spike could hear the door to his apartment click, or at least he thought that’s what he heard as he tried to ignore it and get back to a full sleep.

Before he knew it though, he felt the foot of his bed sink a little and then something climb over him. His eyes popped open and his brain began to try and process what was happening in the dark room. On his face, he felt a gentle tickle from soft hair that dangled above him and lightly grazed his cheek. Trying to make out the dark color, he was able to determine it was purple. Following it upward, he was met with a gorgeous face, with a perfectly chiseled nose and big vibrant eyes that appeared fully awake.

Her eyes seemed to reflect the small amount of light in the room so perfectly, to where one could swear her eyes lit up.

“Hey”, she said quietly as she brushed her long hair to one side.

“R-Rarity?” Spike asked.

She nodded and giggled as she placed her soft porcelain colored hand upon his cheek.

“Y-you look… Different…” He commented, trying his best to avert his eyes from her when he realized that all she had on was her underwear and an oversized T-shirt. Spike had never seen her so casual before. He looked away further when his eyes caught a glimpse of her chest, taking note that it was easy to tell she wasn’t wearing a bra at this moment.

She smirked mischievously. “Did you think I wore makeup and a dress to bed?”

He shook his head. “No… I just… I’ve never seen you like this…”

“There’s a lot of things you haven’t seen.” She replied lustfully, her voice wrapping around his ear and sounding so inviting.

“W-what’re you doing here?” He finally asked.

She leaned in a bit so he could hear her better. “I’ve been doing a lot of thinking lately… About us… About what you said…”

“Don’t think about that… Really… It’s fine…” Spike replied.

She turned his head to face her. “No, it’s not fine.”

Spike grew quiet and met her eyes with his own.

“I felt bad about all the times I had to leave you… I swear it wasn’t on purpose though… I’ve been going through a lot lately… And it’s had an effect on me…” She frowned as she thought about something on her mind for the past few days. “I thought I wasn’t a strong person for a long time… I didn’t really think I was capable of much, and truth be told… Most people just see me as some spoiled rich girl…”

“I don’t think of you like that…” Spike defended her.

She nodded. “I know you don’t, but so many people only really see me as a pretty face… You’re the first person who really ever said I was smart… Or funny… Or anything beyond gorgeous… I mean don’t get me wrong, I care about how I look, but… Sometimes I wish people saw more than makeup and clothes…”

“I have to say… I never thought you were gorgeous because of any of that… When I heard about how you want to help people… I admired that… I liked how you took care of your friend, Rainbow… And I never thought you needed any of that stuff to be beautiful…” He blushed and looked away. “Even right now… You’re sexier than anything I’ve ever seen.”

For the first time ever, he noticed a hint of a blush upon her. He was surprised that he caught her off guard.

She leaned in and placed both hands upon his cheeks. “There’s been something I’ve been meaning to tell you…”

“W-what is it?” He responded nervously.

She smirked and came only an inch from his face. “I think you’re sexy too.” Before he could say another word, she came down and locked their lips together.

Rainbow Dash followed the instructions Twilight had given her on where to meet. She took the bus to the other side of town, and made her way to an apartment complex that she was instructed to go to. She had originally texted her to try and see if she could apologize for their spat they had a few weeks back and giving her the cold shoulder since then. Her near encounter with death had given her a new perspective and she had realized she didn’t want to waste any more time being angry about something so small. Twilight was ignorant, but that was because she grew up in a different life than Rainbow. She grew up in luxury and privilege, but that didn’t make her a bitch.

Twilight only responded to the message saying to meet her at this location so they could talk in person. Rainbow prefered an in person interaction for this, but she just wished she didn’t have to travel across town to get there.

Making her way up the stairs, Rainbow came to the apartment number that Twilight sent in her text message and tapped on the door lightly.

The door swung open and there in thick rimmed glasses was a face she had thought she’d never see again. Dark skin and a rounded nose that she recognized jogged Rainbow’s memory. She looked a bit different, but there was no mistaking her and her dreadlocks that looked a good half foot longer.

“G-Gale?” Rainbow blinked.

She smiled and held her arms open. “Shit! Rainbow! Get the fuck in here!” She yelled loud enough for the whole building to hear.

Rainbow grinned and hopped into her longtime friend’s arms. After a quick squeeze and hug, Gale put Rainbow at an arm’s length to get a look at her. “Damn, you’re all grown up now!”

“You too!” Rainbow laughed.

From the other room, a little dark skinned girl stepped out yawning. Dressing in a simple white dress with a Hello Kitty logo on it, she rubbed her eyes, clearly waking from a nap. Rainbow blinked and looked to her.

“What’s going on, mommy?” The child asked.

“Who’s that?” Rainbow asked.

“Your niece.” Another voice spoke stepping out of the walk in kitchen.

Rainbow blinked and there Twilight stood with a smile upon her face. “I did some digging and tracked these two down. Turns out your brother had a daughter before he died.” Twilight explained.

Looking back to Gale for an answer, Gale merely nodded with a smile on her face.

Rainbow knelt down to the child’s level and offered a hug. “Hey! I’m your aunt!”

Confused the little girl looked to her mother whom gestured for her to go ahead. The little girl took the hug and smiled. “My name is Rainbow.” Rainbow said pointing to herself after the hug broke.

“My name is Lantern.” The small child replied.

Rainbow looked up to Twilight with confusion. “You did this for me…?”

Twilight nodded. “I wanted to apologize for what happened before… I just didn’t know how… I originally thought maybe if I got you a really great gift that I could make up for it…”

Standing up, Rainbow approached Twilight and only a few inches away from her, Rainbow looked up to meet Twilight’s eyes with her own. “This is the best present anyone’s ever gotten me… Why though?”

Twilight grew quiet. “I… Well… That is to say…” She found herself stumbling, but calmed herself and tried again. “I didn’t want you to be alone on Christmas… Because besides these guys… I… I sort of consider us family too…”

Rainbow smirked. “Are you sure you mean that?”

Twilight nodded.

Throwing her arms around Twilight’s neck and standing on her tip toes, Rainbow brought herself just two inches from Twilight’s face. Twilight looked down to aid her. “May I?” Rainbow asked.

Twilight’s breathing had slowed and her tone became hushed. “Y-you may…”

With those words, Rainbow pulled Twilight in for a kiss.

The End

Author's Note

It was strange writing a happy ending for everyone. Normally if you're familiar with my stories they always end on either bad or neutral endings for all characters involved. This was one of the few times I tried to give everyone a reward for their hardships. I think it paid off though because for once I got to write something more cheerful in the end, spiced up with a lot of drama. Stay tuned though... For the Epilogue.